How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 70

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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 (70)

A suffocating staring contest between one against many ensued.

Elias was the first to break the silence, letting out a laugh-mixed exclamation.

“What the hell are you talking about now?!”

“…Wow.”

Narke stuck his hand in his pocket and leaned back in his chair with admiration. I must have said something ridiculous even before he could use his insight continuously.

“…Lucas.”

Leo called my name and then held his head in silence for a long while.

If you’re going to call me, you should say something. This is the scariest part.

I spread my hands and opened my mouth.

“I’ll explain properly. I don’t mean I’ll actually become Pleroma, but that I’ll pretend to be a Pleroma believer.”

“…Either way, you’re saying you want to go even deeper than now. Are you going to die? Of course not. But…”

Leo took a breath while still burying his forehead in his hand.

“Lucas. This might sound overly sensitive to you, but I don’t want to create the same situation as last time.”

“Yeah~ Honestly, it is nerve-wracking from a spectator’s perspective.”

Elias agreed with Leo’s words while smiling.

He must be talking about the Strauchi incident.

Right after the incident, there was a festival and I thought his tension had eased a bit, but around that time, Bavarian mages were attacked en masse by Pleroma again, so he must be quite exhausted.

However, at the same time, because of that incident, he doesn’t want to back down from Pleroma either.

Even now, he’s just bewildered because I haven’t explained properly, but he hasn’t outright refused saying it can’t be done. He’s only asking me to confirm the risks of the plan.

I’d like to reduce the risks if possible, but there’s no way to do that, so I have no choice but to convince him why I need to enter enemy territory again.

“Yes, I’m sorry. But I also have reasons why I can’t abandon this plan.”

Since Leo looked at me without reaction, I immediately opened my mouth.

“First, if I don’t pretend to be a Pleroma believer, the amount of information I can obtain is limited.”

What would make them trust someone who isn’t even Pleroma enough to freely tell them their plans?

For me to extract information from Gelda Asman, changing emotions alone won’t be enough – I need to become similar to him in circumstances as well.

Understanding without me saying more, Leo nodded.

“Second, Pleroma’s plan was involved in Gelda Asman becoming Pleroma. The disappearances that steadily increased in Heiligenstadt happened even before Asman became Pleroma. He became a target to facilitate those kidnappings more smoothly.”

“Right.”

“Ultimately, our enemy isn’t just Gelda Asman, who is Pleroma’s tool, but the Pleroma side trying to procure manpower from Heiligenstadt.”

And…

Is it really just Heiligenstadt?

The scale of what they’re planning is proportional to the scale of benefits I gain.

Before, I said there would be at least three Pleromas.

In the novel, Elias didn’t catch everything underneath – he only caught the surface.

I need to grab those roots and find out how far their plans extend.

“Right. Hearing your words, it seems you’re thinking of going to the Pleroma side’s world. Really, your plans always look reckless, and actually are…”

Leo pressed his lips together, then exhaled deeply and looked at me.

“But they’ve been just as effective. So, is there anything we can help with?”

* * *

Today marks the 5th day since I came to meet Gelda Asman.

Fortunately, every time, the first person I encountered after taking the medicine was Gelda Asman.

Avin Asman, no, Eric Asman really seemed absorbed in business and wasn’t home at all.

‘That’s fortunate.’

I came to Asman’s house again today and looked outside.

The plainclothes police officer Leo had told me about was at the cafe across the street, flipping through a newspaper and occasionally glancing this way.

And…

Elias should retract his statement about the medicine.

Whether the medicine’s effects were properly manifesting, I momentarily felt negative emotions toward the plainclothes police officer stationed in front of the house.

‘Now I understand why Leo was so wary.’

Of course, I felt rejection immediately upon noticing and escaped from that emotion, but the fact that I felt such emotions even momentarily is quite remarkable.

Then, Gelda Asman came from behind and sat at the table.

“I should rest at home today. Don’t you think?”

“You must be quite tired.”

“I’ve been going out constantly lately.”

He dragged me around for several days showing me the capital, so it’s understandable he’d be tired.

Anyway, it’s about time for me to bring up the topic, so there’s no problem. Besides, today is cloudy and it’s pouring rain just like that day.

‘It’s a bit early, but…’

It can’t be helped. I don’t have time to dawdle.

When I smiled silently, Gelda asked me.

“What did you do during the day?”

“I looked for places I’d like to go with Mr. Asman. Of course, I also enjoy staying home like this.”

I sat down and answered with a smile.

‘This is driving me crazy…’

These words are coming from my mouth?

Every time, an unfathomable wave of reality hits me, but fortunately the medicine kicks in at good timing so I don’t jump up and run away.

Gelda smiled and waved his hand.

“Haha, not that kind of thing.”

“I’m serious though.”

I looked at Gelda, who was smiling with a face that said he knew otherwise, and smiled back while continuing.

“Fine. In my spare time, I analyzed current trends. I was wondering if I should push forward with the direction I had planned.”

“How diligent. When are you planning to publish the newspaper?”

