Chapter 56 — Receive Your Family!

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The home he returned to hadn’t changed at all.

Invidea briefly recounted what had happened in the meantime, saying that the Dire Order seemed to have already metastasized like cancer throughout the continent.

Her calm and coherent explanation allowed Manus to understand the situation at once.

“I’m not sure why they went to the desert… but settling in a place where people can’t live must mean they have a good reason.”

“That’s right. But sister wouldn’t have needed my help.”

“This is my test. And Father was curious too.”

The reason he suddenly surfaced.

Whether the power gained over a year was maintained.

It seemed Labeth’s questions were still unanswered.

Manus nodded.

Very few people knew about the existence of the Tower.

Would Labeth know about it too?

‘Come to think of it, Father also graduated from the Academy.’

Was there no Tower at that time?

Manus cultivated his own curiosity.

Someday, when there’s time, he might be able to ask his father.

The carriage drove through the duchy, arriving at a massive mansion.

It was the mansion where the Caesar family resided, at the heart of the duchy.

The gates opened, and the carriage entered.

Preparations seemed to have been made in advance, as maids, knights, and mages far more disciplined than those at the Academy were lined up.

“It’s like seeing a small imperial palace.”

“This is much better than that place.”

Aden merely smiled faintly, without saying much else.

After receiving a disciplined welcome, Manus had a maid show Aden to her room.

Since she was wearing casual clothes rather than a maid’s uniform, there was no particular misunderstanding.

“Your father is waiting. Go on up.”

“Thanks. When are we leaving for the desert?”

“Tomorrow morning.”

There was plenty of time to prepare.

Before leaving, Invidea casually mentioned to Manus about Tyrannis.

It was about his older brother and the firstborn of the family.

“Try not to run into your brother if possible. That man with the skills of a tyrant but the heart of a naive child doesn’t seem to look at you kindly.”

“Thanks for the advice.”

Manus nodded slightly and turned his head forward again.

On the way to the office where the head of the family resided, with Aden by his side.

Standing next to Manus, her eyes sparkled as she admired the mansion.

It’s a beautiful place.

While the imperial palace felt excessively ornate, this place seemed to have added beauty where necessary.

Whoever decorated it must have an excellent aesthetic sense, she thought.

“Let’s go in together. I need to introduce you.”

“Understood.”

Aden stood demurely with her hands clasped.

Labeth’s secretary, who had guided them, bowed his head and knocked on the door.

Knock knock-.

A pleasant resonance from the high-quality wood.

What followed was a kind voice.

“Come in.”

“Excuse us.”

The secretary opened the door for them.

Manus didn’t muffle his footsteps, but Aden moved without making a sound.

Seeing this from the front, Labeth smiled faintly.

“A reliable escort, I see.”

“It’s been a while, Father.”

“Welcome back. Your mana has grown even more. And your familiar… is it Albion?”

Manus nodded.

The white ball of fur stared at Labeth with wide eyes before quickly hiding behind Manus’s neck.

It must be due to the intense pressure of his dignity, atmosphere, and dense mana.

Ordinary people tend to either stare mesmerized or faint when they look at Labeth.

It’s because of the fantastic harmony created by his transcendent beauty and transcendent skills.

Those who live in the Caesar family should be immune to such things as a rule.

“What a cute little thing. The Caesars prefer to fight with their own power rather than familiars. I was the same.”

“It will be helpful someday.”

“I can’t deny that. So, is this the prodigal one who came over from the imperial palace?”

Labeth’s gaze turned to Aden.

Aden bowed her head in respect.

Caesar Labeth, one of the continent’s greatest mages.

Just seeing him took her breath away, and she felt an overwhelming pressure.

Master.

In terms of mages, it’s a level that can fully handle 5th Class.

Yet even at such a level, he seemed so small in front of Manus.

‘This is… an Archmage. The continent’s strongest…’

“I am Aden. I am indebted to the young master.”

“Don’t be so formal. Life in the imperial palace must have been difficult?”

It was a warm statement.

Labeth wore a faint smile, and his appearance was very similar to Manus’s.

It made her think that if Manus grew up like this, he would look just like that.

“…”

“The imperial palace knows you’ve left.”

“…I see.”

“But don’t worry. The Emperor doesn’t seem to have any intention of restraining you. He was probably testing you.”

Aden bit her lip.

In the end, she hadn’t escaped from the Emperor’s grasp.

Thinking about it that way, a slight sense of self-loathing washed over her.

However, Labeth didn’t seem to think so.

“Our family did some investigation about you. You grew up in the imperial palace from a young age, right?”

“Yes. I operated under the name Veronica.”

