Chapter 314
Chapter 314
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 314
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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“It’s not back to school, huh.”
Elias whispered beside me.
We had come to the Prussian Ministry of Defense headquarters. The scattered oversight of us—spread across the Eschet Operations Committee, the School Corps HQ, the Imperial Mage Association, and more—had been consolidated in one place. At any rate, they hadn’t been spouting nonsense about forming some special forces unit.
“You’re only here today. The reorganization isn’t complete yet. Starting tomorrow, you’ll report to the Special Operations Command headquarters.”
Since Elias had whispered without casting a soundproofing spell, the clerk in front of us cut in. Elias corrected his earlier mistake by casting the spell and snarked back.
“Special Operations Command, huh... Are we handling assassinations or something?”
“Dealing with rampagers is pretty special, though...”
If there was no precedent anywhere and this wasn’t special, what was?
The clerk took a thick stack of papers from another official, rifled through them intently, then shoved them aside with a sour expression. For something he’d scrutinized so closely, his words when he returned were disappointingly predictable. Stuff we already knew.
“You’ll have a quick medical check, and since it’s your first day, no further assignments today. And... I’m sure you have questions, but we’ll brief you in detail once the reorganization settles. Things are still in flux.”
“Still?”
“Well, all this was decided just yesterday.”
The clerk snapped his fingers to cast a soundproofing spell, glanced behind him, and spoke. It hit home that we weren’t the only ones swept up in this mess. With nothing particular to say—and no burning curiosity since there wasn’t anything we “needed to know but didn’t”—we all headed out. As I walked, I eyed the uniforms of the people passing through the Ministry of Defense headquarters.
‘Guess we’re fully Prussian Army now.’
There were only three of us from foreign ruling families, plus other foreigners, but nailing us down as Prussian military was a win for the Hohenzollerns. The Imperial Mage Association could already be conscripted as Defense Force officers under their bylaws, counting toward Prussia’s strength in general—but they weren’t satisfied and made it ironclad.
Anhalt was pro-Prussian anyway, so even if war broke out, I’d be stuck working here. The Bavarian crown prince among us would return to Bavaria if war came, yet they’d gone this far. What did it mean?
Germany was gearing up for war, no doubt about it.
“......”
No one spoke the entire way back to our reassigned Eschet dorms at the First Training Academy. They’d all reached the same conclusion as me.
With my 21st-century knowledge, I knew what Germany had been like during the World Wars, so this behavior didn’t shock me. What country comes to mind first with militarism? Ask anyone on the street—eight out of ten would say Germany and Japan. You don’t feel it at the liberally structured Imperial Academy schools, but step into a Prussian gymnasium, and it’s immediate: even schools run strictly. A teacher’s word is law; disobey, and students or not, you face summary judgment. My grandparents’ generation, schooled in an era where militarism’s traces lingered, grew up in that subtle atmosphere, didn’t they?
‘But not me.’
Even the Eschet friends here hadn’t gotten that kind of education. German militarism peaked during the World Wars, and we’re just a bit before that. Plus, the three Imperial Academy schools were founded under the ruling class’s “reform from above” with liberalism as their ethos.
‘...Which means.’
I’m at the starting point where militarism is infecting the German Empire beyond just Prussia. Never thought I’d stand at this historical moment racing toward ruin in a world with magic.
“Huh.”
The moment we warped back to school, Narke, holding my hand, widened her eyes in surprise. I was just as startled. Professors and students clustered around the warp point.
“You’re back.”
Our homeroom professor said, wand in hand. He shared light hugs with me, Leo, and the other team members before stepping back. Only then did the other professors approach. They were part of the minimal government-assigned staff left to guard the school. Whether they had too much to say or were just being considerate, they said nothing—instead, just patted our shoulders.
They’d clearly been waiting to confirm we students returned alive. With us and the other School Corps kids deploying as reports came in, they’d lingered here. The reality of it all truly sank in again.
“...This really is an emergency.”
Haike muttered suddenly, as always, but she seemed to share my sentiment. No one spoke after that, so when we opened the dorm entrance, Ulrike piped up.
“Man, our new dorm still looks great~”
The new dorm wasn’t divided into rooms from the start; it centered around a living room with bedrooms off it. The friends just smiled faintly and dispersed to their rooms. Then Elias called out to us.
