How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family Chapter 266

Chapter 266

“Yeah.”

“It took a long ti. Right?”

Leo's calm question ca. I didn't answer and just smiled.

It had taken a long ti. Only after turning ti upside down once and going through two terrors could I finally keep the promise.

The reason Leo had told to co to Bavaria after the opening ceremony was before the archbishop's terror even appeared. So, even when I hadn't accomplished any particular rits, he had planned to give a dal like this....

Thinking about that made let out a hollow laugh. Leo had prepared this in advance for Lukas Askanien's identity. Even without any basis to award .

“Was this why you lied about having work and went ahead?”

“I do have work.”

Leo shalessly pointed to my dal and himself.

I wanted to smack him for teasing, but for now, I held back, rembering that I was the sa age as this guy.

I didn't know when this FM lump had beco like this. Actually, he was still an FM at school or in Eschet, but seeing these rare monts where he joked like other kids made it twice as absurd.

“Were you surprised?”

Leo asked with a face subtly laced with playfulness. He seed to expect an answer that he was surprised. He'd probably waited for this day without properly telling , planning to make it a surprise gift.

I tilted my head and asked.

“What do you think?”

“You must have been.”

“I wasn't.”

“No? You must have been pretty surprised. I can picture your face when you got the letter.”

“You, let's talk later.”

“Hm? Okay.”

Why did he take that seriously.... It was supposed to an let's fight.

I couldn't tell where the conversation was joking and where it was serious. At this unpredictable talk, I gave up saying more. Instead, I relaxed my shoulders and straightened my posture. The distance that had gotten a bit closer during the talk returned to normal. And I said seriously.

“Thanks.”

“…….”

Leo looked at wordlessly.

The grand master of this knight order was the king, not the crown prince. The one who permitted entry was the king, not the crown prince, and the letter I'd received earlier was completed with the king's seal, na, and stamp.

But this was his doing. Others might not know, but Leo, I, and the king knew. The one who gave the dal and brought into the knight order was none other than Leo. Looking at the nurous badges on his uniform, I continued.

“…This is the first for . So now I owe you even under this na.”

At those words, Leo smiled faintly.

“Debt? It sounds nice, but it's not true.”

“Why does it sound nice?”

“This is what you accomplished, Lukas.”

He continued in a calr voice.

“Because of the burdens on our shoulders, we can receive honors more easily than anyone else just by coming of age and achieving minor rits. You were born like us, yet you couldn't. This is the mont you should have gotten long ago.”

“…….”

“The one who pushed through all the tribulations to get here is none other than the current you.”

The current .

Contrary to Leo's intention, those words sounded a bit different to anew.

Yeah, . The one who got here is . I knew, but it was a fact I hadn't consciously realized. How many tis had I truly, wholly accepted my rits as 'my' rits? Had there even been? In this unrealistic reality where I was the butterfly and the butterfly was , it felt like '' was pulled out in that instant, and my strength drained. I laughed. To have such thoughts through words from a human who wouldn't know even in dreams.

It was joyful but despairing, and yet still joyful. However, my heart felt tightly clogged.

It was best not to think deeply. At least not now.

In the anti, Leo smiled gently and said.

“So... you can't thank . Rather, I should say it. Thanks for entrusting your first knighthood to Wittelsbach. It's an honor.”

“This is also the first. Thanks.”

It wasn't a response to what he'd just said. At the beat-late answer, Leo tilted his head slightly, thought about my aning, and smiled.

The sound of the national anthem playing grew louder. It was ti to end the ceremony. He patted my shoulder once.

“See you later.”

* * *

I thought I'd be able to return to the lodging after it ended, but I had to go to the waiting room.

We had to go out to the court garden, Hofgarten, to take commorative photos or sothing. In a situation as unstable as now, having to et reporters. It was ceremonial, so unavoidable, but not comfortable.

Kkiiik—

“Luka!”

As soon as the door opened, a familiar voice rang out.

