How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 443

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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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“Let me ask you one thing. You’re in a room and an enemy is secretly watching you from outside the window.”

8 hours before arriving in Gießen.

I stood in front of the table and asked my friends.

“Will you draw the curtains, or won’t you?”

No one answered. Each of them would have their own answer in their heads. I waited for them for a while, and they yielded the opportunity to me. I met my friends’ eyes and then opened my mouth.

“If it were me, I wouldn’t draw them.”

“….”

“Why should I kick away the tremendous opportunity of the enemy watching me? We have a chance to flip the enemy’s operation into one that’s favorable to us.”

Cheringen raised the corners of his mouth and flicked his eyebrows. I looked at them sitting with serious faces and continued speaking.

“Openly reveal our strategy in front of the audience. That’s been my strategy so far, and I think we should maintain this attitude when we go to Gießen too.”

Several friends nodded their heads.

I shifted my gaze to Ulrike and asked.

“Now, there’s that story you said you’d tell me. Luise. You asked what connection Haike has with the holy robe theft incident, right?”

“Yeah.”

“First, the holy robe theft incident and the Haike-Ismailov core attack incident are completely separate on the surface. Let’s start from here. Why did Haike and Ismailov collapse at the same time?”

“….”

“What do they have in common? How did two people suffer the same core damage at the same time in different places? What are the possible attack methods?”

At those words, Cheringen flicked his hand and answered.

“First, unique abilities.”

“….”

“Second, artifacts, magical formulas, magic potions, other devices.”

He said exactly what Elias and I had been thinking.

This incident particularly required caution against confirmation bias. Since the law of excluded middle was applied in connecting two seemingly completely unrelated incidents, I had solved a somewhat concerning problem using the law of excluded middle. Using the principle that the simplest explanation is the best, I maintained the opinion that Haike was either attacked by a unique ability or by an artifact, but I had to approach carefully until the end because other options could be the correct answer at any time, which caused considerable mental burden in mobilizing my friends.

I nodded and smiled.

“Right. Bundling the second into one… how kind. Actually, even if all those items were separated individually, it would be a problem with nothing to say. Perhaps beyond the two options Julia mentioned, there’s a possibility that they coincidentally collapsed from heart disease at the same time, and other possibilities exist, but I thought considering other hypotheses in the current situation would be contrary to soundness.”

“I do know you think too much.”

Leo calmly supported me. I nodded gratefully and continued speaking.

“First, if unique abilities were used, there’s nothing we can find out.”

At those words, my friends nodded. I placed my hands on the table, lowered my eyes, and continued speaking.

“But it’s the same even if artifacts, magical formulas, magic potions, or other devices were used. Unless we know the opponent’s information, we’re in a situation where we have to give up all speculation and just twiddle our thumbs.”

“You know well.”

It was Leo again. I continued speaking.

“So I had to pull out everything in my head and start with what would be easier to investigate based on the information I have, between unique abilities and artifacts. At that time, there was one incident that bothered me.”

I pointed to Narke’s empty seat and said.

“A month ago, I heard about the holy robe theft incident from Narke. A holy robe was stolen from Trier in Germany. But the Papal States also lost one of the Arma Christi, and coincidentally, not a single relic other than Arma Christi was stolen. What the culprit wants isn’t just relics, but Arma Christi. Why, because they’re worth more? If so, they should have been put up for auction anywhere in Europe.”

Previously, I had thought like this.

Saint Helena’s skull, various items made from the Pope’s belongings and bones scattered throughout the Papal States’ treasury, sacred objects blessed by the current Pope, etc. – weren’t all of these things capable of producing holy power? Just as the Archbishop of Trier had demonstrated. They are good tools that amplify magic more cleanly. Why doesn’t the culprit use such sacred objects?

Why must it specifically be the Lignum Crucis that came from Spain, and why must it specifically be the holy robe of Trier Cathedral? Why did they have to endure the trouble of distance, location, surveillance difficulties, and obstacles to steal two items from Spain and Germany?

From this fundamental question, we can naturally converge on one thought.

The reason the culprit chose the holy robe of Trier and the Lignum Crucis from the Santo Toribio de Liébana monastery isn’t simply because those objects are sacred and can produce several times the effect when some ability is infused into them.

It’s because those objects have unique abilities that only they possess.

Let’s add one more thing here. The coincidental fact that Peruer was stolen in Austria-Hungary at the same time, and if we know what kind of magical scholar’s formula is embedded in that Peruer.

“There are various reasons, but I reached one conclusion. The fact that they had to steal Arma Christi specifically instead of other relics means there were magical benefits they gained from those objects.”

“Functioning as artifacts like you said.”

To Ulrike’s confirmatory question, I answered immediately.

“Right. I concluded that those bastards know that Arma Christi can function as natural magical tools. I said it before. The holy robe has the ability to retrieve common things.”

Now it’s time to tell what I deduced after receiving the blood injection in the extra chapter.

