Chapter 57 — The Great Tower
1
Invidea and Tyrannis.
The two, born two years apart, were good friends and strong rivals since childhood.
Entering the Academy together, they never failed to be at the top of their class.
She, and he, wanted to grasp the enormous power of the Caesar family.
At the Academy, through various missions, they personally realized how greatly power and family influence applied.
Tyrannis tended to solve everything alone with his strong personal power, like his father.
“That’s… probably because of me too.”
“The past is just the past. No one blames you.”
“Then what style does sister Invidea have?”
Invidea was someone who could fill her lacking areas from those around her.
While she considered her own power important, she was aware of her shortcomings.
She sought to fill those shortcomings from others.
Invidea was born with the typical qualities of a ruler.
Anyone could see that she had the qualities of an excellent monarch.
But would Labeth think so too?
“Who do you think is more suited to be the head of the family, Father?”
“I can’t tell you that. But naturally, the head of the Caesars should be able to command the audience with their presence alone.”
Manus nodded.
He indirectly heard what his father wanted.
He thought that everything might depend on himself, Manus.
The story would change greatly depending on where he lent his strength.
While such family power struggles were beyond his interest, he might have to get involved someday.
To prepare for that time, he should train not to be swept up in the turmoil.
‘There’s no need to get close to power, but I shouldn’t be swayed by it either.’
“For now, rest well today and depart tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“One squad from the mage corps and one from the knight corps will go. It might be good to meet them in advance.”
Manus bowed his head and moved his steps.
Aden followed behind him.
Beyond the closing door, Labeth watched the two with sharp eyes.
He had gained a more excellent personal shadow than expected.
‘Even Tyrannis and Invidea couldn’t do this.’
He was a half-wit.
That’s why they tried to hide him.
They shouldn’t tarnish the Caesar name, after all.
Yet that son was achieving feats no one else could in just a month.
Even if he said he wasn’t interested in power, power wouldn’t leave him alone.
Looking forward to his future actions, Labeth let out a pleased smile.
“Do well from now on.”
For your actions may determine the future direction of the Caesars.
Labeth, with a smile no one could see, looked out the window.
The wavering shadows writhed.
They must have felt it too.
That a new wind was blowing in this family.
2
Manus put Aden in the room right next to his and went to find where the mage corps was staying.
His thought was to at least see their faces.
While the knight corps stayed in barracks that resembled a castle, the place where the mages stayed was a tower.
Befitting the greatest mage family, its scale was incomparable to other families.
The Caesar family operated a magic tower even larger than the Academy.
Manus clicked his tongue at its enormous size.
‘So the real mages were here.’
Not the novices staying at the Academy, but mages who engage in real combat and research.
If Mythos Academy was a university, this place was both a graduate school and a workplace.
It could even be called a large corporation.
The busy mages hurrying about were quick to whisper upon seeing the black hair.
To them, Manus was still an unknown entity, only heard of in rumors.
People moved their steps hurriedly while looking at the young master with black hair.
“Young Master Manus. May I ask why you’ve come? I’m Bix, the guide.”
“I came to see those going on the mission tomorrow.”
“Ah, come to think of it…”
The rumors heard were a topic of debate even in the magic tower.
The second young master who alone stopped the cultists’ ritual.
Most mages of the tower didn’t believe those words.
No, they couldn’t believe it.
‘Is it true? The mana I feel is considerable-.’
Manus wasn’t the type to hide his mana.
There was no need to hide it.
The pressure naturally flowing from him was felt even by Bix.
“Uh… I’ll guide you. The young lady is here as well.”
“Let’s go.”
“Understood.”
Five enormous towers.
The spires rising high behind the mansion were symbols of great magic.
Their majesty was widely known throughout the continent, and along with the magic towers in the imperial capital and the Harrison family, they were called the continent’s three great magic towers.
The existence of the Caesar Duchy’s magic tower, which was only mentioned in text in the game.
Manus slowly looked at the massive structure.
It felt like mana was seeping out from the building itself.
It looked like a giant tree made of mana.
‘Impressive.’
With each step, the mana writhed.
Manus absorbed that mana as he went inside.
Perhaps influenced by Mythos Academy, he felt familiarity in the internal structure.
The busy mages looked at Manus once in a while.
They would stop briefly, ponder who he was, and then hurriedly bow their heads.
Even proud mages were just ordinary employees before the family.
“You seem unfamiliar with the young master.”
“Is this my first time here?”
“Pardon?”
Bix asked back.
And instantly, the back of his head went cold.
Manus was looking at him expressionlessly, but that gaze was like seeing Labeth when he was angry.
Only then could Bix properly recall the name Caesar Manus.
The tyrant.
The incompetent ruffian of the Caesars.
He bowed his head at the speed of light.
“I-I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have asked back-.”
“It’s fine, just answer the questions I ask.”
“Ah-. You visited once two years ago.”
Manus nodded.
Then what did he do here two years ago?
He continued walking while searching for pieces of lost memory.
“What did I do two years ago?”
“I remember you read books for a while. After that, you lost interest and left.”
