Work Text:
"Oh, my. Lukas. Lukas, wake up. Lukas."
Lukas's eyelids fluttered. He would have preferred to sleep for five more minutes. Oh wait, that's not a German way of thinking... But whatever, why should he, a Korean, worry about it? Well, he was no longer a Korean actor, but a German soldier in the late 19th century, and there was no reason for him to lounge for five minutes if that violated military regulations. He should get up right now and go wash his face and...
Wait a second. Why is it so heavy and unlike the usual?
Lukas opened his eyes and saw the sky-blue ceiling with golden lions outlined by intricate string decorations. Good. He was in the room of a Berlin apartment owned by his best friend, Leonard Wittelsbach — teleported there without being pre-announced again. Had Leonard moved him here last night after curfew? Lukas wondered if the exemplary student would be that childish, especially since he hadn't done anything to provoke him the previous day, while a voice in his mind secretly whispered:
"You know what kind of a kid he is. He is a childish guy, as he's the only one among us who is under 18 years old now."
Lukas blinked several times, bringing himself back to reality, and turned his head toward the voice from which it had come. It was Narcke. Narcke was sitting at Lukas's right side by the bed with a mysterious smile on his face. Lukas quickly reviewed what he had thought in the previous few minutes after waking up and decided to throw all the worries out of his mind, as usual. Nothing can be hidden from your 24-hour mind-listener. Lukas intended to move the heavy quilt off his body to sit up—
"What the hell?!"
Lukas looked at his hands. They were as white as usual, but MUCH shorter and smaller. They were the hands of a kindergartener! A white warm light suddenly enveloped him at the same time. Lukas slowly calmed down and looked at his dark-brown-haired friend next to the bed he was lying on.
"Good morning. Glad to see you finally noticed it, Lukas."
Narcke smiled at him and spoke gently.
"Before you ask, let me tell you the thing you shall know first: I DIDN'T see this happen until this morning. Therefore, I'm here. You know what this means, right?"
Yeah. Very clearly. An unpredictable thing happened, and the believer most favored by God had seen nothing. Then it must be affected by something that the God here can't control...
Lukas looked at the void where nothing was showing. With his thought, the system notification popped out.
[ Seasonal Mission: Enjoy an under-100cm day today
Rest time: 22:05:43 ]
What a wonderful news! Lukas thought wryly. He was now even shorter than his 70-month-old student. Will that boy follow his words as always when he saw him like this? A kid shorter and younger than him? If even the student who respects him the most reacted that way, what about the other Eszett members? Lukas could imagine Urlike Kleist would cover his mouth to swallow back the exciting scream that was about to leap out the moment he saw Lukas, and start to incessantly poke Lukas's baby-like, tender cheeks, while Julia Zaehringer put on a fox-like smile and poked his other cheek.
On the other hand, though the system mission always showed up without warning or regard for the situation, making him a little bothered, since it was the good and only way to earn points, Lukas would still try to finish all the missions that came up... especially the one that showed up looked much easier than usual.
Wait a second.
'What's the "enjoy" for?'
An unhappy guess emerged. Narcke read it and answered without being asked.
"It means you shall at least accept the poking willingly, doesn't it, Lukas?"
"...I don't like this guess."
Good. I WILL be poked anyway. Since the predictor said nothing about this. Lukas thought despairingly.
"Relax~ Everything has its reason, you know."
Narcke winked and helped Lukas move the quilt off his body after reading Lukas's mind. Lukas then noticed how ridiculous his wearing was—only a long shirt covering his whole body! Not even underwear! How had he arrived here without any normal clothes?
"Well, since you turned into a boy out of the blue, nobody could prepare suitable clothing for you. Yes, not even underwear for a boy. An item like that would be impossible to find in the dorm, wouldn't it? Besides, instead of using several spells to amend the length of sleeves and other things, we decided to let others bring the clothes they wore in their childhood as soon as possible."
"We?"
The moment Lukas opened his mouth to ask, knock, knock. Someone knocked on the closed room door. Narcke responded, as he knew who was standing outside.
"Come in, please."
You should discuss this with me before allowing any servants to come in! Although Lukas did know all the workers here, that didn't mean the servant coming in knew what had happened to him! Lukas hurriedly asked Narcke in his mind to stand in front of him and hide him in these very seconds, while forcefully pulling the quilt back to cover at least half of his white, thin thighs.
"You have arrived at just the right time."
Narcke's back blocked Lukas's sight of the newcomer, but when "the servant" spoke, he knew who he was immediately. Or rather, considering that guy's temperament, Lukas was secretly wondering why he hadn't shown up yet. Good thing I haven't hit his core today. Lukas thought and peeked out from behind Narcke, looking at the person who had arrived. The real owner of this apartment was frowning and saying.
"Look at his emaciated limbs. I really doubt if the clothes I wore when I was five are suitable, so I asked the royal tailor to wait in the drawing room just in case."
