How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 260

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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 (260)

 

“Haah….”

 

Contrary to expectations, the Archbishop rolled his eyes as if he couldn’t be bothered and let out a deep sigh.

 

“What could have made you so dissatisfied. Hmm?”

 

“….”

 

“Was it disappointing that I met you in a different body and didn’t explain?”

 

‘A different body’. Now he’s telling the truth.

 

The Antagonist habitually lies. When we watched the play together, he explained his ability to me saying he could ‘change faces’. However, at that time I had already determined his ability was shapeshifting based on the information I had gathered.

 

Instead, he acknowledges his shapeshifting ability, but plans to deflect when it comes to the core reason for this mess.

 

Why? Because he doesn’t know how much I know to actively deny it, and he might think I’m just probing if he admits it.

 

Lu Bar’s face now completely wore the Archbishop’s expression.

 

“Or is it because I appeared before you in this form? Since you prefer Humans, naturally… that could be it.”

 

“No problem. Your mindset is the issue.”

 

“Is that so? Then we’ll get along. You’re not exactly normal either.”

 

“Why do you think that?”

 

“Considering everything I’ve planned so far has gone awry, isn’t that obvious?”

 

“You have great confidence in your abilities.”

 

“Of course. So, is it my turn to defend myself now?”

 

He took a deep breath, struggling to breathe due to the pressure from my hand, and spoke slowly.

 

“Don’t be too disappointed. To be precise, until this very moment, this person wasn’t completely me either. The me you met was the me in that Archbishop’s body.”

 

“….”

 

“Especially this body was even more distant from me. The memories only came in because you shattered the artifact in one blow, but originally it had a largely different ego, you could say.”

 

“So, is that explanation sufficient now?”

 

“No. Then ‘Lu Bar’ isn’t really you either?”

 

“What do you think.”

 

Lu Bar asked with a sly smile.

 

I shook my head and laughed.

 

“Obviously just one of your bodies. What’s the point of asking.”

 

“You understand well. Then will you let me go now? I don’t want to stay in this body in front of you anymore. Honestly, it’s embarrassing.”

 

“Then shapeshift in front of me right now.”

 

He looked at me silently.

 

He can’t shapeshift. If he has the same mechanism of shapeshifting ability as Riechthofen, that would certainly be the case.

 

At that time, he explained his hypothesis about his ability like this.

 

Shapeshifting ability is the ability for beings with cores of the same composition that synchronize in real-time to be exchanged in this world.

 

Let’s assume we call the world we’re in A World, and the world of pure magic that we can neither know nor reach B World. These two coexist, but we only perceive A World.

 

When transforming into a dog, Riechthofen’s flesh in A World moves to B World and becomes invisible to us, while the dog in B World moves to A World. So strictly speaking, the dog’s body doesn’t have Max Lichthofen’s genes. Completely different bodies are exchanged between the two worlds centered on the synchronization core.

 

Even then, I was considering dealing with the Stalker, so I asked him this.

 

‘What cases would prevent you from using the ability, or make it impossible to return after shapeshifting?’

 

To this, Riechthofen answered ‘If magic power is depleted after shapeshifting, you can’t return.’

 

Depletion. Fighting until depletion, not bad. But is that absolutely necessary? Is there a special reason it must be that way?

 

Wouldn’t it be enough to just prevent his magic power from being operated?

 

I moved my left hand, making a metallic clinking sound, and stroked his face with my hand.

 

“I told you before. I want to know every moment of yours. I’d like to see you shapeshift at least once.”

 

“…You have a talent for both pleasing and angering people. Of course, that makes it interesting….”

 

Fortunately, the Antagonist understood my words exactly as ‘try it if you can.’

 

“Since it’s come to this, shall we hear the story? How did you figure out Lu Sheller’s identity?”

 

Knowing Lu Bar’s identity wasn’t difficult. There were many clues used here too.

 

First, the ‘proposal’. Second, +10 favorability. Third, a baseless name that couldn’t be explained unless he made it himself—Lou: abbreviation of Louise or Louis. Using abbreviations as real names among nobles of this era is extremely rare—. Fourth, mental strength of +4 [+9] clearly enhanced by artifacts. Fifth, his desire to verify love. Sixth, the fact that ‘Lu Bar’ and the Archbishop never existed in the same Space simultaneously. Seventh, freely entering and leaving the Underground Level and Master’s Room. Eighth, ‘fugitive’, Low German, ‘Bar’.

