How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 295

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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 (295)

 

Judging by the magical power I felt from behind, Elias and Leo had warped here simultaneously. Elias said.

 

“Patent that technique, Leo. And Luca’s going to die.”

 

“….”

 

Only then did the plants that had been pressing down on my head shrink back to their original positions. Actually, there shouldn’t have been any ‘original positions’ there, but that’s how it was for now. Someone with a tired expression was looking down at me with cold eyes.

 

“Where did you go?”

 

“….”

 

“Where would you go that you’d warp back lying down?”

 

“Seriously. Did someone attack you?”

 

Elias seemed puzzled by that point too. I understand. If I were him, I’d also assume I’d been attacked and warped away in a hurry. But that’s not the problem. It seems I’ve adapted to someone else more than I thought during those 2 weeks.

 

‘Ah, why….’

 

“Lucas. I’m telling you….”

 

“Aaaaah!”

 

Crash―!

 

“…!”

 

I involuntarily screamed while trying to get up and struck the bed with my knee, causing attacks to spread in all directions. Startled Elias and Leo simultaneously dodged to the side. I could see both their faces turn pale. Goosebumps rose all over my body and I absolutely couldn’t keep my eyes open to look at that. I’m not mentally prepared to see a grown-up five-year-old right now, so why do I always see him first whenever I wake up? I’m strongly convinced it’s because he finds me like a ghost due to core subordination.

 

Meanwhile, the grass around my neck pressed my head down again. It was because Leo, who had been attacked, tensed up and momentarily lost control, but for me it was fortunate since the grass was half-blocking my vision. When I closed my eyes and frowned, Elias frantically waved his arms and asked. I could hear the sound of his arm-waving from here.

 

“Why, why are you like this?! It’s us!”

 

“Why….”

 

“Hey. Tell me!”

 

“Why are you so dirty.”

 

“What….”

 

Somehow knowing I was talking to him, Leo stood there dazed before hurriedly stepping back and pulling his shirt to smell it. When he finally picked up a perfume bottle from my desk―also covered in grass―I quickly corrected myself.

 

“No, sorry. I didn’t mean it that way.”

 

“Then is there another meaning? I just washed….”

 

“I get it. I get it, so you don’t have to do that.”

 

I tapped the edge of the bed with my palm, meaning for him to calm down and come talk. But that was just my panicked behavior, and I soon realized that I also didn’t want Leo close to me, and since Leo looked flustered, I realized something was wrong externally too.

 

“….”

 

“Haha, I should sit down~”

 

Elias suddenly sat down next to me. With a feeling of whatever happens, happens, I stroked Elias’s head.

 

“Good job.”

 

“What am I, a dog? Are you the kid here?”

 

“What! Enjoy it when Luca’s this warm. He’s usually a machine.”

 

Elias strongly protested against Leo’s scolding. I’m glad Elias is here.

 

Otherwise I would have almost been asked when I changed careers to become a dedicated New Humanity childcare secretary. Having three jobs at this age is ridiculous.

 

Actually, just saying ‘come here’ verbally would have been enough, but I unconsciously acted like that toward the five-year-old Prince. Since that five-year-old didn’t say anything and actually seemed to like it, I forgot it was strange. Actually, no matter how much of a five-year-old he was, I was probably the only person rude enough to summon a Prince with hand gestures.

 

Throughout Leo’s continued silence, I stared somewhere between Elias and the floor. During that time, Leo approached and said.

 

“Why are you avoiding eye contact? Is there something you’re guilty about?”

 

What a perceptive guy. I can’t say it’s because I feel like throwing up. No matter what, this isn’t right. Even if I really would throw up at the real Leo, that can’t be helped, but I can’t say such things. I said while keeping my eyes everywhere else.

 

“Don’t talk to me.”

 

“…? Why.”

 

And he was just 120cm tall, but now what’s this telephone pole-like thing…. Why are humans so vertically long? Even if they’re long, he’s gotten way too long. It might be okay if we all regressed to the era when Australopithecus lived. Of course, no matter what, I can’t say this.

