Chapter 292. I Have to Get Stronger (1)

As soon as Caron returned to Azureocean Castle, a long-awaited family meeting was convened.

The topic of the day was, of course, the results of Caron and Leo's latest expedition.

"...You eliminated the Demon King of Slaughter who had taken over the Mercenary King's body, and then absorbed the Death Knights?" one of the elders asked, eyes wide.

"Yes, that's correct," Caron replied calmly. "And we also brought back the Dark Magic Tower Master alive."

"Ahem. Rather than saying I was captured alive, could we perhaps phrase it as... I surrendered of my own will?" a boy, Libre, said with a cheerful smile.

"Shut your mouth, you damn dark mage," Caron shot back coldly.

"Caron," Fayle interjected gently, "The head of the house is present here with us. Let's choose our words with a bit more grace, shall we?"

"My apologies, Father," Caron said, bowing slightly.

The boy standing off to the side, beaming innocently, was none other than the famous Dark Magic Tower Master, Libre. Though he looked like a harmless youth, no one in the room dared underestimate him.

"That's enough," Halo Leston said. He was the head of the Ducal Family of Leston and the strongest man on the continent. He tapped the table lightly, his gaze settling on Libre.

His voice dropped low as he said, "It's been a long time, Libre."

"Haha! It's been thirty years if I recall correctly. Seeing Your Grace looking so well truly eases my heart," Libre said.

"Were you going around looking for a place to die?" Halo asked.

"Hardly," Libre said with a smirk. "I've always known my death would come beyond the veil. I simply saw the potential in Young Master Caron and placed a bet."

Halo's overwhelming presence rippled through the chamber, but Libre didn't even flinch. He smiled as if basking in warm sunshine, continuing, "My life, after all, is in the hands of your grandson. There's no need to worry. And besides, Young Master Caron hardly seems like someone who would be easily manipulated."

At that, Caron's uncles, Dales and Raphael, both nodded in unison.

That is a spot-on analysis,

Dales thought.

If anything, he's the one who traps others—not the other way around,

Raphael mused.

No one in the family understood better than those two just how tenacious—and terrifying—Caron truly was.

This recent journey, stretching from the Holy Kingdom to the Neon Kingdom, had not only changed Caron—it had altered the future of the entire Ducal Family of Leston.

The Holy Kingdom had joined the alliance. And now, through the Neon Kingdom, the Ducal Family of Leston could extend its influence directly into the southern kingdoms.

"Here," Caron said, producing a single document from his pouch of dimensional space and handing it to Halo. "This is the signed oath designating the Ducal Family of Leston as the highest priority partner in the Neon Kingdom's reconstruction."

Halo read the document carefully, then nodded slowly and said, "You've done well."

"And I've also delivered the head of Saint Elijah to the underground prison beneath Azureocean Castle," Caron added.

"Yes, I've received a report on that as well," Halo said.

Elijah, who had sought to consume the Holy Kingdom from within, was still not dead. Though only his severed head remained, it continued to regenerate, violently resisting death. It was proof of just how monstrous the technology he'd been developing truly was.

"I plan to discuss the matter further with the Imperial Magic Tower Master—" Caron began, but was cut off.

Libre, still bound at the wrists, interrupted casually. "I can assist with that."

Just then, Halo gave a slight flick of his wrist.

Srrrng!

A ceremonial sword hanging on the wall sprang to life and flew straight toward Libre, its point hovering just beneath his throat.

"Caron is not the only one who loathes dark mages," Halo said coldly. "Everyone bearing the name Leston despises your kind."

"To me, this place might as well be the maw of a dragon," Libre said with a chuckle. "But there's no need to worry, Your Grace."

"We don't need the help of scum like you to destroy the Demon Realm," Halo said.

"But with my help, you'd shed far less blood—and still achieve your goal," Libre replied without the faintest tremor in his voice. His composure was staggering.

He was utterly surrounded by enemies. Just as he said, there wasn't a single ally in this room. He could have been killed at any moment, and no one would so much as blink.

And yet, his face remained bright with a calm smile. He truly lived as though each day could be his last.

Halo stared at Libre with clear disapproval in his eyes.

