How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 287

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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 (287)

 

I turned my gaze away from the spectator seats at the edge of the island and looked to both sides.

 

The Isar River flowed right beside us, and at the island’s edge there was only a low railing with no barrier, no trees, and no lifeboats. The island wasn’t very large for use as a combat magic dueling arena, so one wrong move could send you tumbling into the river.

 

As I released my first magical power with the opening ceremony, I heard a light whistle sound. A spell came from my opponent first.

 

[Those who flee from fear shall fall into the pit, and those who come out of the pit shall be caught in the snare.]

 

The darkness of the night sky receded and bright blue light covered the atmosphere above. Whether the artificial blue light instilled fear, the spectators watching the match from behind the fence in downtown Munich across the river gasped with startled faces. Along with that, my opponent’s magical power surged up from the ground, making my clothes flutter.

 

‘I should have bought a hair tie.’

 

Was that Wittelsbach’s comment actually real advice? One more reason to finish this quickly had been added.

 

More than that, that ability that seemed to interfere with the weather. The ability to interfere with natural elements is the realm of divine gifts. Could that tremendous ability really be my opponent’s power?

 

‘That can’t be.’

 

Kwaaaang—!!

 

It’s just an illusion. Magical power poured down from above like arrows. I raised my hand to block the magical power raining down from above. For an attack from someone who could manipulate natural elements, it gave me no damage at all and was blocked far too easily.

 

My opponent’s expression remained calm, and mine was the same. The moment I untied the ribbon bound under my collar with my left hand, my opponent’s resounding cry rang out.

 

[This is what I will bring upon Moab in the day of punishment— declares the Lord!]

 

The blue magical power spread across the ground gathered with a roar and clung to my feet. The sensation of being trapped in a swamp pressed on my psyche. As the magical power climbed up my legs, the force squeezing my bones and flesh grew stronger, cutting off my blood circulation. Was he planning to break them?

 

‘If it’s to win, what couldn’t I do?’

 

My opponent’s blue magical power flew in from all directions, shining like blades, and my entire field of vision was flooded with light. The impact sounds were noisy. Seeing how the attacks flew exactly where I bent my upper body, there was homing magic attached. Immobilizing and then pouring attacks is an age-old method.

 

However, there was one disappointing point.

 

Standing and enduring was easy.

 

—You mighty ones, ascribe glory and strength to the Lord!

 

Kwaaaaang—!

 

When I drew the power I had put in my feet up to my heart and struck down with my staff, the magical power that had piled up like a mountain to the middle of my thighs scattered like dust. I could see my opponent blocking in front and squeezing his eyes shut. Not knowing that divine power would emerge, he quickly opened his mouth with shocked eyes.

 

No matter how I think about it, standing and enduring is easy. If he had made me run and then executed this magic, he could have brought me down. It’s just regrettable to utilize the same opportunity like this. The opposing player seemed to think he couldn’t lose like this and quickly regained his composure, but it was too late.

 

—Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness!

 

When I lifted my staff from the ground and swung it horizontally, divine power gathered in a scythe shape struck my opponent.

 

Kwaaaaaaang—! Crash—!

 

Usually at this point, opponents would press down on the attack and fly right up to strike at close range. Those who had driven opponents with long-range attacks usually try to continue suppressing them at long range, so they don’t give me room to act according to inertia. Actually Leo often did that, and most experienced mages move similarly. The moment I swung my staff to change it into a sword to block a counterattack, I heard the sound of a heavy mass falling into water, and about 10 seconds later, a buzzer sounded.

 

Beep—!

 

[Match over.]

 

“…”

 

Was that an auditory hallucination? Perhaps my opponent was also someone who used divine power. He might be disguising himself as having fallen into the water and even manipulating the buzzer sound to make me let my guard down.

 

That’s what I thought, but the island in front of me was completely empty. Everything around was as quiet as death.

 

I could see several kingdom mages standing by the river pulling the mage who had fallen into the water out.

 

* * *

 

“There’s a mage who uses divine power.”

