How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family

Chapter 331

Chapter 331

"Here."

Askanian picked up the wand that had rolled to his feet and handed it over. Kindly enough, a smile was on his face. Mecklenburg snatched it and aimed it at Askanian.

"Release it immediately, right now."

His hands trembled at this crazy situation he was experiencing for the first time in his life. No one had ever treated him, a member of a ruling family, like this. Subjugation? Is that the meaning I think it is? He had always been the one employing others, never the one being employed. Askanian tilted his head as if he didn't understand, seeing Mecklenburg's orange Magic Power crackling at the tip of the wand.

"Why?"

At that shameless question, Mecklenburg almost grabbed his head.

He said it was a preparation. How dare he mention preparation? He could instinctively tell this wasn't proper magic. Couldn't he die if he looked even slightly wrong to Askanian? At least Adrian Askanian pretended to be nice, but the younger brother was much more shameless and reckless. He just realized that now. Who is he trying to swindle right now...!

"Let's go."

"No, I said release it?!"SNAP-

"Ugh!"

The moment he grabbed Askanian's shoulder, severe pain struck his heart.

"It works well. Please be quiet, Senior."

Askanian, who had snapped his fingers hard, spoke calmly at Mecklenburg's scream. Mecklenburg clutched his heart and held back the tears that were about to reflexively burst out due to the pain. Be quiet? What is he talking about when he created this situation? Mecklenburg wanted to physically smack the junior standing in front of him, but he barely gritted his teeth and took a deep breath, recalling that it was undignified to engage in a personal physical fight without ordering a subordinate. He would rather hold a sword and duel with his life on the line;

he didn't want to do something drunks would do in front of Nicolaus. Askanian, who had absolutely no interest in what kind of anguish Mecklenburg was going through, spoke nonchalantly.

"If the worst-case situation comes, I will send a signal with this like I just did. Senior won't know my location, but I can guess roughly which direction Senior is in and how far away you are. The farther away we are, the less of the Magic Power I stored is detected."

"Ha, the more I listen, the more absurd it is. A signal with something like this, what kind of impossible nonsense...!"

"It is useful when an impossible situation unfolds. You have no idea how much hope arises when you have lost everything and only this remains."

"......."

Mecklenburg had no choice but to shut his mouth. Because it seemed like he was talking as Nicolaus. Does that mean he has experienced being left with only this after losing everything? When, with whom? During what operation? Before that, why on earth are you Nicolaus? There were countless things he wanted to ask, but it didn't seem like he would answer if asked now.

"...Unfortunately, it seems we are very far apart right now."

"......."

Askanian, who was tapping the empty air with his finger while looking up, said incomprehensible words. Although he didn't understand, Mecklenburg nodded silently. Askanian continued speaking.

"You might have felt relieved finding peace for a moment, but the fact that Pleroma touched the four of us means their preparation for the aftermath is already finished."

That must be it. It means they are prepared to face the entire Special Operations Command. They didn't even take us secretly;

they kidnapped us in front of everyone. Perhaps even they could have been abducted. Askanian's deep blue eyes turned straight toward Mecklenburg.

"It won't be easy. We must find the other two as soon as possible."

"......."

It is not a simple kidnapping. Perhaps the war between Pleroma and the Imperial Government could have started with this. Since Pleroma struck again at the Imperial Government, which was holding its breath at Pleroma's first attack.

"The unexpected point here is that the priests of the Brandenburg Archdiocese didn't know the fact that we crash-landed here. They just came to respond because there were intruders. The situation must have been similar for the 81st Class seniors. They likely weren't the ones who received a report about us from above, but were the first discoverers."

"...That must be so. Otherwise, there is no reason to send us to the Hall of Peace where these clueless priests are wandering around."

If the leadership knew the two had fallen there, assuming they received contact, the 81st Class seniors would have kept Askanian and Mecklenburg there as long as possible. Not send them away to the Hall of Pleroma while expecting an additional response. If the leadership of the Archdiocese had known the fact that two Mages had fallen into the mansion beforehand, they should have arrived here a long time ago. Mecklenburg swept his chin and continued.

"In conclusion, the Brandenburg Archdiocese either doesn't know the fact that we infiltrated, or even if they knew, it hasn't been long."

"I don't know if Senior knows, but Pleroma is managed differently in every diocese. In my experience, the priests of the Brandenburg Archdiocese had their brains connected with a few senior and junior priests. It is a guess, but there might be someone connected to the Bishop as well."

