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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 14
Chapter Title: The Mad Dog of Azure Castle (3)
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5.
The Velus Barony, located in the eastern part of the Leston Ducal Fief.
It was not a small territory, but with most of its land being barren, mountainous terrain, it was far from prosperous.
Barren as it was, it was a cherished place. The people trusted their lord, and the lord, in turn, always thought of his people, maintaining a strong bond between them.
Rohan Velus was the sole heir to this barony.
As the young baron, Rohan had come to Azure Castle to request aid from a long-standing ally.
A series of unpleasant incidents had been plaguing his fief.
"So, let me get this straight. A year ago, a group of bandits set up camp in the mountains east of your fief. Is that right?"
"Yes, that is correct."
"And after they showed up, things like drugs started circulating in your territory?"
"Yes. We also have evidence that they've been kidnapping my people and selling them as slaves."
"Hah. They're bastards who deserve to be torn to shreds, aren't they?"
"...Yes, that is correct."
Rohan tried his best to hide his discomfort as he watched the boy seething before him.
A young boy who looked to be about twelve years old.
Most people would introduce themselves first, but this boy had barged in and immediately started questioning him about his situation.
The boy had not a shred of courtesy, yet for some reason, Rohan found himself answering meekly.
It was difficult to explain, but for some reason, he felt he had to.
"Oh, right. You're a guest… Should I offer you a drink? I recently swiped one of Sir Jeras's prized whiskeys."
"...I'm quite all righ—"
"Knew you'd say that, so I brought it with me."
The blond boy pulled a bottle of liquor from his coat. He then poured the whiskey into a glass that was sitting on the table.
"Ruanoir 17-year. Pretty rare stuff. You must be stressed out, so have a drink."
"...Then I shall accept it with gratitude."
*Should I really be drinking this?*
The 'Sir Jeras' the boy mentioned had to be Jeras Winterguard, the commander of the Sea Wolf Knights.
If so, who was this boy?
He quickly ran through the Leston family tree in his mind.
A twelve-year-old boy who could get his hands on the knight commander's liquor bottle.
The deduction wasn't difficult.
'Karron Leston.'
The only son of the third-born, Peil Leston, who had been removed from the line of succession.
He'd heard that unlike his father, Karron had passed the Eye-Opening Ceremony and entered Azure Castle.
But that was all.
The boy's activities after entering Azure Castle were not well known.
"Drugs, illegal slaves. If they're operating that openly, you could have just mobilized the army."
"It is shameful, but our barony's military strength isn't great. Besides, the bandits' equipment and training… they were on par with a regular army."
"Trained bandits… If you know that, does that mean you've already tried to subjugate them?"
"Yes. In the process, my father, Baron Velus, was seriously injured."
It was a disgrace for a lord to be unable to protect his own fief.
For that reason, Rohan hung his head low.
But Karron wasn't the type to care about such things.
'Deserters turned bandits? I did hear the southern kingdoms are at war.'
That was why the Empire's regular army was concentrated in the south.
In truth, the regular army was a shadow of its former self.
After Halo and the nobles had dragged the Evil Emperor from his throne, the regular army, which was under the Emperor's command, had been drastically downsized.
Rohan, standing before him, must have known this, which was why he had come here for help.
Karron slowly nodded. He took a sip of the whiskey he had slyly poured for himself.
"Ah, the fact that I had a sip of whiskey is a secret from Sir Jeras…"
Just then.
"Lord Karron, haven't I told you how harmful alcohol is for a growing child?"
Jeras, clad in armor of a faint blue hue, opened the reception room door and walked in.
"When did you get your hands on this?"
"Perhaps Sir Jeras was just careless with it? How can you leave it out in the open like that? It's just asking to be taken."
"...Please stop learning bad habits from Lady Sabina."
Jeras sighed deeply and moved the liquor bottle away from Karron. He then bowed politely to Rohan, who was staring at him with a slightly dazed expression.
"Welcome to Azure Castle, Young Baron Velus. My apologies for being late. A monster was discovered in the granary region west of the fief, so things have been hectic. The family head is currently away, so I have come in his stead."
"Ah, not at all."
Rohan snapped to attention.
