How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 331

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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 (331)

 

“Here you go.”

 

Ascanien picked up the wand that had rolled to his feet and handed it over. Kindly enough, a smile was on his face. Mecklenburg snatched it and aimed it at Ascanien.

 

“Right now, release it right now.”

 

His hands trembled at this insane situation he’d never experienced before. No one had ever treated a member of a ruling family like this. Subjugation? Did that mean what he thought it meant? He’d always been the one giving orders, never the one receiving them. Ascanien looked at the orange magical energy crackling at the tip of Mecklenburg’s wand and tilted his head as if he didn’t understand.

 

“Why?”

 

At that shameless question, Mecklenburg almost grabbed his head.

 

He said contingency. How dare he speak of contingency? He could instinctively tell this wasn’t proper magic. Couldn’t showing even the slightest weakness to Ascanien get him killed? At least Adrian Ascanien pretended to be nice, but the younger brother was much more shameless and reckless. He realized that now. Who was he trying to backstab now…!

 

“Let’s go.”

 

“No, I said release it?!”

 

Snap—

 

“Ugh!”

 

The moment he grabbed Ascanien’s shoulder, intense pain struck his heart.

 

“It works well. Please be quiet, Senior.”

 

Ascanien, who had flicked his finger hard, spoke calmly to Mecklenburg’s scream. Mecklenburg clutched his chest and held back tears that reflexively wanted to come from the pain. Be quiet? What was he saying after creating this situation himself? Mecklenburg tried to physically strike the junior standing in front of him, but remembered that engaging in petty physical fights without ordering subordinates to do it was undignified, and barely gritted his teeth and took a deep breath. He’d rather have a life-or-death duel with swords than do something only drunkards would do in front of Nicolaus. Ascanien, completely uninterested in what anguish Mecklenburg was going through, spoke peacefully.

 

“If the worst situation comes, I’ll send a signal like I just did. Senior can’t know my location, but I can roughly guess which direction you’re in and how far away you are. The farther apart we get, the less I can sense the magical energy I’ve stored.”

 

“Good grief, the more I listen, the more ridiculous this gets. Using something like this as a signal, what nonsense…!”

 

“It’s useful when nonsensical situations unfold. You don’t know how much hope it gives when you’ve lost everything and only have this left.”

 

“…”

 

Mecklenburg had no choice but to close his mouth. It seemed like he was speaking as Nicolaus. Had he experienced losing everything and having only this left? When, with whom? During what operation? Before that, why are you Nicolaus anyway? He had countless questions he wanted to ask, but it didn’t seem like he’d get answers if he asked now.

 

“…Unfortunately, it seems we’re very far apart right now.”

 

“…”

 

Ascanien, who had been looking up and tapping the air with his finger, said something incomprehensible. He didn’t understand, but Mecklenburg silently nodded. Ascanien continued speaking.

 

“They may have found peace for a moment and felt relieved, but the fact that Pleroma touched the four of us means preparations for what comes next are already complete.”

 

That would be right. It meant they were prepared to face the entire Special Operations Command. They didn’t secretly take us away but kidnapped us in front of everyone. Perhaps even they could have been captured. Ascanien’s bright blue eyes turned directly toward Mecklenburg.

 

“It won’t be easy. We need to find the other two as quickly as possible.”

 

“…”

 

This wasn’t simple kidnapping. Perhaps the war between Pleroma and the Empire government started with this. Since Pleroma struck again at the Empire government that had been holding its breath after Pleroma’s first attack.

 

“What’s surprising here is that the Brandenburg Diocese priests didn’t know we had crash-landed here. They just came to respond because intruders appeared. The 81st class seniors were probably in a similar situation. They weren’t briefed about us from above but were the initial discoverers.”

 

“…That would be right. Otherwise, there’d be no reason to send us to this Hall of Peace where these clueless priests wander around.”

 

If the leadership had known the two had fallen there, assuming they’d been contacted, the 81st class seniors would have kept Ascanien and Mecklenburg there as long as possible. Not sending them to Pleroma’s hall while expecting additional response. If the diocese leadership had known early on that two mages had fallen at the manor, they should have arrived here long ago. Mecklenburg stroked his chin and continued.

 

“In conclusion, Brandenburg Diocese either doesn’t know we infiltrated, or if they do know, they haven’t known for long.”

 

“Senior might not know this, but Pleroma is managed differently by each diocese. In my experience, Brandenburg Diocese priests had their brains connected to several senior and junior priests. I suspect some might even be connected to the Bishop.”

