How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family - Chapter 84

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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 (84)

When the meal ended, Elias came out of the dining room patting his stomach.

“Ahh, that was proper. Anyway, I don’t know about other things, but imperial cuisine never disappoints me.”

“Didn’t Your Highness do the same in Bavaria?”

“You have an unnecessarily good memory.”

I listened to their conversation in passing as I went up to the banquet hall on the upper floor.

Since it wasn’t a party with dancing, everyone was clustered together chatting or playing simple games.

Leo saw the politicians approaching us and said to us.

“I’ll be moving separately from now on.”

“Please do.”

I thought he’d start with mischief again, but Elias nodded his head more coolly than expected.

‘That makes sense.’

It wouldn’t be good for anyone if the crown prince of the Empire’s central kingdom spent too long with his nephew who was being checked by the Emperor.

Also, even though he got along with Elias, Leo always maintained political neutrality.

In the end, that was also the reason Elias could become Emperor.

Then Elias opened his mouth while looking at Leo’s retreating figure.

“Count.”

“Yes.”

At my answer, Elias grinned and patted my back.

“You’re not nervous, are you? Just go with a relaxed mind~ Nothing will happen.”

“I will.”

Elias nodded satisfactorily and whispered in my ear.

“…Tell me what he says when you come back.”

There was no laughter in his tone now. That was inevitable.

It was obvious the Emperor would move to stop him. Perhaps he was even determined to make Nicolaus side with the Emperor.

I nodded my head.

Then, from far away, the Emperor’s servant approached.

“Count Ernst, please follow me.”

I gave Elias a nod and warped to where the Emperor’s servant led.

“You’ve come.”

Along with the Emperor’s voice, an unfamiliar room came into view.

Under the natural lighting, the Emperor looked younger than I had thought.

Personally, I thought Elias looked much better, but perhaps because they shared blood, Elias’s bold and confident impression was also reflected in the Emperor.

“It’s an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

“The honor is mine. I wanted to have a direct conversation as soon as possible, so I moved up the schedule, and I’m glad you came so readily.”

The Emperor said this and took a sip of tea.

“So, how was today’s occasion? Were there any inconveniences?”

“It was a good opportunity. I’ve never engaged in social activities in the Empire, but thanks to Your Majesty’s consideration, I was able to make a good start at a fine occasion.”

“That’s right. I thought such an occasion would be necessary for you. I’m glad you were satisfied.”

When I smiled with my eyes instead of answering, the Emperor also raised the corners of his mouth.

He continued speaking, riding the smoothly flowing atmosphere.

“I’ve heard plenty about your achievements. Personally, I cannot help but highly regard all of your decisions.”

Even if he didn’t know about other pro-Emperor politicians, at least he was viewing me favorably.

‘He’ll try to win me over soon.’

After all, I was on the same boat as Elias, who received support from the anti-Emperor faction.

I was curious what method he would use to separate me from Elias.

I answered with a smile.

“I’m overwhelmed that you regard me so favorably, Your Majesty.”

“Ah, please don’t feel burdened. I simply want to exchange opinions with you from a truly equal position.”

Right, first…

He wants to build intimacy.

After that, I discussed domestic and foreign politics and Pleroma issues.

The Emperor laughed heartily just like Elias and said.

“As expected, conversing with a talent like you makes me feel like my horizons are broadening.”

“It’s all thanks to Your Majesty leading the conversation well.”

“Hahaha! If I had my way, I’d want to keep you close and continuously receive your advice. You often receive praise for being comfortable to talk with from others, don’t you?”

“I’m grateful for your high evaluation, but Your Majesty is the first to say such things.”

“First? How surprising. Everyone must have been too shy to say it. At this point… I have something I’m personally curious about, may I ask?”

This was something I’d been feeling from the beginning, but he was quite humble for an Emperor.

He revealed his emotions genuinely to a burdensome degree and expressed his desires directly.

‘He’s positioning himself well.’

He knew what approach would bring him closer to me.

The nobles who didn’t pledge loyalty to the current Emperor were the type who were sick of the existing conservative society, and compared to the conservative pro-Emperor nobles, they didn’t prefer roundabout speech.

I nodded at his request.

“Of course, Your Majesty. Please ask anything. If it’s something I can answer, I’ll respond sincerely.”

“Where did you first meet Duke Elias?”

Right.

I was wondering why this question hadn’t come up.

“I was introduced by Crown Prince Leonard Wittelsbach of Bavaria.”

“I thought so. What kind of person do you feel my nephew is?”

“He’s an upright person. He can be mischievous, but thanks to that, he feels his age.”

“I see. I’m glad you evaluate my nephew favorably.”

When I looked into his eyes silently, he gazed into space, lost in thought. I could even feel warmth in those eyes.

“That child has much potential. Everyone judges him lightly just by looking at his attitude, but that’s not the case. Just looking at how he’s made the entire Empire buzz shows what kind of potential and depth that child has.”

