How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family Chapter 76

“……”

Gerda stared down at for a mont, then stepped back, pocketing the potion.

“You’re counting on sothing, aren’t you?”

“I’m saying this because it’s hard to keep enduring in a clear state of mind. Besides, didn’t you just say that you wouldn’t be uncomfortable using the potion since you’ve seen it work on a few tis?”

“……”

It seed she still couldn’t trust .

Gerda used three more syringes on before finally putting to sleep again.

It wasn’t until an hour in the real world, six hours in this one, that I regained consciousness.

‘She’s thorough….’

I looked around the empty room, then tried to draw on my magic starting from my heart.

Naturally, it didn’t work.

The restraint devices she was using were of a similar quality to those used by the Royal Investigation Bureau, so it wasn’t going to be easy to break free.

‘Why does she keep draining my blood like this…? It’s fascinating that she’s going to such lengths just to draw so blood.’

There are two plausible reasons.

The first is to beco stronger. The second is to stay alive.

I think it’s both.

Resurrected corpses can’t sustain themselves without blood.

Since Gerda has started questioning Pleroma in the past few days, she’s likely preparing to survive without relying on a supply of blood from above.

It seems she’s drawing blood in small amounts, using 10mL syringes, to store it safely.

Maybe she plans to keep around as a blood supply source.

‘So…’

Since she needs for her survival, she can’t completely ignore my condition.

And I need a tool to unlock each of these restraints.

The strategy I need to take in this situation… starts with not suppressing the pain.

But even though my arm was turning blue, sticking needles into it wasn’t enough to make scream.

So, I simply decided to lie back.

“Mr. Weitzel.”

Just as I was about to lose the strength to keep my eyes open, Gerda called out to at the perfect mont.

“You’re not dead, are you?”

“……”

“I’ll go get so anesthetic.”

“No. I’ve had enough. Please, let go.”

Gerda looked down at silently for a mont, then went back upstairs.

‘She has no intention of letting go.’

Using force won’t work.

And I can’t go back to before this incident happened.

‘Still, if my actions within this situation fail, I can turn back ti.’

Given the circumstances, my only option is to continue the performance I’ve been giving.

I don’t want to keep doing this, and I don’t want to hurt her any more than I already have, but with nothing else working, I have no other choice.

‘Leo and the others haven’t found this place yet, and it’s already been nearly half a day in the real world.’

At this rate, waiting any longer won’t reveal any new solutions.

Just then, Gerda ca back down the stairs and spoke to .

“Get up.”

I pressed my right arm over my eyes and didn’t respond.

Gerda’s voice ca closer.

“I brought the potion I ntioned earlier. Drink it and wait a bit. If the anesthetic doesn’t work, I’ll get so painkillers.”

My mind wasn’t working as quickly as usual… but I could tell one thing for sure.

The strategy had partially succeeded.

She’s now offering the potion she was too afraid to give earlier.

She must have realized she needs my cooperation if she’s going to keep using as a blood supply source.

And she probably thinks I’m too weak to do anything else.

I answered shortly.

“No.”

“……”

“I don’t understand why this is happening. I thought you were doing this because you held a grudge against … but then why would you bother getting anesthetic? How am I supposed to understand what’s going on here?”

Gerda sat next to and moved my arm away.

“Drink it. Just hang in there for a mont, and you’ll feel much better than before.”

She didn’t answer my question, just deflected.

**Gerda Asman**

**Favorability 9*

Still the sa.

I’m really not eager to do this, but if that’s the price, then it’s worth trying.

“Trust . It’ll be fine.”

“I said no.”

I swatted Gerda’s hand away.

Then, with as much sarcasm as I could muster, I continued.

“You’re just going to knock out again by dredging up so strange mory. Isn’t that right?”

“……”

Gerda hesitated for a mont, then pressed her thumb against my jaw.

I grimaced and pushed her hand away again.

“Just wait. Have you ever tried this potion? Have you ever seen anyone drink it?”

Gerda looked at , seemingly deciding there was no harm in answering.

“No, and you’re the only one I’ve seen drink it. Why?”

“Did you run any tests? I’m sorry to be blunt, but I’ve already taken the stage 10 potion. If I drink sothing twice as strong while the effects are still active, do you know what could happen…?”

“I’ll keep a close eye on you.”

I must have hit a nerve with my blunt words because Gerda cut off and poured the potion into my mouth.

I used all my strength to push her hand away, spilling the potion on the floor.

I could see Gerda hurriedly righting the bottle from the corner of my darkening vision, but I had already tasted the familiar flavor in my mouth. Then our eyes t.

I contorted my face and curled up in pain.

“What’s wrong?”

Gerda leaned closer, not expecting that sothing might actually go wrong.

‘…Now I understand why Leo never made this.’

This was what I had intended, but my thoughts were already becoming fuzzy, and I had to focus just to rember the plan I had laid out.

Even so, I suddenly felt an overwhelming desire to just give up and go ho. If Elias found out that I stayed sane after taking a potion twice as strong as stage 10… he’d probably keep calling a machine until graduation.

I tried to blur my vision and slowly got to my feet.

I didn’t want to think about what I was saying or doing, but one thing was clear.

Even though I had just pushed Gerda’s shoulder to the ground, I didn’t fall asleep, unlike when I had tried to use force before.

‘If I had known this would work, I would have done it from the start.’

Gerda must have been reading my emotions all along and realized that my actions were no longer a threat.

I felt guilty using emotions like this, but I had no other choice.

Right now, I couldn’t give her a mont to calculate the pros and cons.

