How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 257
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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 (257)
No matter how great a general Hannibal was, this could be considered his second mistake.
“….”
I slowly exhaled and pressed my brow bone. The dawn sunlight beginning to stream through the window stung my eyes. Through my fallen hair, the Archbishop’s serious expression flickered.
“Osnabrück wants you. The Leadership is planning to use you as bait to lure out the Bishop of Osnabrück. Of course, they’ll disguise it so he won’t know it’s a trap.”
His thin, calm voice echoed through this room.
I answered in a voice that was quite rough compared to his. My head hurt and I didn’t feel like making anything up.
“I see.”
“You have Heike Einsiedel on your team.”
I only raised my eyes to look at him.
He’s talking about Bishop Einsiedel of the Diocese of Osnabrück, and now he brings up someone from the same family?
What follows won’t be very good. I have that premonition.
“Are you close?”
“….”
“I don’t know if you’re aware, but we in Pleroma don’t know how the principle of resurrection works. We know nothing except that blood is involved in our resurrection and powers. We don’t know the real principle behind reviving someone who’s become a skeleton or transforming an old man into a young man. We just recite incantations and borrow power.”
“Hmm, I see.”
He shouldn’t take my answer at face value. This is something I already heard from Abraham. I pretend to agree even when I don’t, pretend to know even when I don’t, and pretend not to know even when I do. It’s necessary to do so in front of Pleroma. Especially since he suddenly changed the subject, I need to be even more careful with my answers in preparation for what’s coming.
“For I will surely demand an accounting for the blood of your lives—from every animal I will demand it, and from each human being, too, I will demand an accounting for the life of another human being.”
“Genesis.”
“Yes. Leviticus also says this: For the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you to make atonement for yourselves on the altar; it is the blood that makes atonement for one’s life.”
“….”
“Blood is an element directly connected to the story of our life and origin, and the ability to handle blood is the ability to govern life and death.”
“So?”
The Archbishop showed no sign of being offended by my blunt words. He smiled briefly, then erased the smile and continued speaking.
“The Leadership has technology we don’t possess. More precisely, their individual unique abilities exceed our expectations. There’s someone in our Pleroma Leadership who has abilities related to blood.”
“Are you certain?”
“They have to be there. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be possible to resurrect people.”
I readily nodded.
“That Bishop of Osnabrück’s unique ability is the same as what Student Heike Einsiedel has. Their facial features, height, atmosphere… everything is completely different so there’s not a single resemblance, but at least that surname and unique ability prove the two are relatives. As you know, unique abilities are inherited.”
They are completely different.
Just looking at them, you wouldn’t know they’re family. Their eye color, hair color are different, the nature of the mana they use is quite different, and so are their facial features and body types. Even if they claimed to be blood relatives, there’s not a single resemblance that would make you want to believe them.
If Bishop Einsiedel is from a quite distant branch family, it would make sense that he wasn’t in the Einsiedel direct main family’s photo album and doesn’t resemble Haike at all. That vast amount of mana is concerning, but talented individuals can emerge even from branch families.
Come to think of it, there’s quite a difference in mana capacity between Haike and him.
“Upon investigation, the Einsiedel Family itself uses mental-type magic as their unique ability. If we search more, we’ll find more mages with abilities similar to that bishop. But we don’t have time right now.”
“So.”
“How about bringing Heike Einsiedel’s blood?”
How about bringing Haike’s blood.
Abraham’s words come to mind. The proposal and words he made to me after the Eschede launch ceremony.
‘…Is this how they drag people in?’
Whether voluntary or involuntary, the future where Haike falls into Pleroma’s path might begin like this.
I was lucky to hear these words now, but I can’t let my guard down. According to Abraham, his ability is exactly what Pleroma needs. Just because their unique abilities are the same, they’re probably plotting like this somewhere.
This time I asked my friends to protect Haike’s safety, but I wonder if that will be possible even when this year passes and another year passes again.
I continued looking at him without changing my expression. He continued speaking seriously.
“If we hand it over to the Leadership, there might be more things the Leadership can do with blood. Like sensing the life force of someone with the same unique ability.”
“No.”
I shook my head and continued.
“Don’t involve other people in uncertain matters.”
“…We have to try everything we can. If we don’t catch Bishop Einsiedel now, you’ll be the one captured.”
“Then I’d rather let that happen.”
“….”
The Archbishop’s face turned grim.
