How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 369

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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 Noble Family (369)

 

We all immediately knew what he was thinking. How could we not? Elias shouted.

 

“Is our presence really that insignificant…?!”

 

I too was momentarily flustered and waved my hand dismissively.

 

“Surely not. What are they planning to use us for.”

 

“The number is perfect. Only they know our value to them.”

 

“There are many organizations made up of seven in the world, and they might gather sevens from all over the place.”

 

“I should explain precisely. What bothers me is that Pleroma seems to want to pair Ishmailov with you. It also bothers me that Eschete, which was originally planned for six, became seven when Haike Einsiedel joined.”

 

That’s Abraham’s doing. Abraham is…

 

“…”

 

Just in case, I should arrange a meeting with that bastard. Even at Leo’s cold response, Elias looked incredulous as he gripped the table.

 

“Narke said this could be interpreted as ‘all’! This might also be ‘all’!”

 

I had already judged that hypothesis to be unlikely, but I wouldn’t bother arguing against it. I too hoped this wasn’t reality. Just then, Leo, who had been looking at the table, whispered low.

 

“What if that thinking is just us wanting to believe that nothing dangerous will happen to us?”

 

“…”

 

Narke and I looked at Narke, but we couldn’t get any answer from him. Yes, it’s a hypothesis worth considering thoroughly. I can no longer turn away from it. But for all my friends to be targets. If it were just me, the high risk might have been worth taking, but if six more people had to be put in direct and greater danger, that changes things.

 

‘…But can we say we’re not under that danger right now? Also, even if we don’t take the risk, if we withdraw our hands too, the ending won’t change…’

 

Along with the clear thought that struck my mind, I recalled another opposing thought, a thought steeped in inertia. I rubbed my face dry and muttered in an anguished voice.

 

“…Tomorrow I should meet Senior and ask him to somehow keep me away from Ishmailov.”

 

“You know it didn’t work even when I went.”

 

Leo answered calmly.

 

“The government considers you more suitable than anyone else. Regardless of what truth his inner self holds, on the surface Ishmailov’s affection is directed toward you, and since he won’t open his mouth to anyone but you, the government will want your help no matter what.”

 

“As you saw from Ishmailov talking with Elias just now, if we guide him well, there’s now a possibility he’ll talk with other people.”

 

“Ishmailov talking with us today was all because you were there, Lucas. He communicated with us to get closer to you.”

 

“How can you be so sure.”

 

“I know. How could I not know.”

 

Leo raised his eyes to look straight at me as he spoke. Even though he couldn’t add any long explanation about his certainty, he was already right. I knew he was right too.

 

Yes, I’ve already thought long about taking charge of Ishmailov, so I can’t waste time on this. It would be better to think more about that clear thought I had earlier. Leo opened his mouth even though I hadn’t asked him anything.

 

“Of course, Ishmailov could grow attached to people other than you and gradually try to talk with us voluntarily. But in our current situation where we all need to avoid Ishmailov, that’s meaningless.”

 

“Yes, you’re right.”

 

“Besides… if we separate Ishmailov.”

 

Saying that, Leo paused and slowly looked around at all of us.

 

“What if doing so fulfills Pleroma’s prophecy and this world ends?”

 

“The world ending.”

 

When Elias twisted his lips with a face asking what ridiculous talk that was, Leo nodded.

 

“Yes, the world won’t end. The world will flow according to celestial movements as it always has. The sun will rise in the east that day too, and the sea will surge following the moon and return to the sandbar. But what about the people of our era? Will we be able to see the trajectories of stars drawn billions of years ago that night too?”

 

Leo is also thinking the same thoughts I had. Retreating to prevent us from being used in the prophecy won’t be the answer. He knows it, I know it, Elias probably knows it, and Narke might have known it from long ago.

 

“From the moment magic appeared in this world, the common sense shared by the world ended. If they try to create ‘the Lord you sought’ to perfectly fulfill their selfish desires? It’s over. By then, not only the common people but we won’t be safe either. We might experience an irreversible end while trying to avoid immediate danger and extend our lives a little longer.”

 

Now Elias’s face was far from the expression that had denied reality earlier. Unlike him, who held his head high and stared at Leo, Narke had his eyes closed and head bowed.

 

I shifted my gaze from them to look intently at Leo. These were surprising words to hear from Leo. Leo is more safety-oriented and peace-loving than anyone, so he tries not to make bold choices when possible, and I could observe this sufficiently in his consideration toward me until now.

