Chapter 51
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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 51
Chapter Title: What Not to Forget
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1.
One day, under a clear blue sky.
Captain, do you have any retirement plans?
Ill buy a house in the Southern Kingdom and do absolutely nothing there.
My, my. Thats a plan completely devoid of romance, isnt it?
Kerua. Ive always thought this, but you talk too much nonsense.
Two men were conversing in the gardens of the Imperial Palace.
Kain Rator, Captain of the Imperial Guard, frowned at his clingy subordinate, Kerua.
Unlike you, Kerua, I wasnt born a noble. I dont know romance. Whod be crazy enough to ask a slave about romance?
What does birth status matter? Youre you, Captain.
Seems to matter to the nobles.
Isnt that why I left home and devoted myself to the Imperial Guard? Filthy nobles. A sword will kill a slave just as easily as it kills a noble.
Kerua grumbled as he watered the flowers.
Kain watched his subordinate and let out a short laugh.
What a ridiculous fellow.
Joking, even at a time like this, with the Leston Ducal Family raising an army and marching on the Imperial Palace.
Three days.
In three days, Halo would arrive at the capital with the ducal familys forces.
Kain had already ordered the knights of the Imperial Guard to leave.
Because this Imperial Palace no longer held any pride or honor worth defending.
Many knights had fled the Imperial Guard. Not many wished to share the fate of an emperor who had sold his soul to a demon.
But a few still remained.
Kerua, standing before him, was one of those oddballs.
Kerua.
Yes, Captain.
Leave now. Go to the Pajar Sultanate, or the South. At least you can survive there.
He tried to persuade his subordinate one more time.
His death here, bound to the Evil Emperor, was enough.
For some reason, His Majesty, the mad emperor, had bound only him to this place.
The others could flee the Imperial Palace of their own free will at any time.
Of course, a few who received dark mana from the emperor would be hunted to the end, but with his mens skills, most should be able to escape and hide.
Whats the point of running if I have to spend the rest of my life on the run? Its a hassle. Id rather just die here with you, Captain.
You fool.
Besides, arent you close with Young Lord Halo? Why not make a deal? If you agree to survive and retire, Ill survive and retire with you. Lets just go to the South and be mercenaries, shall we? It might not pay as well as the Imperial Guard, but I hear its pretty lucrative.
How could he persuade men who were determined to die with him?
Kain started to say something more but then sighed and shook his head.
He spoke in a low voice.
Where are the others?
Kerua sat down, plucked a rose, and said.
Theyre in their quarters, checking their gear. Oh, and Ugo was ironing his formal uniform.
Suddenly?
Said he wants to die looking sharp. The guy doesnt even clean his own room What a madman. Haha!
Kerua laughed heartily and stood up. He offered the rose to Kain.
Why dont you stick a flower in your hair too, Captain? Who knows? Maybe Young Lord Halo will see youve gone mad and spare you.
Kain stared at the rose with a look of disdain.
He drew his sword and sliced the rose in two.
Whoosh.
The rose petals scattered on the ground.
You clearly dont know, but Im stronger than Halo.
Spoken like a true psychopath You lost every time you fought him recently.
I let him win.
Kerua replied with a smile.
Youre not planning to fight for real this time either, are you? All you can think about is dying. I mean, is that the face of a man going to battle? Its the face of a madman looking for his own grave.
Kerua brushed the dirt from his hands.
He then looked at Kain and said.
Cant you just survive?
At those words, Kain fell silent.
Youve never once made a choice you wanted in your entire life. Its pitiful, truly pitiful.
He knew those words came from the heart.
Thats why Kain managed a bitter smile.
This time, its my choice.
To die for that mad emperor?
You said it yourself. The face of a man looking for his grave. Isnt it a relief that I can at least choose where I die?
Sigh I give up. Sigh!
Letting out a sigh that was almost a lament, Kerua shook his head and turned away.
He began to trudge toward the garden exit.
Kain called out to his subordinates retreating back.
Running away? Good choice.
Without turning around, Kerua shouted back.
