On the road back to the Holy Capital, Caron tucked Saint Kamael's coffin into his pouch of dimensional space. The metal it was made from had immense potential. The blacksmiths affiliated with the Vatican had guessed that it was some sort of alloy forged using a special method, but even they couldn't analyze its composition properly. "So basically, you're telling me that we'll need help from the dwarves?" Leo asked. "Well, no one can compete with the dwarves when it comes to metallurgy," Caron replied. "Besides, we were planning to visit them anyway to get our dragonbone gear inspected." For now, they had named the mysterious metal Raellium, in honor of Rael. Naturally, that was Leon's suggestion. Caron had originally wanted to call it Senility. "If he gave us the metal, he should've at least told us how to forge it. Honestly, I think the founder just lost his mind in his old age..." Caron trailed off. "By the way, that Warrior called Saint Kamael, are you certain he really was the founder?" Leo asked. "I am certain," Caron answered with a nod. "Any proof?" Leo asked. "The engraving on the coffin. It was done with the Oceanwolf Sword Arts. I could barely scratch that thing—it was at least done by a 9-Star," Caron replied. If someone had used the Oceanwolf Sword Arts, that meant they were from the Leston bloodline. But in the history of the Ducal Family of Leston, only two people had ever reached the level of a 9-Star knight. They were Rael and Halo. And it clearly wasn't Halo who had done it. That meant it had to be Rael's work. "There's nothing in the family records about how our founder died," Caron said. "It's been debated for a long time," Leon replied. "There just isn't much surviving documentation." Leon, who was just as well-versed in their family history as Caron, nodded in agreement. No one really knew how Rael Leston had met his end. Some believed he'd fallen in battle against the demons. Others claimed he'd died somewhere in the North Sea. But if Saint Kamael was Rael Leston... "That means he spent a long time moving on his own," Caron said. "That can't be. My last memory is of the Demon Realm..." Guillotine muttered. "If you don't remember, that probably means he left you behind during that blank stretch of time," Caron said. "Rael... abandoned me?" Guillotine asked in disbelief. "Of course he did. That's why you're in my hands now. Honestly, I think about throwing you away ten times a day. Why would the founder be any different?" Caron said. Guillotine was left speechless by the sheer brutality of that remark. Ignoring his sword's stunned silence, Caron looked forward and said, "It's time we decide our next destination." They had to choose where to go next. "There are two places we need to visit—the Southern Great Forest and the Kaharan Mountains," Caron declared. Now that the World Tree had awakened, Caron needed to speak with her. He also planned to see Kerra and Aqua while he was there. "You mean King's Forge, the dwarven capital in the Kaharan Mountains?" Leon asked. Caron nodded, then answered, "This metal shrugged off the aura of an 8-Star knight as if it was nothing. That's absurd. We need to ask the dwarves if they can forge it. And if they can reproduce it? Even better." It was impossible to refine with human craftsmanship. As it stood, this Raellium was just a glorified coffin. Its only notable trait was being needlessly durable. "If we stop by the Southern Great Forest first, then head to the Kaharan Mountains, that should make for a smooth route," Leo suggested. "Going through the southern kingdoms should be a lot quicker, right? And with the empire stepping over the border recently, things must've calmed down a bit politically." "Oh, Leo, you didn't hear about that?" Caron asked. "Hear about what?" Leo asked. With a smile, Caron replied, "Do you know how His Majesty asked them to let us through? Apparently, he said, 'Open the road, or I'll send your nation back to the Stone Age.'" As wild as it sounded, it was true. The southern kingdoms had no choice but to open the path when the empire suddenly pressed forward with force. Leo let out a quiet gasp of awe, his mouth slightly agape. He remarked, "He really has lost his mind." "You just insulted His Majesty, the Emperor," Caron pointed out with a raised brow. "So what? Aren't we already branded as a family of rebels anyway?" Leo shot back. "Besides, if they punished people for saying stuff , you would've been executed ages ago, you bastard." "I'll give you that," Caron admitted with a smirk. There were, of course, reasons why the empire had been able to act so boldly at Caron's request. Caron had seen glimpses of a tyrant in Revelio. "Then let's stop by the Southern Great Forest first," Caron decided. And just like that, their next destination was set. Caron turned to look at Leon, then added, "You're heading back to the empire, Leon." "...Why?" Leon asked. "His Majesty begged me. He desperately wants you back. Said he misses you terribly," Caron answered. Of course, the last part was a blatant lie. Leon answered by smacking Caron hard across the back. "Your hits are getting spicier every time. If you hit His Majesty's back with this force, he'd probably pass away on the spot," Caron teased. "That's enough. What's the real reason?" Leon asked. "...Engagement preparations," Caron answered. Revelio's power base was still shaky, as he hadn't been in power long. He needed to solidify his standing—and there was no better way than to formally tie himself to the Ducal Family of Leston. But this was a completely