 

“In your experience…? Have you been here before?”

 

“Last year.”

 

Ascanien answered briefly and turned his head. He seemed unwilling to discuss this topic. He wanted to ask how much Ascanien had stirred up Pleroma, and what business had brought him to infiltrate Brandenburg Diocese. But there was no trace of laughter in his features, and crucially, whenever he looked at that face that resembled someone, he felt his ability to speak disappear, so Mecklenburg bit his lip slightly and remained silent.

 

‘That aside, if their brains are connected… right, they would have known the situation about 5 minutes ago, so why haven’t they come yet?’

 

Meanwhile, Ascanien approached one of the hall’s doors, cast a sound-blocking spell, and spoke.

 

“Senior. Would you like to open this door?”

 

“…!”

 

Mecklenburg closed his mouth and looked at Ascanien with annoyed eyes. Ascanien nodded as if he understood and kindly pointed to the door handle.

 

“I said their brains are connected. The follow-up Pleroma forces are probably hoping we’ll use common sense and walk out through this door. They’re likely waiting with spatial magic connected at high probability, so opening it means only death.”

 

“…I know, so you don’t need to explain.”

 

Asking him to open it, what kind of joke was this in this situation. While thinking that, his mouth closed as he wondered what experiences had given rise to his composure. The brilliance he’d shown throughout the last exam, that composure and skill, now made complete sense. He even felt ridiculous for desperately trying to break that.

 

‘…Instead of running around in Mimesis Field, he should be sitting next to the chief of staff taking evaluations, so why is he shamelessly taking exams…!’

 

As his face was about to burn again, Mecklenburg slapped his cheek to wake himself up. Ascanien looked at Mecklenburg as if he were crazy—who exactly was looking at whom that way? Mecklenburg felt so wronged about who was acting outside common sense that he felt like collapsing right then—and headed toward the opposite end of the corridor connected to the hall.

 

“Now there’s something I need Senior, the master of spatial magic, to do.”

 

“Are you going to mock me?”

 

“There are definitely additional points in this building where spatial magic is connected. Please find them. For example, things like candlesticks, books, or picture frames.”

 

Ascanien made a motion of pushing a candlestick sideways as he spoke.

 

What was this about? Candlesticks, books, and picture frames connected to spatial magic? He seemed to have heard something like that before…

 

Whatever the case, he couldn’t ignore what Nicolaus was saying.

 

“Did you learn this when you came to Brandenburg Diocese before?”

 

“…”

 

Ascanien stayed still and just nodded. Before this silence could continue, Mecklenburg changed his wand to a staff to find places with spatial magic. The magical energy he slowly sent down to the floor wavered strangely at certain points. First, the places where magical lamps were attached. Since all objects with even a little magical energy showed the same reaction, he had no choice but to touch them one by one.

 

‘What kind of work is this.’

 

On the day he learned his junior was Nicolaus, he was subjected to some subjugation without permission, and now he was moving furniture and fixtures with magical energy one by one. Ascanien shamelessly just stood there holding the end of Mecklenburg’s sleeve.

 

“Why?”

 

“…”

 

Mecklenburg turned his head with an expression that said let’s not talk and continued touching objects with magical energy. When he thoughtlessly picked up a hardcover book, wind suddenly blew.

 

“…!”

 

The scenery before his eyes changed. He’d been in a bright space just moments ago, but this was a dark room. Found it. They’d really come to a new place. It was definitely someone’s study. Ascanien looked around and spoke quietly.

 

“Now, this is what we’re going to do. First, we’ll send away the troublemakers all at once. Second, we’ll go find the two from Wittelsbach.”

 

“Easier said than done…”

 

“We can do it.”

 

Ascanien, who had cut him off, held his breath at the door for a moment, then burst it open and started running without hesitation. It was natural since personnel could come here soon too. Mecklenburg followed him running, then hesitated when he heard someone running from a corridor corner nearby.

 

“…!”

 

From the footsteps, there seemed to be about three people. He thought it was time to stop and hold their breath, but Ascanien didn’t stop and rushed out, shouting loudly.

 

“Brother Claus! Where are you going?”

 

“…?!”

 

Claus?! Even if it’s not your name, is it okay to just make up other people’s names? Mecklenburg’s vision went white. But unexpectedly, confusion briefly filled the face of the priest called Claus, then he showed a stern expression.

 

“Didn’t you hear? The leadership’s plan went wrong and we need to go handle it right now!”

 

“I know that! What I mean is, are we going to look for Ascanien now?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Let’s go together.”

