Chapter 214
Chapter 214
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 214
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (214)
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Heike, who was an unconquerable target, had never once given me any favorability on his own.
So how?
'Hey.'
Come on. What kind of contradiction is this?
You're saying he's unconquerable, so why the hell is that guy giving me favorability points?
[…]
A window popped up in front of me, but no text appeared on it.
That's when a phrase I'd heard before suddenly flashed through my mind.
[I think you're a great teammate... but that might just be stubbornness because I want to get close to you. It might not even be my true impression. Of course, I don't even know if wanting to get close to you stems from actual liking you, or just my determination to try making a friend for once.]
It was something Heike Ainsidel had said to me.
At the time, I'd thought:
'I'm not sure if his emotional deficiency directly prevents favorability points, but if he's the type who barely feels emotions at all, that could definitely affect it. Some people give them out easily, others don't. So doesn't that mean there's a chance it could go up? Of course, that's suspicious in its own way. Would a normal system even display favorability for an unconquerable target? If it can't go up, isn't that why it's unconquerable? Or maybe no ending means unconquerable?'
Now I get it.
Heike's favorability could rise on its own.
So there's no reason it should be unconquerable.
First off, this guy's system isn't omnipotent.
If it was truly unconquerable, it should've prevented the target's favorability from rising. But why didn't it?
He has the ability to rewind time, and the power to boost others' favorability by 6 whole points, so why?
'Damn. Can't even ask Narke about this...'
Second, it gave a vague warning but left me with a ton of freedom.
So why not just plaster "Villain" in huge letters?
Is it a lack of power, or did it deliberately allow for free will?
'If I had to pick the rational option right now, it'd be entirely this system's incompetence.'
More importantly, there were other things to sort out now.
"Eek~?!"
Narke let out a flustered laugh as I grabbed his shoulder.
I dragged him to a secluded spot, cast a soundproofing spell, and muttered,
"...What the hell did you say to him? What's this about?"
"Lucas said he wants to get even closer to you~"
"That's not all, though... right? What did you do to make him look like a kid at an amusement park for the first time?"
Of course, to outsiders, he still looked stone-faced, but after spending the last month with Heike, we knew better.
That was a rare expression for Heike, whose eyes usually looked utterly vacant.
It wasn't even a smile—just a blank face, but with this weird glint of anticipation in his eyes.
As I leaned in closer, Narke backed away, waving his hands in front of him to fend me off.
"It's tr-true~! I swear, just one sentence. I used Insight a bit. Had to figure out what would make Heike happiest, so we could talk in a softer mood~ Honestly, it's not like we're telling him stuff that'd make him happy anyway."
"...And that was the thing Heike likes most?"
"Uh-huh. Oh, among the ones involving you, that is."
Yeah, figures. That eases the burden a bit.
If it was something like "getting close to you is my life's greatest joy," I'd have looked into exorcism rites right then. No reason for that.
I let go of him and stepped back, and Narke explained soothingly.
"But really, it's just that he wants to be friends~ He said it himself before. He wanted to try making a real friend. No intentions of selling info or hurting us at all."
I stared at him, and he tilted his head to the side. He seemed a bit more playful, like he'd had one too many drinks.
"Your abilities' range has expanded a lot, huh."
"......"
Narke silently looked away, then quietly replied as if deciding it was okay to tell me this much.
"It'll shrink back on its own."
"Shrink? Why?"
"If I want to keep living here, it has to."
Narke said something chilling, then smiled.
I knew prying if he didn't offer first was rude, but I had more than one or two questions.
An asterisk on favorability meant a trait had been applied.
Like with Foresight (Lv.2)*, what did the one on the trait mean?
Maybe another trait had applied to Insight and Foresight.
I knew he was hiding a lot from me. Plenty of suspicious bits. But he hadn't told me first, and it wasn't harming me, so I hadn't asked.
Today, though, he was being weirdly forthcoming.
"Narke. You drunk?"
"Nope~ I can't drink till I'm wasted. Anyway... so if you have questions now, ask away. It might only be a little better, but more accurate than last time?"
"......"
I suddenly wanted to ask about the status window.
Maybe ask, then rewind time.
'...I'd just have to tell Leo I did it out of boredom.'
Lame as hell.
And to be safe, better not ask Narke something this sensitive.
"Predict my future a bit."
"Oh, great! But Heike's waiting. Wanna hear it in my room later?"
I nodded.
When we stepped out, Heike eyed us alternately, probably wondering why we'd vanished so suddenly.
