Chapter 161
Chapter 161
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 161
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (161)
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Even under my skeptical gaze, Elias didn’t back down.
“Narke too!”
‘He’s dragging everyone along.’
“Uh… that guy seems a bit uncomfortable around me.”
“Come on~ It’d be awkward if it was just me, right? We need to act like we’re all buddies with the folks who made it to the third round.”
“Oh, that makes sense~”
“Hey, kids. The homeowner’s doctor is deciding things without even asking.”
Just then, a student from Elias’s team shouted from afar.
“Hey, Elias! Time to come in!”
“Luca! Take care~”
Elias jumped up from his seat.
I grabbed his arm.
“Huh?”
“Wait. If we’re going together, I have one favor to ask.”
“What is it?”
I whispered in his ear and shoved him toward the training ground.
‘It’d be better if we all go.’
Since Elias and Narke were wary of Ainsidel, if there was something to uncover, steering the conversation that way would be easier.
Elias had only been in the catacombs and hadn’t seen Ainsidel in person, but he knew what kind of guy he was from our stories.
At that moment, Ainsidel from Class 1-A walked in from the end of the corridor.
‘Why’s he back so soon?’
Didn’t he just leave?
The moment I wondered if he’d been caught, Ainsidel smiled and spoke.
“Lucas. It’s good to go. They said no at first, but when I mentioned you were coming, they said it’s fine.”
“Really? That’s a relief.”
I tried my best to muster a gentle smile.
“By the way, Heike. Mind if I bring Elias? He says he wants to see you.”
“Elias…?”
“Yeah, if it’s awkward, no problem. You know… how things might be.”
“Yeah, I get it. He can come along. I like the guy too.”
I’d just tossed it out vaguely, but he knew who I meant.
More importantly…
“Why Elias?”
“Just.”
That answer made it awkward to press further.
At least I’d gauged his reaction to Elias well enough.
“Can I come too?”
Narke chimed in abruptly.
Ainsidel just stared at him silently before nodding.
His expression was hard to read, but I could tell he wasn’t thrilled.
“Uh… if you want, sure. We’re on the same team now anyway. You okay with it, Lucas?”
“Yeah, same team and all.”
Narke started saying things he didn’t mean with a smiling face.
“Oh, am I intruding~? Sorry about that.”
“Nah. More friends, more fun.”
Ainsidel gave a faint smile.
“Then let’s get ready to go. We’ll be back tomorrow morning, right?”
* * *
‘Of course he assumes we’re staying overnight.’
It was nearly 6 PM already.
We warped to the edge of Ainsidel territory, then took a carriage sent by his family to the estate.
Elias, who’d come in pajamas under his uniform with no luggage, patted his knee with a grin.
“Wow~ This’ll be fun! Never thought I’d visit the ‘Ainsidel’ house~”
“…….”
I knew exactly which Ainsidel Elias meant.
Ainsidel from Class 1-A raised an eyebrow, perhaps sensing the odd word choice.
“He’s always like that.”
Ainsidel nodded as if he understood.
The village edge wasn’t far from the mansion.
After about ten minutes in the carriage, we arrived.
In the distance, a servant and a noble approached after spotting us.
What caught my eye, though, was a piece of paper on the ground. Ainsidel from Class 1-A noticed it too.
“What’s this? Wasn’t here earlier.”
He pulled it over with magic and flipped it.
[Auszurichtendes Cookies Diebs]
[Auszurichtendes Cookies Diebs]
[Auszurichtendes Cookies Diebs]
“What… uh.”
As soon as it flipped, a full page of typewriter text appeared.
Elias looked up from the writing on the paper.
Ainsidel glanced at me.
“Weird sentence. Isn’t this what you’ve been looking for?”
“…….”
‘Arrange cookie thief.’
Another nonsensical phrase.
And cookies was in English, no less.
‘Audience before, now Cookies. Really feels like someone comfortable with English.’
“…Didn’t expect to see one here.”
“Need it?”
“Yeah. I collect weird sentences.”
“Here.”
He handed me the paper.
He didn’t seem to think much of the odd phrase.
‘Of course not.’
I would’ve overlooked it too if it hadn’t shown up in the catacombs.
But what warning was this supposed to be?
A thief who arranges cookies? Arrange the cookie thief?
‘Does it mean a thief’s coming soon?’
Not sure if it was that simple…
“Luca.”
Elias sidled up and muttered.