"In your experience...? Have you been here?"

"Last year."

Askanian answered briefly and turned his head. He seemed not to want to talk about this topic. He wanted to ask how much he had poked around Pleroma, and also wanted to know for what business he had infiltrated the Brandenburg Archdiocese. However, there was no laughter in his features, and crucially, whenever he looked at that face that resembled someone, he felt the composure to speak disappearing, so Mecklenburg bit his lip slightly and fell silent.

'That aside, if their brains are connected... Right, they would have known the situation about 5 minutes ago, so why aren't they coming yet?'

In the meantime, Askanian approached a door on one side of the hall, cast Sound Insulation Magic, and said.

"Senior. Would you like to try opening this door?"

"...!"

Mecklenburg shut his mouth and looked at Askanian with annoyed eyes. Askanian nodded as if he understood and kindly pointed to the doorknob, saying.

"I said their brains are connected. The rear guard Pleroma probably hopes we will use our common sense and walk out through this door. Since there is a high probability they are waiting in the connecting Space Magic, opening it means only death."

"...I know, so you don't have to explain."

Telling him to try opening it, he plays jokes with trivial things in this situation. At the same time as thinking that, when he thought about what kind of experience his composure must have come from, his mouth shut. The brilliance he had shown throughout the last exam, that composure and proficiency, were now completely understood. He even felt absurd at himself for trying so hard to break that.

'...Why is a human who should be sitting next to the Chief of Staff judging the exam shamelessly taking the exam instead of running in the Mimesis Field...!'

Because his face was about to burn up again, Mecklenburg slapped his cheeks to wake up his mind. Askanian looked at such Mecklenburg as if he were a madman, perhaps finding him absurd-who is looking at whom like that? Mecklenburg felt like he would collapse right now because he felt so unjustly treated about who the human defying common sense was-and headed to the opposite end of the corridor connected to the hall.

"Now there is something Senior, the master of Space Magic, needs to do."

"Are you going to mock me?"

"There must be a point in this building where additional Space Magic is connected. Please find it. For example, things like candlesticks, books, or picture frames."

Askanian said while making a motion of pushing a candlestick to the side.

What is this sound right now? Space Magic is connected to a candlestick, book, or picture frame? He felt like he had heard something like that briefly, but....

Whatever the case, he couldn't ignore what Nicolaus said.

"Did you find that out when you came to the Brandenburg Archdiocese before?"

"......."

Askanian stayed still and only nodded his head. Mecklenburg changed his wand to a staff to find the place where Space Magic was cast before this silence continued. The Magic Power slowly flowing to the floor trembled strangely at a certain point. First of all, the places where Magic Power lamps were lit were like that. Since everywhere around objects containing even a little Magic Power showed the same reaction, there was no choice but to touch them one by one.

'What is this behavior?'

On the day he found out his junior was Nicolaus, he was subjected to some subjugation without permission, and now he is moving furniture and fixtures containing Magic Power one by one. Askanian shamelessly just stood there blankly holding the end of Mecklenburg's sleeve.

"Why?"

"......."

Mecklenburg turned his head with an expression that said he wouldn't speak and continued touching objects containing Magic Power. The moment he thoughtlessly lifted a hardcover book, a wind wooshed up.

"...!"

The scenery in front of his eyes changed. Until just now, he was in a bright space, but this place was a dark room. Found it. He really came to a new place. It was clearly someone's study. Askanian looked around that place and spoke quietly.

"Now, we are going to do this from now on. First, we will send away the interrupters at once. Second, we will go find the two from the Wittelsbach side."

"Easier said than done..."

"We can do it."

Cutting off his words, Askanian held his breath in front of the door for a moment, then burst the door open and started running recklessly. Since manpower could come here soon too, it was a natural measure. Mecklenburg ran following him, then flinched upon hearing the sound of someone running from the corner of the corridor next to them.

"...!"

Hearing the footsteps, there were about three of them. He thought it was time to stop for a moment and hold his breath, but Askanian ran out without stopping and shouted loudly.

"Brother Klaus! Where are you going?"

"...?!"

Klaus! Even if it's your name, is it okay to just make up someone else's name? Mecklenburg's vision turned white. But unexpectedly, confusion filled the face of the priest called Klaus for a moment, and then he saw him making a stern face.

"Did you not hear? The leadership's plan has gone awry so we must go handle it right now!"

"I know that! I mean, is it correct that you are going to find Askanian right now?"

