How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 393

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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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I looked down at the floor, then up at the ceiling, then back at Narke.

 

“What kind of nonsense is this?”

 

“Literally, taking you to the Papacy is no longer my duty. Got it? I’ve even gotten you ordained, so now it’s done.”

 

Somehow that phrase “even gotten you ordained” felt less like he had helped me and more like he had done his duty to the Papacy, which was absurd.

 

“Then why did you take me there in the first place? You said your superiors didn’t know about me. I’m truly grateful that thanks to you I was ordained as a Cardinal and came under the Papacy’s protection. But regardless of my benefit, if you didn’t want me to catch the Papacy’s eye, wouldn’t it have been better not to take me there from the start?”

 

Narke couldn’t meet my gaze and only looked around, finally looking at me when he answered.

 

“Well, I’m curious about that too.”

 

I could feel it intuitively. Just as I had changed over the past few months, he had changed too. In ways I didn’t know, in directions I didn’t know. He smiled and answered nonchalantly.

 

“Now I don’t even know what I want to do anymore.”

 

“…”

 

“I know I need to pull myself together again, but it’s not easy. Even having this conversation isn’t easy.”

 

Pull what together… Should I ask? But should I pry into the inner thoughts of someone at such a sensitive age? While I looked at him with a troubled expression, Narke grabbed my shoulder, pushed me into the room, and smiled as if nothing had happened.

 

“Get some rest, even if just a little. Understand?”

 

“Wait!”

 

“What?”

 

Narke looked at me with surprised eyes. Actually, I was going to ask where Fai was, but it didn’t seem like Fai was in Narke’s robe until now. Besides, if Elias was in Narke’s room right now, Fai would definitely be in my room.

 

“It’s nothing.”

 

Instead, I pushed Narke’s back as I entered my room. Sure enough, there was a pile of stones on the desk.

 

“Fai.”

 

“Lucas!”

 

Some grayish-brown mass leaped from the desk, almost flying across the floor, then climbed onto my shoulder. It’s not a flying squirrel, but it’s almost that fast.

 

‘I guess it’s because it’s a rabbit.’

 

“What did you do while we were out?”

 

“House!”

 

“You built one, right. Yeah. What am I even asking.”

 

I untied my stole and fascia and pulled at the buttons of my cassock. There were so many buttons it was perfect for a brief meditation. In other words, it was annoying. I said to Fai, who was circling around me.

 

“Should I go out and pick some grass for you?”

 

Fai just shook its head. Understanding the meaning, I placed my hand on Fai’s back and let divine power flow through. Eating grass is mostly decorative – it’s an animal that ultimately lives on divine power.

 

“Lucas is wearing Narke’s clothes so it’s amazing~ Your hair is also the color when Narke goes to church.”

 

“It’s not Narke’s clothes… it’s my clothes. They look the same, right?”

 

“Yeah! But Narke doesn’t like those clothes but has seven of them.”

 

“Ugh…”

 

If you’re born with a silver spoon as clergy, can you have seven cassocks? I’m sick of it all.

 

Going to the bathroom, I poured the herbs Narke had left into the bathtub and submerged myself in the water again. But this time I had no intention of staying in the bathtub for a whole hour. Now I finally had time to talk with Fai again. When I came out wearing a robe appropriately and lay down on the bed, Fai jumped to my side.

 

“Fai. Do you have a core too?”

 

“Yeah.”

 

“Right. Anyway, Fai, do you know someone named Simon Sabelli?”

 

“Yeah! Why?!”

 

Why? Because he came here. If I say this, will you jump out? Let me ask what I need to ask first, then answer. I avoided answering with a laugh and asked another question.

 

“Do you know how old he is?”

 

“He said he’s older than Narke.”

 

“You don’t know exactly. He talks quite a lot though.”

 

“Ah~ That’s because I know. He was a friend who played with Narke. There were several, but he played the most.”

