Chapter 295
Chapter 295
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 295
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (295)
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Judging by the mana I felt behind me, Elias and Leo had both warped here at the same time. Elias spoke up.
“Patent the technique, Leo. And Luka’s gonna die.”
“…….”
Only then did the plants pressing down on my head shrink back to their original positions. Technically, they shouldn’t have had “original positions” in the first place, but that was beside the point for now. Someone with an exhausted expression was looking down at me with cold eyes.
“Where’d you go?”
“…….”
“How do you warp in while lying down?”
“Exactly. Who attacked you?”
Elias must have been wondering about that too. I got it. Even I would’ve assumed I’d warped in a hurry after getting attacked. But that wasn’t the issue. In those two weeks, I’d apparently adapted to someone else more than I’d realized.
‘Ah, why….’
“Luka. I’m telling you….”
“Aaack!”
Boom—!
“…!”
I let out an unintended shriek as I tried to sit up, slamming my knee into the bed and sending attacks scattering everywhere. Elias and Leo dodged to the side in unison, their faces going pale. Goosebumps prickled all over my body—I couldn’t even open my eyes to look. I wasn’t mentally prepared to see a fully grown five-year-old right now, so why did I always have to spot him first thing upon waking? I was firmly convinced it was because of the core enslavement that he haunted me like a ghost.
In the meantime, the vines around my neck pressed my head back down. Leo had lost control momentarily from the attack, but it was lucky for me—the vines blocked half my view. I squeezed my eyes shut and grimaced, and Elias flailed his arms wildly as he asked. I could even hear the whooshing from here.
“What’s wrong?! It’s us!”
“Why….”
“Huh? Speak up!”
“Why do you smell so foul.”
“What….”
Leo somehow knew I was talking to him and stood there blankly before hurriedly stepping back and sniffing his shirt. He even grabbed the perfume bottle from my desk—which was, of course, covered in vines—so I quickly corrected myself.
“No, sorry. That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what other meaning could it have? I just showered….”
“Got it. Just… you don’t need to.”
I patted the edge of the bed with my palm, meaning for him to calm down and talk later. But it was just a panicked reaction on my part, and I soon realized I didn’t want him close either. Leo’s flustered expression made it clear something was off externally too.
“…….”
“Haha, I’ll sit then~”
Elias plopped down beside me. In a whatever-happens-happens mood, I ruffled Elias’s hair.
“Good job.”
“What’s that supposed to mean? Are you the kid here?”
“No way! Enjoy Luka being this warm. He’s usually a machine.”
Elias protested strongly at Leo’s jab. Thank goodness Elias was here.
Otherwise, I’d have been accused of switching careers to full-time nanny for the new humanity. Three jobs at my age? Ridiculous.
Words alone would’ve sufficed to call him over, but I’d unconsciously treated the five-year-old crown prince that way earlier. He hadn’t minded—in fact, he’d liked it—so I’d forgotten how weird it was. Even for a five-year-old, no one but me would beckon the crown prince over like a dog without manners.
All the while Leo stayed silent, I stared somewhere between Elias and the floor. Then Leo approached and said.
“Why are you avoiding my eyes? Did I do something?”
Uncanny guy. I couldn’t say it made me want to puke. No matter what, this wasn’t right. If I actually puked on the real Leo, that’d be unavoidable, but I couldn’t say it out loud. Keeping my eyes everywhere but on him, I said.
“Don’t talk to me.”
“…? Why.”
And he’d just been 120cm tall moments ago—now he was like a damn telephone pole…. Why were humans so vertically long? He was too tall. We could all regress to the Australopithecus era and be fine. Of course, I couldn’t say that.
“Sit on the floor.”
“Why should I?”
“Looking up at you isn’t clicking.”
“…I’ve been looking down at you from the start. What’s with the sudden adaptation issue? And make a request that makes sense.”
“Sit.”
“…….”
