Chapter 308
Chapter 308
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 308
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“…My apologies.”
Leo let out a heavy sigh as he spoke.
Even though Leo outranked Emmanuel, no family with even a shred of manners would casually override the wishes of an elder from another house. Leo grabbed my shoulder and pulled me back.
“Let’s go. I have no idea how you even found out where Emmanuel’s Highness’s estate is… but you know this isn’t getting us anywhere.”
“I didn’t come here just to chat. You go on ahead.”
“Lucas…”
*Please just go already…* I could practically hear it in his tone. Sorry, but I couldn’t do that.
I sent Leo off and slipped into a café with a view overlooking the estate, hunkering down there for a few more hours until three in the morning, when I finally headed back to Berlin. Lo and behold, Elias was waiting in my room.
Elias, who’d been sipping from my cup, spotted me and rapped on the table in front of him.
“What’s France up to today?”
“Dodging the issue?”
“Yeah. They keep harping on about why they’d steal Austria’s crown jewel.”
Figures. In a situation like this, war wouldn’t be out of the question. In our history, the assassination of the Archduke of Österreich-Este—the Sarajevo incident—sparked World War I. This theft of an Österreich-Este relic by a foreign royal, of all people, was a different matter, but with the same victim and similar opposing factions, the parallels were unavoidable.
It even faintly echoed how the German Empire in our world pledged full support to Austria-Hungary when they decided on war. As someone from the 21st century, I knew all too well how World War I turned out. And everyone knew what the humiliated Germany did afterward.
The only options left were for Austria to back down and admit they’d been mistaken, or for France to acknowledge that all evidence pointed to Charles d’Orléans. Neither was happening.
Fortunately, unlike our history, the German imperial family and government hadn’t officially taken sides, though the German press was busy pinning the Pleioma label on France.
“At this point, our fake Abraham’s picking fights with France… The mood’s turning ugly. What if war actually breaks out?”
Elias rolled up the newspaper and set it on the table.
“And here we are, taking Vitriol showers again today. Pretty soon it’ll be three times a day.”
He grumbled while wiping the pitch-black slime from the ends of his hair with his glove. He said that, but Vitriol would rampage if it lingered on the skin too long, so only his outer clothes were ruined.
Elias turned to me.
“You? Got hit today too?”
“It’s only day two. ‘Today too’ implies otherwise.”
“They won’t see you anyway. When he’s firm, he’s *really* firm.”
Probably. Emmanuel Wittelsbach wasn’t responding to my messages.
*At least he’s not sending them back unread. That’s something to hope for, I guess.*
No way to tell if he’d even read them, though…
He seemed to want nothing to do with Österreich-Este at all. Peruer was his family’s heirloom anyway, he hated that house, he had no intention of cooperating, and even though the caretaker had changed, he didn’t want to think about anything tied to Maria anymore.
He was ignoring Leo’s contacts too. Leo had even asked His Majesty the King, but Emmanuel sent a refusal even to him.
Still, I had no other options. There was only one thing I could do.
* * *
“This should be enough for now.”
“Someone who thinks it’s ‘enough’ doesn’t stick around like this. You’re something else…”
Leo stared at my dark blond hair and brown eyes as he spoke.
“Thanks.”
I roughly ran a hand through my hair and gazed into the distance. It was night, so the world was shrouded in darkness. Even so, Emmanuel’s estate stood out clearly. I could even see the spot where Maria had climbed over the wall.
“But why not come as Nicolaus?”
“Absolutely not right now. It’d be even more dangerous for everyone.”
“…….”
*Wouldn’t Nicolaus make it safer? Why more dangerous?* Leo sighed shortly, his face full of confusion.
“Hey, do I look like myself right now?”
“To me, you’re you… I already know your face inside out. Changing the color won’t fool me.”
Fair enough. I snapped my fingers. Leo’s eyes widened, and he tilted his head in disbelief.
“You changed your face.”
“Yeah.”
“…Must be my imagination. You look kinda like me now. Hair and eyes seem lighter too.”
