Chapter 162
Chapter 162
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 162
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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I stayed still to see what he was up to, and good thing I did.
“What’s going on?”
I’ve never played a game with favorability meters, but I had a rough idea of what “impossible to攻略” meant.
A character the developers didn’t account for, or a villain you couldn’t win over.
If it was because the guy was about to die soon and you couldn’t reach an ending with him, that might be one thing, but based on the clues I’d gathered so far, the latter seemed more fitting.
In other words, the system was saying he was “not to be攻略d” because Haike could have a negative influence on me.
There were two main possibilities.
First, “Cult Leader Ainsidel” planned to reach out to Haike Ainsidel, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Second, Ainsidel and Haike had already joined hands.
The bishop had plenty of incentive to pull Haike in.
A descendant with the same unique ability as himself—who could ask for a better target?
For Pleroma, who had to manipulate human psychology and avoid detection, an ability to read the past of all things would be in high demand.
Especially someone with enough talent to be adopted as direct lineage. How could that not be tempting?
To be honest, despite all the “impossible to攻略” talk, I hadn’t sensed any danger in his actions up to now.
The favorability not rising, the lack of traces from the bishop at his house—those just made it hard to guess what was tangled up, but they didn’t signal immediate danger.
If I didn’t catch evidence of malice from him today, I’d planned to stay cautious but keep things as they were.
But...
‘Who knew he’d pull something like this.’
I’d come here assuming he might harm me, but I hadn’t hoped for truly threatening intentions.
It left a bitter taste.
Anyway, I had to decide.
He didn’t know how much I knew about his ability, so I could dodge plenty. Should I just go on the offensive from the start?
‘Gotta seize the opportunity.’
Let’s run a little test.
After a moment’s thought, I twisted my lips into a smirk.
“To be honest, I thought since you invited me home, we’d hang out late, but sending me off right at midnight was kinda surprising.”
“......”
“Feels like a waste to just let it end like this, right?”
I’d laid the bait—let’s see which way he jumps.
If he was in league with Pleroma, he couldn’t reveal the truth. Nothing spells failed mission like letting the target know your goal.
“...No. That’s not why I came.”
“Then.”
As he spoke, heavy footsteps echoed from outside. The door rattled.
Bam—!
“Luca!”
Elias burst in, grabbing Narke by the scruff of the neck.
Narke, half-asleep or dragged here abruptly, wore a dazed smile tinged with confusion.
A chill flickered across Elias’s face for a moment, but only that. He looked back and forth between us and grinned.
“You guys are too much. Trying to have fun without me?”
* * *
I gazed down at the board game in front of me.
Elias and Narke had already pushed together an empty bed nearby to make space.
“Ah, I won this time. Right?”
“No, Elias.”
“Why?!”
“I took all four of your red pieces. You need to leave one~”
“Aaah! Hold on! Hear me out first.”
But Narke smacked Elias’s arm without hesitation.
Elias furrowed his brow briefly, then cast a soundproofing spell excluding Haike and said,
“Narke.”
“Yeah?”
“Is it okay for a priest to hit people?”
“Hahaha!”
As Narke laughed it off, Elias shook his head.
“Are all Italians that strong...? The one I met before was pretty tough too.”
“I was born in the Vatican~?”
“Anyway. Come to think of it, your imperial tongue is flawless. Like someone from before the Babel Tower.”
The guy who’s the biggest smartass across all eras feels so out of place with religious metaphors. It really hits home that he’s from a time untouched by internet slang.
Anyway, Elias made his observation and flopped down at the foot of the bed.
Seemed like losing nonstop killed his interest.
He buried his face in the blanket, then whipped his head around.
“Haike.”
“......”
“Why aren’t you playing? This is the second round, and it’s no fun without you.”
“......”
“Ah, one more player would make it so much better~ Right?”
Since his friends crashed the party, Haike had been silent, but now he quietly spoke up.
“Sorry. I don’t know the rules.”
“Huh?”
It’s a game trending at school lately—not easy to not know the rules.
Elias eyed us suspiciously, then remembered I’d said no one to play poker with and quickly added,
“No biggie~ You learn as you go. Just sacrifice a vein or two and relax.”
“Yeah, Haike. I’ll teach you well.”
Narke grabbed Haike’s arm and spoke in a gentle tone.
Anyway, Elias wasn’t just goofing around for fun.
