Chapter 246. The Signature Technique (1)
The head of the Ducal Family of Leston, Halo Leston, pressed his hand to his temple and stared at his grandson.
It had only been a single day since Caron had arrived at the Imperial Palace, and yet, an unbelievable situation had occurred.
"Hehe." Caron grinned.
"What are you grinning about? Put your hands up, now!" Fayle exclaimed.
Halo stood with his arms crossed behind his back, while Fayle, cheeks flushed red, scolded Caron.
Caron had been dragged in that morning by the Imperial Guards—under arrest. That was because he'd been caught breaking into the imperial treasury.
"Why am I the only one getting scolded here?" Caron complained. "Revelio was with me too, right, Revelio?"
Halo's brow was already furrowed with deep lines. The once-imposing figure of the head of the house was fading quickly, giving way to a different identity entirely. His was the scrunched-up face of a grandfather who was frustrated with his troublemaking grandson.
But what truly pushed Halo over the edge was his younger brother, Third Elder Ulrich.
"Fayle, come now," Ulrich said, stepping in from the side. "It's reasonable for a boy who was bored to just raid the treasury. You'd do well not to scold him in front of so many eyes."
As an elder of the family, he should have been the first to set a good example. But instead, Ulrich asked, "So, Caron, did you loot it thoroughly?"
"Of course, Third Elder!" Caron replied brightly. "Oh! I even brought a few souvenirs for the elders."
"Oh! How thoughtful of you! Haha! Truly, Caron, only you could think of restocking Azureocean Castle's vaults like this!" Ulrich replied.
Ulrich was praising Caron instead of scolding him. The world had to have flipped upside down.
Caron, hands still raised, gave a smug shrug and said with a grin, "Come on, this is just the basics."
"But how did you get caught?" Ulrich asked. "If you had used Pluto's ability, it could have been the perfect crime."
"Unfortunately, my shadows got severed," Caron said, sounding a little bitter. "Turns out, some of the spells guarding the treasury are laced with ancient magic. I let my guard down... Oh, and Revelio, why aren't your hands up?"
At that, Revelio, who was standing nearby, replied proudly, "Why should I raise my hands? It's my treasury. Who's going to punish me for robbing my own vault?"
Fayle shot him a glare and said, "Prince Revelio, we have a witness who saw Your Highness steal His Majesty's key."
"What? That can't be right. I explicitly asked Sir Mason to erase any—" Revelio began.
"Sir Mason himself gave the testimony," Fayle interrupted.
"...Ah." Revelio sighed.
"Raise your hands alongside Caron. His Majesty has granted permission," Fayle said.
"Yes, sir," Revelio replied, then shot up his hands without a moment's hesitation. In truth, he had been trying to hold out, but Halo's glare was too much even for him.
Halo looked at the two foolish young men and let out a deep, heavy sigh. Then, in a voice thick with weariness, he asked, "At the very least... Can I hear your reason?"
Finally, it was the question Caron had been waiting for. With a glint in his eye, he answered, "I'm planning to create my own signature technique."
This was a requirement for any member of the Ducal Family of Leston who reached 8-Star.
The Oceanwolf Sword Arts only had seven formal techniques. From the eighth onward, each individual had to create their own signature technique—one that matched their own nature.
The sea, after all, wasn't uniform. Its temperament varied from person to person, and so the path to mastering it had to be just as individual.
At Caron's explanation, Halo's expression twisted into a light frown. He asked, "And what does creating a signature technique have to do with robbing the imperial treasury?"
"The things I needed to complete it were in the treasury," Caron explained. "Ah, may I lower my hands for a moment? I stashed the loot in my pouch of dimensional space."
"...What a boast. Alright, let's see it," Halo said.
"Hehe, thank you," Caron said, then reached into the pouch and began pulling out his haul.
There was a crimson elixir known as the Heart of the Mountain, as well as various sword manuals written in ancient tongues. Many of them, in fact, were believed to have been lost to the world.
"There's quite a mix of ancient sword arts in here," Halo said as he flipped through the manuals Caron had handed over and nodded.
Thanks to the preservation magic woven into them, the manuals were in remarkably good condition. More than that, none of them existed in the libraries of Azureocean Castle.
"Is the Oceanwolf Sword Arts no longer enough for you?" Halo asked.
He already knew that Caron had mastered the Imperial Sword as well. It was clear in every movement of Caron's blade—his techniques bore the unmistakable marks of both styles.
The fact that Caron had managed to blend two diametrically opposed sword arts was already impressive. But it was evident that he was aiming for even more.