"There's only one reason you're still breathing right now," Halo said coldly. "It's because Caron chose to keep you alive—for now."

"You truly cherish your grandson, don't you?" Libre asked with a thin smile.

"Don't forget where you are. This is Azureocean Castle. Whatever you're plotting, things will not go your way here," Halo added. As he spoke, he gave a subtle wave of his hand.

Dales, seated at his side, gave a firm nod and said, "Yes, my Lord."

"Place magical restraints on the Dark Magic Tower Master, Libre, and confine him to the underground prison," Halo ordered. "Select three Oceanwolf Knight Order members who have reached 7-Star and assign them to guard him in rotating shifts."

"Understood," Dales responded without hesitation.

"This meeting is over," Halo declared. "Everyone except Caron and Leo is dismissed."

At that, the rest of the attendees bowed respectfully toward Halo, then quietly exited the chamber. Soon, only three people remained: Halo, Caron, and Leo.

Once they were alone, Halo's demeanor softened. His voice, now gentle, carried a warmth rarely heard from the Duke of Leston.

"You've both worked hard," he said.

It was no longer the voice that had filled the chamber with authority just moments ago, but that of a grandfather speaking to his beloved grandsons. Though awkward at first, that warmth was unmistakable.

Caron gave a faint smile and looked up at him, then said, "Grandfather, there's a few things I've been wanting to ask."

"Ask away," Halo replied.

"It's kind of a long list. Are you sure you're up for it?" Caron asked.

Halo let out a quiet chuckle and nodded. He thought,

Truthfully, I'm the one who has more questions.

But this moment was for celebrating the achievements of Caron and Leo. His own curiosities could wait. There would be plenty of time later—Caron was destined to walk beside him in leading the family.

Pouring tea for both grandsons, Halo then asked in a low voice, "So, what do you wish to know?"

Caron hesitated only briefly before speaking, his tone calm and measured. "I heard something... that our founder didn't come from the North Sea—but from the Demon Realm. I know it came from that dark mage, so I took it with a grain of salt... But still, the timing, and the powers I've absorbed—they all feel too convenient to ignore."

Caron had a point.

The will passed down through the blood of the Ducal Family of Leston... and the powers of the Demon King, which Caron had absorbed through Guillotine, had blended with him far too naturally. Every thread seemed to point in one direction, that the Ducal Family of Leston shared some undeniable link with the Demon Realm.

Upon hearing the question, Halo let out a long sigh. He said heavily, "There are truths that only the head of this house is allowed to know."

The Ducal Family of Leston had stood since the founding of the Orias Empire. Its history ran deep, and with it came countless secrets. Caron was now asking to peer behind the veil, to learn what only the dukes of Leston had known.

Halo wrestled with the thought, but not for long. Caron would one day lead the family into the heart of the Demon Realm. He deserved to know.

"Where should I even begin..." Halo murmured as he organized his thoughts. Then, slowly, he began to speak.

"The Demon Realm—once, it was a flourishing continent. It's the very same land ancient archaeologists speak of when they mention the 'Age of the Ancients.' Though nearly all records of that time have vanished, our house possesses journals written by the founder himself," Halo explained.

He turned to Caron and continued solemnly, "Our family has guarded the North Sea for generations. That sea serves as a boundary—meant to divide the continent from the Demon Realm. That's why the founder formed a covenant with the Blue Dragons of the North Sea."

It was a history Caron had never heard before, and he listened in silence as it unfolded.

"You asked whether the founder came from the Demon Realm," Halo added. "Let me answer clearly. He came from beyond the veil, the great barrier veiling the Demon Realm, cast in the domain of the Void."

"What's beyond the veil?" Caron asked.

"In the journals," Halo said after a moment, "there's little detail about what lies on the other side... but one thing is certain."

He took a sip of tea and said in a bitter voice, "What sleeps beyond the veil is eventual annihilation. Nothing more, nothing less."

"That's... difficult to grasp," Caron said.

"The Demon King of Void is a being who yearns for emptiness. Beyond the veil lies a world already consumed by Void—a hollow realm waiting to devour ours. And that is the world from which our founder came," Halo explained.

