How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 511

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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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‘I still don’t know how to accept that the opportunity to return to the surface has been given by the royal family.’

It was a question and demand from Chief Justice Susanne Nussbaum. A demand to explain the legitimacy of the opportunity given to her. Marian Baum wanted to carefully bring out the words that were organizing in her mind about this. She had to. Only by properly persuading one leadership member could she persuade others.

“First, I would like to state my moderate views as I initially intended to.”

Chairman Nussbaum nodded for her to proceed. Marian Baum cleared her throat and spoke.

“I understand the fundamentalist opinion of all of you that we should not only have our pending rights settled, but that we must directly wield the sword to obtain those pending rights. As a commoner mage who has been persecuted from birth, and as the very person who has led countless fellow citizens to the Catacombs, I ideally wish for that as well.

However, as Chairman Nussbaum said, it is true that a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ has now arrived. An opportunity to minimize bloodshed while grasping the initiative to return to the surface in the shortest possible time, with high chances of success. Realistically, it would be difficult for the Catacombs to fight and win against Prussia, a military powerhouse with 60 million people, with such a small number of people. While we are developing technology for that purpose, considering that the entire Catacombs could be annihilated if we fail, I cannot advocate for bringing armed conflict into reality. The reason I earnestly persuaded all of you not to miss this opportunity is because I cannot disregard the lives of our fellow citizens.

You would say that this is not disregard but viewing it as a means of struggle, but this is a difference in perspective. I am certainly not old, but I have aged to some degree, and therefore I find myself thinking about all of you today and tomorrow rather than dreaming. I hope that our mages can survive safely and live enjoying the rightful life we have all achieved together, the rights that were yours from the beginning. I hope you can directly feel in a society that repeatedly regresses and advances every moment that your struggle was never in vain. That progress was made possible by your struggle. While dedicating one’s life to values and dying is also a noble thing, I do not want you to die having been oppressed for a lifetime. I hope you can be happy not in Christ’s heaven, but right now, at this moment, on the surface.”

At those words, Chief Justice Nussbaum closed her eyes. Remaining in that state for a while, she slowly nodded. Marian Baum, to show courtesy, spoke the words that Chairman Nussbaum might be thinking instead of the silent chairman.

“Of course, Chairman Nussbaum could respond to these words by saying, ‘Rather than compromising with the opportunities of reality, it would be better to fight Prussia to the end and go to heaven, even if it means annihilation, as that would not be shameful to me and my colleagues.’ To such a person, I might appear as a shameful opportunist, a middle-aged person with a weak and soft heart, a typical member of the older generation who has lost the passion of youth and only wants to think of realistic solutions. Yes, I think of myself that way. I am a republican who fervently desires a republic, yet I worry about the radical opinion that ‘since it’s fundamentally wrong, we must establish a republic right now,’ and the reason is that I think the consciousness of the current 100 million imperial citizens has not developed sufficiently to establish and maintain a democratic republic. Our fellow citizens say nothing no matter who gets massacred on the surface. I have no grounds to highly evaluate the civic consciousness of those who are active bystanders. So at least I cannot be called radical. Of course, I know that the Catacombs return movement and the republican movement are never the same, and that monarchists exist even within the Catacombs. They believe it’s better to maintain a constitutional monarchy where parliament and national elections function rather than pursue unnecessary changes that would weaken national power. And there would be hardliners there too. Compared to them, I am bland. I might appear so bland as to seem like a monarchist. I am someone who maintains moderate positions in so many dimensions, both in the Catacombs return movement and the republican movement.”

“I understand Teacher Baum’s realistic sense.”

Chairman Nussbaum answered stiffly. Marian Baum smiled, knowing this would be the case, and continued speaking.

“Then we have something in common in that we often block ideals while bringing up reality. Now may I speak about why I had no choice but to maintain a moderate position?”

“Until time leads us to the council chamber, by all means do so. I too wanted to ask all moderates about this. I’m particularly curious why Teacher Marian Baum, who is directly experiencing many crises on the surface to bring mages here, does not agree with Chairman Schweitzer’s intentions.”

“The answer lies in what Chairman Nussbaum just said. Frequently traveling between the surface and the Catacombs, or more precisely, my habit of deliberately seeking out and getting involved in surface crises, is exactly what led me to moderation.”

