How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 281

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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 (281)

 

Andrea Friedmann blinked his eyes frantically as if he couldn’t understand what he had just heard. I had no intention of kindly explaining further. I released my grip on his collar and aimed my staff at him.

 

“Why are you doing this again…? Huk…!”

 

When I twisted the wrist holding the staff, he hurriedly backed away to the opposite side of the bed. My mana flew right up to his nose, then scattered into midair as he squeezed his eyes shut. I’m curious how someone with such a strong will to live could come up with the idea of driving a person to the brink of death just because they might not be able to secure their own interests. Is it that he shouldn’t get hurt but others can die?

 

“Why make me say so many words?”

 

I even drank blood to test this hypothesis, so how long do I have to wait? Since I’m not going to turn back time in this place, the faster the better.

 

Friedmann picked up the machine with trembling hands and carefully placed it on my left arm. Even while doing so, his eyes remained fixed on my staff. The needle-like artifact pierced my skin and went down. The skin that had just healed was punctured again, and the smell of blood filled the air once more. I looked down at the machine and asked.

 

“Originally there wouldn’t be a machine like this. Did you make it?”

 

Andrea Friedmann hesitated before nodding his head.

 

“For what purpose?”

 

“…”

 

“Answer me.”

 

“A tool that could examine temperament…”

 

“My temperament? Hahaha… So you already had a hypothesis that something would emerge if you drove me to the brink of death. Right? Judging by how you got angry when things didn’t go as planned at first, it probably wasn’t your main hypothesis, but closer to a secondary one.”

 

“…”

 

Grab—

 

I grabbed his shirt collar and made him lift his head. Infusing divine power, I asked again.

 

“Am I wrong? Don’t make me ask again and answer properly.”

 

Only now did he shake his head vigorously with a pale face.

 

He’s probably not that careless a person. Someone who prepares methods even for low-probability hypotheses—a type that’s troublesome to deal with, having no special value in their thinking yet being paranoid and difficult.

 

When I released his clothes, he glanced around nervously before infusing mana into the machine and pressing the second button from the top.

 

“…”

 

My mana was flowing out through the upper needle, while someone else’s mana was flowing in through the lower needle. Was it designed to induce external mana discharge through shock?

 

Anyway…

 

“Haha…”

 

I couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

 

Clearly, earlier my mana had been flowing out like crazy through this needle, but now while I felt something flowing out, the mana in my core wasn’t going outside. Since mana was continuously surging and circulating in my body, there was no reason to absorb the mana flowing in from outside.

 

The most surprising thing was that my mana wasn’t being completely drained, which could only be explained by my core continuously pumping out mana. Does drinking blood turn the core into a bottomless well?

 

This was enough—the hypothesis verification had ended with results that passed the hypothesis. Thanks to drinking blood apparently bringing my core to optimal condition, my mana wasn’t being drained. The blood seemed to do more than just act as a shock absorber.

 

‘This is good.’

 

While I still don’t want to drink blood, it’s an ability that would be useful in combat situations. Thinking of it as an ability that could save me from the brink of death provides some, albeit small, comfort.

 

Though I developed an aversion due to this unexpected incident, what actually changed before and after the mass was only my core’s growth rate and absorption ability. It’s still speculation, but the absorption ability might not be newly acquired—rather, the range of the ability might have expanded. Leo’s crazy talk about “adapting to blood” wasn’t because I’d become a real corpse without drinking blood, but to prevent potential accidents since my core’s growth rate was unusually fast for my age. Just now, the ability only activated when I felt like I might die from all my mana being drained, so unless someone tries to drain me to death like today, no one would have any way of knowing about my ability.

 

Now I had obtained the most crucial information I wanted to know. This information was necessary for Andrea Friedmann and Hyung. Before my next hospital visit, I would properly drink blood.

 

And now…

 

I looked over the other two doctors and grabbed Andrea Friedmann.

 

Time for interrogation. Why he suddenly pulled this stunt, and what he was trying to extract from Adrian Ascanien.

 

First, why did he suddenly pull this stunt? No matter how much I might be a loss to him, why now instead of earlier? Or why did he rush into this so hastily?

 

“You said you first proposed to Hyung that you’d look after my health while in Berlin.”

 

“…Yes, yes.”

 

“The deputy director himself offering to look after my health. Haha… Originally you probably weren’t planning to pull this stunt right away, so what accelerated your plans?”

 

“…”

 

Again, instead of answering, he just moved his widened eyes frantically. Only after I grabbed his collar more forcefully did he snap to attention and answer.

 

“A l-letter… I received a letter…”

 

“You should say who it came from.”

