Chapter 277
Chapter 277
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 277
Chapter Title: Extra Chapter: 1886
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“Leo.”
Narke, who had been sitting on the sofa staring down at the floor, suddenly lifted his head and muttered. It was before the door even opened, so Elias shot him a glance.
Narke’s insight was spot on. Before they could even go out to meet him, Leo entered the room with quick steps.
“Lucas... he’s awake?”
“Yeah.”
Leo gave a curt reply to Narke’s question and pulled a vial of blood from the safe in the corner of the room. The blue mana hanging inside the safe vanished all at once. Narke, unsatisfied with the brief answer, furrowed his brow slightly and stood up from his seat.
“I need to go see him now...!”
“Wait.”
Leo’s cool response cut off his outburst. Narke stared at him with a stiff expression, then sat back down without a word. A suffocating silence followed.
Elias, seated on the sofa next to Narke, spoke up.
“Leo. Come out for a sec.”
Leo nodded without replying and stepped out of the room. Elias followed and quietly asked.
“What are you going to do?”
Narke cared about Lucas more sincerely than anyone. But even so, he refused to give blood for the experiments, insisting his own blood was off-limits.
Why?
For what reason? Narke wouldn’t answer. Since the experiments mainly involved feeding blood to Lucas and measuring mana reactions, it was understandable to feel uneasy about providing blood. Honestly, Lucas would probably vomit if he knew the truth.
But when someone with Narke’s abilities brushed it off without a proper explanation, it only made Elias more bothered.
Whether Lucas had lied to them for inheritance rights, or if Adrian Ascanien was truly someone who cared for his brother—they didn’t know. Only Lucas held the truth.
From what Elias had seen, Lucas wasn’t the type to slander an innocent person just for inheritance rights. Was that acting too? Really? Elias prided himself on distinguishing acting from sincerity better than most. He didn’t sense Lucas putting on an act about his brother.
Just then, a flat voice came from ahead.
“I’ve already answered that plenty of times.”
“......”
“I only believe what I’ve seen with my own eyes.”
Elias had thought he knew everything about Leo after 18 years together, but he couldn’t read his mind now. The past three days had been a whirlwind of press handling and temperament tests, leaving no time for real talk.
Elias kept his eyes on the dim corridor floor as he asked.
“What if Adrian Ascanien is a good brother?”
It was a topic no one had dared bring up. Leo paused for a moment, then resumed walking.
Do I think he’s a good family member?
If he followed his gut, no. Lucas Ascanien was still his good friend, and Adrian Ascanien was someone who needed to be dealt with.
The friend Elias knew wouldn’t badmouth his brother with lies just for inheritance rights. But could he dare view the world that way? Even with a slim chance of uncertainty, was it right to stubbornly judge one man good and another evil based on personal bias?
‘My head’s about to explode.’
Their experiments showed Adrian Ascanien’s drug effectively suppressed mana absorption. Obviously. It crippled the core’s performance to the point it couldn’t function—how could it not? So, if Adrian Ascanien had truly intended to use it as a medicine?
‘...That’s probably what he was aiming for, to make me think this way.’
He had to believe that. Right now, there was no reason to take Adrian Ascanien’s side. Elias believed what he’d seen too. He couldn’t waver here.
Because they were in the same boat, the truth of that proposition was unclear now, but Elias had to trust Lucas no matter what. Power-mad people were capable of anything. If his uncle framed him as Pleroma and he drank the wine, manifesting first-generation Pleroma traits, what he’d desperately need is his friends’ support. So, since there was a chance his friend was innocent, Elias couldn’t side with Adrian Ascanien.
Where should his justice lie? If personal experience tainted his justice, was it still justice? But he couldn’t just sit idly by until the truth emerged. Even without their shared circumstances, it wouldn’t matter. If Lucas was innocent, with the whole world potentially turning against him now, Elias had to take his side to keep balance. That was his personal conclusion.
Maybe sharing the same plight bred this bias. Maybe he’d been alone too long.
‘Whatever.’
He wasn’t a monarch, and though he habitually talked about chopping off his uncle’s head, his chances of actually becoming one were slim, and he was just scraping by without dying at the current monarch’s hands. From the day his mana manifested, he’d been unable to walk a purely righteous path. His overzealous pursuit of justice might stem from his uncle’s influence, or some rebellious backlash. So for this moment, even if it led to an unjust conclusion, he’d follow his heart.
He’d reached his conclusion, so the issue now was...
His other friends.
“What do you think?”
Leo turned back and asked. Elias had already decided inwardly but didn’t feel like answering. He tilted his head and said.
