How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 340

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

“Leo. Why did you call me?”

 

I quickly followed behind him, wringing out the water dripping from my robe. The sound of water droplets falling was loud in the quiet, empty building. Leo, who crossed the hall past the changing room without looking back at me, answered matter-of-factly.

 

“I clearly called for Count Ernst.”

 

“….”

 

I was so speechless that I could only let my mouth hang open. I’m going to play with Luca, so you go play with Nicolaus—that’s what Elias said. But the blame fell on me? This childish bastard… I became conscious of the black bangs falling in front of my eyes, then looked down at my shower robe that was soaked with water without any trace of formality and let out a hollow laugh. Meeting Nicolaus in this state, well, I suppose that’s possible…

 

“Understood. However, Your Highness.”

 

I tilted my head while glaring at his neat back of the head.

 

“You’re being careless with sound-blocking magic.”

 

“….”

 

“I’m not sure if it’s appropriate for me to call Your Highness by your title in this appearance in such a large building. What would you do if Your Highness’s friends came in?”

 

“Your Highness’s friends.”

 

Even though I asked if he was going to continue acting so recklessly, Leo answered with a faintly amused tone without caring. I felt a headache as something unexpected struck a nerve. Why is he focusing on the phrase “Your Highness’s friends”? It would be nice if I could open up that bastard’s skull and see what he’s thinking right now. For now, my thoughts were clear. I only thought about hitting his core. However, as a nominal aide, guard, and minister of the Kingdom of Bavaria, I couldn’t dare make the judgment that it would be okay to hit the prince. Actually, both Luca and this bastard are descendants of ruling families, so they get treated like princes wherever they go, but I felt sorry to Luca about already being placed in a subordinate position despite our equal relationship. As I always think, today too.

 

‘Ah, right. I should have dunked him.’

 

When I was outside in the outdoor bath with Eli, there was a problem because of the landscaping plants, but there was an opportunity until I came out to the hall through the inner bath. I should have just thrown him in the water. Why did I miss that opportunity? As I was glaring at that neat back of his head with pomade applied, I became conscious of the changing room that had passed behind my view and stopped him. Now I had cast sound-blocking magic myself.

 

“Ah, please wait a moment. It seems like this conversation will be long, so let me go change clothes first.”

 

“Just go like that? I don’t have much to say.”

 

“I’m cold.”

 

At my dry tone, Leo crossed his arms with an annoyed expression and nodded. I immediately turned around.

 

Actually, rather than being cold, it felt awkward to walk around in just a robe when being called Count Ernst. As a member of this peaceful society, it was proper to maintain appropriate distance according to place and time. The moment I opened the door to enter the changing room, I encountered someone. Ulrike, who had her hand on the door handle, stood there with wide eyes.

 

“…Luise.”

 

My heart almost jumped out of my mouth. No, since when, how much did she hear? Even though everything was about to be exposed, Leo looked at Ulrike with the same indifferent face as before, thinking some crazy thought. Right, maybe she was at the door since after I cast the sound-blocking magic. Only Ulrike looked back and forth between us with an awkward expression, then seemed to decide to ask Leo for the truth and looked at him with a stern face.

 

“Uh, Leo. Why is Lucas calling you Your Highness…?”

 

Ah, right. Hope was cut short. She heard from before I cast the sound-blocking magic. Leo’s blue irises indifferently passed over me and moved to her. The moment his lips began to open slowly, I cut off his words.

 

“…We’re playing. Probably.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“We’re playing around. You know, what is it? This bastard is quite the prince, so that’s good…!”

 

Leo noticed the sarcasm in my words and snapped his fingers, so I bent over. Even though it was only half effective, he twisted my core so hard that it hurt quite a bit, making my lungs tingle. I bent over so much that Ulrike couldn’t see my face, and I frowned at Leo, showing my teeth. Fortunately, Ulrike didn’t seem to think much about this irrational situation where Leo snapped his fingers and I suddenly folded in half, and instead clapped her hands with a moved expression.

 

“Wow. You’re playing around? You two?”

 

“Yeah, really.”

 

“I’m relieved that you’re trying to get along well. Don’t fight during activities from now on and keep getting along like this, guys!”

 

“We never fought in the first place, Luise.”

 

“Oh yeah~ I’m going now! You guys come back down too! Everyone’s coming here now.”

 

“Okay, see you later.”

 

As soon as Ulrike left, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. Leo, who had been watching us with a calm face the whole time, said quietly.

 

“Now I see that Count Ernst himself wants to keep the most distance from me.”

 

“That’s not true. What are you talking about…?”