"Leo, I..."
"Let's solve the problem of unsuitable sizes of clothes first. Do you need me to carry you over again, Lukas?"
Leonard Wittelsbach looked down at little Lukas and said, which somehow made Lukas feel a little offended.
"Leo is the second one who discovered your strange situation. After Heike found you didn't wake up as usual, he asked Leo to take a look with him in case any treatment or medication is required. That's also the time I 'saw' what will happen. And yes, including the poking."
"What poking?"
Narcke considerately explained and confirmed Lukas's unstated question. Leonard looked back and forth at the two silent guys in front of him, who seemed to be talking via holy power now, and decided his next step. Leonard took off his Eszett uniform coat for Lukas.
"I think you would prefer to use this to cover your legs on the way to try your new clothes."
"...Yes, I do need it. Very much so. Thanks for your concern."
Hearing the weak voice from kid Lukas, some memories flashed in front of Leonard's view within a blink. Leonard pursed his lips and bent down. He wrapped the coat around Lukas's lower body to temporarily block the sight of others and maintain the heat as well. Though they had turned on the heater, it was still a bad choice to wear nothing in this early spring.
So lucky that I have these good friends with me now. Lukas thought while sat on Leonard's arm on the way to the drawing room. Though he still wished to avoid the poking feast held by Urlike and Julia in the very coming future.
However, peace never lasts long enough.
When they entered the drawing room, an excited scream, or an animal roar from a human's throat, burst out, hurting Lukas' poor, weak ears. And before Lukas could react, another person's arms grabbed him from Leonard's hug. The hands slid under Lukas's armpits and raised Lukas high while the person started to spin, as if Lukas were a merchandise on display at a Dorotheum auction house... Well, considering the blood in his body, except for the crazy cult and the next historical racist in the palace, as the second son of the current duke of Anhalt, his price should be much higher than the most expensive "Salvator Mundi." Stop. No more Bible today.
"Eli, STOP IT. I'm gonna throw up."
"Don't worry. You won't vomit anything as you haven't had your breakfast yet."
Elias Hohenzollern giggled and hugged Lukas tightly with a loud SCHMATZ on his forehead...
The passion Elias showed is always unlike a Prussian in stereotype. Lukas accepted all his passion and turned his head to look at Leonard, who seemed unhappy as Elias had taken Lukas away directly without asking. He saw Narcke was smiling and standing behind Leonard, like an audience watching a new play to begin.
"Elias, I think you shall be on the street for today's patrol. Besides, the one I called was the royal tailor. Where is he?"
Leonard said, trying to make Elias leave the drawing room and go back to work. Tut, teased Elias. He sat cross-legged on a sofa nearby and put Lukas on his lap, as if he had been waiting for Leonard to ask that cliché question.
"Heike said he will do the patrol this morning for me. And he will bring his camera to join us in the afternoon, when you and Julia are on patrol. And have you forgotten who had helped you sew the dropped buttons since we first met?"
"I know how to sew. And my buttons did not drop; they were PULLED OFF by you, Elias."
That's a new story not mentioned in the original novel. Lukas was a little surprised. Since the novel is mainly about what happened after the graduation from the second academy, fewer childhood anecdotes were told - Elias had more worries, and Leonard told fewer jokes and teases.
Leonard and Narcke started to pick out suitable children's clothes from the garment racks. They roughly selected some shirts and pants that suited the cold weather outside for Lukas and pushed him into the fitting room to try on.
"Do you need anyone to help you change?"
"Thanks for the offer, Narcke. Let me save that for when the doctor confirms I'll be in a coma for days."
"But I think things would go more smoothly if either Leo or I helped you."
Leonard glanced at the trademark smile on Narcke's face. He shrugged and didn't object.
"Personally, I just want to resolve this dilemma and go back to work as soon as possible."
"Work? I think your real desire is sparring. But look at Luka! He barely reaches your waist now!"
"That's going too far, Elias."
After some teenage banter, Lukas headed to the fitting room, and Leonard and Narcke followed behind—as valets. With the aesthetic sense he had developed during his acting career, Lukas immediately chose a light steel-blue shirt with light gray pants and a cadet-blue Lavallière tie. Since New Humans viewed gender as simply a type of bloodline, fashion choices had become broader and more unrestrained. The two makeshift valets followed their young master's orders and helped him get dressed.
When the three of them returned to the drawing room, they saw Elias had already opened the case he'd put by the foot of the sofa and laid out all the tailoring tools on the table.
"Good taste!"
Elias complimented Lukas's wearing and began using a measuring tape, marking pins, and a tailor's chalk to note all the parts that needed remodeling. He looked as though he had been a tailoring apprentice for decades.
"Elias is more professional than I thought."
"He spent a lot of time learning it to save on travel expenses,"
Leonard replied to Narcke's comment. Lukas then joined in the banter with Elias.
