Chapter 355
Chapter 355
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 355
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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"It's done. One left!"
"Leo! What about Luca?!"
No sooner had I spoken than Elias shouted at me. Elias, who had killed the lone bishop Lucas had left in our care without hesitation, grabbed my shoulder with the bishop's blood dripping from his hands. He had arrived late and didn't know where Lucas had gone. Truth be told, neither did I, even though I'd been right there with him.
The burning fields of Corviniano and the murky sky began to melt away. In their place appeared the Kreinkirche Castle Nicholas in Füssen and the small chapel in Munich-Frising that the Pleromas had used as a document archive. We stood in a narrow cloister bathed in moonlight, our bodies caked in vitriol. Someone's shouts and footsteps echoed in the distance.
[...Saint Corviniano has sided with the Empire.]
A faint echo of Lucas's voice struck my head hard and faded. Only then did it sink in. We were back. It was over. Everything. I bolted toward the pull of his mana without a second thought.
I caught sight of Albertina Hohenzollern of the 91st Batch from behind, and behind her, a familiar yet alien red eye half-lidded in exhaustion. Albertina Hohenzollern's reflexes outpaced my dash to Lucas. He collapsed into her arms.
* * *
Up until then, I think we all felt relieved. No matter how it had gone down, we could finally go home. We didn't make it to Bavaria's hospital until dawn, and that's when I learned that one of Lucas's senses was gone for good.
"Crown Prince Leonard Wittelsbach, please come in."
"Hey, Leo. That's you they're calling."
With a voice two tones lower than usual, Elias clapped me hard on the back. I had no idea how I'd even gotten up. I took one last look at Lucas's hospital room before slowly turning and grasping the doorknob to the examination room. The doctor saluted, sat down, and pulled out a file. A steaming cup of black coffee and a sugar jar sat in front of the chair.
"We've completed all tests on Lord Ascanien. Since you'd like to hear the details right away, I'll get straight to it...."
The plains of Corviniano and the black smoke billowing toward the sky from all sides scattered like sand. We'd patrolled the serene monastic village of Füssen until dawn, but nothing remained from that evening on. Nowhere on the grounds of Kreinkirche Castle Nicholas could we find the fields scorched by fire and soaked in vitriol—yet, irrationally, their effects lingered. I no longer knew how to set foot on Füssen's Neuschwanstein. The doctor's voice drowned in the smoke rising over the black liquid and faded away.
"Your Highness, I understand your colleague's misfortune weighs heavily on you. Still, escaping the spell so quickly spared him the worst. In time, it will heal...."
I'd heard it all before: his condition wasn't dire, and the prognosis was positive. I knew what worries the doctor was reading from my twitching facial muscles, but right now, Lucas losing a sense wasn't the issue. Yeah, I couldn't tell anyone, but I could admit it to myself. The barrage of thoughts exploding in my mind had nothing to do with the diagnosis. Keeping him pinned to that bed meant nothing. My friend always moved against my wishes. And in doing so, he always achieved what I wanted. The connection I'd sought from the start but never grasped—he'd been the one to shift that first misplaced button. Everything hung on his hands. Even now. The crude contraption, the plan, the promise I'd thought would let me rest easy.... A white lump fell into the black surface and dissolved. Not even enough to taste sweet.
Creak—
Maybe I needed to dump the whole jar of sugar in.
"What the hell. What happened."
"......"
"Hey! Say something!"
I opened the door to the hospital room, and Lucas, who had been reading a book, looked up. He flashed an awkward smile and scanned the 101st Batch friends entering behind me. Clearing his throat, he coaxed out words that wouldn't come.
"You're here?"
"Yeah."
Silence stretched. Lucas rolled his eyes, closed the book, and leaned back against the headboard. Watching him, I murmured without thinking.
"What do I do."
"Even Crown Prince Your Highness doesn't know everything, huh."
Why did this familiar sarcasm, which I'd usually brush off, sting so much? Because I truly knew nothing, a thorn stabbed into my heart. Facts spat at the fortunate were like ants on a boot's toe. Facts spat at the unfortunate became honed iron barbs. I pressed my eyes with the heel of my hand and muttered.
"No time for banter."
"...My words all sound like jokes now? Even my questions go right through you? No matter how improper I act, does Your Highness think my concern for a friend is just empty noise?"
If he kept this up, maybe I should've dragged him to that imperial whatever-hospital where they'd all taken bombs to the head. Then a random Bavarian crown prince couldn't monopolize the exam results.... His next words stabbed like a dagger again. But in that moment, what caught my eye was Elias's throat bobbing with weight, his darkening eyes, and the past I knew. That's why I always had to sharpen myself. My fatigue scarred others, and those scars came back to me.
"All jokes, no. Whatever my intent, it's plenty...."
"If it came off that way, sorry. Truly sorry, Elias. I heard you, and I'm sorry too—thanks for your generosity. We always bicker like crazy, but I'm tired of fighting here too. Just answer me already?"