 

It feels like watching a kindergartener whose mouth is itching to say something when they know something. He talks a lot because he was a friend who “played with” Narke… The causal relationship is somehow strange and the nuance of “friend who played with” bothers me. It’s probably closer to being assigned playmates. They would have mainly assigned noble children of lower rank than Narke, but if it’s a family like Sabelli, they could stand shoulder to shoulder with Farnese or Caetani, so he would have acted as the leader among that group of playmates. That aside…

 

I propped my head up with one arm and turned to face Fai, smiling.

 

“You’re older than I thought? How old are you?”

 

“Right! I’m old~! But I don’t know how old.”

 

‘Why?’

 

Anyway, if that’s the case, then so be it. Since you saw Narke’s childhood, you’re well past five years old – bragging about being old is a characteristic of kids, so I should ignore it appropriately – probably under ten years old. At most maybe under fifteen, but somehow I can’t imagine that.

 

‘Natural lifespan… seems almost over?’

 

A chill ran up my throat for a moment. But since it’s a divine power-eating animal kept at home, it would live longer. I pulled Fai closer and muttered.

 

“Live long, Fai.”

 

“I’ve lived long already~”

 

“Right. Even longer. So were you close with him?”

 

“I only saw him from far away. Narke wouldn’t let me get close.”

 

“…”

 

I recalled what I had just heard from Narke and twisted the corner of my mouth. When I let out a chuckle, Fai looked up at me. I pressed Fai’s nose with my index finger and asked.

 

“Why? Why wouldn’t he let you get close?”

 

“Narke only met friends in the reception room. And the garden too. And I stayed in the room. So I only saw Narke’s dad once, and never saw him after that!”

 

“Really?”

 

This Narke guy, I didn’t expect him to be so meticulous. Playing with friends in the reception room? Ridiculous. He didn’t want to show anything within his boundaries to his hometown friends.

 

‘Hmm.’

 

Even if it’s animals or people, it’s the same. He doesn’t want to show his belongings, his pets, his friends to the Italians. When Simon Sabelli mentioned Elias, Narke’s expression crumpled briefly, probably due to that tendency.

 

His boundaries are clear. From the moment we first met, his affection was +7, so I couldn’t easily perceive it, but he’s more indifferent, heartless, and cold than I thought. It would be natural since the environment he was placed in was unsatisfactory, but there’s a disconnect between the Narke we’ve seen and the Narke appearing in the testimonies of those who knew him.

 

‘Interesting.’

 

How much did Narke know?

 

What did he expect when he showed me +7 affection? Was there an upward effect just from leaving the detestable Vatican and Italy to come to another country? But even so, +7 was excessive.

 

“Fai, before coming here.”

 

“Mmhm.”

 

“Were you with Narke before he came on exchange?”

 

“No! How did you know?! Narke was away somewhere else for a long time!”

 

“Then how did he prepare for the exchange before that?”

 

“He just waited for a long time and then said he had to go to Germany~”

 

“…”

 

For a long time… there’s also a possibility it wasn’t very long. Anyway, I can clearly see that Narke had mostly blocked information from before his exchange. Either he kept it secret from Fai, or he manipulated Fai’s mind. The former possibility seems more realistic.

 

“But why are you asking?!”

 

“Well, that Simon Sabelli person came here.”

 

“What?!”

 

“Why are you surprised?”

 

“Narke might not like it very much. What should we do?”

 

Fai suddenly started jumping around across the bed. I don’t think it changes anything, but I could clearly see that Fai was very flustered.

 

“Narke seemed to like it better here.”

 

“Hmm, that’s true.”

 

I pulled the confused Fai closer and continued speaking.

 

“Just stay put for now. Narke seems busy playing board games with Elias.”

 

It’s strangely quieter than usual, but occasionally I can hear them hitting each other, so that’s right. Whether they were trying to somehow relieve the shock of Haike collapsing, the friends acted as usual. If acting as they always do could help them recover even a little faster, that would be better. I turned off the stand light and pulled the thick blanket up to cover my head.

 

I seemed to have fallen asleep for quite a while like that. I opened my eyes to the sound of something continuously knocking. When I threw off the blanket and looked around, I heard a welcoming voice from somewhere.

