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Translator: uly
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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'Survival odds?'
Dawn777
—Time until final ending 'Chapter X. Death': 774 days, 0 hours, 1 minute, 19 seconds
—Change probability: 0.3% (+0.1%p)
Up 0.1%p.
'Means I'm on the right track.'
Good.
I wouldn't step up to answer unless necessary for the time being, but I'd learned there was no need to fake the same shitty social skills I used at home.
I couldn't live like the old Luca forever.
To succeed in my coup, to build trust in my words and actions, I couldn't stay at my current social standing.
To catch up to my brother—who enjoyed high prestige across the Empire and neighboring countries—I needed to start moving fast.
Of course, he wouldn't tolerate my changes forever.
Eventually, he'd assign watchers or come for me himself.
So all I had to do was build up my skills and lay the groundwork to dispel the rumors before then.
* * *
The first day's classes ended smoothly.
Fortunately, the practical session was just orientation, so no magic was needed.
I figured it was best to hold off on magic training until the potion wore off, so from Friday evening through the weekend, I holed up in the library. I buried myself in studying divine power to boost my technique score even a little, and the weekend flew by in the blink of an eye.
Finally, Monday arrived—the first magic practical class.
"Hello, everyone. I hope you all had a good weekend. Today, we'll practice a simple attack spell."
The professor called all the students to the training grounds and amplified his voice with a spell. After the boring intro, he had students step up one by one to cast.
'They're pretty good.'
As the Empire's top magic academy, the students' skills were impressive.
And… when it was Leo's turn, I took back that generous assessment.
'…No one can just be the protagonist's friend.'
The novel clearly stated Leo wasn't the strongest in mana among the protagonist's group, but next to the other students, he stood out ridiculously.
He was worlds apart from the extra who died at twenty in his brother's hand. If I was going to join a group, it should've been someone like that.
While I was lost in useless thoughts, names kept getting called, and flashy magic kept sparkling before my eyes.
Harshly enough, the magic practicals allowed no exceptions unless you skipped entirely.
'Luca must've just floundered his way through back then.'
And that Leo guy kept staring only at Luca. From memory, Leo shot him pitiful looks every class. From Luca's perspective, he must've contemplated dropping out every single time.
Then, the professor called a familiar name.
"Next, Lucas Ascanien!"
* * *
"You shocked me. Isn't it like the first time he's walked around looking like a normal person?"
It was Friday, the first day of the new semester.
One student burst into the training grounds used by the magic department, spilling excited words.
The subject wasn't named, but everyone knew who it was. The other students resting on the ground reacted with enthusiasm, chiming in.
"Yeah, I thought I was gonna faint."
"I saw his face for the first time today. When did he even start school? How does that make sense?"
"You're the one who never comes to school properly."
"What're you talking about, XX."
The students burst into laughter among themselves.
Ignoring their friends, one brought up Lucas again.
"But he seemed like a totally different person. It's not just the haircut, right?"
"What's surprising? He probably spent the two-month break relearning how to walk at home. Even how to open his eyes properly."
"Hahaha! Guess he's finally decided to live right. His answers in class shocked me too."
The student who'd been sitting there with a dark expression, not joining the chatter, shook his head.
"I don't know. Even if the academy shut-in acts normal now."
His words silenced the constant undercurrent of laughter instantly.
Talk badmouthing Lucas was always around, so that wasn't it.
After a long silence, one student tried to lighten the mood with a playful grin.
"That's just a stupid rumor, right? Even so, that's a bit…"
"Why are you so naive? What if he cleaned up just to brazenly strut around blood-drenched like the other Pleroma scum? That's why we're having this dumb conversation."
"No… Honestly, he's stuck at school. Would he do it so openly? The imperial family would come for him."
"And has the imperial family ever succeeded? Why do you all avoid him? Because he might really be in with Pleroma."
"...."
The rest didn't matter.
Has the imperial family ever succeeded?
The words could veer into lèse-majesté, so the other students exchanged stiff glances.
Then one waved his hands and stepped in.
"No, guys. We're not here to talk about this. Calm down."
"Yeah, go get some air. We were just wondering how long he'll keep it up."
The student scowled and yelled.
"No, why are you all so naive? What if—!"
"Pointless talk."
The students looked up at the cold voice from above.
Leo, who'd been silently listening to his friends, replied with an icy face.
