The Mad Dog of the Dukes House - Chapter 65



Only Krnovel

Episode 65 19. Seventeen Years Old (2)

3.

In an office filled with paperwork, Pale greeted his son warmly.

“Thank you for your hard work, Caron.”

“It’s been a year since I’ve seen you, Father. How have you been? Father… … . It seems like you haven’t been doing well.”

Caron smiled faintly as he looked over the enormous pile of reports that filled his office.

Pale nodded and laughed along with Caron’s joke.

“Does it seem like you’re not doing well?”

“Yes… … . Well, I hate paperwork.”

“This father is not doing it because he likes it.”

“But these days, there’s a rumor going around that my father is the real power in our family?”

It has been four years since the Duke of Reston declared external intervention.

It was true that Pale’s ability was very significant in the rapid expansion of the power of the Duke of Reston.

This is because it was Pale who constantly expanded the family’s business and led the development of Cheonghae Castle.

The fact that tall buildings are rising one after another in Cheonghae-seong was also thanks to Pale.

In the past, the only advantage that Cheonghae Castle had over other developed cities was that the Knights of Haerang were stationed there, but now that is not the case at all.

A key stronghold in the northwestern part of the empire.

Everything in the northwest, including logistics and manpower, was currently centered around Cheonghae Province.

This brought in money, which naturally became the strength of the Duke of Reston.

Thanks to this, even the elders who had originally opposed Pale’s return to Cheonghae Castle were able to keep their mouths shut.

The elders could not have opposed the family’s power growing stronger.

“I heard that your probation has been lifted.”

“The rumor has already spread?”

“You should have seen the looks on your uncles’ faces when they heard that story. They all looked like they had chewed on something.”

Pale knew that no one could easily touch Charon anymore.

Along with the story of Caron being released from confinement, rumors also spread that Caron had reached the sixth star.

6 stars.

There is only one being who has reached the sixth star at the age of seventeen, the progenitor of the family.

The moment they heard that story, my brothers’ expressions froze like stone statues.

This must be because Charon’s achievements once again exceeded their expectations.

Moreover, Pale is given a lot of real power.

Even if the brothers have ill intentions toward Caron, they will not be able to move recklessly.

Politically and by force.

Pale smiled happily and asked Caron.

“So, what do you plan to do from now on?”

The same question Halo asked Charon.

Was it since last year?

The son inherited Sabina’s nickname.

The mad dog of Cheonghae Castle.

That nickname was now Charon’s. A mad dog out of custody couldn’t stay still.

Just like when I was thirteen, there was a high possibility that I would leave Cheonghae Castle to cause all sorts of trouble.

‘… … Just thinking about it makes me dizzy.’

Even when I was only thirteen, I was causing such trouble… … Now that I’m seventeen and much stronger, what kind of troubles will I cause?

“I’ll pick a few good missions and go. The family has shown me so much kindness over the past four years, so shouldn’t it be time to repay them?”

“… … Well, parents give their children unconditional love. Family love is the same as parents’ love. There is no need to repay it in any way.”

“Hey, Dad! People who do nothing are called mealworms. Don’t you know that mealworms are the thing I hate the most in the world?”

“Who dares call you a rice bug?”

There is absolutely no one who would say something like that unless they want to get bitten by a mad dog.

But Caron smiled and waved his hand.

“I need to go see the world too, Father.”

“… … Do as you wish. Even if I told you not to, weren’t you already going to do as you wish?”

“As expected, it’s my father. How do you know me so well?”

Caron smiled broadly as he sunk into the soft sofa.

“I have to start spending the money I’ve saved for four years. I haven’t spent a single penny in four years, and I feel so wronged that I can’t live.”

Dividends arising from the shares of a joint venture acquired from the Barony of Belus four years ago.

The dividends were gradually accumulated while Caron was working hard, and Caron asked Pale to invest the dividends again in a magic stone processing company.

Leo succeeded in bringing the kingdom’s magic stone processing technicians.

Thanks to this, Caron became rich while doing nothing.

