How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 249

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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 (249)

 

The starting signal was heard, but neither contestant moved immediately.

 

As Luca held the Imperial wand and performed the salute, whispers and laughter could be heard from the French Antagonists on the lower floor.

 

[Wow. That’s the Hohenzollern eagle attached to the end of the wand.]

 

[Yes… Humans and Humans, you are now witnessing the greatest irony of our time.]

 

[Hohenzollern has really gone mad. Employing Pleroma…]

 

They probably thought they were speaking quietly, but due to tension, mana was concentrated in my sensory organs, making sounds clearer than usual.

 

The whistling from people grated on my nerves. The applause and laughter-mixed cheers that grew louder as soon as Luca appeared didn’t diminish. Even knowing Luca had done nothing wrong, these people perceived him as Pleroma purely for entertainment purposes.

 

From the slimy laughter and whistles of these 150,000 people, I could even sense subtle arrogance and anticipation. If that Pleroma—the key point being his lack of aggression—showed even the slightest flaw, they would be ready to trample and crush his honor and pride. They would believe this belonged to some form of justice. To express their psychology coherently, it was truly crude and ridiculous beyond measure, so they themselves wouldn’t properly understand how they were feeling. But the person standing in the Arena would be feeling the unreasonable malice pouring toward him with his entire body.

 

“Who’s the opponent?”

 

At Elias’s question, Julia pointed to the giant screen on one side of the Arena.

 

Introductions about Luca and the French Player were displayed. Elias frowned as he read the text.

 

‘Academy Puissance university division runner-up…? University?’

 

Not just any ordinary School runner-up, but the runner-up of the Academy university division directly selected by the French Imperial Palace. He had participated in so many competitions—mainly sports rather than magic contests—that his list of awards was endless.

 

While being older doesn’t necessarily mean being better, the symbolism was problematic. I couldn’t understand why they thought to pit a university Student, and a runner-up at that, against a high School Student. In the end, people were now assuming Luca would lose. Otherwise, they couldn’t be this relaxed.

 

‘Even so, they could have matched the competing Mages by age.’

 

The Empire must have needed to put Luca in this position. Throwing a person famous for negative reasons into the colosseum would inevitably make things more entertaining.

 

Then France could have matched him with that Gramont or whatever from the high School division.

 

But why didn’t they do that?

 

‘…They don’t care whether Luca wins or loses. Right…’

 

The government would be too busy finding solutions to the terrorism to pay any attention to tournaments. That’s why this kind of arrangement came about.

 

They just needed to grab attention. Luca stood here for that purpose.

 

Elias clicked his tongue, thinking he wanted to slap each person whistling and shouting from the upper and lower floors.

 

The sentiment didn’t last long. The opposing Player who came out slightly later than Luca performed his salute. And he strongly displayed his will not to give up the initiative.

 

Bang!

 

At the reckless incoming attack, Luca quickly thrust out his wand. It was a light movement that felt fast in speed but relaxed in power.

 

A pale red barrier appeared at the tip of his wand. He lightly gripped the wand with his right hand fingers, spread his other hand to support the wand tip, and gradually pulled the barrier toward his chest. Due to the impact from the opponent’s attack, his thin hair could be seen swaying backward.

 

Luca smiled and slightly tilted his head. Then, he moved his left foot, which had been positioned back, two steps forward in one motion and thrust the pulled wand forward.

 

Kwaang—!!

 

Luca’s barrier deflected the opponent’s attack rushing toward him and pushed out toward the opposing Mage. At the same time, Luca’s eyebrows rose. His eyes turned not toward the opponent, but toward the Floor. It wasn’t a reaction he should show despite properly blocking the attack.

 

[Oh!]

 

[What?!]

 

People shouted almost simultaneously.

 

They had no choice. Green mana the same color as the opponent’s eyes seeped into the Arena Floor like blood vessels and spread rapidly. Precisely, toward where Luca stood. If there were horizontal lightning, it would feel like this.

 

That French Player hadn’t come to Penthalon as an athlete, but he had quite a few records of winning in track and field before. The reason appeared here. His mana operation between body and ground was as natural as breathing.

 

Luca frantically jumped and rolled on the Floor to avoid dozens of mana streams rushing toward him along the Floor. The Player’s mana fiercely pursued him. Meanwhile, mana also sparked above the Floor like electricity.

 

‘At least he can’t do wide-area casting.’