“You first.”
“Nikolaus is my retainer. Only someone who prioritizes the monarch over themselves and focuses on the monarch’s affairs can be an ideal deputy.”
Elias waited, but Leo just headed toward Lucas’s room without saying more. That vague answer wasn’t what he wanted. Elias sharply called after him.
“That’s why the monarch’s role is to select such retainers and make them loyal. A retainer’s faults are the monarch’s faults. You think imperial studies only teach monarch theory?”
“That’s what I’m saying.”
Leo turned slowly now.
“If Nikolaus is wrong, the fault lies with me for accepting him.”
“......”
“Yeah, a retainer’s faults are the monarch’s. A monarch who takes all the credit and discards them at the slightest issue isn’t fit to rule. Right or wrong, if blame pours on Nikolaus, it should fall on me instead. I need to bear the weight he carries for our royal family. Once I decided to accept him, I have no intention of retracting it.”
Elias looked at Leo silently. Unwavering, steadfast eyes met his. With a calm expression—not anger, not anything—matching Elias’s own, Leo continued steadily.
“I get what you’re thinking. Don’t worry about my thoughts. Each of us just needs to hold our ground. You’re already identifying with Lucas anyway... should be easier for you.”
Elias showed no outward reaction to the words.
Wrong. Easier? It’s not easy. From upholding court etiquette to chugging booze on Berlin streets packed with commoners in broad daylight, nothing in this life was easy for him. This business with Lucas was no different. Leo was exhausted too. No one was in a state to correct words now, so Elias understood Leo’s phrasing.
And it was partly true. He was especially pressing Leo on Lucas because he was in a similar spot. Leo must have read that. “I know what you’re thinking” meant that.
Leo’s response to this incident doubled as his stance on the emperor’s plots against Elias. Elias wasn’t his retainer, but it didn’t matter. For Leo, gain was always an excuse.
Elias quickened his pace, slung an arm over Leo’s shoulder. Leo glared but said nothing.
“Let’s see what Lucas is up to~”
“Now’s not the time.... I have stuff to say to Lucas, so you can’t come in.”
Leo clicked his tongue. Elias pinched his cheek, released it, and opened the door. He felt Leo swing a fist from behind—thankfully, it missed.
The moment the door opened, both froze in place.
“Uh.”
* * *
1886.
‘Huh.’
Standing there dazed, I rolled the number around in my mouth for a while before brushing off my jacket.
‘Not the time to space out. Hurry!’
I needed to do some calculations. Now I noticed I was wearing a pretty high-end suit, but it sure wasn’t mine. This carry-on wasn’t mine either.
‘Pen. Pen.... No pen?’
Yeah, that tracks. I’ve forgotten mine before and borrowed Leo’s.
No choice. I clutched my head, spun around, and thought.
For someone born in the 21st century, it felt incredibly distant, but Lucas was born in October 1879. October 1886 would make him 7, and it’s March now, so 6.
The time just before he turns from 6 to 7, right when Adrian Ascanien enters the imperial family—so this is right before that. A few months left, basically right on the cusp. Adrian is 7 years older than Lucas, so this world has Adrian attending the 3rd Education Center.
The past. The past, of all things.
‘After the servant murder incident.’
I grabbed a passerby on the street.
“Excuse me.”
“Yes? Ack...!”
The pedestrian startled at the sight of me and scurried off.
Right. In 1886, pink eyes might exist but weren’t widely known yet. It took time for Lucas’s pink eyes to become public knowledge. Pleroma’s influence hadn’t grown as strong as in recent times.
I let him go, stomped my foot to change my eye color, and grabbed another passerby.
“Could I ask something? Who’s the duke of the Duchy of Anhalt?”
“...Georg, isn’t it?”
The pedestrian looked baffled by the sudden question but tried to answer kindly. No mirror, so I wasn’t sure, but my eyes were definitely blue now. And with Georg present, it confirmed this was the world I knew.
“Then who are his children?”
“Adrian Ascanien, right?”
“Isn’t there one more?”
“There might’ve been a kid... yeah, I think so.”
“Right. Thanks.”
I replied and turned away.
‘...Hm, so I need to investigate Adrian Ascanien from here, huh.’
But the murder had already happened, and Adrian Ascanien would soon head to the imperial family.
Of course, timing-wise, this ability that emerged right when I collapsed seems meant to be used now. The Extra Chapter trait appeared the moment I fell. This trait was triggered by this incident.
‘The problem is it’s too good an ability—makes me suspicious.’
Like with Retry, overly appealing abilities aren’t always welcome. Applying that experience, even if I flood this Extra Chapter with info, the obstacles I’ll face might render it pointless.
