Chapter 20 — The Prodigal Son Returns

1

Morning dawned on the Caesar family.

The mansion was massive.

Sunlight poured into a place so large it was questionable whether to call it a mansion, as it rivaled the size of a small town.

Under the dazzling dawn, a great empire awoke.

The servants bustled about busily.

They awakened everything that had been put to sleep by magic, waiting for the master of the house to rise.

If things weren’t perfect, the master would be disappointed.

If that happened, the mood for the entire day would be quite unpleasant.

“Did you call, sir?”

“Mm.”

Black hair.

Blue eyes.

A man with looks that could be called ‘Caesar’ anywhere, anytime, awoke.

He drank magically purified water, basked in the sunlight streaming through the curtains, and put his feet on the floor.

“Breakfast is ready.”

“What of the eldest?”

“He returned yesterday after completing all preparations.”

“Go.”

The master of the Caesar family.

The great magician.

The day of the Caesar household revolved around the movements of the man known as the Emperor of Magic.

He walked quietly, checking everything.

Quite satisfied, his lips remained tightly sealed.

The secretary assisting him approached with quick steps.

Bowing deeply, the secretary recited the day’s schedule in a pleasant voice.

“Good morning, Lord Labeth. May I begin the report?”

Caesar Labeth nodded.

It took about 10 minutes at an adult’s pace from where he stayed to the dining room.

This was a tradition passed down from previous generations.

Walking through the long corridors, he viewed the scenery and made eye contact with the servants as he strolled through the mansion.

It was a route designed to hear in detail if there were any problems in the mansion overnight, if there were any intruders or injuries, and what happened when morning broke.

The affairs of a great family are many and grand.

“That concludes the report. Also, a letter has arrived from Mythos.”

“The request?”

“Yes. They say there’s an applicant.”

“The name?”

Labeth’s eyes flashed sharply.

In truth, it was fine whether there was an applicant or not, but he didn’t expect anyone to accept such an unfriendly mission.

Curiosity arose.

It was strange.

There weren’t many things that piqued his curiosity-.

“Well…”

“Did a hostile force apply?”

“It’s the second young master.”

Halt-.

Labeth’s footsteps, which seemed like they would never stop, came to a standstill.

Wondering if he had misheard, he asked again.

It was an extremely rare occurrence.

“You’re saying my son, Manus, applied?”

“Yes. It’s an officially certified letter from the Academy. There’s no way it could be wrong.”

“Prepare thoroughly to receive our guest.”

The secretary bowed his head.

A guest, he said.

Was Labeth still not acknowledging him?

One of the Umbra must have reported.

He believed his own eyes rather than rumors.

The Umbra had said that the second young master, Manus, seemed to have finally awakened his talent.

He knew well that talent wasn’t something so easily created.

‘If that is indeed true-.’

Labeth gazed at the bustling household members and fell into thought.

The second son.

A child born from the fruit of love, but one who brought only disappointment.

They say he’s the sore thumb.

He sent such a child to the academy, hoping he would change.

After all, his brother and sister never missed top honors at Mythos Academy.

Yet the results were nothing but disappointing.

‘How have you changed, my son?’

The household members thought of him as an ‘abandoned child.’

Even his own family members either ignored or mistreated Manus.

Just because he lacked talent.

The only one who cared for him was his mother, ‘Caesar Beninitas.’

Though he didn’t inherit talent, Manus’s personality was like a Caesar the most.

But what father could hate his son?

His strong persona as the head of the family prevented him from embracing the boy.

It was still a burden weighing on his heart.

Putting aside his complex emotions, they arrived at the dining area.

“Welcome, Lord.”

Family members who had arrived from their separate quarters gathered.

Two daughters. One son.

The future of Caesar, raised with utmost care and affection.

Labeth sat at the head of the table with an impassive face.

As he sat, the meal began.

Vegetables and meats nurtured with abundant mana.

Course after course of luxurious fare that ordinary people might struggle to taste even once in their lifetime flowed out.

“I trust there were no unusual occurrences.”

“No, my lord.”

“Manus is coming today.”

At this sudden statement, the sound of moving utensils ceased for a moment.

Just as they thought the house had become a bit quieter without him, what was this bolt from the blue?

The eldest daughter, frowning slightly, opened her mouth.

“Isn’t that child supposed to be at the academy at this time?”

“That’s right.”

“Then… surely not.”

Labeth nodded.

They weren’t unaware.

The external mission evaluation held at Mythos Academy.

The whole family knew that the family had rarely sent out a request.

“That’s correct.”

“I understood that Viscount Eunseul’s disappearance was… already a resolved matter.”

“And?”

His weighty question was not simply asking again.

The eldest daughter lightly brushed off the pressure that suddenly descended.

An aura that would have made ordinary people break out in cold sweat and bow their heads immediately dominated the entire dining table.

