Chapter 128
Chapter 128
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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A perfectly frozen atmosphere lingered.
Even amid that, Elias kept glancing back.
"Alright, ten-minute break, then we'll resume."
At the professor's words, Elias whipped around.
But the one who shot up and approached wasn't Elias—it was Melvin.
The other students stared at Melvin with eyes wide open.
'...Huh?'
I was just as surprised.
Melvin swallowed hard and nodded toward the outside, as if urging me to hurry up.
"...Why?"
Without a word in response to my question, Melvin dragged me out, looked around, shoved me into the bathroom, and warped.
Now we were in the underground meeting room of the student hall.
"Didn't know you had this kind of initiative, Melvin."
"Ah...! Sorry for warping without asking... But that's not it! Are you going to use magic now?!"
Before he even finished, the club members warped in one after another.
'What's with all their faces?'
The cramped space suddenly filled with stunned expressions, and I couldn't help but laugh.
But it was a reaction I could understand.
It was about time to recall the logic I'd used when first forming the club.
'I said I was disguising myself as having that temperament on purpose to take down Pleroma.'
I'd also made sure to say it wasn't my solo decision, but Ascanien's plan.
I couldn't exactly claim I'd spread the Pleroma rumors all by myself, after all.
Right on cue, Melvin asked me.
"You haven't even infiltrated the Pleroma side yet. You okay with this?!"
"I'm fine. Now that people like Ernst have already visited the Pleroma side, I don't think I need to keep up the act."
Shock rippled across the students' faces.
They'd endured all the insults so far for the sole goal of "making contact with Pleroma," only to think I'd been overtaken by Nikolaus at the front lines—pity flickered in their eyes too.
'No real need to pity me.'
Not when it's Nikolaus, at least...
Truth be told, these guys could suspect I'm Nikolaus, but since I'd been calling him Leo's attendant back when he wasn't famous, they never even considered it.
They didn't seem to imagine Nikolaus being a high schooler like them in the first place.
'Even if they figured it out, it wouldn't be a big issue.'
I'd gathered only the tight-lipped, responsible types from the start.
And in fact, they hadn't breathed a word about the club anywhere for the whole semester.
"No need to worry that much. I've helped out Leo's people a few times anyway."
"...Really? You sure you're okay?"
"Lucas, does your brother know about this? Proves you're not Pleroma since he'd vouch for it himself?"
I nodded.
"Can't say more yet, but the press coverage won't be about what I said—it'll be something else. And... honestly, it doesn't seem like we can stick to the plans we've built up so far anymore."
The students' eyes sharpened at my words.
A few nodded in agreement.
"You guys think the same, right? Now that Pleroma's contaminating the water too, we can't just sit back. It's time the Empire shows a firm response."
"...Yeah. Normally I'd say otherwise, but this situation... it's serious."
Good, they're seeing reason.
They must figure stepping up is better than just lurking in the shadows like now.
Before break ended, I soothed the students and sent them back to class.
I followed after a short delay.
The room had been dead silent like mice while I was there, but now that I'd left, talk about me was buzzing.
"Can he even use magic?"
"Guess he's just gonna punch 'em."
"No way... in that condition?"
"......"
Luca might be naturally skinny, but not enough to deserve comments like that.
Unlike last year when he was severely lacking in both fat and muscle, he's gradually approaching average now.
'Maybe they don't notice 'cause it's winter and he's bundled up.'
It was true, but dwelling on it felt like pointless mental gymnastics, so I pushed the thought aside and placed my hand on the doorknob.
"Nah, he's just there to make up numbers, right? He'd have used magic by now if he could."
"Exactly, and if he could use magic, that means he drank blood."
"Oh, no way..."
They didn't believe I'd actually use magic, and now laughter echoed.
Creak—
The whispers cut off as I opened the door.
Maybe they felt guilty for talking behind my back, but the classroom stayed quiet straight through until regular classes at noon.
"Alright, you're free to go. Club members head to your clubs, trainees to the training grounds."
Even during free period, no one budged.
They were all frozen like they'd rehearsed, staring straight ahead.
I got why, but no need for me to play along.
'Time to check the core and convene the advisory committee.'
Last time it was under Nikolaus's name, so now it has to be under Luca's.
I headed to the campus testing room, prodded the examiner who gawked at me into a quick check, then warped to the dedicated coordinates the palace had set up for me.
About an hour after issuing the summons, the meeting wrapped up swiftly.
The interior minister on the advisory committee summarized the discussion.
"...So, for underage mages, we'll assign them to 4th-grade or lower rampagers considering safety, and only in emergencies without personnel for 1st-3rd graders, we'll deploy double the usual numbers."
"Sounds good. Pass it to the palace as is, and that's that on this item."
I wrapped up the meeting simply and stood.
While skimming files left on the advisory office desk, a mage I'd chatted with a few times here approached.
"Vice Chair."
"Speak."
"Heard the news? That Pleroma kid entered the conscription quals."
"......"
Didn't expect to hear about me even here...
I had to suppress a laugh.
When I didn't reply, he continued.
"It's all over the palace and government already, so you must not have heard. He thinks flashing his name is enough even without the skills to pass..."
The professor advising withdrawal was a smart call.
Anyone mistaken for Pleroma, especially without ability, stepping up would just be dismissed as an obvious ploy.
Another mage in the room chuckled and chimed in.
"Looks like recent grades went to his head or something."
Knowing how he got those grades was impressive in itself.
How does anyone even know what grades some guy got?
I smiled and stood.
"They'll handle it themselves."
"Haha, yeah, probably."
They nodded, laughing.
I left the advisory office, lost in thought as I walked.
Everyone assumes I can't even use magic.
They think it's just a noble trying not to look bad.
'Looking forward to dinner, then.'
The student militia exam consists of one document round and three practicals.
Pass docs, and practicals obviously involve magic, so with the Pleroma panic nationwide, the palace won't leave me alone.
'No mild scenario here.'
Time to plan countermeasures.
Mostly forgotten, but Luca having the strongest mana in Ascanien history is already nationwide knowledge.
So why's he basically a non-mage now?
'They think I collapsed because I couldn't drink blood.'
Can't use magic? No blood. Can use it? Drank blood.
The cause?
My core's temperament.
They think my brother handles that temperament personally.
'And luckily...'
The public doesn't know how that "handling" works.
My brother never publicized feeding me pills or detailed my temperament.
Meaning, I can fill that gap with my narrative, and the public lacks the means to verify facts.
My response is simple.
Just wait for my brother to play along with the script I provide.
* * *
Evening came. I submitted my core certification and returned to my room, opening the exam guide Leo left.
'Selects four times the final passers in docs...'
Final is three teams of six, eighteen total, so only twenty-eight fail docs.
'No need to even look.'
Soon after, Elias warped in naturally and grinned.
"Announcement time. Not heading to the first floor, Luca~?"
"Too crowded."
I glanced at the clock as I said it.
Exactly 9 PM, announcement time.
"Let's go in about thirty minutes."
"Sure~"
Elias didn't seem curious about results either.
Makes sense—if he fails, no one here passes.
Thirty minutes later, the lobby was still packed.
Elias whistled, looking up at the building from the main stairs base.
"Wow~ Thought everyone would've checked by now?"
"Yeah."
I climbed first.
"...!"
Students spotting me backed away like I'd seen a ghost.
Despite the crowd, only my and Elias's footsteps echoed.
Elias whistled playfully amid it all.
As people sidled aside, the mana-lit text in the wide lobby center came into clear view.
[2nd Year Student Militia 1st Batch - Document Passers List (72)]
I scanned the title, then the names below.
[Magic Dept Class 1-B/Philip Goring (Special 6th)]
[Magic Dept Class 1-B/Julia Cheringen (Special 5th)]
[Magic Dept Class 1-A/Melanie Kohler (Special 5th)]
...
'Special' means top 1% Empire-wide, and as expected from this school, no plain students.
'Only standard 9th grader here stood out.'
Kinda funny in hindsight.
Amid countless names, a familiar one jumped out.
[Magic Dept Class 1-B/Lucas Ascanien (Special 2nd)]
'Hm.'
My lips curled up involuntarily.
Last measured in Bavaria, my core was special 4th.
Now special 2nd.
Odd if it wasn't here given the rank, but seeing results always feels good, even expected.
As I smiled, Elias's arm draped over my shoulder.
I confirmed his sound barrier and muttered.
"...Tone it down a bit."
"Feels like the Kingdom's special envoy entering a high school mage team trial~?"
"Amusing."
"Hahahaha!"
Doesn't mean I'm taking it lightly, though.
I don't plan to use divine power.
For some reason, I wield divine power far stronger than mana. Without it, I couldn't even hit 50% of my true potential.
And if we follow the system I designed...
'Pure mana alone, tough to make Team 1.'
I'd have made it easier if I knew I'd face it.
'Taking the exam with my own system...'
Anyway, three teams total, six per skill level.
Not worried about failing—question is Team 1 or not.
With my technique score over 4.5 now, it's doable.
"You gotta make Team 1 now, Luca~? Team up with me and the guys!"
"Yeah."
"And I bet ten pel you make it."
"...What?! With who."
Suddenly, the quiet area erupted. Footsteps approached from behind.
"Hm?"
Elias and I turned together—my body seized by someone's mana.
Elias checked behind, paling and cursing.
"......"
Far off, palace security mages in uniform advanced, wands trained on me.
'Right on time.'
Slacking if they didn't.
Palace certified I'm not Pleroma, yet grabbing me is funny, but the oath is ironclad when upheld—I get it.
The security mage holding me spoke.
"Lucas Ascanien. You must come in for questioning."
"......"
Students' confused stares stuck to me.
I nodded calmly and descended the stairs.
Outside the gate, reporters already swarmed.
'All "just for show" before—impressive hustle.'
Rushing here on short notice shows dedication.
Human rights? Too modern for now, apparently.
But convenient they showed.
Now I'll legally lay the groundwork to use magic nationwide.
Reporters shouted, using amplification spells.
"You're not qualified for conscription—how will you do the practical?"
"Did you drink blood?! Or plan to?"
"Didn't drink."
"How to prove...?"
"Vomit for you? See it yourselves, doubts cleared."
Questions halted instantly.
Even the palace mages paused.
A bit gross, but more shock—they never expected that from "the shut-in."
'That shuts 'em up good.'
I surveyed the stunned crowd, smiled calmly, and spoke.
"Thanks to my brother."