How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 447

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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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“The weather’s nice.”

Ulrike stretched her neck out and spoke with her eyes closed. The night breeze brushed past her side.

“For some reason, I feel like mana flows well through my body in this place. My legs feel strong.”

“I see.”

“I felt it with animal instinct.”

Julia burst into laughter. She nodded and fell silent. Then Ulrike continued the conversation.

“Julia, do you know Bavaria’s geography well? How should we go from here?”

“Well, the biggest road going up toward Nuremberg from here is following the railway that leads to Ingolstadt. Let’s turn a bit to the left from here.”

“Alright.”

“If it’s around 40km, it’s before Ingolstadt. We just need to follow the railway up. From about 35km, let’s carefully observe the surrounding mana as we go.”

“Oh my, how reliable. As expected of Julia.”

At those words, Julia laughed. Soon again, the city became quiet. Only the sound of cutting through the wind remained when Ulrike opened her mouth.

“We came here before.”

“…”

“It was on the way to Anhalt.”

“That’s right.”

After Penthalon ended and Lucas woke up. Having passed the main road and turned onto the left path to enter the road beside the railway, they continued forward while looking around. Ulrike continued speaking.

“I never once imagined in my life that I’d get to visit that kid’s house. Because… no one in my family knows any Ascanien relatives well, oh, there is one person though.”

“Isabella Ascanien?”

“Yes, that person. I met her three or four times from afar, but I was too scared to become close. Even if I had become close and received an invitation, I couldn’t have gone to the direct lineage palace~ haha. On top of that, Adrian Ascanien of the direct lineage is someone I can’t approach…”

Getting close to Adrian Ascanien seemed almost as difficult as getting close to the Prime Minister. It was true in terms of status, but there was one more reason. Even though he was young in age, he didn’t feel particularly young. Politicians who entered politics at a young age were naturally like that, so it couldn’t be helped.

And Lucas didn’t seem to like that person. Of course, he wouldn’t refuse to get close to anyone if there was a chance to become friends, but now even if an opportunity arose to approach Vice Minister Adrian Ascanien, it would be a bit troublesome thinking of Lucas. It was different from respect.

“With Lucas, who suddenly became a classmate, I never even had a proper conversation. So I thought I’d never have reason to go to Anhalt and would never set foot in Anhalt Palace.”

“That’s right.”

“But we’ve already been to Anhalt together. Taking the train that ran on this railway, all seven of us together. Isn’t that amazing?”

“…”

And now one has lost his soul, one was called by the government for using divine power, one was severely injured and still hasn’t woken up, and two fell into an unknown space and warped somewhere.

And now we two are going to find the other two. Following the path we took for fun not long ago. Ulrike was about to say those words but stopped. If she encountered corpses after speaking so excitedly, the hope borrowed from the future, all the words she had spoken using that hope, would return with several times the weight and crush her throat.

‘Stop.’

No matter how much she worried about the friends who were already captured, their life or death wouldn’t change. Let’s not cling to worries that won’t change. Ulrike pulled herself together.

Normally, she should have made a fuss once more saying ‘it’s amazing no matter how I think about it that we passed through here,’ but she wasn’t particularly in that mood.

‘I wish I were in that mood. Should I sing a song or something?’

To lift her spirits, Ulrike rolled her tongue making clicking sounds and sang an incomprehensible song. It was the Prussian national anthem, but she had changed it so much that her friend beside her seemed unaware it was an actual song. Julia burst into laughter and asked.

“What song is that?”

“This? This one. Feel from the glory of the throne— great joy, the love of the nation! Long live, His Majesty the Emperor, long live…”

Soon Ulrike stopped singing. Julia also just smiled and remained silent.

After experiencing the chaos of hundreds of rampagers and the prison collapse scene, this song from her childhood felt distant. She couldn’t sing it with the joyful heart she had when she went to the plaza holding her mother’s hand to see the imperial carriage in childhood. As her perspective on the world changed, just as her past self was no longer herself, everything that had formed her childhood was leaving her. Ulrike stood in the midst of change. Realizing this fact, sadness washed over her.

‘Come on. Get it together. Let’s sing something else.’

Ulrike sang aloud a folk song she used to sing while running through the streets with her commoner neighborhood friends in excitement. It felt like returning to childhood, naturally bringing a smile. Then she remembered the prisoners who had lost their reason and died. As the relief of having just escaped the crisis of death mixed with the light of lives extinguished by her sword in her heart, her throat became completely blocked. Since he was no longer a child, since he was no longer in a dream-like world where there were no barriers between humans, since he had fully realized this today, his thoughts continued uncontrollably. He had to break the shell and look down at the world divided like a maze with walls upon walls. Ulrike looked down at the uniform stained with vitriol. When he became conscious of it, he remembered the fierce gazes of some commoners that had been directed at him when walking the streets in uniform. Ulrike himself was not in a position to feel aversion to the Prussian national anthem.

