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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 59
Chapter Title: Let's Meet Again (2)
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3.
Karron said his goodbyes to Eimi and Ruhon, then left the boutique district.
It was time to return to the estate.
The streets had been relatively quiet on their way here, but that was no longer the case.
"...Why are there so many people?"
Leo looked at the crowd filling the street, a bewildered expression on his face.
Hugo replied to Leo's comment as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"It means the rumors about Karron are spreading properly."
"Hugo. Then all those people are...?"
"That's right. They've come to see Karron's face."
Hugo nodded with a bitter smile.
It wasn't just the rumor that he'd beaten up the scoundrel from the Kian family; word was also spreading that Karron had single-handedly defeated a demon in the Imperial Palace.
It was a rumor that sounded like a heroic tale.
But thanks to the children of the noble families who had been there, the rumor was spreading at an incredible speed.
-A new supernova has appeared in the great family led by the legendary hero, Grand Duke Halo!
With the children of prestigious families spreading such a sensational rumor themselves, it was only natural for the capital to be in an uproar.
"You'd think a popular actor had shown up. Right, Karron? I'm almost jeal..."
Leo glanced cautiously at Karron.
Gaining popularity was a very good thing. Popularity meant fame.
To have earned this much fame at such a young age was surely something to be happy about.
But the person in question, Karron, had his face contorted in a deep scowl.
"Ha, damn it. Nothing's going according to plan. I was supposed to get infamy, not popularity... Should I beat up a few more scoundrels right now? No. That would just... Haaaaaah. This is so annoying."
Karron was actually getting angry.
Leo stared at Karron's reaction, finding it pathetic.
'He really is a consistently crazy bastard.'
To treat the fame others desperately craved like that.
'Yeah, that's Karron for you.'
It was a move worthy of the greatest madman Leo knew.
As Leo was sighing, Hugo, who had been standing quietly, spoke to Karron.
"Karron. Smile."
"Huh?"
"Over there. See the people with cameras? They're reporters from the press. You know what the press is, right?"
"Of course I do."
The rapid advancement of magitech had brought progress to many fields, and the press was one of them.
Businesses that published newspapers regularly.
In this day and age, newspapers were the most important medium for conveying information to the public, and thus, a good way to gauge public sentiment.
"This is a good opportunity to enhance our ducal family's reputation. Smile and wave so they can get a good picture."
"You're always thinking about the family, day and night. I truly respect that."
He decided to comply with Hugo's request for now.
Karron smiled and waved at the cameras. The reporters holding them immediately cheered and began snapping pictures.
Just then.
"Sir Karron!"
A man appeared before Karron's group.
A man with tanned, bronze skin and blond hairit was Degol Kian, the very same man Karron had beaten to within an inch of his life a few days ago.
"I heard you were here and rushed over immediately."
Karron frowned, looking down at Degol.
"What, did you come here for another beating?"
As Karron rolled up his sleeves, Degol dropped to his knees, prostrated himself, and shouted.
"N-No, sir!"
He trembled, as if the memory of that day had come flooding back.
The reporters began capturing the scene with their cameras.
It was a situation ripe for misunderstanding.
A flustered Hugo tried to help Degol up, but Karron stopped him.
"Brother. I'll handle this."
"...I've never seen you handle anything."
"Hey, just trust me."
Just as Karron was licking his lips, about to speak to Degol, another man stepped forward.
A middle-aged nobleman, clearly wearing expensive clothes.
He angrily pulled Degol to his feet.
"What in the world is this, Degol! I told you to remember that the commoners are watching!"
"F-Father."
"Keep your mouth shut."
It seemed the man was Degol's father.
If he was Degol's father, he had to be the head of the Kian family, Count Austin Kian.
"Pardon the intrusion, young Karron Leston. I am Degol's father, Count Austin Kian."
Austin said, glancing around.
Many reporters were filming the situation.
As long as the young boy before him was Grand Duke Halo's grandson, he wouldn't be able to act rashly in a situation like this.
'A good opportunity.'
How enraged had he been to hear that his son had been beaten half to death by someone?
And to make matters worse, his frustrating son was so scared of something that he didn't even want the perpetrator punished. Even though he'd been the one beaten up.
Therefore, Austin planned to extract a proper apology right here and now.