 

When would I explain all this to him? Time is plenty but it’s not a topic I’m interested in, so my mouth would hurt.

 

So my answer is this.

 

“Asking all that, how leisurely of you.”

 

“I need to know why I was wrong to succeed next time.”

 

“There won’t be a next time.”

 

“Right. Honestly, I’m at a loss for what to do.”

 

I checked the slowly flowing stopwatch in my status window. What I can do now is buy time until support arrives. Due to the distortion, I’ll have to wait a very long time for them Here.

 

I looked down at him and slowly opened my mouth.

 

“You appeared with a different face, and then asked if I was disappointed that you didn’t tell me the truth.”

 

“….”

 

“I wasn’t disappointed about that at all. You would have needed to appear before me as ‘Lu Sheller’ anyway.”

 

“Ah! You were expecting it to some degree? Interesting. The basis for that?”

 

“You must have had many things you wanted to ask me. Like how far I could accommodate your demands… how much I love you. But if you did that with the Archbishop’s face, you couldn’t get accurate answers from me.”

 

The Archbishop silently listened to my words. I looked down at his face, pressed against the table with only one eye visible, and continued.

 

“So you wanted to hear accurate answers from me through a third party’s mouth. Whether I could become like you, like Pleroma, whether I could give you blood to drink, whether I could accommodate any of your demands without difficulty….”

 

“….”

 

“Whether I love you enough to resist the temptation of escape.”

 

“Ah~ Exactly right.”

 

He burst into laughter. I don’t know what’s so funny about this situation.

 

I continued speaking.

 

“So when I said ‘I have more questions about the last conversation with Lu Sheller,’ you had no choice but to grant my request. Even if my request came during a ceremony promising love, or rather, precisely because of that, you had to grant it. What you said to me in Lu’s body was a conversation to verify my love.”

 

“Really….”

 

“If you resented my lies…. Too bad.”

 

The Archbishop slowly closed his eyes.

 

“You really are Nicolaus.”

 

Crash—!

 

“…!”

 

My head bumped hard. Lu Bar kicked my legs and stood up, now above me. He habitually swept his hair back with one hand, then raised his eyebrows. Having been in the Archbishop’s body for so long in front of me, he seemed to mistake that his hair would be hanging down. Anyway, he laughed as if even that was amusing. With his eyes crinkled in laughter, he spoke rapidly.

 

“Resentful? That can’t be. Sorry for deceiving you. I wanted to live happily with you. You know what? I devoted everything for you. I’m not asking you to repay that, but…. I devoted my everything and finally got you in my hands, so just once, just once I wanted to hear your sincerity.”

 

“….”

 

“Is that grounds to ruin our relationship? If so, I’m truly sorry, but you just said you weren’t disappointed about that. I’m glad. We really do understand each other well.”

 

Hearing such words in New Humanity appearance and voice makes me feel slightly more nauseous. Right. I have to admit some bias based on appearance. Maybe I do prefer Humans. Rather than preference, it’s closer to familiarity. If I lived as New Humanity for about 20 more years, I might be able to think like them, but I’m a Human who hasn’t even been Here for a year.

 

“Can we continue? I won’t do things you hate anymore….”

 

Lu Bar’s left hand covered my cheek.

 

“If you release this, I’ll return to the form I showed you earlier. Wouldn’t that be better?”

 

“I’ve never understood this. Why do you love me? Why?”

 

“Hmm? I love because I love. What reason does love need?”

 

“I think there is one. At least there must be a cause.”

 

“This is subtle.”

 

That there must be a cause for falling in love. How could there be no cause for falling in love? I think that’s impossible. This might be why Elias calls me a machine. Even so, I think it’s necessary to examine what the first cause of such phenomena is.

 

“Think carefully. Why do you act so crazy toward me? Of course you are crazy, but why were those emotions directed at me?”

 

“Is that important? Isn’t the fact that we love each other right now what matters?”

 

“Knowing that would answer why you held 600,000 lives hostage and played a terror game with me.”

 

“….”

 

Lu Bar tilted his head while smiling.

 

“You seem to have become too sensitive right now.”