The knight before him was one of the strongest warriors in the Empire.
He was also the leader of the Sea Wolf Knights, the finest knight order in the Empire.
"I have heard about the bandits in the Velus Barony. Is Baron Velus all right?"
"He was seriously injured, but it is not life-threatening. We have a priest treating him."
"A silver lining in a dark cloud."
Jeras nodded and glanced at Karron.
"This is Lord Karron Leston, the youngest grandson of His Grace, Grand Duke Halo. Ah, have you two already introduced yourselves?"
"We have spoken… but I just heard his name for the first time."
"Ah, did I forget to mention it? I'm Karron Leston. A pleasure to meet you."
Karron grinned and offered Rohan his hand.
Rohan forced a smile and shook the small hand the boy offered.
Though the hand was small, it was covered in hard calluses.
"Young Baron, have you come to Azure Castle to request reinforcements?"
At Jeras's question, Rohan nodded.
"Shamefully, yes."
"You came to the right place. We've been monitoring the situation in the Velus Barony as well. Azure Castle will not stand by and watch a tragedy befall a long-time companion."
They had received intelligence that drugs were being distributed from the border region adjacent to the Velus Barony.
Since then, Azure Castle had been continuously monitoring the situation.
However, the timing was not good.
A significant number of the Sea Wolf Knights were away investigating the monster discovered in the granary.
Sending support immediately would be difficult.
"Sir Jeras."
Just then, Karron slowly spoke up.
"I'll go."
"...No. The enemy is a trained group. We don't know what kind of skilled fighter might be hiding among them."
The leadership of Azure Castle had also concluded that the bandits in the Velus Barony were trained soldiers.
Therefore, it was too much for Karron.
Karron's mana had already reached the 4-star level, and he had mastered up to the fourth form of the Sea Wolf Sword Style.
It was a truly shocking level of growth, almost unbelievable to have been achieved in just three years.
He had surpassed the skill of his cousin, Leo, who was training alongside him, two years ago, and had been recognized as a member of the Blue Wolves by the knights of the Sea Wolf order.
Even so, it was too early for him to venture outside.
Especially against a formally trained army.
But Karron continued as if he had been waiting for that response.
"The sooner you experience real combat, the better, right?"
"It's far too early. Of course, given your achievements, it is time for your first real battle, but…"
"Being overprotective is bad for my growth, Sir Jeras."
"I'll send you to the granary instead. A visible danger is better than an unseen one. Go fight the monster."
"No, those bastards who deserve to be chewed up and spat out are spreading drugs in the area where my parents live!"
The region of the Leston Ducal Fief bordering the Velus Barony was directly governed by Peil.
It was a kind of autonomous territory that Halo had granted him.
That was also why Peil had been separately given the title of Count.
But Jeras was firm.
"Are you only using the Third Prince's name when it's convenient for you? No means no."
"...Was it that obvious?"
"Yes."
"Alright then, that plan's a bust. How about this one?"
Karron was a boy who didn't know how to give up.
"No matter what method you propose, I will not perm—"
But a moment later, after hearing the 'method' that came from Karron's mouth, Jeras could only fall silent.
Instead of a firm refusal, he asked Karron with a suspicious look.
"Did *she* approve this?"
"That's what I have to persuade her about now. What do you think, Sir Jeras?"
Jeras let out a deep sigh and nodded.
Even he had to admit that Karron's proposal was an attractive one.
"If Lady Sabina refuses, you will drop it without another word."
"Of course."
Upon hearing the name 'Sabina,' Rohan's eyes shot wide open.
Wasn't that the name of the woman known as the White Empress? If she came, a group of bandits would be wiped out in an instant.
Karron winked at Rohan and said.
"Young Baron Velus, just trust me. I'll be sure to help you."
"I'm counting on you, I truly am."
"You bet. Lady Sabina is a great-aunt who really loves her grand-nephew."
The three-year protection period Sabina had promised was nearing its end.
If he suggested they go make one last memory together, she wouldn't refuse.
Karron grinned and nodded.
He was excited at the thought of going out after so long.
6.
Karron's prediction was spot on.
