How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 246

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

How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (246)

 

“You are absolutely right, Your Excellency.”

 

The Doctor of Public Security’s voice echoes through the pristine white hospital hallway. Guards and the black-coated Doctor of Public Security walk beside me with solemn faces, matching my pace.

 

I spoke the words the doctor had said before.

 

“Yes. You’ve discovered the real terrorist plan, their main scheme.”

 

I’m heading to the emergency committee’s strategy room to resolve the magic lamp terrorist incident, just like before.

 

Actually, the magic lamp terrorist incident could have been prevented from the start. By blocking anyone from accessing the magic lamp pipes, or thoroughly inspecting to prevent white phosphorus powder from being brought in.

 

‘But… that wouldn’t be right.’

 

There’s already a solution for the magic lamp terrorism. It would be a mistake to interfere with a problem our government can solve with its own power.

 

Let me be more precise.

 

If I prevent things from happening beforehand, variables could arise.

 

As you can tell from the sequence of events so far, the magic lamp terrorist incident is cut from the same cloth as the basement rat incident. Both are elaborate smokescreens for the real plan.

 

If I prevent the smokescreen from going off beforehand, the terrorists’ execution order and detailed methods could change. For example, they might recruit and suicide a different player than in the previous timeline.

 

That must not happen.

 

I finished the meeting at the Bavarian royal palace and met with Narke and the player who would soon commit suicide. Everything else I prepared to prevent the curse terrorism was based on experiences from the previous timeline.

 

If there had been casualties from the magic lamp terrorist incident, I would have had to prevent it regardless of whether the future got twisted, but since that wasn’t the case, it’s much safer to let the sequence of events I experienced once play out the same way.

 

The doctor nodded at my words.

 

“You’ve pinpointed exactly what I was trying to say. We’ve confirmed how far the problem has spread without provoking the criminals, so now all that remains is help from the mages, including Your Excellency Ascanien.”

 

“I see. I’ll do my best. Oh, and I burned the note sent by the emergency committee.”

 

“Good. You probably haven’t heard the detailed circumstances yet…”

 

“Wait a moment. I have something to tell you briefly.”

 

“Yes?”

 

This was different from before.

 

However, I needed to discuss this now. So that later, the emergency committee could piece together the clues themselves and extend a helping hand to me.

 

What I’m going to talk about is…

 

“I’ve decoded the cipher on the white phosphorus matches.”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“Sagt es allen. A, A, E, E, G, L, L, N, T, S, S. 4 letters, 2 letters, 5 letters. It’s still just my speculation though. Did the government decode it this way too?”

 

“…!”

 

The literal translation is ‘Tell it to everyone.’ It’s a sentence that makes you wonder what kind of bastard would say something like this. The phrase ‘Tell it to everyone’ could be written longer, but since even adding one or two letters would take time to figure out, they seemed to try to express it as briefly as possible while still conveying the meaning.

 

“…Wait, that was definitely stolen…”

 

I widened my eyes at those words.

 

Stolen. I knew about it, but I learned that through secret notes with Elias, and since I was locked in solitary confinement unable to hear outside news, I officially shouldn’t know that fact.

 

Leo never lifted the visitation restrictions. Since the Crown Prince’s influence was also involved in my being confined to the hospital, Leo would have had to talk to the Crown Prince to release me from the hospital entirely.

 

Instead, he repeatedly snuck me out to the royal palace and brought me back. That’s why I stayed in the hospital until the end. Thanks to that, I can utilize the fact that I was stuck in the hospital like this.

 

Anyway, I had to act. I asked with a flustered face.

 

“…Stolen? The matches?”

 

“Yes. They were stolen from the police station. Everything except that one match with holes. How do you know the alphabet?”

 

“I have a good memory, so I memorized it when I saw it collected as physical evidence. But stolen? I just mentioned it to you, Doctor, because the cipher content seemed so random and I wanted to know if my guess was correct. If I had known this would happen, I would have contacted you earlier…”

 

The doctor grabbed his neck with a shocked expression. He frowned and muttered.

