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Translator: uly
Chapter: 6
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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"It's been so long since I last used magic that I'm not feeling well, Professor. May I head back now?"
Leo's face twisted in displeasure at those words.
'Not feeling well?'
The guy was spouting utter nonsense right now.
That feeble spell was deliberate. He hadn't even unleashed one-hundredth of the power he was capable of.
If he had just stood there doing nothing, it might have been believable—but not after firing off that spell. No matter how hard he tried to hide it, that innate talent couldn't be concealed.
'The professor has to know it too, right?'
The professor looked just as stunned as the students at first, then nodded blankly.
"...Fine. Go on back."
"Thank you, Professor."
'Hah.'
Leo let out a short, exasperated breath. Lucas offered a faint smile as he bowed politely, then returned to his seat.
It was an absurd situation.
He'd gone out of his way to answer questions in history class, but in magic class, he deliberately held back his power?
'What the hell is he playing at?'
Leo glared at Lucas with cold, hardened eyes.
* * *
I bowed to the professor and took my seat. Leo's piercing gaze clung to me the whole way.
As class dragged on toward its end, I glanced over at his desk. He was still staring at me with those intimidating eyes.
'Right on track.'
He'd already caught on.
Of course he had—at his level, he could sense even the subtle flow of mana around my body.
Naturally, he'd realized I was hiding my power and lying.
I just hadn't expected him to fail to mask his anger so obviously.
I checked his favorability. It had dropped from -8 to -9.
An immediate reaction that nearly drew a hollow laugh from me.
'Easy pickings.'
A minor change like that wouldn't be enough to drag my brother all the way from the Papal States.
But news of me casting "real" magic—meaning I wasn't taking my meds—would change everything.
The right time for him to learn I wasn't medicated was after I'd found an antidote.
No need to foolishly flaunt all my magic. All I wanted was to bring Leo over to my side. For now, he was the only one who should see my full power.
Just one thing left to do.
Wait for Leo to come storming after me in a rage.
The bell signaling the end of class rang out, and I rose from my seat.
* * *
Ten years later, the magic he'd witnessed reappeared before his eyes—not in a dream, but in reality.
Back in the dorm, Leo shut the door and leaned against it, standing there in a daze.
He had no idea how the rest of the day had passed or what he'd even been thinking.
All that lingered in his mind was the spell he'd seen that afternoon.
'He can use magic after all.'
No more guesswork.
But the shock and thrill from witnessing it faded quickly.
It wasn't that he couldn't use magic—he was definitely choosing not to.
Leo couldn't fathom the reason.
With mana that anyone would envy, why hide it like that? Why live like a wastrel? Unless he enjoyed being a shut-in, nothing explained it.
The second-year Lucas had changed completely from last year. The guy who couldn't even give simple answers, who would hurriedly bow his head whenever their eyes met as if afraid of being attacked—now he smirked and stared people down.
So why stay the same when it came to magic? Why cast a spell only to make that flimsy excuse about feeling unwell and bail? It made no sense.
Leo glared into the dim void.
From his expressions and demeanor before and after, it was no accident. It was intentional.
If he wouldn't reveal his intentions first, there was only one way.
'I'll have to uncover the reason myself.'
* * *
That day, the school buzzed about my magic.
But since the power was so lackluster, it didn't stick as a hot topic for long.
Truth be told, a spell like that was basic among basics.
Even without a prestigious lineage, anyone from a family with a title could pull it off innately.
So the reactions were just things like, "Guess he is from a magic family after all," or "Looks like he's finally settling into school life." Nothing that would erase the stigma of donation admission.
Some even spun conspiracy theories that I was trying to flaunt my Pleroma ties, but those didn't last.
'Exactly as intended.'
The students' interest cooled fast, while Leo stayed on high alert.
Provoking Leo without alerting my brother.
That was my goal this time, and so far, it was a success.
'Status window.'
Lucas René Ascanien
Title: Empire's Number One Idiot
Stamina: -5
Mental Strength: -10
Mana: ?
Skills: +0.015 (+0.013)
Impression: -10
Luck: -9.985 (+0.013)
Traits: Dawn777, Divine Power
As expected.
Fortunately, this incident hadn't boosted his impression score.
A rising impression score isn't bad in itself.
It means those around you are warming up to you—a clear positive.
The problem is *how* you improve that image.
If I went all out in magic class or proved the Pleroma rumors false with bold moves, my impression would skyrocket ridiculously fast.
But that would mean dying by my brother's hand right away. He's the most sensitive to any changes in me.
'That doesn't mean I'll leave this -10 as is.'
If I can't change it openly, I'll do it on the down low.
Once I've recruited Leo and built up my skills, I'll work on the impression score.
Under the radar, unknown to all, nice and slow.
Today was Thursday.
Magic practice was only the fourth session so far.
For the past three days, I'd only emitted a dim light. Today, I drew the magic out to my wand's tip before pulling it back into my body.
Nothing escaped outward.
I lowered the wand hovering in the air and spoke.
"Professor, sorry, but I just can't muster any strength today."