Leo looked down at me with contempt, sighed deeply, and sat.
“Happy now?”
“Phew….”
I clutched my head. Yeah. He’d changed. Leo was lucky, objectively.
But the key point was that whether he’d changed for the better or worse, it wasn’t my face, so ultimately none of my business. And anyway, it was the face of a fully grown adult. I’d never seen the five-year-old and seventeen-year-old as the exact same person anyway, but looking at this made me want to pretend otherwise for a while.
Sensing my disillusionment, Leo replied with an even more irritated face.
“What? I sat down, and now you’re like this.”
“Hey.”
I couldn’t even call him Leo. Covering my eyes with my hand, I sighed deeply. Leo seemed to sense something off too, taking a moment before responding.
“What.”
“Sorry, but let’s not see each other for a bit.”
“What…?”
“…?! Hahaha!”
Leo’s irises shook wildly. No wonder—he’d feel baffled by someone suddenly saying that with no wrongdoing. I’d react the same if a friend pulled it on me.
“…What’s with the sudden change.”
“Ah~ hahaha! Isn’t it because you turned the house into this?”
Elias clung to Leo and sprawled out as he spoke. Leo pried off the strangling Elias and said calmly.
“This is an alarm system. I set it to catch intruders, so I’m wondering why you triggered it first. Is that what pissed you off?”
“I’m not pissed.”
“You are. Sorry you got startled.”
His face didn’t look sorry at all. But doing what needed saying was similar to his five-year-old self… and just thinking that twisted my guts for real. No good.
If he wouldn’t leave, I would. I checked the vines on my wrist loosening and punched the bed.
And in that instant, I was at the Eschet dorm warp point. I jumped up and knocked on Narke’s door.
“Narke. You there?”
Luckily, it opened right away. Narke pulled me in like before and shut the door quick.
“Haha, knew you’d come now.”
“Why? Anyway, thanks.”
I sat on the sofa he gestured to and pressed my head. He must’ve been investigating all day and only returned to the dorm at evening—he was still in his outing clothes. I, on the other hand, had been going back and forth from bedtime to the extra chapter in light attire, thankfully not pajamas.
It’d been about half a month since I left Narke a letter and went back to the extra chapter as a tutor. A day there was 48 minutes here, so only about 12 hours had passed here. I’d lived another half month there, but here it was just 12 hours. So now it was nearly 6 PM.
I heard Elias and Leo warping in outside. Narke stared that way, then handed me water and whispered.
“Thanks for what. Fought with Leo?”
“Not at all. But I’d rather they not come in here.”
“Ah, want me to block them?”
“Yeah. Please.”
I’d come back here to talk to seventeen-year-old Leo, but that could wait until I was ready. Holding back the nausea was crucial for politeness, obviously. Otherwise, I might really puke in front of Leo, sorry as I’d be. I wanted to explain why I’d said let’s not meet for a bit, but there was no logical reason, and it was just me needing to prep so no need to discuss with Leo.
‘Telling him about the extra chapter….’
Too soon. I didn’t want to yet. If it were a problematic ability, I might’ve brainstormed solutions together, but it wasn’t, and who knew what butterfly effects my words could cause? Plus, what would I say I’d been doing? Absolutely couldn’t say I’d been playing with five-year-old you.
Narke didn’t pry where I’d been. No clue how much Insight he’d read, but he got the vibe.
Knock knock—
[Narke.]
[Na-ar-keee!]
They were here.
Leo and Elias, chatting in the hall, were knocking on Narke’s door. Narke smiled, stared at the door, and held his breath.
[We know you’re in there.]
[Whoa, warp’s blocked?! He must’ve sealed it.]
[What? Narke!]
Leo knocked harder.
Narke leisurely eyed the door and flopped onto the sofa. After about ten minutes, Leo and Elias gave up and left. Narke shrugged and pointed to grapes on the side table.
“Just us again. Fruit?”
“I’m good.”