 

“….”

 

Since I didn’t back down and brought up this topic again, he must think he can’t retreat anymore either. Unlike earlier when he avoided answering, he’s completely set his course now.

 

“It’s true that I can move between multiple bodies. It’s not infinitely possible, but anyway, the servant Lu you saw was me. But… that I held 600,000 lives hostage and played a terror game with you.”

 

He now wore a troubled expression. His face came closer to mine.

 

“Even for me, this is too much. I lost a lot saving you just now. As I said earlier, I’m not threatening you to pay me back, but I don’t want to hear such words at least.”

 

“….”

 

“Hah….”

 

Instead of answering, I stared intently at those brown eyes.

 

He grabbed my bound hands and pulled out a rose from my boutonniere, holding it out to me.

 

“I’m going to kill Ainsiedel.”

 

“….”

 

“Ainsiedel will try to take you away, but what can I do. If you can’t trust me that much, it’s more comfortable for me to just go together.”

 

“Impressive in many ways. Stop this now.”

 

“Stop…? I don’t know what you’re thinking again, but it’s not a lie that I know Ainsiedel’s location.”

 

“It wouldn’t be a lie.”

 

At my cold response, he stopped moving and looked down at me.

 

“Right now Ainsiedel would be with the Pleroma leadership. Am I wrong?”

 

“….”

 

“You seem quite flustered. Earlier too, and before that, you kept misjudging how much information I have… Have you now decided to just call the Bishop of Osnabrück ‘Ainsiedel’?”

 

Lu Bar raised his eyebrows. The corners of his mouth slowly curved upward.

 

“…Ah, hahahaha…!”

 

“When you told me about ‘Heike Einsiedel’ and the ‘Bishop of the Diocese of Osnabrück,’ you said ‘at least it’s proven that the two figures are relatives by that surname and unique ability.’ Why would I know what surname the Bishop of the Diocese of Osnabrück has, and why would you start with such words without even introducing what that bishop’s surname is. The day before yesterday you naturally referred to the Bishop of the Diocese of Osnabrück as ‘Ainsiedel.’ It’s the same now. Why? Because I know the Bishop of the Diocese of Osnabrück’s surname. Because you know that fact, you did that. You clearly said you met me after Eschete, but how curious.”

 

“….”

 

“It’s not easy to act like you don’t know what you know. Once or twice might be fine, but lies can’t last long. You already know that I entered the Catacombs as Nicolaus, infiltrated the Diocese of Osnabrück from the Catacombs, and attacked Ainsiedel, the diocesan bishop.”

 

“Haha….”

 

“How could you act like you don’t know that? Now, up to this point, I’ve already proven that you’ve known about my relationship with Osnabrück since early January.”

 

“Well, fine. But I don’t see what relationship this has to terrorism. As you know, when you live with multiple faces, acting becomes daily life. It was just a mistake in that process. At least ‘I,’ as the Archbishop, have seen you since you entered Eschete.”

 

His voice was gentle. He didn’t seem to think this much was particularly important.

 

That makes sense. I haven’t even gotten close to the core yet.

 

“You’re protecting me from Ainsiedel and the Pleroma leadership. Moreover, the Pleroma leadership has now announced they’ll use me as bait to lure Ainsiedel. So you’ve been trying to stop the leadership and directly find and eliminate Ainsiedel to block the Pleroma leadership’s reach toward me.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“What ridiculous words. It’s not me but you who’s being chased by Ainsiedel and the Pleroma leadership, isn’t it?”

 

“…Me?”

 

He continued with a smile.

 

“How long do you plan to slander me? I love you so I keep listening, but honestly it’s not comfortable.”

 

“You have no choice but to listen right now.”

 

I said while tapping the metal around my wrists on the table.

 

“You could baptize me right now or break the spatial magic, so why are you just sitting still? Because you can’t use magic, you’re quietly waiting.”

 

“You’re not wrong. Fine. Then let’s talk about something else. Your voice is pleasant to hear.”

 

Fortunately, this isn’t the first or second time I’ve heard such crazy words, so I’ve built up some immunity. He was also different in words and actions. His words were relaxed, but instead of touching my face as usual, he looked down at me quietly with a slightly stiff smile.

 

I looked into his eyes that felt chilly and opened my mouth.

