How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 416

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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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It looks like it’s going to become a puppet state of a cult.

 

I slowly shifted my gaze from the ground I stood on to look at the massive Neo-Renaissance police station building, built as grandly as those of the German Empire. As the sunset faded and the light from the densely lined mana lamps along the streets came on, the city looked no different from the Europe I had seen in the 21st century. Though there weren’t skyscrapers comparable to America’s, the architecture that harmonized with the aesthetic of this historically deep city brought even greater grandeur, symbolizing not just its aesthetic dimension but the time and prosperity that the great power of Austria-Hungary had experienced.

 

Good.

 

From now on, if we don’t think as fast as possible, this Austria-Hungary Empire we’re looking at will go down the same path as the French Third Empire.

 

What path was the French Third Empire taking? The French Third Empire under the Orleans royal family, dominated by a cult organization, should really be called by the cult organization’s name rather than ‘France’.

 

This place is the same. We were on the verge of witnessing the birth of the Pleroma Empire.

 

―”…Alright.”

 

I felt a headache coming on as I quietly spoke to Narke.

 

―”Looking directly into people’s eyes makes you feel it more clearly, doesn’t it?”

 

―”Yeah. And you had your suspicions too.”

 

Narke turned to look at me and continued speaking.

 

―”Ever since we heard the news that the Prime Minister died.”

 

It couldn’t be helped. The fact that the continent was about to fall into great chaos wasn’t something we just learned now.

 

However, the insight that the degree of this chaos would far exceed our previous expectations and approach an unprecedented level—an insight that had remained a ‘possibility’—was now approaching certainty for the first time. That made my palms sweat. I made eye contact with one of the police officers. I naturally walked around the park with Narke. Narke changed his appearance to that of ‘Johanna’ for me as well. I understood it meant to act thoroughly. Looking at Narke’s true form would inevitably make my gaze and hands move according to his real appearance. Narke walked slowly toward the opposite side of the police station and sent words to my head with divine power.

 

―”…We just couldn’t rashly act without being certain that the Prime Minister definitely died because of Atropos. No matter how much we received reports about the regional atmosphere through documents, those are just lines of text listing information, insufficient clues for actually blending into this country. It would be better for safety to blend more into the local community, but….”

 

―”This is enough material for acting.”

 

We had already confirmed many things while taking the train here. Narke answered calmly to my words.

 

―”Yeah. I’ll look forward to it.”

 

I looked into ‘Johanna’s’ eyes. He adjusted his grip on the parasol handle with his white-gloved hand.

 

―”From now on, we have to deceive mages.”

 

Until now we had deceived Humans, but now we had to blend in among mages who had cores like us and could therefore detect even the minute mana floating in the air. Among mages with at least above-average skill, perhaps even those who could be called the empire’s finest.

 

* * *

 

―”We need to find out what kind of magic potion was used.”

 

Once again, we entered a restaurant despite not being hungry. To a place where people wearing what looked like uniforms from some organization were present. Since it was dinner time, someone would be eating, and naturally someone really was having dinner with colleagues.

 

I recalled the clothing of the people sitting at the table I saw when entering. One person wore a brown civilian suit instead of a uniform, with magnifying glasses half the size of regular glasses hanging from his chest pocket. Being an Esper, he looked young on the outside and realistically wouldn’t develop presbyopia or astigmatism unless he overworked his eyes, so wearing something like that seemed rather out of place. When passing by him, there was a slight artificial and nauseating smell, but the person sitting across from him didn’t seem to mind much. The person sitting opposite him wore a police station uniform, and judging by his shoulder insignia, his position wasn’t very high.

 

Now, assuming they were both assigned to cases related to the Prime Minister’s sudden death, I could guess what occupations they had. Besides the police station mage whose affiliation was clear, the one sitting across from him would be one of the medical examiners.

 

They sat diagonally behind us, and Narke, sitting opposite me, could see both their profiles. We deliberately chose such seats. The problem now was that since they were all mages, they had thoroughly cast soundproofing magic. No one sitting here could hear their conversation.

 

But….

 

―”The results still aren’t out on what magic potion was used?”

 

―”It’s taking longer than identifying Human poison, so the body has completely rotted.”

 

Narke was glancing at their eyes while relaying their conversation to me through divine power. As Adrian Ascanien’s adjutant said, with Narke around, anything would be possible. His insight was excellent for solving cases. Though I couldn’t be 200% certain of the intuitive realm he couldn’t explain logically, if his abilities could be utilized to prevent Austria-Hungary from becoming the ‘Pleroma Empire’, there was no reason not to believe him. Just as it had been until now. I clattered my utensils while somehow forcing the potato soup that wouldn’t go down into my throat.

