How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 357

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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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Kuwoong―

 

I saw the light that Leo had created. The faint vibrations, the light, his expression, the words written at the tip of the quill pen from him. Words I would have liked to hear with my voice, my stomach burned, and my heart ached. It was literal. The core wrapped around my heart reacted to this unknown light and pain struck me. I felt as if all the mana in my body was mixing into the light.

 

‘As if those words had become an incantation…’

 

I looked at his hand that was shining as if piercing through something. The light pressed down on the back of his hand. A lost covenant that was not eternal in the present, whose owner was unknown, pierced through his hand and shone. I couldn’t even tell what I was thinking.

 

“…!”

 

I closed my eyes and caught Leo who was about to collapse to the floor.

 

“Hey!”

 

It was certain. Even though no magic was involved, his words became a single spell and took effect. I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble, but take heart. I have overcome the world. Not even a part of it was contained, so why… His words were bound by covenant. Since when, from today? I couldn’t even be sure of that.

 

“What did you do.”

 

I grabbed Leo who couldn’t regain his senses and said.

 

“What kind of magic did you use, here.”

 

When you can’t even use divine power.

 

He probably didn’t say such words to me with the intention of using magic. Clearly his words started as a soliloquy, and even to me, he didn’t seem like he was speaking with the intention of casting magic. Leo’s breathing quickened, so I struck his heart and let divine power flow through.

 

“…!”

 

His slightly unfocused sky-blue eyes were visible between his eyelids. I quickly flicked my fingers to float the notebook in midair and grabbed his collar.

 

“What happened, Leo. Tell me.”

 

“――.”

 

His lips were moving but my ears remained quiet. Just as it had been all along. His words were written at the tip of the quill pen that shone like lapis lazuli.

 

[Nothing.]

 

“Nothing? Has this bastard gone crazy.”

 

“…――.”

 

[I think I saw a hallucination for a moment. Otherwise there’s no way I’d be in my right mind.]

 

The letters forming at the tip of the quill pen flowed slowly. Just because I couldn’t hear his words and didn’t know immediately, Leo was certainly having difficulty speaking. I could tell just by looking at his brow furrowed from shock.

 

“What is it. Tell me. I have ways to read memories using divine power.”

 

[You can’t read them though. I don’t know what I saw either since nothing is organized in my head, so do you think I could give proper answers if you interrogate me.]

 

“…”

 

I glared at those flashing strokes then looked at Leo. He barely moved his lips, groping through midair with his gaze as he muttered.

 

[How much do you know about Narke?]

 

“What, suddenly?”

 

[How much do you know.]

 

“Well I…”

 

How much do I know about Narke. Not much different from what he knows. While I was lost in thought and trailing off, his words continued.

 

[Just how far does that friend’s future reading extend?]

 

How far does Narke’s future reading extend. Narke said that the future he could read accurately was only a few days, and even that constantly changed due to countless variables. Considering the reactions he had shown so far, this wasn’t wrong.

 

Does him saying this now mean that Leo had seen the future?

 

“Explain in more detail.”

 

He just gasped for breath with his lips not fully closed. Whether he didn’t care that his hair was poking his eyes or didn’t have the strength to fix it, he just left everything as it was. The quill pen also floated motionlessly in midair. Right, if he couldn’t organize any thoughts, I wouldn’t ask about that now. I felt my breath completely blocked and let out that frustration as a sound.

 

“What were you thinking when you said such things.”

 

I looked at the light that had been in Leo’s hand, now disappeared. That light that had pierced through his palm was still vivid in my eyes. Even though he hadn’t spoken any part of a covenant magic formula, the thought rushed in that it would have the same effect as covenant magic, perhaps even become a more powerful eternity.

 

He wasn’t someone who spoke carelessly, and precisely because of that, when he spoke words he had repeated dozens of times inside, he would never regret that decision. So even if his words about giving his life were realized, he wouldn’t regret it and would rather be satisfied that he had fulfilled his mission. That point made me feel eerie. And I knew well that this eeriness was the sensation Leo had been feeling all along.

 

‘…Ah.’

 

My insides are burning up.

 

I realize the meaning of him speaking like Patroclus. Though Elias’s Patroclus and mine would take different forms.

