Chapter 344

“Great. No changing your mind.”

I smirked and slapped Mecklenburg on the shoulder. Mecklenburg looked a bit displeased, but he forced a smile and spoke.

“Then what should we do now? You must have a plan in mind….”

“What are you asking? Pack your bags right now!”

“Now?”

Mecklenburg narrowed his eyes in confusion. Then, after thinking it over carefully, he nodded.

“…Right, it would be right to go now.”

***

It would be right to go now. Once we returned to the Imperial Second Academy, there would be no time for him to be in contact with me.

SLAP—

I smacked the train window with a rolled-up newspaper and spoke.

“A mosquito. It looks weak.”

“Ugh…. Could you just get rid of it quickly instead of talking?”

“Are you going to keep acting like a Hereditary Grand Duke? You are making such a fuss over a single mosquito.”

“What can I do if I hate them?”

Mecklenburg, who had moved far away to the end of the train seat, grumbled with a distorted smile. I felt that things were indeed a bit different when meeting as classmates compared to meeting as seniors and juniors. It might be because he had relaxed a little since I was acting so noisily.

I had enticed him to become stronger, but naturally, this guy was not going for that reason. He was going to catch me. In short, our goals were identical; we were all heading out with one heart and one mind to beat up those Pleroma mosquito bastards. Though this guy was planning to beat up the mosquito sitting in the seat in front of him, that was the gist of it. I looked out the window of the train bound for Munich, imagining the possibility of becoming a mosquito crushed to death by Mecklenburg.

“The school will be quite a sight tomorrow. The student council president and the one-week exchange student have both disappeared together.”

At the mention of being a one-week exchange student, Mecklenburg’s expression became subtle. It seemed to be because I called him that despite his title as Hereditary Grand Duke. He shook his head.

“I left a good excuse with my family, and I also notified the school, so it is fine.”

“What did you tell them?”

“You do not need to know, Lukas.”

“How cold.”

I rolled up my sleeves to adjust my clothes and smirked. The skin where the thin metal band had been was slightly discolored. Yes, I had undone it. After warping to the Bavarian border, we passed through the inspection with the consideration of the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz and were now taking a train to Munich. As for why I chose the train, it was to have at least thirty minutes to lower his guard and let him feel at ease.

And one more thing. Naturally, the fact that we received the Grand Duchy’s consideration was not something he openly announced to me. Mecklenburg wore round glasses and pulled his hat down low, trying his best to hide his identity in his own way. This guy was doing his best not to reveal his true intention—to catch Lukas Müller—to me.

‘You fool. Do you think they would let two high schoolers from the north pass through the southern border so easily just because they said they wanted to?’

Anyone could see that he had received help from his family. I wanted to tell him to stop the disguise acting now, but instead, I swallowed my words and burst into laughter.

“Why are you laughing?”

“The more I think about it, your eighteen-year-old self is just so… absurd.”

“I do not know what you mean.”

Of course you wouldn’t. This must be the best eighteen-year-old Albert Mecklenburg could do. The twenty-five-year-old Albert Mecklenburg likely wouldn’t act this clumsily, so it was new. As he always did, he dismissed my words as nonsense and let them go in one ear and out the other. I whistled, shoved my hands into my pockets, and asked.

“Albert. What do you want to do once you become strong?”

“…Once I become strong.”

He stared out the window for a long while, his lips trembling, before speaking in a faint voice.

“I will go to school and take an exam.”

“…….”

I nodded and looked into his eyes. What a boring fellow. To become strong and be recognized by everyone, to be loved more than Adrian Askanian…. It was to the point of being amazing and fascinating how much he wanted that. That desire did not disappear even by the time he was twenty-five, causing him to become quite twisted.

“What about you, Lukas?”

“I am going to become the strongest in the world.”

“So I am asking what you will do once you become strong….”

“Just becoming strong is meaningful. It is cool.”

“…….”

Mecklenburg turned his head with a face that showed he was having a reality check about whom he was trying to have a conversation with. It was an expression of looking at someone truly beyond help, so I felt a bit embarrassed for a moment.