Elias was lounging obliquely on the waiting room sofa. It was a welco face. As soon as I entered, he sprang up like a spring and pulled my shoulder.

“Congratulations! Our Luka did well~”

“Did well? It's embarrassing.”

“Embarrassing? Even saying that, your expression is so chanical it's surprising.”

Does that an he wasn't embarrassed at all? I was quite flustered when Saint Hubert suddenly ca out. It was probably Leo's doing not to tell the dal type even in the letter.

When I roughly answered with a laugh, Elias grinned and scanned my attire. His interest went to the dal.

“This is really... Order of Saint Hubert.”

Elias carefully wrapped mana around his hand and supported my dal.

Now I saw Elias was also in Prussian formal wear. It was hard to tell because he had it loosened like a slob, but at a glance, he didn't have a badge with the sa ribbon color as mine.

“You've received a dal in Bavaria before too.”

“Yeah, right. Bavarian Crown Order of rit. From the contaminated mosquito incident last year.”

Elias pointed to the sky-blue and white badge and grinned. He'd received a slightly lower one. From Bavaria's perspective, it would have been hard to imdiately give too big a dal to a collateral imperial who the emperor subtly checked. Still, Elias would receive the Order of Saint Hubert soday. Because he'd beco emperor.

Elias fiddled with my dal for a while and said sothing unexpected.

“Ah~ It's a sha. I wanted to give you a dal too....”

“Not one you want to receive?”

“Hm.”

He raised his eyebrows and shrugged. His eyes, fixed on the dal, now turned to .

“Leave a spot open, Luka.”

“…….”

“Got it?”

In Elias's eyes saying that, there was a zeal that could lead to treason charges.

This was why he'd reacted lukewarmly to my earlier words. And well he might, because to be in a position to give Prussia's dal, he'd have to beco emperor.

'I like it.'

This ambition.

I tilted my head.

“It'll be hard to leave open.”

“Ah~ As expected. Guess I'll have to step up.”

Elias snickered and plopped back onto the sofa. When I sat next to him, Elias whipped his head around and said.

“And how did you know it's hard to leave open?”

“What.”

With an expression like his mouth was itching, he clenched both fists and made a strange sound you'd hear in the wild, then brought his face close to mine.

“Now, from here on, we have to go on a nationwide tour, Luka. Right after taking photos in Hofgarten, we depart!”

“Depart right away? Why. We have to wait for the schedule.”

“Why? Our Luka~ doesn't know~”

I looked at him with eyes asking what, but he didn't seem inclined to say. He just kept teasing. He pulled out a newspaper cut to 1/4 size from his clutch and fluttered it.

“Well, you couldn't read the newspaper~ Right?”

“You know well. Give that at least.”

“Wondering if I should....”

“Wondering?”

Of course. I moved my hand to my waist and quickly thrust my wand.

Kwaang—!

“Uwaak!”

Elias blocked his front with both arms and fell onto the sofa.

He widened his eyes at , let out a hollow laugh, and dispelled the veil. My and his mana scattered in the air. He grasped the tip of my wand with his hand and said.

“Luka, is your motto sothing like 'life is real battle'?”

“There are too many high schoolers today.”

“Huh? You too.”

“Yeah, that's true....”

Elias alternated between the newspaper and , then said as if resolved.

“You have to go out soon, right.”

“Yeah.”

Elias stood from his seat and led .

Thanks to frequent visits to this castle since childhood, he knew the layout well. We quickly entered the corridor toward Hofgarten.

The sunset was slowly setting.

He stood in front of the mana field connecting Hofgarten and Munich Residenz. This mana field looked like a thick marble block, but it wasn't actually. Anyone with mana could just slip through.

Elias pulled out a crumpled newspaper from his clutch and said seriously.

“Luka. I'll show you. But don't get disappointed. I'm serious now. There's a reason we deliberately didn't show you the newspaper.”

“Hm.”

From the dia war talk to Anhalt, I already had so expectations. Even if the Anhalt governnt tried to seize this opportunity, it was unavoidable that a significant portion would be mixed with negative and anxious reactions—for example, various suspicions and future terror concerns.

