Chapter 65
In his office filled with paperwork, Fayle warmly greeted his son. "Good job. You've been through a lot, Caron."
"It's been a year since I last saw you, Father. Have you been well? Though, from the looks of it... You don't seem fine," Caron remarked. He glanced around at the overwhelming stacks of reports scattered across the room with a faint smile on his lips.
Fayle chuckled at his son's joke, nodding in agreement before asking, "Does it really look as if I'm not fine in your eyes?"
"Yes, well... I personally don't like paperwork," Caron answered.
"I'm not doing this because I enjoy doing it either," Fayle said.
"Still, there are rumors that you're the real power behind the family these days," Caron remarked.
It had been four years since the Leston Duchy declared its intervention in external matters. There was no denying that Fayle's capabilities had played a huge role in the family's rapid expansion. He had been tirelessly growing the family's businesses and leading the development of Azureocean Castle. The once small and modest stronghold was now bustling with tall buildings rising everywhere, all thanks to Fayle's efforts.
Previously, Azureocean Castle's only claim to fame had been as the base of the Oceanwolf Knight Order. But now, it had become the key stronghold in the empire's northwest. Things such as trade, labor, and resources all flowed through the castle, making it a hub of activity. And naturally, with money flowing in, the strength of the Leston family grew.
Even the senior family members, who had once opposed Fayle's return to Azureocean Castle, had fallen silent. They couldn't object when the family's power was growing stronger by the day.
"I heard your probation has been lifted," Fayle said.
"Has the word already spread?" Caron replied, slightly surprised.
"You should've seen your uncles' faces when they heard the news. They looked as if they'd swallowed something bitter," Fayle said and couldn't help but smirk at the memory.
He knew fully well that no one could easily touch Caron anymore. The news of Caron's release had come with the rumor that he'd reached 6-Star. At just seventeen years old, the only other person in the family's history to achieve such a feat was their ancestor, the founder of the Leston family. Fayle had watched as his brothers' faces turned to stone the moment they heard the news. Caron had once again exceeded all expectations.
And with Fayle holding considerable power within the family, even if his brothers harbored ill intentions toward Caron, they wouldn't dare act recklessly. Politically and in terms of strength, Caron was untouchable.
Satisfied, Fayle smiled and asked, "So, what do you plan to do now?"
It was the same question Halo had posed to Caron.
Since the last year, Caron had fully inherited a nickname from Sabina—the Mad Dog of Azureocean Castle. That title now belonged to him. The Mad Dog had been freed from his probation, and there was no way he would sit still. Just like when he was thirteen, Caron was likely to leave Azureocean Castle and stir up trouble wherever he went.
...The thought alone is terrifying, Fayle mused.
Even when Caron was merely thirteen, he had caused enough chaos as it was. But now, at seventeen, with far greater power at his disposal... No one knew what kind of trouble he would create.
"I'm thinking of picking a few good missions and heading out. After all, the family has shown me a lot of grace over these past four years, so it's time I give something back, don't you think?" Caron remarked.
Fayle paused, then responded softly, "Hmm... A parent's love for their child doesn't come with a price. The household's love is no different. There's no need to repay anything."
"Come on, Father! You know what they call someone who does nothing? A freeloader. And you know I can't stand freeloaders more than anything else," Caron said.
Fayle chuckled and said, "Who would dare call you a freeloader?"
No one, of course. No one would make that mistake, not unless they wanted to feel the wrath of the Mad Dog. But with a grin, Caron waved his hand and said, "I just need to get out and see the world a bit, Father."
"Do as you please." Fayle sighed. "Weren't you going to even if I tried to stop you, anyway?"
"See? You know me too well, Father," Caron replied, sinking into the soft sofa with a satisfied smile. He continued, "And it's about time I spend some of the money I've been sitting on for four years. Honestly, it's been killing me not being able to touch a single coin."
During his four-year probation, Caron had been quietly accumulating wealth. He held shares in a joint company he had acquired from Belrus Barony's estate, and while he was in his probation, the dividends had steadily piled up. Caron had even asked Fayle to reinvest those dividends into a mana stone processing company after Leo successfully brought in expert technicians from the southern kingdoms.
