How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 448

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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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For some reason, there’s a sound of something exploding outside.

‘Is that the sound of fighting?’

I looked toward the manor window. At that moment, I heard a response from Ainsiedel, whose collar I was grabbing.

“You ask what my plan is.”

Ainsiedel tilted his head back and smiled with satisfaction.

“Is now the time to discuss plans? After I tell you my plan, you’ll say this… that you’ll help me achieve what I desire, so once it’s all done, please extract Heike Einsiedel’s soul from my body.”

“…”

“Before that, you might even look for a chance to extract the soul from my body yourselves.”

Accurate. I stared blankly at Ainsiedel without any reaction.

“Even if this weren’t the case, I know why you tried to eliminate me. I live as Pleroma. If I’m not Pleroma, then who would be Pleroma? But as you said, I’m not loyal to Pleroma.”

Ainsiedel’s blue eyes turned toward mine. The boundary between iris and pupil was eerie. The moment I saw his face, I had the illusion that nothing remained. I was drawn into his eyes, facing an empty universe. I felt as if emptiness emanated from him.

“I’ve lived until this day to destroy this world.”

To destroy Pleroma.

I knew well that’s what he meant. His voice carried no emotion, just like what I’d heard in the extra chapter. Ainsiedel continued speaking.

“Our Count Ernst doesn’t seem surprised by anything. Whatever the case, it’s the same now. I must eliminate Pleroma. Without exception, all of them.”

Of course. That’s why he won’t reveal anywhere that I’m Nicolaus Ernst. He has absolutely no reason to do anything that would benefit Pleroma. Pleroma doing well would actually be bad news for him.

In the extra chapter, he told me to eliminate Pleroma before the next century comes. He’s saying the same thing. Aside from going mad after Werner Strauch’s death, he hasn’t changed at all. Having reclaimed his soul that had entered Mikhail Ismailov, he might have gotten closer to his old goal. I asked Ainsiedel, who was staring at me with bleak eyes devoid of any smile.

“Then what about you.”

“Should there be exceptions?”

“…”

You’re willing to die? Yes, he didn’t seem to have much attachment to life. The him I met in the extra chapter looked as empty as the current Mikhail Ismailov. Only his goal regarding Werner Strauch remained with him. The moment that single goal piercing his heart was removed, he seemed like he would turn into a pillar of salt and disappear. Even now he’s just as empty—that’s what I thought.

“What a pitiful life.”

“Hahaha… Who’s saying that to whom?”

At those words, I raised the corners of my mouth. I said nothing. He spoke as if seeing through me, and I was seen through. Ainsiedel lay comfortably as if he wasn’t being grabbed by the collar, relaxing his head so it faced the ceiling. He whispered in a voice like breathing.

“So Count Ernst has no choice but to be very much to my liking. If only you hadn’t done that one thing, I would have loved you, but imagining gathering spilled water seems rather worthless…”

“My thoughts are a bit different. You—”

“So, you told me to state my plan.”

Ainsiedel said this while shaking his head as if annoyed. His snow-white eyelashes half-covered his eyes. Even though I was above him, he was looking down at me condescendingly.

“What would change if I told you?”

“…”

“I need Heike Einsiedel’s soul until I eliminate Pleroma. You’ll want to retrieve the soul before that, but I can’t go along with that. You don’t have the ability to protect people. You know how to kill people, but you don’t know how to protect them…”

“…Haha. Like you?”

“Unfortunately, yes. So now I’m thinking of watching in my own way.”

“Don’t you know that your way, which doesn’t reflect others’ will at all, is a crime?”

“Doesn’t reflect it at all? Me?”

Ainsiedel stirred his body and burst into laughter. It wasn’t bursting out from mockery or absurdity. Realizing he was truly laughing made me feel absurd instead.

“Hahahaha…”

“You seem like a madman.”

When I said this expressionlessly and dryly, Ainsiedel pressed my chest firmly with his finger. Then he widened his eyes and spoke word by word, cutting each one off.

“The person who knows nothing about what that child is thinking is you.”

