[{"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-122":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},1474028,1923,"Chapter 122","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-122",122,"\u003Cp>“Congratulations, Luca.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As time rewound, I found myself once again facing the exact moment I had just experienced.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The same expression of joy in Adrian’s eyes as he observed my magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then and now, at no point could I see a single trace of murderous intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone here should have pursued acting, it was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’m deeply moved that you think this way, Brother.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If he wanted to disguise his intent to kill me as family affection, then I should respond in kind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced out words I didn’t mean.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What you’ve described still feels like an unimaginable fortune to me. I would be satisfied simply knowing I won’t tarnish your name.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian briefly furrowed his brow before softening his expression into one of apparent concern.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You must have carried a heavier burden than I realized. But you don’t need to anymore. Even if we can’t change your nature, as long as your behavior improves, people won’t dismiss you so easily.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Even if we can’t change your nature,\" huh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So he still had no intention of clearing the Pleroma stigma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That means he already has a plan regarding that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I simply stared at him, and Adrian smiled gently as he continued.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Even if it’s difficult, I’ll always be here to help you, Luca.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hearing you say that is more reassuring than anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How ridiculous, coming from the man plotting to ruin me more meticulously than ever before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But as always, I smiled and answered as if I believed him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spent hours talking with him and was only able to return to my room late at night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lucas!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pai, who had been nestled under the blankets, leapt onto my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before my body gave out completely, I collapsed onto the bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pai, seemingly puzzled by the fact that I didn’t even bother changing my clothes before closing my eyes, placed a paw on my eyelid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why~? What’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I could finally rest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just thinking about my brother’s strategy had drained my energy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was about to shut my eyes when I suddenly remembered the letter Pai had brought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lately, Pai had been warping between school and here to deliver updates, which had made things much more manageable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ran a hand over my desk, and a previously invisible envelope appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…More bite marks again…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The top of the envelope was visibly creased. Pai must have carried it in its mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaning back against the bed, I opened the envelope.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[To Lucas,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You’ll do great.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Straight to the point, huh?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did Narce predict that I’d be meeting Adrian today?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Narce constantly used his ability on me, he was probably starting to get a general feel for things even without seeing me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…He’s not reading my mind remotely, is he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…No, that’s absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook off the thought and flipped the page.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the back were letters from Leo and Elias.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They sound much calmer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I had first arrived in Anhalt, their letters had been filled with heavy topics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Now, Elias’ letters were mostly about how we should get wasted when I got back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It seemed Narce had reassured them enough to ease their worries.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing my friends’ letters, I opened the document detailing Narce’s investigation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I want to develop Nicolaus, I need to start moving the moment I return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That’s why I had asked for this report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All I wanted was to get back as soon as possible and solidify my foundation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I were being honest…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was also an element of competitiveness to it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian had remained completely composed even after witnessing my Divine Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course. As long as he kills me before the world finds out, there’s no problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He only remained calm when he was certain he could win.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I was curious to see how he would react when he realized that ability had already been revealed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I continued reading Narce’s report.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the first two days, the water samples we collected showed traces of substances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But starting from the day you left for home, there were no reactions whatsoever.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since two priests wielding Divine Power had arrived, they must have started being more cautious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t keep contaminating the water without risking exposure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Substances?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We hadn’t previously identified any tools capable of detecting drug traces in the water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[And I figured you’d ask how I knew about the drug traces.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Lichtthofen gave me a sample of the drug you and the others took in the catacombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Technically, it’s not pure Vitriol—rather, it’s a drug that synthesizes Vitriol inside the body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We analyzed it and compared it to the water samples.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I see.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had already gotten this far while I was away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned the page with a sense of satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[One last thing—I have a suggestion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The Pleroma faction is obviously trying to avoid our movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, that’s not the only reason they withdrew, but it’s clear that having priests on-site makes them wary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So—want to disguise yourself again~?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>P.S. Let me know if there’s anything specific you need to investigate regarding the contamination. I need your input.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He really loves pretending to be a civilian, huh…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I hadn’t taken him to Heiligen, he probably would’ve been sulking about it forever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Disguising ourselves wasn’t a bad choice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After all, cutting off an opponent’s access to information was the key to gaining an advantage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But I don’t need to go undercover here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted my opinion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything he said made sense, but there was one more point worth considering.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tore out a page from my notebook and picked up a pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[You said you compared the samples.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did you find any other substances?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Pai.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Can you deliver this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Of course!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pai grabbed the strip of paper in its mouth and disappeared in an instant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not even a minute later, a reply arrived.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I unfolded the pale-colored paper Narce had sent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Nope, nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the way, you seem exhausted. Pushing yourself too hard?]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had only written a few words, yet he picked up on it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I suppose it’s true—the better you know someone, the easier it is to use Insight on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But more importantly…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was nothing else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was a problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lichtthofen had said that Vitriol had to be consumed alongside memory drugs to destabilize magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then… why did the contamination affect only certain people?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had too much to write.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since Narce was already using his ability on me, it would be better to summarize it in a single, clear statement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I lifted my pen again and scrawled out a response.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Then we need to find out why only some people were affected under the same conditions.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I placed the final period, Pai, who had been watching me write with sparkling eyes, suddenly piped up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wanna send it?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>—“Yeah. Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I guess Pai really enjoys running errands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, Narce said there was nothing in the hot spring water except the Vitriol capsule components.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lichtthofen had said that Vitriol had to be consumed alongside a memory drug for the contamination to take effect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So how did some people suffer from the effects after taking only the Vitriol drug?