“…”

When the song stopped, Julia looked at Ulrike. Ulrike felt it too.

He could neither shamelessly sing the people’s song nor sing the national anthem. He was a tool, but part of those who made people into tools, and at the same time still being consumed as a tool. Since collapsed consciousness applied to everyone without exception, ultimately even those who sought to benefit would only have the path of being consumed by the times—such conviction came to him. Adults were filling their bellies by making others into tools, not knowing they themselves were becoming tools. Why don’t they know? Ulrike couldn’t understand at all why humans would bring destruction upon themselves to gain something. But someday he would understand better than anyone, like his family members, and would forget today’s questions.

‘How much time is left before I become a monster wearing a human mask?’

That I would have a day of thinking so much, am I about to die? While having such idle thoughts, Ulrike seriously muttered in a voice faint enough to be buried in the wind sound.

“Now I understand. The words about doing what I want to do today were purely said for my sake.”

Even in the midst of this, Julia seemed to have caught the small sound and silently raised her head. She inhaled the night air and asked.

“What were you thinking about?”

“Do you know the monster that can’t control its appetite and tears off its own flesh to eat?”

“I don’t know.”

“I was thinking of a folk tale with that monster. We are that monster while being chased by it.”

Actually, since we escaped Munich at full speed and shook off the rampagers, nothing is chasing us, and it’s just a metaphor for the current situation viewed from very far away. I was about to laugh and say it was just nonsense, but I heard an answer from Julia.

“Now you’ll need the next level of advice.”

“What is it? I want to hear it.”

“Hmm, it’s a bit expensive. Since I owe you hope, I should tell you.”

Julia answered with a faint smile. Before Ulrike could counter her friend’s words with a prank that suddenly came to mind, Julia continued.

“We’ll never be able to forget the fact that we are that monster for our entire lives, Luise.”

Julia probably meant they would have to live with guilt for the rest of their lives, but surprisingly, those words lifted a layer of darkness from Ulrike’s heart. Ulrike turned her head to stare intently at her friend. Her friend looked straight ahead and spoke clearly.

“Individuals have no power. You and I cannot immediately turn a desert into a forest.”

“…”

“But the times are calling us.”

Ulrike’s eyes grew wider and wider. Something resonated in her heart, but she couldn’t tell exactly what it was. Intuition was faster than thought. As if knowing this fact, Julia kept looking ahead and continued speaking with a gentle smile at the corners of her mouth.

“I asked earlier, didn’t I? Whether it’s humanity’s problem or the times’ problem. Both would be problems, so I could never choose just one of the two no matter when. But this is clear. If we blame all problems on the times, it would be truly convenient. But when the 20th century comes, when the 21st century comes, when a thousand years pass, will humanity stop seeing humanity as means?”

“Hmm…”

“I don’t get a positive outlook. Exploitation will appear wearing different shells than now. But what’s certain is that while humanity and the times sent us to this land today, humanity and the times also guide us. If you, who thinks like now, had been born a thousand years ago, you would have been able to accomplish less there than now. Times confine people like that. But now is different.”

Ulrike slowly opened her mouth. When she was about to shout something, Julia turned her head and smiled.

“Luise. The times call all people. We live before those times.”

“…”

“Is this the answer you wanted? I feel like I spoke somewhat presumptuously.”

“It’s the answer I wanted. Sufficiently.”

“We are just one of the waves, Luise. What you can do in this society is more than you think, but nevertheless, you certainly won’t be able to achieve everything you want until the day you die. Even if you’re a nobleman, you’re ultimately just an individual. Each time that happens, you’ll become powerless like just now.”

“That’s how it will be.”

“So if you want to change anything, remember what despair feels like but don’t despair, and live today. You must survive to be able to change today as a member of the times.”

“…”

Ulrike, who had been thinking with her eyes closed, spoke quietly.

“Julia. Actually, remember I wanted to work in the same place as Count Nicolaus until I came here.”

“I remember.”

“My thoughts have changed. I’m glad to have had the opportunity to get to know you today.”

At those words, Julia raised her eyebrows and remained silent, then smiled.

“It’s been fun motivating you since earlier. Me too. It’s an honor to be part of your today.”

That somehow sounded like Julia had struggled with the same concerns as Ulrike before. That she was happy to share this moment of change together. It might not be so, but it was a grateful thing to say. Ulrike just smiled quietly, then answered carelessly.

“I’m quite something, aren’t I.”

“…? Haha.”

Ulrike closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She closed her eyes once, opened them, cleared her mind completely, and spoke.

“It’s strange. I’ve experienced too many changes in the past two months.”

