How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 293

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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 (293)

 

Oh no.

 

‘Did I mishear?’

 

Right now, could it be that the club I was trying to enter…

 

But that’s an artifact trading club based in Berlin. What the Duke mentioned is an occult artifact research society.

 

“What are you making?”

 

“Hermitische Gesellschaft.”

 

“What’s with the Gesellschaft? This isn’t a labor union. There’s nothing related to profit either.”

 

“Names should originally be mystical to hide their true nature.”

 

‘Hmm. What is he saying?’

 

Names should be intuitive. Is he joking?

 

‘…Still, though it’s a bit different from what I know, I can’t rule out the possibility that it changed over 12 years.’

 

Let’s think with all possibilities open. There can’t be two such strange names in the world.

 

If this is really Hermitische Gesellschaft, then I’ve encountered an unexpected connection. I was looking for that occult artifact auction club because of the holy relic, not because of the sapphire parure. I was planning to look for the parure at gem or luxury goods trading clubs.

 

But the owner of the sapphire parure is the founder of Hermitische Gesellschaft? There’s definitely something 100% here. The sapphire parure wasn’t stolen without reason. I wasn’t wrong. I wasn’t being too sensitive; that was correct. There’s something between Maria Osterreicheste and Pleroma, and between the holy relic and the sapphire parure. It was right not to just overlook even minor doubts.

 

Since he said he moved up the founding of the organization he was only planning by ‘several years,’ there’s a high possibility I artificially created and seized the opportunity. If so, there must be some connection between the Duke and Pleroma now, and I need to focus on this when asking questions.

 

Perhaps finding the Duke’s words absurd, Emmanuel remained silent with a smile before asking in a small voice.

 

“Do I have to do it too?”

 

“Yes. Your Highness Emmanuel must also participate. What do you think, Lord Everett?”

 

“…Please do so. But I know almost nothing, so may I dare to join like this?”

 

“From today, we’ll study the origins of Hermeticism. First, Gnosticism!”

 

“Pardon?”

 

“You’re a Christian, right? If you study Gnosticism, you’ll be able to understand occultism and mysticism more easily. Then we’ll move on to pre-Gnosticism. That’s when we’ll intensively learn the Kabbalah mysticism you mentioned earlier, Your Lordship.”

 

“…”

 

I was at a loss for words. Knowing I’m a Christian and then bringing up Gnosticism? If he had said this to a ‘truly’ devout Christian, someone might have collapsed from apoplexy. Of course, such Christians wouldn’t set foot in occultism in the first place.

 

Anyway, having come this far, I’ll put everything aside and treat all learning as traces left by humanity.

 

“Let’s do that.”

 

“Good. This makes it Day 1.”

 

“Is that expression used correctly in this context?”

 

Despite Emmanuel’s doubt, the Duke didn’t stop.

 

“Since the three of us have gathered like this, we should hold a founding ceremony, but it’s unfortunate that there’s no full moon tonight.”

 

“Does there have to be one…?”

 

“Not necessarily, but energy is strongest when the full moon rises, so it’s best to do it then. Usually we decide each day’s rituals based on the moon’s phases.”

 

“Why?”

 

“If you ask why, well, first I need to tell you what meaning the moon has in occultism and about the astral plane. The moon has been for humanity since ancient times…”

 

“I think I understand now. So we can’t hold the founding ceremony today?”

 

“Not necessarily. For times like this, there’s something called an ‘amplification ritual.'”

 

“Indeed, humanity has been systematic since ancient times.”

 

Perhaps because I spoke in a soul-departed voice, Emmanuel patted my shoulder and laughed. Still, having approached someone so enthusiastic about occultism, it would be rude to leave my soul elsewhere. I too must act as if I’m sincere about occultism. Then, though it seems unlikely, someday I might actually become enthusiastic about occultism.

 

The Duke drew out his wand and began drawing a magic circle.

 

“This is a hexagram. You know it, right?”

 

“I know it.”

 

It’s two triangles overlapped, isn’t it? That Star of David on the Israeli flag. The Duke reached out his hand to Emmanuel and said firmly.

 

“Candles.”

 

“Did you leave them with me?”