The magic power for power source subtly laid out in the Munich train station touched my skin. I brought this clumsy guy, who was looking around as if it were his first time on a train, out of the station. The black sky at three in the morning was clear. Gas lights and magic power lights standing in various places brightly illuminated the downtown of Munich. Mecklenburg adjusted his glasses and looked at the city of Munich.

“To think I came to Munich…. It is my first time coming alone.”

“Am I not a person standing next to you?”

“Munich is indeed very prosperous. It is a big city, as expected. It would be nice if our Neustrelitz were this prosperous as well.”

Right, you are just going to keep saying whatever you want to say. I nodded beside him and spoke.

“You know what, Albert?”

“Yeah?”

“Actually, I do not know anyone here.”

“…….”

Mecklenburg’s mouth fell open as he considered the meaning of my words. He unknowingly dropped the carrier he was holding. I flicked my wand and lifted the carrier he had dropped.

“That won’t do. Someone might steal it if you are not careful.”

“That…! That is not what is important right now, is it?! You do not know anyone?! You clearly said there was someone who could take us to Munich-Freising or wherever!”

“I am happy to come on a trip with you.”

“You…!”

Mecklenburg, who had turned pale with a panicked face, grabbed me by the collar. I realized the easiest way to unmask Mecklenburg. I just had to act so recklessly that he couldn’t maintain the mask. Honestly, I was starting to feel a bit sorry now, but it couldn’t be helped. Mecklenburg’s hands trembled.

“You, you…! Even you are teasing me?! What are you planning to do…!”

“Did your friends tease you?”

“Is that what matters?!”

Mecklenburg’s magic power flared from his hands, making my skin sting. He was so flustered that he couldn’t control his magic power. And he was probably angry.

“It is a joke. Do not think about fighting, just wait. I give up.”

“We won’t know until we clash.”

His voice was the most sinister I had ever heard. Just as he was about to let go of my collar, I quickly grabbed both of his wrists. If I let go of these, he would pull out his wand.

“No, hey, you said you attend the Imperial Second Academy. How could I fight someone like you? We are in the middle of Munich, you ruling house bastard. Do you want to be dragged home? I do not want to see blood here. I am sorry. Okay?”

At the words I poured out frantically, Mecklenburg gritted his teeth with an even more annoyed expression. However, it was effective. Just how much does he like being flattered…. The moment I realized the strength in Mecklenburg’s hands had reached a stalemate, I hugged him and patted his back.

“You are the best. Yeah, the best, seriously. You won.”

“Ah, stop clinging to me!”

I was pushed away by Mecklenburg. He looked at me and spoke coldly.

“Tell me it is a joke. You couldn’t have come here without any thought.”

“Right, I did not come here completely without a plan.”

When I answered seriously, only then did Mecklenburg fall silent and catch his breath while glaring at me. He probably meant to hear what I had to say.

“You have two choices, Albert. First, graveyard plus blood. Second, people.”

Even though he wouldn’t know what it meant, or perhaps because he didn’t, Mecklenburg held his forehead as soon as he heard those words. No expectation or hope could be found on his face anymore. He muttered in a pained voice.

“…It seems I was blinded by something strange for a moment. I must be crazy….”

Right, you know yourself well too. A guy who follows this far is no ordinary guy either. Since your inferiority complex is so severe…. I do not understand it, but since we have become Pleroma comrades for now, I am trying to understand. When I patted his back, Mecklenburg irritably brushed off my arm.

“…People. I will go with people. I do not know what kind of plan you have, but whatever it is, it must be more moderate than blood.”

“A good choice.”

I immediately dragged Mecklenburg back into the station. When I tried to enter the bathroom, even the last bit of composure Mecklenburg had left completely vanished. He seemed to not want to even step foot in a station bathroom, as he was horrified and said he would wait in the station building. After quickly changing my clothes and coming out, Mecklenburg, who was waiting for me, raised his eyebrows.

“…Oh.”

“How is it?”

“It suits you well.”

Pretending to be kind again. I laughed lightly and properly adjusted the black leather gloves that had become awkward after three days. The suit I often wore while active as Nicolaus was in the carrier; at first, I wondered why they gave it to me since it was a burdensome outfit for a lower-ranking noble high schooler to wear. I would make good use of it now. Mecklenburg looked me over and asked.

“But why did you change your clothes all of a sudden?”