"Then head back."
The professor's interest had plummeted since yesterday.
No surprise, with no change.
Luckily, he wasn't passionate to begin with, nor did he like Lucas.
As I returned to my seat, I scanned the room.
Maybe because I'd done even less than usual, Leo's gaze bored into me sharper than ever.
The end-of-class bell rang.
As I packed my wand and stood, a shadow fell over my vision.
I looked up. Leo loomed over me with a frosty expression.
"Hey. Come with me."
'As expected.'
I'd figured he'd make a move around now, and it lined up perfectly.
In the novel, Leo always acted this way.
Weak in mana—by protagonist standards—and yet stubbornly devoted to magic.
He never took the easy path; he stuck to the straight and narrow.
Leo wouldn't ignore someone toying with magic.
Especially if it was the guy who'd led him down the path of magic.
Sorry, but... no choice for now.
Keeping a straight face, I asked simply.
"Why."
"Midnight. Training grounds."
"Why? Answer me."
Leo snorted at that.
As if asking what good that would do.
"Whatever. If you don't show, I'll drag you out. Choose: come willingly or get hauled."
'What a temper....'
Right, that's how he was at this age.
Could it go any smoother?
Proposal: Make 'Leonard Wittelsbach' your ally. (0/1) (20 hours 07 minutes 44 seconds)
'20 hours.'
Plenty of time.
I met Leo's icy eyes and smiled.
* * *
Midnight came, and I left the dorm.
No reason to pass up an opportunity that fell into my lap.
From the novel, I knew Leo's personality—he'd raze the dorm if needed to keep his word. No point escalating now that things were going his way.
'...Coming out without protest just because he said so is a bit weird, though.'
That wouldn't even register with him right now. If anything, he'd be pissed I arrived at the training grounds after midnight.
I glanced at the distant clock tower.
12:11.
I'd reached the training area used by the magic department. Leo had his own private one, so I'd need to head there.
But...
'Come to think of it, he assumed I'd know where it is....'
A dorm-bound Lucas wouldn't have a clue.
Telling me to come without checking what I knew—arrogant or just oblivious?
Either way, he'd said he'd find me if I didn't show, so he'd track me down now that I was here.
I headed toward the central field in the training grounds to kill time.
That's when someone grabbed my nape.
"Standing there like an idiot. You should've come inside. What are you doing?"
"How would I know where your training ground is? You nag even when I show up."
Leo ignored me, dragged me inside, and locked the door.
As he layered locking spells on the entrance, he spoke.
"You think we look like fools?"
"What?"
"You think we wouldn't notice? That you pretend none of us would figure it out and act like that?"
"No idea what you're talking about."
Leo whipped around with cold eyes.
"You think we wouldn't notice you deliberately holding back your magic? The professor, your classmates—everyone!"
Silence fell.
As Leo kept his wide eyes fixed on me, I shrugged nonchalantly.
"The professor seemed to know. But... the others? Nah."
Leo barked a hollow laugh.
He didn't even try to hide throttling his power, after all that grilling. Rage crept onto his face at my casual remark.
"If you're gonna act like this, get out of this school."
"Why should I?"
"This is a place to learn magic, not some playground where you half-ass it however you want. Should've seen it coming from your donation admission."
I nodded slowly.
"I'm ruining the study atmosphere?"
"You know it. If you're not serious about class, just leave. This isn't a school for mindsets like yours."
"What's it to you?"
"What?"
Leo's face hardened further.
I stared straight at him.
I didn't want to go this route, but paradoxically, to avoid making him an enemy, I had no choice.
Pushing on with the act as best I could, I shot back.
"The professor hasn't said a word. Why are you stepping in?"
"The students own this school. You think the professor's negligence—waiting for retirement—is absolute? That his silence on a student slacking off matters more?"
Leo emphasized each word deliberately.
'Hm.'
We're aligned on that.
The professor's irresponsibility had helped me, but it wasn't an ideal educator.
'Fitting for the protagonist's friend.'
Who knew I'd hear "students own the school" in this fantasy world.
But agreement in values doesn't make it universally right.
Time to take a different tack.
"Professors are part of the school too. Is dismissing them without even trying to voice your opinion the right move? If his silence really bugs you, you should've suggested directly that he maintain class quality."
"..."
"That seems way more reasonable than dragging someone out past midnight without explanation, don't you think?"
Leo glared silently.
He looked like he had more to say, but no intention of dragging the talk out.
'Perfect, same as me.'
Time to stoke his hot temper a bit.
I let out a deep sigh and shook my head.
"I don't get it. You dragged me here just for this? Nothing else to say? I'm out."
"Draw your wand."
A chilling voice came from behind.
I turned silently to face Leo. He'd drawn his wand from his belt and met my eyes squarely.
"If you win, I'll shut up and accept whatever—your class antics, all of it. But if I win, you leave this school now."
"..."
"Funny. You had plenty to say earlier. Lost your nerve?"
Finally.
Just what I wanted. My lips curled into a slow grin.
"No way."