 

Though Emmanuel asked as if absurd, he warped somewhere and brought black candles. There were also orange and purple candles. Seeing this, I slightly furrowed my brow.

 

“The candles are black?”

 

“Color is also important…”

 

Emmanuel answered with an expression of being forced to say something he didn’t really want to say. This person doesn’t seem very interested in occultism either. Perhaps he just learned this and that from listening to the Duke’s chatter. While the Duke performed some incomprehensible purification ritual and carefully lit the candles, I asked.

 

“So what do we do after this?”

 

“What do you mean what? We have to study!”

 

“…”

 

“Now, when I recite the incantation, you must then draw blood with this knife, put it on paper, and burn it. Do you understand?”

 

After lighting all the candles, the Duke turned off the magic lamps with his wand and waved some old papyrus-like paper and a silver knife. I almost asked why we had to do that, but fortunately I kept my mouth shut. Silence flowed, and only the sound of the window swaying in the wind could be heard. The Duke began speaking solemnly.

 

“In this place where gentle moonlight flows, we gather here.”

 

‘It’s difficult from the start.’

 

It’s hard to hold back laughter… I absolutely must not laugh. I mustn’t do such a sorry thing.

 

“We seek unknown knowledge that time has not revealed, and with sincere hearts we revere our secret society.”

 

‘Why revere it…’

 

I should just go along with it. It’s not just the sentence level—questions spring up at every word, so this is serious.

 

“May our aspirations be pure, may our hearts be strong, in the unknown world to which we belong. With ancient wisdom we shall correct all wrongs, in our secret society, forever.”

 

‘So everything ends abruptly like this.’

 

My resolve to go along with it ended in less than 30 seconds. Fortunately, the incantation seemed to be roughly finished. Emmanuel wasn’t even trying to hold back laughter and was already snickering.

 

The Duke held out the knife to me with a solemn face. I looked down at it and said.

 

“It’s scary.”

 

“You mustn’t say that! And it’s not scary. Here!”

 

“I’m the one saying it’s scary, so why is Your Grace saying it’s not… Let’s use Your Grace’s blood.”

 

“All three of us must use it. I am…”

 

The Duke trailed off and asked.

 

“By the way, how old are you? I’m twenty-six. Lord Everett?”

 

“Twenty-three.”

 

“You’re the youngest. The youngest person should go first.”

 

“What? There’s only a three-year difference. At this level, we don’t even know who’ll enter the coffin first.”

 

“In the East, respect for elders is considered a virtue.”

 

“As a sign of respect, Your Grace should go first.”

 

Tense tension circulated. I broke the silence and continued speaking.

 

“And why is Your Grace making us do something you don’t want to do either?”

 

“It’s not that it’s scary, I just have no experience up to this point.”

 

“I didn’t say you were scared, did I? Then His Highness Emmanuel should go first.”

 

The Duke nodded at my words.

 

“Good. He happens to be twenty-nine, so it’s just right.”

 

“Didn’t you just say respecting elders is a virtue? I don’t want to either. If it’s going to be like this, let’s just not use blood.”

 

With the continuing argument, I gave up and sat on the sofa behind. Is this the beginning of Hermitische Gesellschaft… Why does blood have to be involved in a founding ceremony?

 

In the end, the Duke drew blood from his own hand. I didn’t give blood just in case, and when I stubbornly refused to do it, Emmanuel got swept up in the atmosphere too.

 

“Well done. Please continue like this in the future.”

 

Emmanuel whispered in my ear. He seemed quite pleased that I didn’t give blood. After finishing the ritual, the Duke cleared the table with a satisfied face—it looked ruined to me, but seeing him satisfied suggests he’s not a perfectionist—and called us.

 

“Well. That was rough. Now we’ll study occult theory before occult artifacts.”

 

“Sorry, but I have to go in early today, so I can’t.”

 

“…!”

 

The Duke didn’t care much when the ritual failed, but when I said I had no time, he looked stunned.

 

“Then… There’s so much to discuss. How about meeting here at noon tomorrow?”

 

“Who’s lending you the house?”

 

“Fine. Don’t you have to go to Austria, Your Grace?”