Regardless of the circumstances, the fact remained that his son had been assaulted.
"I heard there was an unfortunate incident between my son and you, young Karron."
"An unfortunate incident, you say?"
"The matter of you indiscriminately assaulting my son. I have secured witness testimonies, so you cannot feign ignorance. If you just offer a single word of apology, I will quietly withdraw."
He would at least get an apology.
That was the minimum compromise he could accept.
Holding the Leston Ducal Family responsible? He'd have to be insane to do such a thing.
Even Marquis Kieren Diaz, whom he followed, had told him to just let this matter go.
'Still, I must get an apology.'
His son had been assaulted in the middle of the capital in broad daylight. His pride wouldn't allow him to simply let it slide.
With so many eyes watching, if the boy before him had any sense, he would offer an apology.
He would surely decide there was no need to get embroiled in an argument in a place like this.
All the press outlets based in the capital were wary of the Leston Ducal Family, which was why Karron's assault incident hadn't been reported.
Given the circumstances, the other side wouldn't be eager to escalate things either.
'I get to save face, and they get to move on quietly. Isn't that right, Karron Leston?'
But Karron was far crazier than he had imagined.
"An apology? Why are you asking me for one? Your son got his ass beat because he deserved it. No, if anything, I'm the one who should be getting a thank you."
"W-What did you just...?"
"I did the parenting you should have done yourself. Instead of an apology, you should be offering me tutoring fees."
"That's right, Father. Thanks to Sir Karron, I've become a new man. An apology! Sir Karron guided me onto the right path!"
An unexpected reaction.
And on top of that, his worthless son was nodding along, agreeing with him.
"Those who deserve a beating should get one, no matter who they are! That's my motto. Ah, did you come here because you felt your son's education was a bit lacking? If you want, I can discipline him some more. I may not look it, but I'm a pretty generous guy."
He spoke like a back-alley thug.
It was a moment that sent the Leston Ducal Family's dignity crashing down.
"Young Karron. Even if you are Grand Duke Halo's grandson, this is..."
"So, what do you say? Shall I educate your son some more?"
The reporters' cameras flashed nonstop.
Behind them, Hugo, who had been listening, turned pale.
'...How am I going to face Grandfather?'
Once again, he had failed to complete the mission his grandfather had given him.
Unfortunately.
4.
That evening.
At Gail's estate.
In the bustling courtyard of the estate, where preparations for departure were underway, Jeras was reading a freshly printed extra edition of the newspaper.
"...You're truly remarkable, Sir Karron. You just couldn't help yourself again..."
"Sigh..."
"Why are you sighing like that again?"
"This wasn't the picture I was going for."
Karron glanced at the newspaper Jeras was reading and sighed.
Karron Leston, the Supernova of the Leston Ducal Family! A Wake-Up Call for the Debauched Children of Prominent Families!
Karron Leston: "Those who deserve a beating should get one. No matter who they are."
The Citizens of the Capital Go Wild!
Grand Duke Halo, the Great Hero Who Saved the Empire, and His Youngest Grandson, Karron Leston, a Cut Above the Rest from the Very Beginning!
Degol Kian, Assaulted by Karron Leston: "Sir Karron was merely teaching me a lesson. He did not assault me. Rather, he guided me onto the right path."
These were not the articles Karron had wanted.
He had been hoping for articles calling him a madman with no manners, a hopeless scoundrel of a grandson, things like that, but what he got instead was...
"Karron Leston must have been taught noblesse oblige from a young age. The youngest grandson of the ducal family is truly a model for all nobles to... No, is this for real? Why does no one understand what I'm trying to do?"
Nothing but praise.
Far from infamy, his reputation was only growing.
While Karron was fuming, Leo took the newspaper from Jeras. After reading it, he let out a small gasp of admiration.
"Wow, so it's true that when you get famous, people will applaud you even if you take a shit. The prince was right."
Perhaps Leo was the one here who best understood Karron's state of mind.
Noblesse oblige?
There was no way Karron had anything to do with that.
This guy just charged headfirst.
Without a single thought.
"You've really got some luck."
To Leo's mutter, which was almost a thought spoken aloud, Karron nodded in annoyance.
"That's right. I've got the worst luck. Ha, should I have just cursed out the count, too?"