 

“…You’re absolutely right. If I had known this would happen, I would have contacted His Highness the Crown Prince in advance. Who would have thought there was someone who could remember all eleven characters…!”

 

The doctor tapped his artifact and said something to others. Since he cast a sound-blocking spell on me too, I couldn’t hear anything.

 

He hung up with a serious expression and said to me.

 

“I’ve reported that information to the government for now. We still don’t know what the cipher means, but it’s better than not even knowing the decoded cipher. To think you solved the cipher in your hospital room like that… Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our government.”

 

Hmm. Yes.

 

My attempt to lay groundwork in advance succeeded cleanly.

 

After the magic lamp terrorism, they’ll contact me again when they see the strange signs that occur before and after another terrorism. Just like in the previous timeline.

 

Rather than spilling out all the information I know when that time comes, it’s better to sprinkle it naturally and gradually.

 

“More importantly, I said earlier that I would inform you of the detailed circumstances. I’ll quickly explain what the emergency committee has discovered about this terrorist incident.”

 

The doctor’s solemn voice flowed like background music. My gaze turned to the surroundings.

 

The surroundings are the same as before, unchanged.

 

Just once. Even though I’m re-experiencing something I only experienced once, not multiple times, it feels like I’m dreaming. I looked at the white marble floor and the gray marbling patterns within it. While passing through the corridor, unlike modern times, I can see humans wearing completely white uniforms and typical nurse caps on their heads. When I turned my head to the left, I saw the 19th-century style elevator we had stood in front of last time.

 

Ding—

 

The sound of a bell rings from the floor. The elevator box stopped at the 4th floor last time, and it stopped at the 4th floor this time too. Unless I actively take different actions, this past heads toward the same future. That point hit home once again.

 

“…The 1st Guard Infantry Division in charge of inspection reported that there were no magical anomalies whatsoever.”

 

I turned my eyes from the elevator back to the doctor.

 

Right. ‘No magical anomalies whatsoever.’

 

However, in the end, millions of people filling this land and countless building floors fell under curse magic. From the perspective of someone who has seen the future, I can’t be reassured by such words.

 

The doctor extended his black leather-gloved hand again this time and said to me in a solemn voice.

 

“From the moment you move forward, Your Excellency will officially participate in this counter-terrorism plan. You will be tasked with the mission of saving millions of subjects.”

 

“…”

 

I smiled briefly, then answered expressionlessly.

 

“I understand.”

 

The moment his glove pressed my wrist, my vision darkened. Perhaps because I had already sustained warping with him quite a bit last time, or maybe because my mental strength was enhanced from warping to Brandenburg New National Park dozens of times, I didn’t stagger like during the previous warp this time.

 

I can see the dimly lit strategy room with gray walls on all sides. What happened here flashed by like a revolving lantern.

 

There was no time to be lost in reminiscence. The commander of the Guard Corps I had seen about 60 hours ago was leaning against a desk, then approached and extended his hand to me.

 

“Hugo Straus. I already know about Your Excellency, so I’ll skip the introductions.”

 

A good choice. I know about him too.

 

I let his continuing words flow past me and, unlike before, instead of asking about my role, I spoke first.

 

“My role is to provide you with the most efficient ideas.”

 

“You know well. His Highness the Crown Prince directly ordered that Your Excellency is the right person for strategy, so we should entrust you with reviewing countermeasures for this terrorist plan. Now, let’s move.”

 

He casually extended his hand to me.

 

The place we moved to was the set prepared by the emergency committee, just like before.

 

The magic lamp explosion experiment proceeded smoothly as before. After a few minutes passed like that, we moved to the underground strategy room we had come from earlier.

 

‘Now it’s time for the Minister of Magic to join the meeting.’

