How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 217

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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 (217)

“I have no words to say even if I had ten mouths.”

The Penthalon department person who had introduced us to our duties on the first day apologized with a deathly pale expression.

“I’m sorry. We have little experience directly escorting royalty, so we failed to thoroughly consider safety.”

“It’s fine.”

Leo shook his head.

“We also didn’t expect so many people to show up. But from now on, could you give us these internal warp coordinates? We know you want to check our identities due to possible special ability users, so we’ll contact you right before arriving.”

Usually when crowds aren’t too large, people don’t get close to royalty, but today they seemed to feel safe and stick close to the barrier because of it. There was also no one controlling them.

Or perhaps, since the Imperial Mage Association has been using a public-friendly strategy after Adrian Ascanien’s appearance, people approached more comfortably than when seeing other royalty.

‘…Really, if the Imperial Mage Association copied Hyung and this was the result… It could be useful if handled well, but we’ll need to be more careful going forward.’

We listened to the lengthy conversation between Leo and the Imperial officials, then received our morning checkpoint assignments.

I deliberately ignored my friends’ questioning and worried glances and approached Elias.

“…Sorry, but could you lend me gloves again? I used my spare gloves this morning.”

“Hey, what’s there to be sorry about!”

Before I could finish speaking, Elias pulled gloves from his clutch and put them on my hands. Then he smiled brightly and waved his hands enthusiastically.

“Do well with today’s activities~ See you at lunch later.”

I smiled back at him in greeting, then turned toward Leo who was waiting for me.

Today’s partner is Leo.

There was strong recommendation from Ulrike… no, Luise, I understand. I tried countless times to persuade him with ‘I want to be partners with you,’ but it didn’t work at all. He was clearly trying to make us get along even a little to completely eliminate any signs of discord within the team.

We moved to our assigned area for today without speaking.

From Gates A to H, thoroughly inspecting all seats and waiting rooms was today’s work.

During the inspection, we didn’t exchange a single conversation due to possible watching eyes from somewhere. Neither of us are particularly talkative, but we used to cast sound-blocking magic and chat occasionally – today we didn’t say a single word, which felt strange.

‘The artifact is only connected to the security team, so I can’t receive contact through this either.’

It feels like working alone.

We occasionally encountered other contractors besides ourselves, and I had more conversations with them.

When we came outside to take a brief break, someone waiting for the elevator while checking his watch spoke to me.

“Ah, it’s so cold today. Are you okay with just those clothes?”

He looked quite old and was bundled up in so many sweaters under his coat that his body looked round.

In contrast, all I wore was a shirt, jacket, and coat. I suppose my outfit did look light from the outside.

“I’m fine. Where are you going?”

“3rd Floor. I work managing the mana lamps. By the way…”

He glanced at me and asked.

“I have something I’m curious about, may I ask?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Do you wear those clothes until summer too?”

I almost let out a hollow laugh at the unexpected question.

Since he was an elderly person, I could understand even unexpected questions coming up.

“…No, I’ll receive new clothes. Or maybe change to a thinner coat. I don’t know well since I haven’t been informed yet.”

“I see? Your clothes look really nice.”

I smiled appropriately.

It was time to wrap up even simple conversation.

No matter how much I planned to catch the culprit directly, I had no intention of ignoring Narke’s advice.

Fortunately, he greeted me without any lingering attachment and moved to the upper floor.

I also encountered one of the many people who had been staring at me yesterday. One new human kept glancing at me sideways today too.

“Why are you doing that?”

“No. …Have a good lunch.”

“Thank you.”

Since everyone went their separate ways, the conversation ended there.

After briefly greeting a few others and watching Leo’s greetings, time passed quickly.

Our work went smoothly until lunchtime.

I had planned to use it as an opportunity for behavioral analysis even if I couldn’t immediately catch Mueller when he appeared again, but nothing interfered with me.

At least until lunchtime.

After finishing my meal, I hardened my expression looking at the writing on a thin pink note.

[You don’t drink much alcohol with meals! Sauerkraut and sausage combination is the best. Let’s eat together next time.]

“…”

Leo, who had eaten with me, snatched the note from my hand.

Then he fell silent without any change in expression.

It was a note someone had slipped under the door crack of the lounge.

It looked suspicious so I went to catch them, but there was no one outside.

We’re receiving treatment similar to most people, without receiving noble treatment. We’re just eating lunch in one of the lounges assigned to us.

Of course, being assigned one lounge per two people with no one else allowed entry is still preferential treatment. Anyway…

‘This won’t do.’

Leo said quietly.

“Someone is watching us.”

“Yeah.”

“More precisely, you.”

I nodded.

Leo sighed deeply as if troubled, then snapped his fingers.

The healing mana from my core became stronger.

Since leaving it would make Wittelsbach’s mana detectable from outside, I pressed down the artifact’s mana with my own mana so the healing magic would seep into the core.

