Chapter 297
Chapter 297
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 297
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“…What?”
Leo’s eyes wavered. He was the type to dismiss my words as nonsense, but even this time, he defied my expectations. Those sky-blue eyes, unchanged from twelve years ago, now gleamed with a light I’d never seen in that situation. I understood the far more complex emotions they held compared to twelve years prior—the subtle fatigue, hope, and anticipated disappointment woven within. The world around him was no longer the same.
“What if I could keep going back to the past with you from now on? What do you think about that?”
“……”
“Then, would I no longer have to brace myself for so much? Would I stop feeling that irrational sense of being chosen by you?”
We couldn’t declare that we’d never face another brush with death. Each time, I couldn’t leave one Leo behind or make another feel chosen by me. I couldn’t create more pain from him finding solace in his unbroken connection to me, or despising that solace, even labeling it greed or selfishness. That’s why I’d made this promise here—to prevent it—and finally, yesterday in the extra chapter, I’d found the way.
It was also the key clue to solving the Grand Duke of Österreich’s jewel theft case.
Even if it made me irresponsible for grasping the lead on my case yet prioritizing my friend over it, leaving the case on the back burner, I had no defense. I’d promised Leo before the case, so I’d choose irresponsibility a thousand, no, ten thousand times over forgetting duty and righteousness.
Leo stared at me blankly, speechless. That rare dazed expression overlapped with his childhood face. After what felt like an eon, he spoke in a cracked voice.
“How?”
My answer was inevitably tied to the extra chapter. But I hadn’t faced the issue of sharing the burden with my friend because of that ability, so there was no reason to tell Leo—who’d once said, “Why should you have such an ability?” and “That power isn’t for you”—about it first. It would only amplify his anxiety and fear.
I had no energy to smile either, but I couldn’t leave him in endless uncertainty any longer. I mustered my calmest smile and opened my mouth again.
“Give me a little time.”
“……”
Only now did Leo start moving as I’d simulated, narrowing his eyes suspiciously at me. He hadn’t taken it as nonsense. He’d perfectly understood it as “I’ll handle this alone,” but he was dissatisfied with the “alone” part. It was the face he always made in those moments.
Seeing his usual self, I smiled a bit more.
“And let’s pierce an extra earlobe.”
“…? Why all of a sudden?”
“It’d ruin the fun if I told you now.”
“You’re doing it too?”
“We’ll see.”
Leo fiddled with his ear, his earlier seriousness gone, and grumbled curtly.
“…I don’t want to pierce more here.”
“Why?”
“It makes me look like a thug relying on artifacts to fake skills. Even without artifacts, it’d look like I am.”
“…Then what does that make Elias….”
Elias’s ears were a full-on artifact field. Still, it was more about style than desperate power-grabbing like those past mages who sliced their skin to embed artifacts.
Leo shrugged and laughed at my words. The tension from his earlier doubt lingered, but we still laughed like always. Waiting was something we did often anyway. I leaned back against the chair and said.
“Get me an earring. One you’d use.”
“You get it.”
“…….”
Being crown prince made him a pro at bossing people around. Impressive. Of course, I hadn’t exactly been easy either, so no irritation.
‘It’s not about using Leo—it’s just that the royal family sources the best stuff.’
No matter how much money you had, private individuals couldn’t access royal-level merchants easily. Not due to qualifications, just lack of connections. Now I didn’t even want to ask. I bowed my head and said.
“…Right you are. Then I’ll be off. I need to hunt some shiny rocks.”
“Teasing me?”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Leo stared at me with unfocused eyes, then looked out the window and said.
“If you’re making an artifact, you can order from the artisan I gave you the contact for. No need to shop around for parts.”
“No thanks. I don’t need to commission one.”
“…? Then why pierce your ear.”
Leo tilted his head, more confused. Instead of answering, I changed the subject.
“Can I stay at the crown prince’s palace and go tomorrow?”
“Sure.”
Leo answered casually, as if wondering why I’d ask.
And so, I left the Munich Residence, leisurely toured central Munich, gathered everything I needed, and returned to the crown prince’s palace. Leo was waiting at the warp point again. Unlike at five years old, his face showed no sign of feeling the cold while waiting. He showed me to my room and handed over the key.
“You’re not messing around today, right? See you tomorrow morning.”
“Hope it’s done by tomorrow morning.”
“What?”
“No clue how long it’ll take. Don’t come in until I leave the room.”
“Nothing dangerous, right?”
“Shouldn’t be.”
“…….”
Leo eyed me suspiciously, as usual. Then, recalling our earlier talk, he glanced into space before murmuring lowly.
“I’ll wait.”
Leo gave me a faint smile. I nodded back with the same expression.
* * *
“…!”
Entering the extra chapter, I jolted awake the moment I came to.
I’d just spent the dawn there, but this place was morning now. Exactly as before I left.
I rose from the cold marble floor and headed to the garden. Under the sunlight, twelve-years-ago Leonard and the grand duke were spreading a mat and laying out artifacts. Leonard raised an eyebrow at me.
“Teacher. Where’d you go?”
“…….”
To meet you twelve years from now.
I swallowed those words, patted Leonard’s head, and sat down.
