I didn’t answer, but he seemed to interpret my expression and laughed weakly.

“Did you think I wouldn’t know? You walk around when everyone else Warps at school, and when you need to Warp, you send us away and only take Narce with you. How could I not know? You were Warping here and there just three days ago without any problem, why would you suddenly have to do that?”

“……”

“There’s no way you developed a trauma about Warping when nothing happened. You probably became sensitive right after falling into the trap. It’s not just that you sensed something strange outside the door, you actually fell inside, and… having experienced something, you naturally wouldn’t want to Warp alone anymore.”

I remained lost in thought for a moment, then opened my mouth.

“Why you?”

If someone had to know that I had something different from others, it should have been Narce, not Leo.

But in a situation where his Insight ability wasn’t working, how did Leo find out something that even Narce didn’t know?

Leo was silent at my words, then gave a faint laugh.

“That hurts.”

“…Sorry. That wasn’t my intention.”

“Why other friends don’t know and only I do, I don’t know either. I’m also confused right now. The information from other times that comes to me while I’m with you is overflowing, and I don’t have the mental capacity to handle it. Still, if I were to talk about a similar case I know…”

Leo said, stroking his chin.

“Lucas, I have a talent for Magic Medical.”

“…? Okay…”

“…No, I’m not trying to brag… Listen to the end.”

Leo cleared his throat and continued.

“Having talent in Magic Medical means my Magic Power has low aggression. Most Magic Power has aggression as its basic characteristic, so it causes noticeable changes just by touching other Magic Power. But mine doesn’t. I have a constitution that is completely disadvantageous for combat magic. If I don’t consciously control it, my Magic Power partially permeates the opponent’s Magic Power instead of fully attacking them.”

I know.

It’s perhaps a power similar to Divine Power, but it’s an ability that Leo in the novel cursed his whole life.

“But that’s it. I said it ‘partially’ permeates. No matter how suitable my constitution is for Magic Medical, if I don’t put in blood, sweat, and tears, my healing magic partially attacks the opponent. Lucas, have you ever seen me use healing magic on someone else?”

“Come to think of it… no.”

“That’s right. I didn’t intend to use it on people until my skill was perfect. The first time I used it was to support you in the catacombs. But at that time, you didn’t feel any repulsion from my imperfect healing magic, did you?”

That’s right. I didn’t answer, but Leo seemed to know it well already and continued speaking.

“Furthermore, that was before I formally learned Magic Medical. Even now, while I’m learning, my healing magic doesn’t fully work on the person with the most similar nature to me, that is, my mother, but how can my Magic Power have an effect similar to Divine Power on you?”

“…Right. There must be a reason.”

“I don’t know what the reason is, but I think it’s related to this. My knowing your ability, which even Narce’s ability cannot access, and my healing magic, which even attacks my mother, fully working on you… there must be a connection.”

Leo thought for a moment, then opened his mouth.

“Lucas. How old were you when you first met me?”

“…Hmm. I was 6. To be precise, it was after my birthday, so I was 7. You were 6.”

Strictly speaking, that’s not me, but…

If I were to distinguish, I met him for the first time last year.

“Is that right?”

“Of course it’s right. When else would I have seen you before that? Even if I did, it was only briefly. You’ve interacted with Prussia and Baden since childhood, but you haven’t really interacted with Anhalt.”

“…Well, that’s true. If you don’t know, that’s fine. I just asked in case.”

After that, the topic naturally ended, and no one spoke.

Only the sound of the fireplace crackling was heard.

Soon, Leo seemed to remember something and smiled, making a veiled threat.

“Lucas. From now on, turning back time won’t work.”

“…I know…”

He must be talking about the promise.

While I was at it, I asked something I had been curious about since earlier.

“Leo. Do you remember everything about the conversation we had earlier?”

“Yes.”

“……”

Then he remembers not just the conversation, but everything he saw?

He shouldn’t have seen it directly, but I’ve left a bad memory for a guy who hasn’t even grown up fully yet. Even I relive the scene every time I look at my hands. No matter that it wasn’t something he experienced himself, he couldn’t have seen the blood-soaked room without being shocked.

I changed the subject before he could think too deeply.

“Come to think of it, what time is it now?”

“It’s 12 now.”

“…Wait. This isn’t school. What about roll call? Why are you here?”

“I got permission to come check on you. Narce also got permission because he can use Divine Power.”

“…?”

Leo smiled gently, like he does with his school friends.

“Lucas.”

“……”

“You’ll have to commute from this building from now on.”

Here? Commute?

There are plenty of decent dormitories on a campus the size of two towns, why would I commute?

And now that I look, the room is completely Bavarian style. Everywhere I look, there are navy items and lion decorations. Surely they don’t expect me to take the train all the way here from Bavaria every day?

“…Where is this place, you bastard…? A 16-hour round trip a day is ridiculous. Just tell me straight if you’re going to tell me.”

“It’s Berlin. I bought some land. It’s a mansion the Bavarian royal family used every time they visited the capital… The school is hesitant about putting you back in the dorms because they’re worried something might happen again, and they’re looking for someone to pass the responsibility to.”