I hadn’t actually changed my hair or eye color back, but to others, it would look that way. To me, my hair was still dark blond, my eyes still brown, but under the perception-disruption spell, they saw light blond.
It wasn’t easy to maintain such advanced magic—far more mana-intensive and complex than just color-changing—but it was the best option now. Since I’d been using it often in the extra chapter to pass as Georg’s son and alter my mana color, it didn’t drain as much as before.
“I based it on your face. From now on, let’s say I’m your cousin or something. This’ll make the disguise safer.”
“I look like *that*?”
“Does it matter? I don’t even know what I drew exactly.”
After that, we kept watch near the estate’s back gate. When the lights went out, Leo—hidden by his own perception spell—tapped my shoulder.
“It’s midnight. Let’s head back.”
“…….”
“The mood’s soured so fast even Uncle won’t be out now. The Bavarian council’s proposed a temporary military budget increase.”
“Actually passing that would fan the flames in this pre-war tension. France and Austria have intelligence agencies too.”
“Yeah. So they’re holding other budgets in limbo instead of increasing right away. They’ll watch until the trilateral meeting with France and Austria the day after tomorrow.”
Germany playing mediator in this world was a fresh twist. We were usually the ones getting thrashed as Pleioma and begging for intervention.
I shook my head and muttered.
“If we had Orléans tech, we could slip right in. We could break in now too, but alarms would blare, and you and I’d end up in a cell. You might get leniency, but handcuffs and questioning don’t change.”
“First time I’ve heard you belabor the obvious like this.”
Leo burst out laughing in disbelief, then shook his head. Soon he grew serious.
“Let’s go back. Waiting like this won’t get us anything.”
“…….”
I exhaled once and shoved Leo’s back.
“You first.”
I had unfinished business. Sure, I needed answers from Emmanuel, but it went beyond that.
So I hunkered down all night in a café building with a partial view of his estate. Grateful it was open this late, I kept shoving tasteless bread into my mouth.
At some point, the waiter started circulating with stacks of papers.
“Newspaper?”
“Already out?”
“Of course.”
Six a.m. already—time to head back.
I handed over coins, took the paper. Nothing caught my eye besides the France-Austria mess.
*Though that’s the craziest story by far.*
I memorized the international news and left Bavaria for Berlin.
“Guys, let’s power through another Vitriol shower today.”
Elias said solemnly, with me and Leo beside him. Then he muttered, eyeing me.
“This one looks like he didn’t sleep a wink…”
“Lucas. Skip today. Uncle wouldn’t care if you waited outside all night.”
“Yeah, seems like it.”
The Emmanuel I’d dealt with firsthand was exactly that kind of guy. But that wasn’t the issue. Did it look like I was just loitering in front of his house, waiting for him to come out?
If so, they were wrong.
I had to prevent the thing I feared from happening.
The next day, I did the same as the previous dawn, overlooking his estate from the café. Then, heading straight back to the Imperial 2nd Education Institute, I ran into a pale-faced Leo.
“Lucas.”
Leo, mid-conversation with Elias, turned to me. I frowned at his complexion.
“What? You look spaced out.”
“Just from Bavaria?”
“Yeah.”
“We’re going back to Bavaria now. Pack clothes and come out.”
“What?”
“Emmanuel’s Highness is missing.”
* * *
My heart throbbed wildly, so I knew Leo’s shock was no small thing. He couldn’t even control his own mana right now.
“His Highness said he’d be alone from yesterday evening, so no one entered his room. At least, that’s what I was told… He insisted on it. I was in Baden at the time, so I didn’t hear it myself…”
“Come out! Hurry!”
“…….”
Medical personnel rushed past the initial reporter. Servants lay slumped like corpses, being carted off on stretchers. With royalty missing, dozens of investigators swarmed the scene, dozens cluttering the view.
As Nicolaus, I’d come here with Leo to take charge of Emmanuel’s disappearance.
“Crown Prince, Your Highness.”
An investigator saluted Leo, then offered me a handshake.