Chairman Nussbaum, who seemed interested as she blinked, looked once at the leadership colleagues taking their turn to go down to the surface, then sat back down. Marian Baum spoke.

“As you know, I bring commoner mages from Bavaria to the Catacombs, and I do such work in neighboring countries outside Bavaria as well. Sometimes in Prussia too. I lure commoners suspected of being mages to Bavaria and then bring them into the Catacombs.”

“When speaking of our Catacombs’ population growth, Teacher Baum cannot be left out. All of our leadership always gratefully acknowledge your contributions.”

“Thank you. I intentionally seek out mages and those moments of crisis. Perhaps it’s a foolish thing to do, but as a result, I frequently experience and witness crises that most people might experience once or twice in a lifetime. Bitterly, even things one has experienced personally, most detailed sensations remain in the realm of memory and images rather than reality after a long time passes. Only intense anger and righteousness remain in the realm of reality for a long time, but other things generally do not. For instance, the fear I felt when I had to decide whether to run into the left alley or the right alley to survive while fleeing from police, the despair and anxiety that dominated my chest when that fear drained strength from my thigh muscles, the memory of reason that had to hold on to not collapse from such a mixture of emotions, repeatedly becoming blurred and then returning, the gradually overwhelming despair and faint hope that arose from being burdened by this, the myriad emotions of that moment when fear and pain rose to just before crossing the threshold, making me wonder if it wouldn’t be better to just give up and find comfort—all of these cannot easily remain intact.”

Chairman Nussbaum nodded.

“Since I began actively bringing people to the Catacombs, those myriad emotions have had no chance to dull within me. I saw not long ago what faces fleeing people make. I also know well how much the fingertips of people pretending not to be mages while sitting in the same tavern as police shake. That is something I experienced long ago, but it’s also a scene I encountered recently. I’m certainly not saying that you can pursue ideals because you don’t repeatedly experience the hair-trigger environments occurring on the surface. Since there are ten thousand paths for ten thousand people, not all moderates became moderates by thinking and experiencing like me, nor did all radicals become radicals by thinking and experiencing opposite to me.

But ‘I,’ who frequently witness flight and summary executions and ordinary people who must pretend not to be mages, wish only for their safety. From the position of struggling to save even one more person, I can only say such things. If all those lives should know they will be sacrificed either to Prussia or to carrying out the Catacombs’ great cause or to the times, if I must think that way—”

Marian Baum, who had been staring into midair without blinking once, moved her lips and then focused. She looked at Chairman Nussbaum and said.

“If I were someone who thought that way from the beginning, given my innate temperament, I would not have done the work of bringing even one more person to safety, bringing Prussians to Bavaria. That’s why I am a moderate. At least this is the process I went through to remain a moderate. So I’m saying we should use the current opportunity to save many people. At least all moderates will agree on this conclusion, and radicals will essentially agree as well.”

Chairman Nussbaum only looked into Marian Baum’s eyes. Surely she would want to refute and have much to say. But she said nothing for Marian Baum’s sake. Perhaps because she was originally a taciturn person. Marian Baum spoke as her heart and mouth led her.

“Now that I’ve explained what my moderate perspective means and how it functions, I want to clarify the rest. I hope for the improvement of ‘current’ reality, not any other time, and I do my best for that, but in the midst of this, it should be natural not to damage the Catacombs’ self-respect, dignity, and autonomy. Methods that could damage self-respect, dignity, and autonomy are actually stopgap measures and can only be incomplete peace. No matter how much I want immediate damage reduction, I don’t want such stopgap measures.”

Chairman Nussbaum, who had maintained a solemn expression throughout, showed a different light on her face for the first time. Chairman Nussbaum had the opinion that they should militarily oppose Prussia to maintain rather than damage autonomy, so she had no choice but to pay attention to these words. At this point, we must recall what she had said. ‘However, I still don’t know how to accept that the opportunity to return to the surface has been given by the royal family. I did not want this kind of moderation.’ Marian Baum spoke without wavering.

“In short, I think the current opportunity is not a method that could damage self-respect and autonomy.”

“Then what kind of method do you think it is?”

