The Cezar's Offer
"Anima."
"Yes, Cezar? You called for me?"
Right after Anima returned from placing Trivia back in her cell, I summoned her straight to my office. There were things I needed to tell her.
"For the time being, I won't interfere with Trivia's training at all. Handle everything concerning her yourself."
"Trivia… Ah, you mean Miriam. Understood. I will report the results immediately before the legion commanders' assembly."
"Good. Thank you. And could you call Fade for me?"
"Yes, I will summon 3rd Legion Commander Fade at once."
No matter how I looked at it, I decided it would be best to stay away from Trivia for a while. Memories of her abandoned past life had already resurfaced. In that case, perhaps it was better for both of us if she simply forgot everything. Besides, Trivia still called my childhood name and longed for me. If she ever learned my true identity, it wouldn't be good for her either.
No. That wasn't it. This was purely for my own sake. It wasn't because I cared about Ria. Or Miriam. No, no—it definitely wasn't because I was worried about Trivia.
"Cezar, 3rd Legion Commander Fade has arrived."
"Enter."
Even though I hadn't called long ago, Fade rushed into the office in under three minutes without a drop of sweat. He was the person I trusted most in this place after Anima. No, to be honest, he couldn't even compare to her, but he was still one of the very few I genuinely relied on.
"Fade, I called you because I have something to ask."
"I will answer anything Your Majesty Cezar wishes to know."
"It's nothing like that… Just answer what you know. It's not difficult."
Since I had left Trivia entirely in Anima's hands, I couldn't afford to sit idle. There was still plenty of work, and just as many new things I wanted to try.
"What are the prisoners we captured last time doing right now?"
"Yes. All the men have been assigned to hard labor. The women have been divided according to appearance and placed in brothels or as labor assistants. As per Your Majesty's orders, we captured no elderly or children, so there are no others."
"Good. Then let me ask just in case—were there any heroes among those we captured?"
"We administered the sealing drug to everyone immediately after capture without conducting examinations, so we have not identified any specific individuals."
"I see."
"I-I apologize deeply."
"No, I'm not scolding you. You've done nothing wrong. Today, can you gather all the men currently working? How many were there?"
"Out of roughly 1,500 total prisoners, there are 632 men."
"That should be enough… Gather them on the fourth floor. There's something I need to confirm."
"I will prepare it immediately."
"Yes, thank you."
After receiving word from Fade that everything was ready, I headed to the fourth floor. The sight that greeted me was a line of six hundred men standing in perfect ranks that stretched into the distance. I walked up to the ornate chair prepared at the highest point and sat down. Their faces were filled with pure terror, tension, and an enmity that refused to disappear.
It was almost funny. Just a year ago, if this many people had looked at me, their eyes would have held nothing but admiration and gratitude. I never imagined back then that the opposite could ever happen.
These days it was somewhat regrettable that neither demons nor humans looked at me favorably.
"Fade."
"Yes, Cezar."
"It's almost lunchtime. Is the meal ready?"
"It should still be in preparation. Shall I have the dining hall bring it here?"
"No, not my meal. I mean food for these people."
"Ah, the bread is prepared."
"Well, they came here because of me instead of their usual work. Shouldn't we at least feed them something decent? Tell them to put meat in the bread today."
"I will have it done at once."
After giving Fade light instructions about the meal, I leaned against the armrest and slowly scanned the roughly six hundred faces whose eyes were all turned toward me. They ranged from late teens to early forties. Most were exhausted from labor, but there were no obvious invalids, those too young, or those already too old and worn.
Most of them had been captured by Fade and his subordinates on my orders while I was still in Trivia's office. I felt satisfied that he had carried out my commands faithfully once again.
"Is there anyone here who was actually a hero?"
"......"
I spoke casually, wondering if that might draw an answer. But no one readily confessed.
"Hmm… Too bad. It would have been easier if you'd just said so."
Well, from their perspective, they were probably thinking If I say I was a hero, will he kill me? and couldn't bring themselves to speak.
"Just so you know, I'm not planning to kill anyone, so speak freely. Who knows? If you say you were a hero, I might even give you a position here."
"......"
As expected, there was no reply. Instead, I caught several gazes growing even more hostile. The 3rd Legion soldiers around them noticed immediately and rushed forward, kicking those men to the ground.
