Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble House
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“What did I just hear?”
Elias’s question drew a grin from Narke.
“A ne’er-do-well.”
“Never mind the outdated word choice... what?!”
“Sorry for sounding like an old-timer.”
“Luca.”
Elias leaned in toward me, speaking softly.
“You don’t look the type at all.”
Leo, who’d been wearing a dumbfounded expression the whole time, chimed in.
“...I hate to say it, but I agree.”
“What’s so unconvincing about it? We can always change that.”
“No! It’s not just about swapping clothes! There’s an air of diligence in your eyes. Plus, like Narke said, a ne’er-do-well isn’t exactly helpful.”
“We can make it helpful. Right?”
I glanced around at my friends before continuing.
“Your suggestions gave me the answer. Investor, Federal Committee member’s aide or nephew, local thug looking for work—those three options?”
“Yeah.”
“Each had its drawbacks. But what if we combine all three?”
“Hmm...?”
Elias stared at me, stroking his chin.
“Wouldn’t that make for someone pretty useful? High value thanks to wealth and connections, but if they’re ‘respectable,’ those guys wouldn’t be thrilled. On the other hand, a total slacker who’s never worked a day, with no brains to boot—offering cash to a raided joint wouldn’t seem so odd, and they’d be easier to fleece.”
“Luca. For some reason, that stings my heart~?”
“That’s why don’t take it personally. I’m talking about the type parents, schools, and society have all given up on.”
“Heh, heh heh... wah...”
What was that last bit?
Anyway, the more I explained, the more it sounded like it was pointing at Elias, so I decided to drop it. That hadn’t been my intent.
He might act sloppy on purpose, but his thinking isn’t sloppy—and though he doesn’t realize it, it shows in crucial moments.
‘Like in the catacombs.’
For the character I’m playing this time, I need to erase even those fleeting glimpses of calculation.
“Alright, then solving the mismatch with my image should do it. First off, let’s tackle this. I was in the newspapers from the 1-1 exam broadcast. Worried someone might recognize me.”
“No worries~ It was shot from above, so your face isn’t clear.”
Narke replied.
True enough.
Plus, no cell phones here—news only via papers—so faces don’t float around online. Low accessibility, and as an Imperial Second Academy student, media control is tight. Not many know my face.
Also, the Primrose Pass guys trying to ‘hand me over to Freiburg’ doesn’t mean they know my face. They just used records to approach me.
Still, better safe. That’s why picking the polar opposite image is smart.
“Eli. You probably know this stuff best.”
“Want help with the disguise?”
I nodded.
Time to hear from the guy in our school who looks most like a thug—not in behavior, but appearance.
“Hmm.... First off...”
Elias pondered long and hard, then spoke with a grave expression.
“Dye your hair and eyes brown.”
‘Huh? Pretty neutral colors—feels off-target.’
Honest brown felt wrong, so I went with a desaturated light brown. Narke clapped.
“Wow~ Pie-colored!”
“Hm, good.”
Elias nodded seriously. Meanwhile, Narke looked thrilled.
“Lucas, mind sharing the color spell? I wanna try it later.”
“Sure...”
Wants pie hair? No idea why, but I jotted the formula on the notepad by the table and handed it over.
Elias fiddled with my hair, parting it to the side and sweeping it back.
‘Is this right?’
No mirror, but it already felt wrong.
Then Elias buttoned my shirt’s top button.
“Why button it?”
“......”
Elias silently undid my ribbon, retied it tight. I could guess his vision now. He muttered with vacant eyes.
“This is how Luca should look...”
“No, I said make me look like a thug, not...”
“Luca. Ever skipped class for 60 days straight?”
“Think so?”
“Right. It all starts there. It’s not just about dressing up. I can’t accept this!”
Instead of answering, I shoved Elias aside and grabbed the mirror from Leo.
“......”
It looked almost like Leo’s getup.
No, worse. Like I’d been locked in a 200-year-old dorm cramming for exams.
‘No wonder they’re friends.’
Yeah.
Someone who’s skipped 60 days and lived might find a straight-arrow type convincing. Lives you haven’t lived yourself always look cooler.
“I’ll do it myself. No more input.”
“I did a good job... weird?”
I’d usually heed him, but not this time.
Then Leo spoke up.
“When’re you heading out? Elias and I’ll relay dorm intel.”
It’s 6 PM now.
Self-training from 7 PM to midnight—gotta be careful.
School’s ramping up security. Chaos now, but nights when dorms are asleep will be riskier.
Our dorm ran without supervision before, but roll calls might start.
“Heading out now. Narke. Back in an hour.”
“Me too?!”
Narke pointed at himself, eyes sparkling.
“Yeah.”
An hour seems short, but I need to show my face a few times, stamp the presence.
Real game’s days away.
Leo shoved Elias off the chair and sat by my bed.
“I’ll help.”
“Hm?”
“First, Narke, Elias—out for a bit?”
Elias shrugged; Leo shot him a glare.
“Haha, sure. Our Leo’s face is so scary, it hurts this 18-year buddy’s heart~ Wait, 17 years?”
“Out.”
Once Narke and Elias left, Leo sighed shortly.
“Lucas, your eyebrows naturally black? Could just do hair yellow?”
“Just hair? Reminds of big bro.”
“Fine. Bleached blond’s different from natural. Try that shade.”
Bleach-blond vibe?
Even in the 21st century, students avoided it.