 

“I’ll give you one minute, so go and come back.”

 

I stared at him dumbfounded again. One minute? Change clothes in one minute? More than that, how long do we have to talk like this? If I were wearing a mask, the formal address would come out naturally, but not now. Now it’s too much… Right, it was the school atmosphere. Since there’s no strict honorific system like in Korea, it’s not that burdensome to hear directly, but I do feel the distance through the formal address.

 

Actually, it wasn’t difficult to guess why he kept using formal address. In other words, I was still in the middle of the childish power struggle between Leo and Elias. Also, his attitude was a declaration of intent not to allow me to argue back, so if I just kept my mouth shut and silently followed Leo, he would soon stop using formal address. But how easy is that ‘silently’? Stubbornness should be met with stronger stubbornness—that’s my subjective opinion—so it wasn’t easy to bend my will while dealing with a stubborn person. Leo looked at his watch and smiled.

 

“50 seconds.”

 

“You’re joking.”

 

Leo tilted his head to the side. I cursed under my breath and rushed into the changing room. Sweeping everything from the cabinet, I roughly put my arms through the shirt.

 

‘Just try disobeying once?’

 

I’m curious what would happen. Since it’s true that we’re friends and also have an employment relationship with the royal family, there would naturally be corresponding discipline, but I’m curious how far this bastard could actually go with me.

 

‘What would he do? He’d just nag me with words.’

 

Even thinking that, I finished everything within 50 seconds and came out. Since I really couldn’t tell what this guy would do, it was better not to take any risks. I could see Leo narrowing his eyes at my roughly put-together appearance. I draped the jacket over my arm and tucked the shirt into my pants to tidy up.

 

“The clothes…?”

 

Leo squinted at the black velvet jacket and gray argyle vest in my arms. Asking if they’re Elias’s. I nodded while fastening Elias’s—unnecessarily extremely fancy—belt. I didn’t particularly want to borrow Elias’s clothes, but at that time I accepted Elias’s whining thinking it might be a clue to raise favorability. So whatever, unless I go back to Cheringen’s palace, this is all I have left. Leo, with a face that said he’d die of boredom if it were Elias, completely fed up, pointed to the changing room.

 

“Let’s go back in.”

 

“Why, you bastard.”

 

“Thinking about it, Kleist will bring you back to the hot springs later, won’t he?”

 

“I can just stop by then. Are you training a damn dog?”

 

Leo smiled with an expression asking if he had to say it twice and pointed to the changing room. I smiled too. Then, seeing his usual smile, I suddenly thought of a deduction that was close to the truth. This bastard knows well that he’s being unnecessarily stubborn. In short, this is a command out of interest. Just looking at how he doesn’t like being called Your Highness, it’s obvious, but Leo isn’t someone who would wield power just anywhere. He’d rather give up his royal status. Therefore, the current situation was only possible because the person receiving this childish command was his friend.

 

‘No, are you kidding me? Ah, right… It’s a joke.’

 

Count Ernst is your friend, so he’s not your subject? Having to accept a friend’s abuse of power directed only at me, playing with royalty is no ordinary matter. This guy will surely be a wise king for the people, but for me, not so much… I raised the corners of my mouth sarcastically.

 

“What if I refuse? Just in case, let me say that no matter how much I receive Bavaria’s salary, Your Highness has no authority to interfere with what I wear.”

 

“That’s not quite true. If you don’t want to receive discipline twice, you should go in.”

 

“….”

 

Receive it twice? Ah, one is already scheduled? Damn this crazy bastard. I was about to flick his forehead as he smiled like a class president, but I took a deep breath instead. I couldn’t receive it three times. It’s ridiculous that this happened because of Elias’s clothes. No matter how I think about it, Elias and this bastard play too childishly with each other. So they’ll be lifelong friends, but… I shook my head and turned around.

 

I changed into a new robe this time and came out. Comfortable. I also hit Leo’s core once in the changing room. Thanks to that, when I came out, I could see Leo looking at me with annoyed eyes. I followed behind him and entered the empty restaurant prepared upstairs. Since we hadn’t allowed cooks to enter here yet, there really was no one. Leo, who put down a book on the table where dim dawn light was coming in, asked lightly.

 

“Lucas. Want some tea?”

 

“If Your Highness is making it, sure.”

 

I leaned back fully against the backrest. Leo nodded. After about 5 minutes, he came with chamomile tea and set it down in front of me.

 

“What did you talk about with Elias earlier?”

 

Now there was no playfulness in his face or voice. I stared at him and answered.

 

“There was no conversation as Nicolaus.”

 

My words seemed to work as a counterattack, as Leo hesitated for a moment.

