How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 61

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

How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (61)

As expected, he knew.

There’s no need to ask any more questions.

“Yeah. Do you have a moment?”

“Of course. I’ve already collected six stamps, so I have plenty of time. I’ll just buy some food and come over.”

I didn’t tell him where to come, but it’s obvious where we’re going.

“Thanks. Take your time.”

I greeted Narke and headed back toward Elias and Leo.

In the meantime, Fai had moved to Narke’s shoulder and waved at me.

As I approached, Elias smiled and gestured toward Leo with his chin.

“Luca, that guy won a prize.”

“Looks like he did well until the end.”

“He’s pretty good at it. If only I could keep my balance, I could win prizes too~ You should definitely try it later!”

Elias winked with one eye.

Since there had often been incidents resolved using guns, I already knew well enough about the Protagonist’s skills without needing to be told.

Then Leo, who had come over carrying his prize, frowned.

“What are you talking about? You’re not planning to do it now, are you?”

“Later, later.”

“Yeah, that’s a relief. If you walk without crutches now, you might need another month of treatment.”

Elias reflexively flinched. He seemed to hate even the thought of it.

Leo held up the half-human-sized doll he’d won as a prize and asked.

“But what do I do with this thing?”

“Sleep with it.”

“…If I leave it in the dorm room, someone who wants it will probably take it, right?”

Now that I look at it, the doll’s color is similar to Fai’s.

It’s bear-shaped, but anyway, its round appearance resembles him too.

“Don’t need it?”

“Nope.”

“Then try giving it to Fai. I think he’d like it.”

“Hmm? Would an animal that builds houses with stones like this?”

“We’ll find out when we go see him later. I was planning to visit Narke anyway, so if you want to give it to him, I can take it.”

“Ah, you said you had something to talk about earlier.”

Leo handed the doll over to me.

“Think the conversation will be done in an hour?”

“I don’t know, why?”

“Let’s hang out together after you’re done.”

This guy really seems to hate moving around in crowds. It would certainly be more comfortable just hanging out with one or two close friends.

Anyway, once my conversation is over, I’ll be done with everything I need to do today, so it doesn’t matter to me.

“Sure, then I’ll come out to the Main Building later. See you then.”

* * *

“Ah, you’re here.”

Narke, who had been playing with Fai, waved at me when he saw me. He pointed at the doll tucked under my arm.

“What’s that?”

“Leo won it at the shooting range. He said he had no use for it, so I wanted to ask if Fai would like it.”

“You’re giving it to me?!”

Fai circled around on Narke’s shoulder, shouting excitedly.

When I set the doll down on the desk, Fai jumped onto it.

I don’t know how long it will last, but since he says he likes it, I should give it to Narke.

“Haha, thank you. I think he likes it because it’s the first time he’s seen such a big doll. And I bought this from the Department of Public Administration booth, let’s eat it together.”

Narke took out a chocolate cake from a small box.

I had my suspicions, and sure enough, the surface was covered with cherries.

“…”

“The kids really made it deliciously~ Actually, I already ate some earlier, but I thought of it again and bought more. Here, take this.”

Narke pushed the box toward me.

“Thanks.”

“Don’t mention it~ So, I’m getting curious about what you wanted to tell me.”

I wonder if he doesn’t know that much, or if he’s pretending not to know while actually knowing.

I brewed coffee, placed it in front of him, and sat down.

“Narke, I’ll tell you this in advance. What I’m about to say might put you in a difficult position.”

“Hmm, really?”

“So if it’s hard to answer, you don’t have to. But the reason I’m still asking is… from my perspective, it’s something I can’t just pass over. I’m sorry for bringing this up on a day like this.”

The conversation I’m about to have with him will determine how the possibility of change shifts. That is, if Narke is an important figure to me in any sense.

If the value drops, I’ll have to assume that Narke has been hiding his true nature all along and lied to me today as well. From the moment it drops, I’ll have to consider Narke an enemy.

“No, I understand your position without you having to explain.”

Narke closed his mouth for a moment, then continued.

“I also have a vague idea of what you’re going to say. You want to ask exactly why I came here, right?”

“Yes. I can’t go into detail about the evidence myself, but your coming here is related to me. Am I right?”

Realizing that an important conversation was taking place, Fai stopped eating the cherries Narke had set aside and looked back and forth between us. Actually, since his cheeks were already stuffed, saying he “stopped eating” was a bit ambiguous.

I turned my eyes back to look at Narke. He stroked his chin with his finger.

“Hmm…”

He doesn’t seem like he’ll deflect, but let me try to block any excuses.

“When you rescued me from Strauchi’s coordinates, you saw my magic and said ‘as expected, my judgment wasn’t wrong’…”

“…Ah.”

Narke raised his eyebrows slightly.

“Whether you thought I wouldn’t remember because I was dying, or it just came out reflexively, I don’t know, but I need to address this point as well regarding why you came here.”

