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Translator: uly
Chapter: 4
Chapter Title: How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magical Noble Family
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Ding—!
"Proposal: Life is DIY! Find something you need to do." 3/3 completed!
Congratulations!
"Proposal: Life is DIY! Find something you need to do." Success!
"Chapter 1. Help yourself, and God will help you too (1)" completed!
"Route 1 — 〈Chapter 2. Help yourself, and God will help you too (2)〉" confirmed.
"Much better."
I ran a hand over my freshly cropped hair.
Yeah, that's more like it. If you're gonna grow it out, trim it along the way—or just cut it short.
Luca had let it grow wild without any intention of styling it, turning him into a total bum.
'Still, it looks less disheveled now.'
Instead of the defeated expression that slipped out when he wasn't paying attention, I stared blankly into the mirror.
I hadn't realized it, but I looked surprisingly decent.
My skin was pale, but with good food and solid exercise to bring some color to my cheeks, I'd look way better than now.
I stepped out of the shop and thanked the student trailing a step behind.
"Thanks for walking me. So, we're in the same class?"
"...Y-yeah. Once we enroll here, we stay in the same class until graduation, Lucas... You didn't know?"
"I knew that much."
Since the protagonist was a student here, I was well-versed in the novel's details like that.
"Oh, really...? Haha! Got it. My bad. Heh..."
"So, what's your name?"
"M-me?! I'm Melvin. But why do you...?"
Can't I even ask a classmate's name?
And why's he so damn scared?
It kinda felt like I was some thug shaking him down for cash, so I shut my mouth.
Seeing everyone avoid him hadn't fazed me, but one-on-one with this trembling kid? I felt kinda bad.
When we reached a building, Melvin's face lit up as he pointed to it.
"This is the dorm. See you in class tomorrow."
"Hey, hold up."
"Y-yeah...?"
"Where do I go to find my room?"
Melvin, looking half-dead, kept his distance and escorted me all the way to the admin office.
'His reaction's hilarious.'
The guilt was fleeting.
I'd already gotten used to reactions like that. I waved with a grin.
Curious about the extent, I pulled up his affinity level. Sure enough, it was sitting at -10.
"Thanks. Catch you later."
"Y-yeah... I'm really gonna go now...!"
Before I could reply, the kid bolted down the hall.
I asked at the admin office for my room number and headed there. Inside, the luggage from home had arrived.
"Time to unpack."
Just a few changes of clothes, class textbooks, writing supplies, and meds. Even the family wand, useless to Luca, was shoved in a corner.
I tossed everything into the wardrobe and desk, leaving just the med kit.
I resisted the urge to kick it across the room and opened the lid. On black velvet shielding it from light sat a cream-colored envelope.
I hadn't checked the sender yet, but I knew exactly who it was from.
I tore it open and pulled out the letter.
[To my dear brother.]
[Hello. By the time you read this, you'll be at school. You have no idea how worried I was when you collapsed like that. I wish I could've stayed by your side even a little, but I had to leave early. I never imagined the meds would hurt you that badly. Please forgive me.]
That apology had to be the lightest in the world. Knowing Luca's fate, all I could do was laugh.
The rest was pointless drivel: updates on Dad, what he'd said about me, and how I should at least bring my grades up to average.
My eyes burned as I skimmed to the end.
[I nagged a bit earlier, but I trust you know what your priorities are. Always put your health first. Especially lately, with all the changes—let me know right away if anything's off.]
[Wishing God's blessings upon you always.
With all my heart, your brother.]
A perfectly ordinary, utterly useless letter.
The fact he'd bothered writing something this long just to play the good guy showed his vicious persistence.
I zeroed in on the line that stuck out most.
[I trust you know what your priorities are.]
Yeah, I know.
I dumped the pill bottles from the box into a drawer and locked it.
The poor sap who'd swallowed them because big bro said so might've been your brother until now—but not anymore.
'I'd love to just toss it...'
Can't do that.
To bury him, I need some of this as evidence.
And if I can pull Leo to my side, it'll be the perfect poison.
Depending on the remaining potency, my plans change—so first, test how much magic I can use.
'Three days ago, he dosed me with one.'
That one got puked up right away, so worthless. Last double dose before he swapped meds? Four days ago.
Weekly dosing means the effect's worn off a lot.
So, let's try a spell.
'...But.'
Memories only last so long. Last time was at twelve, right?
Born into a mage family, core just a bit sealed—should be fine.
I thrust my hand out.
Pew—!
A red flash of magic burst forth. Before I could marvel at the unfamiliar sight, agony stabbed my heart.
"Urk...!"
It really worked. My knees buckled. Pure torture to stay upright.
'This is with the effect worn off...?'
Feeding this crap to his brother and sleeping soundly—unbelievable.
Even as a reader, it was absurd; living it? Infuriating. I laughed like a madman.
'Anyway, no change of plans.'
Last weekday today.
Weekend tomorrow. By then, the effect's gone completely.
Sweat beaded my skin, but I grinned.
Right. First, win Leo over.
* * *
Next morning, stepping out, I ran into students prepping for school.
'They're not avoiding me?'
Amazed, I scanned around.
Then one passed casually, spotted my face, and scurried off in panic.
Down in the crowded dorm lobby, same story.
'...'
Not avoiding— they just didn't recognize me.
Clean haircut after a year of bum vibes threw them off, but they'd always shunned and despised Luca.
Worse—in school, unlike outsiders who just dodged, some boldly ignored and insulted him.
Three reasons.
First, the Pleroma rumor.
Second, donation admission to the magic department despite zero magic talent.