“The holy robe has the ability to retrieve common souls. I don’t quite understand the concept of souls… but there’s no other appropriate word. The moment the holy robe thief used the holy robe, souls were simultaneously lost from Haike and Ismailov, and it seems Haike, who lost a much larger amount than Ismailov, lost the power to operate her core.”

“…Fitting for something that pierced Jesus’s hands.”

Cheringen, who had been lost in thought with his hand on his temple, said quietly. When everyone’s gaze turned to him, he smiled faintly and said.

“It’s fitting for an object used in the process of fulfilling Christ’s will. That’s what I mean.”

“Lucas.”

Before I could answer anything, Ulrike called me with a hardened face.

“Wait. Common souls… How are Haike and Mikhail Ismailov’s souls common?”

“That’s—”

“No, that can’t be. It doesn’t make sense! If they were parent and child, at least if they were blood relatives, their souls or whatever might have similar textures, but they’re not blood relatives and their magic power isn’t similar either!”

Ulrike’s voice grew louder. I understand. Nothing would be easy to believe. I felt once again that he was most on edge about this incident. He has more attachment to Haike than I thought. We could all understand because we all felt the same way. Still, facts were facts.

“No.”

I opened my mouth.

“Haike and Mikhail Ismailov have common souls.”

From now on, how much can I explain? How should I explain about common souls?

Helga Brandt and the dark room I met in Mecklenburg’s extra chapter, and the blood of another person flowing into my arm wavered before my eyes. Unexpected dizziness covered my head. I looked at my friends expressionlessly. Ulrike asked me with a terrifying face I’d never seen before.

“Why.”

Well.

Because Mikhail Ismailov is someone who can use absorbed blood to modify his core. To put it nicely, he can absorb souls and transform himself. Facing the facts directly, he was completely devoured by the souls he absorbed. Yuri Alekseyev doesn’t remain there—it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to express it that way, as he became a being patched together from various people. Someone who devoted their life to song, a pastor who spent his lifetime conducting funerals on battlefields had also visited me. He sang funeral songs when dealing with rampagers. He also sang when calling forth pheasants made of magic power. That’s how he drew in Vitriol and natural magic power. Someone sad had visited me. And someone who bore all the greed of the world had also visited. The sad person had everything taken away and had nothing left but blood. The greedy person thought to make a name through me. Someone with nothing had also visited. I resonated with that person. And someone who was obsessed with one particular thing had also visited. Yes, one of these is…

Splash—

“…!”

My eyes snapped open at the cold water falling on my face. Someone struck my chest hard. I lowered my head to shake off the water and quickly drew in breath.

“Cough… Hah, haah… Whew…”

“Now you’re waking up.”

The person holding my arm said with a laugh. I shook off the water droplets creeping into my wet eyelashes and checked the person above me. White hair grown to his waist was carelessly tied, hanging below his shoulders and down to my neck. He slowly removed his hand from my heart and let go of my hand that had flown toward him. He got up from his position and poured whiskey from the side table into a crystal glass. Orange liquor swirled in front of me.

“You seem more broken since I last saw you.”

“….”

“Interesting.”

Not worth listening to. I glared at him and then looked around.

My limbs were free. Though I was a bit dazed, that seemed to be due to my fatigue, and I didn’t seem to have been given any drugs. That means, whatever resistance I put up, he can break it within his means. Whether using his own power or his subordinates.

The space where I had been standing just moments ago was nowhere to be found, and now I was in a bed in an unfamiliar mansion.

‘…No, certainty is premature. Am I still inside that space?’

I might be inside a mansion in what Maria called a ‘space with enhanced purity.’ My head hurts. I held my head, and at that moment, my friend whose whereabouts I still don’t know came to mind.

‘…Wait, Elias…!’

Recognizing that my expression had changed completely, Ainsiedel gestured behind him and looked down at me. When I turned my head in the direction he indicated, I saw Elias lying on another bed. He was fast asleep, oblivious to the world.

“Are you done with your sentiments?”

“….”

“You must be curious why I’m treating you with such hospitality.”

Even though I remained silent, he continued speaking.

“Don’t you remember the day we first met?”

“….”

“We first met in the cathedral. If only you hadn’t taken my subordinates hostage, I would have treated you with utmost courtesy even then.”

I know. The first meeting he remembers would be the cathedral, but the first meeting I remember isn’t the cathedral but his bedroom. His subordinate had said so. ‘Master ordered us to serve Your Excellency with utmost courtesy.’ Even while believing the murderer Werner Strauch to be Nicolaus, he did that. An unpredictable madman. The person in front of me was unmistakably Ainsiedel.

“To meet again like this is truly…”

Crash—! Clang—

“….”

Ainsiedel grabbed my collar and slammed my head into the side table. My skull rang. I looked at the wood of the side table right in front of my eyes and gritted my teeth. The spilled whiskey touched my cheek and fell to the floor. Ainsiedel muttered in a voice lost in memories.

