Chapter 248
Chapter 248
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 248
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“You know a way to dispel the curse.”
The floor is cold.
I felt the chill of the restraints fastening around my wrists and pondered who the person standing before me and speaking might be. Someone was gripping my head and pressing it to the floor, so I couldn’t see the face of the one who had approached.
Even if I’d shouted that it was my country, taking on thirty men was impossible. It was only natural that I’d been subdued and captured by the Imperial Guard.
But according to the original plan, I had succeeded in drawing their aggro.
“That’s enough! It seems there was a misunderstanding between us. This man isn’t the type to do anything dangerous.”
“No, Minister, but still…”
“It’s definitely a misunderstanding. I’ll interrogate Excellency Ascanien personally, so withdraw.”
How could it not be a success when the Minister of Magic had come here himself?
The minister chased away the mages pinning me down. I’d launched an attack out of nowhere and turned the place into a mess, yet he let me off so easily. It seemed the statements from the previous timeline, where he’d judged me favorably, hadn’t been lies.
The minister placed a hand on my carotid artery and warped us somewhere together.
It wasn’t the strategy room attached to the arena. We had moved to his office somewhere in the Emergency Countermeasure Committee building.
Even so, perhaps wary of an attack from me, he didn’t release the restraints on my hands. A guard grabbed my shoulders and sat me in a chair, and the minister sat beside me, his face etched with concern as he spoke.
“Excellency Ascanien. I know you’re not the type to act so rashly. I should have given you my contact information if I’d known this would happen.”
“All I can say is that I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”
“More importantly, you said you know a method. What exactly do you mean?”
“I don’t know.”
“Pardon?”
The minister, who had been looking at me seriously, stared with a dumbfounded expression.
“I don’t know, Minister. How would I know something like that?”
“Then what…”
“I thought I needed to speak with you, Minister.”
I glanced briefly at the minister’s hand.
Unlike before, when he’d worn thin white gloves, he now wore thick leather ones. What did that mean?
“Minister. Could you please remove your gloves? There’s something I want to check.”
“……”
The minister’s face stiffened. I tilted my head sympathetically as I looked at him.
“No cross has appeared on your hand, has it?”
“……”
“It seems you’ve been maintaining a sound-blocking spell this whole time, Minister. Ever since player Helga Leibniz first mentioned Revelation 7:10. Which means…”
“No, about that part…”
“You knew from the start that it was a curse spell, didn’t you?”
I shook my head and looked at a small magical projection forming on one wall of the room. It showed the scene on the first-floor stage of the arena.
The tournament was about to start, and now they’d even called in an archbishop to hold a mass. He wasn’t some heretic like the Pleroma archbishop—he was from the orthodox church.
“But calling in a choir here, and now even the Brandenburg Archbishop? Minister. You can’t disguise terrorism as anything else.”
“……”
“I came here to let you know this. You’re making a mistake right now, Minister.”
“Excellency Ascanien.”
The minister clasped his hands together, his expression troubled.
“I understand your feelings. You must have realized something was wrong when player Helga Leibniz recited Revelation and something appeared on people’s hands.”
“That’s right.”
“You know Duke Elias’s father, His Highness Gustav von Hohenzollern, Prince of Prussia.”
“……”
“He mobilized his guards and the Imperial Guard to save countless people in this event site from the curse spell. The number cursed is estimated at around 600,000. Considering the 1.9 million currently in attendance, that’s a small figure.”
600,000.
More than half less than before. Moreover, since an amplification spell had been cast over the entire site this time, there had been a greater risk of more people falling victim than through broadcast alone. That was why the minister called 600,000 a “small figure.”
For example, in the previous timeline, tourists eating and chatting without watching the broadcast wouldn’t have been cursed. But in this timeline, with the broadcast curse failing, if the terrorists fired the phrase directly into people’s ears via amplification magic, inevitably more would be cursed than before.
‘…Good thing I told them to cast reverse sound-blocking spells.’
