Chapter 412

This wasn’t the time to stay cooped up in the mansion. Why should I wait until my neck recovered?

‘Though it looks like I won’t be able to visit the Papal See for the time being…’

Just getting outside would be enough. Several minutes had passed since I drank the wine, but I still wasn’t sleepy. I had only taken enough to avoid suspicion. The bitter wine slid down my throat.

“It’s good.”

“It is.”

Resting an arm on the chair’s armrest, Adrian Askanien propped his chin on his hand and spoke quietly.

“It’s something I drink now and then whenever I’m in the Papal States. Just enough to avoid getting drunk.”

“I see.”

He answered with a slow blink, and silence settled between us again.

“I never expected to hear something like that from you, Brother.”

That he had abandoned his innocence for the sake of his love. That he had given up innocence in order to remain innocent.

It wasn’t difficult to understand. He had put into words a feeling everyone experiences at least once, yet almost no one ever says aloud—a thought buried deep in the corner of their heart. In doing so, he had become more honest than ever.

I quietly watched him. Adrian Askanien looked back at me. For his sake, I let tension show on my face.

“I’d like to spend some time outside with you, Brother.”

“…….”

Adrian Askanien’s eyes widened.

If you’re going to reach into my heart to prove your sincerity, then I’ll do the same. Not that I expect it to work.

“I’ve spent my whole life confined, haven’t I? I’d like to experience something new with you—not here in the mansion, but outside.”

Smiling at Adrian Askanien, I continued, “Because I’m healthy now.”

For the briefest moment, countless emotions crossed Adrian Askanien’s face. The faint tremor in his eyes. His lips parting slightly. The muscles around his throat tightening… It all reminded me of the endless acting I’d done throughout my life. What would it have been like if I’d met him back in the 21st century? Not as an eighteen-year-old and a twenty-five-year-old, but as we really were—around the same age.

Reality, however, was different. I’d been thrown into a body that wasn’t mine, with no idea what had become of my original life. Ironically, Adrian Askanien was this body’s greatest adversary. Yet at the same time, he was the one person who reminded the real me that there was a world beyond this insane one.

“I want you to get plenty of rest until you’ve fully recovered, Luka.”

Though joy and wonder were written plainly across his face, his answer remained measured. Even so, he still looked like someone hearing those words from his sick younger brother for the very first time.

“I won’t be inviting anyone over either, so just take a few days to rest. Once you’re completely better, we’ll go out together. That day won’t be far off.”

It sounded like a suggestion, but it wasn’t. If I insisted I was well enough and wanted to go outside, he’d ask what I planned to do. Failing to answer, hesitating, changing the subject, or making excuses would all give him valuable information. Not that I intended to hesitate or dodge the question in the first place. The point was that every word mattered now. This wasn’t the time to let anything slip in front of Adrian Askanien.

“Is there anything you’re curious about?”

“…….”

“I still hear things from the Papal See from time to time. If there’s something you want to know, perhaps I can help.”

I quietly called to him, lowered my eyes, and fell into thought. There wasn’t just one question I could ask. There were countless possibilities, from the most personal to the utterly trivial. But there was only one question that would let me keep my guard up like this. I took a sip of wine, then quietly spoke to Adrian Askanien, who was staring into his own glass.

“I’m curious about how to find Pleroma’s base.”

It completely killed the mood. I didn’t regret it for a second.

Adrian Askanien did his best to answer everything he could. Once I returned to my room, I found the bath already prepared and stood silently before it. There wasn’t the slightest trace of mana.

‘This reminds me of Narke.’

I still didn’t know what kind of burden Narke had been carrying back then. Or maybe I did. Either way, I preferred not to know. I slowly looked around the room for anything infused with mana. I was too tired to check whether anyone had planted surveillance, and honestly, I didn’t even feel like bathing—I could’ve slept for 777 hours.

Still fully dressed, I dipped my feet into the water, leaned back into the tub, and slowly let myself sink beneath the surface. The bathroom light shimmered and blurred beneath the water.