 

―”So that was real. What about the tissue that was removed?”

 

―”That rotted away completely too.”

 

―”You’re reeking of formalin right now too, you know? It rotted even after being soaked in that? Is there a magic potion that does that?”

 

―”How would I know. It might be a new drug made in an illegal laboratory. In times like these when getting poison is easier than eating, couldn’t they make one new magic potion?”

 

―”Getting poison easily is just for commoners with herbs and such, but magic potions aren’t something just anyone can obtain. Anyway, this is the work of a fellow mage. It has to be.”

 

―”That’s obvious. Hungarians?”

 

―”Probably. Or the opposition party.”

 

―”Isn’t that the same thing? That’s why I said from the beginning that we should separate the coordinate system from Hungary….”

 

After that, Narke paused for a moment, then only after about 2 minutes began relaying case-related conversation again.

 

―”Actually, the newspapers reported it wasn’t Human poison…. But that was all judged when the Prime Minister’s body was intact, so that’s not certain either.”

 

―”Oh my….”

 

―”Still, the police station is investigating the mansion in Niederösterreich and the official residence here. If poison was administered, there should be someone among the servants showing abnormal reactions, so don’t worry.”

 

―”I’m not worried. I just get paid and that’s it. Now I’ll have to go stand guard at the door again.”

 

―”Yeah, from what time?”

 

They finished with trivial conversation and quickly got up from their seats.

 

I had hoped to meet high-ranking officials from the police station, but I met a police officer who didn’t even directly participate in investigations and a medical examiner who seemed to participate in investigations but didn’t enter crime scenes. I thought it might have been better if we had found a different upscale restaurant, but since it was a restaurant chosen by Narke’s insight, this would have been the best choice for now.

 

‘First, as Narke said, the body has rotted so they can’t determine what drug was used… but they’re still considering poisoning.’

 

Right now they would be gathering not only the servants but everyone around the Prime Minister and interrogating them with divine power. If no one who poisoned the Prime Minister is found here either, the government will gradually eliminate the possibility of poisoning.

 

However, the person who used Atropos might finally be caught here. Since Austria-Hungary had already learned the method I applied when interrogating the French Third Empire royalty, even if the same memory erasure technique that was cast on Charles Orleans was cast on this Prime Minister’s killer, they would be able to discover that it had been cast. At least if their technology hadn’t advanced.

 

I quietly stared at the food I had similarly struggled to finish about 50% of, then left the restaurant with Narke. While thinking about our next destination, Narke said something that matched my thoughts.

 

―”We need to go to the Ministry of Magic.”

 

Because they would be bringing them to the interrogation room at the Ministry of Magic and opening their brains with arcane mages. Now the key was, as Narke said earlier, ‘blending in among mages’. Stealth magic should be considered almost impossible. I asked him through divine power.

 

―”Right. What will you disguise as?”

 

* * *

 

“….”

 

I swallowed and looked at the old man who was more than a span shorter than me. An old man whose hair had gone beyond white to balding like elderly Human grandfathers and whose back was slightly bent, wearing priest robes and gripping a staff with a large head with both hands, stood in front of the Ministry of Magic. I was also an old man now. The difference was that I was a Human in his 70s so still relatively healthy, but Narke beside me looked to be about 90 years old. I looked down at my hand with wrinkled, sagging skin and protruding blood vessels, then looked at Narke’s hands covered in fine wrinkles incomparable to mine.

 

‘…This is driving me crazy….’

 

The edges of his irises were so blurred that their boundaries were hard to distinguish, and even knowing this image was fake, I was worried. Seeing this, the Johanna act seemed somewhat better…. Though we didn’t know when the killer with Atropos might approach other politicians and royalty to commit serial murders, and despite having a time bomb in front of us with unknown time remaining, I was deeply flustered right now. Bewilderment and confusion were occurring in parallel.

 

When two Humans in priest robes suddenly stopped in front of the Ministry of Magic building, the two Esper police officers who had been guarding the door approached us with puzzled faces.

 

“What brings you here? Please identify yourselves.”

 

“Sorry for the confusion. My teacher insists he must offer blessings….”

 

I acted with a troubled face while glancing at my ‘Human teacher’ and whispered. Hoping the mana control artifacts placed on my limbs would function properly. I tried to speak standard German while mixing in a slight Italian accent. Narke would laugh if he heard, but it couldn’t be helped.

 

“This is Father Benedetto Rossi, and I am Assistant Priest Arsenio Moretti.”

 

“Did you come from Italy?”

 

“Yes, we came from Lombardy, but actually my teacher has been saying for several days that he wants to see his childhood homeland once more, so we’ve been in the empire.”

