How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 251

—————
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 (251)

 

“…Farnese.”

 

“….”

 

At Leo’s muttering, Narke bit his lips.

 

“Is he your family?”

 

“No.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Leo nodded his head.

 

It didn’t take long to realize that something didn’t make sense.

 

“No?!”

 

“No, but yes. I don’t know how to explain this….”

 

“….”

 

Leo checked the pulse below Narke’s neck, then pressed his forehead with his hand. Narke, realizing what that action meant, shook his head.

 

“No~ I haven’t gone crazy yet.”

 

“I see. Then explain it to me.”

 

Narke stared intently at Gabriele Farnese’s face on the screen. Leo’s gaze also turned there.

 

He didn’t resemble Narke. Although he wandered around with an enigmatic smile whose depth was impossible to gauge, Narke was fundamentally gentle and kind-looking. Gabriele Farnese was tall and thin with sharp facial features. His eyes gave off a somewhat irritable atmosphere. Among mages, his black hair, the same as Narke’s, was particularly rare and noticeable.

 

Usually, pigmentation fades and becomes lighter due to the influence of mana, so even in the East where black eyes and black hair originally made up the absolute majority, mages have yellow or light brown irises and hair. This place was the same. In southern Germany like Bavaria, hair darker than blonde was common and his own ancestors actually had black hair, but after magic appeared, the descendants’ pigmentation continued to lighten until Leo’s generation had changed so much it was hard to see them as Central European.

 

That said, it wasn’t certain that all black-haired mages were special, but there were many cases where exceptional mages had black hair.

 

Given that, the fact that this suspicious figure had black hair made even that seem suspicious.

 

‘…Well, thinking about it, someone like Florian Osterhagen also has black hair.’

 

Hair color was nothing special. Though it was a bit concerning that it was the same color as Narke’s.

 

When Narke remained silent, Leo flipped over the newspaper he had placed face down and pointed to Gabriele’s hair with his hand.

 

“You change colors when you work. Why does this person keep his natural hair color?”

 

“Because he’s not affiliated with the Papacy. He belongs to the Kingdom of Two Sicilies. He’s a nobleman from there.”

 

A nobleman from there?

 

He was talking about his own family as if they were complete strangers.

 

Leo ignored that point for now and asked about what was truly puzzling.

 

“Using that level of divine power while belonging to a kingdom instead of the Papacy? There would be no reason for that.”

 

Currently in the Italian Federation, the Papal States held the most powerful force. There was no reason not to join the Papacy even with that vast amount of divine power reminiscent of Narke.

 

“Right. More than that, I don’t know what he’s thinking wandering around doing such things again, well, I do know but….”

 

Narke rubbed his face with one hand and sighed.

 

“That person isn’t a Farnese but a Caetani.”

 

“….”

 

Leo looked up at the ceiling, wanting to grab his throat.

 

Caetani?

 

That was….

 

“The surname you recommended to Lucas. Jeremiah Caetani.”

 

“Right.”

 

At that time, Lucas needed precise identity documents to counter Abraham’s background investigation. Since the domestic area was under Abraham’s sphere of influence, they had to bring a name from overseas entirely.

 

They couldn’t use the Farnese surname most easily since Narke was in the country. Instead, they borrowed the name of the Caetani family, who had been in-laws with the Farnese long ago and continued active exchanges to this day.

 

That aside….

 

Leo grabbed the back of his neck and said.

 

“But now this person came out to the international competition deceiving his family?! No, if you’re going to deceive, you should deceive properly!”

 

“….”

 

Systematically, that wasn’t impossible. But even if you could exploit loopholes in the system, normally you wouldn’t do such things. Because you’d be caught soon.

 

Narke spoke with a dejected face, not seeming particularly surprised.

 

“…It’s complicated. Our family and that person don’t get along well. Actually, it’s closer to him unilaterally disliking me.”

 

“Why?”

 

“…It’s too personal to explain easily. Sorry. Actually, the family elders know that person sometimes impersonates Farnese but leave him alone. He’s roughly my cousin by human standards anyway.”

 

“You’re saying he has similar composition to you?”

 

Narke was silent for a long time. He answered quietly just when Leo was about to give up on getting an answer.

 

“In some ways, you could say that.”

 

“….”

