How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 5

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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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How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Noble Family (5)

‘Survival possibility?’

Dawn777

―Final ending ‘Chapter X. Death’ in 774 days 0 hours 1 minute 19 seconds

―Change possibility: 0.3% (+0.1%p)

It went up by 0.1%p.

‘That means I’m going in the right direction.’

Good news.

For the time being, I won’t actively answer questions, but I learned that I don’t need to act with the same backward social skills as I did at home.

I can’t live like the original Luca forever.

To succeed in overthrowing the hierarchy, to increase the credibility of my words and actions, I must not maintain my current social position.

To catch up with hyung, who has high reputation throughout the Empire and surrounding countries, I too must move quickly.

Of course, hyung won’t tolerate my changes quietly forever.

Someday, hyung will assign a spy to watch me, or come find me directly.

Then, I just need to improve my skills and lay the foundation to dispel the rumors about me before that happens.

* * *

The first day of classes ended smoothly.

Fortunately, the practical class was also an orientation, so there was no need to use magic.

Since it would be better to postpone magic training until the drug’s effects wore off, I visited the library from Friday evening through the weekend. Focusing solely on studying divine power to raise my technique score even a little, the weekend passed in the blink of an eye.

Finally, Monday arrived, and the first magic practical class began.

“Hello, everyone. Did you rest well over the weekend? Today we’ll practice simple attack magic.”

The professor who called all students to the training ground turned on amplification magic and gave instructions. After the boring introduction, the professor called students one by one to use magic.

‘They’re all quite good.’

Perhaps because this was the Empire’s finest magic educational institution, the students’ skills were impressive.

And… when Leo’s turn came, I retracted that generous assessment.

‘…Not just anyone can be the protagonist’s friend.’

In the novel, Leo was definitely said to not be among the strongest in magic power within the protagonist’s group, but standing with other students, that statement seemed laughable as he alone stood out.

Everything was different from an extra who dies at twenty at his hyung’s hands. If I was going to possess someone, it should have been someone like him.

Even while having these useless thoughts, students’ names continued to be called, and brilliant magic flashed endlessly before my eyes.

Cruelly, the magic practical class allowed no exceptions for anyone unless they were completely absent.

‘All this time, Luca came out unable to do anything.’

Meanwhile, that Leo guy kept watching only Luca.

Then, the professor called a familiar name.

“Next, Lucas Ascanien!”

* * *

“I was surprised. Isn’t that almost the first time you’ve seen him walking around looking like a proper person?”

Friday, the day the new semester started.

A student entered the training ground used by the Department of Magic and poured out words in an excited voice.

Though the sentence lacked a subject, it was obvious who he was referring to. Other students sitting and resting on the ground showed intense reactions and chimed in.

“Oh, I really thought I was going to faint.”

“I saw that guy’s face for the first time today. How long has he been at school, and I’m only seeing his face now? Does that make sense?”

“You haven’t been attending school properly.”

“What are you talking about, damn it.”

The students burst into laughter among themselves.

Regardless of what his friends were doing, one student brought up Lucas’s story again.

“But he seemed like a completely different person. It’s not just that he cut his hair, right?”

“Why be surprised? He probably went home during the two-month vacation and relearned everything from how to walk. Even how to open his eyes.”

“Ahaha! I guess he’s planning to live properly now. I was really surprised when he answered in class too.”

Then a student who hadn’t joined the conversation the whole time and sat with a dark expression shook his head.

“Well, a guy who’s been acting like a mouse at school trying to act normal now…”

At those words, the laughter that had been constantly underlying the conversation disappeared.

It wasn’t because there were always stories criticizing Lucas.

Only after a long silence did one student open his mouth with a playful expression, as if trying to lighten the mood.

“Isn’t that really just a rumor? Even so, that’s a bit much…”

“Why are you being so complacent? If he’s been living like a beggar all this time and came back looking decent because he plans to shamelessly drink blood like other Pleroma bastards, what are you doing having such stupid conversations?”

“No… honestly, he’s tied to the school, would he do that openly? Then the Imperial Court would come to arrest him too.”

“So has the Imperial Court ever succeeded? Why has everyone been avoiding him? Because they’re afraid he might really be involved with Pleroma.”

“…”

The rest didn’t matter.

Has the Imperial Court ever succeeded?

At words that could potentially be charged with lese-majeste, other students exchanged glances while completely frozen.

Then one student waved his hand and stepped forward.

“No, guys. We weren’t trying to talk about this stuff. You calm down too.”

“Yeah, you go outside and get some fresh air. We were just curious how long he’ll keep living like that.”

The student scrunched up his face and shouted.

“No, why are you being so complacent? At this rate…!”

“Useless talk.”

At the cold voice from above, the students looked up.

Leo, who had been listening to his friends’ conversation without saying anything, answered with a cold face.

“Just because appearance changes doesn’t mean essence changes too. What can someone who can’t even use magic do.”

It wasn’t something Leo, who never spoke about other people, would normally say.

Nevertheless, his friends weren’t surprised at all.

Since even Leo, who always smoothed over situations with laughter, had always found Lucas distasteful, there was no reason to feel strange about it now.

