Chapter 24 — You Were a Caesar Too

1

The knights who came running in were a mix of bewilderment, shock, and confusion.

Brions, the undead monsters, lay dead in piles, and the face of the knight they had been searching for was visible.

That wasn’t all.

The scorched scenery and the lingering smell of gunpowder added to the grotesque atmosphere.

“This is…”

“You’ve arrived. Is this indeed Sir Eunseul?”

“Ah… Y-yes! This… How could this-“

Regev slumped down, staring blankly at Sir Eunseul.

His peacefully closed eyes looked so lifelike, as if he would wake up at any moment if roused.

However, a glance just slightly lower would reveal how horrific an ordeal he had endured.

“They were performing a ritual here. It seemed related to demons.”

“Demons, you say.”

“These filthy bastards-!”

The gathered knights burst out in anger.

Manus glanced at them briefly before issuing orders to Regev.

“I’ll head back first. Clean up this place and move the body carefully. Don’t forget to leave markings so we can find this place again when daylight comes.”

“Understood, young master.”

Manus patted Regev’s shoulder, who looked distraught.

That gesture was a great comfort to Regev, who had looked up to Sir Eunseul like an older brother.

It was a simple action, but it was the very gesture Sir Eunseul used to do, which made Regev’s eyes well up with tears.

The second young master, Manus.

Eunseul, who had been his senior.

‘I wonder what changes have occurred in the young master’s heart.’

That’s something only he would know.

What’s clear is that Caesar’s future has become even brighter.

The knights, too, seemed to see him in a new light, busy whispering among themselves.

Their mouths and hands moved separately.

He, too, was a Caesar after all.

It’s just that his time to bloom was now.

“To have handled this alone, just how…”

“As expected, he too was a Caesar. Truly remarkable.”

A remarkable family with remarkable people.

They thought they had become quite accustomed to it, being part of it.

But it seems they still get excited when they see something new.

It was only natural, as they too were humans with emotions.

2

The mansion was quiet.

Manus passed by those guarding the main gate and headed inside.

Looking up, he could see a room with lights on.

The room at the very top of the main building.

It seemed someone in the family was still awake at this late hour.

Manus could immediately tell who was awake, as he could see overwhelming mana seeping out from the room.

-Father.

‘How will he evaluate me?’

An old memory briefly surfaced.

His ordinary father had worked hard to earn money.

But he was violent.

He was the type to use his fists before words.

Labeth, was it?

What kind of person is he?

What kind of person was he?

Now, it felt like they could have a somewhat deeper conversation.

He felt a gaze from afar.

‘Let’s have a talk.’

As if being called like that, he moved his feet.

Father must have many questions too.

The same was true for Manus.

“Welcome back.”

“I’ve returned after completing my mission.”

“I see. How were the results?”

Manus scanned the office with his eyes before speaking.

He assembled his words while thinking about what kind of terms and speech style Labeth preferred.

“It was a group called the Dire Order. They called out the name Belial as they died. Unfortunately, Sir Eunseul…”

“Dire Order. A name I’m hearing for the first time. They worship Belial, you say?”

They worship not just Belial but all 72 demons of the Ars Goetia, but he held back from saying so.

It’s now his mother’s turn to step in.

Revealing too much might invite suspicion instead.

“That’s right. They might worship other entities besides Belial as well.”

“So such fellows have crept into our duchy. Quite brazen, aren’t they.”

“Their presence here could mean they’ve already been building up their forces elsewhere, Father.”

Labeth raised his eyes to look at Manus.

A son who closely resembled his own eyes from his youth.

Had he always worn such an expression?

He resembled him more than even his eldest daughter or son.

Perhaps that’s why he had pushed him so harshly when he seemed to go astray, when he thought he had no talent.

That moment flashed by.

“I’ll handle this myself tomorrow. It’s late. Go to bed.”

“Understood.”

Manus rose from his seat.

Labeth remained silent until Manus reached for the doorknob.

Click-

The sound of the door opening was heard.

Labeth spoke reflexively.

“Son.”

“-Yes?”

“…Come to the dining room early tomorrow morning. I’d like to have a meal seeing the faces of the whole family after a long time.”

Manus smiled faintly.

“Understood. I’ll see you in the morning, Father.”

The expressions of Labeth and Manus bore some resemblance.

In the late night, the son realized his father’s heart was warm.

The father realized his son’s talent was blooming brilliantly.

It was a night when both could spend in good spirits.

The next day.

Manus woke up early and headed to the dining room.

He confirmed that the matter from yesterday had been handled after receiving a report.

The body had been properly laid to rest, and funeral preparations were underway.

‘The Dire Order will now face a formidable enemy. That should serve as a deterrent.’

In the original story, he had to juggle climbing the tower, resolving quests across various houses, and opposing the Dire Order to prevent the resurrection of demons — a truly busy schedule.