‘Water…’

I really shouldn’t be letting it touch the wound. When I should’ve been doing everything I could to heal my neck as quickly as possible, I was only making it worse. But that was fine. I had a plan. I’d expected Plan A to fail, so now it was time for Plan B.

Bang—

I kicked off the bottom of the tub and closed my eyes.

I’d already taken off the earring and slipped it into my pocket. I could put it back on after hitting Leo’s core and waiting for his reply, but it was too risky. At the same time, I clenched my fist and pressed down hard on the bits of my mana scattered somewhere in this world.

Yes, bits. I hit Mecklenburg’s core as well. Leo would try to get in touch with Narke, and Mecklenburg would begin arranging my escape, just as we’d agreed beforehand. Together with Narke.

Despite wanting nothing more than to sleep for days, I woke up the next morning about thirty minutes before the attendant came to wake me. I was itching to get outside as soon as possible. I’d already done everything I needed to. Now all that remained was for the suspect to play into my hands. Carrying a glass of water and a letter, the attendant entered the room and stopped beside me.

“Good morning, Your Highness. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes.”

My voice was still hoarse. I answered shortly and set the glass of water he offered beside me. The attendant paid it no mind and held out the letter instead.

“A letter has arrived for Your Highness.”

“For me? To this address…?”

“Yes.”

He handed it over and turned to leave, but I stopped him.

“My brother didn’t open it?”

The attendant turned back with a puzzled look.

“…Of course not. It was addressed to the Second Young Master. Surely His Highness Adrian Askanien wouldn’t open someone else’s letter.”

“…….”

I slowly nodded.

“Right. I must still be half asleep.”

“Please get some more rest. If you need anything, just call for us.”

“I’m heading down to the kitchen.”

“Ah, but your meal is still being prepared—”

“Soup will do.”

Letter in hand, I made my way out of the room. Adrian Askanien, already dressed in his Ministry of Magic uniform despite supposedly being on leave, stepped out of the study downstairs with a briefcase in hand. The moment he saw me, he smiled warmly and gave me a small wave.

“Luka. Good morning.”

“Yes, brother. Good morning.”

Didn’t he say we need to stay together? Well, right. He did mention in his letter that we might not be able to see each other often. I headed toward the kitchen. That was when I heard the sound of a bell from the direction of the foyer.

Jingle—

Someone was at the outer gate of the garden. The servant glanced at Adrian Askanien and me before going outside. He soon returned with a troubled expression.

“Your Highness, someone from the Ministry of Defense has arrived.”

“For what reason?”

“When I asked, they said they wished to speak with you briefly.”

“Hmm… Let them in.”

Adrian Askanien’s expression remained calm. When I entered the kitchen, one of the servants helping with the cooking approached me with a surprised look. I waved my hand to tell them I didn’t need assistance and poured myself a glass of lemon juice instead of soup for breakfast.

Creak—

“Good morning, Deputy Minister Adrian Askanien. It is an honor to meet you.”

“What brings you here?”

The voices of Adrian Askanien and the unfamiliar visitor drifted faintly toward me. I finished my juice in one go and walked back into the foyer. At some point, the hallway had become completely silent, leaving only the sound of my footsteps echoing across the ground floor.

The foyer was filled with the blue light of dawn pouring in from ahead. The spring breeze swept through the wide-open doors and brushed against my collar. Adrian Askanien and the servant, both wearing troubled expressions, and two Old Human officials I had never seen before looked at me with calm faces. They looked at me and spoke in solemn voices.

“Lord Lukas Askanien, you will have to come with us.”

I had to suppress the smile that was threatening to appear at the corner of my mouth.

Adrian Askanien was not someone who would simply let me go because a Ministry of Defense official asked me to come along. He would definitely demand a reason for why they were trying to take me away. The same would apply if it were someone else. The only difference was that, unlike others, Adrian Askanien would refuse to let me leave for anything less than a serious matter—and he had the authority to do so.

So what should I have done?

“Haa….”