"I'm trying to create something of my own," Caron replied. "If I want to do that, I need to try everything that looks promising. No holding back."
"These techniques each have their own nature," Halo warned. "Some value fluid motion, others brute strength. Some are designed to mislead the enemy's eye. Try to master them all, and you may end up mastering none."
Still, Halo could tell that what Caron sought to create was unlike any swordsmanship he had ever seen.
Caron's cultivation method differed from the Ocean Dominance Arts. It was called the Ocean Conquest Arts—a method that was entirely his own.
It made sense that such a unique foundation would demand an equally unique sword style, and it was bound to be a difficult journey. Yet Caron's eyes shimmered with unwavering determination.
"I have to give it my all," Caron said. "The First Ancestor even gave me a gift to help."
He lightly shook Guillotine, the sword gifted to him by Rael Leston during his Coming of Age Ceremony—an artifact that had unlocked a new power within him. With that power, Caron could truly be able to craft the greatest of signature techniques.
"I like that confidence," Halo said with a small sigh, looking at Caron.
Whether it was confidence or arrogance, only time would tell. But one thing was certain.
He'll do it, Halo thought.
If anyone could achieve it, it would be Caron.
To create his own signature technique, he will need talent, Halo reflected.
Not just talent with a sword—but the ability to analyze, reinterpret, and reshape swordsmanship itself. Signature techniques were where innate genius shone brightest.
Caron had, from a young age, studied sword manuals on his own, internalizing their lessons and blending them seamlessly into his own style.
Halo wondered what kind of technique Caron would ultimately forge. He found himself more curious than concerned, so in a voice steeped with dignity, he said, "Breaking into the imperial treasury... Well, that will become just another tale whispered among the unofficial records. Prince Revelio, wouldn't it be better for Your Highness as well?"
Revelio laughed and nodded, then replied, "Of course. Just another secret buried among the countless others hidden in the imperial vaults. Although, may I say just one thing, Duke Halo?"
"Go ahead," Halo said.
"Robbing my own treasury isn't a crime," Revelio said.
"Your Highness," Halo called out.
"Yes?" Revelio replied.
"Keep your hands raised. I don't recall giving permission to lower them," Halo said.
Revelio gave a sheepish nod and obediently raised both hands again.
Halo slowly rose from his seat and turned to Caron before asking, "Are you planning to return to Azureocean Castle?"
To develop a true signature technique, Caron would need proper facilities—and above all, a source of Azure Mana, which was essential to forging new sword arts.
"Yes," Caron answered. "I want to have it ready before I go to the Holy Kingdom."
No one knew what threats would await them in the future. But there was no stopping a grandson who wanted to become stronger to prepare for them.
"The teleportation circle in the imperial garden is still active," Halo said. "Use it to return to Azureocean Castle."
"What about you, Grandfather?" Caron asked.
"There's still far too much for me to take care of here," Halo replied. "Only you and Leo will return to the castle. But I'd like you to promise me just one thing...."
He met Caron's gaze—eyes the same shade of blue as his own, and eyes that were reminiscent of Cain, of days long past.
"Come back with results that will satisfy me," Halo said.
He wanted his grandson to accomplish what generations of their family had only dreamed of. He wanted Caron to surpass him—becoming stronger, wiser, more complete.
At Halo's words, Caron placed a hand lightly over his heart and nodded. He answered, "I promise I will."
"I'll inform Azureocean Castle of your return," Halo said. "Use the cultivation chamber once you arrive."
"Thank you," Caron said. With their conversation concluded, he stood and bowed deeply in gratitude.
It was time to take the next step forward.
***
In the imperial garden where the teleportation circle to Azureocean Castle had been installed, mages dispatched from the Magic Tower were busily adjusting the complex inscriptions without pause. For the time being, the Ducal Family of Leston had decided to keep the circle operational, maintaining a direct link with the capital.
Simply keeping the teleportation circle active cost a fortune. To reduce those astronomical expenses, the mages were pouring in all their efforts.
"You're running away again. All by yourself, as usual," Leon said, frowning as she looked at Caron.
Caron responded with a bright grin, "You know escaping alone is the sweetest kind of fun. But hey, Leon."
"What?" Leon asked warily.
"Are you really not thinking of getting married? If you married Revelio, you'd become the empress. It's the perfect chance to become the real power behind the throne," Caron answered.
"I'll take care of my own life, thank you very much," Leon said coldly. "So shut that mouth of yours and get going."
"Yes, ma'am!" Caron replied.
