[{"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-13":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},1473919,1923,"Chapter 13","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-13",13,"\u003Cp>I stopped walking when I heard voices coming from behind the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, rumors had spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was inevitable, considering it wasn’t common for such a large sum of money to be spent in a single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Did you hear? It was Leo and his attendant. Both of them are mages, which is probably why they spent so much.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leo?! Why did he go there all of a sudden?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Leo said his attendant wanted to visit the place. Apparently, they came from the Papal States.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really? Did you hear their name? If they're a mage, they must be a noble too.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I don’t know. I can’t remember the foreign surname. But according to the manager, it doesn’t seem to be a noble surname.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Could a mage traveling with Leo really not be a noble? It must be a fake name.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Really?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stroked my chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using a noble surname would have left traces, so I wrote my original surname instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since the news would soon spread to the Papal States, there was no need to use a real noble surname and risk causing trouble between families.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘In reality, foreign mages entering the capital and engaging in various activities would typically need to be verified at least once.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, there wasn’t a proper system in place, and in the novel, the law was only revised after the protagonist threw a bomb-like incident at the imperial family around the middle of the story.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Until then, they just leisurely assumed that ‘if such a prestigious family gave permission, their identity must be verified.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Of course, Leo’s family would be hearing this for the first time...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because they never gave permission.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But since Leo would handle that, there was no need for me to worry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, everything was within the expected range. That was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I left the spot, leaving the students' ongoing conversation behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By noon, the situation was the same.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The news quickly spread throughout the school and the entire capital.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you hear?! That blue-eyed hunter is going there again tomorrow?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While moving to the lecture hall, I choked at the shout I heard somewhere.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...That title just now…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Were they talking about me? More importantly, who said they were going tomorrow?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once I started paying attention, I realized I could hear similar things from several places around me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘...Status window.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas Rene Ascanien\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: ???’s Hunter\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: -3.5 (+0.3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Power: -8.2 (+0.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +1.015 (+0.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: -10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: -6.985 (+0.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened it just in case, and the title had indeed changed. It seemed to vary depending on how I was referred to here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Judging by that title, this will continue for a while.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, the Chimera Wolf incident hadn’t even been reported yet. If the authorities decided to report it, the current fervor would last even longer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought while glancing at the students carrying newspapers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It turned out that the title wasn’t something the students came up with on their own; it was first used by the newspaper that reported the incident. Other newspapers also used the same title, so it seemed to have already stuck.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, Leo’s situation was more severe than mine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I just had to endure an incomprehensible name, but Leo had to deal with countless students' questions and attention directly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, his expression darkened every time we met on the street. The usually cheerful guy had turned grim, which said it all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next evening, Leo was sitting on the training ground floor without saying a word for a long time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I looked down at Leo and asked,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you okay?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo answered with a face that looked ten years older.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>We had gathered at the training ground, but seeing that, it didn’t seem like he was in any condition to train today.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘He must have been bombarded with questions all day.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this sense, it was quite beneficial to conceal one’s identity. I interpreted it positively and sat down next to him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo spoke weakly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did you know? Our story was in five different newspapers today. Why are they so obsessed? I even received three interview requests yesterday.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve been through a lot.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected the attention to die down a bit, but it only grew stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It must be due to the air of mystery.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it had just been Leo and his revealed attendant hunting monsters together, it would have ended as a simple good story about Leo. But because of the mysterious elements surrounding me, people were even more frantically spreading stories.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, investigations revealed that the wolf wasn’t a type found in the Empire, and the imperial family announced that the culprit was likely from Pleroma.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With two mages conveniently appearing and stopping a crime involving a cult, it was bound to become a hot topic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s a relief we didn’t get caught.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Why did they have to mention Pleroma?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even though I wasn’t from Pleroma, I was already being associated with such an image, so if I were discovered, it would truly be the end.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the worst-case scenario, the current situation was quite good.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo noticed a package beside him and handed it to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I almost forgot to give you this. It arrived today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It came earlier than expected.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I asked them to make it as quickly as possible. It doesn’t take long to make anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even so, I didn’t expect it to be delivered in just one day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I accepted the box Leo handed over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No problem. Just make sure to use magic well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Never mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Stay healthy’ would have made more sense, but what did he mean by ‘use magic well’?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As always, he was obsessed with magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I ignored Leo’s comment and unwrapped the package.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo began to admire the inner packaging and then, seeing the item, he started to marvel in a slightly different tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wow, it’s really plain.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside were a plain wristwatch and a silver necklace chain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The best effects come from embedding the artifact under the skin, using small chips or earrings.