How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family Chapter 180

Ludovika stared at with a face that couldn't believe what he had just heard.

"You believe...? You?"

"Why~? Believe it or not, I'm very interested in world religions. Especially when I want to have fun but can't, calming my mind with religion is effective in many ways."

"How did that happen? No, *how*?"

"You don't believe it that much?"

"Are you asking?"

"......"

"You're not just saying that because it sounds cool, are you?"

"No. A few years ago, monks from the East ca to New York and gave religious lectures. That's when I first encountered Buddhism."

Ludovika let out a hollow laugh and leaned back against the chair.

"...Buddha would be quite dumbfounded to know he has such a devotee."

"Isn't that too much?"

"Then you're definitely not a Christian?"

"No."

At that, Ludovika's face beca troubled.

He couldn't help but be troubled.

The easiest targets to lure into Pleroma are Christians.

Regardless of the denomination, they must believe in that God. This is natural since Pleroma is a heresy based on that religion.

And considering that 99% of the Empire's population is Christian, they likely haven't faced such a difficulty very often.

Ludovika held his forehead and muttered in a low voice.

"Haa... Where do I even start with this?"

"Why? Don't you like Buddhism? Buddhism is a religion that has developed over approximately 2,500 years, profoundly influencing not only India but East Asia as a whole, offering us deep insights into life and the universe. Though soone like Mr. Ludovika, who believes in Christ to the core and is a priest, might not understand, the essence of Buddhist teachings cannot be fully grasped by approaching them with a Christian worldview..."

"No, it's not that I dislike Buddhism...."

Ludovika held his forehead and fell silent.

Then, he spoke seriously.

"Seeing Mr. Jeremiah use so many words to speak, it seems you're truly a zealous believer."

"Is that surprising?"

"Yes."

Ludovika answered imdiately, then made a troubled face as if he had just realized sothing.

"I've already seen everything."

"Haha, I feel a bit sorry. Anyway, to get to the main point... as you know, we do a closed-off business. Only those approved by the leadership can participate."

"Ah..."

I pretended to slowly grasp his aning and replied with a serious face.

Ludovika clasped his hands together, his expression regretful.

"I'm not saying you have to convert... but to get business approval, you need to align your purpose with ours a bit. How much do you know about Christianity?"

It's not business approval, but that's what it takes to live as part of Pleroma.

Because implanting Vitriol into a heretic wouldn't just instantly finish the job.

They wouldn't be able to blend into the group, so brainwashing would inevitably be necessary.

"I know a lot. I grew up in a Christian culture."

"Is that so? That's fortunate."

Ludovika picked up his bag, Warped sowhere in an instant, and then returned.

Instead of a bag, a wine bottle was now in his hand.

"Shall we begin the test?"

"Didn't it already begin~?"

He smiled at my smooth talking.

"Actually, missionary work isn't very familiar to . I'm not in charge of missionary duties. So, let's set aside religious talk and discuss this first. Are you interested in strong Magic Power?"

"Not particularly. I'm more interested in making money."

"Money over Magic Power? Saying those two are separate sounds like an Arican. Then, what about living longer, living healthier?"

I lifted the corners of my mouth and replied.

"If it's about that part, then it's a different story."

"Because if you live longer, you can play, eat, and enjoy yourself longer?"

"Yes. That's it."

Ludovika nodded and uncorked the wine bottle.

"God did not make death, nor does he delight in the destruction of the living."

"......"

Perhaps because the light was not turned on and we relied solely on the sunset outside the window, the red wine looked even redder.

He pushed a glass towards .

"There's a saying in the Old Testant. Though it might not apply to you, Mr. Jeremiah, being a Buddhist."

Instead of answering, I looked down at the glass.

'He called it a test.'

It's truly beginning now.

Of course, there's no reason to avoid it even if the trick is obvious.

I belatedly brought up a question that Jeremiah might ask.

"It's new to that God didn't make death. Can't God even control death?"

"Aquinas's philosophy would be helpful to you. Based solely on the biblical text, one can answer this way: 'Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one person, and death through sin, and in this way death ca to all people, because all sinned.'"

"......"

"He did not wish us death, but death ca to us through Adam's sin. Death is the price of Original Sin."

Ludovika continued calmly.

"If only Original Sin could be washed away, one could avoid death, right?"

"......"

That's a huge leap.

And since I'm not a religious person, I can't easily accept the way of thinking that confirms things as truth by quoting scripture.

I frowned, feeling the illusion that my mind was starting to blur.

"I think humans without Original Sin are New Humans. I apologize for saying this to you, an Old Human."

"You should not simply use being born from a person's womb as the criterion for Original Sin. We know what true Original Sin is, how to atone for it and change it into a force that is not sin, and thus we have found the narrow gate that truly belongs to Christ's embrace."

"......"

"I an, we know the way to live forever without dying, Mr. Jeremiah."

I looked at Ludovika with confused eyes, then shook my head.

"This really sounds like a cult...."

It's not *like* a cult, it *is* a cult.

If this isn't a cult, what is?

The mont I thought that, an unfamiliar yet familiar sensation arose from within.

I stared blankly at the table, then slowly lifted my hand to examine my glass.

I tried to lift my head, but my vision wavered, and the figure of the person sitting opposite also blurred.

The mory of this mont ended here.

* * *

[...Jeremiah...]

Soone called my na.

It was the Imperial pronunciation.

I felt soone urgently slapping my cheek and slowly opened my eyes.

[...Did you wake up? Mr. Jeremiah.]

"......"

[I thought you were going to die, seeing this reaction for the first ti. Just now, almost...]

I finally realized what the sensation I had felt earlier was.

It was the feeling of being given the drug from Primrose Path.

I wondered what he'd put in, and it was this.

