How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 453

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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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“Mmm.”

Ulrike quickly pulled the meat from the pork skewer and swallowed it, then held it out to me. It was a nice day. I was tilting my hand to block the sunlight, and I didn’t refuse, taking a bite before looking at the accessories on the stall. Ulrike pointed to a bracelet made of green and white stones.

“The color arrangement on this one is harmonious.”

“It is.”

However, since none of the three of us were interested in accessories, we immediately went to look at the shop next door. Ulrike pulled out a straw hat hanging at the entrance, tried it on, shook her head disapprovingly, and put it back on the stall.

“Are you looking for something specific?”

“Oh, we’re trying to buy gifts for our friends.”

“What’s your friend’s occupation?”

“Um… They study.”

“University students? I thought so. For university students, it’s this hat.”

The owner brought out a jet-black bowler hat. It looked too old to me, but it didn’t seem strange to them. Ulrike looked the bowler hat over from various angles and asked.

“Wow. Do you have something more comfortable to wear?”

“Is your friend male?”

“Uh…”

Ulrike was momentarily flustered and looked at Julia and me. The owner was asking without knowing we were Espers. After thinking for a moment, Ulrike smiled and casually made something up.

“Yes.”

The owner narrowed his eyes and tilted his head sharply, then gestured for us to wait a moment and brought a trilby and a hunting cap.

“How about these?”

Ulrike didn’t even glance at the trilby, but took the hunting cap and her eyes lit up.

“Wow. I want to buy this! How much is it?”

I was shocked that he was buying a hat that looked like something a grandfather would wear while playing chess in the neighborhood park, but I didn’t bother to stop him. When Ulrike wore it, it looked neat and fine.

We had come to buy gifts for friends, but the first thing we bought here was—if we don’t count the street food Ulrike bought and ate—the hunting cap that Ulrike would wear.

“Hmm~ hm hm.”

“I wonder what song that is.”

Cheringen smiled and casually threw out the comment. We left the hat shop and walked down the street, with Cheringen’s gaze directed toward the antique shops around us.

Ulrike sang louder as if asking us to guess. Wearing the hunting cap and rolling up his sleeves without even putting on a jacket, Ulrike looked like he had completely blended into this street. Although the three of us were quite tall, we rarely received the awkward stares we got when walking around in Eschete uniforms. If you’re tall, people probably think you’re a student at a military school or acting school. I thought this as I plucked a foxtail grass from the street and put it in Ulrike’s mouth. Then Ulrike held the foxtail grass between his teeth, shook it up and down, and hummed. Cheringen, who had been listening quietly, snapped his fingers and said.

“【Poet’s Love】.”

“Correct! Ah, this feels so good.”

Ulrike walked down the street, feeling the blowing wind. I asked him.

“Good?”

“Yeah. It’s so peaceful.”

Ulrike’s eyes, as he said this, were calmly settled. He wasn’t excited like a child. It was just a moment, but I could guess what he was thinking.

“Lucas, how’s your leg?”

“It’s fine. As long as I don’t run.”

I said this while lightly shaking my right leg in a half-cast. It was thanks to drinking Elias’s blood. Actually, drinking blood doesn’t restore that much stamina, but considering I’m living so normally now…

“…”

It means Elias’s blood was excellent material for me. The only conclusion is that it matches well with me.

‘…There shouldn’t be such incidents in the future.’

As I was lost in thought, Ulrike quickly brought up Leo.

“I wonder where Leo is wandering around right now. He barely ate anything earlier.”

It couldn’t be helped since one of his arms wasn’t in good condition. The caretaker had prepared a separate plate for him, but he couldn’t have eaten comfortably.

We had already found a cafe. Coming to eat without even properly looking at a single item. I felt drowsy already and chuckled while pressing my forehead. I ordered coffee, Ulrike ordered apfelwein, and Cheringen, on Ulrike’s strong recommendation, ordered lemonade. I swallowed the bitter coffee, hoping to benefit from the caffeine. Then I asked Ulrike, who had already drunk half of his apfelwein, and Cheringen, who hadn’t taken a single sip yet.

“So, how did you two get there?”

I didn’t specify exactly where “there” was, but they all knew I was talking about Ainsiedel’s manor that we had visited early this morning. Ulrike gulped down his apfelwein and said.

“How did we get there? We couldn’t just sit still after seeing you disappear, so we searched around that area. After a while, we saw the air shimmering, so we went in that direction.”

“It sounds quite easy when you put it like that.”

I chuckled and replied to Cheringen’s smiling comment.

