How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 366

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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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“Hands up.”

 

To think I’d hear such a cliché line directly here. Ishmailov obediently raised both hands. Because of that, the book fell to the floor with a thud. My ears sting from the identical alarm sounds of the still beeping artifact and the receiver that Albertina Hohenzollern brought. I scrunched my eyes and waved my hand dismissively.

 

“Nothing happened, Senior. There seems to be a problem with the artifact.”

 

Narke, who had been looking at us in bewilderment, gradually hardened his expression and returned to the emotionless face I had seen in the morning.

 

“A problem with the artifact? That can’t be.”

 

“Let me check, Count Ishmailov.”

 

Albertina Hohenzollern approached him and pressed firmly with her hand right above the artifact hanging around Ishmailov’s neck. I feel like my own neck hurts. Ishmailov opened and closed his mouth briefly but didn’t make any particular sound. Albertina Hohenzollern stepped back with an expression that said she’d seen quite a strange sight.

 

“It’s not an error. It’s really beating fast.”

 

“…?”

 

Not an error? Then why? I looked at Ishmailov who was just standing there staring into space. Albertina Hohenzollern pointed at Ishmailov and asked.

 

“Count Ascanien. What did this fellow just do?”

 

“He was trying to read Augustine’s book, so I checked the title.”

 

“….”

 

Everyone seemed to have the same thought as me, forcing smiles while looking at Ishmailov. It would be unsettling for someone called the Messenger of the Covenant or whatever to be rummaging through theological texts. Albertina Hohenzollern maintained her smile with a face that said she had a headache and asked.

 

“Count Ishmailov. There’s no law saying you can’t read Augustine’s books, but… were you perhaps afraid of being discovered by us?”

 

“….”

 

Ishmailov remained consistently silent. With the unusually cold Narke, the Pleroma Messiah whose heart rate had risen for unknown reasons, and the two seniors who came to rescue me before my eyes, this continued silence made me want to go home. I pressed my forehead and said.

 

“…To explain the situation a bit more, he opened it right in front of me, so he probably wasn’t worried about being discovered.”

 

“Hmm, is that so? I wonder why such a signal suddenly occurred that indicates a problem. When we examined it, there were no particular abnormalities in its function.”

 

“I’m not sure either… Other than trying to check the title, he didn’t do anything, so there’s no cause I can identify as abnormal.”

 

While the Representative Mage of Class 91 and I were pondering Ishmailov’s heart rate, Mecklenburg and Narke exchanged glances. Their expressions looked subtly similar.

 

“Understood. It’s fortunate we got warp permission. Let’s go for now.”

 

Mecklenburg, having heard all of Ishmailov’s interrogation, glanced at Ishmailov with more wary eyes than Albertina Hohenzollern and disappeared. After both mages left, Narke, who had been sitting in a chair, suddenly stood up and approached Ishmailov closely. He coaxed Ishmailov while looking at him.

 

“Get a grip.”

 

“….”

 

“Go back. I’ll assign a mage to stay by your side.”

 

As if he had already predicted Ishmailov’s answer before even hearing it, he let out a long breath and warped somewhere with him. Narke returned with a smiling face not long after.

 

“Lucas.”

 

“You’re not going to keep sending him to other places, right? Still, he should be within a distance we can monitor so we don’t suffer damage if something happens.”

 

“That’s true, but.”

 

Narke approached me. The fading sunlight passed transparently through his irises.

 

“It’s true that you need to take care of Ishmailov, and I know you’re trying to endure this time to verify the hypothesis you’ve established and gather various information. But you don’t need to tolerate too much.”

 

“That’s obvious.”

 

Have I ever tolerated him in the first place? If that guy had followed me to places he shouldn’t be, I would have removed him too, and originally he hasn’t really done anything except follow me around. I leaned against the wall appropriately, crossed my arms, and looked at him.

 

“Got it. While we’re at it, let’s talk a bit.”

 

Narke raised his eyebrows.

 

“Insight aside, can I know why you don’t use your precognitive abilities?”