 

“I’m in charge of matters that can be handled here, so I plan to stay here a bit longer.”

 

Hmm, I see.

 

Österreich-Este is the imperial family of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the Duke title is attached to collateral members. Compared to direct members who must immediately return and stay in the country, young collateral members like him can live somewhat more freely.

 

Thus, I made an appointment and returned to spar with Leonard. Though he seemed listless for some reason, Leonard perfectly executed what he had learned over about two weeks. It was impressive that even at this age, he could prevent his mood from affecting his duties.

 

After finishing lessons the next morning, I warped to Emmanuel’s mansion, and two more days passed studying occultism at Emmanuel’s mansion.

 

Emmanuel rubbed his eyes and asked me and the Duke in his living room.

 

“Why aren’t you going home?”

 

“I’ll pay rent.”

 

“What rent? Please leave. Now go back to Austria.”

 

Emmanuel pushed the Duke away. The Duke fell weakly from the sofa and shouted.

 

“No, that’s not the problem. Three people aren’t enough…”

 

‘Is that becoming important now?’

 

The pace is fast.

 

This club really might grow as big as that club I saw in Berlin. The Duke grabbed me and said.

 

“We need more people… Should we advertise? How can we advertise this? Lord Everett. Could you use your divine power to drum up some business?!”

 

“Why do you need so many people?”

 

“Without people, there’s no fun in research.”

 

“I see…”

 

He’s been doing fine alone until now, but one beginner shows up and he’s acting like this. Later it becomes Berlin’s largest occult artifact auction club that’s selective about members, but now I’m hearing complaints about not having enough people. How refreshing.

 

“I wish there were plenty of people interested in the occult like Count Everett. Then I could teach them anything…”

 

“…Well, then. Instead of just studying theory, why not engage in activities related to profit as the name suggests? Make it an artifact trading club. Concepts are abstract, but objects are clearly visible to the eye. Many people are interested in artifacts, so attract people with occult-related artifacts and gradually immerse them in it.”

 

“…!”

 

The Duke bolted upright then slowly lay back down on the floor.

 

“I can’t put out my artifacts. I acquired them all with great difficulty…”

 

“…Of course you would. Then how about making an appreciation club? Build a small museum and hold exhibitions. Your Grace can stay there and lure interested people one by one.”

 

“Hmm, that’s not bad.”

 

“If you do that and create a club where everyone shows off their artifacts, you could expand into auctions as I mentioned earlier. You could do that later without having to put out Your Grace’s items.”

 

After saying that, I unconsciously swallowed. Am I accelerating this club’s development like this?

 

Since the Duke clapped his hands, I smiled lightly and changed the subject. Now I had something to ask him about.

 

“In that spirit, I’d like to examine the artifacts Your Grace possesses.”

 

“Ah, excellent. Shall we look at those instead of studying today? Fortunately, I brought a lot packed up to show this friend, so I have much to show Lord Everett. Please wait a moment!”

 

“Ah, wait. Do you also deal with holy relics?”

 

“Holy relics… You mean Christian ones?”

 

The Duke shook his head.

 

“That’s not my field. And you must approach holy relics carefully since many are fake.”

 

“Are there many people who try to perform occult magic with holy relics?”

 

“I can’t say there aren’t any. Strictly speaking, holy relics are really good materials. I just don’t prefer to use Christ-related items for personal matters.”

 

Good materials, he says. Then the reason such holy relics and his items were stolen in the same way is?

 

“Don’t you have any occult colleagues you know currently, Your Grace?”

 

“Right now, everyone here is all I have.”

 

“So I’m included too~?”

 

Emmanuel said from far away. I observed Emmanuel’s expression then turned my head.

 

“I see. Understood.”

 

If he had acquaintances, I was going to ask if there was anyone interested in holy relics. Since that person might have stolen the Duke’s jewels as well. Even if the current Duke doesn’t know anyone, there must be a culprit among those he met during his 12 years in this organization.

 

However… that aside, I still can’t understand ‘why specifically’ the jewels were stolen. In the investigation report Leo brought, when the investigator asked if there were people interested in jewels, the Duke said ‘there’s absolutely nothing that comes to mind about why they were stolen.’