“Let’s say there’s a bear. We are victims who lost family and home to the bear, and village residents who became hunters to survive afterward. Let’s say the bear that killed people and ruined crops while devastating our village carelessly wandered around and ended up falling into a pit by itself. The village chief, who had been racking his brains over the bear with us, discovers this scene and suggests we go together to either catch the bear or quickly set traps before it gets out. So we can take nets and guns to catch it before the bear leisurely escapes and goes on its way. Whether we go with the chief or not, we can go anyway. But now, even though we have the skill to kill the bear with nets and guns, we’re backing away saying this isn’t proper bear hunting because we didn’t discover the fact that the bear fell into the pit ourselves, but the village chief told us. Or we say our revenge won’t allow us to catch the bear together with the chief, so we’ll catch it alone.”

Since Marian Baum was not accustomed to detailed discussions like Chairman Nussbaum, she thought this might be a crude analogy for the chairman to hear. But retreating due to anxiety wouldn’t enable her to convey her meaning. Marian Baum spoke steadfastly and calmly.

“As Chairman Nussbaum said, it’s true that a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ has arrived. However, when you said ‘the opportunity to return to the surface has been given by the royal family,’ if that ‘opportunity’ is the same as the previous ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,’ I want to correct this expression.”

“How so?”

“The bear falling into the pit—this is the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity given to us.”

At those words, Chairman Nussbaum, who had been expressionless throughout, raised her eyebrows, opened her mouth slightly, and smiled. She wasn’t considering it nonsense. If she had, Chairman Nussbaum would have characteristically said nothing and quietly waited for the right time to correct it. She was encountering a view other than her own thoughts and was genuinely intrigued from a scholar’s standpoint. To Marian Baum’s eyes, her smile was that kind of smile.

Marian Baum spoke calmly.

“The village chief telling us ‘if we do this and that, we might be able to prevent the bear that fell into the pit from getting out, so how about we go catch it together’ is also an opportunity in some sense, but the most opportunity-like opportunity, the opportunity in the most essential meaning, is the fact that the bear is in the pit.

In other words, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity I’m thinking of doesn’t refer to what Chairman Schweitzer called ‘the royal proposal,’ but rather the political reality that Prussia created by itself. Fundamentally, the opportunity was given by Prussia being in that position. Prussia’s politics, wrong from the start, has led them into the current political landscape and diplomatic flow. Our true opportunity is not Bavaria’s cooperation proposal or anything else, but the fact that the optimal political-diplomatic situation has unfolded where we can corner them through Prussia’s voluntary foolishness. This is the true ‘never-to-come-again opportunity.’ Then what is Bavaria’s cooperation proposal to us?”

Marian Baum didn’t wait for an answer. Chairman Nussbaum had no intention of answering either. The two knew the answer without a word in their strangely heightened calmness. Marian Baum spoke.

“This is not a never-to-come-again once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, but first, a ‘monumental and historical event’ and second, an ‘opportunity to gain an alliance.’ Chairman Nussbaum would know the difference between the former and the latter.”

“I know well.”

“Then please tell me. I too want to know Chairman Nussbaum’s judgment, which can examine things more thoroughly than I can.”

Marian Baum inwardly anticipated what answer she would hear. Then Chairman Nussbaum sharpened her already keen eyes even more, fell into thought, and soon spoke mechanically again.

“First, you must note that the opinion I will now present emphasizes the relativity between words, so it is never absolute. The first, ‘monumental and historical event,’ is a complete expression by itself. Bavaria’s proposal expressed the will of state power to ‘reestablish relations with the Catacombs from now on,’ which is an event in itself. This was decided by Bavaria, given by Bavaria, and concluded by Bavaria along with the proposal. Therefore, the ‘event’ here is less dynamic compared to ‘opportunity.’ The word event implies that whether we accept the proposal or not, we maintain a certain distance from it. On the other hand, ‘opportunity’ implies that we are somewhat subordinated by the subject or flow that created that opportunity. If it’s an ‘opportunity to do well on a test,’ it naturally implies being primarily subordinated to the situation of having to take the test. Calling Bavaria’s cooperation proposal a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ means that ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ signifies we are in a dependent state where we cannot do without Bavaria’s cooperation, and calling Prussia’s being caught in the trap of the political situation they dug for themselves over a very long time a ‘once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’ means we are subordinated to and completely dependent on the influence of the political situation. And being subordinated to the influence of the political situation is the same for any country or organization.

