Caesar meditated, trying to gather the mana within his body and guide it to open the mana veins his mother had taught him about.
So much time had passed since his father's disappearance that it had given Caesar enough time to prepare for his move.
He started with the remaining goblins. One by one, he dominated them all, and at last, every goblin in the lair had fallen under his control.
While he was concentrating—
he was interrupted by one of his men, who had returned in a hurry.
More precisely, it was his second brother: the thinnest of the group, but also the most agile and fastest. Because of those qualities, Caesar had assigned him the role of scout and spy.
He brought important news.
The Goblin King had returned.
And he had not returned empty-handed.
He came back accompanied by a Dark Elf.
In that instant, all the pieces fell into place.
That was why his father had not emerged when the gnolls attacked the cave. He had been outside, hunting for a new supply of females for the clan. However, according to the report, he had only managed to bring back one. That alone gave Caesar reason to believe something had happened.
Several possibilities flashed through Caesar's mind, but he suppressed them and continued listening.
Then he received the most important information.
The Goblin King had been injured during the capture.
It was surprising—yet it did not surprise Caesar in the slightest. He had already anticipated it.
In fact, it pleased him. It was the perfect opportunity.
Just as he was about to give the order to attack, two figures approached him.
Lina and Sasha.
Both clearly intended to accompany him and fight at his side.
Caesar frowned and quickly shook his head. Even if the Goblin King was wounded, he could not lower his guard—and most importantly—
he knew very well that the Goblin King's innate ability was lethal to women.
The two stopped, their expressions tense with frustration. Anguish reflected in their eyes as, in silence, they reproached their own weakness for being unable to assist the man they followed.
Caesar noticed immediately and sighed, though the corners of his mouth lifted unconsciously.
Who would have thought that, even as a goblin, there would still be people who cared about him—even if it was only because of mental control?
He quickly approached them and reassured them in a firm voice.
"There's nothing for you to worry about. Even if they call him the Goblin King… in the end, he's nothing more than a common goblin with a dangerous ability for you."
It was true. That ability was strong—but only useful against women.
With those words, Caesar departed alongside his brothers and men, while a small group remained behind to protect them.
Under their worried gazes, both women made a silent vow: they would train, grow stronger, and never again feel helpless.
—
The Goblin King advanced with satisfaction. He could barely wait to return and claim his new prize.
His reward was secured, and he was already imagining what he would do upon reaching his lair. He smiled, picturing the moment he would enjoy his captive.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he noticed movement.
A group of shadows shifting.
His expression changed; he became alert.
He immediately ordered his men to investigate. The goblins exchanged glances, dropped the unconscious Dark Elf's body, and advanced cautiously.
When they approached the shadows and prepared to fight, they discovered they were goblins… goblins from their own clan.
They all carried the recognizable scent of their kind.
That was enough for everyone to lower their guard.
Though a faint unease crossed the Goblin King's mind, after smelling them twice more and confirming they belonged to the same group, he dismissed his doubts. He ordered his men to lower their weapons and commanded the newcomers to join them.
Just as he was about to ask why they were there waiting—
the tallest and slightly muscular goblin of the group stepped forward with a friendly look.
The Goblin King frowned, but by scent he recognized him as one of his offspring. At that thought, a lustful expression formed on his face as he remembered the beautiful silver-haired woman in his lair—and suddenly he intended to enjoy her as well, along with the Dark Elf.
But his thoughts were interrupted when—
A wooden mace crashed directly into his face.
Under other circumstances, he would have dodged without difficulty.
But not this time.
He was not only injured—he was exhausted, and blood loss had weakened him.
He had drained his strength capturing the Dark Elf and fighting those who protected her.
He had neither the time nor the strength to evade.
The impact was brutal.
Though powerful, it did not knock him unconscious immediately. He remained half-conscious.
He could only hear his ears pounding and what sounded like screams of pain and desperation from his companions.
He tried to look at his attacker—
but another blow struck his head.
As darkness began to swallow him, the last thing he heard was the voice of one of the goblins, accompanied by an unsettling smile:
"Dear father… soon we'll be a happy family."
—
Caesar could not help twisting his mouth as he contemplated the strange scene before him.
Anyone standing there would have been horrified.
A beautiful woman—his mother, Luna—the werewolf who should have hated the goblin sitting on her lap, or rather all goblins in general after the cruelty she had suffered—looked at them with maternal love, and at her "new husband" with serene, almost devoted affection, like an exemplary wife sharing a meal with her spouse.
And his father…
A cruel goblin.
A creature who, by nature, viewed females as nothing more than breeding tools, now looked at Luna as though she were the love of his life. In his eyes there was no lust or domination—only something even more unsettling: sincere affection. He radiated the aura of a good husband—firm and protective.
He even cast a paternal glance at Caesar and his three brothers.
There they were.
Five goblins and one werewolf, seated around a family meal, sharing food, gestures, and silence…
as if everything were normal.
Caesar stroked his chin and briefly thought that perhaps he had gone too far—but he quickly dismissed the notion.
Perhaps he simply wanted to feel something resembling a family.
Even if it was twisted.
Even if it was disturbing.
Was it wrong?
Yes.
But it did not matter. Not in a world like this—dark and twisted as it was.
He had done things this way because he could.
And when one has power… why not use it?
He set that thought aside.
Once he had controlled his dear father and taken the rest of his closest surviving men—
now he was here.
Sharing a meal.
At that moment, the door opened. The gnoll Sasha entered, followed by the beautiful goblin Lina—and behind them, the newest addition: the beautiful Dark Elf his father had captured.
Caesar focused on his mother and the elf.
He narrowed his eyes.
The information he had obtained confirmed his suspicions:
there was no trace of humans on this continent…
Caesar smiled fiercely.
That changed many things.
The only pity was that Luna had still not managed to form her mana core.
A shame.
Without a core, she could not help him as he needed.
He had already tried to open the mana veins himself, but failed for two reasons: the scarcity of mana in his body—and the lack of guidance.
To open mana veins, strength or will alone was not enough. Guidance was required. A mage had to feel another's flow, trace it with their own mana, and show the correct path.
Though that was not true for everyone.
Humans had manuals.
Maps.
Inherited guides.
But a race that had never cultivated…
how could it distinguish, among thousands of veins, which one was correct?
Someone with a core was needed.
Someone who could place their hands on the practitioner's body, sense the subtle differences, guide the flow, and show the exact route.
Luna could not do it.
But not all was lost.
He had to thank his dear father.
His new woman—the Dark Elf—did possess a mana core. Barely formed and weak… but sufficient.
Speaking of family—
he had decided to give them names.
His father was now Gab Gron.
His mother, Luna Gron.
He was Caesar Gron, the middle brother.
Gobol Gron, the eldest.
Gabut Gron, the second.
And Gabe Gron, the youngest… the chubby one.
An original surname, wasn't it?
he thought sarcastically.
Now that the family was "united and loving."
Now that the family existed—even if it was not a normal one.
It was time to act.
To create a true force.
A pillar for the plans and enemies to come.
A foundation capable of resisting protagonists, demon gods… everything.
Caesar clenched his fists tightly.
Just thinking about it made his blood boil.
Death was not an option. There was no guarantee of a second reincarnation.
It was better to give everything.