 

He could have cast magic on the entire Stage Floor, but instead he was chasing the path Luca was running. Either his mana amount wasn’t as much as Luca’s, or he wasn’t familiar with wide-area casting, or he thought concentrated attacks on Luca were better…

 

[He’s just running around like crazy.]

 

[He can’t fly.]

 

[For now, running away is the answer.]

 

[France is doing well!]

 

For the first time, I agreed with the French Antagonists on the lower floor. Except for the last comment.

 

Luca really was just frantically dodging around. He stepped with hands and feet on places where mana wasn’t extending, landed in other clean spots, and moved to yet other places.

 

[But why is he dodging so well? Like a rat…]

 

[Don’t know. Go our country!]

 

[Attack so he can’t run! Quickly!]

 

The Frenchmen shouted loudly.

 

At the sight of them shouting without much consideration, Elias finally realized he was standing near the French spectator seating area.

 

Since Luca wasn’t being caught quickly, tension in this vicinity began rising. They were clearly nervous that their Player might be pushed back. At least from several German sections, cheers could be heard saying he was a fellow countryman regardless of being Pleroma.

 

‘By the way, Leo made this possible…’

 

If there was something unfortunate for that French Player, first, Luca was already enlightened in dodging vines.

 

Though I had never properly seen Luca’s movements, from my position of knowing in which direction and how I had developed to avoid Leo’s attacks, it was obvious in what aspects Luca, who had trained with Leo, would have developed.

 

Anyway, Leo does manage to catch his targets by any means necessary…

 

Second, unlike vines that could extend in all directions, the Player’s attacks were merely two-dimensional.

 

In other words…

 

Luca, who had been placing his hands on the Floor, stepped on Midair. Soon a red barrier appeared under his feet. After taking a running start, he stepped on several more barriers while rushing toward the Player. The barriers trampled by his feet shattered and scattered in the air.

 

[That’s…?!]

 

[What, why is he flying?!]

 

‘Flying?’

 

However, it was fast enough to cause such misunderstanding, and even Elias himself laughed because he couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Leo had transformed someone who couldn’t do anything until half a year ago to this extent.

 

“…!”

 

The Player’s eyes widened. Luca aimed his wand toward the Player and deployed a barrier. Then, he literally crashed down on him while flying.

 

An explosion and flash occurred simultaneously. The Player’s green mana reflected by Luca’s barrier struck the Player directly, a scream was heard, and then…

 

Kwang—!

 

Luca, who had knocked the Player to the Floor and grabbed his neck, exhaled lightly.

 

“Ahhh! Kuk…!”

 

No matter how much the Player struggled, Luca’s attack continued. Green mana frantically sparked from the Player’s hand gripping Luca’s wrist. The microphones they wore captured sound cruelly well. It sounded like something was burning to death nearby, making spectators’ faces contort. Yet as someone gained the upper hand, cheers could be heard. From the French seating, most were anguished cries.

 

[Wahhhhh—!]

 

[Ahhh!]

 

[Get out!]

 

[Ah, get up and attack!]

 

However, Luca didn’t even blink and just looked down at him. Pink mana swirling around his hand tightly strangled the Player’s neck. Mana masses filming the Player and Luca flew around from all directions. The crowd’s cheers grew louder.

 

“10.”

 

Good.

 

The countdown from the judge, whose location was unknown, came through the broadcast.

 

If he didn’t get up within 10 seconds, victory would now be Luca’s.

 

Elias glanced at the screen to see if the book code appeared and swallowed his saliva.

 

“9!”

 

“8!”

 

“7!”

 

Spectators began shouting along with the judge’s countdown.

 

The French Player’s neck and face turned red as if about to burst. Cheers and sighs that made ears ring could be heard from the nearby seating.

 

Then, a loud voice that squeezed out all remaining strength burst forth.

 

[…Your God has commanded your strength! O God, strengthen what you have done for us!]

 

Kwaang—!

 

People in the Audience Seating squinted at the sudden rushing light.

 

In the time it took to close and open their eyes once, the Player was breathing heavily, standing up and taking a defensive stance. At the same time, Luca, who had been in the center of this giant Stage, was covering his front with both arms while retreating to the edge of this giant Stage.

 

He must have thought he would end up finished if he got caught in the opponent’s desperate struggle. That would actually happen, so it was a good choice. He looked down once at the Stage below, deeper than a person’s height, then looked forward again.

 

As full-body mana operation became possible again, the opponent regained his momentum as if nothing had happened. He wasn’t affiliated with that Imperial Court for nothing. Mana flowed from his body. Like someone who used mana through his throat, he shouted like thunder and stamped his feet.

