How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 187

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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 (187)

Narke took out a cross from within his robes and kissed it. I could feel the spot where I stood filling with divine power.

I raised my staff and opened my mouth.

―He gave himself to sanctify us, to purify us from all our sins and iniquities, and to make us his own people.

Kwaaaaang―!

As I shot magic power into the sky, finely shattered divine power poured down from all directions.

If stars were to fall from the heavens, it would look like this. White divine power reflected off the building walls revealed as Primrose Pass’s disguise magic melted away.

“Who’s there!”

Kwang―!

Before the words were even finished, Narke struck his staff down on the ground. Whistle sounds densely filled our ears.

It was still 2 AM.

Normally, no tavern would be closed at this hour, but as I had confirmed with my own eyes before, this place was different. As light flowed through the pitch-dark alley, guards poured out from the alley.

And as soon as they saw us, they stopped in their tracks.

“…A priest?”

“What organization are you from….”

Instead of answering, I whispered quietly.

―Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

“…!”

Kuwoong―!

The sounds of people collapsing came one after another.

“Let’s go.”

I passed by them and entered deeper into the street.

Here and there, a few guards jumped out and thrust their wands at us. Each time, I swung my staff and chanted the same spell as before.

―Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain.

Kwaang―! Bang!

Unlike before when he had only been watching, Narke launched attacks at them.

A thunderous roar arose from the collision of barriers and magic power. While he attacked, I chanted the same spell, and only then did the guards finally collapse.

Seeing their reaction, I said.

“It seems they’ve already heard the spells we use.”

“Hmm, that would be the case~”

If the opponent is prepared, magic doesn’t work properly.

But if I tried to deploy magic through thought alone without speaking, that came with its own disadvantages.

Fortunately, those guys were just small fry, so simple cooperation was enough to break their defenses without any problems.

Perhaps because we had already finished dealing with those ahead, no one appeared for quite a while as we moved forward.

Just as I thought that, footsteps began to be heard as if summoned by a ghost.

I stopped walking.

“It suits you well.”

In the street that was now only darkness as the divine power light I had shot had faded, a voice filled with interest was heard.

“Are you going to a masquerade ball? There wouldn’t be any woman willing to try anything with someone in priestly robes.”

Ludovica slowly walked out from the darkness.

I tilted my head and asked.

“Is that advice from experience? As expected, priests are something different.”

“….”

Ludovica let out a hollow laugh and turned her head. Then she looked at me again and spoke in a gentle tone.

“Shall I hear your circumstances? You didn’t come to take the second test in that appearance.”

“I thought if you knew we were in the same situation, I might be able to easily break down your walls.”

“Did we have walls between us?”

“….”

Such a line… I didn’t realize when I was saying it myself, but being on the receiving end left me speechless.

Ludovica looked me up and down from head to toe and said.

“I never imagined that Mr. Jeremaiah felt walls toward me. For some reason, I feel even more psychological barriers with this appearance.”

“You’re not worried about excommunication, are you? Don’t worry about it. I’m always open.”

“You should worry about excommunication a bit.”

With those words, vitriol rushed right up to my nose.

Kwaang―!

I moved my left foot one step back and lightly swung my staff.

I just did what I always did, but….

‘Fast.’

It was a fast and heavy attack.

There’s a reason he’s called by the honorific title of Your Excellency.

As if to prove she had no intention of attacking me, when I defended, Ludovica raised her hand and shoved her wand into her waistband.

Narke’s eyes widened in curiosity at the sight of Pleroma lowering their weapon in front of an enemy.

It wasn’t difficult to recall why Ludovica had immediately put away her wand.

‘She wanted to see my divine power directly.’

She was probably trying to confirm if I was really a priest.

Ludovica, who had been observing me intently, muttered.

“A talent that the Roman Catholic Church got first, is that it…. But just a priest?”

He said calmly.

“Why don’t you come to me instead? I can raise you to a higher position.”

“I’m sure you could.”

At my words, Ludovica raised an eyebrow.

“Since Ms. Amelia Schneider is a Monsignor.”

“….”

The corners of Ludovica’s mouth slowly rose.

I had already opened his status window before.

Amelia Schneider

Favorability +6 [Capturable (Stage 3/5)]

I’m puzzled why the favorability is already like that without any special traits, but that level isn’t particularly impressive, so there’s no need to overreact. I don’t even know what kind of emotion it is exactly.