"It really surprises me that you can sew, Eli. To be honest, I thought you would just pull out a set of ready-to-wear clothes for the middle or even lower bourgeoisie— or use your wand and various spells to do this."
Elias replied nonchalantly.
"Why should I waste my money on that? All I need is a needle and thread to fix any holes or tears in my clothes when I'm traveling. You should always save your money for a time of need."
"I can't believe Elias is saying something so organized."
"Besides, tools were invented to be efficient, Luka. Guess how many spells it would take to make a boat sail automatically? Trust me, altering clothes would require even more."
"Fine."
Lukas put the remodeled clothes back on. It reminded him of the clothes once worn by his little student, who stood shorter than his waist but always insisted on clutching his shirt's hem or the fabric of his trousers at the lap. Had Leonard worn this and wandered through the backyard of his Crown Prince's palace when he was a child no taller than Lukas is now?
"So, what now? Do we have to stay in this apartment?"
"Absolutely. Imagine what would happen if a new, young Askanier face appeared on the street, wearing clothing made of royal materials—especially with that Askanier face and those trademark pink eyes?"
"Tonight's headline in the Deutscher Reichsanzeiger."
'Did you really see that future, Narcke?'
'I don't think I need to use my prophecy skills for that, Lukas.'
Narcke blinked. Lukas turned to Leonard, who seemed to have prepared something before arriving, as he had immediately vetoed Elias's plan.
"So, what have you planned, Leo?"
Leonard flicked his wand with a quick spell. A wooden box flew onto the table between them. With a twist of Leonard's wrist, the box turned upside down, and, TADADADADADADA, pieces clattered onto the table.
"A 2000-piece puzzle."
Though Leonard spoke indifferently, a hint of pride seeped into his voice. Lukas believed that the puzzle must be the one he had wanted to play with the rest of the Eszett members. Indeed. Lukas refused to accept Narcke's rhetorical question sent through holy power.
"Why do you sound so proud? Is there anything special about this puzzle?"
"It's the latest tourist map of Munich."
"No wonder."
Lukas looked back at the pile of pieces on the table, which were contained within transparent walls. He asked the question that had been stuck in his mind since he heard about the map.
"How long ago did you buy this?"
"It's been here since last semester, Lukas."
Good, at least I can still pretend it wasn't bought FOR me after he gave me this apartment. Lukas felt it was somewhat funny to see Leonard's childish side. If it were Elias or Urlike, they would have taken the puzzle out right after buying it. If it were Heike, Julia, or Narcke, they would have looked for a better opportunity and wouldn't have made it obvious that the puzzle was specially bought for someone.
But this was Leonard Wittelsbach, a boy who grew up in an environment full of love. As someone who knew how to give back the love he had received, Leonard never felt shy or embarrassed to say things like this. Instead, he would directly let his beloved ones know how much he loved them.
Lukas stepped closer to the table and said.
"If there's no other arrangement, let's finish the puzzle together. You didn't plan to use this to lock me in this apartment until I return to normal, right?"
"Why would I need to?"
Staring at the smile on Leonard’s face, Lukas failed to guess what he was thinking and touched the transparent walls to take out the pieces one by one. The others joined him, and they started the puzzle together.
The 2000-piece puzzle took more time than Lukas had expected. He thought they might finish within an hour, but there were too many obstacles.
"Look! A pyramid!"
First, Elias kept using the puzzle pieces to create strange pictures.
"Narcke! Where does this go?"
"Five stones left."
"Here?"
"Yes."
Second, Narcke brought Pie along and let the pika, instead of Narcke himself, play with the puzzle.
Pie raised his tiny paws, using his power to slowly float the pieces to the spots Narcke pointed out. When Pie succeeded, Narcke and even Lukas would praise what an intelligent pika he was, making Pie giggle like a five-year-old kid—just like his voice sounded.
"...Why are you staring at me, Lukas?"
Leonard looked up, shifting his gaze from the book he was reading to Lukas.
Third, Leonard only played for the first ten minutes before leaving the rest of the puzzle for them to finish. According to him, he wanted to save the satisfaction of finishing it for Heike and even Urlike, who were expected to arrive after Leonard left for patrol.
"And Julia?"
"He will definitely leave it to Urlike."
"Well, I can’t imagine Julia sitting on a rug like us to finish a puzzle."
"I think he would rather read the latest plant atlas and give Leo more suggestions for sparring."
"Yeah, sitting next to Leo and constantly bothering him while he's reading. Unlike us."
"In my opinion, YOU were the only one bothering me for the past few hours, Elias."
"As the host of this puzzle race, you're setting a bad example."
"It’s the first time I've heard that this is a RACE."
"Still. Look at our poor Heike. He should be taking photographs instead of doing puzzles here. Didn’t you see how excited he was when he showed up with the precious Schülerkamera?"