“Because you chose people.”

Mecklenburg narrowed his eyes with a questioning smile.

From now on, I had to find those who were already Pleroma even in 1891. Now was a time when negative perceptions of the Pleroma had already spread widely, unlike in 1886. However, even so, it was not at the level where everyone feared them like in 1898; they were regarded as a troublesome and dangerous heresy.

I came out of the station holding a warp coordinate book and spoke cheerfully as I did at school.

“Since you like common-sense people, I will act with common sense too. The sight you will see from now on will be perfectly sensible. Do not worry.”

“…I am glad it seems I chose correctly. Then why did you mention graveyard plus blood?”

“Except for the fact that it takes some time and there is a high risk of being caught by the police, that is not bad either.”

I trailed off while opening the coordinate book. Then, Mecklenburg hastily snatched my coordinate book away.

“Wait! Tell me where you are going before you go. Explain everything to me.”

“We are going to the houses of factory owners from now on.”

I finished speaking and snatched the warp coordinate book back. Mecklenburg shook his head and waved his hand as if he had given up on understanding. It meant he was letting me do as I pleased.

There are Pleroma members in the Bavarian government too. I knew who they were, but I would not look for them now. It would be nice if they were in the Pleroma even now, seven years ago, but honestly, based on various grounds, the possibility was low.

Instead, I would look for the owners of small factories who would become owners of respectable businesses in the future. It was said that there were Pleroma members in the Bavarian business world as well. Naturally, Bavaria was monitoring them too, and I remembered the materials that tracked their pasts. Of course, among them, I had to find those who had continued Pleroma activities from before this point, not people who newly joined within the seven-year gap….

“There are six places. Let us visit them all.”

Speaking boldly, I grabbed Mecklenburg’s hand and memorized the warp coordinates. When I opened my eyes again, a different floor from before spread out in my view, and Mecklenburg’s shoes were before my eyes. He pulled up one of my arms and asked in a flustered voice.

“…What kind of mage cannot even warp while standing? Come to think of it, it was strange when we warped to the border earlier too…. You were definitely first place in everything for the past three days.”

“What does being first place have to do with warping?”

I truly cannot understand your way of thinking. I grabbed Mecklenburg’s clothes and stood up. He supported my shoulder and crumpled his face. Seeing that expression, I snickered and asked.

“If you are going to hate it so much, why are you supporting me?”

“Say that after looking at your complexion.”

“Right, thanks.”

I searched my mind for their data—especially their past residence records—as I looked for the houses. I went in front of a shabby apartment building, pulled the doorknob a couple of times, let go, and called for someone. Then, a chubby middle-aged Old Human with brown hair came out while rubbing his eyes and scanned us with an unpleasant look. He quickly adjusted his expression upon seeing my appearance, seemingly convinced we were nobles.

“Are you the landlord?”

“Yes, it is me. What is the matter here…?”

“Moment, stay. You are so beautiful.”

“…….”

“You know, don’t you.”

Silence flowed. For a moment, it seemed his sense of absurdity had vanished and he was stunned, but Mecklenburg, who quickly regained his senses, cast sound insulation magic and spoke coldly.

“What are you doing? It is embarrassing.”

“Could you consistently pretend to be kind?”

As expected, the landlord tilted his head with an ambiguous smile.

“It is Faust. What do you want to say at this hour of the morning, sir?”

Yes, this was the first attempt.

“It is Faust? But why are you telling me that….”

In the house I found five minutes later, an old man wearing glasses answered as if it were absurd. The second attempt was the same, and I immediately turned back and opened the coordinate book. And then, the third attempt. An Old Human with a thin and nervous impression examined us thoroughly and then turned around.

“Please come in.”

“…!”

Mecklenburg crumpled his eyebrows at those words. He then cast sound insulation magic and asked.

“What was that just now?”

“A Pleroma baptism incantation.”

“What?! How do you….”

I spread my hand and cut him off. Right on cue, the landlord, who was walking ahead in the dark, asked in a low voice.

“Where did you come from?”

“Berlin. If you are asking where I just came from, I came from Salzburg.”

“You have returned from Austria-Hungary. However, you both surely know that is not what I meant.”