Anyway, good is good.

Especially today, even more so.

“A Monsignor is right below a bishop, the highest among priests. Considering that most remain ordinary priests, you must have achieved great merit, or be a direct representative of the Pope, or have exceptional abilities….”

I stopped folding my fingers and looked at him as I finished speaking.

“Or you’re entrusted with important work. That would be it.”

“You know well. I’m also tempted by that ability of yours.”

Ludovica snapped her fingers and laughed.

“By the way, in the Empire they call people like you ‘Lustmolch,’ do you know that? I might need to tell you in English for you to understand. For someone like you to be a Catholic priest, I still can’t believe what I’m seeing.”

“….”

How could I not know.

What it means is… never mind, anyway, she’s probably not saying it thinking I really don’t know.

What’s important is that my intention got through properly.

When coming here, I said that neither Lucas nor Nicolaus, but Jeremaiah should wear priestly robes. There were two purposes in total, and one had already been fulfilled.

Ludovica believes that Jeremaiah Caetani is a priest.

I must not invite even the slightest suspicion that I might be Nicolaus.

The right time to be discovered is later. When I’ve finished my work and can properly face Ludovica.

I roughly organized my thoughts and delivered the most Jeremaiah-like line.

“It’s too much to judge like that without having tried it….”

“That kind of talk is exactly grounds for excommunication.”

Ludovica, as always, brushed off my words as nonsense and shrugged her shoulders.

“But, even if you’re Mr. Jeremaiah, if you damage Primrose Pass’s property like this… it’ll become difficult starting from helping you take the test.”

“Property, you say.”

“Suddenly putting the guards to sleep is touching our property. Since I’m the one responsible for this street, the relationship between me and the Chairman becomes awkward too.”

When the Chairman was mentioned, I fell silent.

Ludovica asked.

“Let’s be honest. Did you come here to kill me?”

“….”

When I didn’t answer, Ludovica spoke as if she had expected this.

“No, you didn’t. Right. You should back out now. This isn’t a problem you can handle.”

“How kind of you.”

“I’m giving you advice as one human to another. Whatever your real name is, whatever kind of person you are, no one can defeat Gregorius. In the end, you’ll be the only one who gets hurt.”

Right now, he and I aren’t enemies. I knew that.

Why? Because Pleroma wants to eliminate the Chairman, and I also want to eliminate the Chairman. To Ludovica, it probably seemed like the Papacy had influenced me.

Whether the Papacy is behind this or not, since Pleroma and I have a common enemy right now, there’s no reason for us to kill each other.

That’s why Ludovica didn’t attack me further and immediately put her wand back in its holster.

However, hearing this from Pleroma felt different from when I had just imagined it.

“If you say that, then why are you here?”

“Because everyone our Order sends to the front lines are people who can die. From the Order’s perspective, I’m probably someone who can die to the Chairman too.”

“….”

To stay with Pleroma knowing that – their way of thinking really is hard to understand.

No, maybe that’s exactly why she’s not stopping me.

If she were someone loyal to Pleroma to the bone, she would have just killed me, but if the Chairman disappears, her life would be guaranteed and she’d gain some benefits, so she’s leaving me alone.

“Separately from that, if you try to kill me, you’ll have to face the entire Brandenburg Diocese.”

This one doesn’t seem to have self-destruct magic on her.

That’s a wiser method. She’s probably connected to the person who gave her rebirth or an important official.

I maintained Jeremaiah’s tone and answered playfully.

“You agreed to do business with me and you’re thinking such things? That’s a truly terrible idea.”

“….”

Ludovica smiled.

She took a determined breath and drew her wand, transforming it into a staff.

From that expression, I could tell she had decided to help us.

“This place is built on spatial magic. Do you know that?”

“I know.”

While walking here, at some point magic began to spread across the floor.

So now we’re in a completely different space.

“I won’t bother asking how you know the Chairman or why you’re trying to attack him. Just like you’re not telling me various things. Besides, it would be good for me if this troublesome problem gets resolved.”

“Right. Thank you.”

It wasn’t particularly worth thanking her for, but I answered casually like that.