"Sorry! Lucas was super embarr—"
I clamped a hand over his mouth and smiled as I explained.
"Nah, it's not that. Heike, you just seemed different from usual, so I wondered if maybe Narke passed on what I said earlier. Turns out he did. Um... was it too much?"
"Nope."
Heike replied in his robotic tone.
But his eyes were sparkling.
'...You really want friends that bad, huh...'
My conscience was stabbing me.
What I had to tell him wasn't exactly happy news.
Narke shoved us up to the lounge above the banquet hall.
"Alright, let's go."
The new guest lounge was bigger and fancier than the room Elias had trashed earlier.
For all the flashy chaos Elias had caused showing off his personality, it felt like he hadn't secured much in terms of rights. At least thanks to that, he'd avoided purge while turning everyone into Günter loyalists—a notable achievement. Seemed Elias accepted this level of unfairness.
'Come to think of it, it's about time for Elias to go independent.'
No real need for him to stay in the palace.
The emperor was holding him there to monitor and control him, but in the novel, he bolted right after gaining support.
Of course, now things had escalated before graduation, and he'd entered the imperial family, so it might change.
Narke looked flustered by the totally different vibe from the earlier room, glancing around just like me.
"Hmm. The imperial family's loaded."
"Yeah."
Heike gave a short reply.
He had a wine glass in hand again, but thankfully no refill spell this time.
He drained it, smacked his lips regretfully, and set it on the table.
"Kids. Is it okay if it's just us? Shouldn't we call some other friends?"
Heike blurted it out bluntly. But the anticipation in his eyes and his flushed face remained.
Clearly, he wanted to get close to more friends.
Narke, who'd gone quiet, sent me a divine message.
—"Guilt tripping me..."
—"Same."
We'd already confirmed before that he genuinely wanted to get close to us purely, so today we just needed to check one thing.
Asking outright would feel like an interrogation, so loosen the mood first.
I shook the ice cream cup I'd gotten from Adelbert earlier.
"But where'd this ice cream come from? No freezer here."
"Remember the ice cream booth the admin department ran at the festival? A cooling mage friend who did that made more."
"I see. Weird they got permission."
"That 1st-year junior approved it~"
"Ah..."
Adelbert approved it, huh.
Kinda ridiculous. The eldest's plotting some shady scheme to scam Phleroma next to him, and the second's just thinking about ice cream.
Not that I had much reason to feel the disconnect. No reason those two should be alike.
From the past two weeks meeting Gregorio—Abraham, scouring books, and drawing conclusions from every possibility: the crown prince wasn't Adelbert's family anymore. Precisely...
"Good."
Lost in thought, half-listening to Narke and Heike's quiet chat, an unexpected line pierced my ear.
Heike, who'd picked up his empty glass again, stared into the bottom and muttered.
"I wanted to be on your team... but honestly, there was no sign of it. Never imagined they'd expand the roster."
"I see."
"We're happy to have you on our team too, Heike~ Who knew one extra person could make it feel this solid."
Heike blinked at Narke's words, then smiled as if realizing this was when he should.
"Feels surreal that my wish came true."
"......"
This guy had always spouted the cringiest lines.
Saying being on our team was his "wish" right to our faces. I could see Narke racking his brains, lips sealed.
Time to get to the point. I tossed out the question.
"You said trying to make friends is new for you, Heike."
"Yeah."
"No chance before? I couldn't go to the 3rd training academy, so no friends, but were you in a similar spot? Curious."
"......"
"Sorry if that's rude."
"Same."
I waited quietly, and he slowly continued.
"Followed my uncle around, no time to get close to friends. Plus, I'm not sociable."
I knew that much...
Unlike me, Narke leaned in, focused on the uncle part.
"You seemed on bad terms with your uncle, but you followed him? Must've been tough. I get it somehow—bad with my family elders too."
"Parnasse family elders?"
"Yeah. Reason you stuck with your uncle?"
It flowed naturally into prying like a background check. Predictably, Heike hesitated without answering.
"Oh, too personal? After this, it's 6 AM—we could do board games at the dorm?"
"Sure. Lucas too?"
"Sorry. Crashing early, I'm beat."
"I see."
Heike nodded like that worked.
I chatted idly until the mood lightened.
But couldn't stall forever.
'Ask once more... if he dodges, cast mind manipulation.'
Then rewind time.
Anything but mind magic on a friend was too far. Couldn't leave any trace of that memory.
Even if he forgot, making it never happen was the final courtesy.
I waited for a lull, then asked abruptly.
"Heike. Sudden, but your unique ability."
His blank face stiffened subtly.