“Pleased to meet you. I’m Robert Holtzmann, chief investigator from Munich Police. I’ll brief you on the case—please follow me.”
The investigator led us inside, gloved hand sweeping the floor.
“As you both know, everything points to Pleioma. We checked with the Prussian investigators: the sedative residue matches the Grand Hotel terror. Plus traces of Vitriol on the floor.”
“…….”
“Only one missing among the victims: Emmanuel Wittelsbach, His Highness. The problem is…”
He lowered his voice, face worried.
“There are signs he walked out on his own. No entry traces from outsiders.”
Leo, listening, asked.
“What time did it happen?”
“A maid, Katrin Schultz, back from her hometown, arrived at six-thirty this morning. You spoke with her. Evidence is thin, but we estimate between three a.m. and six.”
Leo nodded coldly and led me to an empty room. Passing investigators saluted hastily; he locked the door and cast a soundproof spell.
“Lucas.”
“Watched all day—no one in or out at dawn.”
“…….”
I answered preemptively. Leo stared blankly, then rubbed his face.
“You coming here lately… don’t tell me…”
It wasn’t just to meet him. Honestly, I’d come to prevent this. All I’d gained was confirmation no one approached the estate at dawn—yet it still happened.
That alone was a crucial clue. I glanced around.
“Want more info before we go?”
“No.”
Leo’s answer was firm.
Nothing more to learn here. I agreed. I opened the retry window.
“Twelve hours back. Rewind.”
* * *
I stared out the window.
The Bavaria café at dawn.
Leo’s mana raged, stabbing my heart wildly. He’d definitely come with me.
His shock was immense—my hand kept drifting to my chest. I wanted to tell it to calm down, but since my core was doing the same to him, I couldn’t.
My mind went blank. I took deep breaths, cast soundproofing, and called the investigators.
[Prussian Munich Police. How may I help?]
“Nicolaus Ernst here. Suspected Vitriol terror at Emmanuel Wittelsbach’s Highness’s estate. Risk of perpetrator fleeing—send recon. Crown Prince and I will enter.”
Absurd claim. In Prussia, they’d flood the place with mages, recon or not. Not here.
Not his call alone—they took three minutes to reply affirmatively. I kept comms open for instructions and headed downstairs.
“Huh.”
Ran into Leo on the first floor, hair unkempt, rushed here. Even shocked, he knew better than to storm the front gate. Good. But he almost yelled my name on sight.
“Lu…!”
I clamped his mouth, pointed to the comm artifact on his ear. He nodded.
“…Lord Ernst.”
“Let’s move.”
Sneaking to the estate perimeter didn’t take long. Police mages would arrive soon. I conjured a mana mask, and with Leo, we held our breath, scanning presences.
“Your Highness. Plants don’t trigger barriers, right?”
Leo nodded slightly at me.
“Send some stems inside.”
“…….”
Leo stared like I’d lost it, but realizing I wasn’t talking nonsense, he sat, hand to the ground.
He listened quietly, tapped the earth once. Plant stems sprouted, slicing through the dark grass, vanishing into the distance. Wind rustled, hiding traces.
Leo’s confused face hardened suddenly. He spoke softly.
“The mana in the stems is draining.”
“…….”
No surprise.
Vitriol victims absorb ambient mana.
Four-twenty a.m. Crime’s start. I reported to police instantly, switched wand to staff, and slammed down.
Boom—! Crash—!
Barrier shattered; sky around pulsed red, alarms blaring. Leo gawked at me smashing a royal barrier one-shot, but no time to explain it wasn’t taboo magic—I could always do it.
We dashed inside. Innumerable barriers and security spells sucked mana on contact; Leo yanked my hesitating self along, infusing mana to keep running. In the extra chapter twelve years back, I’d had clearance—no wonder it was this messy now.
*Still can’t stop.*
Thud—!
I pivoted at the curve, bursting into the lobby.
Servants sprawled everywhere. Eye contact with Leo. Just like the Grand Hotel pre-Pentalon, Alexander Square.
