Chapter 200. I Will Wait for You (3)
Cutting up the Bone Dragon's skeleton alone took nearly half a day. It was a simple, yet tedious task.
By the end of it, Caron had secured a total of five shares in the spoils. Thanks to Guillotine, he had been able to absorb the Bone Dragon's dark mana on the spot.
"Owner, you'd better share some expensive liquor with me once we're back. Don't forget," Guillotine said.
"Of course," Caron replied.
Dragon bone infused with dark mana was essentially a highly toxic material. If not for Caron, transporting it onto the ship would have been impossible.
And so, because of that, Halo had conceded one extra share to him, ensuring that Caron would be sitting on an even bigger pile of gold when they returned.
"Leo, did you collect the bone powder separately?" Caron asked.
"Yes, but what do you even need that for? You can't make equipment with it," Leo asked.
"Isn't that obvious? I'm going to sell it to the Magic Tower," Caron answered.
"Wow, you really don't miss a thing," Leo replied.
"It's all money, Leo. Do you think gold just sprouts from the ground? You have to gather it little by little," Caron explained.
Of course, the profits from the bone powder were going straight into Caron's own pocket.
While Caron and his companions wrapped up the battle in their own ways, Halo and Tauga, the chieftain of the tiger clan, approached from a distance. Beside them, Adina followed, looking slightly embarrassed.
"Caron. I've heard the gist of things from Chieftain Tauga," Halo said in a low voice as he met Caron's gaze.
The moment he saw his grandson again, he immediately noticed that Caron's Ocean Dominance Arts had undergone some kind of transformation. The mana within Caron had grown denser, and his pathways had expanded in a way that was fundamentally different from before.
Modifying the Ocean Dominance Arts without permission was a grave offense, one that warranted a formal assembly of the elders and severe punishment.
But Halo had no desire to reprimand Caron. Even to his eyes, the refined Ocean Dominance Arts that Caron and Tauga had developed suited Caron perfectly.
"Altering the Ocean Dominance Arts without approval is a violation of our house's rules. However, considering your contributions in this battle, I will overlook it," Halo stated.
"Thank you, Grandfather," Caron said.
"But you are forbidden from passing on your modified version to anyone else. I trust you understand why," Halo added.
"Yes, of course," Caron answered.
The altered Ocean Dominance Arts was a technique tailored solely for him. It was a power designed to allow his wild, turbulent sea to devour everything in its path. No one else in the ducal house could wield it, nor would it be a good idea.
That technique was something to never be passed down. It had been perfected through a unique sword—Guillotine.
"It no longer feels right to call your technique the Ocean Dominance Arts," Halo mused.
It would be best to give it a new name and clearly distinguish it.
"Do you have a name in mind?" Caron asked.
"After discussing it with Chieftain Tauga, I have come up with a fitting name," Halo replied with a nod. He explained, "If the Ocean Dominance Arts provides the way to rule the seas, then your new technique is the way to conquer them. From now on, it shall be called the Ocean Conquest Arts."
"The Ocean Conquest Arts... Not bad," Caron remarked.
A method to conquer the seas... It didn't completely win him over, but it was a decent enough name.
Not that the name of a technique really mattered anyway.
As Caron murmured the name of his new technique, Halo turned to him and asked, "Did this journey make you realize anything?"
Caron paused to think.
Leaving Azureocean Castle, stopping by the empire's Academy, traveling through the Pajar Sultanate, the Plains of Rest, and finally reaching the Eastern Great Forest...
It had been anything but a short journey. And through it all, one truth had become painfully clear to him.
"I want to become stronger," Caron said firmly.
He wanted strength, even greater strength.
When Caron thought about Ugo, who had been toyed with by the Demon King of Sloth, and the Eastern Great Forest, which had succumbed to dark mana, he knew that he still wasn't strong enough.
"You have already grown far stronger during this journey. Among your peers, there is none who can match you. And yet, you desire even greater strength?" Halo asked.
"The enemies we face don't care how old I am, do they? I still have a long way to go," Caron answered.
