[{"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-9":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},1473915,1923,"Chapter 9","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-9",9,"\u003Cp>[Lucas Rene Askanien]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: The Empire’s Biggest Fool\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: -4.8 (+0.2)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Strength: -9 (+1.0)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +0.015\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: -10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: -8.985 (+1.0)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: Dawn777, Divine Power\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It had definitely been -10 before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck, which had been -9.985, also showed improvement. Considering it had been increasing by 1\u002F1000, this was significant progress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even health had increased by 0.2. The rise in health, despite not being in a situation conducive to physical improvement, suggested a link to mental strength.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Did making one friend cause this change?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from very early childhood, Leo was essentially my first friend, so it was a plausible theory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was hard to watch without feeling sorry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Wait a moment.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was something else I needed to check.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Shifting my gaze, a new window appeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Dawn777]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- Final outcome ‘Chapter X. Death’ in 767 days, 23 hours, 18 minutes, and 01 second\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>- Change possibility: 5.3% (+5%p)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>5.3%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gaining one ally increased it by 5%p, which was quite satisfying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It meant that Leo would be a significant help in my survival moving forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Hmm, I’m curious about Leo’s status.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come to think of it, I had been too focused on quickly checking favorability to have time to look at status windows before.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called up Leo’s status window as I looked into his eyes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leonard Wittelsbach\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Favorability: 0\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: +7.5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Strength: +9\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power: +7\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +8.5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: +10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: +9.5\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘…This is the first time I’ve seen such crazy stats.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was astonishing that his favorability had risen from -9 to 0 in an instant, but that wasn’t the main issue. His overall stats were better than those of many professors whose status windows I had peeked at out of curiosity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I had to enter a novel, I should have become a character like him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you doing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo waved a hand in front of my blank gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nothing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I shook my head to clear the slight sense of disillusionment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After that, I spent time answering Leo’s trivial questions until the first class ended, and we left the infirmary together. There was no one around.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t acknowledge me from here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo asked, looking perplexed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you suddenly start being nice to me, people will think it’s weird. Come find me only when there are no students around.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo rubbed his chin, then nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That makes sense. Alright, then. Don’t worry about the medicine; I’ll have my family get it for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It ended more smoothly than I expected.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Given his obsession with magic, I thought he might be clingy, but this was nice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Let’s keep it simple.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now, I need to improve my skills.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had to make up for the ten-year gap starting now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The problem was that self-studying magic is difficult, and without a personal training room at the school, I had to use the common one... but that was already solved. I had arranged to spar with Leo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The school provided top students like Leo with private training rooms.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No need to sign in on a ledger or worry about others intruding.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the training room wasn’t the only reason I asked Leo to spar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I judged it worthwhile to learn from Leo’s textbook-like movements.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, a skill score of 8.5 was on par with the professors here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In general, normal people ranged between -1 to 3 in all categories, while the students here usually ranged from 3 to 5.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I’m curious to see how much I can improve.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, a week had passed since I started training with Leo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The results were good. My control improved quickly, to the point that it was hard to believe I hadn’t used magic properly in ten years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Good! At this level, you’re no longer a threat to civilians by accident.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing training on the seventh day, Leo wiped his sweat and smiled with satisfaction.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Right. The problem with my magic had always been its excessive power, making it hard to control.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo’s comment was chilling but true: it wasn’t a metaphor or an exaggeration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While I knew how to suppress my magic during class, maintaining a moderate level of magic for extended periods was still challenging.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I didn’t want to see my magic harming anyone, so I had agreed to Leo’s relentless calls for training over the past week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘I was a bit taken aback at first… but I need this level of power to deal with my brother.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The fact that this was considered basic was a testament to my satisfying talent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, by the way, the medicine you asked for will be delayed. It’ll take about four more days. I’ll bring it then.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thanks.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo waved and disappeared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Things are going smoothly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The interest that had briefly surged at the start of the semester subsided as I stopped using magic altogether, and there was no contact from my brother.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I called up my status window.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>---\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Lucas Rene Askanien]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Title: The Empire’s Biggest Fool\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Health: -3.8 (+1.0)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mental Strength**: -8.7 (+0.3)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magic Power**: ?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Skill: +0.515 (+0.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Impression: -10\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luck: -7.485 (+1.5)\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Traits: Dawn 777, Divine Power\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering the amount increased after a week of training, it wasn't bad.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After staying at the training ground for a bit more practice, I took out a pendant from under my shirt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was a teleportation artifact I had bought with all the cash I had. Since it wasn't good to be seen entering and leaving the training ground, I connected it to go directly from the dormitory.