“So you took it?”

“I had to. I’m the Class President.”

“……”

He’s been milking that Class President title for a long, long time.

He had such a perfectly kind smile that hitting him felt wrong, and it seemed like a decision he made after thinking about it himself, so it was difficult to say anything.

“You won’t be able to travel on foot. Narce and I have agreed to Warp you morning and evening, so don’t worry about commuting.”

“I can’t walk out? What are you deciding on your own…?”

“If you’re going to walk out, it’s safer to stay in the dorms. There are seven layers of barriers and only three people, including staff, in this building. The space itself will be much safer than the school, so isn’t that a good thing?”

Who the hell does he think he is, controlling even my going out?

But he’s right. Since I’m completely out of school grounds, it’s true that walking out is more dangerous. Unless I want to cause trouble by sending news of the Anhalt second son’s accident to Bavaria… I need to be careful.

I just smiled and looked at him. Leo said calmly, as if he expected me to react this way.

“So, you said you’d keep your promise, right?”

“……”

“Well… honestly, I’ve been preparing this for a while. I thought you probably wouldn’t keep your promise very well? Even so, I didn’t expect you to leave things like that.”

Even after he said that, I let out a hollow laugh, and Leo shrugged.

“Hmm, for your information, all the dorm rooms at school have been changed to 4 people per room now. 1 person per room is difficult to figure out immediately if something happens… and it’s also easy to become a target for crime.”

“…!”

Not even 2 people, but 4?

They want four people to share one room? Is he serious?

If so, that changes things.

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

Leo replied with a bright smile.

I let out a hollow laugh and leaned back against the headboard.

“Even so, do you have to go this far? Anhalt has a building in Berlin too, why would Bavaria provide support? I understand you abused… no, used your Class President position, but openly helping Lucas’s identity, when you’re not even Nicolaus, is a bit much.”

“……”

Leo gave a meaningful smile and looked away.

I gave up trying to talk and just shook my head.

I don’t know.

Anyway, if I get an entire building to myself, it’s my gain. If Elias and Narce had pulled this stunt, maybe not, but Leo must have his reasons.

‘Or not. Does he?’

Is this the second handshake incident?

I thought that far and decided to just empty my mind.

Still, this is quite clean. When I asked what would happen if I didn’t keep my promise and he asked back ‘what do you think would happen?’, I was a bit doubtful, but it’s a relief.

“Lucas. Earlier, you said ‘what do you think would happen?'”

“……”

It’s not over?

Leo picked up a small box from the pile of documents and stood up.

That smile somehow felt chilling.

“Come out for a moment.”

* * *

“Did you honestly not get yelled at by His Majesty the King?”

I muttered, entering and looking around the garden within the mansion grounds.

Moonlight passed through the transparent glass ceiling, illuminating the plants in the garden with a soft, faint light. The contrast between the moonlight and shadows was like looking at a calm painting. The sound of water coming from somewhere in the garden only deepened the stillness.

It felt like time had stopped here.

‘How can one person use this space alone?’

“It’s in my name.”

“……”

Every time I say something, I hit a wall like this.

Right. He’s the King’s only child, so he can own buildings already… Especially since it’s the second most powerful nation in the Empire, is it used by the Crown Prince because he has nothing?

‘Still, Lucas doesn’t have anything yet, I’m jealous?’

With Luca’s name being my name now, it’s a bit regrettable.

Since the money I earned as Nicolaus is also poured back into the Bavarian treasury, I don’t actually own any buildings I’ve bought. Still, seeing this makes me think I should buy a mansion in Berlin if the Pleroma madness ends and less budget is needed.

‘Can I buy this building?’

Probably not. They use it for the Royal Family, they’d be crazy to sell it.

Leo walked into the garden interior as if he was used to it, saying.

“Still, I’ll probably get yelled at. But if I say I lent it to Nicolaus, Mother won’t say anything. His Majesty likes Nicolaus more than his own child.”

Is he… subtly hinting that I’ve monopolized his mother’s affection?

Of course, it’s not that much, but I’m grateful that His Majesty the King tries to accommodate me. That’s why he gave me the positions of Special Commissioner and Head of the Countermeasure Headquarters.

The growing influence of Nicolaus in the Empire, beyond Bavaria, is also largely thanks to his help.

Leo stopped somewhere and shot Magic Power towards the ceiling of the garden.

An artifact that converts Magic Power into light was hanging above. Only then did the white wooden table and chairs become visible.

Leo sat down on a chair and said.

“Since you came here, does your Core feel lighter?”

“Yeah.”

“All the plants here were made with our family’s Magic Power.”

Magic Medical requires life force, and most of the Wittelsbach’s Magic Power and unique abilities are related to life force.

Or so it’s known. Leo also has the ability to freely draw out and return plant life force.

“Even so, not all of them have unique abilities related to life force. You must have a significant share in this.”

“Yeah. Anyway… since this is a space infused with Wittelsbach magic, if you’re looking for a healing space, this place is the best, more so than the room you were lying in earlier. I also came here because I need this space’s life force.”

