Chapter 134. Did You Forget About My Personality?
The following morning, the Oceanwolf Knight Order's headquarters, Oceanwolf Island, resounded with the clash of wood and the echoes of grunts.
Thwack!
"Argh!"
"Caron!"
"Both of you still have a long way to go," Caron remarked with a smug grin, slamming his wooden sword against the heads of Leo and Utula as they charged at him.
"You sure you want to show the rookies this kind of display this early in the morning?" Leo asked.
Despite the early hour, the sparring grounds were filled with knights eager to witness Caron and his comrades training. Most of them were new recruits, watching with unblinking eyes, determined not to miss a single move.
Their intense stares could have made others uncomfortable, but Caron seemed to thrive under the attention. He moved with exaggerated flair, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.
From the sidelines, he caught snippets of whispers among the rookies.
"Is that really Lord Caron?" a rookie asked.
"Shh! Keep your voice down. The senior knights warned us to keep our mouths shut in front of him," another one chimed in.
"That guy over there, half out of his mind—that's Lord Leo, right? I heard he reached 6-Star recently. And yet, Lord Caron is handling both him and a giant at the same time. What kind of person is he...?" one of the rookies exclaimed, amazed.
"They say he's already a 7-Star knight. And he's only seventeen," someone else added.
The rumor of Caron achieving 7-Star had spread across Azureocean Castle like wildfire the day before. The culprit was obvious: It was Third Elder Ulrich, who doted on Caron. He had practically shouted it from the rooftops.
Because of this, the eyes of the rookies gleamed with boundless admiration. Knights naturally idolized strength, and for these rookies who had only just set foot on Oceanwolf Island, Caron inevitably became an object of reverence.
"Hmm," Caron said, his shoulders puffed up under the weight of their awestruck gazes. Though he could have easily subdued Leo and Utula, he opted for an unnecessarily flamboyant display of swordplay, savoring the attention.
Thwack!
"Ugh..." Leo groaned as he hit the ground in an undignified heap.
Thud!
"Argh!" Utula, who had been swinging a wooden ax, was sent sprawling backward.
Pointing his wooden sword at the two fallen opponents, Caron spoke in a weighty, commanding tone. "You're lacking practice. You need to dedicate yourselves to improvement."
Clutching his aching head, Leo muttered, "Why are you suddenly pretending to be cool?"
"It's strategy," Caron replied, a sly grin on his face.
"What strategy?" Leo asked.
"Making a strong impression on the rookies now means they'll listen to me later. It's all part of the big picture," Caron explained.
Leo eyed Caron skeptically and asked, "Am I part of this 'big picture' of yours?"
"Of course. You're my right hand, after all," Caron replied.
"...Well, at least I'm not the left hand. Thanks for that, I guess," Leo said.
"Getting close to the rookies has its benefits. Later, I can mentor them to pass on my wisdom," Caron added.
For a moment, something wild flickered in Caron's eyes—a faint but unmistakable gleam of madness.
Leo had no doubt about it: Caron was eyeing the rookies. He wasn't planning on nurturing them, however; rather, he was plotting to turn these pure-hearted rookies into mad dogs like himself.
I have to report this to Sir Zerath immediately, Leo thought.
He resolved that he couldn't let this lunatic corrupt the proud Oceanwolf Knight Order. For the sake of the Knight Order, for the future of the Leston family, this couldn't be allowed to happen.
Caron was more than enough to be the mad dog of Azureocean Castle.
"Drink up," Caron said as he tossed a bottle of water to both Leo and Utula.
The two gulped down the water in great swigs.
"Phew!" Leo exhaled, wiping his mouth roughly with his sweat-soaked sleeve before glancing at Caron. "You've heard about Leon, right?"
Caron nodded and said, "Yeah, I did."
The reason Leon had stormed into Azureocean Castle yesterday with a furious expression was no mystery. Rumors about her marriage had started making the rounds.
"...Uncle Dales has gone too far this time. How could he start arranging something like that without even discussing it with her?" Leo said, his tone laced with frustration.
Caron nodded, taking another sip of water before saying, "It sounds like what Uncle Dales would do."
The arrangement had been spearheaded by Dales, the eldest son of Duke Halo. And the proposed groom was someone with a name that left them both shaking their heads.
"Of all people, why is it that guy?" Caron muttered.
"Woah, careful there, Caron," Leo said, feigning mock horror. "You're talking about the Sixth Prince, Revelio. That could count as treason."
"Tsk tsk."
Indeed, the prospective groom in question was Revelio, the Sixth Prince. Dales seemed determined to bring the prince into the family by marriage.
Leon, now twenty-seven years old, was well past the usual age for noblewomen to marry. However, she had always resisted such proposals, and the family had respected her wishes—until now.
Caron was able to easily predict why Leon's marriage was being forced upon her all of the sudden.
It's because of me, he thought.