"Yes."

"Let's go together."

Askanian maintained distance from the three priests while running and slipped his hand onto Mecklenburg's wrist. He tried to shake it off, but soon clear Divine Power pushed in under Mecklenburg's skin, and the pain caused by the air slowly faded. It was clear he was trying to prevent a nosebleed or burst capillaries from showing.

'...More than that, Askanian is accompanying them on the way to find Askanian...'

Seeing that his tone and expression are very proficient, this isn't a skill from doing it just once or twice, is it? Mecklenburg felt his common sense being shattered. However, what was important right now was the matter regarding that name Klaus, rather than the fact that Askanian was boldly committing fraud. How long will they be deceived? Seeing that only a blurry image remains even when he tries to recognize Askanian's face now, it is certain he is using magic, but did he layer another magic on top? Mecklenburg looked at them and Askanian alternately, then cast Sound Insulation Magic and asked.

"Did you brainwash him? Klaus...!"

"No. It's really that person's name. Do you know that the Papal State also publishes a newsletter? Let's say I saw it in an ordination interview a long time ago."

What? Mecklenburg opened his mouth in absurdity. In the meantime, Askanian immediately broke the Sound Insulation Magic and asked in an urgent voice.

"Brother. Where should we go after subduing Askanian? I am asking because I just left the blood ingredients I need to process right away with a fellow priest for a moment."

"What! A priest?! You should have brought him! No wonder, I wondered why there were only two...!"

'Uh, damn it.'

It was wrong. Askanian made a bad move. He knew there was a limit to impromptu acting, but for a hole to appear immediately like this. Mecklenburg's face turned pale. The moment he turned his head to ask what they would do now, Mecklenburg doubted his own eyes.

"......."

Light grazed the profile of Askanian, who was running with his eyes open straight ahead. It was an instant. Soon, a look of trouble appeared on Askanian's face.

"I wanted to do that too, but that priest is a friend I brought who was just ordained, so he is not suitable for combat. He is practically a deacon. Besides, the ingredient I captured is a Mage, and he was so fierce I couldn't leave him alone. I couldn't let that friend deal with the ingredient alone, so I need to finish this and return quickly;

do you know where we should go and what we should do after subduing Askanian?"

"Where else would we go! We have no choice but to give him a shot and wait. The Bishop will take care of the rest later."

"Ah, the shot!"

"You didn't receive it?"

"No, it fell out while I was fighting with the ingredient. I'm telling you, he was quite a fierce guy. If you have a spare vial, please give me some."

Askanian shook the unopened syringe to prove his innocence. Earlier, when he exchanged clothes with the Pleroma priest, he had stolen the belt clutch he was wearing on his waist as well. It was the syringe inside that. Seeing that, Klaus rummaged through his clutch and threw a small bottle about the size of a finger joint. Askanian greeted him with his eyes and fell back again to run. While doing so, Askanian opened the belt clutch layered on his priest fascia and showed the inside to Mecklenburg. Except for his elixir that Askanian had transferred, there were three or four unused empty syringes and a cross. That was all.

"That priest from earlier didn't have this drug. Seeing that only the Pleroma dispatching now have it, it must have been intended entirely for us.... They will probably use the same drug as this on the Wittelsbach side too."

Askanian rarely licked his lips with his tongue. He closed the clutch and continued running while asking Mecklenburg.

"We are returning to the starting point now. How can we kill the people who were in that hall earlier with Senior's ability?"

"...I would have to drive the blood to the face as much as possible to burst it, or conversely stop the blood from flowing to the head, or block it from flowing to the heart."

"The Magic Power consumption would be huge."

That is true. It might be different if it were one or two people with all three methods, but against dozens, it is close to impossible. Even if he cast the ability on one or two, to kill them completely beyond just making them incapacitated for a moment, he has to hold on for about 5 minutes to pass the golden time. If he did that, Mecklenburg himself would die. Askanian swept his chin and muttered.

"Then how about making the blood rush to the floor surface more strongly than now?"

"...For a wide-area casting, that side is rather rational. However... they might faint or their movement might slow down because oxygen won't circulate smoothly, but it is difficult to kill them."

"Good. That much is enough."

Askanian turned his head to look straight at Mecklenburg and applied force to the hand holding his wrist. A cool smile was built on his face.

