Chapter 178
Chapter 178
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 178
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Ludovica stared at me for a long while before responding in kind, lightly.
“Curious, are you? Unfortunately, I can’t just tell you with nothing in return.”
“With nothing…? How am I supposed to invest when I don’t even know how much the capital is?”
“Your debauchery?”
I stared at Ludovica with a smiling face.
Ludovica shrugged and leaned back.
“If you don’t like it, fine.”
“No, no, not at all~ But even you must think my questions are perfectly normal curiosity, right?”
I furrowed my brow and tugged up the corner of my mouth.
“We just met, so how can you make me an offer like this? I haven’t even heard how much I’d need to invest… but you think I can afford it?”
“You’re so talented, I figured I’d make the offer. Whether you do it or not is up to you.”
Ludovica continued smoothly.
“To begin with, I’ll be putting in more of my own money as capital, and for the first round of funding, around 50 million pell… I don’t think that’s beyond you?”
500 million?
I let out a hollow laugh.
It’s a lot on its own, but it’s low compared to what they expect from me.
Especially considering this is an investment in a venture involving Pleroma.
He laughed lightly, as if reading my expression.
“It’s not just your money going in. I just thought I’d give you a seat since you seem to want to live a life of leisure. It’d be convenient for us if the right person was in that spot.”
“…….”
“Besides….”
Ludovica took off his glove and grasped my hand. With a gentle motion, pale fingers overlapped on the artery at my wrist.
“You seem to have talent in other areas too.”
“…….”
My heart started pounding rapidly.
Not because of what he expected.
No different from the bishops of Freiburg or Izana.
Pleroma openly sensing my mana and saying that—it meant he’d noticed my aptitude.
‘…Since Jeremiah seems oblivious, that’s why he’s being so blatant.’
It was possible the air in a Pleroma-operated building was laced with whatever devices they used in their world. The bishops had spotted my aptitude right away too.
‘Lucky.’
Good thing I steered the mood this way.
I could disguise my instinctive wariness as natural interest.
Either way, I’d gleaned one more piece of information.
If they planned to recruit me into Pleroma to boost their performance metrics on the side, it made sense why he’d approached me.
“I’m not saying I won’t tell you. Just after you pass the test.”
“Test?”
“Yeah.”
I kept a calm face, but I couldn’t stop tension from creeping into my shoulders.
What are these guys planning to make me do?
“First, let’s check your passport and bankbook?”
* * *
It was the most deflating sound I’d heard all week.
And an absurd one too.
Of course, since they were blatantly trying to scam me, things were going smoothly. Defeat goes to those who underestimate their opponent.
I draped my arm over the back of the chair and asked.
“The bankbook’s done now?”
“Yes.”
Faking it hadn’t been hard.
I’d started with the investor persona from the get-go.
Thanks to Leo ordering the Bayern technicians last night to hurry with the forged documents, they were ready by midnight.
Having created new identities plenty of times before, he handled this prep effortlessly too.
‘Money and status solve everything.’
Even in a country not known for speedy bureaucracy.
Regardless of his shifting attitude, I couldn’t help but appreciate his consideration.
Of course, unlike last year, now even Nikolaus had the power to prepare such things.
I didn’t like imagining it, but with no telling what might happen between Leo and me going forward, I needed the ability to handle things myself.
‘Though that guy isn’t the type to betray me like I fear, to begin with.’
I knew that. Our liege-vassal bond could flip in an instant without issue.
I knew Leo’s loyalty and trust well.
From the novel, he’d had no qualms elevating a friend from a lower station to the empire’s top seat.
From age 17, when he entered politics driven by an unconscious vow to make Elias emperor, to 27, he’d ignored his own political leanings to stay neutral every step of the way—yet flexible enough not to seem opportunistic or opinionless.
Then, in the most pivotal moment, he played the hidden card he’d built up over those ten years: backing Elias’s coup.
That was possible only because of his blind faith in Elias.
In other words, every emotion I’d read in Leo from the novel was directed at Elias.
I couldn’t be sure it extended equally to me.
Especially if he knew everything about Luka?
“…….”
I couldn’t read his heart, and he never revealed his true feelings.
He didn’t even try to confront his own true intentions.
In the end, I knew the Leo before Elias well, but the Leo before me? Nothing.
For now, all I could do was keep a proper distance until I gauged the situation.