 

“Try sitting on the floor.”

 

“Why should I.”

 

“I can’t get used to being looked down at from above.”

 

“…I’ve been looking down at you from above from the beginning until now, so what do you mean you can’t get used to it now. And make a reasonable request.”

 

“Just sit.”

 

“….”

 

Leo looked down at me with contemptuous eyes, then sighed deeply and sat down.

 

“Are you satisfied now?”

 

“Phew….”

 

I held my head. Right. To put it simply, he went through puberty. Leonard really is lucky.

 

But the most important thing is that whether this guy went through puberty or reverse puberty, it’s not my face so ultimately it’s none of my business, and whatever happened, it’s a fully grown adult face. I never saw that 5-year-old and 17-year-old as perfectly the same person from the beginning, but seeing this makes me want to pretend I don’t know for a while.

 

Perhaps sensing my reality check, Leo answered with an even more annoyed expression.

 

“What, I finally sat down and now you’re like this.”

 

“Hey.”

 

I can’t even call him Leo. I sighed deeply while pressing my eyes with my hands. Leo seemed to sense something was strange too, as his answer came only after a moment.

 

“What.”

 

“Sorry, but let’s not see each other for a while.”

 

“What…?”

 

“…?! Hahahaha!”

 

Leo’s pupils shook wildly. Of course they would, seeing someone suddenly act like this when they did nothing wrong would be absurd. If a friend suddenly said something like this to me, I’d have the same reaction.

 

“…Why are you suddenly like this.”

 

“Ah~ Hahahaha! Isn’t it because you made the house like this.”

 

Elias said while clinging to Leo and lying down. Leo removed Elias who was choking him and said calmly.

 

“This is a security system. I set it up to catch other people, but I’m also puzzled why you got caught first. Are you angry because of this?”

 

“I’m not angry.”

 

“How are you not. You must have been suddenly startled, sorry.”

 

His expression doesn’t look particularly sorry. But doing what needs to be said is similar to when he was five years old… just thinking that makes me genuinely feel like my internal organs are twisting, so this won’t work.

 

If I can’t go, then I’ll go. I confirmed that the grass pressing my wrist had loosened and struck the bed with my fist.

 

And at that moment, I was at the warp point of Eschete Dormitory. I quickly got up and knocked on Narke’s door.

 

“Narke. Are you there?”

 

Fortunately, the door opened quickly. Narke pulled me in and swiftly put me in the room as she had done before.

 

“Haha, I knew you’d come now.”

 

“How did you know? Anyway, thanks.”

 

I sat on the sofa Narke gestured to and pressed my head. Since she had been investigating all day and returned to the dormitory around evening time, Narke was still dressed in outdoor clothes. On the other hand, I had been going back and forth to the extra chapter since bedtime, so I was dressed quite lightly, but fortunately it wasn’t pajamas.

 

About two weeks had passed since I left a letter for Narke and re-entered the extra chapter to work as a private tutor. Since one day there equals 48 minutes here, about 12 hours have passed here now. I lived two more weeks there, but only 12 hours passed here. Like that, it was now approaching 6 PM.

 

I could hear Elias and Leo warping from outside. Narke stared in that direction, then gave me water and whispered.

 

“Thanks for what. Did you fight with Leo?”

 

“Not at all. But I’d prefer if they didn’t come in here.”

 

“Ah, you want me to block them?”

 

“Yeah. Please.”

 

I came back here now because I have something to discuss with 17-year-old Leo, but that can be done after I’ve mentally prepared myself. Mental preparation to endure nausea was naturally very important from a courtesy standpoint. Otherwise, I might really unfortunately retch in front of Leo. I’d like to explain why I said let’s not see each other for a while, but there’s no reason I can explain with common sense, and since I just need to prepare not to throw up, there’s nothing to discuss with Leo either.

 

‘To talk about the extra chapter….’

