How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 456

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

‘…Hehehe?’

What kind of laughter was that? Why? I froze at Ulrike’s innocent laughter. Looking around, I saw Cheringen giving me a subtle smile and eye signal. His golden eyes met mine before turning toward another friend. I followed Cheringen’s gaze.

Elias was tugging at his hair that was half-haphazardly tied up with the hairpin he’d received as a gift. I gestured toward him with my chin and said.

“…That’s Elias. Why?”

“Right, it’s ‘Elias.'”

“…”

Wait a minute. I quickly turned my head again to look at Elias. Elias moved his lips to the side, then closed his mouth while rolling his eyes, doing all sorts of things before cleanly admitting it.

“That’s right. I’m Ulrike Wichtel.”

“…”

Even though Ulrike was laughing, fear came first. So the gift? I gave it properly, right? No, I must have given it well. Otherwise, Ulrike wouldn’t be taking his time like this, playfully grinning.

Now I understood why Ulrike was laughing. He was happy to receive a gift from the only awkward friend on this team. Maybe he was even embarrassed. Elias didn’t answer because he was playing dumb? Leo was holed up in his room so he didn’t know anything. Cheringen wasn’t the type to gossip about others and liked to quietly observe, and Narke… might have stayed silent to be considerate of Ulrike and Elias’s relationship since he knew about it, but more likely he stayed silent because he found it amusing.

‘So Elias really gave Ulrike a gift? Exactly what kind?’

Sorry, but I keep having to ask. Just not saying it out loud was somehow. It wasn’t impossible since their relationship definitely wasn’t bad, but it was still shocking news. I looked at Ulrike and carefully asked.

“Luise. What did you get from Elias?”

“I got two things but both are secret!”

Ulrike laughed with a proud face, his cheeks flushed red. Thanks to him bouncing in place, the light touching his hair sparkled. I only now realized how bright the day was. He was so excited that it was hard to fully grasp his joy from his expression alone. Just looking at him, it felt like his happiness was flowing into me. After confirming once more this sight that was hard to find in any of us, I felt secretly relieved. I smiled along and asked.

“Really won’t tell me?”

“No way! I’m going to keep it to myself like you all do.”

“That’s too bad…”

Then Elias, who had been watching expressionlessly, raised one corner of his mouth before quickly lowering it. I felt puzzled by that expression for a moment. It would certainly be a reaction of pride at having given a proper gift, but anyway, Ulrike should be someone outside Elias’s boundaries, yet that level of reaction was favorable for Elias. At least compared to my memory. Elias spoke in a tone that wasn’t particularly sharp but sounded rough.

“Right, good thinking. Keep it to yourself.”

Then Ulrike showed his teeth and grinned while nodding his head deeply.

What on earth did he give as a gift to get this kind of reaction? I could tell it wasn’t just an object. If he had gifted an opportunity to look closely at each other, even from a distance, then I would be just as happy as Ulrike. I thought I understood why Ulrike worried about the awkwardness between me and Leo and helped us become good friends.

I leaned against the table and looked at the ribbons scattered on the floor and empty boxes, then thought about who had given Elias a gift. I had already seen Elias opening a gift box. Right now Elias had a black jeweled hairpin in his hair, preventing the long hair on the side from falling over his face, which was unusual. Because Elias doesn’t tie his hair. I had only confirmed up to seeing Elias open the box containing the hairpin before watching Leo’s expression, so I didn’t know anything beyond that.

“Elias, who did you get yours from?”

“Oh ho, now you’re curious? Try guessing.”

“There’s no clue except the hairpin…”

Leo? What kind of gift would Leo give? I had already received a gift from Leo on my birthday. While he had cultivated sensitivity through deep and broad thinking, by nature he was the type who greatly valued reason and rationality, so he tended to give practical gifts. Also, I remembered what gifts Leo had given to Elias in the novel over ten years. When he was young, he gave gifts in his own way, but as time passed, he sometimes gave gifts in Elias’s way. According to the data I’d read so far, hairpins weren’t gifts that would be exchanged between those two unless they had special meaning. Leo would just tell him to cut his hair already.

‘Then Julia?’

If it’s Julia, that’s possible.

What’s this about, having all my friends looking only at me? I thought while meeting their round eyes. Honestly speaking, since Elias-Leo-Julia had been close since childhood and were practically like family in some sense, there was no reason for them to only give gifts that showed closeness or that the other person would like.