Thus began the unraveling of the great and terrible secret—buried for generations in the shadows of the Ducal Family of Leston.

***

After their conversation with Halo, Caron and Leo returned to Caron's room.

The bedroom was immaculately tidy. Caron casually tossed Guillotine onto the sofa and sprawled out comfortably on the bed.

Leo took a seat nearby and spoke up. "Caron, I don't really understand this."

"What do you not understand?" Caron asked.

"All of it... The Demon Realm, the truth about our founder coming from beyond the veil, it's all just too much," Leo answered.

"You don't need to understand it," Caron replied, waving it off. "Just accept it as it is. But it's annoying."

"Why?" Leo asked.

"Because now I can't tease the emperor over his bloodline anymore," Caron muttered with a sigh.

"You're really thinking about that right now? What a lunatic," Leo said.

They had always known Rael Leston, the founder, was someone extraordinary. Even Caron could feel it in the very blood that flowed through his veins.

Most of the Leston bloodline was born with an innate aptitude for mana. Only their father, Fayle, was the rare exception.

But the thing that truly left Caron unsettled wasn't the founder's identity. It was that one phrase...

"...Beyond the veil," he murmured.

He remembered that ancient temple he had stumbled upon beneath the ruins of Saint Kamael. The colossal veil, the ash-colored skies—it was unsettling to imagine that that place had once been part of the world.

Caron recalled Halo's words clearly...

"Caron, one day we must reach that place. Sealing away the annihilation that slumbers beyond the veil is our family's long-standing destiny."

Halo had said that people once lived in the Demon Realm. In fact, the Demon Realm had once been a thriving continent, ruled by humans.

But that was where the knowledge of the Leston family head ended. For reasons unknown, Rael Leston had left behind only fragments of truth, withholding most of what he knew.

"He really had a talent for being vague," Caron grumbled.

He wondered why Rael hadn't been thorough about the records left behind, and why the latter had chosen to be cryptic.

Clicking his tongue, Caron stared up at the ceiling and muttered, "The Demon King of Void..."

He'd already encountered the Demon Kings of Slaughter, Sloth, and Havoc. He knew firsthand what kind of monstrous power they wielded. But the Demon King of Void was something else entirely.

And Halo had warned him...

"The Demon King of Void is not what you imagine. It may exist, or it may not. The founder described it as a being that cannot be defined by human words."

Halo had given him some fairly useful information.

A being that couldn't be described in human language... There was no doubt that Void was something entirely beyond the other three Demon Kings.

Even Rael Leston, who had reached 9-Star, had been powerless against it. Caron wondered if he even had a chance.

First things first,

Caron thought.

I need to take care of the other Demon Kings before I think about Void.

As much as it frustrated him, there was only one path forward: To grow stronger. If he could defeat the remaining Demon Kings and absorb their power, then maybe, just maybe, he'd reach a level strong enough to cross the veil.

But there was still one thing gnawing at him: The veil itself.

Halo had explained that the veil surrounding Void wasn't meant to protect it—but to protect the world from what lay within.

That thought alone was enough to send a sharp ache through Caron's temples. The flood of information had finally taken its toll.

There was only one cure for this kind of headache.

"Let's spar after dinner, Leo," he said.

"Can't we just rest for once?" Leo sighed. "I still haven't greeted Mother and Father properly."

"You're not going to spend all night saying hello, are you? Just do it quickly and then meet me at Oceanwolf Island. Oh, and bring our uncles too," Caron said.

"...Why Uncle Dales and my father?" Leo asked.

"Well, their dear nephew's all grown up now—it's only right to help his elders out, don't you think? Didn't you say they're developing their signature techniques lately? It's my duty to lend them a hand!" Caron replied with a smile.

Leo's face went pale. He thought,

That's just your way of saying you want to beat up old men.

Still, he considered that perhaps that was the better option.

Sorry, Father,

he thought.

At least that meant temporary escape from Caron.

So Leo forced a smile and replied, "Fine... I'll come with them."

"Excellent. Go get some rest then," Caron said.

Thus, the first thing the Mad Dog did after returning to Azureocean Castle was commit acts of noble violence.

Caron, as always, was doing his part to make Azureocean stronger—by any means necessary.