How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 372

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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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While I was looking up at the sky in surprise, I heard two more gunshots. I switched the artifact to the full circuit and spoke quickly.

 

“Guys. Who shot just now?”

 

[What will you do for me if I answer?]

It was Elias’s voice. For some reason, his breathing sounded labored. I smirked and shook my head.

“Nothing.”

 

[Uuuuum~]

 

“Eli, answer me seriously. Did you shoot?”

 

[Nooooo.]

He’s making groaning sounds. I have no idea what he’s doing that’s making him strain like that. I wondered if it was a device malfunction, though that seemed unlikely, so I frowned and took the artifact apart before putting it back in my ear.

[Save me, Luca. Please! It’s the place Julia mentioned earlier.]

 

[Haha, Elias. What’s wrong? We’ll be back soon.]

 

“What are you doing?”

 

[Hurry!]

It’s hard to warp. Not just the mana consumption but…

Still, if he’s asking me to come, I should go. Since it was getting warmer, I took off my jacket to reduce even a little physical exertion. After experiencing the morning heat, when I changed into hunting clothes, I wore a short-sleeved shirt, which helped the heat from running around subside. I enjoyed the breeze and swung down my staff.

Kwang— Thud—!

My head rang. During the fall, some stone scraped the skin on my forearm and tore the flesh, but that wasn’t what was important right now. The sight I saw after jumping up from my spot made me doubt my eyes.

“Spectacular.”

 

“Right? My legs were getting numb, so I thought this would be better.”

Cheringen is literally pinning down Elias. Elias waved his hand caught by Cheringen and burst out mana. It must have been to prevent escape as planned, but it was brief—I didn’t expect this to still be going on.

“He’s your friend, right? Maybe you fought and there’s some lingering resentment I don’t know about…”

 

“Of course I treat him like this because he’s my friend.”

Treating him ‘roughly’ like this… I get it. I can see who this reminds me of. I pressed my forehead, let out a hollow laugh, turned around, and asked quietly.

“I’m asking because I wonder if my guess might be right, but what do you mean by ‘like this’? Let me say in advance that I hope my guess is wrong.”

 

“Ah, I mean helping my friend have self-control so he can’t destroy another friend’s happiness.”

 

“How specific. That’s so like you.”

 

“Thanks, Lucas.”

I plopped down next to the sweating Elias and brushed his bangs back.

“Eli, train a bit more.”

 

“I’m already good at it!”

Since Elias looked at me with an expression asking why I was being like this too, I quickly waved my hands.

“Yeah, I know. That’s why you’re Eschede.”

 

“Oh~”

Elias’s eyes lit up with a slightly different meaning. He’s probably acting like that because I’m also part of Eschede, but one wrong word and I might become teasing material. I unnecessarily indulged Elias’s complaints.

“More importantly, Luca, get this guy off me! The blood isn’t circulating in my thighs right now!”

 

“It’s interesting though, why should I?”

Elias could probably escape if he really wanted to anyway. It’s just that he’d have to fight Cheringen, injuring each other in the process. As I watched with amusement, Elias gritted his teeth and said to Cheringen.

“Then at least move your leg.”

 

“If I move it, you’ll kick me, so I can’t do that.”

 

“You’re so calculating!”

 

“I suppose so.”

Elias deflated, let out a deep sigh, and turned his head the other way.

“Only these ants welcome me…”

 

“Let’s write a poem. I’ll distribute it in Baden for you.”

 

“Don’t be sarcastic!”

I listened to their conversation and tapped the ground with the staff I had placed on my knees to get their attention.

“So, who shot? There were a lot of gunshots at the end.”

 

“Hmm.”

 

“Among the six of us, I know only you and Leo were carrying guns.”

I pointed at Cheringen and then pointed to where Leo had been beyond.

“And right now Eli is being crushed by Julia.”

 

“Crushed? I’m still energetic. Julia says she likes me too much. What should I do? She won’t even play with me!”

 

“That’s too much, Elias. Isn’t this playing with you?”

 

“I’m not happy, so it’s not playing! If you wanted to play with me, you should have gone to Meppen together. Leo and you all refused, so I went to Königsberg’s restricted area alone. I’ll never forget your kindness for the rest of my life.”

 

“Ah, you’re talking about where you got your leg smashed. It’s cleanly healed now, right?”

Cheringen, who had been pressing down on Elias’s thigh, moved one knee toward the shin area. Elias swallowed and widened his eyes.

“Of course, Julia. There’s no need to step on it to check.”