If it were Julia, since she also secretly enjoyed pursuing pleasure, she would give a gift I couldn’t even imagine. Or she might indirectly reveal political intentions through the gift.

‘…So that’s out. Not Julia.’

I looked at Narke who was sitting at the table looking up at me.

“It’s you, Narke.”

“Ah~ You got it right. What did I give~?”

So the hairpin wasn’t everything. I shrugged my shoulders and smiled.

“Well. You would have given just the right gift.”

Then Elias suddenly butted in.

“Right. I was wondering why this guy kept observing my face the whole time we were walking around together, so I thought~ Ah~ I’m so popular~ But he was just doing that to give me a gift!”

“Haha, no. I was looking because I liked what I saw~”

“Hahahaha!”

Narke’s ability to play along is amazing. Elias put his hand on Narke’s shoulder and started bouncing around the hall. I was already drained and stepped away to look at other friends’ gifts. At that moment, Elias appeared behind me somehow and asked in an ominous voice.

“Why aren’t you asking what I received?”

“…Right, what was it…”

Then Elias pulled out a gold necklace from inside his shirt and showed it.

“A locket and a Vatican quill pen. And the hairpin!”

“What’s inside the locket?”

“It won’t open yet. Narke says it’ll open later. I’ll have to wait~”

It won’t open yet? I glanced at Narke and looked at Leo. Since Leo was also looking at Narke, I quickly changed the subject.

“Now the remaining people are Julia and Narke. Did Leo give to Julia? Or Narke?”

“Julia. Ah~ This was too easy. They’ve been close since childhood, how could I not know their tastes!”

Leo scolded Elias for his complaint.

“What do you expect from drawing lots? And being close makes it more difficult. I already gave all the gifts I could when we were young, so all that’s left are things like potato brooches.”

“What’s with this guy?”

“Right, you bastard. Are you dissing potatoes?”

I looked at Elias who suddenly butted in with even more nonsense. Thanks to that, Leo dismissed even my words as nonsense and said to Cheringen.

“I bought Julia new riding clothes and riding equipment. You read the letter I wrote in the box, right? Come to Bavaria to get it later.”

“Should I understand that as asking to race together soon?”

“Right. Once my arm heals.”

“Thinking of your sincerity, I should win this time too.”

Leo tilted his head indifferently at Cheringen’s smiling provocation. He handled it skillfully like an old friend. I thought that while shifting my gaze. Now the remaining person was Narke.

“Julia must have given to Narke?”

“Right~ I got a book. Wait just a moment.”

Narke smiled brightly while rummaging through boxes.

‘This is just as curious as the gift Ulrike received.’

The two had been in the same class since last October and got along well without any rough edges. Both Narke and Cheringen were friendly with all their classmates and with each other, but they weren’t close enough to know each other’s tastes well.

Narke took out a book and held it up next to his face while smiling.

“Ta-da~ Introduction to Theravada Buddhism and Mage Nirvana Studies!”

“…”

The other friends must have just learned what gift he received, as they all just stood there with their mouths open. Elias tilted his head and asked.

“Wasn’t Julia Catholic~?”

“What does that have to do with anything? The broader your perspective, the better.”

Cheringen gestured toward the book and continued leisurely.

“It just so happens that Narke also got into Buddhism through Max Muller’s translation of the Dhammapada at the Vatican, so we decided to study Theravada Buddhism together starting this week.”

“Right~ I was interested.”

Theravada Buddhism. I only know a bit about Mahayana Buddhism and don’t know Theravada Buddhism well, but if they were going to read together, I wanted to join too.

Then Narke smiled brightly again and gestured.

“Lucas, want to join too? Let’s read three pages a day and discuss.”

“Sounds good. I should buy a copy too.”

“…! Wait!”

Ulrike hastily grabbed my arm. Everyone’s gaze, including mine, focused on him. Ulrike looked at his friends and spoke incoherently.

“Well, what is it. I have somewhere to take Lucas.”

“…Where?”

This was the first I’d heard of it. And what does taking me somewhere have to do with studying Theravada Buddhism? We could do them at different times. When I looked at him suspiciously, Ulrike made a serious face and said quietly.

“Starting now, there’s exactly one thing I want to do with you, Lucas.”

“What is it?”

“I can’t tell you now. When we get back, I’ll go and show you directly. Can I convince you then?”

“What could it be…”

I furrowed my brow and pondered. Perhaps nervous, Ulrike’s hand gripping my arm was gradually tightening. When I became aware for the second time of the grip that subtly tightened and then loosened, I chuckled and answered.