 

Ascanien ran while maintaining distance from the three priests and put his hand on Mecklenburg’s wrist. He tried to shake it off, but clear divine power soon flowed under Mecklenburg’s skin, and the pain from the air gradually subsided. It was clearly to prevent nosebleeds or burst blood vessels from showing.

 

‘…More than that, Ascanien is accompanying them on the way to find Ascanien…’

 

Seeing how skilled his tone and expression were, this wasn’t his first or second time doing this? Mecklenburg felt his common sense being shattered. But what was important now wasn’t the fact that Ascanien was boldly committing fraud, but about that name Claus. How long would they be fooled? Even when trying to recognize Ascanien’s face now, only a blurry image remained, so he was clearly using magic, but had he layered another spell? Mecklenburg looked back and forth between them and Ascanien, cast a sound-blocking spell, and asked.

 

“Did you brainwash them? Claus?!”

 

“No. That’s really his name. You know the Papacy publishes newsletters too, right? Let’s say I saw him in an ordination interview long ago.”

 

What? Mecklenburg gaped in astonishment. Meanwhile, Ascanien immediately broke the sound-blocking spell and asked in an urgent voice.

 

“Brother. Where should we go after subduing Ascanien? I’m asking because I temporarily left blood materials I need to process immediately with a fellow priest.”

 

“What?! A priest?! You should have brought him! I wondered why there were only two of you…!”

 

‘Oh, damn.’

 

Wrong. Ascanien had made a mistake. He knew impromptu acting had limits, but for a hole to appear so quickly. Mecklenburg’s face turned pale. As he turned his head to ask what they’d do now, Mecklenburg doubted his eyes.

 

“…”

 

Light flashed across the profile of Ascanien running with his eyes wide open. It was an instant. Soon difficulty appeared on Ascanien’s face.

 

“I wanted to do that too, but that priest is a friend I brought who was just ordained, so he’s not suitable for combat. He’s practically a deacon. Plus, the material I captured is a mage, so he’s quite fierce and I couldn’t leave him alone. I couldn’t let that friend handle the material alone, so I need to finish quickly and return, but do you know where and what I should do after subduing Ascanien?”

 

“Where to go! Just give him one injection and wait. The Bishop will handle the rest later.”

 

“Ah, injection!”

 

“Didn’t you get one?”

 

“No, it fell out while fighting with the material. He was quite a fierce one. If you have a spare vial, please give me one.”

 

Ascanien shook an unopened syringe to prove his innocence. When he switched clothes with the Pleroma priest earlier, he’d also stolen the belt clutch the priest wore at his waist. It was the syringe from inside that. Seeing it, Claus rummaged through his clutch and threw a small bottle the size of a finger joint. Ascanien nodded in greeting and fell back to run behind them. While doing so, Ascanien opened the belt clutch layered over his priest robe fascia and showed Mecklenburg the contents. Excluding his own elixir that Ascanien had transferred, there were only three or four unused empty syringes and a cross. That was all.

 

“That priest from earlier didn’t have this drug. Seeing that only the Pleroma dispatched now have it, it was entirely intended for use on us… They’ll probably use the same drug on the Wittelsbach side too.”

 

Ascanien rarely licked his lips with his tongue. He closed the clutch and continued running while asking Mecklenburg.

 

“We’re going back to square one now. With Senior’s ability, how could we kill the people who were in that hall earlier?”

 

“…We’d have to burst blood vessels by forcing blood to the face as much as possible, or conversely, prevent blood from flowing to the head, or block blood from flowing to the heart.”

 

“That would consume a lot of magical energy.”

 

That’s right. All three methods might work for one or two people, but were nearly impossible against dozens. Even casting the ability on one or two people, to actually kill them rather than just making them temporarily incapacitated, he’d have to hold out for about 5 minutes past the golden time. Mecklenburg himself would die in the process. Ascanien stroked his chin and muttered.

 

“Then what about making blood rush to the floor more strongly than now?”

 

“…For wide-area casting, that approach is more rational. However… they might faint or have reduced movement due to insufficient oxygen circulation, but it would be difficult to kill them.”

 

“Good. That’s sufficient.”

 

Ascanien turned his head to look directly at Mecklenburg and tightened his grip on the hand holding his wrist. A cold smile formed on his face.

