17 Chapter 17: Answers

(Titus's (Tacitus) POV)

"Who is the cutest girl in the whole world~?"

"Bu~bu~!"

"Who is the cuddliest girl in the world~?"

"Gyah~!!"

The little baby girl gave me a cute smile that melted my soul. I smiled as I played with the little baby like her uncle.

"Did Tracy trouble you, Brother Tacitus?" A woman asked as she entered the room with a man in his late twenties. They were Tania and her husband.

You can probably remember the crimson-haired girl from Chapter 13. Yes, Tania was the daughter of the late queen of Britania, Boudica. I later adopted her and her sister Sania as my step-sisters.

As for Tabia's husband, he was a Roman scholar called Crocus. He was a friend of the original 'Tacitus' whose body I took over.

Two years ago, I married both of Boudica's daughters to my trusted friends as soon as they reached adulthood. With Nero losing her mind, the capital turned into an estate brothel. It became a hub for perverts and sex fiends.

Fearing the integrity of my step-sisters, I timely sent these two off to make a family and live away from the capital.

"Nope, she is as playful as ever with her uncle." I smiled as I handed the little baby to her mother.

The little girl's name was Tracy. Tania named her after my name as a memorial of saving her from Roman soldiers.

"I think Tracy is hungry," I suggested as I poked Tracy's dumpling-like cheek. Awe~! She was so cute.

"Right, I forgot to feed her," Tania said, lifting her blouse and showing her breast nipple to Tracy. With a soft chuckle, Tracy started sucking the nipple.

"Hehe~!" I giggled as I watched little Tracy being fed. She was adorable, even when sucking her mother's breast.

As I was watching the little one, I felt a stare. Looking around, I saw Tania's husband, Crocus, looking at me with a weird face.

"What?"

"…oh nothing."

"Then get lost. Give some brother-sister privacy, will ya?!"

"R-right…" And hence, the poor guy left.

I remember from Tacitus's memories that I used to bully Crocus when we were little. I guess OG Tacitus also had a dominant personality.

I then resumed my focus on Tracy. She kind of reminded me of myself when I was sucking Nero's tits like a baby when we were having some romantic moments. I wondered how her milk would have tasted.

"Brother Tacitus, do you still miss her majesty, Nero?" Tania asked amidst silence.

I sighed upon mentioning Nero's name.

It had been a month since I left the court after my fight with Nero. I was so disgusted with the whole setting that I didn't even bother to stay in the capital. I wandered around in the wilderness before I was found by Tania and her husband. According to them, I looked like a zombie.

Thus, they gave me food and shelter and looked after me, restoring my current health.

"I don't know…."

I loathed Nero with all my existence to the point that I hated hearing her name. She lost her place in my heart.

However, a concern was still lingering in my heart. I had a feeling that something didn't sit right.

Reviving after a near-death experience to total health and Nero's sudden change in personality with her keeping secrets, part of me still wanted to find out the cause.

I was never a person who wouldn't poke his nose around and keep being in the dark.

After thinking for a second, I explained the entire incident to Tania. I didn't know if she could help me, but I blurted everything out. I was already stressed with all of this and wanted someone to hear me.

"It is also confusing. Her Majesty, Nero is hiding many things from you."

"I know, right. However, despite asking many times, she never gave me the answer. She is stubborn as hell."

I tried everything I could to find answers, but Nero either forbade my investigation or refused to answer anything. Whatever I tried, Nero became a dead end.

"Then, brother, since you are freed from the shackles, you should investigate this matter," Tania suggested.

"What is the point now…?"

I was fed up with Nero. Going back to that sh*thole was out of the question. I won't be playing this so-called Advisor role for Nero.

"Brother, please stop being childish and face reality." At that moment, I heard Tania's cold tone, that froze my body for a second.

"What do you mean?"

"Brother, let me be blunt. While living with you, I observed that your whole meaning of life started with Emperor Nero and ended with her. Since when did you start concerning yourself with state matters?"

"What the…"

"I also had guessed that you were merely trying to be in love with Emperor Nero. However, you failed to notice that your feelings were never fake. Even a lie has life; however, it doesn't last that long."

I was at a loss for words. I didn't particularly appreciate my little sister scolding me, but her complaints couldn't be denied.

"And last but not least. Brother I know you are a kind person, but you are also kind of… boring."

"What do you mean?"

"Exactly. For years, I have never seen you enjoy yourself. Let's not talk about women, but I have hardly seen you spending your wealth. Do you even have a hobby of your own that you enjoy?"

Wait for a second. Didn't I have a hobby? I like reading about historical figures, but… is that even considered a hobby?

Tania smiled and rubbed my cheek, "Just please try being selfish for once."

I winded my eyes as those words hit me like a wake-up call. My grip tightened, and my eyes grew color. My heartbeat grew fast as I felt the urge to take something. I wanted something for myself. And that something was Nero.

"Brother, do you still like Nero?"

"Yes…!"

"Do you want to bed her?"

"YES!"

"Then go and claim your woman!!"

"FUCK YOU, NERO!!!!!"

"Gua~!!" Even Tracy cheered with a bright smile, spilling some milk.

"Hahaha, I finally gained the final piece of my next move! Nero, you stupid blond head, I am coming to clap your cheeks!"

That's right, I am not giving up after coming so far. If I am going down, I have to claim my payment first, and that payment is Nero Claudius herself.

"Hah… I felt good~!" I raised my arms and stretched them. Seriously though, what the hell was I doing with my life?

Was I really that dry? Come to think of it. This body was also virgin; not even masturbated once. Oh, Nero, just you wait. I am going to unload my mini Tacitus inside that tiny belly of yours.

However, before Nero, I needed to meet one last person.

"Hehe, I am happy that I could help you." Tania chuckled softly, along with little Tracy, still sucking the milk.

(AN: Seriously though, how much is she going to drink? It has already been a chapter.)

I smiled and embraced Tania in my arms. After a warm hug, I kissed her cheek and smiled, "Thanks, little sister."

Even if we were not related by blood, I was happy that I saved Boudica's daughters and adopted them as my sisters. Maybe I won't earn anything from the mission, but it felt good to help someone.

"Gua~?!" Tracy raised her hand as if asking her share. So I also kissed Tracy, earning a soft smile from the little one.

But as soon as I raised my head, I saw Tania's husband standing with a weird gaze.

"What?"

"Nothing…" Awkward, the poor man left.

Can't even have a peaceful brother-sister moment…

---

3 months later

In front of me was a small door connected to the walls of a cave. It looked like a hermit's house living away from society.

I knocked on the door several times before an older man opened it. He had a long beard and squinted eyes, wearing beggar-like clothing.

"Am I talking with Simon Magus?" I initiated the conversation.

"Please leave. I do not interact with outsiders." With those words, the older man named Simon Magus closed the door.

"It concerns Nero Claudius, your disciple from Rome."

Hearing those words, the door opened again.

"Come in."

I nodded and headed inside.

It was a typical hermit inn and a very smelly one. It was filled with magic items and other artifacts in disarray manner. I could also see some alchemist tools on the table. It was probably Simon's workshop.

Simon offered me a small seat while he sat on his bed.

"If you were going to let me in, why did you refuse at first?" I raised my brow.

While coming here, I detected a bounded field that hid Simon's house but let me in, meaning that he was already keeping an eye on me.

"Hohoho! Even old hermit like me likes to talk with curious fellows occasionally." Simon said and rubbed his beard.

I rolled my eyes and shook my head.

Simon Magus was said to be a magician in both my previous life and the nasuverse.

Simon's legend in nasuverse is different from my original world in that his existence is only related to magecraft. His magecraft was said to be on par with Merlin, if not better than him. In short, Simon Magus was recorded as a high-ranking magecraft whose teachings were still followed by many European mage families.

"So, what business do you have for lil' old me? Oh, just call me Simon." Simon asked when I was constructing my explanation.

I nodded and began to explain about the incident of Great Fire and my being revived from the dead.

While working in the capital, Nero once told me she used to be a disciple of a high-ranking mage called Simon Magus. Simon was Rome's court mage before the coronation of Nero, but he left the capital in search of knowledge in magecraft.

I, as a magecraft, naturally tried to investigate Simon's whereabouts, but because of my work, I never got the time to find him.

A matter of concern here is that Simon taught Nero his magecraft. If anyone could answer my questions, it should be Simon Magus himself.

"I see. I see." Simon started nodding while rubbing his beard. "That's a concerning matter. Did that child tell you anything?"

"That's what I am worried about. That stupid woman didn't tell me anything! That's the reason I came to look for you."

If I had known Simon was outside Rome, I would have gone back and choked Nero till she told me her secret. Whelp, I couldn't cry over spilled milk.

"Yes, I agree. That child is indeed stupid and also very stubborn." Simon smiled as if recalling his memories with Nero. "As for your query, I think Nero had probably used an alchemy spell."

"Alchemy?"

Alchemy magecraft is an extension of regular magecraft that relies on the 'law of equivalent exchange.' Unlike regular magecraft, where a mage has to use his mana to invoke a spell, alchemy relates to materials and the law of nature to make spells. In short, it is used to make potions and talismans.

"Yes." Simon took an apple from his table and chomped a bite before he tossed it towards me.

"What the heck?"

The apple was restored entirely anew. Is this some kind of Dr Strange thing?

"Then what was the cost that Nero paid?"

Since such a healing spell works with the law of equivalent exchange, I wanted to hear what Nero had sacrificed for me. Whatever it was, I knew the things were serious.

"She probably had sacrificed her life force. You don't look surprised."

I wasn't much surprised. Even an ordinary person could guess the come with reasonable due diligence. However, my question wasn't answered thoroughly.

"However, there is more to it. The sacrifice I am talking about is called Soul Trial. In this sense, a person burns the blood that breaks their soul. Such a person becomes incapable of understanding anything. You could say that they went into a state of mental intoxication. Their desires overcome their rationality, and they cannot function normally. I am surprised that Nero is still performing her emperor role."

Hearing Simon's statement, I rubbed my brows and sighed.

"That idiot…"

I couldn't believe Nero was suffering in this state for years. If only that idiot had told me… No, it was my mistake. I was overconfident in my strategy that night, which resulted in my death. If only…

"Don't blame yourself, kid. Perhaps Nero didn't want to make you blame yourself. Either way, it was my fault. I shouldn't have taught her such a dangerous spell."

Simon stood from the bed and started searching in his closet. After a while, he returned with a bottle of dark liquid.

"This should do."

He gave me the bottle and a piece of paper containing the potion's formula.

"Wait, is that cure for her disability?"

He even has the cure for Nero. No wonder he was called a genius mage.

"Yes, she needs to take this every week."

I smiled and thanked Simon for his support. Usually, so-called high-ranking mages are arrogant and look down upon others, but I could feel Simon's sincerity in helping Nero in return. I also wanted to learn something from the genius magus, but my priority was Nero.

Before more damage could be done, I needed to take Nero away from that hell.

I then hopped on my horse and rode away towards the Roman capital.

"Nero, wait for me just a little."

===

Lancer Story Poll

So I just finished Caster story on the paywall (shortly uploading them) and now I wanted to ask about Lancer story. I already have a draft for both but what do pick?

1. Cú Chulainn / Scáthach

2. Karna / Bhima