"So, you are not satisfied... Is that what you're saying?" Halo said.
Caron recalled the sword that Halo had shown him atop Erekis. It was a blade vast as the ocean itself, one that seemed capable of splitting the world in two. That was a level he had to reach one day.
It seemed as if he could have found a clue to the eighth sea, but the stage where all seas became one still felt like a distant dream.
That was why Caron grinned and nodded, then said, "Grandfather, my goal is to surpass you. Of course I have a long way to go."
He had failed to reach it in his previous life, but this time, he was going to succeed.
At Caron's resolute answer, Halo silently studied his grandson's face before nodding in satisfaction, then said, "Excellent."
Halo had no doubt that Caron would one day reach the pinnacle of 9-Star. His grandson would conquer every sea and, at last, fulfill their house's long-held ambition.
It was the very reason for the existence of the Ducal Family of Leston.
The conquest of the Demon Realm, Halo thought.
The lands beyond the North Sea, ruled by Demon Kings—it was their duty to burn it all to ash.
Halo recalled the sight of Caron, bloodied by the Demon King of Sloth. If it had been anyone else, they would have fainted on the spot from such an injury, yet his grandson's eyes had burned with an eerie intensity of determination.
"You will surpass me one day," he said.
If it was Caron, he wouldn't just reach 9-Star; he would go beyond. Only one person in their house's history had ever reached that stage: Their first ancestor, Rael Leston.
Halo let out a quiet breath and gave a small nod, then said, "Go and prepare for departure."
"What about you, Grandfather?" Caron asked.
"I have summoned Zerath and a division of the Oceanwolf Knight Order. We will stay behind to eliminate any remaining threats in the Eastern Great Forest," Halo replied.
After all, the Demon King of Sloth had appeared here himself. Halo had no intention of leaving any loose ends.
"I will return to Azureocean Castle before long, so go on ahead and wait for me. Once we're back, the discussions regarding your and Leo's Coming of Age Ceremony will begin, so be aware of that," Halo said.
"But I'm not old enough yet," Caron pointed out.
"If a boy at the pinnacle of 7-Star doesn't undergo his Coming of Age Ceremony, the whole world will laugh. This decision was made with the approval of the elders," Halo explained.
With the elders' backing, Caron's uncles wouldn't be able to argue against it.
The Ducal Family of Leston's Coming of Age Ceremony was held in the North Sea. And the North Sea held the last ingredient needed to revive the World Tree—the Glacier Crystal.
"It's been a while since I last saw Lady Sabina," Caron mused.
His grand-aunt, Sabina, resided in the North Sea. The ceremony would be a good opportunity to see her again.
Halo nodded slowly at that and said, "I hope you can manage to stay out of trouble until the ceremony."
"I'll try my best," Caron said.
"...Hmm," Halo sighed.
"But you know, it's not really something I can control, Grandfather. I hope you'll understand. There are just too many people at Azureocean Castle who love making me angry. Ah! I don't mean my uncles, of course," Caron said.
...In any event, the preparations for their return to the Southern Great Forest were nearly complete.
***
Three days later, the evacuation preparations were finally complete. Except for the combat forces, all the remaining elves had boarded the ships.
Standing on the deck, Baltho, the High Elder of the Eastern Great Forest, gazed down at Aileen; the city was now a distant silhouette.
A young human approached Baltho, his voice casual yet curious. "How do you feel?"
Beside him stood a small, adorable elf child, his tiny hand wrapped around the human's hands. They were none other than Caron Leston and the World Tree's sapling, Mos.
"My thoughts are a tangled mess," Baltho admitted. "I can't even put them into words."
"If you, the High Elder, look anxious, the other elves will be too," Caron pointed out.
Baltho let out a wry chuckle, nodding, then said, "I appreciate the advice."
"Nothing bad will happen!" Mos declared cheerfully.
At that, Baltho lowered his head in a respectful bow and said, "Yes... It must not."
Mos, satisfied, nodded in approval and stroked Pluto, the small creature nestled in his arms.
