How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 108

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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 Family (108)

Eberhardt tilted his head while maintaining his smiling expression.

“Grateful? That’s quite an unrealistic thing to say. It seems you haven’t grasped where this place is yet. Would our puppy explain it for them?”

Mine and Leo’s gazes simultaneously fixed on Richthofen.

‘…Just now…?’

He’s calling him almost like calling a grandchild.

Richthofen spoke briefly while maintaining a cold smile.

“The Intermediate Realm.”

“If you say it like that, these people won’t understand.”

Richthofen said without taking his eyes off him.

“It’s a combination of dual-space magic and the drug you ate earlier. The medicine probably had magic connecting to Pleroma’s world cast on it as well.”

“I can’t see anything.”

“Because you didn’t take the medicine. The targets are in a floating state because they couldn’t enter the same area as the Chairman.”

Richthofen lifted his glass and reflected the alcohol against the black background.

“You can’t get out in this stalemate. Of course, if you keep holding out, the Chairman won’t be able to do anything either…”

He trailed off, then casually threw his glass into the air.

Crash—!

“Let’s see who wins.”

“Haha, a dog that talks back isn’t worth raising.”

“Your speech habits are still not very good.”

“Habits aren’t habits for nothing. More than that… it seems Count Nicolaus had different thoughts from the beginning. What do you mean by ‘helping like this’?”

Richthofen raised an eyebrow and looked at me. Meanwhile, Leo was looking at me with an indifferent expression, either having built up tolerance from experiencing this several times, or having already reached the same conclusion as me.

“Exactly as I said. If by any chance you had grown soft-hearted and tried not to hand me over to Pleroma in an attempt to save Nicolaus, I would have had to point my wand at your throat and threaten you.”

“So you intended to meet Pleroma from the beginning. In that case, it would be appropriate to express gratitude.”

“That’s right. There are no situations that move exactly as predicted.”

“Aren’t you afraid?”

He spoke in a warm voice.

He must be asking if I’m not afraid of crossing over to Pleroma’s world, but hearing it from the very person who sent me to that world makes me want to laugh.

“It would be a lie to say I’m not afraid.”

“…”

“You’re working for the safety of the Catacombs. Isn’t that right?”

“I have no other goals in my life besides that.”

I smiled.

“But didn’t anyone tell you that your plan would actually strengthen His Majesty the Emperor’s position?”

“It’s a problem that can be solved with just a little common sense thinking, so I know it without being told. However, that would only be the case when our power is incomplete, wouldn’t it?”

What an incredible idealist.

Are Pleroma the type to give power that could overcome the earth’s population?

That they’re not, as he said, can be understood with just a little common sense thinking.

“Are you saying Pleroma will lend you power?”

“I too had to have the same doubts as you, but they’ll also have to join hands with us if they want to survive attacks from people like you.”

“Then they’ll let go of your hand after I die.”

“…”

He silently looked at his wine glass.

For a reaction to words thrown half-heartedly, an unexpected look flashed through his eyes.

Though it was brief, I could tell clearly enough. This man also personally doesn’t wish for my death.

‘Of course he wouldn’t.’

Considering he said things like ‘being able to pursue justice in the way you want is fortunate,’ Robert Mueller’s ideology is exactly as I read it.

But his position as a representative would be different.

Anyway, that’s not my concern right now.

“I heard that dual-space magic has already been handed over to them. When, and to whom did it go?”

“You don’t need to know.”

“Haha… If you don’t answer, we have no reason to cross over to Pleroma’s side?”

“…”

Rather, Eberhardt should be worried about his own core exploding.

Fortunately, even without saying that, Eberhardt stared at me intently with his smiling face and said.

“A week ago, we handed it over on the day five people died in Prussia. In exchange, we received vitriol that 5000 people could use for a year.”

What a contract that doesn’t balance the books.

“To whom?”

“The place where Legislator Strauchi was affiliated was Osnabrück. It’s a contract made with Pleroma, the diocesan bishop there.”

Osnabrück.

It’s been a while since I heard that name.

I cast a sound-blocking spell around Leo.

Whatever the Chairman and Richthofen think, there’s no need to worry about it now.

“Leo.”

“Speak.”

“I probably won’t make it there in my right mind.”

“…”

Leo remained calm as always. It seemed he also thought that Pleroma wouldn’t take Nicolaus there alive and well.

Even though he always tries to dissuade me before we start, when it comes to actual combat, he’s like this.

It’s good that he’s clean about it.

I gave him one last instruction.

“I’m going alone for now, so no matter what happens, just stay still.”

“…For now. Yes.”

There’s no way those bastards would miss the chance to capture Nicolaus.

So I need to first experience what they’ve ambitiously prepared.

After that, I’ll turn back time.

I erased the sound-blocking spell and applied transformation formulas to my mana to create a mask.

It was a method I had prepared for emergencies after meeting Strauchi.

“Even if it’s not the method you planned, could you accept it if the world you ultimately desire comes to fruition?”

“As I said before, some people have only one method left.”

“We’ll have to wait and see how long it remains the only one.”

At those words, Eberhardt fell into deep thought for a while, then looked at the table and spoke.

“Yes. Whatever I say would only interfere with your decision.”

He knows well.

I didn’t answer and lifted my glass to drink the wine.

At that moment, the space I was in disappeared before my eyes and the interior of a cathedral unfolded.

Around me, humans covered in pure white cloth were surrounding me.

‘…Ten, no, twelve. That’s quite a lot.’