“Well, alright.”

* * *

“I’m going to create a club. How about it?”

We ate lunch at Ulrike’s house and then moved to Bavaria. It was time to return.

After me, Ulrike, Cheringen, and Elias were first discovered in Munich, aside from the headquarters stopping by to investigate the incident, they hadn’t given us any particular orders yet—they firmly believed this prison collapse incident was somehow related to Ishmailov and weren’t yet greatly suspicious of France’s involvement—so we had time, but Ulrike said he had something he wanted to do with me, and I also needed to organize materials about France’s Terminus Yukairya, Ainsiedel, and the Papal States, so it was time to head back. I also needed to receive more treatment.

‘So we decided to go get magnolia branches last.’

Leo told me not to, so I hadn’t cut any yet, and we came straight to Munich’s hospital. He said there was something to do at the hospital first. But what’s this sudden talk about? What club?

After warping three times in a row, as soon as we stepped on the hospital entrance which was our destination, Ulrike enthusiastically said to his friends.

“Buddhism! And alcohol! There are lots of things like that. And I’m going to create a ‘club that can’t be revealed yet.'”

“Ah…”

Technically speaking, I’m also an extrovert, but watching Ulrike’s proactiveness and sociability makes my own extroversion seem fake. As I was suppressing my soul trying to escape from my face, Cheringen stroked his chin and answered.

“Sounds good.”

‘Good?’

It’s just doing what we usually do anyway. Don’t we already have board game gatherings? They always play games with similar members, excluding only me. Sometimes drinking and playing cards, reading books, going out on missions together. Isn’t this just about dividing these everyday activities into groups and giving them names?

“Hmm….”

Still, if this kind of meaning-making pleases Ulrike, that’s fine too. Since watching would be enjoyable, I had no intention of stopping it.

Elias had an indifferent expression but seemed somewhat interested—probably not because he could create a drinking club and have a legitimate reason for alcohol consumption—and Narke was naturally smiling brightly. Since Leo wasn’t stopping us either, that meant he had no objections. Ulrike made an arrow shape with her finger, swept it across our friends, stopped at me and asked.

“Lucas, do you agree too?”

“Yeah.”

“Wow~ Then let’s each come up with a club name by tomorrow!”

‘Can’t we just go with Buddhist club, drinking club, like that….’

Everyone except me was cheering and saying it was good. I could only let out a hollow laugh, then wondered which club I would end up joining.

Come to think of it, I don’t have any hobbies so I can’t join anywhere. Julia and Leo could probably be grouped together for horseback riding, Elias and Haike would be grouped for drinking, Narke would be grouped with Elias, Ulrike and Haike for board games…. Ulrike and Haike could probably also be grouped for photography and picnics.

Only I’m left out. It was ridiculous that I was thinking about this, which made me laugh, but if I had to, I wanted to play along too. I stroked my chin and suddenly said.

“I want to join the Theravada Buddhism small group too.”

Then Ulrike’s eyes widened and she asked carefully.

“…! Then what about with me?”

“What…? You mean that ‘club that can’t be revealed yet’? Give it an intuitive name and I’ll think about it.”

“Hahahaha! You can join two! Hurry up and study Theravada Buddhism.”

“….”

Good. That’s fine, but what are you trying to do with me that you still won’t say what it is? We’ve come all the way to Munich.

Meanwhile, Cheringen extended his hand to me. I lightly slapped his hand. He raised the corners of his mouth in a grin and grabbed my hand to shake it.

“We’re here.”

Leo, who had been walking ahead, suddenly stopped. The sunlight that had been beating down harshly just moments ago was blocked by tree shade. Looking around, this was the hospital’s back garden. Magnolia trees that hadn’t fully bloomed yet stood in rows beyond the marble statues.

Leo pulled out his wand from his waist and tapped it a few times with his finger. The wand extended into a staff. Leo struck down with the staff using his healthy left arm, closed his eyes, and rested his forehead against the ornament at the top. Magical power began flowing from his feet, creating a gentle breeze.

[For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.]

Facing the magnolia trees, Leo quietly spoke while channeling magical power into the ground through his staff. The moment magical power flowed over the ground like starlight, pure white flowers swelled and covered the bare branches. Seeing the magnolias that had been only partially bloomed suddenly open in white splendor left me speechless. Cloud-like petals swayed in the wind. Elias and Cheringen were also silently watching the scene. Ulrike too was gaping with her mouth wide open, looking up at the trees.