I hadn't ordered them to do that, and I didn't want these people treated roughly, so I raised my voice.
"You there. When did I tell you to intervene?"
"We are sorry. We will make sure not to step forward without orders."
"No, I'm talking to all of you. Fade. Give me the names of those men."
"...I will relieve them of their positions immediately."
"No need. Just discipline them appropriately."
"As you command."
A soldier who ignored his superior's orders was useless. Even if I didn't kill them, making sure they obeyed was essential. When Fade, sensing my intent, dragged the offending soldiers away and the sounds of beatings disguised as "education" began, everyone in the hall—whether wearing helmets or not—stared at me with trembling eyes.
"Didn't I tell you? I didn't bring you here to kill you. What, do you think I'm lying?"
"I-if you're not going to kill us, why did you bring us here?"
"Oh, you've got courage. What's your name? Are you a hero by any chance?"
"...I was a hero. D-class, though."
"Why didn't you say so earlier?"
"......"
A courageous man was valuable. Of course, that courage hadn't appeared right away. On the battlefield, the courageous were usually the first to die, becoming worthless lives. But that didn't mean I would treat courageous individuals as worthless outside the battlefield as well.
"Never mind. The reason I called you here today is to give you a choice. Whether to continue this hard labor or choose another path. Of course, I won't be sending anyone outside Tenebris."
"T-then..."
"Yes. For example, coming under me. That's the kind of choice I'm offering."
Little by little, murmuring spread among the men.
"Silence! His Majesty Cezar is speaking!"
The nearby soldiers quickly quieted them. Once the noise died down, I continued.
"I'll give you one more chance. Is there anyone here who was a hero?"
Only then did a few hands begin to rise.
"Fade."
"Yes, Cezar."
"Hmm, it would have been better if you'd wiped the blood off first."
"I apologize. I will clean myself immediately."
"Forget it. Take all those who raised their hands, record their names, and bring them to my office."
"B-but..."
"It's fine. Even if their powers weren't sealed, if all of them attacked me at once they wouldn't leave even a scratch."
"...I will obey."
Fade, having finished disciplining the soldiers, soon returned and led the eleven 'former' heroes away according to my orders.
The remaining number was now 611.
"Among those left, does anyone have complaints?"
One man hesitantly raised his hand.
"U-um..."
"Speak."
"The meals are too meager."
"I see. Anything else?"
"The sleeping quarters are too cramped and uncomfortable."
"I see. Go on."
"It would be better if the toilets were a little cleaner."
"I see. Anything more?"
"N-no, that's all."
"Very well."
I listened to everything, then called over one of the nearby soldiers.
"Yes, Cezar."
"Give that man a week's paid leave."
"As you command."
As I'd said earlier, I intended to value courage. That didn't mean I'd grant every request like this was some school trip. Though, having never been on one, I wouldn't really know how they handled such things.
"I'll assume the rest of you have no complaints. Since I called you here today, consider it a holiday. Eat your meal, rest well, and resume labor by one o'clock this afternoon."
To think I was listening so attentively to the words of these lowly men—I never imagined myself in such a position. It seemed I still couldn't abandon my innate kindness. Being kind was a sickness in itself.
"Cezar, this is 3rd Legion Commander Fade. May I send in the eleven men as ordered?"
"Yes, send them in."
After finishing my meal, I sat in the office gazing at the sky outside when Fade's voice announced the arrival of the eleven men. Their appearances varied, but as heroes, none of them looked particularly unpleasant.
"Hmm, you had them cleaned up nicely. Fade, you may leave."
"Yes, Cezar."
After dismissing Fade, I looked them over again. One was at the very bottom of B-class. Another had barely crossed the threshold. The rest were C or D at best. No particularly outstanding talents stood out.
"You all seem nervous. What's there to be nervous about? I have no intention of killing you."
"......"
As expected, no one answered.
"Right. There's no need to answer. Shall we begin?"
I stood and approached the men who were slowly backing away. Their fear was understandable, but it was starting to irritate me.
"Where do you think you're going?"
I stopped them and grabbed the head of the man in front. It was the same brave one who had spoken to me earlier.
"I called for you."
The office was filled only with the descent of black lightning whose origin no one could trace.