116 — This Place is Not as Harsh as I Thought

1

Siblings.

It’s such a mysterious and fascinating word.

They can fight as if they’re ready to kill each other, yet they won’t let an outsider invade their territory.

Perhaps “love-hate relationship” would be the most fitting description.

Tyrannis’s feelings leaned more towards hatred than love, though.

Before “that incident” happened, they were undeniably closer to being typical siblings.

Just thinking about that day made Tyrannis’s fists clench involuntarily.

Years of trying to shake off those thoughts by simply shaking his head.

‘That idiot…’

It had been an important mission.

A mission that could have solidified his position in the family.

His younger brother, who had confidently joined him, turned out to be a fool who couldn’t even protect himself.

The one who had always been so focused on studying started to become wayward from that point on.

“Triple casting of 4th-Class magic…”

In the now-empty dining hall, Tyrannis rested his chin on his hand and stared into space, recalling that time.

Manus was only 16 now.

A feat that neither he nor his exceptional younger brother had ever managed to achieve.

What was this feeling of unease?

What were these emotions boiling up inside him?

Invidea already seemed eager to win Manus over.

His once-timid brother had captured a demon and thwarted the schemes of a suspicious cult.

“Hoo—.”

He remembered his father’s words about coming to his study after the meal.

Tyrannis grabbed the glass of water next to him and gulped it down.

The fiery emotions that had been boiling over cooled off instantly.

He would have to confront Manus.

And verify the truth for himself.

Whether Manus could truly walk forward with the pride of a Caeser.

Whether he had grown into someone the family could proudly acknowledge.

If he could do that, Tyrannis was ready to forgive his younger brother.

The firstborn, Tyrannis, stood up.

‘My trial will be harsh, little brother.’

He would utilize the full authority granted to him as the eldest son.

The trials he would impose and the path to forgiveness would not be easy.

Now, it was time to receive his mission.

“Lord Tyrannis.”

“What is it?”

“What do you plan to do?”

“With what?”

As he walked, a shadow twisted beside him and spoke.

There was only one Umbra that dared ask for his opinion.

Tyrannis posed the question again, even though he knew the shadow’s intentions.

The reason for asking was to organize his own thoughts.

What should he do about his troublesome younger brother?

How did he want to seek forgiveness from his sibling?

“Should we prepare a trial?”

“…No, there’s no need. I will decide on my own.”

Forgiveness was something to be earned through ability.

At least, that’s how Tyrannis had lived his life.

Those without ability would vanish without even a chance to ask for forgiveness, nothing more than a splash of blood.

Manus had spoken so confidently; surely, he would be able to prove his skills.

“I shall follow your command.”

Tyrannis walked on in silence.

It was a good opportunity to test whether his brother had genuine courage and skill.

2

The family head, Labeth, was spending his time staring at a golden parchment.

Why did time seem to crawl so slowly as he waited for his two sons?

If there was a spell to accelerate time, he would use it without hesitation.

Perhaps, it was because of what was written on the golden parchment…

From time to time, his old friend made demands that were outrageous to the point of being displeasing.

What that friend was seeing or aiming for, he had not shared even with Labeth.

Beninitas also found it difficult to access that information, making no progress.

“Lord Labeth, the young masters request an audience.”

“Let them in.”

The door opened, and his two sons entered.

The third, with a blank expression.

The eldest, looking full of discontent.

Both were his children, whom he loved dearly, but as the head of the family, he also needed to correct what was wrong.

Contrary to public belief, Labeth was a man of subtlety and sensitivity.

This applied to how he treated his children as well.

He was strict, but he preferred to offer lessons over causing harm.

It was the way his father and grandfather had done things.

“Manus, come back in a moment.”

“-Understood.”

Manus turned around, and Wei quickly understood the head’s intention.

She guided Manus out the door.

“The head of the family is truly kind.”

“I agree.”

Manus nodded lightly.

He observed his sibling’s expression next to him.

A face twisted as if ready to spill a slew of unpleasant words.

As the family head, Labeth was even more sensitive to such things.

In a way, it was a curious thing.

In the novels he had read and the movies or dramas he had seen, the family heads often provoked more conflict.

This made him realize how frightening perception and prejudice could be.

What kind of conversation was taking place inside?

“The head will likely choose to give a gentle admonition. He is a very delicate person, after all.”

“…Did he do that for me too?”

“Yes. I believe that Lord Labeth is quite pleased that you are on the right path now.”

Wei smiled.

Seeing her smile, Manus turned his head.

He knew there was more than just joy in that smile.

There were mistakes he didn’t remember.

As if silently reproaching all his past errors and defiance.

Wei did not say anything more.

There was no need to bring up the past of a lord who was now on the right path.

“Manus, come in now.”

A gentle voice called from beyond the door.

He didn’t know what had been discussed, but his brother’s expression had softened slightly.

Their father, as expected.

In the end, family was the only place to talk and make amends.

