Chapter 99 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 99
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble House
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"…What the hell are you talking about? You're a New Humanity yourself. Self-reporting?"
Elias muttered with a bloodless face.
Then he bit his lip.
"This isn't the time. Alright, we've got two options left. Take out those bastards first…"
He showed me the back of the receipt.
"Or move."
I glanced toward the entrance.
Fortunately, since we'd moved the table earlier, we weren't immediately visible unless we lifted our heads high.
Elias continued like a rapid-fire gun.
"The guys who use this place must've left some kind of code. All three spots I hit yesterday used warp magic circles to secret meeting rooms."
"The problem is we don't know what magic circle they use."
"Let's just try them one by one right now. It won't be anything complicated."
Who knows how long that'll take.
It's also a scene easily misunderstood.
Even if this really is a Pleroma group hangout, getting tangled in something messy looking like this is the same.
Plus, escaping comes with its own problems.
"Wait. Even if we escape successfully, how do we explain it to the owner? They'll report us if they suspect anything even a little."
"..."
"We just registered our identities here. If we bolt right after they say they're checking for New Humanity, things will blow up fast."
"We can say we got spooked thinking they were here for Pleroma. It's a problem either way, but let's set that aside for now."
"Even setting it aside, it's the same. If you were a Catacomb guy, would you fully buy that excuse?"
"..."
Elias didn't answer.
Unless things went perfectly, he clearly knew the excuse was flimsy.
'Let's think. Not about escape routes—something else.'
There's more than one or two mysteries right now, so let's pinpoint the two biggest ones.
First: how did the 'New Humanity spotted here' report come in?
It's extremely hard to identify New Humanity by looks alone. So the most logical hypothesis is that the reporter wasn't affected by the perception distortion magic and recognized 'us' before reporting.
That said, there's the shaky assumption they'd name-drop 'Lucas Ascanien' or 'Elias Hoenzollern' specifically, but we can skip that for now.
Second: do the Vigilante Corps know that magic department guy is a noble mage?
Of course not.
Catacomb's noble rejection is beyond imagination.
They'd never let a noble mage join their Vigilante Corps.
'Got it.'
I said to Elias.
"Lift your head. Act normal."
"What?"
"We're not the only ones in mortal danger here."
Elias narrowed his eyes as if to ask what I meant, then slowly twisted his lips into a smirk.
If we don't know that magic department guy, he'll just do his Vigilante Corps job without a second thought.
'But we know who he is.'
If he recognizes us, he can't openly drag us off.
It'd all be over if we revealed we're mages from the Imperial Second Academy.
Elias said quietly.
"Fine. Then… can I do whatever I want?"
"Why ask? You always do."
"Yeah, if shit hits the fan, we can just smash everything and bail."
Personally, I didn't think it was a plan at all, but I nodded.
If things go south, I'll rewind time.
Reattempt Lv. 1
― Move to the checkpoint right before 〈Chapter 5〉
― 1 use: 2.0 points
― Points to next level: 2.0
* Current points: 10.0 points
* Luck until next point gain: 0.90 points
'Good.'
I've used Reattempt nearly five times already, but since I haven't spent points elsewhere, I've got plenty left.
"…Thank you. We'll check right away."
From afar, I heard the owner talking to the third-year.
Guests already at the entrance were going through ID checks.
That's when Elias abruptly stood up.
The Vigilantes' eyes snapped to him.
Even though I knew he'd move suddenly, it was still startling, but Elias asked innocently.
"What's going on? Something happen?"
"We got a report that a New Humanity entered here."
One Vigilante answered casually.
Elias glanced at me. No signal needed—he knew exactly what was off.
'…Huh.'
They didn't recognize him.
The perception distortion magic was working perfectly.
No one thought 'Elias Hoenzollern' or 'Lucas Ascanien' was here.
Meaning the report didn't name us specifically—it really targeted a New Humanity.
'Who the hell made that report?'
But now wasn't the time to dwell.
One reaction stood out as unnatural.
The third-year magic student at the counter stared at Elias without blinking.
Another Vigilante said to us.
"Since you're up, could you show your ID…"
"No, let's go."
He cut him off.
He wore that same eerie smile from before, but his tone was icy.
"Huh?"
"We haven't finished checking."
"Do I have to say it twice?"
"..."
The other members exchanged looks, nodded silently to the citizens, and left.
Elias muttered in disbelief.
"…What the hell?"
"..."
Looks like he's got some pull.
Even more suspicious.
How is a noble mage operating in the Catacombs—Vigilante Corps no less—and commanding other commoner mages?
After that, we met Julian Baum and headed straight back to the surface.
Clue on Robert Mueller or not, we couldn't stay there.
"You're back? Wait, your face…!"
Narke, reading in the room, shot up in shock.
"That's how it went."
"Wait, Lucas. How did it go like that?!"
Fun to see an insight ability user freak out.
I went straight to my room and called Leo.
Leo reacted the same, but no time for long explanations.
By then, both Leo and Narke stared at us grimly.
"What happened? Why's your face like that?"
