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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: How to Rule the Sea (2)
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3.
'Rougher than I thought.'
Karron felt the Azure Mana squirming near his heart and smiled faintly.
Waves spread from his heart throughout his body.
Each time a wave touched a mana channel, he felt a pain like his flesh was being torn apart.
But he was already used to this kind of pain.
No matter how ferocious the mana, it was better than the horrific mana the Emperor had bestowed upon him.
Rather than agonizing, it was blissful.
Because this was entirely his own choice.
For the sake of great power, he could accept this level of pain with a smile.
'The mana channels are expanding, too.'
Though the mana channels had already been opened through the Eye-Opening Ceremony, the waves relentlessly crashed against them, ignoring their size.
The Azure Mana, as if it had a will of its own, was continuously carving out Karron's mana channels.
He could stop it if he wanted to.
Though the mana was wild, control still lay with Karron. But he didn't stop the flow.
There was no reason to stop it in the first place.
The wider the mana channels, the smoother the flow of mana. He would be able to control a vaster amount of it.
There was only one thing to do in this situation.
'Guide the waves.'
Simply use the endlessly surging waves to expand the mana channels throughout his entire body.
There was no need to guide them perfectly.
Just setting the direction was enough.
Karron held his breath, endlessly regulating the waves.
"Unbelievable."
Sabina, who had been watching Karron, let out a hollow laugh and shook her head.
In her eyes, she could see the waves crashing inside Karron's body.
It was a sight reminiscent of a whirlpool.
"Ugh…"
"Ah, my apologies, Leo."
As Leo, who was sitting next to Karron, let out a groan, Sabina finally pulled him behind her.
"L-Lady Sabina."
Only after moving behind Sabina could Leo faintly open his eyes and regain his senses.
He had been performing the Sea-Conquering Art with Karron, but it seemed he had lost consciousness at some point.
From behind Sabina, Leo looked at Karron.
As someone who was just now aiming for the 2nd Star, Leo couldn't understand what Karron was doing. But he could roughly guess from his great-aunt's expression.
This was the great-aunt who had never once smiled at him.
Yet now, she was beaming at her grandnephew, whom she was seeing for the first time.
"I'm sorry, Lady Sabina. I lost my…"
"Ah, it's not your fault, so don't worry about it. That boy is simply absurd. I know the nature of mana differs from person to person, but… I've never seen anything like that."
Just because it was Azure Mana didn't mean it all had the same properties.
Just as the sea has many faces, so too did Azure Mana.
The sea isn't always calm and tranquil.
There are calm seas that bring peace just by looking at them, and then there are seas of terror that rage as if to swallow everything whole.
Sabina thought Karron's sea bordered on that terror.
That child was dangerous just to look at.
If she had been even a moment later in tending to Leo, his mana would have surely reversed its flow.
"It's like a whirlpool."
She thought her brother still hadn't properly grasped who Karron was.
That boy didn't need a lighthouse.
His sea was one that would swallow even the light of a lighthouse.
Even though she hadn't properly taught him how to activate his mana channels, the boy had already activated them throughout his entire body.
That wasn't all.
Not content with just activating the channels, he was expanding them.
It didn't look like he was delicately regulating the waves, but even that seemed to be intentional on his part.
All she could do now was watch quietly.
An hour passed like that.
*Whoooosh.*
The waves that had been raging through Karron's body finally subsided. A moment later, Karron opened his closed eyes.
Karron's eyes, brimming with Azure Mana, glowed blue.
"Hoo."
Karron took a deep breath and slowly exhaled.
"Karron Leston. I've never met anyone like you. I can't believe you're Peil's son."
"Do you like my father, Lady Sabina?"
"Of course. How could I dislike a good nephew who always makes sure his aunt has spending money? But before that, I want to ask you something."
Sabina slowly approached Karron.
"Why did you stop your cultivation on your own?"
Sabina knew that Karron had stopped on his own.
Usually, children of the family training in the Sea-Conquering Art for the first time would push themselves to the brink of exhaustion out of greed.