Julia, who'd heard these exchanges since childhood, and the ever-stoic Heike Ainsidel ignored us as always, but Ulrike Kleist stared back and forth with wide-eyed fear. That sweeping gaze wasn't just hers. Unable to follow our talk, Lucas's eyes darted between me and Elias. Ah, short-sighted. As Elias and I shut our mouths in sync, Lucas smiled, crossed his arms, and tilted his head—the face he always made when we spouted flawed logic or messed up. So, did he find it more uncomfortable when we clammed up out of consideration? No way to tell. He pointed to the bandage around Elias's neck and my left hand.
"You're hurt."
I tugged my lips up at his words.
"Both a bit scorched. Vitriol's nasty stuff."
"Right. My head got chopped off again this time. Check it out~ How'd you grow it back like that!"
Elias grumbled, showing off his short-cropped hair. Grow it back? Didn't he cut it for that Munich theater infiltration and regrow it with divine power? Anyway, it'd happen again.... I started to retort but stopped and looked at Lucas. He stared silently at Elias's neck, then mimed vitriol splashing with a smile.
"Head cut off, huh. Or lopped off?"
"......"
Julia kept her smiling lips but furrowed her brow in distress. We were the ones struggling to adapt to the sudden shift. Knowing he couldn't hear but unable to shake it, we spoke normally. Anyway. Elias nodded quickly, gestured something flying at the back of his head, and mimed crying. Lucas grinned, paused, then asked.
"So, when's it coming back?"
We all knew he meant his hearing. Ulrike Kleist whipped her gaze to me, and with Heike Ainsidel last, everyone's eyes turned my way. Staring into his pink eyes, I mouthed.
"No one knows."
"Huh?"
Elias scowled and turned away.
To be precise, it was part of my mixed feelings. While pondering ways to speed recovery, the words slipped out first.
Estimate: about a month. Once most of the mana in his body cycled out fresh, the lost sense might return—faster with treatment. That's what the doctor said. I pulled out the notebook I'd gotten from the servant and wrote.
[They said wait about a month. First time seeing that spell pattern, so no guarantees.]
"A month?"
Lucas let out a hollow laugh, rubbing his forehead. Ulrike Kleist gaped and rolled her eyes.
"Whoaaa.... Way longer than I thought...?!"
"Hmm. Good that it'll come back either way, but what about work in the meantime?"
"That depends on how well you...."
Recover. If he didn't go poking around for research materials, he'd bounce back quick, right? I needed to say it, but my thoughts blocked my mouth. Once hearing returns to normal, you'll dive back into work, take insane missions, pull off impossible breakthroughs, and end up hospitalized again. In that case....
"......"
I pressed my pale fingers to my lips. The thought chilled me to the bone. No way this was normal. Narke looked back at me. Surprise flickered across his face, replaced by an amused smile.
"I'll make you recover fast."
I crushed the sudden thought and spoke with forced confidence. Even knowing he couldn't hear. I grabbed the sketchpad, wrote it down, and showed him. Lucas laughed heartily, slapped my hand, and leaned back.
"Ah, reassuring. Thanks. Can't handle reports for a bit anyway—need to goof off solo to recover. Right?"
"......"
"Got this. Confident in slacking. I'll set a record for fastest recovery."
"Slacking, sure."
"He just cussed me out."
Lucas pointed at me and asked the friends. With shameless nods and grins, I shot them cold looks. Then Ulrike leaned in seriously.
"Kids. We gotta head out later with Lucas and Senior Albertina Hohenzollern, but he can't hear.... We, uh, Lucas never trained in lip-reading."
At that, Narke piped up like it just hit him.
"Oh yeah~ You guys haven't heard yet?"
"Exams just wrapped. Not everyone knows."
"Hmm, got it. I can relay it to Lucas so he hears."
Relay so he hears? Shock hit before memories. Narke ignored our confusion and leaned close to Lucas. Lucas, reading a letter, rolled his eyes at the odd vibe, then raised a brow. Soon surprise lit his face; he smiled and spoke.
"I'm happy too."
Happy too? Suddenly? Narke used divine power to speak, and Lucas replied aloud. Knowing that didn't quell the shock.
"Ah, what's this secret convo~? Feeling left out."
Before Elias's tease ended, Lucas—face brighter—replied to Narke.
"Handy in times like this. If you're cool, we can talk through you from now on?"
"Nooooo. Talk to me direct!"
Elias snatched my sketchpad, scrawled endless "NOOOOO"s, and showed Lucas. His tilted brow was infuriating; I clicked my tongue. Julia snickered from afar.
Lucas squinted, read it, and laughed.
"'Nooooo'? So you."
Then, as we all gawked, he chatted with Narke.
"Oh, I'm going too? Quick. Didn't expect it starting today."
"......"
"Makes sense. Better than rotting in here—I like meeting people."