 

I knew it then and I know it now. His justice continues through me. That’s why he resolved to share life and death with me. This peace is temporary and we’re destined to see the line of death just one step away at any time, so this decision was timely. If not now, we wouldn’t have had time for such a conversation. Though I can’t be sure if my words are clearly audible, I slowly drew out the sound that was in my heart.

 

“I’m not an incarnation of justice.”

 

The quill pen remained as it was. I continued speaking while watching the sunlight-like particles of light slowly scattering beneath the blue feather.

 

“You know? Leo, unlike you who has shining ideals, there’s nothing in my eyes.”

 

I just came this far looking at you and Elias. So if I were to guess the reason I was drawn to this place. I swallowed those words. The water already spilled, the light that had already disappeared without a trace – I don’t know how to bring it back and erase it. So there were different words I needed to say now.

 

“You said you become foolish in front of me.”

 

The ideals you draw and your reality are different. In no other situation but in front of me, you become distant from the ideals you had been pursuing. I know he had been agonizing between two things that couldn’t coexist.

 

Unexpectedly, I see you again in your self-deprecating lament.

 

Becoming foolish – that’s wrong. That expression might be partially correct, but it’s not suitable for describing your present state.

 

“You probably became more like yourself.”

 

I whisper words that can’t be heard. I don’t know how much you of this time can understand. But you have never been distant from your ideals, not even until this very moment. Ironically, it’s because this moment existed.

 

You’re someone who knows how blessed it is to become yourself. Your progress comes from that. Your insufficient present, your shabby self – unlike shining others who can only see one side, you have everything about yourself, even the unsightly aspects, placed under the midday sun. No shadow can hide any flaw. If you want to become flawlessly smooth as you desire, that’s wrong. Because it’s impossible. The polished adversities in biographies have arduous struggles that aren’t revealed. The reverent light that wraps around stone statues is praise for the darkness those sages passed through, but we don’t easily understand what doesn’t come into view. So if you try to pursue the majesty of the light they wear, you’ll lose light, and if you try to advance from darkness together with them, you’ll shine. Yes, therefore their beginning must certainly have been like this.

 

I look at someone who will someday remain as a statue and be recorded for ages. It’s not something to feel self-loathing about. I wonder if he knows that being imperfect makes one perfect, and acknowledging that makes one truthful. Being able to accept as they are the nature and thoughts that no shadow can hide – that’s the talent you possess. I have nothing for the midday sun to shine on, so I can look at myself numbly, and this is different from your direct gaze. My direct gaze is empty and yours is full of struggle for life. I was stagnant and you are moving forward.

 

“Sometimes I don’t know what you see me as.”

 

It’s you who throws yourself into a fire pit without hesitation. You have no hesitation in becoming yourself more than anyone else. Because you acknowledged yourself, you who could climb to this position even with humble senses and talents are stepping into the most human places not just in magic but in all fields. And you like that.

 

“No matter what situation comes, you’ll keep me alive…”

 

You like that define me as a great cause?

 

The person who reaches the duty that should be properly upheld as a human is you, who is more human than anyone else. I should be the one protecting that light, yet you’re speaking the opposite.

 

Whatever decision you make. I still see in you a future that in some possible world I could have become, but in the world I lived in, I could never be. Always, from before coming to this place, and even now. The person my reverence should be directed toward is you. In front of someone who is more truthful to themselves than anyone else, I still can’t help but be that way.

 

If the one life I lose is yours, if you decided to save me in that way.

 

Your strategy is a success. I cannot turn away from the young possibility that passes through time I couldn’t have.

 

Memories whose meaning I can’t understand flow hazily. My mouth opened by itself.

 

“This time I’ll have to make sure not to lose anything no matter what happens.”

 

* * *

 

“Narke.”

 

―”Ah, it’s been a while since you came looking for me~”

 

I went to Narke’s guest room prepared at Nymphenburg Palace in Munich. As soon as I opened the door, Fai climbed up my leg and circled around on my shoulder. Whether he wasn’t speaking with divine power, unfortunately I couldn’t hear Fai’s chirping sounds, but I could understand what Fai wanted to convey through his actions.

 

“Right, it’s been a while. Both of you. But I also came during the holy relic incident and… anyway I did.”

 

―”Come more often~ Want some tea?”

 

“No, I’m fine.”

