How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 553

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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 (553)

“Dear Minister Gaston Levi. Is there something troubling you?”

Mecklenburg opened his mouth without taking his eyes off Minister Gaston Levi’s pupils. It felt like having a time bomb beside me. In this ice-cold atmosphere, I maintained the same expression as before, fully prepared to improvise before Mecklenburg committed a diplomatic discourtesy. The minister, who understood everything despite it being spoken in German, raised his eyebrows and opened his mouth.

However, there was no chance to hear an answer. Before Minister Gaston Levi could respond, Mecklenburg cheerfully raised the corners of his mouth and spoke with a hint of spirit in his eyes.

“Since you’ve come all the way to Germany, I hope you have a comfortable time.”

Yes, good. I was grateful that Mecklenburg was someone who knew proper limits.

Nevertheless, it was an absurd thing to say. This French delegation hadn’t come to participate in Penthalon like before, but was here making unreasonable demands to steal Germany’s information and assess our situation. Their demand was to monitor and judge whether Germany was safe enough that they wouldn’t need to pay reparations to various countries, approaching an equal neighboring nation with a patronizing attitude of surveillance. Particularly since their counterpart, France’s Minister of Magic, was likely one of the main architects of the ‘German Reparations Theory,’ yet he was speaking as if entertaining someone who had come to Germany for leisure. But that was only the surface. Soon, the meaning was that your behavior lacks courtesy and you seem troubled about something—naturally you came because all of Germany is a bundle of worries, but don’t make it obvious. It was quite similar to what I had intended to say.

If the other party answered wrongly here…

“Of course.”

Fortunately, Minister Gaston Levi answered normally.

If he had been slightly displeased, they would have answered something like ‘I hope it will be so as well,’ and those words could be interpreted as meaning—how comfortable could we possibly be in your terrorist nation? Would we naturally become comfortable?—which would have been an answer that provoked the already irritated Mecklenburg.

Thank you for stepping in—even if it was for Germany rather than for me—but we couldn’t stop here. There are times when the injured party can step back and times when they cannot. Before the others could move on to their next action, I turned my head slightly inward, raised my eyebrows, and spoke.

“I’m pleased to meet France’s Minister of Magic like this. I hope you remain safe and comfortable during your stay in Germany.”

“I’m deeply moved by Germany’s hospitality.”

Before he finished speaking, I extended my right hand once more. Then I glanced at the press corps beside us and said.

“I’m also pleased by Your Excellency’s hospitality. Since the greeting seemed insufficient for an occasion that should start well, let’s do it once more.”

We should give them time to take photos, shouldn’t we? I conveyed that meaning with a nod, and Gaston Levi looked at me silently for about a second before grasping my hand deeply. Gaston Levi smiled subtly without showing it and said.

“You seem to like handshakes.”

“Not particularly.”

I’m doing it again because you didn’t do it properly. The other party must have understood that meaning, and if he lacked sense, he would just feel awkward. Gaston Levi spoke smoothly.

“As Minister of Magic, I wanted to meet Adrian Ascanien once, but I ended up meeting Lucas Rene Ascanien first. I’ve heard plenty in France about your excellent judgment and determination. Thanks to that, I’m not worried about today’s verification.”

I looked at the minister with trusting eyes and responded.

The minister’s magic power felt through my hand was unstable in a rather unpleasant way. The casual handshake wasn’t a show of giving face, but came from truly disliking me, yet the minister shouldn’t carelessly show that in this setting. Knowing he would quickly let go of my hand, I applied appropriate pressure to restrain him before shaking it a couple of times.

Mecklenburg politely nodded to me. We stepped back to make room for the Foreign Minister to step forward.

Minister Gaston Levi, who had been looking at us with his head slightly raised until the end, spoke to the Foreign Minister in refined French as if conscious of French as ‘lingua franca,’ as if nothing had happened.

“We are very grateful that you cooperated for continental peace despite our France and various countries’ demands feeling sudden.”

“As you said, it was certainly a difficult matter. Solving the wicked deeds of wicked people in the same way is not a national virtue, but pursuing righteousness certainly brings arduous hardships. I regret that such disturbances occurred today when we are making our best efforts to alleviate those hardships.”

“Hmm.”

“However, since we understand the continent’s concerns well, we’re only pleased to be able to show what efforts our Germany, which chooses to pursue justice, makes for continental security today.”

