How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 351

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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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“….”

 

Hmm.

 

Command authority.

 

Huh?

 

All the heads of the 101st turned toward me. Leo and Cheringen looked back at me with unusually widened eyes. The five seniors from Team A of the 98th who had come here with Mecklenburg were also staring at me blankly, stunned by this crazy talk.

 

“You could catch flies with your mouth hanging open like that.”

 

As I stood there with my mouth agape, Mecklenburg gestured with his chin and returned my words. But right now, that’s not the problem…

 

‘Wait, hold on.’

 

What did I just hear? I hurriedly gathered my wits and spoke in a way that would at least sound like something a human would say.

 

“Your Majesty, now is not the time to make changes to the system.”

 

[You’re going to bring a more efficient plan and argue against it anyway if I give the order, aren’t you?]

 

“….”

 

I can’t say that’s not true… I can’t deny it since I had every intention of doing exactly that. But I’m not someone who always has the right answer, and you could be right about this, couldn’t you? As soon as I thought that, his words continued.

 

[It may sound irresponsible for me to say this as a senior. This is not a decision made lightly. Setting aside matters of pride, the final responsibility for the command authority I’ve been entrusted with lies with me, and I know well that giving a junior like you, who is far below me in rank, a burden that doesn’t match your position would be inappropriate. This decision will seem like a hasty judgment that abandons the immediate duties and responsibilities I should rightfully bear without proper consideration.]

 

“….”

 

[Nevertheless, the reason I’m saying this now is because, as you well know, we’ve reached a turning point.]

 

That’s right. We’re at the moment of deciding whether to bring all of Munich-Freising’s allied dioceses here or not.

 

[I know that you’re still in a position where you have much to learn. But I also know that the success you’ve shown before wasn’t simply a beginner’s luck. To put it bluntly, I don’t think my strategy can save more people and kill more enemies than your strategy can.]

 

He knows I lack field experience, but my strategy has been successful – that was what he meant. While I was truly grateful for his positive evaluation, I hadn’t expected this, so my head was getting complicated.

 

[Team A Captain of the 98th, Captain of the 101st. Do you have any objections to the decision to transfer field command authority to the Deputy Captain of the 101st?]

 

“No objections.”

 

Answers without a moment’s hesitation came simultaneously. Since no more words followed, I knew it was now my turn to respond. Then Mecklenburg tapped the artifact at his ear to cut communication and gestured for me to do the same. Following his lead and cutting communication, he spoke calmly.

 

“Accurately judging a subordinate’s capabilities is also a quality that a superior must possess. Especially for the supreme field commander, it’s the most important ability above all else.”

 

Then he rubbed his face with his hand and spoke in a weary voice.

 

“…Well, you probably already know this without me having to say it.”

 

“….”

 

“If this operation goes wrong, the responsibility will fall on His Majesty Hohenzollern, who handed over all command authority to you. If you’re worried about being punished as a member of the 101st, that won’t happen and there’s no time, so decide quickly.”

 

“…Senior, your way of thinking is very much like you. That’s also a problem, but don’t you usually feel burdened by the fact that if I make even a small mistake, other people could be harmed and punished?”

 

When I said that, I could see the Team A members of the 98th looking at me with bewildered expressions. For them, the very fact that I was speaking to Mecklenburg like this would be something they couldn’t adapt to at all. Regardless, only then did Mecklenburg make an “oh” expression.

 

I tapped the artifact again to turn on communication to everyone and spoke.

 

“37 minutes. As of this moment, the Deputy Captain of the 101st has received field command authority.”

 

[…Huh?]

 

[Ascanien?]

 

Panicked questions came from teams that hadn’t managed to turn off their artifacts yet. The strategic room at headquarters also went quiet for a moment, then repeated the same words I had said to everyone.

 

[From 37 minutes, the Deputy Captain of the 101st will take overall command of the Corviniano coordinate system.]

 

Someone from the 98th urgently called out to Mecklenburg.

 

“Captain.”

 

“I already said there are no objections.”

 

Then that person raised their wand to cast a sound-blocking spell. Mecklenburg, who realized what they were trying to do, immediately broke the sound-blocking spell and looked at his team members, speaking as sharply as usual.

 

“Didn’t you already see what happened to Brandenburg Archdiocese?”

 

“….”

 

“You weren’t there, but I was. In this situation, His Majesty Albertina Hohenzollern’s decision is the best choice.”

 

I could see Leo’s brow furrowing.

 

‘…I should be moved…’

 

But it’s a bit scary. What did he eat wrong to suddenly be so openly like this? It wasn’t just me thinking this – everyone here seemed to have the same thought. The expressions on Team A of the 98th and my friends were worth seeing. From their perspective, the guy who had been putting them through intensive training – disguised as mental education – just days ago was now acting like this, so they couldn’t help but be dumbfounded. Mecklenburg turned his head sharply toward me and said.

 

“This isn’t the time to stand around gaping. As you said, the Bishops may have already left this field to call for support. We need to plan our strategy differently accordingly, so think quickly.”

