How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 65

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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 Family (65)

This is also a signal that Pleroma won’t just sit still either.

Especially toward Nicolaus Ernst, and the crown prince and Kingdom of Bavaria who supported him, they’re openly displaying their desire for revenge.

The insect incident also came to nothing, and they lost an important figure they had planted in the Federal Committee, so from their perspective, the losses are already considerable. It’s not strange for them to come out like this.

‘That doesn’t mean they only consider Bavaria as a target for revenge though.’

If that were the case, they would have committed crimes on Bavarian soil.

Pleroma also harbors anger toward the Imperial Court and the Empire’s government.

But…

‘The fact that not all the victims died is worth examining once more.’

All the victims are mages and nobles. If they had killed them, it could have escalated into an all-out war between Pleroma and the Empire.

So this is nothing other than a warning. A warning not to interfere any further.

‘Now I understand why Narke said it wouldn’t be a big problem.’

Right now, plays and such are not the issue.

In effect, they’ve essentially agreed to entering a semi-wartime state.

To this extent, Hyung’s attention will inevitably be diverted to Pleroma’s crimes.

‘…And I’ll need to check the movements on the Papal States’ side more thoroughly too.’

Hyung’s work was said to take a year, or possibly longer. So there are at least 9 months left until he returns to the Empire, but if the situation changes, Hyung’s assigned work could change too.

I finished my thoughts and looked around.

Terrified voices that weren’t organized at all were popping up here and there, grating on my nerves. People from the hospital were carrying Oswald away on a stretcher.

The amplification magic deployed in the air again, and a new announcement was heard.

[Attention to all students of Imperial 2nd Education Institute. From 11:10 PM, access to all buildings except the Administration Building, Main Building, and School Hospital will be restricted. All students must immediately move to the Main Building.]

* * *

“I’ll call attendance.”

Even though it was past 11 o’clock, we couldn’t return to the dormitory. The school had locked most buildings, and investigators from the Imperial Court were walking around the campus.

The Professor called attendance with a dark expression.

Excluding Oswald who was taken to the hospital, all remaining 49 students were present. The Professor closed the attendance book and opened his mouth.

“As you know, an incident occurred today in the capital where mages were attacked. External access will be impossible for the time being, but I hope students will maintain vigilance even within the school… and always be careful.”

The Professor deliberately didn’t look in my direction, but the students’ gazes briefly stuck to me before falling away.

It’s obvious what they’re thinking.

Anyway, since I’m not Pleroma, I had no choice but to meet the eyes of the students looking at me. When our eyes met, the students hastily averted their gazes.

The Professor organized his seat and approached the door, saying.

“Wait in the classroom. I’ll give another announcement when the dormitory is opened.”

I looked around at all the students.

Whether because of the play or because of Pleroma, students who kept glancing at me continued to appear.

‘I’m grateful for the Professor’s meddling.’

It’s a situation where I, who am considered to be Pleroma, could get caught in the crossfire. Whether I went outside or not during that time would have become a very important issue.

Thanks to the Professor assigning Leo to me, I have a clear alibi.

Just in case, I checked the favorability of students whose eyes met mine, and since it wasn’t very low, it seemed they weren’t genuinely avoiding me but rather glancing at me because rumors are rumors.

‘More than that, now is… not the time to think about that.’

I looked toward where Leo was sitting.

Leo was hanging his head with unfocused eyes the entire time.

He probably wanted to immediately move to Bavaria and discuss countermeasures with the King, but couldn’t because the school was controlling access. Especially if royalty, who are like the face of the nation, went out and something happened to them, it would become an unbearable problem for the school.

Those from Bavaria also didn’t look very good.

Melvin was among them, and whether due to high energy consumption from the incident, judging by his expression alone, he was almost dying.

The Vice-Class Representative looked at the depressed class atmosphere and carefully went to the front of the lectern.

“Hey guys.”

The students raised their heads and looked at him. The Vice-Class Representative just rolled his eyes with a face wondering if he came out for nothing, then finally opened his mouth resolutely.

“Let’s go visit Oswald at the hospital tomorrow.”

“Yeah… we should go.”