One student burst into laughter nonchalantly.

“Haha, that’s true. How can he not even do the basics? It seemed like he couldn’t activate magic at all.”

“Even if he could do it, everyone here knows he’s a donation admission student, so what would improve by showing shitty magic skills?”

“Didn’t they say he can’t use magic because he can’t drink blood?”

“All Pleroma bastards know how to use magic properly even without drinking blood. Regardless of the process, that guy can’t even use magic, so why did he even come here?”

Even though the scheduled training time had long passed, the students’ conversation wouldn’t move away from badmouthing Lucas.

Leo had already dismissed the students’ words and was lost in his own thoughts.

* * *

‘…But you never know.’

Leo, who had been half-listening to his friends’ chatter and staring into space, shook his head.

‘Just because appearance changes doesn’t mean essence changes too.’

Though he said that, it wasn’t that Lucas had no magical ability at all.

The brilliant magic I saw 10 years ago still remains vivid in my memory.

Ascanien is one of the families that can be counted on one hand for magic within the Empire, and unlike other families, they’re characterized by using bright and brilliant magic.

But the magic I saw wasn’t just typical magic that only contained the properties passed down in the family.

Anyone who saw his magic even once would never forget that moment.

It was after seeing Lucas’s magic that I, who had no talent for magic, began studying magic in earnest and came this far.

The time when he changed into his current wreck was around when rumors that he had gotten involved with Pleroma spread throughout the Empire.

Since it was before he enrolled here, I don’t know the details, but from what I heard, he stopped using magic after those rumors spread.

I couldn’t understand it.

If it were me, I would use magic even more freely. So that such insulting and seditious rumors wouldn’t reach my ears.

In this terrible magic supremacist society, magical skill is more powerful than anything else.

With brilliant and strong magic that could silence anyone, why does he act like he’s committed some mortal sin?

‘…Was the magic I saw an illusion?’

At this point, that’s the only possibility that comes to mind. Or that guy is the biggest fool in the Empire and does nothing.

‘Still.’

The Lucas I saw during the day was completely different from usual in every way.

It wasn’t just because he cut his hair that I was thinking this way. Everything had changed—from the look in his eyes to his gait, and even his attitude toward people. He started actively participating in classes too. As if he had become a completely different person.

Perhaps he had a change of heart now.

‘Maybe… I can see it again.’

Leo shook his head at the sudden surge of expectation.

No, I shouldn’t get my hopes up rashly.

But even so, strength naturally flowed into the hand gripping his wand. No matter how much he tried to kill that feeling, the faint hope wouldn’t disappear.

* * *

Monday, it was time for the first magic class.

“Perfect, Student Leo. Next!”

When his turn ended, Leo returned to his seat.

The friends sitting around him didn’t spare their praise.

“Hey, that was cool. You seem stronger than last year.”

“Is that so.”

The empty flattery didn’t reach his ears.

It was just sucking up based on his family background anyway.

They had always been like that since childhood.

Leo’s gaze naturally turned toward Lucas.

He was sitting far apart from the other students as usual, but something was different.

If before he had been completely terrified, now no emotion could be felt from him at all.

To think that bastard could be so calm during magic class—honestly, it was surprising.

‘He’s definitely changed.’

Leo wasn’t the only one who thought so.

Perhaps everyone was shocked by the change, as only talk about Lucas could be heard from around them.

“It’s his turn soon, right?”

“Yeah. About three more? Oh, just two more now.”

The students who calculated the order engaged in heated debate among themselves about whether Lucas would use magic or not.

‘Don’t get your hopes up.’

Leo thought as he let out a deep breath.

Even if he’s changed, how much could he have changed?

He probably has no intention of using magic.

Maybe really, as the rumors say, he joined such a group and has no mana left because he can’t drink blood.

If that’s the case, it can’t be helped, and I have nothing more to say either.

A deep sigh escaped him.

“Next! Lucas Ascanien!”

Leo’s head snapped up.

Lost in various thoughts, it had become his turn before he knew it.

Unlike usual, he walked forward with quite normal steps.

“Begin.”

At the Professor’s dry words, Lucas raised his wand to chest level.

‘…What?’

Leo looked at Lucas with furrowed brows.

The Professor, who had been watching him without much thought, also raised his eyebrows as if puzzled. It was unexpected for a student who should be hanging his head and standing still for a while to raise his wand.

Short gasps could be heard from where the students were waiting.

Crackle—!

At that moment, a red light flashed from the tip of his wand.

And then it immediately died down.

“…!”

“Huh!”

“What?!”

Students’ exclamations could be heard from all around.

Even though it wasn’t magic that a wizard of nearly adult age would use at all, the classroom fell into shock from that feeble magic. Several students rose from their seats.

“Did he just use magic?!”

“What? How did he do that? Wasn’t he unable to use it?”

Leo, who had frozen with wide eyes, slowly rose from his seat in the chaotic classroom.

‘This can’t be.’

I didn’t see it wrong.

However, the surprise was brief.

He shook the hand holding his wand slightly, then without doing anything more, stood still and deeply bowed his head.

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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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