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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 9
Chapter Title: How to Rule the Sea
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1.
Three days had passed since the Eye-Opening Ceremony.
Despite the monumental incident of the
"I'm worried about leaving you here alone."
"Karron, will you really be okay?"
The train station at Azure Sea Castle.
Karron had briefly left the castle grounds to see his parents off.
Peil and Sara's faces were etched with worry for their son.
"I'll be fine, really. I'm a member of Azure Sea Castle now, aren't I?"
"Your days in Azure Sea Castle will not be easy. It will be physically demanding, and…"
Peil deliberately trailed off.
At last night's farewell banquet, he had sensed a change in the atmosphere from his two older brothers.
A clear sense of caution?
Though they were brothers who had always maintained a reasonable distance since leaving Azure Sea Castle, that was no longer the case.
Peil knew full well why his brothers' attitudes had changed.
Karron.
His son had begun to shake the ducal family's long-stagnant power structure.
*Karron probably knows, too.*
A clever son like him would have already noticed.
It was a difficult thing for a ten-year-old to understand the political dynamics of a ducal family, but for Karron, it was possible.
He suddenly recalled what Karron had said before bed last night.
-I'll make sure you have nothing to worry about, Father.
Karron was clever. No, not just clever, but also perceptive.
This was the child who had hidden the fact that he had awakened his mana for three years.
If he could keep such a huge secret to himself, he must have his own way of thinking.
Of course, Peil was worried. But he was also well aware that his own anxiety could hinder his son's future.
"There's no place safer than Azure Sea Castle. You know that, Father."
"…You're right."
For the direct bloodline of the Leston ducal family, Azure Sea Castle was an impregnable fortress.
No one could harm a member of the Leston family within its walls.
The only time a weapon could be pointed at a member of the Leston family was during a spar.
It was safe from external threats. And simultaneously, safe from internal ones.
*My older brothers won't be able to threaten him within the family grounds.*
As long as the family elders were alive, the rules would be upheld.
And above all, his father, Halo, was still hale and hearty.
With Halo's attention now focused on Karron, no one would be foolish enough to openly try to harm him.
The only regret now was…
*It's a shame I can't be with Karron anymore. If I'd known it would be like this…*
…being separated from the son who was the apple of his eye.
His only regret was not having spent more time with his son.
As if sensing his parents' feelings,
*Hugs.*
Karron embraced his parents with a smile.
"I'll write often. And I'll visit whenever I get the chance. We have the railway you built, after all!"
These were the parents who had raised him with unconditional love.
They had filled his life with a love he had never received in his previous life. How could he not love them?
*The people I must protect in this life.*
They were the ones who had taught him the meaning of the word 'family.'
He would become stronger, if only for them.
He would repay the protection and love he had received.
Feeling the warmth of his father and mother, Karron made a vow. His parents were the greatest gift of this life.
"Third Young Lord."
After the goodbyes between parents and son were over, the old butler Heinrich, who had been waiting quietly, bowed respectfully and spoke.
"We have prepared a room for you in Azure Sea Castle, so you are welcome to visit whenever you wish to see the Young Master."
"…Was this Father's doing?"
"Yes, it was."
A room had been set aside for them in Azure Sea Castle.
It was a sign that the master of the castle had accepted them as family.
*It seems Father was bothered by what Karron said.*
The words Karron had uttered when he first met his grandfather.
That the only family he had here were his parents.
His father must have taken his grandson's words to heart.
*…The consideration I've received so far is more than enough.*
His father had helped him, who couldn't even pass the Eye-Opening Ceremony, establish himself outside of Azure Sea Castle.
And yet, whenever they met, he always showed a hint of apology. This was likely an extension of that same feeling.
Peil smiled wistfully and nodded.
"I understand."
*Vwoooooom—!*
The train's mana engine resonated with a deep hum, signaling that it was fully charged.
"Well then, Karron, stay healthy."
"Son, if things get too hard, you can always come home. All right?"