 

I held out the passport I had prepared in advance while speaking. Since I had only prepared mine in advance for this identity—I had taken a photo wearing a cassock just in case when going to a Catholic country, but it didn’t even have a photo taken in this aged state!—they had to let this pass. Fortunately, they weren’t interested in me.

 

Reasoning first, people were more lenient toward clergy. This was even more so because religion’s influence was stronger than in 21st century Korea. If I had approached wearing ordinary formal wear, the police would have shooed us away with just hand gestures without even talking to us.

 

Next, we were acting as Humans, and to Espers, Humans weren’t even worth being wary of in any sense. However, because young Humans—from their 20s to 60s—were responsible for the majority of overall crime rates, the view toward young people was very unfavorable—though there were somewhat unfair aspects, they were generally regarded almost like security terrorists—but there wasn’t such a tendency toward the elderly.

 

And the Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia was territory that the Austrian Empire had lost long ago. It wasn’t strange to be of Italian blood but Austrian. The Espers here seemed completely soaked in militaristic nationalism and chauvinism, as the two police officers quickly skimmed through my passport then turned their gaze to Narke with positively surprised faces. So my words sounded to them like a subject yearning for and missing the ruling country as homeland. In a ‘situation where Hungarians belonging to their own citizens don’t appreciate the grace of developing their country and are on the verge of undermining Austrian security’, these words were apparently enough to give them a kind of ethnic fulfillment. I felt disgusted while observing how the facial muscles of the two Espers moved. They bent their waists slightly to match eye level and kindly spoke to the 90-year-old Human beside me.

 

“Father, what brings you here?”

 

“Huh?”

 

“Father, what brings you here? Outsiders cannot enter right now.”

 

Since Narke continued pretending not to hear, I bowed my head and spoke loudly into his ear.

 

“Teacher, they’re asking what we came here for.”

 

“What for! I came to give blessings!”

 

At those words, the police officer made a troubled expression while maintaining the same peaceful, fulfilled face as before.

 

“Ah, Father. Thank you so much. But just the thought….”

 

“Let me pray for my homeland’s peace! I have a student I taught long ago in the Austrian government.”

 

The police officers looked puzzled at the word ‘student’, but I immediately continued after Narke’s words, speaking earnestly.

 

“My teacher served as a theology professor when he was young. Couldn’t you let us in just once? My teacher is very stubborn, and I’ve tried to dissuade him dozens of times but he won’t listen.”

 

“But—”

 

“As you know, when Humans get old, many of them….”

 

Before the police officer finished speaking, I carefully pointed to my head and furrowed my brow. The Espers wouldn’t be able to empathize with my gloomy expression, but they still tried to make similar faces. They also knew about the ailments that occur when Humans age, at least from reading about them.

 

“My teacher doesn’t have much time left before retirement. Aren’t all the people inside those who use divine power? We won’t cause any problems, so please give us just 1 minute to find my teacher’s student.”

 

“You cannot enter.”

 

The police officer spoke firmly while making a regretful face. I cursed inwardly. Entering would be best, but yeah. No matter how carefully we create the act, they won’t give in easily. However, the police officer then said something welcome.

 

“Instead, if you tell us the name, I’ll call just that person out here. When one session ends, there will be free time, so just 3 minutes.”

 

“Good. That sounds better. Thank you.”

 

“Not at all. Rather, our Austria was impressed by the grace and generous heart of the Father here. So, who are you looking for?”

 

“Is there someone named Otto here? My teacher keeps looking for that person.”

 

“Hmm….”

 

The police officer looked a bit flustered then nodded.

 

“Please wait a moment.”

 

“Yes.”

 

The Otto I was referring to was Otto Wieser. Otto Wieser was one of the strongest mages among the arcane mages possessed by the Osterreicheste Imperial Court and a Catholic believer. His name was written in the materials provided by the German government. Since I mentioned one of the busiest people right now, he would be a bit flustered. I tried not to show any non-verbal expressions while waiting for Otto Wieser to come out.

 

No need to be nervous. No matter how excellent an arcane mage he was, he wouldn’t be much different from other arcane mages I had seen in Prussia. This obvious fact easily crumbled before the stage of being overseas and in front of the Pleroma Empire, continuously making my mouth dry. However, he might notice our mana. That point would be problematic even with ordinary arcane mages from Prussia. So it was time to trust Narke. I stepped back one step, trying to suppress my core as much as possible while ensuring the illusion magic wouldn’t break. At the same time, I had to act calm and smile.

 

Before long, a well-built arcane mage came out with a puzzled face. Whether he had just been using divine power, white divine power flowed around him.

 

“You were looking for me?”

 

“….”

 

I opened the status window to check, but he didn’t have any abilities like insight. Only divine power was written in the traits section. Now Narke, who had been standing with difficulty leaning on his staff, opened his mouth.