 

He’s right. If the Bishops have left this place and we’re still searching through an empty field like we’re hunting mice, that’s a path to failure. We need to think about where the Bishops might have gone from there. I manipulated the artifact again to connect to Team A of the 91st, and looked at Leo and Mecklenburg in front of me as I spoke.

 

“Now we need to clearly distinguish between what we can and cannot do. First, we cannot break this spatial magic and eliminate it entirely. Is that correct?”

 

“Correct.”

 

Mecklenburg answered briefly.

 

Why can’t we break it? Just as studying principles is important in learning, if we just believe we can’t break it without reason, we can’t apply any clues or establish proper strategies, so let’s go through this step by step from the beginning. What we know is this: you cannot warp into spaces created by spatial magic.

 

This isn’t because warp magic is fundamentally impossible, but because even if we input a point P0(a, b, c) into the warp formula we know, we can’t go to P1(a, b, c). Instead, we can go to R0 using another coordinate (0, b, c). To use another analogy since this is a worryingly oversimplified comparison, it’s like spreading out two maps of the same space – if you mark a point on map 1, the ink will be on map 1, not on map 2. Naturally, even if you gather the two maps and overlap them, the ink will still only be on map 1. In magical studies, this is conveniently called ‘having different coordinate systems.’ Therefore, all spatial magic creates new coordinate systems.

 

Now let’s consider Mecklenburg’s argument. Earlier, Mecklenburg said this place ‘isn’t simply overlaid space, but seems to have established a solid new coordinate system.’ Since spatial magic creates new coordinate systems, isn’t this argument ultimately wrong? Can something be A when it’s not A?

 

First, coordinate systems and solid coordinate systems cannot be considered synonymous academically.

 

Second, as always, academic definitions have a certain gap with real life. If I were to strike down my staff right now and deploy spatial magic with a 1-meter diameter, it would academically have a new coordinate system, but in real life, we wouldn’t say such spatial magic has established a new coordinate system. This kind of magic has a short duration, is one-time use, and has extremely poor safety against internal and external impacts. When we leave school and talk about ‘establishing a new coordinate system’ in practical work spaces, we usually mean sophisticated systems comparable to the Imperial Standard Warp Coordinate System or the Pleroma coordinate system that our government has established. In other words, when spatial magic has a long duration, isn’t one-time use, and has high safety against internal and external impacts enough for people to inhabit, we can call this a ‘newly established sophisticated coordinate system.’

 

Therefore, according to Mecklenburg’s argument, this field before our eyes is like someone from the Bishops placing a ‘new coordinate system’ on top of the map called the ‘Corviniano coordinate system.’

 

‘No, to be precise.’

 

They cut out part of the original map, inserted a different map in its place, and made the two into one map.

 

Why? Earlier we said ‘you cannot warp into spaces created by spatial magic.’ Even though it’s normal that warping to unknown coordinate systems doesn’t work, we memorized the archive warp coordinates and landed in this field, so for this crucial variable, only the answer that inserting different coordinate systems between coordinate systems is someone among the Bishops’ unique ability can be allowed, right? Then let’s be more certain. I looked at Narke and asked.

 

“In Count Farnese’s judgment, are there mind-manipulation drugs dissolved in the air of this space? I think they would have been diluted as much as the distance between coordinates increased.”

 

“Hmm… they are dissolved. They’ve been diluted quite a lot though.”

 

Good. Proof complete. Up to here, I’ve finished reviewing spatial magic theory and all speculation about unique abilities. Unfortunately, the information given to us is woefully insufficient, so we need to squeeze out information from these clues somehow.

 

‘Hmm… it would be nice if we could do exactly what Narke did before when she destroyed Pleroma’s coordinate system.’

 

Since that’s not possible, we already tried but it didn’t work at all, so Mecklenburg even speculated that they might be using spatial magic as a unique ability. Can’t move it, can’t break it…

 

Good. Now there’s a crossroads before me. Let’s check about that. I took a breath and spoke quickly.

 

“No matter how I think about it, the headquarters test is helpful at times like this. How many minutes have passed since we entered the archive?”

 

[It’s been 3 minutes now.]

 

“Please send a team that can provide support right now to this location.”

 

[We’ll send Team 91B to Corviniano coordinates 790:345:495.]

 

[Moving out.]

 

Two answers came from both artifacts with a slight time difference. Ulrike, who had been next to Haike but had somehow approached behind me, spoke in a tense, whispering voice.

 

“Could you explain all of what you’re thinking… no, that won’t work, will it?”

 

“Right, it won’t work. Let’s review after we get out.”

 

“…Yes…”

 

Ulrike answered while rolling her eyes. While thoughts happen in an instant, conveying them to others takes dozens of times longer, so there was no time to explain all my thinking now. However, I fully understood why she was asking me for an explanation. Her anxiety-ridden expression told me everything – that she wanted to absorb my strategy 200% so she wouldn’t be a burden here, so I couldn’t just pass over that part. I smiled and grabbed her shoulder, whispering.