Then Minister Gaston Levi tilted his eyebrows, pulled up his cheek muscles, and nodded. It seemed like mockery but also like empathy for Germany’s difficulties. If asked, he would naturally claim the latter, but it was probably the former. The skill of subtly insulting when you can’t curse outright was a virtue in this era too. Watching them communicate while each speaking their own language was also laughable.

The Foreign Ministry had already thought about this, and I also had demands I conveyed to the Foreign Ministry. Specifically, that when forming delegations from European countries—if not France—they should accept Germany’s personnel selection. A delegation composed of foreigners designated by Germany would inspect this place. France didn’t respond to that demand, delayed, then accepted it.

“Then, as we informed you in advance, we’ve divided into groups, so we’d be very grateful if you could guide us right now.”

Minister Gaston Levi pointed behind him. Mages wearing Academy Puissance uniforms and uniforms from various countries were lined up horizontally.

“Let’s do that.”

The Foreign Minister readily agreed and introduced several government officials to Minister Gaston Levi. Then he simply gestured toward the building.

“Now let’s go inside.”

They won’t meet the Emperor. We have no reason to welcome them by showing them even the Emperor. France’s Minister of Magic would enter the Foreign Ministry building as is, and hold a brief welcoming ceremony there. Meanwhile, the people he brought would divide into teams and head to various parts of Prussia. As I and the Foreign Ministry had already discussed, our people would directly stick to them to prevent them from crossing the line.

I glanced at Mecklenburg, who was wearing a mechanical smile, and sighed in relief.

* * *

“How leisurely of you.”

It wasn’t really time to feel relieved. We had come to Berlin’s magical chemical factory that produced industrial elixirs used in rampage drug detectors. Precisely, only I should have come. Just me and part of the delegation. Mecklenburg was definitely supposed to handle a different team.

Mecklenburg, who had been glaring with axe-eyes and only raising the corners of his mouth half a step behind me, glared at my muttering and raised his finger to correct me.

“No? I’m not leisurely. I’m following you around.”

“That’s what being leisurely is. Do you think one more person is needed when there’s already me as personnel here?”

“You are the risk group. You are. Those amphibian eaters are just waiting for a chance to use you as a prism to insult Germany.”

“Oh my, is that so. I’m sorry.”

Mecklenburg, who accurately felt the sarcasm in my tone, reddened his face and frowned.

“Don’t tell me that’s going to happen again? I’m not saying anything about you, but unlike us Germans or people from other countries, those French people have absolutely no intention of accepting you as anything other than Pleroma, so someone needs to intervene at the right time to break their spirit!”

He’s about to spit. I quietly pushed away Mecklenburg, who was now shouting in my ear with excessive zeal, and muttered.

“I understand. I get it. Before those French people insult me, I’m going to go deaf because of you, Senior, so please preserve my eardrums.”

“Ugh… Hmm.”

He snorted and was about to purse his lips. Instead, he swallowed his saliva, thinking of dignity. Behind me were three people from Academy Puissance’s research department, probably in their late twenties to early thirties. And two Englishmen, two Dutchmen, two Italians.

A French mage looked around the huge factory, even craning his neck, then asked the Englishman beside him with bright eyes.

“Wow, the chemical bases used in manufacturing are here. I don’t know German well, so do you know exactly what chemicals they use?”

Hmm… He’s asking the Englishman instead of me? I glanced at the Frenchman and said.

“If you have questions, please ask me.”

“Ah…”

The Frenchman was startled and exchanged glances with the Frenchman beside him, then asked with his own version of politeness.

“That would be right. Could you interpret the chemical names written under this cloth? It’s a very interesting space.”

I won’t interpret it for him. Even if I did, the real chemical names aren’t written there anyway. I thought that and smiled as I opened my mouth. At that moment, I saw Mecklenburg’s eyes widen, so I bit my lips and grabbed his forearm. It was useless. While being held by me, Mecklenburg only pulled his mouth muscles to both sides, making a murderous doll-like smiling face as he threatened.

“If you want to know that, you can get a job at this factory.”

“Ah, yes… That’s, that’s right. I must have asked something wrong. I’m sorry.”

The Frenchman, who had no particular malice, answered in a flustered, increasingly small voice and went to another Frenchman’s side to whisper. Mecklenburg smiled with a relieved face. I stuck my face over his shoulder and frowned.