“Hey, guys. Sit down for a sec.”
Everyone looked tired, but no one objected. Too lazy to change and crash anyway, I flopped onto the sofa. Once Haike eased down slowly too, Elias looked around at us.
“Here’s what I think. We need special training.”
“Huh?”
Ulrike blinked wide-eyed.
“Let’s borrow the school’s Mimessis. Like when we spent all day in the training grounds prepping for exams—just go in and take everyone down.”
Elias, unusually serious, scanned us all before continuing.
“We can’t keep doing today’s routine forever. Especially Luca—your strategy was solid, but even you might get hurt someday.”
“......”
“And... if we get stronger, we can get rampagers to hospitals faster.”
“Fine by me. I’m in.”
Haike replied quietly. Leo and Cherlingen were still resting their chins, mulling it over. Ulrike hesitated, then spoke up tensely.
“Um, I think we should take time to adjust first. It’s just starting, so we need to manage our condition.”
Elias listened calmly, without rebutting or snapping. He didn’t like Ulrike much, but he knew to hear her out.
“It’s not that I hate running. To keep going without burning out... rushing from the start won’t help. Raising our skills matters, sure, but I see this as a long haul. We should pace ourselves.”
Ulrike asserted firmly, glancing at the others.
I knew. Ulrike hadn’t stood out today, but reviewing the third exam footage, her style was aggressive—she loved charging in more than anyone. No need to worry about misunderstandings.
Just then, Cherlingen spoke.
“I want to combine both views.”
Train to improve, but don’t overdo it with duty and zeal. He phrased it mildly, but it sided with Ulrike.
Leo would lean toward Elias— that magic maniac skipping training?—and Narke’s expression suggested agreement.
I was drawn to shortening times too, ready to train now. High-risk rampagers had low survival odds anyway; their bodies were too damaged by rescue time. Saving them sooner minimized harm. I knew from stats working as Nikolaus Ernst.
By majority, Elias’s idea would pass. But...
“Let’s rest today.”
Elias deflated like a balloon, slumping onto the back sofa. Haike, whose head he’d bumped, nudged him off lightly. Elias toppled onto Narke’s lap and nodded slowly.
“...Yeah, you’re right.”
“What is.”
“I got too hasty.”
“No big deal. I get it.”
I was about to end there but continued, seeing his dejected look.
“Your idea was good too. Once everyone’s adjusted, how about special training like you said?”
“Yeah. I’m good with that.”
“Me too.”
Haike followed Elias’s words immediately. Cherlingen, who’d been listening, clapped lightly.
“Settled, then. Good work today—rest up, and let’s grab dinner later.”
Everyone drained, they filed quietly to their rooms without more words.
Finally quiet. In my room, I tossed my jacket aside and sank onto the sofa. Things to think about.
‘They said rampages happen often in asylums.’
I’d known, but seeing it firsthand today made the reason clear. Bound to happen. Everything was inhumanely excessive. Humane where, exactly?
Not postmortem handling—this meant preventing outbreaks at frequent spots like asylums. Environments where staff despised patients, coercive treatments for illnesses. No clue how to fix it, but to cut rampage rates, I’d need time to ponder.
And...
First, see Abraham. How to act amid international tensions, what he knew and predicted about Maria Ostereicheste, why he assigned this to me.
Grabbing my jacket and hat I’d set down briefly, I headed out—then someone knocked at the dorm entrance.
Knock knock—
Opening the door, a school staffer thrust a telegram at me and spoke rapidly.
“Ah! You’re here. Any 101st Batch out right now? Hurry.”
What’s the rush? I shook my head.
“They’re all inside.”
“Good. You need to head to the Tiergarten Victory Monument immediately.”
Now?
Why?
As I thought it, he continued.
“The 98th Batch from the Imperial Mage Association is waiting.”
* * *
“They said tomorrow.”
“I thought so too, until this.”
The clerk shrugged at Elias’s teasing remark. We’d warped to the Tiergarten entrance first to meet the telegram’s contact. It was the same guy from Defense HQ earlier. Leading us, he raised his voice.