 

It’s too early. I don’t want to talk about it yet. If it were a problematic ability, I might have considered brainstorming together to find a solution, but it’s not that kind of ability, and it’s still uncertain what butterfly effect my words might cause. And if they ask what I was doing in there, what would I answer? I absolutely cannot say I was playing with a 5-year-old you.

 

Narke didn’t bother asking where I had been. I don’t know how much she read with her insight, but she seemed to understand the atmosphere.

 

Knock knock—

 

[Narke.]

 

[Narkeee!]

 

They’re here.

 

Leo and Elias, who had been talking to each other in the hallway, were knocking on Narke’s door. Narke smiled while looking at the door and held her breath.

 

[I know you’re all inside.]

 

[Huh, I can’t warp?! She must have blocked it.]

 

[What? Narke!]

 

Leo knocked on the door a bit harder.

 

Narke now leisurely examined the door and plopped down on the sofa. After about 10 minutes, Leo and Elias got tired and disappeared. Narke shrugged and pointed to the grapes on the side table.

 

“It’s just us again. Want some fruit?”

 

“I’m fine.”

 

I ate a lot at Leonard’s Room. Fai, who had been sleeping on Narke’s bed, belatedly woke up, recognized me, and climbed onto my shoulder. Narke turned on the indirect lighting, lit the fireplace, then sat on the sofa in front of me.

 

“This time I went to the club I visited yesterday with Elias, you know? He’s still picky but since he studied before going, it was much better.”

 

“They’re letting you in?”

 

“They haven’t let me in yet, but… I’ve been unilaterally attending Hermeticism lectures. I’m hoping that building familiarity like this will make entry easier later.”

 

I nodded. Narke moved the shawl from her shoulders to her knees and continued speaking.

 

“And Elias really has great social skills~ I knew that already, but it made things much smoother thanks to that. Since Elias tends to have a lot to say, I brought him thinking he could divert the interviewer’s attention in that direction, but it was unexpected.”

 

“Hmm, that’s fortunate.”

 

Narke has unexpected moments too. Come to think of it, she wouldn’t use insight at every moment, so it’s natural, but it’s always fresh to hear. Narke observed my face intently and then smiled.

 

“Lucas, you… ah, you’ve caught a lead too.”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“I’ve also scheduled an appointment with the Duke of Osterreicheste. It’s the day after tomorrow.”

 

“The day after tomorrow. Thanks. I just need to go with you, right?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

After finishing my conversation with Leo, I’ll meet with the Duke of Osterreicheste who has information from the past 12 years. Although the Duke’s claim that ‘there’s nothing that comes to mind about why it was stolen’ conflicts with my hypothesis, I need to have that conversation precisely because of those conflicting doubts. Then the jewel theft case will be solved.

 

Beep—

 

Notification sounds began pouring from the artifact by my ear. They were notifications from Leo and Elias. As I was turning off the notifications, Narke laughed.

 

“How persistent~ Is it okay to keep wearing those clothes?”

 

“Why? We’ll only be indoors, so it’s fine.”

 

“Hmm, alright. Let me know if you need formal wear.”

 

I’m getting déjà vu from January. Will something happen that requires me to borrow clothes?

 

While thinking that and infusing divine power into Fai, Narke came over with a thick book.

 

“More importantly, let’s read this together. It’s an artifact compendium made by the Papal States. I brought it thinking it might help understand this case.”

 

“You also think the thief did something to the holy relic?”

 

“There’s a possibility. If the purpose wasn’t to sell the relic to a collector for money.”

 

I nodded. Didn’t the Duke also say ‘holy relics are good materials’? It’s a reasonable suspicion.

 

And indeed, it’s the Papal States. Every page I turn shows artifacts infused with divine power. As I thought earlier, divine power is very difficult to incorporate into artifacts, and the Papal States is the only place with the technology to make it possible. Divine power artifacts used domestically are either imported from the Papal States or made with their technical cooperation.

 

I was skimming through the book when I looked at Narke’s hands and asked.