“Give it. I'm prepared. But why is the newspaper only 1/4?”

“Be glad there's even this.”

Elias pushed the crumpled paper into my hand with a resolute face and curled my hand again. At that resolute face, I slightly furrowed my brows and unfolded the paper.

[Lukas Askanien, Imperial Mage's Noble Sacrifice Saves 600,000 Lives]

“…?”

No, didn't you say there's a reason for not showing the newspaper? Isn't this the opposite?

“Uhahahaha!”

Elias laughed and smacked my back.

“Weak to praise~ If it were , I'd eat it up.”

Eat what? The newspaper? I shook my head vigorously and said.

“This isn't the important part now. I need to see the whole Imperial Newspaper. What good is cutting out just one article like this.”

“Ah~ Need to see the whole? You think I only brought the good articles?”

Elias tapped my ear. At that mont, a familiar face warped in. Narce was holding a newspaper, smiling brightly. Those eyes were similar to Leo's from earlier.

“…….”

Now I knew everything.

I should have realized from the very first ti they stopped from checking the newspaper. From Leo now, everyone was conspiring to tease .

Anyway, even this situation was planned, but since they brought the newspaper, I'd endure. I snatched the newspaper like taking it and read.

[[Breaking News] Terror Circumstances Discovered at Pentalon Host Site, Lukas Askanien Missing]

'Hm?'

“A bit old, right? Arranged in chronological order from a few days ago~”

Narce, reading my thoughts, laughed and said.

I nodded and read the title of the next issue's article. Even just pages 1 and 2 collected made the paper endless.

[The Heinous Terror Targeting 1.9 Million Ends with 53 Minor and Serious Injuries... Who is the Hero?]

[Pentalon Ergency Committee, “Terror Resolved in Cooperation with Imperial Mage Lukas Askanien”]

[Pentalon Ergency Committee, “Cannot Rule Out Lukas Askanien's Terror Involvent... Not Informing in Advance Was Strategy to Prevent Chaos”]

6 PM and 7 PM articles respectively. The flip-flopping was confird in real ti.

['Osnabrück Diocese is Looking for You' Shouted, Where Did Missing Lukas Askanien Go?]

[Duke Gustav Hohenzollern, “Imperial Mage Lukas Askanien Grasped Terror Circumstances Right After Cross Appearance... Indifferent Response Was from Ergency Committee”]

[Lukas Askanien, High Possibility of Pleroma Abduction]

[Statent from Imperial Academy Faculty... Governnt Must Reflect on Driving Students to Death]

[Decisive Response Prevented Catastrophe: Testimonies from Governnt Officials on Lukas Askanien]

[Terror Victims' Alliance, “Respect for the Dedication of Askanien Imperial Mage”]

[Dedication for Subjects Who Branded Incurable Congenital Disease as Pleroma... Anhalt Royal Repays Enemy with Grace]

[Hero's Victory: Lukas Askanien Shatters Heinous Terror Aid at 600,000 Lives]

[Lukas Askanien Returns in Near-Death State, Unconscious but Recovering]

'No... How many tis did they publish in that short period?'

And the number aside, the tone keeps escalating? It's embarrassing to read more. I really can't see this. They wrote this for to read?

Even that article about repaying enemy with grace seems like it could provoke strong backlash. Since I could really be Pleroma, an article urging not to lower vigilance could co out. We have to block articles like that.

Whether because my hand dropped from the onslaught of burdenso articles in succession, or reading my thoughts, Narce covered his mouth and giggled.

“Wow... Lukas looks like his head's going to explode.”

Don't read thoughts.

“Got it.”

Anyway, I'm starting to get the sense.

How those hot-faced praise articles ended up splashed big on the Imperial Newspaper's front page.

Crowd psychology made reporters or individual masses not feel repulsion to those articles. Idolization created by collective hallucination. A typical feature of crowd psychology in chaos situations. It ant public opinion had clearly tilted to one side.