I suppose so. Your question must mean which Pleroma diocese we came from. I answered calmly.

“We are not believers.”

WHOOSH—

In the darkness, the reflected light of metal moved, leaving a lingering image. A muzzle was thrust before my eyes, and along with it, Mecklenburg’s wand was pointed toward the landlord. Seeing the reaction speed, his skill was indeed worth admiring. I continued speaking while looking at the small scratches left on the muzzle as if it had been used for a long time.

“However, you can make us believers.”

“Nonsense.”

“I thought you people would be active in missionary work.”

“Of course we are active. However, is there a reason to be active toward someone who comes seeking in this way at this hour of the morning? Where did you find out that I am Pleroma?”

“I did not know. However, I heard in Salzburg that one of the Christian sects in Munich called Pleroma could lead us to the world of eternal life, and I only heard that one could enter there through someone among the businessmen in Munich.”

“…….”

“The information I heard about that person is more specific than what I just said, but since it was not clear, we have already visited several factory owners previously. If you cannot believe my words, go to a newspaper office as soon as it gets light and take out a personal ad. Ask if anyone has seen two mages who recited passages from Faust in the middle of the night. You will surely be contacted.”

Silence followed. The gun gradually lowered. The landlord spoke after putting the gun into his holster.

“I do not know where you heard such news.”

“So, are you not the one? We came all the way from Salzburg to receive the blessing of eternal life.”

Seeing the words flow smoothly, I saw Mecklenburg’s expression gradually stiffen. As expected, no matter how I look at it, this guy has a weak spirit. The landlord gave no interest to Mecklenburg and spoke while staring only at me.

“I am not in charge of missionary work. Moreover, I cannot understand how such a rumor spread across the border. Even if it is right next door.”

“You are not in charge of missionary work, meaning you are indeed part of the Pleroma.”

“I became a deacon not long ago.”

Even as he spoke, he examined us with a face that could not let go of suspicion. The gun was still in his hand, and I could see tension in his arm. Since his evaluation of us was still ambiguous, he planned to shoot at any moment. I knew the hostility contained in his glistening pupils. I looked around and then at the ledger placed on the desk.

“Congratulations. More than that, you run a business, don’t you? Since you are a factory owner.”

“…….”

“I can give you a little help.”

***

Money is right. This was what Elias had taught me before. I properly remember his crazy act of spending 50 million won in Korean currency value to recruit Eric Assmann. Since it was allowance he had collected by squeezing it out of his father—the money of the Hohenzollern Imperial Family—he was able to spend it lavishly without regret, but hadn’t the system given me a terrifyingly large amount of money in the carrier this time? It is not my money, it is the system’s money. Then what should I do? I must use it.

“Was it common sense?”

Mecklenburg muttered that beside me, looking as if his soul had been drained throughout this morning. In short, we succeeded, and we were now in the world of the Pleroma. I patted Mecklenburg’s shoulder. This guy turned pale even though he had caught the opportunity to throw me into a iron cage as a Pleroma.

“It is smooth, isn’t it? That is why I told you to just trust me. We made it this far in half a day.”

“Sigh….”

Mecklenburg bit his lip. It was too late to regret now. I snickered and looked ahead. Right on cue, the priest who was leading us to the education center turned around.

“We have arrived.”

We passed through a dark passage and stood before a black wooden door. The priest continued speaking while looking at us.

“You seem to be very nervous. Preliminary believer education is held at any time. Especially if it is someone Deacon Paul knows, that is even more so.”

“I am a little worried since we are both from Berlin.”

I acted slyly instead of the stiff Mecklenburg. The priest shook his head firmly.

“Of course, it would be easier to adapt if you were from Bavaria, but there is no problem. We have someone from Prussia in our Munich-Freising as well. He is even a Junker.”

CREAK—

“There he is.”

The priest pointed to someone seated. Among the numerous people in the dark room, there was someone with snow-white hair reaching their waist tied up high. That mage, who had empty blue eyes, turned their head toward me. That face that was not like a human, and hard to forget once seen, became fixed on me.

“…….”

Could I fail to recognize them? I felt as if all the sounds of the world were being extinguished. He stared at me intently without even blinking once, then spoke in his characteristic languid and soulless voice.

“You look familiar.”

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