Chapter 66
After Caron received his mission, preparations began immediately. Since it was a solo mission until he could join the others in the field, there wasn't much he needed to prepare apart from Guillotine.
"It's been ages since you let me out," Guillotine, his sentient sword, grumbled in Caron's mind. "I was starting to think I'd go crazy locked up like that. If you were going to keep me cooped up in your training chamber, you should've at least given me a view!"
"Can a cursed sword even go crazy?" Caron asked.
"Of course I can! I've got a soul too, you know."
Caron was in his room at Azureocean Castle, checking things for the last time before he departed.
"A quest to find your old comrades, huh? That's quite the sweet notion. You think they're still alive?" Guillotine asked, almost teasingly.
"If any of them surpassed 8-Star, they should be alive," Caron replied.
"And when you find them, what then? Are you going to announce that you're the reincarnation of Cain?" Guillotine sneered.
"No way, that would be boring. I don't really have any grand plan. I just want to know if they're still alive, that's all," Caron said casually.
That was enough for him. Caron just wanted to confirm whether they were alive or not. If they were, he wanted to see their faces. Those who had fled the empire, spending their entire lives under the watchful eyes of the Leston family, probably hadn't lived peacefully. Some could even harbor hostility toward him, especially now that he was Fayle's grandson.
"If they're alive, are you going to take them back in?" Guillotine asked, sounding almost amused.
"Of course not," Caron responded.
"Then what are you going to do?"
"I'll figure that out when I get there."
There was no guarantee that he would even meet them. There was no point in getting worked up over uncertainties.
With a simple nod, Caron opened the box Heinrich had brought him earlier.
"A gift from the head of the family. Though he didn't express it directly, Duke Halo is clearly pleased with your recent achievements."
The box was sizable, and if it was a gift from Halo, it was bound to be something extraordinary. With growing anticipation, Caron opened it. Inside, he found a necklace with a blue gemstone embedded in it. As soon as he laid eyes on the necklace, Guillotine reacted.
"...He really dotes on his grandson, huh? He's giving you this?" Guillotine muttered incredulously.
"Explain," Caron commanded, his curiosity piqued.
"Try wearing the necklace and channeling your mana into it."
For Guillotine, who usually found anything other than killing enemies a chore, to react like this, it had to be something extraordinary. Just as Guillotine had told him, Caron put the necklace around his neck and slowly infused it with mana.
Whoosh.
The blue gem at the center of the necklace began to glow as mana spread out from it, quickly enveloping Caron's entire body. The mana then shifted into the form of armor. It was dark blue, much like Guillotine's blade.
"Oh," Caron murmured, mildly impressed as he glanced at his reflection in the mirror. The armor looked almost like a long coat, despite its considerable thickness. And yet, being made of mana, it felt weightless on him.
"This is Kavana, the armor of Rael," Guillotine explained, its voice holding a note of reverence. "It may look like regular armor, but it holds the essence of ancient magic. It's a masterpiece, a fusion of dwarven craftsmanship and dragon magic."
So, this armor had belonged to Rael, the founder of the Leston family. Caron hadn't seen it among the artifacts he knew of. It seemed the armor, much like Guillotine, had vanished from the family's history long ago.
"The armor's defensive power increases based on the amount of mana the user has. You can even adjust its appearance to suit your preference. When not in use, it remains in necklace form. I figured it had to be hidden somewhere, and sure enough, Halo has been keeping it stashed away," Guillotine said.
"This armor is ridiculous," Caron said with a shake of his head. "Does this thing talk like you do?"
"Of all the gear Rael used, I'm the only one with a personality, you idiot."
"Well, that's a relief."
"What was that?" Guillotine snapped, clearly offended.
Ignoring the sword, Caron moved around in the armor. It was so comfortable he almost felt as if he wasn't wearing it at all.
And if it was true that this armor enhanced defense based on mana level, it was beyond valuable. To top it all off, it could be worn as a necklace, making it incredibly portable. It was a perfect combination of practicality and power. It was hard to put a price on something this remarkable.
"I guess Halo is giving it to you so you don't end up stabbed and dead somewhere," Guillotine said sarcastically.