 

“Oh!”

 

Someone was knocking on the window from outside. It was too dark both outside and inside to distinguish the face, but it was definitely a person. But wait, isn’t this not the first floor? I quickly put a mask made of magic on my face and covered my whole body with Nicolaus’s colors. Then I turned on the stand and approached the window to check the person. It was Simon Sabelli. I flung open the window.

 

“What is this…!”

 

“Ah, I woke you up. I’m sorry.”

 

“What are you doing in the middle of the night?”

 

“Your Eminence seemed to dislike me having conversations with you. May I come in?”

 

“What if I say no?”

 

“I’ll come tomorrow night. Unless you show some initiative, there really won’t be any opportunity for conversation.”

 

I think so too. Considering Narke, it would be right not to interact with Sabelli, but if Narke’s prevention of me is purely for the same reason as not showing Fai to Simon Sabelli, then I need to have a conversation with Sabelli at least once according to my needs.

 

I nodded and stepped back. Then Sabelli, who had been floating in midair, snapped his fingers and entered the room.

 

“I know it’s rude. Thank you for readily allowing it. I didn’t want to use methods I only used as a child on someone I’m meeting for the first time in a foreign land, but I have something to ask. By the way, isn’t a shower robe unsuitable for sleeping? Is it German culture?”

 

Why does he talk so much? So noisy. I let out a deep breath and ran my hand through my now-dry hair.

 

“I was just tired so I went straight to sleep.”

 

“Ah. I see. Italy and Germany aren’t that different after all.”

 

Simon Sabelli naturally sat at the table and turned his chair toward the bed. Am I supposed to sit on the bed? Make myself comfortable? I was planning to be comfortable anyway. I plopped down on the bed and looked at him. Fai wasn’t in the blankets, having apparently moved to Narke’s room while sleeping. Sabelli stared at me intently, then smiled and asked.

 

“Can’t you take off your mask?”

 

“No.”

 

That’s not allowed. Well… what’s the point of hiding things from the Papal people anyway. It’s not like my being cautious can prevent anything.

 

“Don’t you know who I am?”

 

“No, I only learned that Count Nicolaus Ernst was a Cardinal right before coming here. Don’t you know how perfectly secrets are kept in the Papal States?”

 

Sabelli leaned back against his chair and grinned.

 

“More than that, Lord Farnese would absolutely not want me to meet with Ernst Yha. He seems to dislike Papal people approaching any connections he made in Germany.”

 

“When I went to the Papal States for my appointment, he wasn’t particularly like that.”

 

“That was brief. Besides, he probably thinks differently depending on importance.”

 

Sabelli smiled with his eyes crinkled. Even if Narke had known everyone since childhood, he would be more wary and reluctant about relationships that could be called ‘friends’ like himself, rather than just official relationships. Simon Sabelli glanced out the window once and opened his mouth.

 

“This time Pleroma created a fake. I wondered how they managed it when they don’t have that capability… it seems they relied purely on that fake’s unique ability.”

 

“I never told anyone about him. I also heard about it secondhand, but how do you know, Sir Sabelli?”

 

“Haha. We’re a group of mages gathered from all over the world. Catholic mages from not just Europe but the entire world belong to our Papacy.”

 

“You found out through a unique ability?”

 

“Let’s say that’s the case.”

 

He’s talking about Ismailov.

 

He’s right. What I struggled to find out, he mentions casually.

 

The most prominent of Ismailov’s unique abilities is absorption. He can temporarily borrow abilities from opponents in close range. There seem to be certain conditions for it, but he can absorb people.

 

And there’s another ability that’s similar absorption but slightly different in nature – he can absorb others’ ‘souls’ – for convenience – through blood and transform himself. It looks similar to the unique ability we discovered earlier, but it’s different. More precisely…

 

Simon Sabelli opened his mouth.

 

“It’s like being able to change after birth what should have been manipulated during the preparation stage before birth… should I put it that way.”

 

“…”

 

“I heard Pleroma sent him this time.”

