Chapter 74
Chapter 74
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 74
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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Marcel Kopfman greeted me with a smile.
“You can’t help but be tempted, right? Opportunities for such rapid promotion don’t come often.”
“That’s not it. Since you made the offer, I thought it best to meet you in person and give my response directly.”
He stared at me silently.
“Before that, do you mind if I ask a question?”
“Of course.”
“Is everyone else at the parish in agreement with you making me a priest?”
“Naturally. No one can infringe on that authority.”
He smiled, narrowing his eyes as if wondering why I’d ask something so trivial.
“Is it because I’m a priest? I’m not like Asman, who was just ordained. I’ve been here for over ten years.”
“It’s not about that. In that case, does Genda Asman have the same authority as you?”
“Not yet. Why? Did he offer to make you a priest himself?”
“Not exactly, but…”
Before I could finish, Kopfman clapped his hands together with a laugh.
“If you want to become a priest, Baizel, would you prefer to leave the process to Genda Asman?”
“…Yes. I’m sorry to come all this way just to say this, but that’s how it is right now.”
I replied with a serious look in my eyes.
“That’s not a very wise choice. For that to happen, he’d need to receive Vitriol and contribute to our church in various ways, which would take time. Do you really think you could remain a catechumen or lay believer that long?”
“I’m sorry, but I came here specifically to decline in person. I’ll be going now.”
“Still, you must have given it some thought, haven’t you? Leave it to me.”
As I started to stand, he spoke up.
“Think about it. Isn’t it better to go with someone reliable like me rather than waiting for a nobody who just became Pleroma?”
You’re the one who should be that foundation, you bastard—turning someone into Pleroma and now worrying about being overtaken by your subordinate…
At best, he has ambition and greed; at worst, he’s卑鄙 and irresponsible. Not someone I want to get involved with in any capacity.
At that moment, the other man spoke again.
“If it’s manpower you need, I can assign someone better than Genda Asman. How about that?”
“If you’re going to say things like that, I should head back now.”
Kwang—!
A sudden wave of pain hit me, and I clutched the back of my neck.
I must have collided with the decorative shelf behind me. A candlestick on top of it toppled over beside me.
Clang—
‘…That nearly went through my head.’
It wasn’t surprising that force had been used. When reason fails with these people, their methods are predictable.
Kopfman rose from his seat and approached me.
“Wasting someone’s time like this and just walking away?”
“No.”
I pulled the thin silver bracelet from my right arm and slipped it into my pocket. Reaching into my shirt, I grasped a necklace I didn’t usually wear.
Surprised by the unexpected response, Kopfman raised an eyebrow. I answered simply.
“I came because I had questions.”
“Didn’t I already answer? No need to leave. Entrust it to me.”
“Of course, there’s no need to turn back.”
I snapped the necklace, stood up, and swung the long candlestick that had fallen nearby in place of a wand.
Kwang—!
“Aaack!”
Kopfman crashed into the opposite wall and fell. Clutching his head, he sprang up and shouted.
“W-What, a mage…! How did you get in here…”
He seemed about to say more, but I had no time to listen. I pressed hard on his forehead and intoned.
—Enter through the narrow gate.
I debated continuing the incantation, but his pupils dilated in an instant.
“Whew.”
As expected, priests are easier than vice-bishops.
With Strauch, I had to complete the mind manipulation spell fully, but this guy was handled with a single line because he’s Pleroma.
‘Genda Asman would’ve been simple too, but…’
It’d be too obvious.
If he met another Pleroma in this state, it’d be immediately clear he’d been brainwashed.
I grabbed his collar and lifted him up.
“Mr. Kopfman, tell me about the recent manpower issues. Genda Asman was selected as the manpower supply for the Hairigenji region, right?”
His unfocused eyes nodded.
“Besides Genda Asman and Avin Asman, were there others pre-approved for Pleroma? Is there a compiled report?”
Seeing him nod again, I smiled.
Yeah, there would be. As if Hairigenji were the only one.
Now, this incident would unfold completely differently from the novel.
I wondered how far it extended.
I looked into his eyes and asked.
“Then, do you have access to those documents too?”
“…….”
“Perfect. I’d like to get my name on that document. What do you say? It’s the opportunity you wanted—to make me Pleroma under you, right?”
My head was starting to ache.
Mind manipulation magic takes a heavy toll on the caster too.
Seeing him nod more vigorously even under the brainwashing, I gripped his collar tighter.
“Then, let’s find that document now.”
At my words, Kopfman rose like a man possessed, smashed open a drawer, and rummaged inside. Meanwhile, I tossed a verification question.
“One more thing. Besides Hairigenji, how many other targets are there in the Empire? Answer with a number.”
“…….”
He moved his mouth as if he’d forgotten how to speak, dropped the paper in his hand, and finally used his vocal cords.
“47.”
A chill ran down my spine, nearly breaking my hold on the mind manipulation spell.
The number exceeded my expectations so much it was absurdly funny.
Elias’s choice to report and execute the Asman siblings was right in the short term but wrong in the long run.
It only killed powerless Pleroma within the organization, giving their leadership even more incentive to move freely.