"Should I test how durable it is?" Caron remarked with a smirk. "Maybe I should go ask Sir Zerath to give me a stab."
"Are you insane? Wait, no. Of course you are," Guillotine muttered.
There was no denying that the armor was incredible. The fact that Caron could adjust its form to his liking was just the cherry on top.
"The armor that belonged to the founder of the family," Caron mused aloud.
He wondered if this was Halo's way of showing concern, knowing he had to go on this mission alone. Perhaps this armor was a secret passed down only to the heads of the family, just as Guillotine had been.
Caron toyed with the necklace, a small smile tugging at his lips. He muttered, "If you're going to give me something like this, I might as well put it to good use. Letting this rot would be a crime."
While surviving enemy attacks was his top priority, it didn't mean armor wasn't important. There was an old saying that went "A true master doesn't blame his gear." However, in Caron's opinion, that was absolute nonsense.
"The more skilled someone is, the more they care about their gear," Caron remarked.
"Now you're talking," Guillotine agreed. "The stronger you are, the more you need top-notch equipment to maximize your efficiency."
Caron couldn't argue with that. He had yet to test the armor's defensive power, but if it was as formidable as it seemed, it could create endless possibilities. For instance, he could bait opponents into attacking, revealing their weaknesses, and strike at just the right moment.
As he clutched the necklace carefully, he asked, "How do I change its form?"
"Just imagine the form you want and channel your mana into it," Guillotine replied.
"Sounds easy enough," Caron replied, then immediately gave it a try. He envisioned a full set of platemail covering him from head to toe, including a helmet.
Whoosh.
A low hum resonated as dark blue armor quickly materialized around him. It was full plate, covering him entirely. But just as before, he felt no weight from it at all. Though this wasn't his preferred type of armor, it could be useful in certain situations.
"It's perfect for concealing my identity," Caron mused aloud. If he ever needed to operate in secret without revealing who he was, this armor would serve him well.
Guillotine, however, sounded unimpressed and said, "Wouldn't just covering your face do the trick?"
"But this looks much cooler," Caron countered with a smug grin.
"Does that really matter?" Guillotine asked dryly.
"Of course it matters!"
Caron Leston, at the age of seventeen, still cared quite a bit about his appearance.
And with that, another powerful artifact was added to his growing collection.
***
The next morning, at the train station of Azureocean Castle...
"I'll return safely, Father, Mother," Caron said with a smile, bowing respectfully to his parents.
His mother, Sara, immediately pulled him into a worried embrace. Her voice full of concern, she said, "If it ever gets too dangerous, promise me you'll come back, alright?"
"Make sure you're eating well while I'm gone, Mother," Caron responded, trying to lighten the mood.
Since Fayle had taken up important duties at Azureocean Castle, Sara had also moved in to be with him. She stroked Caron's face with a sad smile and said, "I'm always worried about you."
"I'll keep in touch often," Caron replied.
"...Alright," Sarah said softly, her words warm but still tinged with worry. Caron hugged her with a smile in return.
After parting from his mother, he glanced at Fayle before saying, "Father, about that favor I asked..."
"It's ready," Fayle replied, pulling a small card from his pocket. It was a sleek black card, small enough to fit in the palm of his hand and faintly radiating traces of magic. He said, "I issued it in your name."
"Wow, I didn't think I'd actually get one of these," Caron marveled, taking the card from his father.
"With the amount of money you've stored in the imperial bank, it's only natural," Fayle said.
Caron held the card carefully. This little black card was practically a miracle in itself. Officially known as the Imperial Bank Payment Proxy Certificate, it allowed its bearer to make payments anywhere within the empire. Not only could it handle all transactions, taking it to any imperial bank branch also meant he could withdraw money in either gold coins or imperial currency. It was basically money in the form of magic.
Though it wouldn't be useful in rural areas where people didn't recognize it, in cities with imperial bank branches, it was indispensable. Of course, getting such a card was no easy feat. Even wealthy commoners couldn't obtain one, and among nobles, only the upper echelon could qualify for its issuance. Just possessing this tiny card was proof of Caron's esteemed status.