I’d anticipated the terrorists would use amplification magic once broadcast access was blocked, so I’d said that. That was also why I’d told them to prioritize areas without screens. Why? I could only deliver the dispel chant via broadcast, but the amplification magic would curse a larger group than those hearing the broadcast, so the difference would mean that many more exploding to death. Telling them to cast reverse sound-blocking starting from low-screen-access areas was an attempt to minimize that gap.
‘There’s no way so few would be cursed just from spells on buildings.’
Gustav von Hohenzollern apparently had no mana but quick wits. Beyond my instructions to Elias, he must have found new ways to reduce the damage.
“His Excellency Gustav von Hohenzollern ordered reverse sound-blocking spells everywhere to block external sounds. But in investigating the truth, it turns out he said this was actually your initial proposal, Excellency Ascanien.”
“……”
“Without your swift judgment and response, all 1.9 million here would have been cursed. We tried cutting the broadcast to mitigate damage, but with the terrorists noticing and switching to amplification magic, there was no escaping it. The Emergency Committee owes you a debt, Excellency Ascanien.”
So they knew it was my instruction.
Good. Things were proceeding smoothly. This would give me testimony to defend against prosecution.
“But have you considered this, Excellency?”
“Considered what?”
“The curse spell has already been executed. We blocked the screens the moment the word ‘Revelation’ appeared to stop it…but we failed.”
Blocked the screens the moment that word appeared? Why bother?
I narrowed my eyes at the somewhat out-of-place statement, and the minister nodded as if to explain.
“This evening, the Committee received a letter. It said, ‘Beware those who read the scriptures.’ Perhaps a warning to watch for divine power mages. Throughout our operations, we checked for anyone reading scriptures—half-believing it might be a prank.”
“…‘Beware those who read the scriptures’?”
“But then player Helga Leibniz recited Revelation. Nothing to lose. It could’ve been a prank letter or her just quoting it, but better to block than risk it. And it turned out to be a real curse.”
The minister bit his lip hard, still unable to believe it.
I couldn’t hide my shock at this startling news, regardless.
“…You received a letter. Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Could you tell if it was kids’ prank or a real warning just by seeing it? Besides, you came for the mana lamp terrorism, not as a Committee member—let alone a key one. We can’t risk leaks causing problems, so such info stays classified. You’d do the same.”
“……”
I suppressed the urge to clutch my head and closed my eyes instead.
Right. He wasn’t wrong. Info forewarning national risk becomes classified automatically. No government broadcasts it to the press asking, “Does anyone know what this might be?”
‘To think I’d encounter info inaccessible in the previous timeline like this.’
Just as I’d initially thought.
The unfolding of the ‘possibility where the player doesn’t suicide’ proceeds like this. If I could turn back time once more, I could handle it more perfectly, but I had no desire to do so here.
“So, do you understand why I brought this up? We did our best, but everyone’s already cursed. If the Committee announces now that this thing on our hands is a curse and you might all die soon, what do you think would happen?”
“It’d be pandemonium.”
At my immediate reply, the minister furrowed his brow slightly.
Correct answer, but my casual tone made him think I didn’t grasp it properly.
“Excellency. Listen well. In the Old Human world, evacuation is right during terrorism. Mostly gun or bomb attacks.”
“True.”
“But a curse spell is an attack far beyond Old Human systems, and it’s already happened. What meaning does evacuation have now? If we report truthfully one by one, do you think the masses will say, ‘I see. We’ll sit calmly and follow orders until countermeasures come’?”
“……”
“People will trample each other rushing out immediately. And even outside, nothing’s solved. Damage from heightened fear would exceed the curse. Now do you see why we called the choir? To buy time. During this peace, we can find a solution. I know how stupid we look. But subjects falling into shock and panic, losing us control—that’s truly what the terrorists want.”
People think so differently.
I partly agreed with him. Yet I still didn’t.