Her own brother had done it, and so had she.
Her nephews were the same.
That was why a guardian was always required to observe when young children trained in the Sea-Conquering Art.
Karron answered Sabina's question with a slight smile.
"My father told me that overdoing anything is never good."
Unexpectedly expanding his mana channels had put a great strain on his body.
Karron had no desire to push his luck.
If he pushed himself in this state, the mana channels he'd worked so hard to expand would be damaged.
Because of the so-called mana reversal phenomenon.
He had more than enough time ahead of him.
That's why he needed to know restraint. He would never ruin his body like he did in his past life.
"…Even that is admirable."
Sabina was very pleased with Karron's answer.
"Greed always invites disaster. A warrior must know how to restrain themselves. Keep that mindset in the future."
"Yes, Lady Sabina."
"So, what was your sea like, the first time you faced it?"
A sea that seemed poised to swallow everything.
Sabina was curious how Karron had perceived that sea.
Karron thought for a moment, then smiled and nodded.
"It was rough, but it was fun."
That was Karron's honest impression.
Karron was extremely satisfied with his sea. If he could one day perfectly dominate this sea…
'I'll reach the place I've longed for.'
He looked forward to that moment.
And perhaps because she was pleased with Karron's answer?
Sabina laughed heartily and said.
"I like your honesty, Karron."
Sabina looked down at the grandnephew before her and thought once more.
It was undoubtedly a stroke of luck that she got to teach this boy.
It was as if a bundle of joy had rolled into her tedious twilight years.
4.
After Sabina's first lesson ended, she spoke to Karron privately.
"From now on, training will be held every morning at 10. However, if you wish, you may come and train your mana at any time. I will always be waiting here for you."
This was very welcome news for Karron.
The training hall in the annex was a place overflowing with Azure Mana, but there was the hassle of needing a guardian for a child who hadn't had their coming-of-age ceremony.
But since Sabina had willingly offered to be on standby for him, it meant he didn't need to walk on eggshells.
Karron knew well that this was Sabina's consideration.
It was the same as Sabina saying she would become his patron.
'I'm glad she's taken a liking to me.'
In Azure Sea Castle, there was no one who could cross Sabina.
As long as she was in Azure Sea Castle, even his uncles wouldn't be able to openly keep him in check.
One of Sabina's other titles was said to be the Mad Dog of Azure Sea Castle. She told him her title and said:
"At least here, no one wants to be bitten by a mad dog. The time I promised my brother is three years. In three years, I must return to the North Sea. My dear grandnephew. Please, do entertain me."
Three years.
She had promised Karron three years of protection.
Karron thought three years would be enough. Three years in Azure Sea Castle would be incomparable to ten years outside of it.
'What in the world is in the North Sea?'
The dragon he had briefly met during the Eye-Opening Ceremony had also told him to come to the North Sea.
He didn't know for sure, but an old secret of the Leston family was likely hidden there.
It was something he would find out when he went to the North Sea himself someday.
What was important now was to focus on his growth during Sabina's period of protection.
To achieve the power to protect himself within three years.
That was the first goal Karron set for himself.
"By the way, Brother Leo. Why have you been trembling like that? That little incident between us is all settled, isn't it?"
"Huh? Ah… It's strange. I keep getting scared whenever I see you."
"Really? Why's that?"
"You're scary… and that sword you're holding…"
"I'm going to learn the sword, it'd be weird to go empty-handed, right?"
On the way to the Sea Wolf Knights' training grounds, located in the main building of Azure Sea Castle with Leo.
Karron lightly shook Guillotine's scabbard and raised the corners of his mouth.
This scabbard, named Duban, was an item bestowed upon Karron by Halo.
A scabbard forged from a single, high-quality mana stone.
Duban was originally the scabbard of the 7th family head, kept in the family treasury, but it had to be given to Karron.
The reason was simple.
Only Duban could conceal the sinister aura that Guillotine constantly emitted.
"If you're curious about my sword, should I lend it to you? For you, Brother…"
"No. It's really, really fine."