“Do you regret it?”

“No. Did I have a choice?”

Ulrike knew she had answered more curtly than usual, but didn’t bother to fix it. The thought that she was gradually becoming more comfortable with her teammates crossed Ulrike’s mind. She continued speaking.

“Even if I had, I wouldn’t regret it. I got the chance to know you all. Yes, honestly, I’ll tell the truth. We still don’t know each other that well yet.”

Julia looked at her friend beside her. Ulrike kept looking ahead and pedaling while continuing to speak.

“Actually, I know I’m a bit meddlesome, and that I struggle to get close even when we’re not that close. I know I watch others’ reactions a lot because I want to get along well. Perhaps, I also know that you all might feel burdened by me like that.”

Julia said nothing. Ulrike had no way of knowing what thoughts she held in her silence. They just continued riding along the plains planted with fir trees.

“Anyway, we haven’t been a team for very long yet. So Lucas, Elias, Haike, and perhaps even you, Julia… might not consider me a close friend.”

Speaking like that, she could finally see the next station. How far had they come by now? Ulrike pedaled harder with vague anticipation. Then, looking at the lightless station sign, she continued speaking.

“Actually, from my perspective, all the friends I was close with at school are working in education institute affiliated student corps. To tell the truth, Eschete is an organization I just have to adapt to from now on.”

“…”

“So I’m rather happy.”

Ulrike spoke while looking at Julia. Julia met her eyes and listened to her friend’s words with a peaceful expression.

“Both you and I got the opportunity to spend 100 years with people we would never have become deeply close to if not for this organization. When I look back on my life, I’ve now met the people who will be with me at every moment. Not right now, but someday. Look! Earlier too, we recalled memories of traveling together along this railway.”

“That’s right.”

“And I just learned what kind of person you are at 18 through our conversation. So…”

When Ulrike grinned mischievously, Julia turned her head to look at him. Ulrike met Julia’s eyes and said.

“If we make it back alive, this moment will definitely become a cherished memory. Julia, even though we’ve dealt with rampagers together from time to time, this is our first time going to help friends, isn’t it?”

Ulrike took his left hand off the handlebar and extended his fist toward Julia. Ulrike looked at his friend, raised the corners of his mouth, and said.

“Let’s celebrate our first joint operation. Let’s not worry about whether we succeed or not.”

“…”

Julia also took his hand off the handlebar. He bumped fists and smiled slightly, then said.

“Luise. There’s an error there. I’m saying this now, but I already consider you a close enough friend.”

“Oh.”

“But I agree that I’m happy to have the opportunity to get to know various friends more deeply, as you said.”

“For such a high-walled friend like you to say such things, I should embroider this on silk and hang it on the wall.”

“You’re teasing me.”

“Hahaha.”

As Ulrike turned his head forward with a laugh, there was a high hill in front of him. It couldn’t be helped since they had to make a road over a shallow mountain, but it was an intimidating height. When Ulrike made a sharp sound, Julia took a deep breath.

“Huh.”

“Julia! We have to go up this in one go without reducing speed. You know that, right?”

“I know.”

“Otherwise we’ll slip! This gear is fixed!”

“No, let’s not talk about slipping. We just need to succeed.”

Ulrike paid no attention to Julia’s words and counted down.

“Three, two…! One.”

Crash—

Ulrike felt his body being pushed down by the wind. They bumped and shook when they hit a stone, but they succeeded anyway. Ulrike felt the wind stop for a moment, opened his eyes, and shouted.

“Aaaaah… Huh, oh, I succeeded!”

“Congratulations.”

“Now I have to go down!”

“Hmm. This is fun…”

Julia said with a smile on his not-very-amused face. Ulrike thought about letting go of his hands and cheering as he went down, but then realized this was a mountain and decided to go down obediently.

Whoosh—

“Aaaaaaaah!”

Ulrike went down while gripping the handlebar tightly and deliberately screaming. Then, feeling increasingly hungry, he asked Julia.

“How many more hills are left ahead…”

“Well.”

Julia answered with a snicker. He pointed to a sign attached to the large road in the distance.

[Munich 20km]

“What’s certain is that we seem to have come about halfway now.”

* * *

Another hour passed like that. From when they climbed the second hill, everyone was too tired to speak, but at some point, wariness rather than fatigue began to hover around them.

It was when they had passed 35km and reached about the 41km point.

“Found it.”

Ulrike whispered. Julia also nodded.

It wasn’t difficult to find a manor with people in this place. Since this was a world with no people—this was novel, so Ulrike had a long conversation with Julia about it—normally no magical power should be felt, but magical power was flowing from one manor all the way to the road. Strangely there were no lights, but since they had heard from Lucas that the Ainsiedel family’s mage was an Arcane Mage, they could fully consider the possibility that cognitive disruption magic had been cast.