 

What does ‘in some ways’ mean now.

 

No matter how much mana was mixed, they were clearly different families, so there was no way they’d just overlook such insolent behavior.

 

‘Maybe they owe him something.’

 

The Farnese family to that Gabriele Caetani, that is. It was suspicious that they didn’t stop him even though he was doing things that would trouble the Farnese.

 

Narke spoke to Leo with a complicated expression.

 

“Contact Lucas again, Leo. He’s not someone it would be good to encounter. That person will try to test Lucas. The reason he finished the match in less than 3 minutes was to meet Lucas as quickly as possible. I’m certain.”

 

“Testing?”

 

Narke answered with a stiff face while dry-washing his face.

 

“…He knows I’ve become close with Lucas.”

 

* * *

 

“….”

 

Gabriele Farnese.

 

I sat in the player waiting room looking at the screen. The player’s match was so aggressive it seemed like he had thrown courtesy out the window. Also, it wasn’t very desirable.

 

His final spell was a continuation of the spell Narke had used before to stop Auguste’s unique ability.

 

Magic that blocks an opponent’s mana operation. Since I, who had memorized divine power magic books whenever I had time, didn’t know this magic even theoretically, this must be family-exclusive magic or magic used only by the Papacy. Judging by its scale and danger, it was much more likely to be Papal magic.

 

The Chinese Player already had restriction magic cast by the Italian Athlete affecting him from when he collapsed. Yet continuing to chant spells until time ran out had impure intentions. Like that French Player earlier or me, it was likely a spell deliberately uttered to express his will.

 

Then when does the Papacy use this magic? Why does the Papacy use such dangerous magic?

 

‘It’s obvious.’

 

Recalling that situation and memories from the third test, this would be magic used to execute heretics and pagans, atheists and materialists, or all other violators of church law.

 

The Chinese mage was a pagan in that Italian Athlete’s eyes. He belonged to an imperial court that believed in Tibetan Buddhism, and due to the Qing imperial court’s tolerance policy—actually due to the imperial court’s ambition to secure influence—they used Buddhist sutras, Tao Te Ching, and Four Books and Five Classics all as magic spells. Though the Tao Te Ching was mainly used because the image of Taoist masters and immortals matched that of mages.

 

That player did nothing wrong, just flew over following the Qing imperial court and participated in the competition at that imperial court’s request, yet there was no reason for him to suffer such humiliation in front of people worldwide just for fighting with pagan scriptures. That Chinese Player probably couldn’t understand the Italian spell, but the people of this continent could.

 

I didn’t know there was such a person lacking courtesy and respect in Farnese. Originally, we knew almost nothing about Narke, so we didn’t even know he had brothers.

 

‘But they look too different?’

 

Moreover, surprisingly, while using divine power, he held not the Papacy’s wand but a wand from the Kingdom of Two Sicilies within Italy. A player of that power level should belong to the Papacy rather than elsewhere, so why was he holding another kingdom’s wand instead? Yet why was he chanting Papal magic formulas?

 

Earlier Leo said ‘Narke wants you to forfeit.’

 

I think I know the reason. What did it mean that unlike in the quarterfinals, in the semifinals he showed no courtesy to his opponent and immediately used magic no different from sorcery to block the opponent’s mana? Why did he only want to end it quickly?

 

‘I don’t really want to think that way though.’

 

Considering the cause of his sudden attitude change in the semifinals unlike the quarterfinals, that is, the variable that arose from his perspective. The most likely conclusion I could reach using intuition was that he started acting that way after watching my match.

 

Then he used expedient magic he could have done properly to suppress his opponent and end the match in order to face me even one minute faster.

 

If Penthalon had been held about 3 times, they would have ruled such special magic a foul and disqualified him. I can guarantee it 100%. It’s not that others don’t use such magic because they can’t.

 

However, right now there were no proper Penthalon leaders remaining in this place and they couldn’t identify exactly what magic he used, so he was just lucky not to be disqualified.

 

I could raise an objection too, but….

 

I have no intention of raising an objection. For now, he must not be disqualified.

 

And I have no intention of forfeiting as Narke requested.

 

Then someone knocked on the door and entered the waiting room.

 

“It’s time to move.”

 

I looked at the hands of the Employee who came to get me.