 

If I drink or eat something while talking, my attention gets distracted. Right now I can hear words through divine power, but still, it hasn’t been long since I lost and regained my senses, so I was anxious about dispersing my concentration. Narke watched me like that and then pointed to the sofa.

 

―”You came because of Leo?”

 

“Right.”

 

―”Seems troublesome~”

 

“That’s also right. You’re perceptive.”

 

―”Hahaha!”

 

Narke laughed as if he had heard something ridiculous. Naturally, if I came all the way to his room, it would be because I had concerns, so even without his insight ability, this level of speculation would have been easy. Narke was waiting for my words, so I opened my mouth right away.

 

“Leo seems to have cast covenant magic.”

 

―”Hmm. Oh my…”

 

“…”

 

A person who can’t use divine power cast covenant magic, and this is the end of his reaction?

 

Narke wasn’t surprised. What did he ‘know’ to have this kind of reaction? Considering the ability he possessed, if he showed this kind of reaction, I couldn’t judge what he knew. Everything from whether it was really covenant magic to why Leo mentioned him.

 

―”Then you must have heard about me from Leo.”

 

“I’m curious how you know this too.”

 

I said that and smiled as I immediately continued.

 

“Right. Leo saw something and it seems related to you. More precisely, your prophetic ability.”

 

―”To be honest, I know what Leo saw. But…”

 

Fai slipped into my hand. Narke looked at Fai and said.

 

―”I can’t tell you what it is. That’s not my domain.”

 

“…”

 

He knows what Leo saw but can’t tell me. That’s quite an interesting answer. I bit my lip slightly and was lost in thought before asking.

 

“Then if I find out directly?”

 

―”If that were the natural order, you’d be able to find out, but not now.”

 

“My head hurts…”

 

Why exactly is it not the right time? Does he foresee it that way? Narke smiled awkwardly and said.

 

―”Sorry. I want to be helpful too.”

 

“No, I wasn’t blaming you. If you overuse your ability like before and get hurt, I’d feel even more sorry.”

 

—”Ah, are you talking about when we went on that train trip~?”

 

I nodded and smiled. If he can’t answer, there’s nothing I can do about it for now. Of course, I have no intention of giving up on finding out. Then Narke said something ridiculous.

 

—”Since we’re here, want to play a board game? With Fai!”

 

“You can play board games with Fai?”

 

—”Why not?!”

 

The furball placed its front paw on my hand in protest. Fai’s voice was unusually faint compared to usual. It was probably because the divine power Fai transmitted was weak compared to Narke’s divine power. Seeing that there were some issues with receiving divine power, it seemed the damage from the Bishop’s spell wasn’t limited to just the ears.

 

Anyway, sorry to Fai, but I didn’t think the thinking capacity of a kindergartener and two people approaching adulthood—no, I’m already an adult: I haven’t been an adult for very long and I admit I’m still wet behind the ears in many ways, but anyway—could really compare to each other…

 

But surprisingly, it was possible.

 

‘What the.’

 

I swallowed my confusion as I looked at Fai’s pieces and chips that Narke was moving on his behalf. Common sense was breaking down. Though I suppose a baby rabbit using divine power and communicating with people wasn’t exactly common sense to begin with. I had to be lenient—actually, very lenient—but he understood the rules better than expected. Narke laughed as he took all the chips.

 

—”I won this time~”

 

“You turned off Insight.”

 

—”Ah, of course. Haha, let me win at least once.”

 

We each scored 1 point now. In the end, this was just a game to entertain Fai. We’d probably each win three times even if we played nine more rounds here. Since I was bound by Leo’s covenant and the words he’d said to me even at this moment, playing games without using my brain wasn’t bad. If it weren’t for that, I wouldn’t have had the leisure to play games so casually. I couldn’t erase my feelings about him—the one who had staked his life as the price for mine—and my helplessness regarding him with time like this.

 

Narke cleared Fai’s stones from the board that he was using as game pieces and threw the dice. At the same time, I heard another unexpected comment.

 

—”What’s your reason for striving for justice?”

 

I slowly raised my head.

 

—”Start from here. I think that’s right.”

 

“…Hmm, that’s sudden.”

 

—”First, it would be to defeat Adrian Ascanien. If the Empire later becomes a republic, you’d need to be the same way to stand against that virtuous giant who would immediately gain the support of the majority and be elected president. Just looking at how His Majesty personally sent Adrian Ascanien abroad shows your efforts for reputation aren’t excessive, right~?”

