[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil":3,"chapter-how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-115":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","How to Survive as the Second Son of a Mage Family",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1474021,1923,"Chapter 115","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-115",115,"\u003Cp>The Emperor silently stared at Nicolaus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You didn’t enter the Catacombs?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s correct. I apologize, but I couldn’t find a way inside.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He got out of it exactly as I had expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I let my guard down.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, what he had heard so far wasn’t really about the Catacombs at all. It was just a headache-inducing turn of events.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Empire conducted inspections and uncovered Pleroma, it would give the Imperial Family a strategic advantage. So, in that sense, this was still a win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But this…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who in their right mind would be ordered to investigate the Catacombs and instead storm into Pleroma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This is turning into a real headache… If I had actually wanted him to investigate, this wouldn’t be a problem—but that’s not what I was after.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicolaus had done exactly what the Emperor had asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So there was no room to criticize him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the result?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of exposing the Catacombs, he uncovered Pleroma’s plans to absorb them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A direct contradiction to what the Emperor wanted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, now smiling, studied Nicolaus.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Had he done this on purpose?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was impossible to know.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But at this point, does it even matter?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Imperial Family’s course of action was clear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First—anti-Pleroma sentiment was far stronger than anti-Catacomb sentiment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If the Emperor acted against the Catacombs now, it would be his side that suffered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Nicolaus Ernst was still too useful to make an enemy of.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘As long as he stays within bounds, I can use him.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Nicolaus had carefully respected the Emperor’s boundaries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A dangerous asset, but if he could be fully brought to heel…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There would be no better person for the job.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looks quite shaken for something that’s a total lie.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did he think Pleroma’s gates were just left open?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The whole reason Pleroma had grown so strong was because no one could find a way inside.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Between two difficult options, it only made sense to go after Pleroma first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, I had to be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When dealing with people like the Emperor—people who overanalyze everything—the most dangerous thing was giving them something to latch onto.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To the Emperor, the Catacombs were the perfect tool to achieve two goals at once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment he ordered me to engage with criminals, it was clear he wanted to set me up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I had to flip the game.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor, still smiling, spoke again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“To think you went to Pleroma yourself… I can’t help but admire your resolve. So, did you suffer any injuries?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m fine. But because we had so few people, we couldn’t gather as much information as we would have liked.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It must have been a difficult situation, so I can’t fault you for that. Even this much has been a great help to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was still maintaining a friendly tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no one else in the Empire who could casually say they had been inside Pleroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He would have to maintain a good relationship with me if he wanted more.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m glad you think so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, what does Your Majesty plan to do about this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if the Catacombs and Pleroma didn’t officially join forces, you said yourself that if they combine, it’ll be a disaster.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor sipped his tea, lost in thought, before finally speaking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As it stands, even you couldn’t find a way into the Catacombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And it’s not realistic to forcibly bring their population back into the Empire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So for now… we’ll have to focus on Pleroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just as you did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What a roundabout way of saying, ‘We won’t help.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Politicians really had a talent for talking in circles.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Perhaps… we could even use Pleroma as a double agent against them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Emperor leaned back, voice cool.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this isn’t something we should discuss alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Imperial Pleroma Research Institute will have to review the information you provided.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If they’re really trying to start a war, we can’t afford to act rashly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perfect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Catacombs issue would now be quietly buried.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until a new excuse emerged, the Emperor wouldn’t be able to touch them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Which meant—now was the time to gracefully accept his retreat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded politely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If that is Your Majesty’s will, I will follow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The academy felt strangely quiet now that break was over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that didn’t last long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As class time approached, the school grew loud as usual.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t until a professor clapped his hands that the classroom fell silent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve all seen the news, I’m sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Our second-year magic team placed second in the Bavarian Alchemy Competition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘That was almost a month ago now.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had actually only been a little over a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The professor turned to three students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We had three competitors from our class.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lucas Askanien, Leonard Wittelsbach, and Narce Farnese.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Congratulations.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Applause echoed through the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled, nodding in thanks, and soon class continued as normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As usual, I spent the time studying divine power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At dinner, Elias ditched his friends to sit next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He cast a soundproofing spell and threw an arm over my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Talk all you want, but don’t lean on me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Aw, come on! It’s a habit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But man, seeing you without a mask in uniform—it’s weird.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And your white hair is still strange to me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha, well, it’s not totally white—more of a platinum blond~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I mean, sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not that it really mattered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So… you secured favor with the Emperor, right? You went to see him at dawn.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oooh~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias grinned, amused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As long as I was around Elias, the Emperor’s attention was inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was just a matter of when.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My goal was to take control of the Catacombs issue while still satisfying the Emperor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And I did.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Was he happy?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not in the way he expected—but he couldn’t be unhappy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias chuckled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…So, what’s next?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smirked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Now we see how he moves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’ll keep trying to use me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias grinned wider.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, Lucas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If I hear anything at home—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ll be the first to know.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Leo glanced over at us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him frown at Elias, I could tell he meant, ‘Wrap it up and get lost.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Leo, you worry too much~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha… Maybe you’re just too relaxed about Pleroma.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I leaned on my chin and swept my gaze across the classroom.