I let out a hollow laugh at their conversation and quietly closed my eyes. My head was gradually becoming clearer. Let me think.

“After throwing him in the pit, Narke would have chased after me…”

 

“…”

The candidates narrowed down. Leo, Narke, Ishmailov. These are all the people who can move freely right now. And if gunshots were heard from two of these locations…

“…Ah.”

I opened my eyes wide and bit the inside of my lips. Elias looked at me with round eyes, then grinned as if he understood the situation. A subtle smile also appeared on Cheringen’s expression.

“Oh~?”

 

“Oh no…”

 

* * *

 

“Hehe~ Ack!”

Elias covered his mouth with his hand and jumped. Having lightly tapped his mouth, I breathed heavily and muttered.

“Be quiet.”

 

“I haven’t said what the… whatsit. The stakes of the bet are yet~ You shouldn’t treat me like this, Luca.”

 

“We’ll know when we open the lid.”

 

“Hmm, that’s true. I’m anxious though.”

 

“If you win, I’ll drink with you as much as you want.”

Drinking with you is nothing. Actually, if it’s with Elias, it would be fun even if we drank barrels and collapsed. It would be a bit troublesome though. Elias whistled and thoroughly messed up the back of my hair.

“Oh my, thank you.”

 

“…”

 

“My hair got all messed up while hunting anyway~”

 

“I’ll have to fix it again before eating.”

 

“It’s just us eating, so what does it matter~? Let’s just eat.”

Elias answered while completely turning my hair upside down. I removed his hands and asked.

“Did all the seniors return to Brandenburg? I did see two of them around lunchtime today.”

 

“Right. Except for those representatives. They have to protect you.”

 

“Hmm…”

Just get lost. That’s what I’m thinking about Mecklenburg, not Senior Albertina Hohenzollern. It’s ridiculous how he acts smug as if he caught something because of Ishmailov’s heartbeat. I was wondering what he finds so amusing about acting like that alone when Elias said he needed to plan revenge against Julia.

“No matter how I think about it, I need to treat Julia a bit differently.”

 

“I’m curious about what you’ll do and how.”

Cheringen let out a laugh. Cheringen was using mana to gather the pheasants we had collected and following behind us. While talking like that, we arrived at Amalienburgh before we knew it.

“So.”

As soon as I saw my friends, I smiled and asked.

“Who shot those last ones? Two of you come forward.”

 

“What’s wrong with your arm?”

Leo pointed at my forearm and asked. I tapped the injured area and raised my voice.

“I scraped it when I fell. So who are the two?”

Leo raised his hand slightly. I snapped my fingers as if I expected that and looked at the other friends, then opened my eyes wide.

An unexpected person had raised their hand. I crossed my arms and looked back and forth between Narke, who wore a meaningful smile, and Ishmailov, who stood blankly, then asked.

“Count Ishmailov. Did you know how to shoot?”

 

“I do not. However, I watched Count Hohenzollern shoot and imitated him.”

 

“Hmm, that’s not a field you can necessarily imitate just by watching. So what was the result?”

 

“…”

Ishmailov remained silent, and Narke smiled and turned his head. I scanned the number of pheasants in the mana net that Narke had brought, snapped my fingers once more, and smiled.

“A draw then?”

 

“Huh.”

 

I hear a strange breathing sound from beside me. When I raised my voice at the end, Leo, who had been expressionless, laughed as if incredulous. Cheringen, who had been on the same team, grinned and extended his hand to me. I high-fived him and tilted my head toward Elias, who was holding his head.

 

“I’ll drink with you.”

 

“Ahhh!”

 

“Really. Hold me to it.”

 

“Thanks… But wait! Ah, I’m really good at hunting! I’m really good with guns. I worked hard in human military training~!”

 

At those words, Narke approached and patted his shoulder.

 

“I know. All four pheasants our team caught were caught by Elias. Without Elias, we would have barely managed 1 point.”

 

“Ugh.”

 

“Ah, what is this?”

 

Leo’s face darkened. He looked disgusted as he looked up and down at Elias, who was burying his head in Narke’s shoulder with a sulky expression. Both Cheringen and I were instantly dumbfounded and could only laugh hollowly—though apart from being absurd, it was very much like Elias—, but only Narke in this place giggled and patted Elias’s shoulder. This too would be a shocking sight for the friends from Class 1 of Imperial 2nd Education Institute to see. To them, isn’t Elias just a delinquent…

 

I approached Ishmailov, who was observing my friends.

