Chapter 210. To the North Sea (1)
The day of Caron and Leo's departure had finally arrived.
The Coming of Age Ceremony for the Ducal Family of Leston was a simple affair: To face the North Sea.
"When you arrive at the North Sea, Sabina will guide you to the ceremonial grounds. Do you have any other questions?" Halo asked, looking down at his two grandsons.
It was unprecedented in the history of the family for two heirs to undergo the ceremony at the same time.
For Leo, it was a matter of age. His time had simply come. But Caron's case was... special. After all, he was only seventeen.
Skipping two years ahead of tradition was unheard of, but no one in the Ducal Family of Leston dared question Halo's decision.
"Caron," Halo said, his tone firm. "Since you've gained immense power, you must bear the responsibility that comes with it. That is the only reason you're being allowed to undergo the ceremony early."
In a prestigious family like the Ducal Family of Leston, tradition was everything. It was what defined their noble heritage.
But even the elders of the family, including the Elder Council, had unanimously agreed to let Caron take his Coming of Age Ceremony early.
"At the very least, we need to put a leash on him."
"If not that, then maybe... a sense of responsibility as an adult."
Like Halo's two sons, everyone felt that Caron needed some kind of restraint. The boy had used his youth as an excuse to run wild for far too long.
Perhaps, once he was officially recognized as an adult, his reckless antics would subside... if only a little.
The elders were clinging to that hope like drowning men grasping at straws.
"The empire's situation will soon become unstable. You both need to complete the ceremony and return as quickly as possible. Do you understand?" Halo issued one final warning as his grandsons stood before the gates of Azureocean Castle.
Caron and Leo bowed in unison.
"Yes, head of the house," Caron said.
"Understood," Leo added.
"Leo." Halo's gaze shifted toward his older grandson. "Your role is crucial. You must ensure Caron doesn't stray off course."
"Grandfather, come on," Caron protested, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "I'll be an adult too after this. Do you really think I'll still be running around like a troublemaker?"
If only he couldn't speak, at least he wouldn't be annoying.
Halo let out a deep sigh as he looked at Caron. He would have liked to assign Zerath to keep an eye on Caron, but this was a family affair.
The Coming of Age Ceremony included not just reaching the North Sea, but returning safely to Azureocean Castle afterward.
"Grandfather," Caron said, his tone suddenly serious. "About Sir Cain's tomb... the one I mentioned before."
Halo nodded and said, "I've already spoken to Sabina about it."
"Thank you," Caron said.
"I advise you to not get your hopes up. It's just a small grave with a sword planted in the ground," Halo advised.
After imparting a few more instructions, he turned and headed back to the main castle with Heinrich by his side.
"My son," Fayle called out.
"Caron," Sara added.
Fayle and Sara, Caron's parents, embraced him tightly.
"Be careful out there," Fayle said softly.
"Yes. And if anything happens, contact Azureocean Castle immediately. You can always come back earlier, understood?" Sara added, her voice filled with concern.
"Yes, Mother. Don't worry," Caron said.
Even though Caron was already one of the most powerful figures in Azureocean Castle, Sara still saw him as her precious child who needed protection.
But Caron didn't mind their affection. After all, his parents were the greatest treasures he had gained in this life. In his previous life, having loving parents was something he had desperately longed for.
So, with a warm smile, Caron hugged his mother tightly.
Leo's situation was no different.
"Leo, no matter what happens, don't leave Caron's side," his mother, Camila, instructed firmly.
"But Mother, I'm the older one..." Leo protested weakly.
"Just do as your mother says," Raphael said.
"...Understood, Father," Leo mumbled, lowering his head when Raphael gave him a gentle pat on the back.
After that, Raphael turned to Caron and said, "I'm counting on you, Caron."
"Don't worry, Uncle Raphael," Caron replied with confidence.
The family's farewells came to an end. Now, it was time for their cousins.
Hugo and Leon stood nearby, watching Caron with bored expressions.
"I'm already worried about what will happen once you come back, Caron. Just promise me one thing—don't cause too much trouble for the family," Hugo begged.
"Like what?" Caron asked.
"Like punching me, or knocking me out cold. You know, things like that," Hugo explained.
"If anyone hears that, they'll think I'm some kind of delinquent, Hugo," Caron said.
"That's your goal, isn't it?" Hugo asked.
"Right on the mark. And Leon?" Caron turned toward her with a playful grin. "I'm counting on you to take care of Hugo and Revelio. You're the only one I can trust."