“…No, I know it wasn’t easy. More importantly, that shimmer you saw must have been traces of the Ainsiedel family’s mage coming and going.”

“It seemed like it. After that, Julia and I rode bicycles all the way near Ingolstadt. And then I met you!”

It must have been far, but I was grateful they thought they had to come meet us. Even if it had been farther, they would have come. I smiled at Ulrike.

“I was happy when you came.”

“Me too. When I found out you were alive, I thought I was going to the grave.”

I narrowed my eyes at the strange expression, and Ulrike quickly added.

“Because I was so happy.”

Ulrike seemed to have a story he’d been thinking about, as he immediately changed the subject.

“That mage didn’t look like Haike at all. Not the hair color, facial features, or body type—he actually resembled Elias.”

“I’m curious about that too. There was a false rumor before that Elias had been to Primrose Pass. Back then, school friends mistook someone else’s photo for him.”

“…?! Then could it be that what was captured in that photo was…!”

“…”

We exchanged glances with each other. Then we all fell silent as if we had planned it. Ulrike kept fidgeting with his lips, then muttered in a lowered voice.

“To be honest, I was relieved after visiting that Bishop Ainsiedel’s manor this time.”

“Why?”

“Because I found out that the group trying to kill Haike wasn’t what made him that way. I could never think favorably of that person called the bishop, even if I died. But…”

“…”

“At least I was glad he was someone who thinks about Haike’s safety. We’ll have to examine whether that person has other motives, but for now, there’s definitely hope to restore Haike.”

“Yeah, I understand.”

Then Ulrike completely emptied his drink, crunched and chewed even the ice, and asked while stabbing the torte with his fork.

“Now! Anyone want to talk about the Haike each of us remembers?”

“Hmm… A Foundation transfer student. And a friend who often drinks with Elias. And…”

Cheringen took a sip of lemonade and continued with a smile.

“He seemed like he wasn’t listening to anything you said, but he remembered everything well.”

“Ah~ right. The reason he looks like he’s not listening is because of Haike’s expression. What about Lucas?”

Me? I guess they want me to talk about the Haike I know too. I said immediately.

“He liked making friends.”

“Oh?”

“He really loved drinking and taking photos too. Even though he seemed emotionally dull, he was just immature, not emotionless.”

There were many other things to talk about. In my memory, all the time I spent with Haike remained intact, and even though I’d known him for only a short period, his situation being what it was, he particularly remained in my heart.

“Oh, I thought the same thing. Now it’s my turn, right? Haike is bad at board games.”

“…”

I almost spilled the coffee I was drinking and pressed my lips. Cheringen also laughed with a dumbfounded expression and said.

“Haike would be sad, Luise.”

“But when he’s cornered, he suddenly gets good. You have to see it to believe it, you know? I accused him of using his unique ability, but he said no. That’s how I lost three times in a row.”

Ulrike put down the fork she was eating torte with and muttered.

“Actually, I was taking it easy, thinking ‘we have many days ahead to become close~’.”

“Taking it easy.”

“I thought it was okay if we didn’t become close quickly. Well… in terms of our new semester, we’re only spending what amounts to early November. But the days we’ll spend together ahead aren’t just two or three months, or two or three years, or twenty or thirty years, but nearly a hundred years. But having that opportunity taken away against our will…”

Ulrike stopped mid-sentence and shrugged with a grimace.

“If Haike had said he wanted to quit on his own, I wouldn’t be like this now. I’m sure it’s the same for you guys…”

It meant that Ulrike’s sense of justice, more than intimacy with Haike, was always guiding him. Even if he wasn’t very close friends with Haike, Ulrike couldn’t just stand by and watch a friend who had been wronged. That’s why even at this moment today, Ulrike was getting closer to Haike. Haike remained stopped in that place, but at least Ulrike alone was taking steps forward.

Ulrike continued.

“What that bishop said bothers me. He talked as if asking what we could possibly know. …Yeah, we don’t know anything. That’s why we couldn’t ignore what his family said.”

“…”

“I also had this thought. Could it be that Haike conspired with his relative to cause this situation? If this is that friend’s will, then I…”

Anxiety appeared in Ulrike’s eyes. His face was already distorted. Just as I was about to discuss possible hypotheses about those words, Cheringen stabbed the torte with his fork and thrust it into Ulrike’s mouth.

“Ah.”

“Huh?”

Ulrike looked puzzled but inadvertently ate the torte. Cheringen, maintaining the same peaceful smile, also held out a fork with cut torte to me.

“Lucas too.”