"Changing his looks doesn't change his essence. He can't even use magic."
It wasn't like Leo to comment on anyone else.
Yet his friends weren't surprised at all.
Even Leo, who always smoothed things over with a smile, had always condemned Lucas, so there was no reason to find it odd now.
One student chuckled casually.
"Haha, yeah. How's he so bad at basics? Seemed like he couldn't even activate a spell."
"Even if he knows how, we all know he's a donor admission. Showing crap magic won't change anything."
"Didn't he say he can't use magic because he doesn't drink blood?"
"All Pleroma guys can cast fine without blood. Process aside, he can't use magic anyway. Why's he even here?"
Long past training time, the students' talk stayed stuck on trashing Lucas.
Leo had already tuned them out, lost in his own thoughts.
* * *
'…But you never know.'
Leo shook his head, half-listening to his friends' chatter while staring into space.
'Changing his looks doesn't change his essence.'
That's what he'd said, but Lucas did have magic ability.
Ten years ago, I still vividly remembered that brilliant magic.
The Ascanien family was one of the Empire's top magic houses, known for bright, flashy spells unlike others.
But the magic I saw wasn't just typical family fare.
Anyone who witnessed it even once would never forget.
That sight of his magic is why I, with no talent, seriously studied and made it here.
He turned into this wreck around when rumors spread of him joining Pleroma across the Empire.
Before he enrolled here—I don't know details—but word was, that's when he stopped using magic.
'Pathetic.'
If it were me, I'd blast magic nonstop through it all.
To drown out those insulting, subversive rumors.
In this magic-supremacist society, magic skill was the ultimate power.
With flashy, strong magic that silenced everyone, why act like he'd committed a capital crime?
Even if I were really Pleroma, I wouldn't live like that.
The thought boiled my blood.
Was that magic I saw an illusion?
At this point, that or he's the Empire's biggest idiot who does nothing.
'Still.'
The Lucas I saw today was different in every way.
Not just the haircut. Eyes, walk, attitude toward people—all changed. He even participated actively in class. Like a whole new person.
Maybe he'd turned over a new leaf.
'Maybe… I'll see it again.'
Leo shook off the sudden hope.
No, don't get your hopes up.
How disappointed was I when I first saw how he lived here?
Still, his grip tightened on his wand involuntarily. Even hating him, that faint hope lingered.
* * *
Monday, first magic class.
"Perfect, Leo. Next!"
His turn over, Leo returned to his seat.
Friends clustered around, praising freely.
"Man, that was cool. Stronger than last year."
"Yeah."
Flattery for his family fell on deaf ears.
They'd been like that since childhood.
Leo's gaze drifted naturally to Lucas.
Sitting apart from others like always, but something was off.
Before, he'd been terrified. Now, no emotion at all.
Honestly shocking that he could sit so calmly in magic class.
'He's definitely changed.'
Leo wasn't alone in thinking so.
The change shocked everyone; talk of Lucas filled the air.
"His turn soon?"
"Yeah. Third from now? Wait, two more."
Students tallied turns, debating if he'd use magic.
'Don't expect anything.'
Leo gritted his teeth.
Even changed, how much could he have?
Might not even try.
Maybe the rumors were true—joined that group, can't drink blood, no mana left.
If so, nothing more to say.
He sighed deeply.
"Next! Lucas Ascanien!"
Leo's head snapped up.
Lost in thoughts, it was already his turn.
Unlike usual, he walked forward with a normal gait.
"Begin."
At the professor's dry command, Lucas raised his wand to chest level.
'…What?'
Leo frowned, staring.
The professor, watching casually, raised an eyebrow in surprise. The student who should've hung his head forever was raising his wand—unexpected.
From the waiting area, sharp intakes of breath.
Crackle—!
Red light flashed at the wand's tip.
Then fizzled out.
"…!"
"Huh!"
"What?!"
Shouts erupted everywhere.
Not proper magic for near-adult mages, yet the room plunged into shock at that tiny spark. Some students jumped up.
"Did he just cast?!"
"What? How? Thought he couldn't!"
Leo, wide-eyed and frozen, slowly stood amid the chaos.
'No way.'
No mistake.
That day's emotions surged back.
The moment that led a no-talent like him to magic replayed in memory.
But the thrill was brief.
Lucas shook his wand hand slightly, then did nothing—just stood there, head bowed.