“…”

“So if you truly wish for your friend’s happiness, I’d appreciate it if you’d go along with that friend’s will.”

That friend’s will.

I couldn’t help but feel something strange. Does this mean that because the two souls have extreme similarity, they can have telepathy, or perhaps Haike without our knowledge…

I forcefully pushed divine power with my hand. I had to make him answer.

At that moment, Ainsiedel’s head slowly turned. His white lips moved emotionlessly.

“This has become troublesome.”

CRASH—!

The door fell away, and I squinted my eyes then quickly raised my head. Behind the fallen door, I could see a mage catching his breath. The moment I recognized who that person was, my mouth fell open.

‘Ulrike?’

Why is Ulrike here?

He swept back the hair that had fallen to his forehead from running hard, adjusted his hat, and closed his mouth with a determined face. His firm grass-colored eyes turned to Elias, then toward me.

“…”

Ulrike’s eyes wavered. I would have done the same if I were in that position. I was glad. More than glad. I had no idea how he came to meet me here, but it was a clear fact that I felt relieved seeing him standing healthily on his own two feet.

And I.

“…Luise.”

I could tell he had changed.

He was the most student-like friend among the team members. That’s why he was a friend I cared about—this was the first impression that came to mind when I thought of Ulrike. Just as I wanted Leo, who still had many immature aspects, to keep his innocence for a long time, I felt the same way about Ulrike and Haike.

For a Junker from a military family, he wasn’t conservative enough to have major conflicts with us, nor was he militaristic—these tendencies were common characteristics among Junkers. Seeing how he viewed his mother positively, there seemed to be no major discord in his family environment. The Ulrike I knew was a friend who grew up in an environment favorable to him in many ways, learning how to return kindness to others. I thought he might be an ideal example of what happens when a human with good nature grows up in a well-off family that gives good love.

Ulrike was intelligent and smart as befitted an honor student, but he didn’t know much about things outside academics. He wasn’t conservative, but he wasn’t progressive or moderate either. He wasn’t curious about what society was, what the state was, or what justice was. Like other friends, he enjoyed board games and loved to run around and play. When we talked about society, politics, and life, he would just listen with wide eyes, and aside from responses like “Oh, I see,” he wouldn’t bring up anything else. Then he would quickly pat our backs and suggest playing board games. That was all.

Ulrike’s world, like children his age typically do, didn’t extend beyond school, friends, and college entrance exams. He seemed unaware that there was an outside to the fence that embraced and bore him. That’s why he was pure, and that’s why Ulrike had been the team’s ideal high school student until now.

But not anymore.

For the first time, I faced Ulrike’s detached eyes. I saw his eye corners and cheeks move and settle comfortably in a way very unfamiliar to him. Ulrike had witnessed the outside of the world. Today was that very day. Penthalon and Haike’s injury shook him, and Stadelheim Prison cracked the shell.

My heart beat with a thump. I knew he had come all this way to save us. I couldn’t imagine how much he must have worried and been nervous, how much courage he mustered to come this far.

‘…But.’

I slowly closed my eyes and opened them, looking once more at Ulrike, who had become a different person from before coming to Gießen. He looked down at my hand, looked around the room once, then let out an “…Ah” as if realizing something. Then he smiled at me.

Strangely, unlike me who had forgotten myself since times I couldn’t remember, he was still Luise. I didn’t sense fatigue from him.

Smiling, Ulrike slowly approached, spread his arms wide, and hugged me. I embraced his shoulder blades and furrowed my brow. His magical power was unstable.

“I’m okay.”

Ulrike said calmly. He spoke as if he knew what I had been thinking all along.

“But you don’t look okay.”

“…”

There’s no way I wouldn’t be okay. I was healthy enough to have the strength to grab someone’s collar. It’s just…

I was afraid that from today on, he would see life as a series of fatigue. But unlike me, your beginning doesn’t seem like that, so I’m relieved—I was just thinking that.

“And…”

Ulrike slowly let me go and looked at Ainsiedel, who had gotten up from his spot and was looking at us pathetically. Before I could even introduce who this person was, Ulrike suddenly grabbed Ainsiedel’s collar.

