How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 277

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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 (277)

 

“Leo.”

 

Narke, who had been sitting on the sofa staring down at the floor, suddenly looked up and muttered. Since the door hadn’t even opened yet, Elias glanced at him.

 

Narke’s insight was accurate. Before they could even go out to greet him directly, Leo entered the room with quick steps.

 

“Lucas… is he awake?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

Leo answered Narke’s question briefly and took out a bottle containing blood from the safe in the corner of the room. The blue magic power hanging inside the safe extinguished all at once. Narke seemed unsatisfied with that short answer, slightly furrowing his brow before standing up from his seat.

 

“I need to go see him now…!”

 

“Wait.”

 

Leo’s cold response cut off his outcry. Narke looked at him with a hardened expression, then sat down silently. A suffocating silence followed.

 

Elias, who had been sitting on the sofa next to Narke, spoke.

 

“Leo. Look at me for a moment.”

 

Leo only nodded without answering and went outside the room. Elias, who followed him out, quietly asked.

 

“What are you going to do.”

 

Narke was sincerely worried about Luca more than anyone else. But even so, he said he couldn’t give blood for experiments, that his own blood was absolutely not allowed.

 

Why?

 

For what reason? Narke wouldn’t answer. Since the ‘experiment’ mainly involved feeding blood to Luca and measuring magic power reactions, it was understandable that he wouldn’t give blood due to the disgust. Honestly, Luca would vomit too if he knew the truth.

 

But since someone with abilities like Narke wouldn’t give a proper answer and just brushed it off, it made him even more concerned.

 

We don’t know whether Luca lied to us for succession rights, or whether Adrian Ascanien was truly someone who cared for his younger brother. Only Luca would know the truth.

 

But the person I’ve observed isn’t someone who would frame an innocent person as a villain for something like succession rights. Was that also acting? Really? I pride myself on being able to distinguish between acting and non-acting more accurately than others. I didn’t get the feeling that Luca was acting when talking to us about his brother.

 

Then, a calm answer came from ahead.

 

“That’s a question I’ve already answered many times.”

 

“…”

 

“I only believe what I’ve seen.”

 

I thought I knew everything after knowing him for 18 years, but I can’t tell what Leo is thinking right now. For the past three days, from the media to aptitude experiments, we’ve been moving frantically without much time to talk.

 

Elias asked while keeping his gaze on the dim hallway floor.

 

“What if Adrian Ascanien is a good brother?”

 

It was a topic no one had brought up. Leo stopped for a moment, then started walking again.

 

Do I think he’s good family?

 

If I answer following my heart, no. Lucas Ascanien is still my good friend, and Adrian Ascanien is a target that must be eliminated.

 

The friend I’ve observed isn’t someone who would slander his brother with lies while obsessed with succession rights. But am I, dare I look at the world in such a way? Even though there’s a small possibility remaining, is it okay to view one person as good and another as evil based on such terribly personal opinion?

 

‘My head feels like it’s going to explode.’

 

According to our experiments, Adrian Ascanien’s medicine was effective in suppressing magic power absorption. That’s obvious. How could it be possible when it kills the core’s performance so much that it can’t even function? Then, what if Adrian Ascanien really intended to use it as medicine?

 

‘…This is probably what he intended me to think.’

 

I have to believe that. Currently, there’s no reason to take Adrian Ascanien’s side. I also believe what I’ve seen. I mustn’t waver here.

 

Because we’re in the same situation, even though the truth or falsehood of that proposition is now unclear, I must believe Luca no matter what happens. People obsessed with power can do anything. If Uncle were driving me to Pleroma and I drank wine from a glass and developed aptitude like Pleroma’s 1st generation, what I desperately need would be my friends’ support. So, since there’s a possibility my friend is innocent, I cannot take Adrian Ascanien’s side.

 

Where should my justice be positioned? If my personal experience mixes with justice, is this still justice? But I can’t just stand by and watch until the truth is revealed. Even if we weren’t in the same situation, it wouldn’t matter. If Luca is innocent, when there’s a risk that the whole world might turn their backs on him, only I can take his side to maintain balance. That’s my conclusion as an individual.

