Chapter 369
Chapter 369
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 369
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family (369)
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We all knew right away what he was thinking. How could we not? Elias shouted.
"Our presence is that level...?!"
I panicked for a moment too and waved my hand.
"No way. What are you planning to use us for?"
"The numbers match perfectly. Our value for use is something only they know."
"There are plenty of groups in the world made up of seven, and they might gather seven from all corners of the earth."
"I need to explain more precisely. What bothers me is that Pleroma is pairing Ismailov with me. And what also bothers me is that Haike Ainsidel was added to Eschet, which was originally planned for six, making it seven."
That was Abraham's doing. Abraham is...
"......"
Just in case, I should set up a meeting with that guy. Even amid Leo's cool-headed response, Elias slammed the table in disbelief.
"This could be interpreted by Narke as 'all'! This might be 'all' too!"
I'd already judged that hypothesis unlikely, but I wouldn't poke holes in it. I hoped it wasn't reality myself. Right on cue, Leo, who had been staring at the table, whispered lowly.
"If that's just wishful thinking because you want to believe nothing dangerous will happen to us?"
"......"
Elias and I looked at Narke, but we couldn't get any answer from him. Yeah, it was a hypothesis worth considering seriously. We couldn't ignore it anymore. But all our friends as targets? If it were just me, I could take the high risk, but putting six more people in direct, massive danger changes everything.
'...But are we not already under that risk right now? And even if we don't take it, if we back off, the ending won't change...'
Along with the clear thought striking my mind, I recalled its opposite—the inertial thought soaked in habit. I rubbed my dry face and muttered in a pained voice.
"...Tomorrow, I should meet the senior and somehow ask to be separated from Ismailov."
"You know it didn't work even after I went."
Leo replied calmly.
"The government sees you as the most suitable above all. They don't know what truth your inner self holds, but on the surface, Ismailov's affection is directed at you, and he hasn't opened up to anyone else but you, so the government will seek your help no matter what."
"Just now, you saw Ismailov talking to Elias. If we guide him well from now on, there's a chance he'll talk to others."
"Ismailov talked to us today entirely because you were there, Lucas. He communicated with us to get close to you."
"How can you be sure?"
"I know. How could I not?"
Leo looked straight at me as he spoke. He couldn't add any long explanation about his certainty, but he was already right. I knew he was right.
Yeah, I'd agonized over taking on Ismailov for a long time already, so I couldn't waste time on this. Better to dwell more on that clear thought I'd had earlier. Leo opened his mouth without me even asking.
"Of course, Ismailov might grow fond of others besides you and start talking to us voluntarily bit by bit. But in our current situation where we all need to avoid Ismailov, that's meaningless."
"You're right."
"Besides... if we separate Ismailov."
He paused there, then slowly looked around at all of us.
"What if that fulfills Pleroma's prophecy and the world ends?"
"The world ends?"
Elias twisted his lips as if it were ridiculous, but Leo nodded.
"Yeah, the world probably won't end. It'll keep flowing according to the celestial orbits, just like always. That day, the sun will rise in the east, and the sea will ebb and flow with the moon back to the shore. But what about the people of our era? Will we still see the star paths drawn billions of years ago that night?"
Leo was thinking the same as me. Retreating to avoid being mobilized by the prophecy isn't the answer. He knew it, I knew it, Elias would know it too, and Narke might have known it long before.
"The moment magic appeared in this world, the common sense shared by the world ended. If they create the 'lord you've been seeking' to perfectly fulfill their selfish desires? It's over. By then, not only the common folk but even we won't be safe. Avoiding immediate danger to prolong our lives a bit could lead to an irreversible end."
Elias's face was now far from the expression that had denied reality earlier. Unlike him staring rigidly at Leo, Narke had his eyes closed and head bowed.
I shifted my gaze from them and looked steadily at Leo. Surprising words from him. Leo was more safety-oriented and peace-loving than anyone, avoiding bold choices whenever possible—that much I'd seen in his thoughtfulness toward me all this time.
"We have to face it now. We're lucky to confront the bud before it becomes irreversible."
"......"
So how could I not be surprised?
But I knew he could be bolder than anyone at decisive moments because he desired peace for all. That was the Leonard Wittelsbach I'd read and analyzed. He continued calmly.
"We'll take it on. That's right."
* * *
That's right. That's the reason nobility exists. Modern civil society, where the innate rights of the people couldn't be entrusted to the nobility's self-cultivation and were seized instead, had become a tale of past ills in this world, now distant. In the Second Ancien Régime born of wizard society, all we could do now was ensure the rights of all handed to us through our ancestors' bloodline weren't wasted. Until the older generation cedes power to the new, until we gain the power to change the structure—maybe even until then. Leo knew well when to take risks.
'But how did I end up here...'
I was just Citizen #1, not part of the ruling family... Sometimes it hits me anew.
