Chapter 37 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 37
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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"You'll grant all our demands? What do you mean by that?"
"This lawsuit doesn't even meet the basic requirements to be valid in the first place. Since Your Honor will dismiss it anyway, there's no need to entertain the demands from the outset."
The other man let out a hollow breath at those words.
"What? But then why…."
"Within seven days, with nationwide real-time broadcast. The significance is that it creates an opportunity to express our views to the entire nation before the public's interest fades."
"Of course. That's exactly why we shouldn't give them a chance to speak, isn't it?"
The man unconsciously tapped the table with his fingers, as if frustrated.
"I understand. But speaking out isn't something only they can do, is it?"
"Pardon?"
"I mean we can use that platform for our own statement."
The man stopped his impatient reaction and looked at the prime minister with a face that seemed to have realized something.
"We need to make our position clear so the public doesn't foolishly turn their arrows toward the imperial family. And conveniently, our opponent is Duke Elias. He'll just vent his anger without any logical arguments or rebuttals because he can't control his temper. Is there any reason to refuse?"
"…I see. It does seem like a good opponent to show to the public… but didn't you say it doesn't meet the requirements for establishment?"
"That's right. The lawsuit will be dismissed after going through the proper legal procedures."
He paused, glancing at the newspaper on the table.
[Duke Elias Hohenrollen Files Administrative Lawsuit Against Imperial Magical Security Bureau… Why?]
"The mere fact that the lawsuit has been filed is already sparking doubts about whether the government has done something wrong."
"…Yes."
"If we're not careful, even a dismissal could worsen public opinion. The irrational public will just rage that a lawsuit has been brought against the government. Dismissal might take half a year, but if this issue grows bigger than expected, half a year won't be enough to resolve it. So, my plan to seize control of the topic right now remains unchanged."
He continued, folding two fingers.
"Not in a trial, but we'll have him participate in an extraordinary session of the Federal Committee."
* * *
Four days after the lawsuit, we gathered in the waiting room of the Federal Committee building.
"No matter how I think about it, it's amazing. How does everything move exactly as you predicted without a single error~?"
Elias laughed as he slipped on his suit jacket.
Leo squinted at him.
"Do you realize your shirt and vest shoulder seams don't even match, and you're putting on the jacket like that?"
"Really? It looks fine to me."
"Doesn't it feel uncomfortable when you wear it?"
"Yeah. Help me out."
"…Haa…."
Leo let out a deep sigh.
Ever since Elias arrived, Leo's fatigue seemed to have doubled.
Anyway, things were proceeding more or less as expected.
There was no choice but to move within the bounds we anticipated.
The two conditions we put forward were both signals demanding a platform to speak to the entire nation.
Neither condition had any precedent.
Making such vague demands in a trial—given the timing, no one could take it purely as a desire for a genuine trial.
'If they interpreted it that way, they shouldn't be politicians.'
Of course, they could have just waited for the dismissal despite knowing all this.
From here on, it was a bit of a gamble, but there was reason to bet on them attempting contact with Elias.
To the imperial nobility, Elias was seen as a troublemaker who knew nothing of the world and acted on pure emotion.
For such a person, fueled by a momentary sense of justice, to stand against the imperial family and demand a chance to speak to all imperial citizens?
'An easy mark.'
The fact that the prime minister personally came and granted this unreasonable demand showed they thought they could easily crush a impulsive young man like him with political and economic logic.
And here was the evidence of that thinking.
[Federal Committee-Elias Hohenrollen Public Statement D-4]
[Federal Committee-Elias Hohenrollen Public Statement D-1]
[First-Ever Civilian Participation in Federal Committee Meeting]
[Committee Vice-Chair Christian Schlieffen: "Please show lots of interest in the live-broadcast public statement."]
[Original Whistleblower Nicolaus to Participate as Advisor for Elias Hohenrollen]
These were the front-page stories in the imperial newspapers over the past four days.
The Federal Committee wasn't blocking it at all; they were even promoting it heavily.
If they'd treated the statement as a mere formality, not a single article would have appeared.
With the insect issue growing, the government had to step up anyway, and publicly crushing one figure positioned against them from the start probably seemed like the best propaganda victory.
After a long struggle with Leo over the jacket, Elias finally finished preparing and flopped onto the waiting room sofa.
Elias stared piercingly at my face, pressing his lips together as if about to burst into laughter.
"If you have something to say, cast a soundproof spell first."
At Leo's advice, Elias snapped his fingers to deploy the magic.
"Better? I still can't believe it. You're really Nicolaus?"
"Yeah."
I nodded soullessly.
The group students knew from Leo's hint that the polluted insect presentation was under Nicolaus's name, but not that it was me.
However, I'd told Elias before filing the lawsuit, since he'd be standing with me.
After answering 'You're Nicolaus?' about fifty times, Leo finally convinced him by shoving a pitch-black mask in his face.
'It was rough.'
In return, Elias's favorability definitely went up.
Right before I told him the truth, it was 2.5.
Now it's 4.5—an increase of 2 points just from knowing I'm Nicolaus.
Elias must have thought highly of Nicolaus.
Elias pointed at my face, grinning.
"Take off the mask again. With your eyebrows and iris color changed, you really look like a different person."