 

“I don’t have time to explain everything, but I’ll tell everyone here what’s absolutely necessary, so don’t worry. And, Luise. Do you remember what I said before?”

 

“….”

 

That even if you can’t do it, we’ll support you.

 

I can’t openly say such soft words now that we’re in actual combat, but I don’t think being harsh at this moment would help this 18-year-old fully demonstrate her capabilities. Whether she remembered what I had said – though she still had a tense face – Ulrike showed a much softer smile compared to before. Then I saw some faint light flickering in the distance.

 

[Team 91B has moved to Corviniano coordinates 790:345:495.]

 

“Hmm.”

 

Good. Got it.

 

From Team 91B’s movement, I decided which path to choose at the crossroads. Perhaps noticing my expression change, Leo and Mecklenburg started staring intently at me from this moment.

 

“I understand clearly. Team 91B, please stand by in position. First, headquarters, can you hear me? Stop the air manipulation of Munich-Freising archive. If Team 98C exits the Munich-Freising archive, instead of returning to that archive building, they will move to the field where we are. So please stay in your position.”

 

[…Team 91B, stand by…]

 

[Will relay the message.]

 

I could hear various people contacting their respective teams. I tapped the artifact to connect communication to Team 91B as well and looked at the 101st and Team A of the 98th standing around me as I continued.

 

“First, let me address this point. What can we understand by combining the fact that Team 98B, who entered Munich-Freising’s archive, hasn’t disappeared and is still remaining in that space, with the fact that Team 91B, who moved to Corviniano coordinates 790:345:495, came to the field where we are?”

 

“I thought I said this isn’t the time for capability testing.”

 

Mecklenburg’s cold words were heard. This guy is saying this because he already knows the answer to my question. The others haven’t caught on yet. No matter how much I can’t explain every thought process, they need to know the minimum to move efficiently. Leo, who had been watching us expressionlessly, answered briefly.

 

“You’re saying their unique ability has reached its limit, aren’t you?”

 

I snapped my fingers and nodded. At those words, even some of Team A of the 98th and several friends from the 101st who had somewhat questioning expressions all understood what Leo and I meant, and corrected their expressions. Good. Everyone understood without me having to speak at length.

 

“Just like they left Team 98B, who went to search for the Bishops, in the archive and departed, they can continue creating spaces to shake us off. If Team 91B hadn’t come to this field, it would mean the Bishops had already abandoned us in this field and fled elsewhere, but since they didn’t do that, it means the Bishops are still remaining here, will likely do so for several more minutes, and support won’t be able to come during that time.”

 

“….”

 

“In other words, it’s the Bishops who are isolated here.”

 

“Until some of them regain the strength to deploy spatial magic again, that is. And if being on this massive landmass where the distance between coordinates has expanded 200 times also counts as being isolated.”

 

I nodded at Mecklenburg’s characteristic, somewhat sarcastic addition.

 

“Isolated is isolated. 200 times, huh. I can somewhat gauge the size now – it would be about 1/10th of Berlin.”

 

“….”

 

“Shall we set the target time at 5 minutes? We’ve rummaged through Berlin in 7 minutes before, so why wouldn’t this work?”

 

“…Even 2 minutes would be too late.”

 

“You seem confident.”

 

I cut off Mecklenburg’s words, who was spouting nonsense just because he got carried away after doing well once and then got provoked. Bluffing, of course. While it’s true we should find them as quickly as possible since we don’t know when they might flee, right now I also need to consider these people’s mental state.

 

“First, Farnese, and Wittelsbach. From the 101st, you two are the core of this operation. Additionally, Alexandra Schumacher from the 91st has the ability to control air. I’ll reorganize the personnel centered around these three.”

 

Then someone from the 98th urgently spoke up.

 

“Wait, 5 minutes is too rushed. When Count Ascanien took the headquarters test, there were set answers and clues like newspaper articles were given, but now we don’t have any clues! Real combat isn’t an exam!”

 

How remarkable that someone’s mental fortitude is already shattered by the mere mention of 5 minutes. And while Mecklenburg and Hohenzollern raised no objections about transferring command earlier, now this guy appears – truly speechless. I answered firmly.

 

“I mentioned 5 minutes because of physical limitations, but actually, as Lord Mecklenburg said, they might flee in 2 minutes. And…”

 

I continued while looking at Haike.

 

“You said no clues were given, but from what I see, that’s not the case. Count Einsiedel.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Do you know which direction the wind was blowing here 3 minutes ago?”

 

At those words, Haike grabbed some grass and closed her eyes. Then after a moment, she quietly said.

 

“…From south to north. Exactly the same as now.”

 

“Good. Now where they need to flee has become obvious.”

 

If they want to escape without leaving magical traces, that is.

 

I smiled at the flustered face of the 98th objector. Then I immediately looked around at everyone and raised my voice.

 

“His Majesty Albertina Hohenzollern, please join with Narke Farnese. Lord Mecklenburg and I will join with Wittelsbach. We’ll circle around to the west and east respectively and move north.”

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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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