But even shifting from absolutist capitalist society to democratic capitalist society, could I say I wasn't a beneficiary of the structure back then? Not really. The form of benefit just differs; I've always owed society. The responsibility as a member doesn't vanish if I return to the 21st century—whether here or there, we bear the weight fitting our environment. So I can gladly accept this life's weight too.
In boring summary: I fully agree with Leo's stance that for noblesse oblige, he'd discard his safety-oriented nature and take any risk, and as always, I don't feel particularly wronged. Expressing it as it surges from my chest is what I said earlier; paraphrased shortly, it's 'No running away—let's do our best.'
'This time, I need to be more tense.'
Leo says he doesn't want me to die, yet he's steeling himself more than anyone. He might even throw himself into this with do-or-die spirit precisely because he doesn't want me to die.
It's March, but already a bit hot. I ran my hand through my hair and felt the breeze. I'd sent a letter to Abraham, stopped by Bavaria's largest bookstore to buy a book, and returned to Nymphenburg Palace. I didn't need to go myself, but I wanted to.
Anyway, back to the main point: the project to actively befriend Ismailov, which I'd thought would end in fragments, became our goal.
'Why?'
Keep your enemies closest. In a position to monitor what they're plotting and their movements 24/7. We suspected Ismailov wasn't the brain of their plan this time, but we needed to collect even signs of his involuntary involvement. There was more info to glean from talking to him.
"Sir Ismailov."
This was the only place in the palace where roses bloomed year-round. I set the thick book I'd had under my arm on the table, pulled out a chair, sat, and grinned.
"Thanks to you, sir, I get to stay longer in this summer retreat. Truth is, I was supposed to head back to Brandenburg soon no matter what."
"......"
Ismailov had gone quiet again now that he'd sobered up from the alcohol. I'd sent a letter right after waking and suggested meeting at Nymphenburg's small pavilion, and he'd come, but there was none of yesterday's eagerness. Ismailov glanced at the hardcover I'd brought, then back at me. I rested my chin on my hand, looked at him, and smiled.
"Now that I'm here, I don't have much to say. Shall I share what I was thinking on the way? Do you like history books?"
"......"
"Truth is, when we were in the library, one of the books we opened had a piece by an imperial on the French Revolution. Though brief, the fierce critique of the Ancien Régime stuck in my mind."
"......"
"As you know, it literally means 'old regime,' but it's become more than a term for any old system—it's specific now. It refers to the political-social order before the French Revolution."
He just stared blankly at me. Continuing without response is tough, and casual talk has its limits. Even bringing up a topic far from everyday wasn't easy. Pretending not to care, I continued.
"But anyone who's diligently finished regular education here wouldn't be clueless about French, though the etymology of 'Ancien' might evoke Latin 'ante' for anyone. How could a word evoking 'the past' carelessly linger in history as French? How can they discuss that era as some bygone issue in someone else's house without contradiction, even tagged as 'not now, but then'?"
"......"
"In my view, it's not old at all. With the French Third Empire born and new humans sprouting across the continent, it's ongoing. So I thought of calling the current state the Second Ancien Régime, but realizing the meaning contradicts itself was so wondrous I had to tell you."
"Is magic the problem?"
He might've looked dazed, but he'd heard everything, and grasped my claim implied ills were reappearing in magic's guise. He didn't seem heavily schooled by Pleroma, but his grasp of essentials was good.
I smiled and replied.
"Human nature wouldn't change without magic."
"I see."
"Well, that was my personal view so far. What about you?"
"I don't know much about the Ancien Régime. But I learned that France, where citizens seized rights themselves, and Germany, where they didn't, differ in change despite being in Europe. France's Ancien Régime might no longer be truly old in essence, but Germany's could be even more so."
"Hm."
Not bad? He's talking quite a bit. If I keep trying conversations like this without alcohol, it might work. I nodded to show I was listening.
"That's why in our Pleroma, we must save the oppressed masses through Judgment Day..."
"Stop there."
I smiled, feeling my blood chill. Here's why Pleroma's been shouting for ages that 'we can make non-wizards into wizards.' They claim to resolve people's lacks, gaining power. Ismailov seemed uninterested in proselytizing—he'd just recited what he'd learned—and replied shortly with "Yes," then glanced at the thick book I'd brought.
He'd been curious about it. I handed the book to Ismailov.
"A gift."
"......"
"Augustine's On the Trinity. You don't seem to have read much, so I picked one for younger students. If you want, I can bring the one I was reading."
Ismailov didn't reply. He touched the leather cover carefully with slightly parted lips, tracing the embossed letters one by one. I rested my chin again and watched him handle the book.
"Read it, and we'll discuss. Wouldn't it be fun to talk about together?"
"Yes."
"Answer longer."
"It looks fun. Do you read it too?"
"I've already read it. Just you read it."
Ismailov looked up. Seeing sunlight linger under his iris for a moment, I raised a brow. He replied flatly.