Leon let out a long sigh and shook her head, then said, "As long as it's not you, I can handle anything."
"That's the right attitude," Caron said.
"...Be careful out there." Leon wished him good luck.
And with that, Caron's farewells to his cousins came to an end as well.
Now, only one person remained—Revelio.
"Take some rest," Caron said, turning to Revelio.
"Oh, I will. I've been resting just fine even without your permission. But I'll be there to see Father's funeral with my own eyes," Revelio replied.
"Unfortunately, it seems you didn't manage to be greatly unfilial while he was alive, did you?" Caron asked.
"Don't worry. There are still plenty of ways to be a disappointment after he's gone. I'm counting on you to help me with that. You will, right?" Revelio replied.
"Hmm. I'll think about it," Caron said.
Revelio chuckled and extended his hand toward Caron. And Caron, suppressing a grin, clasped Revelio's hand firmly.
With that, all the goodbyes were done.
Everything they needed for the journey to the North Sea had been packed into Caron's pouch of dimensional space. All that was left now... was to depart.
"Well then, we're off," Caron said.
Unfortunately, there was still no railway leading to the northern regions. The area was so underdeveloped that construction had only begun recently. So, they had to travel to the North Sea on horseback.
Caron mounted the horse that had been prepared in advance and gently patted its neck.
"Let's go. Leo? Hurry up and say goodbye," Caron said.
Leo climbed onto his horse, a bit less gracefully than his younger cousin, and waved toward the family.
"We'll return safely," he said.
"Let's ride!" Caron exclaimed.
"Hey! Caron! You're not supposed to gallop inside the castle—" Leo began.
Clatter-clatter-clatter!
But before Leo could finish his sentence, Caron had already taken off like a bolt of lightning.
Leo, eyes wide with panic, kicked his horse into action to catch up.
They swept through the castle gates like a whirlwind, leaving behind only a cloud of dust and a few worried faces watching the two boys disappear into the distance.
Leon, who had been staring at Caron's fading figure for a long time, finally spoke. "Hugo."
Hugo nodded without looking at her, then answered, "Yes."
"Hmm? You don't even know what I was going to say," Leon said.
"You were going to suggest we double down on our training before Caron gets back. Right?" Hugo asked.
"That's exactly right. I refuse to get pummeled by that little brat when he returns," Leon said as she smirked, her gaze still fixed on the horizon.
She then turned slowly and glanced at Revelio. And Revelio, sensing her gaze, gave an awkward smile. He asked, "Is there something you'd like to say, Lady Leon?"
"Could you drop the ridiculous titles already? Just call me Leon. And since you don't have much to do around here, why don't you join us for training?" Leon suggested.
"Leon, I'm a mage," Revelio said.
"Exactly. Mages have poor stamina, don't they? I can't stand weaklings, so stop whining and come along," Leon instructed.
"...Understood," Revelio gave in.
"Oh, right." Leon's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Sir Mason is still at Azureocean Castle, isn't he? I should spar with him while I'm at it. Please make the arrangements, Your Highness."
"I'll... speak to him—" Revelio said.
"Good," Leon replied.
The Mad Dog had left Azureocean Castle, but that didn't mean things were going to quiet down anytime soon.
***
It had been one week since Caron and Leo left Azureocean Castle.
"Why the hell is it so cold?" Leo grumbled as he pulled his coat tighter around himself, trudging forward.
The weather had grown noticeably colder since they departed. It was a clear sign that they were approaching the northern regions of the continent.
Leo wore the thick coat Caron had prepared in advance, but Caron was still dressed lightly, seemingly unaffected by the biting cold. That was because he was wearing Kavana.
"Tsk tsk. A grown man can't handle a little chill?" Caron teased.
"If you're going to talk like that, would you mind lending me that fancy Kavana you're wearing?" Leo snapped back.
"Sorry, but I can't do that," Caron replied.
The armor that Caron was wearing had been issued during their expedition to the Southern Great Forest. Kavana was a suit of enchanted armor equipped with various functions—which included warmth enchantments. Thanks to that, Caron barely felt the cold despite his light attire.
"Sigh. I wonder what kind of people can live in a climate like this," Leo commented.
"Azureocean Castle is colder than the southern regions, isn't it?" Caron asked casually.
"Yes, but it's not this cold," Leo replied.
"It might be because winter is approaching. Northern winters are always brutal," Caron explained.
The northern regions of the continent were harsh and frigid. The barren climate was the primary reason why the northwestern territories of the empire had lagged behind in development. The weather was cold, and because of the proximity to the North Sea, monsters appeared far more frequently in this region compared to others.