 

The King closed the book he was reading and looked at the aide who had come before him. The aide came with an excited face but didn’t explain exactly where or what kind of person this divine power-using mage was, just waiting for the King’s reaction.

 

The King was about to scold him but shook his head slightly.

 

He must be talking about the tournament. Even without being told, he could deduce that much.

 

“There was no such person on the participant list?”

 

“It’s a mage that His Highness Emanuel Wittelsbach filled in today for a forfeiter’s spot.

 

“My younger brother?”

 

He’s someone who often brings useful mages, but he’s never brought a divine power-using mage before.

 

“What’s his name?”

 

“Lukas Everett. He’s American.”

 

“Nothing registered in America?”

 

“As far as we know, nothing so far.”

 

“His age.”

 

“Twenty-three.”

 

Not thirteen but as old as twenty-three, and no one has recruited him until now?

 

At that age, he would have been using divine power for over ten years, so it doesn’t make sense for such a person to have been left unattended.

 

‘He must not be very strong.’

 

People who can use it even weakly can be found if you look. Still, having even an assistant wouldn’t be a loss.

 

“It should be over soon. After seeing the results, tell the Ministry of Magic to create an apprentice position.”

 

“Your, Your Highness.”

 

At the aide’s ambiguous response, the King raised his eyebrows. Despite that disapproving reaction, the aide stubbornly insisted without backing down.

 

“I think it would be good for you to go and see for yourself. What do you think?”

 

“…”

 

“He’s no ordinary talent. It looks highly likely that Prussia or surrounding countries will try to scout him. It would be good for Your Highness to secure your position.”

 

When the King still didn’t answer, the aide continued.

 

“He finished the first round in 2 minutes. The opposing mage was immediately knocked out by that mage’s single strike. The second and third rounds also ended within 5 minutes.”

 

“2 minutes.”

 

That’s quite surprising. The King nodded readily.

 

He still wondered if it was worth going to see personally, but the comment about Prussia being interested didn’t come from nowhere. The news that he finished the match in 2 minutes lent weight to that point.

 

If he had an immediate schedule, he wouldn’t go out of his way to cancel it just to watch, but he had some time before his next appointment, and this was the final match anyway.

 

“Let’s go.”

 

The King immediately prepared and headed to the arena.

 

Round 4 was a match to determine the ranking of the remaining 5 out of the original 40 participants. At this level, only skilled fighters who could be incorporated into the royal guard after 1-2 years of refinement remained.

 

When the King suddenly appeared in the arena spectator seats, the judges jumped up from their seats to greet him. The King waved his hand at them and sat in the seat prepared by his attendants, checking the tournament bracket.

 

Lukas Everett was the final match of Round 4. The King patiently watched the matches of others.

 

This year’s participants’ skills were decent. He could also see mages who had shown disappointing skills last year displaying much better abilities this year.

 

After some time passed, the name he was waiting for was called.

 

[Mia Rotenhahn, Lukas Everett.]

 

Rotenhahn.

 

A Bavarian noble family, not a ruling house but famous for the large amount of magical power each individual mage possessed. It was also a family outstanding in the field of combat magic.

 

The King looked at the familiar young nobleman from the noble family warping to the arena, then looked at the other young man warping to the opposite side. Compared to his well-built opponent, the thin mage staggered and then regained his balance with a calm face.

 

‘Why is his warping form like that?’

 

Compared to the evaluation he heard earlier, this was an unexpected sight. What’s the big deal about warping that he’s gone pale and catching his breath like he’s accomplished some great deed, just like someone using magic for the first time. The long hair messily tied up with a ribbon also caught his eye.

 

He looked neat and tidy, which was eye-catching, but that made his awkward actions stand out even more.

 

‘He looks a bit like Georg Ascanien.’

 

Georg Ascanien as a child had exactly that kind of face.

 

The current Georg appears to be an excellent ruler who creates perfect successors and perfectly governs Anhalt, so no one would expect it, but even he was a clumsy person who tried hard to become perfect until he attended the Imperial 1st Education Institute. Perhaps that’s why he looked more like the duke from those days.