“Thank me? We just happened to agree with each other. Getting back to the main point, you might not know this, but the Chairman is tracking us. The problem is that I’m in a superficially friendly relationship with the Chairman. He’ll think I’m fighting you, so when we leave this place, only one of you should go out.”

The other one would pretend to be fighting with Ludovica.

By the way, the Chairman is tracking us. Choosing baptism was a good choice.

I cleared my thoughts and asked a question I already knew the answer to.

“What about you during that time?”

“Don’t you know that I know best what’s where in this place?”

“….”

“I think that’s also why you’re not attacking me. Just like I’m not attacking you.”

Ludovica said with a confident smile.

She’s definitely not in that position for nothing. I had been thinking I might need to threaten her like I did with that Antagonist from the Council Pleroma, but my judgment was lacking. Her situational awareness is worth valuing highly.

I smiled.

“Amelia Monsignor. I have a favor to ask of you.”

* * *

Crash―!

I slammed my staff down on the floor.

A different magical power from before swirled around the floor. I felt the spatial magic being destroyed.

Since Ludovica’s spatial magic was perfectly installed, even if I broke through it, where I’m standing should be the same place as before.

But it wasn’t.

Unlike before, streetlight illuminated the street.

What does this mean?

“Mr. Caetani.”

A deep voice came from behind me.

Things are flowing according to plan.

Even thinking that, I felt electricity run through my heart. I traced where my fingernail should be with my thumb and felt the sensation of bone. Realizing my core had become frantically unstable, Wittelsbach’s magical power suppressed the core. All of this was a momentary change.

I steadied my breathing and slowly turned around.

An old man with white hair was looking at me, holding a cane and wearing an elegant navy suit.

He kissed the cross necklace near his core and slowly raised his head.

Then he smiled and asked.

“Do you know me?”

The same question as before.

But my answer will be different from before.

I smiled quietly and said.

“Don’t you know the answer?”

“Hahaha!”

The Chairman burst into hearty laughter and muttered.

“Right. I do know.”

Since no one spoke, the sound of wind could be heard loudly.

He, who had been staring at me silently, opened his mouth.

“Since I’ve met the one who made me be reborn in Him, let me introduce myself again. I am Abraham. Some people call me Chairman.”

“….”

“You probably already know that.”

Wrong.

It’s not ‘me’ – he only baptized the owner of the body he’s currently using.

When he lightly tapped his cane on the floor, the surrounding space changed into a large room.

“Let’s put down our staffs and sit. Since nothing gets resolved through violence, it would be better for both of us to resolve this through dialogue.”

He continued as if something had occurred to him.

“Ah, or do you know this too? I have no ulterior motives. I truly just want to have a conversation.”

I know. Since he hasn’t drunk blood, there’s no point in getting my consent.

Then why?

‘Obviously to extract information.’

To find out how prepared I am and whether he can handle me with the weapons he’s prepared.

That’s not the end of it.

There will be one more new purpose.

He looked out the window leisurely and continued speaking.

“Although I can’t serve tea, please sit. By the way, it was good to close the street doors early at times like this. Though it’s half-forced shortened business hours, I’m satisfied since I was able to meet you even an hour sooner.”

“The search and seizure damages must be considerable.”

“That’s right. Thank you for understanding me.”

I sat down and just smiled.

He brought up an unexpected topic.

“Mr. Jeremaiah, do you know about Sodom and Gomorrah?”

“You know my name.”

“Of course. You’re a guest who came to our street – how could I not know? So, your answer?”

“Is there anyone in this country who doesn’t know?”

“Hahaha! That’s right.”

He nodded and looked out the window.

“It’s the city of sin from the Bible. When you read that content again from a modern perspective, it’s absolutely maddening from start to finish.”

“Your language is less proper than you appear.”

“I can’t deny that, can I? And to form common ground, we must use similar language, Mr. Jeremaiah.”

He’s referring to the image I built up in Primrose Pass.

I mustn’t be fooled. I don’t expect him to believe me based on that image.

“Though we should read according to the context of the times, primarily we can see from there how close humanity’s level of consciousness was to barbarism. Of course, the Bible tells the history of barbarism from beginning to end. If it weren’t for humanity’s barbarism, Christ would not have died in humiliation and shame.”

Up to this point, it’s something one could reasonably say.

But I know what’s coming after these words.