"Why not? You should've slapped the count."
"Next time, give me advice earlier, Leo! I would've slapped him right then and there!"
"That's enough, Sir Karron. Please just stay quiet until we depart. It's distracting."
"Hah."
They would return to Azure Castle by carriage, escorted by Sir Jeras and the Sea Wolf Knights. Karron had suggested using the teleportation circle, but he was told it had already been deactivated.
Only Karron and Leo were returning today.
Halo was staying in the capital.
The reason given was that he still had much to discuss with the Imperial Family.
'He's probably planning to stay in the capital and deal with the influential nobles. Knowing Halo's personality, once he's drawn his sword, he'll see it through to the end.'
The capital would be very noisy for a while.
And at the center of the turmoil would be the Leston Ducal Family.
As Karron chewed on some jerky while waiting in the courtyard, an elderly couple walked in through the main gate.
It was his maternal grandfather, Gail, and his maternal grandmother, Helena.
There was just one peculiar thing.
"Ahem, my dear. There are many eyes on us. Grabbing me by the neck is a bit..."
"You be quiet. How long should Karron have to wait for you? Does it make sense for you to keep working until I come to fetch you?"
"This is all because I'm working hard for the country... Gack. Please loosen your grip, my dear. I'm dying."
Helena was dragging Gail in by the scruff of his neck.
Karron greeted them with a smile.
"You're here."
At his grandson's greeting, Gail quickly straightened his clothes. Then, with a broad smile, he waved at Karron.
"I'm very late. I'm sorry, Karron. There was just so much to take care of."
"I almost had to spend another night here."
"That would have been fine, too. Haha! I should have come even later... My dear. It was a joke, a joke."
"A man should gain some wisdom with age! You should be sending your grandson off quickly so he isn't tired, and you're making jokes at a time like this?"
Karron watched Gail and Helena, a bright smile on his face.
They were precious people who always cherished him.
He had originally wanted to stay in the capital a little longer to be with them, so Karron felt a pang of regret.
But Karron pushed his disappointment aside and bowed to them.
"I'll come to visit again next time."
Gail and Helena smiled and hugged Karron.
"We'll visit Azure Castle this winter, so stay healthy until then. Understand?"
"That's right, Karron. Your health is the most important thing. Make sure you eat well. Okay?"
"Yes! I'll be waiting for winter!"
The short and sweet farewell was over.
Jeras, who had been watching quietly, spoke in a gentle voice.
"Please board the carriage. All preparations are complete."
"Where did Hugo go?"
"Sir Hugo will be remaining in the capital to assist the family head."
"Ah, I see. Understood."
Karron boarded the carriage with Leo.
He opened the window and peeked his head out.
"We're leaving now! Grandpa! Grandma! See you at Azure Castle!"
"Hurry and close that. You'll let the bugs in."
With all preparations complete, Jeras boarded the carriage with Karron and Leo.
"Let's depart."
"Yes, Sir Jeras."
Vrooom.
The knight in the driver's seat activated the mana engine, and a pleasant hum soon filled the air.
But just then.
"Y-Young Masteeeer! You can't leave me behind again!"
From a distance, a giant of a man covered in dust came running and crying.
Karron looked at the giant with an indifferent expression.
"Come to think of it, that guy's had zero presence since we came to the capital. Where the hell has he been hiding?"
It was Urhan, Karron's servant and a former deserter.
He had been conspicuously absent since their arrival in the capital.
As Karron stared at Urhan with a look of disdain, Leo, who was beside him, sighed and said.
"As soon as we got to the capital, you made Urhan clean the estate's basement, didn't you? You told him to clean it all by himself. Did you forget already?"
"Oh, did I? You have a good memory."
"You really are..."
"But is that my fault? It's his fault for having no presence. Deserters, I swear... Hey! You're walking all the way to Azure Castle! Got it?"
"Haaahk! Please don't leave me behind!"
"Sir Jeras? Let's just go. There's no need to wait for that deserter."
Jeras let out a deep sigh, then took a communication device from his pocket.
"...Make sure you pick up the straggler."
-Yes, Commander!
With Urhan finally boarding the servants' carriage.
"Now, we will depart."
Their journey in the capital had come to an end.
The Ducal Family's Mad Dog
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