“I’ll eat it my…”

Before I could finish speaking, Cheringen waved the fork. I lightly grabbed his hand and ate the torte. I looked at him with suspicious eyes, but Cheringen just watched us with the same expression as before. Then he leaned back against his chair and opened his mouth.

“There’s not much we can know right now. What’s important is that the start isn’t bad.”

“….”

“You didn’t think it would be easy. We knew the world would interfere with us. And that includes ourselves as part of the world.”

I nodded while looking at those golden eyes. Julia was telling us not to make too many assumptions right now. He pushed away his lemonade glass and continued speaking.

“To achieve what we want, we need to stay centered. Then go where your center naturally flows. Otherwise, there’s nothing we can finish.”

“…That’s true too.”

Ulrike answered thoughtfully. Whether Cheringen’s words had helped, she didn’t look particularly distressed now. Cheringen smiled at Ulrike and me, then pointed toward the window and said.

“So, where shall we go now? While we’re at it, let’s go buy Haike a present too.”

* * *

“This is our best-selling pen.”

We had wandered around outside for two whole hours buying the presents each of us needed, and now we had come to the place I wanted to go. I pulled the fountain pen that was thrust before me from its case and examined it. Ulrike, who was watching from beside me, muttered.

“Isn’t it too subdued for a gift?”

“Shouldn’t gifts be something safe that won’t cause likes or dislikes?”

“Is that so…?! So, are you giving this to Leo?”

Ulrike was all excited herself, her eyes sparkling. Instead of answering, I broke the sound-blocking magic and spoke to the clerk.

“I’ll take this one.”

“Yes, please wait a moment.”

After a little while, the clerk brought a gift-wrapped fountain pen box and pushed it toward me. Ulrike whispered in my ear.

“They wrapped it nicely since it’s for a gift!”

“Seems so. Do you have any notebooks?”

“Notebooks are….”

The clerk thought for a moment, then wrote an address on a memo and handed it to me.

“Try going this way.”

I took Ulrike, who wasn’t tired at all, and Cheringen, who wore the same smile as before, to the notebook-selling shop. There I bought a thick hardcover notebook and came out. Throughout our exit, Ulrike was sparkling-eyed beside me, grabbing my shoulder, so I laughed awkwardly and explained the situation.

“…It’s not that, this is… I just happened to run out of notebooks recently, so I bought it.”

“Ehhhh?! Lucas, you bought it for yourself to use?”

“Didn’t you buy a hunting cap earlier?”

“Aha~! Hahaha~”

Ulrike played dumb and stretched.

“Ah~ Since we’re choosing Haike’s present together, there’s no way to know who our Lucas and Julia came to buy presents for.”

“Why do you need to know….”

And don’t you already know who I came to buy a present for? When I laughed awkwardly with that meaning, Ulrike whistled and answered.

“Isn’t finding out who’s giving and receiving presents the fun of this game?”

Then Cheringen asked with a laugh.

“That’s right, Luise. Who are you buying a present for?”

“You say it first!”

“Should I? I….”

“No?! No no. I’m joking!”

“Haha.”

I glanced at the bag Cheringen was carrying. He had stopped by a bookstore, visited a clothing shop, then went to a fruit store. We couldn’t tell which of these was fake, which was Haike’s present, and which was a present for his assigned person. In Ulrike’s bag were items secured with newspaper like a fortress. Even though we had been walking around together, he had been secretly collecting things bit by bit. Of course, we couldn’t assume what was in there now was for gifts.

‘I am curious though.’

“Hey guys.”

Then, Cheringen stopped us in a narrow alley.

“Shall we stop by here last?”

The place he pointed to was a general store. The sun was setting now, and it was about time for dinner, so it would be good to look around this place last before returning. Also….

Looking around the street reminded me of what Leonard from the extra chapter liked, what he had given me as presents, and what he enjoyed receiving, all fresh in my memory. I would buy that here. We obediently went inside.

The store was bigger inside than outside. Since Cheringen went upstairs and started looking at items, I also freely browsed the stalls. Ulrike followed behind me like a puppy, trying to determine whether what I picked up was a present for Leo or not. Since someone was watching, I naturally started narrating what I was picking up.

“Ribbon.”

“Oh.”

It’s a two-layered sky blue and white ribbon pin. What do you use something like this for? Is it for tying hair? You tie it and attach it, right?

To tell the truth, I still couldn’t believe that the ribbons on people’s heads, or more precisely, most ribbons used for that purpose weren’t the result of tying hair but rather finished products attached above the tied part. The same applies to ribbons that should be in the place of ties. Of course, servants with excellent handicraft skills sometimes tie them directly, but quite often they attach completed ribbons like this hair pin or brooch thing I’m holding now.

‘No wonder my school uniform ribbon tie was terrible.’

No matter what I did, it only looked like shoelaces, so I had once deeply contemplated ribbon ties in media. Ulrike came behind me and whispered.

“Are you going to use this too?”

“No? I’m giving this to him.”

“…?!”

Ulrike rolled her eyes, then hurriedly blocked my way.

“I don’t think he’d really like that present…?!”

“Why do you think that?”

“Um. Because…! Think about Leo’s fashion. This looks like a blue version of those things the England royal knights wear on their shoulders.”

It doesn’t really resemble that. Anyway, she’s saying it’s too much. I smiled gently and slipped past Ulrike.

“I know, Luise.”

“…!”

“He’s nice so he likes everything. Hmm, what else should I buy.”

“No, no, you can’t…!”

“What can’t I do. Oh, it’s a party hat. His birthday is next month anyway.”

I picked up a porcelain Christmas party hat and muttered. Ulrike started trying to dissuade me.

“That’s still far away…! If you buy it now, it’s going to the warehouse.”

“That’s true. What else should I buy?”

I passed by Ulrike and picked up a potato-shaped brooch.

“It’s a potato. Why do people in our country eat so many potatoes?”

“Well… without potatoes, we would have died already.”

“But why?”

“We can’t eat only meat 365 days a year.”

“That’s true too.”

I put the potato—and since there was a tomato next to it, that too—brooch in the shopping basket and moved locations.

“It’s a music box.”

“Oh…! This somehow seems meaningful. Definitely buy it!”

“Hmm, no. He doesn’t like listening to songs when sleeping. He’s the type who only studies until bedtime then sleeps. Not this one.”

“I kind of thought that might be the case… No, you even know that?!”

“I told you we’re close.”

“But why are you doing this….”

I laughed awkwardly at those words. She’s probably saying this because I’m putting in things like ribbons that don’t match clothes at all or potato brooches, right? Anyway, I put in the music box too. Even though I said “not this one,” Ulrike’s eyes widened as if she was curious about what I was doing.

Ding—

Then Ulrike made a sharp “huk” sound. She covered my basket with newspaper and blocked my way.

“What, why.”

I didn’t even need to hear the answer. Leo, Narke, and Elias were entering the store.

“Hey—!”

Elias waved at us. Then he ran over and hugged me.

“Luca!”

“Good to see you, hey.”

“I was just looking for you. Who do I have to give a present to~?”

Elias started tickling me, but I just stood there blankly. After doing useless things for a while, Elias must have thought it wasn’t working, so he took my hand and opened his mouth wide. I was horrified at that sight and shook my hand free.

“…! No, what are you doing?! Eating someone’s hand?”

“Luca, what’s wrong with you? Why aren’t you laughing?! Isn’t it ticklish?!”

“No.”

“Wow.”

Ulrike exclaimed from beside me in admiration. I couldn’t tell why. Unlike Ulrike who showed a positive reaction, Elias tilted his eyebrows and shouted.

“This doesn’t make sense!”

“I don’t know why it doesn’t make sense….”

“Uwak.”

He made a strange sound and opened his mouth again. Before he could bite off my finger with his molars like opening a cork, I shook him off and created distance.

‘…Phew.’

That was dangerous. Not because Elias almost bit my hand just now. I almost gave Elias a semi-permanent means of attack.

To tell the truth, it wasn’t that I wasn’t ticklish, but rather that I held back a reflexive urge to throw a punch. Originally, such petty external attacks didn’t work on me at all, but I realized at this moment today that this only applied to my original body. I had somewhat suspected it, but Luca’s body was indeed a bit more suited for combat magic than my original body.

Elias followed behind me, whispering.

“Just give me a hint. I’ll be quiet~ Hm? Who do you have to give it to!”

Anyway, it would only make Elias’s habits worse, so I absolutely shouldn’t throw punches or anything like that, and since Luca wasn’t extremely different from me to begin with, it wasn’t at a level where I couldn’t control my reaction, so maintaining no response was the best approach.

Well, of course I could stop him a little. I struck down with my fist the hand that was sneakily reaching under my jawbone and slowly turned around. I brought my face close to Elias’s.

“What about you, Elias?”

“You first. I’ll give you a bottle of wine when I go back.”

Elias raised one corner of his mouth and shook his head. I stared at him intently. Then Elias whispered.

“I’ll even tell you whose fairy Leo is~ How about it?”

Setting aside how he found that out, sorry, but that was even less appealing than the wine. Elias was tilting his head with sparkling eyes. I chuckled and patted Elias’s shoulder.

“I…”

“Mm~?”

“Won’t tell you.”

* * *

“Now, gather around again!”

11 PM.

Ulrike clapped her hands and sat on the sofa in the hall. I deliberately sat down on the sofa with a loud thud.

Because.

Elias has been stuck to my back ever since I teased him once. At this point, you could call him my shell. I’m tired of trying to peel him off, so now I’m just putting up with it. Leo asked with a hollow laugh.

“Can’t we sleep now?”

“Right, Luise. You need to sleep early to check what presents you got tomorrow morning~”

“No! There are still plans left.”

I wasn’t looking forward to what the plan was at all. It was obviously going to be some friendship program.

‘What are they planning to do at midnight…’

As I was clasping my hands together and burying my forehead in them, Elias grabbed and stretched my cheek. I swatted his hand away and straightened my posture.

Ulrike placed two large boxes on the table. Then she opened the lids one by one.

“Now! Everyone, let’s paint.”

“Eggs…?”

I looked at the white, large eggs and let out a hollow laugh. Ulrike smiled and explained just then.

“We’re making Easter eggs~! It’s coming up soon.”

“What about Luca…”

I heard a strange sound from behind. I ignored those words, but Elias continued whispering.

“Luca. Should I draw yours too? What should I draw for you.”

“Oh, you’ll draw for me? Then draw me.”

“Okay.”

Then Ulrike, who had been listening intently to our conversation, waved her hands.

“No no no no! You have to draw it yourself! Yourself!”

“Too bad.”

“Right, too bad.”

Elias repeated my words, then came out from my back and sat in his own seat. Then he picked up an egg and started coloring it with green pastel.

I looked at my friends who were already absorbed in egg painting, let out a deep sigh, and picked up an egg and pastel.

The drawing didn’t take long. Perhaps because the eggs were so round that they were hard to draw on, my friends had also just colored them, so I quickly gave up too. I couldn’t think of anything particular, so I made a checkered egg and drew an animal on another egg. I put down my pen and called Ulrike.

“I’m done, Luise.”

“Me too~”

“Really?”

Ulrike checked the time and smiled.

“It’s just about 11:30. We can start now.”

She pointed to the opposite side of the hall and said.

“There’s a forest on our estate grounds, everyone.”

“I see. So what?”

“Let’s go in pairs to hide eggs in the forest~! Narke helped purify the forest earlier!”

“…”

My friends’ eyes widened. Instead of doing that, I grabbed the back of my neck.

Outside the window was pitch black. This wasn’t even Berlin, so there were few places with lights on in the middle of the night. But at this hour? The scenery looked ominous just by looking at it?

‘…Isn’t this dangerous.’

No. Ulrike was exactly the kind of friend who wouldn’t do anything dangerous at all. Seeing her so confidently prepare and present this friendship program, it meant she had already eliminated any dangerous elements. Perhaps…

“…”

I could clearly see what kind of picture Ulrike had drawn.

“I made the teams~! Leo, Lucas. You two go together. Now, who wants to go with me next?!”

“Me~”

Narke raised her hand and smiled. The only ones bewildered here were Leo and me.

The rest were just chuckling. Everyone knew what Ulrike was plotting. I felt somewhat betrayed, but there was nothing I could do. I couldn’t help it since I hadn’t earned their trust.

Since it came to this, I’ll finish it quickly. I looked at the ceiling and burst into laughter, then suddenly got up and asked seriously.

“Luise. Do you have a trowel?”

* * *

I will plant eggs with this shovel. I came out trudging toward the forest, holding a trowel like a wand in one hand and a basket containing Leo’s and my eggs in the other.

I could hear my friends cheering unnecessarily from the mansion’s rear entrance behind us. Leo looked closely at the basket I was carrying and then criticized.

“What’s with this distorted coordinate system.”

“…”

I didn’t answer—I knew he was talking about my checkered Easter egg—. I should have just written numbers on it, you bastard… But I couldn’t say that, could I? Leo took my basket and examined each egg one by one, then muttered.

“It’s cold.”

“Then go put on more clothes and come back out.”

“Never mind… Would they let me back in when I’m already half kicked out?”

Leo also seemed to find it absurd as he chuckled, then let out a long breath and turned toward me. He smiled and said.

“Let’s hide them quickly and go back.”

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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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