His cousins were staying behind. They still had countless duties left to carry out in the capital.
Caron glanced over at Hugo, saying, "Hugo, take care of Leon for me while I'm gone."
Without hesitation, Hugo replied, "She would be fine if only you weren't here."
"Aha..." Caron responded.
"Have you decided who to bring to the Holy Kingdom?" Hugo asked.
"I still need to think about that. I'll figure it out while working on my signature technique. Honestly, I'd love to bring all three of you, but... There's no way Grandfather would allow that," Caron answered.
He stepped closer to Hugo and whispered in a conspiratorial tone, "It seems like Leon is kind of into Revelio too. Wouldn't hurt to have the emperor as a brother-in-law, right?"
"...Did you already forget the drunken disaster you caused last time?" Hugo reminded Caron.
"Oh come on, that was all the adults forcing things. This time, it feels like they actually like each other," Caron said.
Hugo turned to observe Revelio, who was stealing glances at Leon whenever he could. The prince's cheeks were tinged red. Just as Caron had said, he seemed to harbor feelings for her. Leon, too, didn't seem displeased by his attention.
"...Alright," Hugo said.
"Nice. I knew I could count on you," Caron said.
Satisfied, he turned with a smirk toward Leo, whose expression was twisted with unease, before asking, "What's with that face, Leo?"
"...Can't I just stay here? Everyone else is having a hard time here, and going back to Azureocean Castle feels wrong..." Leo answered.
"You reached 7-Star, but you haven't really learned anything new since. You should come back with me, train in the seventh form, and stabilize your mana. Otherwise, how are you supposed to keep up with me?" Caron said.
"Ha... Seriously..." Leo sighed.
Caron also intended to watch over Leo's swordsmanship more closely during this opportunity. After Leo's Coming of Age Ceremony, he had broken through his limitations. Once just an average talent, he was now being hailed as the next great hope after Caron himself.
Raising a kid is no joke, Caron thought.
He'd fed Leo the best resources, and helped polish the latter's swordsmanship whenever he could. Of course, none of it would've mattered if Leo hadn't put in the effort himself—but he had. Enough for Caron to acknowledge him.
When the day came that Caron reached the Demon Realm, perhaps he'd be able to rely on Leo to watch his back.
That was why he patted Leo's back and said, "Don't get lazy now."
"Ever since I met you, I haven't had a chance to slack off, you jerk," Leo said.
"And that should continue," Caron replied.
With that, the casual farewells with his cousins came to an end.
Caron turned one last time to Revelio before saying, "Next time we meet, you might not be Prince Revelio anymore... but His Majesty the emperor. Should I start calling you 'Your Majesty' then?"
"Just stick with Revelio. It's more comfortable that way," Revelio answered.
If he really did ascend to the throne, he would eventually learn the secrets of the imperial family—the truth about the demonic blood that ran through their veins. That burden would be his alone to bear.
"I'll be counting on you," Caron said. One day, he would need Revelio's help to reach the Demon Realm. Conquering it would require the empire's power as well.
"Right back at you," Revelio replied.
"Alright. I'm off for real this time," Caron added.
With a cheerful grin, he stepped in front of the teleportation circle. He shoved Leo inside first, then followed him in.
Flash!
A flash of light burst out, and in an instant, both Caron and Leo vanished.
Revelio stared at the spot where they had disappeared and muttered to himself, "I wonder what kind of monster he'll have turned into by the next time we meet..."
Leon sighed beside him and added, "Usually, whenever this happens... he returns in a state that's way beyond what anyone could imagine."
"But he's already a monster," Revelio said.
"At his current level, at least the elders can still keep him in check. But if he achieves a major breakthrough this time... then aside from Grandfather, no one will be able to stop him," Leon said.
"No one but Duke Halo, huh..." Revelio trailed off.
He pondered his future. If even the entire empire couldn't rein in Caron, and only Halo could... Then this would be an empire with a rampaging, uncontrollable mad dog on the loose.
"It would be a disaster," Revelio said.
"It is a disaster," Leon agreed.
"...Am I really fit to become Crown Prince in a time like this?" Revelio muttered. Just imagining his future as emperor filled him with dread and thrills in equal measure.
"Caron's probably going to evolve into a great calamity," Leon added.
"Then what am I supposed to do?" Revelio asked.
Leon gave him a deadpan look, and replied, "What else? Just get swept away in the catastrophe. It's not as if there's any other choice."
And one month later, Leon's prophecy would come true. Though at the time, none of them could have known what kind of calamity Caron would become.
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