Chapter 202
Chapter 202
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 202
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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‘What the hell is this guy planning?'
That was the thought that flashed through Lucas's mind.
The slippery smile looked even more ominous because of how overly cheerful it was, only fueling his suspicions.
"...Since when have you been the type to nitpick like that? Don't worry about my standards—just do it. I'll take it all."
"Yeah~ Close your eyes again. Narke knows we're at city hall but still doesn't come... No, it's really bothering me."
Elias abruptly grabbed the cloth, unwound it, and retied it properly.
"Lucas, do you know what I'm gonna do?"
"How would I? Just spit it out already."
"It's nothing big."
Elias suddenly jumped up from his seat and disappeared from view for a moment.
When the sound of footsteps approached again, Oswald asked in a startled voice.
"What's that? Is there rampage potion in here or something...?"
"Oswald."
Elias's voice dropped low, as if telling him to shut up, cutting him off.
A cold bottle of water was pressed into Lucas's hand. Lucas shrugged, giving a look that said, *What the hell am I supposed to do with this?*
"What's this?"
"Lucas. You trust me, right~?"
"...?"
Lucas furrowed his brow slightly at the out-of-left-field comment.
Whatever the situation, was he telling him to drink this?
Then why had Oswald mentioned rampage potions earlier? Did it look like sketchy water or something?
Lucas, who had been pressing his forehead because his head hurt, gripped the bottle like he was about to smash it.
"No?"
"Sob sob..."
"This bastard... Elias is crying out loud? At least look at his face."
Yulia waved her hands at Lucas's menacing tone.
"Elias, could you just tell us what's going on? This must be really confusing for Lucas. If you explain, we'll try to convince him properly."
At her words, Lucas's expression softened a bit.
It had been a while since he'd heard some common sense.
As expected of Leon's group—compared to those novel-protagonist-level weirdos, sometimes a straightforward, sensible friend like Yulia was more relaxing.
This was after enduring Leo's bloodlust-fueled competitive spirit for over ten minutes. That was definitely the reason.
He felt Elias's mana move toward Yulia. Soon, she seemed to realize something and spoke.
"Ah, I see."
"What's that, Yulia?"
"Hmm, how about this?"
Yulia took the bottle from Lucas's hand and carried it away.
The sound of her drinking reached Lucas's ears loudly.
"...Mm."
Yulia handed the bottle back to Lucas.
It was much lighter now than before.
"See? I drank some too, so it shouldn't feel as gross now, right?"
"You're not gonna explain what it is?"
"Haha, I can't explain everything, so I drank it myself. Let's check the effects together."
"...Effects...?"
Lucas let out a hollow laugh as he roughly grasped the meaning.
At the same time, Elias looked down at Lucas, anxiously tapping the table.
Lucas couldn't think too much here. He always hated taking losses, but today, he needed to suffer a real one in every way—that would turn into a huge gain for them.
He'd probably come all the way here knowing that—which wasn't just ditching them, but finding a way to counter Narke's power—so Lucas had already scored points. But if he started calculating everything now, it would all go to waste.
*Should I just grab it and pour it down his throat?*
As Elias gazed down at Lucas, entertaining thoughts that could easily get him cut off, Lucas downed the bottle's contents in one go.
The team members, who had been watching anxiously without knowing what was happening, widened their eyes.
"What? He drank it? Yulia did too—what are you thinking?!"
"Hey, Elias. What the hell is that? At least tell us."
"...Whoa."
Amid Elias's admiration, Lucas set the bottle on the table and said,
"I trust you. Happy?"
"......"
Elias, who had been staring down at him without even thinking to close his mouth, burst into laughter. Then he sat next to Lucas and slung an arm around his shoulders like always.
"Ah~ Our Lucas is so straightforward~"
"Since when are we 'our'?"
Elias leaned in closer, undeterred even by the slightly irritable tone amid all the unknowns.
"More importantly, Lucas."
"What."