 

Unsurprisingly, the Minister of Magic, who is the emergency committee chairman, was also around the table. The commander shook hands with him and said to me.

 

“Perhaps we might have the opportunity to wipe out the Pleroma leadership in one fell swoop through this terrorism at this Penthalon. The leadership will be desperate not to miss this good opportunity. An enemy blinded by profit and moving boldly is always a good opponent to bring to their knees.”

 

I had skeptical thoughts about these words before, and sure enough, they were all wrong.

 

The Pleroma leadership withdrew from this incident as Legislator Alexander Kluger said, and it will be the Imperial government that kneels. On land stained with the blood of 1.37 million people.

 

I shook my head slightly and looked at the Minister of Magic, the commander, and the Doctor of Public Security as I opened my mouth.

 

“There isn’t much time. I have some thoughts to report up to this point, may I state my opinion?”

 

“You’re quick. Of course. What kind of solution do you think there is, Your Excellency?”

 

“Could you give me the building cross-section?”

 

I pretended to look at the cross-section this time too.

 

The minister and Doctor of Public Security standing around me swallowed their saliva. What I couldn’t feel before now comes to me.

 

I put down the cross-section and looked at them as I spoke.

 

“Casting cooling magic between floors is the best method in this situation. Throughout the entire venue grounds.”

 

“…”

 

The commander raised his eyebrows in agreement, then tried to add something to my words.

 

I know what he’s going to say. It would be a rebuttal that cooling magic should only be cast in some areas.

 

I asked for understanding with my eyes, then continued speaking.

 

“If you knew where the white phosphorus was in the building, you would have already implemented white phosphorus removal. But the fact that you haven’t done so with 1 hour and 40 minutes remaining means you don’t know the white phosphorus location. Am I correct?”

 

The Minister of Magic nodded.

 

“…You’re correct.”

 

“Since we currently don’t know where the white phosphorus is located, we must cast magic on the entire grounds. It will require an enormous number of mages, so suspicion about procuring mages from outside will be the biggest problem. To avoid suspicion, I suggest we hold a diversionary event.”

 

“A diversion?”

 

“We’ll set fires outside.”

 

* * *

 

Up to this point, everything went smoothly, just like before.

 

But I can’t let my guard down.

 

Whether variables arise or not.

 

I need to find that out.

 

No matter how hard I tried to prevent variables from occurring, there are people who know terrorism will happen, so I don’t know how the situation will unfold.

 

Beep—

 

A notification sound indicating one minute before the opening comes from the transparent artifact hanging on my ear.

 

Having come back from checking the situation outside as before, I returned to the strategy room, took off my coat, and stood in front of the table.

 

Tension could be felt on the faces of the emergency response team members remaining at their posts.

 

I took off my gloves, put them in my pocket, and waited for the countdown. The sound of the band’s drums could be heard from the artifact placed in the center of the table.

 

Beep—

 

30 seconds remaining.

 

I quietly looked down at the artifact among people who seemed anxious enough to bite their lips at any moment.

 

“Huu…”

 

I could hear someone who was out of breath trying to take deep breaths. Someone was compulsively stroking their chin. Though I hadn’t noticed before, due to extreme tension, blood seemed to be rushing to their heads as people’s faces were completely flushed.

 

I glanced over the faces of the Minister and Commander, then looked back at the broadcast artifact. Soon all sounds from the artifact stopped.

 

Beep——

 

A slightly longer notification.

 

In the silence, the Emperor’s voice was heard.

 

[Dear new humans and humans from all nations, welcome to Berlin.]

 

“…”

 

I crossed my arms and tapped my fingers against my arm, counting the seconds.

 

[…This Penthalon symbolizes that victory. God is with us. May God’s blessing be upon you!]

 

Boom—!

 

Beep—

 

Along with the sound of fireworks exploding, the notification sound of the stopwatch the Commander had set rang out.

 

So far there are no variables. I need to keep an eye on things for about an hour after the opening, but for now at least.