 

I don’t know what abilities he uses where and how much. I can only speculate like this. He either didn’t use his abilities regarding the incidents Ishmailov would create, or even if he did, he doesn’t seem to tell us about the future he saw. Narke just looked at me without opening his mouth.

 

“I just want to ask for your help. My question might sound rude. If so, I’m sorry.”

 

Then Narke waved his hand and spoke with difficulty.

 

“Sorry, I can’t use my abilities right now. At least I have to somehow manage that way.”

 

“Thanks for the answer. So… I still don’t know why you don’t use your abilities. Is speaking about it worse than death?”

 

I asked with a faint smile, worried he might feel too burdened. Narke looked at me like that and slowly drew out his words.

 

“…I don’t know.”

 

His tone had neither leisure nor laughter. It was different from when he would tilt his eyebrows because insight and precognition weren’t working properly, smile politely, and say he didn’t know what would happen next. So, based on what reached me, right now he truly doesn’t know whether telling me the truth is worse than death or not.

 

Narke pressed his eyelids and exhaled.

 

“I’m sorry.”

 

“No. I didn’t mean to burden you, so I’m more sorry.”

 

I never left information up to him. Even if he can’t tell us anything… Honestly, this is a situation where I should grab and interrogate him, but when he says this much, pursuing a friend to the end isn’t something I can easily do. Considering the help he’s given us so far and the time we’ve spent together, yes. Of course, it’s not something I should think about, having summoned Narke out of the blue during interrogation after Gabrielle Caetani. I deliberately erased my thoughts and maintained my smile.

 

“I understand for now. I’m planning to compile the information each of us has discovered with Leo soon, and if you’re okay with it, let’s talk again then.”

 

Since Narke hesitated briefly, I immediately added an explanation.

 

“You just need to tell us what you can. I also can’t tell you all the basis for my reasoning, nor can I share all my theories.”

 

“Alright. If that’s the case.”

 

Even though I said I couldn’t explain everything I’d discovered, he didn’t question it at all. I nodded and enjoyed the time without Ishmailov. It was a good time to learn how well Narke could play pranks. I lay on the dusty library floor involuntarily and muttered while looking at the chandelier on the ceiling.

 

“You’re also a teenager.”

 

“Haha, am I?”

 

“I’ll have to play more moderately with you from now on.”

 

“Why~”

 

Narke, who had been resting his arm on my stomach with his chin propped up, put weight on his elbow and raised his body. In the end, I had no choice but to throw him before my internal organs got crushed. I got up abruptly, straightened my clothes, and headed to the dining room.

 

Like that, I finished my first meal at Nymphenburg Palace and satisfyingly wiped my lips. Due to the aftermath of taking on Ishmailov, my friends’ conversation had decreased a bit, but by the time we finished eating, they had returned to normal. Cheringen looked at Narke who was sitting close to me and said.

 

“Lucas is going around with Narke more than usual today?”

 

“Hmm, that’s how it turned out. It’s nice eating with all of you. Now I should go feed Ishmailov.”

 

At those words, Elias, who had been wearing a cold expression the whole time, snickered.

 

“Does he know you talk about him like this?”

 

“What’s wrong with it.”

 

“It’s like a dog.”

 

“….”

 

If I think about it, I thought he’d say it’s like mom or dad, but these noble guys don’t have parents who take care of their meals, so that kind of answer doesn’t come out. Actually, when I lived in the 21st century, my parents rarely took care of my meals either, but since there’s a common sentiment, in situations like this, the answer “parents” would be more familiar. I answered with a hollow laugh.

 

“At least I should check if the mages standing guard gave him food.”

 

“Then I’ll go with you too. That guy’s hair color is strangely similar to mine and it’s annoying.”

 

“I want to go too.”

 

Elias and Haike said. I wonder what this talk about being annoyed because their hair colors are similar means, but even if Elias says that, it probably isn’t the real reason. Then Narke, who had only been laughing beside us, sharply rejected his words.

 

“Haike can’t.”

 

* * *

 

“Why?”

 

Among the three, I was the first to break the silence. Narke silently went up to the floor where Ishmailov was and answered.

 

“Haike needs to be kept separate. Actually, you too, but… Anyway, it’s right for you, me, and Haike to stay as far away from Ishmailov as possible.”