"Let's go on a fountain tour."
* * *
"Kids, good work so far."
Leo clapped his hands to draw the team's attention.
Among the students staring at him blankly, Ulrike and Josephine—who hadn't been able to do anything since their artifact broke at the start—looked especially gloomy.
If they'd just stayed connected via artifact, they could've responded to Leo and Narke's support requests and maybe even beaten Team 3.
Leo comforted them as if reading their thoughts.
"It's been a mudfight for ages. Don't mope over giving up one point—focus on the last one left."
"Yeah, kids~ No one's fault. Blaming ourselves just hurts us, so let's resolve to do better from now on!"
At that, Josephine, who had been hanging her head, muttered,
"...No one's fault? We dragged you down from the start by getting wiped out."
"No~ If anything, I was too focused on Lucas to use my power on Yulia and Auguste. If I had, I could've gone straight to city hall coordinates. Same for Leo. We were doing fine until Elias said... Mmph?"
Narke rolled her eyes up at Leo, who had clamped a hand over her mouth.
Leo sighed deeply, looking disillusioned, and addressed the students.
"...Bottom line: One point left, so now's the real deal. Use past mistakes as stepping stones."
The students nodded, looking far more determined than before.
Ulrike took a new artifact from Leo and put it on, saying,
"By the way, Narke, is your head okay?"
"Haha, no~"
Every time Lucas covered his eyes, useless info flooded her mind.
Like the wind blowing from the northwest, or something brushing her cheek, or Oswald's mana constantly surging toward her from behind.
Hundreds of such details poured in per minute, making her vision spin.
Earlier, she'd even read hundreds of building names and warp coordinates, nearly passing out.
*But it might get better now~*
Lucas was resting now too.
He'd gone to city hall, so they were probably strategizing there.
The moment she reactivated her power with that thought, a panicked shout came from beside her.
"You okay? Narke's nose is bleeding!"
"Huh? For real."
Narke pulled a cloth from her clutch and wiped the blood roughly.
Just one more activation and this happened.
*Can't use it freely anymore.*
No time to relax. She might get booted from Mimesis if she passed out.
"Gotta wrap this up quick~ Let's start. First rampager was a beggar, second victim a city hall clerk. The last one's probably connected here too~?"
"Yeah."
"Those two were at the same place first, so theoretically, most likely hypothesis is... they ate the same thing."
Team members voiced puzzled questions.
"What'd they drink? Did the clerk snatch the beggar's water?"
"...Why not just drink their own at city hall...?"
"I think the same. Evidence for shared food is kinda thin. But not enough to rule it out completely~ Heike. Any other clues there?"
"...Yeah. Might've missed something, but nothing for now."
"Hmm..."
The students fell silent again.
Then Leo pulled out a bundle of newspapers from under his chair.
"Knew this might happen, so I grabbed all the stand papers on the way. Take a look."
After flipping through for a while, the team shook their heads.
Ulrike, chin in hand, muttered,
"Nothing relevant. I'll read it all: Benzendth announces 3rd-gen mana-powered car, gymnasium teacher quals tightened, 8-24yo newhuman mandatory military training upped to 100hrs/year, Business Alliance demands lowering employable age for oldhumans from 13 to 9..."
"Anything remotely related?"
"Pentalon stuff. From city aesthetics dept. Illegal trash dumping fines up to 5x, 1,000 plainclothes enviro inspectors in Berlin, low-income under 1M fel/year encouraged to poorhouses & new intakes, old sewer pipes replacement, Berlin fountains & water stations quality checks, high-risk street vendors forced removal by 19th, Pentalon end-date booze & cig taxes up 50% for nationals..."
As the irrelevant news piled up, faces darkened. Leo tapped the table, frowning.
"Some useless stuff here too... Street vendors?"
"Yeah. Complaints about Pleroma contamination risk from food stalls, so clearing 'em all on 19th."