“Haha, I can’t tell you where I got the information, but there are suspicious parts… and what I said that day is connected to that.”

“That’s how it could be seen.”

“I let my guard down. Right, you already knew that you had received similar authority to mine…”

Narke’s smile had an atmosphere I’d never felt from him before. It didn’t seem intentional, so I just drank my coffee and watched him without showing any particular reaction.

“You’re right, it’s earlier than I planned, but there’s no particular reason to hide it from you. There’s one more reason why I came here.”

“…I see.”

He’s admitting it more cleanly than I expected.

“Of course, what I told you guys was also true. I hope you don’t misunderstand that. Having to live a chosen life from a moment I can’t even remember, still sometimes…”

Narke paused for a moment, lost in thought, then smiled gently.

“There are situations where even I can’t understand myself. I certainly believe in my faith, but separately from that, sometimes I feel disgusted that my unchosen life is predetermined until the day I die, and that I’ll never be able to escape from the path laid out by my family and the Papacy for my entire life.”

‘…Hmm.’

I couldn’t hide my bewilderment. I hadn’t expected to hear such strong words from a clergyman’s mouth.

Thinking about it that way, I could understand why he had left the Papal States. Even though I had known him as a friend first, it wasn’t easy to see him apart from the image that was created later.

After saying that, Narke let out a short sigh and fingered his rosary.

“…Lord, I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”

“Have some coffee, Narke.”

Now that I’m in this position, I understand why the King told me to have some tea.

Narke burst into laughter.

“Haha, thank you. It’s not that I want to turn everything around now. I just wonder if there could have been a life with choices, that’s all. Every time I feel that way, I flip through the scriptures countless times, look through numerous meeting records, and hole up for days organizing my thoughts, but nothing gets resolved.”

I nodded.

It seemed like he needed me to show some reaction, even a small one, to continue talking.

“When I look at those who come to confess to me, I find it amusing. Here’s someone who hasn’t accomplished anything on his own, yet he sits there confidently saying he’ll cleanse others of their sins.”

“…”

“When I’m in a state where I want even my own faith to be validated by someone else.”

Narke muttered and laughed.

I noticed this when they started recklessly recruiting young children just to secure divine power. While the group as a whole has no major problems, individuals aren’t in particularly good condition.

“What I told you guys was really what I’ve been feeling, and it really was one of the reasons that brought me here.”

“Right. I don’t doubt that.”

“And I said there was another reason I came here. Your guess is correct. I came looking for you.”

I looked at him.

I couldn’t sense any wavering in his golden eyes.

Either he had prepared lies ready to tell, or he had no intention of lying at all—one of the two.

“Why?”

“If I said it was God’s word… a nonbeliever like you Lucas would hate that, wouldn’t you?”

How well he guessed that I’m a nonbeliever.

Anyway, it’s true that I want a more understandable answer.

When I didn’t respond, he continued speaking.

“I didn’t come here simply as a student. My official justification is to protect the Empire from Pleroma.”

“The Empire wouldn’t want the Papacy’s intervention.”

“Haha, I’m not trying to ignore that, but this is Pleroma’s home base~”

I had no words to refute that.

Though Pleroma first emerged in the Empire, the Empire couldn’t stop Pleroma from spreading across the entire continent.

What’s holding it back even a little is the Roman Curia. Paradoxically, the Papacy’s authority, which had been on a declining trend, rose even higher due to Pleroma.

But that’s not what’s important right now.

“Then it would be best to use your Cardinal status, but you came here as a high school student without using that status, which still isn’t explained. I want to know the reason.”

“Hahaha… Sharp~”

Narke drank his coffee and continued.

“I knew that you had become able to use divine power. Taking you to the Roman Curia—that’s part of my mission.”

‘Had become able to.’

So his actions did change based on my actions.

“How did you know I could use divine power?”

“I’ll have to answer like you did on this part. Sorry, I can’t explain it precisely.”

He says he can’t speak about the crucial part.

But since I too would find it difficult to present things like novels or favorability as evidence, I understand.

But I need to address a few issues that could determine survival.

“Then how many people know that fact? I’m asking how many know that Lucas Ascanien can use divine power.”

“Fortunately, it’s just the people you know, Lucas.”

“You said taking me away is your mission, but if it was given as a mission, doesn’t that mean your superiors also know?”

“No, I didn’t share information about you. I already knew about your situation from long ago.”

“…”

I’ve come to understand the limits of level 2 insight ability well over the two months I’ve been watching him.

Looking at the level 2 charm trait I actually possess, I can clearly see that traits aren’t omnipotent tools that accomplish anything.

‘So he figured it out through something other than insight.’

Just like my first impression, he’s worth being wary of.

But I also need to think about the fact that it’s safer to keep the most dangerous person close by to watch them. Especially if he knew about my affairs even before meeting me, that puts him even further outside my sphere of influence.

‘Given how things have turned out, I’ll have to keep this guy tied to my side.’

Insight ability is dangerous to make an enemy of, and it’s also valuable in many ways.