‘…No matter how I think about it, he’s not as foolish as Elias evaluates him to be.’

He was operating on the premise that he probably didn’t receive a good evaluation from Elias.

Rather than correcting his image with his own words, he tried to show a magnanimous side by instead praising the nephew who would have criticized him.

It was a decent approach.

It was natural that criticizing my colleague upon first meeting would only produce negative results.

“Ah, it’s already 11 o’clock. Well now, I have much I want to say, but time is cruel.”

“If Your Majesty’s schedule permits, please feel free to speak as much as you’d like.”

In the novel, he revealed his true colors as soon as Elias graduated, so as a reader, I could only see most of his rock-bottom personality.

I needed to continue the conversation to find out what he was planning with that nature.

“It would be inconsiderate to detain you for too long. But I happen to have one more topic I’d like to discuss with you, and I’d like to exchange opinions up to this point. Would that be alright?”

“Of course.”

“How far do you think Pleroma extends?”

“It would exist everywhere. There would be no exceptions.”

The Emperor nodded.

“I think the same. From above ground to underground.”

Underground.

The word underground caught in my mouth.

I was beginning to get a sense of what he was trying to say and what he ultimately wanted when he called me here.

The Emperor clasped his hands together with a serious face.

“Then what do you think of the Catacombs?”

“…”

The Catacombs were a group of commoner mages.

They had a long history of hiding to avoid persecution by nobles, and the expression comparing them to underground cemeteries had solidified as the group’s name.

‘…Don’t tell me he’s going to touch this.’

Magic was currently the exclusive domain of nobles, but occasionally there were cases of commoners born with magical power without heredity.

This was something that dimmed the ruling class’s logic that they had received the right to reign over all people through magical power.

So when a commoner mage is born, if they’re a child, they’re adopted into noble families, but if they’re older, all their mana is extracted and stored in the national treasury before they’re executed.

‘From what I can see, they don’t seem qualified to criticize Pleroma.’

He asked what I thought about the Catacombs.

If I answer truthfully, it would directly go against the Emperor’s feelings.

Then my advice might be ignored and everything could flow according to the Emperor’s arbitrary decisions.

“You’re referring to the commoner mage group. Personally, I have no feelings about them. Does Your Majesty think the Catacombs are related to Pleroma?”

“To put it bluntly, yes.”

Saying I had no feelings about them seemed to be enough.

The special circumstance of coming from outside the Empire must have played a role.

“I’m not trying to condemn the commoner mages. I’m concerned this may sound harsh, but from a position where I must consider the safety of all people, I hope you understand that we must observe them thoroughly with worried eyes.”

“I understand completely. However, I’d like to know what points Your Majesty sees that suggest there might be collusion between the Catacombs and Pleroma.”

“The Catacombs are similar in nature to Pleroma. In that they completely ignore the law, and in that they’re in positions that are difficult to catch.”

That’s correct.

Since they die the moment they’re discovered, they were skilled at thoroughly hiding their existence.

If the Catacombs plan something, it would be extremely difficult to catch them.

“The achievements shown by Count and Duke Elias were undoubtedly excellent. But that also means Pleroma might struggle desperately to survive.”

“So you’re saying they might join hands with the Catacombs.”

“That’s right. So, there’s something I’d like to ask of Count.”

The Emperor tilted his head slightly with serious eyes.

“Please speak.”

“Please check the movements of the Catacombs. If you need anything, Prussia will provide unlimited support.”

“….”

‘This is how he’s drawing Nicolaus in.’

He intends to achieve merit together with me instead of Elias.

If it can delay the conflict with the Emperor, I welcome it.

But the problem is that the Emperor has targeted the Catacombs.

The Catacombs are strongly united by their characteristic as ‘commoner mages,’ but otherwise they all operate separately, so there’s no guarantee there isn’t a single Pleroma member among them.

And the moment the Emperor catches even one case, he’ll condemn the entire Catacombs as Pleroma and wipe them out.

‘There are many benefits to gain.’

He can win the support of citizens who harbor strong antipathy toward Pleroma, while framing the commoner mages who were always thorns in his side as Pleroma and eliminating them all at once.

In other words, he can simultaneously win the favor of most of the ruled class who want safety and the ruling class who want to maintain authority.

‘It’s a decent strategy.’

Of course, only for the Emperor and nobles.

“Your Majesty, has anything been investigated about the Catacombs so far?”

“Unfortunately, no. This is the first time I’m mentioning it to Count.”

“The first time… It’s an honor. However, just finding people from the Catacombs will take an enormous amount of time. Also, given the great uncertainty of the matter, I cannot guarantee any results. I hope you understand that this isn’t because I bear any resentment toward Your Majesty.”

“I know. If even Count cannot accomplish it, then it was impossible from the beginning. I have no intention of asking you to make the impossible possible. It’s just that among all the people I know, Count is the person with the deepest commitment to the safety of the people. Nothing is more important than sincerely doing your best.”

He acted out a trusting gaze.