 

“Should I tell you about the conversation I had with that friend as a friend? Is that a royal command Your Highness is giving me?”

 

“….”

 

Leo briefly showed a cold sneer for some reason, so I closed my mouth. That was the face Leo sometimes made when he was hurt. While also not wanting to lose. I remained silent for a while, then spoke directly to him as he stared at me intently.

 

“I said what I’d wanted to say to Elias for the first time. I couldn’t tell him everything, but.”

 

“….”

 

“I know you wouldn’t want me to open my heart under orders. So I’ll tell you someday too. But now isn’t the time.”

 

The answer from Leo, who had been looking at me motionlessly with his arms crossed and leaning back, was unexpected. He nodded cleanly.

 

“Okay, I understand. I’ll wait.”

 

“…That’s not like you?”

 

“If that’s what you want.”

 

“Who. Lucas, or Nicolaus?”

 

“You as a person.”

 

I hesitated for a moment, then nodded.

 

“Thank you.”

 

Leo just smiled slightly and began reading the book he had brought. Did you call me to read a book? Probably not? I was momentarily dumbfounded but waited for now. Outside the window, I could see the view of Karlsruhe and the dawn sky that seemed a little brighter than before. Still, the darkness was thicker, and this dawn’s blue air made identifying letters consume a lot of energy. I looked at the quiet city center and clear sky without a single cloud, then shifted my gaze to Leo reading Principia.

 

“It must be hard to read in this light, so why don’t you state your business first. So, why did you call me here?”

 

“Can’t I call you? I’m your friend too.”

 

“Because you’re bored? Really?”

 

I felt strength entering my fists as I smiled. Leo shrugged at me, then closed the book and held out an envelope he had brought. When I tore off the red seal, the stiff paper inside appeared. The moment I saw the eagle emblem at the top center and the huge letters written in blackletter, I felt my breath catch.

 

“Pleroma Munich-Freising Archdiocese Entry Order.”

 

“….”

 

“We have to start immediately after the vacation ends.”

 

We just finished dealing with Brandenburg Archdiocese and now Munich? Moreover, this time we’re not being captured and forced to handle it, but we have to enter this place first. Seeing my expression harden, Leo took out a newspaper. Then he looked straight at me and said.

 

“Understand. I refused too, but… this is the reason headquarters said they’d form a new team consisting only of A-class this time. We had no right to refuse.”

 

“…I suppose so. You don’t need to waste energy on empty gestures.”

 

When I argued to hit Brandenburg Archdiocese first in some timeline, the reason they didn’t dismiss it as a newcomer’s ridiculous nonsense and dragged me along to investigate was because of this. Headquarters had plans to hit Pleroma first at the end of this month. That was Brandenburg Archdiocese, and before we could hit them first, we were severely beaten by a preemptive strike in the new team strategist selection test. And… while being beaten, we won. We’re mistakenly thinking we won. Since we already dealt with Brandenburg, I didn’t think headquarters would target another place, but they seem to have chosen Munich-Freising Archdiocese as an alternative to Brandenburg.

 

“…We can’t just keep playing around. I understand the need to act.”

 

I closed my eyes while pressing my temples. I heard Leo pushing paper toward me, so I slowly opened my eyes and picked up the newspaper. Leo pointed to an article and said.

 

“This is yesterday’s front page. Germany decided to mediate the Austria-Hungary-France talks scheduled for the end of this month, but France suddenly said they couldn’t accept Germany’s mediation and brought Britain and Belgium into this matter.”

 

“….”

 

It’s a bit different, but a familiar structure appears here. Right, it’s the same region around the same time, so naturally it would be like that.

 

“…Belgium out of nowhere, they’re desperate while trying to steal independent nation status. Didn’t they bring in Russia? I’m worried the Ottoman Empire might join us later.”

 

“Russia is of course testing the waters too. Right now our Germany has the Pleroma problem on top of everything, so we can’t pour much into international affairs. So we need to somehow join hands with the Papal States at this moment. The Empire’s attempt to hit Munich-Freising Archdiocese this time is also part of a joint operation with the Papal States.”

“They’re trying to bring the Papal States into the country to expand their influence over Germany.”

 

“Right. It’s a plan for the German Empire to step back in order to form an alliance. They’re deliberately trying to eliminate Bavaria’s Pleroma, a Catholic nation, to create a foothold for the Papal States to expand their influence domestically. So… if we look at it positively, this is actually good for Bavaria.”

 

“Only if things work out successfully.”

 

Leo nodded at my firm words. After all, Leo was just trying to interpret things positively; he wasn’t really pleased about it either.