Third, one influential student with a solid crew hated me with a passion.
And that student? Leo.
'Long road ahead.'
Leo aced friendships, grades, conduct—top dog on campus. Magic skills elite.
Him openly despising Luca? Gave the bold-but-brainless a green light to bully freely.
That's why Luca's memories held such brazen scorn and mockery, unlike outside.
But not hopeless.
Investigating Luca's death, Leo spills his past to the protagonist.
Luca didn't know, but Leo saw him before the brutal beatings started.
From a med-family background to middling magic talent—far from magic. But witnessing Luca's magic flipped a switch; he dove in headfirst.
Blind positive impression from childhood? So he didn't fully buy the Pleroma rumors.
But that's why it backfired on Luca.
'Having real talent yet buckling to rumors? Pathetic—so he got curt instead.'
Leo's confession during the investigation. And now's that 'curt' phase.
'How'd I get tangled in this...'
But actually perfect.
Any strong emotion beats indifference.
I can flip it dramatically while keeping the depth.
Creak—
Class went dead silent as I entered.
Shock from my unusual look rippled toward me.
Pretending not to notice, I grabbed a back-row seat.
A piercing glare from afar.
"Never thought you'd live this long."
A cynical voice rang out.
I pulled out my book wordlessly, chuckling inwardly.
'One haircut and I'm suddenly long-lived...?'
What kinda hobo had he been for the past year?
Anyway, obvious who said it.
I looked up.
A student surrounded by friends, chin propped, coolly eyeing me.
Wheat-gold hair, blue eyes, gentle eye corners, firm lips.
Impeccable attire screaming model student—even without memories, obvious.
That was Leo.
Ding—!
"Route 1 — 〈Chapter 2〉" begun.
「Chapter 2. Help yourself, and God will help you too (2)」
〈Chapter 2. Help yourself, and God will help you too (2)〉
Proposal: Make "Leonard Wittelsbach" your ally. (0/1) (167 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds)
* Route 1 — 〈Chapter 3. TBD (1)〉
* Route 2 — 〈Death〉
'...Death.'
167 hours 59 minutes—a week.
Popping this insane quest like it's nothing.
Breath caught in my throat.
'No.'
Week limit or not, I've got this. Same class as Leo? Failure's impossible.
I tore my eyes from his bright blue stare and sat.
* * *
"Good morning, students. Enjoyed your break?"
First class of the new term. Professor set down the roll call and greeted energetically.
Students? Lukewarm response.
Undeterred, he pressed on.
"You know from last year—this class covers magic history."
Easy first-period subject? Nice.
I zoned out, leaning back as he droned.
Leo's affinity, glimpsed earlier during eye contact: -8.
Higher than most -10s here, but still negative—not great.
168 hours to flip Leo? Gotta accelerate the plan.
I scribbled notes, checked the clock. Hour in, no end in sight.
"This lays the foundation for pioneering the future through the past. We confront our microcosmic selves and forge autonomous lives..."
"..."
High school flashbacks—an hour of this?
I glanced around. Kids half-assing it already.
Clap—
Professor clapped, yanking attention.
"Alright, focus. One last question. There's a council that decided those with manifested mana attend the Eucharist once a year. What is it? Full-term conduct points to the first right answer."
"Professor's at it again... We haven't even covered this yet."
"What'd you expect."
Kids in front muttered barely audibly.
Even from here, that attitude...
Only comes from looking down on the teacher.
'High school vibes...'
Once you see 'em as a joke, authority's gone.
I pitied him inwardly, listening.
"Not on exams. But you can't call yourselves proud Imperial Second Academy students without knowing this. Not heavily featured in texts, but key to modern divine power origins. Anyone?"
Silence, naturally.
I reviewed my action routes, deep in thought.
Sophomore first class, first period.
Perfect to kick off the Leo plan and set future directions.
'Let's test it.'
Gotta act the part in school too?
I'd already slipped un-Luca-like behavior to the guide kid, but just one person—easy to pivot.
Plus, the question was straight from the divine power books I'd memorized endlessly.
Knowing the answer? Prime opportunity.
'No random quests?'
Checked just in case. Nothing but the Leo one.
Pops for dumb stuff, ghosts when needed...
'Whatever.'
One shot.
Saw in yesterday's paper: bro's imperial mage unit headed to the Papal States.
His job? At least a year. Inter-nation warp banned, so back via border—carriage, train, whatever.
No way he cuts short just to basement me.
'Plus... he told me to raise grades first.'
Scared kid following orders? Fuel to nitpick?
Answering in class... might raise flags, but not provoke action.
Assuming news even reaches him.
Novel: no watcher on Luca. Makes sense post-possession—broken mentally, physically. What rebellion?
One class answer won't ping him.
I smiled, letting the prof gripe.
"No one? Ties into what I covered. We touched on it last year..."
"..."
"Can't be helped. Remember it now."
"The 2nd Leiterum Council."
Dead silence.
Packed room turned, faces stunned.
Prof gawked, never expecting me.
No one broke the awkwardness. I smiled softly, easing in.
"Wrong?"
"Student?"
"Yes."
"...Is that your answer?"
I tilted my head, eyes questioning.
"Yes."
"...Correct. The 2nd Leiterum Council. Thought you missed lots last year due to illness... Good memory?"
I smiled, ending it.
Eyes locked on me darted away guiltily.
Doesn't matter about them.
I looked to Leo.
Gone was the chill; he stared, flustered.
Then—
Ding—!
Chapter 2 Special Reward
Hint: Check your survival odds!