 

‘…Thank goodness.’

 

The Commander looked away from his pocket watch and looked at us.

 

“Well, congratulations. We have successfully passed the first checkpoint.”

 

You know this terrorism is the first checkpoint yet you can’t prevent anything. I suppressed those words and looked at him expressionlessly.

 

“This was the first step among hundreds of checkpoints. We must maintain the same level of vigilance for the entire 5 hours of the opening ceremony. You know why, don’t you.”

 

“We understand.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Good. Now, let’s achieve the best results once again.”

 

Another hour later.

 

After receiving notification that all white phosphorus had been removed, I left the emergency response team with the Doctor’s help.

 

With this, the magic lamp terrorism was completely over again.

 

I stood quietly at the warp point of the authorized personnel corridor, looking outside, then checked my watch.

 

In another hour, I would be deployed to the facility inspection and checkpoint duties that Eschete had originally been assigned.

 

And that’s when the player commits suicide.

 

This time the player won’t commit suicide. For the past two days and eight hours, I met with the player in Nicolaus’s appearance along with Narke and discussed what could happen in the future.

 

Naturally, he didn’t believe my words at first. But ultimately it was successful. Thanks to a full 5 hours of persuasion. A little divine power was also involved.

 

I left the emergency response team and entered the underground stairs as before. There was no particular reason. Just that since I had met a certain person at this location at this time before, I could probably meet them at this spot again this time.

 

“Good work.”

 

Leo said with a faint smile. It was the same words as last time.

 

I cast a sound-blocking spell and said.

 

“Did you deliberately say the exact same thing as before? We still have more work to do.”

 

“Still.”

 

Leo looked around and continued.

 

“Do you remember the conversation we had here?”

 

“I remember. Do you?”

 

“I remember. That’s why I’m saying this.”

 

“…”

 

I didn’t respond and just looked at Leo. Unlike when we had just turned back time and were in shock from the terrorism two days ago, Leo had his usual calm expression. The age-appropriate appearance I had seen that day had completely disappeared again. As he had when rescuing people and participating in the emergency response team in the previous timeline, he still maintained his composure even with confirmed terrorism right around the corner.

 

Even in the novel, Leo only showed his emotions unfiltered when something serious happened to Elias. I had thought that state from two days ago was quite a rare sight, but it seemed to be a much rarer sight than I had expected.

 

When I just watched him without saying anything, he smiled lightly once and extended his hand.

 

“What are you doing. Let’s go, Lucas.”

 

* * *

 

“It’s a nice day. Have a good day.”

 

A human I’d never seen before handed flowers to Leo and me and left. This time I didn’t channel magic into the flowers to check if they contained contaminated magic. I now know that the terrorists didn’t tamper with things like flowers.

 

I’m just curious how long that ‘good day’ will last.

 

I looked around.

 

Giant screens placed throughout the site were broadcasting the opening ceremony with magic emitting light.

 

To avoid creating variables here, I didn’t touch the major elements. For example, the Imperial Newspaper live broadcast, magic screens, or Penthalon itself.

 

However, I made small adjustments to minor parts, parts that wouldn’t be noticed if touched.

 

The sound from the screen I’m looking at as I pass by the street was quieter than before.

 

Because I had reduced the maximum volume to about 70% of normal. This wasn’t something that happened suddenly, but something that had been done since two days ago.

 

I suggested saving magic and investing more in the event venue space magic—they were expanding the site with space magic to accommodate more people—and the government readily accepted my proposal.

 

And unlike the previous timeline when they continued to allow entry even after the opening, I suggested blocking entry three hours before the opening… but this was modified and accepted. Entry would be restricted starting 30 minutes before the opening began. My request was probably rejected for commercial reasons.

 

‘This won’t prevent everything, but…’

 

It’s better if even one less person gets hurt.

 

Of course, no bloodshed will occur here today.