 

A cross was glowing in his hands.

 

Currently, it was 50 minutes after the time when 600,000 people were cursed. I couldn’t let my guard down. Previously, the book code appeared about 40 minutes after, so while this was a bit late, it was far too early to conclude the Terrorist had given up executing the curse.

 

But now it was the end.

 

Now, just a little more and I could see the end.

 

I stretched briefly and followed the Employee out of the waiting room.

 

[Waaaaah—!]

 

The sound of people’s cheers hit my ears. Rather than sounding like human voices, it was like the sound of a gale.

 

I came out before my opponent again this time. When the cheers subsided a little, the white door of the opposite entrance opened.

 

As the Italian Mage I had seen through the screen earlier walked out slowly, cheers poured out again. Like me, he walked through the passage to the end of the circular Stage. After standing there staring intensely at each other for 10 seconds.

 

A guidance voice could be heard.

 

[…3, 2, 1.]

 

[Beginning now.]

 

In the opening ceremony turn, he raised his wand first. He swept the wand with one hand to transform it into a staff, then opened his mouth.

 

—Not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Christ from the dead, Paul, who became an apostle….

 

‘Hmm?’

 

This is….

 

This isn’t an opening ceremony.

 

He lightly raised his staff toward the sky.

 

—Together with all the brothers who are with me, to the various churches of Galatia, may grace and peace from our God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

 

Kuwoong—

 

As he lightly struck his staff down to the floor, light spread across the ground. White light and its afterglow sparkled and rushed forward, like a snowstorm under sunlight. The stage floor where divine power had passed seemed frozen. It was quickly washed away by the management’s purification, but for a moment it felt like being in a fantasy.

 

Strangely, instead of an opening ceremony, he gave a greeting wishing for peace.

 

[Waaaaaaah….]

 

The audience’s cheers could be heard.

 

He smiled, looked at me, and quietly greeted me.

 

“Nice to meet you, brother.”

 

“….”

 

Though I wondered why he was acting like that, I nodded slightly and performed my opening ceremony.

 

And while doing so, I opened the status window.

 

[Gabrielle Caetani]

 

[Favorability -5] [Can be conquered]

 

Title: מַלְאָךְ

 

Stamina: +7

 

Mental Power: +8

 

Magic Power: +10

 

Technique: +6

 

Impression: 0

 

Luck: -2

 

Traits: Divine Power, Insight (Lv. 4)

 

Insight level 4?

 

Except for that, he’s similar to Narke or… even inferior.

 

And….

 

‘Now I understand why they don’t resemble each other.’

 

Isn’t this a name I’ve heard often somewhere?

 

It’s the family name I used when creating Jeremaiah Caetani’s identity. It’s also the surname Narke recommended to me.

 

The reason Narke recommended the Caetani surname to me was because it was a family within the range that could provide cover if identity issues arose.

 

That point isn’t important.

 

What’s important is that this person likely knows Narke.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

As expected, the fact that match time was shortened more in the semifinals than the quarterfinals is still a remarkable point. His mention of Farnese was probably to inform me of his connection to him.

 

The dirty play from previous matches was nowhere to be seen as he waited calmly until my opening ceremony finished.

 

As soon as I finished the final movement by lowering the wand I had raised, his pure white attacks came rushing at me consecutively.

 

Kwaang— Kwang! Kwagwang—!

 

I deflected his attacks by swinging my wand.

 

The audience seating had already fallen into silence. Unlike the semifinals where cheers and whistles could be heard, this time I could feel everyone concentrating.

 

Gabriele Farnese, no, Gabrielle Caetani lightly flicked his wrist and poured attacks at me.

 

Just as it was getting boring, he opened his mouth in a quiet voice.

 

—Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.

 

“….”

 

—Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

 

Kwaang—!

 

He stamped his foot hard and thrust his wand down.

 

—Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous!

 

It was quiet. Nothing appeared. However….

 

Kuwoong—

 

[Be my rock of refuge, where I can always go.]

 

Kwaaaang—!

 

As I chanted a magic power spell and struck my staff to the floor, exclamations poured from the audience seats along with the explosive sound.

 

I already knew well how this guy’s methods worked from watching the previous match. The opponent hadn’t attacked just now, but an explosive sound was heard as soon as I put up a barrier.