The dawn air was cold. I never thought the day would come when I’d find this kind of sweetness in it. As they say, the best way to fight fire is with fire. Problems had to be dealt with using problems. It sounded strange, but I had no choice. My brain wasn’t working properly right now. I had already been stuck in the push-up position for an hour.

‘New Human stamina…’

Impressive. Are they even human? I was about to lose my mind, though. My shirt collar was damp with sweat. After spending so long gasping for air through my mouth, my tongue had gone completely dry.

“How are we supposed to accept the fact that a member of our unit refused to deal with a Rampager simply because his teammate was hospitalized?”

Mecklenburg’s worried voice, mixed with a sigh, reached me from afar. The memory of early March resurfaced. His perfectly neat hair, slicked back just enough to avoid violating regulations, that irritatingly proper voice, and that carefully composed expression of concern as he asked me whether I would shoot the Rampager or refuse to.

Instead of him, it was the boots of the 98th Unit Team A’s vice captain that moved away from in front of my eyes.

“Stand up.”

I silently cursed while being grateful that the blood rushing to my head could finally return to my legs, then got back on my feet. Sweat that had gathered on my chin slid down my neck. I considered casually wiping it away and taking the scolding, but with Mecklenburg, who would pick apart every tiny mistake he could find, I decided not to create another issue. The vice captain raised his hand and pointed at Ulrike.

“Ulrike Kleist.”

“…….”

“Answer me.”

I glanced sideways at my friends standing in a line beside me. Even though they were all being punished under collective responsibility, none of them looked particularly resentful. I felt the same way. I never thought I would miss the dirt floor of the Command Headquarters this much.

That’s right. A problem had to be dealt with by creating another problem. If I couldn’t leave, then I simply had to make them let me leave. The real problem was that we didn’t actually have a reason to be punished. Fortunately, reasons could always be made. Since dawn, I had been summoned to the headquarters for the fabricated issue of ‘Ulrike Kleist’s refusal to handle a Rampager.’

Naturally, it was all an act. Everyone had heard the news from Narke and coordinated their stories. Ulrike probably didn’t even know that I had a one-sided grudge against my brother, so I still didn’t understand how this entire plan had somehow ended up revolving around him.

“Lord Kleist.”

Erich Reichenau, the 98th A’s vice captain, slowly approached and stopped in front of Ulrike. At that moment, I saw someone’s silhouette approaching from afar.

“To bring in injured personnel only to punish them…”

Bang!

The sound of a heel striking the ground followed his voice. Mecklenburg rose from his seat, saluted, and stood at attention. Adrian Askanien, however, did not stiffen his posture or imitate the same gesture. Instead, he remained relaxed, as though he were simply walking through his own estate. With a faint smile on his face, he looked in my direction and raised the corners of his lips slightly, as if trying to reassure me.

“…….”

A beat later, the vice captain of 98th A turned around and gave the same salute. More sharp bangs followed one after another. We of the 101st Unit also saluted Adrian Askanien in the same manner. The gentle voice Mecklenburg used when pretending to be kind to his juniors was nowhere to be found. What came out instead was a crisp, disciplined voice.

“What brings you here, Your Excellency?”

I bit the inside of my lip without realizing it. Good. From those few words alone, I could somewhat understand why Mecklenburg disliked me so much.

“I was on my way after taking care of an urgent matter. Before heading to the Ministry of Magic, I happened to see a member of the 101st Unit, who is still recovering, being summoned to the headquarters for disciplinary action.”

“This area is restricted to authorized personnel only. Do you have a pass?”

“Ah, haha.”

Adrian Askanien let out a clear laugh. He looked slightly surprised, and there was no sign that he intended to mock or belittle his opponent. Mecklenburg’s question was not unreasonable. Even as a senior member of the Imperial Mage Association, Adrian Askanien was not part of the headquarters, and therefore had no right to enter this place. And yet, he had passed through the main gate and the barrier to arrive here. More importantly, he was currently the Deputy Minister of Magic. What did that mean?

