Chapter 59
After bidding farewell to Amy and Luhon, Caron stepped back out onto the bustling streets of the boutique district. It was time to return to the mansion. When they had arrived earlier, the streets had been relatively quiet, but now, that wasn't the case.
"Why are there so many people all of a sudden?" Leo asked, looking baffled at the crowded street.
As if it was obvious, Hugo responded casually, "It means the rumors about Caron are spreading fast."
"Wait... You're saying all these people are...?" Leo trailed off, glancing around at the crowd.
Hugo nodded with a wry smile and said, "Yes, they're all here just to catch a glimpse of Caron."
The rumor about Caron beating up the arrogant rogue of House Kian had spread like wildfire. But that wasn't all. The word had gotten out that Caron had single-handedly slain a demon in the royal palace. It was something of a heroic legend in the making. Thanks to the young nobles who had witnessed the scene, the rumors were spreading at incredible speed.
"A new rising star has emerged in the great family led by the legendary hero, Grand Duke Halo!"
With such sensational rumors being spread directly by the noble families themselves, it was no surprise that the capital was buzzing.
"You'd think a famous actor had arrived or something. Isn't that right, Caron? I'm jealous..." Leo shot a quick glance at Caron, trying to gauge his reaction.
Being popular was supposed to be a good thing. Popularity meant fame, and gaining this much recognition at such a young age was supposed to be a cause for celebration. But Caron's face was twisted in irritation.
"Ugh, damn it. Nothing is going according to my plan. I was supposed to gain infamy, not popularity... Should I just go beat up a few more brats right now? No, that'll probably make it worse... Agh, this is so frustrating," Caron muttered in frustration.
Leo watched him pathetically and thought, This guy really is a lunatic.
Most people desired this kind of fame, and yet here Caron was, treating it that way.
But then again, that's exactly who Caron is, Leo thought.
It was the kind of a behavior he had come to expect from the person he respected as the best kind of lunatic.
As Leo let out a deep sigh, Hugo, who had been silently observing, quietly said to Caron, "Caron, smile."
"Huh?" Caron responded, confused.
"Over there, do you see the people with cameras? They're the reporters from the press. You know what the press is, right?" Hugo asked.
"Of course I do," Caron replied.
The rapid advancement of magical engineering had led to significant progress in various fields, one of which was the media. Newspapers were now a major business, regularly distributing news to the public. They had become the most important tool for conveying information to the people and, consequently, a powerful means of swaying public opinion.
"This is a great chance to boost the reputation of our duchy. Smile for the cameras and wave at them. Make sure they get a good picture," Hugo said.
"You're always thinking about the family's reputation, aren't you, Hugo? I admire your dedication," Caron replied. For now, he decided to play along with Hugo's request.
Caron waved to the cameras with a smile. The reporters erupted into cheers as they began taking photos.
Just then, a voice called out, "Young Master Caron!"
A man appeared in front of Caron and his group. His skin was deeply tanned, and his blond hair gleamed in the light. It was Drogol Kian, the same man Caron had beaten nearly to death just a few days earlier.
"I heard you were here and rushed over," Drogol said breathlessly.
Caron frowned, then looked down at him. He asked as he began to roll up his sleeves, "Did you come to get beaten up again?"
Before Caron could make a move, Drogol dropped to his knees and threw himself flat on the ground, shouting, "No, no, I didn't!"
Drogol trembled uncontrollably, likely reliving the memory of their previous encounter. The reporters, not missing a beat, began taking pictures of the scene. It was a situation that was easy for people to misunderstand. Hugo, seeing the potential for another disaster, hurried to pull Drogol to his feet, but Caron stopped him.
"I'll handle this, Hugo," Caron said calmly.
"...I've never seen you handle anything peacefully before," Hugo said.
"Trust me, I've got it this time," Caron replied.
Just as Caron was about to address Drogol, another man stepped forward. He was a middle-aged nobleman. His expensive clothing immediately marked him as someone of high status. The man was furious as he yanked Drogol up from the ground.
"What are you doing, Drogol? I told you to be aware of the lower-class people watching you!" he exclaimed sternly.
"F-Father..." Drogol stuttered.
"Shut your mouth," his father snapped.
It was clear from the interaction that this man was Drogol's father, Count Austin Kian, the head of House Kian.
"My apologies for the interruption," Austin said, turning to Caron. "I am Count Austin Kian, Drogol's father."
Austin scanned the crowd, taking note of the many reporters documenting the event. He knew that Caron couldn't act recklessly as the grandson of Grand Duke Halo. Not in front of the press, at least.
This is a good opportunity, he thought.
Austin had been furious when he first heard that his son was nearly beaten to death. To make matters worse, his cowardly son hadn't even asked for Caron to be punished. Despite being on the receiving end of a brutal assault, Drogol had been too afraid to demand justice. Now, Austin saw this as a chance to at least extract a public apology. No matter what the circumstances were, his son had undeniably been beaten.
"I heard that there was an unfortunate incident between my son and you, Sir Caron," Austin began.
