The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate

Chapter 60

The distant view of the capital quickly faded from the window as the carriage moved further away. Caron gazed out, watching the city's skyline blur under the twilight. The sun set slowly, casting a golden hue over the capital's beautiful landscape.

"What are you thinking about, Caron?" Leo asked quietly.

"I was just thinking that it was fun at the capital," Caron replied with a small smile.

"...You do realize that you almost died there, right?" Leo asked again.

"Yeah... I almost died again," Caron said.

"Again?" Leo was confused.

"No, it's just... Eh, something like that," Caron said.

Caron had always thought of the capital as a graveyard, a place filled with nothing but bad memories. And yet, upon returning and experiencing it again, it wasn't all as bad as he remembered. In fact, he'd gained a lot from this journey. Reaching 5-Star in the Ocean Dominance Arts was only part of it.

There was something far more significant: It was hope.

There was a chance that his former comrades could still be alive. Alongside that came a new purpose. He now knew who his enemies were, the ones he needed to point his sword toward.

All of his realizations had fused together into a burning desire.

I need to become stronger, Caron thought.

As he was now, it wasn't enough. He needed to be much stronger, to the point that others would look up to him in awe. His path of revenge wouldn't be an easy one. If that succubus he'd encountered in the palace had wanted to kill him, it could have easily done so. What he'd thought was a grave from the distant past could very well have become his grave today as well.

There were countless powerful foes in this world. Caron could sense that the age of peace was ending, and chaos was about to descend. He wondered what his role was in such a world, but it didn't take long to arrive at a clear and singular conclusion.

"Leo, when we get back, let's train right away. We're still too weak. We need to get stronger. That's how we'll be able to protect the people we care about," Caron said.

Unlike his previous life, in this one, he had too many people to protect. There were too many precious connections now. From his parents and grandparents, to Leo, and even to those he had recently forged bonds with. To safeguard all of them, strength would be necessary.

But it didn't feel like a burden. In fact, it made him happy. After all, it meant that at least in this life, he wasn't going to be lonely. The thought brought a faint smile to his face as he turned to Zerath.

"Sir Zerath, do you think we could stop by my father's estate on the way back?" Caron asked, his tone respectful.

"Our first stop will be a short rest in the Thebe Autonomous Territory, after which we'll board the train from the Belrus Barony. Indeed, the head has ordered us to visit Master Fayle's domain on the way," Zerath answered, his gaze steady as he relayed the next steps of their journey. He said calmly, "If you'd like, you can rest at home for a while. The head of the house has granted you two weeks of free time."

"In that case, I'll do that. It's about time I act like a dutiful son for once," Caron replied with a grin.

"Understood." Zerath nodded.

Caron knew that once he returned to Azureocean Castle, he'd be training relentlessly for the next four years. Spending some time with his parents beforehand seemed like a wise decision, especially since his mother often wrote letters complaining about how much she missed him, even if his father didn't express it as openly.

"How long will we be staying in Thebe?" Caron asked.

"We'll just sleep and move on right after. If you're planning on doing anything on your own, forget it. You'll be staying with me, Young Master Caron," Zerath said firmly.

"I'm not a kid," Caron muttered in protest.

"You are a kid. You're like a child left near a river, no, more like a child thrown into a fire," Zerath retorted.

"Tsk," Caron clicked his tongue, knowing there was no point in arguing further.

With Zerath by his side, Caron figured nothing much could go wrong. After all, no one in their right mind would dare challenge the Oceanwolf Knight Order, led by Zerath himself.

"I really don't want to go back," Caron groaned, sinking deeper into the cushion.

Leo reclined beside him, asking with a chuckle, "You'll talk me up to my father again, right?"

"Of course, I'll tell him you even saved my life," Caron replied with a smirk.

"Thanks—" Leo began, although it was cut off right away.

"Oh, and I'll also mention how you disguised yourself as a commoner for a mission in Thebe. He should know how seriously you took the task," Caron said, then turned his attention to Zerath.