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t try the former due to the psychological discomfort, and while the latter was better, a mage with pierced ears clearly indicated the use of an artifact. It could be dangerous if I encountered my brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, a wristwatch and necklace were close enough to the body to be effective. I had also consecrated the artifacts with my blood and magic to enhance their effectiveness.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The watch was meant to conceal the magic circulating through my body, and the necklace chain was to stabilize my core. The current pendant I was using was an artifact, so changing the chain wouldn’t be an issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had spent a fortune to thoroughly block any magical leakage, making them look like ordinary accessories, and I still had about ten million won left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m not going out again.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While a thousand could quickly be spent and disappear for a mage, there was no way I was going to hunt monsters again. I smiled contentedly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Try it on quickly. I’m curious.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Leo’s urging, I roughly fastened the watch around my wrist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Perhaps because it contained my blood and magic, I felt an indescribable sensation on my wrist, even though it wasn’t embedded under my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…It feels like something is pulling, but I don’t feel anything else.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, try using magic.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo excitedly pointed to the other end of the training ground, waving his arm. I drew my wand and fired a spell at the spot Leo indicated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom―!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It felt different, like a path had been made. If I had been driving on an unpaved road until now, it felt like I was on a somewhat poorly paved road now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You felt it too, right? And the magic aura around you before and after casting the spell has significantly decreased. It’s much cleaner.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really? I used the same amount of magic power as usual, though.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s right. This only suppresses the scattered magic after casting.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I pulled up the status window again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>*Lucas Rene Ascanien\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: ???’s Hunter\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: -3.5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Power: -8.2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +1.015 [+4.015]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: -10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: -6.985\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Huh?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My skill had increased by 3 points?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo's remark about the clarity was undeniably true. Seeing a significant numerical increase, instead of minor decimal rises, was astonishing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shoved my wand back into my belt and touched the necklace chain. Though I couldn't feel any immediate effect... it might be different when I actually use it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I swapped the necklace chain and tucked the pendant inside my shirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo waved his wand slightly to sense the surrounding magic and tilted his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Maybe it’s because of the watch effect, but I don’t feel anything immediate from this one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“...Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for me, it was different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t close my mouth, pressing down on my chest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike before, my core had become so light that I couldn’t even perceive its presence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lucas Rene Ascanien\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title:** ???’s Hunter\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: -3.5 [-0.5]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Power: -8.2\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +1.015 [+4.015]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: -10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: -6.985\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘My health also went up by 3 points.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I conjured flames in my hand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The tiny cracks and shocks I used to feel every time I used magic were gone. No, it was like I hadn’t known they were cracks and shocks in the first place.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘So this is what it’s supposed to feel like.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This must be how a normal core operates.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To be precise, this was how a -0.5 core felt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Being a 21st-century human without a core and with Luca’s core long damaged, I had no idea what a healthy core felt like.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But now I knew for sure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Breathing and magic control were much freer than before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took the pendant out from my shirt and off my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the artifact moved away from my core, my chest felt heavy and blocked again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t noticed before, but now that I knew what a healthy core felt like, I couldn’t just leave it like this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’ll be even better once my core is fully healed.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Something’s different, huh? Glad I picked the right ones.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I made an enhancer, I could feel this without the artifact.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And if I made a cure, I could live with a permanently healthy core, even after the enhancer's effects wore off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Waiting for the drug to be developed was reckless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leaving a normal core unattended, I almost learned magic with a severely damaged one.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sent Leo back to the dorm, considering his poor condition, and practiced magic alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I checked the time when I started feeling tired. It was midnight when I entered the training ground, and it was now close to 3 a.m.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic does take a lot of stamina, but three hours felt a bit short. This seemed to be the limit with -0.5 health.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, I should rest for tomorrow.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I moved to the dormitory, tossed my bag on the desk, and plopped into a chair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something odd caught my eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I opened the door, a note fell to the floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I unfolded the roughly folded yellow paper to reveal hastily scrawled letters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[I know everything.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A chill ran down my spine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at the note with cold eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Come outside the dorm right now.]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at the note for a moment, then relaxed and burst into laughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t know what they thought they knew, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had my weakness, they would have gone to the media and revealed my identity without confronting me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Monster hunting is the most likely thing they know about.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let's assume they called me out because of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In that case, they likely didn’t have any concrete evidence and were relying on suspicion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In this situation, they’d press me, claiming I came out because I felt guilty, proving I was the hunter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it came to that... I could just play dumb.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone else might struggle, but Luca could pull it off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He was the type to follow orders out of fear, not knowing what might happen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Though that was the story of the past year...’