"Well, I think the puzzle is interesting as well..."
Heike, who was relaxedly grooming Pie's back, protested, but his weak voice was quickly drowned out by Elias's words.
"But you thought you were here to take photographs, didn't you, Heike? We shouldn't deprive others of their dreams with a game you started, Leo."
Leonard sighed and finally put down his book.
"So you want me to join you guys to finish the puzzle, Elias?"
"No. Why would I want that?"
Leo raised an eyebrow. Under everyone's gaze, Elias pointed to the clock on the wall and said.
"It's time for PATROL, Leo. If you were late, Julia would worry, because you—being a typical German—are always punctual. He'd end up contacting all of us, including Luka, asking where you were. And I, as your best friend, would reply immediately and give him the coordinates to teleport here. I don't think you'd like it if Julia arrived at this apartment before Urlike and saw how lovely, delicious, and cute Luka is, right?"
"I'm glad to hear such high praise from you, Eli—except for the 'delicious' part."
It was 1:45 PM. Leonard’s turn to patrol with Julia started exactly at 2:00 PM. So, just as Elias said, it was time for Leonard to get ready and leave.
By the way, after all the teasing they had done to drive Leonard crazy, Lukas thought Leonard had already moved past the tension between him and Julia. He had even promised Leonard that he would go to Bayern—and they did go to Bayern first! Was Leonard still afraid of being stolen away by Julia?
"I'll be gone in five minutes."
Leonard replied stiffly. It seemed he still felt uneasy at the thought of Julia and Lukas being together right in front of him. Then again, if they met while he wasn't there to keep an eye on things, he might get even more anxious.
'Why has that boy become so clingy lately? Should I have stopped that 70-month-old from grabbing my clothes back then, before he grew into this twisted 215-month-old? Am I not trustworthy? Besides, who does he think he is? My parent? My guardian?'
Lukas curled his lip and focused back on the puzzle. They all quickly ignored Leonard, who was about to leave for patrol, and turned their attention back to the puzzle and the intelligence Pie was displaying. Heike captured a few moments with his camera during the game.
Soon, with a sharp POP, a newcomer arrived. It was Urlike.
"WHAT!!! HEY! YOU DIDN'T TELL ME LUKAS IS A CUTE LITTLE BOY NOW!"
Urlike let out a shout and rushed over to lift Lukas high into the air, just as Elias had done earlier. Lukas gave him a polite smile in return.
"Hi, Luise. It's good to see you. How was your day?"
"Fortunately, there have been fewer rampagers lately. I didn't encounter any today."
"That's good news, Luise."
Lukas patted Urlike’s arm as he noticed the smile on Urlike's face grow somber. Among them, Urlike was the one who most resembled a typical seventeen-year-old student. He wasn't burdened by the responsibilities of territorial management; instead, he was already following in his mother’s footsteps toward becoming a general. No one wanted to see him forced to face the dark side of society or lose his youthful spirit too early—at least not during their time in the student army.
At times like these, eating something delicious was the best way to cheer people up. Though not much could be called "delicious" in the realm of German cuisine—in truth, Lukas would have preferred high-quality Chinese tea or asking Narcke to cook Italian food, if only he knew how—Lukas pointed to the lunch they left on the other table.
"Do you want some bread and sausage? There's also some Sauerkraut, if you don't mind..."
"And BEER!!"
Elias suddenly leaped up from the rug, abandoning his latest masterpiece—a yawning Wittelsbach lion made of puzzle pieces—and pulling Narcke up with him.
"Since Leo has left, shouldn't the prohibition of alcohol be over as well? Let's find some happiness!"
"That sounds like a good idea, Elias, but why me...?"
"Come on, Narcke. I know you and your holy power are essential for this treasure hunt. Since Leo the Stingy wouldn't blatantly leave any alcohol in plain sight, like in the kitchen or the wine cellar, the only way to find this blessed gift from God is to enlist God's most pious believer, right?"
"So, it sounds like Elias needs Narcke's holy power to sniff out a hidden stash of alcohol, doesn't it?"
Heike remarked.
"Correct!"
Upon hearing the keyword, Heike left Pie on the rug and stood up. He solemnly said.
"Count me in."
"Welcome! Now there are three members!"
Elias cheered. Narcke turned to Urlike and asked.
"Are you going to join us, Luise?"
Before anyone could answer, Heike interrupted.
"As a friend of Lukas, I’d say it’s better if Luise stays here with him."
"Oh?"
"I have no doubt Lukas can take care of himself and Pie, as his mind is still his mature self. However, since Lukas's body is currently smaller than a five-year-old Leo, I think there should be someone older with them, just in case."
"That sounds reasonable. What do you think, Luise?"
Sitting in Urlike's arms, Lukas looked back and forth between the three members of the "Beer Search Team." Seeing the secret eagerness gleaming in Urlike's eyes, Lukas knew it was better to let him join them. Besides, it was a good opportunity to bridge the gap between Elias and Urlike.
Unlike Heike, Urlike wasn't particularly welcome in Elias's circle. Lukas suspected this was because Urlike was a Junker who had chosen to follow General Kleist into the army without a second thought. He saw only the glory of the military and the noble duty of protecting the nation from foreign enemies; the cruelty of war and the crushing weight of human lives had yet to leave a mark on his naive soul.
But still, as everyone has their own life lessons to learn, Urlike would not remain so simple-minded forever. One day, his arms would feel too heavy to raise. He would hesitate to chant a spell while pointing his wand at a stranger, knowing his orders were to kill. Responsibility, lives, dignity, patriotism... all of it would become a rope tightening around his throat, making every breath a struggle.
It just didn't need to be today.
Lukas only hoped these burdens wouldn't fall upon a boy who wasn't even twenty yet. Urlike was not a person who lacked self-reflection; he was far better than their "Futures of the Empire" who truly believed that people were born into ranks.
One day, his world would change. But that fateful day didn't need to be today.
"Don't worry about me or Pie, Luise. Just go and do what you want to do."
Lukas said, looking into Urlike's clear grass-green eyes.
"I'm not really a child, and I can still use my magic. Besides, this is the Crown Prince of Bavaria's apartment. The most dangerous thing here is probably Eli and Heike using a refill spell if they actually find any beer."
'What about the pink notes a few weeks ago, Lukas?'
'I think you already know the answer, Narcke.'
That old human stalker might show up one day. But just like the day Urlike would finally grow up—it shouldn't and wouldn't be today.
Urlike finally made his decision.
"Thanks for your concern, Lukas. But I think Heike is right; it's better to have someone over 180cm staying nearby."
Instead of leaving, he sat back down on the rug, settled Lukas on his lap, and gently scooped up Pie as the little creature approached. Urlike smiled at the pika, who sat obediently in his palm, and used the pad of his index finger to poke Pie's cheek.
"Besides, I want to play with Pie some more!"
'I want to play with you too, Luise!'
Pie giggled, wrapping his small paws around Urlike's finger.
"OK! Then let's go, Narcke! Heike!"
Elias shouted. Urlike called out.
"Be careful!"
"We will~"
Narcke waved his hand to Urlike and Lukas, while Elias had already slung his arm over Heike's shoulder as they left the drawing room.
"So, it's just the three of us now! What were you playing, Lukas? I think it's a puzzle, but... what exactly is that?"
Urlike pointed at the unfinished "masterpiece" Elias had left on the floor.
"Eli was using the puzzle pieces to make a collage. He claimed that thing over there was a yawning Wittelsbach Lion."
"What? That's hilarious! I want to try something like that too!"
Urlike laughed and began planning his project with excitement. Lukas offered a few suggestions, but when Urlike heard that Elias had already attempted the Statue of Liberty, his competitive streak kicked in. He decided he needed to create something even more grandiose and unique as a challenge.
Thus, when Elias and the other two returned empty-handed, they found Urlike working away with intense focus. Meanwhile, Lukas was lounging lazily on the long couch, with Pie perched on his forehead like a folded handkerchief.
“What’s Luise doing, Lukas?”
Heike asked, looking confused. Lukas replied.
“He's trying to recreate the Mona Lisa,”
“Whoa.”
“You can do it, Luise. Let us know if you need any help,”
As Narcke and Heike rejoined the group, though no one was actually working on finishing the 2,000-piece Munich map anymore, Elias slumped onto the floor by the couch. He leaned his head back, thumping it against the couch cushions right where Lukas’s belly was resting.
“Luuukaaaa~”
“What happened, Eli?”
“Leo is too cruel… Aside from water, the only beverage in this entire apartment is Dünnbier."
“Uh-oh.”
Dünnbier was a type of small beer with a low alcohol content, generally under 2% ABV. Even children were legally allowed to drink it—which meant it fell far, far short of Elias's expectations. Lukas now understood why Heike looked even more listless than usual; he, too, was missing the excitement of real alcohol. Typical Germans, Lukas thought.
“I CANNOT BELIEVE that Leonard Wittelsbach really only has Dünnbier here! How many birds are nesting in his head?! I haven’t touched that stuff as a substitute for alcohol since I was three years old!”
Although Lukas agreed that there must be at least one bird in Leonard’s brain to make him act like such a fanatic from time to time—just as the German phrase “Vogel im Kopf” suggests—he had to admit that switching out the beer was a smart move. It was a necessary precaution to ensure that the apartment wasn't a total ruin by the time Leonard and Julia returned from their patrol.
“I think that’s why Leo left without hesitation or warning,”
Lukas remarked.It wasn't that Leonard trusted Elias and the others; it was that he had already eliminated any potential hazards to prevent a total catastrophe.