"But remember, once you cross the empire's borders, it'll be useless. Make sure to withdraw gold before leaving the empire," Fayle warned.
"Yes, Father," Caron replied.
"Good."
Caron tucked the card safely into his coat. Fayle, watching him, let out a wry smile and said, "Try to spend wisely."
"I doubt anything could even put a dent in my balance," Caron replied confidently.
"...That's true," Fayle admitted, knowing well that Caron's personal wealth was among the top three in Azureocean Castle.
And with that, even the matter of money was settled.
"Caron," a voice called out.
Ulrich, who had quietly watched the farewell between Caron and his parents, strode over with firm steps. He asked, "Are you familiar with the mission details?"
"Yes, I am," Caron replied confidently.
"After receiving your mercenary ID in Thebe, head straight to the southern border town of Reben. Once you cross the border, you'll have to rely on your own judgment," Ulrich explained.
"That's my specialty," Caron said with a smirk.
"Move quietly if possible," Ulrich advised.
"Thank you for your concern, Third Elder," Caron responded.
Since this was a solo mission, only a few people had come to see Caron off. Ulrich leaned in closer, lowering his voice as he whispered in Caron's ear, "I was the one who strongly advocated for you to receive the Kavana armor. I hope you'll remember that."
"...Do I have to return it when I get back?" Caron asked.
"Of course not. You are the only one in this family worthy of carrying on the will of the founder. If you ever find yourself in danger, don't hesitate to run," Ulrich said.
"Ah, come on, running away's a bit much, don't you think?" Caron protested with a grin.
"Always remember that your life is the most important thing! There's nothing more precious than that! If you feel uneasy, I'll follow—"
"I'll keep that in mind!" Caron interrupted quickly, sensing that Ulrich could actually follow along. Without wasting another moment, he bowed deeply and hurried onto the train.
Whoosh.
The engine started as soon as Caron boarded.
"I'll keep in touch!" Caron shouted as he poked his head out of the window. His parents waved back with smiles on their faces.
"Come back safely," Sara called.
"Take care," Fayle added.
As the train began to move, Caron's parents stood quietly, watching the shrinking silhouette of the train.
Fayle gently held Sarah's trembling hand and said reassuringly, "Don't worry, dear. He'll be fine."
"I know. But how can I not worry?" Sara replied softly.
They stood there in silence until the train disappeared from sight. Ulrich, observing the couple, had a bittersweet smile. Then, he said in a gentle tone, "Just as Fayle says, there's no need to worry. Caron is far stronger than you think. Even skilled warriors wouldn't dare to bare their fangs against him."
Caron had made astounding progress over the past four years. He had nearly reached the peak of 6-Star in the Ocean Dominance Arts, and his swordsmanship had become nothing short of dazzling.
On top of that, he now wielded both the Execution Sword Guillotine and the armor Kavana, which were the two of the most powerful heirlooms of their house. Never in the history of the Leston family had two such artifacts been entrusted to a single individual after the founder.
"Trust your son," Ulrich continued. "Caron will soon become the pride of our family."
Ulrich hoped that through this mission, Caron would gain the insights necessary to reach 7-Star in the Ocean Dominance Arts. Such realizations couldn't be achieved in training halls or through endless practice. Only in the heat of life-and-death battles could one find their true path.
This should be interesting, Ulrich thought to himself.
A Mad Dog beyond control—that was how the council often described Caron. And indeed, over the last four years, Caron had caused many incidents at Azureocean Castle. His clashes with his uncles, Dales and Raphael, were notorious, happening far too often to be ignored.
Caron had always been a cunning child. Given four years, he had only grown into a more terrifying monster. His sharp mind was now paired with overwhelming strength.
It's not Caron we need to worry about, but those who would be foolish enough to cross him, Ulrich thought.
Now, that monster had been unleashed from Azureocean Castle. When he returned, it would undoubtedly be after causing even greater chaos than before.
Go wild and enjoy yourself, Ulrich thought with a grin, then turned away.
Azureocean Castle had once again released its mad dog into the world. That mad dog was far more dangerous than the one from four years earlier.