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I even registered it under Leo's name to cover my tracks in case anything happened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's good to be thorough with preparations.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I blew magic power into the pendant.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I opened my eyes, the familiar scenery of my dorm room unfolded before me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thunk—\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"...!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Something was off with the state of my core.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The core, usually connected tightly around the heart, was now floating and rattling for some reason.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Could it be because of the medication?'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the novel, Luca became weaker as he got older, so it made sense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected my core not to be in good condition, but I didn't expect to see results after just a week.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I need to start considering this.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I opened the calendar.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For now, even though I had obtained the herbs, the current Leo wasn't the future Leo, so he couldn't convert them into a core enhancer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Therefore, I needed to adjust the mixing ratios and other conditions based on my knowledge from the novel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if I drank the enhancer consistently, a body whose core had been suppressed for ten years wouldn't improve dramatically overnight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn't wait around leisurely, expecting my brother to notice at any moment. I needed to use auxiliary tools to create a more stable condition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I gazed at the glowing red pendant, lost in thought.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It might be good to get another auxiliary tool like this.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Once I enhance my core, I should look for other items as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There are tools that allow one to use certain magic freely without needing knowledge of that magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>These magical tools are supposed to be registered with the imperial family and have a maximum quantity limit per person. However, fortunately, this doesn't apply to underage students.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my brother moves faster than expected, these tools will be useful, so I need to prepare them just in case.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a transaction statement from the school's bank out of the drawer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Hmm.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There were numbers in the available withdrawal amount column that were hard to count at a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even if Father considered me a discarded son, he still did what he could without much effort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, I can't use this money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If it was the money in my room's safe, that would be different, but I can't touch the money in the bank vault.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luca, during his first year, spent less than a million won on food and tuition.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Since he stayed in his room all the time, it's understandable.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The useful tools start at least at five hundred, and if I want to find something satisfactory, I need to prepare at least a thousand.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Withdrawing that much money would immediately alert my brother, which is inevitable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I thought about withdrawing a little each day, but for someone who hadn't spent even a hundred over a year, withdrawing a thousand in a short period would be suspicious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So, there's only one option.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I'll earn it myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I spread the newspaper on the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's not the time for the protagonist to be active yet, but at this point, stories about him should start to emerge.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I flipped through the newspapers from last month to today's issue and stopped when I saw an article.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Here it is.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>[Average of 6 cases per month → 15 cases... 150% increase in 'Beast Incidents' in administrative districts outside the capital]\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>An article about the recent increase in beast incidents.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the original story, the protagonist hid his identity as a member of the imperial family and went around killing beasts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since beast incidents have surged this year, the Imperial Magic Law Enforcement Agency has started attaching bounties to beasts and granting extermination rights to individual mages.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At first glance, it seemed like a reasonable response, but...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's not yet at the point where they need to outsource to the private sector.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite that, the reason the Enforcement Agency delegated the 'cleaner' role to individuals was that they couldn't afford to use their high-level personnel for such trivial tasks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'That's why the protagonist steps up.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyway, there are two points to note here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'Bounties on beasts with individual mage extermination rights', 'Protagonist forged his identity'.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It's an optimal situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, considering that most of the empire's citizens know my name, acting openly is foolish. It's practically suicide.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This brings us back to the fact that the agency is severely corrupt.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They offered decent money for each beast but set the budget for regional office operations ridiculously low.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After deducting facility maintenance costs, there's barely enough for activity allowances.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'The agency never intended to hire people properly.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They foolishly thought that since it was a village issue, the residents would take care of it without spending money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As expected, the process went as one might guess.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the story, the protagonist passed with a forged ID in just 10 seconds. There was no process of keeping the ID or cross-checking names with the mage registration list.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I vividly remember this because it was so absurd.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I was a reader, both the protagonist and I were dumbfounded by the agency's incompetence, but now...\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'It's a favorable situation.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>* * *\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Yes, relying on tools' power is good. What's your budget?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I explained my plan upon arriving at the training ground, Leo nodded and stroked his chin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo, seemingly planning to make a list himself, took out paper and a pen from his bag and sat on the training ground floor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I haven't fixed it yet. I'm thinking flexibly based on earnings.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Flexibly... huh?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"The money is all in the bank, so it's hard to withdraw. So, I have an idea.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"What's not there?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"I didn't say it's not there. Anyway, in short, there's no cash.... How long do I have to say this?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I laughed, looking at Leo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leo, equally puzzled, smiled soullessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>'I understand, but I haven't explained it properly yet.'\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took out a thick stack of papers from my bag and spoke seriously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>\"Listen until the end. Of course, I have a plan.\"\u003C\u002Fp>",1943,"2026-06-06T03:11:08.023Z",1,"novelbin.me","c322921e1a43bd493a02f4ff2bc5fea01255e25012351dbde817b25b4e9e1ec3","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-10","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-8",367,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-cover.jpg"]