 

[My God, make them like rolling tumbleweed, like chaff blown by the wind!]

 

Paang—

 

A sound like cloth being blocked by air was heard, then mana emitting green light like vegetation appeared lengthwise above and below the air at the height of the 3rd Floor of the Building where Elias now stood. The mana appeared throughout the Arena. It wasn’t something the Player had shot into the sky or let flow, but literally ‘appeared’ suddenly.

 

[Wow.]

 

[Huh…]

 

Admiration flowed from people. Elias himself would have admired it if he weren’t an enemy. To naturally mix mana into the air at this height and have it take shape at the right moment—his skill was remarkable.

 

As the Player chanted spells and stamped his feet, his mana appeared in Midair on the opposite side of the distant Stage.

 

[Like fire that burns the forest and flame that sets mountains ablaze, pursue them with your whirlwind and terrify them with your storm!]

 

[Wahhhhh—!]

 

[Well done!]

 

Cheers and applause could be heard from all around. It was probably because most of those seated here were from Christian cultural spheres.

 

Why suddenly like this? As I had first felt, this was perfect hostility. To these 150,000 spectators, the “them” in the spell the player had chanted, “Chase them with whirlwind and terrify them with storm,” referred to Luca, and Pleroma beyond him.

 

Luca raised his eyebrows and smiled at those words. He wasn’t even flustered anymore.

 

Now the magic the player had densely filled from bottom to top began to strike Luca all at once.

 

The wand in Luca’s fingers transformed into a staff, extending long. A nasty black eagle head-shaped wand caught the eye. It felt strange seeing Luca holding Hohenzollern’s wand.

 

Luca took a deep breath and slowly opened his mouth.

 

[Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, and he brought them out of their distress.]

 

Luca looked up at the green magic power striking down at him, gripped his staff with both hands, and swung it diagonally downward.

 

Kuwung— Kwaaaaang——….

 

[He stilled the storm to a whisper; the waves of the sea were hushed.]

 

Elias squinted his eyes. The moment the air rippled as if waves had formed on a water surface, his ears felt stuffy. For a moment, as if his hearing had stopped functioning, he couldn’t hear any sound. The green magic power that had been striking down at Luca wavered together and stopped in place. Then it scattered into pieces.

 

The opponent didn’t panic even though all the magic power he had been manipulating disappeared. He immediately thrust out his wand and shouted.

 

[O Lord! Cover their faces with shame, so that they will seek your name!]

 

Kwajik— Kwang—! Kwagwang—!

 

Wudeuk—

 

As if cracks had formed in the stage floor, magic power surged up from inside the floor like before. No matter how you looked at it, that guy was excellent at the ability to melt magic power between materials and give his opponent no opening.

 

‘But again with “them”?’

 

Give it a rest. He seemed to deliberately choose attack formulas that included “them” in the spell. Anyway, the audience was just enjoying themselves, overwhelmed by the brilliant lights and magic on a scale they couldn’t usually see. They all couldn’t help but look like idiots.

 

The player’s magic power that cut through the ground and air as sharp as blades chased Luca wherever he ran and smoothly slipped aside no matter what counterattack he launched. It seemed like five or six magic formulas were overlapping, and to operate magic formulas of this level would require extraordinary power.

 

“Impressive.”

 

Julia muttered beside me.

 

Haike was watching the movements of the two diligently with sparkling eyes, as if not wanting to miss a single moment of the match. Ulrike was muttering curses while continuously rubbing her hands together, probably hoping Luca would win.

 

Elias followed his actions and fixed his gaze on the French player. The player’s solemn face appeared on the screen that showed his face in close-up. Luca simply swung his wand to deflect the attacks coming at him and continued running while wiping sweat. The player who had been targeting Luca with his wand suddenly raised it toward the sky.

 

[May they ever be ashamed and dismayed; may they perish in disgrace. Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord— that you alone are the Most High over all the earth!]

 

“How long….”

 

Luca seemed to know he was being mocked too. He muttered that and tilted his head with a smile.

 

Then he stopped in place and spun around. Because the magic power chasing Luca had become more powerful with the previous spell, surprised voices could be heard from the audience seats.

 

[Gasp…!]

 

Kwaang!!

 

Luca’s staff struck down on the arena floor. The player’s magic power that had been rushing at him was devoured by red magic power. The crackling sound of electricity noisily filled the arena. Luca channeled magic power into his staff and spoke quietly.