I’d eaten plenty in Leonard’s hospital room. Pie, who’d been sleeping on Narke’s bed, woke up late, recognized me, and climbed my shoulder. Narke turned on indirect lighting, lit the fireplace, and sat on the sofa across.
“This time, I took Elias to that club from yesterday. Still strict, but studying first made it way smoother.”
“They let you in?”
“Not yet… but I sat through a one-sided Hermesism lecture. Building rapport like this might ease entry later.”
I nodded. Narke shifted the shawl from his shoulders to his lap and continued.
“And Elias has real charisma~ I knew, but it helped smooth things. He talks a lot, so I thought he could distract the interviewers. Unexpected bonus.”
“Yeah, good for you.”
Narke had surprises too. Made sense—he didn’t use Insight constantly, but hearing it always felt fresh. He studied my face intently and smiled.
“You, Luka… Ah, you got a lead too.”
“Yeah.”
“Made an appointment with Archduke Osterraihihistes too. Day after tomorrow.”
“Day after. Thanks. We go together?”
“Yeah.”
After talking with Leo, I’d meet Archduke Osterraihihistes, who knew the last 12 years’ info. Though his claim of “no clue who stole it” clashed with my hypothesis, that clash needed clarifying. That’d solve the jewel theft.
Beep—
Alerts poured from the artifact in my ear. From Leo and Elias. I muted them, and Narke chuckled.
“Persistent~ You can keep those clothes?”
“Why? We’re staying indoors.”
“Hm, okay. Need a suit, say so.”
January déjà vu. Would I need to borrow clothes again?
As I infused divine power into Pie, Narke brought a thick book.
“Anyway, let’s read this. Papal artifact catalog—might help with the case.”
“You think the thief tampered with the holy relic too?”
“Possible. Unless they stole it to sell to collectors for cash.”
I nodded. The archduke had said holy relics made good materials. Reasonable suspicion.
Papal stuff, as expected. Every page illustrated divine-power-infused artifacts. Divine power was tough to embed in artifacts—only the Papacy could. Domestic ones were imported or made with their tech aid.
I skimmed, then eyed Narke’s hand.
“Your ring an artifact from the Papacy?”
“Ah, this.”
Narke glanced at the green ring, pondered, and shook his head.
“Is it? Kinda ambiguous~”
Even he called his own ‘ambiguous’? I rattled off random thoughts on purpose.
“Knew it. Didn’t spot anything like yours skimming. What’s it do?”
“…….”
Narke stared at the ring, tilted his head, and smiled.
“Interested in my artifact? Stabilization ability, I guess?”
I turned from his expression. Thus, I ignored Leo’s endless alerts for a bit. Rereading Narke’s investigation notes and books, bedtime came quick. As Narke laid blankets on the sofa, a long tone came from the Bavarian royal comm artifact—not the school one.
Beeeep—
“…….”
Narke heard my private signal and mirrored my face. Not important now. Gripping my nape in frustration, I tapped the artifact.
“Yes.”
[Excellency Ernst. Crown Prince orders you to the Munich Residence audience chamber upon contact. Arrive within 10 minutes.]
“…….”
“Hm, as expected. Hoped to investigate together till tomorrow.”
Narke smiled ruefully, then said.
“Go now? I’ll lend clothes.”
* * *
As Lucas Ascanien, I passed inspection, quickly hit my office to change hair and eye color, then headed to Munich Residence. Passing the lobby, I reached the room I’d entered as tutor. The servant opened it, announcing loudly.
“Excellency Nikolaus Ernst has arrived.”
“…….”
In the audience chamber, Leo sat with chin propped. Bavarian nobles surrounded him.
Leo just looked at me, no greeting. Intent clear. Suppressing urge to grab his collar, I said calmly.
“I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince.”
“You’re here. Hard to see your face, Excellency.”
Nobles nodded to me and filed out. Separately, I said what needed saying.