“Very well, Minister. But what if the terrorists no longer allow peace? You’re misunderstanding something. We never had control to begin with. The peace seeming achieved by the choir is only possible because the terrorists are ‘letting it happen.’ If they make one person suicide right now, or burst someone as an example, do you think this peace holds?”
“……”
“Announce the truth now. At least end this play. I know panic is dangerous. I don’t want that either.”
Why? If everyone panics, no one listens to broadcasts. I’d lose my chance to chant the dispel.
“But even so, this is deceiving the people. They have a right to know their situation. Without deception, if the government transparently shows its efforts and progress, the people have the capacity to trust and wait.”
“……”
Now was the chance.
The timing to calmly report the situation verbally to the people was now.
If even one died like before, it’d turn to total chaos then.
Reporting cleanly now that ‘the government is assessing and preparing countermeasures’ would prevent blind panic and fleeing when the terrorists kill.
‘Wait, need to check something here.’
I subtly moved my restrained hands. I rubbed my fingers to signal Leo. Soon, my core tingled.
Leo was receiving this entire conversation via the communication artifact on my ear, and probably recording it.
Why?
‘I can’t go down alone. Why should I die if these bastards are fucking up?’
I wasn’t a saint, so no bad ending where I handle the terror but get prosecuted. Let’s all go down together.
I nodded and said to the minister.
“Minister. So, have you found a way to dispel this curse spell?”
“We’ll find one soon. Just minutes ago, I contacted a doctor who claims to know the answer.”
“Pardon?”
“Someone who says they can dispel it. A professor in the magic department at Eina University—credentials are solid.”
I smiled, feeling like fainting.
‘Damn.’
Things were changing as events diverged. Of course— if event 1 gets response A or B, you can’t assume the same for event 2.
How many heads were involved in this terror? Literal heads. The more entities tangled, the more complex interests, harder to grasp truth. Each picks their best option.
“Minister. Did you meet that doctor in person?”
“No. Contacted just before coming to you. We’ll receive the dispel method by mail soon. Of course, they might give false info, so our government has summoned many experts beyond them to research curse dispels.”
No point prodding further here. Time to say my piece.
I nodded, took a deep breath, and continued.
“There’s another reason I came here. You remember the White Phosphorus Match cipher. The culprit said, Sagt es allen—‘Proclaim it to all.’”
“Yes.”
“That might be the key to dispelling the curse. Proclaiming ‘it’ to everyone might lift it.”
“Hm. Possible. Though cursed are less than half proportionally, exaggerated as ‘all’ wouldn’t be odd given the numbers.”
“Then we must find ‘it.’ Since it was ciphered, ‘it’ might be too. I have a guess what it is. A bit fantastical, but.”
“……”
“Lend me a sound engineer and sound booth. From drawing attention to attempting ‘proclaim it to all,’ just give me one uninterrupted minute.”
The minister fell silent. He smiled as if looking at a stubborn youth refusing to listen. Then slowly continued.
“‘Proclaim it to all.’ Your decryption, Excellency. Also the cipher from the Tiss Hotel basement. But that cipher wasn’t for us—it was instructions to the terrorists. Someone ordered them to ‘proclaim’ a specific scripture verse to all.”
“So you still believe that rat-filled basement was the real terrorists’ hideout. How many times must I say it’s a smokescreen?”
“It could be truth disguised as smokescreen. How many layers of deception? We can’t tell real from fake anymore.”
Know why? Because more than two interest parties are entangled.
As I didn’t speak, he said gravely.
“Excellency Ascanien.”
“Yes?”
“Your judgment is exceptional. From your acuity and sharpness.”
“……”
“Your help was most rational. The government will formally thank you. But first, our remaining path is buying max time, maintaining peace to prevent spectator panic. No need to explain secondary panic damages.”
I just smiled and shook my head.
Even at my flippant attitude, the minister patiently said.
“Conveniently, I have a request for you too.”
“What?”