What did I do two years ago?
Manus fell into thought as he walked.
For what purpose did he step in here, enduring contempt and ridicule?
He had a vague guess.
Manus himself must have been in pain too.
His inability to do anything and the high wall of magic.
‘Was it a lack of affection?’
Thinking that he had many similarities with the man, he boarded the massive artificial elevator.
Seeing it designed exactly like the Academy, it certainly seemed to have been heavily influenced.
Other mages who entered chattering fell silent upon discovering Manus.
The elevator was filled with an awkward and heavy silence.
Not a few exchanged opinions with their eyes.
‘Isn’t that Manus?’
‘It is. Why is he here?’
Such were their gazes.
In reality, Manus himself paid no attention at all.
30th floor.
It was the floor where Manus and Bix were to get off.
“It’s here, young master.”
The place they headed to was filled with various books, maps, and blackboards.
It seemed to be a place for directing operations, where Invidea and a mage were in conversation.
Bix knocked on the open door.
“Excuse me. I’ve brought Master Manus.”
“I didn’t call for him-.”
Invidea stopped speaking and looked at Manus.
The one discussing with her also met his gaze.
Manus patted Bix’s shoulder and stepped forward.
“I should at least see the people I’ll be working with.”
“This is… unexpected. Welcome, young master. I’m Avon.”
He was a mage who looked older.
40s?
50s?
Seeing that he had bid farewell to plump skin, he seemed to be entering middle age.
“Should I use honorifics with you?”
“There’s no need. Your status is clearly higher, young master.”
“Then I won’t.”
Invidea looked at Manus with somewhat surprised eyes.
The same was true for Bix.
It seems more effort is needed for Manus’s perception to change.
“You seem to have learned a lot at the Academy. That’s good. Come here.”
“I’ll take my leave now. Young master, young lady.”
Invidea nodded at Bix’s words.
With him retreating with quick steps, the three core members of the operation gathered.
Invidea was in the middle of relaying information brought by the Umbra.
She handed over neatly organized documents to Manus.
They contained maps, diagrams, and information about the ruins written based on the Umbra’s information.
Skimming through it briefly, the contents were firmly imprinted in his mind.
“You only investigated around the entrance. Is there no threat in the surroundings?”
“That’s right. The Umbra have secured safety. What we need to do tomorrow is explore the ruins and exterminate the cultists inside.”
“Is this the only ruin?”
Invidea nodded.
The eyes of the Umbra cannot be avoided.
Moreover, the Caesar family’s direct mage corps thoroughly investigated.
Invidea started the work, judging that the results were sufficient for the effort put in.
“We just need to focus on the ruins. Understand?”
“Then there’s nothing more to discuss. When do we gather tomorrow?”
“At the front gate when dawn breaks.”
Manus nodded and disappeared as suddenly as he had come.
At his unpredictable behavior, Invidea briefly fell into thought while watching his back.
He’s willful.
And unrestrained.
Rather, that appearance created a strange attraction in her heart.
A kind of certainty, you could say.
“I see the appearance of the family head from long ago in him.”
“Is that so? To my eyes, he still looks like a reckless little brother acting without thinking.”
“Hehe, you seem to care a lot for your brother.”
Invidea snorted.
Care for her brother?
She’s just valuing a potential talent who might become an important force for the family.
Manus was certainly growing into a reliable card.
If used appropriately, he could become a medium to attract powerful forces.
She drew a big picture.
‘I will walk a different path from Father and brother.’
A place where everyone becomes strong, not threatened by any force.
Can a single family easily dominate the world?
To that age-old question, Invidea tried to answer with results.
A good sacrifice has appeared at the right time.
A good helper has appeared as well.
Tyrannis tried to solve everything alone, but no.
“Indeed, one cannot grasp the world with a single hand. One must create another hand.”
“I understand. Then, I shall take my leave as well.”
Avon put on his robe and turned around.
Even after he left, Invidea remained in the strategy room for a long time.
She planned so meticulously that passing mages would nod their heads involuntarily.
‘This incident will make brother change his mind too.’
She will show them.
That her choice and insight were not wrong.
And so, the moon set.
The morning when the sun shyly blushed.
“Is everyone gathered?”
A subtle tension flowed.
With Invidea’s powerful and thick voice, similar to that of a female warrior, dawn broke.
The operation was beginning.
–TL Notes–
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I don’t think it’s unintentional that his elder siblings have more aptitude as a general or prime minister than a king… But it raises doubts about the nature of the youngest. Does she also have a trait necessary but not sufficient for a ruler?
Probably. It seems highly likely to me that her archetype is “spymaster.” This is partially due to the expectation that their mother’s blood would inherit more strongly in at least one child, and partially due to a general sense of incongruity. We heard that the heirs had equally matched power, so where is she when the others are locking horns? She also seemed too harmless in the brief look we had of her, because this is a family where harmlessness is more likely to have you eaten alive than allow you to build up power. The conclusion is that she is a snake, one accustomed to hiding her presence and awaiting an opportunity.