 

“We need to deal with it now. We’re lucky to face the sprout before it becomes irreversible.”

 

“…”

 

So how could I not be surprised?

 

But I certainly know that wanting peace for all people can make one more bold than anyone at decisive moments. That was the Leonard Wittelsbach I had read and analyzed. He continued speaking calmly.

 

“We’ll take it on. That’s right.”

 

* * *

 

That’s right. That’s the reason for nobles’ existence. The modern civil society that seized the natural rights of all people because they couldn’t entrust them to nobles’ self-cultivation has become a past ailment, a distant story in this world. In the second Ancien Régime born from mage society, what we can do right now is do our utmost not to waste the rights of all people that we’ve grasped through our ancestors’ bloodlines. Until the older generation yields power to the new generation and we have the power to change the structure, and perhaps even until that day. Leo was someone who knew well when to take risks.

 

‘But how did I end up here…’

 

I wasn’t a member of a ruling family but just citizen number 1… Sometimes this point strikes me as new.

 

But even if we returned from an absolute monarchist capitalist society to a democratic capitalist society, I couldn’t say I wasn’t a beneficiary of the structure back then either. The form of benefit is just different; I’ve always been indebted to society. The responsibility I should have as a member of society won’t be freed just because I return to the 21st century, and since I must bear weight appropriate to each environment either way, I can willingly accept the weight of this life too.

 

To summarize boringly, I actively agree with Leo’s intention to abandon his own safety-oriented tendencies and take any risk for noblesse oblige, and as always, I’m not particularly resentful. If I express this as it wells up from my heart, it’s what I said earlier, and if I paraphrase it briefly, wouldn’t it be ‘let’s not think of backing out and do our best’?

 

‘I should be more tense this time.’

 

Leo says he hopes I won’t die, yet he’s steeling himself with all kinds of resolve right now. Rather, because he hopes I won’t die, he might approach this matter with more fighting spirit and a do-or-die mentality.

 

It’s March but it’s already getting a bit hot. I brushed my hair and felt the wind. I sent a letter to Abraham, stopped by the largest bookstore in Bavaria to buy a book, and returned to Nymphenburg Palace. I didn’t need to go out myself, but I just wanted to.

 

Anyway, to return to the main point, the project to become friends with Ishmailov—actively—became our goal when I thought it would end as an episode.

 

‘Why is that.’

 

You must keep your enemy closest. In a position where you can monitor 24/7 what the enemy is plotting and what movements they show. Though Ishmailov is presumed not to be the brain of their plan this time, we need to collect even the signs he shows involuntarily. There was more information we needed to obtain by talking with Ishmailov.

 

“Count Ishmailov.”

 

This is the only place in this palace where roses are maintained year-round. I set down the thick book I had under my arm on the table, pulled out a chair and sat down while smiling.

 

“Thanks to you, Count, I can stay long at this summer pavilion. Actually, I had to return to Brandenburg soon whether I liked it or not.”

 

“…”

 

Ishmailov became silent again after sobering up. I sent a letter as soon as I woke up asking to meet at a small pavilion in Nymphenburg, and while he did come to the place, he showed none of yesterday’s activeness. Ishmailov looked at the hardcover book I brought, then looked at me again. I rested my chin on my hand, looked at him, and smiled.

 

“Now that I’m actually here, I have nothing to talk about. Should I talk about thoughts I had while coming here? Do you like history books?”

 

“…”

 

“Actually, when we went to the library together, the book you opened had a story about the French Revolution written by someone from our Empire. Though it was brief, seeing sentences that fiercely criticized the Ancien Régime stuck in my mind.”

 

“…”

 

“As you know, that literally means old system, but actually it has already become a specific term in itself rather than referring to all old systems in this world. It’s a term referring to the political and social system before the French Revolution.”

 

He just stared at me intently. It’s difficult to continue talking without any response, and so there are limits to just uttering everyday words. Thinking so, even though I brought up a topic far from everyday matters, it wasn’t particularly easy. I continued speaking as if I didn’t mind.

 

“But if one faithfully completed regular education in this country, though there’s no possibility of being ignorant of French in the first place, anyone could recall the Latin ‘ante’ as the etymology of ‘ancien.’ How can a word that immediately brings to mind the old be left so irresponsibly in the place of the past just because it became French? Even though it openly has the name ‘old thing that is not now,’ how can they talk about that era as if it were a vice that happened long ago in someone else’s house without feeling any contradiction?”