“Isn’t that obvious?”

“Were you not planning to go?”

“No, no… what do you mean not go!”

The Vice-Class Representative gave a hollow laugh and shook his head, then raised his voice as if absurd.

Even in this situation, there’s someone making jokes…

But thanks to that, several students smiled slightly. Although it wasn’t a proper smile but closer to a hollow laugh, the atmosphere relaxed a little.

The Vice-Class Representative looked around at such students and opened his mouth.

“Thank you all for working hard on today’s festival. It must have been difficult balancing studies and practice during all the preparation, you all worked hard, and thank you to our class representative for putting in so much effort.”

Leo finally raised his head and smiled. But it didn’t last long.

“Um, also at the end we almost had… problems. Lucas.”

The Vice-Class Representative looked at me.

Other students’ gazes also focused on me.

“We suddenly asked you to take over with 20 minutes left, but thank you for doing well, and sorry for how flustered you must have been. Everyone feels that way, right?”

“Right, thank you~!”

Elias suddenly interjected, widening his eyes and sending somewhat threatening looks to other students. I’m grateful for the sentiment, but there were students nodding and agreeing even before that.

‘…Whatever the case, this kind of atmosphere is a bit hard to endure.’

If this were reality, I would have immediately changed the subject. Anyway, since this is a beneficial situation for me now, I have to endure it.

“Thanks to you, we were able to show well what we prepared for 2 weeks, and many audience members gathered. I remember you haven’t often participated in class events before, but in the future… let’s work hard together when there are events.”

“Sure.”

As if the Vice-Class Representative didn’t expect me to actually answer, he paused for a moment then opened his mouth again.

“That’s a relief. I’ll look forward to it, Lucas. Lastly, everyone really worked hard today, and when we get to the dormitory, let’s not think about today’s events and rest well, guys.”

The students responded with applause.

Thanks to someone bringing up the topic about me, the suffocating atmosphere was considerably relieved. It seemed he tried to fulfill his role in place of the class representative.

And…

‘It’s fortunate that attention was diverted from Pleroma to the play.’

My impression, that is.

Just when I had managed to change the direction of my image a bit, before I could properly feel it, wariness about Pleroma was being cast on me once more, but at least it got some fresh air.

Then, the Professor came in and knocked on the desk.

“Everyone, first-years are currently moving to the dormitory. Class 2 will leave in 10 minutes, so pack your things.”

* * *

Around 4 AM, the campus investigation ended, and the investigation of external visitors to the school was also completely finished, with everyone leaving the school.

I went up to the dormitory rooftop and found Leo leaning against the railing, looking down at the school.

―”Leo.”

Leo turned toward me.

Since I asked Elias to tell him, Leo knows I can speak through divine power.

Though this would be his first time experiencing it directly.

I sat at a table some distance away and gestured for Leo to look back down at the school.

“I’m not in the mood for that right now.”

Leo cast a sound-blocking spell and pulled out a chair on the side not visible from other buildings to sit.

―”You were watching carefully the whole time and now you’re acting like this.”

“You must have something to say since you came here.”

―”Yeah, I came to have a strategy meeting and check on your mental state.”

“Strategy?”

―”It’s not about this incident. I haven’t told you about it.”

I briefly explained my plan to Leo.

Leo looked toward the forest behind the school and muttered.

“I see. You need to bring the orphanage list… this really isn’t about this incident.”

―”Right.”

“But seeing as you’re telling me this now, you have no intention of canceling the plan.”

Whether it’s Elias or this guy…

It’s good for me that they understand quickly.

I continued speaking while turning the pages of the book.

―”Right. But if the kingdom tells me to restrain my activities, I won’t refuse.”

“That won’t happen. I won’t move according to what those bastards want.”

Leo answered firmly.

I glanced at him briefly and looked back at the book.

―”Good, that’s a relief.”

So he doesn’t regret it after all.

This incident occurred because Pleroma harbored hostility toward the Empire, Bavaria, and Nicolaus.

It’s a situation where he could blame himself for needlessly provoking Pleroma and putting innocent citizens in danger.

―”So what’s your opinion on pushing forward with this plan?”