 

“…”

 

—”You seem to be wondering now whether he’s truly a villain, but even so, your goal hasn’t changed yet.”

 

I fixed my gaze on Narke’s eyes. Narke didn’t look at me and concentrated on moving the wooden pieces. Instead of answering that statement, I responded to the previous one.

 

“…He decided to stay abroad longer himself, so what.”

 

—”It would be tiresome to explain what political reasons led to that decision. You know too~”

 

I didn’t answer and pushed my chips forward. Narke continued speaking alone.

 

—”About why you’re trying your best like this, of course what I mentioned earlier is still a valid reason, but there’s actually one more motive. You already know the answer. That’s why you’re not responding to my words…”

 

Narke still didn’t look at me and continued speaking with a leisurely attitude like someone uninterested in worldly affairs.

 

—”It’s simply because all of this unfolded before you. What unfolded before you brought you this far.”

 

“…”

 

—”You think you’re far from doing what a person ought to do, but well. Not turning away from a drowning lamb sounds ordinary, but it’s not actually an ordinary thing, is it?”

 

“Thanks for the compliment.”

 

—”Haha, I’m not joking~”

 

Narke looked at me and smiled.

 

—”What you believed about yourself has changed a lot now. Right? Yesterday’s me isn’t today’s me, and me from a month ago isn’t me either. What I knew yesterday isn’t meaningful today, and yesterday’s goals don’t function today. Because you haven’t stagnated.”

 

“…”

 

He’s saying the opposite of what I think. To apply his advice to the appropriate position, I’d need more clues, and above all, my interest was still in Leo’s covenant, but I looked into Narke’s eyes and nodded.

 

“Yeah, I heard you well. Thanks for thinking of me and telling me.”

 

Narke answered with a smile.

 

It was gradually becoming time to return to the Prince’s Palace. Before coming here, I had promised to meet Leo again, so I had to leave now.

 

“I really have to go now. I’ll come visit more often from now on.”

 

“Yeah, I’ll also go to Leo’s room often for the next week~”

 

“…”

 

* * *

 

I don’t know what to do when Narke’s mischievous side kicks in. He didn’t need to let me know that he knew about the study evaporating.

 

‘Just wait a week.’

 

Come to Bavaria… However, since it was almost like a second hometown in terms of mental comfort, this resolve probably wouldn’t last long. I should go to Bavaria, but it would be better to stay holed up in the hotel that Mecklenburg and I visited in the extra chapter.

 

So, why am I going to meet Leo again now?

 

Now I’m really going to try a method to restore my senses to their previous state.

 

‘I don’t know if it’ll succeed or what method he’s planning to use.’

 

Now was the time to entrust it to Leo once. Since he had spoken to me first again after we finished our conversation earlier, it was the optimal situation to attempt it.

 

I took a deep breath and flung open Leo’s room door. When I entered the room inside that Leo had left open and scanned the hallway, I could see another room was open.

 

Whoosh—

 

As I approached, I felt refreshing air as if a purification artifact had been placed there. What I saw upon entering was a room that was completely empty except for one bed and some trolley. No, I should include Leo standing beside the bed like medical staff with a solemn face and the plants attached to all four walls.

 

“…”

 

An operating table?

 

It was clearly just a bed, but I couldn’t understand why it felt like an operating table when Leo was standing in front of it with that strange medical staff atmosphere. It felt just like when I had faced that out-of-body experience bed in the extra chapter before—why should such a thing exist in this world? I opened my notebook and floated a quill pen in midair as I spoke.

 

“You want me to lie down there?”

 

[Are you going to stand then?]

 

“Yeah. I think that would be better.”

 

Because.

 

‘No matter how I look at it, this looks exactly like an operating table.’

 

The trolley beside the bed was full of medical artifacts I’d never seen before. That made it even more suspicious. I actually hadn’t thought it would be this medically serious. I thought it would be something like casting a simple magic spell or something in that category.

 

‘…He’s not really going to rip off my ears, is he? What would change even if he did rip them off?’

 

Can I entrust surgery to this quack? But I couldn’t wait a month in this crisis where something might explode a week from now. As I nervously looked back and forth between my notebook and his mouth in front of this amateur medical practitioner, Leo also opened his mouth with a tension-filled expression.

 

[Let’s begin.]

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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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