Chapter 36 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 36
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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"Make an enemy of the press, and all your achievements will end up in the imperial family's pocket. You think they'll write friendly articles about a blackmailer?"
"You worried about me?"
"...."
Leo frowned from the side and waved both hands dismissively.
It looked like a signal to just let it slide.
"…Yeah."
"How touching. Still, there's no other way."
"You're okay with the imperial family stealing your credit?"
"No way, that'd piss me off big time. Like, royally."
"What, you little…!"
Elias threw an arm around Leo's shoulders and patted him, continuing.
"But right now, people are getting hurt and dying by the minute. Hell, even some bastard's bugs are crawling out. We can collect the credit later—with interest. Right?"
Since we'd collect it via execution, yeah, it kinda came with interest attached.
Coming from someone who knew just how well the guy kept his promises, it sent chills down my spine.
"I'm not saying we scrap the plan."
"Then?"
"Let me ask this first. That plan—wasn't it the one we made back during the barrier suitability issue?"
"Yeah. Why? You're still bringing up the barrier suitability problem, right?"
Right.
Even if we periodically monitor and manage to disrupt Pleroma's experiments, there'd still be surviving magical beasts left, so we'd need to reinforce the barrier.
"Luca, the press isn't going to run negative stories on the imperial family. If we don't want to waste time and move fast, don't we have to grab them by the throat first~?"
"Of course."
I looked Elias straight in the eye.
"But things are different now."
"Now?"
The 'barrier suitability' issue was about the imperial family's poor oversight.
But if the story breaks as 'Pleroma's' insect experiments?
The imperial family slips out of the spotlight, and Pleroma becomes the target of criticism.
"…Ah~"
Before I could even lay it all out, Elias twitched his eyebrow and rubbed his fingers together with a snap.
I'd felt it with Leo too, but yeah, quick on the uptake was handy.
"So that's why you asked when we made the plan. Lead with the mosquitoes, and the focus shifts. Right?"
"Yeah. All we need is for Pleroma to take the heat instead of the imperial family."
The barrier upgrade demand was already in the mosquito proposal anyway, so no need to headline it and rile up the press.
"What's with you guys? You had to think of stuff like this before sending me off?"
"…Suddenly I feel like I'm just sitting around doing nothing."
The students grinned sheepishly.
"No need to feel burdened. We've only got one job anyway."
I looked around at the students and said.
"We tip off the press on this issue and file the lawsuit."
* * *
I spent the whole day in the infirmary, then warped to the meeting spot as night fell.
〈 Chapter 4. Relentless Water Drops Pierce the Stone (2) 〉
Proposal 2: Achieve [Impression] Score of 5 (0/1) (163 hours 53 minutes 51 seconds)
* Route 1 ― 〈 Chapter 4 Special Reward 〉
* Route 2 ― 〈 Chapter 5. Don't Praise the Day Before Evening Falls 〉
'…Hmm.'
A proposal on the day I'm freshly reminded I'm still in my brother's palm.
Perfect timing.
But…
With my impression score at -9.9, it wants me to raise it to a total of 14.9?
'....'
In a week?
Forget the rewards—maybe it's just telling me to buzz off to that shady Chapter 5 title.
'Wait.'
Mid-self-mockery, a sudden thought made me stop sneering.
Let's check the status window's impression score again.
Lucas René Ascanien
Impression: -9.9 [+2.0]
[+2.0].
Come to think of it, I'd noticed this morning that the impression score had two points.
The proposal says [Impression] score—could it be…
I remembered: when it told me to raise stamina to 0, it didn't say [Stamina] score.
It just said 'stamina,' like always.
Is it specifying [Impression] so I don't mix it up with which one to raise?
'....'
What the hell is with that.
I'd had my suspicions before.
It wasn't explicit, just guesswork, but now it's clicking.
Those brackets? They've gotta be Nikolaus's impression score.
There's no way Luca's national image is +2.0.
It only showed up after I decided to lean into the 'Blue-Eyed Hunter' persona, which fits perfectly.
Anyway, like before, the higher the score, the smaller the gains.