Peroxide bleaching’s been around nearly 100 years here too. More from our era exists than expected.
But newhuman nobles? Never.
‘Got it.’
Understood.
So, do it.
I snapped my fingers, chanting the change spell.
Meanwhile, Leo communed with someone, then vanished to Bayern without a word.
Ten minutes later, he returned with clothes I’d never seen, dropping them on the bed.
“Wear these? Thanks.”
He nodded, sitting beside me.
“Lucas. Remember I said I had a favor?”
“...Yeah.”
One favor, and he’d help.
No favor, no help.
Leo sat silent a while, then looked at me earnestly.
“Come back just like this.”
“......”
Tension I’d held eased.
That’s the favor?
“Of course I’d come back like this.”
“Every time.”
Meaning not just today— at least a week of back-and-forth, so every instance.
“Naturally, always like this.”
I feigned maximum trustworthiness, but he eyed me like he was waiting for more bullshit.
In other words, zero trust.
It’s a tactic anyway, and beyond my control regardless. Plus, he’s not the type for pointless requests.
“Leo. I know you’re not the type to sweat this.”
“What? That’s kinda ridiculous, human-to-human.”
“You get me. If I keep this up, I have to ask. Why’ve you been like this since earlier?”
So, what exactly did he see?
Silence fell.
Only wind against the window.
He mouthed wordlessly, then smirked faintly.
“Can’t say a word till you tell me first, Lucas.”
“......”
“Favor not convincing? How about this: Think again about your role in Bayern, your position.”
“......”
“The people look to you like they do His Majesty now. Hell, the whole Empire’s leaning on you. You know that.”
I listened silently, then nodded.
Yeah. Nikolaus wields vast influence now—more caution than before.
“Got it.”
“Need me to spell it out?”
Leo smiled weakly, clicking his tongue.
“Yeah. Whatever—as long as you get it. Promise. Always return just like this.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“You know that’s not enough.”
Life’s unpredictable—why promise absolute?
“I’ll try my hardest, but just in case— what if I can’t?”
Leo toyed with an artifact, pondered my words.
Then he turned, smiling.
“Dunno. What do you think?”
Just then, Elias got a call, tapped his artifact like Leo, and appeared.
Narke too. While we talked, he’d prepped—already looked un-student-like.
Elias eyed me, muttering.
“Whoa....”
Reaction said it all. Leo succeeded where Elias failed.
“This is how it’s done, Elias.”
“No, not enough. You’re crafting a thug, not an artist. Huh~?”
“Coming from you? Anyway, gotta make folks question at first glance—like how I feel seeing you vestless in shirts daily, after selling yours or whatever.”
Leo brushed my hair forward from Elias’s side-sweep.
“Rest is on you, Lucas. This good?”
“No way. Lucas’s face screams intellect. Biggest issue.”
Elias grumbled.
Dunno if true, but fixable. I waved him off.
“Elias. Got booze in your room?”
“Yeah.”
“One bottle, please.”
* * *
“Urk....”
I dry-heaved over the sink; Narke held my back.
“Didn’t think you’d down that on an empty stomach.... Didn’t think it was possible. Willpower’s insane.”
As Elias said, sober eyes might give it away. His nagging convinced me: dull the gaze.
‘Though soju’d be best for this.’
Gin or rum even.
Fancy premium wine for this? Kinda sorry.
I turned on the tap, reached for water—then snapped to, pulled back.
Gotta act natural. Can’t ruin the state right away.
I listened to the running water, muttering.
“Didn’t expect me to chug it? No foresight?”
“Used it just now. Puke in the toilet, not here...”
“No puke?”
“Yeah!”
“Good.”
What kinda talk is this.
I shut off the water casually, lifted my head.
Prep done.
Elias even named it—good to go.
I wiped my mouth roughly, beckoned Narke.
Eyes closed briefly in the floaty warp sensation, opened to a new street.
“Warping like this works fine, huh?”
“Seems so.”
I tested the ground, scanned around. Narke steadied my shoulder.
Winding alleys ahead. Prosecutor photos told me where they led.
I headed in with Narke.
Deep turns later, light-blocked paths between buildings emerged.
Narke grimaced at the unpaved dirt, chuckling.
―“Man.... Wild that this spot pulled seven figures~?”
―“Empire’s biggest street.”
Sure, looks rundown.
But it’s camouflage magic—peel a layer, clean street underneath.
―“Evening rush lighting up shops. Where to start?”
―“Places least hit by raids first.”
Today’s just advertising ‘this guy’s hitting the street’—anywhere works.
Raided spots shut since, or dust-choked. Open ones were legit bars, no illegal ties.
I pointed to a dim street-end spot with a green sign.
―“Start there.”
* * *
“Didn’t expect three bottles like this... Gonna finish ‘em~?”
“Gotta, even if it kills me.”
I side-eyed the room, muttering.
More crowded than thought.
Roughly 15 on this floor.
‘Post-raid still this full? Must’ve been packed before.’
“Wow~ Determination. I’ll sip slow, burn it off.”
With divine power.
I brushed it off with a light laugh.
‘Lucky you...’
My gut’s churning.
Regretting not ordering glasses now, but can’t go soft.
Image isn’t fixed by looks alone. Build it slow through actions over days.
‘Not even here for much today, but this...’
Laughable thinking of more days like this.
Then Narke looked up, startled.
“Excuse me.”
I turned at the voice.
Two oldhumans grinned down at me.
“Mind if we join?”