 

Let’s examine this from the beginning. The Empire can receive one-time cooperation from the Papal States ‘as long as the Papal States have the capacity and are willing to show goodwill.’ However, what’s important in this crisis is not just receiving one-time cooperation regarding the Pleroma matter, but forming a political alliance. Prussia believes they can increase the possibility of friendship with the Papal States through Bavaria, a Catholic nation, but from Bavaria’s perspective, serving as a bridge for cooperation with the Papal States becomes an opportunity to double their influence in Germany. Of course, given the circumstances, Prussia made that decision believing Bavaria wouldn’t cause chaos here, and Bavaria indeed won’t, but politically it’s certainly beneficial for Bavaria.

 

Under the assumption that this Munich-Freising entry and Pleroma annihilation ends in success.

 

If this operation ends in failure, naturally some of the responsibility will fall on the Kingdom of Bavaria. Even though it’s an operation overseen by Empire-level command, since it’s happening in the Kingdom of Bavaria, they can’t avoid receiving the kingdom’s support. Moreover, wouldn’t it be like stirring up a hornet’s nest called the southern German Pleroma for no reason? I fixed my gaze while pushing the letters on the order document with the eagle drawing with my finger.

 

“It seems like it’s time for Nicolaus Ernst to somehow succeed and repay Bavaria. If we fail, not only Eschete’s safety but Bavaria’s safety will be finished too.”

 

“What. Don’t feel pressured.”

 

“It’s success or death.”

 

At my bleakly uttered words, Leo’s gaze became distant in an instant. The moment I confirmed the scattered fear that had rushed into his irises, my breath caught at the end of my throat. A long silence followed. Suddenly thinking that the desolation emanating from his features might be reflected from me, I spoke to him, unable to see what expression my own face bore.

 

“We can do it. This time we’re not being captured out of nowhere. We have time to prepare, so let’s resolve this well.”

 

“….”

 

“We even have the Papal States’ Arcane Mages.”

 

Only then did Leo smile politely.

 

What I had said earlier was actually quite natural. From the moment we were selected by the Imperial Court, our outcome had always been either mission success or death, which he knew, everyone knew, and it was such a natural thing to be taught everywhere, but now wasn’t a good time to state facts. Since I knew what I had experienced and what he had read.

 

‘…Now I shouldn’t say anything even if Leo uses Zichen.’

 

Playing around using Zichen would actually be happier. I tightened the somewhat loosened robe strings firmly and changed the subject.

 

“That topic is enough now. What’s this about discipline? Just empty words?”

 

“….”

 

Leo stared at me intently and then raised the corners of his mouth. After having a staring contest with him for a while, I changed the subject again.

 

“…Fine. Are you really not going into the hot spring? You’ll have to play with the guys again later.”

 

“How can I go in with my arm like this?”

 

“That’s nonsense. You could wrap it in mana and play if you wanted. You’re just being lazy.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

Leo shrugged and gestured toward me with his chin.

 

“Speaking of which, why were you wearing a robe even while playing in the water?”

 

“Just because.”

 

“What do you mean just because? I need to know to accommodate you.”

 

“Accommodate what? How many occasions are there to accommodate me?”

 

“More than you think.”

 

Leo rested his chin on his hand and waited for my answer. What’s so many about it? When I just looked at him indifferently, he muttered that he’d have to ask Elias and turned his head. Why go to such lengths? I waved my hand dismissively and answered simply.

 

“It’s nothing special. I don’t like showing skin.”

 

“Ah.”

 

Leo unconsciously let out an exclamation and fell into thought, then with an uncomprehending face, stroked his chin, narrowed his eyes, made all sorts of gestures, and then nodded.

 

‘What does this mean? That it doesn’t suit me?’

 

“I’m a bit sorry. I should have just told you to wear Elias’s clothes.”

 

“Right, so I hope you’ll moderate your pranks from now on… Don’t look away. That makes me feel worse.”

 

“You won’t give up on a single word.”

 

Leo laughed lightly and clasped his hands together. Then he leaned toward me.

 

“Lucas, later…”

 

“There’s no later.”

 

I turned my head at the voice from behind. Elias was standing at the restaurant entrance, waving his hand. As soon as he saw Elias, Leo twisted his lips. Elias shrugged at Leo and said with a smile.

 

“Let’s go down! We need to play!”