“These keep popping up wherever you go~?”
“Probably not.”
It hadn’t appeared in the catacombs until I stepped in.
If Marian Baum hadn’t brought it to me, I wouldn’t have known.
But if it was tied to something ‘connected to me, connecting, or will connect,’ that changed things.
Of course, there was more to consider. Unlike the catacombs graffiti, if it wasn’t on a wall, there’d be no reason to report it. Most people would skim and toss it, like Ainsidel just did.
So there could be others who got these weird sentences unrelated to me.
“Elias. Ever gotten one of these?”
“…Might’ve tossed it without noticing. But nothing that blatantly screamed weird has come my way.”
As we talked, a butler-like servant approached from afar.
“You’ve arrived. Friends of the young master, I presume. This way, please.”
A few servants came and took our hats and bags.
The head butler whispered, unable to hide his embarrassment.
“However, young master… we were told only one…”
“Ah…. Things changed.”
Then, the noble beside him greeted us.
“Pleased to meet you. Friends of Heike’s, I assume. I’m Heinrich Ainsidel.”
So this was the uncle.
He definitely resembled Heike.
Same hair and eye color, for one.
“First time meeting you.”
“Yes. Your Highness Elias the Duke and… young master Farnese as well. I had no idea Heike had made such distinguished friends. If I’d known earlier, I could’ve prepared a grander welcome. My apologies.”
Distinguished…
Hierarchy among nobles hit home again.
Families ruling nations differed from those managing estates.
It wasn’t exactly comfortable.
Elias seemed to feel the same and changed the subject casually.
“No worries! But I’m hungry~”
“We’ve prepared dinner. Please, come inside.”
He smiled at the two and looked at me.
“Please rest comfortably during your stay.”
“Thank you.”
I gave a short reply.
Prolonging it would just lead to talk of our families.
—“That guy has no unique ability at all.”
Narke muttered using divine power.
After that, we dined with Heike Ainsidel’s uncle.
As expected, Heinrich Ainsidel spent the meal inquiring about family elders.
“Never dreamed I’d meet Young Lord Anhalt in person. How fares Duke Georg? Last I saw him was three years ago.”
“He’s busier with Pleroma matters but as healthy as ever.”
Not sure if ‘healthy’ fit someone with that mindset.
“I see. I understand the troubles. Please pass on my regards.”
“Will do.”
Heinrich Ainsidel now turned to Elias.
“How’s your father, Your Highness Elias? Haven’t seen him since he stepped down from the council.”
“He’s well. Did you know my father?”
“Of course. He left the council fifteen years ago, so His Highness the Duke might not recall.”
“I see~ What do you do these days, Lord Ainsidel?”
“I focus on village management. The alma mater offered a professorship, but I’m unsure.”
“Wow~ Professor sounds cool. But do you have a family cemetery here?”
“Cough….”
I nearly spat out my food.
‘Saying it like that?’
Narke looked pretty thrown too.
Though I’d prompted it.
If the bishop Ainsidel was family, two cases:
First, Pleroma took the body post-mortem for revival.
Second, Ainsidel joined Pleroma willingly.
First case: Grave robbery within the last decade or so, since Pleroma formed around then.
‘I meant probe Heike, not blurt it at the family head….’
But classic Elias.
It sounded out of left field, but coming from him, it didn’t feel off.
Heinrich Ainsidel tilted his head slightly at the odd topic.
“…Family cemetery…?”
“The Ainsidel family plot.”
“Of course.”
“How’s the security? I hear everyone’s tightening up because of Pleroma. My dad worries about graves a lot. He’s pondering safer ways.”
Elias spoke naturally, alternating glances at his plate and the man.
Meanwhile, Narke’s eyes fixed on Heinrich Ainsidel.
If bones were stolen from a grave, it’d show in his reaction.
A slight frown, lip smack before speaking.
No hiding if Pleroma had ransacked them.
“Multiple barriers in place. Considering a building around the perimeter like others these days~”
“…….”
Elias nodded.
—“Nothing.”
No tells.
I couldn’t sense any agitation either.
“Gonna suggest that to Dad.”
“Fine idea. With such a thoughtful son, His Highness the Duke’s father must be delighted.”
“Not sure about delighted, but his blood pressure’s been up lately…”
“…Ahem…”
“Why… Never mind. Can I see the Ainsidel family photos?”
“…….”
I nearly choked again but cleared my throat. Narke was just grinning and watching now.