In a house with no clear successor, Caron had become an unpredictable and powerful factor. Initially, Dales had merely been wary of him, but now the stakes were higher. Caron's remarkable accomplishments and overwhelming potential had clearly made Dales nervous. With his position seemingly threatened, Dales was trying to secure his influence by bringing the Sixth Prince into the fold.
I don't even care about becoming head of the household, Caron thought, a flicker of disdain crossing his face. He couldn't understand why anyone would covet such a tedious position. He would sooner thrust it upon Leo than take it himself.
"Marriage is a sacred union," Utula suddenly declared, his voice ringing with conviction. "It's a lifelong bond. If she doesn't want it, it shouldn't happen!"
Leo sighed and shook his head, then replied, "Utula, most noble marriages are arranged for political purposes. And for a family as powerful as ours, that's even more true."
He hesitated before asking, "Does the prince even know about this?"
"No, it's highly unlikely that he knows," Caron replied.
He knew that if Revelio did know, he would've shown some sign of it when they last saw him. But Revelio, whom they had briefly encountered on his way back to Azureocean Castle, had seemed entirely unaware of any such plans.
"So, are we just going to stand by and let this happen to Leon?" Leo asked, his voice tinged with concern.
Caron smirked and replied, "You must have grown quite attached to her after all that time on missions together."
"You know exactly what she's been through," Leo said firmly.
"Of course," Caron replied, his tone softening.
No one was more dedicated to the sword than Leon. That was who she was.
"I even gave her the Dew of the World Tree," Caron continued, his voice sharpening again. "I'm not about to let anyone take her away before I've even seen a return on that investment."
All the effort he had poured into guiding her... Caron wasn't going to let that be snatched away just like that. The thought made him bristle with indignation.
"This works out perfectly, though," he said, his tone growing dangerously cheerful. "I was planning to stay at Azureocean Castle for a while to train in Oceanwolf Sword Arts Form 7. I might as well straighten a few things out while I'm at it."
Leo's eyes narrowed as he caught the gleam in Caron's gaze. That was the look Caron always had before causing trouble.
"...What are you planning to do?" Leo asked warily.
Caron clenched his fist lightly, his expression calm but ominous.
"I'll show the adults who we are," he said, a slow grin spreading across his face.
***
Inside the training hall nestled in the annex of Azureocean Castle...
Hugo, the eldest grandson of Halo, had been honing his mana there since early morning when an unexpected visitor arrived.
"Well, well, Hugo! It's been a while. How have you been?" came a familiar, sly voice.
Hugo turned to see his youngest cousin, grinning widely. It was Caron, whom he hadn't seen in nearly four years. A faint smile crossed Hugo's lips as he regarded his cousin.
"You look well," Hugo said. "I've heard you went through a lot on your missions. I'm glad to see you've returned safely."
"It's all thanks to your concern," Caron replied, his tone as easygoing as ever. Then, his eyes twinkled mischievously as he added, "Oh, I should pay my respects to your wife, too. Any good news these days?"
"Good news?" Hugo asked, raising an eyebrow.
"You know, like the news of a nephew or niece, for example," Caron quipped with a smirk.
Hugo chuckled and said, "Haha... You haven't changed, Caron."
As his gaze lingered on Caron, he couldn't help but sense the overwhelming mana radiating from the latter. The rumors were true—Caron had reached 7-Star.
You came back even more monstrous than before, Hugo thought.
Now thirty-two years old, he was neither envious nor resentful of Caron's extraordinary achievements at a young age. Jealousy required a sense of competition, but Caron's abilities were so far beyond comprehension that such feelings didn't even arise. Hugo could only marvel at the sheer scope of Caron's talent.
"Training mana so diligently in the morning... You truly live up to the reputation of House Leston's eldest grandson," Caron remarked.
"What's your real reason for suddenly showing up and flattering me?" Hugo asked, his lips curving into a wry smile.
"Come on, of course I should greet you first when I'm back at Azureocean Castle. We're not in an awkward position, right?" Caron replied, laughing.
Hugo sighed and shook his head, then pulled a chair from the corner and motioned for Caron to sit. "Here, come have a seat."
"Thank you, Hugo," Caron said, settling into the chair with ease. He studied Hugo carefully.
His talent is undeniable, Caron thought.
At the age of thirty-two, Hugo's mana carried the unmistakable weight of 7-Star. The last time Caron had seen him, Hugo had been at 6-Star, meaning he had ascended a level in the past four years. That kind of advancement spoke volumes about the grueling training Hugo must have endured.
"You've made great progress, Hugo. Congratulations," Caron said sincerely.
Hugo responded with a faint, bittersweet smile, "I'm nowhere near your level."
"I've just been lucky as usual," Caron replied lightly.
"Be careful not to let excessive humility come off as arrogance," Hugo advised, his tone gently admonishing.
"Thank you for the wisdom. By the way, Hugo," Caron said, his voice dropping slightly, "About your seventh sea... It seems rather unstable, doesn't it?"
