Thud— Pitter-patter—

Elias looked up at the sky with a deep frown.

“I heard that his core stability is Special Level 2, not Standard! Regarding the possibility that the test results were wrong….”

“Did he drink blood?!”

In the midst of the barrage of rude questions, it’s even starting to rain.

The Empire is always gloomy, but I’ve never felt that this cloudy weather was so annoying as it is today.

‘Did he drink blood?’

Is this really what you can hear in the middle of Berlin?

I know what they feared, and what they deluded themselves into fearing.

They were afraid that Lucas would sweep through this street, slit throats one by one, and drink blood.

But that fear isn’t a real fear, it’s closer to an excuse.

‘If they were really afraid, they couldn’t act like that now.’

An ordinary member of the public can legally tear apart a young noble who had enough potential to reign as the monarch of a nation under the pretext of ‘safety.’ What a sweet fear is that?

The question of whether he drank blood and whether he’ll drink it in the future is disguised as public safety, but it’s a vile insult that shows its true colors.

‘…Logically, it’s obvious. If he had even drunk it, wouldn’t he have blown away bastards like you and run away rather than being dragged away so obediently?’

The attitude they showed to Lucas was exactly the same as what I had experienced in the past.

The faces of the pro-Imperial Family media and various experts, who expressed concern that the country had no future because of my attitude, overlapped.

Unlike me, Lucas is the type who carefully waits for the right time, or maybe he really wasn’t angry—Elias was amazed because even that was so different from him—he was smiling smoothly as if he wasn’t conscious of anything at all.

“It’s thanks to my brother.”

Lucas’s calm voice seemed to be tinged with laughter.

I don’t know what he’s thinking, but it seemed like this was already going according to his plan. It was that tone that Lucas usually used when he was enjoying himself.

The reporters must have only dealt with politicians with common sense, so they were still choosing their words after hearing some unrefined words from a Pleroma student.

Of course, Lucas didn’t wait for that opportunity and continued to say what he had to say.

“The examination I received this time was based on the strict procedures of the Imperial Second Academy, as always. I understand that you have doubts because the results are different from what you expected, but you must know that those doubts are a suspicion of the fairness of the Imperial Second Academy, which is sponsored by the Imperial Family.”

“But….”

When the reporter’s rebuttal came out, Lucas raised his voice and cut off the words.

“Of course, I have no intention of dismissing the fears that you, the citizens, feel as a suspicion of the Imperial Second Academy and evading the answer.”

“Mr. Askanian, this is not a formal interview. We will move now.”

Lucas raised his hand low and cut off the Imperial mage’s words.

“I will not stand by and watch the public order be shaken by distorted rumors. The reason why I have responded to the summons without any wrongdoing is because I understand and agree with all these circumstances, not because I will endure insults to the Askanian family.”

“……”

“I have a duty to resolve the reasonable curiosity of the citizens and erase the stigma attached to the name of Askanian and my name. So can you give me some time?”

Elias smiled involuntarily.

He was said to be staying at home, but he never seemed that way whenever I saw him.

He ended with a question, but an ordinary Imperial mage has no choice.

Now that he’s mentioned ‘Askanian’, he can’t create an international problem.

As expected, the Imperial mage exchanged glances with his colleagues and took a step back.

“Please speak.”

“Everyone in the Empire knows that my brother has been working hard, both materially and mentally, for my disposition. This time, the core examination result of Special Level 2 is thanks to the effort and sincerity shown by my brother and nothing else.”

The moment he saw Lucas’s gentle smile, Elias burst out laughing.

‘…It’s over.’

He had only just started speaking, but I could tell right away.

Adrian Askanian, who had lost the lead, had no choice but to move according to Lucas’s plan.

“Whether I was born with any disposition or not, I, who was educated and raised as a member of the Askanian family, do not sympathize with the ideology of the Pleroma. For the sake of my beliefs, and to prevent what you are worried about, I have been devoted to treatment with my brother, and as a result, I have been able to raise the stability of the core to the top 0.1% level in the Empire. Only with my magic power, without the magic power of others.”

And one more thing.

The public is facing Lucas speaking to them for the first time today.

People say that the class system must be abolished, but ridiculously, they admire nobility more than anyone else.

For example, the composure to maintain a smile even in this kind of cornered situation.

Regardless of personal opinions about status, Lucas had to regain the lost noble status in order to seize power in this society.

And….

The attitude that Lucas showed now would have perfectly satisfied the public’s desires.

Even Elias himself, who knew that Lucas had a 10-year gap, thought that perhaps Lucas had been perfectly educated and raised as a nobleman for 18 years.

“Many people know that I have a disposition to covet the magic power of others, but I am clarifying that this is not true now.”

“If it’s not true, how will you prove that?”