 

“Congratulations.”

 

“Why are you congratulating me? Isn’t a draw not a good thing?”

 

“I suppose that’s what you were taught. There’s no need to live thinking exactly as you were indoctrinated.”

 

Since there was no malice in his words, I said that and smiled.

 

“Thanks to you finding and gathering the pheasants, your team was able to get 4 points. If it weren’t for your ability, it wouldn’t have been a draw but we would have won overwhelmingly.”

 

“I see.”

 

Ishmailov responded seriously to my joke. Feeling awkward for no reason, I patted his shoulder and said.

 

“But this time, isn’t it practically your victory? Count Ishmailov, this is your first time hunting, isn’t it. I’m glad you used your ability in the right place and achieved good results.”

 

Ishmailov blinked rapidly. While he was showing an unusual reaction, I received a pheasant from Cheringen and brought it over.

 

“Now, Count Ishmailov. Earlier when I burst the cartridge, I said ‘it’s not dangerous but be careful.’ You asked how cartridges used for hunting could not be dangerous.”

 

“Yes.”

 

I strongly channeled magic into the pheasant I held in both hands.

 

Poof—

 

The pheasant’s traces disappeared without a trace and red petals scattered. I handed him the flower woven from the pheasant’s skeleton and continued speaking.

 

“This pheasant isn’t a real animal but was recreated by overlapping dozens of magic formulas. Since it was made with magic, the cartridges don’t need to be made of metal either, they just need to have enough magic to stop this bird’s movement. That’s why I said it wasn’t dangerous. You probably noticed partway through, right?”

 

“I noticed, but seeing it directly is fascinating.”

 

Ishmailov said while turning the flower over.

 

“I see. We were also surprised that you have the ability to hum songs and call animals. I’m glad we’re getting to know each other like this.”

 

Of course, we can’t keep getting to know each other this slowly.

 

The most important thing in this conversation that started with the cartridge question is this. The mice and rabbits he called were real animals, but the pheasants weren’t. How did the pheasants follow? I swallowed my question and looked around at my friends.

 

“So, since it’s a draw, what happens with the bet?”

 

“Each side does one thing for the other.”

 

Elias, who was pouting, made a mischievous expression and said.

 

“Both sides? What’s the point of this.”

 

“Think of it as a holiday. Let’s each do something for the other.”

 

“That’s right, guys. What do you think.”

 

“Figure it out yourselves. Decide and let me know.”

 

Leo faithfully carried out the request not to act friendly in front of Ishmailov and immediately turned around. Still, this side didn’t lose either, so he doesn’t seem to be in a bad mood. I tried my best to ignore Narke, who was giving me a gentle smile, then looked around at my friends and smiled.

 

Then Ishmailov quietly murmured beside me.

 

“It was fun.”

 

* * *

 

“I want to go hunting too…”

 

Ulrike, who was downing her third glass of wine, looked at us sitting around the dining table and said with a haggard face.

 

“Every time I heard gunshots, I thought I’d die from wanting to go to you guys. Though I could barely hear them later.”

 

Right now we’re having dinner together with the people in this castle. Except for Leo. Leo said he didn’t have time to eat because he was investigating Ishmailov’s mythology. I kept fiddling with the artifact connected to Leo at my ear.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

Since no contact is coming, I’m getting increasingly anxious. It’s not that I’m waiting for something else, but because I sent a letter to Abraham this morning, I’m waiting for a reply to that. It hasn’t even been 12 hours since I sent it, but I had no patience left.

 

‘If they knew all this and deliberately made the team seven… And if our reasoning is correct, we should go find them right now.’

 

Though entry would be blocked due to diplomatic business. Even if I go as Nicolaus, entry permission is in the ‘Crown Prince’s’ hands. Even so, I can’t not try once.

 

‘I have to go see for myself.’

 

I stabbed the peas decorating beside the meat with my fork and bit the inside of my lips. Meanwhile, Ulrike continued murmuring quietly beside me.

 

“The pheasant meat is delicious… It feels like I’m eating what you guys caught.”

 

“Count Kleist seems to have an active personality.”

 

Mecklenburg, sitting at the head of the table, said with a gentle smile. Ulrike panicked and put her hand over her mouth, only blinking her eyes.

 

“It’s fine to speak. We’re among ourselves, aren’t we.”

 

Only then did Ulrike exhale and smile.

 

Acting nice… Every time that bastard acts like this, I remember the times I received ointment after discipline training.

 

“You went pheasant hunting, I see. It must have been fun.”