‘He can talk normally but chooses not to.’
Good approach, though.
I glanced at Heike just in case.
He looked a bit dumbfounded but seemed intrigued by the scene.
“Family photos…?”
“Yes. Got curious seeing you and your dad. You look so cool, Heike.”
That much?
If Ainsidel joined Pleroma willingly, he’d been with the family a decade ago at latest, so photos likely existed. Photography had been around a while.
Even if Pleroma killed him and snatched the body pre-burial, photos would remain.
“No reason not to. Your Highness is quite curious.”
“Thanks! I’ll look with Heike later!”
“Very well.”
‘Got that easily?’
Brought him for a reason.
Thankfully, Elias handled all talk after, sparing me family head chats.
After dinner, we finally headed to Heike Ainsidel’s quarters.
Before climbing the stairs, Elias spotted cookie baking in the kitchen and his eyes sparkled.
“I want cookies!”
“Hey, you bastard…”
“…Ah-ha~!”
Elias shook his head and backed away.
After seeing that cookie phrase, he dodged well.
Heike Ainsidel, having mentally erased it, said indifferently.
“If you want some, eat. Baking ’cause you’re here.”
“Really? Nah~ You eat more, Heike.”
“Tasty.”
Heike grabbed a thick album and led us to his room.
He set it on the table.
“Go ahead, look. But straight to this?”
“Yeah? What else?”
I smacked Elias’s mouth playfully and laughed.
“Got something you wanna do, Heike? Let’s do that first.”
Luckily, Heike’s eyes lit up.
“Let’s drink first.”
* * *
‘Drank yesterday, drinking again…’
Wine at dinner was one thing.
I gave a hollow laugh watching his beer glass refill endlessly.
Heike insisted games needed alcohol—his philosophy—so I went along.
“Fold.”
“Again?”
“Shitty hand…”
Elias flopped on the table, tossing cards.
He bailed on the game and opened the album.
He scrutinized photos, then closed it and slid it to Heike.
“Looked~ Everyone looks like you!”
“…….”
I eyed Elias.
He shook his head slightly.
Heike, buzzed now, started rambling.
“Uncle hardly takes guests usually. Weird today.”
“Why?”
“Interrupts work.”
Ainsidel snapped to and added.
“Ah, not that you’re interrupting.”
“Got it~ Uncle must say that all the time.”
Ainsidel smiled at Elias’s words.
Then murmured softly.
“Fun.”
“We haven’t done much yet…?”
Heike tilted his head at my words.
“Drinking and cards.”
“Oh, right~ Fun! Play often?”
“No.”
“Why?”
“No one to play with.”
Silence fell.
He says that out loud…? Usually you wouldn’t.
The booze, probably.
Elias gauged and clapped.
“Now you’ve got us! Right?”
“Yeah.”
Ainsidel smiled lightly.
We played games till midnight.
Meaning steady alcohol till then.
“Late. I’m off to bed.”
He stood, not a hint of drunk.
Looked more energized.
“Next room over. Servants tidied it.”
“Got it.”
I dragged Elias out.
He cast a sound barrier, knowing what I wanted.
“No light hair. Narke watched the whole time, no one like that.”
None?
Photos were trendy even among commoners post-invention. Junkers with cash wouldn’t skip.
Even if he hated it personally, a record shot should exist.
‘…Hmm….’
Separate from攻略 impossibility, this was odd too.
But too late to dig more, so I tidied and entered my room.
After washing, Elias burst from his room, barred sound, and yelled.
“Don’t sleep! Gotta talk Primrose.”
“Alright.”
Not bedtime anyway.
Blood relative, yet no one like that here?
Also, checked Heinrich Ainsidel’s status window earlier. His favorability said plainly ‘攻略 possible.’
Same family, yet only Heike un攻略able for clear reason.
And with the weird sentence here, no sleeping easy.
I turned off the light, lay down thinking.
‘Just keep eyes closed.’
An hour later-ish, rustling outside the door.
‘Coming so late?’
Expected thirty minutes tops.
I thought that, then lifted my head.
‘…No.’
Someone pacing out front.
I checked the clock on the nightstand, lay back.
Ten minutes later, the doorknob turned.
Click—creak—
“…….”
Someone approached the bed.
Chilly aura neared my hand.
I bolted up, grabbed his clothes. He flinched back.
“…!”
“Heike.”
“…….”
“Why?”