“I have asked the professor to request a core precision examination at the Bavarian Magic Medical Center. As soon as the results are announced, I will inform you, the citizens, of the facts. Also, I will do my best to resolve the anxiety of the citizens, so if you wish, I will broadcast the examination process.”

‘…Wow, I wonder how Adrian Askanian will get out of this.’

Wasn’t this the reason why he kept him locked up at home?

He judged that the person was so broken that he couldn’t function properly, so he sent him to school as a formality now.

No one knew that he would change so much like a different person, so Adrian Askanian would have thought the same.

“Lastly, I know that there are many concerns about me using magic. Even if I didn’t obtain magic power in an illegal way, I didn’t intend to reveal my magic if it would confuse society. But I cannot stand by and watch the Pleroma destroy the lives of the citizens as they do now. I promise that I will use magic to solve the calamities created by the Pleroma, only for the safety of the citizens.”

Lucas stopped speaking once and looked around at the reporters.

“Although it’s late, I will do my best for the duty that I haven’t been able to fulfill for the past 18 years as a member of the Empire.”

The students standing around Elias and the reporters gathered at the front gate were all quiet. Everyone was just watching the situation with blank faces.

Lucas gestured to the Imperial mage after finishing his words.

In Elias’s own judgment, the situation was completely, perfectly over.

Now only Adrian Askanian’s response remains.

Elias raised the corners of his mouth and moved his steps to find a newspaper stand in the school.

* * *

[Although it’s late, I will do my best for the duty that I haven’t been able to fulfill for the past 18 years as a member of the Empire.]

“……”

“Chief.”

No one could easily open their mouths.

Adrian Askanian’s golden hair covered his face, which was deeply bowed. Soon, his hair shook finely.

Seeing that, the members looked at each other with puzzled eyes.

They had never seen him cry in front of the members. No, they couldn’t be sure because of the hand pressing on his face, but it also seemed like he was smiling subtly.

Soon, Adrian Askanian muttered in a choked voice.

“It’s been over 10 years.”

“……”

The members exchanged glances and narrowed their brows.

It’s been over 10 years.

Since the rumors began to circulate that the chief’s family had a disposition of the Pleroma.

Adrian Askanian raised his head.

He was smiling with slightly bloodshot eyes.

“My brother grew up so much.”

“……”

Everyone in the Empire knew how hard Adrian Askanian had worked to get his brother out of the Pleroma disposition. Now that his efforts have paid off, no one could easily predict how he would feel.

Now, Adrian stopped talking to himself and began to use honorifics as if he were talking to the members.

“He has grown up really well. Don’t you think so?”

“…That’s right. Now that I see it, your brother really looks like you, Chief. I look forward to his future.”

“Haha, who among the new humans these days doesn’t look alike? Still….”

Adrian Askanian smiled as he stroked the Imperial newspaper with his hand.

The stopped video started playing again from the beginning.

“It’s amazing how similar he’s become. It was suspicious because he was so different, but it seems like we were related by blood after all.”

The members’ expressions softened a little with his more warm voice and smile.

Adrian Askanian checked his watch and asked.

“We moved to Florence now, right? Can you summon the reporters of the Imperial Newspaper in this area?”

“Yes, anything is possible with your words, Chief. Shall we make an appointment for tomorrow morning?”

“No, let’s call them right now.”

The members looked at Adrian with surprised faces.

“It’s 10 PM, Chief. You should rest now to go out from dawn. Your brother has already finished the situation well….”

“If I don’t say anything now, the people of the Empire will try to tear Lucas apart.”

“……”

“So I have to do what my brother wants as soon as possible.”

It’s already too late. It’s much too late.

But if it’s any later, I’ll be the one who gets completely bitten.

Adrian Askanian smiled without saying the last part out loud.

* * *

[Adrian Askanian, Vice Minister of Magic, “All of Lucas Askanian’s claims are true… Will prove it with objective data”]

“Adrian Askanian, Vice Minister of Magic, showed a humble attitude, saying that ‘all the results are thanks to Lucas Askanian’s efforts,’ and at the same time, conveyed his wish to refrain from attacking his brother by attaching the name of Pleroma…. Where did he learn such bullshit?”

Elias was lying on my bed, reading the article one word at a time.

Adrian Askanian retreated as expected.

I also moved to find the right line so that he would keep his line, so now we are both taking a step back and watching the situation.

“More than that, do you know that everyone is just talking about Lucas’s magic outside now~?”

“Is that so?”

Of course.

The Pleroma, who couldn’t use magic, one day made his core Special Level 2 and said that he would participate in the test to fight against the Pleroma, so there’s no way the story wouldn’t come out.

Just in time, Leo brought up the story of the test.

“Now, let’s see. It’s Saturday morning now, right?”

“Uh.”

“The first test is divided into two parts. The first test, 1-1, is tomorrow, Sunday, and the second test, 1-2, is next Friday.”

At those words, Elias just raised his head and asked.

