How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 288
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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 (288)
Whether the last spell contained a joke or not was still impossible to tell.
‘I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all living creatures be destroyed by a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.’
This was originally not magic that imbues objects with one’s will to manipulate them as desired, but magic that installs large-scale barriers when natural disasters occur.
However, he moved natural elements entirely at his will, and in a way that seemed exactly like turning back time.
In other words, this was new magic created by Lukas Everett. Modifying or creating new magic is something young mages often attempt, but most fail, and cases of such great success are extremely rare. There are few people with the ambition to create magic by borrowing such passages.
The King’s mind was filled entirely with Lukas Everett’s magic. However, now was not really the time for that.
“What is the Prince doing?”
The King asked as he crossed the courtyard of Munich Residenz. Originally it was time to go meet Everett, but after hearing news about the Prince, he changed course and was heading to the Prince’s Palace. The trouble his son had caused was giving him a headache.
Even so, he didn’t show it, but his aide spoke while reading the King’s mood.
“He won’t come out of his room.”
“He didn’t secretly warp somewhere, did he?”
“We’ve placed a secretary by His Highness’s side. We just received word that the Prince is staying properly in the Prince’s Palace.”
Staying properly, my foot.
He must be angry because his tantrum about wanting to go watch the match didn’t work. Didn’t they say at first that he was definitely ‘not coming out’?
‘I didn’t expect him to bring the Royal Guard to the spectator seats.’
Before I even arrived, the Royal Guard assigned to the Prince had come to the arena. It was Crown Prince Leonard’s order. I don’t know how he sweet-talked the guards, but the fact that he managed it was quite impressive. He must have been planning to follow the guards straight to the spectator seats.
He’s not a child who puts his duties aside or boldly disobeys orders, yet driven by the single desire to watch the match, he ignored his schedule and prepared for this escapade. This was a first in his life. Though I’m dying to recruit Everett immediately, I first needed to have a conversation with my son.
The King arrived at the warp point and moved directly to the Prince’s Palace. The guards opened the doors for him. He moved unhesitatingly toward the Prince’s room.
The guard who had been standing watch in front of the room looked startled to see the King without any advance notice. The King gestured for him to step aside, then pushed the door.
Click—
It was locked.
“Open it.”
[…]
When one of the King’s secretaries opened the door from inside, a sulking child reluctantly got up from the bed and greeted him.
“Have you come, Your Majesty?”
“I heard you moved the elite guards to the arena.”
“…”
The sky-blue eyes far below stared up at the King without any panic or fear. Instead of getting angry, the King asked in the same tone as before.
“Do you have nothing to say to me?”
“I’m sorry.”
From that tone, he could immediately tell the child wasn’t really sorry. The aides licked their lips and exchanged glances.
He hadn’t been raised to be spoiled, and normally he was a gentle child who listened well. However, he was stubborn, so in situations like this, he wouldn’t back down for even a moment. Since he was only five years old, could this be gradually corrected? I might be worrying too sensitively since this was my first time raising a person, but he would soon turn six, which gave me even more concerns.
“I thought magical medicine lessons happen frequently, so missing one day wouldn’t matter. I know I should have explained to Your Majesty first and asked for permission. I will be faithful to my duties from now on.”
“…”
The King silently looked at his child.
He speaks well as he was taught. These aren’t words he thought up himself, but words he’s truly memorizing and reciting as he ‘learned’ from his tutors. There’s no need to press him to apologize sincerely. That won’t create sincerity in the child. Above all, the Prince thinks I’m angry simply because he skipped class and moved the guards there.
For any reason, I wasn’t truly angry.
There was just one thing that concerned me.
The King lowered himself to sit in front of the Prince. Now their gazes were roughly level.
“Why didn’t you speak to me first?”
“I thought Your Majesty wouldn’t like it.”
“…”
Accurate. The King fell silent, watching the large sky-blue eyes that were gradually filling with anxiety. This wasn’t anxiety about being scolded. This child had never cared much about being scolded by anyone. This was anxiety that he might no longer be able to enjoy what he loved.