 

‘I can’t directly ask about the sapphire Peruer either.’

 

Why not.

 

First, suddenly? I’m asking because I know it was stolen, but from the listener’s perspective, it’s quite out of the blue. Normally there’s no occasion to discuss jewelry one owns.

 

Second, because I have the ‘commoner’ surname Everett, it won’t work. This time the Duke voluntarily took my hand so there’s no problem, but originally a commoner like me trying to associate with a duke could make me a target of suspicion. Since I lack nothing in money or status, I’d just laugh if I received such misunderstanding, but anyway, to others I might appear as a materialist approaching based on class and wealth, so if I’m careless, all my efforts to get here could be wasted.

 

That doesn’t mean I won’t ask at all. I have no choice but to ask questions linked to the occult to indirectly obtain information, but I won’t rush that for now. If there was a special reason for Peruer that required stealing it along with holy relics, that means there are clues I can extract from the Duke in the first place.

 

As I finished that thought, the Duke warped over carrying all sorts of copper-colored objects in his arms. Before he could even spread out all the items, I asked.

 

“It’s been a hot topic lately. Do you know about Pleroma?”

 

“I heard there’s an organization with that name, but I don’t know much about it. What was it, they said they revive the dead…”

 

“Are you interested?”

 

“…”

 

The Duke rested his chin in thought then nodded.

 

“I am curious. Reversing the time of the dead… resurrection ability. Either there’s someone with that ability in the organization, or the organization was devoted to research activities, right? It would be a lie to say I’m not curious about what kind of magic formula could achieve that.”

 

“…”

 

“If it’s not a magic formula but someone with that kind of unique ability, I’d like to meet them once.”

 

“With what nerve?”

 

That was Emmanuel’s comment.

 

Exactly. With what nerve? If someone has the ability to revive the dead, they’re no different from a god.

 

Even though the same perception of Pleroma as in our time hasn’t formed yet, to casually say he’d ‘like to meet once’ someone with such transcendent ability.

 

The Duke shook his head.

 

“It’s not that I have courage. But if he’s at least a good person, I thought I might be able to negotiate.”

 

“What kind of negotiation?”

 

“I’d have to ask if he has any thoughts about making a happier world.”

 

Since it sounded quite trivial, I just remembered his good intentions and nodded. He began laying out the artifacts he brought. I fixed my eyes on them and said.

 

“Your Grace.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“If I build a museum as I mentioned earlier, where would you build it?”

 

“Shall we build it in Berlin? Berlin has the largest population.”

 

“You won’t build it in Austria?”

 

“If I do that, Count Everett can’t be with me. Since you have teaching work, crossing borders would be difficult.”

 

“That’s true.”

 

Coincidentally, Berlin. And for my sake? How exactly did the Hermetic Society have its base in Berlin in the original past?

 

I pondered then smiled and said.

 

“Shall we start looking for a location in Berlin tomorrow?”

 

* * *

 

Wrong.

 

I’ll have to contact them that I can’t go.

 

Leonard caught a cold, and even though I’m not his secretary, I got caught by him.

 

His complexion hasn’t been good for several days and it finally came to this. I’ve never seen this guy catch a cold before, but I guess when he was young he grew up just like other Human children.

 

‘But really…’

 

At this point, aren’t I family too, not just a teacher?

 

Apart from feeling sorry, I feel like I have a nephew, so include me as an uncle too. It’s nice experiencing Bavaria royal family life. I thought while looking down at the bed. Emmanuel said sympathetically from beside me.

 

“We can’t go to Berlin~”

 

“Uncle…”

 

Leonard, with a wet towel on his head, frowned and said in a crawling voice. Emmanuel held up his hand as if to say wait a moment and whispered to me.

 

“It might be better not to go. Let’s just look at the artifacts Maria made here. Don’t make things too big.”

 

“You’re quite desperate. Why?”

 

At my words, Emmanuel shrugged then didn’t answer and said to the Prince.

 

“Yes, Your Highness. Speak now.”

 

“Please leave.”

 

“…”

 

Leonard finally drove Emmanuel out. I ignored Emmanuel’s intense gaze telling me to just follow him out and sat beside Leonard.

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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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