"What do you mean by an 'unfortunate incident'?" Caron asked, his tone flat.
"I'm referring to your unprovoked physical assault on my son. We have eyewitness accounts, so you can't simply deny it. If you offer a simple apology, we will leave quietly," Austin said.
An apology was the least Austin could ask for, given the circumstances. He wasn't foolish enough to seek reparations or demand more from the Leston family. Even Marquis Kieran Diaz had advised him to let this matter go without making a fuss.
At the very least, I must receive an apology, he thought.
Count Austin Kian steeled himself. His son had been assaulted in broad daylight, right in the capital's center. Letting such a thing slide would be a blow to his pride. With so many people in the crowd, surely the young boy in front of him would understand the need to apologize. No one wanted a public dispute here, after all.
The newspapers in the capital had been careful to avoid reporting on Caron's attack on Drogol, likely out of deference to the Leston family. Austin figured Caron wouldn't want to stir up trouble and would prefer to handle things quietly. That way, both parties could save face. Austin would get his apology, and Caron could walk away without causing a scene.
It's a win-win, isn't it, Caron Leston? Austin thought to himself.
However, Caron turned out to be much crazier than Austin had originally thought.
"An apology? Why should I apologize? Your son got beaten up because he deserved it. Actually, you should be thanking me," Caron said.
"W-What did you just say?" Austin stuttered, his disbelief evident.
"I did the parenting you should have done. I gave your son the lesson he clearly needed. Not only did you not even pay me for tutoring, asking for an apology seems a bit much," Caron said.
"That's right, Father. Thanks to Young Master Caron, I've become a better person. What do you mean by an apology? I should be thanking him for guiding me onto the right path!" Drogol called out.
Austin's face paled, as he hadn't anticipated the situation spiraling out of control. Plus, Drogol, his own son, had made things worse by agreeing with Caron's outrageous statement.
"No matter who it is, people who deserve to get beaten will be beaten. That's a principle I live by. Oh, wait, did you come here because you thought your son still had to be educated? I'm generous enough to give him another round of lessons, if you'd like," Caron added, his tone dripping with the menace of a street thug.
This was the moment when the dignity of the prestigious Leston family crumbled before many people's eyes.
"Sir Caron... Even if you're the grandson of Grand Duke Halo, this is—" Austin started, but Caron cut him off with the same cold voice.
"Do you want me to educate your son further?" Caron offered.
The reporters' cameras clicked frantically, capturing every tense moment. Behind them, Hugo, who had been listening in horror, went as white as a sheet.
...How am I supposed to face Grandfather after this? Hugo despaired. Once again, he had failed in the task his grandfather had entrusted to him.
***
That evening, at Gyle's mansion, Caron and his group were preparing for their departure. In the bustling courtyard, Zerath was reading a freshly printed special edition of the evening news.
"...How amazing, Young Master Caron. You couldn't resist stirring things up again..." Zerath remarked as he flipped through the paper.
"Ughhh," Caron sighed dramatically.
"Why are you sighing like that?" Zerath asked, glancing at him.
"This is not the kind of attention I was aiming for," Caron replied, casting a sideways glance at the paper in Zerath's hands.
The headlines said:
"Caron Leston, the Rising Star of the Leston Family, Sends a Warning to the Indulgent Nobles!" "Caron Leston: 'No matter who it is, people who deserve to get beaten will be beaten.'" "The Citizens of the Capital Rejoice!" "Grand Duke Halo, the Hero Who Saved the Empire, and His Extraordinary Grandson, Caron Leston!" "Drogol Kian, Who Was 'Beaten' by Caron: 'Lord Caron was only guiding me. He didn't assault me, he merely showed me the right path.'"
These weren't the kind of articles Caron had envisioned. He had hoped for something along the lines of "A Complete Maniac with No Sense of Decency" or "The Spoiled Brat of the Leston Family", but instead, what he got was...
"'Caron Leston has clearly been raised with a deep sense of noblesse oblige from a young age. As the youngest grandson of the Leston family, he is a true role model for nobility everywhere'... Are they serious? None of these people know how I feel!" Caron groaned, frustration bubbling up within him.
Instead of earning a notorious reputation, all he was getting were heaps of praise. The very fame he had tried to avoid was now being piled on him, and it was driving him mad.
While Caron grumbled, Leo got the newspaper from Zerath and skimmed through it. He whistled under his breath, clearly impressed.
"Wow, it seems that once you're famous, you can literally do anything. Even if you mess up, people still applaud you. The Prince's words were true," Leo remarked.
Out of everyone present, Leo seemed to have the best understanding of Caron's inner turmoil. Noblesse oblige? There was no way Caron would be concerned about something like that. He had simply barreled through the situation without thinking, as usual.
"Man, your luck is unreal," Leo muttered, half to himself.
Caron shot him a sour look, clearly not amused. He grumbled, "Exactly. My luck's always been rotten. Should've insulted that count while I was at it."
"Why stop there? You should've just slapped him," Leo teased.