 

So, why can’t he? I swallowed the words that were about to burst out of my throat and brought up different words.

 

“But you don’t have surveillance duty either, yet you’re sticking with me. In the end, it’s like the three of us are going around together.”

 

“Right! Why are you two only playing by yourselves all day. I wanted to go on missions with you guys too!”

 

Elias, who was following behind, put his arms on mine and Narke’s shoulders and grumbled. Narke smiled at Elias and then looked at me, tilting his head.

 

“So, do you dislike it?”

 

“…It’s not that I dislike it.”

 

It’s just that I’m not used to it. The fact that Narke, of all people, wants to spend all our time together except for bathroom breaks. At my brief answer, Narke smiled brightly. When we went up to the floor with the room where Ishmailov was confined, we could see two mages standing in front of the door.

 

“It’s meal time, so I came to check. How is the situation?”

 

“He’s fine. But we brought dinner 30 minutes ago, and there’s been no word that he’s finished eating.”

 

“I see. I’ll go in and check.”

 

The mage dismantled the security magic and stepped back. I took a deep breath and grabbed the door handle to push it.

 

“….”

 

Ishmailov hadn’t touched his meal at all. He was sitting on the sofa and looked at me without any expression. And…

 

Beep beep beep―

 

I had no choice but to freeze at the sharp sound piercing my ears. I can see Elias and Narke hesitating beside me.

 

‘…Again.’

 

Again, why? Someone suddenly appeared at the warp point at the end of the corridor, and soon something like Mecklenburg grabbed my shoulder. I could sense Albertina Hohenzollern’s presence beside him too.

 

“….”

 

I looked at Ishmailov’s pale blue eyes, snickered, and answered.

 

“No matter how I look at it, it seems like an error, Senior.”

 

“Didn’t we say it’s not an error.”

 

“From what I can see, it’s an error.”

 

Mecklenburg ignored my words and asked with a frown.

 

“Did you perhaps fight? Your ages are similar too…”

 

“Would that be the case? We can barely even communicate.”

 

“…I see. If there’s nothing else, I’ll be going.”

 

“Wait a moment, Senior. What do you think is making Ishmailov act like that?”

 

“…”

 

Mecklenburg narrowed his eyes and closed his mouth. It seemed like no matter how much he thought about it, nothing came to mind. He just kept pushing back the hair that had fallen over his eyes and looked around. I spoke to him clearly.

 

“I think that person’s aggression spikes dramatically whenever he sees me. He definitely wasn’t like that at first… but it seems hostility developed after he checked the book title.”

 

There are some ambiguous points. Ishmailov doesn’t seem angry at me, but for now, that’s the only explanation that makes sense.

 

“Hmm… that might be the case.”

 

“This won’t do. Please immediately withdraw the decision and ask for a replacement.”

 

“I’ll speak to them. Having the same safety issue occur twice is hard to just overlook.”

 

Mecklenburg answered with a somewhat ambiguous expression for some reason, then entered Ishmailov’s room with Albertina Hohenzollern. I looked down at Ishmailov, who was staring intently at me, shook my head, and left the room.

 

It was already approaching 8 o’clock. A more peaceful day than expected—aside from two minor issues—was passing like this.

 

My room was two floors down, right in front of the stairs. I unlocked the door with the key I’d received in advance and turned around with a bitter laugh.

 

“What?”

 

“Huh~?”

 

Narke was there with sparkling eyes, carrying a bag packed full of something. Elias had just come empty-handed but wore the same expression.

 

“Are you following me to my room?”

 

“Ah, Elias probably isn’t, but I’m going to sleep here too.”

 

“No way.”

 

“Really~”

 

“Why?! I finally get to be alone…!”

 

I bit my lip and held my head. Narke just smiled no matter what I said, pushed me into the room, and answered nonchalantly.

 

“When else are we going to have fun if not at times like this~”

 

“Ah, should I sleep here too, guys?!”

 

“No!”

 

I answered Elias’s thoughtless question firmly and grabbed Narke.

 

“This isn’t right, Narke. I need to start protecting my privacy too.”

