How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 328

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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 (328)

 

“….”

 

Leo opened his mouth, then let out a hollow laugh. Then he knelt on one knee in front of me, cast a sound-blocking spell, and said.

 

“Congratulations, Lucas. That’s so like you.”

 

“You’re not angry, are you?”

 

To my half-joking question, he smiled faintly and responded in a serious tone.

 

“Shouldn’t you be a bit happier yourself?”

 

“I’m….”

 

“No, you’re not.”

 

Just as I was about to answer that I was happy, I realized what Leo was basing that statement on. While my gaze turned toward Leo’s heart, he gestured toward my clean earlobe without any artifact and continued.

 

“Angry, you ask. If you were also connected to me, you’d know how happy I am right now.”

 

I forgot what to say and looked up at him. Knowing well that the Mimesis cameras couldn’t capture this angle, his lips curved upward in the backlight. Leo placed his hand on my back.

 

“…!”

 

Leo’s mana rushed into my body. I gritted my teeth at the pain and reflexively turned my head, but the mana continued flowing in without consideration. I should have felt it as an attack, and it actually was an attack, yet I couldn’t utter a single word.

 

“….”

 

It felt like that mana had finally entered where it belonged. Ridiculously, my core’s mana didn’t even attempt minimal self-defense and merged with Leo’s mana that had entered to attack me.

 

The movement of mana resembles a heartbeat. Leo’s mana, which stayed briefly in my core before disappearing, was pulsing rapidly. The fact that his emotions were truly heightened despite receiving the result of defeat made me even more speechless.

 

“This is what joy should feel like.”

 

“….”

 

How had my mana been beating in Leo’s core?

 

He gave a gentle nod and walked away alone as if nothing had happened. After taking deep breaths and organizing my disrupted mana, I frowned and looked at him. It didn’t take long to sense something was wrong.

 

“Hey!”

 

You should take me with you! I shouted while turning my head as much as possible, but he didn’t look back.

 

No, this bastard…. I need to return too, so what am I supposed to do if you leave me here? After breaking the communication artifact too…!

 

Does he cleanly accept the result but still want to mess with me separately? That cheerful pulsing might not be from excitement but from irritation. That makes sense.

 

Just as all sorts of thoughts were running through my mind, the scenery before me changed.

 

“….”

 

I was lying face-down on a cold marble floor. With the weight that had been pressing down on me gone, breathing became more comfortable.

 

Someone’s boots entered my vision. Mecklenburg, who had arrived first, was looking at me like I was crazy, then quickly came to his senses, smiled, and extended his hand.

 

“…You arrived first. Thank you.”

 

“Not at all.”

 

I was worried since the tests were consecutive, but fortunately there’s an automatic transfer system. It seemed to be a waiting room created inside Mimesis.

 

However, it wasn’t entirely kind. Seeing that my hat and communication artifact that Leo had blown away didn’t return, it seems if you lose something, you continue to the second round in that state. My jacket torn by the attack wasn’t repaired either, and my arm was still bleeding. Not taking major damage in combat is also a strategic ability, I suppose. I took out a spare communication artifact from my clutch and readjusted my mana to flow smoothly throughout my body. Mecklenburg sat with his arms crossed, watching me.

 

“Are you alright?”

 

“….”

 

While fitting the artifact to the outside of my ear, he pointed to my wrist. I pulled my glove down as much as possible and answered.

 

“No. I’m not alright.”

 

Mecklenburg seemed displeased with my 100% sincere way of speaking—though if I spoke like Adrian Ascanien, he’d dislike that too, wouldn’t he?—and showed a subtle smile before continuing.

 

“It would be nice if I could bring you some medicine, but that’s unfortunate. Good work.”

 

“Thank you. I won thanks to your quick calculations, Senior.”

 

At my casually thrown comment, Mecklenburg showed a polite smile. Strangely, his smile seemed artificial. I could easily sense that his mood wasn’t very good. Well, he’d know it wasn’t his achievement.

 

Still, if I set aside everything else during the test and judge only ability, Mecklenburg’s warp coordinate selection was excellent. Even though he chose the region in large chunks, selecting the order to warp within that region was entirely Mecklenburg’s choice.

 

More importantly, seeing that he had the leisure to act nice from earlier, he had completely returned to normal. It doesn’t matter. If he had won the first round thanks to himself, he would have gained confidence and been strutting around instead of just smiling silently.

 

So in terms of regaining initiative, the upcoming second round is essentially his first round.

 

Mecklenburg, who had been listening to the test start countdown, said quietly.

 

“You said you were happy to be with me.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“I’m also enjoying being with Mr. Ascanien. It brings back old memories.”

 

What insincere words.

 

Saying so openly that ‘I see your brother overlapping in you’? You want me to be nervous too, is that it? But I don’t respect Adrian Ascanien. Whatever he says has no impact on me at all. I smiled and shrugged.

 

“I thought you were finally looking at me now?”

 

“Please take care of me in the second round as well.”

 

I lightly grasped the hand he extended. The second round. In the second round….

 

‘…Phew.’

