Chapter 52
Caron gazed quietly at Halo's face. He had expected this. Despite the fact that Halo appeared indifferent most of the time, Caron could see in his eyes the concern hidden beneath the sternness. This kind of consideration wasn't that unfamiliar to him.
He remembered the words Halo, who had always been playful, said to him in his final moments. Halo had told him to survive, and to please run away. The consideration being shown now wasn't much different from back then. Although Halo's tone sounded like a scolding on the surface, what was hidden underneath was a desire to protect his grandson.
"Do you have any objections?" Halo asked in a low voice.
Caron shook his head firmly and answered, "No, family head. I will follow your command."
Caron's tone had shifted to a more serious one than before. Even the way he addressed Halo had changed from "Grandfather" to "family head."
"Really? Not even a single complaint?" Halo pressed.
"None," Caron answered resolutely.
Halo studied Caron's face in silence. The boy was still so young. Caron was at an age where anyone would feel that the decision made was unfair. But there was no trace of resentment in his grandson's expression. Normally, Caron would have resisted or protested. But now, he simply accepted the command with a calm demeanor.
"You've performed admirably on this journey. You even played a key role in stopping the succubus that attacked the palace. Did you not expect a reward for your deeds?" Halo asked.
"I trust that every command from you has a purpose. To defy that would be unworthy of someone from the Leston family," Caron replied, his voice steady.
Caron had been a playful grandson until then, but in that moment, he spoke not as a child but as a rightful member of the duchy.
"It seems you've learned something," Halo observed, realizing something profound had shifted within his grandson.
"What did you take away from this journey?" he asked, curious about what had stirred this change.
Caron didn't hesitate and replied, "I've realized how lacking I am. That's all."
"You've opened your fifth ocean at the age of thirteen. Yet you still think you're lacking? Overreaching ambition often leads to one's downfall," Halo said.
"Even so, I'm still not enough," Caron insisted.
Halo saw something in Caron's eyes. It was a fierce determination that he hadn't witnessed before. It was the look of someone driven by a firm sense of purpose, a determination more intense than anything he had ever sensed from Caron. There was no doubt that a new goal had taken root within Caron.
"Before the succubus disappeared, she told me something," Caron said.
"What is it?" Halo urged.
"She said she'd be waiting for me beyond the North Sea. And that the king was waiting. So, I have to ask you, family head." Caron stared directly at Halo. "What exactly is beyond the North Sea?"
The icy North Sea, a place known to touch the world's edge, was cloaked in countless legends. But to the Leston family, it held a far deeper significance. It was their origin, the place where the family's guardian dragon resided.
Caron had never been told about the secrets of the North Sea. Halo studied the face of his bold grandson and replied in a low voice, "You will find out when the time comes."
"...Can you not tell me?" Caron asked.
"You are not ready yet," Halo responded firmly.
This was the destiny that awaited the one chosen by Guillotine, the sword that had severed the heads of countless demons. Being chosen by that sword meant that one day, Caron would have to accept this fate too. Knowing that, all Halo could do for him now was to sharpen him further, preparing him within the safety of Azureocean Castle.
That is what I must do for you and for our family, Halo thought as he gazed quietly down at his grandson.
"Do you have anything else to say?" he asked.
"Yes, I have one request," Caron replied.
"What is it?"
"I owe a great debt to the Sixth Prince. He helped heal my internal injuries by giving me the dew of the World Tree. I would like to repay him for that," Caron said.
Halo nodded slowly at Caron's words and answered, "That matter has already been handled. The Sixth Prince is currently resting in his own palace. No suspicion has fallen upon him regarding this incident. However, he did violate the long-standing agreement between the imperial family and our house, so for that, he will face the appropriate consequences."
"An agreement?" Caron asked.
"One of the conditions we set when we dethroned the Malevolent Emperor was that no one of royal blood could learn magic. The Sixth Prince ignored that pact. As a result, we will assign a squad of the Oceanwolf Knight Order to keep watch over him. The emperor and I have already discussed this, so be aware," Halo explained.