That too, a very rich man.

The amount distributed to Caron each year is a whopping 150,000 gold.

It was an amount equivalent to the annual budget of a local barony.

In other words, Caron became a walking barony.

“Having a lot of money is truly comforting… … Father, should I give you some pocket money?”

“……I am OK.”

“Hey, it’s really okay.”

How could it be okay?

It’s obvious that they’ll just rush in and foam at the mouth just because you spent some money.

Pale knew his son absolutely perfectly.

While Pale and Caron were talking like that.

Knock knock.

Someone knocked on the door and then came inside.

Blonde hair and blue eyes.

And a middle-aged man with a diagonal scar on his cheek.

Pale and Caron stood up and saluted him as soon as they saw him.

“You were here. Pale, Caron.”

The middle-aged man’s mere words cause the air around him to become oppressed.

Pale bowed his head toward him and greeted him.

“Are you here, Elder 3?”

“okay.”

The identity of the middle-aged man is Julich Reston, one of the three elders of the Senate.

Yulich was Halo’s younger brother and a powerful man who had reached the 8th star. It was thanks to him that he was able to maintain the appearance of a middle-aged man even though he was over 70 years old.

At the same time, he was also a so-called hardliner in the Senate who had once most vehemently opposed Pale’s return to Cheonghae Castle.

But that’s all old news.

The current Julich.

“Caron! The rumors that you reached 6 stars were true! This is a great event for our family. Once again, the greatest knight on the continent will be born from our family! Come here, come here. Let me hug my cute eldest grandson!”

He’s a fool who only knows Caron.

The reason was simple.

Yulich, that is, the 3rd elder, valued strength the most.

At one time, Yulich had hated Pale to the point of disgust, but not anymore.

He was currently the elder who most actively supported Pale within the family.

“Don’t be shy and come here and hug me. Let me feel your muscles! Isn’t it possible that you lost muscle mass while you were practicing magic power?”

“Dad! Please stop the elder!”

“Tch! Didn’t I tell you to call me Grandfather instead of Elder in private?”

“… … I, uncle. I think you should exercise some self-restraint… … .”

“Why don’t we strengthen ties between family members?”

It was Yulich who was confidently chosen as the number one person that Charon found most annoying in Cheonghae Castle.

Caron said, pushing away the constantly rushing Yulich with both hands.

“What brings you here all of a sudden, Elder?”

“Well, since the council of elders is over, I came to tell you the results. It would be right to have the servants do it, but I can’t help but want to see your face.”

Yulich smiled faintly and took out a piece of paper from his bosom.

Caron shrugged as he looked at the paper.

“Was this a meeting about my disciplinary action?”

“No. Your disciplinary action is within the jurisdiction of the head of the household. Even if they are the Senate, they cannot interfere with the authority of the head of the household.”

“But what meeting results are you going to notify me of… … .”

“Read that paper.”

Charon frowned slightly and slowly read the paper.

The identity of the paper was none other than a report written by a certain journalist.

I checked the author’s name and it was Leo Reston.

I thought Leo wasn’t visible from Cheonghae Castle, but it looks like he was on a mission.

The summary of the report was as follows:

It was a report with nothing special about it other than the appearance of a monster.

Recently, as the appearance of monsters has become more frequent, the Knights of Haerang have also been frequently subduing monsters.

Those who live in Cheonghae-seong do not just pass by when they see a monster.

In the first place, the monster was a long-time enemy of the Duke of Reston.

Even in the days when black magic was not rejected, the Duke of Reston was so strong in his response to demons.

‘Besides, the scale of the punitive expedition does not seem to be something that the Senate can intervene in.’

It was hard to accept that this was a mission that required the permission of the elders.

“That is the mission assigned to you.”

“I understand that the mission to subdue demons does not require the consent of the elders.”

“If it was a normal monster subjugation mission, then that would be correct. But the problem is where the monster was discovered.”

Yulich nodded, stroking his chin.

A moment later, Charon’s expression hardened like ice at the words that came out of Yulich’s mouth.

“Do you know anything about Kerua Act?”

An unexpected name came out of Yulich’s mouth.

4.

“Kerua Act. He was a member of the Imperial Guard who protected the palace until the end 50 years ago. In the history books, it is written that he died heroically together with Lord Cain, but the reality is completely different. He survived that day and has been living in the southern part of the continent ever since. Until just six months ago.”

Yulich’s explanation continues.

Caron clenched his fist lightly.

The answer to the question I had been meaning to ask Halo was flowing out of Yulich.

“… … How did he survive?”

“The lord showed mercy. That is why the magic training method and swordsmanship were able to be passed down to the current Imperial Guard. I insisted on eliminating them until the very end, but the lord ultimately allowed them to live.”

Although many years have passed, the lifespan of humans with magical powers is extremely long.

If he hadn’t been killed or seriously ill, he had a very good chance of surviving.

Hope that former colleagues might still be alive.

Charon’s expression, which had been frozen in hope, quickly melted.

“Not all of the suicide squad members from back then are alive, but some are alive and under our surveillance.”

“I’m not under surveillance right now… … .”

“To be exact, I missed it. All the surviving members of the suicide squad disappeared without a trace six months ago. Coincidentally, the area where the monster was discovered this time is also where the last traces of Kerua Act were discovered.”

After finishing his explanation, Yulich looked at Charon and spoke quietly.

“While subduing the monsters, search for traces of Kerua Act. Subduing the monsters is the official mission, and searching for Kerua Act is an unofficial mission. You may refuse if you wish.”

“I will do it.”

Caron spoke in a firm voice. There was no need to hesitate.

It was a mission that there was no reason to refuse.

No, to be exact, it was a mission I couldn’t refuse.

If only I could confirm the life or death of those stupid subordinates, I would have gone ahead even if it wasn’t a mission.

“The information that the members of the Akwang’s suicide squad, including Kerua Act, are alive is considered confidential even within Cheonghae Castle. Therefore, carrying out this mission is strictly limited to direct blood relatives.”

“So, who will be participating in this mission, Elder 3?”

“Leo and Leon will help you. They are already searching the area for traces of the monster, so you can go and join them. You can leave whenever you want.”

That means you have to get to your destination alone.

If it’s the border area between the Kingdom of Keas and the Holy Kingdom, it would take at least 15 days. And even that 15 days is assuming that you move without stopping.

It was sure to be a difficult journey.

“The atmosphere within the empire has been tense recently, so make full preparations before departing.”

“Is there anything else I should pay attention to?”

“Just that the Holy Kingdom can intervene in this incident. Beware of those fanatics. The moment they hear Kerua Act’s story, they will roll their eyes and rush at you.”

Holy Kingdom.

A kingdom founded by fanatics who worship the god of light, Kyrian, as their sole god.

They call themselves a holy nation, and the Pope leads that holy nation.

It’s a place that existed 50 years ago.

When the Empire took a positive stance on black magic, it was hostile to the Empire, but now, relations have improved somewhat.

“To them, Kerua Act is the Emperor’s lackey. If they confirm that he is alive, they will definitely try to kill him. I hope to avoid conflict with those fanatics as much as possible.”

“Are you worried about me?”

“How could that be?”

Yulich raised the corners of his lips.

“I’m worried that the fanatics will get bitten to death by rabid dogs. If by any chance you happen to bite the fanatics’ necks, it will only increase your father’s workload. Wasn’t your father in charge of family diplomacy?”

As he said that, Yulich looked at Pale with satisfaction.

At those words, Pale sighed and shook his head. Then he spoke to Caron.

“Kill me, but don’t kill me.”

“I’ll try my best.”

“You’re not saying you won’t kill me.”

“Father, you know very well how crazy those guys are, right?”

“… … Only you… … . No, son. Forget what I just said.”

Charon’s new mission has been decided.

The mad dog of Cheonghae Castle started preparing to escape from us.

There’s a mad dog living in the duke’s house