I heard the sound of paper being taken out. Adrian Askanien calmly replied, “I was granted temporary access. I also have documents to deliver.”

“…….”

In other words, obtaining a pass like this was something he could do whenever he wanted. Because he belonged to the Ministry of Magic. Even without bearing the name of the Ministry of Defense or the Department of Defense, the Ministry of Magic had already performed half of that role. Mecklenburg returned the pass to Adrian Askanien and spoke in a cold voice.

“Your Excellency has no authority regarding the disciplinary action and subsequent return of the 101st Unit member Lord Lukas Askanien.”

“Of course. Within the Command, the 101st Unit’s direct seniors are the 98th Unit, so I have no intention of infringing upon the 98th Unit’s autonomy.”

“…….”

“However, I would like to hear why you chose to handle things this way.”

Adrian Askanien turned to look at us. He looked over our disheveled appearances before turning back to Mecklenburg. Mecklenburg stared at me with an emotionless gaze, then spoke to Adrian Askanien.

“We of the 98th Unit only use very moderate methods when it comes to discipline.”

“It certainly appears that way.”

Adrian Askanien slowly voiced his thoughts, his tone firm yet gentle.

“The 98th Unit’s response was appropriate. The 101st Unit’s refusal to deal with Rampagers was something that needed to be reprimanded. However, it has only been four days since two members of the 101st Unit suffered serious injuries in an incident. Every member is still carrying the mental burden from that accident. Considering the circumstances, I cannot help but wonder if a discussion might have been a better approach.”

For a brief moment, I saw a hint of exhaustion in Mecklenburg’s eyes, though his expression quickly returned to its usual blank state. He only looked at Adrian Askanien and said nothing. I knew that expression well. He had plenty he wanted to say right now, but he was deliberately keeping it to himself. Eventually, Mecklenburg answered calmly, without the slightest hint of displeasure.

“Is that how Your Excellency sees it? I understand.”

That was all he said. I understand. Erich Reichenau, the vice captain, watched the two of them carefully before speaking.

“Thank you. We will take your words into consideration and discuss it with the commander, Your Excellency.”

For the first time, I felt like offering Mecklenburg some sympathy. The three of them were probably friends when they weren’t on duty, yet he had suffered this entire time because some tactless person had gotten caught between them. Erich Reichenau glanced at Mecklenburg before shouting toward us.

“Dismissed!”

My friends saluted once more. Mecklenburg led 98th A back into the building. Adrian Askanien approached me. Meeting each of my friends’ eyes one by one, he said, “It is a pleasure to meet you all. I wasn’t able to meet you when the 101st Unit was first established, was I?”

“Yes…! It is an honor, Your Excellency.”

Ulrike greeted him with shining eyes, but perhaps remembering the act he had been putting on earlier, he quickly corrected himself and finished in an extremely proper tone. Judging from his first reaction, he still hadn’t heard about my family situation. Adrian Askanien smiled warmly at Ulrike and asked about his mother’s well-being.

“Lord Ulrike Kleist. Is General Kleist doing well?”

“Yes, he is. Thanks to His Majesty’s grace.”

“I am glad to hear that.”

Adrian Askanien answered with a smile. He checked the time, as if he was running short on it, then gestured toward me.

“Well then, Lord Askanien. Let’s go back.”

“…….”

So he really had come to take me back. It was only natural. If he had stopped the matter from the beginning—if he had refused to send me to them—it would not have been impossible given his position. But that would have been disrespectful toward the 98th Unit. So instead, he let me go to them, dealt with his own affairs, and then came here himself to stop the 98th Unit. It was exactly the way he would do things.

If it weren’t for the conversation we had last night, I would have started by saying, ‘I’m fine. Didn’t you see me endure that just now?’ That had been my original plan. But not anymore. On the stage he had chosen, I was willing to play my part with the right words.

“No. I appreciate your concern, Your Excellency, but I heard there is a Command meeting scheduled shortly. Please allow me to return after fulfilling my responsibilities.”

“…….”

