Chapter 122 — To Understand Change, Face the Unknown
1
From the early morning, Tyrannis was lost in thought, consumed by worry.
What is the most primal fear a person can experience?
It is the fear of the unknown.
Why are people terrified of the dark depths of the ocean? Because they don’t know what might emerge.
Why are people afraid of the vast, empty expanse of space? Because they don’t know what’s out there.
The unknown.
It is the very thing that causes the human psyche to shrink in fear.
Tyrannis, too, while staring at the rising sun, felt the terror of the unknown.
Of course, to others, it might seem like nothing more than a tiny speck of concern.
“Lord Tyrannis, preparations are complete.”
“How is Manus?”
“He looks to be in excellent condition.”
Tyrannis turned his head to look at Manus, who sat quietly, focused in deep concentration.
He still wasn’t entirely sure if Manus’ words were true.
Looking at his recent actions, it didn’t seem like empty talk, but still…
Regardless, the mission would continue.
Solari had used up her parchment to leave behind markers, ensuring that they could return even in the worst case.
Caesar had the mindset of not fearing anything.
“As soon as Manus finishes preparing, we depart.”
“—Yes, sir.”
Many eyes turned toward the second son, Manus.
He was the key to this mission.
Strangely, even though he boldly declared his readiness, there was something about him that instilled a quiet confidence in everyone.
Not long after, Manus, now glowing with a faint blue aura, opened his eyes.
“—Let’s go.”
[Dux]
The light, guiding them along with the sunlight, shimmered ahead like a tiny stream flowing smoothly.
Like swimming through water, the soft white light glided gracefully.
Manus glanced back briefly.
Half distrust, half trust.
Various gazes fell upon him, each with their own mix of emotions.
Those gazes, stacked upon his shoulders like a heavy burden, no longer weighed him down.
He felt no pressure from them now.
‘I have the ability to handle it well.’
Today was in stark contrast to the days when he had been powerless and ordinary.
Grateful for his current strength, Manus stepped forward.
There was nothing that could stand in the way of overwhelming power.
All that was left was to press forward.
There was nothing in this great forest that could stop Caesar.
2
“Whoa—”
“They really arrived?”
“—Isn’t this way faster than yesterday?”
After marching all morning, the group took a short break.
Shortly after finishing their simple lunch, they arrived in front of a village.
A second village, steeped in silence.
The soldiers, surprised by how quickly they had reached it compared to the previous day, stuck out their tongues in awe.
“…It’s real.”
Even Tyrannis looked around in astonishment.
To be honest, Manus had proven to be better than even the best guides.
At this rate, he could hide his identity and become one of the best navigators on the continent.
How was this even possible?
Could someone’s talent bloom like this all at once?
At the academy, whose favor had Manus caught to be able to use Matu at such a high level?
In terms of pure close combat ability, he could easily defeat a novice knight.
At this point, there was no choice but to acknowledge him.
‘He really is a Caesar.’
The bloodline of a great family.
His appearance, a mirror image of their father.
And an inexplicable, bizarre level of talent.
No matter how much one tried to push him away, instinctively, it was clear.
That boy had inherited the pure blood of their family, a genius through and through.
His struggles were nothing but stepping stones to greatness.
If that was the case, it was time to abandon his prejudices and start treating him more like a proper noble.
‘In other words…’
Once this mission was over, Manus would become his rival.
The fierce competition to lead the next generation of Caesar.
Manus would inevitably enter that brutal arena.
It was not a matter of his own will.
His reputation, their father’s expectations, and the family’s prestige would force it upon him.
Sigh—
A quiet sigh escaped Tyrannis.
“Lord Tyrannis, we’ve investigated the area. As expected, no one is here.”
“What about signs of an attack?”
“There are traces of a battle… but something feels unnatural about it.”
“Show me.”
His thoughts were interrupted.
For now, confirming what was in front of them took precedence over minor concerns.
Tyrannis followed the soldier to the site of the tracks.
When they arrived, Manus was already there, examining the traces left behind.
No one expected a perfect analysis from him.
The presence of a commanding figure was enough.
‘It definitely matches the descriptions from the original story.’
Scattered remnants of a fight.
Footprints that ended abruptly and unnatural movement patterns.
Many signs indicated this wasn’t a normal battle.
Biltite.
The indigenous people of this area were known for their vitality and robust physical strength.
Even a regular army would struggle to deal with them, yet the combat pattern here was clear.
That could only mean…
“A strong entity massacred them. All the clues point to one conclusion.”
“That’s right…”
“But there are still too many strange aspects.”
That was to be expected.
Whoever attacked this village must have had the ability to traverse the Erosion Zone.
There were even signs that a massive entity had attempted to collapse buildings.
While it occurred within the Erosion Zone, the effects clearly bled into reality as well.
Only one figure came to mind.
Things were taking a strange turn.
“Could they have a special ability, or perhaps the power to move through space?”
“Oh… If that’s the case—”
In this world, common sense only covered a fraction of the truth.
With mana, the boundaries of what was possible often shattered.
Transcendent acts had always existed, and because of that, vast knowledge had accumulated over time.