“Senior, are you joking? Don’t be so sharp.”

“I’ve never been sharp. I’m just doing what needs to be done. Technology is national power—should I meekly answer everything?”

“Whew…”

I came out of the soundproofing magic and stood in front of the table that factory officials had prepared in advance. Then I spoke to the delegation waiting for an explanation.

“As you can see, this place makes the base for detecting Pleroma’s rampage drugs. We install artifacts containing the liquid made here in rivers and on the ground.”

I poured diluted rampage drug into a small experimental model and pointed from the electrode connected to that water to the meter panel on the opposite side. An Englishman listening with an enthusiastic face asked in unclear German.

“Why don’t rampagers decrease despite having this drug?”

“First, when drugs are detected like this, we use newspapers and broadcasts to prevent people from approaching that area, but unfortunately there are practical difficulties in controlling everyone. Even if we control ten thousand people from that area, if we fail to control just one person, and if that one person goes on a rampage, the damage spreads in an instant. Since this drug is greatly affected by emotions, even slight contact through breathing can cause rampage if emotions fluctuate greatly. In summary, the reason is insufficient divine power for purification.”

“Can’t you develop antidotes to replace divine power?”

“Of course they exist. But just as we can’t spray medicine for serious illnesses that costs tens of thousands of pels per vial across 247 cities, antidotes face the same situation, so we only use them on patients due to cost issues. Of course, when problems are deemed serious, we also use them on land and people passing through checkpoints.”

“Cost is an important issue.”

The Italian responded by pulling down the corners of his mouth. Since there were no objections, no other questions came up. I spread my hands and waited for other questions. A Frenchman asked.

“How long has this drug been introduced?”

“It’s been two months since it was installed throughout Berlin.”

“Hmm. That’s not too late. If Pleroma’s rampage drugs spread to other countries, could our country also receive this?”

“If it’s export in finished product form, it should be possible.”

Then a serious-faced Frenchman asked at a speed too fast for foreigners to understand easily.

“But are you saying Germany has no intention of providing manufacturing methods and raw materials when Germany provided the cause?”

I was greatly surprised by this person’s direct speech, secondly wondered what country would make such unprofitable calculations, and concluded that they were doing to Germany exactly what they did when stealing resources from colonies. Dogs can’t change their habits. They’re full of thoughts of wanting to chop up and devour even Germany like before unification.

Again I reflexively looked at Mecklenburg. As is generally true for well-known people, it had been a lifelong habit not to spend time checking others’ reactions unless necessary, but this person was ungratefully breaking that habit of mine. As if nothing had happened, I fixed my gaze on the Frenchman, swallowed, and calmly opened my mouth.

“I’m sorry. But that’s a matter that must be discussed between nations. Since I belong neither to the Treasury nor the Foreign Ministry, I won’t be able to give you a satisfactory answer.”

The Frenchman nodded with a face that was slightly dissatisfied but understood sufficiently.

I could see Mecklenburg’s Adam’s apple moving. His jaw muscles twitched from clenching his teeth. I gestured to the delegation to go see another place, then turned back and pushed up the corners of Mecklenburg’s mouth with my thumb. Even while I was being rude, Mecklenburg’s blazing gaze remained fixed on the French people’s backs.

* * *

From Mecklenburg’s perspective, it would be unfair. It really was an unfair situation. The fact that European countries swarmed to Germany like bees to get some share of reparations due to France’s schemes, France’s greed and strategy itself that created such a situation, and the sight of them crawling into Germany and poking around everywhere—all of it would be unfair. Germany had granted permission with various conditions attached because if we refused France’s request for visit permission, France would definitely swagger around saying ‘See, they don’t have systems to show, that’s why,’ but diplomatically, France was being rude.

Around the end of the talks, we came to a restaurant leading the delegation. Now I had come to the banquet hall first before entering the meal. I also met my 101 friends who had handled other teams—Narke and Ulrike—here. Though I couldn’t greet them long since Mecklenburg was behind me. Now someone had grabbed Mecklenburg, so I had come elsewhere.

The Minister of Magic I met first and the three French people who had been with us so far couldn’t be said to have very good attitudes. What could be the reason?

It’s easy to deduce. The French people don’t want to accept my image that was reversed due to speeches in Germany and other countries, and want to continue seeing me as Pleroma that sucks magic power. If they don’t, France loses one powerful means to attack Germany. From such desires, they came to truly believe their own assumptions.