Though Halo called it "watching," it wasn't true surveillance. The presence of the Oceanwolf Knight Order meant the Leston family was, in fact, offering the prince protection. It seemed Revelio's gamble had paid off. His plan to survive by aligning himself with the Leston family had worked. Halo had extended the greatest favor he could offer the Sixth Prince.
Caron finally smiled with a nod and responded, "That's a relief."
"We have not yet identified the true culprit behind this incident," Halo continued. "For the time being, we will remain in the palace. You boys should stay close to Zerath. Once your body has recovered, focus on your mana training to heal the rest of your internal wounds."
"There doesn't seem to be a suitable place for mana training here..." Caron said.
"I've arranged for the cooperation of the Imperial Guards. You can use their facilities. Understood?" Halo responded.
Caron realized that his grandfather hadn't forgotten about the request he'd made earlier about the visit to the imperial guards. There was a sense of quiet care hidden beneath Halo's gruff demeanor.
Caron bowed deeply in gratitude and said, "Thank you, family head."
"Rest well. And Zerath, I'm counting on you to look after them," Halo instructed.
"Yes, family head," Zerath answered.
Halo, having assessed the situation quickly, left the hospital room. Those who remained silently stared at the door he had exited through.
After a while, Caron broke the silence by speaking to Zerath. "He said he's counting on you."
"And... so?" Zerath replied.
"If Sir Zerath is by our side, I have nothing to worry about. Would it be alright if I stepped out later to visit my other grandfather's house? Oh, and Hugo is still out there, isn't he?" Caron asked.
"Young Master Hugo is currently on his way to the palace. As for your grandparents, I will speak with the head of the house to arrange a time for you to visit," Zerath said.
"See? You're the best, Sir Zerath," Caron said, grinning widely. "Then how about we take a nap for a bit longer, then visit the Imperial Guards this evening?"
The mana from the dew of the World Tree was still circulating through Caron, unabsorbed. While it wasn't an immediate problem, the energy could dissipate if not properly controlled. Training in a concentrated mana environment would be more efficient. Though not as potent as Azureocean Castle's Azure Mana, the Imperial Guards' training rooms, as mentioned by Halo, would still offer a decent level of efficiency.
"Amy," Caron called out as he lay back onto the bed.
"Yes, Young Master Caron?" Amy responded.
"Show me around the Imperial Guard headquarters later. I'm curious," Caron replied.
He wondered how much it had changed in the past years, and if there were still traces of fifty years prior there.
Amy chuckled at his curiosity with a nod, and said, "Of course, Young Master Caron."
"Might as well take a proper look around before we get to training," Caron added. "Oh, by the way, Sir Zerath, there's something I wanted to ask."
"Go ahead," Zerath replied.
Caron leaned in and whispered something quietly to the knight. Zerath listened carefully, then gave a small nod before replying, "That should be fine."
"Right?" Caron replied with a sly grin.
"But I'll check your condition after the training. Whether I grant your request will depend on how you're holding up," Zerath answered.
"Fair enough," Caron agreed.
With that, he shot a mischievous look at Amy, who raised a cautious question. "Is something wrong?"
"No, nothing at all. You should rest too, Amy," Caron said casually.
Amy couldn't shake off the chill that suddenly ran down her spine. Something about Caron's smile felt a bit too ominous for comfort.
***
The atmosphere within the Imperial Palace was dreadful. The fact that a demon had appeared in a place where Dark Mana had been kept out for fifty years was alarming enough. But the gravity of the situation had escalated when Duke Halo himself had to step in to resolve the crisis. These two developments were enough to plunge the palace into a state of unrest.
The palace had been locked down, and everyone, regardless of status, had to undergo an investigation by the Leston family. Those who had lived in the palace long enough were reminded of the tragedy from fifty years earlier. And for those unfamiliar with that event, this incident made them realize just how powerful the Leston family was. More precisely, it reminded them of the strength of Halo Leston, who was known as the strongest on the continent.
Meanwhile, back at Azureocean Castle, Halo's sons had gathered to discuss the recent events. To be more specific, they were discussing Caron.
