How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 454

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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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“You said you stopped by the fountain pen store earlier.”

Leo asked when we were about to enter the edge of the forest. I looked at Leo, wondering what kind of sudden question this was, but he was only looking ahead. His strangely awkward behavior made me burst into laughter.

“Why, are you also curious about who I need to give a gift to?”

“Yeah.”

‘Look how honest he is…’

I’m curious about the result too, but not curious enough to ask about it. Seeing things like this makes me think this friend is still a kid. It might not be something for someone my age to say, but that’s how it is. When I just kept laughing, Leo shot back with a troubled face.

“Why are you laughing.”

“No, do you know who all I’ve been with so far?”

“…I don’t know anyone.”

“I bought it for myself to use. Happy now?”

Leo didn’t seem to believe my words, as if he had someone in mind that he was guessing about. He stroked his chin and asked.

“Hmm… What did you buy at the general store earlier?”

“Oh, back then. A potato brooch.”

“…?”

Leo’s brow furrowed. He rolled his eyes and tilted his head.

“Is there someone who would like a potato brooch? No, more than that, what does a potato brooch even look like?”

“It’s a potato-shaped decoration, what else. More importantly, I need to go in and rest quickly. Since time is precious, let’s hurry up and plant it before going in.”

At those words, Leo’s eyes widened and he asked with a shocked face.

“Time is precious?”

“Yeah.”

I realized I had misspoken about 10 minutes later. No, I spoke properly, but this friend got dejected on his own. Whenever I tried to plant the egg, Leo would subtly divert my attention elsewhere and drag out the time, and I noticed when he snatched away my coordinate egg for the second time. I carefully asked about something I had newly noticed.

“It feels like we’re walking a bit slowly.”

“It’s hard.”

Chills ran down my spine for a moment.

This bastard isn’t the type to whine even if he died and came back to life. Even if it’s hard because of the concussion, he’s not a friend who would say that out loud. However, the cause seems quite clear – I think it’s because he got upset over what I said earlier. To experience both sides of 17-year-old Leonard in one day is quite moving. I chuckled and asked.

“I suppose so. Should I carry you on my back?”

“Can you carry me?”

“Why do you think I can’t? I carry Elias around too.”

“…That’s true. Still, I don’t want to go early enough to be carried by someone whose leg is in that state. And since we want to become close, how would Luise feel if we went in early.”

“You’re very considerate.”

“Actually, I think Luise has noticed to some extent too, but since she set up the stage for us, we should live up to her expectations.”

No, Leo is seriously mistaken about this part. I took a breath and said firmly.

“She noticed to some extent? That very thought is a mistake. You have to show Luise directly.”

“Directly?”

“Yeah. We have to show our friendship directly.”

“…How do we show friendship?”

“Act as close as possible.”

“So how do we do that. We’re already close.”

“That’s exactly it. We’ve already shown that we’re close a lot, but I guess we need to show more textbook-like friendliness. Put our arms around each other’s shoulders, you know? Help me with my work. Laze around together.”

“Someone who absolutely refuses to laze around even when begged to is good with words.”

“…”

Sometimes he hits the nail on the head and I’m left speechless. But now it’s different. I shook my head and said.

“We have to play until next week, Leo. It’s not just you who can’t return to duty, I can’t either. I might even have to do only desk work for a month until the bone heals. Privately speaking, we can’t just play around since we need to interact with Ainsiedel, but we’ll have plenty of time to play together in front of Luise.”

“That’s fortunate. So how do we play more than this. Should we talk while smiling?”

“Yeah. I’ll try acting, so you smile too.”

“Acting… Do I need to act to smile?”

“That’s not what I meant.”

“…”

“Are you angry?”

“There’s no way I’d be angry at you.”

Leo said with his eyes closed and eyebrows furrowed, with the face of someone answering something that didn’t need a response. Were all the angry Leos I’ve seen so far fake? Still…

‘Leo smiles when he’s angry.’

Since he’s not smiling now, I can relax.

Then, a strange sound came from behind.

Flap—

“A bird?”

“Seems like it.”

It wasn’t just “seems like it.” It was a bird, but this wasn’t the time to be so nonchalant! We opened our mouths as we faced the eagle charging toward us.

“…?!”

“Is that thing coming to peck us to death?!”

Leo shouted. Now I could see there wasn’t just one or two eagles. Flapping wings filled the sky. Chills ran all over me.

We ran blindly in the opposite direction. We hadn’t even hidden one egg yet and this happens. When my speed lagged, Leo pulled my arm.

“Lucas, you shouldn’t be running! Get on my back!”

“Are you kidding? You just focus on keeping your balance.”

“…!”