 

What does this mean?

 

It means his attack was coming at me, even though it wasn’t visible.

 

“Hmm, be my rock of refuge, where I can always go….”

 

The Antagonist burst into laughter and shook his head.

 

Then, speaking briefly, he charged at me.

 

“For an atheist.”

 

Kkaang—!! Kkigik—

 

I transformed my wand into a sword and instantly blocked him as he rushed before me. The divine power flowing from his blade was chilling. His gaze was the same, except for the slight interest and amusement that could be felt.

 

For an atheist, he says.

 

‘Is it thanks to his insight ability? He figured it out well.’

 

But what am I supposed to do about it?

 

What can I do about the government desperately using scripture in magic spells to reduce the Papacy’s power? Once magic was obtained by those in power, it was inevitable that magic would be associated with sanctity. There were even Human scholars who criticized this, saying ‘the divine right of kings, which should have remained as an outdated practice of the old era, has been revived through magic.’

 

Anyway, using scripture in magic is a worldwide phenomenon, and to explain the cause on This Continent, it’s because religious influence remains much stronger than in our history’s 19th century, so the power struggle between religion and politics has continued.

 

Even in our history’s 19th century, Catholics and Protestants checked and competed with each other. The Imperial Government’s correspondence of Luther’s German Bible translation to magic formulas was part of their checking activities against the Papacy and the Catholic Church.

 

In the post-magic world, too many things have already changed, including doctrinal interpretation and power structures, but human behavior hasn’t changed much even in the post-magic world.

 

Therefore, this guy has no right to mock me for reciting biblical passages without faith. All of this is based on politics and ethnic conflicts, not faith.

 

He pulled his sword from me and immediately infused it with divine power, striking upward from below. I retreated from him and deflected the sword that bent into my right field of vision.

 

Chaeng! Chang—!

 

—They rejected the decrees of the Lord and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless.

 

The dark eyes that kept following stared at me for a long time as if peering into my abyss. The clashing sound from the swords was noisy.

 

Kkigik— Geuguk—

 

—They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them….

 

[If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.]

 

Pik—

 

The moment I quietly finished speaking, the divine power that had been swirling around his sword tip extinguished. The guy’s eyes slightly contorted.

 

Of course they would. The magic formula I cast was one that suppresses the opponent’s attacks. According to what I’ve observed so far, this guy uses magic without revealing magic power traces. As such, he’s being arrogant, trusting in himself. Looking at how he’s openly chanting spells slowly, don’t I need to block his nonsense?

 

He opened his eyes slightly wide, then returned to an expressionless state.

 

Hwiiik— Paang—!

 

I retreated backward to avoid the sword he was swinging and spoke an incantation.

 

[Love never fails.]

 

His gaze turned to the floor. His sword that had been constantly rushing at me began to pull back. There was no visible attack. If he was going to make both magic power and divine power transparent, I should respond accordingly even if I had to overlap a couple of magic formulas.

 

The guy flicked his finger. White divine power crackled and sparked from his fingertip. But that was all.

 

This is magic that interferes with the opponent’s magic power operation. It’s a similar formula to the divine power magic formula the guy used earlier, but it mainly acts on the opponent’s malice.

 

I sent magic power flowing with my foot and continued the incantation.

 

[Where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away! We know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears.]

 

—Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

 

Peoeong— Peng— Kwang!

 

He thrust his wand to the floor, exploding and eliminating the magic power I had shot below the stage, and like me earlier, jumped to the side to avoid the attack.

 

His recovery is fast. He shook off the interference by chanting a recovery formula. He’s definitely more skilled than the Player I met earlier.

 

‘He’s not using divine power for nothing. If this doesn’t work, then rather….’

 

At that moment, he slammed his staff down on the floor.

 

Crash—!

 

—Thus says the Lord.

 

“…!”

 

The moment his words began, sound thundered like lightning.

 

I reflexively grabbed one of my ears.

 

—Behold, I am against those who prophesy false dreams and tell them and lead my people astray with their lies and their recklessness. I did not send them or command them….

 

Grip—

 

The moment I tried to remove my hand from my ear, he appeared behind me, grabbed my hair, and chanted a spell into my ear.

 

—They do not profit this people at all, declares the Lord.