He knew Haike had been about to do something to me. But instead of confronting outright, he figured loosening the mood first was better for probing.
Still no response, so Narke shifted to sit beside Haike and said,
“Haike. What happened earlier? You look so down.”
Truth was, it wasn’t that he was down and quiet—it was more like he’d been interrupted mid-confession by the friends barging in.
“I have something to say to Lucas.”
“Oh, go ahead. Should I step out?”
“No. It’s fine if you stay.”
Ainsidel stared at the gap between wall and floor as he spoke.
“Earlier today, I said I can read an object’s past with my unique ability.”
“Yeah.”
“I can read people’s pasts too.”
I raised an eyebrow slightly.
Unexpected answer.
Our eyes met briefly with the friends.
“I tried to read your past. Sorry.”
“......”
I’d even given him an out, and he comes out this straightforward.
“Why’d you try to read my past?”
“...I...”
Haike mumbled with an emotionless face.
“I was worried I might touch on your wounds or... some unpleasant topic. It’s my first time getting close to a friend I want to befriend, so I wanted to do it right this time.”
“Haike.”
“...I know that was wrong.”
His throat scratched subtly, like dragging out words he didn’t want to say, slow and deliberate.
No expression visible, but I caught him pressing his fingertips into his knee.
“I didn’t want to mess up, but I caused a real problem. Sorry.”
Better to take a step back.
If he’d teamed up with Ainsidel, he wouldn’t have spilled his ability so plainly to me.
I’d expected some dodge like “Just checking if you were asleep okay,” not this gut-spilling honesty.
So either this was another layer of calculation, or it was the truth.
I glanced at Narke. He gave a slight nod.
‘He definitely seems friendless overall.’
How long had it been since he had friends to act this socially awkward?
Figured since his communication skills sucked, reading memories to tailor to the other person was a better approach.
Seemed like lack of social exposure left his people skills stuck at childhood level.
‘Doesn’t mean it’s not wrong, though.’
Whether he was tied to Pleroma or not—that’s what mattered to me, not lecturing on social skills.
Couldn’t keep hounding someone who apologized, and if I was really pissed, I could’ve raged the moment he broke in. No urge to overreact to his mistake.
“Hey... You did mess up, Haike. You know that~? You talk fine without using that stuff.”
Anyway, Elias figured it wasn’t dangerous enough to make an enemy, so he kept lightening the mood.
Haike just nodded.
“So, Luca? What do you think?”
“Basically, you were gonna pre-study to match me perfectly?”
“......”
“Haike. Figuring each other out is how you get close. That’s how I see it.”
“...Sorry. I lack experience, and I was scared you’d be disappointed in me.”
His face stayed blank, but he didn’t seem like he was just making excuses.
Haven’t met someone with social skills this rock-bottom in ages—lost for words.
I clasped my hands and spoke.
“I was thrown off big time, and still kinda am, but... thanks for being honest.”
“......”
“Hey~ Clean slate. All sorted?”
Elias looked between us.
Sorted? I wasn’t mad to begin with, so yeah in my head. But I had more to ask.
“Haike. Thing is, I never really felt like you wanted to get super close to me. Thought you didn’t like me much.”
In other words, why no favorability rise?
“Honest answer okay?”
“Of course.”
“Not now, but at first, yeah a bit.”
“Why?”
“Pleroma vibes.”
“......”
That’s my line, you punk...
One of your clan shares a name with the Pleroma bishop, and you’re calling me Pleroma?
Narke nodded slightly, confirming no flaws in his words.
“Now I know you’re not Pleroma, Lucas. If you were, the whole school would’ve gone berserk by now.”
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
“Haike. Your feelings still kinda like that?”
“Did it seem that way?”
He stared into space, continuing in a trance-like murmur.
“Maybe. I find everyone in the world difficult, myself included. Even now, I don’t know what face to make or emotion to feel more clearly.”
“......”
“I see you as an awesome teammate, but... that might just be stubbornness to get close, not my true impression. And even wanting to get close—don’t know if it’s liking you or just my obsession to try having a friend once.”
‘Okay, got it.’
Not sure if this directly ties to no favorability, but if he barely feels emotions, it’d affect that. Some people give it freely, others don’t.
‘Issue is... if so, it could rise too, right? That’s suspicious in itself.’
Do games even list favorability for unrouteables?
Can’t raise it, so unrouteable? Or no ending, so unrouteable?