 

‘The commoner surname is a bit concerning, but I should keep in mind the possibility of a branch family.’

 

Beep—

 

The buzzer sounded, but Rotenhahn just held his wand after the opening ceremony. He had yielded the first attack.

 

Lukas Everett understood this intention and thrust his wand forward normally. Colorful blue magical power flew fiercely.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

The power of releasing magical energy is good, but that’s not the problem…

 

He’s wasting that good opportunity just like that? This isn’t the time to use such an ordinary attack.

 

The King glanced at the aide beside him. The aide wasn’t flustered at all and just watched Everett with sparkling eyes. The King gave up with the feeling of letting it go and looked down at the arena.

 

Rotenhahn leisurely flicked his wrist to block Lukas Everett’s attack, then spoke solemnly with a powerful voice.

 

[When the whirlwind passes, the wicked are no more, but the righteous are an everlasting foundation.]

 

At that moment, Lukas Everett’s attack began moving in reverse. A fierce wind arose. The wind didn’t affect anyone sitting, but it struck fiercely at just one person, Lukas Everett. The barrier he had created kept being pushed back. He could see him gritting his teeth and enduring while blocking in front with his arms.

 

The King stroked his chin with his finger. So far, that Rotenhahn family mage stood out more. To use targeted magic so that the spell’s effects didn’t reach anyone else. That’s quite difficult magic, so his skills are good.

 

Paang—

 

An unexpected sound of cutting through air came from an unexpected place. The King turned his gaze from Rotenhahn to look at Everett.

 

Everett’s wand had changed into a sword. He advanced toward Rotenhahn, cutting through the wind with his magical power-infused sword. Even so, his speed was slow due to the opposing wind.

 

Despite the scene of victory before him, Rotenhahn maintained his composure and changed his wand into a sword to advance, pushing Lukas Everett backward.

 

No, to be precise…

 

‘He’s planning to drop him into the river soon.’

 

The King observed Rotenhahn’s feet and wrists, predicting his future course. The sound of swords clashing was noisy. Rotenhahn led Everett to where he wanted with controlled movements. In terms of swordsmanship alone, Rotenhahn had the upper hand.

 

‘He’s skilled, but this mage named Lucas Everett doesn’t seem to have been learning for very long.’

 

At most, maybe five years of training. Rothenhan would be approaching twenty years soon.

 

With the weight class difference as well, it wouldn’t be easy for a five-year practitioner to beat a twenty-year veteran. He might be using magic to offset the weight difference in his sword strikes, but fundamentally, the longer this drags on, the more disadvantageous it becomes for Everett. Perhaps understanding this well, Everett put strength into his left leg, then spun his body to break away from the railing. In that split second when Rothenhan chased after him, Lucas Everett’s transformed staff slammed into the floor with a thunderous roar. The moment Rothenhan saw this, he switched his sword to a staff and blocked in front of himself.

 

Kwaaaaang—!

 

Everett’s blue magic power surged all the way to where the judges sat. Even as the explosive sound made his ears ring and the blue magic power stung his skin, the King’s gaze remained fixed on Everett.

 

“…”

 

He was looking at blue flames. The magic power spreading in a radial pattern took the form of flames and shot upward as if to devour the entire arena.

 

The King flicked his finger and released his own magic power. The magic power he had prided himself on being strong and superior compared to ordinary mages felt crude within Everett’s magic power.

 

The purity of the magic power was exceptional. Being within it made his breath catch, yet for some unknown reason, he felt comfortable. The feeling that he must remain within it even knowing he would die if he stayed defenseless was strange. If there was such a thing as magic power in its pure essence, this would be it.

 

‘The praise wasn’t unwarranted.’

 

Though not a speck of divine power had emerged yet, he could somewhat understand why his aide had made such a fuss.

 

Kwang—!