“…….”

I wiped my mouth and smiled faintly.

If it ca to this, the marquis's dia war talk ant, as a politician taking his first step, he needed to solidify his position by stepping on firm ground.

The Anhalt aide's story about 'Anhalt subjects being in confusion' ant they were confused because the nuisance lump they'd extrely rejected and hated beca the empire's hero. So, show your face as soon as possible to grasp the country's discipline as a mber of the ruling family.

“Good. Thanks.”

Even planning this as a surprise. It just made laugh.

As I tried to hand the newspaper back to Narce, Elias shoved it back into my arms.

“No, look more! You didn't see to the end!”

“What now....”

I read the last newspaper title.

[Wittelsbach Bavarian Royal Family Awards Order of Saint Hubert to Empire's Hero Lukas Askanien]

Empire's hero? Was that a word the Imperial Newspaper could use? As soon as I thought that, Narce laughed again. Since Elias said to see it for a reason, I moved my gaze to the body text he'd marked.

[Prussia Kingdom and the Duchies of Brunswick-Saxe-Altenburg-Saxe-iningen-Saxe-Coburg-Gotha are discussing dal awards, while the Grand Duchy of Baden and Duchy of Anhalt have already finalized the type and grade of honors to award.]

‘...Huh.’

As I just moved my lips wordlessly, Elias noticed my fluster and teased.

“That's why you asked why the nationwide tour starts tonight? Luka, it's not just press conferences for you. Until the last schedule returning to Bavaria, you have to go around receiving dals nonstop.”

“Huh....”

So that's how he knew it was hard to leave a badge spot open. I'd joked earlier, but anyway, there was plenty of space for badges.

I burst out laughing and said.

“I didn't expect this.”

“Worth not letting you see the newspaper!”

“Whew....”

“Ah, and you have to go on a trip with us too.”

“Trip? With this schedule?”

“Yeah. Yulia said let's go on a trip after it ends. Baden will support!”

Of course. I already knew the talk. That this day would really co, it had been so far until here.

I let out a hollow laugh while reading the dal award announcents even I didn't know about in the newspaper.

“Then, matching my schedule ans the trip is nationwide too? In 2 nights 3 days?”

“Sothing like that. A bit short for a nationwide circuit? If we whine to His Majesty the King to postpone the audience a bit, he'll let us play more?”

“Use the whining....”

I let out a hollow laugh and held out the newspaper to Elias.

An alert sound ca from the artifact hooked on my ear wheel. It was ti to go to Hofgarten. As I turned around, encouragent ca.

“Don't be anxious and go enjoy it more, Lukas.”

It was Narce's words. He'd probably sensed being conscious of the reporters from the start.

When I turned my head, he smiled softly and pointed outside.

“The empire is on your side now.”

* * *

“We'll end it here. Thank you.”

After the commorative photos, the Bavarian governnt held a brief press conference in Hofgarten. It was called a press conference, but considering my health, the governnt limited the number of entering reporters to ten. Citizen entry was completely banned.

This was my first official conference appearing directly.

Just before dispersal, one reporter asked permission from the guards and approached .

“Congratulations on being knighted in the Order of Saint Hubert. I was truly impressed by the courage Your Excellency showed.”

“Thank you.”

“There are many subjects who want to see Your Excellency, so it was truly an honor to see you first like this.”

“I don't know where to put myself.”

I said that and shook hands with him in farewell. He might be speaking a bit overly because I was from the ruling family, but anyway, it was as Narce said. There were no ones like governnt aides with eyes flashing to find political material in every word I said. I could relax and handle it. Knowing this was the overall atmosphere made more comfortable.

The reporter grinned at my words and replied.

“Don't know where to put yourself? Your Excellency is fully qualified to receive honors. See you again in two days.”

He seed to be participating in the next monarch audience too. I briefly greeted the other reporters like that and finished all official schedules for today.

It was already 6 o'clock.