“Some remaining batches from the Imperial Mage Association are assigned to security, others to rampager duty. Among them, we finalized batches for high-risk 1st to 3rd grade rampagers...”
“Just confirmed?”
“Yeah. Two batches locked in 30 minutes ago: 91st and 98th for high-risk. Others are still under review. For rampager ops now, your direct seniors are the 98th Batch.”
“We don’t even know our unit’s name yet, and it’s already set? Hell, we haven’t met the 100th seniors, been to Special Ops HQ, or heard how the whole system works.”
“Tell me about it. I’m clueless too.”
The clerk replied soullessly to Elias’s pointed jab.
“They said the 98th wanted to meet you. That’s all I heard.”
“We heard that much.”
“Perfect.”
The clerk stopped by the Victory Monument and gestured. Far off, Imperial Mage Association uniforms—98th Batch folks—noticed us, chatting among themselves. We walked silently to the monument. As we neared, one who looked like a 98th squad leader—101st is one team, others split into two or three—approached with a friendly smile, hand extended.
“You made it. Albert Mecklenburg.”
From Mecklenburg Grand Duchy, a ruling family mage like us. Leo flashed a suitable smile, reaching to shake—then paused. Something off about the man’s smile and the 98th mages behind him.
“......”
Eyes like they were watching, condescending somehow. Over a handshake? Friends glanced at each other, sensing it too.
Leo hesitated; Mecklenburg tilted his head.
‘Ah.’
Instinct hit: what they were waiting for. Should’ve sensed it since the Association’s batch system. 21st-century batch-culture groups flashed in my mind. And this being the 19th century maximized my disillusionment.
‘...Shake or not, they’ll gripe.’
Guaranteed.
No one calls the vibe toxic outright—everywhere’s toxic, so no one thinks it is.
Leo eyed him, then shook hands in greeting. The man and mages behind smiled like they knew it.
“...Ooh.”
“Doing what they want...”
Thud!
Leo stamped his heel into a Prussian salute. The man froze, expression wiped. I signaled friends; we followed suit. Now I was holding back laughter.
‘Did both...’
Sure, they could nitpick endlessly—“Who shakes twice?”—escalating things. But preferring to blow it up, no objections here.
He shook his head, stared at Leo, then stepped back. Resuming kindly:
“Glad to meet like this. 101st selected ages ago, but no chance to talk—such a shame.”
“Should’ve come by. Sorry.”
He waved off Leo’s words.
“Haha... No, apologizing for that makes me what? Anyway, since we’ll work together now, called you to pass something on.”
Checking his watch:
“3rd-grade rampager report came 10 minutes ago—we’re heading out now. Come with.”
Reported 10 minutes ago, going now? Absurd. Not just me; friends’ faces hardened.
They handed out warp coordinates and vanished from Tiergarten in a flash.
“......”
I exchanged looks with friends. Leo nodded, warped first. We all followed to the site.
‘Building again.’
Five-story dry goods store. Fortunately, evacuated. They signaled, split half-and-half, divided us 4-3, and led up. On the third floor, Albert Mecklenburg beckoned Leo and me.
“See the rampager?”
“Yes.”
It wandered the third-floor hall, caked in mud—hard to tell, but sounds like sobbing.
Mecklenburg slung an arm over my shoulder, leaned to an artifact, and said:
“Not anything else—heard it took you 15 minutes to subdue, so called to share a tip.”
Testing our skills? Fine, show us. Leo, me, Elias and Cherlingen who came up with us—all same expressions. Leo asked calmly:
“Problem with our handling time?”
“No issue. But sticking to it honestly kills us.”
“......”
“No one’s shared a good method yet. We’ll show you how...”
Mages from the back stairwell and two beside Albert Mecklenburg unleashed attacks. Surprisingly, same as us: surrounding the rampager. Curious how they’d cut time.
Albert Mecklenburg, watching leisurely, touched his wand holster.
“Watch closely.”
But out came no wand. Silver metal glinted under mana light. Friends’ eyes widened; Albert’s focus went slow-motion.
Boom—!
Before anyone could stop, two more blasts. As half-vitrified blood burst from the rampager’s head, mages released it. Albert Mecklenburg turned to us, refreshed like the day’s work done.
“This is how it’s done.”