 

Being in the same situation might have created this favoritism. I might have been alone for too long.

 

‘Damn it.’

 

I’m not a monarch, and though I habitually say I should cut Uncle’s throat, the possibility of me actually becoming a monarch isn’t that high, and I’m living with a life as fragile as a fly’s, grateful if I don’t die at the current monarch’s hands. From the day my magic power manifested, I became someone who couldn’t always walk the right path. Trying to be overly righteous might be due to Uncle’s influence. It might be a reaction. So at this moment, even if an unrighteous conclusion emerges, I’ll follow my heart.

 

I’ve reached my conclusion, so now the problem is…

 

My other friends.

 

“What do you think.”

 

Leo turned around and asked. Elias had already decided in his heart but didn’t particularly want to answer. He shook his head and said.

 

“You speak first.”

 

“Nicolaus is my vassal. Only those with the quality to think of their lord before themselves and focus on their lord’s affairs are ideal talents to become ministers.”

 

He waited, but Leo said nothing more and just walked toward Luca’s room. He didn’t want such an ambiguous answer. Elias spoke sharply to his back.

 

“Since it’s the monarch’s role to choose such vassals and make them allies, a vassal’s fault is immediately the monarch’s fault. Do you think you only learn about monarchy in imperial studies classes?”

 

“That’s what I wanted to say.”

 

Leo now slowly turned around.

 

“If Nicolaus is wrong, then I’m at fault for accepting him.”

 

“…”

 

“Yes, a vassal’s fault is the monarch’s fault. A monarch who only takes credit for vassals’ achievements and immediately dismisses them when slightly displeased isn’t fit to be a monarch. Right or wrong, if criticism pours on Nicolaus, that needs to become my burden, and I need to support him as much as the weight Nicolaus bears for our royal family. Since I decided to accept him once, I have no intention of withdrawing.”

 

Elias looked at Leo silently. He could see unwavering, upright eyes. Leo spoke calmly with a composed expression, neither angry nor anything else, the same expression as Elias’s own.

 

“I know what you’re thinking. Don’t worry about my thoughts. We each just need to maintain our center. Since you’re already identifying yourself with Lucas… it should be easier.”

 

Elias showed no outward reaction to those words.

 

Wrong. Easy? It’s not easy. From maintaining court etiquette to drinking alcohol in broad daylight on Berlin streets full of commoners, nothing in this life has been easy for me. This matter with Luca is the same. Leo is also very tired. Right now, no one is in a situation to carefully choose their words, so I could understand Leo’s word choice.

 

And to some extent, it was also true. The reason I particularly demand Leo’s reaction to Luca’s matter is because I’m in the same situation as Luca. Leo must have read that too. The words “I know what you’re thinking” came from that meaning.

 

Leo’s answer about this incident is also Leo’s answer about the Emperor’s slander toward me. I’m not his vassal, but it doesn’t matter. For him, benefit is always an excuse.

 

Elias walked faster and put his arm around Leo’s shoulder. Leo glared but didn’t say anything particular.

 

“Come on, let’s see what Luca is doing~”

 

“Now of all times… I have something to say to Lucas, so you can’t come in.”

 

Leo clicked his tongue. Elias grabbed and released his cheek while opening the door. He felt Leo throwing a punch from behind, but fortunately Elias wasn’t hit.

 

The moment the door opened, both froze in place, so that couldn’t happen.

 

“Oh.”

 

* * *

 

1886.

 

‘Huh.’

 

I, who had been standing still in a daze, rolled the number around in my mouth for a while before dusting off my jacket.

 

‘This isn’t the time to be doing this. Quickly!’

 

I need to count a bit. Looking now, I was wearing quite a high-end suit, but absurdly, it wasn’t mine. This suitcase isn’t mine either.

 

‘Pen. Pen… Don’t I even carry a pen?’

 

Right. That sounds like me. I left it behind before too and borrowed from Leo.

 

Can’t help it. I held my head and turned around thinking.

 

As someone born in the 21st century, it’s a number that feels very distant, but Luca was born in October 1879. October 1886 would make him 7 years old, and since it’s March now, he’s 6.