Crash—! Boom—!!
I swung staff, shattering corridor windows, flooding divine power through. Wanted to infuse them fully, but this was best for now. Police mages would evacuate. Core issue elsewhere. We raced to Emmanuel’s private room.
If not here, rewind again.
Thud—
No need.
Problem: Amid vibrating Vitriol mana, Emmanuel stared out the window. Unsent letter and fallen teacup on his bed.
“Your Highness.”
He turned to me.
Same face as twelve years ago. I hadn’t expected 41-year-old Emmanuel to differ much, but seeing what looked like yesterday’s face stirred extra-chapter memories. Maria should be beside him—my mouth soured.
No time for sentiment.
“Stay still.”
“…….”
He looked fine, but a rampager. Unlike grade-8-or-below I’d faced, he retained reason.
“No one invited you in.”
“I know. You recognize me, though.”
He smiled faintly. Sensed via appraisal.
Prepped staff mana for no-talk scenario—Vitriol lunged.
Boom—!!
Leo, wand-to-staff, swatted it. Bookshelf toppled, room shook. Emmanuel’s voice chilled.
“Why go this far over a gem?”
“…….”
“Diplomatically vital, sure. France stole Austria’s relic… Shocking.”
“It’s beyond vital.”
“I know. Wars always start like this. The gem’s transcended value—masses now obsessed with Holy Roman sapphire’s national implications, baying for blood. How often have we seen fools kill millions over faith, wealth, pride?”
“You’re emotional.”
“Not the answer I wanted.”
He smiled like twelve years ago. Leo’s face twisted in confusion. Inevitable. Rational rampagers look no different from Pleioma outwardly. I gave his desired response calmly.
“You were close friends with Archduke Beatric Österreich-Este. I risked rudeness because Pleioma might revive Archduke Maria’s body.”
Emmanuel stared blankly, soulless smile fixed. Then:
“No such thing.”
“…….”
As expected. Maria Österreich-Este’s coffin was empty. Investigation confirmed. Accident mangled body unrecognizably—no corpse for burial. Officially.
Issue: Magic circles Maria developed from Hermitishi Gesellschaft founding to death… And…
Did Emmanuel hold dead Maria’s mana and genes? Did his tech linger? Crucially, had Maria become Pleioma?
For now, stop his full rampage.
“Conversation over. Leave.”
“Regrettably, no.”
Words out—vision blackened.
Rumble—boom—
Vitriol wind walled ahead. Leo’s mana cleaved it; I purified for visibility…
Unnecessary.
Boom—!
Door flew off, rolled. Windows long gone.
Leo gritted teeth, chanting spells furiously.
This is Pleioma’s sought talent. High Vitriol affinity makes Pleioma. They dosed rivers, land, air to find them. Police mages’ screams followed. No match, naturally. Their presence would drag this out.
Grade unknown, but I had a way.
*Three, two… one.*
I released staff from floor-slam.
Boom—!! Crunch—
“Ugh…!”
Head throbbed. Vitriol strangled my neck. Leo’s panicked voice—he sensed despite blindness. Vitriol crushed to snap bone. I gripped it with both hands, stomped wide. Legs crushed late.
“…!”
Boom—!
Yanked. I slammed restrained Emmanuel down, spun, smashed his core with other hand. Divine light stabbed eyes briefly, vanished.
Vision blacked.
Already dim—now total dark.
* * *
I opened my eyes in bed.
“…….”
No ring on left ring finger. Bright Wittelsbach-like lashes veiled vision with each blink. Unknowingly, I removed the cigarette from my mouth, exhaled smoke.
Strange-tasting smoke. I knew it. Used often there, even learned to make it. Unknown gas clung to throat mucosa, sank to lungs. Unlike normal smokes, mana-gas permeated body-wide. Like elixir gas.
“Feels like my mind’s splitting.”
Unfamiliar voice from my mouth. Blinked—shining eyes of newhuman stared down. Maria smiled at me.
“Right. That’s astral projection basics.”