Whether it was because I had put her in an awkward position, Gerda dropped the bottle she had been holding without doing much. I picked it up and held it out to her.

“Want to try it?”

“……”

“It’s only fair. Just wait a mont… then take the antidote.”

Without waiting for a response, I tipped the bottle into her mouth. Given that I was putting on such a lousy act, it wouldn’t have surprised if it didn’t work. Of course, it’s fine for , but if she suddenly regained her senses and spat it out, it would be a disaster.

I’d have to go through this whole ordeal again….

‘Let’s finish this in one go.’

I gently held her mouth shut and only let go when I saw her throat move.

“See?”

“…!”

Hm.

Got it.

I smiled when I saw the sa dazed look on Gerda’s face that I knew was on mine.

It wasn’t because I was pleased with how things were going. The potion was affecting too, so I wasn’t feeling particularly good about it.

**Gerda Asman**

**Favorability 10**

‘There goes a trait.’

I’ve hit the ceiling, so it doesn’t show, but I’m sure it’s well over 10 now. Gerda was never the machine Elias claid her to be, so even the potions between stages 1 and 10 should have been enough.

‘She shouldn’t have assud it would work on her just because it worked on .’

But since she did, she didn’t stop from making my suggestion.

After keeping up the charade just long enough to avoid feeling too guilty, I held out my wrist.

“No matter how much I try to endure, this is uncomfortable… Can you let go?”

“…No.”

Despite her dazed expression, Gerda refused firmly.

And then, imdiately after, I saw a flicker of anxiety in her eyes.

‘She’s quick….’

I wish all Pleromas had zero awareness.

I had hoped to encourage a little more willingness, but that’s not going to work.

I took out the small artifact I had found in Gerda’s jacket pocket.

“Sorry, but I already found it. You had it on you.”

It was easy to deduce from the faint magical energy I felt in her clothes.

I saw Gerda’s face montarily turn cold.

“I thought you might have it on you. Considering the possibility that another Pleroma might enter this place, you wouldn’t want to pack anything for escape. Right?”

I brought the artifact to the restraint on my arm.

An invisible seam opened, and the restraint fell to the floor.

The potion must have taken full effect because Gerda, looking shocked, couldn’t say anything. When I dropped the last restraint to the ground, Gerda finally spoke, her voice strained.

“You an, all this ti….”

“I’m sorry, Ms. Asman. Let’s get out of here. I’ll undo the brainwashing the Pleroma put on you.”

It was a gamble.

Whether Gerda Asman’s feelings toward were still softened or not, it was all riding on that.

Even if it was an unavoidable situation, the fact that I had once again used soone’s emotions made feel like any remaining shred of my humanity had vanished.

I suppressed the urge to say sothing I normally wouldn’t and opened my mouth.

“As I said before, this can’t go on. I have no excuses for the pain I’ve caused you through my decisions. You can criticize all you want.”

“…I don’t understand what’s happening.”

Of course not. There’s a reason this potion isn’t made.

If I, soone who’s nearly immune to potions, am having trouble thinking clearly, then it must be much worse for others.

“Do whatever you want outside of the cris you’ve committed. I’ll restore everything for you. If you want, I’ll help with the investigation. Since Pleroma’s brainwashing played a significant role in your cris… it might be possible to get bail.”

“……”

“I’m sorry for everything. Go and live a new life.”

Even though she could still use magic on , no attack ca.

I couldn’t bear to et her gaze, so I picked up a piece of rubble and pricked my skin. I watched the blood drip to the ground as I drew on my magic and recited the incantation.

―You will be like gods, knowing good and evil.

*Boom—!*

Unlike when I summoned Pai earlier, there was an explosion.

Ti was running out.

I thought of what I had to do next and forced my unwilling mouth to open.

“As for … should we say it was on the day I gave you my business card?”

It wasn’t like I had been silent up until now, but my voice trembled pathetically as I spoke.

I pushed Gerda’s hand away and completed the spell as I focused on the mories I wanted to erase.

‘…I’ll never use this damn potion again.’

I wanted to punch my past self for thinking it was ethically acceptable just because I was the one drinking it. I had convinced myself I could handle it for just a short ti until I got into Pleroma, but it was all a mistake. In the end, I couldn’t find any solution that didn’t involve manipulating emotions.

I placed my hand on Gerda’s forehead and spoke.

―Enter through the narrow gate.

I wondered if I could cast a mind control spell strong enough to override the potion’s effects and completely erase Pleroma’s brainwashing, but there was no need to worry for long.

The mont I lifted my hand from her forehead, Gerda’s body went limp.

“……”

I channeled divine power into her as she lay there, her eyes closed as if dead. She quickly blinked them open, looking as if nothing had happened.

Now, there was no emotion left in Gerda’s eyes.

I needed to leave her mories of Pleroma intact for the investigation, but luckily, she seed to recognize where she was.

The sound of explosions from upstairs was getting closer.

Gerda looked around, then tilted her head at .

“Who are you?”

“……”

“I’m sure I’ve seen you before. Are you that young journalist… right?”

It’s over.

That was the last thing I had to do.

Now I just need to go back and announce this under Nicolaus’s na, watch my reputation score go up, and then plan my next move….

“……”

She seed puzzled by my silence and squinted at .

“What’s wrong? Wait, what’s going on outside…?”

*Boom—!*

Whether they hadn’t found the entrance or were using explosion spells from outside, sunlight from the first floor stread into the basent. As I squinted against the brick dust and the light I hadn’t seen in so long, a familiar voice called out. Soone grabbed my shoulder.

“Sorry I’m so late. Are you alright?”