 

“You really are a brilliant person. I don’t particularly want to praise you, but I have no choice but to acknowledge this much. You are the most outstanding strategist I’ve seen in this world.”

 

“….”

 

“Before Penthalon, you had two goals. First, winning my heart. Second, eliminating Ainsiedel.”

 

“Why would I eliminate Ainsiedel….”

 

“Yes, good question. Why did you have to eliminate Ainsiedel? Simply because there was competition between dioceses? Not enough.”

 

I continued while cupping his cheek with my hand.

 

“Because Ainsiedel was trying to kill you, you had no choice but to stop him.”

 

“….”

 

“The Archdiocese of Freiburg is the culprit that contaminated the Empire’s land, rivers, and air with rampage drugs. The diocese that brought the nation to the brink of emergency and Pleroma’s irreplaceable hero. Isn’t that right? The rampage drugs currently used throughout all Pleroma dioceses are your invention, aren’t they?”

 

“You know. I’m pleased.”

 

The Archbishop answered calmly.

 

I had previously discussed this with Legislator Alexander Kluger, asking ‘were the contaminated mosquitoes in Meppen Freiburg’s doing?’ Because it was the first attempt to make people rampage using contaminated magic power. The contaminated mosquitoes were the experiment that started the current nationwide rampage situation, with the same principles and purpose.

 

At that time, the Legislator said about my question, ‘It seems very likely that the two dioceses were closely sharing each other’s technology. They would have shared the profits accordingly,’ saying ‘it’s clear the two dioceses were in a cooperative relationship.’

 

Wrong.

 

“This is where the reason Ainsiedel tried to kill you comes from. You stole Legislator Werner Strauch’s technology to develop those rampage drugs, didn’t you?”

 

I smiled, but he couldn’t. His eyes widened slightly, then a cold smile spread across his entire face.

 

I took his silence as willingness to hear more of my opinion and continued.

 

“Then how exactly could a diocese at the Empire’s southernmost tip steal technology developed by a deputy bishop from the northernmost diocese? Where is the ‘fugitive’ Lu Bar you mentioned a fugitive from? The surname ‘Bar’ you hid from me is a noble family of Osnabrück, and the Low German you habitually spoke is also Osnabrück’s German.”

 

“‘Bar’? I never said that… Your abilities are truly amazing.”

 

I ignored the Archbishop’s meaningful smile and continued speaking.

 

“Lu Bar is currently a wanted target of the Diocese of Osnabrück. Long ago, you used the body of the Osnabrück noble ‘Lu Bar’ to approach Osnabrück Pleroma, and without arousing anyone’s suspicion, you were eventually ordained as a priest. And you would have fully utilized your outstanding abilities to advance quickly. Now, you know what I’m going to say next.”

 

‘Lu Bar’ worked there as a priest while siphoning Osnabrück’s internal technology to Freiburg.

 

This is the correct answer.

 

There was something I thought about at Penthalon’s main stadium before.

 

[You will clearly know that several blind spots existed in the logic so far. When going deep, this problem is turned 180 degrees by those blind spots. Just like when first learning academics, to avoid appearing complex to beginners, we assume the possible as impossible and create the simplest model to build fundamentals, here too I must first think simply to clearly grasp the strategic layers later.]

 

Now, the most decisive blind spot among these ‘several blind spots’ is resolved.

 

I erased Ainsiedel’s memory and deleted Osnabrück’s dual spatial magic materials, so how were dual spatial magic and its application magic—reverse dual spatial magic—mobilized in the terrorism?

 

Did Ainsiedel have some miraculous memory technique?

 

No.

 

I said while looking at the Archbishop who burst into bitter laughter.

 

“Before the date I deleted Osnabrück’s materials, ‘Lu Bar’ had backed up all the data obtained from spying in Osnabrück to your diocese. The Bishop of Osnabrück forgot those memories forever, but you were able to continue using dual spatial magic technology.”

 

“….”

 

“And you as Archbishop completed the rampage drugs using the ‘contaminated mosquito’ research data siphoned from Osnabrück, then first deployed them in the Baden-Baden hot springs under Freiburg’s jurisdiction. The experiment was successful, and afterward you rose to the highest position within Pleroma. At least recently.”

 

“Huh… hahaha….”