 

“…”

 

“In my view, it’s never old-fashioned. Since the French Third Empire was born and Espers appeared across the continent, it’s ongoing. So I tried thinking of the current state of affairs as a second Ancien Régime, and after thinking about it, I couldn’t help but tell you because the conflicting meanings were marvelous.”

 

“Is magic the problem?”

 

Though he was just standing there blankly, he heard all my words and noticed that my argument implied ‘vices have been recreated wearing the mask of magic.’ He didn’t seem to have received much education from Pleroma, but his ability to grasp the essence is good.

 

I answered with a smile.

 

“Even without magic, human nature wouldn’t be different.”

 

“I see.”

 

“Well, that was my personal thought until now. What about you?”

 

“I don’t know much about the Ancien Régime. But I learned that France, where citizens directly seized their rights, and Germany, which didn’t, are both in Europe but the patterns of their changes are different. Though France’s Ancien Régime might essentially no longer be the old system, I think Germany’s case could be even more so.”

 

“Mm.”

 

Not bad? He’s speaking quite at length. Even without making him drink, if I try to have conversations like this in the future, it seems like we could actually converse. I nodded to show I was listening attentively.

 

“That’s why in our Pleroma, through Judgment Day, we must save our oppressed people…”

 

“Let’s stop there.”

 

I smiled while feeling my blood run cold. This is why Pleroma has been shouting ‘we can turn non-mages into mages’ for so long. They gain power by claiming they can resolve people’s deficiencies. Whether Ishmailov wasn’t interested in missionary work—it seemed to me he was just saying what he learned—he answered briefly “yes” and glanced at the thick book I brought.

 

He must have been curious about this from earlier. I offered the book to Ishmailov.

 

“It’s a gift.”

 

“…”

 

“It’s Augustine’s On the Trinity. You don’t seem to have encountered many books, so I chose one for younger students to read, but if you want, I’ll bring the one I was reading.”

 

Ishmailov didn’t answer. With his mouth slightly open, he carefully stroked the leather cover and traced each engraved letter one by one. I rested my chin on my hand again and watched how he touched the book.

 

“Let’s read and discuss it. Wouldn’t it be interesting to talk about it together?”

 

“Yes.”

 

“Please give me a longer answer.”

 

“It looks interesting. Are you reading it too?”

 

“I’ve already read it. You just need to read it.”

 

Ishmailov raised his head. I raised my eyebrows seeing sunlight briefly linger beneath his irises. He answered dryly.

 

“I’ll read a lot.”

 

“Ah, good. Then we’ll have plenty to talk about, which is nice. I’m already delighted at the chance to hear your thoughts on the Trinity.”

 

I muttered as I watched him bury his head in the book again.

 

“Well, we have all day, so what should we do now.”

 

Today I’m willing to accommodate you. First, I’ll monitor the possibility of change. I had already been checking this constantly from the day of negotiations until this morning, recording it in my mind whenever any incident occurred. Surprisingly, my possibility of change hadn’t decreased at all. Since I’ve taken a different mindset today, I’ll first see how far safety is maintained and adjust the appropriate level starting tomorrow.

 

Anyway, I expected Ishmailov, who was pouring all his attention into the book, to either let my words pass by or just throw out what he wanted verbally. He raised his head again and stared at me intently. The moment an instinctive strangeness crossed my mind, a red light shone from beneath the gloves he wore.

 

“…Wait!”

 

Beep beep beep―

 

“I knew this would happen.”

 

Mecklenburg, who appeared at the speed of light, placed his hand on my shoulder and chuckled. Albertina Hohenzollern, who had come along while holding a glass of water in her left hand as if she had been having breakfast, also let out a hollow laugh. I pondered whether I should feel grateful or embarrassed toward them, then ended up chuckling along with them.

 

“I’m not even a hostage, yet I feel like I’m being monitored too….”

 

“Take it easy, Count Ascanien.”

 

Mecklenburg said leisurely while patting my shoulder. I removed his hand and replied.

 

“What do you mean take it easy? You should say that to Count Ishmailov, not me.”

 

“I mean treat him with moderation. I’ll be going now. I’ll adjust the heart rate threshold, so next time the alarm goes off, I’ll tell you how high I raised it.”

 

“There won’t be a next time.”

 

I spoke while pressing down firmly, but Mecklenburg didn’t even pretend to listen and disappeared with Albertina Hohenzollern. I began to feel burdened as I looked at Ishmailov, who was staring only at me with no expression.

 

‘He’s expecting something.’