At Manus’ sharp insight, the soldiers who had been squinting at the scene suddenly had their eyes lit with interest.
The ones who had been stuck in their prejudices began to approach the situation from various perspectives.
In an instant, the battleground became a hotbed of discussion.
“So, this is—”
“Could it be a type of black magic? Or maybe a summoned creature—”
Once the pieces began to fall into place, progress was swift.
Caesar’s soldiers steadily pieced together the clues, reconstructing the picture bit by bit.
Unfortunately, none of them were close to the truth, but Manus didn’t bother to correct them.
He had already drawn the correct conclusion in his mind.
‘If there’s an enemy capable of controlling a summoned creature like this, there’s only one person it could be. Have they already acquired it?’
Perhaps, he should have killed them back then.
Manus let out a small sigh.
If the other villages were in similar situations, there was no point in checking further.
He approached Tyrannis to adjust their strategy.
The eldest son stood with his arms crossed, silently listening to his subordinates.
He was withholding judgment until all the evidence had been considered.
“—What will you do from here?”
“We’ll go deeper in. With your abilities, we can probe further.”
“We’ve already gathered meaningful information.”
“Our mission requires definitive results. We’re still lacking.”
Manus nodded.
In order for the family to launch a proper investigation, they needed more material.
The Dire Order was likely involved in some way.
Since they had yet to find conclusive evidence, the investigation would continue.
And unbeknownst to them, this mission was about to trigger a critical event in the unfolding scenario.
Regret always comes too late.
And it would be Tyrannis’ fate not to realize how deeply embedded he was in these fateful flags.
3
On the fifth day.
After inspecting one village each day, they had gathered significant information.
One person.
A mysterious monster had been rampaging through the Biltite forest, massacring everything in its path.
It was a horrifying situation.
Something that should never have happened.
Ordinary people would think so, at least.
But there was one group.
For those who revered death, the story was different.
[Warning: You are entering a Boss Area.]
[Once you enter, you cannot leave until the boss is defeated.]
[Make final preparations and proceed with caution.]
‘Ah… I should have just left.’
As they neared the last village, a message appeared before Manus, making him grimace.
Of course, this was a game designed to hunt down bosses.
This was one of those troublesome scenarios where the original game’s settings were fully reflected.
Looking back, he saw the weary faces of the soldiers, worn out from the constant marching and investigations.
They had been pushing hard for five days straight.
Endless discussions through sleepless nights, relentless investigations, all of it wearing them down.
“Is this the last village?”
“Lord Tyrannis, ahead…”
“I know.”
Something was there.
Something ominous was troubling their senses.
Even without seeing it, they could feel the danger awaiting them.
Tyrannis stood still, lost in thought for a moment.
Ahead was an unknown enemy.
The soldiers’ combat power had diminished somewhat.
Turning back now was unthinkable; they had come too far.
What if they had to walk all night to retreat, while being pursued by the enemy?
“We’ll rest here and then proceed.”
“Use all available supplies. Make sure everyone’s in peak condition before
engaging.”
“—Yes, sir!”
With a loud response, the camp bustled with activity.
Manus prepared a few potions as well.
The ominous aura grew stronger by the minute.
What on earth was waiting for them inside?
What changes was the world undergoing at this very moment?
To understand, they would have to confront the unknown.
There was no fear.
From the moment he had gained the trust of Caesar, he had buried all his negative emotions deep inside.
“Are we ready?”
“—Everyone’s prepared.”
“There’s a strong enemy waiting for us. Stay sharp, all of you.”
Their determined expressions showed their resolve.
Manus could see that their faces were starting to resemble his own.
They had the same unwavering look in their eyes that he had.
There was no fear.
In front of Caesar, there was always victory.
He turned and confidently took the lead.
“—Move in.”
Forming a protective formation around them, the Guardians took their positions.
The knights drew their swords, ready to strike at a moment’s notice.
Mages, their mana surging, prepared powerful spells.
With these allies at his side, what was there to fear?
[Entering the Boss Area.]
Aaaaarrrggghhhh—.
A ghastly wail echoed through the air.
The atmosphere shifted, and their vision blurred.
A devastated village lay before them.
Every building had collapsed, enveloped in a strange, dark mana.
It looked as if black ash had consumed the entire village, and a massive creature could be heard breathing heavily.
A grotesque creature hunched over, looming ominously.
The information from his eyes, the atmosphere he felt with his skin, and something deep in his instincts screamed danger.
What on earth was that?
‘It’s not a Demon… is it some kind of Demonkin?’
It didn’t look like any demon he had ever seen—it was far too grotesque.
Sniffing the air in rhythmic motions, the creature caught the scent of living beings.
Grrrkk—
With a disturbing sound, the monstrous entity stood up.
Approaching Manus directly, the creature was nothing short of horrifying.
“What is that…?”
“That’s too much—”
“…So that’s what happened to the villagers.”
Bones, flesh, and sinew were haphazardly mashed together into one core.
The entity was something Black Mages would call a “Corpse Golem.”
[Aaaaaarrrgghhh—]
It did not seek the death of the living.
Instead, it was a ghost, yearning for its own salvation.
–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