"Sir Zerath, are we still tracking down the real culprits behind the ambush in Thebe?" Caron asked.

Zerath gave a small nod and replied, "Yes. That's part of why the head of the family stayed behind in the capital. He said he would investigate the ones responsible for the attack."

"Did we get any useful information from the people I captured?" Caron asked.

"Not much has been confirmed yet, but we've learned of a shadowy organization that includes some nobles from the capital. And there's also a connection to the deserters in the Belrus Barony," Zerath answered.

"A connection? What kind?" Caron's eyes narrowed.

"The drugs they distributed in the Belrus Barony were sourced from the black market in Thebe. It's suspicious enough to warrant further investigation," Zerath explained.

"...Hmm," Caron murmured, deep in thought. Even without the demonic forces, it was clear that something sinister was brewing within the empire. Still, he didn't dwell on it for long.

It's already out of my hands, he thought.

Since his entire family was involved now, things would turn out fine even if he didn't interfere, especially with his grandfather Halo personally hunting down the masterminds. A breakthrough was only a matter of time.

But that wasn't Caron's immediate concern.

Looks like things are going to get bothersome when I get back to Azureocean Castle, he thought, a sigh escaping him.

So much had changed since he left for the capital. For one, his reputation had grown immensely. Before, he had just been one of Duke Leston's grandsons, but now, thanks to the events that had transpired, his name held far more weight.

Azureocean Castle, already fraught with tension over the matter of succession, was going to be even more troublesome with his newfound fame. His uncles, particularly the eldest, would surely become more aggressive in their efforts to undermine him.

Second uncle, I can manage through Leo, but his wife... She's going to be a pain. She'll cling on to me like she always does, Caron mused as he also thought about Leo's mother, who never passed up an opportunity to needle him.

But in truth, his real concern was his eldest uncle, who was even more ambitious than the second and far more cautious. There was no doubt that man would stir up trouble.

Halo will protect me to some extent, but knowing his personality and the circumstances, he won't be able to watch over everything, Caron thought with a resigned sigh.

To be honest, he didn't care much about the title of heir. But his uncles would never believe that. As soon as he returned to Azureocean Castle, he'd inevitably get dragged into the family's political games.

"Life sure is exhausting," Caron muttered as he shook his head.

Leo shrugged and said, "I agree with you."

"...What's so exhausting for you?" Caron asked. n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"You. It's you, you little brat," Leo retorted, smirking.

Their playful bickering filled the air as the carriage rumbled down the road, moving steadily toward their destination.

***

As Caron expected, the journey back to Azureocean Castle was very peaceful. Even when they arrived at their stop in Thebe, everything remained that way. Since it was an unofficial visit, no one came to greet them except for Mayor Grine. Instead, someone left a gift and a note by their carriage.

The note read:

"A gift for helping my brother. I heard you liked the apple wine, so I've sent you plenty. Let's meet again sometime. I'll be waiting, cute little wolf."

The gift was a box filled with elven-brewed apple wine. It was from Foina, the leader of Caligo and an elven mage, whom Caron had met during his time in Thebe. He saw no reason to reject the gift, as Caligo was a group he would continue to have ties with, especially now that they were working alongside Revelio. It was only natural that their fates were intertwined.

After their brief rest in Thebe, Caron and his group resumed their journey. By the afternoon, they reached the Belrus Barony, which was much livelier than when they first visited. The groundwork for new buildings was underway, and the forces of the Oceanwolf Knight Order and Duke Leston's men were hard at work restoring the barony. Workers who had come to help with the mana stone mines and laborers looking for jobs were scattered everywhere. The once-quiet barony was now bustling, and the shadows that had darkened the faces of the residents were gone.

As Leo and Caron were sitting in the train bound for Azureocean Castle, they fiddled with the mana stones that Baron Belrus' heir Rohan had gifted them.