 

It would be better not to encounter Leo somehow. Since Mimesis wasn’t turned off, the parts numbed by plants still have no sensation. That much would be fine, but the way plants moved with intention and crawled around is still vivid, and it feels like plants are still alive and writhing somewhere even now.

 

‘…Plants shouldn’t really move like they have brains.’

 

Though they do move according to Leo’s brain’s commands, seeing it is one thing, but having them climb on my body never gets easier no matter how many times I experience it. Even if I endure it, unless I go to a place with less plant density, the park is the worst. I really could die buried in plants.

 

[…3, 2, 1.]

 

Beep—

 

The scenery changed with the notification sound. We had been indoors just moments ago, but now we were outside, standing on a much wider observation deck than before. Wind struck my face from the side. I now let my hair flutter freely. I never liked the pomade I had to use to meet regulations anyway.

 

Mecklenburg spoke first.

 

“It’s started. This time….”

 

“It seems the practical goal is to deal with the opponent.”

 

After checking the composition of materials on the desk, I cut off his words and looked at the map. Unlike the previous test that covered Berlin and parts of Brandenburg, here we were given a map the size of one district, with no contamination status charts or newspaper articles. It was essentially telling us to fight to stop the opponent.

 

Behind me, three mages in Imperial Guard uniforms were lined up. They were all fakes modeled after real people. I glanced back and said.

 

“Along with assistant mages we’re meeting for the first time.”

 

It seems they made the first round harder than the second round. Even in the Berlin-sized test area, didn’t we find the answer and then face off using tactics to deceive each other?

 

But the real problem now lies elsewhere. I rubbed my face thinking about the opponent’s base somewhere far away.

 

‘…Damn….’

 

They’re telling us to fight head-on.

 

I’m going to get marked by Leo again this time. Not just marked, but his declaration to rest in the grassland could be realized in a different way. There were even mountains and fields spread out before us.

 

Creating variables like this, I can feel the will to select the strategically strongest person as commander.

 

This time Mecklenburg’s expression was also subtle. He must be recalling how I commanded the completely unfamiliar Class 98 Team A without any problems.

 

‘First, I need to imagine the worst-case scenario of being caught by Leo.’

 

If I get any drowsier here, I really might become helpless. In that situation, all I can do is run my mouth.

 

‘Won’t that ability copying manifest again?’

 

I looked down below the observation deck and wiggled my hand. Naturally, as always, there was no movement in the grass. Leo’s unique ability used in the extra chapter could definitely only be used within the extra chapter. Even if I could use it, I absolutely couldn’t use it openly… so I won’t regret it for now. I looked down at the map composed entirely of forests and mountains, like the first strategy game I played with Erich Reichenau, and said.

 

“Senior. This time you and I must move together. The three people here should also stick together and move as a group. The important thing is that no one should move alone.”

 

* * *

 

Move together. You and me?

 

Mecklenburg looked at Ascanien expressionlessly. Ascanien tapped his shirt sleeves and continued speaking.

 

“As you saw, Count Leonard Wittelsbach can use his unique ability as a lethal weapon. He’ll attack us as soon as the test starts.”

 

A lethal weapon.

 

He had planned to try to take initiative, but as a team member, he needed to share information first. Ascanien’s wrist had turned dark red from being bound by something. Presumably it was the result of Wittelsbach trying to block Ascanien’s mana. In a situation where they had to run through nature like now, he was definitely an opponent to be careful of.

 

“If we think more deeply like in the first round, there’s also a good possibility that he’ll see through our expectations and give us some peaceful time after the start, then launch a surprise attack around the middle. But paradoxically, because of this possibility, we’ll try not to let our guard down throughout the test, so Wittelsbach’s choice is likely aligned with the option of ‘attacking immediately after the start.'”

 

Obvious words. However, ‘how far should we allow predictions of predictions’—this was always our dilemma, so it was understandable. As long as the opponent’s level was similar to ours, they would naturally think to the same stage we were thinking. Wasn’t the first round test also designed with twists upon twists of expectations? But if you keep flipping, you return to the starting point. Ascanien’s explanation was correct, so this point could be passed over for now.

 

More importantly, Mecklenburg had no intention of letting Ascanien continue talking. As soon as Ascanien finished speaking, Mecklenburg immediately picked up his baton and opened his mouth.

 

“I understand. Let’s start with situation analysis. The opponent will try to occupy the river first. More precisely, they’ll try to prevent us from approaching the river.”

 

“That’s right. Since we’re on the topic, I’d like to ask—how far can you use your unique ability, Senior? I mean the control range.”

 

At those words, Mecklenburg thrust his wand forward then quickly pulled it back.

 

“…!”

 

Ascanien’s previously calm expression instantly contorted. He opened his mouth in surprise and firmly grasped his left hand.

 

“I hope that was explanation enough.”

 

“….”

 

Blood must have suddenly rushed there making his hand feel like it would burst. Ascanien massaged his hand with a pale face and let out a hollow laugh.

 

“I envy that ability.”

 

“Obviously it’s difficult to use on moving people. It was easily possible because you were standing still in front of me right now.”

 

“How modest of you.”

 

“….”