At 4 PM, after finishing all inspections, we moved to the dormitory.

Naturally, we completed reporting today’s note as well.

‘This bastard needs to appear directly in front of me – this is troublesome otherwise.’

Of course, not appearing directly is safer.

But then I can’t beat him up, can I?

While I was having less than admirable thoughts, Narke escorted me to my room and smiled brightly.

“Another day finished~ Good thing the report went well.”

“Right. Thanks for today, see you tomorrow.”

“Lucas.”

At Narke’s serious call, I turned my head as I was about to enter my room.

Narke stood still in front of the door, looking at me.

“I don’t know exactly, but I have a bad feeling. Will you stay at the Military Academy Dormitory today?”

“A bad feeling?”

“Yeah.”

Hmm…

Is he actually going to appear directly?

If it were that serious, Narke wouldn’t have brought me here either, so it must be a lesser incident.

“No, it’s fine. There’s no place for me there, and…”

I glanced around and continued.

“Now is the time to collect data.”

“…”

Narke nodded readily, then smiled gently.

“What if you get more bad memories while collecting data? That won’t do~ I should sleep in your room.”

“Huh?”

Without waiting for an answer, Narke disappeared before my eyes.

After I washed up and finished preparing for bed, Narke had packed bags from the dormitory and was unpacking them in my room.

He flopped down on the opposite bed and opened his bag. Some hamster-like bundle jumped out from inside. Of course, since it was hopping around completely like a rabbit, I couldn’t mistake what it was.

“Lucas!”

It’s been a while since I heard this animal’s voice.

Of course, I’m not actually hearing it but rather directly recognizing it in my head.

Without even having time to greet Fai, Narke pushed me down and spread Fai out, placing him near my heart.

“I brought him on purpose. Fai therapy~”

“There’s no such thing.”

“There is!”

She just insisted on it.

Anyway, it was warm so it was fine. Fai seemed excited to see me after a long time, chirping away at a speed that was hard to understand. Just as I was about to cover Fai with the blanket too, Fai suddenly perked up.

“Oh!”

“What?”

“It’s Lucas!”

It’s Lucas?

I could guess what came next without her saying it.

Fai spun around in circles, apparently sensing Leo’s mana. It’s been a while since I felt that you could sense confusion even on an animal’s face.

Anyway, since it was healing mana, Fai seemed even more satisfied and lay back down in his spot.

I infused divine power into Fai.

Fai has been staying mainly in Narke’s room lately, and since my dormitory changed, he doesn’t know to come here.

Since he’s not an animal that memorizes coordinates to use magic, I should train him to come directly to this place next time. Then he’ll be in my room more often too.

“Fai doesn’t seem to get caught by the barrier here.”

“That’s right.”

He’s too small and the amount of mana needed for warping is minimal. That’s why I was able to warp Fai for communication when I was trapped in the potion laboratory before.

Even if I don’t know about other team members, it’s good that I can bring at least Fai comfortably.

‘It would be nice if Fai grew about 500 times bigger so I could sleep using Fai’s belly as a pillow.’

As if he knew I was having such shameless thoughts, Fai suddenly lifted his head.

“Oeng?”

“Sorry.”

“Why?!”

“It’s just something.”

I covered Fai’s ears with my hands, meaning he should grow quickly.

Before long, both Fai and I fell asleep.

Nothing happened throughout the night.

‘At least not physically.’

The next morning, Fai brought me a pink note that had fallen in front of the window, carrying it in his mouth.

“I stayed awake the whole time, and at 4 o’clock a note hit the window all at once.”

Narke said with a stiff expression.

I muttered while looking at Fai who kept bringing me the note.

“I’m glad I was with you.”

“…Hmm, no. Even if I wasn’t here, it would have stopped here.”

Narke answered lifelessly while keeping her gaze fixed on the note.

Well, that might be true. But I thought differently.

“Still, it’s better to have at least one person who can report it together rather than facing a morning like this alone.”

“Haha, is that so. I suppose that’s true.”

Narke smiled only with her mouth while staring intently at the note.

I wondered if she was trying to sense mana, but there was no detectable mana in the note.

I unfolded the notes one by one while wearing gloves.

[You were quite kind when we talked during the day. I knew you were someone who could speak like that. Please respond to me like that next time too.]

“Huh.”

I got goosebumps.

Talked with me during the day?

There were at least five people who had brief conversations with me today, so what?

All of them were people in whom I couldn’t find any strange points.

I steadied my breathing and unfolded the next note.

[What kind of species is that mouse-like friend? It seems like an animal that doesn’t exist domestically.]

[Isn’t the room too Bavaria-style? The Anhalt eagle is so magnificent, yet you leave such crude lion decorations alone?]

How did he see that when I had the curtains drawn?