Grab—

He pulled Ainsiedel down to his eye level and spoke clearly.

“You must have felt really good after making Haike like that. Why did you do it?”

“Aggressive for a first meeting.”

“Tell me!”

Veins stood out on Ulrike’s neck. Even if the collapsed person wasn’t Haike, Ulrike would have reacted like this anytime, but it was an unfamiliarly chilling sight. I slowly got up from my spot, thinking to use magic if necessary, and took a few steps back.

‘…This is strange.’

Even though a Royal Mage was being aggressive at first meeting, Ainsiedel was calm. He didn’t get angry or use force. I couldn’t understand this guy who does everything his own way, but this was like… the Ainsiedel I met in the extra chapter.

‘…Is this his original nature? Then… my poor treatment must be for some other reason.’

Perhaps because Ainsiedel found Ulrike as strange as I found him, he looked down at Ulrike intently and said dryly.

“Is it because you’re still a student? I don’t understand why you’re being so emotional about what Heike Einsiedel did to you.”

“What…”

“Did you communicate well? Did your personalities match well? That can’t be. Because you’re teammates? Or is it a sense of duty?”

“Why should I tell you that?!”

“This one doesn’t have such a calm personality either…”

I expected Ainsiedel to answer something like “Then I also don’t see why I should explain the circumstances to you,” but once again I heard an unexpected response. Ainsiedel firmly grabbed the wrist of Ulrike, who was holding his collar.

“I don’t understand.”

Snap—

When Ainsiedel grabbed his hand, green magical power sparked from Ulrike’s hand. I spread my hand, gathered magical power, and aimed my fingertips at them. Ainsiedel was still looking at Ulrike. He asked endlessly as if he had gained an opportunity to study people.

“Is it because you’re overflowing with chivalry? Competitive spirit? Do you want to get to the end what you’ve stubbornly obtained once?”

“Haike doesn’t want to be held captive by someone like you!”

“…”

Ulrike shouted angrily. He continued pouring out words with eyes bloodshot from anger.

“I heard that although you two look completely different on the outside, your constitutions are very similar. Yes, seeing a niece who resembles you, does she seem like a child born from your magical power? Even if you’re family, this isn’t right. Have you ever listened to what that friend says even once! If you had, this couldn’t happen!”

“….”

“You said we should go take pictures together when the magnolias bloom. How could such a friend want to be trapped inside someone like you?! You are…!”

Ulrike couldn’t continue speaking, overcome with anger. Ainsiedel still remained silent, looking down at him. He stared piercingly into Ulrike’s eyes, then forcefully shook off Ulrike’s hand.

Bang—

Then the pushed-back Ulrike struck the floor. The wand that spun from his hand transformed into a sword. It happened in an instant. The moment I blinked, I found myself facing the tip of a pure white blade pressing against Ainsiedel’s throat.

“….”

The smell of blood brushes past my nose. Ainsiedel still just tilts his head with an expressionless face.

“Are you thinking of attacking me?”

“….”

“Why don’t you try attacking. I’m curious.”

“Luise.”

When I called Ulrike’s name, he gritted his teeth. This wasn’t an opponent to fight. When I checked Ainsiedel’s status window, all his stats had already risen considerably. Moreover, as long as Haike’s soul was inside him, Ulrike knew well that he shouldn’t act rashly unless he intended to kill Haike. Ainsiedel knew this fact too. When the sword didn’t advance further, Ainsiedel stood still in place, then flicked the blade away with his hand.

“You thought wrong.”

Rumble—… Crash——!!

“Though it’s troublesome, I’ve finally encountered an opponent worth talking to.”

The world brightens, then immediately darkens. Thunder and lightning strike outside the window. The moment I quickly turned my head to look at Ulrike, Ainsiedel stamped his foot.

The room had changed. We were in a dark restaurant decorated with yellow lighting. A long table with plates and forks set at each place greeted us.

“Sit.”

Ainsiedel gestured with his hand. Elias, who had been lying on the bed, was now sleeping face-down on the dining table. When Ulrike tried to approach him, Ainsiedel spoke in a bleak tone.