“Isn’t it okay to just take out the second test and call it the 2nd test? Was the 4-test exam a bit burdensome after all?”

“That’s not it, there are no dropouts in the first test. In the second test, you move in pairs voluntarily, and the pass/fail is determined there. It’s team activity, so they’re going to look at the efficiency of joint attacks. Of course….”

Leo closed the book and looked at me.

“You know the system better than I do, Minister, so you don’t need me to explain it.”

The first test of the first test is not a proper test, but just an examination to measure individual skills.

The real one is the second test.

In actual activities, at least two people must be put in, so mages whose teamwork is difficult or whose skills deteriorate in that environment had to be pushed back.

Therefore, the real first test, which was implemented in the Kingdom of Bavaria, is the pair test of our school’s second test.

“You just put in what you had already created.”

“It’s not just the Bavarian system anymore, it’s the Empire standard now. Anyway, that’s fine… The key is the second test, which is less than a week away. How will you form a pair?”

“Oh? Then isn’t today the last chance to drink alcohol?”

“Stop drinking, you…. How many times a week do you even drink?”

“I’ve only drunk three times this week.”

“……”

Leo started swearing with his eyes.

Leo opened his mouth again.

“You only have to decide your partner by two days before the exam, but the problem is that everyone has already formed a team. So Lucas, I wanted to ask who you will team up with.”

“Hmm.”

It’s obvious why everyone has already formed a team.

Then Elias waved his hand and said.

“Lucas, let’s do it together!”

At those words, Narce smiled awkwardly.

“Haha, it doesn’t seem like Lucas wants to do it with any of us.”

“What?!”

That’s right.

I nodded and continued.

“If I start with you guys from the beginning, that’s a problem in itself. Everyone is already avoiding me right now, and if you guys, who are at the top of the practical skills, do it with me, who hasn’t been verified yet, it will be too obvious, right?”

“Hmm….”

Elias seemed to be thinking about it, then smacked his lips as if he was sad and nodded.

He seemed to have understood.

I asked Leo.

“You can form the group after the 1-1 test, right? Right?”

“That’s right. But your test score is a problem. Your partner’s score will be your score, so you’ll only lose if you do it with a student who isn’t good.”

“Hey, is Lucas in a position to worry about the test score~?”

“You can form a team among yourselves and submit the list to the professor. Don’t worry about me.”

I answered like that and roughly changed the topic.

I watched the three of them, who were talking hard on the topic I turned around, and opened the Status Window.

[Lucas Rene Askanian]

Title: Lord Nicolaus

Health: +3.2 (+0.2) [+6.2]

Mental Strength: +2.1 (+0.6)

Magic Power: ?

Skills: +4.5 (+0.1) [+7.5]

Impression: -9.8 (-0.2) [-7] [+8.01587849]

Luck: +3.6 (+0.3)

Traits: Dawn777, Divine Power, Charm (Lv.2), Retry (Lv.1)

The school impression score I checked before the incident was -3 points.

Now it’s….

-7 points.

It seemed that fear had played a role in me using magic.

At this point, I honestly need to upgrade my traits a bit.

The Charm trait is a trait that is often seen in leaders or those who wear that level of hat.

Adelbert, the Emperor, and my brother, and even Elias had that trait. It’s a bit much, but Ainsidel also had it.

At first, I was completely disappointed when I saw the name, but after seeing who had the trait, I started to want to raise it to the end.

Since I have to fix the Impression value for Lucas Askanian, it wouldn’t be bad to use some traits and go quickly.

‘The problem is that I don’t have enough points.’

[Charm Lv.2]

— ‘I want to get closer to you!’ Increases favorability of certain targets by 3 points

— ‘You must be right.’ Persuasiveness increases by 30%

— 3.0 points until the next level

* Points held: 2.0 points

* Luck 0.40 points until the next point

Right now, points only come out of the Luck value, but I don’t know where I should get the points after I reach 10 points.

‘But what kind of game usually has favorability?’

I don’t not know, but I feel strangely unfamiliar because I’ve never seen it in the games I used to play.

Of course, it’s beneficial to me if it’s there.

The more information, the better.

‘To raise the Luck value first… I guess I should go train.’

As I was thinking that and drank the car I had been drinking, white letters appeared in front of me.

〈 Chapter 6. Do what is right and fear no one 〉

[ Proposal 1: Favorability +300 within the time limit (0/300) (167 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds) ]

* Route 1 — 〈 +15.0 points 〉

* Route 2 — 〈 Proposal 2 〉

“Ptooey…!”

“What, what’s wrong, Lucas!”

“What’s wrong?”

Is he crazy? Is he crazy.

Is 300 the name of someone’s dog?

‘…How am I supposed to fill 300 points in a week?!’

But +15 points is pretty good.

This time, Route 2 is not particularly annoying, and is just marked as Proposal 2.

It means it’s a game worth trying.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep