Chapter 108
Chapter 108
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 108
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Everhart tilted his head, still wearing that smile.
“Grateful? What a detached thing to say. It seems you haven’t figured out where you are yet. Would our little pup care to explain?”
My gaze and Leo’s locked onto Richthofen at the same time.
‘…Just now…?’
He’d called him almost like a grandchild.
Richthofen kept his cold smile as he replied curtly.
“The Middle Realm.”
“That’s not something these folks would understand.”
Richthofen didn’t take his eyes off him as he spoke.
“It’s a combination of dual-space magic and the drug you took earlier. The drug must have been infused with a spell linking to Pleroma’s world.”
“Nothing’s visible.”
“You didn’t take the drug. Your target hasn’t entered the Chairman’s domain, so you’re floating in limbo.”
Richthofen lifted his glass and held it up to the black backdrop, peering at the liquor.
“You can’t leave in this stalemate. Of course, if you hold out long enough, even the Chairman can’t do much….”
He trailed off, then casually tossed the glass into the air.
Crash—!
“Let’s see who wins.”
“Ha ha, a dog that talks back isn’t fun to raise.”
“Your mouth’s still as foul as ever.”
“Habits aren’t habits for nothing. More importantly… it seems Lord Nicolaus had a different idea from the start. ‘Helping like this’—what does that mean?”
Richthofen flicked his brow and looked at me. Leo, meanwhile—whether from experience building tolerance or having reached the same conclusion as me already—watched me with a calm face.
“Just what I said. If your resolve weakened and you decided to spare Nicolaus by not handing him over to Pleroma, I would’ve had to press my wand to your throat and threaten you.”
“So you intended to meet Pleroma from the beginning. I suppose that does warrant gratitude.”
“Exactly. No situation ever goes exactly as predicted.”
“Aren’t you afraid?”
His voice was warm.
It was about whether I feared crossing into Pleroma’s world, but hearing it from the man who’d sent me there almost made me laugh.
“It’d be a lie to say I wasn’t.”
“…….”
“You’re protecting the Catacomb’s safety. Right?”
“That’s the only goal in my life.”
I smiled.
“But no one told you your plan would only strengthen His Majesty the Emperor’s position?”
“It’s obvious with a bit of common sense, so I knew without being told. Though that’s only if our power remains incomplete, isn’t it?”
What an idealist.
Would Pleroma give them power surpassing the surface world’s population?
Common sense said no, just as he’d claimed.
“Pleroma lending you their power?”
“I had the same doubts as you, but to survive attacks from people like you, they’ll need to join hands with us.”
“Then they’ll drop your hand once I’m dead.”
“…….”
He stared silently at his wine glass.
For a half-hearted jab, an unexpectedly sharp glint passed through his eyes.
It was brief, but enough to tell. Personally, he didn’t want me dead.
‘Of course not.’
Considering he’d said pursuing justice in the way one desired was ‘a stroke of luck,’ Robert Mueller’s ideology matched what I’d read.
But his stance as a representative was different.
Anyway, it wasn’t my concern now.
“I heard the dual-space magic has already been handed over to them. When? To whom?”
“You don’t need to know.”
“Ha ha… If you don’t answer, we have no reason to side with Pleroma?”
“…….”
If anything, Everhart should worry about his own core exploding.
Fortunately, without me saying it, Everhart stared at me with a smile before speaking.
“A week ago, the day five died in Prussia. In exchange, we got enough vitriol for five thousand to use for a year.”
What a lopsided deal.
“To whom?”
“The parish where Councilor Strauchi served was Osnabrück. A contract with its Pleroma parish chief.”
Osnabrück.
A name I hadn’t heard in a while.
I cast a soundproof spell around Leo and me.
What the Chairman or Richthofen thought didn’t matter now.
“Leo.”
“Speak.”
“I probably won’t make it there with my sanity intact.”
“…….”
Leo stayed composed. He must think Pleroma wouldn’t bring Nicolaus over unharmed either.
He always tried to talk me out of it before, but in the heat of battle, this was the guy he became.
Clean and straightforward. I liked it.
I gave one last instruction.
“I’m going alone now, so whatever happens, just stay put.”
“…For now. Got it.”
They wouldn’t miss the chance to capture Nicolaus.
So I needed to go through whatever they’d prepared first.
Then I’d turn back time.
I dispelled the soundproof spell and chanted a transformation on my mana to craft a mask.
It was a method I’d prepared after meeting Strauchi, for emergencies.
“Even if it’s not the way you planned, if the world you ultimately desire comes to pass, could you accept it?”
“As I said earlier, some people have only one option left.”
“We’ll see how long that lasts.”
Everhart fell deep into thought at my words, then looked at the table before speaking.
“Very well. Anything I say would only hinder your decision.”
You get it.
I didn’t reply and lifted my glass to drink the wine.
In that instant, the space around me vanished, revealing the cathedral’s interior.
Humans draped in pure white cloth surrounded me.
‘…Ten, no, twelve. Quite a crowd.’
The thought had barely formed when my eyes closed, and the world went dark again.
* * *
“…!”
I snapped my eyes open.
Dazzling white sunlight stabbed at them.
I reflexively touched the ground, feeling soft fabric.
‘…What just happened?’
I bolted upright.
An unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar room.
It resembled a typical guest room in a noble or bourgeois house, but oddly evoked the vibe of Strauchi’s mansion.
I’d braced myself for something like Leo and me smashing Richthofen’s head into a desk—why this peaceful scene?
I kicked off the thin blanket and looked around.
‘The sunset was falling, but the light’s almost morning.’
Didn’t seem like half a day unconscious, but the time shift confirmed I’d crossed to Pleroma’s side.
No reason for Pleroma to treat me normally, yet my condition was the same. No restraints anywhere.
I snapped my fingers.
“…!”
A shock like electricity surged through my core.
‘As expected.’
Not restraints—curses woven into the space, Strauchi’s method.
I knew it well from experience.
Selfish as it sounded, this way gave me a chance to cast spells right up to death’s door.
I got out of bed and inspected the room’s items one by one.
Curiously, nothing emanated mana. No surveillance devices.
‘Fine by me… but what’re they thinking?’
Time to find out.
That’s why I came.
Then, someone knocked.
“Coming in.”
Someone who looked every bit the servant entered.
The surprise: he brought the meal himself, without sending a maid.
‘Predictable.’
Minimize contact with Nicolaus.
He might be the only one I’d meet here.
“First time meeting you. I’m Matthias Hertz, here to attend to Your Excellency.”
“Didn’t expect personal service even after crossing to Pleroma. Surprising.”
“My master commanded me to serve Your Excellency with utmost care.”
Despite my mocking tone, he replied politely, expression unchanging. I met his eyes and opened his status window.
Matthias Hertz
Favorability: 0
Title: —
Vitality: +5 [+8]
Mental Strength: +2
Mana: +4 [+4.5]
Skills: +6
Impression: +2
Luck: 0
Traits: —
‘…Hm.’
Easy read.
With such meager stats, sticking by me meant he had solid defenses.
Backup ready to rush in at trouble, or dual-space magic.
“Who’s your master?”
“I’m sorry, but I can’t say.”
Knew he’d say that.
Easier if he spilled freely.
I glanced at the thin porridge meal.
“They said your stomach must be upset from the strong drug in the Catacomb. We’ll prepare a full feast from the next meal.”
“Morning?”
“Yes.”
“Take it. Not hungry.”
He obediently placed the tray back on the tray.
One link confirmed.
He hadn’t been notified I was awake, yet knew and brought food right in.
‘Probably linked to me.’
No mana detectable, but they’d use some method.
Next: check if he’s linked to others.
“Sit. I have business with you.”
He stared at me, set the tray outside, locked the door, and sat before me.
“What’s your game?”
“What do you mean?”
“Tell me the purpose of bringing me here. No need to drag it out—let’s end it quick.”
“I don’t know the details, Your Excellency.”
“You don’t know?”
I let out a light laugh.
“Then I’ll spell it out. If killing me was the goal, you’d have done it already. You want something grander. Not just ending me, but plunging the populace into perfect despair so they never underestimate Pleroma again. What better way to eternally curse Nicolaus?”
“…….”
“You’ll turn me into Pleroma. Without vitriol, it won’t show, so inject me with it. Revenge on Nicolaus personally while utterly mocking the people—what better ending?”
“…….”
“Right, am I wrong?”
“I don’t know.”
“Then fetch someone who does. Or I’ll go myself.”
Even with my pointed words, he didn’t flinch.
This composure screamed dual-space magic.
‘Then divine or mana power’s pointless.’
I raised my hand, drawing mana from my core. Pure white divine power swirled at my fingertips.
A faint pity crossed his watching face.
As if I still hadn’t grasped the situation.
‘Keep thinking that.’
Meanwhile, I’d been thanking Leo for the idea.
I sharpened the gathered divine power into a blade and thrust it hard at my heart.
“Gah…!”
His impassive face flushed with panic, then pain and shock.
Thud—
He clutched his chest, face contorted, collapsing onto the table.
This core damage was nothing to me, but no tolerance, huh.
“Guh, ugh….”
“What were you so relaxed about?”
If you linked senses to monitor my state, you should’ve braced for this.
I smiled and brought my hand near my heart again.
“Still planning to play dumb?”