[{"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-97":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},1474003,1923,"Chapter 97","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-97",97,"\u003Cp>“…With the noble vow of blessing, I shall toast to the dawn of a new festival!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Too long.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unnecessarily so.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I took a deep breath and lowered the hand I’d raised dramatically.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne had been watching the performance with a stiff expression since the middle of it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The acting instructor, however, seemed quite impressed. He shook his head slightly as he approached me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Granach. You’re certain this is your first time—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Granach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne raised a hand, silencing the instructor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Your projection is lacking.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pointed at me with the tip of her fountain pen.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You won’t be able to perform on stage with that level of volume.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The field I’m accustomed to is on-screen acting.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>While that doesn’t mean a quiet voice is acceptable, the volume required to project on a stage—where one must resonate with their entire body—is different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, Luca’s physique doesn’t lend itself to a naturally resonant voice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Additionally, your movements are small. The same goes for your expressions.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I nodded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everything she said was true.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In visual media, subtlety and naturalism are emphasized. In theater, however, it’s different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a space where no cinematic techniques or editing exist, the audience is immersed not by subtlety but by exaggerated, raw expressions of emotion that people rarely show in everyday life.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne clasped her hands together, her sharp eyes fixed on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Granach. This performance is not suited for the stage. To put it bluntly, if I were to describe it… it’s the sort of acting that would work well for swindling someone one-on-one.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She’s accurate.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though I tried to tailor my acting for the stage, it must have still appeared overly naturalistic to someone immersed in theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Now I see why her critiques are the way they are.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She doesn’t filter her words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, as someone who literally needs to manipulate her, her recognition feels like high praise. It doesn’t bother me at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For those aspiring to genuinely stand on stage, however, such blunt assessments might be devastating.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, in any case….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I succeeded.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Suppressing my smile, I answered simply, “I’ll keep that in mind.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A silence followed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a long pause, Marianne, who had been staring at the script, raised her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you have time at midnight?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The atmosphere in the practice room was tense.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The ten or so apprentices remained in their seats, even though the session had ended.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One of them, seething with frustration, stood up and kicked a trash can.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn it…!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The outburst earned him a flurry of sharp glares.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?! Aren’t we all thinking the same thing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Does Marianne Baum even criticize other people’s acting? No, right? So why is she suddenly nitpicking a complete newbie who’s never even acted before?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oldest apprentice finally spoke up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Bürfel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just keep quiet. Everyone’s upset about it anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But this isn’t just any critique! For us, it’s like she’s saying we’re hopeless cases and not worth her breath. But forhim,it’s like she thinks talking to him will make a difference!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Who doesn’t know that? Just accept it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, how can you? You’ve been here for five years. If anyone should be angry right now, it’s you!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The room grew colder at those words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The oldest apprentice glared at Bürfel before letting out a long sigh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“He did well. He’s different, and with some refinement, he’ll surpass us all.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With a bitter expression, he left the practice room, throwing out one last piece of advice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t a school. You must not have realized that since you haven’t been here long. Know where that attitude works and where it doesn’t. Spend your energy practicing instead of complaining.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bürfel clenched his fists.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning to his peers, he muttered, “Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We can’t just sit here and take this, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few shook their heads and got up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Let it go. He did well. I’d support someone like him, too. Let’s just practice, like he said.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, I’d do the same. Now stop whining and work.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You think this doesn’t matter? If he rises, how many more years will it take for us to get a chance?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His peers scoffed and left the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What are you going to do? Beat him up and chase him off?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Whatever, man. Good luck. I’m just going to focus on practice.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By now, fewer than five people remained in the room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Staring blankly at the departing figures, Bürfel finally turned to the others left behind.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Hey, guys.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’ve studied acting before.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The moment I entered Marianne’s practice room at midnight, she greeted me with the question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I couldn’t help but laugh dryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘After all those critiques, now this?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was obvious, though, that her earlier remarks had been her way of expressing interest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>From the moment she silently endured the apprentices’ performances with closed eyes, I knew—she wouldn’t waste energy on something she considered useless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No one asks if someone has studied acting before. The question is how many years it’s been.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This is my first time.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“That’s impossible.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why do you think so?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She merely shrugged but then seemed to think of something and spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You performed without a script. Don’t tell me you conveniently practiced that exact passage dozens of times on your own. The only explanation is that you’ve actedFaustfor years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It was my first time reading those lines today.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne clasped her hands together with a forced smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mr. Granach, I dislike jokes. They’re the biggest waste of time in the world.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I wasn’t joking. I simply memorized the lines.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Meme—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne’s soft smile lingered as she stared at me, an unspoken pressure asking how long I intended to keep this up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…I’ll prove it. Hand me a script.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Very well.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled a sheet from her files and handed it over.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This isn’t from a play. It’s ten sentences. Memorize it in one minute.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t difficult.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I recited it flawlessly after just a minute, her expression hardened.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You really haven’t studied acting?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Really?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A slow smile crept across her face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Can you come in the morning as well?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And so, for the next two days, I told the family I was on leave and spent all day at the theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne Baum was surprisingly approachable once you met her standards.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her obsession with deconstructing and refining every aspect of my acting kept me at the theater until the early hours each day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Well, the more time I spend with her, the better for me.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Building rapport with her would make things far easier once I infiltrated the Catacombs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As Marianne glanced out the window, she clapped her hands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Alright, let’s call it a day. At this rate, the sun will be up soon.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“See you tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes. Oh, Mr. Granach.