After staring at him for a while, I exhaled deeply first and spoke.
“I don’t want to harm anyone. What you’re saying now is essentially asking to replace me with Heike Einsiedel as the Leadership’s primary target. You want to use her as bait.”
“That’s right. Is this the time to worry about whether you’ll harm others or not?”
“Then don’t you worry about that? This is ridiculous. I, just recently when I saw you get injured because of me…”
I made a disgusted expression and shook my head, meaning to stop talking.
The Antagonist’s interest began turning elsewhere sooner than expected.
“When you saw that?”
“….”
Seeing the mischief creeping into his eyes, it seems I shouldn’t abandon hope.
No, rather this is an opportunity.
I answered through non-verbal means instead. I don’t really want to know how I answered. The fact that my experience is being used like this brings such reality shock that I can’t express it in words.
I cooled the heat by stroking my nape with cold hands. I’m not looking at him properly so I’m not certain, but the Antagonist’s face looking at me began to subtly show traces of amusement. He quickly composed his expression and waited for me.
I was looking at the floor when I took his hand.
“Don’t use methods like that. Even if you survive using methods that make you uncomfortable, it won’t be joyful.”
“….”
‘Should I ask for more medicine…’
I had to brainwash myself into believing there was a camera rolling here and I was making my fifth NG. Even though I’d never made five NGs due to my own fault in my life, I had to believe it.
“How did you feel when you found out I was injured?”
“Still on that topic? You’re persistent.”
“Why, tell me.”
“I don’t want to.”
“Why~”
‘No, this guy… this person?’
He half-rose from his chair and leaned toward me. Instead of saying something rude out loud, I pulled my chair back and shook my head.
“I’ll tell you later.”
But he didn’t give up, and eventually got up from his seat and approached me.
It took 20 minutes before I could escape from this situation.
“….”
The problem was that while we escaped from that topic, somehow a not-so-good atmosphere was created. Well, not good for me, but it would be good for the Archbishop. I looked at the Archbishop who was silently right in front of me. We had both been raising our voices saying this and that until just now, but now an extremely burdensome silence flowed.
This is why I don’t want to be in the same space.
Who decided to create this kind of atmosphere? I pushed him away and jumped up to run out.
“Huh?! Ah, no, why?”
Questioning laughter came from behind. Like a mage, he ran at insane speed to catch up and grab me.
“Wait! Aren’t you disliking this too much? What did I do?”
“You might not know, but I have a bit of mysophobia, so when I’m close to people…”
“You don’t have that.”
“Then just think I do.”
At my answer, he laughed hollowly and shrugged. Gradually his eyes became serious again.
“This isn’t the time for this. What are you going to do?”
“About what?”
“If not that method, there’s no way to do anything right now.”
“….”
“The Leadership looking for you means your opportunities to move around outside are more completely blocked than before. If we’re going to attack the Bishop of Osnabrück together, we have no choice but to call him here, but in that case the risk is too great. As you can see from the time, this coordinate system is already unstable.”
I continued looking at him silently.
Then the Archbishop let out a helpless laugh.
“…But you’re not going to change your mind, are you?”
“That’s right. You know me well.”
“Then let’s go with the original plan. I’ll try to solve it myself. I’ll come to hear your advice too, but for now let me try using my own power. Starting with diverting the Leadership’s attention.”
Before I could say anything, he quickly continued.
“I won’t accept any other answer.”
“You’re telling me to just stay home.”
“Yes.”
He answered firmly.
“It’s not time for you to step forward. While I change the leadership’s mind, you stay here. I’ll tell you this in advance – for me it might take a day or two, or even just a few hours, but for you it will be quite a long time.”
“What am I supposed to do all that time? This is bewildering.”
“I want to move together with you too. But you know what will happen if we go outside. Even you can see there’s no other way, right?”
I didn’t answer. He spoke in a subdued voice.
“Unless we use the strategy of changing targets using Heike Einsiedel’s blood, this time…”
“…”
“Listen to me.”
Maintain this stalemate. This situation where I can do nothing? Left alone in this land that’s as empty as a ghost mansion with only that suspicious servant called ‘Lu Bar’ and a single library.
Of course, this was as expected. I knew he would definitely come out like this.
Until now, I hadn’t shown very favorable reactions to him.
Of course, even until now I had desperately acted as warmly as I could with all my might, but to him it must have felt stiff.
If the situation flows like this, I’ll change my strategy from now on.
