Ding!

“Suggestion: Life is Yours! Find What You Need to Do.” Achieved: 3/3!

Congratulations!

“Suggestion: Life is Yours! Find What You Need to Do.” Success!

‘Chapter 1. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (1)’ Completed!

‘Route 1 — 〈Chapter 2. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (2)〉’ Confirmed.

“Finally, it feels better.”

I touched my newly cut short hair.

Yes, this is it. If you’re going to grow your hair, trim it as it grows, or just cut it off.

Ruka, having neglected it for so long without any intention of growing it, looked like a complete mess.

‘At least now I look less shabby.’

Instead of the droopy face that came out unconsciously, I looked in the mirror with no expression.

Unexpectedly, I looked quite decent.

Though my skin was pale, eating well and exercising diligently to bring some color back would make me look much better.

I left the shop and thanked the student following a step behind me.

“Thanks for escorting me. So, we’re in the same class?”

“…Y-Yeah. At our school, you stay in the same class until you graduate, Lucas… You didn’t know?”

“I knew that.”

Since the protagonist was a student here, I knew such information from the novel.

“Oh, really…? Haha! I didn’t realize. Haha…”

“So, what’s your name?”

“Me?! I-I’m Melvin. But why do you ask…?”

Can’t even ask a classmate’s name, huh?

And why is he trembling so much?

Feeling like a bully shaking down a kid, I just closed my mouth.

I didn’t think much seeing everyone avoiding me, but seeing him tremble one-on-one made me feel oddly guilty.

As we arrived in front of a building, Melvin, his face brightening, pointed at it.

“This is the dorm. I’ll go now, see you in class tomorrow.”

“Hey, wait a minute.”

“Huh…?”

“Where do I go to find my room?”

Melvin, looking near death, led me to the administration office while keeping as much distance as possible.

‘His reaction is funny.’

The guilt was fleeting.

Having already adjusted to such reactions, I waved with a smile.

Curious about the level, I checked the likability score, and it was predictably at -10.

“Thanks. See you later.”

“Y-Yeah… I’ll really go now…!”

Before I could respond, he ran down the corridor.

In the administration office, I asked about my room number and found my way there. Opening the door, my luggage sent from home was already inside.

“Guess I’ll start with organizing.”

The luggage included a few clothes, books for classes, writing tools, and some medicine. Even the wand, useless to Luca, was tucked away in a corner.

After throwing everything into the wardrobe and desk, the only thing left was the medicine box.

Suppressing the urge to kick the box, I opened the lid. On the black cloth, shielding it from light, lay a cream-colored letter.

I didn’t need to check to know who sent it.

I tore open the envelope and pulled out the letter.

[To my dear brother.]

[Hello. By the time you read this, you’ll already be at school. You can’t imagine how worried I was when you collapsed like that. I wish I could have stayed by your side, but I had to leave early. I didn’t know the medicine would hurt you so much. Please forgive me.]

That apology was the lightest in the world. Knowing Luca’s fate, I could only laugh.

The rest of the letter contained updates about father, what he said about me, and useless advice to raise my grades to average.

Reading with dull eyes, I finally reached the end of the letter.

[Though I nagged a bit, I believe you know what to prioritize. Always put your health first. Especially these days, there seems to be a lot of change, so let me know if anything happens.]

[May God’s blessing always be with you.

Sincerely, your brother.]

A plain, useless letter.

His persistence in writing such a long letter just to appear nice was palpable.

My eyes fell on the most noticeable sentence.

[I believe you know what to prioritize.]

Yes, I do.

I dumped the box into the drawer and locked it.

The poor soul that would drink this medicine was no longer your brother.

‘I’d like to just throw it away…’

But I can’t.

To incriminate my brother, I need some of this as evidence.

Depending on the remaining effect of the medicine, my plans might change, so for now, I need to check how much magic I can use.

‘Three days ago, my brother made me drink a bottle.’

It was practically spat out immediately, so it wouldn’t matter. The last time I drank two bottles consecutively was four days ago.

Since the medicine is taken weekly, its effect should be significantly reduced.

So, let’s try using magic.

‘…But.’

It’s been so long since I last used it. Was I twelve?

Anyway, I was born into a mage family, with just a slightly closed core, so I should manage.

I stretched my hand out.

*Ping!*

At that moment, red magic flickered. Before I could be surprised by the unfamiliar magic, a sharp pain shot through my heart.

