How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 415

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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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Finding the correct name for what we call love in our fumbling words—that was our only problem.

 

I wanted to become your older brother, or your father— no, anything of yours would do.

 

We had to find the name of this very ‘anything.’ Since the world recognizes nothing that has no name.

 

“Why do those two have to get married?”

 

As soon as I turned around, my mouth moved first. The moment I saw Narke’s face, those were the words that came out fiercely. Even knowing I was flustered, my mouth spat out words on its own. Unlike me, Narke calmly grasped my hand and called my name.

 

“Theo.”

 

“Is that the best option? After reading 【Love of a German】, thinking that the protagonist and Maria should survive and get married—could that possibly be the best choice?”

 

But as soon as I spat those words at Narke, Barthes’ interpretation theory and such things that hadn’t even been born in this era flashed through my mind. Indeed, there are various perspectives on viewing a single subject, and various attitudes toward approaching texts, so Barthes’ view couldn’t be the only correct answer. I had often thought that Barthes’ hermeneutics harmonized wonderfully with the economics of our era, but I had never considered it to match well with my way of approaching the world of letters. My reading method and values were closer to Eco’s approach, but still, the moment I said this, I thought of how that Ancient Elder had completely deflected the text of 【Love of a German】—”Is it impossible to love a woman without wishing for marriage?” Thoughts of death crossed my mind, but that word no longer held any terror for me. Because death could not destroy this love—this love would rather be purified by death, sublimated, and transformed into something immortal.—Despite being greatly disappointed that he had completely rejected it, I could imagine the reasons why that Human had no choice but to misinterpret the emotional connection between the two characters, and in the end, I accepted it. I could no longer say anything. Whatever those reasons were, I would accept them all. Conflicting thoughts split into dozens of branches, contradictory streams of thought generated simultaneously across multiple dimensions clumped together and suppressed my voice. The speed of reason and the speed of emotion are different. This time it might have been velocity rather than speed. What remained accumulated in my chest.

 

I had shown an unseemly sight. This was an extremely personal psychological problem, so I had to solve it. I didn’t want anyone else to solve it, and I couldn’t panic in front of poison that could throw the continent into chaos. I forced out words that wouldn’t come.

 

“Yes, I know there are lives where that would be the best choice. I was being rash…”

 

“You weren’t being rash. I understand why you had no choice but to say that.”

 

Understand what. As soon as I thought that, Narke continued speaking.

 

“The word ‘understand’ might not be appropriate. But just as you quickly accepted that Human, I too have partially become that way.”

 

I felt the world slowing down as I listened to Narke’s voice. I just wanted to escape as quickly as possible from this sudden, excessive, and utterly bewildering anguish that even I found confusing. Since I knew better than anyone that this was sudden, I now hoped he would say nothing more, but he continued speaking.

 

“Their holistic human love is neither desire nor sexual love. The narrator demands nothing from Maria and desires nothing. They are people who know how to caress each other’s souls. That’s all. The two souls have reached a state of resonance, but that might be a concept not easily accepted by Humans. Their gender is…”

 

Each time his words were placed, my brain filled with gloom remained in a standstill. His words couldn’t resolve my bewildering anguish. I felt that only his words tormented my head in this noisy train corridor, while simultaneously reaching out somewhere in my mind’s eye, and unknowingly opened my mouth.

 

“Just because your appearance has changed, everyone is misunderstanding our relationship.”

 

At my sudden remark from disorganized thoughts, Narke nodded. When a Human male stood beside me, he was my colleague and friend. Now that a Demon Woman stands beside me, despite that changed appearance being merely an illusion, he is my lover. I once heard some words. It seems their brains contain not the slightest possibility that we could be perfect friends regardless of what form we take. As if we must necessarily be some kind of relationship when we’re together, as if when we worry about each other’s souls or feel compassion or happiness or wish for peace, our emotions must match what they think, as if they reject the fact that we can face their essence as human to human, as if only love that says “become mine” exists and love that says “I will become yours” cannot exist between us, as if we cannot wish for each other’s well-being without presupposing yearning love. Due to their different physical shells, the holistic respect and acceptance shown to each other’s souls is endlessly distorted. Even if it hasn’t faded, it has been altered.

 

I was spitting out to myself words I had wanted to say to someone before. If I must abandon my perspective on treating human beings for the sake of the bias of those who hold knives to someone’s throat, I don’t want to do that. If treating humans as humans doesn’t trample on others’ happiness, I will not do otherwise. What I vaguely knew then, I feel keenly today. Only Narke standing looking at me is still, while the world flows by rapidly. Why do the words that had to be said always come to mind too late?

 

“Because human love and acceptance of existence often accompany their sexual relationships.”

 

Narke’s words seeped into my ears.

 

“Even though that might be close to independent events in some relationships, just as when leaving numerical records one must carefully angle the quill tip and when the end becomes dull, carefully round it on a blade, the delicate and rigorous classification of love that must be explored with utmost care is bound to be easily mistaken and blurred for them.”

