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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Meeting the Patriarch
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6.
"The first thing you will do is apologize to your grandfather. You must."
"But I only did what needed to be done."
"Did you not cause a scene the very moment you arrived at the main house? Regardless of the circumstances, you created a disturbance. It is only right that you apologize."
"If you say so, Father, then I have no choice."
The office of the family head, located in Azure Sea Castle.
Some called this place the tiger's den.
It was where the great hero who had ended the empire's dark age conducted his affairs. It was said that all who were summoned here by the Grand Duke were crushed by an overwhelming sense of pressure.
*Knock, knock, knock.*
Peil, doing his best to hide his nervousness, knocked on the office door.
"Father. It is Peil. You asked for Karron, so I have brought him."
A low, deep voice resonated from within.
"Enter."
Karron entered the office, holding his father's hand.
The spacious room was far too modest to be the office of a great hero, its color palette drab and monotonous.
Aside from the blue armor and sword hanging on the wall, there was nothing particularly remarkable about it.
In one corner of the office sat an old man.
Long white hair swept back, a long beard.
His sleeves were rolled up just enough to reveal his forearms as he watched them approach.
His physique was unbelievable for a man of his age, his eyes brimming with vitality. The very air around him announced that this old man was a giant who had defined an era.
Halo Leston, seventy-four years old.
The greatest hero of the Leston Ducal Family and the master of this house.
But to Karron…
'He's just gotten better at posturing with age.'
He was nothing more and nothing less than a grandfather trying to look imposing in front of his grandson.
"Father."
"It has been a while."
"I am relieved to see you have returned safely from the North Sea. Did you find what you were looking for there?"
"Regrettably, I could not attain it. But it was not without its成果, so the time was not wasted."
"I see."
Halo nodded in response to his son's greeting. He then slowly turned his gaze to his grandson, Karron.
This was the first time he had truly faced his grandson, save for holding him when he was born.
He remembered the boy's fierce gaze, even as a newborn.
Back then, he had thought the boy might amount to something. But he had been so busy with matters in the North Sea that he'd never imagined his grandson would have grown so much in his absence.
"So, you are Karron."
Halo slowly rose from his seat and approached his grandson.
He had already received a report on the boy.
From his grandson awakening Azure Mana to the incident he had just caused in this very mansion.
They were all significant events for a mere ten-year-old.
Karron bowed to Halo as he approached.
"It's been a while, Grandfather."
"Have we met before?"
"Father told me every day how you held me when I was born. So, wouldn't this be the second time we've met?"
"Technically speaking, I suppose you could see it that way."
Halo studied the bold grandson before him.
Just as the report had stated, he could feel the Azure Mana emanating from Karron.
But what surprised Halo even more than the mana was his grandson's attitude.
'A child who has caused trouble should normally be intimidated.'
But Karron was not intimidated in the slightest.
Instead, he was smiling brightly, looking right at him.
It was as if he were sizing up the grandfather he hadn't seen in years.
"Let us save the pleasantries for later, grandson. I have called you here to scold you. Do you know what you have done wrong?"
"Father, this is…"
Just as Peil was about to speak up for his son, Halo raised a hand to stop him.
"I have heard your son is clever and intelligent beyond his years. This is not for you to interfere in."
"Father."
"Karron, I asked you a question. So you shall be the one to answer."
He was curious about this peculiar grandson's reaction, so he increased the pressure slightly. He didn't forget to let a small amount of his mana leak out.
"I was wrong, Grandfather."
Karron answered, meeting Halo's eyes directly.
Alright, one thing was clear.
'So he finds this situation amusing, does he?'
It didn't seem like he was on his bad side. The slight upturn of his lips suggested he found this whole situation rather interesting.
That guy, Halo, always had a habit of raising the right corner of his mouth like that when he found something intriguing.
And he was doing it right now.
'…It's been a while.'
He might as well play along.
It was their first proper conversation since his reincarnation, after all.
"What did you do wrong?"
"Hiding the fact that I awakened my mana."
"When did you awaken it?"
"Three years ago. I woke up one day and could feel it. I didn't know it was mana at first, but I figured it out after reading some books. My reason for hiding it wasn't anything grand. I just… wanted to keep it a secret."
At his grandson's answer, Halo put on a deliberately stern expression and retorted.
"Mana is not something that can be hidden simply by wishing it so. How did you deceive the eyes of the knights stationed at your estate?"
"I mostly played with it when I was alone… and no one ever noticed. It's strange when you think about it! A lot of the knights at the main house seemed to notice, so why didn't the knights at our estate?"
Karron already knew the answer, but he feigned ignorance as he spoke.
The reason the knights at his estate didn't know?
It was obvious. The knights assigned to Peil's estate by the main house were of a lower caliber.