"Makes sense. Pleroma could disguise as vendors, sell cheap food during Pentalon, spread contaminants."
Leo replied thoughtfully. Ulrike's eyes sharpened.
"...Wait, aren't those stalls perfect for beggars? Street food's cheap regardless of quality. And gov acknowledged Pleroma risk."
Eyes met around the table.
Still stuck, but clues were emerging.
Another student raised a hand.
"Kids, poorhouse too. Aesthetics dept rounding up beggars. They might've met at relief cafeteria there. Heard poorhouse opening temp soup kitchens lately."
"Good."
Heike, listening quietly, lit up softly.
"...Enviro inspectors? What if Pleroma posed as one contacting them? Aesthetics handles inspectors, and they'd meet beggars directly."
Leo leaned back, inhaling deeply, reorganizing prior info.
"Good possibility. But no direct clues, so not feeling it strong. Hold till we find evidence."
As he finished, another student scanning papers looked around.
"Then old pipes... Beggar ain't a pipe specialist. Booze tax... Black market booze poisoned?"
"Low odds. Next, fountain article? Fountains seem promising, thoughts?"
"Agreed. This round looks winnable?!"
It really did.
All hypotheses held water.
Contacts between beggar and clerk were stacking up.
Now verify evidence.
"Yeah. Worth considering. Next..."
"Uh, hold on."
Narke clutched her head.
All five seated gazes turned to her.
"Lucas is... drinking something."
"Drinking? During the test?"
"Yeah. Elias just shoved something in him."
Elias?
Shoved?
Leo raised a brow. Those words didn't mix. Unease crawled up his spine.
"What'd he shove?"
"Lucas doesn't know. Thinks it's just water. Ugh, he hates it."
"Water's water—what's 'just like water'?"
"......"
Narke didn't answer Leo's question for a long time.
Finally, pale-faced, she forced out a hollow laugh.
"Fountain... water..."
"......"
Silence fell.
No one grasped it instantly.
Leo shouted first, quickest.
"...What?!"
"What're you saying, Narke? Lucas is drinking fountain water now? You read that right?"
Ulrike asked incredulously.
Narke just scratched her head, no reply. Heike Ainsidel asked darkly.
"...Narke, so they're testing if fountain water causes rampage by drinking it?"
"...Probably? Elias's intent at least."
"Lucas alone?"
"Probably with Yulia..."
Team shook heads, faces fully done.
"What the hell are they? Thinking's next-level insane. Not normal crazy."
"Team 3 all lunatics...?"
"Shoulda known from the blindfold test talk..."
Narke swallowed nausea, smiling as she spoke.
"Kids, think a bit more?"
"About what?"
"We got no info on second rampager or victim. Need that to pick from our earlier hypotheses."
Nods.
"Team 3 has that info. So what now?"
"Meet Team 3."
"Yeah. They're touring fountains verifying one hypothesis..."
Narke smiled brightly at her team.
Predicting her words, they slowly grinned.
"Bonus: Snag their info too. Whaddya say, Leo?"
"...Not bad. But don't obsess like before."
"Awesome! Grab Lucas, and another one."
"Another? Lucas enough?"
"Can't mind-magic Lucas."
Mouths gaped, then nods.
They bought it as Lucas's level blocking magic.
True it was hard, but Narke's real reason wasn't that.
*His state worsens under mind magic.*
Test or foe, he was friend first.
No exploiting trauma sleazily for win, knowing it.
Goal set, students rose energized.
"Alright. Where are they?"
"Alexander Square, three blocks down park. But kids..."
"Hold up."
Narke and Leo spoke simultaneously.
Narke met Leo's eyes.
Same thing anyway. She nodded him to go. Leo eyed back thanks and said,
"Couldn't track Team 3 before. They gave Lucas zero info."
"Yeah."
"But now we know where they are, what they're drinking. Why feed Lucas this time? For first/second points, they'd feed another kid water. Doesn't that seem off?"
"...Yeah."