Im going to drink the booze Ive stashed in my quarters! Got to finish it before I die. Dont even dream of getting any, Captain!
You foolish bastard.
Kain watched Kerua disappear into the distance, a strained smile on his face.
Hoping, at least, that they wouldnt die.
2.
Hah.
Karron slowly woke up.
He had a dream.
A memory from his past life, one that hadnt surfaced since his reincarnation, had unconsciously risen.
Perhaps it was because he was in the Imperial Palace.
Maybe the old memories he had buried here were slowly rearing their heads.
This place is
Shaking off the bitter aftertaste of the dream, he looked around.
A spacious room, decorated in white.
From the medical instruments scattered about, it seemed to be a hospital within the Imperial Palace.
Looking down, he saw his body was covered in bandages.
Zzz.
Snore.
Beside Karrons bed, a man and a woman were dozing, clutching their swords.
Leo and Eimi.
Seeing the blood on their clothes, it seemed they were the ones who had brought him here.
He could wake them and ask, but they were sleeping so soundly that he didnt want to disturb them. So, Karron reached for Guillotine, which was propped against the wall beside his bed.
Guillotines voice immediately echoed in his mind.
-You awake, Master?
Where am I?
-A hospital in the Imperial Palace. Your treatments already done. Thanks to the World Trees Dew that the Sixth Prince gave you, there wasnt much to treat. They just stitched up a few wounds and that was it.
Memories from before he lost consciousness faintly returned.
The World Trees Dew that Rebellio had shoved into his mouth.
Perhaps thanks to the priceless elixir, the aftereffects of breaking through to the 5th Star were less severe than hed expected.
His mana channels were also in relatively good condition.
I should at least pay Rebellio Wait a minute. Where is that bastard Rebellio?
His body hadnt been in a state that warranted passing out.
If that madman Rebellio hadnt just clubbed him on the back of the head, this wouldnt have happened.
With that thought, Karron immediately woke Leo.
Brother. Brother, wake up.
Leo rubbed his eyes as he woke.
Ugh, what is it, Karron What! Youre awake?
As Leo woke, Eimi, who was beside him, naturally opened her eyes as well.
Lord Karron! Thank goodness.
The moment they woke, they both rushed to his bed.
The two of them rushed over, almost overwhelmingly so.
Karron frowned and said.
Eimi, what are you doing here?
Its only natural to help my benefactor. Your body, are you okay?
Im fine. More importantly, Brother Leo. Whered that bastard Rebellio go? Did he run away?
Youre angry, so you must be fine. The Prince was arrested by the Imperial Guard. Grandfather has probably gone to get him by now.
Grandfather? What time is it?
10 in the morning. You were out for twelve hours, you crazy bastard.
Really?
Cant you see the sunlight outside the window?
Just as Leo said, sunlight was pouring in through the hospital room window.
It seemed the forced breakthrough to the 5th Star had taken a heavy toll.
If twelve hours had passed since the incident, a lot must have changed.
Karron poured a glass of water from the carafe beside his bed and drank it. Wiping his lips with the sleeve of his patient gown, he continued.
When did Grandfather get here?
Thirty minutes after you passed out. He showed up leading the Sea Wolf Knights.
So theres a teleportation circle in the palace. The mastermind. Did they catch the mastermind?
Leo sighed deeply and replied.
How would I know? I was here looking after you.
There were no more attacks while I was here, right?
Of course not. Whod dare attack with the Sea Wolf Knights on guard? We didnt even let the Imperial Guard get close.
Karron glanced over at Eimi.
Isnt she with the Imperial Guard?
Uh Well, thanks to Miss Eimi, we got to the hospital quickly. The palace paths are complicated.
That was true.
The Imperial Palace was so vast that memorizing its paths was difficult. In fact, even in his past life, Karron had found it hard to learn his way around.
Karron spoke to Eimi with a bored expression.
You know, youre pretty relentless, Eimi.
Pardon?
You just want to get me treated so you can beat me up, dont you? Bringing me to a hospital and getting me fixed up just for a duel Wow, youre really something.
N-no, thats not it. I really just wanted to help you, Lord Karron
I know.