“Luuuukaaaaaaa…”
“Just wait until they get back, Eli. I’m sure Leo will have some rewards prepared if you behave yourself.”
Lukas patted Elias. He considered placing Pie on Elias's head to let him experience some “Pie Therapy,” but since Pie would be the only victim in that arrangement, Lukas discarded the thought a few seconds later. Instead, he asked Elias to find the chessboard and promised to play a game with him.
"Do you think there’s a deck of cards around here?"
Lukas asked. Elias replied.
"I think we should thank Leonard Wittelsbach’s kindness if we even manage to find a single chess pawn.... What other entertainment is left in this apartment besides puzzles and books?"
As the new owner of this apartment, Lukas knew there was an instrument room in the building, but that certainly wasn't on Elias's wishlist.
"...How about the crosswords in the newspaper?"
"Already done~"
"Then let’s go back and finish the Munich map puzzle."
"But shouldn't you stay by my side, Luuuuuukaaaaaaa~?"
"Oh, that’s enough, Eli. My ears hurt. And Pie was getting scared when you were hitting the couch so hard. To Pie, it felt like countless rapid waves crashing against a tiny boat."
"Doesn't that just mean our Luka is too small and thin? You should eat more at this age!"
"I think my body will return to its original size tomorrow," Lukas said.
"That’s good news! How do you know that?"
Lukas blinked. Although all he could see were the ceiling and the hanging lights, he could easily imagine the sparkle in Elias's eyes. Lukas swallowed hard, carefully choosing his words.
"...It's just a feeling."
"Good. I hope that feeling comes true."
Elias didn't push further. As usual, he was surely curious about Lukas's secrets, his system, and his true background, but he never forced Lukas to explain. Elias was simply waiting for the day Lukas would be ready to share. That was his unique way of showing consideration for a friend.
They chatted for a while until Urlike suddenly yelled, "I GIVE UP!" and flopped down onto the rug. According to him, since he had to rely solely on his memory to recreate the masterpiece Mona Lisa, he had gradually lost confidence in the details. Besides, the images on the actual puzzle pieces kept distracting him. Thus, Urlike decided to abandon this unattainable achievement.
"Well, in my opinion, I think Luise did a great job."
"Agreed. That mysterious smile is actually quite similar to the original."
Narcke said, and Heike echoed the sentiment, which deeply touched Urlike.
"You guys are my best friends...!"
He happily leaped up from the floor and into his friends' warm embrace. Narcke even used his holy power to rejuvenate him and keep his spirits in a peaceful mood.
Eventually, everyone except Lukas lay down on the rug and started playing a multilingual word chain game. The rules were simple: if anyone used a word no one knew, or ended with a letter that existed in two languages or fewer, they lost. The loser had to share an unknown childhood story with the group.
Since Elias's childhood playmates, Leonard and Julia, were still at work, he intentionally lost the game several times to share stories of the naughty pranks they had played—most were Elias's doing, but some were Julia’s from their time at the Third Imperial Academy.
"I KNEW IT! YOU were the one who stole the head of that statue! We all guessed it must have been you, Elias."
"That was Julia's fault, okay? I did nothing! I wasn't even at school that week. But when I opened the classroom door, everyone 'confirmed' I was the thief just because they saw me. It was ridiculous! But you know what's even more ridiculous? The person who actually broke the statue's head was Leo! He—"
"What was I?"
Pop, pop. Leonard and Julia appeared in the drawing room. Seeing the bodies and puzzle pieces scattered everywhere across the floor, Leonard knitted his brows.
“What happened here? Haven’t you finished the puzzle yet? Two thousand pieces shouldn’t take all day.”
“Pie worked very hard~”
Narcke cupped Pie in his hands, lifting him up to eye level. Leonard nodded.
“Yes, Pie did a good job. We should all learn from Pie’s example.”
'Good job? Was Pie just PRAISED, Narcke?'
Pie's thoughts chirped.
“Yes, Pie. You were praised.”
'Wah! Pie was praised!'
Pie puffed out his chest like a proud rooster. Narcke channeled some holy power to him as a reward. Seeing that, Lukas wanted to join in too—Pie’s fur looked so smooth and shiny under the glow.
"And I hope the rest of you did a good job as well, including his owner, Narcke."
Leonard continued. His eyes scanning the room.
"What have you been doing all these hours? Competing for the title of 'Best Sleeping Beauty'?"
“Absolutely not! We were working on the puzzle!”
“Yeah! And speaking of actors, who could possibly beat Lukas? I’d give anything to see him play Rosalind from As You Like It again...”
Urlike, still sprawled on the rug, peeked at Lukas. To him, Lukas was the most capable actor in the room. Even though Narcke had done a decent job as Mephistopheles from Faust, Lukas remained unrivaled in his eyes. He looked as if he were hoping Lukas might grant his wish right then and there, even in that child’s body. Lukas immediately turned his head away, refusing to look at Urlike’s puppy-dog eyes.