Because despite being of the direct line, his father was treated like a member of a branch family simply because he had no right of succession.
It was as simple as that.
Although Karron spoke with an air of innocence, Halo caught the hidden meaning in his words.
'Well, look at this kid.'
Halo narrowed his eyes slightly, looking down at his grandson.
The boy was implying that the main house also bore some responsibility. And he was doing it with a brazen tone, as if he knew nothing.
"I will deal with the knights separately. But surely you had another reason for wanting to keep it a secret."
"Um… if I tell you my secret, it won't be a secret anymore, will it, Grandfather?"
"In this room, I am asking you as the head of this family."
On top of everything, this grandson of his had no fear.
Any other child his age would have been crying and begging for forgiveness by now, but this boy was strangely, uncannily fearless.
"It's fun to have a secret."
"Is that all?"
"Hehe, yes!"
Karron beamed at Halo with an innocent smile.
'What's he going to do if I just say I kept it a secret for fun? Torture me?'
In situations like this, it was best to just hide behind the mask of a child.
And Karron's judgment was spot on.
"Hah."
Halo let out a disbelieving laugh as he looked down at his impudent grandson.
This boy clearly understood the situation. The same kid who had just slyly pointed out the main house's failing was now shamelessly donning the mask of a child.
The word 'cunning' had never been more fitting.
As the family head, he could punish him on the spot, but he decided to watch and see what the boy would do.
His youngest grandson's reactions were refreshing, and he was curious to see just how far he would go. So, he moved on to the next question.
"Why did you beat your cousin to such a state?"
Beating his cousin—an older cousin at that.
For a child who had never learned martial arts to beat up his older cousin was strange in itself, but looking at the Karron before him, it was somehow understandable.
This cunning little brat must have secretly trained in martial arts.
For that, he had to be sternly reprimanded.
Disrupting the family hierarchy was something a member of the family must never…
"He said my father was a money-grubbing fool who didn't know the first thing about chivalry. And also… that he was overstepping his bounds despite having no right of succession. I couldn't stand to hear that."
Karron mixed eighty percent truth with twenty percent exaggeration.
As if on cue, Halo said.
"Peil."
"Yes, Father."
"Go down at once and bring that boy Leo here. I need to hear his side of this as well."
If his grandson's words were a lie, he intended to punish him severely.
'What an interesting kid.'
They had only just met, but he already had a feeling.
This boy would soon turn the ducal house upside down.
Without a doubt.
7.
Leo, who had fainted, regained consciousness thanks to the emergency treatment from a priest and a doctor.
His face was covered in bandages, but he could still speak.
"Leo, are you certain of what you said?"
"Yes… Yes, Grandfather. I… I said those things."
"That his father is a money-grubbing fool, that he doesn't know the first thing about chivalry, and that he's overstepping his bounds despite having no right of succession. Are you telling me you truly said those things?"
"The last part, I…"
As he was about to say the last part was a lie, Leo's eyes met Karron's, who was smiling sweetly.
The memory of what had happened earlier resurfaced.
He quickly nodded his head.
"…Yes, I said it."
He was going to get a harsh scolding from his grandfather. And a harsh scolding from his father, too.
But that was far better than earning that madman's grudge.
That lunatic. Recalling the madness in his eyes as he'd slammed his fists down again and again, it was truly better to be scolded by the adults.
Halo watched Leo's response with displeasure.
'It's no use. He's already more afraid of that boy than of me.'
Leo was the type of boy who would get so scared in his presence that he would avert his eyes and stammer. Yet now, in this situation, he was watching his younger cousin's expression.
Instilling this level of fear in such a short time was no easy feat, but his youngest grandson had done it splendidly.
'…A checkmate.'
Whatever the truth was, the result was that Leo had confessed.
There was no good reason to intimidate Leo into telling the truth, and it would tarnish his dignity as the family head.
Halo waved his hand dismissively.
"Your reckless words created this situation, so you are most at fault."
"Yes… Grandfather…"
"Kneel before your uncle and beg for his forgiveness."
At his grandfather's command, Leo knelt before Peil.
"Uncle, I am truly sorry. I… I… spoke profane words that should never have crossed my lips…"
"This is not solely your fault. It must be that my older brother has always thought of me this way. Haha… What would I gain by taking it out on you? You're not well, so go and get treated first."
At Peil's gentle response, Halo frowned and chided his son.
"Are you simply going to let this matter go?"
"From my older brother, perhaps, but what could I possibly expect from my young nephew? I believe the fault of the child is the fault of the parent, Father."
"That almost sounds like you're talking about me."
"I apologize if it sounded that way."
Sighing once more, Halo waved his hand at Leo.
"I don't want to see you anymore, so get out. I will summon you and your father later to answer for this."