 

* * *

 

I don’t know how the day passed. As soon as we entered the hot spring, Haike called me over and calmly informed me that his skin was cooked—it was indeed red, so I couldn’t help but be shocked—and Elias, Narke, and Cheringen joined forces to finally drop Leo into the bath. And I soon fell in again too. The whiskey and wine we drank must have easily exceeded ten bottles. Like that, I suffered through friends, alcohol, and hot springs until morning, barely escaped, and buried my face in the bed. I slept all day in the guest room Cheringen had prepared… or so I thought.

 

“…!”

 

I swung my fist and bolted upright. The cold wind touching my cheek made me feel like even all the fine hairs on my body were standing on end.

 

“Waaaah!”

 

“He’s awake!”

 

“Wait, what are you doing…?!”

 

It was outside. I threw off the thick blanket covering me and got up from my spot. This was a highland field somewhere unknown, and six friends were gathered sitting around me. Cheringen said with a smile.

 

“We have to return to Munich in the morning. There’s something I wanted to show you before we go.”

 

Cheringen lay down in the field. I raised my head in the direction his gaze was pointing.

 

“This is a place Leo, Elias, and I came to every time when we were young. You can see the sky well, right?”

 

Stars so numerous they seemed ready to pour down were spread across the sky. Below, an unknown stream was flowing, so whenever I held my breath quietly, the faint sound of water settled in my ears. It was a perfect scene for losing oneself in, but Ulrike and Haike were ignoring the stars and water, sitting and rummaging only through the clover field.

 

Leo, who was sitting next to Cheringen, said quietly.

 

“Coming here brings back old memories. It would have been nice if you could have come with us too.”

 

“….”

 

I could immediately tell who he was referring to. It was just like Leo to say such a thing. Luca’s inability to get along with his peer friends from ruling families was because of Adrian Ascanien. I quickly checked Haike and Ulrike’s faces. Fortunately, they were focused on clovers and had no interest in Leo’s words.

 

“Ah, I’m hungry. We always picked wild strawberries here, but are there none now…? Hey, Bavarian. You should have brought Schnivalen at least!”

 

“What are you talking about?”

 

Leo opened a book and blocked out Elias’s nonsense. Elias stretched his arms and legs regardless and muttered.

 

“Ah~ I can still vividly remember getting hit by Leo’s magic here and getting a nosebleed.”

 

“What?”

 

“Leo threw me into a tree. I was hospitalized for a week.”

 

“That was an accident during sparring. I’ve said sorry a hundred times since then.”

 

Leo, who had definitely been covering his ears, snapped back. Then Ulrike finally raised her head and said in a vacant voice.

 

“Leo makes mistakes too. He’s such a perfect class president, I didn’t think he would.”

 

I don’t know what that has to do with anything, but Leo seemed to let it slide since it was Ulrike. Cheringen said quietly, holding a star in each eye.

 

“Now that we’re going back, I don’t know when we’ll all be able to come here together again. I wish things could be peaceful now.”

 

Everyone knew that wouldn’t happen. Even Cheringen, who had spoken the words.

 

“Should we make a wish? Please let this operation succeed.”

 

Cheringen smiled at Narke’s casual words. At that moment, Ulrike interjected with a face like she’d seen a ghost.

 

“Wow! I found it! Aaaaah!”

 

Like that, as soon as morning came, we took the train again and returned to Bavaria. To think our return would be to Munich rather than Brandenburg or Berlin—since Nicolaus’s lodging did exist, it was indeed home—I was able to return in a somewhat excited state. The friends seemed to be in a traveling mood too. Everyone’s faces were bright. Even though an operation requiring entry into the Pleroma diocese was scheduled, there was no reason to ruin the end of our trip with worries about the future. I thought while flipping the clover Ulrike had given me yesterday back and forth. Ulrike, who was passing through the train corridor, jumped when she saw me.

 

“Wow, did you make what I gave you into a bookmark?”

 

“Yeah, Leo made it for me.”

 

“What? You two really work hard for our team.”

 

“No, that’s actually…”

 

Before I could finish explaining, he spotted Cheringen and disappeared from in front of me. Right, what more would I say? I thought that and got up from my seat. It was time to get off since we had now arrived at Munich Hauptbahnhof.

 

The move didn’t take long. As soon as we entered the Munich Residenz of the Bavarian Royal Palace, we encountered a familiar face.

 

“….”

 

The friends saluted as soon as they saw Class 98 Team A. They had also come from Brandenburg to here for this operation. When he saw me, I could see Mecklenburg’s gentle expression change to a subtly forced smile. Having already seen Mecklenburg with more varied expressions, I knew what that meant. I glanced at our team friends who were being extremely wary upon seeing his smile, then extended my hand to Mecklenburg.

 

“We meet again in Bavaria, Senior.”

 

“….”

 

“Let’s work well together this time too.”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————