Ulrike had originally planned to cut magnolia branches and plant them in pots, but Leo stopped her. He must have been thinking of preserving the magnolias here entirely for Haike. Haike would love it if she saw this. I felt certain of that. Leo slowly raised his head and said.

“I should do the same at Munich Residenz. If I come back and circulate life force before they wither, they’ll bloom until winter.”

“…Wow.”

Ulrike, who had been gaping with her jaw dropped, creaked her neck as she turned her head and exclaimed in admiration. With a flushed face, she shouted.

“Is it okay to use it like this?”

Then Leo burst into light laughter. He answered with an expression that seemed to be thinking of Haike while also reminiscing about his own childhood.

“It’s fine. This is what this ability is originally for.”

“That’s true. Wow, no, wow…!”

Ulrike covered her face with her hands, unable to contain her laughter. She blinked while looking at a window on the top floor where Haike’s hospital room was.

“Then I should buy some other flowers instead of magnolias.”

She said quietly, then turned her head toward the other friends.

“Guys, you’re going to Haike’s room now, right?”

“Of course.”

Elias answered dryly. We had to if we wanted to leave Haike’s share of the Wichteln gifts. Ulrike nodded satisfactorily.

“Then we’re going to take Lucas with us right now!”

Wait.

At those words, I looked at Ulrike.

“We? Isn’t it just you?”

* * *

It wasn’t.

The members of the ‘club that can’t be revealed yet’ numbered three, including me.

Now that we’ve moved to Munich Residenz, behind me are two friends following as if they’re escorting me.

I turned around, conscious of Leo and Ulrike behind me. Then Ulrike pushed me forward again. Then they talked among themselves.

“Leo. It seems like the other friends could spare a bit more time until returning, couldn’t we do something about that?”

“If we just successfully finish the conversation, it shouldn’t be impossible.”

“Then should we gather all seven… no, six of us and go?”

“Let’s just go by ourselves today, see the situation, and adjust tomorrow.”

“Okay!”

‘So where exactly are we going.’

Being this secretive makes me curious. As I was walking with these thoughts, at some point Ulrike patted my back and turned toward a corner in a different direction from me.

“Wait here for just 5 minutes! Got it? We’re going to change clothes and come out!”

“What? Wait—”

The sound of a door closing. Ulrike disappeared, dragging Leo with her. Leo didn’t even try to stop her.

What are they doing that requires changing clothes? And I don’t need to change? Can Leo change clothes in 5 minutes with his injured arm? The more this went on, the more suspicious I became. As I leaned against the wall thinking about their scheme, after about 5 minutes someone tapped my back.

“Oh, Luise, …!”

Luise’s hand suddenly came up to my eyes. My vision went dark because she was pressing down on my eyes. Rather than being surprised, I just found it absurdly funny. I grabbed her strong hand and asked.

“What are you doing? Really.”

“Come on~ It’s not far from here. Let’s go!”

I walked in step with Ulrike while speaking to Leo, who was somewhere behind us.

“Wouldn’t it be polite to tell me in advance? Hey, Leo. Luise is one thing, but you should speak up.”

“We’re going to tell you now.”

“Oh, how kind.”

As I was being sarcastic, Ulrike nervously gulped behind me. Since she’s getting nervous by herself, I felt sorry and had nothing particular to say.

At some point Leo grabbed my arm. Magical power surged through and the ground shook, so he definitely warped us. Sure enough, I felt grass under my feet, then quickly stepped on marble floor again. Ulrike quietly muttered.

“Lucas, are you still wearing the belt I gave you?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. That’s perfect.”

“Why?”

Ulrike didn’t answer my question and asked another one instead.

“…But Lucas, why are you rolling your eyes?”

“Why are you asking?”

“I can feel your eyes rolling through my fingers and it’s scary.”

“Endure it, Luise.”

“Hup….”

Ulrike’s reaction was so absurd that Leo was laughing behind us. I heard the sound of a guard greeting Leo. Then came the sound of massive doors opening.

‘So we’re going like this and encountered guards, that’s what this is….’

I can only laugh. Still, this meant we had arrived. The sound of shoe heels echoes quite a bit. An empty banquet hall?

I grabbed Ulrike’s wrist. Before I could pull it away, cool air touched my eyelids.

“Okay! You can open your eyes now!”

Ulrike gripped my shoulders tightly and shouted. The moment I confirmed the scene spread before my eyes, my spine reflexively went cold.

“…?!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————