I’ll act more convincingly than before. To the point where even I might be confused about what I want and what I know.
“You’re right.”
* * *
A day had passed.
Outside, another 2 hours would have passed.
‘…Is it the 4th hour now…’
I had spent 48 hours while others had only spent a mere 4 hours.
Assuming the Archbishop’s words were true, the terrorist incident probably hadn’t been resolved yet.
No, even if I rolled around here for a week, it would still be chaos over there. Not even a full day would have passed. That disparity feels strange.
This place is excessively peaceful right now. Sunlight is streaming into the pure white hall. The Archbishop, sitting on the sofa by the window with his back to the sunlight in the distance, looked at me and asked.
“Do you like the food here?”
“Yes.”
“Is there anything uncomfortable?”
“No.”
“You’re not bored?”
“Well.”
“Neckties suit you much better, so why did you wear ribbon ties at school?”
Why is he suddenly saying something like this?
It’s because the Archbishop had called someone from a clothing store in the Pleroma world. True to the closed-off nature of the Pleroma world, the tailor and salesperson who brought clothes here are in the same space but cannot see us. They’re blocked by a special barrier. Only the Archbishop’s servant crosses between the two barriers to convey requirements.
Anyway, I’m now wearing clothes chosen by the Archbishop. He said he wanted to spend some time with me before going out for today’s investigation, and I’m accommodating him more faithfully as I resolved yesterday. I adjusted the navy necktie he pointed to and answered.
“It’s my preference.”
As you can see from me wearing ribbons and Elias wearing neckties at school, our school allows anything as long as it covers the neck.
Actually, the ribbon was Luca’s preference, not mine. To be precise, it was probably a choice made because Luca didn’t know how to tie neckties well. To patiently teach Luca such things, it was better to just have a few servants quickly take care of it when absolutely necessary. Outside of such essential times, no one wanted to have long conversations or stay close to Luca, and Luca couldn’t ask anyone to teach him either.
I know how to tie neckties, but I didn’t want to erase Luca’s traces.
When the Archbishop gestured, a servant came to me with different clothes. The Archbishop watched me change ties and shook his head.
“Ah, but a cravat looks much better than a necktie. You have a long neck so standing collars suit you well.”
“I see.”
“I think having a brooch would be better too… You always dress so plainly.”
“Hmm.”
“It was good to choose a checkered vest. Patterns are better. Don’t you think?”
“Well.”
“Are you listening?”
I shook my head.
And I spoke to the Archbishop who had somehow come right in front of me.
“There’s no point telling me… I’m not interested in what suits me better. I’m not curious about how I look to myself or others.”
“Because you only need to look good to me?”
“Why would that be the case?”
When I looked serious, the Archbishop smiled and asked.
“So, do you dislike it?”
“…No.”
“Then?”
“Continue. It’s nice to have a chance to learn what your tastes are.”
I think it’s fortunate that it’s winter now. If it were summer, this guy would have noticed the goosebumps on my arms.
At my words, he smiled brightly. Then he went back to sit on the sofa, propped his chin up and said.
“Actually, when I wear formal clothes, I don’t really dress flashily either. Always plain neckties without patterns… and when going out, I wear a silk hat. Hmm. Too conventional, right? At least ‘as far as I know.’ But you look good in more flashy things, so I like it.”
“…”
I almost grabbed the back of my neck. Everything’s fine, but I wish he wouldn’t occasionally say things that prove he has multiple bodies. Of course, I already knew he had a new-human body, and new-humans are culturally bound to be familiar with formal wear. Setting aside that ‘as far as I know’… when you think about it, it’s natural, so I should practice not being shocked.
Anyway, before I just gave up and left, I barely managed to open my mouth.
“You dress quite flashily in robes though.”
“I left everything to my secretary.”
“You left it to them?”
“Yes.”
I held out my hand to the servant.
“Could you give me the catalog?”
“Huh? Oh, yes.”
As I looked through the booklet, the Archbishop’s eyes widened. When I picked appropriate clothes and showed them to the servant, the Archbishop somehow made a face of realization and held back laughter.
He seems to be misunderstanding something, but it wasn’t jealousy at all. It was just rebelliousness against having to be the only one doing this.
The Archbishop, who came out wearing the clothes I chose, stood in front of the mirror and said.
“Simple. Is this your taste?”
“It suits you well.”
I gave a different answer and sat on the sofa.