 

Rumble—

 

Suddenly, the surroundings turned red. The audience seats disappeared and everything around became stone. I stood alone in this low area beneath the towering Rocky Ravine. A cliff was visible from one slope. The sky was red and the moon was tilted. A sandstorm arose, making it impossible to see ahead properly.

 

As a fellow Arcane Mage, I knew what this was.

 

‘Hallucination.’

 

The smell of blood stung my nose.

 

‘Ah, this bastard too.’

 

Fundamentally no different. I don’t know what he’s doing this for….

 

It strongly feels like he’s testing me. However, if that French Player earlier felt like he was trying to punish me, pushed by the audience’s mockery, this one’s purpose was closer to confirmation rather than punishment. At least that’s how I felt.

 

I don’t know what he could gain by testing me. I also can’t understand why someone who knows Narke would want to test me. And why at this time? Just because he met me, so he’s taking this opportunity?

 

Trumpet sounds can be heard. Blood and hail are falling from the red sky. This situation where someone’s blood flows down my cheek and drips cannot help but be truly disgusting.

 

But….

 

Unfortunately, because divine power flows through my body, and because my mind hasn’t assimilated with the hallucination, I can’t feel fear. Perhaps it’s thanks to the drug’s effects.

 

I felt the smell of blood filling my lungs and moved my arms. They won’t move. I stomped my feet hard.

 

Crash—!

 

[If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish!]

 

The world’s dark magic seemed to lift from my feet, and in the time it took to close and open my eyes once, the pure white light of magic lamps entered my vision.

 

[…9.]

 

[8.]

 

Red magic debris scatters around. I was lying on the floor as expected. I can see my opponent crouching low and retreating far away due to my attack.

 

[…Waaaah!]

 

Perhaps because I’d overturned the advantage, the audience’s entertaining cheers can be heard.

 

While I kicked off the ground to get up, my opponent, who was looking at me with narrowed eyes, thrust his wand and shouted.

 

—Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain!

 

Clang—!

 

Sleep magic. I lightly deflected his magic and tilted my head. The sound was strange, as if the divine attack my opponent launched had been sharply honed.

 

There’s one common characteristic of divine magic: when the opponent is on guard, it doesn’t work properly.

 

It’s unfortunate that I’ve met an opponent with poor compatibility. He swung his wand toward me and opened his mouth.

 

—Whoever listens to you listens to me.

 

Crash—! Bang—

 

‘The same magic again.’

 

This is magic he already showed in the semifinals. He blocked the Blue Empire Mage’s magic with this spell formula.

 

Every time I deflect the attacks he sends out, white divine power with broken invisibility scatters like snow. The fierce wind generated from his divine power dishevels my eyes and hair.

 

If I must block my magic, the only way is to return it in kind.

 

[Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.]

 

—Whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me. The seventy-two returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name….

 

His persistence is remarkable. The Antagonist keeps trying to prevent me from using my magic.

 

Looking at the Antagonist standing far away, I swung my staff widely instead of slamming it down.

 

[Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the Desert!]

 

Crash—!!

 

Because my magic created a gale, I could see the people in the audience seats on the Antagonist’s side recoiling in surprise.

 

The Antagonist also received my magic while covering his face with his arms. After being pushed back to the edge of the Stage, he tried stepping on Midair with his heels and glared at me. The moment he was about to open his mouth to say something, I quietly opened my mouth once more.

 

[For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.]

 

“…!”

 

The Antagonist grabbed his arm.

 

I continued thrusting my wand at him. Even as my magic was bearing down on him, he couldn’t use any magic. He just ran frantically, crouching and rolling on the ground.

 

How was this possible?

 

This bastard was relying only on divine power and showing off, so he forgot the basics.

 

What I recited was a reflection spell formula. Defense against reflection magic. That’s basic among basics.

 

‘Of course, I didn’t know divine power could be reflected so easily.’

 

That was probably possible because I use divine power.

 

“…Ah, I see. Then….”

 

He took a deep breath and then struck hard at where his core would be with his other hand. Since he was only affected by his own magic, dispelling it would be easy. Thinking this, I slammed my staff down hard to interfere with his movement, and at that moment, the Antagonist opened his mouth.

 

—For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.