“Player Helga Leibniz lost consciousness and was taken to the Imperial Central Hospital. Because of that, players from various countries are forfeiting the tournament citing condition.”
“No, that’s not why. Unlike the 99% spectators, they’re high-level mages who know the hand marks aren’t normal. If it were an official marking event, authorities would’ve notified ahead—they didn’t, so suspicious. They’re forfeiting the tournament right in front of them to investigate the truth.”
At my pointing out facts, the minister silently stared.
He slowly nodded.
“…Not wrong. But as you know, government’s primary goal now is stabilizing subject sentiment. Can’t delete planned programs when we need to add more…”
“No. Your primary goal is ‘don’t let subjects focus on hand marks before finding a solution.’”
I said that much, then gaped at an unbelievable thought.
Why link ‘Helga Leibniz player’ talk with ‘diverting subjects’ attention’?
The minister met my eyes.
“We urgently got approval from six countries to re-recruit players. All tournament mages forfeited citing condition, so replaced with government mages. Only our Empire remains.”
“……”
“It’ll be quick. Comply, and we won’t charge you for the sound booth incident.”
“Why me of all people?”
The minister shrugged.
“Our government is simply focusing on the fact this continent knows your name.”
So, use my Pleroma fame for buzz.
I burst out laughing. The minister’s eyes fixed on my pupils—not me, but my irises, I could easily tell.
The minister spoke again.
“What will you do?”
“Hmm.”
I tilted my head at him.
My core stung wildly. Whoever hearing this conversation was pounding my core. Whatever, I smiled and replied.
“What do you think I’ll do?”
* * *
[The International Friendship Tournament will begin shortly.]
“……”
Elias stared ahead, arms crossed.
He was now in an empty mid-tier spectator section with the Eschet team members. Leo and Narké weren’t here yet.
‘When’s Luka coming?’
It hadn’t been long, but impatience made him wish for a quick return.
[Due to forfeits creating vacancies, at the request of each country’s Pentathlon committees, we’ve reduced from round of 16 to quarterfinals and replaced participating mages. First, per the UK Pentathlon Committee, UK’s Finley Goodwin is replaced by Elizabeth Spencer.]
Team members reacted puzzled to the pre-match announcement.
“Spencer? Suddenly a noble.”
“Not an athlete, right?”
“Sigh… These bastards are really flailing. Choir earlier, now swapping players?”
Elias shook his head mockingly.
[Next, per the Pentathlon Organizing Committee, Germany’s Helga Leibniz is replaced by Lucas Ascanien.]
“Oh~ Knew our country would too.”
Elias whistled with a grinning face.
But sensing something off didn’t take long.
Elias clutched his head and yelled.
“…Huh?!”
“What? Lucas?”
“Suddenly?! Why?!”
“What, what, what? Why’s Lucas going in? Other countries all forfeited too, what?”
Ulrike, who’d been listening to the broadcast, said incredulously. Haike, outwardly calm, had wide eyes too.
Elias ignored him and shouted.
“What the hell are they thinking! Include me too!”
“Include you…?”
Somehow a mismatched crazy statement, Ulrike muttered.
“Ah, Elias, you didn’t know either?”
Yulia tilted her head asking. Other members looked at Elias curiously too.
“Didn’t know. You did?!”
“Nope. Hm, probably picked Luka for topping high school division.”
“Other teams are mostly adults! Unfair!”
“Hm…”
Yulia smiled awkwardly. Elias just clutched his head.
“And it starts in 2 minutes! Terror… no, cross countdown timing unknown?!”
“Cross countdown…? Yeah, 2 minutes is tight. But Luka gets bye, so we’ll see him from semis. Bit of prep time.”
“Bye?! Bye?!”
“Yeah. Why?”
“He’ll get flak…. Even a little…”
Ears ringing, Ulrike cautiously cast a sound block between Elias and himself.
Yulia, staring at Elias, smiled.