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, with no evidence, I could just mumble that I came out because I didn’t know what was going on, and they wouldn’t be able to confirm anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Any problems that arise can be dealt with.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So I should obviously go. Telling a teacher wouldn’t solve this issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected this to come so soon, but if someone suspicious was coming to me, I welcomed it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I slipped the note back into the door and headed for the stairs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I opened the dorm entrance, a hesitant student approached.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh... excuse me...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the way he spoke, he didn’t seem to be the one who sent the note.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I stared at him silently, and he looked at me with frightened eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You saw the note, right? The senior students from the magic department told me to bring you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who exactly?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t really know…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must have just grabbed someone off the street.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Usually, you’d refuse a request like this from a stranger, but he came... maybe they threatened him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I waved my hand forward silently, and the student quickly moved.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even after a long time, we didn’t seem to be arriving anywhere. I spoke to the student’s back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Going pretty far, aren’t we?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Huh?! Oh, yeah... I didn’t realize it either. But we’re almost there.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The main buildings of the school had already shrunk into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Abandoned buildings and the outskirts of the school started to appear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Did those seniors say anything specific about me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, no. They just said you’d come out soon, so I should bring you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Got it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, I saw four or five people moving in the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They couldn’t enter the abandoned building, so they were waiting in the central space.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing them, the student hurriedly turned back before reaching the people and left.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I approached them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the… He really came.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, hand over the fifty thousand pell.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This guy is crazy. Anyway, I wrote the note as you said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The students laughed amongst themselves.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I silently watched them, one of them stepped forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staring at me for a while, he stuck his chin out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why are you here? Got something to confess?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You called me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My indifferent answer made a few of the people behind him burst out laughing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s he saying...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See? I told you he’d come out if we just wrote ‘come out’ without any other details. He hasn’t changed a bit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So hand over the fifty thousand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Fuck, no way. Shut up. You’re ruining the atmosphere.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They laughed to themselves and then suddenly stared at me in silence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They were in my class, weren’t they?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Faces I often saw around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were far from top students like Leo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They knew magic, which got them into this school, but they had no outstanding qualities in academics or personality, and they saw all relationships as a hierarchy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d do anything to get in the good graces of top students like Leo but tried to keep people like Luca, who everyone avoided, underfoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They don’t seem particularly afraid of Pleroma…’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They must have looked down on me, knowing my personality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘It’s unfortunate that I’m in the same class as these guys.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luca had terrible memories of them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the first year, Luca was once rumored to have eaten a live rat, a rumor these students had spread.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They probably wanted to see how far they could push Luca before he reacted.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guy in front stepped closer, lowering his voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s nothing serious. You just seemed a bit weird.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Anything happen recently?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Another student, who had been laughing in the back, got up and put his arm around my shoulder, asking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What happened that you’re staring at us with those eyes? You usually don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha! His eyes look so alive. Fuck, I’m too scared to look.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I let out a short laugh at his words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yeah, it wouldn’t be right if there weren’t at least one of these types. I knew I’d meet them sooner or later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The reason for my tension disappeared in an instant. They had no clue about what I was concerned about.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They just called me out to mess with me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The phrase ‘I know everything’ was just to scare me into coming out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They didn’t use direct threats like ‘come out or die’ to leave themselves a way out if questioned.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They used just enough words and sentences to claim they weren’t threatening.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I hadn’t expected to have to play along with the school’s hierarchy games...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘But it’s a good thing.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it wasn’t a serious issue.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed, looking at the increasingly aggressive students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just tell me why you called me out.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This bastard just sighed. Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hey, we should tell him. We don’t like seeing punks like you acting all proper. Got it?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What kind of punks?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You don’t know? You asking because you don’t know? Trying to act smart while changing your image?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He laughed, brushing his hair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, you talk too much. Last year, you looked like shit, so why suddenly act normal?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, stop talking. He won’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think so. Hey, did you get it? If not, we’ll show you ourselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They started laughing again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A student sitting on the ground wiggled his fingers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hand it over.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What, you bastard.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Haha… Oh, he’s cursing now. I’m so shocked I can’t even speak.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The guy got up and pointed at my jacket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Hand over your jacket\u003C\u002Fp>",2974,"2026-06-06T03:11:08.023Z",1,"novelbin.me","4c4c7dd06ade38ee2c803a6cc7e0eb062cdeee2066104b5dc7ab4cbdaa8321af","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-14","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-12",367,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-cover.jpg"]