“That’s right. But it turns out that it wasn’t simply to turn you into a killing puppet.”

This was news to Manus as well.

He tried to recall the game dialogue quickly, but nothing came to mind.

Veronica was just someone who was manipulated by the imperial palace, the Emperor, and others before meeting her end at the hands of the protagonist.

In the end, she even made contact with Eresis.

But now, suddenly it’s changing like this?

He hid his confusion and quietly listened to what Labeth had to say.

“You were originally raised to be an assassin to serve under someone. That’s why they didn’t eradicate your emotions or even proceed with brainwashing.”

“Is that why I could be like this?”

“That’s right. At least according to what my wife found out. What was your final mission?”

Aden’s lips quivered.

She glanced at Manus, checking his reaction.

It seemed to be content that was burdensome to speak about in his presence.

But Manus didn’t care about things that had already been resolved favorably.

“I’m fine with it.”

“On the Night of the Dead, I was ordered to kill several students.”

“Was Manus included in that?”

Aden bowed her head deeply.

Even if her head were to fall off right now, she would have nothing to say.

It was too embarrassing to proudly say “I was given the mission to kill your son” in front of his father.

“If Manus had died, the next would have been Harrison’s little one. They were testing you. Of course, they must have been confident that you wouldn’t kill them.”

“I…”

No.

Aden had tried to kill Manus.

If it weren’t for Manus’s transcendent power, he would surely have died.

That was the Emperor’s test?

It was a test that no one could have passed.

Manus was an extremely exceptional case.

It was more surprising that he survived.

“Haha, it’s alright. Being a Caesar, he could pass. That’s what tests are like originally. Don’t worry about it too much now.”

“Your words are too kind.”

“The point is, the Emperor won’t pursue you. My wife, Beninitas, is skilled at gathering this kind of information.”

She had heard of her before.

Aden nodded.

The Queen of Social Circles.

The one who holds and sways all information.

That was Manus’s mother and the Queen of the Caesar Duchy.

Wherever she went became a hot spot, and the designs of the clothes she wore led fashion trends.

Even her way of speaking soon became popular phrases that everyone imitated.

“So now, come into the Caesar fold and become Manus’s shadow.”

“That is the path for me to atone.”

She knelt on one knee.

Labeth stood up from his seat and picked up a brooch placed on the desk.

“Stand up.”

A black brooch to be worn on the left chest.

The eye-shaped design with crossed magic wands was the mark of the Caesars.

It was also a token of acceptance as a member of the family.

Aden’s eyes trembled.

Unlike the imperial palace, this place didn’t give her missions.

Manus had said it.

There was no need to kill people anymore.

“You are now a member of the family. I entrust my son to you.”

“I will obey your orders.”

“This isn’t an order. It’s a request from a father.”

Aden bowed her head with a deep smile.

She had always thought she lived a life of being used.

Even if it was part of the Emperor’s grand plan, it doesn’t change the life she had walked.

Is this how an abandoned puppy feels when it finds a new home?

She had to try hard to hide the overwhelming emotions.

Seeing this heartwarming scene, a faint smile appeared on Manus’s face as well.

“You be careful too. The Emperor’s tests will continue. He’s looking for strong people.”

“Do you know the reason?”

“I don’t know the details. It must be because of a secret passed down in the imperial family. Well, it’s not our concern.”

Labeth’s eyes sharpened.

He believed in the potential of the Caesars and highly evaluated Manus’s potential.

They must pass any test or trial.

That’s what it meant to be a Caesar.

“Anyway, let’s end the talk about the imperial palace here. You two focus on your Academy life with that in mind.”

“Understood.”

And so ended the welcoming of Aden.

Now it was time to talk about the main business.

Labeth handed over a map.

It was a meticulously crafted map, magically mapped.

In the northeast, there was a nameless desert.

On the area simply called ‘the desert’, several dots were visible.

“That’s the area Invidea has finished investigating. It used to be just an empty desert, but suddenly it became like this.”

“Is that why you need me?”

“You can learn a lot at the Academy, but I believe nothing is more important than hands-on experience in the field.”

Manus nodded.

He too was constantly training through practical experience in the Tower.

Directly engaging in combat.

Overcoming obstacles and advancing through unknown spaces.

All of these things complete a person, making them stronger.

Labeth seemed to have another intention.

“I heard from your sister. You’re not interested in power?”

“That’s right.”

“Then I can tell you this. I called you to test her.”

“Can I hear the details?”

Labeth smiled faintly.

Analyzing the situation coldly.

Not being shaken by any words was truly a good attitude.

He smiled and began his explanation.

Quite interesting content flowed out.

It seemed his siblings had a greater desire for power than he thought.

–TL Notes–
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