 

“Is your ring also an artifact made by the Papal States?”

 

“Ah, this.”

 

Narke looked at the green ring on her hand, pondered for a moment, then shook her head.

 

“I suppose so. It’s ambiguous~”

 

If it’s yours, where does ‘I suppose so. It’s ambiguous’ come from? I deliberately brought out all my miscellaneous thoughts and continued speaking.

 

“I thought so. When I skimmed through, there wasn’t an artifact that seemed like yours. What function does it have?”

 

“…”

 

Narke quietly looked down at the ring, then tilted her head and smiled.

 

“You’re interested in my artifact. Should I call it a stabilization ability?”

 

I looked at her expression and turned my head away. Like that, I temporarily ignored Leo’s continuous stream of notifications. As I was re-reading the investigation records and documents in Narke’s room, time quickly passed and it became bedtime. Just as Narke began laying blankets on the sofa, a long signal tone came from Bavaria’s royal communication artifact, not the school’s.

 

Beeeeep—

 

“…”

 

Somehow hearing the signal tone that should only be audible to me, Narke looked at me with the same expression. That wasn’t what was important right now. With the feeling of wanting to grab my neck, I tapped the artifact.

 

“Yes.”

 

[Ernst. The Prince has ordered you to move to the reception room at Munich Residenz immediately upon hearing this contact. You must arrive within 10 minutes.]

 

“…”

 

“Hmm, it’s as expected after all. I was hoping I could discuss the investigation with you until tomorrow.”

 

Narke smiled regretfully, then looked at me and said.

 

“You have to go right now, don’t you? I’ll lend you clothes.”

 

* * *

 

I went through security as Lucas Ascanien, then quickly stopped by my office to change my hair and eye color before heading to Munich Residenz. When I stood in front of that room I had entered to become a private tutor, passing through the lobby, a servant opened the door and announced loudly.

 

“Nicolaus Ernst has arrived.”

 

“…”

 

Entering the reception room, I see Leo sitting with his chin propped up. Bavarian nobles were seated around him.

 

Leo only looked at me without greeting first. I can see his intention. Suppressing the urge to grab him by the collar, I spoke calmly.

 

“I greet the Prince.”

 

“You’ve come. It’s quite difficult to see your face, Count.”

 

At those words, the nobles nodded to me and began leaving. Separately from that, I said what I needed to say.

 

“I apologize.”

 

“For what.”

 

For what, he says? Either speak or don’t.

 

“When we’re alone, let’s take off the mask.”

 

“I refuse.”

 

“…”

 

Leo nodded as if telling me to figure it out myself. Then we just had a staring contest without saying anything. Feeling like I might commit insubordination without realizing it, I turned my head, and Leo hit the table twice.

 

“Speak.”

 

Instead of speaking, he just stared intently.

 

‘This stubborn bastard…’

 

When I closed my eyes to regain composure, Leo began shocking my core. Getting gradually irritated myself, I responded to the staring contest as he wanted. Only after a long while did Leo open his mouth.

 

“Still disgusted?”

 

“I never said disgusted.”

 

“You couldn’t even have a proper conversation, and as soon as you came you only said strange things like dirty, plus you said you didn’t want to hear my voice and didn’t want to see my face, but you say you never said disgusted – humanly speaking, how much should I endure?”

 

I never said it to that extent.

 

Of course, since that’s how he felt, his mood being bad is understandable. He deserves points for keenness in feeling it so accurately.

 

If he looked completely different from the five-year-old it might be different, but there’s an oddly remaining feeling that still makes me feel unwell. There’s also a sense of disconnect in that he was clearly a child who followed me well back then, but now he’s grown up and grating on my nerves.

 

However, I already received the primary shock half a day ago, and thanks to the mind control I did while with Narke, I no longer needed to try to suppress nausea.

 

“Tell me. What’s this about?”