"Let me know if you change your mind."
"…I really don't need it. Ah, we're here."
The two had arrived at their destination.
A vast training ground set up in the backyard of Azure Sea Castle's main building.
In the training ground situated in front of the elegant knight order's headquarters, many knights were training, crossing swords with one another.
The wolves of the sea who protect Azure Sea Castle, and the greatest military force possessed by the Leston family.
The Sea Wolf Knights.
And the name of this place was Haerangdo, a name given to mean it was like an island where the wolves of the sea gathered.
It was when Karron was standing still, observing Haerangdo.
"Welcome, Lord Leo, Lord Karron."
A middle-aged man approached them.
Karron turned his gaze to look at the man.
And let out a small gasp of admiration.
'Azure Sea Castle is just crawling with monsters, isn't it?'
A knight possessing 8-Star mana.
It wasn't hard to guess his identity.
The one who leads the blue wolves, the man called Halo's right hand.
The Captain of the Sea Wolf Knights, Jeras Winterguard.
It was undoubtedly him.
"I am Jeras Winterguard, Captain of the Sea Wolf Knights. Please feel free to call me Sir Jeras."
Jeras bowed respectfully and greeted Karron.
"A pleasure, Sir Jeras."
"Starting today, I will be in charge of Lord Karron's swordsmanship training."
"I was told as much by Heinrich."
Mana cultivation was with Sabina.
Swordsmanship training was with Jeras.
Of course, Sabina could also teach the family's sword style, but this was a tradition passed down through generations.
Earning the recognition of the Sea Wolf Knights—the blue wolves—was also a rite of passage to becoming a full member of Azure Sea Castle.
Jeras slowly observed the boy before him.
He knew the boy had just received the Sea-Conquering Art for the first time today, yet the mana emanating from his body was hard to believe belonged to a boy.
But mana alone was not enough to earn the recognition of the blue wolves.
Here, this boy would have to show his will.
He would have to prove at every moment that he was an honorable member of the Leston family.
The honorable and valiant blue wolves do not bow to bloodlines.
This place, Haerangdo, was that kind of place.
"Until you have earned the recognition of the blue wolves, Lord Karron, I will not address you by your title as the Duke's grandson. You may find it somewhat disrespectful, but I ask for your understanding."
"Don't worry about it. I only heard myself called the Duke's grandson for the first time after coming to the main family's estate. Calling me otherwise is actually more comfortable."
Usually, they would show displeasure, but the boy before him just shrugged as if it were nothing.
Jeras lowered his gaze slightly to examine Karron's scabbard.
"The sword you've brought…"
Although the scabbard concealed some of it, a sinister energy could be felt from within.
It was a sword overflowing with a killing intent that made it impossible to believe it was a Leston family treasure.
"For the time being, its use here will be forbidden. Training will be conducted with a wooden sword of the same weight as a real sword, and you will be permitted to use a real sword when I judge you have reached a certain level."
"Yes, I'll do that."
"Then let us proceed."
Following Jeras's guidance, Karron stepped into Haerangdo.
At that, the knights in the training ground paused their swordplay and began to stare at Karron in unison.
Some with anticipation, others with jealousy.
Countless different emotions could be felt in their gazes. And at the same time, an incredible intensity.
The spirit projected in unison by the blue wolves.
Karron realized this was the initiation they had prepared for him.
'…This brings back memories.'
Their predecessors, who had entered the imperial palace with Halo on the day he died in his past life.
Perhaps some of the survivors from that day were mixed among them.
Karron recalled the sight of the valiant wolves who had not feared death. He remembered the wolves of that day, who deserved respect despite being his enemies.
Was that why?
He was delighted by the spirit they showed. And so, he found himself liking this place more and more.
Though they were enemies in his past life.
'Now, they are the ones who will stand on my side.'
In this life, they were the wolves who would be with him.
The thought was so reassuring.
And so, Karron smiled and stepped forward confidently, and the blue wolves silently watched the young boy's dignified stride.
It was the moment the existence of Karron Leston was clearly imprinted in their minds.