 

“It was sent by His Excellency the Vice Minister of Magic.”

 

“You mean my Hyung.”

 

Friedmann nodded vigorously.

 

“What did Hyung say?”

 

“Well…”

 

“No.”

 

I cut him off and pulled out a letter from inside his coat.

 

“You would have brought it to take me away, so no need to waste time asking.”

 

[I was moved by your thoughtful proposal. … I happened to receive news that my younger brother has awakened and come to Berlin. I’m writing to request that you prescribe medicine that could improve his core condition for his future activities.]

 

As expected, Adrian Ascanien had sent a clean letter. There were no other topics besides this content.

 

The trigger here would be the mention of ‘core.’ Friedmann would have been worried since January about the possibility of me ascending to the Anhalt throne, and through Hyung’s letter, he would have speculated that something was wrong with my core.

 

No need to look further.

 

I discarded the letter and checked the status windows of the doctor and nurses on the right. Then I thrust my staff toward them.

 

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

 

Bang—!

 

I cast a sleep spell and put up a barrier. Andrea Friedmann flinched in fear. I flicked my hand and pulled Andrea Friedmann out.

 

“Warp to your house.”

 

Andrea Friedmann’s eyes widened. Against his will, when he closed and opened his eyes again, we had already warped. I could see a newly built manor building. Good. The divine power dissolved in his body was doing its job well.

 

“…Huh?!”

 

A servant cleaning in front of the manor saw us and shouted with wide eyes.

 

Crash—

 

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

 

I struck my staff on the floor and recited the incantation. No one would see a human in this condition as a guest, so it was better to put them to sleep. All the servants visible as I dragged Andrea Friedmann inside had collapsed into slumber.

 

“Where do you keep the letters you’ve exchanged with Hyung? Take me there.”

 

I grabbed the back of his neck and spoke. I felt his shoulders stiffen instantly. I pushed him forward to keep walking while attempting conversation.

 

“It seems you have quite a few things to gain from Hyung. Did Adrian Ascanien promise you the position of Imperial Government Health Minister or something?”

 

“…Excuse me?”

 

“He’s not someone who would rashly make such promises while being just a vice minister himself. So what could be possible? Did you get a promise that he’d arrange for pharmaceutical companies to give your hospital rebates? Or has he already done that? Is Hyung covering up medical malpractice or prescription drug trafficking? That’s ridiculous. Someone who won’t touch anything that would tarnish his name wouldn’t do that. Then did he promise to establish a tax exemption system for magical medicines? No. This wouldn’t particularly benefit you since you’re not even the head of a rights organization. Then…”

 

I stared into his eyes and said.

 

“There’s one clean and most likely method that wouldn’t cause trouble with Anhalt citizens while earning your favor. Did Hyung promise to give you a share in Anhalt’s national medical business?”

 

“…”

 

“Close, I see?”

 

I smiled and patted his shoulder. He unconsciously blinked twice quickly.

 

“…No…!”

 

“Getting the position of Anhalt Health Minister or Ascanien Royal Physician would be nice too. But why did you have to do such dirty work specifically to put Adrian Ascanien on the throne?”

 

The justification for why it had to be Adrian Ascanien was somewhat lacking. The biggest problem was that the above positions weren’t ones only Adrian Ascanien could give, and it was also problematic that Friedmann, with his title as deputy director of Imperial Central Hospital, already had sufficient qualifications for both positions.

 

Friedmann stopped in front of a room and stared at the doorknob with a frozen face. Cold sweat had formed on his face. I observed his profile and said.

 

“Open it.”

 

“…”

 

Click—

 

He found the key with trembling hands and inserted it. As soon as the door opened, I pushed him inside. The moment he stepped in, the multiple layers of defensive magic broke all at once.

 

This was a small archives attached to the room.

 

“Is this the room with the letters you exchanged with Hyung?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

I dragged him to sit in front of a small table. Friedmann looked like he couldn’t believe he had brought the enemy to the heart of his own manor with his own hands. He looked like he was about to faint, showing just how much he had staked his life on his career and profits.

 

“Let’s have a leisurely conversation.”

 

“…Conversation?”

 

“Whatever I make you do, you’re too slow, so I won’t be giving you any more orders. I’d rather do it myself. Sit comfortably.”

 

He was looking at me with a face that said ‘why sit when we came to find letters exchanged with Hyung?’ I ignored his confusion and continued the topic I had mentioned earlier.