 

“…”

 

“But you don’t mistake it, Lucas. So try to find the name.”

 

I quietly looked at him. Then several Humans entered from the opposite end of the corridor and showed us their palms.

 

“Excuse me. We’d like to pass through.”

 

Narke held onto me. His words were clearing my head. The despair still hadn’t disappeared, but after stepping aside a bit more, I apologized to Narke. No, I tried to, but I had no energy and my mouth wouldn’t open.

 

“No. Doesn’t everyone wail in the wilderness? Such wailing doesn’t come after a warning. Wouldn’t it be stranger if it came with a warning?”

 

Narke answered seriously without any trace of laughter and closed his mouth. His expression held anguish as if pondering whether to say something or not. I could sense it was about something he had read without my knowledge. He finally seemed to decide to speak and opened his mouth.

 

“You’ve changed a lot, Lucas.”

 

Though it might be contradictory for me to say this. Narke said that and let go of my hand. The sound-blocking magic was simultaneously broken. Then he smiled and gestured for us to return to our seats.

 

* * *

 

“I’m acting as your mother.”

 

“Stop it…”

 

Narke sat in that form—turns out selective illusion was possible, and he hadn’t released the illusion for others earlier or now—and whispered nonsense for two whole hours. After that unexpected emotional outburst I didn’t even know I had, I was able to return to normal. I’m not sure if it’s been resolved yet, but at least I recovered some ability to focus on the investigation. For now, at least, I stopped thinking about things like the past.

 

Moreover, long after boarding the train, people began talking about the mysterious Prime Minister’s sudden death case—once one group started talking, it gradually spread—so I had no time for other thoughts as I pretended to read the newspaper while listening to their conversations. Befitting an era overflowing with detective novels, they were busy theorizing about who the culprit might be.

 

And as time passed, public opinion about the culprit pointed to one person.

 

‘The Hungarian Foreign Minister.’

 

He is the Foreign Minister of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Hungary. Although he could become Foreign Minister because he was a pro-Austrian Hungarian, suspicions were spreading that he had a conflict with the Austrian Imperial Prime Minister and poisoned him. Of course, I wasn’t just talking about the tendency on this train—the yellow press of the Austro-Hungarian Empire was also running such stories countless times.

 

Then Narke showed me a newspaper.

 

[Foreign Minister’s residence searched… 7 anti-Austrian books discovered]

 

[Foreign Minister recently interested in Oriental tonic magic pharmacology]

 

“…”

 

When our eyes met, Narke shook his head with a stern face.

 

Right, I got a good look at how they first suspect the Hungarian sitting in the Empire’s political circles.

 

Tap tap—

 

Then someone tapped my shoulder from behind, so I turned my head toward him. A young Human asked with a bored expression.

 

“Are you going to Vienna? You haven’t gotten off once.”

 

“That’s right.”

 

“Oh… what brings you there at this time?”

 

“My fiancée and I decided to travel to cities across Europe.”

 

As soon as I spoke at length, the Human snapped his fingers and winked.

 

“Ah, Germans!”

 

“Yes… that’s right… you figured it out right away.”

 

“Hahaha!”

 

He laughed heartily, then nodded with a face that understood why I had reacted lukewarmly.

 

“Foreigners are being rejected pretty harshly right now, right? But since you’re the same ethnicity as us, you’re treated relatively well, aren’t you?”

 

“Do you think so? Well, the atmosphere is more ominous than expected.”

 

“Well, the country’s in no state for jokes, so it can’t be helped. But since you’re Germans, you don’t need to worry much.”

 

“Yes. I’m trying not to worry.”

 

I answered briefly and turned my head. However, the Human persistently leaned closer and asked.

 

“That’s not it. Actually, the real purpose is to prevent Hungarians from boarding trains through inspections. Did you know that?”

 

“I roughly thought it would be something like that.”

 

“See? So, who do you think killed the Prime Minister?”

 

Narke lightly scanned them. I also stared at him as he kept talking, then shifted my gaze to the back. Those who appeared to be his companions were looking at us with equally curious eyes. It seemed they had either made a bet or had different opinions while talking among themselves and wanted to hear what other passengers thought. Though somewhat bewildering as a 21st-century person, it wasn’t particularly strange in the 19th century. Since I had no intention of speaking at length, I briefly made an excuse.

 

“I’m a foreigner so I don’t know well. And I don’t want to think such frightening thoughts…”

 

“Don’t you think the Hungarian Foreign Minister killed the Prime Minister?”

 

“Is that so? I actually don’t know much about politics.”

 

“Hey, he says he doesn’t know. Stop bothering the German and come here.”

 

“Aw.”

 

When another companion laughed and scolded him, the young man shrugged, thanked us, and turned back around.

 

I exchanged glances with Narke and had ‘Johanna,’ who would be visible to others but not me, lean her head against me.