To be honest… it would be difficult to treat someone I’ve already gotten somewhat used to as an enemy now. I would if I had to, though.

As I stared intently at him, Narke continued speaking.

“To be honest, the Roman Curia wants you.”

“They want the divine power, not me.”

“Haha, right. That’s it. Since things have come to this, I can’t help but ask… what will you do? Will you come to the Papacy with me?”

Fai perked up his head. To him, going somewhere together seemed to sound appealing.

“…Isn’t this a bit sudden? I’m hearing about this for the first time just now.”

“I’m only saying this because I think it would benefit you. Honestly, if I had to make your fate like mine, I wouldn’t want to do that.”

Certainly… I understand in what sense he means it would be beneficial.

“But if you’re given even one honorary position, it’s true that it becomes easier to oppose Adrian Ascanien. And if I block the Papacy’s unreasonable demands at my level, you won’t walk the same path as me, so there’s really no need to kick away a good opportunity because of my complaints.”

“Right, I know.”

“What will you do, Lucas? Will you come under me? Or will you live as you are without revealing your face to the church? I’ll respect your choice.”

“Is coming under you the only option?”

At my smile, Narke smiled gently.

“That’s the only way I can protect you.”

Certainly, since I can use divine power, there are many places that want to exploit it. It is quite a difficult ability to come by.

And…

The fact that he came looking for me, and that no one else besides him knows I can use divine power.

Beyond this point, it seems like only meaningless talk would continue if I dig deeper, so let me check the change possibility here.

Dawn777

― Until final ending ‘Chapter X. Death’: 693 days 22 hours 43 minutes 47 seconds

― Change possibility: 18.5% (+0.1%p)

It was 18.4% before and after playing poker earlier, but this time it went up 0.1%p.

‘Is it thanks to receiving the proposal?’

The verification is complete with this.

For now, there’s no reason to be hostile toward him. Though there are still unresolved questions, seeing him talk about divine revelations and such, I don’t particularly expect additional explanations to be helpful.

“Not yet. It doesn’t seem like the time to decide that now.”

“Really? I understand.”

“I’ll think about it after finishing this matter. Thanks for the proposal.”

“Don’t mention it~”

“And… it must have been difficult questions, but thank you for answering.”

Narke, who was cleaning up, looked at me silently with wide eyes, then grinned. Then he slightly changed the subject and asked.

“By this matter, you mean the festival?”

“Yeah.”

I only told Elias and didn’t mention it to the other kids. I briefly explained the situation to him.

Narke stroked his chin and said.

“You just need to find the list? That’s simple.”

“For now, yes.”

Since it’s a different time period, I need to be careful, but there haven’t been any special changes in that area so far.

“It seems like you’re planning to find the list yourself. You’ll leave finding Pleroma among them to me, right?”

“…Right. I’ll ask you to do that.”

“Hahaha! Why that expression? It’s not like knowing right away is anything new~”

I smiled lightly instead of answering and got up from my seat.

“Let’s head out now. It’s time to meet Leo.”

“Only 40 minutes have passed. I should gradually head to theater practice.”

“Right… Come to think of it, what role were you playing again?”

I only heard that he was a main character in the Faust play, but I’ve never heard the details. Since I was entirely focused on studying divine power in the classroom, I didn’t listen carefully to festival-related talk.

“You didn’t know? I’ve been playing Mephistopheles from the beginning.”

“Hm?”

A long silence followed.

“…No matter how much I try not to think of you in that image, I can’t ignore this—is it really okay for someone from the Papacy to not only participate in a Faust play but openly take on a demon role?”

“Hahaha! It’s not okay~ But this is an opportunity. No matter how I think about it, I don’t want to live only according to what the family decided.”

This guy too, well…

It’s just my personal impression, but he doesn’t seem like someone who does what others tell him to do.

Still, it’s fortunate that he’s living while doing what he wants.

“You won’t get excommunicated?”

“Maybe if I used up all my divine power, but before that, I wouldn’t get excommunicated even if I went on tour playing Mephistopheles.”

I had nothing else to say.

What kind of response could anyone give to words that clearly criticize the Papacy?

I gave a casual greeting.

“Alright. Then do well, and thanks for today. I’ll be going now.”

“Yeah, see you at dinner.”

“I might not go though.”

“Haha, see you later~ We agreed to compare audience numbers with our Class 1.”

Narke brushed off my words and waved her hand.

After that, I met with Leo and Elias to rest, just like in the morning.

Around sunset, Leo tapped his guidebook and asked.

“You’ve got all the stamps now, right?”

“Oh, I need to collect one more. I didn’t do shooting.”

“Me too.”

I don’t know what use collecting all of these serves, but anyway, since we’ve collected this much, it’s better to get one more and finish it cleanly.

While we were deciding on the last place to go, three or four students wearing Department of Magic badges approached us and asked urgently.

“Leo, have you seen Faust? He’s been missing for five hours now.”

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