“There are differences of opinion among the friends I’m partnering with, so it keeps getting delayed, but I’ll finish it before the first half of next year ends.”

What finish? I’ll never publish it in my lifetime.

Forget the first half – I won’t be maintaining this relationship until December ends, so I’ll wrap this up here.

I leaned forward and smiled gently.

“What about you, Mr. Asman?”

“Well. I started work again from today… but it’s a bit awkward to tell Mr. Baichel. It’s personal business.”

Yes, well said. Even without hearing it, it’s Pleroma business.

Let me check something here. Gelda Asman is maintaining his relationship with me purely out of interest.

I looked into Gelda’s eyes and called up the affection window.

Gelda Asman

Affection +7*

Of course, it’s a bit high for mere interest, but the type of emotion seems different from my current state.

He met me with light feelings from the beginning, unlike me who took medicine and has serious emotions. It’s natural since we haven’t known each other long…

‘Just looking at that expression shows it.’

Even now, Gelda is tilting his head sideways and observing my reaction with an amused face.

Since I came after taking level 8 medicine today, he must have felt the difference from yesterday.

Bringing up a topic he said was too personal to discuss was probably also to see my reaction.

I don’t know why he meets me if he just wants to enjoy reactions, but my guess is that since he hasn’t had his ability long, he’s in the process of freely testing it out.

Anyway, the important thing is that regardless of what attitude I take, I’m currently in an emotionally subordinate position, and he knows it too.

‘Perfect.’

It’s going according to plan.

I’m falling into the most subordinate position without a single error.

This is why I’m sick of such relationships, but it’s the most optimal relationship and position for destroying wariness.

Now that the foundation is properly laid, all that remains is to actively utilize the image of me created within Gelda Asman.

“Personal business?”

“That’s right.”

“Am I still insufficient to know about that?”

“…”

At those words, the corners of the other person’s mouth lifted slightly while being suppressed.

“Perhaps.”

Right, of course they’d respond like that. Who would carelessly talk about Pleroma matters to anyone?

But my position is different. Since the topic has come up, let’s reach a conclusion by today. I don’t want to drag out this inappropriate relationship for long either.

“That’s unfortunate. When might it be possible?”

“I think it might take quite a while.”

“Should I take that to mean I can meet with Mr. Asman until then?”

The other person burst into laughter.

“Well, yes. That seems to depend on Mr. Baichel.”

“Ah, that’s a relief. But… now that I’ve heard this much, I don’t think I can wait until then.”

“Hmm…”

Gelta suppressed her laughter while tapping the table with her finger.

It’s obvious without even looking. She probably sees this as throwing a tantrum.

Whatever the case, it’s what I intended, so it doesn’t matter. I hope she sees me as a fool blinded by love spouting nonsense.

Because…

I’m about to say something like a bolt from the blue.

I quickly called up the trait window.

Retry Lv. 1

― Move to checkpoint just before 〈Chapter 5〉

― 1 use costs 2.0 points

― 2.0 points until next level

* Points held: 5.0 points

* 0.25 luck points until next point acquisition

‘I can use it twice.’

That’s enough.

If it’s the wrong choice, I’ll rewind immediately.

I looked at Gelta, who was just smiling, and opened my mouth.

“…Let’s go where you want to go. First I’ll show you a small world, then a big world.”

Before those words even finished, the smile disappeared from the other person’s face.

While I was feeling surprised by the reaction, Gelta quickly managed her expression and lifted the corners of her mouth.

“Suddenly?”

I didn’t answer those words and shook my head.

“This is as far as I go, no… if it’s Mr. Asman, you can understand even more than this.”

“…”

The other person’s face hardened again.

I can hear the sound of wariness rising.

‘That’s right.’

I desperately held back the laughter that was about to burst out.

Before, I said that Pleroma creates spells from things other than scripture.

If they use lines from Faust for the crucial magic that turns people into Pleroma, I thought they must have quoted that work elsewhere too.

So I picked out lines that seemed like they could be used as spells and recited them as is…

‘She took the bait.’

I clearly didn’t ask ‘Are you Pleroma?’ but said ‘I can understand even this much.’

What’s she doing getting defensive first and acting like this? This is something that would work even if she just pretended not to know.

I thoroughly enjoyed watching Gelta’s hardening face while creating a gentle smile. Thanks to the drug’s effects, making a soft expression wasn’t difficult. Surprisingly, it came naturally just from looking at the other person’s face.

I reached across the table and took Gelta’s hands in mine. Fortunately, there seemed to be no aversion as she didn’t avoid my hands.

“I can understand anything. Because I’m in that position too.”

“…”

“I know I brought up a sensitive topic with Mr. Asman. If I was rude, I apologize, but…”

I kissed the back of the other person’s hand and asked.

“I want to help. Won’t you let me?”

I should go… ask Elias if he has any alcohol.

What Elias said about being a machine might have been right. I’m thinking I should drink a 9th grade potion next time.

Anyway…

‘Speak up.’

I watched as confusion now seeped into Gelta’s rigidly hardened face and opened my mouth.

Now it’s time to listen.

About how they plan to hand people over to Pleroma from now on.

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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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