“…Can’t you hear me? Hey.”
A gloved hand waved in front of my face.
I snapped back and looked at Ludovica.
“What’re you thinking about so deeply? And your passport isn’t here.”
I hadn’t shown the passport earlier. For the bankbook, I’d magically covered just the family name.
To keep them from digging into my background, I couldn’t reveal my full name—even a fake one—to him yet.
Not yet.
“I’ll show it when you’ve got nothing to hide from me, Ludovica. You can indulge me that much stubbornness, right? So.”
I leaned toward Ludovica.
“The test isn’t just this, is it?”
“You’re sharp.”
“…….”
I knew it instinctively.
The next test was the real one.
Ludovica smiled mildly and asked.
“Or was that line calculated too?”
A pickup line? As if.
Though he’d handed me the setup on a platter, no reason to waste it. I didn’t deny it and shrugged.
Ludovica stood and said.
“It’s late already, so let’s sleep. We’ll meet at dawn tomorrow instead.”
* * *
Around 5 a.m., we warped outside the capital, then hopped through several spots to shake any tails before heading to school.
With our homeroom teacher gone, morning classes were canceled now too.
Which meant straight training from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.
‘At least evening training’s gone, so not all bad.’
Gave me time to hunt clues on finding a replacement professor.
At 6 p.m., training over, Narke approached me with a grin.
—“Not bad condition~ Even after chugging all that booze yesterday.”
“Haha….”
I replied with a light laugh.
Narke turned to our teammates and waved.
“Great job today, everyone. No evening training, so see you tomorrow~”
We’d see them at the 1-A roll call anyway.
Our team minus Heike Ainsidel waved laughing and headed out.
Heike had been silently tailing me and Narke since round 3 started, so he’d probably leave with us.
Anyway….
‘Smooth sailing.’
As I’d thought since teams were announced, prep training for round 3 was worlds smoother than round 2.
Out of the training grounds, I spotted Leo in the lobby with students lined up.
Leo turned to the others the moment he saw me.
“Alright, all round 3 second-years here? Headcount, then dinner.”
From today, roll calls at start and end of every activity.
Leo checked my name, called others in list order, and came back.
“Auguste, Victoria.”
“Yeah.”
“Narke.”
“Yeah~”
Leo glanced at me expressionlessly, tapped my shoulder, and moved to the back row.
Mana seeped into my shoulder.
“…….”
This guy, shaking hands in front of everyone before, now always so scary….
No wonder it passed quietly.
Narke just snickered.
Meant other students hadn’t noticed his odd behavior—no issues.
The mana with his unique ability active seemed like a check if I’d kept my promise.
“Heike’s here too. Alright, dismissed. See you all tomorrow morning.”
Leo went back to the front and clapped. As students dispersed, a few of his friends approached.
“Bayern food tonight! Let’s go.”
“Yeah? I’m skipping. You guys eat.”
“Huh? Why?”
“Busy.”
‘Busy, sure.’
Student council president elections soon, plus the school kept summoning them over this mess.
I walked to the infirmary lost in thought.
Opening the door, I froze at the sight of someone by the bed.
“…….”
“You’re back?”
Leo, reading the notes I’d left, looked up.
“Busy?”
“The department head prof said visit daily.”
Sounded like an excuse, but if he said so, nothing more to say. I sat without responding.
“Trip go well yesterday? Read your notes this morning.”
“Then why read again?”
“Wondered if I missed something. That Ludovica Schneider? Alias. Prosecutors say no testimony or records of anyone like that in Primrose Pass. Hotel owner you went to? Human male.”
Expected. Business under false names too.
Don’t assume records have accurate info.
Even in the 21st century, people shifted household registries for taxes—same here, especially crime syndicates.
“Ludovica Schneider probably let his guard down thanks to your acting. Anyway, we found Pleroma vitriol recipient, so you can bow out—let palace and government handle the probe.”
“…….”
Handing over credit was secondary….
No guarantee of success.
The palace would go for the obvious: divine mages intervening in Ludovica’s mind.
“You know. If that worked, I wouldn’t have stepped in.”
“…….”
“Off to the assemblymen today. Let’s put hope there.”
I pulled a letter from the stack of docs Leo brought and waved it.
Follow-up interrogations on those two prosecutors I’d found before, to ID the assemblymen they’d discussed Primrose Pass with.