 

Each word he throws out grates on the nerves. It’s probably something he doesn’t need to say, but is he doing it on purpose to be annoying? If asked, he’d probably widen his eyes and ask when he ever did that, so Mecklenburg held back from saying anything.

 

“Now, the fact that we need to run around and scout this entire area directly remains unchanged. We weren’t even given warp coordinates… I thought about borrowing the power of unique abilities, but none of the three of you here have unique abilities either.”

 

Mecklenburg said, fluttering the paper with their personal information. There were mountains and rivers in the center of the map, with forests and swamps surrounding them, and each team’s base at opposite ends of the map. There was even a cave halfway up the mountain.

 

“First, since we could be ambushed while searching, it’s better to enter the forest later. However, Count Wittelsbach might enter the forest first, anticipating this, so someone among us needs to keep watch on Count Wittelsbach’s movements.”

 

“Senior, are you good at using magic in water too?”

 

“I’d like to say I’m better than other mages.”

 

Mecklenburg replied briefly and continued.

 

“It would be best to tackle the most difficult mountain first, but Count Wittelsbach is the problem here too. Therefore, we won’t wait for Count Wittelsbach to come attack us—we’ll go attack Count Wittelsbach. The problem then is that whether he comes to attack us or we go to attack him, we’ll still have to face the grass in this natural environment.”

 

So what should we do? I waited, but Ascanien didn’t interrupt. He must not have any ideas. Or perhaps his thoughts were the same as mine. Mecklenburg tried to smile but suppressed his expression and said.

 

“The opponent has an advantage in this field, so there’s a high probability they won’t avoid combat. Therefore, we’ll lure Count Wittelsbach to the riverside. Both sides will judge the difficulty of each position similarly, so there shouldn’t be any problem with the lure. Pretending to target the mountain and then luring Count Wittelsbach to the river when he approaches—that’s the first action we need to take.”

 

“Are you finished speaking?”

 

“….”

 

Are you finished?

 

Mecklenburg slightly narrowed his brow. Ascanien smiled as if pondering what to do, then quietly opened his mouth.

 

“Senior.”

 

“….”

 

“You’re extremely orthodox.”

 

* * *

 

Crash—!

 

“You’re doing well.”

 

Mecklenburg looked at me with a sour expression as I grabbed his arm and followed him. The ground was completely flooded. This grassland was no longer grassland. At this level, it was swampland. Well, of course, since Mecklenburg had flooded this place with his unique ability. Even now, he was continuously drawing water from the river and pouring it across this vast grassland. Us lure Leonard? In a situation where we don’t even have time, for what purpose?

 

Rather, it was more reasonable to hinder Leonard’s movement. The grassland where Leo was now would have changed completely like this too. That’s right. Everything except the mountain was flooded.

 

Mecklenburg gritted his teeth and said.

 

“Stop grabbing my arm and spread a barrier on the ground.”

 

“If we do that, won’t our situation become exactly the same as Wittelsbach’s side?”

 

Spreading a barrier, good.

 

But that’s not the end of it. It’s difficult to block enemy attacks while maintaining a barrier. What if the barrier breaks and we fall down here? There’s no need to even think about how difficult it is to run in a muddy field.

 

On the other hand, Mecklenburg had the ability to evaporate only this narrow width of water we were running on. Shouldn’t we properly utilize this ability?

 

So, I was running behind him, checking if there were any Pleroma portals in this area…

 

“…Good. Up to here, I think we can say we’re somewhat ahead.”

 

Mecklenburg stopped in front of the mountain and spoke in a subdued voice. He seemed displeased about having his initiative taken away by that guy again.

 

Anyway, we had already surveyed 2/3 of the grasslands on the map. Now it was time for the next instruction. Moving to where the three mages we sent to the mountain first would be a good option, but my thoughts were a bit different.

 

“Senior.”

 

“Speak.”

 

Mecklenburg said in a voice no different from before. I looked around and opened my mouth. No, I was about to.

 

Craaaaaash—!!

 

“…?!”

 

At the thunderous roar that shook my entire body, I reflexively grabbed my ears.

 

‘…What…?’

 

What I saw after closing and opening my eyes was an unexpected sight. The world had turned black as if all light had been blocked out. I couldn’t distinguish between the ground beneath my feet and the sky. I squinted and looked around.

 

“Senior.”

 

There was no answer.

 

Mimesis had shut down. What could it mean that the artificially created world had disappeared from view?

 

Mimesis shutting down was theoretically possible. If Mimesis shut down, we should open our eyes in the Mimesis-exclusive arena expanded to thousands of pyeong through spatial magic, and since that arena was connected to each waiting room, we could follow that path to return to where the other mages were.

 

But…

 

Why couldn’t I see anything when Mimesis had shut down? Why didn’t I open my eyes in the arena? The articles I’d read over the past week churned through my mind. So, was Mimesis shutting down everything?

 

“Senior.”

 

I called again, but no answer came. There was only familiar darkness. I could no longer tell what I was standing on. The vast darkness where I couldn’t tell where the ground was and where the sky was, the endlessly spread midair, I was…

 

“….”

 

I seemed to hear my own breathing in my ears. My breath rose up to my chin.

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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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