"Next time, let me know in advance, will you? I totally should've slapped him!" Caron agreed, nodding with exaggerated frustration.
"Please, Young Master Caron, could you behave yourself until we actually leave? It's getting hard to keep up with all this chaos," Zerath interjected with an exasperated sigh.
Caron shrugged and sighed.
They were planning to return to Azureocean Castle by carriage, with Zerath and the Oceanwolf Knight Order providing protection. Caron had suggested using the teleportation circle, but it had already been deactivated.
Today, only Caron and Leo were making the return trip to Azureocean Castle. Halo had said he would remain in the capital because he still had important matters to discuss with the imperial family.
He must be planning to deal with the influential nobles left in the capital. Knowing Halo's personality, once he draws his sword, he won't stop until everything's settled, Caron thought. For a while, the capital was bound to be chaotic, and at the center of that storm would be the Leston family.
As Caron chewed on some jerky, waiting in the courtyard, an elderly couple walked through the main gate. They were his grandparents, Gyle and Helena. However, something was quite peculiar about their entrance.
"Um, dear, there are too many eyes on us. Perhaps you could stop gripping my neck like that...?" Gyle suggested.
"Be quiet. How long did Caron have to wait for you? To think you had the nerve to still be working when I went to fetch you!" Helena snapped, dragging Gyle along by his collar.
"I've been diligently serving the nation, my love—Gah! Can you ease up? I'm dying here..." Gyle wheezed.
Helena was hauling Gyle along like a disobedient child.
Caron couldn't help but laugh at the sight, greeting them with a smile. He exclaimed cheerfully, "You've arrived!"
At Caron's greeting, Gyle quickly straightened up, fixing his appearance before waving with an exaggerated smile. He tried to sound casual as he explained, "Sorry for the delay, Caron. I got held up with some urgent matters."
"We almost had to spend another night here," Caron teased.
"Well, that wouldn't have been so bad! Ha! Maybe I should've taken longer—" Gyle began, but his words were cut off by Helena's stern glare. "J-Just kidding, dear! I'm kidding."
"Honestly, a man your age should have more sense! You should be rushing to make sure your grandson can get some rest, not joking around!" Helena chastised him, her eyes narrowing.
Caron smiled warmly as he watched the pair. They had always been kind and loving toward him, and although he wished he could spend more time with them in the capital, there were things he had to attend to. Bowing slightly, he gave them a polite farewell.
"I'll come visit you again," he promised.
Gyle and Helena embraced him fondly with a smile. Gyle said with a grin, "We'll be stopping by Azureocean Castle this winter, so make sure to stay healthy until then. Got it?"
"Yes, Caron, your health is the most important thing. Make sure you're eating properly!" Helena added.
"I will! I'll be waiting for you in the winter!" Caron replied.
The short but heartfelt farewell came to an end, and Zerath, who had been quietly observing, spoke up in a soft tone. "Please, board the carriage. Everything is ready."
"Where did Hugo go?" Caron asked, glancing around.
"Hugo will remain in the capital as well to assist the head," Zerath explained.
"Oh, I see. Alright," Caron replied, before stepping into the carriage with Leo by his side.
Caron leaned out of the window and waved, then said, "We're off! See you at Azureocean Castle, Grandfather, Grandmother!"
"Close the window before bugs get in," Gyle called after him.
With everything finally in order, Zerath climbed into the carriage as well. He ordered, "Let's head out."
"Yes, Sir Zerath," the driver replied.
Whoosh.
The hum of the mana engine filled the air, a pleasant resonance signaling the start of their journey. But just as they were about to depart...
"Yooooung Masterrrrrr Carooon! Please don't leave me behind again!" A distant shout echoed through the courtyard. The voice was followed by the sight of a large man covered in dust, running toward them with tears streaming down his face.
Caron raised an eyebrow, looking completely uninterested. He remarked, "Now that I think about it, that guy has had no presence at all since we came to the capital. Where on earth has he been hiding?"
It was Urhan, Caron's servant and the former deserter. The man had been oddly absent during their stay in the capital.
As Caron stared at Urhan in disbelief, Leo sighed and reminded him, "You sent Urhan to clean the estate's basement the moment we arrived. You told him to do it all by himself, remember?"
"Oh, right. You've got a great memory, Leo," Caron admitted, nodding.
"You're really..." Leo responded.
"But is it really my fault though? If he's got no presence, that's on him. Deserters like him... Hey! Urhan! Just walk all the way to Azureocean Castle! Got it?" Caron called out.
"Huh?! Please, don't abandon me!" Urhan wailed.
"Sir Zerath? Let's just leave him. We don't need to worry about that deserter," Caron said, completely uninterested in Urhan's plight.
Zerath sighed deeply before pulling out his communication device and instructing, "...Prepare to pick up the straggler."
"Yes, Commander," came the reply from the other side.
When Urhan was safely loaded onto the servants' carriage, a voice called out, "Well then, let's be off."
And with that, their eventful time in the capital came to an end.