A ruler should not be satisfied with good intentions but should be able to produce excellent results.

Here I met a pitiful case of someone who tried to package himself as a person of character but unknowingly abandoned responsibility as well.

“I understand Your Majesty’s will well. Though it will take a long time, I will keep Your Majesty’s words in mind and work hard for the safety of the people.”

The Emperor nodded with a bright smile.

“That’s a welcome answer. Since this is just a personal request and not an order, I hope you won’t feel too burdened.”

“I understand, Your Majesty.”

“It was a pleasant conversation, Count Ernst. If there’s anything to discuss in the future, please don’t hesitate to come anytime. I’ll do the same.”

“I will do so. It was an honor to meet you, Your Majesty.”

I bowed politely and left the room.

There are two choices I can make.

Whether to follow the Emperor’s words or not.

‘The conclusion is already reached.’

I won’t follow that request.

It would be strengthening the Emperor’s power with my own hands. And that would soon become strangling Elias and my necks.

The Catacombs are a group too valuable to lose.

They constantly worked for self-survival, and as a result achieved tremendous development in magic.

In the novel, Elias saw this point and made the Catacombs his support base. I’ll follow that flow, not change it.

Also, there’s another reason I need to obtain this place.

Hyung never conquered the Catacombs.

No, it’s more accurate to say he ‘couldn’t conquer’ them.

So far I’ve absorbed the support base that Hyung had obtained, so now I need to absorb a base that Hyung couldn’t obtain to create a difference in power.

‘However, I can’t become enemies with the Emperor in that process.’

I said I wouldn’t fulfill the ‘request,’ but I never said I’d already show my back to the Emperor.

There is a way.

A way to satisfy the Emperor without massacring the commoners of the Catacombs.

* * *

“Count Nicolaus.”

When I returned to the banquet hall to find Elias, several nobles began approaching me.

It was only after midnight that I finally caught my breath and stood up from my seat.

As the guest of honor, it was proper etiquette to have conversations with the major nobles at least once, and now I had spoken with most people.

Today my relationship with the Emperor wouldn’t extend any further, so it would be good to leave around now.

‘…If only I could do something about that gaze.’

I looked toward one side of the banquet hall.

The prince I had first greeted during the meal kept glancing this way even while conversing with others.

‘He was quite a significant villain, but facing him as a fifteen-year-old feels fresh.’

Though two years younger than Elias, he’s currently a first-year in the Department of Magic at the Imperial 2nd Education Institute.

Because he was talented and skipped grades when young.

He particularly had no desire to ascend to the throne himself, but because he sincerely wanted his eldest brother to become king, he always harbored unfavorable feelings toward Elias.

Eventually he attacked Elias as the crown prince’s faithful supporter until the end, and was imprisoned after Elias seized real power.

‘Anyway, right now…’

He doesn’t particularly show any villainous traits, just gives off strong middle school student vibes.

Even now he seemed to want to talk to me, but with many people holding him back, he was just watching for an opportunity.

It’s not my concern. I turned around and headed for the stairs.

“Let’s go, Duke Elias. Since no one is looking for us now, I think we can head in.”

“Ah, let’s do that.”

“Count Ernst.”

Someone’s call came from far away.

It was obvious who it was without looking. Adelbert approached with an awkward smile.

“This is the first time we’re greeting each other separately since the dinner.”

“That’s right, Your Highness. Do you have something to say?”

“It’s nothing else…”

The prince stopped speaking. He looked calm on the surface, but seeing him unable to continue and just blinking, he was clearly nervous.

“Um, ah, no. Let me think for a moment…”

“Pffft!”

“….”

When Elias artificially burst into laughter and covered his mouth with his hand, the prince glared at him as if asking why he was doing that.

‘Anyway, is this kid similar to Melvin too…’

Adults didn’t act this way, but only students showed this kind of reaction to Nicolaus.

I don’t know if it’s because of the mysticism that hasn’t been properly revealed, or because it’s still an age when they want to become many things.

Elias shrugged his shoulders at the prince’s sharp gaze and spoke sarcastically.

“Aren’t you going to greet me? I’m not even in your consideration.”

“…Fine. Did you rest well, Duke?”

“No?”

“….”

He looked at Elias with cold eyes, then turned back to me and spoke.

“I’ve wanted to meet you sincerely sometime… Ahem, I’ve wanted to see you sometime. If it’s not rude, could we talk for a moment?”

I’m sure I heard these exact words from this guy’s father just a few hours ago.

I smiled, feeling a strange sense of déjà vu.

‘Well… this one is still a kid, and the feeling is different from the Emperor.’

It was honestly surprising that someone who would have charged at Elias with murderous intent was viewing me, Elias’s companion, favorably. Unlike back then when he was in his mid-twenties, he was now fifteen, so there seemed to be a difference.

There would be no harm in hearing what he had to say.

I gave a light response to the prince who was waiting for an answer with a tense expression.

“Sure.”

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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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