 

Mecklenburg clasped his hands together and tilted his head while looking at me. The gazes of my friends and Albertina Hohenzollern turned to me. The reason he’s looking at me while speaking is… is he asking the vice-captain since the captain isn’t here, or… No matter how much I thought about it, I couldn’t tell. Finishing my thoughts, I mirrored his smile.

 

“I wanted to give Count Ishmailov a new experience. Next time, you should join us too, Senior.”

 

“No. If I join, it would be uncomfortable, so I couldn’t do that.”

 

Mecklenburg put down his fork entirely and sipped his wine while waiting for my answer. Perhaps sensing that I needed to answer well here, Ulrike widened her eyes with a tense look.

 

“…Uncomfortable, you say.”

 

I drank water and continued with a smile.

 

“Not at all. I don’t understand why you’d think that. Do you find us difficult, Senior?”

 

“How could that be.”

 

“Or is it me?”

 

“…”

 

Hmm, that’s the right answer. Since Mecklenburg’s smiling face froze for a moment, I raised one eyebrow and smiled.

 

“I’m joking. You seem surprised because it was such an absurd thing to say.”

 

“…Haha, yes.”

 

Mecklenburg smiled awkwardly and cursed with his eyes.

 

“Why would a senior have any reason to be flustered by a junior. We always deeply respect our seniors in the Imperial Mage Association, so if you would kindly give us the opportunity to join you, we would be grateful instead.”

 

At the word respect, Mecklenburg deliberately narrowed the space between his eyes and eyebrows. Could he not know why that intentional change occurred?

 

“Especially since Senior Mecklenburg seems to have particularly keen interest in our activities—”

 

“It’s not particularly keen.”

 

“—and we always consider Senior’s interest an honor, so please feel free to speak to us anytime.”

 

As we interrupted each other’s words, Albertina Hohenzollern smiled faintly and tilted her head. Wondering when we became close, I could only laugh hollowly at creating such a misunderstanding myself.

 

“Thank you for the warm welcome.”

 

For some reason, I can hear a pronunciation through gritted teeth. Mecklenburg maintained his outwardly gentle smile while raising his glass in response instead of words. I can see his eyes rolling irritably to the side.

 

After finishing the meal, I approached Mecklenburg as he was leaving the dining room.

 

“Am I difficult because I’m Nicolaus? Or is it because I resemble Hyung?”

 

“…”

 

“I always think about this, but please cut me some slack for things I couldn’t choose. With this coloring, I’m the opposite of Hyung, aren’t I.”

 

When I smiled appropriately, Mecklenburg stared at me for a long time with a displeased face. His burdensome gaze pierced my features. Soon he turned his head.

 

“…Why don’t you tell me what Adrian Ascanien did to you that made you live hiding your magic until now. I need to know to help, don’t I.”

 

“How unusual. I didn’t expect you to remember the conversation we had in the hospital room.”

 

“That’s the reason you’re living as Nicolaus now, how could I forget…!”

 

“I was just happy that Senior has more interest in me than I thought. But now isn’t the time to discuss that.”

 

“What was that earlier? I have a lot of what for whom?”

 

“I said now isn’t the time to discuss that. What did you say Count Ishmailov did to the Vitriol?”

 

Mecklenburg thought for a moment then answered with a face asking what I was asking about.

 

“He said when he put his hand on the rampage, the Vitriol disappeared.”

 

“Disappeared, you say. Why did you choose that word? Where did it disappear to?”

 

“…Because it really disappeared before my eyes. What else.”

 

When I just stared at him, Mecklenburg waved his hand.

 

“I know word choice is important, but I just said what came to mind. Whether you call it deprivation or evaporation or nullification, anything is fine as long as the meaning gets across that he made it unable to function, isn’t it.”

 

“Mm, understood.”

 

I smiled and turned to leave.

 

“I was just asking in case. I’ll be going now.”

 

What’s the matter, Mecklenburg shouted from behind, but I pretended not to hear.

 

* * *

 

“Next time, let’s all go hunting together.”

 

I said firmly, looking at the Eschede friends gathered around the round table. Ishmailov wasn’t here. Leo wasn’t here either, for that matter. He was still going around various intelligence agencies conducting investigations. I glanced at Haike, who sat with an uninterested expression, and raised my eyebrows.

 

“Bring cameras too.”

 

At my suggestion to go hunting with cameras, Haike looked at me. I tilted my head toward him and said gently.

 

“The magnolias have bloomed, truly. Let’s take pictures under them tomorrow before they all fall.”