After all press left, I sat at the tea table set up in Hofgarten's pavilion. Naturally, with Leo.

From the commorative photos to sitting here, he'd said nothing and just smiled, so I looked around first and opened my mouth.

“Isn't this a really burdenso situation?”

“Hm, why?”

“The one who gave the dal and the one who received it taking a commorative shot and then sitting together at a table? It feels like I have to PR developnt potential and future aspirations to score points.”

“Hahaha.”

Leo unusually laughed out loud, then propped his chin and said.

“Then say it once. First, your feelings on becoming a Wittelsbach knight?”

“I said in the Antiquarium earlier. It's good.”

“…….”

Leo let out a hollow laugh. Then, as if self-suggesting, he muttered.

“Yeah, I already knew I had a friend like this.”

“Look at this bastard....”

“Lukas.”

I raised an eyebrow in place of answering. Leo organized his laugh and continued calmly.

“You checked the knighthood, right.”

“Yeah.”

“You know well that you've beco the empire's hero. From now on, you'll receive rit plaques and dals from so of this empire's 26 federal states. How does it feel?”

“…….”

I crossed my arms and leaned back on the chair back. And I stared piercingly at Leo's expression. When he showed an ambiguous smile and discomfort at the continued observation, I smiled and answered.

“The first honor Bavaria gave is sothing I'll never forget in my lifeti. No, I can't forget it.”

“…….”

“This is the answer you wanted.”

“…Yeah. Can't say no.”

Leo averted his gaze and glossed over.

What this guy's thinking, obvious. The 'You won't go to Baden, right.' I'd heard long ago still lingered strongly for .

He'd planned to give a dal for so reason even before I resolved the archbishop's terror, but since Pleroma launched a massive terror and I was set to receive dals from nurous countries, he couldn't take the 'unique' title, so it must have bothered him a bit. He'd want to act like he recognized my potential first, but in the end, it'd be buried in everyone's choice.

And he'd wanted to give a more morable gift, but that too beca a bit ambiguous— from his position only—, perhaps thinking I might take the dal lightly.

Wrong. The sincerity in trying to fill what I lacked was fully conveyed. Bluntly, even if one of the empire's 4 kingdoms, like Kingdom of Saxony or Kingdom of Württemberg, gave the highest grade dal, I wouldn't feel this much gratitude.

'Anyway... planning to make this a surprise.'

What a ridiculous guy.

Then, Leo, propping his chin and looking around, muttered.

“I'm glad you ca to Bavaria now too.”

You too. aning not just Nicolaus but Lukas Askanien too. I twisted one corner of my mouth up and said.

“I knew you'd say that.”

“Yeah? Your predictive power is improving.”

And this guy was getting more shaless. I could feel the satisfaction about securing human capital in those words, making let out a hollow laugh.

“Sorry, but I promised loyalty to your mother. The grand master isn't you.”

“Yeah, doesn't matter.”

Leo drank his tea and answered shortly.

Yeah, it would matter to this bastard.... Later, when he becos Bavaria's monarch, it won't matter.

I snickered and said.

“I should bring you to Anhalt soti too.”

“Ah, put in your knight order?”

Leo widened his eyes, then laughed and said.

“Good. Do that for sure.”

He's assuming I'll beco monarch.

Anyway, if it ant building more relations with Bavaria, it was a good deal.

It wasn't just him zealous about securing human capital.

I too was gradually pulling people from each ruling family to my side starting from Leo, and would continue.

I finished the remaining tea, stood up, and said satisfactorily.

“Now, let's go slowly. They said we depart after this ends.”

“Hm, you already heard that. Do you know where to?”

“Anhalt, probably. Since the first press conference is there.”

Elias said he'd pack the luggage. Now we had to warp to the Bavarian border. As I extended my hand aning to warp, Leo shook his head.

“Called a carriage.”

“Carriage?”

Suddenly? As I narrowed my eyes, Leo smiled faintly and said.

“We're taking the train from here. It's your first trip; we have to enjoy it properly.”