"Yes!"
With that, Peil and Sara took their reluctant steps and boarded the train.
Karron waved until the train departed and disappeared from view.
*I guess I can drop the act now.*
Truthfully, playing the part of the good son wasn't easy.
After the train vanished, Karron turned to Heinrich and said,
"I begin my training in the Sea-Conquering Art today, right?"
"Yes, that is correct. I will guide you to the training hall as soon as we return to the castle."
"I'm looking forward to it."
"Lady Sabina Leston is already waiting in the training hall. She is the master's sister, and your great-aunt, Young Lord."
"Sabina Leston?"
The name was familiar.
He had met her a few times in his past life.
Sabina Leston, a knight who, while not as renowned as Halo, had made quite a name for herself in the Empire.
*Her nickname was the White Wolf, wasn't it?*
He remembered it was because she always wore a white cloak.
He'd heard a family elder would be teaching him the Sea-Conquering Art, but he hadn't expected it to be Halo's own sister.
Karron gave a slight nod and turned.
"I shouldn't keep my great-aunt waiting."
"Forgive my impertinence, but may I offer a piece of advice?"
"I'm listening."
"It would be best to refrain from using the term 'great-aunt' in front of Lady Sabina."
"But she is my great-aunt."
"It is the title Lady Sabina dislikes the most."
"Huh?"
What was wrong with calling his great-aunt his great-aunt?
The advice didn't make sense, but there was no harm in keeping it in mind.
"Thank you for the advice."
"Not at all. Ah, and Young Lord Leo is also there. The Second Young Lord made a special request to Lady Sabina."
"Understood. Shall we go, then?"
Heinrich watched Karron's retreating back as he strode forward, a faint smile on his lips.
He had a feeling that the once-quiet Azure Sea Castle was about to get a lot louder.
2.
Upon returning to Azure Sea Castle, Karron was immediately guided by knights to a separate annex.
The Sea Wolf Knights' training hall was located within the main castle, but the hall used by the direct descendants of the Leston family was in an annex near the Azure Sea Forest.
The reason was simple.
The Azure Mana flowing through the Azure Sea Forest could only be used by the direct Leston bloodline who had passed the Eye-Opening Ceremony.
"Lady Sabina is waiting. I will take my leave now."
The knight who had escorted Karron to the annex bowed respectfully and departed.
Karron gave him a slight nod, then slowly turned his gaze to the training hall door.
A tremendous power could be felt from beyond it. It had to be Sabina's mana.
"Hoo."
*Knock, knock, knock.*
After a short exhale, he knocked slowly on the door. A husky voice immediately echoed from within.
"What are you knocking for? Just get in here."
"Yes."
He opened the door and stepped into the training hall.
His eyes were immediately drawn to a woman and Leo, who were seated inside.
*…Now I see why she hates being called great-aunt.*
The white-haired old woman Karron had imagined was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, a woman with blue hair, who looked to be in her late twenties, sat with her legs crossed on a chair.
*She's reconstructed her body with mana. That means she's reached the peak of the 8th Star, at least.*
Upon reaching the peak of the 8th Star, one could reconstruct their body using mana. This reconstruction was a preliminary step toward reaching the 9th Star.
Through this process, one could return to a youthful appearance at will. While some, like Halo, chose to look their age, the majority, like Sabina, reverted to the appearance of their youth.
Halo was the exception.
Sabina glared at Karron and spoke.
"What, surprised I look younger than you expected?"
At her question, Karron shook his head.
"Not at all. Karron, the youngest of the Leston family, pays his respects to the White Wolf, Lady Sabina."
"I have many titles attached to my name. But it's the first time in a while I've heard a youngster call me the White Wolf. I was called that long before you were born. Where did you hear it?"
"I have a keen interest in history. I read it in a history book."
At Karron's answer, Sabina rose from her chair with an amused smile.
"The White Wolf was the very first moniker I earned. It's also my favorite. Your grandfather gave me a heads-up, but… I like you very much."