Just as I have no interest in what I’m wearing, I have no interest in what others wear either. There’s no room for taste to form. Even now, only the fact that his clothes are sky blue and quite modern unlike the burdensome clothing of this era catches my eye.
The Archbishop seemed quite satisfied. With an excited face, he stepped aside slightly so that both he and I would appear in the same mirror.
Then, fortunately, the Archbishop didn’t seem very interested in changing clothes, so he finished shopping appropriately and sent the salesperson away. Then with a proud face he said.
“Let’s get the next clothes custom-made.”
He’s going to buy new clothes again soon? Custom-made at that? Of course, nobles almost always wear tailored clothes, but…
I know why he’s specifically saying this now. It must be for the engagement ceremony that Lu Bar mentioned. While I was managing my expression and choosing what to say, he grabbed my arm and said.
“We got new clothes tailored, so let’s go rest for a bit.”
“Again? Aren’t you going to investigate?”
“Even if we rest here for three or four hours, it’s only been a few dozen minutes outside. We can enjoy this much time, can’t we?”
“The outside isn’t in this kind of mood, so you have the mind to rest?”
Outside must be continuing in an atmosphere like being in a storm. Whether it’s the Pleroma world or where my friends are. Only we are in peace within this extended time just before meeting the end.
More precisely, only this Archbishop.
I should have been able to feel it quite properly from earlier. This person is actively utilizing this time.
Of course, even so, it wasn’t something completely unbearable. I too chose to accommodate him for some reason.
He looked at me and grinned.
“That’s exactly why we should enjoy it.”
Then he led me out of the manor and headed to a small building within this venue. I could easily tell what it was for. Looking at the signboard hanging above it, I said.
“A theater…”
“Don’t you like plays? You’ve performed on stage several times yourself.”
I looked down at him silently and deliberately mixed a smile into my expressionless face.
“Yes, you know that. That was just me talking to myself.”
I just remembered being alone with an enemy in a theater.
Back then I watched Macbeth with Hyung, but this time it was 【Iphigenia at Aulis】. A tragedy by the ancient Greek playwright Euripides.
Since the curtain hadn’t even risen yet and there was no program for this private theater, how did I know? The Archbishop had just whispered it to me.
“Iphigenia at Aulis… I’ve read it but this is the first time I’m seeing it performed as a play.”
“Really? Ancient Greek plays are relatively unpopular. But if you look around, quite a few are being performed.”
“I see. Do you like tragedies? I thought you’d watch comedies if anything.”
At my question, he murmured while only looking at the stage as the lights came on.
“Yes. This tragedy is interesting because I think about how it could become a comedy.”
I nodded.
The sound of drums was heard, and the curtain rose. Under the pin lights, actors dressed as Greek soldiers could be seen.
We were sitting in the middle of the audience seats in front of the stage, but just like before, they wouldn’t be able to see us.
How many minutes had passed since it started?
The Archbishop began resting his head on my shoulder. I wanted to ask what he was doing, but that would go against my earlier resolve, so I didn’t.
When the play was starting to get boring, I quietly spoke up.
“You know what? You really look like a Wittelsbach.”
“I know.”
As if he knew what I would say next, he straightened up and immediately continued speaking.
“You’d want to ask why, but I don’t have much I can tell you either. Because I don’t know.”
Right, of course. Someone who never tries to give me information wouldn’t readily tell me anything.
But this wasn’t a topic to back down from immediately. I needed to dig a bit deeper while the mood was relaxed.
“Do you remember what you said before? That you have an ‘original form’.”
“Ah, that’s right. I have the ability to change my face to look like other people. Though I don’t know the cause.”
How smoothly he speaks.
I leaned toward him. The actors’ loud voices could be heard from the stage.
I asked quietly.
“Then show me your other forms too.”
“At this point… I can’t. I want to show you only my best side.”
“Really? We have different intentions then. I want to know all your moments.”
“…”
He stared at me intently with a smile, not blinking for a long time.
Weren’t his eyes getting dry? How could a human not blink for so long? I was determined to close his eyes for him myself. Fortunately, before I could act on that determination, he began to speak.
“Some of the other me’s wouldn’t know much about you. It’s better to stay as ‘me’ and continue meeting you.”
“Why wouldn’t they know much? They’d all be you anyway.”
That werewolf senior at our school knew me well in any form.
Instead of answering, he smiled. Then he gently held my cheeks with both hands and turned my head. It was absurd, but his intention came across strongly.