"Now, Senior. There were three things we could learn from this. First, it's a three-person team. Those over there are single-celled organisms that don't think about the basis and essence of the order to travel in groups of three. It would be good for mental health to believe it's due to nervousness. Since there are many guys like this, orders always have to be given in detail and clearly, but it's a pity. Second, the Archdiocese is not underestimating the two of us. Third, the Bishops have gone somewhere else. Where could they have gone?"

"......."

"Crisis is opportunity."

It wasn't a difficult story, but he had to admit this one thing. How can he be this calm? Mecklenburg felt his heart thumping as if it were jumping rope and bit his lip. Is all of this thanks to his experience as Nicolaus? How many times has he gone back and forth through such extremes? No, does he even consider this an extreme situation? Could he achieve such results because he went through that process?

At that moment, Klaus, who was running at the very front, grabbed his head, turned sharply, and shouted. Askanian quickly let go of Mecklenburg's wrist.

"They say fifty people are waiting at each of the four entrances of the Hall of Peace! Where are you going, Brothers?"

200 people. Mecklenburg felt his breath getting stuck and swallowed his saliva. 200 priests were deployed to take the heads of Askanian and Mecklenburg. Beyond not underestimating them, they were excessively evaluating the skills of the two. No, it also looked like an indomitable will to prevent the two from leaving alive no matter what. In fact, if this were the outside, it might be different, but since it was their home ground, actively utilizing resources was a gain if anything, and unlikely to be a loss. Looking only at the situation, anyone could see that Askanian and Mecklenburg's defeat was heavy. In this situation, Askanian didn't panic at all, grabbed his head just like him, shouted at the top of his lungs, and asked back.

"What about you, Brother?"

"I am going to the North Gate."

"It's the same place. It is clear they deployed based on the location where we stayed right before."

"I guess so."

What do you mean 'I guess so'? While Mecklenburg swallowed the words that rose to his throat, Klaus nodded seriously, grabbed the railing, and turned the corner.

Finally, numerous Mages wearing priest robes were visible. However, unlike the lime dome from earlier, this place was a huge wooden corridor. There was a large wooden door at the end of the corridor, and someone had cast Sound Insulation Magic on the door.

'Is this the North Gate?'

While looking at it suspiciously, Askanian's words brushed past Mecklenburg's mind. He said, 'Space Magic will be laid out outside the door.' One of the Pleroma saw Klaus and spoke.

"They warped here 2 minutes ago, but nothing other than biological Magic Power is coming out from inside."

"Are there no traps?"

"We are waiting for them to come out because of that possibility."

"What about the possibility that they already escaped?"

"It is sufficient. So this is not the time to be here! We are currently talking with the South Gate side, and the South Gate has reached the same conclusion as us."

Another Pleroma cut in and answered.

Askanian, who had been listening silently to their conversation, lowered his voice and shouted. Even so, it was perfect to be buried by the loud conversation in the corridor, but it was at least sufficient for the people around to hear.

"In my opinion, since those guys know we are skilled in Space Magic, they will try to destroy the Space Magic before opening the door!"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean they will escape through the real entrance of the Hall of Peace. If even a slight Magic Power fluctuation occurs, we must push inside immediately without waiting any longer. We must inform everyone waiting at each door about this!"

"Of course we should do that."

"Ah, is it obvious?"

Askanian nodded and shrugged his shoulders slightly. At that sarcastic attitude, Mecklenburg felt heat rising for some reason. He is indeed the type you feel comfortable having as an ally. Fortunately, the other Pleroma were distracted by sensing Magic Power and sharing strategies with each other, so they didn't pay any more attention to him. Askanian tapped Mecklenburg's shoulder and said.

"I guess I underestimated them too much. Since everyone has the same opinion, it is now time to borrow Senior's ability."

"......."

Mecklenburg gestured hesitantly as if asking if they were really doing it, but Askanian nodded firmly. Mecklenburg grabbed Askanian's hand and dragged him, slowly moving closer to the wall of the corridor.

CLACK-

CRAAASH-!!

The moment he lifted his foot lightly and struck the floor, light pushed forward along the wall and exploded at the doorway, causing the scenery that made up his vision to collapse. Mecklenburg frowned at the roar and light he created but did not close his eyes. Along with the Space Magic breaking and the lime building appearing, the priests became a single mass, pushed the door, and flooded into the building. The number of people trying to calculate exactly where the Space Magic dismantling started could not beat the number of people who reacted immediately to this Magic Power. However, this was only a momentary confusion;

the situation would be reversed before passing 1 minute, no, 30 seconds, a short time that might not even last that long. That 30 seconds was the last remaining time.