"Don't you think this gift is a bit too much?" Leo asked.

After the first official exploration of the mines, a few mana stones had been extracted for research purposes. Rohan had gifted Caron and Leo one of those stones each. They were priceless, far more valuable than gold.

Caron twirled the stone in his hand and responded, "Think of it as an advance dividend."

"Dividend?" Leo asked.

"We have a stake in the joint company. Consider it an early payout," Caron said with a grin.

Earlier, Rohan had shared an interesting piece of information. Due to the political unrest, they'd had trouble recruiting workers for the mines. However, a certain organization in Thebe had stepped in and offered their cooperation, making it much easier to gather experienced workers. And the group that had facilitated these connections was none other than Caligo.

Despite the unofficial nature of the Leston family's last visit to Thebe, the organization had swiftly provided vital information. Securing workers for the mana stone mines was no small feat, but for Caligo, it seemed effortless.

"They're really efficient people," Caron remarked, impressed.

Caligo was too competent to be dismissed as just another gang. Not only did they anticipate and fulfill needs like the apple wine, they even made the process of dealing with them feel smooth and mutually beneficial. Caron couldn't help but be pleased, even if everything was being done out of self-interest. He tucked the mana stone away.

"I should give this to my mother as a gift," he said to himself.

After all, he wouldn't have any use for it during the four years he'd be training. As he assessed the state of the Belrus Barony, Caron was certain that by the time he returned, the place would have transformed beyond recognition. By then, he'd likely have enough funds to personally manage various projects.

Money can't solve everything, but it does solve most things, Caron thought.

The wealth from Belrus Barony would undoubtedly open up more choices for his future. He smiled with satisfaction as he gazed out the window. Before long, familiar fields came into view, signaling their approach. At that moment, an announcement echoed through the train.

"In a few moments, we will arrive at Avri of the Leston Duchy."

Avri was located at the edge of the Leston Duchy, and was under the rule of Count Fayle, Caron's father. It was a semi-autonomous territory within the larger duchy. Avri, an ancient word meaning "sanctuary," was both the capital of the estate and where Caron's family home was located.

With a screech, the train slowed to a halt shortly after the announcement. Caron stepped off the train with a contented smile spreading across his face.

"It feels as if it's been ages since I last came here," he said softly as he took in the sight of the clean and well-kept station. The immaculate surroundings reflected his father's neat and meticulous personality. At the station, his parents, along with a few of the estate's butlers, were waiting for him.

"Caron!" his mother, Sara, called out joyfully.

"My son!" Fayle exclaimed.

Fayle and Sara smiled brightly as they rushed to embrace their son.

Caron quietly said as he felt the warmth of his parents' embrace, "I'm back."

For a long moment, they held each other in silence. Time seemed to stand still as they simply enjoyed the reunion after their long separation. Eventually, Sara wiped away her tears and gently ran her fingers through Caron's hair.

"Do you have any idea how worried I was? Your injuries, are you alright?" Sara asked.

"I'm fine! I received great care, so please don't worry!" Caron reassured her. He didn't mention the lingering itch in his side, where Luke's blade had pierced him during their sparring session. There was no need to worry her with such details.

"You've been through so much," Fayle said as he gently patted Caron's back. His smile was soft but filled with pride. It was hard to believe that this small boy had stirred up such a commotion in the capital.

Fayle had been plagued with anxiety and regret ever since he sent Caron to the capital. From the news of the train to Thebe being attacked to hearing about the battle against the succubus in the royal palace, there had been countless moments where Fayle's heart had felt as if it would shatter.

But now, Caron had returned home, having faced all those challenges and survived. There was no way he wouldn't be proud of his son.

"I'm so glad you're home safe. Truly, I am," Fayle said, his voice thick with emotion.

"Of course! I'm your son, aren't I?" Caron replied, grinning as brightly as ever.

The long and arduous journey had finally come to an end. The thirteen-year-old boy had returned home at last.