Caron glanced at him and murmured, "Do you want to go play with Pluto? I need to talk to the High Elder for a bit."
"Okay! But don't fight," Mos said.
"Why would I fight with the High Elder?" Caron asked.
"Hmm... Your face looks a little dangerous right now... but okay! Pluto, let's go explore the ship!" Mos replied.
Meow.
With that, Mos happily ran off, leaving Caron free to stand next to Baltho. He said, "High Elder, the war is over, the evacuation is almost finished... All that's left is setting sail. Isn't that right?"
"That's correct," Baltho replied.
"And so, there's something I wanted to ask you," Caron began.
Baltho wondered what this human was planning now. He gave a faint smile and said with a gesture, "Go ahead."
"I happened to notice that you brought quite a few things from Aileen," Caron continued.
"Well, it is the city we have lived in for countless years. With a fleet of this size, wouldn't it be nice to bring what we can? Why do you ask?" Baltho asked.
"No reason, I was just asking," Caron answered lightly.
There was no way it was for 'no reason.' Baltho caught the gleam in the young man's eyes.
"I mean, it's not like I expect a reward for, you know, bleeding for the elves or anything," Caron continued, his voice dripping with mock innocence. "I was just... purely curious about what you managed to bring along."
"Khmm." Baltho let out a loud cough and turned his head toward the vast, open sea.
"We elves owe you a great debt," he said. "A debt that no material gift could ever repay. And so, we intend to spend a very, very long time repaying it."
Baltho slowly walked toward the ship's railing, and Caron, quick as ever, fell into step beside him.
"Well, if there's nothing to give, then I suppose it can't be helped," he said with a dramatic sigh.
"...I appreciate your understanding—" Baltho began, but wasn't able to finish his sentence.
"But you know," Caron cut in smoothly, "I heard that the elves of the Eastern and Southern Great Forests are like brothers, right? So if the eastern elves can't pay, I guess their brothers can cover the debt. The Southern Great Forest elves have been doing really well for themselves lately."
"...You really are meticulous when it comes to calculations," Baltho remarked.
"My father always told me that when it comes to calculations, precision is everything," Caron replied without hesitation.
He had just stated, without a shred of shame, that he fully intended to demand compensation from the elves of the Southern Great Forest.
At last, Baltho truly understood the kind of person this human was.
"As I was told by Mos... I hear the Eastern Great Forest has created some incredible artifacts over the years. If you happened to bring any along, would you mind showing me sometime?" Caron asked.
Caron Leston was the type to take what was rightfully his. The kind of man who never missed an opportunity. One thing was certain: He would never starve, no matter where he ended up.
Baltho cleared his throat once more before giving Caron a sidelong glance, then said, "I'll have a list compiled soon and tell you. If there's anything you need, let me know. I'll include explanations as well, just in case."
"Oh! You really don't have to go that far," Caron said, waving a hand dismissively.
"...Really, you—" As soon as Baltho began, he was cut off once again.
"But! Since you're offering, I'll gladly accept. I'm not the type to turn down a gift. Haha!" Caron interrupted.
In the end, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted. Satisfied, he turned his gaze to the open sea. He thought, I'll have to collect from the Southern Great Forest elves separately.
After all, from a broader perspective, the once-divided elves had now been united. This was nothing short of a blessing for the southern elves as well. The transition would be chaotic for now, but in the long run, it was a necessary step for the future of their race.
I wonder what I should ask for to make sure I'm properly compensated? Caron thought.
The regent, without a doubt, would prepare something even if he didn't say a word.
Bwooooom!
Lost in his pleasant thoughts, Caron heard the deep, resonant sound of a ship's horn. It was the signal that the rescue fleet was setting sail.
And with it, his journey in the Eastern Great Forest had come to an end.
Whoosh!
The ship's mana engine rumbled, and the vessel began to move.
Caron closed his eyes for a moment, feeling the salty sea breeze rush past him. He thought, This is refreshing.
Now, it was time to go back home.