The sunlight stung my eyes. The still-excited grand duke handed me a twig. Even as I held it, his unique ability channeled through, manifesting from the branch. Water droplets still formed in the air. Gaining such a crucial clue here proved coming was the right call.
“You saw earlier, but look again. This is my new technique! Now I need Sir Everett’s help.”
“My help?”
Smiling, I fixed my gaze on the twig’s tip. Meanwhile, the grand duke pulled a small bronze box from his bag and shook it.
“We’ll infuse divine power into this artifact first. More precisely, make one that generates divine power, even if small-scale. With it, we’ll perfect the ‘search’ spell formula. Link artifacts like this, and it becomes a massive machine, right?”
“I have a question. Isn’t storing divine power the Papal Court’s monopoly? And ‘generating’ it…? You said there’s no formula to let others use someone’s mana continuously.”
Leonard couldn’t hold back his curiosity.
“Correct. I don’t know that far either. But divine power can be seen as a unique ability, no, Your Highness?”
“Hmm…. Ah!”
Leonard trailed off, then beamed as understanding dawned.
Before, I hadn’t fully agreed divine power was a unique ability since I’d learned it via the system, and opinions were divided. Some scholars include it; others don’t. But it shares clear traits with unique abilities. Divine power requires innate ‘aptitude’ to resonate with, and unique abilities are talent-based from the start. Learning expands range later.
Seeing Leonard’s reaction, the grand duke grinned.
“Then my technique solves it. Since it can embed human unique abilities into artifacts!”
The grand duke turned to me sharply, raising his voice.
“Come on, Excellency Everett! Help with the divine power generator. You didn’t slip away because you found my technique dubious, did you?”
“Of course not.”
“Good call. With this, we could gather everyone’s unique abilities worldwide and make the strongest mage. If a tool lets you use talents you can’t learn, it’s supreme power, right? But I’m not greedy for that. Let’s find the treasure chest first.”
The grand duke was trying to pull me to his side.
He seemed sincere about no greed. His demo was flawless, but twelve years later, I’d never heard of this tech. It hadn’t leaked to most Hermetische Gesellschaft members, who’d later expand into a massive club. Even secretive, such profitable tech would escape—especially over twelve years.
‘And sure enough… in the actual twelve years ago, Leonard and the grand duke rarely met.’
This was likely a secret between the grand duke and Emmanuel. Twelve-years-later Leo didn’t know. Like me and the world.
Eyes on the bronze box, I said.
“Then, can I join the treasure chest hunt?”
“You’re already in! We’re the Hermetische Gesellschaft!”
“Do you have to say it out loud….”
Ignoring the goosebumps on my rolled-up sleeve, the grand duke nodded vigorously and enthused.
“First, what I call that treasure chest. And the map Emmanuel and I found, the clue book too….”
“Sounds good. But hold on.”
I closed the box lid and met the grand duke’s eyes.
“Tell me first how to transfer my unique ability into this.”
* * *
Leo checked his watch.
Naturally, he hadn’t slept a wink. After that talk, he’d never expected to stretch out and snooze. Just confessing the truth to Lucas brought an inexplicable dread.
And…
Lucas’s odd words kept him awake.
‘…Yeah. He said back then we need to know to solve it.’
Previously, he’d said hearing my story was key to a solution, but even so, Leo hadn’t thought Lucas truly had one in mind. This was unsolvable. Even Lucas could only work within limits, not create from nothing.
Yet he hoped. He couldn’t not. Every moment Lucas showed proved his confidence and skill, giving infinite security. Elias felt it too, and probably Juliana and the other Eschet team members vaguely so. Lucas’s dry, curt tone or non-answers couldn’t block the mental stability he provided.
Whether Lucas knew his thoughts was unclear. He might feel burdened or scoff. Or maybe, without real countermeasures, he’d tossed it out to reassure.
But through everything, Leo already felt relief from his words. Even if another Pentaron terror hit, and facing death with him erased me from my memory, it was expected—I’d be content sharing memories. And shifting views, it wasn’t a big issue. Ideas were just ideas; my body lived on through time loops. His intent to help was enough.
‘And… he vanished to solve the jewel theft, yet suddenly dragged my issue out instead. Weird.’
“Your Highness. You need to eat.”
A servant approaching from the hall end said cautiously. Leo smiled softly.
“I’ll eat later.”
No appetite now. Leo leaned against the corridor wall, staring at the door.
Lunchtime neared, and no sign.
Two hours after entering, the core link felt half severed, then no response even to snaps—like before. Usually, my core taps got replies from Lucas.
Like yesterday’s silence, but yesterday lacked that half-cut shock.
“…….”
The person inside might be dead. Should he open? But he’d promised to wait—okay to ignore Lucas’s “don’t enter”?
Decision came quick.
As he stepped forward, the doorknob rattled.
Clunk—creak—
“Huh.”
Lucas, looking ten kilos lighter overnight, opened the door and froze. His irises wandered before fixing late. He looked like he’d slept two days straight, dazed. Spotting Leo, rigid Lucas waved him off.
“You’re here again. Good.”
“…Again? Wait, did you drink?”