"I'll read a lot."
"Ah, good. Then we'll have plenty to talk about. I'm already excited to hear your thoughts on the Trinity."
Seeing him bury his head in the book again, I muttered.
"Well, we have all day—what should we do now?"
Today, I'm willing to cater to you. First, I'll watch for changeability. I'd been confirming it steadily from negotiation day to this morning, recording it in my head. Surprisingly, my changeability hadn't decreased at all. With a different mindset today, I'll observe safety limits first, then adjust the line tomorrow.
Anyway, I'd thought Ismailov, engrossed in the book, would ignore me or toss out whatever he wanted verbally. But he looked up again and stared blankly at me. The moment an instinctive oddity flashed in my head, red light gleamed from under his gloved hand.
"...Wait!"
Beep beep beep—
"I knew it."
Mecklenburg appeared at light speed, tapping my shoulder and smirking. Albertina Hohenzollern, holding a water glass—probably mid-breakfast—came too and chuckled dryly. Unsure if I should feel grateful or embarrassed, I chuckled along.
"I'm not a hostage, but I feel monitored too..."
"Moderation, Sir Ascanien."
Mecklenburg patted my shoulder leisurely. Brushing his hand off, I replied.
"What moderation? Say that to Sir Ismailov, not me."
"I mean moderate your interactions. I'll go. I'll adjust the heart rate threshold, so next alarm, tell me how high I set it."
"No next time."
I emphasized, but Mecklenburg ignored it and vanished with Albertina Hohenzollern. I started feeling burdened by Ismailov staring blankly at me alone.
'He's expecting something.'
I'd felt it a bit with Haike too—what does he want to do to be satisfied? Isn't he excited to play all day now? I need to provide new stimuli...
'But first, that's not the issue.'
Back to earlier thoughts. If the hypothesis that they plan to use Eschet as the church's envoy is true, how would it play out? What even is the 'church's envoy'? Just a church envoy, what else? But under the premise the hypothesis is true, the 'church's envoy' clearly becomes the tool of ruin, and we need to seize control. If just playing with Ismailov makes us the church's envoy, my changeability would plummet.
The problem: we can't keep these 'peaceful' days forever—hardly peaceful, but no immediate death threat. The opponent is too strong. We need info ASAP.
'First, when and how will the 'seven stars' be fulfilled? Second, if our hypothesis matches their truth, why is our Eschet the perfect fit? Just because I'm in it? Why me to begin with?'
I need info on this. While watching Ismailov alternate between the book and my silence, I continued thinking.
'Hm.'
Labyrinth.
If he goes berserk, can't I enter the Labyrinth? Make Ismailov berserk?
'...What crazy thought.'
Low chance for someone this human-like, and he might've already taken Vitriol, so berserk time short. Built rapport would reset to minus, and if he's higher rank than me, I might not enter. And didn't I already note treating him inhumanely is shortsighted?
'Hmm.'
Extra Chapter? If I procure blood...
Thud—
Slamming my head on the marble table made it ring. Ismailov, apparently unable to read my mind, asked.
"What's wrong?"
"...Sleepy."
"Sleep then."
"Can't do that. Let's make the day count."
I lifted my head, fixing my fallen bangs over my eyes. Contrary to what I'd said, I sank back into thought.
'Extra Chapter.'
Good plan. Doubtful if Abraham didn't open it, but will this guy?
Procuring blood is possible with a loophole. Ask Leo—he could claim experiments with Ismailov's blood and snag a vial or two pre-drawn by the government. Now at Nymphenburg away from Leo's watch, plenty room to rummage Extra Chapter.
Can't indulge desire to drink blood swayed by urges, but for best outcome...
'Hm. Still hate it.'
Human notions kill my appetite. Worst. Still, even if it doesn't work like with Abraham, worth trying?
'...Procuring aside. Ask Leo to feed me?'
Getting smacked first might prioritize anger over aversion for dispersal effect. But recalling Leo's soul-stripped face that day, can't do that either.
"I've thought about it, but I don't know what to do."
Ismailov's words snapped my reverie. Facing his pale face made me nauseous at my recent thoughts. Forcing myself to look at the preserved roses around, I asked.
"Then I'll decide. Have you toured Nymphenburg Palace? It's vast with lots to see."
"No. I can't leave the room unless you call me."
"I see."
I closed my eyes, thought a moment, then spoke.
"Sir Ismailov. In Pleroma, have you ever made friends your age?"
"As you said before, I've never conversed with teens. I only heard them one-sidedly."
One-sidedly heard? Odd phrasing.
Anyway, no friends was key. I rubbed my chin and nodded.
"With a place in mind, let's do the classics. Start with what new humans your age do."
Ismailov closed the book. No expression, but his gesture screamed expectation. I stood, pointed toward Nymphenburg's vast hunting grounds, and smiled.
"Wanna go hunting? Compete for points with other friends."