Elias bugged his eyes at their baffling exchange and smacked my arm.
"Hear that? Luca likes meeting people."
"What about it."
"Whatever, man."
What was I supposed to do? I decoded Elias's words, brushed it off, and addressed the 101st Batch friends.
"Kids. Need a private word with Lucas. You said hi—mind stepping out?"
Narke rounded his eyes.
"Uh, I gotta go with Lucas later for the ceremony~?"
"Come get him then."
I herded all the friends out. Lucas eyed me displeased, deprived of easy chat partners. I wrote my top burning question in the notebook.
[Congrats on op success. Thanks to you.]
"Congrats to you too. Glad everyone's mostly unscathed."
His hearty reply got my smile; I wrote on the next page.
[You're insane.]
"......"
Lucas chuckled and tilted his head.
"Senior said the same. Weird. How's it look to you?"
Senior...? I scowled. That sleazy 98th Batch.... No point dwelling. I sighed and scribbled fast.
[Obviously insane. You knew that Pleroma would go for a desperate last attack.]
"Of course. Put yourself in the Pleroma's shoes. Drink blood, cast spatial magic. Drain everything to half-kill the foe, drink blood, recover past baseline—stronger even. Why wouldn't it go for the killing blow?"
Knowing and charging in anyway—that's what I couldn't accept. My lips moved; his eyes flicked to them. I waved my hand—nope, didn't say it. Lucas shrugged calmly and continued.
"Knew it, so I figured the spell. That's why we're all here now, right? Didn't expect hearing loss, but the prep pattern kept it to treatable."
Yeah, I get your thinking. Understand it. Maybe someone had to. Hoping my admired friend doesn't die there might be a luxury for me. So I couldn't say more. Lucas broke the silence.
"But am I speaking straight?"
Felt like a smack to the head; I stared silently. Still normal as ever. I nodded; he agreed quick and changed tack.
"You got more to say."
Obviously. Couldn't be all. No answer, but he read my face, chuckled shakily, and stood.
"No clue what you'll say. Save the scolding. Gotta head down in an hour? Out."
Scolding later....
He was right. I hadn't said half of what I meant to, and in this mental mess, no way I'd unload it all.
Lucas shooed me out, changed from gown to formalwear, and emerged. Short rest over, everyone but the two in ICU was up a bit. We headed to the briefing room. Flanking it sat everyone from the op; the Imperial Mage Corps Union Chairman—nominal Supreme Commander—with emperor-delegated authority was there. No Bavarian royals. Just lending a hand to Prussia and Empire—no obligation.
A deputy I'd never seen read stiffly from a speech. In front stood 91st Batch's Albertina Hohenzollern and Lucas.
"...The Imperial Mage Corps Union 91st, 98th, and 101st Batches, who led this operation to victory, are awarded the Corviniano Military Merit Medal."
Narke, front row, seemed to relay every word to Lucas via divine power.
"No matter how you slice it, this is either rushed or ground-up speed. When'd they make the medals?"
Elias muttered. Fast work. Everyone reacted like Lucas had earlier. Empire wanted to keep the victory buzz going—natural call.
The chairman hung medals on the reps' necks, placed a hand on Lucas's shoulder, and spoke gravely.
"101st Batch Vice-Squadron Leader Lucas Ascanien's shining merits secured our Empire's great victory. From start to finish of the Corviniano operation, no part escaped Ascanien's touch. The Empire will never forget Lord Ascanien's dedication."
"Thanks to the Imperial Mage Corps Union's rigorous training, my strategy shone. Honored to defend the Empire with such fine mages."
Lucas replied cleanly, cheerfully—his standard demeanor before non-close friends like me, Elias, and Narke. Sense or no, he was himself.
Light celebration followed. We moved to the adjacent hall. Before Narke rejoined Lucas, I approached; he greeted simply.
"Party after every op? Nice."
"Usually."
Could've said more, but knowing his eyes stuck to my lips, I didn't. He filled with a smile, said no more. Long silence; he pointed to a canapé with cherry tomato and white cheese. I shook my head; he ate it alone. Hand signs bridged it all. Always laconic, but now sparing words fearing slip-ups. My gut twisted.
"Hope the hearing comes back ASAP, even a day sooner?"
Mouthing it, his face flashed dismay spotting my lips late. I scribbled on a memo and handed it. Normally he'd nod sternly; now, wary of our worry—or just upbeat—he answered brightly.
"What.... Duh? If not on combat mage duty, maybe not—but need it back today. Or train sans senses."
He paused, then added.
"Got a way?"
Opening to reply, he glanced behind me, brow up.
"Hang on. Need Narke."
Why now?
Turning to his gaze, I got it. I fought my face souring at this prim mug from Corviniano coords. 98th Batch A-Commander beside me eyed vanishing Lucas in disbelief.
"Why'd Vice-Squadron Leader just bail?"
Your fault. Swallowed it, smiled.
"Who knows."