The eldest daughter, Caesar Invidea.

She confidently delivered her piece.

The him of old was no more.

The Manus she thought of was a violent ruffian, someone of no use to the family.

“He lacks talent. I judge him incapable of handling a Diamond-grade mission.”

“That is for me to judge, daughter.”

The heavy air grew even thicker.

The head of the family neither used mana nor deliberately set the mood.

He merely expressed his opinion.

Just like his daughter.

-Yet what was this atmosphere, this pressure?

The clattering of utensils, the rustling of clothes as the household members moved busily.

The sound of food being served, even the chirping of birds leaking in from outside the window.

Not a single sound could be heard.

The master of Caesar smiled.

And spoke as if gently admonishing.

“Sit down.”

“Yes, father.”

The eldest daughter, Invidea, bowed her head and sat.

It seemed like an eternity passed before Labeth broke the silence.

But in reality, he opened his mouth within just about 5 seconds.

With his single word, the atmosphere returned to normal.

“I know well how you all view him. However, every flower has its own time to bloom.”

You never know.

That time might be now, after 15 years have passed.

Labeth was their father before being the head of the family.

He was the one with the duty to raise them correctly and strongly.

“So, let’s watch. Whether that boy has indeed blossomed.”

Thus, he decided to give one last chance.

“I understand.”

There was no dissent.

They could express their opinions, but they couldn’t make decisions.

To have that decision-making power, they had to continue the fight to become the heir and the head of the family.

The children were quite uncomfortable.

The second son and the third among the siblings.

They thought he would naturally be excluded from the heir succession-

What if he bloomed more brilliantly than anyone here?

‘How uncomfortable.’

Someone’s thought was the same as the thought of all the children.

They saw it.

The father’s subtle smile as he waited for the prodigal son.

2

The way home was surprisingly simple.

There’s one common element in modern games.

The ‘fast travel’ system for user convenience.

Though it became reality, such aspects were faithfully implemented.

Teleport magic circle.

It was a means of transportation that could instantly move to a specific coordinate when entered.

“This is Caesar territory. Welcome.”

Manus took a step forward.

He felt air different from Mythos Academy.

The Caesar Duchy is one of the best places to live.

The temperature fluctuates between 10 to 20 degrees Celsius all year round.

Most days are clear, and magicians adjust the rainfall as needed.

It’s good for farming, and with many scenic spots nearby, it’s popular as a tourist destination.

‘So this is where I lived. Not bad for a chaebol.’

No matter how much modern chaebols might flaunt, they can’t own a country.

Of course, that’s not to say they’re not impressive, but in modern times, laws and systems prevent that, don’t they?

But here is a space solely for Caesar.

The laws, systems, and even the residents here all belong to the name Caesar.

Even without any of the usual escorts, Manus had nothing to fear.

People didn’t approach just by seeing his hair.

“Hm?”

In the distance, while walking towards the largest building, he saw a group much taller than people approaching.

A group with red cloaks fluttering, dyed with very precious dye.

They were all riding reddish-brown horses, walking the streets with great dignity.

All those walking on the road bowed their heads.

The master’s faithful swords were passing by.

Those under their protection naturally showed respect.

“Make way!”

“Move aside quickly!”

Though it seemed somewhat forceful, they had to move quickly and were safely controlling the citizens.

The raised voices were unavoidable.

When everyone’s heads were lowered, there was only one who looked up at them.

The wind brushing against black hair was quite cool.

The knights approaching like castle walls stood tall before him.

Red cloaks fluttered.

“We greet you, young master.”

The clanking sound rang out as if welcoming.

One of Caesar’s masters had returned.

Though called a ruffian, an abandoned child — he’s still a Caesar.

“We’ve come to escort you.”

A massive carriage appeared.

The knights had cleared the way and pushed back citizens for this carriage.

Manus slowly moved his steps.

He seemed to understand his father’s personality.

Are fathers the same wherever you go?

Even if the son is incompetent and only causes trouble, is he still family?

‘If not, perhaps he wants to maintain the Caesar name.’

Either way, it doesn’t matter.

He has the right to enjoy this privilege, and if goodwill was extended, he would gladly accept it.

The carriage, perhaps magically treated, felt like riding in a luxury sedan.

Sitting comfortably, he looked outside.

People still not raising their heads.

They all had something in common.

A slight fear.

Despite being human like them, an unknown emotion of looking up to someone was felt from all of them.

‘This isn’t bad either.’

It was a feeling he never would have imagined when he was an ordinary man.

It wasn’t a bad feeling at all.

Whether this was Manus’s original nature or the nature the man had is unknown.

Perhaps it’s both.

“Let’s depart.”

“Yes, sir.”

The carriage set off.

Manus muttered to himself as he looked at the mansion in the distance.

Father.

The prodigal son is coming.

–TL Notes–
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