As soon as I thought that, my eyes closed and the world turned dark again.

* * *

“…!”

I opened my eyes with a start.

Pure white sunlight stabbed painfully at my eyes.

When I reflexively pressed against the ground, I grasped soft cloth.

‘…What just happened?’

I bolted upright.

It was an unfamiliar bed, in an unfamiliar room.

It was a guest room commonly seen in noble or bourgeois houses, but it strangely seemed to have a feeling similar to what I had seen in Strauchi’s manor.

I had steeled myself mentally, expecting to experience something like Leo and I had done when we kicked Richthofen’s head with our legs crossed, but I don’t know why such a peaceful scene appeared instead.

I threw off the thin blanket and looked around.

‘The sunset was fading, but the light is almost like morning.’

It doesn’t seem like I was unconscious for more than half a day, but seeing how the time is off, I must have definitely crossed over to Pleroma’s side.

Even though Pleroma had no reason to treat me normally, my condition was the same as before. There weren’t even any restraints attached anywhere.

I tried snapping my fingers.

“…!”

Instantly, I felt a shock like electricity coursing through my core.

‘As expected.’

It’s not restraints, but curse magic cast on the space using the method Strauchi had used.

I know this well since I’ve experienced it once before.

It’s a bit awkward to think this way, but this method has the advantage of giving me a chance to use magic until just before death.

I got down from the bed and examined the room’s objects one by one.

Strangely, there were no objects that gave off magical energy either. This means they didn’t attach anything to the room that could monitor me.

‘I’m welcome to it, but… I don’t know what they’re thinking to be doing this.’

I’ll have to find that out from now on.

That’s why I came here after all.

Just then, someone knocked on the door.

“I’m coming in.”

Someone who looked like a servant to anyone entered the room.

One surprising thing was that they came in carrying the meal personally without having a servant do it.

‘How obvious.’

It means they want to minimize those who come into contact with Nicolaus.

This person might be the only one I meet in this place.

“It’s my first time meeting you. I’m Matthias Hertz, here to assist Your Excellency.”

“I never thought I’d be receiving service even after crossing over to Pleroma’s side. How surprising.”

“My master ordered me to serve Your Excellency with utmost care.”

Despite my mocking tone, the other party answered respectfully without any change in expression. I looked into his eyes and opened the status window.

Matthias Hertz

Favorability 0

Title: ―

Stamina: +5 [+8]

Mental Power: +2

Mana: +4 [+4.5]

Skill: +6

Impression: +2

Luck: 0

Traits: ―

‘…Hmm.’

I can estimate his worth.

Seeing him by my side with such pathetic skills means the Antagonist has a solid defense plan.

Either there are people who will rush over immediately when problems arise, or he’s using dual space magic.

“Who is your master?”

“I’m sorry, but I cannot answer that.”

I knew he’d respond that way.

It would be more ridiculous if he answered obediently.

I looked down at the meal of thin porridge.

“He said you must have an upset stomach from the strong medicine you took in the Catacombs. I’ll prepare a proper meal starting from the next one.”

“Is it morning?”

“That’s correct.”

“Take it away. I have no intention of eating.”

The other party obediently put the tray back.

One connection has been confirmed for now.

The Antagonist knew I had woken up and even brought a meal to my room without me giving any notice that I was awake.

‘He’s probably connected to me.’

I can’t sense any mana, but with those guys, who knows what method they used.

Then, it’s time to find out whether he’s connected to the other Antagonist or not.

“Sit down. I have something to discuss with you.”

The other party looked at me quietly, then put the tray outside, locked the door, and sat in front of me.

“What do you intend to do?”

“What do you mean?”

“Tell me the purpose of bringing me here. It’s not something that will drag on long for either of us, so let’s finish this quickly.”

“I don’t know the details, Your Excellency.”

“You don’t know?”

I let out a light laugh.

“Then let me tell you. If the purpose was to kill me, you would have done it already, so you guys want a more sophisticated success. Not simply cutting off my breath, but finding a way to plunge the people into complete despair so they can never look down on Pleroma again. What method would there be to make Nicolaus eternally cursed.”

“….”

“You guys will turn me into Pleroma. If you don’t use vitriol, it won’t show, so you’ll inject vitriol into me. It would be revenge against Nicolaus personally while completely mocking the people, so there couldn’t be a better ending than this.”

“….”

“So, is my guess wrong?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then I’ll have to bring someone who knows the details. Or I’ll go myself.”

Even at my words with clear intent, the other party didn’t panic.

Seeing him so calm, it seemed like he was using dual space magic.

‘Then it doesn’t matter whether I use divine power or mana.’

I raised my hand and drew mana from my core. Pure white divine power swirled around my fingertips.

A subtle look of disdain crossed the face of the other party watching me.

He probably means I still don’t understand the situation.

‘Think that way.’

In the meantime, I’ll be giving thanks to Leo who gave me this idea.

I sharpened the divine power I had gathered in my hand and stabbed strongly toward my heart.

“Kuhek…!”

In an instant, his calm face turned to panic, then immediately filled with pain and shock.

Crash―

He clutched his heart with his face completely contorted and collapsed onto the table.

This level of core damage is nothing to me, but I guess he has no resistance.

“Keu, uuk…”

“What are you feeling relieved about.”

If you connected senses to monitor my condition, you should have been prepared for this much.

I smiled and brought my hand close to my heart again.

“Are you still planning to make excuses that you don’t know?”

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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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