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the memory drug is used to destabilize magic. That means as long as magic is disrupted in some way, Vitriol can invade the core—even without the memory drug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this point, I needed to consider the fact that most of the victims in that area were non-mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since they lacked cores, it was possible that even the Vitriol drug alone was enough to affect them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But then—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did only five people fall victim to contamination when a public water source is used by hundreds every day?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That meant non-mages weren’t automatically vulnerable just because they took the drug.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There had to be another condition triggering the problem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The most likely factor was emotion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d need to verify it, but perhaps those affected had experienced extreme emotional agitation after drinking the contaminated hot spring water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Pai warped onto my chest with a reply in its mouth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the paper and unfolded it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Damn, I didn’t even think of that. Thanks.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He caught on quickly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then, I felt another, longer sheet of paper behind it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[By the way, this is going to take some time, so let’s talk in person tomorrow. I’ll be waiting.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tomorrow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’s not planning to come all the way to Anhalt, is he?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I doubt he’d casually throw out a death wish like that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I sent a reply—only to receive nothing but a doodle of a smiling face in return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[^_^]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So that’s what he meant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment morning arrived, I immediately understood Narce’s words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the first floor of the estate, servants were dressing Adrian in a coat, gathering his belongings, and standing by his side.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamberlain looked reluctant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re still not fully recovered. Leaving now is…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I cannot ignore His Majesty’s summons.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I understand, but, young master, your injuries are severe. Would it not be better to at least meet him on the final day of your recuperation?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This appointment has already been confirmed. Besides, I had intended to meet His Majesty as soon as I was well enough. I’m merely moving the schedule forward by two days, so there’s no need for concern.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Adrian offered the chamberlain a gentle smile before turning to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Luca.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’ll always be cheering for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I responded with nothing more than a faint smile, ending the conversation there.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After escorting him to the entrance and watching his carriage depart, I turned back toward the estate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well then, I suppose I should prepare to leave as well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh? You’re heading back too, young master?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wasn’t I called here by my brother? Now that he’s gone, there’s no reason for me to stay.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But shouldn’t you at least see His Grace the Duke before leaving?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Would he even meet me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamberlain failed to respond.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shrugged, smirking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It would only be a nuisance to force an audience. I’ll just prepare for my return to school.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no point in meeting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I tried, he wouldn’t even open the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That was why Luca had always come and gone from home without formal greetings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Back then, it was actually the chamberlain who had advised against them, fearing that a simple greeting might end in unnecessary punishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that I had changed, he seemed intent on making me observe the formalities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It would only delay my return to school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The mere fact that I had managed a greeting at the imperial banquet felt like a miracle.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, I had thought I barely met the bare minimum of etiquette.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now that I had seen how life in this household truly functioned, I realized that was actually a significant effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that, the chamberlain and I boarded the train and arrived back at school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then, I’ll take my leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The chamberlain handed me my bag.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, thank you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your next scheduled dose is on Moray, so I’ll see you then, young master.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment before turning away and heading into the school.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since classes were still in session, the campus was nearly empty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are about five hours left until lessons end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And yet…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt oddly cold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even in January, this place wasn’t as frigid as a Korean winter, but for some reason, the chill felt unusually sharp.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I walked quickly and reached the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just like yesterday, I set down my bag and sat on my bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This is it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’m finally back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Just a few days ago, I thought I’d never return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having braced myself for forced expulsion, stepping back onto school grounds carried a different weight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tension that had gripped my entire body seemed to ease just by being here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow~”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pai leapt out of my bag, marveling at the small pile of stones it had built before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I usually cleaned them up after a few days, Pai seemed fascinated that they had remained untouched this time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Now I feel bad for tidying them up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But really, how was I supposed to not clean them when they were stacked in the middle of my desk?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I would continue clearing them away.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With that thought, I closed my eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By the time I opened them again, it was already night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was resting on my forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite the weight, it felt oddly refreshing—almost like Divine Power.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…What is this?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I tapped the object on my forehead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a sharp shriek, Pai jolted awake.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“UWAH!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why are you so startled? Sorry. But why were you sleeping here?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I was cooling you down! You were hot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hm?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Curious, I touched my own skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was a faint heat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t noticed while I was in the estate, but apparently, unexpectedly meeting my brother had taken a toll on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be fair, it was a constant state of tension.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I had no intention of dying, standing before the man who would kill me and calculating his every possible move was exhausting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…If it were my original body, I wouldn’t have caught a cold this easily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Luca’s body, this was already the second time I had fallen ill this winter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a Health stat of 3, my physical endurance was actually above average by Imperial standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But immunity seemed to be an entirely different issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I channeled Divine Power into Pai.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks. I feel much better now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t about to let a cold slow me down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened my drawer, found some medicine, and downed it in one go.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was a magical potion, the effects spread through my body almost immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Refreshing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since I was supposed to discuss those two lingering questions with Narce, I should head out and get started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Narce is still on campus, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He’s in Baden-Baden right now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Why? Didn’t he say he’d be waiting for me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ehh~ Someone called for him during the day. Wanna go now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did another possessed person show up?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I turned my head—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And finally noticed the newspaper sitting on my desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[A Mysterious Procession of the Possessed… A ‘Black Smoke’ Advisory Issued Across the Empire]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…Interesting.\u003C\u002Fp>",2401,"2026-06-06T03:11:08.303Z",1,"novelbin.me","036dd6bb4c0cccbd6c4b5dc0359142b5d42c906dd74ae5c2123c9c6823650d01","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-123","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-121",367,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-cover.jpg"]