118 — Into the Green Hell

1

The following morning.

Manus inspected the equipment of the assembled personnel.

Just like during his time in the military, he was checking once more to ensure nothing essential had been forgotten.

The mages, warriors, and guardians were skeptical.

What did the young master know about military gear?

Someone always did things for him, and someone else always bore the hardships.

‘And now he’s conducting a gear inspection?’

‘Does he even know what he’s looking at?’

Concealing their misgivings, the soldiers discreetly eyed Manus as he casually scrutinized their gear.

The gift of Caesar’s talent, Caesar’s knowledge, and Caesar’s mindset brought Manus a sense of ease.

His understanding of magical theory extended to the tools used to harness it, enabling him to grasp their functionality.

It felt like he could do anything, almost like a deus ex machina.

Simply by looking, he could discern the magic engraved into the tools.

For everything else, his existing knowledge sufficed.

‘After all, this was born from the imagination of a Korean mind… It’s quite familiar.’

“Name.”

“Yes? S-Solari.”

“Solari. Why are you carrying so much parchment?”

“That’s, uh—”

“Is it for recording?”

“N-no, it’s not.”

Caught one.

Solari.

A mage who used parchment to draw spells.

She considered it a flaw and typically kept it a secret from others.

Especially from the infamous second prince.

Solari’s face had turned pale as a sheet.

Ignoring her unease, Manus examined the parchment and probed Solari’s mana to satisfy his curiosity.

The answer came quickly.

“Specially treated parchment. You can deploy magic faster by utilizing it. Ideal for barriers and support magic.”

“Ah… Yes, that’s correct.”

“However, leave out these extra ones. We can procure clothes locally or wash them with magic. Carrying too many will just end up being a burden.”

“Understood, my lord.”

Everyone fell silent at his precise comments.

How did he know that Solari was a ‘Paper Wizard’ using parchment?

Did he deduce it just from looking at that parchment?

Their eyes darted around, filled with astonishment.

The knights, who had already witnessed his unusual behavior, were unfazed.

The ones most surprised were Solari herself and the guardians who had never seen Manus’s eccentricities.

‘Isn’t he supposed to be a troublemaker?’

‘I thought he had no talent.’

“Everyone, gather your things. We’re setting off. We might be heading into a hellish place. But I expect you to push through under the name of Caesar.”

After Tyrannis’s brief speech, the group began their march.

“Albion will be well taken care of.”

“I’m counting on you.”

Manus acknowledged Wei’s send-off as he turned away.

Standing beside her was Albion, looking at him with a mixture of worry and sadness.

Manus gently stroked his familiar’s head, offering a warm smile.

Seeing this, Wei felt her heart melt a little.

‘I didn’t think the young master could show such a gentle expression.’

The many changes that had occurred in such a short period were truly remarkable.

Manus, leaving Albion’s cries behind, went over the plan once more.

They only had one week.

It wouldn’t be possible to explore the entire vast forest, but obtaining even a small piece of information would suffice.

Their forces were too weak to face the great darkness head-on.

They planned to visit a total of five villages.

Their mission was to gather traces and evidence, contributing to expanding Beninitas’s search radius.

The teleportation magic circle brought them to the southernmost region of the empire.

The hot and sticky air flowed into their lungs.

For Manus, who was used to the always-comfortable air, it was a refreshing change.

“A guide will be arriving shortly. They’ve been prepared since last week.”

“Is our visit an official one?”

Manus asked.

Regev, a squad leader who commanded the soldiers and had undertaken similar missions to the previous Manus, responded.

He had risen to the position of squad leader after proving his capabilities.

Regev nodded.

Since they had received official cooperation, this was an official operation.

Manus observed the appearance of those following behind him.

‘Even so, appearances must be maintained.’

Vwoom—.

As Manus extended his hand, a magic circle materialized in the air.

A 1st-class, common spell that removed dirt and grime.

[Diluō]

The clothing, dirty from hasty preparations, training, and other reasons, was cleaned and polished, restoring the shine of Caesar’s name.

The fabric became stiff yet soft.

The leather seemed to squeak under pressure.

The metal gleamed so smoothly that even flies would slip off.

“Stand tall. Keep your ranks straight, and do not tarnish the name of Caesar.”

Despite being the smallest in stature among those gathered, Manus appeared more imposing than anyone else.

A student of the academy was considered one of the best talents on the continent.

His uniform and emblem were symbols of generational power.

Seeing the second prince’s dignified demeanor, a peculiar feeling surged among the group.

It was the essence of Caesar’s mindset.

To never bow and to reign above all.

That was what being a Caesar meant.

“—Let’s move out.”

Thud.

As Manus took a step forward, everyone followed suit, their steps synchronized without even a fraction of a second’s delay.

The footsteps of Caesar spread across unfamiliar lands.

Leaving the teleportation area, they were greeted by the local lord who governed the territory.

Guardians, knights, mages.

And two princes.

It was a perfect picture, as if an army was advancing to conquer this place.

“W-Would you be—?”

“Where is Caesar supposed to go?”

Tyrannis spoke first, stepping forward.

Intimidated by his presence, the man bowed his head deeply and offered guidance.