 

Rothenhan gathered his magic power and thrust his staff sharply to the right. Lucas Everett’s blue magic power immediately veered right, and Lucas Everett also crashed into the railing.

 

He was still trying to make him fall into the river. He seemed to believe that was the only answer. As Lucas Everett lowered his body to escape the pressure, Rothenhan’s magic power pushed him to the opposite side again.

 

‘Divine power should be emerging around now.’

 

Actually, it was impressive that he hadn’t used mental magic until now. Would he just watch when his opponent was persistently trying to make him fall into the water?

 

To be honest, while Rothenhan’s skill was admirable, this method of deliberately and continuously trying to make him fall into the river wasn’t very appealing.

 

Of course, the methods of inducing a fall into the river, preventing such falls, and the speed of continuing attacks immediately after falling could be good opportunities to assess magical skill. Therefore, even going into the river wouldn’t immediately result in forfeiture unless magic use became impossible, and the river was recognized as part of the field.

 

But that was only acceptable once or twice—obsessing over a single attack method would likely result in falling into one’s own trap.

 

Rothenhan’s voice could be heard.

 

[Fear shall follow him like water, a tempest shall steal him away in the night, and the east wind shall carry him away and remove him from his place.]

 

‘If he succeeds this time, everyone will think nothing of it.’

 

The King looked at Rothenhan expressionlessly. Rothenhan’s voice was growing louder.

 

[God shall not spare him nor show mercy when He shoots, though he would flee from His hand, he cannot! Men shall clap their hands at him and hiss him out of his place.]

 

“…!”

 

“Whoa!”

 

Surprised voices from the people could be heard. Hardened magic power seized Everett’s limbs and hurled him violently toward the river.

 

‘…Hmm, he succeeded.’

 

Kwang!

 

Though he thought that, an unbelievable sound came for someone supposedly thrown into water. The barrier Lucas Everett had spread over the river caught him without the slightest tremor.

 

Rothenhan raised his eyebrows. So did the King. Anyone could cast a barrier, but normally the barrier would shake and submerge in water or break. This was a completely unexpected sight.

 

A sound of magic power breaking came from Everett’s arm, then he slowly rose from his position and walked toward the riverbank, swinging his staff. Gray river water rippled beneath his feet.

 

“…Waaaaah!”

 

Belated cheers poured from the Munich citizens watching the match. Rothenhan nodded with an ambiguous smile as if acknowledging him, then hardened his expression back to normal.

 

Then he gripped his staff with both hands and aimed it at Everett.

 

[I, the Lord, will bind you firmly and hurl you like a mighty man, surely I will roll you up tightly and throw you like a ball into a wide land!]

 

Rothenhan’s golden magic power struck like lightning in the darkness.

 

Since a barrier spread over flowing water rather than contained water couldn’t be stable, he was continuously pressing to prevent Everett from coming up. If he could break or bend the barrier to let water in, Lucas Everett would be finished. Everett struck his staff diagonally into the barrier and lowered his body.

 

‘An attack of this magnitude should break the river barrier.’

 

Rothenhan’s attacks were coming from all directions, making it impossible to see anything due to the impact sounds and light from any angle. Worried voices could be heard among the citizens. As the attacks intensified, the kingdom’s mages standing in front of the fence set up barriers in front of the citizens.

 

‘I thought that Rothenhan family mage had some decency, but it seems he only cares about victory.’

 

He was putting citizens’ safety aside and was obsessed only with defeating Everett.

 

Rothenhan was skilled at suppressing his smile. The King thought this while observing his arrogant movements and poker face. Not satisfied with this, Rothenhan continued chanting spells. Dozens of strands of golden magic power with clearly defined linear forms rather than simple clusters of light curved in all directions, flew close to the citizens, then made sharp turns. It was a type of magic that seized opponents to delay their movements.

 

[You who bring shame to your master’s house, you shall die there and your glorious chariots shall remain there.]

 

Rothenhan’s eyes briefly gleamed with satisfaction as if the binding magic had succeeded, but soon he grimaced and grabbed his arm holding the wand.