Faces complicated as realization dawned. To the silent question, Narke confirmed.
"Yeah. Not spilling for nothing. Elias's trap. Luring us—then what?"
Narke mused, chin in hand.
"Stay alert, no harm. No second rampager info, hypotheses hard to verify—no other play."
"So?"
"Follow 'em."
* * *
Same time, park fountain—Team 3's three gathered.
"This a joke?"
Lucas's hand naturally went behind his head.
Elias slapped it away quick.
"No, Lucas. No untying blindfold or puking~"
"Think I can hold it in?!"
"Sigh..."
Yulia's deep sigh came from beside.
She felt the same as Lucas.
Sensing something rising from his gut, Lucas muttered,
"...Elias. You said 'any method goes.' This your method?"
"Sorta! Not fully yet."
"Yeah... But no way you'd go this insane, so my guess it's not fountain water..."
"Whoa?! Stop! No thinking~"
Elias clamped Lucas's mouth. Even through the blindfold, Lucas's brow furrowed visibly. Elias grinned undeterred.
"Memorize coordinates again? Start at A~"
"......"
"You got 'em? How far? Nah, don't answer. Probably D by now—okay to say. Listen up, Lucas."
Elias lowered his voice.
"No thinking at all. Leo's said our thinking's alike forever—kinda true. Think even a sec, you'll crack my plan. So endure gut twists. Imagine kraut-soaked cola instead. Narke'd hate it, never peek again."
"Elias, you got a grudge? Get to point."
"Keep memorizing. First: Team 1 hunting this info. Oswald/Florian's victim same as rampager—city aesthetics clerk. Haven't heard their deets yet?"
"Nah."
"Quick rundown: 40s newhuman, navy check jacket, deo scent, gum wrapper, business card, fountain pen, pinky-sized perfume vial, five folded fine notices, palm-sized notebook. Rain-soaked jacket flipped as-is. Notebook blank, fines not assigned yet. US pen, dark navy ink, pale pink perfume—details prolly unnecessary?"
Lucas stayed silent, memorizing coordinates nonstop.
"Now second. Lucas, Faust/Rosalind acting spot-on. Rosalind shocked me—opposite personality, yet nailed her~?"
"......"
Elias's tone grew dead serious.
"Lucas. From now, when meeting Team 1—do and say things you'd never."
* * *
"Memorizing coordinates again~"
"Yeah, Narke..."
Narke deactivated insight and stood; Josephine, with her, turned worried.
"Narke, eyes burst already. Okay?"
"Bloodshot, say precisely..."
Narke chuckled dryly, blinking slowly.
Sleepiness hitting now.
*No.*
She slapped her cheeks, touched artifact.
"Ulrike, Hilde. Arrived?"
[Yeah.]
"Leo, Heike?"
[Here too.]
Nothing special.
Predicted Team 3 paths, pre-positioned at likely spots. Two teams at fountains, one at water station.
Split three ways—one hit guaranteed.
Goal: Snag one Team 3 kid. But Team 3 wouldn't let.
*Elias lured us here on purpose.*
He had a plan.
Figure it, play along.
Playing along unafraid—that's counter to Elias's strategy. Key.
Hiding behind tree, holding breath.
Soon, two warped to fountain.
"Elias and Lucas."
Josephine whispered.
Yup.
As expected, Elias/Lucas at different fountain.
Touring everywhere—really testing which fountain water rampaged.
"Narke. Plan? Lure to melee, warp 'em best?"
"......"
Narke finger to lips, turned to fountain.
Breath metallic. Blood trickling down throat.
But effective.
"Hahaha... Illusion. Fake."
"What?!"
"Go. No point fighting illusion. Wastes time."
Words out, vision's pair vanished.
Someone pierced illusion—can't maintain. Narke smirked, tapping ear.
"Ulrike, Hilde."
[Yeah?]
"Auguste's tracking us. Might be there. Could grab ankles again. Shake, pass through."