So, while he hadn't been doing anything, his fortune had grown. And not just by a little, at that. He had become extremely wealthy. The annual dividends alone amounted to 150,000 gold, a sum that rivaled the yearly budget of a small barony. In essence, Caron had become a walking barony.
"It feels good to be rich," Caron mused. He asked teasingly, "Father, do you want some pocket money?"
Fayle shook his head and replied, "...No, I'm fine."
"Really? You sure you don't want any?" Caron pressed, knowing well that Fayle wasn't as indifferent as he claimed.
Fayle had known all too well that Caron would obviously foam at the mouth and come rushing in just because he spent a bit of money. He understood his son perfectly.
As they talked, there was a knock at the door. A moment later, the door opened, and a middle-aged man with golden hair and blue eyes stepped in. A scar ran diagonally across his cheek, giving him a hardened appearance. Upon seeing him, both Fayle and Caron immediately stood and greeted him with respect.
"So, this is where you were, Fayle and Caron," the man said, his deep voice filling the room with a weight that pressed down on the air itself.
Fayle lowered his head in acknowledgment, saying, "Welcome, Third Elder."
The man was Ulrich Leston, a member of the Council of Elders and one of the most powerful figures in the family. He was also Fayle's uncle and had reached 8-Star. It was a feat that explained how, even in his seventies, he still maintained a youthful, almost middle-aged appearance. Ulrich had once been one of the staunchest opponents of Fayle's return to Azureocean Castle, a hardliner in the Council of Elders. But those days were long gone.
"Caron! So it's true, you've reached 6-Star! This is a momentous occasion for our family. We'll have the greatest knight on the continent once more! Come here, my dear nephew. Let me give you a hug!" Ulrich exclaimed.
It was clear Ulrich, the Third Elder, had a soft spot for Caron. The reason was simple: Ulrich valued strength above all else. While he had once despised Fayle, those days were long gone. Now, Ulrich was one of Fayle's strongest allies within the family.
"Come on, don't be shy! Let me feel those muscles. You might've lost some bulk while you were focusing on honing your mana!" Ulrich insisted.
"Father! Please, do something about Third Elder!" Caron exclaimed, trying to fend off his over-enthusiastic uncle.
"Tsk! I told you, when we're not in public, you should call me 'uncle,' not 'elder.'"
Caron grimaced and said, "Uncle... Maybe you could, ah, tone it down a bit?"
"What's wrong with a little bonding between family members?" Ulrich replied.
Ulrich was, without a doubt, Caron's least favorite person in Azureocean Castle. He constantly hounded Caron with his affection, and the present was no different. Caron tried to push him away, holding both hands up in defense.
"What brings you here so suddenly, Third Elder?" Caron asked, trying to change the subject.
Ulrich's grin widened as he explained, "Well, the council meeting just ended, and I came to deliver the results to you myself. Normally, I'd send a servant, but I couldn't resist seeing your face."
With a mischievous smile, Ulrich pulled a piece of paper from his coat. Caron eyed the document and shrugged.
"Was this meeting about my probation?" Caron asked.
"No. The authority to lift your probation lies solely with the head of the family. Not even the council of elders can interfere in that," Ulrich explained.
"Then what result are you trying to bring to me?"
"Just read it," Ulrich said, handing over the paper to Caron.
Caron narrowed his eyes and scanned the paper. It was a report from a knight.
"Request for Monster Extermination Support."
The author of the report was Leo Leston. Caron had wondered why Leo had been absent from Azureocean Castle lately. It seemed he had been out on a mission.
The report summarized the situation:
"Monsters have been spotted near the border between the Keath Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom. The area is too dangerous to patrol alone, so additional forces are requested. Ideally, a unit familiar with Keath's terrain should be dispatched. If no reinforcements are available, cooperation with the Holy Kingdom will be necessary. Awaiting response."
Nothing seemed out of the ordinary other than the fact that monsters had been appearing more frequently lately. The Oceanwolf Knight Order had been handling their extermination regularly. It wasn't uncommon for residents of Azureocean Castle to encounter monsters, as the Leston family had long viewed them as enemies. Even back when Dark Mana wasn't outlawed, the Lestons had always been known for their aggressive stance against monsters.
This doesn't seem like anything that would require the council's involvement, Caron thought. The scope of the mission didn't seem large enough to warrant the elders' attention.
"That is your assigned mission," Ulrich said, gesturing toward the paper.