“Ludovica Schneider has no intention of spilling to me anyway. I need new intel direct.”
“Your image is too set now.”
Yeah.
Good and bad.
Ludovica thinks explaining to a wastrel is pointless.
Plus, their initial needs—my money and connections—meant little now. They were trying oracles instead.
Had to find a new hook to reach the chairman.
I snapped my fingers, thinking that.
The black hair veiling my eyes turned bright. Eyes probably blue too.
Leo gave an inscrutable smile.
“Never gets less weird. Half a year already.”
“Fair enough.”
“Alcohol’s detoxed—Narke handled it. Health’s fine. I’m off. Wasn’t lying about being busy.”
Leo stood.
I bid him simple farewell as he left.
Then recalled what I’d pondered since yesterday’s warp incident.
‘Time to level it up.’
Retry trait level.
Situation wasn’t super safe; investing a bit made sense.
I opened the window.
[Retry Lv. 1]
— Move to my most recent checkpoint
— 1 use: 2.0 points
— To next level: 2.0 points
* Held points: 19.0
* To next point gain: Luck 0.6
‘19 points.’
Enough.
Time to level.
The text shifted instantly.
[Retry Lv. 2]
— My most recent checkpoint: ‘Room 501 Warp Magic’
— 1 use: 2.0 points
— To next level: 4.0 points
* Held points: 17.0
* To next point gain: Luck 0.6
“…!”
Showed the checkpoint location.
I leveled once more, just in case.
[Retry Lv. 3]
— My most recent checkpoint: ‘Room 501 Warp Magic’
— Manual checkpoint set within 6 hours (0/3, one-time)
— 1 use: 2.0 points
— To next level: 6.0 points
* Held points: 13.0
* To next point gain: Luck 0.6
I could set the point myself?
Only three chances per chapter was limiting, but I rarely used it anyway.
‘Should’ve done this ages ago….’
Last year, points were tight though.
Then Narke warped in.
“Whoa, Leo just left? Was coming to say let’s head to the assembly~ Prep done?”
“Yeah.”
I handed him the letter.
[Rudolf Tirpitz]
[Alexander Klüger]
“Read. Assemblymen who talked Primrose Pass with those prosecutors.”
“Ah, not many this time~ No burden. Let’s go.”
I changed to Nikolaus’s robes, and with Narke’s help warped via checkpoint to the Federal Assembly building.
Took under 3 minutes.
Inside, someone in pristine white robes spoke.
“You’re here. We’ve been waiting.”
Palace divine mage.
Different one each time—emperor didn’t fully trust them not colluding with Nikolaus.
“Let’s start.”
“Yes, this way.”
The mage led us to the top floor, gripped a dusty door handle.
“Start with Assemblyman Rudolf Tirpitz?”
“Yes.”
The mage opened the door.
A middle-aged mage sat at the conference room’s head.
One of the two Federal Assemblymen who’d discussed Primrose Pass with the prosecutors.
The other we’d fetch later for safety.
“Hello, Assemblyman.”
“Ah, Lord Nikolaus. Why the sudden summons…?”
“No particular reason.”
I drew my wand as I spoke.
—Enter through the narrow gate.
“…!”
The assemblyman’s eyes glazed briefly, then refocused. He gaped in confusion.
“Wait, my lord! What’s this…!”
—The gate that leads to destruction is wide, and the road broad, so many enter through it.
At that, his eyes glazed fully.
I caught his slumping head and scanned around.
Magic hadn’t taken immediately—the palace mage stared in alarm.
Narke seemed to get it though.
‘This much….’
Pleroma.
Pleroma in government.
Assembly, technically, but they used interchangeably.
‘Good call fetching one at a time.’
“Fetch the other assemblyman?”
“Now…?”
“Now! One minute faster!”
I barked at the mage.
Told to hurry even a minute, incredibly the other appeared flustered before us in under one.
“He’s here!”
“Came on imperial order. Wait—why’s Lord Nikolaus Ernst here…?”
Imperial order?
Flexible, thanks.
I drew wand, chanted swift.
—Enter through the narrow gate.
The assemblyman crumpled limply. I flicked wand to catch him.
Narke, holding the first, grimaced.
—“Both Pleroma. Felt off.”
—“Probably high-ups like Strauch inside Pleroma. Or a bit lower.”
Those resisting spells weren’t ordinary priests.
No way they’d give key spies crap positions.
Last October, visiting Assembly over insects—no affinity shifts—must’ve been different dioceses from Strauch.
Knew diocese rivalries were fierce.
“Grah….”
A guttural roar from the first mind-controlled.
“…!”
Anyway, key now: interrogate, then rewind time.
Else we’d give Pleroma brass time to prepare.
Told Leo earlier mind control via Ludovica wouldn’t easily reach chairman.
How easy and clean was this?
But had to remember.
Priest who made Genda Asman Pleroma—linked brains. My mind control on priest alerted Genda instantly.
Same here.
Especially Ludovica Schneider, priest closest to the oracle.
Couldn’t assume no safeguards.
I looked down at the two.
“Let’s wrap quick. Who’s Primrose Pass’s ‘chairman’? Name?”
“Grrraa….”
“Gregorio…. Stop, enough….”
“Good. Where to meet Gregorio?”
He shook head wildly.
Narke translated fast.
“He doesn’t know, my lord.”
“Uwaaaaaah!”
Thud—splat, plop—
“Huh, huff…!”
Palace mage recoiled in horror.
Vitriol erupted from first assemblyman’s body. Flesh corroded where it touched. Black sludge engulfed him; he lurched up.
Boom—!
I pinned first with magic, released control on second’s head.
“Suicide spell? You value lives like flies.”
“Stop, please stop…! My lord, we know nothing of Gregorio!”
I hadn’t replied, but he machine-gunned words.
“Gregorio isn’t Pleroma…! He just helps us….”
“How?”
“Our mission—we don’t know beyond! You know our church structure. I’m no bishop, so no clue. Even bishops wouldn’t. Most don’t even know Gregorio exists.”
Rambling, but death looming loosened tongue.
Recast mind control, he’d die. He’d calculated, decided to spill all.
“Then why do you know Gregorio?”
“…….”
He hesitated; I grabbed collar, opened mouth.
—Enter through the narrow—
“G-Gregorio might defect. Might not help Pleroma, start religion…! Just monitoring….”
“…….”
Eyes met Narke’s.
Lips twisted up involuntarily.
Huge intel.
“A religion, huh.”
“Y-Yes.”
“Target?”
“N-No idea… Probably start with purebloods in Primrose Pass….”
“Why isn’t Gregorio in Pleroma?”
“They didn’t want him.”
“Proof he’ll start new religion?”
“No clue. Probably brass’s unique abilities.”
Know-nothing.
Yeah, nobody knew much about chairman anywhere.
But knew Pleroma’s internal currents re: Gregorio well.
“You seemed to utilize Gregorio effectively still. Keep obvious defector close?”
“No one strong enough in mind magic. W-We’re not on bad terms.”
Figures. Got it.
“Understood. Gregorio issues mental commands? Your ‘missions’ via him?”
“Y-Yes. That’s my understanding. But that’s all! I’m not Primrose Pass task force!”
“Then task force knows Gregorio well?”
“Y-Yes….”
He glanced at colleague, near tears.
The one pinned under my barrier was unrecognizable now.
Unlike paling near-fainting palace mage, Narke calmly purified downward.
Gruesome even for me sober. I swallowed nausea, fixed on his face.
“One last question, then done. I’ll ensure you don’t die. Believe me?”
“Y-Yes!”
“This suicide spell on everyone?”
“N-No. Just politicians like us….”
“No bishops among politicians? Bishops? Task force?”
If bishops had it, that Freiburg monsignor wouldn’t have leisurely griped ‘why can’t you handle one student?’
“Y-Yes. Right. Not for high-ups like that. Task force aren’t politicians, so no…. D-Done now?”
Good.
On replaceable leaky spots only. Bishops resist standard mind magic anyway.
“Yeah. Done.”
I released collar, summoned Retry.
“30 minutes back. Retry.”
* * *
I opened eyes in infirmary.
Narke warped to bedfront like before.
“Whoa, Leo just left?”
“…….”
“Was coming to say assembly time~ Prep done?”
No answer; Narke waved hand before me.
“You okay? You seem….”
“No, no need to go.”
“Huh~?”
Said defection risk.
Yet still mutually using each other for needs?
Answer found.
“To Primrose Pass. No more delays.”