"…No. What if someone sees here."
We didn't even need to remove the mask inside the assembly hall.
For that, we got help from the Bavarian royal family. Even so, permission might not have come through, but their guarantee of my identity prevented it from becoming a big issue.
The onlookers might find it a bit odd… but we'd have to bear that much.
At that time, since wearing the mask might still give me away by voice, I found an appropriate magic formula to slightly alter it.
It doesn't sound strange, but those who knew me before wouldn't recognize it as mine.
Then, the waiting room door opened.
"Get ready. Broadcast starts in 30 minutes."
"Yeees~"
"Keep your response short."
"Yes."
"Not to me—to the front!"
Leo pressed his brow and sighed.
"I'm not sure if I can leave this place to you…."
"Why not? Luca trusts me completely. You should trust me too."
Leo shot a sharp glance at me sitting beside him, then nodded.
"…Fine. He's granted all your whims. Why, though?"
"I'll win and come back."
At my simple reply, Elias tapped the floor with his crutch end—like applause.
"Hey, that sounds good."
"…Yeah. It's already happened, so just… please don't do anything weird."
"I won't. I'll just persuade them and come back."
"Physically?"
"No, there might be other ways, but… anyway, I won't hit anyone or use magic. Don't worry."
"What's this 'other way'?!"
"Calm down, Leo. The one who can speak most freely here is me. There's only one path, so just enjoy it."
It was true.
Elias was the perfect person for this.
Having Leo or me step forward might be a passable choice, but not the 'best' one.
The evaluation changes depending on who does it, even for the same action.
Unlike the protagonist, who'd been causing chaos for years but was seen as a perpetual playboy so it was shrugged off, Leo or Nicolaus weren't like that.
Even a single ordinary word could cost us dearly.
Thanks to his record of causing incidents as casually as breathing and his reckless image, Elias had a wider latitude for words and actions.
The 'that's just how he is' image was incredibly powerful—especially in the political world, where nitpicking every word was daily routine, it was an invaluable trait.
'But I have to anticipate the risks.'
In the novel, Elias often got tangled in legal troubles. He didn't always end things with words.
He was still a minor, so punishments were light, but as his companion, I'd have to prepare for being dragged in once or twice.
Since I'd entered the novel where Elias is the protagonist and decided to make him an ally, it was practically fated.
Others would avoid it, but knowing whose hands the power of this country would end up in a decade later, I could bear this much. To keep the situation in top condition, I couldn't afford to be picky.
'Of course… I might not stick around in this crazy world until Elias becomes emperor.'
But if needed, I could just accelerate the timeline for him becoming emperor. This incident alone was advancing the attention on him by about half a year.
I checked my watch and leaned toward the table.
"Let's go over it one last time. Today, when talking to the assembly members, it's you, Eli—not me."
"Great, verbal fights are the best."
"You just think fights are the best, don't you?"
Leo muttered.
"I'll speak up when necessary, but I'm participating as an advisor, not to lead the statement. More importantly…."
"You're going to find the traitor. Right?"
"Yeah."
I'd attend together and identify anyone connected to Pleroma here. I had to nip any potential saboteurs in the bud from the start.
It would've been nice to use Narke's insight ability, but he had no justification to participate here.
No problem, though. This was something I could handle myself.
"I'll basically leave all conversations to you. But to find the spy, I'll have to speak up once or twice myself."
"Fine by me. So you have a way to spot them?"
I nodded slightly.
I didn't have insight ability, but the method was simple.
Using favorability of those who strongly supported the barrier installation earlier this year.
* * *
"We will now begin the Federal Committee emergency meeting. We have invited Duke Elias Hohenrollen and Sir Nicolaus Ernst to discuss the Pleroma insect contamination issue."
The Federal Committee vice-chair stood in the center of the spacious conference room, announcing the start of the meeting.
Elias rose from his seat, leaning on his crutch, and smiled confidently.
"Hello, I'm Elias Hohenrollen."
After his greeting ended and the applause died down, I began my introduction.
"This is my first greeting to everyone here, including all the imperial citizens. I'm Nicolaus Ernst."
Since using my real family name would make Leo too conspicuous, we registered with a new surname.
It didn't feel natural on my tongue yet, but it sounded much smoother.
Applause rang out again.
Elias smiled at me, then turned to the surroundings and greeted them.
"I'm truly pleased to meet the magic officials from the Magical Security Bureau and the senators here. Though he's not present, I'd like to express my sincere gratitude to Prime Minister Alexander for the invitation."
He actually… speaks properly when it counts.
Of course, the novel showed the protagonist's serious side occasionally, but seeing it in person was surprising.
Anyway, here we go.
I scanned the room.
White text flickered around those whose eyes met mine.
[Favorability +1]
[Favorability +1]
[Favorability +3]
[Favorability +2]
[Favorability 0]
Looking at so many people at once was unfamiliar.
Anyway, none had stars attached.
Meaning my favorability trait didn't apply.
From my investigation, the front row was mostly pro-barrier and moderates.
The back row was mainly anti-barrier.
Naturally, favorability was much lower among the opposition.
But even comparing within their groups, no one stood out as particularly low.
So now, the key was to watch for anyone showing drastic favorability changes among them.
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