“You’re being too strict with them, Leo.”
Julia walked past Leonard and bent down in front of Lukas. He observed Lukas, who was still lying on the couch, with the clinical gaze of a surgeon inspecting a patient on the table.
"Interesting. How does it feel to be back in your kindergarten days, Lukas?"
Julia asked. Lukas replied listlessly.
"...To be honest, I miss my height and my muscles,"
He raised his small hands to high-five Julia’s outstretched palms.
“Then, what is that on the floor? It doesn’t look like a standard puzzle shape,”
Leonard asked, gesturing toward the mess.
“Why don't you use your imagination and powers of association to guess, Leo?”
Elias teased. Leonard hesitated for a long moment, still unable to discern anything from the chaos. Julia, who had been watching the whole farce from the sidelines, felt that the scene wasn't quite chaotic enough for his liking. With a mischievous glint in his eyes, he decided to dive right into the mess and join the guessing game.
“Is it a painting?”
Julia asked, his voice laced with feigned curiosity.
“Yes!”
“A world-famous masterpiece? Something even a layman would recognize?”
“Indeed!”
“By a foreign artist?”
“Right! You’re so sharp, Julia!”
Urlike cheered, his eyes sparkling with hope. Julia let a small, calculated smile play on his lips before delivering the blow.
“Sunflowers by Vincent van Gogh?”
“What and who?”
Pfft. Hearing Heike’s blunt, clueless interjection, Narcke lost his composure and burst out laughing. In contrast, Urlike’s face, which had been flushed with excitement, turned pale and ghostly.
“How... how did you even arrive at that answer?”
Urlike murmured, staring into the void. If he hadn't already been on the floor, Lukas was certain he would have collapsed.
Poor Urlike's eyes were staring at the void and murmured with an out of energy voice. If he hadn't been already on the floor, Lukas believed Urlike was now fainted and fell on the ground.
In this era, Van Gogh was hardly the household name he would become in the 21st century, and his Sunflowers were far from common knowledge. Heike’s confusion was the only normal reaction here, which proved Julia was deliberately playing with his food.
“Oh? My mistake. I just thought the palette looked somewhat similar.”
Julia said, his tone dripping with mock innocence.
“I know you’re doing this on purpose, but... anyway, ignore the color. Look at the composition.”
Leonard tried to intervene, but Julia was already moving in for the kill.
“Ah, I see. So you mean it’s a type of Ukiyo-e?”
“NO!!!!”
Urlike shrieked, his spirit finally breaking. He flipped over and collapsed facedown on the rug, burying his face in his arms.
“...I’ve failed my mother. I’ve failed my art tutor...”
“Stop teasing Urlike, Julia. He’s actually going to cry,”
Lukas warned from his spot on the couch. Urlike retorted.
“As a standard German new human, I am not...”
Julia sat down next to Urlike. Heike, who had been lying beside Urlike, shifted his weight and moved over, making more room so that Julia could sit more comfortably. Julia said, his tone still dangerously smooth.
“Didn't I hurt your feelings? My apologies.”
“...”
“I’m just not very familiar with these things. If you don’t mind, would you please explain it to me, Luise?”
“...”
“Please?”
Julia added, his voice dropping into that persuasive, silky purr.
“...Well, if you put it that way—”
“Wow. Look at this.”
Elias muttered, curling his lip in distaste as he watched Julia wrap Urlike around his finger.
“No, don’t look at me. I’m a terrible teacher. Go away. Shoo, shoo!”
Seeing the predatory smile Julia flashed his way, Elias didn't hide his unwelcoming attitude for a second.
CLAP.
Leonard clapped his hands to snap everyone back to attention.
"I think it's almost time to consider dinner. I’ve filed an application for a 24-hour outdoor training session starting at 6 PM today. We can’t let Lukas go back to the dorms in this state; the others in the military dorm would definitely notice."
Elias asked.
"So, are we all staying here?"
"No. Why would I ever want that?"
"What?"
Leonard cut off Elias’s interruption and continued.
"I only filed the application for Lukas and myself. If all of Eszett were to leave the dorms at once, the Royal Wizard Association and the Imperial Palace would certainly take notice."
"...I cannot believe that Leonard Wittelsbach is looking out only for himself! Leaving his best friends alone to return to that cold dorm... he won't even let his poor brother have real alcohol, only that Dünnbier which tastes like water... How cruel! How cold and blue your blood is!"
"As blue as yours."
Leonard sighed, replying wearily.
"I know it was my fault for leaving only Dünnbier for you guys. To make it up to you, I’ll have someone deliver real alcohol here. What do you want?"
"Wine and beer!"
Heike stood up immediately, as if he had been waiting for Leonard to make that exact promise. Elias got up right after him.