 

“Now, Senior. There were three things we could learn from this. First, groups of three. Those over there are simple-minded fools who don’t think about the basis and essence of the order to move in groups of three. It would be better for our mental health to believe it’s due to tension. It’s unfortunate that we always have to give detailed and clear orders because there are so many of these idiots. Second, the archdiocese is not underestimating us two. Third, the bishops have gone somewhere else. Where could they have gone?”

 

“…”

 

“Crisis is opportunity.”

 

It wasn’t a difficult story, but this one thing had to be acknowledged. How could he remain so calm? Mecklenburg bit his lips, feeling his heart pounding wildly. Was all this thanks to his experience as Nicolaus? How many times had he gone through such extremes? No, did he even consider this an extreme situation? Was it through that process that he could achieve such results?

 

Then, Claus, who had been running at the front, grabbed his head and suddenly turned around, shouting. Ascanien quickly released Mecklenburg’s wrist.

 

“Fifty people are waiting at each of the four entrances to the Hall of Peace! Where are you brothers going?”

 

200 people. Mecklenburg felt his breath catch as he swallowed. 200 priests had been deployed to take the heads of Ascanien and Mecklenburg. This went beyond not underestimating them—they were excessively evaluating their abilities. No, it also seemed like an unwavering will to prevent the two from leaving alive no matter what. In fact, while this might be different if they were outside, since this was their home ground, actively utilizing resources would be beneficial rather than harmful. Looking at the situation alone, anyone could see that Ascanien and Mecklenburg were at a clear disadvantage. In such circumstances, Ascanien showed no panic at all and similarly grabbed his head, then shouted back loudly in response.

 

“What about you, brother?”

 

“We’re going to the north gate.”

 

“Same place. They definitely positioned based on where we were staying just before.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

What do you mean ‘I suppose so’? While Mecklenburg swallowed the words that had risen to his throat, Claus nodded seriously, grabbed the railing, and turned the corner.

 

Finally, numerous mages in priest robes came into view. However, unlike the limestone dome from earlier, this was a huge wooden corridor. There was a large wooden door at the end of the corridor, and someone had cast soundproofing magic on the door.

 

‘This is the north gate?’

 

While looking at it suspiciously, Ascanien’s words flashed through Mecklenburg’s mind. He had said ‘there would be spatial magic laid outside the door.’ One of the Pleroma looked at Claus and said.

 

“We warped here 2 minutes ago, but nothing is coming out from inside except biological mana.”

 

“Are there no traps?”

 

“We’re waiting for them to come out because of that possibility.”

 

“What about the possibility they’ve already escaped?”

 

“That’s quite possible. So this isn’t the time to be here! We’re talking with the south gate side right now, and the south gate reached the same conclusion as us.”

 

Another Pleroma interjected with an answer.

 

Ascanien, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, lowered his voice and shouted. Though it was easily drowned out by the loud conversation sounds in the corridor, it was at least enough for the people nearby to hear.

 

“I think those bastards know we’re skilled in spatial magic, so they’ll try to break the spatial magic first before opening the door!”

 

“What do you mean?”

 

“I’m saying they’ll really escape through the Hall of Peace entrance. As soon as there’s even a slight mana fluctuation, we need to push inside immediately without waiting any longer. We need to inform everyone waiting at each door about this!”

 

“Of course we should do that.”

 

“Ah, of course?”

 

Ascanien nodded and shrugged his shoulders slightly. For some reason, Mecklenburg felt his own temper flare at that sarcastic attitude. Indeed, he was the type who was more comfortable to have as an ally. Fortunately, the other Pleroma were too busy detecting mana and sharing strategies with each other to pay him any more attention. Ascanien tapped Mecklenburg’s shoulder and said.

 

“I guess I underestimated them too much. Since everyone’s opinions are the same, now it’s time to borrow Senior’s abilities.”

 

“…”

 

Mecklenburg hesitated and gestured with his eyes, asking if they were really doing this, but Ascanien nodded firmly. Mecklenburg grabbed Ascanien’s hand and slowly moved closer to the corridor wall.

 

Thud—

 

Kwaaaaang—!!

 

The moment he lightly lifted his foot and then struck the floor, light rushed forward along the wall and exploded at the door, causing the scenery that had formed their view to collapse. Though Mecklenburg frowned at the roar and light he had created, he didn’t close his eyes. As the spatial magic broke and a limestone building appeared, the priests became one mass and pushed through the door into the building. The number of people trying to figure out exactly where the spatial magic dismantling had started couldn’t beat the number of people who reacted immediately to this mana. However, this was only momentary confusion—the situation would reverse before 1 minute, no, 30 seconds, or perhaps even less time passed. Those 30 seconds were the last remaining time.