But coming to the banquet hall, French people who seemed to have relatively little antipathy were approaching me one by one. There are various types of people everywhere.

One sociable French mage was even now conversing with me, tilting his wine glass and laughing.

“Articles about how popular you are with students and every class have been translated to France too. You really do seem that way.”

“Really?”

Abraham, that bastard… Of course, just as our media translates French media, French media would always translate German media. I smiled to convey my gratitude. The Frenchman snapped his fingers and asked seriously.

“Germans laugh often too! My prejudices are being broken.”

“Maybe it’s just me.”

“That’s unexpected.”

The Frenchman spread his hand to show he would excuse himself briefly and brought his head close to my eyes.

“It really is just pink in color. It has a unique charm.”

“Thank you. But then, what did you think it would be if it wasn’t just pink in color?”

“Ah, actually…”

The Frenchman grinned and opened his mouth. Just then, an elegant northern accent was heard from behind.

“Your eyes are the same way.”

I felt chills at Mecklenburg’s ghostly presence and thought about wanting to pour the glass I was holding into his mouth. Mecklenburg fixed the corners of his mouth without even a twitch for a single moment, like a smile carved on a porcelain mask.

Whatever Mecklenburg had expected, the Frenchman smiled shyly at those words.

“Really? Thank you. It’s something my mother passed down to me. But your name is…”

“Haha. Both your mother and you have truly impressive eyes. Well then, we’ll excuse ourselves for a moment.”

I stepped back and poked Mecklenburg in the back. He frowned and looked at me. I dragged him to the end of the canapé table and whispered.

“I’m not trying to pick a fight. You can tell from his tone, can’t you?”

“He talked about your eyes.”

“That’s…”

Wouldn’t you do the same? Bringing up eyes isn’t always negative, and this guy knows that fact too, but he’s blinded by ‘patriotism.’ I pressed my forehead as I got a headache and turned my head. Even while I was pondering how to explain this obvious point, Mecklenburg kept talking without rest.

“Listen to this.”

“Please go ahead.”

Now that I looked, there was color in Mecklenburg’s face, as if he had gotten into an argument with another Frenchman downstairs or had been stewing in anger alone. I looked at his face in bewilderment, then ate a canapé from the long table while he chose his words.

“‘Germany provided the cause.'”

“Yes.”

“Does that make sense? Did Pleroma provide it or did Germany provide it? Good grief, this is maddening.”

What are you going to do? You? While inwardly admiring, I simultaneously felt a sense of crisis.

“That’s exactly right. Overall, the French side’s attitude isn’t very good.”

After giving him moderate agreement, I picked up a canapé with a cocktail fork and brought it to Mecklenburg’s mouth.

“Do you like canapés? Eat this and change your mood.”

Mecklenburg took the stick and ate the canapé himself. Feeding him made his mouth quiet. I picked up a glass from a waiter’s tray. I drank the German sparkling wine and asked.

“Senior, do you like Riesling Sekt?”

“Not really… I’m not in the mood to drink.”

Good thinking. I shouldn’t give him alcohol and have him fail at anger management later. There’s still schedule remaining.

Since Mecklenburg’s mouth was resting, I pointed to the canapés. He ate a couple of canapés without complaint, then smiled crookedly.

“Those who eat amphibian meat probably can’t change their mood with flavors like this.”

“…”

Should I tell him that France is famous for cuisine? If the French heard this, they would obviously tell the German eating brick bread and sauerkraut to shut up. Perhaps conscious of French tastes, the food served now was as delicious as what you’d eat at the Imperial Palace. As I turned my head, I slowly scanned the banquet hall. Mecklenburg seriously made snide remarks.

“What are you looking around for like that? You want to kick those people out quickly too, right?”

“No…”

There are a few things to check. I trailed off and scanned the banquet hall. Since his mouth opened again, not wanting to hear a long speech, I silently left my spot. I quickly went down to the first floor, but he wasn’t following right behind me. This would be a good time to look for Narke and Ulrike.

Then a noticeably tall person spotted me and approached. He greeted me warmly in French.

“It’s been a while, Count Ascanien. Do you remember me?”

Esperanza Lafayette from Academy Puissance High School, I could recall his name without difficulty. He looked around and asked.

“Where is the person who gave us the city tour together before?”

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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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