 

“You. Do you know me?”

 

“I don’t know you, Father. Where did I meet you?”

 

“Didn’t we meet at the Vienna University theology department? Thirty years ago. Hmm?”

 

I looked at Otto Wieser’s face. It seemed to be true that he had graduated from Vienna University’s theology department. He stood quietly with a troubled expression, tilting his head before the small-framed Human with a booming voice.

 

“I’m sorry, Father, but aren’t you looking for a different Otto? I don’t remember the professors from that time very well…”

 

Before he could finish speaking, the old Human beside me raised his trembling hand and made a large sign of the cross. Otto Wieser stopped talking.

 

“The Lord shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.”

 

The Human spoke with a clear voice and firm expression more religious than anyone else, as if he were someone who had devoted himself to God for nearly a century. I couldn’t help but be flustered by that natural sanctity. Narke suited his ninety-year-old appearance better than his teenage one. This wasn’t about external appearance. It was a matter of essence. I felt a chill on the back of my neck and reflexively fixed my gaze on Otto Wieser’s face. Nothing emanated from the Human’s rough fingertips. Even though only an indescribable dignity indicated that he was a religious person, I had the illusion that divine power was wandering around this place. Otto Wieser seemed to feel it too. He would regard the sanctity that Narke had cultivated from Roman Catholicism as the wisdom of a ninety-year-old Human.

 

“Otto. Pray for Austria’s peace. You must win.”

 

“…”

 

Otto Wieser blinked with a puzzled and troubled expression, exchanging glances with the police. Then he tried to open his mouth to Narke with an apologetic look, as if he truly couldn’t remember.

 

Without giving him a chance to speak, Narke immediately turned around.

 

* * *

 

―”The first interrogation is already finished, and this is the result. There’s no one who prepared poison or put poison in the food.”

 

This was what Narke had discovered while pretending to be an old man. It was a headache-inducing statement.

 

It would be good to receive cooperation from the Austrian government, but we weren’t in a situation where that was possible. We hadn’t entered with their government’s permission—this was a decision made by the German Empire considering their own interests and the continent’s safety. Think of how espionage warfare progressed in the 20th century.

 

It’s a different problem, but even if the possibility is very low, if someone who brought Atropos from Italy is in the Austro-Hungarian government, setting aside having to rebuild our premise from scratch, informing the Austrian government of this fact would be a tremendous disaster. Since we know what happened in France’s case, we must be cautious—this would have been one of our government’s thoughts. For now, sharing all information transparently seems like a faster way to finish the job, and I partly think so too, but considering this possibility, we can’t move rashly. Once we find clues, Germany will immediately inform the Austrian government and make a big deal of it, so we must quickly find clues to narrow the net and report them to Germany.

 

It’s now been an hour since we arrived in Vienna.

 

‘The medical examiner suspects poisoning, but there’s no one around the Prime Minister who prepared poison or secretly administered it…’

 

What kind of situation is this? At this rate, the case will end in an unsolved mystery. Of course, if our speculation is correct, then the Austro-Hungarian Empire will become Pleroma’s empire.

 

What we need to do now is naturally infiltrate the investigation of the Prime Minister’s residence. There’s no way to avoid it now. We had no choice but to pretend to be Austrian investigators among the mages.

 

Narke, who had become ‘Johanna’ again, whispered in my mind.

 

―”Look over there, there’s a barrier around it.”

 

Of course there would be. That was the problem. I had no intention of doing so anyway, but this wasn’t a problem that could be solved by suddenly using mind manipulation magic or casting illusion spells at the front door. At Narke’s words, I walked silently toward the Prime Minister’s residence. The Ministry of Magic and the Prime Minister’s residence weren’t far apart—just passing two streets would bring each building into view. Narke broke the silence and continued speaking with divine power.

 

―”Our forged identification won’t work. What should we do?”

 

We had brought Austrian investigator identification in advance, but we needed real identification to pass through the barrier. Or we needed badges. They would have been given tools to pass through the barrier. More than that, I don’t know whether to feel hopeless or grateful for this kindness of asking me what to do. I looked at the residence surrounded by police officers in dark blue uniforms lined up in the distance and said.

 

―”We can’t cast barrier neutralization magic, can we.”

 

―”Of course not, Lucas. This isn’t a Bavaria barrier to begin with.”

 

Right, I know. More Austro-Hungarian people than expected are gathered around this area. The police repeatedly dispersed them, but people still gathered stealthily.

 

What should we do? How can we enter the Prime Minister’s residence?

 

I looked up at the sky. The reddish sunset had completely disappeared, leaving only the dark purple sky above us. I fell into thought and then said quietly.

 

—”Let’s go to the hotel.”

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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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