“Ugh…!”

It really works. My knees buckled under the pain. It was hard to stand.

‘This is with the medicine’s effect weakened…’

Feeding such a thing to your brother and still sleeping soundly at night, huh?

It was absurd even as a reader, but experiencing it firsthand was even more so. I could only laugh in disbelief.

‘Anyway, the plan is on track.’

Today is the last weekday.

The weekend starts tomorrow. By then, the medicine’s effect will be completely gone.

Despite the cold sweat, I laughed.

Yes. First, let’s get Leo on my side.

* * *

The next morning, stepping out of my room, I encountered students preparing for school.

‘Surprisingly, they don’t avoid me?’

Amazed at the unexpected situation, I looked around.

Then a student walked by nonchalantly, saw my face, and quickly ran off in surprise.

Even in the crowded dormitory lobby, it was the same.

‘…’

It wasn’t that they weren’t avoiding me; they didn’t recognize me.

How to Survive as the Second Son of a Magic Family (4)

Today, having always appeared disheveled, I showed up with my hair neatly trimmed, causing a delayed reaction from the students who have always avoided and despised Luca.

Adding insult to injury—unlike the outside world, which just avoided him—some students at the school were more daring, openly ignoring and insulting Luca.

There are three main reasons for this:

First, because of the Pleroma rumors.

Second, because Luca, who can’t use magic, got into the magic department through donation admission.

Finally, because a student with strong influence at the school particularly hates me.

And… that student is Leo.

‘I’ve got a long way to go.’

Leo has excellent social relationships, grades, and conduct, making him well-established in the school. His magical abilities are also top-tier.

Given that someone like him openly hates Luca, it was taken as a sign by some bold but less refined students that it was safe to bully Luca.

That’s why memories of blatant contempt and ridicule remain in Luca’s mind.

However, the situation isn’t entirely hopeless.

While investigating Luca’s death, Leo confides in the protagonist about his past.

Unknown to Luca, Leo had seen Luca before he was seriously bullied by his brother.

Leo, who came from a family of medical practitioners and had minimal talent for ordinary magic, started devoting himself to magic after witnessing Luca’s magic.

Having had a positive impression of Luca from a young age, Leo didn’t fully believe the Pleroma rumors.

But this led to backlash on Luca.

‘Having great talent yet yielding to strange rumors seemed foolish, so I treated him brusquely.’

Leo confides this to the protagonist while investigating Luca’s death. And right now is likely the ‘brusque treatment’ period.

‘How did I get involved in such trouble…’

But this could work in my favor.

Regardless of the type of emotion, it’s better to have strong feelings than indifference.

Maintaining that intensity while dramatically reversing its direction can be advantageous.

Creak—

As I entered, the noisy classroom fell silent in an instant.

The surprise from seeing me looking different from usual was evident in their reactions.

Ignoring their stares, I found a seat at the back.

I felt a sharp gaze from afar.

“Well, look who decided to live longer.”

A cynical voice reached my ears.

I silently took out a book, chuckling inwardly.

‘All it took was a haircut for me to hear that I’ll live longer…’

What kind of state had I been in for the past year?

Anyway, it’s obvious who spoke those words.

I lifted my head to look at him.

A student surrounded by friends was resting his chin on his hand, glaring coldly at me.

With wheat-colored blond hair, blue eyes, gentle downward-sloping eyes, and a firmly set mouth, his immaculate appearance screamed ‘model student.’

Even without Luca’s memories, I could immediately recognize him.

That student is Leo.

Ding!

‘Route 1 — 〈Chapter 2〉 has begun.

「Chapter 2. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (2)」

〈Chapter 2. If You Help Yourself, God Will Help You (2) 〉

Suggestion: Make ‘Leonard Wittelsbach’ your ally. (0/1) (167 hours 59 minutes 58 seconds)

* Route 1 ― 〈Chapter 3. Undecided (1) 〉

* Route 2 ― 〈Death 〉

‘…Death.’

167 hours 59 minutes, one week.

This quest is casually suggesting such madness.

I found myself breathless.

‘No.’

Even with a one-week deadline, there’s a chance. Being in the same class as Leo now, I’m confident I won’t fail this suggestion.

I broke eye contact with Leo’s piercing blue eyes and sat down.

* * *

“Good morning, students. Did you have a good vacation?”