 

“I already know everything in your head anyway.”

 

“…!”

 

As my blood pressure rose and I grabbed the back of my neck, Narke waved his hand.

 

“I’m joking. If privacy was so important, you should have protected it from the start. Why didn’t you stop it then?”

 

Leo, you mean? My head hurts. I quickly explained.

 

“That was… he’s the owner of this country, how could I oppose him? Since he already knew I was in Bavaria, he could find out wherever I went. And honestly, he prefers being alone too. He was being considerate in case another incident targeted me.”

 

“Right, that’s it. Show me that same patience.”

 

“…”

 

Right… In a way, his motivation is the same. I shook my head, shrugged my shoulders, and flopped face-down on the bed. I could see Elias standing by the headboard, smiling—I’m not sure why he’s smiling, probably just because our eyes met. Narke was kind enough to take off my shoes and push my legs inside the bed.

 

“You can do it. Right?”

 

“Why are you deciding on your own? I don’t have patience to spare.”

 

“You do~”

 

I let out a bitter laugh and sighed deeply. Right, it might be better than Leo.

 

For the next 3 hours, we gathered all the newspapers about international affairs and debated. Yes, this is how I’m much more used to hanging out with Narke. That flow was broken around 11 o’clock when someone knocked on my door.

 

Knock knock—

 

“Lucas.”

 

The person who opened the door and entered was Leo.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

Even though I changed rooms, seeing this face in front of me again makes me wonder if I’m dreaming. He looked at Narke in pajamas and tilted his head.

 

“…What?”

 

“What do you mean what, it’s Narke.”

 

“Haha. I wanted to try being Lucas’s roommate too.”

 

“…”

 

Leo looked at him silently, then answered briefly.

 

“I’d like our intentions to align, at least in this regard.”

 

“They will, Leo.”

 

As the atmosphere between Narke and Leo became serious, Elias, lying on the floor, wiggled his feet and asked.

 

“What are these guys talking about?”

 

“That’s what I’d like to know.”

 

Despite the subtle pressure from Elias and me, they didn’t answer, and soon Leo shifted the topic elsewhere.

 

“Ishmailov isn’t here.”

 

“I need to keep some distance. There were two problems related to the heart rate artifact.”

 

“Heart rate?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Leo seemed to want a detailed explanation, but I didn’t feel like explaining right now. Elias answered instead.

 

“The heart rate artifact went off incorrectly even when there was no surprising situation. I’m just learning now that it happened twice.”

 

“…Really? Well, I did some investigating while I was out, and I have questions for Ishmailov. Is he sleeping now?”

 

“No.”

 

“Then can we go up now? Lucas, you need to ask the questions.”

 

I hesitate at the thought of facing the same scene as before… but honestly, would there be a reason for it to happen three times? Twice is enough. Whether it’s malfunction, fear, or aggression. And Leo wouldn’t have prepared pointless questions, so I’d have to visit tomorrow to ask anyway.

 

“Well, there’s no reason I can’t.”

 

I put on a robe and went outside. Seeing four people coming out of one room made me feel absurd all over again, but I regained my composure and went up to the floor where Ishmailov was.

 

“I came for one last check before bed.”

 

At those words, the mages standing in front of the door stepped aside. I knocked lightly on the door and entered, greeting Ishmailov who was sitting on the sofa in front of the balcony in the distance.

 

“We meet again. Have you eaten?”

 

Leo, who followed me in, looked at him with wary eyes.

 

Beep beep beep—

 

“…”

 

The same alarm sound rang out. Leo’s wand instantly pointed forward. Ishmailov just tilted his head at the sound coming from his wrist without any particular reaction. Narke’s deep sigh could be heard from behind.

 

“Again?”

 

That was Mecklenburg’s voice. He came running with Albertina Hohenzollern and caught his breath. Despite the continued false alarms, he was still running over.

 

‘But why exactly?’

 

Why? Why does this strange reaction keep happening? No matter how I look at it, the artifact must be broken. But didn’t Albertina Hohenzollern say it wasn’t broken? Should I go check his pulse myself? No. His complexion doesn’t look like it at all, but if he’s really angry, I shouldn’t approach either. Mecklenburg’s words, having noticed the situation, came from behind.