different matter from the previous arranged marriage talks. Back then, the arrangement had been forced. This time, however, it was Leon herself who had first brought up the proposal. Perhaps that was why her expression remained calm as she said, "So he's finally made up his mind, after all that hesitation." "Are you really okay with it?" Caron asked. "Yes, I'm fine. I already signed the contract. Getting engaged won't change anything. Better to marry me than some stranger, right?" Leon answered. "I could still cause a scene and ruin everything—" Caron began, but was cut off. "Worry about your own mess," Leon interrupted. From what Caron had seen before, the two definitely had feelings for each other. And considering how Leon handled Caron, who was himself no small handful... She'll manage Revelio just fine, Caron thought. They would make a great couple... Even if it was clear that Leon would be the one holding the reins. After all, she had a knack for managing lunatics. "So, Caron, is it just the two of us heading south?" Leo asked. "Orion is still at the Vatican. I'm planning to travel back with the elves. I heard they're negotiating a diplomatic pact between the Holy Kingdom and the Elven Union," Caron replied. The Southern Great Forest bordered the Holy Kingdom. If those two forces could form a cooperative relationship, Caron had every reason to welcome it. "Thank you, truly, for saving the Holy Kingdom," Seria said, smiling gently. "I'll spend my life repaying this debt—" Caron blinked wide-eyed and interrupted, "That sounded like a farewell." "...Well, I heard you were leaving soon," Seria said. "I am. And you're coming with me, Saintess. Where do you think you're going alone?" Caron said. Seria's face darkened immediately; she'd clearly not been expecting that. She asked nervously, "M-Me? I am?" "I already talked to His Holiness about it," Caron said. "And he didn't say anything? You didn't threaten him, did you...?" Seria asked. "He said something about the Saintess and the Warrior being one body, and gave his blessing without hesitation," Caron answered. Seria's pale face turned even whiter. Then, under her breath, she muttered, "His Holiness is quite elderly now... Maybe he's... senile... Hah..." "Did I just hear something blasphemous?" Caron asked, squinting. "You heard wrong! Hah... Shi—iiiii..." Seria rushed to defend herself. It was a rare sight—an expletive slipping out of the Saintess' mouth. It only confirmed how fully she had adapted to their group, and Caron couldn't be more pleased. "Looking forward to working with you, Saintess," Caron said cheerfully, holding out his hand. With a sigh, Seria took his hand and said, "If this, too, is the will of the Light... I suppose I must follow. I'll be in your care." Despite his madness, she had to admit that this man had saved the Holy Kingdom. And even if he was absolutely insane, there was something admirable about him—someone who threw himself into danger for a greater cause. Given what he had accomplished, he more than deserved to be called a Warrior. So, Seria tried to think positively. But then, Caron pulled out a sheet of paper covered in fine print from his pouch of dimensional space. He said, "Alright, Saintess. Sign here." "What is it?" Seria asked. "You'll find out once you read it," Caron replied. She scanned the document. It read... "1. Saintess Seria shall accompany the Warrior without pay until the journey is complete. 2. Any treasure or wealth obtained during the journey shall be divided fairly. However, the decision of how to divide it rests solely with the Warrior. 3. In emergencies, the Warrior reserves the right to seize control of the party's finances..." Every clause was absurdly exploitative. Seria glared at Caron. He averted his eyes and muttered, "It's a harsh world out there, you know? You have to have paperwork. What if you suddenly run off?" "This is basically a slave contract..." Seria said. "The one thing I hate most in the world is slavery," Caron said smoothly. "Come on, don't be shy. Sign it. There's a blank space right there. Starting today, you're officially one of us. Be proud." Seria stared at Caron's face and thought to herself, He is absolutely deranged. And that was how the Saintess officially joined the party of the Mad Dog. As soon as they returned to the Holy Capital, Caron and his group immediately began preparations for their departure. Not that there was much to prepare in the first place—they had come with little more than the clothes on their backs. "...Was that really necessary?" Pope Eurino II asked as he glanced sidelong at Caron, who stood smiling radiantly. Caron grinned and replied, "Are you really that reluctant to let them go?" "Those relics have been kept safe for a very long time," Pope Eurino said, his voice laced with reluctant fondness. "Well, relics are meant to be used by the people of the future, aren't they? I'm saying I'll put them to good use. Come on, Your Holiness, smile a little. Anyone passing by might think I robbed the place." The relics Caron had taken from the Vatican vaults numbered three. First was Aurel's Shield, which was said to withstand even the dark mana of the Demon King. Second was Simon's Ring, which could purify even the deepest, most corrupted dark mana of the earth. And lastly, there was the Canteen of Revelation, which was capable of producing holy water. All three were storied artifacts that had once sat proudly on display inside the grand chapel of the Holy Kingdom. "I hear that you even have an artifact that can produce elixirs," Pope