 

When we went up to the observation deck as before, our team friends except Narke were visible.

 

“Lucas, hello~ It’s been 3 days.”

 

“Oh, Luca’s here.”

 

I could see Cheringen sitting in a chair far away giving the same greeting as before, and Elias who wasn’t smiling unlike before.

 

As soon as Elias saw me, he put his arm around my shoulder and pulled me toward the railing. Unlike before, Leo approached us.

 

“Luca.”

 

“What.”

 

“Luuuuca.”

 

“Speak properly.”

 

“I’m cold…”

 

I chuckled. Elias lowered his voice and asked.

 

“So far, nothing has happened?”

 

“Right. It’s going smoothly.”

 

“That’s a relief.”

 

The conversation didn’t continue further. Elias was silently lost in thought.

 

Elias had always asked me where I got my information from last year until early this year, but regarding this terrorism, he didn’t ask about the source.

 

Narke was the same way.

 

I’m grateful that they trust I wouldn’t lie, but at the same time I feel sorry that I can’t explain.

 

Then, Haike, who had been staring intently at us from behind, suddenly appeared.

 

“Lucas.”

 

“Oh, Haike.”

 

“Where were you? I’ve been looking for you all day.”

 

I guess it was the same this time too.

 

I smiled and answered.

 

“Really? Me too.”

 

“You were looking for me? Why?”

 

“When this is over, let’s go to that photo shop we went to before together.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Haike tilted her head and smiled faintly.

 

“I was about to say the same thing.”

 

“We seem to get along pretty well.”

 

When I extended my hand like Cheringen does to me, Haike lightly slapped my hand.

 

Haike leaned against me and spoke expressionlessly.

 

“I’m relieved that nothing happened at today’s opening.”

 

“….”

 

Neither Elias nor I answered.

 

We knew that trouble would soon arise. Instead of responding to those words, I muttered.

 

“Today is quite a long day.”

 

“Right. It’s tiring having to stand all day.”

 

Haike misunderstood my words and answered differently.

 

I smiled slightly in response and looked down at the surface.

 

It was almost time to go down.

 

* * *

 

Elias looked at his watch. It was midnight, turning into February 25th.

 

On the first floor of the opening ceremony venue, below the seats, Elias stood with Lucas and other mages.

 

Elias kept glancing at his friend.

 

Luca had a peaceful expression, like someone who didn’t know what was about to happen.

 

‘Hmm…’

 

Is he acting?

 

Soon it would be time for the International Friendship Tournament to begin. Once they got through this, this tiresome opening would finally be over. Elias swallowed and looked at the screen.

 

An interview with a player participating in the tournament was playing.

 

‘…That person is supposed to become a terrorist target and commit suicide.’

 

That’s what he heard from Luca. He couldn’t believe what it meant at all, but seeing that the magic lamp terrorist incident Luca briefly mentioned to him two days ago actually happened… it was worth believing. Luca never talked nonsense anyway.

 

‘Though I have no idea where he learned all that.’

 

He doesn’t follow things that don’t make sense.

 

Until now, for Elias himself, the world was full of things that didn’t make sense, so he didn’t follow anything.

 

That’s how he gained his current reputation.

 

It was only after meeting Luca that he began blindly following things that didn’t make sense. Even when Luca did incomprehensible things, they always shared the same intentions.

 

The urge to suddenly find out the truth still surged up…

 

But if it was Luca’s words, it was worth waiting for.

 

If it had been anyone else but Luca, he would have pressed them until they answered. But he couldn’t do that with him. He could only hope that someday Luca would tell him directly.

 

Anyway, now he had to pray that person wouldn’t commit suicide.

 

Luca said that if that person committed suicide, ‘we should just consider it a complete failure.’ Of course. The opening ceremony and everything would become complete chaos, creating a situation where government control would be impossible. It would actually be lucky for the terrorists.