 

“This is the third time. From what I can see, there doesn’t seem to be any intention to attack anyone, but what do you think, Your Majesty Hohenzollern?”

 

“I think so too. Count Ascanien, you didn’t do anything particular here, did you? Like speaking in a high-handed manner…”

 

“Not at all. All I did was ask ‘We meet again. Have you eaten?’ I was just trying to make some friendly conversation.”

 

“Then why…? If he only shows this reaction in front of Count Ascanien, it wouldn’t be a health problem either.”

 

“That’s what I’m saying.”

 

“Have you been together this whole time?”

 

“No. I just came to check on him one last time.”

 

Elias snapped his fingers at those words.

 

“So this happens every time Luca enters, right now. All three times were because of you, weren’t they?”

 

“That’s about right.”

 

Silence fell. Mecklenburg let out a bitter laugh and muttered quietly.

 

“No way.”

 

“Come on, no way…”

 

What. I waited for them to continue instead of trailing off, but everyone remained silent. I looked over the faces of everyone present and finally realized what they were thinking.

 

“Heh… hehehe…”

 

Elias started laughing while covering his mouth. Since this was a serious matter, he clearly seemed conflicted about whether to laugh or not, but in the end decided it was better to just laugh. Elias turned around and started hitting the wall while laughing.

 

“…Don’t just laugh…! Narke!”

 

Narke wasn’t looking at me and was just pressing his forehead. So right now these people? Seeing Narke avoiding my gaze, I no longer had the confidence to look at the face of someone who had been present at all three incidents. Perfect helplessness dominated my mind. I desperately ignored Mecklenburg and Albertina Hohenzollern, who were standing beside me looking at me with troubled expressions, and looked up at the ceiling. No, let me correct that. Only Albertina Hohenzollern was looking at me with a troubled expression.

 

“Do you know what your face looks like right now?”

 

I almost told Mecklenburg “Does this bastard have no sense?” but came to my senses. I quickly removed my right glove to cool the heat from my forehead. Mecklenburg stared at me intently and let out a laugh.

 

“You seem angry. You should cool your cheeks, not your forehead.”

 

I was about to grab the collar of Mecklenburg, who kept being sarcastic, but took a deep breath instead.

 

“If you’re going to play word games, you don’t need to concern yourself.”

 

“How can I not be concerned? Some Covenant’s Emissary or whatever targeting our Royal Mage Association junior…”

 

“Stop it.”

 

“Is there any need to think further? With what I heard yesterday, the answer is obvious.”

 

“You’re thinking narrow-mindedly. And you’re not even human?”

 

“…Now you won’t even call me Senior?!”

 

People have intuition, and no matter how I look at it, Ishmailov doesn’t seem to be acting according to their speculation. Being obsessed with finding fault and teasing… I stroked my chin and nodded.

 

“I’ve got a rough idea. I’ve seen similar cases before. It will definitely be different from Senior’s expectations.”

 

Haike. From my first meeting with Haike to that moment when he showed me favor, it flashes through my mind again. Haike is dull to external stimuli and lacks certain experiences—such as human relationships—but this person is slightly different in that he’s ignorant of almost all experiences. However, they’re similar in that all reactions are somewhat sudden, and for smooth communication, his perspective needs to be considered more deeply. Even this current reaction is like that.

 

‘Then what’s the cause of this behavior?’

 

It’s simple. It’s probably not as big a reason as one might think.

 

If I had to guess, this person sees me as a newly made friend, or someone he wants to become friends with. Just like Haike did at the beginning of this year.

 

“…Wait, Lucas!”

 

I shook off Leo who was holding me back and sat in front of the sofa where Ishmailov was sitting.

 

“Let’s be honest. If my guess is correct, I need to tell you this one thing.”

 

“…”

 

Ishmailov looked at me with the same expression as before. I pondered for a long time about what to say to this second Haike, then snapped my fingers to cast a sound-blocking spell and began like this.

 

“First of all, I cannot be friends with Pleroma.”

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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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