“Come in. Time to test.”
Lucas leaned on the door, deflecting. He eyed Leo to hurry in. Leo stood still, flicked his fingers. Half-linked feel was spot-on. Following, he asked.
“What’s with the core?”
“Something wrong?”
What’s wrong? He must know. No way he didn’t. Standing coherent was miracle enough.
“Yeah, wrong. What did you do?”
“What’s to do.”
Lucas flopped onto the sofa—more collapsed. Asking would get nothing. Wiping sweat-damp forehead with a handkerchief, he tossed a box from the table.
“Put it on. For new piercing, swap your earring.”
“…….”
The thing from last night?
Leo opened the box dubiously. Then clutched his throat. Similar shape to his, but color too vivid.
“…Too flashy. Joke? I gave you near-transparent…!”
“That’s why I told you to get it.”
Lucas, head lolled on the backrest from exhaustion, grinned playfully. He pointed at Leo’s box.
“Check the hue. That shade’s the priciest. Know?”
“…Price aside, royals don’t wear such bold gems. Unless heirlooms.”
“Yeah. You’re new humans.”
“Old humans different?”
“Dunno. Don’t care.”
Lucas gave an inscrutable reply and dozed. Eyes closed, breathing near-absent.
Instinctual unease made Leo prod.
“So, what is it.”
“Artifact.”
“You said no artisan.”
“Yeah. I made it myself.”
Himself? How?
Questions aside, not the point. Voice weakening. Approaching for healing, Lucas opened his eyes.
“Put it on quick. Curious.”
“…….”
Leo cast basic healing, removed an old artifact. Slipping new one, Lucas’s mana swirled.
“What kind of artifact.”
“Wanna test?”
Lucas murmured, staring into space like reading air.
“Leo. Six hours back on a nothing-day like today—close enough you wouldn’t feel like a different person, right?”
“…Yeah. No terror, no big gap.”
“Good. If it fails, we talk seriously? I’d apologize for pulling your fragment to six-hours-ago you.”
Paler Lucas quipped unconvincingly. Sweat pouring—hospital time. As Leo neared, Lucas waved off.
“No hospital. Wait a bit.”
“Ghostly.”
“You got stuff today, right?”
“…Yeah. To Berlin.”
“Then go now. Sorry for extra work.”
“Go?!”
“Yeah. And…”
Lucas smiled.
“See you later. For real this time.”
“…….”
Before more words, Lucas shooed him. Leo blanked at the door, ordered servants to hospitalize Lucas, then warped to Berlin.
First met Elias, clueless and snarky.
“What’s on your ear? Thought it bled.”
“…Yeah. Me too.”
“Huh?”
Elias laughed, then noted Leo’s soulless reaction. Leo stared ahead, continuing.
“So… gotta pierce inner one. Or detach gem for necklace.”
“Oh? Just kidding. But you muttering? Creepy from non-mutterer. Haha.”
“…….”
No reply, just forward—Elias knew something wrong.
Elias yapped by his ear all day; Leo, instead of shooing, checked watch constantly.
Six hours passed.
‘What’d Lucas mean.’
Rough idea. Maybe he looped time, and I’m clueless—get letter or see face for memories.
Leo switched staff to wand, eyed sky. Sunset red. Elias bantering.
“Hey~ Sent ten victims back today too.”
“Yeah.”
“Dorm! Worked six-and-half hours. High school abuse. Exams next year—how?! Not studying, me~”
“Yeah.”
“…….”
Elias punched Leo’s shoulder.
“What’s with you? Should say ‘not for that.’”
“…….”
“Ask why! Ask!”
Elias clung to Leo’s arm.
Then, core shocked like electricity. Leo clutched chest.
“…! Lucas.”
“No Lucas. Sick leave.”
“Not that…!”
Leo tapped comm artifact on ear urgently.
But vision blackened, light returned before noticing.
“What’s on your ear? Thought it bled.”
“…….”
Leo stared at Elias. Glanced Imperial Second Academy behind, scanned wildly like lost. Elias waved hand; Leo spoke.
“Why repeat?”
“Ehhh?”
Leo knew. Frantically checked surroundings, watch.
12:30 PM.
Unbelievable scene. Hollow voice escaped.
“We worked six-and-half hours, you said.”
“When…? Just clock out after report. Six-and-half today? More reports lately.”
Elias eyed panicked Leo.
Core silent. Comm silent. No Lucas contact, no sight. Yet…!
Leo warped straight to border, retraced path.
Boom—!
Passed somehow unaware. Came to in crown prince’s palace.
Servants wrestled protesting Lucas to warp point. Prior timeline, hospitalized.
Lucas raised brow.
“You first this time.”
“Now… you didn’t….”
“Yeah.”
Lucas spun finger clockwise backward, grinning. Leo dropped hat. Irrelevant now. Crucial was…
“…Me too….”
Leo blanked ahead.
All my actions in memory. Heard Elias’s nonsense all day, sent victims to hospital with him. Knew spells, warps, ten saved names. Lucas couldn’t know. Clearly my memory.
Lucas eyed dazed Leo, tapped his ear, laughed.
“Yeah. I said see you later.”