"Used it on people much?"
"......"
Heike just stared at the table.
As Narke and I squirmed on pins and needles, he nodded.
"...A lot?"
"Yeah."
"You seemed to hate using it on people."
"Right. So don't worry. That thing before... yeah, hard to trust me after... "
I shook my head, smiling as kindly as possible.
"Nah, that's over. I trust you. But why so much experience if you hate it?"
Felt overwhelming prying like this against his nature.
Heike looked guilty, eyes darting.
Finally, in a small voice:
"My uncle made money off my ability."
"......"
Instantly clear why he avoided his uncle.
Similar case to Narke.
Narke eyed me; seemed legit.
"Before every job, he'd drag me to touch the land and people. So as a kid, innocent folks tangled with my uncle got hurt because of me."
"...You just told him what you read."
Heike nodded at Narke's worried tone.
"Yeah. Once I knew it caused problems, I stopped. ...Uncle's no fool; saw through my lies right away. Won't speak well of him—he's not a good person."
"......"
As I pondered, Heike looked at me.
"Sorry about before. Guess I got tainted by him too. So... um, what I mean is... I won't use it to get close now. Never want to, no matter what. Especially not on our team."
He'd taken my question as "gonna use it on me again?"
Anyway, got his straight answer on this topic.
No need for mind magic; verified clean.
Narke nodded at me—Heike's resolve was real.
Plenty talk big but act selfish; Heike seemed truly averse from bad childhood memories.
This is why you talk.
I gazed into those earnest eyes, worried.
"You used it a lot in this exam. Must've been hard with no good memories of it."
"Still, just touching land, better than nothing. No uncle type, and it was an exam."
Heike smiled faintly, fiddling with his ear.
Several artifacts plugged in.
"Feels looser post-exam, so fitted artifacts. Don't worry."
"Oh, really."
Narke eyed Heike's eyes sadly.
"I said I'm not close with my family elders too? Same reason as you."
"Yeah?"
"Yeah. They always made me squeeze out divine power for jobs... They tend to twist everything to their tastes."
Heike pondered silently, then nodded slowly.
"...Guess it's common everywhere, huh. Not just me."
"Yeah. Super common~ Patricide, fratricide, dragging kid mages under 10 to fatten clans—all routine."
"......"
I smiled meaninglessly, listening to Narke.
Yeah. Routine. Marco Schreiber said new humans only have one kid usually, right? Reasons abound.
'Not the only ones with family issues.'
Too bad.
New humans are more calculating than old. Old human era had wild politics and assassinations, but new humans amp it up.
Old humans bred heirs mostly from love; new humans for mana boost to seize power. Births optimize top mana sources in perfect ratios. Plus a pint of blood, standard model stripping "inferior" new human traits.
So for Luca, only parent is Georg Ascanien; if two, the second biggest mana chunk Georg contracted.
Raised from start on different path, new humans' values differ. Felt it less in kid school, buried in studies, but higher up, survivalism reigns, meaningful bonds fade.
Society viewing humans as tools from birth can't function normally—obvious. No wonder Heike can't bond with a family seeing him as tool.
Though, if nitpicking normal, was my old world truly normal?
Narke looked at Heike ahead.
"But most don't live like us—guess we drew the short straw. Nice meeting another like me, Heike."
"Me too."
"Ah~ Mood got heavy! We need fun talk. Heike, what after graduation?"
Narke chuckled lightly, hamming it up.
His confident Mephisto role paid off—good actor.
"Wanna live with Mom."
"Oh?"
"Not sure if she'll treat me like Uncle, but curious."
"I see."
Narke listened with an even more piercing gaze.
'Worth remembering, huh.'
Asking "fun" future plans that weren't fun at all.
As we all fell silent, Heike, matching our quiet, mumbled courageously.
"...Bit random, but should've said earlier. If emergency or need my ability, call anytime. Wanna help—I'm team now."
"'You guys.' It's 'us.'"
Heike nodded at my words.
"Yeah."
His smile was excited, so I smiled back.
Narke clapped, drawing his wand.
"Alright~ Finally, Heike!"
"Yeah?"
—From the one granting me power, I shall do all things.
Heike clutched his heart, eyes widening.
Wasn't me.
I'd just taught Narke my improved formula.
Narke smiled apologetically.
"Sorry."
"Huh? What?"
Heike whipped his head between us, realizing no one would explain.
Even cast casually, conscience pricked—Narke glanced away briefly, then smiled.
"I... tend to cast this on all new friends."
"......"
What a cover.