That was the biggest problem for now, and secondly…

Did this bastard come here to critique, or what did he come here for?

With that thought, I flipped the note over and could read new text.

[Still, I like it if you’re using it because you want to.]

“…”

I unfolded a new note.

[You can just leave your reply anywhere and I’ll be able to read it.]

* * *

‘…Someone who talked with me.’

The person who held my hand was a New Human but had the hands of an Old Human woman.

What could that mean?

This criminal is a shapeshifter.

Whether such an ability user actually exists in this world or not remains to be confirmed from now on, and I still don’t know how they were able to shake off my hand as if they had teleported and continue singing.

But what’s certain is that I don’t know what kind of disguise he might wear when appearing before me.

“Hello. We meet again.”

“…”

In the all-white stadium interior building, in front of the cast iron elevator, I met the old man I had encountered yesterday again.

When I didn’t answer and just looked down at him, he tilted his head.

“Is something wrong?”

“No. Good morning.”

“It was so cold yesterday that I borrowed a heating artifact and put it inside my vest, you know? But today it’s warm so it’s hot.”

“Haha…”

“Take good care of your bones when you’re young. I thought it would be fine since New Humans have stronger bones than Old Humans, but I ended up like this. When I was young, I spent half the day exercising. When I did it, I just did it like crazy, but after living like that for decades, it’s just…”

Ding—

Since he finished speaking and got on the elevator going upstairs, I smiled and slightly tipped my hat. He also smiled and greeted me the same way.

Not long after that, someone tapped my back.

A child looked at my eyes, seemed startled enough to jump, then asked in a shrinking voice.

“Um, do you know where exit 22 is?”

He probably didn’t know I was me, that is, from Pleroma Ascanien.

If this wasn’t the stalker’s acting but a real child, that is.

I tried to smile and gestured toward the side corridor.

“…Go left through the corridor here and then straight back and you’ll find it.”

“Thank you.”

Just as I wondered why a child was here, Elias said from behind.

“That kid probably has something here that requires mana?”

Hmm…

To encounter another case like Narke and Haike here.

Judging from the mana and attitude I felt from them, it seems there are no fakes among the people I’ve met so far.

Right, after telling me yesterday that he had disguised himself as someone else, appearing before me again today would be amateur.

All day long, my nerves were focused on Mueller.

No matter how much I tried not to worry about it, I had to stay tense since I needed to strike him down as soon as he appeared.

Also…

‘It’s humanly bothersome too.’

Even excluding the resolve to strike him down, the fact that someone was watching me all day was not very pleasant.

‘No, but why me?’

Of course, it was better than having such a criminal attached to the other six people here, but with so many mages in the world, why specifically?

Moreover, judging from the content of the letter that bastard sent, it seemed to be half mixed with jealousy rather than genuine support. Even if that too was affection, there’s nothing I can do about it… but having someone who’s jealous of me nearby is really the worst.

Thanks to Elias staying by my side and constantly chatting about trivial things, my tense nerves seemed to ease a little.

When 4 o’clock came around again, we prepared to return to the dormitory.

When I took Narke’s hand to receive his help, I quietly said to my friends.

“I should sleep at the Military Academy Dormitory tonight.”

“Huh? Really? Sleep in my room! Narke and I share the same room.”

Elias said excitedly, making a fuss.

And that dawn.

I couldn’t sleep well.

First, because I had to stay alert.

Second, because Elias was so excited about my visit that he brought out alcohol and board games.

“Luca, you’re too good at this? I wanted to beat you once but you never lose.”

Elias said, grabbing Narke’s wrist.

Narke, caught by him, pulled his body away from Elias as much as possible and narrowed his eyes.

“Aaaah~ Why only me?”

Smack—

Elias struck the back of Narke’s hand and lay down on the bed with a refreshing laugh.

“Ah~ This pays back what I got hit with at Haike’s house last time.”

“No way, that bothered you that much?”

Narke burst into laughter while rubbing his reddened hand.

“I had forgotten, but when I spread out the board today, I remembered!”

“Haha… Huh?”

Narke was turning his head absentmindedly when his expression hardened.

He jumped up from his seat, pulled back the curtain, and opened the window.

“…”

The moment I saw what was in Narke’s hand, my face hardened like his.

It was a pink note.

I took the note and unfolded it.

[Did you think I wouldn’t know if you changed locations? Your expression must be worth seeing. I haven’t seen it yet, but I can vividly picture it in my mind.]

“…”

I could hear Elias tapping an artifact to contact the police.

How does this bastard know what expression I’ll make?

I felt laughter leaking out and tried to relax the strength in my fists.

I have to submit it, so I shouldn’t tear it. Instead, I should cover it with a filter and burn it with a branding iron. Like I did with Asman.

At that moment, something hit the window once more.

Tap—

Narke got up again and brought another note.

