How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family

Chapter 334

Chapter 334

“Now, let’s split up first, one and two. I have a place I need to stop by briefly for insurance, so please stay here, Senior. If anyone comes in, say there was no one here, and if they ask for your identity, say you are a Monsignor sent for support from the Hamburg Archdiocese at the request of the leadership, and give a fake name with a commoner surname.”

“…….”

“Let’s meet later.”

I had said that to Mecklenburg sometime in the past. I probably said that. I remember his amber eyes trembling slightly in the dim darkness. Now, I have become unable to judge at once which scene is fantasy and which is truth among the fragments of possibility overlaid countless times on the crust of perception, but the air of a certain final moment remained vivid in my head. What was the reason the emotions and expression of a person whom I did not like, personally or otherwise, were stuck so deeply in my eyes? It might have been because we both knew the situation was racing towards the worst, so we were always keeping the final possibility among countless possibilities in mind. He blinked his eyes rapidly and nodded to me with the maximum assurance he could muster.

I immediately led the Monsignor out and picked up a carrier rolling in the basement hallway. There was a laboratory for restriction in the Freiburg Archbishop’s house. Such a place would surely exist within the Pleroma’s diocese, and I would be able to obtain drugs usable for insurance in that place. The estimated time required was about 2 minutes. I knew even that was precious, but it couldn't be helped. Even knowing that the two of us came to the Brandenburg Archdiocese, the Bishop sent only priests and did not move himself. The mages he wanted to capture so badly were here, so why didn't he come? It means he already met the other two. It means he is busy dealing with them. My heart started to beat faster and faster. Leo and the 91st Class representative were probably already dealing with Bishop-class mages or… they must have been captured by them. Thinking such thoughts, I used magic recklessly and ransacked the laboratory.

The elapsed time checked with Mecklenburg’s pocket watch just before returning was 1 minute 20 seconds. Perhaps because I used too much Magic Power to finish quickly and return, I couldn't hear anymore. It didn't matter since I would return anyway. I had to return even 1 second faster to Mecklenburg, who would be buying time in the basement.

I kept the promise. We met, and I warped to the next location with the carrier containing the drugs. Yes, the control room. And that was the end.

Having warped to the place led by the Monsignor, I leaned against the wall while staggering, leaning on my Staff.

There was so much blood bursting from my face that my head was spinning. Seeing the blood flowing at my feet, I slowly moved my gaze far away along it and saw seven Monsignors dead. I stared blankly at it and snapped my fingers. There was a corpse whose dark pink fringe decorations turned black in the darkness. I approached that fake Monsignor and carefully checked the pulse.“…….”

The body temperature was warm. That was all.

The losing move was Pleroma’s Trait that was roaming around at that time. If I had gone later, if I had kept the promise a little later…. I looked down at my only colleague and stood up from my spot.

When I came to my senses, an unpleasant sensation was stuck in my throat. Luckily, I had entered the control room, and the Pleroma in the control room was dead. The memories of that period are all smudged in red. Like that, in the first timeline, I moved to where the Bishops were. Now, only the thought that I had to find the two remained in my head. Other than that, I couldn't know with what mind I was in that spot.

In conclusion, I met Leo.

I learned for the first time that day that Leo could make such eyes. A blood-covered person was looking at the floor with unfocused eyes. I thought that if we got out of here, I would turn back time to eliminate the exam or make him take the exam while wearing earrings, but such complacent thoughts were shattered at this moment. I still cannot warp, and I still cannot close my eyes and be hit by water. Leo would soon become like that too. I must have the artifact. I decided so. Because I could not hand down such memories to Leo.

‘…When today is all over.’

If there is a world where Leo does not go through such things, I can give it to him then. That was right.

Perhaps I vaguely knew from then on that today would be repeated countless times.

If I saved one, one died. If Mecklenburg died, I lived, and if he lived, I was on the verge of my breath stopping. If everyone passed safely, time was late and Leo was dying. A different death followed every time. The buildings of the Brandenburg Archdiocese were excessively numerous and vast, there were many enemies coming for support from other dioceses, and the variables were tremendous. When we discussed with friends, made all sorts of preparations, found a successful route, and advanced the time by 1 minute, a Pleroma that wasn't there appeared on the spot and attacked us. The moment success was right before our eyes, everything collapsed. All of that was the problem. Since all those problems were not grandiose, I eventually couldn't know what the problem was. Life and death were divided by trivial differences. Everything happened within 30 seconds at the longest, and 1 second at the shortest. Just like during the Pentalon terror, or perhaps to be even more thorough than that, I visited Abraham, met the Pleroma assemblyman, and calculated all sorts of possibilities. However, we were two no matter what we did, and they were hundreds, and the variables of Traits were overflowing. Yes, this was the problem. This was different from Pentalon.