Heike, ever sensible, raised a brow slightly.
"Why?"
"Means I collected you as a friend. Gotta bind all my friends to me to be satisfied~"
"You're weird."
"......"
Heike replied flatly, as usual.
Who's the weird one? First time seeing such calm reaction.
"So not just me. All team too?"
"Huh? Gotta collect 'em. Already did Lucas next to ya."
When?
But effect solid.
Light sparked in Heike's eyes.
Sees it as close friend proof.
'Can't say the spell's called Enslavement.'
Can't mention only casting on those with one each, except oddball Leo.
"Oh, and secret. Don't tell other friends!"
Heike asked brighter.
"Why? I'll convince Klaist. Gotta collect, right?"
"Aaah! No~ Gotta collect with my power for the flavor~"
"Really weird."
Thinking again, he's the weird one.
In this mutual madness vibe, to regain sanity, I was shifting topics when divine power surged from behind.
—Se il Signore non custodisce la città, invano veglia chi la custodisce.
"...!"
Heike lost consciousness and slumped asleep from one incantation.
I jumped up, grabbing him.
'Unless the Lord guards the city, the watchman keeps awake in vain.'
Left spell was this.
'Italian...'
Ridiculous. Muttered in mother tongue so we wouldn't get it.
Narke grabbed Heike's back, smiling usual.
"Ah, really sorry... But no severed feel~ You felt it too, Lucas?"
"Yeah."
No link between Heike and others.
If linked, mana flow shifts on unconsciousness.
"Clean. But guess he picked up info touching stuff unwittingly. Hence artifacts."
"Our stuff?"
"Yeah, probably read without knowing. Enslavement too—if attacked, we'd know... Anyway, this is fine."
Narke smiled at me.
"Whatever result, no regrets—let's give it our all."
"......"
I stared into his yellow eyes, nodded.
"Yeah."
Air felt ready to explode anytime, so I forced a playful grin, changing subject.
"Oh, forgot. My future? Use ability while at it."
"Oh, sure..."
Narke, looking down at me, trailed off.
As silence scared me, he smiled.
"That too—we'll do our best."
* * *
Heike thought he'd passed out from too much booze.
Descending stairs with us, he grumbled sullenly.
"Should stop drinking?"
'Don't people usually quit on their own after that?'
"Drink more~"
Narke, priest or not, grinned indifferently to others boozing.
Anyway...
I cast soundproof, told Narke to explain the answer I missed.
"Narke. What the hell was that?"
"Later, really in my room. It'll take a bit. Not just you—it's..."
Narke gave an awkward half-smile, pained.
Knew Lv.2 still full of holes, but creepy prophecy from upgraded power?
'Ah... shouldn't have asked my fate early.'
No.
Need to know to snap out of it.
"But lately you've had breathing room! Right?!"
"Should've, yeah?"
"...True..."
Narke grinned sheepishly.
Then, Ulrike dashed up from afar, waiting.
"Kids!"
Looked oddly chipper.
Before asking, he shoved a crumpled paper.
[1st Year Team 1 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[1st Year Team 2 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[1st Year Team 3 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[2nd Year Team 1 (Eszett) - Pentalon Main Stadium Inspection]
[2nd Year Team 2 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[2nd Year Team 3 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[3rd Year Team 1 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[3rd Year Team 2 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
[3rd Year Team 3 - 9th Grade Berserker Disposal]
"Ours is the only one like that!"
* * *
Same time, Niederzachsen region.
In a 3rd-floor house room near pitch-black, someone brushed over wall photos and pins. His gaze shifted to Berlin map.
Standing still long, the mage connected red string from one pin to another.
He hummed lowly in Low German.
"Knocking on my door, turning the knob... Father thinks, must be the wind. Mother thinks, must be the wind. Father..."
Beep—
Mage tapped ear artifact.
Another voice replied promptly.
[Schedule out.]
"...thinks, just the wind. Mother thinks, just the wind."
[Your singing's fucking awful. How do you murder a cheery song like a criminal? Amazing.]
"Schedule."
[Pentalon Main Stadium inspection.]
"Hahahahaha!"
Mage scribbled on paper, pinned it.
"First mission's this? Pushing us as empire's face, huh."
[Don't think like that—all mages want iconic first gigs like this. Especially one-month paid vacay after.]
"Good. Tomorrow?"
[Tomorrow. Now... Ah!]
Caller, about to hang, yelled urgently.
[Hear that?]
"What."
[Don't take Ascanien pic out. You're done.]
"......"
Mage shrugged at wall photos and map wordlessly.
"Won't."