Chapter 124 — The Words of the Untrustworthy Are Poison
1
On their way back from completing their mission in the Biltite Forest, Manus and Tyrannis reached the Count Acre’s territory. Now, they had to decide their next move.
Count Acre—what was he thinking when he allied with the Dire Order? What drove him to make a move against such a powerful family as Caesar?
Manus had been pondering this during the entire return journey, but no solid answers came to mind.
‘Either the Dire Order coerced Count Acre with some underhanded scheme… or they managed to seduce him.’
Villains always follow clichés.
The Dire Order and Eresis, as typical villains, acted accordingly.
Since this was a game, these villains were designed to ensure the player’s victory, and thus their actions were predictable.
It was the very predictability of these villains that made them troublesome.
There was nothing more frustrating than knowing the answer yet being unable to do anything about it.
Manus decided to ask Tyrannis.
At this point, consulting others’ opinions couldn’t hurt.
“What will we do now?”
“We’ll return for now. There’s no advantage in confronting them with our current forces.”
Manus nodded. Tyrannis was right.
To attack head-on would be foolish. Count Acre had many soldiers, and his territory was vast.
Any confrontation would only end in pressure building, which would eventually crush him.
Even a Margrave couldn’t survive the full force of Caesar’s pressure.
Caesar was so powerful that even the emperor would think twice before threatening them.
They didn’t know how far the Order’s influence reached or how much power they had amassed.
But one thing was clear: they had provoked the wrong enemy.
“We’ll be busy for a while.”
“By the way, can you tell me now?”
Curiosity suddenly gripped Manus.
Tyrannis seemed to recall what Manus was referring to and let out a small sigh.
Right, it was no longer a trauma.
It was a wound that should have healed long ago.
“I’ll keep it simple.”
“I’m listening.”
“You and I went on a mission together. It was a mission we were winning, but you ruined it. You acted recklessly and got yourself captured by the enemy leader.”
A serious matter indeed.
For someone of the Caesar family’s direct bloodline, just their existence commanded a hefty ransom.
Even someone as inexperienced as Manus could understand the gravity of the situation.
There was no need to hear more.
It had been an important mission, and he had become a hostage, resulting in the loss of soldiers as well.
There was no justification for it—what he did was worthy of punishment, perhaps even death.
Manus let out a hearty laugh.
“There’s no need to tell me any more.”
“I didn’t want to bring it up either. In my life, you were the one stain I couldn’t erase.”
“A phrase from one of the many books I’ve read comes to mind.”
“…”
[No one is perfect.]
A simple phrase.
For those living in modern times, it was an overly familiar concept.
People make mistakes, take wrong paths, and still, they must live on, no matter the consequences.
But in this world, things were different.
Nobles, especially those born into great families, were expected to pursue perfection at all times.
Live life as it comes. Let things flow.
Everything will pass eventually.
Words like these were seen as sinful among those of noble blood.
“If I thought I was perfect, I wouldn’t have made it this far.”
“—Are you giving me advice now? I wonder what’s happening to the world.”
Tyrannis’ tone was softer now.
At the same time, there was something contemplative in his blue eyes, as though he had realized something.
That should be enough.
Their relationship had been sufficiently repaired.
How long would they stay here? And what would happen once the DLC was over? That was still uncertain.
It was best to maintain a suitable distance.
If his current form remained, even if his original personality returned, he’d still be able to function in society.
From what Manus had heard, it seemed his former self had been prone to violence, driven by feelings of inferiority.
[Intervention confirmed.]
[Rewards are being granted.]
[Mana +10%]
[Caesar’s Mindset gains the following effect.]
[All magic class levels increase by +1.]
‘This is pretty good.’
Once again, he had twisted fate.
Or rather, he had corrected it.
Manus didn’t bother hiding the satisfaction that welled up within him.
In the meantime, Tyrannis turned to address the rest of the group, ready to issue their next orders.
“Everyone, listen up.”
They had finally reached the outskirts of Count Acre’s territory.
Was it the result of the battle? Or perhaps the sting of betrayal?
Either way, the soldiers of Caesar wore dark expressions.
The tension in the air was palpable—they seemed ready to tear the place apart if given the chance.
If left alone, some of them might cause trouble before anyone could stop it.
“Today, we return without causing any incidents. Understood?”
“Lord Tyrannis. But… what about Acre’s men?”
“I know. But there’s nothing we can do about it. What, do you plan on cutting off the count’s head?”
“…”
They understood it wasn’t possible.
Count Acre was one of the strongest swordsmen on the continent.
The ten most powerful swordsmen were known as the Continental Ten Blades, and though Acre was at the bottom of that list, he was still someone they couldn’t handle with their current forces.
Even Tyrannis would be risking his life if he faced him directly.
Now wasn’t the time for risky ventures—it was time for strategic pressure.
“The goal of a true strategist is to suffocate their enemy, not take unnecessary risks. That’s why the power of a family like Caesar exists. I trust you all understand that.”
“—Yes, sir.”
If this had been a battle Tyrannis could win on his own, he would have done so.
But their opponent was a mysterious enemy.
They had no clue how powerful they were or how much strength they had amassed.
For now, they would withdraw and lay the traps that would ensnare their foes.
Tyrannis’ eyes gleamed a deep blue.
Caesar had completed its mission and was now heading home.
2
“You’ve returned safely. Well done, both of you.”
“No need for formalities. It seems things are more serious than we thought.”