The Prince was showing more interest in combat magic than magical medicine with each passing day. It was precisely this that I was wary of. If it had just been skipping class to go play, I would have rather gone out to play with him.
Combat magic was also an essential skill, so it was better than being obsessed with self-destructive entertainment. It was a good thing, but why couldn’t I be happy about it?
Ignorance is a sin. Individuals can never be truly free from society, their ancestors, and the blood of humanity trampled by those ancestors, nor should they turn their eyes away from it. That would be shameless. A repetition of barbarism. It’s the accumulating original sin of an heir who, along with rights obtained through plunder, bears the duty to settle that debt. If even individuals are like this, what about one person who bears the fate of millions?
To serve as the central pillar of a nation, one must know well what they handle. In this country that barely managed to maintain its center and survive in the post-magic era through medicine, what would happen if the monarch were ignorant of medicine?
If the monarch cannot maintain the center, that era becomes an era of injustice. A child born in peaceful times doesn’t know that blood inherited through generations flows on those white hands, and cannot hear the screams of past humanity that follow like ghosts on their shoulders. Someone is waiting for us, knocking at the door—”Whence is that knocking? How is’t with me, when every noise appals me?”—but he doesn’t know his responsibility for that knocking. Now he must learn that he cannot simply pursue what he wants, or he will add new blood to his hands, which, as always, cannot be washed away even with all of Neptune’s ocean. Thus he will pass on sin.
Though I had no intention of insisting he walk that path despite having no interest in magical medicine, there was a big problem with forgetting moderation, becoming absorbed in only one field, and failing to fulfill his duties as a monarch.
Since this was his first transgression, I wouldn’t scold him severely. Now was still far too early to preach all of this.
“Sit.”
When the King gestured, the child sat at the table. With those words, the aides and secretaries in the room went outside.
“I was lucky that my talent and goals aligned. My father exposed me to many things in this world, but no matter how many subjects I encountered, what I always wanted was magical medicine.”
“…”
“If what I wanted hadn’t been magical medicine and my father had forced only magical medicine on me, I cannot be certain what my growth process would have been like. If I had grown up that way, I probably would have acted like someone doing unwilling work in this position now, becoming someone who does only the bare minimum required and leaves exhausted. Perhaps I would have treated what I truly wanted as sour grapes, living as my father wished without knowing his desires had attached to me, or I might have become someone who hated my father and did everything opposite to him.”
The Prince looked confused, as if he didn’t understand yet. He seemed to be trying to manage his expression properly, but while words could be crafted as learned from rhetoric or social skills teachers, he couldn’t do the same with expressions. That was too much for a child.
In any case, he needed a process of summarizing the conclusion.
“I will grant what you want.”
“…!”
The Prince’s eyes widened.
“The talent this country has given you is not eternal, nor is that position. In the future, when I die and you succeed my position, people suited to your character will replace those close advisors, and if you’re ignorant of the nation’s core, you’ll be manipulated by those who try to gain power by exploiting that. This country nearly collapsed and disappeared in the post-magic era, but still maintains its position as the Empire’s second-in-command as it did before magic. That was thanks to magical medicine, which is why you must learn it.”
The child’s eyes waver. He hasn’t been completely captivated by other magical fields yet. He’s conflicted between his duties and preferences. However, that confusion could change in an instant with any trigger.
Whether it changes in the direction the King wants or not doesn’t matter. What needs to be said in this situation hasn’t changed. The King tried to soften his basically rigid expression a bit more.
“You said you didn’t tell me because you thought I wouldn’t like combat magic?”
“…Yes.”
The Prince answered in a shrinking voice, rolling his eyes. The King continued with what he had to say, even while thinking his child wouldn’t fully understand his words. Omitting necessary words because he was certain they wouldn’t be understood wasn’t healthy.
“Do what you want. I don’t want you to live as a tool of duty or obsession. It’s true that you have given duties, but you can learn those after you’ve found your center.”
“…”
“Instead, after learning your duties, you must study magical medicine to a certain level.”
Did he understand this time?