 

[How can you say to your brother, ‘Brother, let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your eye.]

 

“This is….”

 

Elias and Julia’s eyes met.

 

This wasn’t a magic spell used in duels. As expected, a mischievous light quickly rose in Luca’s face.

 

“Hahahaha!”

 

Elias understood the meaning and threw his head back, bursting into laughter.

 

It was nothing special. Luca was just blocking with brute force without any special formula while mocking the opposing player.

 

Julia standing beside him also seemed to be suppressing a slight laugh.

 

Meanwhile, the impact sounds of attacks the two were launching continued to be heard.

 

[Wow… everyone’s magic power levels are extraordinary.]

 

The voices from the audience gradually decreased. That was understandable. Now they were curious about how this match would turn out.

 

The result was even more confusing because Luca, who had seemed like he would lose at first, had briefly gained the upper hand.

 

[When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days and the storm continued raging, we finally gave up all hope of being saved!]

 

As the player’s spell began again, this time Luca didn’t wait any longer and shook his head as he opened his mouth.

 

[When the sentence for a crime is not quickly carried out, people’s hearts are filled with schemes to do wrong. The Lord Almighty will come with thunder and earthquake and great noise, with windstorm and tempest and flames of a devouring fire to punish them….]

 

The sound from the audience seats grew louder at Luca’s spell. They too seemed to realize Luca was mocking, as there was somewhat surprised laughter mixed in.

 

Elias now widened his eyes for a different reason.

 

‘Chanting two spells in succession aside….’

 

[…!]

 

[This is…!]

 

People sitting in nearby seats looked up with widened eyes and held their breath.

 

The light from the magic lamps that had been pure white until just now had turned red, and though they could certainly distinguish what was ahead, the air was red.

 

It felt like being in a sea of fire. If the end times were to be realized in this era, it would be accomplished in this way.

 

[What is this!]

 

[Did a player do this?!]

 

“….”

 

It was Luca’s magic power. This place had turned red from his magic power. I already knew Luca’s magic power level wasn’t ordinary. But this was certainly something that far exceeded imagination.

 

[The hordes of all the nations that fight against Ariel, that attack her and her fortress and besiege her, will be as it is with a dream, with a vision in the night!]

 

Pueong— Kwaang!!

 

“…!”

 

In the instantly reddened air, flames rose on the stage. Long gasps of amazement could be heard from various parts of the audience seats. The problem was what came next.

 

[What?!]

 

[Wait, what’s happening?!]

 

“….”

 

The massive flames that filled the stage floor instantly swallowed the bewildered player. With the sound of something breaking, the player disappeared.

 

No, precisely, the player was trapped in fire. His clothes could be glimpsed through the red magic power. Luca aimed his staff at where his opponent should be.

 

At the same time, with the sound of something tearing, the player’s magic power in the air was cleanly swept away.

 

“….”

 

Julia wiped the corner of her mouth with her hand while looking at Luca. The corner of his mouth was slightly raised.

 

As all the red magic power in the air settled, Luca headed toward the massive flames he had created. Whether the player was still struggling to get up from his position, strange explosive sounds came from within the fire.

 

“10.”

 

The referee’s countdown began again.

 

Luca knelt down in front of the fire. The flames that had been shooting up high now wrapped around and pressed down on the player’s body. Now the player’s form was clearly visible to the audience as well.

 

“9.”

 

“Aaaaaaaah!”

 

[But to you who are listening I say.]

 

Luca pressed his forehead firmly with one hand as he spoke.

 

“8.”

 

“Let go of this!”

 

[Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you….]

 

“5.”

 

Luca raised his head and looked around the audience seats once.

 

“4.”

 

He smiled and placed two fingers to his lips.

 

“3.”

 

Then, as ancient priests had done, he lightly touched the player’s forehead with his fingers.

 

[Pray for those who mistreat you.]

 

“…!”

 

Luca smiled an unknowable smile and flicked his fingers to release all the magic power binding the player. Elias let out a hollow laugh at that action.

 

‘…Luca’s personality is showing….’

 

The player, whose eyes were bloodshot, tried to jolt his body upright.

 

But it was already too late.

 

Elias moved his lips slightly.

 

‘1.’

 

Piiiiiik—

 

An ear-piercing alarm sound spread throughout the entire arena.

 

[The match is concluded.]

 

[The finalist is Lucas Ascanien of the German Empire.]

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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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