He meant for me to keep watching what I was watching. After that, we focused on the play.
The play wasn’t very long, and the content was clean.
In the play, Greece prepares for the Trojan expedition, but without wind, they can’t launch ships to Troy for the second year. The temple delivers an oracle to appease the goddess Artemis by offering Iphigenia, daughter of Greek commander Agamemnon, as a sacrifice to restore the wind.
Agamemnon conflicts between his duty as a leader and his love for his daughter, and his brother Menelaus harshly criticizes that conflict.
However, Iphigenia accepts her fate and goes to the altar to be offered as a sacrifice.
[Mycenae, my Mycenae that raised me. You raised me to be the light of Greece! I will not refuse to die for you!]
[Your glory will never fade.]
[Oh, torch of the gods! Glorious light! I will now go to another world and live another life! Now, at this moment…! Beloved light, farewell!]
[Oh, behold! The girl walking to the goddess’s altar! Troy will fall and the Phrygians will meet death! Behold her path!]
Content quite bewildering from a modern perspective follows. Of course, after this, absurd content like the sacrifice suddenly being exchanged with a deer appears to reduce the tragic nature, but from the viewer’s perspective, the main story seems to end here.
The Archbishop said while resting his chin on his hand.
“How many humans would actually comply with becoming a sacrifice? Don’t ancient Greek works really frustrate people? Humans in them can’t escape fate.”
I didn’t answer. The Archbishop smiled and asked me.
“What do you think? For Iphigenia at Aulis to become a comedy, what should Iphigenia do? Should she not become a sacrifice?”
“Well, running away would be best.”
“What if she can’t?”
“That’s difficult. To make a comedy without running away.”
The Archbishop was waiting for my answer with bright eyes.
I smiled faintly and answered.
“Then first, she should willingly become the sacrifice. Until the very last moment.”
* * *
Shriiiiek—
[Catch him!]
[He’s going right!]
Thud—
[Ahhh!]
Leo sat at the long council chamber table, looking down at the artifact held by Bavaria’s Foreign Minister. All the government and royal officials seated around were quietly listening to the voices coming from that artifact.
Soon the sound of people tumbling to the ground was heard. There were dull sounds as if people were being struck with weapons, and now wet sounds followed. Surely someone’s flesh had burst and the road was stained with blood.
Prussia’s security police were beating and subduing people protesting against terrorism.
Leo listened to those voices while taking out illegal flyers that informants had collected from Prussia.
[What is the state doing? What is the Imperial Court doing? What is the Imperial Diet we elected doing!]
From propaganda with such titles, someone’s voice filled with resentment flowed out.
[What has changed from 10 years ago?! We remember what happened in the Battle of Alsace-Lorraine! Was the state planning to sacrifice its subjects again this time? Is this the fate of subjects? Who gave Friedrich Hohenzollern permission to have us free people as his subjects?]
Now Leo picked up the Imperial Newspaper. An article released by the government was prominently displayed on the front page.
[Our enemy is Pleroma. But there are those who give strength to the enemy – radicals who disturb the nation are running wild, using terrorism as an opportunity. Please report those who engage in conspiratorial acts that worsen security. The curfew does not apply to informants. Righteous subjects, you are benefactors of our Empire.]
“His Majesty the King is entering.”
At the aide’s voice, Leo put down the materials he was looking at and stood up. The King was entering the council chamber with three or four aides.
“Have you arrived, Your Majesty.”
“Let us begin.”
The King stopped the greetings and took his seat. Leo opened his mouth without sitting down.
“May I speak first?”
“Permission granted.”
At the King’s brief response, Leo immediately spoke.
“Currently, Prussia is attributing all responsibility to Pleroma, the ultimate cause of the terrorism, while highlighting their own victimhood to barely defend against the decline in their external reputation. Although continental public opinion hasn’t reached its worst point yet, Prussia is currently in an isolated state.”
Prussia was politically isolated.
Despite saying that, no one in Bavaria was pleased. Everyone’s faces were rigidly hardened.
“You all know that being cornered like this is the most dangerous state.”
“That’s correct.”
Several officials agreed.
“To avoid the pouring criticism and responsibility, Hohenzollern will now join hands with Ascanien. And they will try to completely win over Lucas Ascanien to Hohenzollern.”
Leo continued speaking while looking at the politicians who were nodding at him.
“We will allow the former, but we will not allow the latter.”
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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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