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I turned to leave, Marianne stared at me for a long moment before speaking quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let me see your hand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I have something for you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘She’s quick.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She wasn’t trying to give me anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne Baum was testing me, likely to determine if she could sense magic from my pulse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite deliberately suppressing my core as much as possible, she still detected traces of my magic. That alone was impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If my suspicions were correct, the reaction I needed to display was clear:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, thank you. I’ll be on my way.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, suit yourself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne shrugged as if it didn’t matter and added, “Be careful on your way home.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had told me to be careful.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What I’d dismissed as a casual farewell now seemed more literal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I sighed heavily, pulling out the wallet with my forged identification to hand it to the men blocking my path.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thankfully, I only had 10,000 pel on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Pathetic.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What kind of law enforcement allows this level of chaos?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I narrowed my eyes, scanning the distance. Two more men stood guard at the alley entrance, likely to prevent my escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, getting caught wasn’t just bad luck or poor policing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rich, huh? Must be nice being a noble. Maybe I should’ve worked for a noble family myself.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Calling this much money “a lot” was laughable, especially in a place where you either carried cash or wrote checks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I moved silently to leave, one of the men grabbed me by the collar and slammed me into the wall.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Where do you think you’re going? We’re not done here.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I gave you what you asked for. What else do you want?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My calm retort made them glance at each other.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, well…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This one talks real smooth.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They’d gone out of their way to mask their faces, but the tension in the air was palpable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Let’s finish this quickly.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the words even settled, I saw something coming toward me. Instinctively, I twisted my shoulder back to dodge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man throwing the punch stumbled awkwardly and yelled in frustration.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the—”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You idiot, stop embarrassing us!” another man barked, swinging his own fist at me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thwack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Agh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, you’re dead now!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even I was caught off guard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Kicking someone away shouldn’t have been this effective.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Let’s confirm something quickly.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Frank Bürfel\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All his stats were exceptionally ordinary.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A quick scan of the other two revealed similar levels.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If his health had been between 3 and 5, they might’ve been on par with students from the Imperial Second Academy. At 2, they were merely above average among commoners.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And my stats surpassed theirs across the board.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘Still, fighting four at once isn’t great odds.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As I dodged a charging attack, I furrowed my brow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They were serious.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Judging by the familiar voices and the fact that they knew where I worked, they were from the theater troupe. Their goal seemed clear: ensuring I wouldn’t be able to return.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Bang!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had realized that attacking me one-on-one wouldn’t work and had resorted to coordinated efforts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One man had grabbed my shoulder from behind, pinning me as another moved in front to block my escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thud!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I felt a jarring blow to my head and struggled to regain focus. Elbowing the man behind me in the solar plexus, I managed to shake him off, but another attacker from the alley entrance rushed forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Losing my balance, I hit the ground, only to feel a punch land squarely on my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smack!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ah, finally. That felt good.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Damn, I didn’t think he’d be this tough.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Blood seeped into my mouth from a split lip.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wasn’t in dire straits yet, but it was clear I couldn’t fend off four people with brute force alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to use magic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A single snap of my fingers could immobilize all of them. That was the logical course of action.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘No.’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I needed to endure this. Absolutely.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning my head, I focused on the path leading back to the troupe’s office building.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone grabbed my collar and hoisted me up, their arm pulling back to throw another punch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>***\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Think we should keep going? His eyes are still open.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Nah, he can’t even stand. Hey.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone tapped my shoulder.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You know why you got beaten up, right?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“If you’d worked your way up properly, one step at a time, this wouldn’t have happened. We might’ve even treated you nicely.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yeah, exactly. If you’d just known your place, we wouldn’t have gone this far. Now, stay out of it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“We wrecked your face so bad you can’t come back, anyway.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They laughed among themselves and muttered a few more words before leaving.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If anyone couldn’t return, it was them. By morning, they’d all be in custody.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Their masks might’ve been an attempt to deny involvement, but it was pointless. I had already identified them by name through my status system.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wiped the blood from my face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The air reeked of iron, and my suppressed magic was no longer fully contained. The blood mixing with it rendered the effort meaningless.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘At least that’s settled….’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I exhaled deeply, staring up at the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Cold wind dried the blood on my skin, making it stick uncomfortably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>‘They should show up soon. What are they waiting for?’\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Closing my eyes and reclining against the ground, I finally heard footsteps approaching.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Splash!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ugh!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ice-cold water drenched my face, forcing me upright.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne Baum stood before me, expressionless, holding an empty bucket.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thought you might need this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I glared at her, not out of fear or anger, but because it was the appropriate reaction to this situation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“No, I don’t.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, she was right.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Anyone discovered to have magic would face immediate execution outside Bavaria. Even here, the Empire’s zero-tolerance policy meant no one could rest easy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I didn’t realize ‘be careful’ would mean this.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh, don’t worry. I didn’t orchestrate it. Still, you hear all sorts of things in a troupe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Then why…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re wondering why I didn’t intervene?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You were thorough. Most people would’ve used magic to escape, no matter what.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She glanced around the alley before looking down at me again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But not once did you use magic. If it were me, I’d have given in at least once.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know what you’re implying.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Well, we’re all in danger of being found out, but there’s no need to be so guarded.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“……”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least the beating had paid off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I fought the urge to laugh.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Marianne spoke quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re a mage.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I didn’t answer, she smiled faintly and crouched to meet my gaze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“So am I.”\u003C\u002Fp>",2259,"2026-06-06T03:11:08.303Z",1,"novelbin.me","062fa4aabdc492a0553a2fabef23a5092a51aca6912199ee0792e9fa8186d4a0","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-98","how-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-chapter-96",367,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fhow-to-survive-as-the-second-son-of-a-mage-famil-cover.jpg"]