Screech—

I pressed down on Leo’s neck and lowered my body. The sound of cutting through air flowed sharply over our heads. The wind pushed by the wingbeats touched our skin. Leo dodged well even without my help. To be honest, worrying about Leo is a luxury. I just need to do well myself, and fortunately, I was confident in any physical activity. Even with one leg smashed up, I can manage. Leo shouted in bewilderment.

“What is this right now. Magic?”

“Yeah. Eagles made with magic.”

“Why?”

I shot magic in all directions to properly distribute the weight going to my legs and asked Leo.

“Leo. Don’t you know why Luise made us do this on Monday night? Easter should be on the weekend, but isn’t hiding eggs today too early?”

“It is early!”

I gave his shoulder a firm push so he wouldn’t fall and said.

“Luise is giving us gymnasium-style physical training right now. Because she wants us to become close. This fundamentally isn’t a walk.”

“What…! How do we become close through that?”

Actually, it’s different from physical training. This is closer to just chasing us around, but there’s nothing to explain. No, if it was going to be like this, she should have made ghosts instead. The sight of a flock of eagles chasing us…

‘Living things really are scarier, I guess.’

I spread magic on the ground and ran as if sliding. If it’s hard to run in the forest, just make the ground smooth. This will delay my full recovery by about another week. Thanks to Ulrike, who trains friends strongly like a close-combat specialist.

Before I could finish speaking, Leo gasped in surprise. The moment I turned my head, what I saw was an eagle flying toward Leo’s face. The claws flowing with blue magic were eerie.

Crash—

The eagle was violently struck by Leo’s staff and turned to powder. The eagle’s magic scattered into the air. I looked at the eagle that had been hit by his staff head and turned to light, shuddering with chills and letting out a hollow laugh.

“Failed to startle a combat mage. What’s the point when he beats down magic ghosts with fighting spirit…”

“…I was surprised. Being surprised is being surprised. …I just didn’t react out loud.”

Leo ran under where trees covered the sky, and while catching his breath, tried to take out an elixir from his clutch. I struck down my staff to create a dome-shaped barrier and took out the elixir with one hand instead of Leo who was fumbling around, pouring it into his mouth. At that moment, Leo furrowed his brow, covered his mouth, and stepped back.

“…?!”

“What’s wrong?”

“This is alcohol. This is Elias’s doing.”

“…”

I let out a hollow laugh and tried the elixir. It’s moderately sweet whiskey. It seems like he put it in considering Leo’s taste. Leo waved his hand with a disgusted face and muttered.

“You drink it all…”

“Mm.”

I put the bottle to my mouth and tilted my head back, drinking the alcohol sip by sip. Leo didn’t care at all whether I drank like Elias or not and whispered.

“Sigh… Now I’m really getting sleepy. Let’s quickly hide the egg and go.”

“When did you snatch it away…”

“I’m so tired. Or should we just sleep here for exactly 5 minutes before going?”

“Is this because of your concussion? It’s better to go back quickly than rest for 5 minutes.”

Leo started making a hammock out of grass regardless of what I said. If he was going to do this anyway, why did he ask, and how does he even know how to make a hammock – I was dumbfounded. Leo sat vertically on the hammock and leaned back, then patted the spot next to him. I shook my head and sat on a tree stump, asking.

“Do you play alone like this?”

“When I was young.”

At least not for 70 months. It must be something that happens after that.

‘Good to know.’

It would be nice to take him along when going camping. Indeed, if you don’t neglect your efforts, you can accomplish all sorts of things even with abilities suited for horticulture and agriculture. Usually, people with such abilities would run crop businesses, flower shops, become traditional pharmacists, or life science researchers, but he’s not only using his unique ability for techniques that block enemy movements, but making all sorts of things.

Leo began weaving grass around tree trunks and hanging them down to set traps so eagles wouldn’t fly over again. I wanted to applaud him for being so absurd, but I didn’t stop him because it was comfortable. When the grass barriers covered all sides, it somehow felt like being inside a ger and was cozy. I think building a place like this as a hideout is every child’s dream. I sat blankly on a tree stump, looked around, then clapped my hands.

“Ah. I should bring the kids here. What do you think?”

“Sounds good.”

“Luise―!”

My voice echoed loudly through the forest. By now it would have reached the manor too. It’s a bit awkward in front of Mother and the retainers, but there’s nothing I can do about it.

‘I called them, so they’ll come if they want to.’

Now that I was actually sitting here, it was cozy but there was nothing to do, so I decided to revive memories from when I was about 4 years old and play house. I plucked a handful of grass from around me, placed it neatly on a flat rock, and repeatedly struck it with stones, then gradually got bored and started making chipped stone tools.

Leo was watching with interest as I struck a large stone with pebbles. Only now did I understand the feelings of the uncle selling cotton candy in front of school—though actually, whether due to generational differences or something else, I had never encountered people selling food in front of school and had only heard about it from my parents—and asked the high school student watching me as if doing him a favor.

“What kind of chipped stone tool should I make for you?”

“A hand axe for me.”

I knew this guy wanted one from the time he didn’t stop me. I nodded and picked up another stone. After striking it with full power infused with magic for about 20 minutes, a decent hand axe was completed.

‘Good.’

Very satisfying. The top was pointed so it looked like it would draw blood if you chopped flesh with it. I carved shallow grooves in the handle part to fit finger shapes for easy gripping. I don’t know if this was an option on original hand axes, but I modified it my way. Our ancestors would probably ask what kind of hand axe this is, but since I’m not actually going to use it and it looked fine to me. I put it in Leo’s hand and came out to strike stones for my share again. Leo turned the hand axe around admiringly.

“Weren’t you bad with your hands?”

“You’re saying that out loud?”

“Sorry… But this looks plausible. You’re really strong.”

“You don’t chip stones with strength, you chip them with science.”

“Really?”

“I don’t know. But surprisingly they split strangely, so you have to think carefully before striking.”

“No wonder we’re Homo sapiens.”

He probably meant our ancestors, but since I was the one who just made the chipped stone tool, I felt strangely moved somehow. Thinking that even before Homo sapiens they used chipped stone tools made it even more so.

Well, whatever. I collected sap from grass and showed it on a leaf. Leo squinted to check what I was holding. I asked such Leo.

“Want to eat this?”

“What is it?”

“Green juice.”

“…Green juice, really…”

I returned the rejected green juice to nature and sat back on the tree stump. Then I spoke to Leo who was yawning with drowsy eyes.

“Leo. If you’re hungry, crack open the Easter egg and just eat it with alcohol.”

“Should I…”

That’s right. After eating he’ll get sleepy, and when that guy falls asleep I’ll have to carry him with magic. Thinking that, I decided to try making a polished stone tool this time. The moment Leo drank the alcohol-elixir he gave me and rubbed his hands together in preparation, a familiar voice was heard.

[Oh! What’s that!]

[Hehehe…]

Narke’s laughter. The friends who found it strange that we hadn’t returned came to this place. Elias parted the grass stems with both hands, stuck his face in, and shouted with a betrayed expression.

“What are you guys doing?!”

“Leo said he was tired so we’re resting.”

“This fun thing…!”

Elias struck down the stems to make a gap, came in, and sat next to me. He recognized my chipped stone tool—it’s rewarding that he recognized it as a chipped stone tool and not just a stone—and excitedly babbled words only he could understand. Narke, who had been continuously using divine power to purify the forest and was wrapped in divine power all over, also followed him in. When Ulrike and Cheringen also came in and settled down—Ulrike screamed as if seeing a paradise, but Cheringen didn’t admire it as if he was used to it—I spread my hands around and said to Ulrike.

“See, Luise. We’re close enough to build a fortress like this and play.”

“Why…”

“Hm?”

“Why don’t you appeal directly?”

Ulrike asked while stroking her chin.

‘Sharp.’

Ulrike was very sharp. If she’s this perceptive, why won’t she believe that Leo and I are close… I was gradually getting frustrated.

‘Indeed, usual conduct is the answer.’

Still, today’s data accumulated in Ulrike’s mind, so good changes will come later. Ulrike gathered leaves from somewhere to make a cushion and plopped down on it. Then she looked at the chipped stone tool set I had made and opened her mouth.

“Guys, what’s this? Stone tools?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow. Paleolithic experience.”

Ulrike thought for a moment, picked up a thick tree branch, and clapped her hands.

“Let’s try making fire!”

* * *

We couldn’t make it. Despite Elias trying to create frictional heat by pushing magic, we failed. It’s fortunate. Making fire in the forest, are you kidding? No matter how much I fired the signal for primitive experience, that was a bit much.

Anyway, we played to our heart’s content becoming one with the earth and soon got tired and returned.

The room was a complete mess as if they had planned some kind of pajama party—it was even more so because they moved several beds to a large room that wasn’t a bedroom to make it into a bedroom—but everyone was tired from playing outside for a long time and fell asleep as soon as their faces touched the beds. I came out of the bathroom and asked the friends lying on the beds.

“Anyone here who lay down without bathing.”

“…”

Everyone seems asleep as there’s no response. I muttered while drying my hair with a towel.

“Too dirty to sleep in the same room.”

“That’s mean!”

Elias’s protest was heard. Laughter came from various places. As if realizing his mistake, Elias quickly continued.

“But I washed.”

“Sure, sure.”

“Really. You believe me, right?!”

“No.”

“Why!”

Elias stomped down from the bed and showed me his hair. It smells like soap. Right, it was still damp from not being fully dry. I nodded and pushed him back to bed. When I tried to leave the room without lying down, Elias shouted.

“Luca, where are you going!”

“I’m really going to sleep outside. Don’t stop me. I have to redo my leg bandages anyway.”

“Eh?! This isn’t right!”

What’s not right? I slammed the door shut and came out, bringing the box containing the items I bought earlier by myself.

The current time is 2 AM. Tomorrow’s wake-up time is 9 AM. Usually we have to get up at 6, but we decided to get up late for Leo’s recovery.

‘7 hours from now.’

I swallowed my saliva. It might be a bit insufficient. Still, there are about four hours left until we eat dinner and decorate Easter eggs, and I prepared for that time too. Let me renew my determination from now and complete it quickly.

‘Complete what?’

The Wichteln gift.

The real gift I’m going to give has to be made from now.

* * *

8:30 AM.

Leonard was dragged out by Elias and Narke and rubbed his eyes. Since the Wichteln gift confirmation ceremony was ahead of us, we had to wash our faces briefly and come straight to the hall. While everyone was in pajamas, Lucas had come out neatly dressed as usual in a dark navy jacket and ivory slacks, dressed appropriately for the situation—for a light party—I wonder what time he woke up and was waiting for this event to have the presence of mind to even dress up.

It was somehow absurd that even Lucas was looking forward to Wichteln, but still it was fortunate that this event seemed to lighten our friend’s heart.

“Alright! Let’s open them now!”

The caretaker had gathered everyone’s gift boxes and placed them on the table. There were about ten large gift boxes in front of us. As soon as Ulrike finished speaking, the friends quickly checked the cards and brought their share of gifts in front of themselves. Leonard stood there dazed, then asked Lucas across the table. He was also just standing there blankly.

“What about you, Lucas?”

“I’m going to check mine a little later.”

“Ah, I see…”

Leonard nodded without much thought. He was curious about what the gift might be, but right now he only wanted to sleep more. He slowly looked around the gift boxes on the table, pulled an ownerless box toward himself, then checked the card. On the navy card, a name was written in golden ink.

[To Leonard Wittelsbach]

‘Huh.’

Could it be? The handwriting…

Leonard bit his lips and quickly turned the card over.

[Hi Leo]

[How are you? I’m always rooting for you. You’re a really wonderful friend.]

[Your friend]

Leonard unconsciously held his forehead and said in a groaning voice.

“What is this?! This is ridiculous.”

Leonard himself had written five lines in small letters densely on another friend’s card, but what is this? I can tell who my Wichtel is without even asking. Then Elias, who had put down his box and looked at Leo’s card, sighed.

“The castle has gone crazy….”

“Thanks. I know.”

From far away, Lucas spoke with a smile, placing one hand near the corner of his mouth. Elias had clearly sighed with negative intent, but now showed Lucas a thumbs up, and Lucas did the same. Leonard lowered his hand from his forehead to his eyes.

“….”

Suddenly I have no expectations at all. Leonard let out a long sigh and laughed. It was just last night that Lucas said he bought a potato brooch. There must be items swept up from that general store inside this box…. Surely it can’t contain just one potato brooch.

‘To think I have to wear a potato brooch.’

Until last night, he had definitely thought whoever would receive the potato brooch was rather pitiful, but that person turned out to be himself. Leonard couldn’t believe this fact and let out a hollow laugh while still feeling expectant.

‘Still, I’m curious what he bought for me.’

He might have just bought whatever he could grab, but still.

Leonard touched the sky-blue satin ribbon wrapped around the navy box inside the container and the lace ribbon brooch of the same color on top. The thought crossed his mind that Lucas had bought a ready-made ribbon to compensate for his lack of handicraft skills—a thought he could never tell Lucas. He laughed. Leonard pulled at the small satin ribbon tied clumsily under the pin and untied it. Then he slowly lifted the lid.

‘Huh.’

Wait. Leonard’s gaze quickly moved to all sides of the gift. He rapidly ran his hands over the present. Ulrike, who had been particularly peeking beside Leonard, saw the contents and opened her mouth wide before shouting.

“What? This is…!”

“No.”

Leonard turned pale and instinctively slammed the lid shut as he spoke.

“Huh?”

“Sorry, Luise. This is something I need to….”

Leonard uncharacteristically rambled as he grabbed the box and stepped back. Then his eyes met with Lucas, who had his hand thrust in his pocket and had stepped back to watch his friends’ gifts. Lucas, reading Leonard’s expression, lightly squinted one eye and tilted his head downward. Then he smiled cheerfully, his squinted eye rounding out.

Ulrike was looking back and forth between Leonard and Lucas, trying to understand the situation. Leonard suspected he might be wrong about what was in the box, yet suppressed his breath rising with anticipation and muttered.

“…I need to look at this alone.”

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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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