“My regrets.”
“For what.”
What? Just don’t talk then.
“Drop the mask when alone.”
“No.”
“…….”
Leo nodded like do-as-you-will. Then just stared. Afraid I’d commit lese-majeste unconsciously, I looked away; he tapped the table twice.
“Speak.”
He just stared piercingly.
‘Stubborn bastard….’
To regain calm, I closed my eyes; he shocked my core. Irritation rising, I met his gaze as wanted. Much later, Leo spoke.
“Still disgusted?”
“Never said disgusted.”
“No proper talk, you wake saying filthy this, don’t wanna hear my voice, don’t wanna see my face—then claim you never said disgusted? How much should I take humanly?”
I hadn’t said it that way.
But he’d felt it, so fair to be upset. Sharp enough for points.
If he didn’t look so eerily similar to five-year-old self, maybe not—but remnants lingered, still churning my stomach. Back then he’d followed me sweetly; now grown and grating, the dissonance hit.
Initial shock was half a day ago, plus mind control with Narke, so no need to fight nausea anymore.
“Talk. What’s this about.”
“…….”
“Mad I grew vines with my unique ability in your room? Sorry, but not aimed at you. Like Primrose Pass, if someone warped you, their mana might linger—so I blanketed the house to detect and snag. Bonus if intruder warps in again. Why would I trap you on purpose?”
“You’re the type who would.”
“I’m not, so why assume? You saw this method when I fed you blood before, but no reason to catch you now. Vines are cleared since you left.”
Calmly, no reason indeed. What’d he gain catching me? Just note I’m back. I conceded and said my piece.
“Filthy was sleep-talk. One request first. How long was I gone? 12 hours now. No need to worry that much over 12 hours vanished.”
“That what bugged you?”
“Not why, but requesting first.”
“Early January, I wouldn’t have gone this far. And….”
Leo sipped tea before him and continued.
“If you hadn’t nearly died to Andrea Friedman days ago, I wouldn’t have either.”
“…….”
He knew. Knew and still asked.
Early January meant pre-Primrose Pass, late January event.
“With the whole country hunting Lucas Ascanien or Nikolaus Ernst, what guarantees you wouldn’t vanish like then? Made artifacts to prevent, but they failed this time. Narke says fine, but with no physical proof on comms or anything, how much could we trust? Me and Elias?”
“…….”
“Your freedom to go where, and I trust you handle most—but I know what happened to you. Knowing, how can I stand by?”
I looked at him, nodded slowly. In sum: enslavement magic signaled my core, no response, so emergency. Even if Narke said okay, he’d trust his artifact’s mana link more. Valid worry from his side—no rebuttal, nor desire.
“So, where’d you go? Why no response when called?”
Leo tapped the table. Core shock reflexed me; he went silent. Fixing on my shoulder, he asked.
“Works now—why not past 12 hours? Needs fix?”
“Not that.”
I answered longer.
“Went investigating. Nowhere dangerous. You’ll know from me saying it.”
Leo eyed me skeptically. Visually or mana-wise, I was fine.
“…Fine. Ask exactly where, you’ll say no-see again?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Leo’s face twisted slightly, five-year-old style. Seventeen-year-olds weren’t that tough-hearted either, apparently.
Yeah, well. By my standards, seventeen was still young. Not five-year-old visuals, but tender heart possible. Didn’t wanna accommodate that far, but anyway. More honesty might make me snap, so waving hand.
“Not picking fight. Share investigation later. First, something to tell you. Before that, you tell me.”
“…….”
“About time-turning ability. From how you got caught in mine, everything.”
“Why suddenly?”
Suddenly.
I’d link to extra-chapter info, so not abrupt to me—but fair he’d think so.
Time to settle this.
“Time’s passed. Due to hear.”
“…….”
“Promised.”
I removed mask, hooked pinky. Leo eyed my hand stiffly, pressed forehead. Much later, spoke.