"Rumors about Caron are everywhere," said Halo's eldest son, Dales, looking at his youngest brother with a smile. "People are saying that he's the true heir of Grand Duke Halo, that he's the most talented on the continent. You must feel proud, Fayle."
Fayle, however, didn't share his brother's lightheartedness. His expression was grim as he responded, "Caron almost died, Dales. Those rumors are not what's important."
"But in the end, everything turned out fine, didn't it?" Dales replied, his smile faltering slightly.
"Turned out fine?" Fayle's voice rose with anger. "I'm furious because my son was exposed to such danger in the first place!"
"...That's why Father intervened personally. This is—" Dales said.
"What about the Oceanwolf Knight Order? What has our household been doing? A succubus crawled out of the palace, and we couldn't do anything. What exactly have we been doing this whole time?" Fayle demanded, his frustration boiling over as he glared at his brothers.
"Not only was the train he was on attacked, but there was also an attack in the palace. Twice! We missed two clear warning signs. Isn't it too much to dismiss this as a mere mistake?" Fayle roared furiously.
His son had nearly died. Not once, but twice. And the fact that Caron had survived only thanks to his own strength made Fayle feel guilty as a parent for not being able to protect his child. That thought weighed heavily on his shoulders. A parent's duty was to ensure their children were safe from danger, and yet he'd failed.
After Fayle expressed his anger, Halo's second son, Raphael, ground his teeth and spoke. "Fayle is right, Dales. This is not a situation to be taken lightly."
"Raphael," Dales began.
"What have the informants you've so proudly praised been doing all this time?" Raphael retorted, backing up Fayle.
Faced with their reprimand, Dales could only remain silent and look at the two of them.
He could understand Fayle's anger, because ever since he left Azureocean Castle, Fayle had been in charge of managing the family's business ventures. Meanwhile, detecting risks in advance, or in other words managing the family informants, had always been Dales' responsibility.
Dales thought that it was natural for Fayle and Raphael to be furious with him. However, unlike Fayle, there was something else behind Raphael's words; it was something more calculated.
How foolish, Dales mused silently.
It seemed as if Raphael was trying to use this opportunity to hold him accountable, aiming to gain an advantage in the succession. What Raphael truly wanted was to reach a favorable position through this incident.
It's not me you should be trying to bring down, Dales thought.
Caron, that insolent nephew of his, had proven far too much during this trip to the capital. Caron was no longer some threat lurking in the shadows. He was now a clear and present danger, standing right before them. And perhaps...
Caron might be even more dangerous than Raphael, Dales thought.
The young boy's sudden rise in fame had the potential to shake the entire succession structure to its core. He had gained too much, too soon.
Dales couldn't forget the look on his father's face the day before. When the news reached Halo that Caron had been attacked, the Duke's face had twisted with anger. Despite the elders of the family trying to hold him back, Halo had insisted on activating the teleportation circle to the palace himself. That moment had revealed just how deeply Halo cared for Caron.
"I'll take my leave," Fayle said coldly as he rose from his seat. "Someone needs to be held accountable for this."
With those words, Fayle left the meeting room. Raphael followed him shortly after, leaving Dales alone.
For a moment, Dales simply sat there, then removed his glasses and placed them on the desk before running his hands over his face in frustration.
"Ha," he sighed deeply.
After what felt like an eternity of brooding, Dales reached for the communication orb sitting on his desk. The orb hummed softly as it connected, and soon, a voice came through from the other side.
"What is it?" asked the voice, firm and to the point.
In a low voice, Dales replied, "It's me, Elder. I need to speak with you privately. There's something important I need to discuss."
"Now is not the best time," the elder replied.
"This is for the good of the family," Dales reasoned.
A pause followed before the elder finally responded, "...Alright. I will come to you shortly. Wait for me."
As the connection ended, Dales leaned back in his chair, closing his eyes, and thought of his youngest nephew.
The choice is yours now, Caron, he thought.
Soon, Caron would have to make a decision. Would Caron come under the protective wing of his ever-so-kind uncle?
Or will he become my enemy? Dales thought.