[Ah, how truly touching. You want to preserve my letter so it never disappears? How creepy. Anyway, you’re the same type of person as me, aren’t you.]

I really didn’t sleep a wink.

Due to my stubbornness of wanting to see who would win, I couldn’t sleep at all.

I submitted the notes I received last night to the Investigation Bureau, heard the promise that they would assign five mages for personal protection, and moved to the arena.

Considering the daily wages of five mages, it seemed like they had put together a decent arrangement. Of course, I wonder how much effort it took to make that decision.

That kind of security would only help against Old Humanity or weak New Humans, but it wouldn’t be much help to me. Besides, when the culprit is just watching me from afar, I asked them to catch that bastard, not when did I ask for personal protection. One Leo would be more useful than those five.

So I decided to station the mages only around the dormitory. Though that probably wouldn’t help much either.

Right now, investigators from Bavaria would be examining my dormitory.

‘I’m tired.’

Having arrived at our team’s gathering point and organized my belongings in the cabinet, I looked out the window.

Among the people passing by on this street, who could be the culprit?

Someone is continuously watching me from somewhere I don’t know.

My spine and shoulders feel stiff. I don’t know where to direct my gaze. Since yesterday, my senses have been amplified to the point where I think I can even hear the sound of the lights. The arched building ceiling with its curved lines and the mana lamp hanging in the center flicker before my eyes. Perhaps because my nerves are on edge, I can’t even accurately tell what color the light is.

Of course, one fist was vividly alive.

I’m ready to actively punch without missing the opportunity when he appears before me.

‘Come out in front of me, you bastard…’

Since he won’t come out and only sends papers, I have no way to catch him.

‘Right. Now he won’t reveal himself openly.’

I understood his intention.

Even without revealing himself before me, since I’m conscious of him, he’s probably immersed in the illusion that he has me under his influence.

He’s already half-achieved what he wants, so there’s no reason to appear before me and get caught.

Then I have a method too.

“Lucas. You don’t look well.”

Cheringen looked at me with a serious expression.

“Do I?”

“Yeah.”

Cheringen pulled out a cola from his bag and held it in front of me.

“You like this, right? You kept drinking this during the second round before. Drink it and cheer up a little. It won’t make you feel better, but this is all I can say.”

“Ah, thanks.”

I just drank cola because I was happy to have it, but did I drink it often enough for it to be perceived as a preference?

I’m grateful for the thought.

By the way…

‘This Julia must be the real one.’

I tried to focus my dazed vision and asked.

“Julia.”

“Yeah?”

When I extended my hand, Cheringen looked at me with a surprised expression.

He lightly hit my hand. His mana seeped into my hand, making my skin tingle slightly. Wittelsbach’s mana spread quickly to where Cheringen’s mana had touched and began activating healing magic.

I lightly clenched and opened my hand.

The attacking side’s mana tends to transfer to the stationary side. Since I had always been the one hitting his hand, I usually didn’t notice it much, but the mana that touched me today was definitely his mana that I felt during sparring.

“It really is you.”

“…”

Cheringen slightly opened his mouth, then smiled.

“Right. We even sparred on Tuesday, didn’t we?”

“Sorry for doubting you.”

“No, it’s natural that you’d have to in this situation. And you should be this thorough.”

I smiled gently at him and said.

“Julia. I have a favor to ask you. Could you listen and think about it?”

This seemed to be an attitude he was seeing and hearing for the first time, as Cheringen looked a bit surprised. He came closer and nodded.

“The investigation isn’t making progress, and the culprit only sends notes without appearing before us. At this rate, there’s no way to catch that person.”

“Right. This really is troublesome. There’s no way to handle it.”

“So, could you be my partner today?”

“Ah, of course! But Ulrike will try to pair you with Leo again today.”

“…That’s… true. How about the three of us – Leo, you, and me – moving together.”

“Sure. If we can arrange it that way, I don’t mind.”

Since we already moved as a trio with Elias and Leo yesterday, permission would be granted.

When I didn’t say more, Cheringen asked in a gentle voice.

“Was that the favor? I can help with anything more.”

“Um, actually there’s one more thing.”

That’s not the end.

Would the culprit appear before me just because I partnered with Cheringen?

That won’t happen.

To draw him out, I need to take one more action here.

“This might be a confusing request, but could you pretend to be close with me today?”

“Acting friendly? We are friends. …Ah.”

Cheringen, who had been looking puzzled, opened his mouth.

A smile began to spread across his face.

He seemed to have figured out why I had brought this up.

“We are friends. But I was wondering if you could show it more, you know, openly.”

“…Hahahaha, I get what you’re aiming for~ Leave it to me.”

“Thanks.”

Since Cheringen answered with a confident smile, I smiled back in gratitude.

‘He won’t appear before me.’

Good. That’s certainly possible.

Then, let’s see just how long he can keep that up.

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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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