“I have something to give you. Please meet with the Count first.”

“Lead the way.”

Laich Castle, of Count Acre’s Domain.

One of the empire’s premier breadbaskets, this area boasted land capable of yielding crops three times a year.

Perhaps because of this, the people’s faces were all bright.

Moreover, the guards’ equipment, seen here and there, appeared to be of decent quality.

It was uncertain whether it was due to the wealth of the family or a concern for the welfare of their soldiers.

At the very least, it was clear that the ruler of this place was not one to squander military resources.

“Something good is bound to happen here.”

Manus murmured quietly.

Before entering the depths of hell, they were given a chance to regroup in a rather pleasant environment.

2

Count Acre.

A young man who always wore silver armor, he was a handsome figure.

He greeted the party with a refreshing smile.

Though there was no grand welcome, the arrangements were adequate.

Soldiers lined up in formation.

A line of long swords created a makeshift path, a form of welcoming ceremony.

The Acre family was known for its swordsmanship.

While their heir was still too young to attend the academy, a formidable talent would soon appear in the Eagle Class.

“We’ve been expecting you, scions of the great Caesar family.”

“Thank you for your hospitality.”

“The Biltite villagers were a vital source of information for the Acre domain. Let’s discuss further inside. The rest of your troops should find ample food waiting for them.”

The two brothers nodded.

They had set off without having a proper meal.

Since they were about to enter the jungle, filling their bellies was essential.

An attendant led the soldiers away, while Manus and Tyrannis followed Count Acre to his office.

Blue lions symbolized the Acre family.

The carved stone figures depicting them were prominently displayed throughout the castle.

‘The Blue Lion… There was no mention of this family in the game, so I have no information on them.’

Manus tried to recall any details about the Acre family but found nothing substantial.

They would have to learn by doing.

As he pondered various things, the three men arrived at the office.

“This is all the information I have to give you. I’m sorry it’s not much.”

“A map, I see.”

“Yes, it’s a detailed guide map that shouldn’t require a guide… But if you need more troops, I can provide assistance.”

“The troops we have will be sufficient.”

Manus only needed someone to guide the way.

Count Acre nodded.

He was relieved not to deplete his own forces by sending them with outsiders.

This was the domain of a frontier count.

It was a place where danger could strike at any time.

As a society operating under a voluntary enlistment system, every soldier was valuable and not to be wasted.

Neither Manus nor Tyrannis had any intention of seeking Count Acre’s assistance.

Manus had already become thoroughly ingrained with the Caeser mindset.

The idea of cooperating with another family didn’t even cross his mind.

“Do you truly need no further help? That place is quite dangerous—”

“We’ll be fine. Just provide a place for us to wash up when we return.”

“Haha! Very well. I shall prepare a grand feast for you.”

Count Acre’s smile shone as brightly as his silver-plated armor.

After quickly planning their route, the two brothers left the lord’s office, ready to head into the forest.

Watching Caesar’s retreating figures, Count Acre’s smile grew wider.

‘They’re truly remarkable talents.’

His thoughts lingered in the office.

3

“Greetings. I’m Hans, your guide.”

“Let’s depart.”

“I’ll lead the way.”

They had hired the most expensive guide available from the local agency.

Perhaps due to the immense pressure from the Caeser family, the guide’s tension was palpable.

When people are nervous, they often can’t perform at their best.

Tyrannis, looking at him, spoke to ease his nerves in his own way.

“You know what happens if you don’t perform at your best, right?”

“…Y-Yes, of course.”

“Remember, all our lives depend on your abilities.”

Hans’s face turned pale as he repeatedly bowed his head.

The lives of the esteemed soldiers of a great family.

Being responsible for people whose status and weight were vastly different from his own.

Were those words meant to ease his nerves or forcefully awaken him?

Yet Manus did not stop his brother’s behavior.

In any case, emphasizing the danger of this mission was essential.

“—Keep your wits about you. Understood?”

“Absolutely. I will use all my skills to guide you.”

“Let’s move.”

They exited the domain and continued along the path.

They conserved their strength while circulating mana, warming up their bodies.

Upon reaching the forest’s edge, Manus sensed something odd.

A vast forest.

The sea of trees stretched out from the southern border of the empire.

Manus couldn’t shake the feeling that something within that green forest was opening a massive maw, ready to swallow him.

‘I’ll find out once I’m inside.’

“From here on, you must follow me closely. Within the forest, monsters, natives, and the Biltites can attack at any moment.”

The guide set the mood with his warning, addressing the Caeser troops.

Yet, the Caeser forces merely stared ahead indifferently.

There was no sign of fear or hesitation.

Only eyes focused on completing the mission, prepared to enter hell.

As if they had stored their emotions away, the Caesar troops marched on as if they were merely heading out for a casual stroll.

The Green Hell.

Manus kept mulling over that phrase as he stepped into the forest’s depths.

A heavy darkness settled over him like a shroud.

–TL Notes–
Hope you enjoyed this chapter. If you want to support me or give me feedback, you can do it at patreon.com/MattReading

Join my Discord! https://discord.gg/BWaP3AHHpt