 

Around the time of transitioning from 6 to 7 years old, Adrian Ascanien enters the Imperial Palace, so now is before that. Since only a few months remain, it’s practically right before. Adrian Ascanien is 7 years older than Luca, so this is a world where Adrian Ascanien attends the 3rd Education Institute.

 

The past. The past, really.

 

‘After the servant murder case.’

 

I grabbed a person walking on the street.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

“Yes? Gasp…!”

 

The passerby looked at me, startled, and disappeared.

 

Right. In 1886, the fact that pink eyes could exist wouldn’t be widely known yet. The fact that Luca has pink eyes is also something that became known over a long time. It’s a period when Pleroma’s influence hasn’t grown as much as recently.

 

I let him go and stomped my foot to change my eye color. Then I grabbed another passing person.

 

“May I ask you something? Who is the Duke of the Duchy of Anhalt?”

 

“…Isn’t it Georg?”

 

The passerby, though bewildered by the sudden question, tried to answer kindly. Since there was no mirror, I couldn’t be sure if it worked well, but my eye color is now definitely blue. And seeing that Georg exists, this is the world I know.

 

“Then who are his children?”

 

“Isn’t it Adrian Ascanien?”

 

“Isn’t there one more?”

 

“I think there was a young child…”

 

“Right. Thank you.”

 

I answered like that and turned around.

 

‘…Hmm, so I’m supposed to investigate Adrian Ascanien here.’

 

But the murder case has already passed, and Adrian Ascanien will soon go to the Imperial Palace.

 

Of course, considering the timing when the ability appeared, it seems right that this is an ability I should use from now. The Extra Chapter trait appeared the moment I collapsed. This trait is a result that was meant to appear triggered by this incident.

 

‘The problem is that it’s such a good ability that it’s concerning.’

 

It was the same with retry, but abilities that seem too good aren’t that welcome when you actually get them. Applying the experience from retry, even if I gain tons of information in this Extra Chapter, there will probably be many difficulties I’ll have to overcome that will make obtaining that information meaningless.

 

‘Of course, this is my speculation, and if it’s really a trait that will make things easier for me, I welcome it.’

 

I just thought that if it had to be difficult, it would be better for information to be hard to obtain rather than having many future difficulties.

 

Why? I’ve already finished calculating what I need to do in reality. I just couldn’t tell him because Leo suddenly went out to bring something, but when he returns, I’ll discuss the future plan. Compared to the difficulties I’ve faced so far, if I can easily obtain information—needless to say, that would be good—but I can’t shake the uneasy feeling that something might happen to disrupt my calculations again.

 

I walked around dragging my suitcase aimlessly, looking around quickly. I should have had trouble walking since I’d been lying down continuously, but I didn’t. My stamina surged as if I could run around Berlin right now.

 

The sky is clear. The street tree leaves and park grass that grew blue-green look good even without covering them with magic.

 

‘Now, let’s see.’

 

Since I don’t know what the time difference with the outside world is, let me try as quickly as possible.

 

There are no warp checkpoints at this time yet. Since the checkpoint system wasn’t fully established even after I came to this world, that’s natural. I just need to warp directly to the Anhalt coordinates I know. I’m a bit reluctant to warp recklessly though…

 

‘This isn’t the time to be picky.’

 

Let me try first. When I snapped my fingers, a familiar notification sound was heard.

 

Ding—!

 

Access Restricted Area

 

“…”

 

Hmm.

 

That’s what I thought. Right.

 

Ah, I thought it was being resolved too easily. How easy would it be if I could go straight to Anhalt? Why deliberate when I could just capture Georg Ascanien and Adrian Ascanien first, cast mental manipulation magic on them to get evidence, and be done? Of course, if Adrian Ascanien’s mental strength was already at an immeasurable level at this time, I’d have to give up.

 

‘Then the 3rd Education Institute.’

 

Access Restricted Area

 

Failed.

 

2nd Education Institute. 1st Education Institute. All were the same.

 

‘…Fine. Let’s do this.’