"I thought monster extermination missions didn't need approval from the elders," Caron remarked.
"They don't, usually. But this time, it's about where the monsters were spotted," Ulrich explained.
Ulrich stroked his chin and nodded to himself. After a moment, he spoke again, and Caron's expression froze at his words.
"Tell me, Caron, have you ever heard of Kerraacht ?"
The name caught Caron off guard, as it was completely unexpected.
***
"Fifty years ago, Kerraacht was one of the imperial guard's last elite soldiers who defended the palace. History records that he died heroically alongside Sir Cain, but reality tells a different story. He survived that day, and has been living in the southern regions of the continent. Well, at least until six months ago," Ulrich explained further.
Caron clenched his fist lightly. Answers to the questions he had always wanted to ask Fayle were now coming from Ulrich.
"...How did he survive?" Caron asked, his voice steady but curious.
"The head of the family showed him mercy. That's the reason the current Imperial Guards inherited their mana training techniques and swordsmanship. I argued until the end that they should be eliminated, but the head decided to spare them," Ulrich replied, his tone serious.
Though many years had passed, those who wielded mana often lived long lives. If they hadn't been killed or struck by illness, they could very well still be alive. Caron's expression, which had been frozen by the prospect of finding his old comrades, quickly softened.
"Not all of those elite soldiers are still alive, but some of them survived under our surveillance," Ulrich continued.
"And now they're no longer under surveillance?" Caron asked cautiously.
"To be precise, we lost them. Every single one of those survivors vanished without a trace six months ago. Coincidentally, the area where the monsters have been appearing is the last place we found any sign of Kerraacht," Ulrich said, finishing his explanation.
He then looked directly at Caron, lowering his voice. "Your mission is to exterminate the monsters while searching for any trace of Kerraacht. The monster extermination is the official task, but the search for Kerraacht is an unofficial one. You can refuse if you wish."
"I'll do it," Caron answered firmly, without hesitation. There was no reason to refuse—no, more accurately, he couldn't refuse. If there was a chance to confirm the fate of his foolish subordinates, he would take it, even if it wasn't an official mission.
"The fact that an elite soldier like Kerraacht might still be alive is classified information within Azureocean Castle. That's why only direct family members can take part in this mission," Ulrich said.
"Then, who will accompany me on this mission, Third Elder?" Caron asked, curious about his team.
"Leo and Leon will assist you. They're already in the area, searching for the monsters. You can join them whenever you're ready," Ulrich said.
That meant Caron would have to travel to the border on his own.
The border between the Keath Kingdom and the Holy Kingdom would take at least a fifteen-day journey. That was assuming one didn't stop to rest. It wouldn't be an easy trip.
"Prepare thoroughly before you depart. The empire's situation has been unstable lately," Ulrich advised.
"Anything else I should be cautious of?" Caron asked.
"There's a chance the Holy Kingdom could get involved in this matter. Be careful of those zealots. The moment they hear about Kerraacht, they'll come charging," Ulrich warned.
The Holy Kingdom was a nation of fanatics who worshiped the God of Light, Kirian, as their sole deity. They called themselves a "sacred nation" led by the Pope. They had existed fifty years before, too. Back when the empire embraced Dark Mana, they had been enemies, but relations had improved somewhat in recent years.
"To them, Kerraacht is nothing more than a servant of the Malevolent Emperor. If they find out he's alive, they'll try to kill him. I'd prefer you avoid conflict with those fanatics," Ulrich said, his tone laced with both warning and amusement.
"Are you worried about me?" Caron asked with a smile.
"Why would I be?" Ulrich grinned. "I'm more worried those fanatics might get torn apart by you. If you end up killing them, it'll just give your father more work. He's the one responsible for the family's diplomacy, isn't he?"
Ulrich glanced at Fayle with a satisfied look. Fayle, however, sighed and shook his head, turning to his son.
"Just try not to kill anyone," Fayle muttered.
"I'll do my best," Caron replied with a chuckle.
"So you're not saying you won't kill them," Fayle remarked, raising an eyebrow.
"Father, you know as well as I do how crazy those fanatics can be," Caron said, shrugging.
"...You're as bad—no, forget it. Forget what I said," Fayle groaned.
Caron's new mission was now set. The Mad Dog of Azureocean Castle was ready to leave his den.