“Did you discover anything?”
The two of them had gone straight to Count Acre’s office to report.
They spoke calmly, as if nothing significant had happened.
Manus nodded and gave a brief explanation.
“We encountered someone using Corpse Golems. It seems they were either searching for something important or in need of souls.”
“A Corpse Golem, you say… Is it what I think it is?”
“It is.”
Something felt off.
The expression on Count Acre’s face was unnaturally stiff, as though he was genuinely surprised.
If this was an act, Manus thought, then the count would be someone to watch out for.
After exchanging a few more words, the two of them stood to leave.
They had no intention of staying in the heart of enemy territory for long.
Manus and Tyrannis gave a polite bow.
Before they left, Manus briefly glanced elsewhere before looking back at the count.
“Well then, we’ll take our leave.”
“…Yes, thank you for your efforts. I’ll make sure to send an appropriate reward to your duchy.”
“You might want to prepare a bit more than usual. I’m sure we’ll meet again soon.”
Before leaving, Tyrannis spoke directly to Count Acre.
The count’s eyebrow twitched at the meaningful words.
As soon as they were gone, the count let out a small sigh.
Their safe return meant the plan had completely fallen apart.
With a stiff face, Count Acre spoke in a low voice, barely containing his anger.
“This plan isn’t going to get me what I want.”
“No, it’s already in motion.”
“My men died. How do you plan to make up for that?”
“…The compensation has already been arranged.”
The presence vanished.
BAM—!
Count Acre slammed his hand down on the armrest of his chair.
He had not been informed about the Corpse Golems.
The Dire Order—they had approached him with promises of helping him realize his long-held dream.
They had assured Count Acre that they could help him build the greatest military force the continent had ever seen.
He had no intention of remaining a mere Count forever.
[Work for the Empire, and you’ll always just be a Count.]
He knew his own talents, and he had made a dangerous alliance.
Caesar.
He had heard stories, but they were far more ruthless than he had imagined.
Count Acre was aware of Tyrannis’ past.
He had hoped to exploit the trauma between the Caesar brothers and use it to secure a favorable deal.
But now…
‘Manus, was it? That boy knew exactly where the shadows were lurking.’
Dangerous—.
Count Acre exhaled deeply.
Caesar would soon bear down on him with serious pressure.
How should he resolve this?
As he pondered, his eyes fell on a golden parchment.
It was a letter, sealed with the mark of the most powerful man on the continent.
The Emperor of the Empire, his insignia gleaming proudly on the letter.
[Have no fear. Continue harassing Caesar.]
[I entrust you with carrying out the trial I have devised.]
His grip on the parchment tightened, crumpling it in his hand.
If anyone saw him, it would seem a grave insult to the Emperor—tantamount to treason.
But who would dare say anything?
This letter was all he had to cling to.
If the Emperor had any sense, he would stand by his words.
But could Acre have foreseen it?
That the words of the untrustworthy were like a poisoned chalice.
In this harsh world, no one could be trusted.
‘The Emperor.’
It was ironic.
The very man he had considered betraying had now become his only lifeline.
What should his next move be?
Count Acre’s frown deepened, and the lines on his face grew more pronounced.
3
Manus stood on the teleportation circle.
Thankfully, no one had been hurt, and they had all returned safely.
Despite the dangers of the mission, they had succeeded flawlessly.
He felt proud and was eager for what lay ahead.
They, too, were growing.
In this world, with enough potential, humans could rise to the level of gods.
Those with such potential could one day elevate Caesar to even greater heights.
‘I’ll have to pay more attention to this side of things moving forward.’
Building relationships.
And knowing when to use them.
He had learned from his past life that this was one of the most important skills a person could have.
His former self had failed to do so, earning much criticism.
He had neither the personality nor the talent to stand out in any meaningful way.
It had been a painful realization—that the world is too loud to hear those who don’t speak up.
And if you didn’t shine on your own, no one would bother to notice you.
‘Now, I need to find things of value, even if I don’t shine myself.’
That was the position he found himself in now.
And he welcomed it.
“We’re ready to teleport.”
With that, a bright light enveloped him.
When Manus opened his eyes again, a reward was waiting for him.
The reward was marked with ‘???’.
His heart raced as he read through the messages.
The translucent window presented him with newfound strength.
[S5 Clear]
[Calculating score.]
[Successfully prevented interference from Acre / Recognized the Emperor’s intentions / Defeated the Corpse Golem / Defeated the Guide / Safely escaped from Count Acre’s territory / Zero casualties / Gained Tyrannis’ trust]
[Overall: SS]
[Reward: 10 XXL Mana Crystals]
[1 voucher to learn a Black Magic skill within 50 years / 1 voucher to learn a Holy Magic skill within 50 years / 1 skill slot enhancement voucher]
[The trajectory of the worldline has shifted.]
[More trials will come your way. Strive for your own conclusion.]
Pleasant messages filled the screen.
But what exactly was this skill slot enhancement voucher?
The thought of going home had never been so exciting.
Was this how a child felt, walking home with a bundle of gifts?
Was this how a salaryman felt after receiving their paycheck?
Someone nearby blushed at the faint smile that crossed Manus’ face, but he didn’t notice.
Tyrannis, however, cast a brief glance at Manus, his face hardening.
‘Soon…’
Things were about to get even more exhausting.
It was time to brace themselves for the trials ahead.
And so, they returned—carrying the news of their victory with them.
–TL Notes–
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