If we succeed with this plan, it would mean completely ignoring Pleroma’s warning. It might create new victims.

“Do it.”

―”Simple enough.”

“Bavaria has no intention of restraining Nicolaus. Pleroma should know that, right? Rather, I’m grateful you brought a new plan at such good timing.”

Despite his moderate smile, there was a chill in his tone.

“….”

He seems angry.

Regret? What regret? I misjudged. He wasn’t someone with such weak mental fortitude.

Feeling guilt and regret are natural emotions, but much depends on how long you carry them and how you sublimate them. Fortunately, he seemed to have escaped from his earlier anguish.

Anyway, he’s right.

If Nicolaus publicly crushes Pleroma again despite their warning, Pleroma would be considerably enraged.

Unless Bavaria chooses to bow down to Pleroma, Nicolaus’s activities would always be welcome.

―”What if new victims emerge?”

“….”

―”Bavaria has exactly two options. Either confront Pleroma head-on, or truly stay silent. There’s no middle ground.”

I asked about this indirectly earlier, but since it’s an important matter, I need to address it more clearly.

Also, I have a proposal for Bavaria.

But since there’s no way to contact them in the current situation, I have no choice but to send a letter in Leo’s name… If Leo shows even the slightest hesitation when I ask again, I’ll have to postpone making the proposal through him.

After a long silence, Leo spoke.

“If you’re asking not me as a person but my position, we must accept immediate damage. Losing to Pleroma’s warning would bring greater long-term damage.”

‘…Hmm.’

I nodded.

With this kind of resolve, I can discuss it with him.

Then Leo continued.

“And we have a plan too.”

* * *

Two hours later, I picked up a newspaper issued at 6 AM from the dormitory lobby.

[Bavarian Royal Magic Department establishes External Defense Mobile Unit… Prince Leonard Wittelsbach of Bavaria and Nicolaus Ernst first to join]

From today, Nicolaus was assigned to the Pleroma Processing Unit operating in the capital.

I had only been thinking of making a proposal, but I didn’t expect to receive the same proposal from Leo.

‘Anyway, the result is the same, so it doesn’t matter.’

Rather, it’s convenient that things are progressing quickly.

I went back up to my room and prepared warp magic.

Today there are no classes due to yesterday’s aftermath, so I can spend time freely.

Fortunately, the restriction on warp magic within school was lifted, allowing free access to the meeting place and Leo’s training ground.

And now I’m going to Leo’s training ground. We agreed to meet there at this time.

When I warped, Leo immediately spoke without even turning around.

“You’re here.”

“Yeah.”

“Did you hear? We can’t go outside for the next 5 days.”

Right off the bat?

All students cannot go outside until this weekend. They seemed worried about another incident if they allowed weekend outings.

Leo put down the cloth he was using to clean his wand and turned around.

“Perfect timing. Since you don’t need to take medicine, your condition won’t deteriorate midway.”

“Right.”

“You know honestly, right? Excluding special magic like divine power, your combat magic skills are still rock bottom.”

“….”

Look at what this bastard is saying…

I smiled and shook my head.

“Not quite rock bottom, Leo.”

“Right, that’s true, but you can do more than this. Honestly, I want to tell you to skip classes for all 5 days…”

Is he seriously telling me to skip school for training…

But thinking about it, it’s not bad. Since Pleroma is acting like this, I need to start organizing my abilities.

It’s just unsettling when a magic maniac says such things.

Leo picked up his wand.

“A bit much, right? Let’s at least make proper use of our free time, Lucas.”

Ding―!

〈 Chapter 5. Good Things Require Time (1) 〉

Proposal 1: Achieve ‘Skill’ score of 4 (0/1) (119 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds)

* Route 1 — 〈 Proposal 2 〉

* Route 2 — 〈 Chapter 6. Do Not Praise the Day Before Evening 〉

‘…It’s been a while since I’ve seen this.’

Unlike before, I was also thinking of improving, so it’s not much of a burden.

However, the fact that this was given as a proposal despite my own intentions…

It means things will escalate to the point where it would be troublesome if I don’t reach skill level 4.

“Alright.”

I should do it, skip classes.

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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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