“It’s just for a bit anyway. Flak hits the bracket-makers, not Luka. You’re sensitive about him getting hate.”
“You’re not?”
“Hate it, obviously. He’s a friend.”
At her matter-of-fact reply, Elias grumbled at Yulia’s deep golden eyes.
“You show no emotions. Total Leo clone.”
“Hm. Thanks.”
“Not praise. Outsiders’d think you don’t care about Luka at all.”
“Haha, no~ I do, really.”
As Elias grumbled, Yulia laughed lightly.
Watching mages sorting the screen audio circuits to one, she continued.
“Just thinking this won’t last long. Right?”
Elias nodded silently.
He knew her ‘this’ meant imperial politics. Yulia hadn’t heard of the terror but already sensed things were off. Even that Luka got roped into government deception.
‘No. Luka’s not the type to get roped.’
If Luka had any agency, he’d understand why he chose this.
People’s hand crosses still held full length.
Per Leo and Luka, crosses start shrinking from book cipher appearance.
At least 30 minutes left basically, but still anxious.
Yulia looked at the arena.
“First match UK vs Italy. Hm, working with Narké, so root Italy.”
“He only cares for Vatican.”
“Haha, still~”
Yulia laughed lightly then quietly asked.
“But curious why all players forfeited. You know, Elias?”
“……”
Elias didn’t answer.
Yulia was too sharp. Tell her players protested crosses to organizers, and he’d grasp the absurdity: government mages filling in.
Match results were pathetic.
6 minutes in, Italy beat UK.
Now Ottoman and Qing mages fought desperately.
Such duels daily, not fun, yet crowd ecstatic. Elias would’ve enjoyed sans terror.
But not now. Book cipher could appear on screen anytime. Elias’s gaze kept drifting to screens.
Meanwhile, three matches ended. Cheers swelled, lights out. Now arena dotted with dozens of glowing marks.
Leo chimed via artifact.
[Elias. Nothing popped there, right?]
“Yeah.”
[People outside noticing curse. Total chaos. Government still silent your end?]
“…Same here.”
Damn tournament. Anyway, with truth-knowers minority vs entertainment masses majority, government incentivized to continue. Separate from distractions, they’re surely frantic for countermeasures.
Elias tapped railing with fingers. Faint voices from below—French, speaking French.
[They coming out now?]
[Probably. See Pleroma shine.]
[Not Pleroma?]
[Even with eye color.]
[Born wrong maybe.]
[How wrong to…]
Luka too famous. Famous enough for needless hate.
‘Ah, wanna punch these bastards.’
Elias smacked lips.
Current worry: Terror aside—Luka wouldn’t postpone it anyway—but more.
Luka said ‘draw aggro to meet Magic Minister.’
Great idea. I like such methods. But huge issue with such ideas…
Unpredictability.
‘Like the time he went to meet Minister here too, suddenly…’
Not doing something unforeseen, right?
Like citizen disobedience performance from there.
Would draw attention for sure.
‘Fuck… no.’
No. Buy time-rewind watch if needed.
[Next, match between Group 3 winner and bye quarterfinalist.]
One stage entrance opened, Luka walked out casually.
Wanted to jump down and ask what the hell—but include me too—now just watch.
Cheers erupted at his turn.
Not good cheers—even kindergarteners’d know. Laughter-mixed whistles rained. Spectators’ faces showed subtle expectation, leisure.
Not malicious sneers probably. But readable: deep-seated Pleroma resentment, curiosity for ‘non-aggressive’ imperial Pleroma.
In short: Let’s see how good he is.
[France?]
Luka’s voice rang clear.
He checked opponent entrance flag, shook head. Seemed came straight after changing, no bracket check.
‘Haha, what’s the plan~’
But take as terror-focused intent.
Luka’s head full of terror now, thankfully in another sense.
Elias leaned on railing, expressionless looking down as countdown began.
[3, 2, 1…]
Beep—
[Begin.]