Huh?
I was just messing with you. Thanks. I wont forget your help.
Just as the three of them were talking.
Knock, knock.
Someone knocked, and then a knight entered the hospital room.
Youre awake, Lord Karron. Weve been waiting.
It was Jeras, the captain of the Sea Wolf Knights.
Jeras strode over to the bed where Karron was sitting.
How are you feeling?
Im fine, Sir Jeras. I feel like I could do a sword dance right now and be perfectly okay.
It was a wound from dark mana. A priest has purified it, but its too early to be complacent.
Im really fine Oh, right, Im a 5th Star now, Sir Jeras.
Congratulations.
So I can go outside
Not until the family head gives his permission.
Then how about some alcohol?
Please be reasonable.
It was a truly impenetrable defense.
His every attempt blocked, Karron sighed deeply and lay back down on the bed. He turned his head slightly to look at Jeras.
When is Grandfather coming?
The family head stopped by to check on your condition as soon as he arrived. By now, the situation should be mostly under control He will be here soon.
Just as Jeras said, a powerful, commanding voice was heard from outside the room not long after.
It seemed Halo had arrived.
Hes here.
Jeras slowly approached the door. He opened it carefully.
A moment later, Halo, clad in blue armor, entered the room.
At Halos appearance, Leo and Eimi shot up from their seats and bowed.
Greetings, Family Head.
Greetings, Your Grace the Grand Duke!
Halo gave a slight wave of his hand toward Leo and Eimi.
You must be tired from looking after Karron. Please, sit.
A deep, resonant voice filled with authority.
At Halos words, the two cautiously sat back down in their chairs.
Seeing this, Halo pulled an empty chair over to Karrons bedside.
Shhh.
The blue armor Halo wore dissipated like smoke, replaced by simple, everyday clothes.
You look well.
Halo said to Karron as he sat down.
Karron smiled brightly and nodded.
Thanks to the protection of our ancestors.
The oceans within you have grown to five. Was this intentional?
I had no choice if I wanted to stop the incubus. I felt I needed to use the 5th Form of the Sea Wolf Sword Style to minimize the damage.
The 5th Form, High Tide. I was certain you had only learned up to the 4th Form.
I learned it by watching.
Halo looked at his grandson and let out a deep sigh.
After questioning those who attended the banquet, they all said the same thing: Karron had charged the incubus alone.
It was an incredibly dangerous situation.
If that incubus had decided to kill Karron, the situation would have become much worse.
Even if he hadnt died, he would have at least suffered a fatal wound.
Why did you charge in first? If you sensed dark mana, you could have told us first.
A smart boy like him couldnt have been ignorant of that fact.
But Karron answered Halo with a confident expression.
My body moved before my mind could.
Are you saying it was simply instinct?
I have no other explanation besides instinct. I felt hostility, and I simply cut it down.
Halos gaze shifted to Guillotine, which lay by Karrons head.
A sword that had severed the necks of countless demons.
Perhaps it was only natural for the master of this sword to want to slay demons.
But it was undeniably a reckless act.
I almost lost Karron.
If his luck had been worse, Karron would be in a coffin right now, not a hospital.
Therefore, he spoke in a firm voice.
Karron Leston. As the head of this family, I command you.
Karron was no longer just a promising youngest grandson.
The word promising no longer suited Karron.
The boy shattered the Oath Stone and was chosen by Guillotine. And through this journey, he has proven his worth.
A 5th Star at thirteen.
Moreover, he had reached an unbelievable level, already surpassing Halo himself at the same age.
Halo could now be certain.
The protagonist of the covenant.
The one who will fulfill the covenant made with the masters of the North Sea.
His grandson, Karron Leston, was now the future of the Leston Ducal Family.
He was the beacon that would light the path for the Leston Ducal Family, and he would become the center of a new era.
Soon, you will have to navigate through turbulent storms.
For that was the fate bestowed upon the protagonist of the covenant.
And so, Halo.
Upon our return to Azure Fortress, I forbid you from all external activities. For a period of four years. During those four years, you must hone your skills.
He made a decision for Karrons sake.