Adrian Askanien raised his eyebrows slightly, then smiled and replied calmly, “Shall we speak for a moment?”

Elias and Ulrike’s gazes turned toward me. There was no reason to refuse. The beginning was the difficult part; the end would not be. I was almost there.

“Yes.”

My friends entered the building first, while Adrian Askanien and I moved to the back of the building.

“Are you feeling alright? Your face is red.”

From the moment I was taken away by the officials until now, Adrian Askanien’s expression had remained like a still lake, without any great change in emotion.

“It’s only because the blood rushed to my face. It should return to normal after some time, Brother.”

Adrian Askanien slowly nodded.

“Your stamina has improved greatly. To endure that training…”

“Thank you.”

If it had been Luka, I definitely would have collapsed from running out of breath within the first minute. Even as a New Human. In the meantime, I had gritted my teeth and gained over ten kilograms. With a New Human’s body, there was no way I wouldn’t be able to endure it.

“Please allow me to return after fulfilling my duty.”

“……”

“That was a fine thing to say. I can’t help but think about what you said last night.”

“Will you permit it?”

“You mean you’re asking me to allow you to return to the headquarters.”

Adrian Askanien looked at me. Only the sound of the wind lingered between us. After exchanging glances for a long while, he smiled brightly.

“I often forget that my younger brother has grown this much. To me, you still look like a child. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to keep you at home until you fully recovered. But I’d also be lying if I said I wasn’t moved by the way you’re acting with such passion and sense of responsibility.”

His quiet smile carried a sense of contentment. His face softened with a calm happiness as he answered.

“Do as you wish. I suppose that is what will make you happy.”

Mecklenburg was calmer than usual. I couldn’t tell whether that calmness came from anger, exhaustion, or humiliation. Or perhaps it was simply how he always acted whenever Adrian Askanien was around, regardless of whether Askanien’s younger brother—his annoying junior—was standing in front of him.

I followed him upstairs. The moment the door behind us shut, I cast a soundproofing spell.

“I’m sorry, Senior. For some reason, it seems my escape plan ended up bringing back some unpleasant memories.”

“Forget it. It wasn’t your fault.”

Without looking at me, Mecklenburg kept his eyes elsewhere as he continued, “More importantly… you really do look exactly alike.”

“We’re not that alike.”

“No.”

“…….”

That exchange reminded me of the Extra Chapter, when I’d changed my hair color and stood before high schooler Mecklenburg. Back then, he’d made no effort to hide how much he disliked me. I’d assumed he’d act the same way toward Adrian Askanien, but it seemed there really was a difference when facing the real person. From yesterday until now, he’d never once looked intimidated in front of Adrian Askanien. He wasn’t irritable, either. He was simply calm.

Creak.

“…….”

I headed to the meeting room I had been informed about beforehand and found an empty seat among the familiar faces filling the room. Only silence lingered.

The meeting at the headquarters wasn’t a lie after all. More precisely, this was a follow-up meeting attended only by my 101st Unit friends and the 98th Unit Team A captain—Mecklenburg. I clasped my hands together and spoke, “Why is everyone so quiet?”

“Luka!”

Elias, who was sitting beside me, suddenly stood up and wrapped his arms around my neck.

“Escape successful~ Oh yeah.”

Elias shouted right next to me with his usual loud voice. Narke smiled with a slightly worried expression, though he also looked relieved now that everything was over, while Leo, sitting beside him, only stared at me silently without saying anything.

Zähringen watched Elias closely as he hugged me tightly, almost like he was prepared to snap my neck. Contrary to what I expected, Mecklenburg simply handed me a booklet without any particular expression.

“Read this. It’s yesterday’s meeting minutes.”

Meeting regarding Ismailov and the Pleroma leadership negotiation delegation.

After the negotiations, a meeting had been held to predict Pleroma’s movements. I had not been able to participate, and only representatives from the 91st, 98th, and 101st Units had attended.

Mecklenburg opened his mouth.