“Now we’ve developed enough to acknowledge sin and strive to escape from it, but there are still those who live in barbarism. The residents of Sodom are around us.”

When I didn’t respond, he quietly continued.

“I see you think differently. Barbarism is nothing special. All the inhumane acts happening in Primrose Pass belong to the realm of barbarism. Now that I’ve said this much, I trust you’re not so one-dimensional as to ask how barbarism operates within the principles of market economy?”

“Please continue.”

“I maintain Primrose Pass’s business for the harmony of humanity, but empathizing with customers’ values is a different matter. For example, just because I feed fruit to monkeys doesn’t mean I have a monkey’s mindset. It’s possible to work with just the knowledge that ‘monkeys like fruit.'”

I smiled at the metaphor that had become more crude compared to the previous timeline.

To think someone who could speak so sophisticatedly before would come out like this.

I suspected it from the moment he brought up this topic out of nowhere, but he also has no intention of having a long conversation with me.

“It’s the same. I supply prostitution to Humans, but that doesn’t mean I think like Humans. Prostitution is…”

“Testing the lowest line of humanity, I suppose.”

“…”

Gregorius slowly turned his head to look at me.

He also grasped the signal I sent and nodded.

“It seems we might be able to move with one heart. I don’t agree with the question of whether prostitution is ethically right. Though it’s perhaps a question on which my business’s fate hangs, as New Humanity and a pioneer, and as a businessman using the Empire’s infrastructure, I cannot help but think ethically.”

Even though I didn’t answer, he asked and answered by himself.

“Then you’d want to ask why I’m operating Primrose Pass. To prevent Human barbarism from spreading to us.”

He tapped the floor slowly with his cane as he continued.

“Humanity is weak. I wonder if we bipeds could even catch a rabbit without fire or weapons. We who would be perfect lion food alone began forming groups as a survival strategy. It’s no coincidence that weak beasts who used to suck marrow scraps from bones left by predators rose to become Earth’s hegemons.”

He continued speaking.

“Groups were one of the factors that allowed us to reach the position of apex predator, and humans still live depending on groups today. But there’s a fatal problem here. Groups steal individual thought. They hinder personal reflection and align their thinking to fit group discipline. If a group declares blood to be water, then it becomes water from that moment.”

“…”

“Does my logic seem like a leap? Think about the countless economic system concepts pouring into our society and each nation’s nationalism. How are those shallow ideologies and thoughts killing their own kind? Those who call blood blood are destined to be killed by the group.”

I didn’t answer.

There’s no need to agree or refute.

Because I know what conclusion this is flowing toward.

“Breaking group stability and rebelling means group division, and when groups divide, they die in the wild. Humans, whose instincts overwhelm reason, have no choice but to adopt this irrational group management method based on survival instinct.”

“Now that’s a leap.”

“Do you think so? We shouldn’t look for evil from afar. The countless ordinary people who don’t think for themselves and mistake group goals for their own desires are evil by their very existence. Yet they don’t even know they’re evil. How utterly sinful is this?”

He half-sighed as he looked toward the window.

“Barbarism is Human history. They still live in evil while only watching for opportunities to usurp God’s throne. It’s because we rational ones guided those swayed by instinct that they managed to survive without perishing, but imagine if we gave that position to Humans.”

“…”

“You surely know what would happen. They’re designed to massacre their own kind for the illusion of groups and be captivated by that false ecstasy. And those who accomplish this are not leaders but jesters.”

“Familiar words.”

“My business helps Humans acknowledge their insufficient abilities and stay true to their nature, helping them remain in their place. Otherwise, they’ll covet positions beyond their station and ultimately lead everyone to ruin.”

It’s no different from what he said before.

He argued that to prevent the birth of Human leaders, we must use internal strife or make Humans immerse themselves in entertainment and amusement. Though he didn’t use those exact words, when he kicked me out saying “such activities,” it probably wasn’t much different.

The Chairman looked at my face and spoke quietly.

“You can’t give fire to a child who hasn’t fully grown.”

“…”

“I’m impressed by your talent. It seems you could help me achieve my aspirations. Join me.”

He wore a trusting smile.

Unlike before, he’s approaching me humanely.

In this timeline, drawing me to his side is one of his goals.

I looked into his transparent gray eyes and slowly opened my mouth.

“Shall I?”

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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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