Eurino said. "Oh! I heard that if you make elixirs using holy water, the effects become exponentially stronger," Caron said. "From whom did you hear that?" Pope Eurino asked. "From the Imperial Magic Tower's Master himself," Caron answered with a sly wink. He believed that one could never have too many safeguards. Now that Seria had joined them, their healing power was solid—but even so, Caron had to plan for the worst, including the possibility that Seria could be taken out of a fight. In those moments, they'd still need elixirs to survive. "Don't be so stingy," Caron added. "You're all wealthy folks anyway." "Be sure to return them in good condition. Each of those relics is a national treasure of the Holy Kingdom," Pope Eurino warned. "Of course," Caron replied solemnly. He fully intended to drain every last drop of use out of them before returning anything—and if that wasn't enough, he had every intention of coming back to take more. When it came to dark mana, holy relics had unmatched power. After all, holy power had always been about purifying evil. Leaving the Pope behind, Caron turned to Beatrice. There were too many listening ears nearby, so he quietly spread Pluto's darkness, cutting off sound from the outside. That was when Beatrice smiled and said, "So it's goodbye already, Commander." "We shared a drink. That's enough for reminiscing. I'm a busy man. Be satisfied with that," Caron said. "When do you think we'll see each other again?" Beatrice asked. She had decided to remain behind to help stabilize the Holy Kingdom. It was her duty now to guard the Vatican and maintain order—not as the Imperial Guard's Beatrice, but as Dame Uriel of the Vatican. "There's talk of the empire hosting a continental summit soon. Bring His Holiness along to that," Caron said casually. With the Holy Kingdom now joining the alliance, Emperor Revelio was finally putting his grand vision into action. He would be hosting the Continental Summit, a monumental event where the continent's most powerful leaders would gather to talk. Even the non-human races were being invited, making it likely to be the largest summit in the history of the empire. "What if someone recognizes me?" Beatrice asked. "You're wearing a mask anyway. Besides, how many people even know your face? You're not exactly a public figure. And hey, it's time you started acting your age," Caron replied. "Hah... Maybe I'll reincarnate through this whole process—oh wait, Commander. I've always wanted to ask... Do you prefer women older than you or younger?" Beatrice asked. "...I have no idea what you're talking about," Caron muttered, pointedly looking away. Beatrice laughed softly, then said, "You always clam up when it comes to this stuff." Then, she pulled Caron into a gentle embrace. Caron returned the hug, patting her lightly on the back. He knew her life until now—driven by revenge—had been a desolate wasteland. That thought still weighed on him with guilt. "Don't feel too bad about it," Beatrice said softly, understanding his thoughts even without words. They exchanged one last look, both smiling warmly. "I guess if I visit the empire later on, I'll get to see the others too," Beatrice said. "Ugo should be there. Kerra... I'm not sure. I'll ask him when I visit. He's been busy raising a child lately," Caron replied. "Oh, right. You said it was your child. I'd love to see the little one," Beatrice said. Original content can be found at nοvelfire.net "She's so cute," Caron said with no exaggeration. "If you say she's cute, she must be ridiculously adorable. I might have to sneak over to the Southern Great Forest," Beatrice said. "...You and Kerra never got along. Don't even think about visiting. Do you want to bring the whole forest down?" Caron replied with a laugh. Their teasing helped soften the weight of farewell. As always, short goodbyes were best. They'd see each other again soon enough—there was no need to drag it out. With a soft sound, Caron dispelled Pluto's darkness and headed toward the elves, who were waiting nearby. Orion sat astride a blue wolf, greeting Caron with his usual stoic tone. "I've prepared wolves for your group as well." "You're not using a carriage?" Caron asked. "Carriages are uncomfortable. And we can't afford to be away from the Great Forest too long. We're planning on returning as fast as possible," Orion answered. Mounting his own wolf with practiced ease, Caron turned to the clergy members of the Vatican who had come to see him off. "I'll be watching you from wherever I am. Let me say this again—conduct yourselves properly. The moment I hear a single word of funny business..." he said as he gave them a sharp look. "You all know what happens, right? Heads roll." His farewell was more of a threat than a blessing. A few priests visibly flinched. Still grinning, Caron waved at them cheerfully, then said, "See you around." And with that, the elves and Caron's group set off. "Thank you, Warrior!" "We'll never forget your devotion!" Cheers and prayers followed them, like a soft rain of blessings on the road ahead. As they rode, Orion slid his mount closer to Caron's and muttered, "So, how does it feel to be adored, you Mad Dog?" "That Mad Dog is heading back to the Southern Great Forest now. How do you feel about that?" Caron asked. "...This is the worst. Is this what passing the bomb feels like?" Orion replied. And so their long journey through the Holy Kingdom ended, wrapped in thunderous applause and overflowing gratitude. Now, it was the Southern Great Forest's turn to endure the Mad Dog once more.