 

“——!”

 

Someone shouted and simultaneously, pain like squeezing a core struck. Ascanien’s signal was drowned out by the sounds of attacks the Pleroma were firing wildly, but the one signal he sent to the core worked perfectly.

 

Kwaaaaang—…

 

Mecklenburg struck down his staff and closed his eyes. Death cries began to burst out from among the Pleroma. Even Mecklenburg’s own blood felt like it was being pulled down to the floor.

 

—Unless the Lord watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain!

 

Kwaaaaaang—

 

His ears became muffled.

 

After the storm, Mecklenburg felt that no sound could be heard and slowly raised his head. His hearing couldn’t accept sounds beyond its limit. However, even if sound could be heard, this place would have been quiet. Now no one could make a sound. Mecklenburg felt hot liquid flowing down from under his nose and tried to steady his spinning vision. As his hearing slowly returned, at the edge of his vision, several priests were struggling to overcome the divine power but soon collapsed. Only then did Nicolaus’s light fade.

 

He had definitely pushed himself harder this time than before. To handle the alert Pleroma all at once, he naturally had to do so. Even when his vision turned red, Mecklenburg doubted his own eyes. Tears flowed from Ascanien’s eyes. There was no change in expression. Considering this was a situation where he needed to stay sharp, it was definitely not due to a change of heart but a reflexive reaction due to pain. Ascanien, who had been swaying while leaning on his staff, smiled and spoke when he made eye contact with Mecklenburg.

 

“Ah, good. You’re definitely a master of spatial magic. Using deception to avoid impact point tracking.”

 

“In this situation…!”

 

“I wasn’t usually like this either, but it’s different having someone to fight with.”

 

Ascanien closed his eyes and continued.

 

“Usually in situations like this, we move separately from our respective positions.”

 

“…”

 

Others wouldn’t understand even if he talked about such ‘usual’ things. Anyway, he probably wasn’t asking for sympathy.

 

“Now the news will have reached the bishop directly, so we don’t have time. Let’s quickly drop him and move on to the next stage.”

 

Ascanien walked unsteadily and grabbed someone by the collar. Light appeared in his hand and that Pleroma convulsed and opened his eyes.

 

“Brother Claus, do you know who among these people is most skilled in spatial magic?”

 

“Th-that’s why…”

 

“Fire is covering this place. If we don’t get outside Pleroma immediately, everyone will burn to death. Don’t we need to save our colleagues?”

 

The eyes of the Pleroma called Claus were already clouded. The moment he barely managed to raise his hand and point at someone, Ascanien cast one last spell on him.

 

“Brother, you never had a conversation with anyone, never saw light, and never saw divine power. You chased Ascanien but there’s not even a trace of Ascanien here.”

 

“…”

 

Thud—

 

Ascanien threw down the unconscious man and picked up another Pleroma. It was the Pleroma that Claus had pointed to. Ascanien, holding him, rushed out of the Hall of Peace and shouted.

 

“Wake up! The bishop said you must immediately detach those Hall of Peace coordinates and throw them outside Pleroma! Ascanien has escaped outside and will soon cast a spell to blow up the coordinates. Hurry!”

 

“Ah! Wh-where to?!”

 

Since Ascanien had thrown him to the ground, the Pleroma held his head. He acted like he had just woken up and looked around frantically.

 

Since the three of us were outside the Hall of Peace anyway, even if that lie were true and the coordinates were moved, this Pleroma had no chance of survival. With his mind clouded by divine power, he seemed unable to think that far.

 

Mecklenburg swallowed as he watched Ascanien acting as if he had completely switched personalities. He couldn’t help it because he seemed like a madman.

 

“Where should we move it? Senior.”

 

“…”

 

Mecklenburg, who had been staring at him blankly, finally managed to speak.

 

“To the 4th floor of the Ministry of Defense building. There’s a large conference room.”

 

“Would Pleroma know the government building coordinates?”

 

Ascanien smiled and said to that Pleroma.

 

“Let’s move it to Unter den Linden.”

 

It was a street lined with government buildings.

 

The Pleroma still frantically sent mana down to the floor while muttering incomprehensible words. The black mass of priests disappeared before their eyes. As mana returned to his body and he regained consciousness, focus slowly returned to the Pleroma’s eyes.

 

“…Wait.”

 

Bang!

 

Ascanien slammed his head to the ground, knocked him unconscious, then stood up. Then he looked at Mecklenburg and smiled.

 

“Now the first stage is successful.”

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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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