"Leo, commoners can't enter the Imperial Second Academy's magic department, right?"
"You gonna tell or not?"
"Later."
Leo glared, then sighed and answered.
"Regulations don't strictly forbid it, but practically impossible."
"Ever happened?"
"Not in the last ten years, as far as I know. No."
"Right. But I met a third-year magic student in the Catacombs."
"What?!"
Elias shrugged.
"The guy we played poker with? Yeah, him. Talked to him directly—definite."
Crystal clear.
He's on the Imperial Second Academy rep team for the tournament, training here just days ago.
"You mean the third-year Class 1-B vice captain? He's Prussian nobility. No way he should be there."
"But he was. In the Vigilantes."
"..."
Leo was speechless.
I said to Narke, who looked just as stunned.
"Narke."
"Yeah?"
"Think those people recognized Elias?"
"No, if the disguise was that obvious, I wouldn't have let it slide. And…"
Narke said carefully.
"You weren't in any state to get spotted either, Lucas."
Figures.
Treated at the Catacomb hospital, but after taking focused hits, I'm not looking great.
Plus, my face isn't as famous as Elias's.
"…So, how'd the Vigilantes show up?"
"Got a report of New Humanity at our shop."
"…!"
"That's enough explanation. Called you to revise the plan."
"How? I wanna say drop this now. There are other paths—let's find one."
Leo said seriously.
I get it.
But too many loose ends to back off now.
From the moment he recognized Elias, we can't ignore this.
What if he's the Emperor's spy?
Just knowing Elias entered the Catacombs is enough ammo to take him out.
"Hard to accept, but we need to go deeper into the Catacombs now."
"He's not there legitimately, and he's exposed to you guys. What happens if you stick around?"
Valid point.
But if I planned to bail, I'd have rewound already.
'Can't dodge this.'
Pulling out now endangers me and Elias's lives, and lets the Emperor's plan proceed.
Pushing forward risks unknown Catacomb trouble. Leo's reaction is totally rational.
But comparing the two, retreat's riskier.
"Sorry, but no resolution without going in."
I continued to Narke.
"So, I've got a favor to ask you."
"What?"
"Come to the Catacombs with us."
I waved off Leo, who grimaced.
"Ideal if all four go, but one known face is enough—Elias."
"Hmm, I'd like to, but…"
Narke muttered.
"…Nah, there's a better way."
"What?"
"Leo should go. I'll enter later."
He's got an idea.
Asking won't help—it's intuition—so trust him.
Mana-wise Narke's better, but skill score? Leo's higher.
Unless mental manipulation, combat power's similar either way.
Narke pondered long, then said.
"Still, better change appearances."
"Yeah, gotta. Useless against that guy, though."
"We'll use another method. If Leo's okay, I'll lend you my looks."
"Lend how? Now?"
At Leo's baffled question, Narke smiled.
"Literally. Not that hard. Easier than aging someone up."
"A spell you've mastered?"
"Of course. Textbook way needs memorizing a three-page formula—tough. But Lucas or I can layer it with mental manipulation."
"He'd just memorize it."
"…Yeah, probably."
Narke nodded, eyes narrowed.
"So, Leo or Elias for a test run?"
"Elias."
Narke snapped his fingers.
"…!"
Narke's hair lengthened, turning white.
No, hair was the least of it.
Eye shape, nose bridge, lip line—everything changed.
"How's it look?"
"…Eli…"
"Hah, haven't said that since we were kids. Fun. Any lines you always wanted to hear?"
Reality snapped back.
I snorted at the confidently smiling Elias—no, Narke.
"With the real one right here, what's the point hearing it from someone else?"
"Someone else~? That hurts, Luca."
"…!"
"Anyway… right? Curious what you wanna hear. Wanna guess?"
Nailing that sharp, lazy drawl—it's really Elias.
He wasn't this oily before; it's like he extracted the smarmiest bits…
Leo was already furrowing his brow like he was staring down Elias.
"Good acting, Narke."
"Right? 'Luca' felt fresh."
Narke snapped again.
Back to normal.
"I can lend appearances like this. What do you say, Leo? Enter the Catacombs as me?"
"…Why not use my face? Why yours specifically?"
"Don't wanna jinx it, but yeah."
'Hmm.'
Gotta probe this.
Leo, eyes narrowed suspiciously, sighed and nodded.
"Fine. No issue."
"Haha, it's weird, I know. Thanks."
Narke smiled softly.
I stared at him, stroking my chin.
"Oh, Lucas is scheming something again."
Elias chuckled teasingly.
"Nah, not that. One question, Narke."
"Hm?"
"You just need to avoid entering the Catacombs, right?"
"Yeah."
"Then, can you turn into me now?"
"Ran low after earlier—elixir would do it. But why… oh."
Narke caught on quick and smiled.
* * *
"You haven't shown up to training lately."
"..."
Narke, sitting at a cafe outside the dorm, just glanced up at him.
First time seeing him, but his ability told him who.
The third-year magic student Lucas and Elias mentioned pulled out the chair opposite and sat.
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