Not pulling it from negative stamina to 0 this time, but pushing an already positive score up by 3 points.
'…Nah.'
The timeline's a bit tight, but it's winnable.
Just then, Leo—who'd warped in—spotted me and spoke up.
"Why'd you skip class?"
No meeting today.
We'd wrapped up the lawsuit talk yesterday, so no need to meet the other students.
But Narke and Leo were set to gather here.
"Had to take my meds."
"Meds? No way…!"
Leo set down his bag and took a seat.
"That's why you got called out?"
"Yeah. Brother's having the steward make me take them twice a week."
"…Twice? Can you handle it?"
"Boosted my core performance, so it's not too rough."
Good thing I'd jacked up my stamina score—semi-forced or not.
Leo chewed his lip thoughtfully, then said.
"If you can't hack it, tell me. I'll hit you with a healing spell at least."
"Yeah, thanks."
"But… your brother's really coming on strong now."
I nodded.
"He's trying to kill me off quick."
But I wasn't planning to make a real move yet.
If he was, he'd come himself.
Leo gaped in shock for a second, then sighed.
"…Want an escort at least?"
"Get spotted how?"
I shook my head with a smile.
Leo let out a weak laugh, tension draining.
"Yeah, with your skills, physically it's fine…. So, you okay now?"
"Yeah. Narke helped out."
"Figured it out right away? Damn, good instincts."
Handy skill.
If character pulls come up again, I want that one too.
'No way it's that easy.'
"Everyone's here~"
Speak of the devil—Narke showed up grinning and slapped my back hard.
"Feeling better?"
"…!"
From the spot he hit, a refreshing energy spread to my fingertips and toes, wiping away the last traces of poison.
"…What was that?"
"The spell you used at the charity event."
Purification.
"Thanks."
"No biggie. Heading out now, right?"
"Yeah."
Off to Bayern now.
Five contaminated zones in Bayern alone.
Planning to purify them all with divine power.
Lay some groundwork for the next plan, and while I'm at it.
'…I'm technically one of their mages anyway.'
Even if it happened without me knowing.
With the new proposal to boost Nikolaus's impression score, the more I show my face and rack up results, the better.
"Excited. Been holding back since I got here, but even small stuff feels thrilling!"
Narke, who could use divine power, was coming along.
He'd regretted missing out before, so soon as it was a weekday, he got school permission.
Unlike last time, with the insect issue blowing up tomorrow, the logic of Leo recruiting a divine power user like Narke for restricted zone purification would fly.
Leo raised a brow at Narke's words.
"Holding back the whole time? What, hunting beasts in the Papal States?"
"Something like that."
"Huh. Unexpected."
Narke grinned.
"You won't think it's so unexpected once you see."
* * *
Kwaaang—!
Narke pulled the staff tip from the dirt.
Divine power turned the evening sky bright as day.
"...."
The roar and onrushing wind left no room for awe.
No, I was just speechless.
One spell, purifying a whopping 3,000 pyeong zone. I could probably take on a professor now.
"…Ten thousand square meters of divine power? Exchange students really are different."
Leo muttered.
Not all exchange students are like that, but he was babbling in shock.
"Dunno, Lucas could probably do it too?"
"Haven't learned that kind of wide-area casting."
"Ah, not about power then."
Narke shrugged casually and scanned for killable beasts, wand at the ready.
Soon, he smirked, aimed at one spot, and flicked his wrist lightly.
Kwang—! Chiiik….
The base of a massive tree root flashed.
Contaminated rats, weakened from purification and scurrying about, turned black as if electrocuted.
Narke murmured low, face alight with pleasure.
"Think I can handle this solo."
"...."
"Guys, hit the other spots first. I'll clean this one up."
"Yeah, sure."
His voice was as kindly as ever, but his expression sure wasn't.
'…Is this guy really seminary?'
Anyway, glad he's on our side.
And he knows extermination's the only option right now.
By dawn, we'd purified all five Bayern restricted zones and returned to school.
Narke took two, Leo and I the three.
Leo couldn't use divine power, so purification was on Narke and me.