"What did my grandfather say about me?"
"That I would take a great liking to you. Now I see why."
Of course, that wasn't all Halo had told Sabina.
-He is a child who must navigate a vast, boundless ocean. Help him so that he is not devoured by the sea, but learns to rule it. Be Karron's lighthouse.
Sabina smiled as she looked at the young heir before her.
This little one possessed a potential that was not just overflowing, but flooding.
At the same time, she could see a boundless ocean within him, its depths unknown.
Because he had not yet learned how to rule it, his sea raged with untamed waves even at this very moment.
*To call him a monster would be an understatement.*
What kind of being would this boy become when the moment came for him to rule that great sea?
The thought of that moment excited her.
Perhaps being able to teach him was a stroke of luck in itself.
Sabina slowly nodded her head.
"That's enough with the greetings. Karron, sit next to Leo."
"Yes, Lady Sabina."
Karron obediently sat down next to Leo. He then offered a friendly greeting.
"Brother, looks like we'll be seeing a lot of each other for a while."
"…So it seems."
"I'll be in your care."
"…You too."
Leo wanted nothing more than to leave the training hall, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
He was wary of Sabina, one of the family's great elders, and he knew his father would be deeply disappointed if he ran away.
He didn't want to see that cold look in his father's eyes again. So, suppressing his fear as much as possible, Leo took a deep breath.
Once Karron was seated, Sabina quickly continued.
"Karron. Sit cross-legged like Leo. It is the most basic posture for mana training. It helps you focus your mind and feel the mana most effectively. Once you pass the introductory stage, you'll be able to train without this posture, but not yet."
He had never sat cross-legged in his past life, but he had occasionally seen that old man Halo do it.
Therefore, Karron had no trouble mimicking Leo and settling into the posture.
"The Sea-Conquering Art is, as its name suggests, the method to rule the sea. Its purpose lies in dominating the sea formed of Azure Mana. As your proficiency grows, the number of seas—that is, oceans—settled within your body increases. The 1st Star possesses one ocean, and upon reaching the 8th Star, you will possess eight oceans."
Though the terminology was different, the form didn't seem to vary much from other mana training methods.
A typical mana training method formed rings centered on the heart. One ring for the 1st Star, two for the 2nd Star, and so on.
It wasn't difficult to understand. It was simply a matter of accomplishing with Azure Mana what he had done in his past life.
"The 9th Star is also called the stage of unity. It is the state where the eight oceans within your body merge into one. It is a place some can strive for their entire lives and never reach. On the entire continent, only three have. In the Empire, only one person has ever reached that place."
"Grandfather."
"Yes, that one person is your grandfather and my older brother, Halo Leston."
He would definitely reach that stage in this life.
Karron nodded, making a promise to himself.
*Aspiration.*
Sabina saw a fierce aspiration in Karron's eyes.
For a child with such overflowing talent, that kind of desire would serve as an excellent catalyst.
"There's no need for a long speech. Let's begin the mana training immediately. Both of you, close your eyes and draw up your mana. Guide the sea through the mana pathways in your body. That is the first step."
Leo had already been taught the Sea-Conquering Art two years ago.
Although she had brought Leo here at her second nephew's earnest request, today was ultimately for Karron.
Sabina held her breath and looked down at Karron.
No matter how talented a child was, the first time training with mana was always difficult.
Their body had not yet adapted to the mana pathways.
It was like a new part of the body, one that had never existed before, had suddenly appeared.
"Channel your mana into the pathways opened by the Eye-Opening Ceremony. The mana will move according to your will. It may be difficult at first, but…"
But Sabina couldn't finish her sentence.
Because.
*Vwoooooooooom—!*
"This is insane."
Azure Mana was exploding from Karron's entire body.
She didn't know.
*You think I was just playing with those mana stones for nothing? This is the power of preparation.*
How long Karron had been waiting for this very moment.
*Vwooooom—!*
A fierce wave began to crash within the training hall.