“Those outside know that a negotiation meeting with Pleroma took place. However, they do not know about Ismailov’s existence. Among the dozen or so negotiation points, that was the only one we intentionally excluded. It is not written in any document.”

The phrase ‘those outside’ referred to Adrian Askanien. And the other government officials alongside him as well. Since the consequences would be enormous if it was discovered, they naturally had to make sure not everyone could read it.

“I’ll summarize quickly. This was a meeting between government officials held last night. Since the negotiations with Pleroma, the number of Rampager incidents nationwide has fallen by 63.1%. The remaining Rampagers appear to have either escaped Pleroma’s leadership’s control or been caused by unrecoverable drugs. For example, several tons of rampage-inducing drugs buried at the bottom of a river. That is not the main issue, but since 70% of all Rampager incidents nationwide occur in Berlin alone, there was discussion about investigating the areas around the water sources. Around a hundred mages have been returned to the Empire, and we have also sent back fifty laypeople each from Munich-Freising and Brandenburg.”

Mecklenburg quickly recited the rest and closed the booklet. Ulrike only rolled his eyes with an expression that seemed to ask why this guy was even involved here, while the others gave me brief glances before focusing back on Mecklenburg’s words. Once this meeting was over, I would have time to speak openly with my friends.

‘I need to have one final strategy meeting about the Hermetische Gesellschaft and the holy relics.’

Having successfully escaped from what was practically confinement in the mansion, the holy relics theft incident was now entering its final stages. With several thoughts running through my mind at once, I answered what Mecklenburg was trying to get at.

“So far, things have been going smoothly.”

“Indeed. But this is not the end.”

Mecklenburg glanced at me before continuing, “I believe some of you have also wondered why Pleroma sent Prophet Ismailov. The government has the same question.”

The government too? Since when? I exchanged a glance with Narke before looking back at Mecklenburg.

“The government has concluded that we cannot rule out the possibility of Pleroma betraying us in the near future.”

Their betrayal is a predetermined future. The distance between what we seek will not narrow. What matters is the ‘near future.’

“Therefore, starting today, the Special Operations Command will resume anti-Pleroma training.”

“…….”

It was not surprising news. He had already told me the same thing when he visited my hospital room. What surprised me more was how the government had arrived at the obvious conclusion that it would happen in the ‘near future.’ Mecklenburg checked his watch before speaking again.

“Now, an order has been issued for everyone from the 91st Unit to the 101st Unit to move to the main conference hall in four hours. The Chief will also be attending. After that meeting, you will return to the training grounds. We’ll discuss the future training schedule in detail then.”

The main conference hall? What are they announcing this time?

I asked without much thought, “Why?”

“I have not been informed of the details.”

Mecklenburg answered briefly with his usual expressionless face and stood up after organizing the documents.

And I had a feeling that that ‘usual expression’ might have been a rather poor decision.

Four hours later, we all arrived at the main conference hall, a place large enough to be called an auditorium. Each unit and team had already taken their seats, and we occupied one of the many rows ourselves. The Chief spent a full hour going over the statistics Mecklenburg had mentioned earlier before adjusting his glasses. Sitting completely still for an entire hour made my lower back ache. It was still better than staying at Adrian Askanien’s mansion, though.

The Chief of Staff drank some water and cleared his throat. Then, in his usual slow voice, accompanied by his deliberate gestures, he began speaking again.

“I believe everyone has already been informed in detail about the resumption of the Command’s anti-Pleroma strategic training. The Command requires more specialized strategies and greater mobility. I doubt anyone here disagrees with that assessment. Therefore, the Command has decided to conduct joint training with the Ministry of Magic.”

“…….”

Hm. I narrowed my eyes at his words and looked toward Narke.

In a situation like this, he should have avoided looking at me. Yet, by coincidence, Narke was also staring in my direction with his mouth slightly open. A chill ran down my spine.

The Chief of Staff adjusted his glasses again and spoke in a solemn voice.

“Starting today, His Excellency Adrian Askanien, representative of the 89th Unit of the Imperial Mage Association, will oversee the training and strategy of the Special Operations Command.”