I squinted, feeling like I was hearing conversations underwater.

[Have you ever done drugs? Or not?]

"......"

When I didn't answer, he grabbed my eyes open and shone a small lantern into them.

[...Need to put in a little more.]

He was just shocked and thought I was going to die, and now he's going to administer more?

There's a contradiction. Why?

It didn't take long to think of the answer.

'The desired effect hasn't appeared yet.'

Perhaps the pupil reflex occurred.

If so, what exactly is that 'desired effect'?

Preventing any reflex action at all can't be the final goal, can it?

Thinking that far, I recalled what happened the day before yesterday at midnight.

When Narce cast ntal Manipulation magic on , I definitely felt a sensation similar to the drug from Primrose Path.

'...Ah.'

The pieces are finally fitting together.

'This is their truth detection interrogation thod.'

Is that why they call it a test?

I felt laughter bubbling up between my teeth and let my head tilt.

Once the puzzle pieces clicked, I also understood why Pleroma developed this drug.

'To beco independent from the Chairman.'

To widely use magic that manipulates the mind, mages who use Divine Power are rare, and there's no way to recruit them.

However, if they keep relying on the Chairman's help, it will only solidify his position.

So, they must have tried to develop a magical drug with an effect similar to ntal Manipulation magic.

For a mont, I felt the illusion that my blood was entirely turning into drug.

When I opened my eyes again, quite a bit of ti seed to have passed.

Ludovika lightly pressed my nose and mouth, then slowly took his hand away. I heard him saying sothing in a voice filled with worry.

'...How far did I think?'

Right.

If my earlier deduction is correct, I need to answer his interrogation.

From experience, when this drug wears off, the energy to speak returns, like talking in your sleep.

And now he seed to have found the right ratio. I could sohow muster the energy to speak if I squeezed it out.

Since I understood the chanism of ntal Manipulation magic well, acting wasn't difficult.

'If I could just give him a Revelation, I wouldn't have to do this.'

Does this an I still can't et the Chairman?

Thankfully, thanks to my Divine Power, this drug didn't affect much. I can't complain about it properly affecting my physical body, but at least ntally, that's the case.

In other words, this is also an opportunity to get closer to the Chairman.

[...This test thod won't work for you. You have a strong aversion to the drug. You look like you'd do drugs every day, but unexpectedly...]

"What do you think I am...?"

I shook my head.

[You said it seed like a cult earlier.]

"Yes."

[How long ago did magic co into this world? You don't need to be surprised by this much. If it was God's will, was there anything we humans couldn't do? But as I said, I'm not forcing you to convert.]

"Then?"

[If you just play along with the will of those in leadership, you can do business without converting. You said you were interested in living long and healthy, right? If you just play along, I'll let you live forever too.]

"Why are you doing all this for ?"

[Because you'll be one of our mbers, even if your religion is different. You said you wanted to live enjoying yourself.]

Ludovika looked at while drinking.

I saw his act of being benevolent. Well done.

His attempt to beco independent from the Chairman was good.

It's ti to turn that attempt into bubbles.

I shook my head.

At least I tried to.

"No."

[......]

"That's a bit scary. Eternal life."

Given that I'm saying this even in a situation where ntal Manipulation is in effect, aning I should only speak the truth, he'll probably accept it now.

"I don't want to live that long."

Ludovika just looked at silently.

Just as the air started to feel cool, Ludovika said brightly.

[You can feel that way. I seem to have put unnecessary pressure on you.]

"I'm glad you understand."

[What do you think about the business?]

Instead of answering, I first calmly thought.

There's a limit to backing down.

Even considering the risk, it's better not to back down this ti.

"It would be good if it wasn't a religious activity, but it's a bit scary. It's not just inclusive people like Mr. Ludovika, are there? Honestly, I'm starting to wonder if I need to do business to this extent..."

I trailed off and slowly closed and opened my eyes.

Ludovika nodded with a gentle face.

[Alright. Let's do this first.]

Ludovika said, pointing to himself.

[I'll take responsibility. Since you say you dislike it, I won't let anyone give you Vitriol until you agree.]

"......"

I looked at him expressionlessly.

That's ridiculous.

But, I'm almost there.

[Instead, let's put a safety device in place.]

*CRASH!*

Ludovika kicked the floor with his foot.

In an instant, the air turned pitch black.

He whispered in a calm voice.

―Blessed is he who hopes to find comfort in the sea of temptation.

My stomach churned, and my vision went black.

I slowly twisted the corner of my mouth.

It's an illusion.

I have no choice but to break my promise with Leo in this tiline.

It's not that I take my promise with him lightly.

A peaceful solution. Why would I dislike that?

Without this process, I cannot et the Chairman.

Ludovika wouldn't want to hand over to the Chairman, and the Chairman, if he's a religious person similar to Pleroma, would try to recruit .

In that case, this person would naturally try to indoctrinate after getting involved with Pleroma. This is the safety device.

Conversely, if I go through this process, it ans I'm not far from eting my target.

Sothing drew a line across my left palm and wrist. Then ca the sound of flesh being cut that wasn't mine, and the unfamiliar sll of blood stung my nostrils.

Ludovika's cool hand firmly held mine.

[This is no ordinary person.]

Ludovika pressed down on my wrist and laughed. A subtly different sll of blood mixed and vibrated.

[You've been baptized before. Once 23 years ago, and once 15 years ago.]

"......"

[I'm also curious how you ended up getting baptized twice and then converting despite that.]

"......"

[It doesn't hold much aning now. When you open your eyes, you'll be sowhere else.]

―This final toast, I offer a blessed worship for the dawn, with my soul.

My palm grew hot.

It was a voice filled with satisfaction.

Ludovika smiled gently and continued.

[See you later.]