The Prince had been staring intently at the King since he began speaking, and now his eyes were a bit wider than usual. The King smiled questioningly at the Prince’s face, which was flushed with some inexplicable expectation. The Prince, perhaps noticing this, just smiled along.
‘I really don’t understand kids’ logic.’
Though he didn’t understand all my words precisely, he seemed to have picked up on the atmosphere. The King thought this and continued speaking.
“I happen to have someone in mind as a private tutor. They won’t disappoint you in the field of combat magic.”
I’ll assign Mia Rothenhan as a magical swordsmanship instructor.
Royal tutor positions are usually stepping stones. Stepping stones to higher success. Or jobs that scholars uninterested in advancement are half-forcibly dragged into.
That should satisfy Rothenhan even if it’s not the position he wanted, and the Prince will be satisfied with his vast magical power and combat magic knowledge. However, the problem is that he can’t be a good teacher to correct the Prince’s inflexible nature and might actually reinforce it. That issue will be resolved by assigning another teacher.
The Prince unconsciously opened his mouth wide, then hurriedly composed his expression and leaned closer. I could feel raw, unrefined magical power flowing from his body.
“Who is it?”
“That will be soon…”
Before the King’s words were finished, the Prince put his knees on the chair and stood up abruptly.
“Your Majesty. There’s someone I want.”
* * *
My head still aches.
The Prince made an unreasonable request.
‘Raising a child isn’t easy.’
Even though I leave most of the time to teachers, it’s not easy. He’s stubborn, proud, and has no sense of compromise or flexibility… It’s not that it’s bad. Though his appearance is somewhat different, his personality is exactly like the King himself, which makes it even more difficult.
Where on earth did he hear information about that mage I had my eye on? When he couldn’t even go see for himself? I need to find out who told the Prince about this.
As the King sighed and pressed his head, his aide watched nervously from the side.
The King closed his eyes and walked relying on his magical power. Then he realized he had somehow arrived in front of the reception room.
“His Majesty King Hildegart has arrived.”
A servant announced this in front of the door. When the door opened, the mage with a face that looked tidier than before stood up upon seeing him.
“Have you come?”
‘No matter how I look at him, he resembles Georg.’
It’s a face that brings back old memories.
If Georg saw this person, he would seriously wonder when he had such a grown child, or whether he had a younger brother.
Instead of immediately voicing such thoughts, the King smiled briefly.
“Sit.”
“Yes.”
“Do you know why I called you to this position?”
As he spoke those words, a servant placed teacups in front of both of them. Everett chose his words carefully before slowly opening his mouth.
“I don’t know the exact reason, but I assumed that my magical abilities pleased Your Highness.”
“Correct.”
The King said as he picked up his teacup first.
“To meet such an exceptional mage in our kingdom feels like receiving a gift.”
“You flatter me.”
“I heard you came from the United States.”
“That’s right. I came from Milwaukee, Wisconsin.”
“Lukas Everett, you said. I thought you were of British descent, but are you German?”
Everett is a British surname derived from the Germanic surname Eberhardt. Since he spoke German fluently like a native speaker without the distinctive German characteristics typical of British people, I was confused about whether he was likely a German-American. But hearing that he came from Milwaukee gave weight to the German hypothesis. There was also the possibility that he was raised by German caregivers or teachers, but it was worth asking.
Everett nodded his head.
“Yes, that’s correct.”
“You seem to have connections to Ascanien.”
“I don’t know much about my ancestors. If Your Highness says so, there might be a possibility that I have Ascanien blood mixed in… but my lineage was severed during the transition period.”
“Hmm.”
The United States is more liberal about new human births—they permit it even for citizen class if they have enough wealth—and due to the long history of migration and immigration starting from the 17th century, the meaning of roots has become relatively blurred, so such cases are common. Moreover, since most of those who went over there were commoners, they don’t place as much significance on roots as nobles do.
Even if he’s not listed in the Ascanien genealogy, he could be a distant descendant of an Ascanien branch line that went over during the old human era. That would make sense of his magic.
“What’s your reason for coming here instead of staying in America?”