 

Kwaaaaang—!

 

“…!”

 

[Be at peace. It is I; do not be afraid.]

 

The moment Rothenhan lost his advantage, a calm voice was heard and Rothenhan’s golden magic power was pushed back by blue magic power. Everett didn’t miss this opportunity and walked forward with his wand aimed.

 

At those words, the King let out a light laugh.

 

‘He even has the leisure to provoke in this situation.’

 

The King looked at Everett with satisfaction. He must have sent his magic power flowing like electricity through the binding to attack Rothenhan.

 

He was beginning to like him.

 

‘Be at peace. It is I; do not be afraid.’ was just part of an absurd incantation unrelated to floating on water. It wasn’t said expecting something to activate, but to mock his opponent.

 

Though he was curious how he had easily broken free from such binding magic, he liked that composure even more.

 

Rothenhan still couldn’t let go of his obsession, casting defensive magic while retreating and chanting the same spell as before.

 

[I, the Lord, will bind you firmly and hurl you like a mighty man…]

 

[Now we see through a mirror dimly, but then face to face.]

 

Everett cut off his incantation and lightly swung his wand. It was reflection magic. At that moment, the magic power that had escaped from Rothenhan’s body flew back toward him like an arrow.

 

Kuwoong—

 

Just before Rothenhan fell into the river on the opposite side, the river water parted. The riverbed was revealed and Rothenhan collapsed on that dry land. The King raised his eyebrows at the sight.

 

Parting the river water? That was unexpected power.

 

Even so, falling into his own trap was a significant minus.

 

[…Elijah took his cloak and rolled it up and struck the water… The water parted to the right and to the left, and the two of them crossed over on dry ground.]

 

Rothenhan sprang up and slammed his staff into the ground, leaning on it as he chanted. He stood there, pressing down on both sides of the river with his magic power to block them.

 

He seemed to have no leisure to block Lucas Everett’s attacks while maintaining the barrier. His initial assessment of the two participants was changing.

 

Despite having seized the opportunity, Lucas Everett just watched him quietly.

 

“Attack!”

 

One of the Munich citizens shouted loudly. Though it might be considered rude in the King’s presence, the King chuckled at those words and looked at Everett.

 

Instead of swinging his wand, Everett spread his left palm and blew air over it. At that moment, the river water that Rothenhan had pushed aside when his barrier broke came pouring down.

 

Kwaaaaang— Peoong—

 

Watching the river water surge like waves, Everett muttered an incantation as he approached the riverside.

 

[Peter got down out of the boat and walked on the water, but when he saw the wind, he was afraid and beginning to sink, cried out, saying… Lord, save me!]

 

He lightly dodged the attack magic that Rothenhan, who had somehow crawled up to the embankment, was firing. Everett stood tall before him, then bent down and extended his hand toward the empty railing space that Rothenhan had blown away.

 

[O you of little faith, why did you doubt?]

 

Everett’s face was gentle as he said this.

 

“…”

 

It was another joke following the earlier one. Understanding the intent, laughter and cheers erupted from the audience. The Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Munich and Freising sitting around the King seemed dumbfounded by the young man’s audacity and clapped lightly while chuckling.

 

Rothenhan’s composure cracked and his face turned red with anger.

 

‘His confidence is remarkable.’

 

Right now, Everett was confident he would win. The King was certain after looking into Everett’s eyes.

 

Showing off due to overconfidence in one’s abilities versus showing off due to justified confidence were different from the attitude itself, and experienced mages could immediately sense the difference.

 

Since skill backed it up, he couldn’t help but be confident. Though his associates would find it absurd to hear, he actually liked that mocking skill that stood out along with his abilities more than anything else.

 

Rothenhan, who had been glaring at Lucas Everett with burning eyes, muttered in a small voice.

 

[Who are these who fly like clouds, like doves to their roosts?]

 

In an instant, he stood on the opposite side of the arena as if he had warped. Then he lightly struck his staff against the ground.

 

[Our God, the Lord.]