 

I had felt this a little with Haike too, but I don’t know what I need to do to satisfy him. Isn’t he excited right now about the prospect of playing all day? I need to provide new stimulation….

 

‘For now, that’s not the problem.’

 

Let me continue from the thoughts I was having earlier. If the hypothesis that they want to use Eschede as the Church’s messenger is true, I don’t know how that would be realized. How exactly should I interpret the Church’s messenger? A Church messenger is just a Church messenger, what else could it be. However, under the premise that the hypothesis is true, it’s clear that the ‘Church’s messenger’ becomes a tool for bringing about destruction, and we need to seize the opportunity to control ourselves. If we become the Church’s messenger just by playing with Ishmailov, my possibility for change will plummet vertically.

 

The problem here is that the opponent is too powerful for us to spend only such peaceful days indefinitely—though strictly speaking, it’s not exactly peaceful, but at least we’re not in immediate mortal danger. We need to gather information as quickly as possible.

 

‘First, when and how will the ‘seven stars’ be fulfilled? Second, if our hypothesis matches their truth, then for what reason exactly is our Eschede the right candidate? Simply because I’m included? Why am I even mentioned in the first place?’

 

I need to find information about this. I continued my thoughts while observing Ishmailov, who was alternately looking at his book and at me in silence.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

The Labyrinth.

 

If someone goes berserk, they can enter the Labyrinth, can’t they? What if I made Ishmailov go berserk?

 

‘…What kind of crazy thought is that.’

 

The possibility of someone of this caliber going berserk is low, and since he might have already received Vitriol, the berserk time would be short. The relationship I’ve carefully built would reset and go into the negative, and if this guy has a higher rank than me, I might not even be able to enter the Labyrinth. And didn’t I already point out once how shortsighted it is to treat someone inhumanely?

 

‘Hmm.’

 

What about an extra chapter? If I could get some blood….

 

Bang―

 

As I banged my head on the marble table, my skull rang. Ishmailov asked, as if wondering whether it was true that he couldn’t read my thoughts.

 

“Why are you doing that?”

 

“…I’m sleepy.”

 

“Please sleep.”

 

“I can’t do that. Let’s spend the day productively.”

 

I raised my head and arranged my bangs that had fallen down enough to cover my eyes. Then, contrary to what I had said to him, I fell into thought again.

 

‘Extra chapter.’

 

It’s a good plan. Though I wonder if this guy would even open when Abraham didn’t….

 

Getting blood would be possible if I used underhanded methods. If I asked Leo, he could bring a bottle or two of blood that the government had drawn in advance, claiming he would use Ishmailov’s blood for experiments. Since I had conveniently moved to Nymphenburg Palace and escaped Leo’s surveillance network, I had plenty of time to rummage through extra chapters.

 

I cannot tolerate being swayed by my desires and wanting to drink blood, but if it’s for the best outcome….

 

‘Mm. Still, I don’t like it.’

 

Humanistic concerns completely kill my appetite. This is the worst. Still, even though I might not be able to enter an extra chapter like with Abraham, it’s worth trying, isn’t it?

 

‘…Getting it is one thing. Should I ask Leo to feed it to me?’

 

If I get beaten up a bit first, anger would surge before disgust, so I could expect some diversionary effect. But thinking of the soul-drained expression Leo showed that day, I can’t do that either.

 

“I’ve been thinking, but I don’t know what we should do.”

 

Ishmailov’s words broke my reverie. Facing his snow-white face made me nauseous about the thoughts I had just been having. I deliberately looked around at the preserved roses nearby and asked.

 

“Then I’ll decide. Have you toured Nymphenburg Palace? It’s spacious with lots to see.”

 

“No. I cannot leave my room unless you call for me.”

 

“I suppose so.”

 

I closed my eyes and thought for a moment before opening my mouth.

 

“Count Ishmailov. Have you ever made friends your age in Pleroma?”

 

“As you said before, I have never conversed with teenagers. Though I have listened to them unilaterally.”

 

Listened to them unilaterally? That’s a rather peculiar way to put it.

 

Anyway, the key point is that he had no friends. I stroked my chin and nodded.

 

“We have the place for it, so let’s go with the standard approach. Let’s try doing what Espers your age do, one by one.”

 

Ishmailov closed his book. Though he showed no expression, that gesture alone made it obvious that he was looking forward to my words. I stood up from my seat and pointed toward the vast hunting grounds of Nymphenburg Palace, smiling.

 

“Want to go hunting? Let’s compete for scores with the other friends.”

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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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