“I wanted to broaden my horizons. I need to find employment soon, but before that, I wanted to meet various mages.”
He needs to find employment… Well, having come this far, he probably has expectations of being recruited by the royal court.
“Who did you learn magic from?”
“I studied at a magic school in Milwaukee, and until recently, I learned from Professor Katrina Preston at Princeton.”
The King narrowed his eyes slightly at those words and smiled.
“Didn’t you have a private tutor before entering university?”
“What I learned at school is everything. The rest I researched and studied on my own.”
“…”
He graduated from a prestigious school, but showed this level of skill with only what he learned at school? This is not ordinary. It’s questionable why America would just let such a person go.
“When were you first able to use divine power?”
“I’ve been able to use it since last year.”
Not since childhood?
The more I know, the more questions remain about this person. But there’s no way to verify this right now. Also…
If this is someone Emmanuel sent, he shouldn’t be harmful.
There’s no point in asking more questions. Before governments and royal courts from various countries who heard the news come to recruit Lukas Everett, I must settle this matter here.
The King smiled confidently and said.
“Is there a position you want?”
“Pardon?”
“I can place you in the position you desire. At the very least, I can support you in achieving your goals. Whether it’s the royal guard, a special unit under the Ministry of Magic, or a clerical position in Münchenfreising, if there’s work you want to do in this country, speak up.”
At those words, Everett’s eyes widened slightly before he showed a confused expression. I could feel him racking his brains, not wanting to miss this opportunity.
It seems like it was a decent proposal for him too. The King felt inwardly relieved as he looked at him. He couldn’t let such a once-in-a-lifetime talent slip away like this. Even after 100 more years, he wouldn’t be able to find a mage who uses such divine power. If he had answered that he would refuse and go to Prussia, or that he planned to return to America, it would have given him an even bigger headache.
Soon Everett put down his teacup.
* * *
Perhaps because the King of this period is younger, he doesn’t hide his authority as a monarch but displays it openly. Twelve years later, he uses thoroughly respectful language even with his own children. It’s not that there’s no respect now—since he was using “Sie” instead of “Du,” he maintained sufficient formality—but there was a subtle authority felt in his tone.
Of course, either way doesn’t matter. Whether he’s more authoritative compared to twelve years later or not, he was famous as a wise ruler even in his youth. It’s just novel to directly witness changes over time.
More than that…
‘He’s asking if there’s work I want.’
Success.
The King, whether in the future or now, consistently gives exceptional benefits to mages he wants. The positions the King just mentioned are ones that, unless you’re a very exceptional talent, would take at least 10 years of experience in this field to obtain. Think of the Imperial Mage Association.
It’s a perfect position for gathering information, so it’s truly an excellent proposal. But I also know well that it means there’s a lot to worry about.
‘I don’t want to work that intensively here.’
I don’t mean I’ll just laze around, but there’s a job that’s equally good for gathering information while having a lower work intensity. Knowing that, is there really a need to take the conventional path?
Moreover, if I choose the job he mentioned, another problem arises. It means problems will occur at the King’s birthday celebration. Whether I’m a guard or under the Ministry of Magic, there’s no opportunity to mingle with the state guests who come to the King’s birthday party. Unless the King specifically takes me out of the organization to keep me by his side, the possibility is slim. There’s no need to take unnecessary risks.
Isn’t there a position where I can naturally join the King’s birthday celebration while simultaneously meeting the state guests who come to the celebration in a ‘good for conversation’ setting? Of course, there’s the problem that you need someone’s favor to make natural accompaniment possible, but I’m confident about that.
I put down my teacup. My eyes met with the King who was waiting for my answer leisurely with an overconfident smile.
“Is it really okay to say what I truly want?”
“Of course. That’s what I desire.”
The King lightly flicked his hand as if telling me to speak up.
Good. I showed a proper smile and said.
“I want the position of the Prince’s personal tutor.”
I could see the King freeze like a statue while maintaining his smiling expression. I was flustered because it was the first time seeing such an expression. He muttered as if talking to himself.
“Is this God’s will?”
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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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