 

The world darkened again. After closing and opening my eyes once, I was now in a Desert with nothing but sand. I expected he would frequently use mental magic, but his thorough utilization of his specialty is remarkable.

 

Anyway….

 

I can’t stay here any longer. “Then…” he said, as if the Antagonist has figured out how to deal with me.

 

Crash—!

 

I stomped my feet to immediately break the hallucination and opened my eyes. I instantly heard the Antagonist’s voice.

 

—Enter through the Narrow Entrance.

 

* * *

 

Elias’s face contorted.

 

‘What the hell….’

 

What kind of person is that Farnese bastard?

 

Luca, who had quickly switched his wand to a staff and was standing holding it, swayed. Luca’s head lifted with difficulty then dropped down. That Gabrielle or whatever his name is seemed displeased that his magic wasn’t working immediately, tilting his head while approaching Luca with his wand extended.

 

—Enter through the Narrow Entrance. If I remain in you and my words remain in you….

 

“…!”

 

“That person is overlapping spell formulas in that way.”

 

Julia, standing beside him, muttered in a low voice. He’s cutting and alternately combining amplification magic and mental manipulation magic.

 

—The gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. Ask whatever you wish!

 

Luca’s body swayed with his head drooping. Since he was still standing, the magic didn’t seem to work completely, but his condition wasn’t good.

 

—But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

 

He who had approached right in front of Luca grabbed Luca’s hair and made him lift his head, just as he had done to the Blue Empire Mage, with movements that showed no consideration for his opponent.

 

“Get off the Field.”

 

He said that in clear German.

 

However, Luca stood using his staff as a walking stick, then collapsed on the Floor. Gabrielle released his hair and let him fall.

 

Rumble—

 

Gabrielle slowly looked around and said.

 

“Get up.”

 

“….”

 

“Why can’t you get up?”

 

Luca’s quickened breathing came through the microphone loudly. Strength naturally entered Elias’s fists. Julia tapped Elias’s shoulder to calm him.

 

“De hoc speciale nihil est, cur ergo hunc hominem eligis? Quare?”

 

Gabrielle tilted his head and spoke while looking at the camera high above.

 

Latin. It wasn’t a magic spell but words directed at Someone.

 

[10.]

 

The countdown began.

 

Gabrielle shook his head and knelt on one knee, sitting beside Luca. He leisurely looked around and opened his mouth once more.

 

—Enter through the Narrow Entrance.

 

“Why is he doing that again…!”

 

“How cowardly.”

 

Even Julia agreed with Elias’s opinion this time.

 

She must have interpreted Luca’s failure to get up as the magic not working.

 

From the beginning, it wasn’t proper to pit someone capable of using divine power against other mages without any restrictions. The regulations were incomplete, and the opponent was despicable. Gabrielle continued in a dry voice.

 

—The gate that leads to destruction is….

 

[…Beware of false prophets.]

 

“…!”

 

Elias’s eyes widened.

 

Though faint, it was definitely Luca’s voice.

 

Since magical power began to spark faintly from his hands, the countdown didn’t continue.

 

Gabrielle silently looked down at him.

 

[…They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them… Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?]

 

—The gate that leads to destruction is wide and its road is broad, and many enter through it.

 

Gabrielle tilted his head and chanted the spell.

 

—But the gate that leads to life is narrow and the road is hard, and few find it!

 

[…Many will say to me on that day… Lord, Lord. Did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?]

 

Elias held his breath.

 

Though it was an extremely faint voice, Gabrielle’s brow began to furrow more and more. Even after reciting the entire mind manipulation spell, Luca continued speaking. While appearing relaxed on the surface, his inner wariness seemed to be rising, as the mage’s shoulders appeared slightly tense.

 

How?

 

Was resistance possible with just the medicine he had taken so far? Even Elias couldn’t know that much. Luca firmly grasped the hand that was pressing against his forehead. The mage tried to pull his hand away, but it was already too late.

 

[Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’]

 

Kwaaaaang—!

 

Red light struck once again. Elias squinted his eyes and then regained focus. Following Gabrielle’s death throes, when he closed and opened his eyes once more, Luca was completely upright.

 

Luca pressed around his eyes with his hand. He looked at his opponent expressionlessly and chanted a spell.

 

[What is the way to the abode of light? And where does the east wind dwell?]

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