To the untrained eye, it wouldn't have been apparent, but Caron could see it clearly. Hugo's newly opened seventh sea was teetering precariously. It was evident he had pushed himself too hard to reach 7-Star. While the insights Hugo had gained were impressive, the mana within him was unsteady, as if it could collapse at any moment.
He rushed it, Caron thought.
The Ocean Dominance Arts required mastery over the sixth sea before opening the seventh. Only then could the seventh sea stabilize. Hugo's decision to advance prematurely was perhaps commendable in terms of ambition, but it was ultimately reckless.
The reason for his haste was obvious, though.
Dales must have driven him to it, Caron mused, his expression darkening.
Dales, Hugo's father, had likely pressured him relentlessly, using Caron as a comparison to stoke Hugo's sense of urgency.
"You really don't miss a thing, do you?" Hugo remarked, shaking his head. But even with the burden he bore, he harbored no resentment toward Caron. He simply smiled and welcomed his cousin.
"Do you not resent me?" Caron asked in a low, measured tone.
Hugo responded with a faint chuckle, "I have no reason to resent you, Caron. This is just my burden to bear."
"I've heard you haven't been able to carry out missions properly and that you've been staying here at the training hall. It's because of the aftereffects of forcing yourself to break through to 7-Star, isn't it?" Caron asked.
Hugo shrugged, his expression calm as he answered, "It's all a result of my own choices. I have no one to blame."
Caron exhaled a quiet sigh as he watched Hugo accept his circumstances without complaint.
Halo may have been terrible at farming and raising sons, but they struck gold with their grandsons. Although, calling it farming feels a bit off, he thought.
He also thought of Halo's greedy first and second son. That such descendants could produce someone like his cousins felt like a miracle. Perhaps it was divine mercy, a gift bestowed upon Halo for having to deal with him, Caron, as a grandson.
"How long are you planning to stay in the training hall? I heard you haven't stepped out in six months," Caron said, tilting his head.
"Well, didn't you spend almost three years here yourself?" Hugo countered with a raised brow.
"Hugo, you and I are not the same," Caron said.
His gaze shifted to Hugo's mana. If Hugo couldn't stabilize his seventh ocean, his growth would stagnate—and that was something Caron couldn't allow. He wouldn't stand by while the most promising talent in the family was crushed under someone else's greed.
"Have you heard about Leon's marriage talks?" Caron asked, shifting the subject.
Hugo nodded weakly and said, "Yes, I did."
"You know she's against the idea, right?" Caron asked again.
"Leon has long aspired to perfect her swordsmanship. She's never been interested in marriage. But, Caron, decisions like these are not ours to make. They lie with the elders of the family. If it's deemed necessary for the future of the duchy, then—" Hugo began, but was cut off.
"Ah, come on!" Caron interrupted, his voice sharp. "If she doesn't want it, she doesn't want it."
With that, he reached into his coat and pulled out a small vial, holding it up. "And that brings me to why I'm here today. I'd like you to stand with me, Hugo."
Hugo studied Caron's face carefully and wondered what was on Caron's mind.
Caron smirked, casually leaning back before continuing, "You see, after finishing my closed training and immediately leaving for missions, I realized I've been neglecting Azureocean Castle. It's time to restore order."
"Caron, no matter what you say, I won't—" Hugo began, but was cut off again.
"Here, Hugo. This is a gift for you," Caron said as he handed Hugo the vial, and Hugo's eyes widened as he felt the pure mana radiating from it.
"It's the Dew of the World Tree," Caron announced. "I brought it just for you. And it seems like you could use it right now."
"How... How did you get this?" Hugo asked, stunned.
Caron shrugged nonchalantly and said, "I got it from the elves, of course. I intended to give it to you."
The Dew of the World Tree was priceless. For Hugo, who was suffering from the aftereffects of his hasty breakthrough, it was nothing short of a miracle. It could erase his lingering injuries completely.
"As the eldest grandson, you need to recover quickly, Hugo," Caron said smoothly. "If you do, it'll show unity among our generation, don't you think?"
"Caron," Hugo began, his voice firm.
"Drink it," Caron urged with a sly smile. "Drink it, and stand by my side."
At last, Hugo understood what Caron wanted.
"There is an order in this family, Caron," Hugo said. "We cannot question the decisions of the elders. That's how it's always been."
"Hugo," Caron replied, his smile widening, "it's only right to call out what's wrong. Forcing sacrifices—how can that even be called a law or tradition? And besides..."
Caron's grin turned dangerous. "You know what my dream is, don't you?"
"...To be a troublemaker," Hugo muttered under his breath.
"A brilliant troublemaker," Caron corrected with a laugh. "And a proper troublemaker doesn't let silly family laws get in the way."
The sons of Halo needed to understand by now that the mad dog could bite them.
"So," Caron said, his eyes glinting with resolve. "Are you with me?"
It was time for Azureocean Castle to reckon with the mad dog it had raised.