As a result, the soldiers of the empire's northern territories, particularly those from the northwest, had become elites by necessity. Years of repelling monstrous invasions had honed them into hardened warriors.
"That's also one of the reasons why the imperial family keeps the northwest on a tight leash," Caron said.
"Why?" Leo asked, his curiosity piqued.
"What do you think would happen if a group with that kind of military power banded together? A rebellion, of course," Caron answered.
In fact, he had personally led expeditions to suppress revolts in the northwest several times, about fifty years ago.
Although the current emperor's administration had greatly improved conditions, it was still difficult for nobles from the northwest to enter the central political sphere.
"That's why the northern lords tend to be extremely wary and distrustful of outsiders. Though they're a little less hostile toward our family," Caron continued.
"Because our family is leading the development of the northwest?" Leo asked.
"That's part of it. But it's also because Grandfather has sent reinforcements every time a major monster wave occurred. And don't forget—Sir Zerath is from this region too," Caron replied.
Zerath Winterguard, the Commander of the Oceanwolf Knight Order, hailed from the Winterguard County near the North Sea.
If Caron remembered correctly, Zerath was the uncle of the current Count Winterguard.
Caron continued his explanation as they walked forward. "In any case, it's a dangerous place. Injuries in this kind of climate are no joke. If the cold seeps into a wound, it can escalate into something far worse."
"Still, it can't be as bad as the Southern or Eastern Great Forests, right?" Leo asked, trying to reassure himself.
"Don't be so sure about that," Caron said.
It was already November. This was the time of year when monsters prowled in search of food.
From November to January, hordes of starving monsters frequently attacked human settlements in what was known as the Monster Wave.
And now, with the power of the Demon Kings growing stronger by the day, the Monster Wave could pose a catastrophic threat if it erupted.
Caron's expression darkened as he scanned the snowy horizon ahead.
The calm before the storm was often the most dangerous moment.
"Owner, considering how lucky you have been lately, don't you think something bad is bound to happen soon?" Guillotine asked.
I was thinking the same thing, Caron silently agreed.
As Guillotine had pointed out, Caron's luck had been unusually good recently. Halo had shown up in the Eastern Great Forest just in time, and he had also obtained the Ocean Conquest Arts at the Plains of Rest.
It felt as if it was only a matter of time before misfortune came knocking.
"If this place is so dangerous, why didn't we just stay on the horses? Why did we have to get off?" Leo grumbled.
Caron gave him a light slap on the back and said, "It's all part of the training. You need to be able to circulate your mana smoothly, even in cold weather like this. That's how you improve."
"That just sounds like an excuse to make me suffer," Leo replied.
"Have you been taking extra lessons lately? Since when did you get so sharp?" Caron asked.
"Ugh, you bastard," Leo answered.
"Even the horses struggle in this cold," Caron added casually.
"So you're worried about the horses, but not about me? Ugh, forget it. Anyway, how much longer do we have to go? Don't tell me we're camping out again tonight," Leo said.
Ever since they left Azureocean Castle, they had been camping every night. Thanks to the high-quality tent Caron had taken from the Magic Tower, it hadn't been too much of a hassle.
But by now, Leo felt it would be best to stop in a proper city and get themselves sorted.
Under normal circumstances, Caron would have immediately rejected that idea. But to Leo's surprise, Caron gave an unexpected response.
"Actually, I was planning to stop by somewhere tonight. We're currently in the County of Kandle. The capital is about an hour's walk from here. We'll spend the night there," Caron said.
"Whoa, what's gotten into you?" Leo asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.
"In Riard, the capital, there's a distillery that's famous for its vodka. It's hard to get it even in the capital, so we can only buy it here," Caron explained.
"Right, I should have known," Leo replied.
"Since we're going anyway, we might as well spend some money. I'll even give you some pocket money," Caron said.
"Thanks—wait a minute. Hey, wasn't my money included in our travel expenses too?" Leo asked.
"Money belongs to the one holding it. If you don't like how it is, why don't you try taking control of the finances?" Caron smirked.
He was a complete thief. But then again, that was just how Caron was. Leo had long since learned to accept it.
At least they were finally heading to a city.
I should be grateful for small mercies, Leo thought. Traveling with Caron had taught him to appreciate life's little comforts.
With different goals in mind, the two cousins continued their journey toward Riard.
At that moment, neither of them had any idea what awaited them there.