I see. I leaned back against the headrest and inhaled.

My pulse, which had quickened after turning back time, slowly began to slow down.

It’s comfortable.

It’s been a while since I’ve had such rest. Starting tomorrow, I have to get the homeroom professor out of the prosecutor’s office, and the third exam is coming up soon, so I don’t know when I’ll be able to rest again. I need to savor this moment.

The only thing bothering me right now is that I don’t know what he’ll demand as the price for breaking the promise, on top of commuting.

‘If it’s something ridiculous… it would be hard to accept, no matter what. Separate from feeling sorry for not keeping my promise.’

Of course, it would be hard to find another topic as shocking as suddenly losing my dorm and having to commute. Ultimately, even though escaping the 4-person room was a gain, it was still absurd, so I’ve built up a tolerance.

I finished preparing myself mentally and opened my mouth.

“Why did you come here? The fact that this space’s life force is necessary for you probably doesn’t just mean you’re resting.”

“Hmm, as expected, you’re always accurate, Lucas.”

Leo smiled faintly and adjusted his posture to be more comfortable.

“Before, in the catacombs, you used magic on Senior Richthofen and the Chairman’s Cores.”

“…I did.”

I knew immediately.

He’s talking about the Subordination magic.

Of course, it’s a magic I developed myself, so it’s not known by that name.

But the name isn’t important. That magic overlays my Magic Power on the target’s Core, allowing me to attack the Core at any time.

He must have seen the reactions of Richthofen and the Chairman of the National Assembly and knew what effect it had on them.

In short, this guy is trying to bind my Core with his Magic Power. He doesn’t think I’ll stay inside this mansion.

I laughed and lowered my voice.

“Is it because you’re a model student that you’re trying to get permission for this directly? Just so you know, you have to use that kind of threatening magic by surprise, Leo.”

“Haha…”

“And you can only cast that magic with Divine Power, how are you going to do it? Why don’t you just trust me? It’s not like I go looking for danger.”

Leo tilted his head at my words.

“I’ve trusted you since last year, Lucas.”

“……”

“Yeah. You can only cast it with Divine Power. Magic Power would easily scatter. Plus, it wouldn’t be effective if cast by someone with a lower rank than you.”

He knows well.

But there must be a reason why he is so nonchalant.

Thinking that, I crossed my arms and observed him. The moment I did, he opened the box he had brought and pushed it towards me.

“You said how would I do it since you can’t use Divine Power?”

“……”

“It’s possible with just your agreement.”

I froze, looking at the box he held out.

Silence flowed.

Just like before, Leo smiled with the peculiar smile he only showed to school friends and said.

“Lucas, shall we pierce your ears?”

“……”

I held my forehead.

Perhaps understanding the meaning of my actions, Leo, still maintaining a soft tone, pointed to my wrist and neck.

“You’re probably the only one in the entire school wearing artifacts like that. It’s time to move to the position you originally wanted.”

Right.

I thought about this when I first came here too.

Early mages cut their skin and inserted chip-shaped artifacts, then sewed the skin back together to become stronger. It seems a bit—in my opinion, a lot—crazy, but since the effect of artifacts here improves the closer they are to blood, I understand.

However, mages are still human, and they wanted to find a less repulsive method while still utilizing 100% of the artifact’s effect.

‘They’re ridiculously greedy.’

What mages chose for that was the ear.

Since it had been used for thousands of years globally as a place to put jewelry, it was at least less repulsive than artifact suturing.

Even Leo has his ears pierced and wears artifacts there, so there’s no need to explain how widespread this culture is. Truly, as he said, among all the students, only I am still wearing artifacts like watches.

So when I first came here, I considered piercing my ears but decided against it because it was a place easily noticed by my brother, and replaced it with necklaces and watches instead.

‘This is why I came all the way here to see the artifact effects properly.’

As that thought reached me, I felt that the garden he created was completely alleviating my fatigue. There was no loophole to escape by blaming fatigue.

I changed my mind and lifted my head.

“Hmm, this must be how you access my Core?”

“Yeah.”

I picked up the box with one hand and examined the artifact. With the other hand, I reached for my Wand at my waist.

It’s an artifact windfall. Besides, Yulia also gave me an artifact yesterday, based on the date. The artifact she gave me was destroyed during the baptism in the previous timeline, but thanks to turning back time, it’s now properly on my chest.

By the way, my opinion that ‘threatening magic must be cast by surprise’ hasn’t changed. I feel a bit sorry, but if I were in Leo’s position, I would have just pierced them while he was sleeping.

I closed the lid and pushed it towards Leo.

“Nice technique.”

And, immediately, I pulled out my Wand with my right hand and shouted.

―I can do all things through him who strengthens me!

“…?!”

Leo looked startled, then desperately grabbed his Core with an expression of horror.

I looked down at him, who had opened his mouth and hunched his shoulders from the sudden attack, and let out a light laugh.

“…This is how you do it. Understand? Not by getting permission.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep