How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 455

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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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“What? Why are you looking at it alone!”

The moment Ulrike reached across the table, Elias grabbed Leonard’s neck with the inside of his elbow. Without hesitation, he stomped on Elias’s shin to shake him off and entered a distant empty room, blocking the door with magic. Elias, clutching his shin and crying out in pain, and Ulrike quickly ran over and pounded on the door—Ulrike was practically trying to demolish it since it was her house—but he couldn’t open it for them right now.

No, forget checking the gift, how could he open the door when they were charging at him like that? What were they even doing? Leonard took a deep breath and pulled out the potato-tomato brooch from the box. This was nice too, but his purpose for entering the room lay beneath it.

Leonard pulled out the thick hardbound book that was underneath. Now that he looked at it, it wasn’t a book but a notebook. A notebook that seemed recently purchased. Leonard turned the cover. He could see the red ribbon bookmark and the pristine white, crisp inner pages.

‘To my dear Leonard Wittelsbach.’

A dedication was written on the first page in the same handwriting as on the card. It was a textbook-like dedication, very much like Lucas, and the restraint was actually characteristic of that friend. Leonard smiled slightly and shifted his gaze, carefully turning the first page using only his left hand. Blank paper, then another blank paper. No preface. Why? And only after turning once more did the text he had written appear.

[September 1, 1897]

I came to school and decided I should become friends with you.

What a thing to live to see, right? Leo.

To think I’m writing a diary addressed to you.

“…”

What a thing to live to see? That’s what I said. Leonard felt his breath catch as he checked the date once more.

September 1st, Friday. The start of second year, first semester.

Ah, Leonard finally got a sense of what kind of book this was. Then how far had this been written? He quickly flipped through the pages to find the last entry with a date.

[April 10, 1898]

Today. Nothing was written beyond today. Leonard returned to the first page of the main text and moved his gaze to the next page.

[September 2, 1897]

I devised a plan to become friends.

[September 3, 1897]

Idem.

[September 4, 1897]

Monday. I finished all my preparations over the weekend. I thought magic would be really difficult, but it went better than expected.

Do you still remember how I playfully messed around during magic practice class? It was fun watching you frown. I enjoyed getting the reaction I expected.

[September 5, 1897]

Idem.

It was entertaining to watch your facial expressions change.

Leonard turned the page. September 6th had similar content. And then…

[September 7, 1897]

Thanks for accepting my duel request. I was grateful you fell for it as I intended.

You’ll never know how nervous I was that day. If that day hadn’t happened, we wouldn’t have become friends, right?

That day, sitting next to you collapsed in the training arena, I looked up at the celestial sphere beyond the glass ceiling. I thought for a long time about how many things would change going forward. And so we’ve come to today.

[September 8, 1897]

You slept well in the infirmary too. Should I tell Elias to call you Sleeping Beauty?

It’s lamentable that I haven’t won a single duel since that day, so I couldn’t send you back to the infirmary. I’ve learned well, so next time I’ll definitely send you to the hospital.

Leonard felt incredulous but pressed his eyes and closed the book. He didn’t have the confidence to turn any more pages. All of this felt like it had happened ages ago. No, beyond that, it felt like he was peering into primordial landscapes within an ancient text of unknown authorship. So much had changed that he couldn’t believe this was time they had shared, and that version of himself felt like a completely different person.

Every moment of their transformation to reach this point had remained intact in Lucas’s mind. What remained had flowed out as letters and manifested numerically. The time that had passed was in Leonard’s hands. It definitely was.

He had gained the opportunity to peer into his friend’s perspective together. How could this not be an amazing experience, how could this be expressed in words…

So Lucas really was Nicolaus. Not only the Nicolaus of all people, but also to Leonard himself. Leonard slowly read the remaining sentences from September 8th.

Then, there was a knock on the door. Certain it would be Lucas, Leonard flicked his hand to dispel the magic locking the door. He heard his friends’ voices.

“I want to go in too—”

“Get out.”

Lucas pushed away the friends trying to squeeze through the gap and barely managed to enter, leaning against the door as he asked.

“How is it?”

Leonard only moved his lips. Since he never expected to receive something like this as a Wichteln gift, he couldn’t choose what to say. Lucas smiled mischievously and said.

“I stayed up all night writing it. How is it?”

So he hadn’t gotten up early to prepare for the party, but hadn’t slept at all. I should have known from when he said he’d go out alone to sleep. When Leonard moved his lower lip, Lucas smiled with an expression that said ‘now you know.’ Then he gestured to the hardbound notebook and said.

“Actually, I was reading Principia before. I thought about choosing a good book for you to read next, but you’d buy and read it yourself if I just gave you a hint. I wanted to give you something more special for once.”

From what he had glimpsed earlier, more than half of this notebook was densely filled with writing. From September to today in April, all the impressions of the time they had spent together since becoming friends were written down. He wanted to give something more special? It was exactly as he intended. I would never have thought to give something like this, so how could it not be special?

Leonard muttered.

“It’s just a Wichteln gift. You went this far for it?”

“As you know, we don’t know when it will end. I couldn’t wait until your birthday next month.”

He could understand that. We don’t know when it will end—they both knew the weight of those words. The air became slightly heavier. It felt like pressing adjacent keys along with the intended one, causing the melody to fall apart. Leonard wasn’t the type to brush off this situation lightly. He slowly spoke.

“I can’t turn to the next page.”

“Why?”

“Why? Because I’m afraid I’ll finish reading all the time you gave me. I don’t want to rush through these pages in an instant.”

“…Wow, definitely different… Look at that sentiment…”

Lucas muttered, pressing his mouth with his clenched fist. Leonard raised an eyebrow in confusion and asked.

“What’s different?”

“No, never mind. Since you’re saying that much, it was worth giving the gift.”

So what was surprising about it. But he didn’t want to pry further. Leonard said to Lucas, who was observing him with arms crossed and one corner of his mouth raised.

“Thank you. It’s more meaningful receiving it from a close friend. I’m happy to be able to see the past time from your perspective.”

“It’s amazing that you say all of this. I’m relieved you didn’t disappoint as expected. Don’t be cautious and just read it thoroughly.”

“No, absolutely not.”

Then Lucas burst into laughter. Seeing such a refreshing laugh that showed his teeth and created dimples, he seemed quite satisfied with Leonard’s reaction. Lucas, who had been laughing, looked down and said.

“There are many inadequate parts too. I spent half a day writing whatever came to mind. It’s not something I agonized over for days and days.”

“That’s only because you already had everything you wanted to say in your head. Can the value of your consideration be quantified solely by the time invested?”

Leonard unconsciously muttered while observing the alphabet that bore his friend’s characteristic neatness.

“If time were the only value, heliocentrism would still remain in the doctrines of the Pataphysics school by now, and our aspirations should rightfully not have escaped classical Mediterranean civilization. You can’t call everyone you’ve known for years a close friend, and even if you’ve known someone for less than a year, you know you can connect with them more than anyone else.”

Lucas raised an eyebrow upon hearing that. Leonard realized belatedly that he had talked a lot, but he had no intention of stopping words he definitely wanted to convey to his friend just because they were embarrassing or because his friend would know without being told. Speaking what could be spoken immediately—that was courtesy regarding those you love. It was somewhat embarrassing, but that didn’t stop his words. Leonard continued while looking into his friend’s eyes.

“I know better than anyone that the length or brevity of time is irrelevant to truth. It doesn’t matter if you didn’t know until today. However much time you spent writing it, your intention and consideration make me happy.”

“My, you speak well. Do more.”

He answered annoyingly, but Lucas’s tone and smile contained joy that could be confirmed at a glance. Leonard smiled, thinking he had done well to speak his mind to his friend. Then silence flowed, and Leonard brought up an appropriate topic.

“What gift did you receive?”

“Well, I haven’t looked yet.”

“Really? Then let’s go open it now.”

“You’re not going to read more of the diary I wrote for you?”

“I told you I’m going to savor reading it.”

At those words, Lucas laughed heartily again, showing his uvula. The absurdity he felt was conveyed to Leonard as well. Since he was embarrassed again, Leonard sighed while laughing and pushed his friend out of the room.

* * *

‘He really says it out loud.’

I can only laugh. I think this is the first time I’ve seen Leo talking excitedly like kids who received Christmas presents. Could I sincerely say such words? I don’t know. I could if I tried, but words with that kind of structure probably wouldn’t come to mind easily.

“Actually, I never expected you to think of something like this.”

Leo said while pushing my back. He had now escaped from the tsunami of emotion—I had chosen something that seemed likely to move him, but it’s amazing that he was actually moved—and seemed curious about something as he stuck his head toward me and asked.

“How come? You’re not this kind of person.”

“Are you coming to your senses now? I’m not Lucas.”

“Seriously.”

“Right, I’m still that Lucas you’ve known since second year.”

“I know that Lucas well, and he could never do something like this.”

“I did it today, didn’t I?”

Then Leo laughed like a child, delighted about something. He probably can’t say it for fear of ruining all the emotion, but his expectation was correct. Originally, this isn’t something I would do…

Actually, it was like this. To give a gift that would touch his heart, I tried to think like a person of this era in this world. How? I did the opposite of the emotionally barren things I could immediately think of.

What I immediately thought of as a gift for Leo was high-quality chocolate that wasn’t too sweet, daily necessities, and such, and because this list came to my mind immediately, these weren’t gifts with a high success rate. Since I couldn’t think of anything else, I first wrote a concise three-line letter following my heart’s lead—which Leo wouldn’t particularly welcome.

While looking at that card, an idea flashed through my mind. I need to do something I wouldn’t immediately think of to make him happy, so what if I wrote him hundreds of letters.

I immediately went to Frankfurt’s commercial district to buy a fountain pen and notebook. I obtained high-quality ink that wouldn’t smudge or fade over time and a book with a leather cover that wouldn’t easily wear out, then returned. Instead of asking the caretaker to wrap the items, I borrowed a room and wrote only text inside from after dinner until 11 o’clock. To be honest, around the 60th day of writing, I briefly seriously reconsidered. Fortunately, I wrote the diary up to mid-November before the Paleolithic experience, and wrote the rest from late November to early April at dawn.

I’m glad it succeeded. Apart from feeling grateful for the sincere words Leo gave me, I thought my arm was going to fall off.

More than that, among the words Leo just said…

There was something that bothered me. There was something I had always thought strange about this world, and my suspicions grew while writing the diary, and among what Leo just said was a word that increased my suspicions. It was worth remembering.

When we came outside, Elias, who had been at the table, ran over and grabbed Leo, asking.

“What did you receive that made his expression like this?”

“What’s wrong with me.”

Whatever Leo answered to Elias’s words, Elias quickly left him and approached me, examining my face.

“Why is this one acting like this too? Luca. What did you give him?”

I patted Elias’s shoulder and approached the gift box sitting alone in the middle of the table, waiting for me. The name written on the card—Lucas Ascanien. There was an animal drawing next to it. I looked at the confetti flying next to the name and various animal faces, burst into laughter, and called my friend.

“Luise.”

“Oh, you got it right away?”

“You’re the only one here who would draw pictures like this… No, wait, it really was you? You went to the commercial district with me.”

Then Ulrike clapped her hands and looked around at our friends.

“Wow~ Look at this, even Lucas couldn’t predict it!”

I don’t know what they think of me. Unless I’m taking a test or facing enemies, I also live with my mind relaxed. The headquarters exam seems to have left a strong impression on his mind. As I just let out a hollow laugh, Ulrike patted my shoulder.

“That’s why when we went out yesterday, I kept talking to you from your side. I needed to know what you liked.”

“Hahahaha! Ah, so that’s what it was… I had no idea and told you everything.”

I thought she was observing with burning eyes to see what I would give Leo. I said while untying the ribbon around the box.

“I’m excited to see what you gave me.”

Then Ulrike, seeming to have somewhat figured out what I had given Leo, grabbed my arm with a shocked expression.

“No! It won’t be as thoughtful as what you did for Leo… Please, absolutely don’t have expectations like that.”

“Ah, I know well what people usually give and receive for Wichteln gifts. Don’t worry.”

Usually Wichteln gifts are items worth around 20,000 won in Korean currency. It’s really just light fun. You can think of it as a game where you give things like the ribbons, party hats, or potato brooches I bought. I would have put my heart into the gift regardless of who I was matched with, just like I did for Leo, but I don’t expect the same standard from other friends.

With all my friends watching me, I looked into each of their eyes one by one while gripping the lid. Then, just before receiving complaints about when I would open it, I lifted the lid with a flourish.

“Oh.”

I picked up a large square paper envelope. When I touched it lightly, I could tell that what was inside was a thin circle.

“Shellac plates?”

“That’s right! When I went to your house before, I saw you had a phonograph.”

Elias, who had been watching from beside me, said quietly.

“Your eye for detail is amazing.”

“Exactly. You remembered…”

When I expressed admiration, Ulrike took out another envelope from the box and said.

“I remember everything! This is a song, this is also a song, this is also a song… I didn’t buy any records that were already at your house, and I chose everything with the opposite mood from what you had at home. And this is something I recorded myself a long time ago to give you! Listen to it on your birthday.”

He said while shaking the pink wrapping. I took it and asked.

“There are still 6 months left until my birthday? Can’t I listen to it right now?”

“No!”

Ulrike firmly took my plate away, placed it on the table, and took out another small box from the gift box. I peered at what he was holding and asked.

“There’s more?”

“Yes, of course. This is a belt for your arm!”

Suddenly? When did he buy this? Puzzled, I took the box and asked.

“Why?”

“What do you mean why, you write a lot when you’re thinking. So when you said yesterday that you used up all the notebooks you bought and were going to buy new ones, I was completely happy thinking I had observed correctly.”

Ulrike, who had been speaking up to that point, half-closed his eyes and let out a hollow laugh.

“Now I know that was just an excuse to give me something, so it’s embarrassing…”

“…No, I really had used up everything I bought and had none left. If I had spare new notebooks, I would have written on those notebooks and given them to you.”

“Right? I thought so!”

Ulrike snapped his fingers to cast a sound-blocking spell and patted my shoulder.

“Leo seemed really happy, so it made me feel good too. Let’s keep going like this!”

“Thank you, Luise. But we were already going like this.”

“Right, let’s do well! Anyway, from now on, don’t roll up your shirt when taking notes, use this to secure it!”

He broke the sound-blocking spell and took the belt out of the box, handing it to me.

It would definitely be used often. I’ve been noticing this for a while, but his observational skills are good. No, it wasn’t just simply storing information, but his ability to apply and connect this stored information to people was excellent. Hmm, connection. Connecting information… I thought carefully and said quietly.

“Luise, if you ever think about doing stocks later, want to share stock picks with each other?”

“You’re talking nonsense like stocks.”

Leo was objecting with his usual gentle face, but I’m serious. I’m currently dividing and investing the money coming in under Nicolaus’s name between the Catacombs, Bavaria, and Elias’s business—I can’t account for the source of funds if I use it continuously for Anhalt business—and every time I do this, I keenly feel that more money is needed for sustained activities. Society needs people who take action, but it also needs people who fund them. Narke whispered beside me.

“Why is this serious? Hahaha.”

“Don’t read my thoughts.”

“Okay.”

I put the belt Ulrike had given me around my forearm. Then Ulrike clapped and was delighted.

“Wow, it really suits you well! I’m glad I bought it in black to match the color of your holster.”

“Thank you. It seems like it’ll really be useful. I’ll use it well, Luise.”

Following Leo’s example, I answered with sincerity, and Ulrike began to smile brightly. For some reason I felt like laughing, so to hide my expression I briefly hugged Ulrike and asked.

“So, Luise. Who did you receive from?”

No answer.

None of the people around answered for him either. Sensing something was off, I quickly removed the arms that had been around my back and looked at Ulrike, who began to laugh out loud.

“Hehehe.”

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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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