 

First, that Hungarian Foreign Minister is too easily suspected. He might have really killed the Prime Minister—I’m not saying we should exclude that possibility—but let’s reconsider once more.

 

First, if I were the Hungarian Foreign Minister, I would at least not touch the Prime Minister’s life. Even if I arranged the situation so it wouldn’t be known that I committed the crime, there’s a high possibility I’d become the prime suspect. If I were really the culprit, what would be the best approach?

 

I would actively utilize this current situation where Hungarians are suspected. Austria is already pouring public power into censorship—ostensibly for foreigners but actually aimed at controlling the movement of Hungarians who are their own citizens. The Austrian government probably thinks there’s no gap in security at all right now. However, security has been completely breached.

 

Why?

 

Even considering the case of the Serbian who shot the Austrian Crown Prince, the one who killed the Prime Minister now cannot be Hungarian. Through the Commander, we heard Adrian Ascanien’s hypothesis that ‘Pleroma is likely behind Atropos.’ Considering various possibilities about why he reached that conclusion given his relationship with me, but focusing on the case, I cannot ignore his leadership and excellent judgment that instantly made the Imperial government function ‘normally.’

 

Under the premise that Atropos was mobilized, those who killed the Prime Minister are essentially Pleroma who place their ideology and spirit in Germany. Then thinking should go in this direction.

 

‘Why did Pleroma choose to move Atropos to Austria-Hungary instead of going directly to Germany?’

 

And right before Easter, why?

 

First, because it’s the most similar country to Germany, making it good for expanding territory.

 

Second, they utilized Austria-Hungary’s special political landscape. Unlike the German Empire, which is basically unified under a ‘German’ identity despite detailed ethnic differences, Austria-Hungary—as the name suggests—is forcibly unified while two powers remain in conflict. In Austria-Hungary, Pleroma can move freely for a while by pinning crimes on the opposing ethnicity regardless of which camp they attack. In other words, they can incite division and chaos more easily than in other countries like Germany.

 

Not long after, we arrived in Vienna. While getting off in Vienna and leaving the station, we were stopped by police three times—not just us, but everyone entering and leaving received the same inspection—and we could get through two of them without much difficulty. Since the streets were quiet, I walked looking straight ahead and spoke through divine power.

 

—”Pleroma specifically wanted political division and chaos in other countries. Why?”

 

“…”

 

—”To do exactly what they did in the Empire? It would certainly be easier to make people go berserk when things are chaotic, but…”

 

It doesn’t seem like that’s the reason. If so, they would have poisoned the river first instead of killing the Prime Minister. But why didn’t they do that?

 

Under the hypothesis that betrayal by some members didn’t occur, Pleroma had to kill the Austrian Prime Minister and actually did. Then why did they have to kill the Prime Minister specifically? He was just an ordinary Prime Minister with nothing particularly problematic. He didn’t propose any bills that would be eyesores to Pleroma.

 

—”They also know that the aftermath of killing a Prime Minister is severe. They wouldn’t recklessly commit such acts unless they were certain of victory.”

 

That implies two possibilities.

 

First, there’s a traitor among them. The Prime Minister’s assassination was just a mistake.

 

Second, they…

 

They have a chance of winning. They’re confident. Confident they can fight and win against the Austrian government.

 

—”Right, Lucas. That’s correct.”

 

Narke’s chilling words stuck in my head. Since arriving in Vienna, we had been acting with gentle expressions while somehow having a frozen atmosphere.

 

We didn’t suggest going somewhere. But there could only be one place where Narke and I would go without saying. We walked to the park in front of the police station and saw uniformed figures bustling about. Narke spoke quietly.

 

“Theo, now that we’ve arrived in Vienna, I can see clearly.”

 

“What.”

 

—”It’s not time to visit the club the Prime Minister frequented. We don’t have that luxury. Your thinking is right. So…”

 

At his words that my thinking was right, I felt my nape grow cold. Narke’s expression was as hardened as mine.

 

―”There are still police remaining at the Prime Minister’s Residence and the manor. We need to infiltrate immediately.”

 

Unlike before when he had only dealt with humans, he was now suggesting they infiltrate among mages.

 

I need to finish the thought I left incomplete. If the second possibility is true, Pleroma is confident it can fight and defeat the Austrian government, and intends to bring down the Austrian government. It would start with the Prime Minister, but would soon lead to the downfall of Österreich-Este, and ultimately the ruler’s seat of the Austrian Empire would be left empty.

 

If that happens, the Emperor of the German Empire would declare that he would also assume rule over the Austrian Empire—like a twin soul—for the true succession of the Holy Roman Empire, for the peace of the same German people, and England, France, and Russia would join hands to stop the runaway Prussian Empire.

 

In short, we stood before a time bomb that would drive the European continent to destruction. The bomb was in our hands, so we had to defuse it from now on.

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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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