Of course, taking down 47 regions now isn’t a perfect solution either, but eradicating all of Pleroma isn’t realistic, so dwelling on that isn’t helpful.
‘I need to think of the biggest blow possible with what I can do.’
I finished the incantation I’d left incomplete earlier, erasing all his recent memories.
Then I drew the symbol Genda had described on the floor and dripped blood onto it with a knife.
—You will be like God, knowing good and evil.
As I caught my breath after saying that, a familiar voice came from somewhere.
“Lucas!”
Unsure where it had come from, Pie landed on my back.
Earlier, I’d fed Pie the candy laced with the target curse.
‘I might get an earful from Narke…’
In any case, the summoning process had been simplified so even low-level Pleroma like Genda Asman could use it easily.
Those three hours interrogating Genda for info weren’t wasted.
I folded the paper and handed it to Pie.
“Here.”
“Lucas?”
“I have something to handle. I’ll catch up soon.”
“Come quick!”
Pie wagged its front paws, mumbling around the documents in its mouth.
Even without a dismissal spell, Narke must have woken and intervened between the worlds, as Pie vanished before my eyes.
I stood and looked around.
Tomorrow, Pleroma would realize their plans had all fallen apart. The Empire would fill with anti-Pleroma sentiment, and they might even launch retaliatory attacks again.
‘I’ll think about what comes after when it happens.’
For now, I needed to deal with Genda Asman.
Not kill him.
Killing replaceable manpower yields little real gain.
And…
I picked up another paper Kopfman had held and dropped.
[November Brandenburg Archdiocese Zone 1 (North) Execution Report]
The document I’d given Pie was dated October 25th. But the day the two Asmains died in the accident was November 29th.
The overturned carriage in the rain wasn’t an accident.
It wasn’t opportunistically using their deaths after pulling them in; it was premeditated murder from the start.
Flipping the page, I found Genda Asman’s name.
Frequent carriage routes, accident-prone spots over the past year, lifestyle patterns of the 60-year-old Genda and Avin Asman, ideological reeducation direction…
“…….”
My stomach twisted.
Maybe because there’s no going back, or despite drugs dulling my reason, I couldn’t forget the 60-year-olds I’d met.
If this hadn’t happened, I’d have forgotten them quickly. But the reality of them being slandered even in death, unable to close their eyes over innocent lives, kept dragging them back.
I reread the words at the bottom of the page.
‘Ideological reeducation.’
The meaning was obvious.
I’m not defending Asman’s crimes just because magic was involved. I even think his current existence mocks the real Genda Asman from life.
But if asked whether Asman’s choices were entirely his own, I don’t see him as the absolute center of evil on that point.
‘…It’s not too late yet.’
The kidnapped children had arrived here but were still asleep.
So, under the premise of returning them, I had two options to propose.
‘Acknowledge you’re a flawed creation and close your eyes…’
Or pay for your sins and live as someone different from the original Genda Asman.
‘And.’
There was one more headache.
If Asman chose the latter, I needed to sort out my emotions.
I felt inside my jacket pocket.
Along with the antidote, there was the counteracting vial I carried in case it failed.
Now, to wrap it up.
* * *
Returning to the cathedral, I found Genda perched in a suitable spot, waiting for me.
Unlike before, his face was expressionless, and from the atmosphere, he seemed to sense—without details—that I’d done something against his interests.
“…….”
I knew he’d catch on roughly.
My proposal wasn’t exactly appealing anyway, so it wasn’t bad if he knew in advance.
Then Genda quietly spoke.
“Did you kill Mr. Kopfman?”
“No.”
I sat across from him and replied.
“Why would you think that?”
“The connection cut off shortly after you left.”
“I see.”
“He won’t answer questions now, will he?”
“Right. I’m not here to ask more either.”
Feeling a stab in my heart from the drug’s effects, I continued.
“I hate to say this, but you need to decide now.”
“Decide what?”
“You’re the result of reviving the dead Genda Asman and rewinding time.”
“…….”
“You know you don’t belong in the natural order. The original living Genda Asman wasn’t someone who handed children over to an unethical cult.”
Genda just stared at me silently.
Gazing at his blank face, I went on.
“Decide. Send the original Asman to rest as he was, or return to society, atone, and live. If you choose to stay with Pleroma, I can tell you there’s a high chance you’ll be cut loose soon.”
“You must be someone in that world, huh?”
“If you choose the latter, I mean I can help during the investigation.”
“Haha…”
Asman burst into laughter.
“You want me to choose death?”
“No.”
If I’d taken the antidote, my answer might differ, but not now.
There’s sympathy, sure, but rationally, without Pleroma’s brainwashing, he’s someone who’s fine dead or alive.
Then Genda nodded and changed the subject.
“Let me ask this first. You used me, didn’t you?”
“…….”
To administer the drug, it might be best to yield on this point.
As I opened my mouth, my ears rang deafeningly.
“…!”
It didn’t take long to realize something was wrong.
Clutching my head, my vision went black.
* * *
I jolted up from my seat, nearly convulsing.
Unpleasant memories replayed in my mind, and I had to wait patiently until the scene ended.
“You’re awake.”
Like hell I’m going back…
I let out a hollow laugh and exhaled.