‘...Probably both. Should’ve played a game like that to know for sure...’
Still, the fog lifted some.
What Pleroma operative spills their full abilities to the target?
He’s just a friendless, emotionally stunted high schooler—nothing more, nothing less.
That slashes the possibilities big time.
Most plausible: Pleroma’s about to approach Haike soon.
“......”
My goal was to avoid the bad end from ignoring an unrouteable leading to disaster.
‘But if he’s primed to fall for it...’
Might not stop at low-rank grunt—could turn full-on major villain.
In the novel, villains make me think Pleroma and Adelbert.
But Adelbert was routeable, right?
Haike could be even worse.
‘Then.’
Should I handle him first?
He’s innocent so far, so ideally block Pleroma’s approach, but couldn’t, hence “unrouteable”?
I slowly looked up at Class 1-A’s Ainsidel.
Narke inhaled sharply, reading my thoughts.
“......”
“If it bothers you, I won’t act like we know each other anymore.”
“No, not that far.”
Ultimately, he approached me today because he wanted to get close, right?
After imagining the worst—handing info to Pleroma—this felt laughable.
Plus, bad blood would tank third exam teamwork.
“Don’t feel too guilty. I’m not that mad.”
“......”
“I’ve had those thoughts too. Knowing their mind would make us closer, y’know? Trying it without consent was definitely wrong, but...”
I studied Haike’s face closely before continuing.
“Considering your situation, I get why. I’m good now, so don’t mope too long.”
“...Thanks.”
Unlike his blank face, his fingertips curled tight into his palms.
I could guess his feelings.
Then Elias shot up from his seat.
“Guys.”
“Yeah?”
“What.”
“All sorted~?”
“More or less.”
“Listen up.”
“To what?”
Too late—I’d asked.
Thirty minutes later, I scooped a handful of goose feathers blanketing the floor and tossed them into the air.
“...Didn’t know this had such deep traditions...”
“Whew~ That was fun!”
Narke laughed, neatly folding a pillow with the stuffing gone.
Beaten with pillows by Elias, and he’s grinning?
‘Come to think of it, first time doing school stuff with peers, what with cardinal life.’
At least the frozen vibe from earlier thawed. Elias smacking Haike too helped.
Still, boundaries— this was someone’s house...
“Guys. When are we cleaning this? Calling servants risks the adults hearing.”
At my wry chuckle, Haike said,
“It’s fine... I’ll burn it secretly.”
“You stay out of it.”
“Burn? Uncle’d scold if tossed in trash? Say we were playing with friends—he’d probably let it slide~?”
Mention of uncle drained color from Haike’s flushed face.
“Uncle might...”
“What?”
“...Never mind. With you guys here, he’d probably say it’s okay.”
“You don’t get along with your uncle~?”
“Yeah.”
Haike cut it short so firmly, no one pursued.
No matter. Elias wasn’t keen on dwelling either.
Not much more intel to squeeze from Haike here.
Except one method.
‘Wish I could use divine power to extract some info.’
Pull info, wipe memory—solid plan.
But reasons for not.
Haike’s unique ability was mental magic, so mind manipulation might fail.
Even Narke said it felt “blocked hard.”
‘Cast enslavement spells on new friends these days? Scam?’
Nah.
Even he wouldn’t buy that.
“Guys, more drinks?”
“We’ve got 7 AM class tomorrow, Elias.”
“Right. Bedtime. I’m off.”
Haike swept the feathers into a corner with magic, then stood.
“And, Lucas. Earlier...”
“We done talking?”
Haike gave a faint smile and nod.
As he headed out, he turned back to us.
“Thanks for today. For looking out.”
* * *
We moved to Narke’s room, farthest away.
“First person trying to befriend via unique ability.”
“Surprisingly, no malice.”
Elias and Narke cast soundproofing and murmured.
That was the real surprise.
Narke muttered,
“No immediate issue, but he’s not unconnected to that side. Certain.”
“My read says Pleroma’ll contact him soon. Thoughts?”
Narke closed his eyes, grimaced after a while, and opened them.
“Might... Could be. Your take seems closest to truth.”
“Ooh, Narke scrying the future?”
“Yeah.”
“Wow~ Cool.”
Elias clapped his hands.
“Guys. I get you wanna talk more, figure what to do with him. But time for the real reason we’re here.”
Elias smoothly shifted to the true purpose.
Not here for Primrose Pass, but I eyed him anyway.