 

“…Tomorrow? Alright.”

 

Haike’s voice had risen strangely. Ulrike, who had become quite close with Haike, brightened up. He lightly pounded the desk with his fist and said excitedly.

 

“When the cherry blossoms bloom, let’s take pictures under those too. We’ll go hunting once more tomorrow and then again when they bloom!”

 

“Ulrike really loves hunting. But since we left him out this time….”

 

Cheringen chuckled. Feeling somewhat sorry for some reason, I steered the topic back to its original course.

 

“I like that idea. In May the roses will bloom too, so we’ll get good pictures. We already have a group photo from when Eschede was formed in February, so shall we take one each month and make an album?”

 

At those words, Haike looked around at his friends’ faces. Reading others’ expressions was quite a big reaction for Haike. He must really like the idea. Elias whistled at my suggestion. Cheringen and Narke just smiled, seeming to think it wasn’t a bad idea. Haike nodded seriously and said.

 

“Just thinking about it makes me happy.”

 

“Who would have thought Haike could say such things.”

 

“Haike talks quite a lot, surprisingly.”

 

Ulrike patted Haike’s back with a proud expression as he answered.

 

“I know. Now, the reason I called you all here today is because of Pleroma.”

 

When I picked up the papers I’d brought, my friends’ expressions became serious. Now, I needed to share with all of Eschede the conversation I’d had with Leo, Elias, and Narke at dawn.

 

“Yesterday at dawn, I heard about Ishmailov’s childhood.”

 

“How was it?”

 

“Christian.”

 

My friends looked puzzled at that. Ulrike asked cautiously.

 

“Even though he’s a heretic?”

 

“That’s not what I mean. I don’t know where to start explaining. First… Mikhail Ishmailov is Pleroma’s messiah.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“…Messiah?”

 

Ulrike and Cheringen reacted simultaneously. Haike’s eyes widened. I nodded and continued.

 

“To be precise, he’s a human who will soon become the messiah. Pleroma believes Ishmailov is the figure who appears in their prophecy, and they’re going to make him into a god soon.”

 

“Mm, but how do you make a person into a god…?! Should I think of it like Jesus? I still don’t understand.”

 

“Exactly. I can’t understand those bastards’ thinking at all either. They probably think he manifested in human form but is essentially divine.”

 

I snickered and shook my head before telling them.

 

“Pleroma wants to make Ishmailov into a complete god by finding divinity for him. That’s why they sent him here. So far, this is my hypothesis. And Ishmailov believes the fake memories Pleroma implanted in him—fake childhood memories created as mythology—are his real memories.”

 

“How do you know they’re fake…?”

 

“Based on the place names Leo heard, we’ve been investigating in cooperation with the Prussian intelligence agency. There was no child living in that church during that period. But Ishmailov claimed he was adopted by a church on the Russian border and raised there at least until the age when memories would form.”

 

“….”

 

Cheringen nodded.

 

“Keep going. So you’re saying those fake memories are a kind of prophecy.”

 

“Right. Leo, Elias, Narke, and I analyzed it together. I should mention beforehand that from here on, it’s just hypothesis without proof.”

 

As I said this and looked into my friends’ eyes, they responded with glances.

 

“The reason Pleroma sent Ishmailov here is to recruit us. They need the seven of us to fulfill the conditions of the mythology they created.”

 

“…What?”

 

“…Hmm. What on earth is this supposed to mean.”

 

“To be precise, there’s a high possibility of that. Or if not us, then to select and take seven people from this world to their side.”

 

“….”

 

Ulrike’s expression soured. He tilted his head, made a sucking sound as he drew in breath, then bit his lips. Then, as if he couldn’t understand no matter how much he thought about it, he squinted.

 

“But… we’re just the 101st class? Maybe if we were the 51st class of the Alliance, but are we really that important….”

 

“Exactly. That’s what I’m saying too…. Elias doesn’t understand it either.”

 

I wouldn’t tell them everything that happened during the negotiation, but we were able to give weight to this hypothesis because they specifically mentioned me as the person to care for Ishmailov. Then Cheringen lightly knocked on the table.

 

“This is what’s important. Anyway, you’re saying that if Ishmailov does something here to gain divinity, he becomes the messiah they speak of. He gains more power, or gets some clear transcendent benefit.”

 

“Right.”

 

“So we need to prevent that prophecy from being fulfilled? Whether we’re targets or not, that’s not essentially what matters.”

 

“….”