Next, second, ‘opportunity to gain an alliance’ is too biased in position and abbreviated in expression, but neutrally corrected, it becomes ‘opportunity to accept or reject Bavaria’s cooperation proposal.’ The emphasis of this opportunity is on ‘accept or reject,’ which means we are subordinated to a ‘choice situation,’ not that we are subordinated to Bavaria’s will.”

Chairman Nussbaum paused for a beat and then concluded.

“Teacher Marian Baum just said we are ‘actually’ in a non-dependent state. She also pointed out that radicals including myself have used the word ‘opportunity’ indiscriminately. Just as I analyzed the meaning of bystander earlier. I pointed it out first, but I got it back in return.”

Marian Baum shook her head and moved her body closer to him.

“Chairman. I don’t think we’re defeating Prussia by borrowing Bavaria’s power. Do you know? We are writing history at this very moment.”

Marian Baum spoke while feeling again the emotion that had truly surged from her heart earlier.

“Chairman Nussbaum wants everything to be accomplished thoroughly by our own hands. Because you believe that is truly autonomous overthrow. However, we are not being passively swayed by external currents. We are actively utilizing them. We are debating all these topics and directly choosing to build the Catacombs’ future. Even if Bavaria proposed cooperation, that remains just a proposal, and the decision-making power to act is given to us, and other alternatives also exist for us. Those alternatives are the war plan that you radicals have and the status quo maintenance that we moderates have as a second plan. Also, even if we reject Bavaria’s proposal, our advanced technology that can guarantee our defense proves the effectiveness of those alternatives, as there will be no invasion, blow, or change to our small nation right now. That’s why I don’t conclude that the relationship between Bavaria and us is vertical. We are not grasping the hand of salvation extended by the royal family from a dead end with only one option, but seeking ways to promote the happiness of all commoner mages in a horizontal relationship.

At this time, deciding to choose one of several options and act is a result of our Catacombs’ efforts, having the technology to make it successful is also the Catacombs’ effort, and the clarity that presents measures to eliminate the chaos scheduled after the opportunity and doesn’t carelessly overlook anything as part of that is also our capability. Chairman Nussbaum, I think your pointing out my mistakes to me in order to prepare thoroughly for all calamities that could befall the Catacombs while looking to the future is the greatest will and practice that constitutes autonomy. From the point that we can find and move toward a healthier path through such daily discussions and debates, we already possess autonomy.”

“….”

“I think dismissing this process as merely going down to the surface thanks to Bavaria treats the value of democratic decision-making as too insignificant. Even for me, who is not a radical, if this matter had been entirely ‘an opportunity arranged by Bavaria’ or ‘something accomplished thanks to Bavaria’s favor’ or ‘Bavaria’s beneficence,’ I would not have accepted it. Calling it that is not appropriate. That’s not a matter of courtesy toward Bavaria, but a matter of courtesy toward our Catacombs. I think saying ‘the opportunity to return to the surface has been given by the royal family’ by mixing Bavaria’s proposal and the political situation without distinguishing them was an error that arose from not respecting our Catacombs’ capabilities and focusing only on the strength that the great power called Bavaria possesses. This misused expression was one that made us look down on ourselves.”

When Marian Baum finished speaking, Nussbaum readily nodded.

“I agree too. It was my slip of the tongue.”

Marian Baum had inwardly worried that Nussbaum’s feelings might be hurt, but she realized it was an unnecessary concern. She now knew she would be late for the meeting if she left, but she continued speaking.

“And I want to look at this matter from a somewhat different aspect again.”

Chairman Nussbaum also knew they would be late, but she didn’t stop her. Marian Baum couldn’t tell what Chairman Nussbaum was thinking, but she was already deeply immersed in the current discussion and spoke resolutely while trying to speak as quickly as possible.

“I used an analogy, but now it’s time to return to reality. Our opponent is not a bear. Our opponent is a sophisticated, intelligent, complex, and strategic nation. Particularly, that nation is one of Europe’s undisputed powers, a hegemonic state that began seizing power relatively recently within Europe and rose at an extremely rapid pace. That is Prussia. While Prussia takes pride in war, the reason they value war victory is not in war itself. Fundamentally, it’s because they stake enormous pride and benefit in maintaining the title of Germany’s hegemonic state, the title of Europe’s new hegemon, in name and reality.”