 

12 years ago, Georg Ascanien was ruling Anhalt, so pass. 12 years ago, the head servant worked as a Prussian army officer. Thanks to memorizing all the coordinates during the third test and rummaging around the capital even after Eschete, I knew well what was where and what the warp coordinates of which buildings were.

 

Access Restricted Area

 

‘Ah, right. Of course.’

 

I snapped my fingers while randomly reciting coordinates from the Royal Mage Association to the Ministry of Magic building, anywhere I might be able to meet the adults of the Ascanien Family. Thanks to this, I feel like my reluctance about warping is being washed away.

 

Why? You need something to move to be afraid, but what’s there to fear when everything fails anyway?

 

“Hah…”

 

Access Restricted Area. I held my head and sighed at the thirteenth window that appeared. People passing by started looking at me strangely.

 

The reason they told me not to approach was actually obvious. No matter how different the age, there can’t be two of the same person. Even if other people who don’t know my face well might not notice, family would obviously find out.

 

Contrary to my expectations, it seems wrong to obtain information easily and quickly, but as I thought earlier, that’s rather better. For now, it’s the only source of information and…

 

‘If used well, it could be profitable.’

 

Couldn’t I investigate the past lives of the Archbishop, Abraham, and Ainsiedel here?

 

Is this really a delusion? They give delusion as a trait? This isn’t a system for doing nonsense. Although those restricted areas that I don’t know whether they’re trying to help me or not make me bewildered, I understand.

 

‘It’s definitely a place worth digging into.’

 

Precisely, it’s about what to dig out, how much, and how.

 

Especially when I can’t even set foot in places related to Ascanien, what information should I obtain here? Looking at how this is marked as Stage 1 rather than the entire Extra Chapter, I might not be meant to obtain all information here. Then what’s the way to move from Stage 1 to 2 and 3 without staying here?

 

Ding—!

 

Suggestion 1. Find a job.

 

— Reward: EC point +1

 

‘Huh?’

 

What appeared in the new window is appreciated.

 

It’s good to have some guidance. But do I really need to get a job?

 

‘What… there’s even a trait trying to make me get employed.’

 

However, feeling an ominous premonition for some reason, I opened my suitcase on a bench in a nearby park. It’s about time I checked this.

 

Wallet. There’s a wallet I’ve never seen before. When I opened it, what I saw was…

 

“…”

 

There was only enough money to take a train once. I took out the only bill inside and checked five times if this was really just one bill, then put it back in the wallet.

 

As I guess.

 

To obtain information here, I have to treat this as one world first. I have to spend time here while providing nutrients to my body. Like our world, the sun will set and time will pass, so I need to satisfy hunger and find a place to rest, and if I find useful information sources, I’ll need to get along with them, so money is essential. Seeing that the clothes I was wearing outside didn’t follow me here, it’s impossible to bring money from reality to here.

 

‘…Damn. To think I’d worry about money again in my life…’

 

I remember when I first lived as Lucas Ascanien. There are no magical beasts here either, so it’s impossible to make money by hunting magical beasts.

 

I raised my head and looked at the central bank at the far end of the street.

 

Should I take out a loan? I’m experiencing so many things in this crazy world. But naturally, there’s a problem.

 

My job as of 1898 is Royal Mage.

 

“…”

 

You might not know, but I’m actually going to become a mage employed by Hohenzollern 12 years from now. As if they’d believe that. The only options are pawn shops or loan sharks. And naturally, I didn’t want to go that far. I can’t even go to a pawn shop since I have nothing to pawn.

 

I stamped my feet, cast a barrier, and turned my suitcase upside down. A change of clothes, washing supplies, passport, spare wand, old pocket watch, American-made elixir.

 

I don’t have much. I really do need to find a job…

 

‘But why is there no German in the passport?’

 

It’s all in English, and now I see it’s an American passport. I felt puzzled and opened the passport.

 

Lukas Everett

 

Lukas Everett.

 

Since when was I an Everett?

 

Chuckling bitterly, when I checked the birth year below, unfamiliar numbers were written on the line.

 

October 1862.

 

Not born in ’79?

 

‘…The system has grasped my pattern 100%.’

 

Seeing how it kindly creates a new identity for me on its own.

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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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