“He’s receiving treatment. Are you going to wake him?”

“….”

Ulrike furrowed his brow with a face that couldn’t believe what he had just heard. Ainsiedel naturally didn’t explain, and said something else unbelievable to us.

“The other friend should be coming up soon.”

“Julia.”

Ulrike said, giving me a meaningful look. I nodded. When the rampage occurred at Stadelheim Prison, Leo had tied the two together and sent them outside to avoid revealing my identity, so if nothing had happened to Julia, she would have come here with them.

“I think my magnanimity has been sufficiently proven by now.”

Ainsiedel no longer smiled at all. He tapped the table with a dry expression. Turkey meat appeared. Ainsiedel gestured for us to eat, but no one picked up a fork, and Ainsiedel himself held nothing in his hands either. He looked down at us and said.

“I can’t understand why you people want to get Haike Einsiedel back. But this much is clear. You cannot protect Haike Einsiedel.”

“Don’t say such—”

“Pleroma wants the unique ability I possess. And Haike Einsiedel is the next target.”

Ainsiedel cut off Ulrike’s outcry and spoke matter-of-factly. Then he looked straight at me.

“Shouldn’t you be grateful that I prevented a possible world where they use living, breathing humans as buttons to operate unique abilities? If Pleroma learns the truth, their pursuit and attacks will be directed solely at me.”

Ulrike frowned with a pale face. I wanted to react the same way, but Pleroma was certainly capable of that. It wasn’t surprising that Haike would follow Ishmailov’s path.

‘…Abraham kept saying the same thing too.’

That he had Haike Einsiedel pass Eschede to protect her, that without him Haike Einsiedel would have died long ago…

It’s nonsense. It’s nonsense, but two people are saying the same thing. I’ve never overlooked what enemies say, but now it’s definitely no longer something to ignore. If two unrelated people are saying the same thing, there’s a real possibility that Pleroma’s leadership had set Haike Einsiedel as their next target. Then Ainsiedel flicked his finger.

Crash—!

When an explosive sound came from the air, Ulrike flinched. Someone had set magic in the air. Ainsiedel looked at the restaurant door swinging open and said.

“A clever friend has arrived.”

“It’s my first time meeting you.”

Cheringen stood far away with a smile. With the dark hallway behind him, his face showed no wariness or anything else. He looked at the sleeping Elias, me, and Ulrike in turn, then surveyed the turkey meat and table. Then, as if lost in thought like when appreciating artwork, he said.

“You’re quite an unusual person.”

“I have a habit of treating guests with utmost hospitality.”

“Hmm.”

Tap—

Cheringen sat across from the head seat, facing Ainsiedel. He clasped his hands together, interlacing his fingers, and said.

“So it seems. Count Einsiedel.”

“….”

Ainsiedel stroked his chin with his finger, then moved his mouth.

“Neither of us would want to stay here long. You would want to return to the surface quickly, and I also don’t want to arouse suspicion anywhere. Let me speak frankly.”

He meant he didn’t want to arouse suspicion from both Pleroma and Terminus Yukairya.

‘This will move quickly.’

That’s what I hoped for. Ainsiedel looked indifferently at Cheringen in front of him and said.

“I’ll start first. My goal is the destruction of Pleroma.”

At those words, both Ulrike and Cheringen reacted simultaneously. Ulrike’s face became even more murderous, while Cheringen raised his eyebrows and leaned back against his chair.

“Until that goal is achieved, I cannot hand over Haike Einsiedel’s soul.”

“….”

“Pleroma wants Pleroma’s destruction?”

Cheringen asked, crossing his arms. Ainsiedel remained silent with half-open eyes, looking down at us as if he felt it wasn’t worth explaining.

He cannot hand over the soul until that goal is achieved—the basis for this, as Ainsiedel said earlier, is because he’s determined that we cannot prevent the future where Pleroma uses Haike as a unique ability button. How can one persuade someone who cannot be convinced? I looked at Ainsiedel expressionlessly and thought.

Then, Cheringen smiled slightly and said.

“Then let’s eliminate Pleroma as soon as possible.”

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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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