"――!"

Simultaneously with someone shouting, pain that felt like squeezing his core struck. Askanian's signal was buried by the sound of attacks the Pleroma were firing wildly, but the one signal he sent to the core worked perfectly.

BOOM-....

Mecklenburg struck down with his staff and closed his eyes. Agonized screams began to burst out from among the Pleroma. Mecklenburg felt the illusion that even his own blood was rushing to the floor.

―Unless Yahweh keeps the city, the watchman's wakefulness is in vain!

CRAAASH-

His ears became muffled.

After the gale, Mecklenburg felt that no sound was heard and slowly raised his head. His hearing couldn't accept sounds exceeding the limit. However, even if sounds could be heard, this place would have been quiet. Since no one could make a sound now. Mecklenburg felt hot liquid flowing down under his nose and tried to fix his spinning vision. While his hearing was slowly returning, at the edge of his vision, a few priests were struggling to overcome the Divine Power, but soon collapsed. Only then did Nicolaus's light fade away.

It was clear that he had overexerted himself more this time than before. Since he had to deal with the Pleroma in alert mode at once, he naturally would have had to do so. Mecklenburg doubted his own eyes even in the moment his vision turned red. Tears flowed from Askanian's eyes. There was no change in expression. Considering that it was a situation where he had to stay sharp, it was clear that it wasn't because of a change in emotion but a reflexive reaction due to pain. Askanian, who was staggering while leaning on his staff, smiled and spoke when his eyes met Mecklenburg's.

"Ah, that is good. You are certainly a master of Space Magic. To think you used deception to avoid hit point tracking."

"In this situation...!"

"I didn't usually do this either, but it's different since I have someone to fight with."

Askanian closed his eyes and continued speaking.

"Usually, in this kind of situation, we move separately from our respective positions."

"......."

Even if he talks about things like 'usually', others wouldn't know. In any case, he probably didn't say it asking for empathy.

"Since the news must have gone straight to the Bishop by now, there is no time. Let's shake them off quickly and move on to the next stage."

Askanian walked unsteadily and grabbed someone by the collar. Light rose in his hand, and that Pleroma convulsed and opened his eyes.

"Brother Klaus, do you know who is most skilled in Space Magic among the people here?"

"W-Why do you ask that..."

"Fire is engulfing this place. If you don't go outside Pleroma right now, everyone will burn to death. Don't you have to save your colleagues?"

The eyes of the Pleroma named Klaus were already turbid. The moment he barely raised his hand to point at someone, Askanian cast a spell on him for the last time.

"Brother has never spoken to anyone, never seen light, and never seen Divine Power. You chased after Askanian, but not even a glimpse of Askanian is visible here."

"......."

THUD-

Askanian threw him, who had lost consciousness again, and lifted another Pleroma. It was the Pleroma Klaus had pointed to. Askanian, holding him, ran out of the Hall of Peace and shouted.

"Wake up! The Bishop said we must immediately detach the coordinates of that Hall of Peace and throw it outside Pleroma! Askanian has fled outside, and on top of that, he cast a spell to detonate the coordinates soon. Hurry!"

"Ack! W-Where to?!"

Since Askanian threw him to the floor, the Pleroma grabbed his head. He showed signs of having just woken up from sleep and turned his head in a fluster.

Anyway, since the three of us were out of the Hall of Peace, even if that lie were true and he moved the coordinates, there was no possibility for this Pleroma to live. Since he made his head cloudy with Divine Power, he seemed unable to think that far.

Mecklenburg swallowed his saliva seeing Askanian acting as if he were swapping personalities. Since he looked like a crazy person, he couldn't help but do so.

"Where should we move it? Senior."

"......."

Mecklenburg, who was looking at him blankly, barely opened his mouth.

"To the 4th floor of the Ministry of Defense building. There is a grand conference room."

"Would a Pleroma know the coordinates of the government building?"

Askanian smiled and said to that Pleroma.

"Move it to Unter den Linden."

It is a street lined with government buildings.

The Pleroma, still flustered, flowed Magic Power into the floor and spat out incomprehensible words. The pile of pitch-black priests disappeared from before their eyes. Perhaps because Magic Power returned to his body and he came to his senses, focus slowly returned to the Pleroma's eyes.

"...Wait."

BAM!

Askanian pressed his head to the floor to knock him out and then stood up. Then he looked at Mecklenburg and smiled.

"Now the first stage is a success."