If we delayed the exam, the official residence was attacked. When we eliminated the exam and protected the official residence, the same thing happened a few days later. On the day we went around further and prevented the kidnapping of magic scholars, the same incident occurred in another place. If I made Mecklenburg unable to participate in the exam, I couldn't break the Middle World, lost consciousness, and was trapped alone. If I made Leo unable to participate in the exam, even other mages outside the exam site disappeared. I tried a world where I became the same team as Leo twice, but I couldn't make it happen. I suggested attacking the Brandenburg Archdiocese first, but I was immediately dragged to the upper echelons and investigated. We were in the same place no matter what we did. Narce’s words were right. My initial judgment was also right. What I can change is not Pleroma’s desire, but the present. Only the present I know is in my hands. Returning to the flow again and again was the only thing I could do.

The smell of blood stings my nose. It is here again. Now I was confused about which timeline I was in. If it weren't for the situation just before death, I would have known sufficiently, but the extreme didn't allow for leisure.

“Senior.”

Mecklenburg’s eyes, appearing red due to burst blood vessels, turned to me. He frowned at me. I opened the pocket watch and checked the time. If we come here at 18 minutes, we fail.

Turn it back. At the command which I didn't know if I spoke out loud or not, everything in my vision changed. I was walking toward the Victory Column. Far away, I see Mecklenburg’s smiling face. Recognizing us, he smiled gently and reached out his hand to greet us.

“You’ve come. I am Albert Mecklenburg.”

THUD―!

I stamped my heel next to Leo, who was flustered for a moment. I saw Mecklenburg’s expression stiffen coldly at my salute and then relax.

With this, I have known Mecklenburg for 47 days. He was always unlucky, defined Berserkers as enemies of the people, overlapped his older brother on me, and always pretended to be nice. And he always sat down with a face that turned bright red upon knowing the fact that I was Nicolaus.

Like that, I was standing in this moment. Finally I, we, arrived at the Bishops’ assembly point in the shortest time without dying. Laughter came out.

“We’re all here. What?”

Mecklenburg’s soulless whisper was heard.

We came to where we had to come. The pocket watch snatched from Mecklenburg informed that 16 minutes had now passed since falling into the Hall of Peace. People wearing clothes with purple fringe decorations on all sides of the long table are standing up. They are the Bishops of Pleroma, specifically the Bishops of the Brandenburg Archdiocese, Hamburg Archdiocese, and Mölitz Diocese. Auxiliary Bishops and Vicars General are also mixed in this seat. I already knew well who they were.

DRRR―

I raised both hands and then slowly pulled out a chair and sat down. Then I looked around at them and asked.

“Why didn't you come personally?”

Why did they bring us here? I already know, but I repeated the words I said in several previous timelines. Then, a Pleroma Bishop who was standing around the head table sat down and clasped his hands.

“It is the first time meeting like this, Sir Askanian.”

“Is that so. It is not a time to greet leisurely, is it?”

“It feels new to meet a person with high repute in the Empire. I watched the Pentalon matter impressively.”

“Hahaha….”

I laughed openly. I know who organized the Pentalon terror, but it is funny to see him throwing a word as if it were the credit of the entire Pleroma and counterattacking here. The Bishop looked at me like that with a smile and gestured to Mecklenburg standing behind me.

“It is Sir Mecklenburg. It is nice to meet the person who will soon become the ruler of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz like this.”

“…….”

“Please sit. It does not feel good if the guests we brought keep standing like that.”

“You are kind. Someone hearing this would think we came here voluntarily.”

In reality, because we were slightly poisoned by the mind-manipulation drug, the space magic established here by the Brandenburg Bishop wavered, and because the connection with his subordinates was cut off, he must have warped us in a hurry….

Whatever the case, there was no reason to keep Mecklenburg standing. Staring intently at the Brandenburg Bishop sitting far away at the head table, I snapped my fingers and pulled a chair with Magic Power. Then Mecklenburg, who was taking a defensive stance, sat in that spot without a word. The Bishop smiled and spoke.

“I have received an analysis that Sir Askanian’s temper is a little rough, and it is true.”

“You realized it now.”

Although I don't agree. I glanced once at the Bishops standing around this table. Now it was Mecklenburg’s turn to speak.

“What is this gathering.”

What is the reason for warping us while making a place to talk without fighting? It was a question that omitted the inner meaning excessively, but the Bishop sitting at the head table understood correctly. He grinned and raised his eyebrows.

“We do not fight unnecessary battles. The wisest response is always peace. As it is the most human way, it is also the most difficult task.”

It is a remark they can make because they clearly know they are superior. Since there is no way for us two, who are inferior in numbers, to win.