“Take a seat. I will explain the mission now.”

“Yes.”

“The mission is simple. Investigate the disappearance of the villagers in the southern region. You have one week. You may take a platoon each of magic soldiers, knights, and guardians.”

Both of them nodded.

Labeth held up the neatly written parchment.

It was probably notes outlining the mission.

“Tyrannis and Manus will jointly hold command. The matter of who has more authority will be naturally decided.”

“-Understood.”

Tyrannis nodded curtly.

It would have been proper to grant the eldest more authority… but there must be a reason.

Manus, finding this unexpected, paused briefly before answering.

“Understood.”

“You will depart tomorrow. Prepare everything by tonight.”

For a journey of a week, the preparation time was tight.

They needed to plan their route based on the village locations.

They had to select personnel and pack personal belongings.

They also had to discuss how they would operate once they arrived at the site.

Everything was undecided, and they would need to build up from scratch.

Tyrannis seemed accustomed to such tasks, nodding calmly.

When he glanced at his brother sitting beside him, Manus’s expression remained unchanged.

‘What kind of influence can you wield here, with no experience?’

While Tyrannis inwardly scoffed, Manus was already formulating plans in his head.

Setting goals and methodically executing them.

It was something a jaded office worker’s spirit, now housed in a young body, was intimately familiar with.

And any South Korean man, having experienced military service, would be familiar with such processes.

Following that line of thinking, even a mission like this would naturally reveal a path forward.

Labeth looked at Manus, who was already deep in thought, then turned his gaze to Tyrannis.

“I trust you will handle things as always.”

“Leave it to me, Lord Labeth.”

“Good. Tyrannis, you may leave. Manus, stay for a moment.”

Tyrannis stood without a word, offered a brief bow, and left.

Now, it was just the two of them.

Labeth stretched out his hand, and a scroll of parchment, rolled up on his desk, slowly floated over to him.

Seeing it, Manus’s brows creased slightly.

The seal, the color of the parchment.

It was impossible not to recognize.

He had seen this type of parchment countless times on his monitor.

“…The imperial seal, I see.”

“You remember well. Yes, this is a letter from the imperial family.”

A letter from the emperor.

Since it wasn’t a decree brought by an envoy, it wasn’t an issue of family honor.

But the power of the imperial palace was not to be taken lightly either.

It was a letter from the emperor, the ruler of the only empire on the continent.

No subject on the continent could afford to ignore it.

Not even the Caeser Principality.

They couldn’t ignore a letter personally sent by the emperor.

“What does it say?”

“It speaks of a second trial.”

[Interference is starting.]

[A careful choice is required.]

The messages that appeared left Manus feeling even more confused.

What did the emperor intend by personally sending this message?

In the game, he always presented the players with questions and challenges.

Would that be the case this time as well? Manus’s curiosity was piqued.

Labeth began to speak.

“It seems the emperor is in need of talented people for something.”

“Why not find them within the imperial palace?”

“The imperial palace is a place to protect the emperor and the nation. Though powerful, it has become a force that cannot leave its walls.”

The imperial palace was the most powerful organization, capable of commanding the continent with its might.

But it was a deterrent, not a conqueror.

If they began to move, the entire continent would fall into chaos.

So perhaps the emperor was looking for his own blade, instead of moving the palace.

Secrets that hadn’t been revealed in the original story were being unraveled one by one.

Intertwined relationships created massive secrets, and these secrets led to grand events.

Manus figured there would be similar stories on the path he was taking.

“The emperor seeks a well-sharpened sword. Though he has been my old friend, I still do not understand his true intentions.”

“By ‘well-sharpened sword,’ you mean…”

“Yes. He is referring to our great families.”

The ten families of mages, guardians, and warriors.

Described as the ten pillars supporting the empire.

Was the emperor planning to utilize them?

Manus decided to speculate based on the contents of the letter sent by the emperor.

“What does it say?”

“It’s as I mentioned before. There’s a specific note that you must be sent.”

“So this mission itself is the emperor’s trial.”

“Indeed. That’s why you must be extra cautious.”

No matter how great the Caeser Principality was, and no matter how much his talents had blossomed, Manus was still young.

It was an unpredictable situation where disaster could strike at any time.

As the family head, but more so as a father, Labeth expressed his concern.

Manus nodded with a gentle smile.

He fully understood his father’s worries.

But he also knew there were times when one needed to be bold, and his father understood this too.

“I will do what I must.”

“Indeed. If it’s a trial, then you must pass it with confidence.”

“Does this not apply to my brother?”

Labeth let out a strange smile.

Perhaps he had already spoken to Tyrannis.

His father only left a vague comment.

“Do your best, both of you.”

Manus nodded without a word.

Now it was time to prepare.

A trial outside the academy wasn’t something he couldn’t handle.

Moreover, challenging tasks were often followed by rewards.

With that thought, he began to move.

–TL Notes–
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