‘Of course, this could be my paranoia, and if it’s truly helpful, I welcome it.’
Just that, if it has to be tough, I’d rather struggle getting info than face massive hurdles later.
Why? I’ve already calculated what to do in reality. Leo suddenly left with the items, so I couldn’t tell him, but when he returns, I’ll discuss future plans. Compared to past ordeals, easy info would be great—no doubt—but it leaves a nagging worry that something might derail my calculations.
I dragged the carry-on aimlessly, glancing around. I’d been lying down so long my legs should ache, but they didn’t. My stamina surged like I could sprint a lap around Berlin right now.
The sky was clear blue. Street trees and park grass, untouched by mana veils, greened vibrantly and looked nice.
‘Alright, let’s test it.’
Unsure of the time difference with the outside world, I’d try as fast as possible.
Warp checkpoints didn’t exist yet. They formed after I arrived in this world, so naturally. Warp straight to the Anhalt coordinates I knew. Jumping blindly felt iffy, but...
‘Not the time to hide.’
I snapped my fingers. The familiar chime rang.
Ding—!
Restricted Access Zone
“......”
Ah.
Right. Yeah.
Too easy, I thought. If I could go straight to Anhalt, how simple—grab Georg Ascanien and Adrian, capture them, cast mind manipulation magic, extract evidence, done. Unless Adrian’s mental strength was already immeasurable back then, then abandon.
‘Then the 3rd Education Center.’
Restricted Access Zone
Failed.
2nd Education Center. 1st. All the same.
‘...Fine. Let’s do this.’
12 years ago, Georg Ascanien ruled Anhalt—pass. The steward was a Prussian army officer then. I’d memorized coordinates for the third exam and scoured the capital post-Eschet, so I knew locations and warp points for buildings well.
Restricted Access Zone
‘Yeah, figures.’
From the Imperial Mage Association to the Magic Bureau headquarters, I rattled off coordinates where Ascanien elders might be and snapped my fingers. It eased my warp aversion.
Why? Nothing to fear when everything fails anyway.
“Whew...”
Restricted Access Zone. I sighed, forehead against the thirteenth popup. Passersby started staring oddly.
The reason for no access was obvious. Even at different ages, two of the same person can’t exist. Strangers might not notice my face, but family would spot me instantly.
Unlike expected, easy quick info was off the table, but as thought earlier, maybe better that way. It’s my sole info source now...
‘If used right, it’ll pay off.’
Couldn’t I investigate the archbishop, Abraham, and Ainsidel’s earlier lives here?
Is this delusion? Giving delusions as traits? Not the system’s style. That restricted zone confuses me, but I get it—whether it’s helping or not.
‘Definitely worth digging into.’
Precisely, what, how much, and how to dig.
Especially Ascanien-related spots are off-limits—so what info to get here? If it says Stage 1 not the whole Extra Chapter, maybe not all info here. So how to advance to Stages 2 and 3?
Ding—!
Proposal 1. Find a job.
— Reward: EC point +1
‘Huh?’
Grateful for the new window.
Guidelines are good. But a job?
‘...A trait that wants me employed.’
Yet unease surged, so I opened the carry-on on a nearby park bench. Time to check this.
Wallet. Unfamiliar wallet. Inside...
“......”
Just enough for a train ticket. I pulled the single bill, verified it five times as real, and put it back.
My guess:
To get info here, treat it as a full world. Feed this body, pass time. Like our world, days pass, so need food, shelter. For useful sources, mingle—money essential. Clothes from outside didn’t come, so no bringing cash.
‘...Damn. Never thought I’d worry about money again...’
Reminded me of starting as Lucas Ascanien. No magic beasts here to hunt for cash either.
I looked up at the central bank far down the street.
Loan? Crazy experiences in this mad world. But obvious issues.
My job in 1898: Imperial Mage.
“......”
You might not know, but in 12 years, I become a mage hired by the Hohenzollerns. Sure, believe that. Pawnshop or loan shark only options. And obviously, I don’t want to step foot there. No items to pawn anyway.
I stomped a barrier, upended the carry-on. Change of clothes, toiletries, passport, spare wand, old pocket watch, American elixir.
Nothing valuable. Gotta find work...
‘But why no German on the passport?’
All English—now I see, American passport. Puzzled, I opened it.
Lukas Everett
Lucas Everett.
Since when was I Everett?
Choking on a hollow laugh, I checked the birthdate below.
October 1862.
Not ’79?
‘The system’s mapped my patterns 100%.’
It kindly made a new identity on its own.