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Some students were sneaking glances at Elias, comfortably seated next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But most of them weren’t paying attention at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Compared to the first semester, that was a huge improvement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m heading back to the dorms. Go eat dinner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, right! You eat in your room, don’t you?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Shouldn’t we at least start having meals together now~?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias clicked his tongue, pretending to be disappointed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious he wanted to keep talking about his uncle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Well, now that I thought about it—there wasn’t really a reason to keep acting separate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My brother had seen the broadcast of the alchemy competition with his own eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’d be a bit sudden.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as I was getting up, I spotted a familiar figure at the back door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lichthofen met my gaze and waved with a grin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias’s face twisted in pure disgust.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yesterday, he had found out that the dog he had been taking care of was actually this guy in disguise.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And for hours, he had been muttering curses in shock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honestly, I couldn’t blame him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were him, I’d feel the same…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias sneered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lichthofen didn’t seem to care at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still smiling, he pointed at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Not you. I’m here for him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh yeah? Since when?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I saw him a few times during the competition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But more importantly—junior.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing him at school actually felt stranger than seeing him in the Catacombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow, he just belonged there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But setting that aside…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why is he acting so familiar here?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I narrowed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now that I looked, there were three more third-years standing behind him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lichthofen grinned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“They say you played a big role in the alchemy competition.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, it was a team effort.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, really? But the whole school saw the broadcast—everyone’s already talking about it~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What exactly are you getting at?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lichthofen unfolded the file under his arm and handed me a piece of paper.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Want to join the Alchemy Club?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out the entire school was buzzing with club recruitment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first week of the semester was club sign-up season—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And, of course, Lucas had no memory of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I don’t plan on joining anything, but… it’s nice to see things so peaceful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching students excitedly promote their clubs and others debate their choices…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It finally felt like the school had settled into a normal rhythm again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had only been in the Catacombs for three days, but so much had happened that it felt like far longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And after getting stabbed, everything felt even more surreal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I absentmindedly flipped through the three flyers I had collected while shoving bread into my mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Two were for alchemy research clubs…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And the last one was for the drama club.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drama club had been waiting for me ever since the festival—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They practically held me hostage trying to recruit me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But where’s Pleroma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, only the students inviting me had smiled—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others trailing behind them couldn’t even look me in the eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, at least they weren’t avoiding me completely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time really does fix everything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The first semester I had spent struggling to shake off the Pleroma stigma hadn’t been for nothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>People were still wary, but at least they could talk to me without hesitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing my meal, I headed to Leo’s training grounds.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since his leg healed, Elias had been showing up here regularly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before we started training, I asked them both—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What clubs did you two join?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“None right now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I played rugby last semester, but I quit this year—gotta watch my legs~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo glanced over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why? You thinking of joining one?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No. Just curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why not give it a shot~? Club activities are short anyway, so it’s not a big commitment.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias chimed in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since grades were the top priority here, non-academic clubs had minimal practice time to attract students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So, which ones are you considering?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alchemy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“And the drama club.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Drama club?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t long before I realized why.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We paused training, and Elias led me to a side building of the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And in front of the drama club room, I ran into yet another familiar face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’re Elias’s friend?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glanced at Elias, who was barely holding back laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert Hohenzollern extended a hand with a formal smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m Adalbert Hohenzollern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re Lucas Askanien, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Oh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I instantly understood why Elias was laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His voice was lower than when we had first met—calm, almost indifferent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, he had spoken to me like a fan meeting his idol.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So this is how he talks to anyone who isn’t ‘Nicolaus.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His gaze was oddly rigid, probably because he still thought I was Pleroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert Hohenzollern\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favorability: –5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, he definitely thinks I’m Pleroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I had met him as Nicolaus, his favorability had been +10.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The contrast couldn’t be more extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert’s eyes narrowed as he glanced at Elias, who was silently shaking with laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…What’s so funny?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“BWAHAHAHA—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ignore him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Ah. Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oi. Don’t do anything you’ll regret.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Elias wagged a finger, still grinning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert simply raised an eyebrow, confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, the drama club president walked out of the rehearsal room and spotted us.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh! Are you here to join? Want an application?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Excuse me?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert blurted out in shock, turning to look at the president.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clearly hadn’t expected me to receive a direct invitation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hmmm.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What should I do?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until now, I hadn’t seen any reason to join.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then again—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There’s no real reason not to, either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Could be useful for gathering information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, Nicolaus could approach Adalbert more easily,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if people found out Nicolaus was trying to meet him, the Emperor might intervene—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Or worse, use Adalbert to spread false information.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And then there was the Crown Prince.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guy was insane enough to try poisoning his own brother—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if I wanted to hear about his movements, I’d need inside sources.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t the main reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But still—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adalbert’s reaction was amusing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I smiled and turned to the president.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Give me the application.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2087,"2026-06-06T03:11:08.303Z",1,"novelbin.me","680993241f7ddd56eb6ddf10a9ff4965d62bc9e7b2052874380c3b14f4ae5718","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-116","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-114",367,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-cover.jpg"]