 

“Now I understand why you mentioned Georg Ascanien’s name earlier. I was curious why you said Georg Ascanien sent you when you clearly received a letter from Hyung. Of course, Georg Ascanien holds the real seal for the major matter of becoming temporary physician to a ruling family child. Even so, you practically got the physician position through Adrian Ascanien, and you knew I received a letter from Adrian Ascanien about you, so why did you do that? You even brought letters you exchanged with Adrian Ascanien.”

 

“There was no particular meaning…”

 

“Right, there was no particular meaning. It was just a desire within you manifesting without your conscious awareness.”

 

The more anyone talks, the more information they give away. Since it was a minor point, I quickly continued.

 

“You ultimately wanted recognition from the Anhalt monarch—not Adrian or anyone else—and subconsciously wanted to present the real legitimacy of Georg Ascanien rather than Adrian Ascanien.”

 

“…”

 

“Contrary to your ambition to be deeply involved in Anhalt’s medical business, Georg Ascanien probably doesn’t think favorably of you. Georg Ascanien isn’t old enough to retire yet and wants to control Anhalt’s political and business circles with his own associates, so there’s no place for you. Instead, you figured out that Georg Ascanien easily listens to what Adrian Ascanien says. Am I wrong?”

 

“…No.”

 

“Then why Anhalt? To begin with, there’s no one in the Imperial Government as close to the Imperial Court as Adrian Ascanien while also being the next ruler of a country. Moreover, since Georg’s era, Anhalt has been wielding great influence over the Duchy of Saxony, so if you control Anhalt’s medical field, the chances of taking Saxony’s position increase as well. It’s the best condition for killing two birds with one stone. That way, based on your management experience in a pro-Prussian small state like Anhalt, you were probably planning to return to Prussia later and obtain a more prestigious position, right?”

 

“…”

 

“Adrian Ascanien, who is making rapid progress in the Imperial Government, will someday become Minister of Magic and Prime Minister of the Empire, so putting you in the position you want would be nothing to him. On the other hand, I still lack political foundation, and there’s no certainty that I’ll form friendly relations with you like Adrian Ascanien would. If I ascend to the throne, you’ll have to give up the grand dreams you’ve been nurturing. Thinking about that must have been terrifying.”

 

You probably couldn’t see the possibility of rising above Deputy Director of Imperial Central Hospital, or it seemed like it would take too long. That’s understandable.

 

He’s probably around fifty now, so reaching Deputy Director is actually quite early. Considering the average lifespan of New Humanity, the fifties are still young. Now I see he has great ambition too. Yes… if someone would go this far, they’re naturally already blinded by something.

 

Now I need to decide what to do with this man. Naturally, he’ll go to prison as things stand, but I need to think about what comes next. In a world where he doesn’t harm me and peacefully lets me go, what should I do with him?

 

Should I make him my ally, or…

 

“…”

 

The problem here is that the incentives to make him my ally have hit rock bottom. He’s certainly in a high position. But whether he’s in a good position to wield political influence is another matter. Above all, when I deduce the decisive reason why Adrian Ascanien built friendly relations with this man, there’s very little reason for me to keep someone by my side who would drive someone to the brink of death for their own benefit.

 

My answer is clear. Now it’s time to see whether he can provide benefits that would overturn the decision I’ve already made.

 

I looked at the bookshelf beside me and asked.

 

“Do you have a hoarding obsession?”

 

“…Why do you ask…”

 

“People don’t usually create a place in their home just for storing documents like this.”

 

Considering he’s a doctor, it’s quite a strange sight. Usually, they’d have at most a drawer or safe that can be locked with a key.

 

Friedmann answered in a crawling voice.

 

“It’s not quite an obsession.”

 

“I’ll have to check to know for sure.”

 

At my words, the antagonist made a subtle expression.

 

“I like people with loyalty, so there’s one person I haven’t sent away yet and kept around. Do you know why?”

 

“Because it would be beneficial if you could just redirect that loyalty.”

 

“You understand well. We’ve talked about what you want so far, right? I can give you everything you desire.”

 

“…”

 

“This is your last chance. Prove your usefulness to me.”

 

His eyes wavered. Even without knowing I can turn back time, he must know well that this is truly his last chance. He opened his mouth after a long while with flashing eyes.

 

“What do you want?”

 

“…”

 

I smiled once and raised my eyebrows.

 

“I hope your obsessive-compulsive disorder got cured a bit early.”

 

Crash—!

 

As I struck down with my staff, I could see Friedmann’s eyes widen in front of me. Along with the explosive sound, divine power quickly spread throughout the archives.

 

I watched the white waves fill the space and said.

 

—Seek, and you shall find.

 

“Check everything, then burn it.”

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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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