“First, thanks to Sir Askanian doing so, numerous Monsignors all over the continent right now have been seriously hindered in performing their duties. As I feel it, it seems about three have died already. Since they were in the middle of battle just in time.”

“Is that so.”

“We fully understand that it was a legitimate act of defense. It must be that you ran wild in surprise because we could not welcome you comfortably, so we are just sorry. We have no intention of blaming you and just want a negotiation.”

I nodded my head, meaning for him to continue speaking.

“Is it correct that you want Sir Leonard Wittelsbach and Sir Albertina Hohenzollern?”

“Not only do we simply want the people, but we want all of us to return safely.”

At my words, the Bishop raised his eyebrows and nodded as if he fully understood. He maintained a gentle face and spoke.

“Sir must be curious why we did such a thing.”

“I am not curious as I already know.”

“We are currently praying desperately for the victory of the German Empire. In particular, we will oppose France and Britain that threaten our German people, and furthermore, stop the United States, which is acting as a neutral country without shame right now but can raise Britain’s hand at any time.”

“……”

“Do you know what we need for that?”

“It would be technology.”

I answered with a smile. I know what crazy things they did because they wanted to check the French version of Pleroma, so would I be unable to answer this? The Bishop answered with an expression that said it was the correct answer.

“That is correct. We need technology. Now is the time for Pleroma and non-Pleroma scholars to join forces and navigate through the tribulation given to our people.”

“So you kidnapped magic scholars.”

“Rather than such an impure expression, it is correct to express it as scouting. The scholars we recruited are currently facing the prime of their lives more certainly than ever. Our Pleroma is providing houses they couldn't buy even if they worked their whole lives, supplying Magic Power unsparingly, and if necessary, procuring everything they want from outside Pleroma. If a short education period ends, we will also give help so they can go out and live if they wish.”

“For such a thing, quite a lot of them escaped.”

He did not answer my words but said with a laugh.

“What we want from Sir Askanian and Sir Mecklenburg, and Sir Wittelsbach and Sir Hohenzollern is also similar. Our Pleroma also wants the capabilities of you whom the Imperial government selected as the elite.”

The Bishop tapped his head while mentioning ‘capabilities’. They also knew that we came from taking the strategy exam. Naturally, since it is a planned crime, it has to be so. Mecklenburg spoke in a cold voice.

“If you want it, do we have to comply? You seem to value the worth of Pleroma extremely highly, but we do not feel any merit at all in being scouted by you.”

“You will be able to live an eternal life. You will maintain youth and health without ever aging eternally. It would be a little tiring to live an eternal life with a commoner status, but isn't it a word that promises a lifetime of profit to you who are ruling families? Now the Duchy of Anhalt and the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz will be placed under your rule forever, and you can become much stronger as mages.”

I waved my hand and cut off that long-winded speech.

“I know. Rather than that, you should tell us what we need to do.”

“We just want you to understand Pleroma’s sincerity. What our Pleroma wants is the glory and peace of the German people, that is all.”

“Delusion is also a sickness.”

I saw Mecklenburg’s lips shutting tight. I ignored the reaction of the stubborn guy who was weak in spirit and continued speaking.

“However….”

“However?”

“You are saying that if we just recognize your will, you will send us back and let us live an eternal life. Where should I sign?”

The Bishop shrugged his shoulders and then crinkled his eyes gently.

“There is no need to do such a thing. Since it is the time when we have to persuade you, please give us a chance to buy your hearts. Right now, the two of you miss the other two, right? We will let you check their safety.”

“That is quite a nice word. Rather than that, it has been exactly 20 minutes.”

I cut off his words while opening the pocket watch snatched from Mecklenburg. The Bishop stared at me.

“By now, your colleagues must have succeeded in knocking out Leonard Wittelsbach and Albertina Hohenzollern.”

“…….”

“Actually, until just before coming here, we were in a difficult position because we couldn't subdue them. On top of that, since even I ran wild, you must have had a hard time.”

Mecklenburg’s eyes turned to me. A question mixed with panic, asking how I knew that, is clearly revealed.

Letting us check their safety. It is sweet words, but a trap. They will drive us into one spot and spray drugs. I clasped my hands and continued speaking.

“Now you will administer drugs to the two mages continuously until just before death and say all sorts of things. Since your ultimate goal is the collapse of the mind. And in that gap, you will try to give baptism and make them completely Pleroma.”

Now, at this point.

There are two Pleroma dioceses that came to support here, the Görlitz and Hamburg Archdioceses. Since they are dioceses bordering Brandenburg, I predicted from the beginning that if support came, the probability of it coming from these two would be the highest, and this was true. As can be seen from the fact that the Bishops here didn't collapse immediately, this place where I am right now is not a place created solely by the Pleroma of the Brandenburg Archdiocese. This place is a place under the jurisdiction of the Görlitz or Hamburg Archdiocese or the Pleroma leadership, or a space created by combining the Magic Power of all of them.

Excluding the hypothesis that ‘the Pleroma leadership has jurisdiction’, don't you see room for us to do something in all the remaining hypotheses? If we know the method to enter the Görlitz and Hamburg Archdioceses, and recall what method was used to come here earlier, the answer seems clear. Now the problem is the connection of space magic.

I compiled the space magic information I ripped out by interrogating Pleroma in the past several experiences and passed it to Mecklenburg and Richthofen, and researched so that a space connection magic even more precise than the space magic the existing Mecklenburg used could be used on a special space like the Pleroma world. The signal to unfold it is….

“…….”

“Right, Senior?”

When I turned my head and asked for Mecklenburg’s agreement, Mecklenburg stiffened his expression as if asking when he was ever flustered. The Bishop, who maintained a smile the whole time, smacked his lips and nodded his head. I felt the tension of the space rise in an instant. The Bishop pushed the desk lightly with his hand and slowly stood up from his seat. FLASH, light bursts. The Wand held in the Bishop’s hand was seen cutting through the air from bottom to top, and at the same moment, Mecklenburg thrust out his hand. The sound of other Bishops standing on all sides stamping their feet was heard.

CRASH―!!

At the time when the acrid Vitriol should have turned my vision black, my eyes were blue as if I had entered the sea, and I was still in the light. Blue Magic Power that blocks the breath bursts on all sides, and blade-like Magic Power that stabs the whole body through breathing, Magic Power more unique than anything else, creeps over the whole body. Instinctive fear dominated my head, but I knew well whose Magic Power this was.

“No can do~”

A boot stepping on the table without any hesitation is visible. The wild wind hindered my vision, but the owner of this Magic Power had a unique appearance, so I could easily recognize his figure. Elias’s white hair, having slammed down his Staff, fluttered wildly and looked blue. He, who was wearing his hat almost as a decoration, pulled up one corner of his mouth and messed up my hair with a playful face.

“Well done, Luka.”

Perhaps such a greeting should be said to Mecklenburg who connected the space magic. My ears sting. My head was ringing. The sound of numerous mages from the Papal State and the government who arrived with him firing Divine Power in succession follows. Someone on our side must have thrown a magic potion on the floor, as unidentified green smoke burst out. The information to dismantle the Bishop’s one-way blocking magic, obtained by spending 2 points, was already left below. This was the result.

Now the place I had to go was clear. I grabbed Mecklenburg’s arm and ran to the top floor through the hall. They do not go far leaving an unfinished fight behind. The guy who leaves far away leaving behind a fish he must catch and seems like he will catch soon is the crazier one. The past times passing this spot flashed through my head like a lantern. How was I back then? I wouldn't have been able to act like now. I know well where the room the Bishop took me to after the negotiation in the first attempt is. There is no way I could forget where I saw the half-dead Leo.

BANG―

I turned the corner and struck the floor with my foot. The Magic Power soaring from my foot passed right through the door. Good. The safety space magic that was hung once more so that people entering here couldn't see the situation was already destroyed collectively earlier. I fired a gun at the door where only the lock of the Old Humans remained and tore it off. The moment the door burst open and I landed backward, a lump of Vitriol rushed in.

RUMBLE―! BANG―

The light unfolded from the Staff I leaned on blocked it. I muttered quietly.

―Enter through the narrow gate.

A dull sound of three or four people collapsing followed. Luckily, it seems the Görlitz and Hamburg Archdioceses were the correct answer. Poisoned by the drugs in the air earlier, they staggered at a single spell and fell over.

I caught my breath slowly. Looking around the room blocked by marble on 6 sides without any gap for plants to enter, I looked at the person sitting on the chair. The Magic Power restraint device that had been used on me tiresomely is seen on another’s ankle. The smell of blood I had smelled sometime in the past brushed the tip of my nose faintly. I slammed down the Staff and said in a low voice.

―Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.

As the light spread, the person who had fallen into a shallow sleep flinched his shoulders. Light-colored hair is coming down and covering his face. Like me, he clearly lost his hat somewhere. I don't know how many times he was grabbed by the collar, but he, who always wore clothes cleanly without a single wrinkle, had the most untidy appearance I had ever seen. Feeling the thought dominating my head that this long, long time is ending, that I can return everything to where it was, I took a step forward one by one in front of him. I stopped one step away from him and opened my mouth.

“Glad to see you.”

“…….”

Leo, who was dropping his head halfway, lifted his eyes and looked up at me. In this spectacle I had seen several times, Leo’s eyes, just this once, were not soaked in drugs. The pupils that were completely unfocused were not here now. Seeing the bright light circling in those blue eyes, I smiled.

“It’s hard to see these eyes for once.”