 

“Yes. That’s what I heard.”

 

The lighting was extremely dim and no moonlight came through the window anymore. Simon Sabelli looked at me quietly with a statue-like smile. Weak light cast on his face came from all directions. I had the illusion that inquisitors were watching me from all sides. Soon he asked me in fluent German.

 

“What did Lord Farnese say when he saw him?”

 

“…”

 

This isn’t about me. I didn’t exhale. I didn’t roll my eyes, close my eyelids, or move my facial muscles unnecessarily. I just looked straight at him and shook my head.

 

“Well. I don’t know. I wasn’t at the scene, was I?”

 

“Then what about after that?”

 

“Why should you know Lord Farnese’s impressions after seeing Ismailov, Sir Sabelli?”

 

“…”

 

“Is that information necessary for the Papacy?”

 

“Of course. Hahaha. For the Papacy, every single reaction from Lord Farnese must be carefully checked.”

 

I didn’t answer. Thinking about how Narke must have lived already makes me feel suffocated. When I remained consistently silent, Sabelli started to take out cigarettes from his pocket, then withdrew his hand and grinned again as he asked.

 

“Do you enjoy school life?”

 

“…”

 

“We studied together when you were in the Papal States, but I’d be a bit jealous if you enjoyed it more than when you studied with me.”

 

Hmm… I didn’t think about what to answer. I just briefly burst into laughter and stated a fact.

 

“He seems to enjoy it very much.”

 

“Ah~ that stings. I support Lord Farnese in whatever he does, so I still think it’s a good thing.”

 

I smiled, nodded, and asked.

 

“How old are you?”

 

“Twenty-one. Three years older than Lord Farnese.”

 

“That’s interesting.”

 

“Ah, do I look older?”

 

He made a dejected expression, and I almost exhaled in disbelief but smiled and answered.

 

“Not at all. Rather, how did Lord Farnese become the Minister of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith?”

 

“You’re curious about that? There’s no particular reason. It’s because his abilities are outstanding. Lord Farnese is the supreme authority on faith-related abilities.”

 

“Supreme…?”

 

“Yes. Even His Holiness the Pope wouldn’t be able to match his abilities. That’s why everyone in Rome is waiting for his return. Of course, since Lord Farnese voluntarily came to Germany in the midst of this tribulation and is working for peace, no one urges him.”

 

“Fine. But ‘even His Holiness the Pope wouldn’t be able to match his abilities’?”

 

“There’s something called potential, isn’t there~ Ah! And.”

 

He leaned toward me and asked.

 

“Is there anything you’d like to ask?”

 

“Many things.”

 

“Oh.”

 

He smiled as if pleased and gestured for me to speak. I smiled and asked.

 

“How are our mages dispatched to the Vatican?”

 

“Ah, the elite group led by Adrian Ascanien of the 89th Imperial Mage Union… you’re referring to them.”

 

“Yes.”

 

“They analyze information about Pleroma coming from Germany and pass it to the Papacy, and they also hunt down Pleroma trying to cross into Italy. The Vatican is showing favor to the Kingdom of Italy and promising safety.”

 

So they’re gradually moving from Germany to the Vatican, from the Vatican to Italy?

 

“Then is there much exchange between our mages and the Papal people?”

 

“No. If you’re referring to the clergy of the Papacy, not at all. As you know, many have unique abilities, so many are completely cut off from contact with outsiders. Even I haven’t seen them.”

 

Yes, that’s one thing I like.

 

When he asked if I had questions, he was eager, but now he smiled subtly and rested his chin on his hand.

 

“I heard Lord Farnese cherishes you greatly.”

 

“…”

 

“He personally brought you and even arranged your appointment.”

 

What am I supposed to do with that? What’s his purpose? I smiled slightly and answered.

 

“I do cherish Lord Farnese. He’s a good person.”

 

“That’s right! He has such good character, speaks so gently, and his actions exude such dignity. I sometimes wish I had been born into the same family.”