“How moving. The last words I said to you were quite good.”

“….”

Though I had erased his memory, he had ultimately recovered it. Considering his unique ability, it wasn’t too unreasonable. I had expected it, and it was fine for him to recover his memory. Rather, now he needed to.

“Why are your hands stained with Vitriol? Your legs too.”

Ainsiedel said, placing his hand on the Vitriol covering my right leg.

“Is Vitriol replacing your leg muscles? Your fusion ability is remarkable.”

“….”

“Not only do you use divine power, but you also use Vitriol with your own strength? Without even being baptized? You’re just like Pleroma…”

He had so many questions that he just kept muttering continuously. I understood why he was observing me. Since I knew, I remained silent and waited for now.

“So, have you been well all this time?”

The hand that had grabbed my collar moved to my neck. He gradually applied pressure to where my pulse was beating as he continued speaking.

“After killing people, knowing full well they would die yet driving them to the extreme until they finally died…”

“…Urgh…”

“You must have slept soundly with your legs stretched out?”

As my breathing became labored, my vision repeatedly turned blue-black and returned. Ainsiedel laughed out loud. I could see both his appearance from the extra chapter and his appearance from the Catacombs overlapping simultaneously. Through the divine power flowing into my neck, I intuited it. He had merged. Though he was far behind in terms of power, he had combined with Heike’s soul, which had a similar ‘grain’ enough to share the same unique ability, and with his soul that had been dissolved within Ishmailov—having received an injection of blood that had passed through Pleroma’s leadership long ago.

‘…Hahaha…’

What a variety of things. Through the holy nature, he had finally regained his ancient strong power. Someone who was already strong had become even stronger.

“Since I didn’t cut off the breath with my own hands, it’s fine. Since I only drove them to the brink of death, I’m not a murderer… thinking like this? Or is Bern not even worth thinking about that way?”

When I only glared at him without answering, Ainsiedel let go of his hand. My breath returned instantly. As I held my mouth and caught my breath, he looked down at me with his neat features, smiling faintly.

“I understand.”

“…”

“Bern is someone who grinds himself into the organization. Since you’re the savior of this era who wants to eliminate Pleroma, you couldn’t help but dislike Bern.”

Ainsiedel exhaled long and looked up at the ceiling with a refreshed face.

“You and I share the same goal to some extent. However.”

His hand covered my neck again. He didn’t apply pressure, just stayed like that.

“From the moment you repaid evil with evil, you should know that you’ve shouldered the weight of the lives you killed. You must accept that. An intelligent intellectual like you couldn’t possibly not know that one who kills a murderer becomes another murderer.”

“…”

“Perhaps in your mind, I’m an absolute villain. Simply because I don’t align with your interests.”

“…”

“It’s the same for me, Count. You’re the person who ended my world.”

He just spoke while smiling without any particular agitation. I took a slow deep breath. As if trying to calm me, he moved his thumb to stroke my skin. He spoke gently with a voice mixed with laughter.

“But I don’t think of you as a villain. I can understand why you killed Bern. What I’m trying to say is.”

Gradually, pressure was applied again. I twisted my body. Ainsiedel’s fingers tightened with force. The insufficient oxygen and smell of alcohol clouded my mind.

“Take responsibility for your actions. Just as Bern died by your hand because of his actions.”

“…What about you, then.”

“Of course, the same goes for me. Didn’t you come here to reclaim the life I held as collateral?”

“…”

“Save Heike Einsiedel. You brought me all the way here to say those words. My family is alive and safe to begin with.”

Alive and safe? What ridiculous nonsense. He looked down at me and whispered.

“Now, tell me the process. How did you lure me all the way here? If you don’t speak, there’s no negotiation.”

“…Hahaha… How ridiculous. Are you in a position to say such things?”

I’m not the only one who wants negotiation right now. The reason Ainsiedel knocked us unconscious and brought us here is because there’s something he wants to obtain from us now. Does he think I don’t know that?

Ainsiedel raised his eyebrows, tilted his head, then burst into loud laughter. Then he brought his head close to mine and said.

“Sorry, but you’re not the only one who cherishes that child.”

I narrowed my eyes at those words. Then Ainsiedel smiled with his eyes crinkled and answered.

“Should I lose even the only relative who resembles me due to your incompetence? You might think I stole your friend away from you, but…”

“…”

“How arrogant. I can’t lose twice. Don’t you understand?”

Whew. I exhaled long. Then I slowly opened my mouth.

“You joined hands with the French cult group.”

“Evidence?”

“‘The sleeping powder found at Emanuel Wittelsbach’s rampage site matched that of the Diocese of Osnabrück.'”

“…”

“To tell this story, we need to go back quite far. Is that alright?”

Ainsiedel smiled and nodded. I smirked at him and my eyes flashed.

“The fact that the Archbishop of Freiburg infiltrated the Diocese of Osnabrück and stole information is something both you and I know. He acted stupidly. Why didn’t he pay more attention to security?”

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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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