How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 10

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Noble Family (10)

“Really? I knew it! Hahaha!”

“Yeah, I came here today to talk about this rather than train.”

I spread the paper on the training ground floor for easy viewing.

Leo, who had been laughing with relief, checked the contents and laughed with a different meaning.

“…Don’t you think this is impossible by common sense?”

“It would be by common sense. But something uncommon is happening. Let me explain from now on.”

Leo waved his hand at those words.

“Wait, hold on before you speak. You know that rumors will spread first if you go around outside, right? At school, they know you usually keep your mouth shut and go around as usual, so there’s no particular talk, but outsiders will only know that you’re now going around looking like a decent person. Outsiders don’t constantly run into you like school friends, so they won’t have time to notice that you’re still acting like a social misfit!”

“Is this worry or what?”

“It’s worry, man.”

I never particularly acted like a social misfit though…

In a situation where improving skills was urgent, I just didn’t bother grabbing someone to chat with, but from this guy’s perspective, it must have looked that way.

Should I like this or not.

“…Right. Anyway, I naturally know that. I wouldn’t plan something like this without that level of preparation. Now, you know that magical beast attack incidents have rapidly increased this year, right? So the Magic Law Enforcement Bureau started granting cleaner qualifications to individuals.”

“That much is famous. But as far as I know, there aren’t many applicants.”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

Most mages are in the noble class.

The stronger the magic power, the higher the title usually is. Magic power is hereditary, and titles were already granted by previous generations.

Therefore, subjugation rewards don’t work as good incentives for skilled mages.

Moreover, magical beasts can’t invade where mages live, so they’re bound to be insensitive to danger.

Taking on such menial work doesn’t dramatically increase honor either, so there’s even less reason to do this work.

Eventually, a structure continued where only non-mages with poor income volunteered for this work.

And local offices in each region, all composed of residents from the same neighborhood, have been secretly passing such people through to handle magical beasts.

That fact isn’t widely known yet though.

Then Leo said with a troubled face while rummaging through the papers.

“Since few people visit the offices, you’ll stand out more. Let me ask this first. Are you going alone?”

“I have to. I brought this up to you to ask about artifact craftsmen.”

At those words, Leo was lost in thought for a while before opening his mouth.

“Let’s think about one realistic problem first. You can’t operate under your name. As a student, they’ll thoroughly verify your identity. If you’re someone in the capital, everyone would know your face, so how do you plan to get past that?”

Right. This is reasonable thinking.

But when I actually go, this extremely common-sense expectation will be shattered to pieces.

“I already investigated. Unlike your expectations, it’s not thorough at all. And for just in case, I naturally have to change my identity. I’ve thought it all through.”

“…Sorry for saying this three times, but you know you’re already famous in the Empire, right?”

“I know.”

At that answer, Leo looked at me like he was seeing a complete madman.

“You think you can change your identity so easily. Even if you cover your face, how will you hide your eyes? Your eye color is known by all the Empire’s citizens, right?”

At those words, I nodded.

The pink irises that Luca has are almost nonexistent in the Empire.

No, to be precise, they’re exclusive to Pleroma.

Magic power color is connected to iris color, so it’s similarly close to pink, which is also a color representing Pleroma.

Since family members all have light brown or sky blue irises, Luca’s iris color was an extremely exceptional case.

Even with everything else covered, I could essentially be identified by my pupils and the color of magic I use. Leo’s reaction was actually natural.

‘Actually, since I have divine power characteristics, magic power is already solved.’

Over there, I can just use divine power instead of magic power.

The problem is the eyes. Eyes can’t be solved by simply covering the face with a mask.

But I already know the method the novel’s protagonist used.

“Yeah, there’s a way for that too. Instead, you’ll have to help me out a bit.”

“Me? Why?”

Leo asked with wide eyes.

* * *

I poured the medicine Leo made into my mouth.

Leo crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes questioningly.

“…Where did you learn about this kind of thing? It has side effects, so even the family elders try not to use it.”

I used the side effects to change my eye color.

That medicine has the side effect of changing the color of magic power.

Naturally, since it’s not simple dyeing but a problem caused by affecting the core, it makes you emit different power than your original strength. That’s why everyone avoids it.