The professor greeted energetically, placing the attendance book on the lectern.

Unlike the professor’s enthusiasm, the students’ reactions were lukewarm.

Unperturbed, the professor continued introducing the class.

“You should know from last year, this class is about learning the history of magic.”

A light subject for the first class, I liked it.

As the professor’s explanation continued, I leaned back, emptying my mind.

When our eyes met earlier, I quickly checked Leo’s favorability, which was -8.

Higher than most students here, who are at -10, but still a negative number.

To make Leo an ally within 168 hours, one week, I needed to speed up my existing plan.

I scribbled something in my notebook, then checked the time. Despite an hour passing, the class showed no sign of ending.

“This is the cornerstone that allows us to pioneer the future through understanding the past. We can autonomously navigate life by facing the microcosm of ourselves…”

“……”

Is it okay to talk like this for an hour in high school?

I stopped looking at my notebook and scanned the room. Most students were already zoning out, doing their own thing.

Clap—

The professor clapped his hands, drawing the students’ attention.

“Now, everyone. Focus. I have one last question. What is the meeting that decided magic-wielders must attend the annual Eucharist? Anyone who gets it right will receive full marks for attendance this semester.”

“The professor is at it again… How are we supposed to know that when we haven’t properly learned it yet.”

“What does he expect.”

The students in front of me whispered almost inaudibly.

Despite the distance, that boldness…

You can only have such an attitude if you look down on the teacher.

‘Reminds me of high school…’

Once you’re seen as a pushover, it doesn’t matter if you’re a teacher or not.

Feeling a bit sorry, I listened to the professor.

“This won’t be on the test. But knowing this is part of being a proud student of our 2nd Imperial Academy. It’s an important event that reveals the origin of our divine power. Doesn’t anyone know?”

Naturally, the classroom was silent.

I reviewed the routes of action I scribbled in my notebook, lost in thought.

Second-year, first class, first period.

This is not a bad time to start the plan for the suggestion and decide my course of action going forward.

‘Shall I give it a try?’

Should I act as I did at home here in school as well?

I had already shown uncharacteristic behavior to the student who guided me, but that was just to one person. I could still change direction now.

Besides, the professor’s question came from the divine power books I memorized tediously on my way here.

Knowing the answer, it’s a good opportunity to use.

‘Is there any prompt?’

I pulled up the quest window just in case.

No suggestions other than making Leo an ally.

It pops up for useless things but not when needed…

‘Fine.’

Once is enough.

I read in the newspaper yesterday that my brother’s royal magician group left for the papal state.

It’ll take at least a year for him to finish his task, and since teleportation magic between countries is banned, he would have to travel by carriage or train to return.

Given the circumstances, he wouldn’t return just to lock me in the basement.

‘And… it was my brother who first told me to improve my grades.’

He’s the one who scared me into doing what he says, so if I follow his orders, how could he find fault with it?

Answering a question in class should be cautious but wouldn’t trigger direct action.

This is assuming the news even reaches him.

In the novel, my brother didn’t place a watchdog on Luca. Given my state just after possessing Luca, it’s understandable. A mentally and physically broken person couldn’t act autonomously.

So, answering a question in class shouldn’t immediately reach his ears.

I smiled, listening to the professor’s complaint.

“No one? This is related to what I’ve discussed earlier. I’m sure we touched on this briefly last year…”

“……”

“Alright. Remember it well from now on.”

“The Second Council of Leytherum.”

Silence fell over the classroom.

Students packed into the classroom turned to me, their faces showing clear surprise.

The professor, too, seemed shocked that I answered, his mouth hanging open.

No one seemed able to break the stunned silence. Smiling softly, I spoke to ease the atmosphere.

“Am I wrong?”

“Student?”

“Yes.”

“…Is that your answer?”

I tilted my head as if to ask if there was a problem.

“Yes.”

“…You’re correct. It is the Second Council of Leytherum. I know you missed many classes last year due to illness… but you remembered this?”

I ended the conversation with a smile instead of answering.

Meeting the many gazes directed at me, the students quickly looked away as if something was on my face.

What mattered was not the other students.

I looked toward where Leo was.

Instead of his earlier cold expression, Leo now looked at me in surprise.

At that moment, a new window appeared before my eyes.

Ding!

Chapter 2 Special Reward

Hint: Check your survival probability!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep