The Mad Dog of the Duke's Estate-Chapter 139

"It was a pleasure doing business," Caron said with a smile as he shook hands with Foina.

"Are you sure you don't need any other artifacts?" Foina asked. "Traveling alone must come with its share of inconveniences."

"I've already brought along an extraordinary companion from the Great Forest," Caron replied.

Meow.

Pluto, perched on Caron's shoulder, let out a sharp, high-pitched cry.

Foina gasped softly in astonishment and said, "Pluto...! To think someone would form a contract with a Spirit of Darkness!"

"My little friend is quite talented," Caron said, stroking Pluto affectionately.

"I'd love to study it if I could. Would you consider lending it to me sometime?" Foina asked, her curiosity evident.

"Maybe when I'm not on a mission," Caron replied.

"You'd charge a fee, wouldn't you?" Foina asked.

"Of course I would," Caron said with a grin.

"Then I'll wait for another opportunity," Foina clicked her tongue lightly, clearly disappointed. She turned to the elf standing quietly behind her and gestured for her to step forward. She said, "Neria has something she'd like to say to you."

Neria, the elf Caron had rescued from Reben, stepped forward hesitantly. It seemed Foina had tended to her recovery with great care. The scars on her wrists and ankles, once so prominent, had entirely faded.

Caron waved to her with a smile, then asked, "How've you been?"

Neria gave a faint smile and nodded, then said, "I've been well, thanks to you."

"I feel like I never thanked you properly," she added after a moment. She adjusted her clothing and then bowed deeply, her voice soft but sincere. "I'll spend my entire life repaying the debt I owe you for saving me."

"There's no need for all that," Caron said, his tone light yet caring. "I only took on the task because Lady Foina asked me to. So don't let it weigh on you. Just go back and live a happy life."

His casual yet thoughtful words brought a brighter smile to Neria's face. She said, "I'll visit you occasionally."

"The Great Forest and Azureocean Castle are a long way apart," Caron replied.

"The regent has entrusted me with new responsibilities, so it won't be a problem," Neria said with quiet confidence.

"New responsibilities?" Caron tilted his head slightly.

"Neria will be serving as an interpreter, traveling between Azureocean Castle and the Great Forest. She asked for the role, and the regent approved her request," Orion explained.

Neria, an elf fluent in the human tongue, was a rarity. From what Caron had seen in the Great Forest, elves who spoke human languages were few and far between.

Caron nodded, a smile tugging at his lips, then said, "You probably don't have the best feelings toward humans. That must have been a big decision."

Neria hesitated, then murmured, "It's... not all that bad."

"Hmm?"

"If I visit Azureocean Castle someday," Neria said, her voice tinged with shyness, "Would you spare some time to meet with me?"

Caron broke into a broad grin, then answered, "I can't promise that I'll be at Azureocean Castle, but if I am, of course I'll make time for you. Just come by whenever you like."

Neria mirrored his bright smile and said, "Thank you."

"There's no need to thank me," Caron replied lightly. "It's nothing difficult."

After giving her a small nod, he glanced around at his companions. "So, is this where we part ways?"

It was time to bid farewell to Utula and Orion as well. As Caron opened his mouth to say his goodbyes—

Crack!

"Argh—!"

Without warning, Utula grabbed Caron in a bear hug and effortlessly lifted him into the air. His voice boomed with heartfelt sincerity as he exclaimed, "Caron! The time I spent with you made me stronger! Though we part ways now, Tuhoran will surely protect our friendship!"

"Tu... horan or whoever, I'm about to—ugh, can't breathe...!" Caron's protest was cut off by a strained gasp.

"Until we meet again, take care! When the time comes, I will find you!" Utula declared, his muscles swelling like living steel as he crushed Caron in a suffocating embrace.

The world blurred for Caron, who teetered on the verge of blacking out. The vice-like grip of Utula's embrace felt alive, tightening mercilessly around him.

Whoosh!

Reacting on instinct, Caron unleashed a pulse of mana, propelling himself free from Utula's crushing hold. He gasped for air, realizing just how close he had come to being squeezed to death. He wondered if Utula even realized he had nearly killed him just moments ago.

"Ahahaha! Farewell, Caron Leston, mighty warrior! Meeting you was a joy!" Utula roared with laughter, his voice echoing like thunder—a farewell only Utula could give.

Next was Orion, who said with a composed smile, "I'll look forward to next time."

"...Please take good care of Kerra and Aqua," Caron replied.

"Ifrit wishes to offer you his regards as well," Orion added with a sly grin. "He found Utula's farewell quite inspiring. Perhaps you'd care to receive his regards as well?"

"If the Spirit King hugs me, I'll actually die," Caron said.

"Are you sure? You seem to have a certain spirit for experimentation," Orion teased, his dry elven humor on full display. He then extended a hand and said, "I'll be waiting for you in the forest."

"Alright," Caron said.

With Orion's farewell, Caron's business in Thebe was officially concluded. He briefly considered lingering to enjoy the city's offerings, but the thought passed. There would be time for leisure another day.

"Lady Foina and Mayor Grine, let's share a proper gathering next time," Caron said.

"By all means," Foina agreed warmly.

"Travel safely," Mayor Grine added.

Caron offered them both a parting smile before turning and heading back toward the train station.

"Now you're actually alone. Be honest, aren't you feeling a little sentimental yet?" The voice of Guillotine echoed in Caron's mind, dripping with amusement.

"Sometimes it's better to be alone," Caron said aloud. "No need to tiptoe around anyone."

"As if you ever cared about them."

"Guillotine."

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Caron stepped into the station. The train he had arrived on still waited at the platform, ready to take him back to the capital. By the time they reached the city, it would already be late into the night. He briefly considered staying at his maternal grandfather's place, but dismissed the thought. Tonight, he wanted to rest somewhere different.

"Hey, Guillotine, do you know something?" Caron asked Guillotine.

"Didn't you just tell me to shut up?"

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"If money can't buy you happiness, you should consider whether you even have enough of it."

Once he arrived at the capital, his first priority would be finding the best tavern in town. At Azureocean Castle, he was always under someone's watchful eye; here, he'd have the freedom to indulge as he pleased.

He absently fiddled with the black Imperial Bank Payment Proxy Certificate tucked into his pocket. Its polished surface was a reminder of his hard-earned wealth.

"This is exactly why I've been working so hard," Caron said.

Stopping at the Imperial Bank's main branch to withdraw a generous amount of gold bars was on his agenda. With those stashed in his pouch of dimensional space, he could roam the continent without a single care.

"If you behave, I'll buy you a bottle of liquor," Caron said to Guillotine.

"...An expensive one?"

"Of course."

"Owner, you have my undying loyalty."

Caron exchanged words with Guillotine as he boarded the train.

The empire's capital was waiting for them.

***

The Imperial Academy was a cornerstone of the empire, dedicated to cultivating the leaders of the future and conducting research across a myriad of fields. Among its scholars was Ulysses, a history professor who took immense pride in his position at the Academy.

He let out a weary sigh, removed his glasses, and ran his hands down his face. He muttered to himself, "This is... not easy."

The reason he was still in his study at such a late hour was simple: He'd received a reprimand from the academy's principal just one week ago.

"The History Department's recent research results have been underwhelming, Professor Ulysses. You do understand that if this continues, we'll have no choice but to drastically cut your funding, don't you?"

The principal had delivered the warning in a measured yet pointed tone.

Unlike other departments, the History Department rarely produced groundbreaking results. Ulysses' specialty in modern history was particularly lackluster in the eyes of the academy's administration.

"What's so wrong with studying Sir Cain Latorre...?" Ulysses murmured, a faint note of bitterness in his voice.

Cain Latorre was a contentious figure—a sore spot for both the Imperial Family and the Imperial Guards. Since the Imperial Academy was ultimately an institution of the royal government, it was no surprise the principal looked unfavorably on Ulysses' research.

Still, Ulysses knew there was more to the principal's warning than mere disapproval of his topic. The cunning man had ulterior motives beyond research results.

Knock, knock, knock.

"Come in," Ulysses said.

A moment later, the door opened to reveal a man with sunken eyes and a pale complexion. It was Brant, Ulysses' most trusted assistant.

"Professor," Brant began.

"What is it, Brant? I thought I told you to go home and rest tonight," Ulysses said with a concerned frown.

"A letter just arrived for you—an urgent one. I thought it was important enough to bring to your attention..." Brant answered.

He placed a pristine white envelope on Ulysses' desk. The seal bore the wolf crest of the Ducal Family of Leston.

"Ah, a letter from Azureocean Castle," Ulysses remarked, examining the envelope.

"Wouldn't that be an urgent matter?" Brant asked.

"Haha, hardly urgent enough for you to lose sleep, but thank you for bringing it." Ulysses offered a wry smile before glancing at Brant and continuing, "It's likely a response to the letter I sent recently."

"Ah, the one you mentioned before?" Brant asked.

"Yes, the invitation I sent to Azureocean Castle on behalf of the principal," Ulysses explained, letting out a small sigh before taking a sip of water. He asked, "You're aware the principal's tenure review is coming up soon, right?"

"Yes, Principal Desilio's term ends this year," Brant replied, nodding.

"It seems the approaching review has him more preoccupied than usual," Ulysses said with a knowing look.

"But what does the review have to do with an invitation to Azureocean Castle?" Brant asked, his brow furrowing with curiosity.

"Inviting prominent figures is a way to demonstrate the principal's connections, which reflects on his qualifications as a leader. Simply put... It's about networking. A wide network of influential individuals adds significant weight to his case," Ulysses explained.

The real reason the principal had pressured Ulysses became clear. It was because Ulysses happened to have ties to one of the most renowned figures in the empire.

"If Young Master Caron were to give a special lecture at the Academy, it would undoubtedly elevate the principal's reputation," Ulysses said, shaking his head. "It would also make it appear as if he had connections to the Ducal Family of Leston, wouldn't it?"

"Ah, so that's why the principal is so invested..." Brant replied, his expression shifting to one of understanding.

"He's desperate, that's what it means. Let's face it—Principal Desilio might be a kind man, but he hasn't exactly achieved anything noteworthy during his tenure," Ulysses said with a wry chuckle.

Brant quickly grasped the situation. The academy's principalship was a term appointment, and striving for reappointment wasn't unusual.

"If he manages to extend his term, he'll surely take care of the History Department too, won't he?" he asked, a hopeful note in his voice.

Ulysses burst into laughter, shaking his head as he said, "It'd be nice if that were the case, but that realistically won't happen."

"Why not?" Brant asked.

"Because there's no way Young Master Caron would accept the invitation in the first place," Ulysses explained.

His memories of Caron were vivid. Even as a child, Caron had displayed remarkable talent—so much so that it had often left Ulysses, who'd once served as Caron's tutor, utterly astonished.

Caron had effortlessly understood academic papers too complex for most adults and even shown an uncanny intuition that was anything but childlike. If Caron had been born into a commoner family rather than the Ducal Family of Leston, he would have undoubtedly been scouted for gifted education at a young age. His brilliance was undeniable.

Of course, brilliance came with its own challenges.

"From a young age, he's despised anything that felt like a hassle," Ulysses said. "Never listened to a word I said, either. There were countless times I wanted to smack him on the head."

Caron's personality had always been a handful. Even now, from the occasional letters Ulysses exchanged with Caron's father, Marquess Fayle, he could get a rough idea of the kind of person Caron had grown into.

"I doubt he'll come. And... If he does accept the invitation, that'll be a whole other problem," Ulysses said.

"Why's that?" Brant asked, tilting his head.

"You'll understand the moment you meet him," Ulysses replied.

If Caron, who dreamed of being a troublemaker, visited the academy, he would bring about a catastrophe. The name Caron Leston would leave its mark like a storm tearing through a quiet village.

"I sent the invitation just to say I made an effort. That's all," Ulysses said.

"But... What if, by chance, Young Master Caron does accept?" Brant asked hesitantly.

The mere thought made Ulysses shudder. He said, "I don't even want to think about it. But don't worry—it won't happen."

With that, Ulysses tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter inside

"There's no way someone as busy as Young Master Caron would come all the way to the academy..." he mumbled, but as he began reading, his face twisted into a grimace.

After a few moments, he couldn't keep his mouth shut.

The message read:

"Dear Professor Ulysses, I regret to inform you of some rather unfortunate news. To get straight to the point, Caron has accepted your invitation. By the time this letter reaches you, he may already have arrived in the capital. However, let me be clear—this disaster is entirely of your own making. Azureocean Castle will not assume responsibility for the chaos to come. Any consequences fall solely on the academy—"

After reading through the letter, Ulysses set the papers down with a drained expression. Then, as he gazed out the window, he let out a sigh.

The moon was unusually bright that night, blissfully unaware of the turmoil it illuminated.

"Brant," Ulysses called out.

"Yes, Professor?"

"Go tell the principal to start preparing for his retirement," Ulysses said.

"...Pardon?" Brant asked.

"And be sure to add that his only chance to retire with dignity is right now," Ulysses continued. He ran his hand over his face once more and muttered in a low voice, "...We're doomed."

Something that should never have happened had occurred.

The worst disaster in the academy's history was on its way.