Of all places, about 40km from Munich toward Nuremberg, there’s a manor where magical power can be felt?

‘…It’s certain. They’re there.’

Lucas and Elias and Count Nicolaus Ernst, and that relative who’s keeping Haike’s soul. From now on, it would be determined whether they would discover corpses or face the living. It was probably already determined, but for Ulrike it was no different from being determined now.

His heart was pounding.

“As I said before…”

“…”

“The very fact that we know this route is a threat to him. Our very appearance is bad news for the person called Haike’s relative.”

Ulrike whispered quickly as if talking to himself. He knew well that this was a process of strengthening his resolve.

“How delightful.”

Julia answered simply, then stopped his bicycle and walked toward the manor.

They could make the contract favorable, but because of that, Ulrike also had to consider the possibility that his friends might be put in danger by their appearance. They had to enter as quickly as possible. Ulrike brainwashed himself and walked in step with Julia. Then, only after entering the center of the manor’s garden did he feel puzzled and speak.

“…Strangely, there’s no barrier?”

“…”

Did they not think there would be intruders? They had already shown the care to cast cognitive disruption magic, so it was certainly possible.

‘That’s good for us.’

The problem is…

Crash—!

If there’s no barrier, they would have set up other devices instead of a barrier! Suffocating Vitriol struck. Ulrike changed his wand into a sword and immediately broke through the Vitriol flying toward him and Julia. From behind, Julia’s golden magical power offset the Vitriol streams. Ulrike ran looking for the source while cutting down the streams flying toward him. Some sticky things tried to grab his arms and legs, but not a chance. While light and darkness repeatedly blocked his vision, Ulrike frowned and concentrated his senses.

‘Is it one, no, it’s two.’

The sound of stepping on leaves could be heard from both sides. They called only trustworthy subordinates to secretly set up camp. It was obvious. Ulrike swung his sword. The sword struck something somewhere and he heard the sound of someone inhaling. He immediately retreated backward to create distance, but the opponent was approaching.

Crash crash crash—!

The opponent’s Vitriol burst out with a roar. There was the sound of curtains burning. However, they were attacking recklessly without calculation like they had been doing so far. Ulrike twisted up the corners of his mouth.

‘What I hit earlier was the forearm.’

That was good for a Vitriol user. Better the arm than the leg. He took a deep breath and dove once more into the darkness and Julia’s flashes.

‘If you remain in me and my words remain in you.’

Ask for whatever you want! Blue light rose like smoke from the sword. It cut a circle in front of his eyes. Once more, again.

Crack—

There was the smell of blood. The moment he heard the opponent’s sharp scream, Ulrike immediately retreated backward. More than that…

‘We can’t waste time like this.’

“Luise!”

At Julia’s shout, Ulrike thrust his sword out like a wand to block the Vitriol rushing toward him, then threw himself over the shrubs.

Crash—!

Ulrike knew well what Julia was saying.

There was the sound of the barrier they had just struck breaking. While Julia held the two Pleroma mages, Ulrike ran inside, wrapped magical power around the stairs, and flew up. He continued running while striking the floor with his staff. Thanks to Julia holding them well, no mage chased after him.

Ulrike continued climbing the stairs. Then he stopped in front of the top floor. The top floor hallway was blocked by a huge wooden door. He could see a keyhole, but of course there was no key.

‘Then I’ll have to get rid of it.’

Ulrike changed his sword into a staff and swung it at the wooden door.

Bang!

Again, there was a loud noise. After hitting it about ten times in a row, the door broke and fell to the floor. He crossed over the door and ran down the hallway.

‘Where could they be.’

Where. His heart beat even more violently. The pounding sound rang in his eardrums. Ulrike ran past the hall and along the hallway, then stopped in front of a huge room. Magical power was flowing out through the door crack. Ulrike put magical power into his leg and kicked the door.

Crash—!

The first thing he saw beyond the door that opened with a roar was Elias. He was lying on a bed in the distance. Along with joy, it felt like his heart was sinking. Ulrike’s gaze hurriedly moved downward.

He could see someone with white hair who strangely resembled Elias, and Lucas who was gripping his collar. His eyes met with Lucas, whose mouth was open. White magical power seemed to have sparked and disappeared in front of Lucas.

“…”

Found them. They were alive.

‘They’re alive.’

Ulrike silently looked at his friends’ faces. Then he slowly snickered. He had so much he wanted to say, but no words came out. Lucas, with a surprised face, slowly smiled. He called out a name in a tired voice, yet at the same time in a voice more filled with joy than ever.

“Luise.”

Then the white-haired mage closed his eyes and let out a deep sigh. Then he snickered with a cold face.

“You all have a talent for being troublesome without exception.”

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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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