 

Among the sun-like golden light, a light like divine power arose.

 

The Munich citizens opened their eyes wide. The King also watched that magic with interest. That person would also be someone who could use divine power, albeit weakly, if properly trained. Given the scale of magic he had been using, it seemed plausible.

 

Rothenhan gripped his staff as if praying and shouted. His barrier was blocking Everett’s attacks.

 

[Please, now save us from his hand! Then all the kingdoms of the world will know that You, Lord God, are God alone!]

 

Blood began flowing from Rothenhan’s face. It was magic that borrowed divine power befitting the incantation. Of course, that was symbolic—precisely, it was magic that used life force to amplify the effects of subsequent magic. He was extracting beyond his limits. Everett, who was attacking him, could be seen looking shocked at that sight. His aide spoke urgently beside him.

 

“Your Highness.”

 

“Leave him be.”

 

How far could one go beyond their limits? Ultimately, this tournament was to see that. If serious problems were expected, they would send him to the hospital, but not yet. Choosing to go that far was also Rothenhan’s decision based on his will.

 

Perhaps he was pushing himself after confirming the King’s presence here. It would be better not to come next time. The King clicked his tongue while thinking this.

 

The calm voice of Rothenhan, who was supporting his body on his staff with closed eyes, could be heard.

 

[He will destroy that place with overflowing waters and pursue His enemies into darkness.]

 

While everyone was looking at Rothenhan, the King’s gaze, unlike the others, turned toward the river. From the middle of the incantation, the river’s depth was rapidly becoming shallow, revealing the color of the bottom. The King struck his staff down and spread a dome-shaped barrier in front of the audience seats.

 

Kuwoong—

 

“Aaaah!”

 

“Ahhh!”

 

At that moment, people cried out in surprise and pulled back. Everett also opened his eyes wide, looking quite flustered. The river water began to surge upward like waves toward the sky, moving as if it were alive. Not a confined lake or reservoir, not a stream, but a river. To think he would draw such a vast amount of water that the riverbed became visible and use it for an attack—while there are many flaws to fix, he’s certainly an impressive mage. Though those many flaws are the biggest problem. The idea of drawing river water to trap his opponent since he couldn’t throw him into the river was good, but he seriously lacked the flexibility to adapt his plans according to the situation. It was time to release the river water.

 

The King watched the water that had blocked out the sun, soared endlessly upward, then began falling down violently. Even with the barrier in place, it was such an astonishing sight that screams could be heard from various places.

 

Everett, who had been watching the water falling toward the surface with a shocked expression, raised his hand.

 

—I will establish my covenant with you.

 

A white light like fragments of sunlight flashed brilliantly. The water droplets that had been plummeting above his head stopped in midair. The sound of water receded and silence flowed.

 

Thud—

 

The sound of Rothenhan collapsing unconscious after exhausting all his magical power echoed. The murky gray river water sparkled with the light of divine power. That light traveled up through the water toward the sky. The night sky appeared as bright as day.

 

—Never again will I destroy all living creatures with a flood. There shall never again be a flood to submerge the earth.

 

The falling river water froze in place, then returned to its original position as if time had been reversed. The gentle sound of flowing river water could be heard as before. Exclamations poured out from the frozen Munich city center.

 

“…”

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Even at his aide’s cautious call, the King stared ahead without closing his eyes for even a moment. The King had to interpret whether Everett’s spell contained any mischief this time as well. However, he didn’t have the mental capacity to think that far. Sunlight that shouldn’t exist at this hour was cascading down from the sky. No matter where he looked in Munich city, fragments of divine power were falling. He felt the cool energy of divine power seeping into his bones, and even had the illusion that all the magical power in his body was draining away.

 

The divine power he had just witnessed was incomparable to all the divine power he had seen from birth until now. Even the Pope’s divine power he had once seen at a papal coronation ceremony wasn’t this kind of light.

 

The King stared intently at Everett’s bright blue eyes as he looked up at the divine power and said.

 

“Bring him to me.”

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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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