 

Elias thought while reading the player’s name written at the bottom of the screen: Helga Leibnitz.

 

As Luca instructed, he had reversed the one-way sound-blocking magic to block external sounds so he wouldn’t hear them, so he couldn’t hear what was being said on the screen. However, the Pentathlon Organizing Committee was displaying the content in real-time in a corner of the screen.

 

[This is your first appearance in 3 years since the last Empire Championship. Your fans are going wild. I heard you’ve been preparing for a really long time and there are rumors about your passion. Before asking about your tournament participation, what’s your mindset going into this first Pentathlon?]

 

“….”

 

The player’s face was dark, just as Luca had said. He looked terrified. In short, it was still impossible to tell whether he would commit suicide or not.

 

Luca beside him rolled up a newspaper in one hand and crossed his arms. Elias glanced at his still peaceful face and looked back at the screen. Despite appearances, Luca must also be staking everything on this moment. He said the player’s survival was the only way to prevent terrorism and the first step.

 

The player wouldn’t want curse magic—though he couldn’t quite grasp what exactly that was from what he heard—to spread to countless people through his own words, but the terrorists weren’t the type to stop there just because the player passively resisted through suicide.

 

‘Ah, if they were that type, why would they commit terrorism.’

 

Elias stood with his hands behind his back, tapping his fingers against his other fingers. The moment he swallowed, the player’s mouth slowly began to move.

 

[…I’m fortunate to be able to kick off the first start of Pentathlon, which symbolizes world peace and human progress. I’ve done my best to prepare for the past 3 years for this competition, so today, here, I’ll do as I’ve always done, thinking of our fellow citizens and pouring out everything I’ve worked for.]

 

The sound of Luca exhaling briefly could be heard.

 

Elias also felt some hope.

 

‘Good.’

 

He didn’t look like someone about to commit suicide. Rather, the player seemed to calm down somewhat as he spoke. Just don’t die. Elias thought that as he watched the screen.

 

‘Just one more step.’

 

That player had to recite the curse. At first, hearing Luca say this almost drove him crazy, but even Elias himself thought this problem was difficult to solve with preventive measures. At least according to all the information Luca claimed to have gathered so far.

 

The reporter’s following words appeared on the screen.

 

[Ah, good. Do you have anything you’d like to say to your fans?]

 

[….]

 

The player’s pupils trembled finely. When silence continued for a long time, the reporter opened his mouth.

 

[If you don’t have anything…]

 

‘No!’

 

Say something! Elias frowned and moved his lips.

 

Fortunately, the player seemed to change his mind and hurriedly turned his head to the camera and spoke.

 

[There’s a passage in Revelation Chapter 7, Verse 10. Salvation—.]

 

Click—

 

The light disappeared.

 

The opening ceremony venue screen that had been showing the player’s face went out.

 

Elias immediately broke the sound-blocking magic. Luca’s eyes widened, then he furrowed his brow and unfolded the newspaper.

 

[[Unto our God who sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb.]]

 

The newspaper’s screen and audio were functioning normally.

 

That meant the player’s Bible recitation was only heard through the newspaper.

 

‘No way…’

 

Who, what kind of idiot would do such a short-sighted thing?

 

Seeing that they cut the screen to prevent the curse magic from being heard, they were probably allies. Elias looked around.

 

The newspaper was one thing, but cutting the screen would significantly reduce the number of people affected by the curse magic. Did Luca and I not know how to reduce the number of people affected by curse magic, so we were just standing by? Standing by was strategy.

 

Cutting the screen like this made the intention obvious. ‘I’ve figured out the curse magic, and from now on I’ll fight you terrorists head-on.’ Nothing more, nothing less. Would the terrorists retreat just from cutting the screen?

 

No. That wouldn’t happen.

 

“Luca.”

 

“Yeah?”

 

“Was this part of the plan?”

 

Luca shrugged. Then he shook his head.

 

“No. Now I have to go solve this.”

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