Leo was chased out of the office, and once again, only the three of them remained.
Halo looked at his grandson with a disapproving gaze.
"Even if he deserved it, beating your own flesh and blood, your cousin, into such a state was excessive. There were surely other ways to handle it."
"If you're scolding me for hitting him too much… I'm sorry."
"However, punishing the one who instigated it comes first. Therefore, I will postpone your punishment for this matter until a later time."
At those words, Karron bowed deeply.
"Thank you, Grandfather."
"I am not forgiving you. I am merely delaying the order of things."
"Thank you, all the same."
Halo clicked his tongue as he looked at his beaming grandson.
How could such a boy come from Peil, this kind-hearted son of his?
It couldn't be from his mother's side; her family was a long line of distinguished civil servants.
A family renowned for its integrity, at that.
Had he not approved the marriage himself, impressed by his daughter-in-law's family?
As Halo stared at Karron, lost in thought, Peil spoke with a smile.
"I never knew who my son took after, but now I think I do."
"Not you, and not your wife. Who could your son possibly resemble?"
"He resembles you in your youth, Father, from the stories my grandmother used to tell. Haha… If Lady Kain were to see him, I'm sure she would have said he's the spitting image of you."
"Nonsense. Tsk."
The words were not entirely displeasing.
The idea that this cunning, inscrutable grandson resembled him.
Halo shook his head and looked at the boy.
He could see his grandson's potential.
The boy's body was filled with pure Azure Mana. It was naturally infused in him, even without any formal training.
His was a body truly blessed by mana.
And he possessed a mind and a nerve that were unbelievable for a ten-year-old.
He couldn't imagine a boy like this failing to pass the Eye-Opening Ceremony.
"Do you have a dream?"
"A dream? Why so suddenly?"
"What's wrong with a grandfather asking his grandson about his dream?"
"Hmm… One moment. A dream…"
The boy began to ponder with a cute expression befitting his age.
But his contemplation was brief. He answered with a bright smile.
"Can I tell you after the Eye-Opening Ceremony is over?"
"Why the need?"
"I can only become a member of the main family after I pass the ceremony, right? So I'll tell you then, after I've become family."
"Are you saying you are not family now?"
Karron nodded at Halo's question.
"That's how I see it. Here, my only family are my father and mother."
Hearing his young grandson's words, Halo felt a pang of guilt.
This was all his doing.
He was the one who had encouraged the competition between his first and second sons to produce a strong heir. He had stood by and watched as his third son was pushed out of the main house.
To this child, the people here were indeed no better than strangers. It was no wonder his grandson showed such animosity.
Halo gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"I will decide your punishment for your misdeeds after the Eye-Opening Ceremony, once I have heard your dream. You may leave with your father now."
"Yes, Grandfather."
Just as Karron was about to leave the office, holding Peil's hand, Halo spoke in a low voice.
"Until now, I will consider this the cute antics of a grandson I haven't seen in a long time."
He was sure this clever boy would understand exactly what he meant.
"But remember, Karron, this is Azure Sea Castle. My goodwill as a grandfather ends here."
As if to meet his expectations, Karron bowed respectfully to Halo and replied.
"I will keep that in mind. Please rest well, Grandfather."
With those final words, Karron and Peil disappeared through the office door.
Halo stared silently at the door his grandson had exited for a long time.
How much time had passed?
*Knock, knock, knock.*
"It is Heinrich."
"Come in."
The old butler entered the office.
He first observed his master's expression, then spoke with a gentle smile.
"It seems the young master has found a place in your heart."
"He is a strange one. Do you not think so as well?"
"How could I dare to pass judgment on the young master?"
"At ten, a boy should be whining to his parents… Heinrich. As soon as Leo's treatment is finished, send the priest and doctor to Karron."
Halo tapped his desk as he continued.
"Forgive my impertinence, but may I ask why?"
"Precociousness is not always a good thing for a child. That boy, he lacks a certain child-like quality. I am worried he may have some hidden emotional wound."
Heinrich realized that the youngest grandson had completely captured his master's favor.
"I will see to it at once."
"Explain to my third son that they are there to check on the boy's health."
"Do not worry."
It was just as Heinrich had expected.
Halo was thoroughly taken with the boy who had made such a strange impression from their very first meeting, the child who had spoken his mind so boldly before him.
If there was one regret, it was that he hadn't paid attention to him sooner.
But separate from that regret, there was a definite sense of anticipation.
Whether he was a fleeting spark or a brilliantly shining gem, only time would tell.
"Let's just wait and see."
Perhaps, after this Eye-Opening Ceremony, the entire family would be turned upside down.
Halo smiled faintly at the thought.
That might not be such a bad thing after all.
A Mad Dog Lives in the Duke's House