But now, the Caesar family was aware of the Dire Order’s existence.

“What did Father say?”

“He said he would strengthen patrols throughout the duchy. And he ordered measures to prevent anyone from entering secluded areas.”

“As expected of Father.”

Sometimes, simple measures can be quite effective.

It’s not for nothing that the military often takes seemingly thoughtless actions.

Especially when there are many to control and vast territories to manage.

A smile naturally formed at the thought that he could step away from this matter for a while.

The dining room where everyone was said to have arrived.

He deliberately arrived a bit late to draw attention.

“Please enter.”

“Everyone is waiting.”

The words that everyone except the head of the family, Labeth, was waiting made Manus’s heart flutter.

As the massive doors opened, a dining room reminiscent of a banquet hall came into view.

“Welcome. I hear you’ve done a splendid job?”

“The knights’ help was significant, Mother.”

“The head of the family was unusually pleased. That’s why he called you here as family, not as guests.”

“The head of the family is coming.”

Everyone stood up.

Manus also went to his empty seat, waiting for his father.

Labeth, appearing in casual attire, entered the dining room with a subtle smile.

As he strode to his seat, he looked over the faces gathered after such a long time.

Everyone had grown into fine members of the Caesar family.

Even Manus, who had been the biggest troublemaker, had finally unleashed his talent.

“Today is a joyous day. So let’s eat, laugh, and chat.”

“Yes, head of the family.”

Everyone answered in unison.

Manus observed the eyes of his siblings.

His older brother, who’s the eldest son, still looked at him with disapproval.

His older sister, who’s the second child, showed surprise in her eyes, while the youngest still had curious eyes.

They seemed to have much to say.

But now was not the time for curiosity, jealousy, envy, or criticism.

“Let’s eat.”

With the head’s words, the meal began.

The usually quiet dining table was filled with gentle laughter and conversation.

Even his brother, sister, and younger sibling smiled slightly and joined the conversation.

Manus felt a strange emotion.

It was a scene he had never experienced in his life.

No matter how he thought about it, he liked this place.

-The motivation was clear.

3

“I have many questions, but I’ll ask them separately later.”

“Thanks.”

His sister, Invidea, came out to the yard to see him off.

His brother and younger sibling, still awkward or perhaps harboring discontent, didn’t come out.

Only she looked after Manus, her younger brother.

Previously, her defiance against their father wasn’t out of jealousy.

It was out of concern for her incompetent, naive, yet emotional and hot-tempered younger brother.

His inadequacy wasn’t just his alone, after all.

‘You were a Caesar too.’

“Take care.”

“See you during the break.”

She waved her hand gently.

Manus smiled, a bit more deeply, clearly distinguishable.

It was an expression that could stir the hearts of many.

The carriage departed.

Invidea watched it for a long time.

‘I need reinforcements too.’

The change in her eyes was momentary.

Only she would know what she was thinking.

And so ended the affairs at the Caesar family.

With different thoughts in mind, their time flowed on.

As always, ceaselessly continuing.

4

Arriving at the academy, Manus felt a familiar comfort.

The second-year dormitory was quiet.

Almost no one returned from a mission in just one day.

He walked towards where the professors were gathered.

There, he would submit the mission completion certificate to be reflected in the evaluation.

Time, success or failure, etc., were sealed with magic that students couldn’t open.

-Knock knock.

“Come in.”

The professors, leisurely doing their work, showed surprise at Manus’s appearance.

The fact that he had taken on a diamond-grade mission was known throughout the academy.

Some of them even thought, ‘Of course.’

Usually, gold-level missions took a full week to complete.

How long would a diamond-level mission take then?

The prevailing opinion was that it would take more than a week or be much harder than gold level.

‘But what’s this.’

One day.

Manus had returned after completing the mission in just one day.

No matter if it’s the Caesar family, missions are generated and evaluated by special contracts.

People can be manipulated, but the content of the mission cannot be.

Of course, various workarounds exist, but it’s impossible through ordinary means.

“Did you give up on the mission?”

“Do I look like someone who would do that?”

Manus walked in confidently.

The professor who asked just in case made an awkward expression and shrugged.

That means he completed a diamond-grade mission in just one day.

He boldly presented the mission completion certificate.

It was a document clearly stamped with the Caesar family crest.

Whether it’s a forged document or not can be checked with magic.

“I’ve confirmed it. We’ll let you know about the success after verification. Come back tomorrow.”

“Understood.”

Manus disappeared.

He planned to climb the tower alone again today.

He needed to absorb plenty of mana stones to prevent unnecessary sacrifices in the next episode.

After he hurriedly left, noisy sounds could be heard from the faculty office.

A faint smile hung on Manus’s face.

The first mission was very successful.

–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/jB26ePk9