“That’s right.”

“I question whether we should give up despite the existence of a powerful method that can immediately weaken a nation’s influence by applying the greatest political brake to Prussia right now. Right now, Bavaria and the Catacombs moderates are cooperating to smash Prussia’s foremost value. Therefore, the current method, which might seem moderate, is not as moderate as the radicals expect in terms of results. It is the greatest declaration of war we can send to Prussia and a clear statement of rebellion that power will no longer belong to them. They followed militarism because they were a small nation, became a great power because they were a militaristic nation, and are maintaining militarism and nationalism to keep their position as a great power. It’s taking away the greatest value Prussia wants to protect, and the value that is no different from their identity.”

“….”

“Are we still using methods that are not powerful?”

Chairman Nussbaum was now wearing a satisfied smile. She stroked her chin alone, smiled, fell into thought, returned to expressionless, and repeated this before opening her mouth.

“Nothing can be accomplished alone. In fairy tales, often in fantasies, characters can achieve everything from one to ten by their own power and return home, but that’s why it’s fantasy. I expected to hear this kind of talk from Teacher Baum.”

“Did you?”

“But Teacher Baum thinks in other ways too.”

Nussbaum’s words were praise in themselves. Despite their different positions, it was no different from acknowledging Marian Baum’s heart for the Catacombs. When Marian Baum was wondering how to respond, Chairman Nussbaum brought her head closer to her.

“Let’s not use the bear analogy carelessly in front of the public.”

“Pardon?”

“I understand that analogies can be strategic in persuading many people and that analogies cannot match actual phenomena 100%. However, giving analogies to audiences who can critically interpret analogies and find appropriate limits on their own is different from providing analogies to audiences who cannot. The crowd includes all these types of people. Also, some audiences, when they realize critical points, tend to point them out loudly without thoroughly examining their own views according to their realization, and negative remarks always have the characteristic of easily gaining power, so such rebuttals can spread to the latter type of crowd and return to Teacher Baum without being judged for their logical consistency. The latter type of crowd can point out Teacher Baum’s logic while making illogical rebuttals themselves. In other words, it’s the shackles of thoughtlessness.”

“…Ah, yes. I see.”

Marian Baum became serious, frowning and touching her lips. If she had heard this first, Marian Baum would not have used the analogy. Marian Baum was accustomed to methods of softly opening individuals’ hearts because she had to show familiarity to one or two people and persuade them. Therefore, she used analogies as she always did, but Chief Justice Nussbaum, who always analyzed everything coldly, was different. Chairman Nussbaum acted considering the characteristics of crowds. Marian Baum newly realized that Chairman Nussbaum was a strict person and felt once again that she was an essential talent for the Catacombs in times of confusion.

“Teacher Baum.”

“Yes.”

“This is not the time to meet with the Prince. We should ask the Prince to postpone the schedule and call back our leadership members who have moved to the surface. Earlier I wanted to meet with the Prince first and then speak again if things flowed toward cooperation, but no. Say all of this in front of them right now.”

“Why?”

Marian Baum was flustered by this suggestion but asked calmly for now. Chairman Nussbaum shook her head.

“I think we alone should not monopolize Teacher Baum’s opinion. Because it is too fundamentally based compared to ‘bystander.’ It’s correct that saying ‘the opportunity to return to the surface has been given by the royal family’ by mixing Bavaria’s proposal and the political situation without distinguishing them was an error that arose from not respecting our Catacombs’ capabilities and focusing only on the strength that the great power called Bavaria possesses. It’s also correct that this misused expression was one that made us look down on ourselves. It’s also true that our leadership developed discussions based on such a position.”

Chairman Nussbaum stopped speaking and fell silent. She looked straight at Marian Baum and said.

“We don’t know whether the Prince’s position will be the same as ours or not. But whatever their side is, we need to correct the self-respect of the Catacombs that we insulted. We also deserve to have the opportunity to correct the meeting that was developed based on the wrongly used ‘opportunity’ from the start. That is not what Bavaria deserves, but the right of our leadership members who must make democratic and virtuous decisions through meetings.”

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