I answered Leo’s question nonchalantly.

“I studied. If you know any Imperial Palace people around you, tell them to consider some regulation since it could be misused for crimes. Around next year or so.”

Since I beat the protagonist to what he was going to do, it wouldn’t be bad to mention it once.

Of course, only to the extent that the protagonist doesn’t suspect anything.

“…This guy uses up everything useful then says to regulate it… Anyway, did you study abroad or something? It’s hard to know this well within the Empire. Or maybe you studied magical pharmacy.”

“Something like that. Thanks for preparing the medicine.”

It’s convenient that he makes up all the stories himself.

Leo smiled at my greeting as I tried to change the subject.

“Thanks?”

“Yeah.”

I looked away from the medicine and at Leo.

There must be a reason he’s acting skeptical all along then suddenly making that expression.

When I sent him a look saying to speak if he had something to say, Leo brought up the main point.

“If you’re grateful, grant me one favor too.”

“What is it.”

“I’ll handle commissioning the artifact myself. Instead, I’m coming with you too. Don’t worry about the reward and take it all.”

‘What is this guy saying…’

I shrugged my shoulders.

“I don’t mind, but why is this a favor? It’s a waste of time.”

“You don’t need to worry about my time too. I still can’t trust your skills.”

“As you’ve seen over the past week, I think beating up some magical beasts isn’t that difficult. I’ll try starting safely from low-grade ones.”

“Mid-grade wouldn’t be difficult for you either. It’s not that, I’m scared you might burn down everything around.”

At those words, I inwardly agreed.

Certainly, from the perspective of a skilled person like Leo, my handling wouldn’t be satisfactory. With the control I’ve learned now, I won’t completely devastate the area, but.

And having one more person around wouldn’t be bad.

“Alright, that’s fine with me.”

So we headed straight to the office we had found the next day.

Leo frowned and stepped aside slightly.

“…Stay away from me. It was strange just hearing about it, but seeing it in person is even stranger. It’s not like you’re some thief…”

“Do you think I’m doing this because I like it?”

I adjusted my mask and curtly answered Leo’s complaint. Unlike Leo who was neatly dressed, I was wrapped head to toe in black robes and a hat.

Leo looked me over with disgusted eyes and sighed.

“At least your irises changed properly.”

Only bright blue eyes, contrasting with the original pink, sparkled in the darkness.

It’s such a common color that it would be difficult to identify someone by this color.

Leo cast magic to prevent his voice from leaking to the surroundings and quietly opened his mouth.

“Remember. You’re just an attendant I personally hired. If they ask why you’re dressed like that, I’ll make an excuse that you’re a traveler who came from the Papal States recently, so don’t open your mouth. Got it?”

“I know. What about titles? Someone of low status can’t openly call your name in front of others.”

“Hmm… Don’t attach unnecessary titles, just omit them as much as possible.”

After walking for a while and coming out to the outskirts of the forest, a wooden building with damaged outer walls came into view.

Leo frowned and used his wand to shine light and check the surroundings.

“Did we come to the wrong place? This should be the right way.”

“Yeah, we came to the right place.”

I remembered the Protagonist harshly criticizing it as a ‘building about to collapse.’

Since this building looked the most ruined of all I’d seen, this had to be the place.

I knocked on the door naturally.

When no sound came even after a long while, Leo tilted his head.

“No response. Is no one here?”

“No, someone’s there.”

I knocked on the door with more force.

Then, a small window in the middle of the door opened irritably.

Two eyes with an annoyed expression turned toward me.

“What?”

“We came to clean.”

Bang―!

Leo flinched at the sound of the window slamming shut.

Leo’s mouth fell open in disbelief at experiencing such a cold reception for the first time in his life.

“What the…!”

“Just wait.”

No need to panic. He did this to the Protagonist too.

Then, the door opened wide.

The terrifying look from before had vanished as if it never existed, and the person’s face was now bright with color.

The person held out an old notebook.

“I didn’t expect people to come work at this hour. Please write your name here.”

“I brought identification too, don’t you need it?”

At my question, the person shrugged as if surprised.

“You have it? If you do, show me. But as you know, if we demand all that stuff, there’s no one to catch those things. We should just be grateful when someone says they’ll do it and let them in.”