 

“Even if everyone applauded your achievements, the original creator couldn’t applaud. Because he knew your achievement wasn’t your idea but his own. Osnabrück’s Ainsiedel would have realized your rampage drugs were based on Werner Strauch’s ideas from Meppen research, and from right after that he would have pursued you.”

 

The Archbishop’s breathing was getting strangely faster. The corners of his mouth slowly curled upward.

 

“Unfortunately, Ainsiedel is someone who doesn’t care about anything for his diocese’s achievements, and he’s even more obsessive when it comes to his friend Werner Strauch. You, like me… wouldn’t have known that far. You were just lucky to have an Osnabrück noble family’s body to deploy for spying, but the information obtained that way turned out to be bloody information.”

 

“….”

 

“It must have become troublesome.”

 

He didn’t refute. He just kept chuckling like a madman.

 

“Then why did you cause terrorism? I honestly admired this part. Really, if only you hadn’t taken 600,000 lives, I could have genuinely enjoyed the strategic game with you.”

 

“….”

 

“You must have been very disappointed that I wasn’t particularly grateful even after being saved by you. According to your plan, I should have been moved to tears by your spirit of sacrifice and devotion to protect me from enemies…. Isn’t it standard to fall in love when a prince on a white horse appears?”

 

I took the rose from his hand and put it down.

 

He didn’t resist. His interest was in my next words anyway.

 

“Your initial scenario was to make ‘Lucas Ascanien’ mistake Ainsiedel as the main culprit of the Penthalon terrorism, then rescue Lucas Ascanien from mortal danger. This would create two effects. First, you could win Lucas Ascanien’s favor. Second, Lucas Ascanien would try to eliminate the enemy Ainsiedel, who is both the terrorist and seeks revenge for Werner Strauch. In other words, you could have Lucas Ascanien as an ally.”

 

“Hahaha….”

 

“Of course, the second effect was completely ruined because I ‘publicly’ shouted the answer. That white phosphorus match wasn’t sent by you.”

 

At those words, the Archbishop’s eyes flashed.

 

He had met me on the day contaminated rats were discovered in the basement near Brandenburg Tees Hotel. He asked me then if I had ‘seen any strange codes.’ So, codes other than the anagram he sent.

 

“‘Tell everyone about it,’ that white phosphorus code was sent to me by Ainsiedel who noticed your scheme. You came looking for me after noticing something strange from Ainsiedel. Am I wrong?”

 

“….”

 

“Actually, the dispelling spell 【The Diocese of Osnabrück is looking for you】 didn’t need to be heard by everyone. Because that’s not really a dispelling spell. It’s just a spell with warp magic to capture me. Ainsiedel would have added the dispelling technique to it. The lifting of 600,000 curses wasn’t what you planned.”

 

“You know well…. You know so well it’s amazing.”

 

The Archbishop said while bursting into laughter.

 

Why wasn’t it planned?

 

Because 600,000 had to die as planned for me to go eliminate Ainsiedel together with the Archbishop who pretended to be a good citizen.

 

“Ainsiedel was using me just the same. He sent me the code ‘tell everyone about it,’ making all Pleroma dioceses focus on you. You probably had no intention of advertising this act of disobedience to the leadership, which could lead to diocesan dismissal at minimum and power revocation at maximum.”

 

“….”

 

“To achieve two goals simultaneously with a single plan. An outstanding strategist like you should have been an ally, but it’s unfortunate.”

 

He was almost panting now. He looked almost panicked. Thinking slowly, it seemed he was showing this reaction because he couldn’t control his emotions at all and was consumed by them.

 

“I came this far with you knowing everything, so if you felt betrayed… I’m sorry?”

 

“Ah…. That’s right. Hahahaha!”

 

He threw his head back laughing, then dropped his head. Lu Bar’s black hair covered his vision.

 

“As expected. As expected you are…. Asking if I’m sad about being betrayed. No. This is how it should be….”

 

He grabbed my shoulder with one hand. The pain I felt in my shoulder made my face naturally scrunch up.

 

He continued to let out snickering laughter while swaying his body. Then he slowly raised his head.

 

I could see his eyes shining coldly.

 

Surprisingly, the emotion I could read from him was ecstasy.

 

“…Perfect. The you that I know should be like this.”

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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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