 

The reason he’s a close friend of Elias and Leo isn’t simply because they’re the same age. I looked into Cheringen’s eyes and answered.

 

“Right. That’s why I came to tell you all. Whenever it happens, if we don’t stop it now, the day will come when Ishmailov’s mythology is completed, and I’m going to try to prevent that from now on. I’m telling you this because we—Eschede—and beyond that, everyone is in danger.”

 

I looked at Elias and Narke once each, then met my friends’ eyes.

 

“We can’t tell the public everything, and to save more people, we shouldn’t tell them yet. But I wanted to at least tell you all the truth.”

 

“Why?”

 

“Because you’re my friends.”

 

“….”

 

I looked into their eyes and said precisely once more.

 

“There doesn’t seem to be anywhere to run, but if you want to, you can manage somehow. Whether you disappear to some countryside where Pleroma’s reach doesn’t extend or seek asylum abroad, listen well. This is your last chance. There’s a high probability that Ishmailov is Pleroma’s final plan that they’ve been preparing for the past 13 years.”

 

Heavy silence flowed. At the same time, bone-chilling tension made our breathing difficult.

 

Haike looked into my eyes and slowly blinked. Cheringen looked at the table and nodded, then clasped his hands together and said seriously.

 

“I have no intention of running away. I’ll do it with you.”

 

“Lucas.”

 

Ulrike spoke up in a finely trembling voice.

 

“How could I run away from here? You want us to leave you alone and resign to flee abroad?”

 

“No, I’m saying I’d give you the choice. I believe the Empire is putting you in danger. If you were people who had lived as long as those older generations, I wouldn’t have said anything, but you’re not. I wanted to give you the choice that the country didn’t give you.”

 

Cheringen smiled at those words. Ulrike also smiled faintly and shook his head firmly.

 

“My childhood is here, and all my friends including you are here. Everything I’ve loved is here, so what use would it be to leave this country? Why would we be nobles? The power we have is power entrusted to us to fight and die at times like this.”

 

Cheringen nodded and added.

 

“I feel the same way. But let’s not start by thinking about dying, Luise.”

 

“…Right. We won’t know until we try to the end.”

 

Haike said quietly with his usual half-open eyes.

 

“I never thought I’d have friends for life. I thought I’d remain alone until I died, but… now I’ve become close with you all.”

 

I never once thought I’d hear such words from Haike. I looked at Haike with surprised eyes. The other friends were also staring at him with their mouths open. He looked at his friends and continued.

 

“This time too, I have no intention of running away before trying to the end. No matter what happens to me.”

 

Haike smiled and asked us.

 

“So we’ll try together to the end, right?”

 

* * *

 

“Ah.”

 

At midnight, I tilted my head seeing Leo burst through my door.

 

“What is it? I was just about to go out again anyway.”

 

“Where to?”

 

“To Elias and Narke. And after we finish talking, I was going to go to Ishmailov again.”

 

“Why?”

 

“I need to review what I learned from today’s hunt.”

 

“Mm, I see. Go back inside.”

 

Leo didn’t even pretend to listen to me and pushed me back into the room.

 

“What? This guy.”

 

“No, I brought something. Just listen first.”

 

I sat on the sofa and nodded. Leo plopped down in the seat across from me and said quietly.

 

“First, there’s nothing in the mailbox. It would be better to go check directly. And….”

 

“And?”

 

“You would have thought at least once about ways to get information about Ishmailov. You’re someone who thinks of every possibility. You just don’t bother to mention it even if you think of it.”

 

What was he suddenly talking about? I looked at his face quietly and said.

 

“Well… if I said everything that came to mind, 24 hours wouldn’t be enough. I have to consider whether it’s a hypothesis with practical value too.”

 

“And sometimes I don’t say things because they’re awkward to mention.”

 

Leo muttered while looking down at the floor. At his words, I let out a hollow laugh and shook my head.

 

“No, really tell me if it’s necessary. I don’t want to miss something important because of awkwardness.”

 

“Is that so. I wonder if I did something unnecessary. To be honest, even now as I’m saying this, I want to take it back.”

 

Take what back? More than that, this guy isn’t usually one to beat around the bush like this. Leo looked at me silently then pointed at my forearm.

 

“What happened to the scratch on your arm?”

 

“It’s still there. I’m letting it heal naturally. So what’s the main point?”

 

Leo took out a medicine bottle from his bag. Red liquid sloshed inside.

 

“It’s Ishmailov’s blood.”

 

“…”

 

“Want to try drinking it?”

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