[Lucas/Elias right here? Fakes?]
"Yeah. Fakes."
[...Not vanishing.]
Just suspicion.
Narke, direct user, knew fakes sure; non-insight team stuck at doubt.
[Better bail. Clash wastes time. Heading poorhouse investigate.]
[Yeah, Leo/Heike evade quick. Distract only! Grabbing ankles while we hunt clues again.]
Same time, overhearing—Leo/Heike peered at fountain's Lucas/Elias from tree.
"Fakes."
"Leo, no rampager meet traces here."
Heike rose, reading land memory.
"Narke/team right. You said Elias planted fountain info in Lucas brain for reason. Stalling clue hunt like now. Fakes, so skip."
"Yeah. Next coord. But..."
Leo inhaled deep.
Feb cold wind filled lungs.
Not super smell, but plant-surrounded life gave park edge.
Wet earth, then pine/juniper.
And...
Sandalwood.
Too deep for tiny park.
"Nothing to lose. Heike, mark Lucas."
"What? Plays into Team 3 plan...!"
BOOM—!
Sky-blue mana burst blindingly overhead.
Elias, wand to staff, thrust skyward blocking Leo's attack.
"Too obvious~? No direct attacks, Leo!"
Leo swung wand nonstop, no big reaction.
No spells/attacks—just barrage.
Knew from prior indiscriminate spam win: No need effort vs Elias-with-Lucas.
Problem: Post-Lucas.
BOOM! CRASH!
Amid shaking roars, Leo eyed Elias/Lucas.
"Auguste's no ordinary. Too identical—can't tell."
"What, Leo?"
Heike yelled.
Leo no answer. Charged Elias from tree. Blue mana crashed. Roar/flash disrupted senses—Leo ignored, lunged Elias-only.
CLANG—!
"Ooh, rushed. Meh~"
Elias blocked Leo's sword, grinning.
Far off, Lucas faced Heike. Leo glanced Elias-back, refocused.
"Matters?"
"Duh?"
Leo faint smile, shook head.
"Didn't lay space magic, Elias."
"So~? Our Leo's unfocused lately."
"Disappointing. Could flee now—why clash me?"
Blue eyes beyond blade wavered.
Sword force unsteady.
Leo's gaze past Elias shoulder.
Heike, Leo's unique aid, had subdued Lucas.
"Why act un-Elias, killing time here."
"Dunno~?"
"'Cause you're calculated. Not fluid real thinker..."
CREAK—
Leo smiled at Elias again.
"Ordered to stay—fake. Wrong? Sloppy this time, Auguste."
Instant—Elias vanished.
Leo steadied, feeling lingering mana disperse.
Yup, Narke right—fake.
*Sloppy, I said...*
Not sloppy.
Elias's defense bluff no bluff.
Admit: That was real bravado.
Auguste's precise, no escape holes. Unlike solo Lucas true/fake earlier—this Narke hint big.
But...
One sure: Reverse this time.
Elias fake—but Lucas real.
Why?
Leo steadied breath, mana-pressed new grass from brick gaps, approached Heike/Lucas.
Sandalwood neared, mixed other herbs. Lucas's true-self scent. Hated fussing, but post super-senses like Oswald/Philip schoolwide—couldn't skip.
Anyway, Auguste-blind proof: This Lucas real.
Leo knelt by prone Lucas, head turned.
"Lucas."
"......"
No reply.
Leo tugged back-knot lightly.
Test-start irritant defense tool plaguing team—undone easy one gesture. Absurd chuckle.
Then, pink eyes melted laugh entered view.
Sudden friend-face funny, absurd, or plan-per—unknown.
One clear.
*No coincidence.*
On scripted game board now—Lucas too.
Need Team 3 info for final point—this timely meet?
"Why stay alone on purpose? Surely..."
"......"
"Reason."
Leo smiled calculated-right, gazed friend. Lucas's lips slowly curved up.