—Go subjugate bandits together? It'll be a good memory? Haha! The first memory with my grand-nephew outside the castle is a bandit hunt… How refreshing. I love it. Alright, I'll go with you. But I won't help you. I won't lift a finger until you're on the verge of death, so don't expect any help.
Sabina readily agreed to her grand-nephew's request.
She had been cooped up in Azure Castle teaching Karron for three whole years. She was already feeling sad about the prospect of parting with her adorable grand-nephew, so Karron's proposal was a welcome one.
The thoughtful boy wanted to make a memory with her.
He was a grand-nephew who would go down in the history of the Leston Ducal Family. She wanted to make at least one memory with him outside the castle walls.
And so, Karron's first unofficial mission was decided, and the dispatch procedures were carried out immediately.
The train station at Azure Castle.
A boy standing between Karron and Sabina grumbled with a long face.
"If he's going, he could just go by himself. Why's he dragging me along?"
"Leo, I can hear you."
"I'm saying it so you can hear."
"We haven't sparred in a while, have we? Let's warm up when we get there. This is your first real battle too, isn't it?"
Karron looked at the grumbling Leo and nodded with satisfaction.
One of Sabina's conditions.
Leo must be brought along.
Though he fell short compared to Karron, Leo's growth was also commendable.
Sabina watched the two grand-nephews talking and nodded with a pleased smile.
'The future of our family. That boy Leo has talent, too. I must raise him to be a good support for Karron.'
She couldn't let Karron carry all the heavy burdens alone.
For that reason, Sabina had also paid close attention to Leo's education.
Leo's Sea-Conquering Art was now at the 3-star level.
It naturally paled in comparison to Karron, who had already opened four oceans, but his growth far surpassed the average for his age.
'He can make up for his lack of real combat experience this time.'
The reason Sabina had approved this dispatch was for that very combat experience.
A real battle was completely different from training.
All training exists for the sake of real battle. To become a better warrior, one must experience many real fights.
She believed that if Karron lacked anything, it was experience.
However, there was one thing that bothered her.
'Thugs who have entered the Empire and are even peddling drugs aren't likely to surrender meekly. They will fight with the resolve to die.'
Ultimately, in this battle, Karron and Leo would have to kill people.
To live as a warrior, as a knight, a moment inevitably comes when one must stain one's sword with human blood.
When that moment came, would Karron and Leo be able to swing their swords and take their opponents' lives?
"...You, Karron, you wouldn't hesitate for a second."
"Huh? About what?"
"It's nothing."
Karron, that mad little brat, would gladly take an opponent's head.
Her worry was not for Karron, but for Leo.
"Leo, you will be facing men. Are you prepared?"
"Lady Sabina, I mean… I could just stay in Azure Castle…"
"There's no need to be modest. You are now a proud member of the Blue Wolves. Do not hide your resolve from me."
"No, what I mean is…"
"Yes. Your blood must be boiling. You cannot stand by and watch those villains kidnap the innocent to sell as slaves and spread drugs in this glorious fief, can you? I understand your resolve perfectly."
The answer was already decided.
Leo realized there was no way out of this situation.
His mad cousin and his mad great-aunt would surely drag his corpse along if they had to.
This judgment was based on the experience he had gained from living with them for the past three years.
And so, Leo could only nod his head limply.
"...Yes, Lady Sabina."
"Through this, you will be able to become a more mature version of yourself."
"...Of course."
Rohan watched this scene with a blank expression.
As if this were a common occurrence, Jeras spoke to Rohan with a bitter smile.
"You don't need to worry too much. This is a common occurrence."
"...Yes."
For some reason, even Jeras's words weren't very reassuring.
But Rohan forced a smile, suppressing his anxiety.
"Once this is all over, I will visit again with my father."
"We will prepare a banquet for that occasion."
Jeras exchanged brief farewells with Rohan, then turned to look at Sabina and the two young dukes.
He let out a heavy sigh.
"Just… come back safely."
"Don't you worry about me."
"Of course, Sir Jeras. I'll bring you back a souvenir."
"...I'll… be back, Sir Jeras."
*Can I really trust these three?*
Jeras let out another deep sigh and shook his head.
And so, Karron's first mission began.