At those words, Leo opened his mouth with a pitying expression.

“I heard this place is severely understaffed, and it seems to be true.”

“It’s not just understaffed, there’s just no one at all. For the past week, everyone who knocked on this door was just lost. But…”

The Caretaker looked the two up and down, then laughed hollowly with an expression that had given up hope.

“You’ve got good spirit. I see you didn’t bring weapons, but you can use what’s here and return them tomorrow morning.”

“Ah, we already have some.”

“Huh?”

When the Caretaker looked at him as if asking what he meant, Leo pulled out his wand from his waist to show him.

“We’re not planning to stay long today, so we don’t need swords.”

“…Mages?”

The Caretaker’s eyes widened.

At that question, Leo answered with a puzzled expression.

“Yes, we’re mages. Only mages have the qualifications to deal with magical beasts in the first place…”

As if Leo’s words weren’t registering, the Caretaker stood there dazed, then soon bowed his head with a face that had turned pale white.

“I’m sorry! There have never been real mages here before, so I…”

“No, we’re fine. But… you’re saying non-mages come here?”

“…”

“Please tell us what’s going on. I know full well this could threaten the teacher’s safety, so I won’t tell anyone.”

“Well, that is, usually…”

The person naturally couldn’t continue speaking.

I tilted my head and whispered in Leo’s ear.

“Like hell he’d trust a noble’s word and speak comfortably, right? Didn’t you notice his speech pattern changed?”

“…I realized it after I said it, so don’t be sarcastic.”

Leo let out a hollow laugh and pushed me aside.

Unless headquarters changes, this problem can’t be solved. So even if he tells someone, it’ll just become troublesome. We need to cut the situation short appropriately.

I opened my mouth instead of Leo, who was choosing his words.

“We understand the situation. Let’s wrap up this conversation here. We came here after seeing an article about increased magical beast appearances recently. We’d like to go inside, and we heard we need permission.”

“Ah, yes. Then, are you both mages?”

“Yes.”

At Leo’s answer, the Caretaker hurriedly checked his notebook and looked at me with confused eyes.

Having come this far, he wouldn’t send us back, but my appearance—completely covered in a black robe and wearing a mask—looked suspicious to anyone.

“This person is…”

“I’m from the Papal States. Right now, the person next to me…”

“He’s my attendant! Hahaha! He said he wanted to travel the Empire!”

Leo, anticipating what I was going to say, hurriedly pushed me back and answered.

“I see. I’m deeply moved that you came in person like this. Are you planning to depart right now?”

“Yes.”

“Then please take this magic stone. There’s a Barrier, so you can’t enter without it.”

“Yes, thank you.”

After finishing various pleasantries, we left the building.

After walking for a while and reaching inside the Barrier, I burst out laughing.

“Why were you speaking so frantically? What did you think I was going to call you?”

“I just didn’t expect you to say anything proper…”

The Antagonist muttered with a face that had turned black.

Even before encountering any magical beasts, he was already haggard as if all his energy had drained.

“Wait.”

Then, an alien smell mixed into the gentle breeze.

I stopped walking and looked around.

“The smell of blood.”

“Hm? I don’t smell anything.”

Without answering, I turned my steps toward that direction.

Leo, sensing something was up, cast a thick barrier in front of me and followed.

The further we walked, the more we could hear some creature busily scratching at something.

“…!”

Crunch— Crunch—!

“Damn.”

I stopped abruptly and looked down at my feet.

Purple-tainted rats were gnawing at each other.

No, they were already so distorted in form that they couldn’t be called rats anymore.

Pus and blood mixed together, creating an indescribable smell.

“…Damn…”

Leo covered his nose and stepped back, apparently nauseated.

“They’d eat people too… It’s not just one or two. Is there a habitat nearby?”

“Looks like it. And most of them look like they’re about to go berserk.”

“Right.”

“They’ll come for us soon too.”

“…Right, damn it…”

Leo squeezed his eyes shut, let out a deep sigh, and swung his wand. The wand transformed into a sword of appropriate length.

“Don’t complain too much. If we’re starting with things like this, it’s welcome.”

I smiled and drew my wand.

Having already caught the scent of humans, red dots glittered from all directions.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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