 

“I see…”

 

“And from what I can see, there’s a reason why you also cherish His Eminence…”

 

CRASH―!

 

A person in white pajama robes appeared before my eyes. It was Narke. He placed his hand on Simon Sabelli’s forehead, pushed Sabelli’s head back against the chair backrest, and called to him in a voice close to a sigh.

 

“Sir Sabelli.”

 

“Ah, as expected, you noticed…”

 

“I didn’t know you had a hobby of breaking into other people’s rooms in the middle of the night.”

 

What about you? As I stood up, light flared in front of Narke. Sabelli grabbed Narke’s hand pressing on his forehead and said something urgently.

 

“Wait, just a moment…!”

 

Thud―

 

Narke lifted the sleeping Sabelli and turned around with a tired face.

 

“You can go back to sleep now, Lucas. Sorry for the trouble.”

 

“No, I wasn’t troubled.”

 

“Could you be troubled for my sake?”

 

“…”

 

I remained silent at those words, then smiled and answered.

 

“Yes, gladly.”

 

Only then did Narke smile and warp out of the room again.

 

* * *

 

“I’ve come to deliver bad news.”

 

Narke, Elias, and I were sitting in the conference room prepared for us. Sunlight streamed through the long windows, illuminating the table. Simon Sabelli slammed a newspaper down on the table with a bang. While Narke and I looked at him expressionlessly, only Elias, who didn’t know who Simon Sabelli was, gaped and pointed alternately at him and us. But there was something more important before us.

 

The talks. Finally, the results of the talks between France and Austria-Hungary were in the newspaper. While Narke reached for it to read, Simon Sabelli opened his mouth.

 

“I heard the simple details from the newspaper article and from Lord Farnese, and I’ll tell you the conclusion first. France ultimately held out to the end.”

 

As soon as those words fell, Elias pressed his forehead.

 

“However, to avoid conflict, they say they’re willing to lend a relic of the same grade for 100 years. Contract extension is also possible if Austria-Hungary wants it.”

 

“….”

 

I was at a loss for words. Imperialist thugs never change. Even though the other side is also a great power, they don’t care about any of that and just proceed as they always do. They probably think they’ve made tremendous concessions with this much.

 

More importantly, what matters now is what kind of nonsense was exchanged there, and what kind of nonsense each country spouted after the talks ended. More problems could arise from that. I swallowed and continued reading the newspaper that Narke was looking at.

 

“By the way, there are rumors that Austria-Hungary has finished preparations to help the Bosnian people’s independence from the Ottomans. This is information I obtained first from the Papacy, so I’m giving you advance notice.”

 

“….”

 

This time, both Narke and I had no choice but to look away from the newspaper. When we both looked at him simultaneously, he asked with a soulless expression and a twisted smile.

 

“It’s chaos, isn’t it?”

 

Anyone could guess whether that ‘independence’ would be true independence or not.

 

Is it just chaos level? History books are being strangely twisted and recreated. I could hear Elias making strange sounds like “Wow, damn it.” As I closed my eyes and fidgeted with the area below my mask, Simon Sabelli whispered in my ear.

 

“Take it easy, and if it seems like it’ll get dangerous, come to the Vatican. Bring Lord Farnese too.”

 

Thud―

 

Then Narke slammed the newspaper down loudly and diverted Simon Sabelli’s attention. Then he said expressionlessly.

 

“Thank you for the news. Please leave now.”

 

“Ah, I’ll leave after hearing just this one thing. This is also part of my job.”

 

Simon Sabelli plopped down in an empty seat, clasped his hands together, and continued speaking.

 

“So, then. Who’s the culprit?”

 

Elias, who had a sour expression because of the newspaper article, shrugged his shoulders with a face that asked what he meant. He’s making all sorts of gestures to someone he’s meeting for the first time. I guess thinking about the international situation gave him a headache and he lost the strength to be polite.

 

Simon Sabelli kindly continued once more.

 

“If you tell me how you plan to recover the holy relic, I’ll relay it directly to the Papacy. Who do you think stole the holy relic?”

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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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