Narke checked Leo's bankbook with wide eyes.
"Whoa, 1.25 million fel just from the Imperial Bank bounty."
Three low-grade and two mid-grade—total five zones for a million-plus, but way less than the single high-grade haul last time.
Anyway… no plans to spend it ourselves.
Narke handed the bankbook back to Leo, grabbed his black leather bag, and stood.
"I'll head to the special class first. Take your time."
"Yeah. Good work today."
"No sweat—most fun thing this semester."
"...."
I warped to the dorm, changed, and strolled out casually.
Detoured to the lecture hall to buy a newspaper.
['Blue-Eyed Hunter' Sir Nikolaus's Tip-Off… 'Pleroma Conducting Resurrection Experiments with Insects']
[Cause of Mysterious Skin Disease in Meppen Region Revealed… Pleroma's Doing]
[Imperial First Academy Honorary Professor Joseph Friedrich: "Could Become Unprecedented Biochemical Weapon"]
[Within 1 Hour of Report, 2,000 Osnabrück Citizens Gather in Square… 'Demand Swift Action']
[Pleroma Research Director Clemens Graf: "Worst Case Could Reach National Disaster Level"]
[Pleroma's Insect Experiments and Their Impact on Local Society]
'Success.'
Unlike the original, we got press coverage without self-destructive hardball.
Though Elias's proposal to Security HQ and Parliament got buried—no mention anywhere.
[Security HQ: 'Will Exterminate Meppen Contamination Bugs Using Grade 1 Purification Magic']
Now they pipe up.
No word on ongoing efforts.
One-off event—Pleroma would just lay low awhile then resurface.
Parliament stayed silent, naturally.
With Security HQ's smokescreen solution, no need for them to stir.
That evening, Melvin cracked open the door to the meeting spot's small side room.
"Luca…! Just got a reply from the Federal Council."
"What's it say?"
"Too hard to process within a month. Can't make laws that fast…"
Pressed Parliament again, but rejection as expected.
They're framing it as legislation.
Well, with the government not requesting extra budget, they can't move first.
And no intention of passing our budget demands anyway.
"Security HQ?"
"Nothing back on today's wire yet."
"Yeah, thanks."
We'd confirmed yesterday that brother's stunt leaked to the government.
So we resent the proposal and materials.
They shamelessly accepted then replied 'We'll announce countermeasures via official Security HQ channels later.'
Which turned out to be a one-off.
Pressed for proper response via wire, but radio silence again.
Melvin stood there awhile, then squinted and asked carefully.
"So… we moving to the next phase now?"
"Gotta. Security HQ doesn't seem willing to solve this properly."
"You sure? I mean, it's the government…"
"Already in motion."
I held up that evening's paper.
[Elias Hoenzollern Files Administrative Lawsuit Against Imperial Security HQ]
* * *
Same time, Imperial Prime Minister's Office.
"Is this a joke?! That troublemaker's doing what now?!"
"Mind your words. He's imperial blood too."
"…Ahem, right. Duke Elias suing the imperial family? You're not taking this seriously, are you, Mr. Chairman?"
"Away from Parliament, 'Prime Minister' suits better."
"Yes, Prime Minister. What's the plan? Say the word, and I'll talk to the court."
The one called Prime Minister stared into space without answering.
"Prime Minister. We kept stories of Security HQ and Parliament's inadequate response from leaking. We plugged it good, and now they slap us with a lawsuit. Who wouldn't run that scoop? And they're demanding live broadcast on Imperial News from start to finish!"
"No need for serious response?"
"Correct."
The Prime Minister smiled at the solemn tone.
"Because Duke Elias filed it?"
"Yes."
"My take aligns. What does he even know to sue over? Probably just flew off the handle like always."
"As expected of you, Prime Minister."
The Prime Minister nodded silently, then eyed his counterpart.
"Remember what Duke Elias demanded of the court and judge?"
"Due to urgency, hold trial within 7 days without administrative review or mediation, and broadcast the entire trial via Imperial News. Two demands."
"Right."
The Prime Minister paused a beat, then continued.
"I plan to grant both in full."
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