 

“…”

 

“Is it because I made grass grow in your room with my unique ability? Sorry, but I didn’t make that to catch you. Like with Primrose Pass, if someone warped you, I thought that magic might remain, so I spread it throughout the house to detect and catch magic. I’d be even more grateful if the culprit warped into the manor building again. Why would I need to make you fall into a trap?”

 

“You’re the type who would do that.”

 

“I’m saying I didn’t, so why do you think I would? I guess it’s because I used this method when making you drink blood before, but this time I have no reason to catch you. And I cleared away all the grass after you left.”

 

Thinking calmly, there really is no reason for that. What would he do by catching me? He could just say ‘oh, you came’ and leave it at that. I accepted this and said what I needed to say.

 

“First, the dirty thing was just sleep talk. There’s one thing I want to ask of you. How long has it been since I left and came back? It’s been 12 hours now. You don’t need to worry so much just because I disappeared for 12 hours.”

 

“That’s what bothered you?”

 

“It’s not because of that, but I’m asking first.”

 

“If it were early January, I wouldn’t have gone this far. And…”

 

Leo drank the tea in front of him and continued.

 

“If you hadn’t almost died to Andrea Friedmann a few days ago, I wouldn’t have gone this far either.”

 

“…”

 

He knew after all. He knew and still asked me.

 

Also, early January would mean before Primrose Pass. Primrose Pass happened at the end of January.

 

“In a situation where the whole country is desperately trying to capture either Lucas Ascanien or Nicolaus Ernst, where’s the guarantee you won’t disappear like that time? I even made an artifact to prevent that, but this time it didn’t even work. Narke said it was fine, but in a situation where communication artifacts and nothing else could physically prove anything, how much could Elias and I be certain?”

 

“…”

 

“Wherever you go is your freedom and I believe you’ll generally handle things well on your own, but you know what’s happened to you, and I know it too. Knowing that, how can I just sit back and do nothing?”

 

I looked at him and slowly nodded. In short, he sent a signal to my core with binding magic, but when no response came from me, he considered it an emergency situation. No matter how much Narke said it was fine, given his personality, he had no choice but to trust the magic directly connected through his artifact more. From Leo’s perspective, it was reasonable worry, so there’s nothing I can argue against here, nor do I want to.

 

“So, where did you go? Why didn’t you respond when I called?”

 

Leo tapped the table. When I showed a reflexive response to the core shock, Leo fell silent. He fixed his gaze on my shoulder and asked.

 

“It works now, so why didn’t it for the past 12 hours? Do I need to supplement the function?”

 

“How would I know.”

 

I answered a bit more at length.

 

“I went investigating. It wasn’t dangerous at all. You know what I mean when I say it like this.”

 

Leo looked me over with disapproving eyes. Both visually and magically, there were no problems with my health whatsoever.

 

“…Right. If I ask exactly where you went, you’ll say you won’t show me again, won’t you?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“…”

 

Leo’s expression twisted slightly in a way similar to when he was five years old. Now that I look at it, even the seventeen-year-old doesn’t seem to have that strong of a heart.

 

Yeah, well. From my perspective, seventeen years old is quite a difference too. Even if he doesn’t have the five-year-old visuals, his heart might still be tender. I don’t really want to consider that much, but anyway, that’s how it is. If I became any more honest, it seemed like my mouth would pop out, so I waved my hand and said.

 

“I didn’t mean let’s fight. And I’ll tell you about what I investigated later. Right now, I have something to say to you. Before that, you need to tell me something.”

 

“….”

 

“Tell me about the ability to turn back time. Everything, starting from the process of you getting caught up in my ability.”

 

“Why suddenly?”

 

Suddenly.

 

Since I’m going to connect this issue with information obtained from the extra chapter, it doesn’t seem out of the blue to me, but it’s understandable that it would feel that way to him.

 

Now the time has come to settle this matter.

 

“A lot of time has passed. It’s about time I heard it.”

 

“….”

 

“You promised.”

 

I took off my mask and held out my pinky finger. Leo looked at my hand with a stiff expression, then pressed his forehead. Only after a long while did he finally open his mouth.

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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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