"That’s my buddy, Leo! I won't even ask if you’re the culprit who turned Lukas into a baby like this."
"That wasn't me."
"You make it sound like it’s just this time that wasn't you."
Elias was remarkably keen. Lukas had to admit that if Elias didn't respect his personal privacy, the secret of the system would have been discovered long ago.
In the end, Leonard managed to drag Heike and Elias away. Narcke and Lukas stayed behind to join Urlike’s art course, which was being held specifically for Julia’s benefit. However, the "course" soon devolved; Julia began poking the cheek of Lukas, who was sitting on his lap, and Urlike couldn't resist joining in to poke the other one.
Narcke was right. There was no escaping the poking torture, Lukas thought desperately. He wasn't even spared during dinner. To make matters worse, Elias was still dead-set on smuggling him back to the dorms.
“I promise no one will find him, Leo!”
“I said NO, Elias.”
“Come on! You just want Lukas all to yourself! That’s not fair!”
“Take your tailoring tools and get back to the dorm. Now,”
Leonard commanded. He adamantly insisted that everyone return to the dorms immediately, leaving no room for further complaints.
"Sadly, I was the last one to learn of your little transformation. I do hope there's another chance to see you like this."
Julia said. That was because Leonard was afraid his Southern German ally would once again snatch away what belonged to him; thus, he hadn't shared the information until the very last minute.
"And, Lukas, let me know if you’re ever interested in becoming part of our Zähringer family—personally," Julia said. "It’s a waste to leave you with the Askaniers... or with any other family."
"What?! No!"
Leonard barked, his face darkening instantly. Although Julia kept his gaze fixed steadily on Lukas while speaking, the sting of "any other family" was clearly aimed at Leonard. The silent provocation hung heavy in the air.
"No, but thank you for the invitation, anyway."
Lukas added, cutting Leonard off. Julia simply shrugged, unfazed.
"Maybe I should ask you when it's just the two of us. See you tomorrow."
"The answer will never change."
Leonard retorted sharply. Julia ignored Leonard’s prickly response and departed. Urlike and Elias followed close behind, but not before each giving Lukas’s cheek one last poke and insisting that Heike take a photo of them.
"I'll develop the film soon. I hope you’ll like the results."
Heike said, raising his camera with his left hand. Lukas noticed two bottles of beer clutched in Heike's right hand. After a second thought, Lukas decided not to mention it; Leonard, who was carrying him, must have noticed as well but chose to say nothing.
"Thanks for everything today, Narcke. Good night."
"It was no trouble at all, Lukas. Good night."
'Good night, Lukas!'
Pie chirped.
"Good night, Pie."
The Pika and his Italian owner finally left. Once everyone had departed, the apartment returned to its usual silence. There were only Lukas and Leonard left in the room—though Leonard was now kneeling on the rug, having been ordered to pick up the puzzle pieces as a penalty for his spiteful behavior toward Julia earlier.
“Sorry, we ended up using the puzzle pieces for other games instead.”
“The reason I brought the puzzle out was simply to help you pass the time while staying in this apartment all day. Games are meant to be played. You just found a different way to enjoy it.”
Leonard’s smile shifted into a look of concern.
“How are you feeling now? Do you need any blood? I’ve already prepared some.”
“It has nothing to do with blood.”
Lukas said, swallowing the word “system mission” just in time. He suddenly remembered Leonard’s intense reaction when he first learned that Lukas could rewind time under certain conditions.
“Fine. Do you want to take a shower or a bath? Even if you’ve been indoors all day.”
“Yes, I’ll take a bath. Alone.”
Lukas added firmly. When he saw a mysterious, playful smile begin to form on Leo’s face, he felt the need to emphasize the last word. Though Leonard’s smile froze on his face, Lukas ignored him and headed for the bathroom. Just because he looked like a five-year-old boy didn’t mean his mind was five years old as well.
However, when he eventually came out and saw Leonard sitting at the desk in his bedroom, Lukas couldn't help but speak up.
“I know you’re thick-skinned, but I didn’t think you were this shameless.”
"Language, Lukas. And don't worry—I’ll leave once you’ve fallen asleep."
Then there’s no reason for you to be here at all, Lukas thought. He climbed onto the bed and pulled the heavy quilt over his chest. He had changed back into the clothes he wore this morning, just in case his body reverted to its original size while he was dreaming.
“Close your eyes now, Lukas. Or the Sandman will throw sand into them.”
“I can’t believe you are the one bringing up the Sandman.”
“Why not? Every German child grows up with the Sandman.”
“True. I’ve heard it since I was born.”
Well, maybe that's not true. Considering the hardships the original Lukas endured, perhaps no one had ever bothered to tell him fairy tales. Or worse, his elder brother, Adrian Askanier, might have used it as a tool to indoctrinate him with fear.
Now, the indifferent Leonard from the novel had the chance to act as Lukas’s guardian and tell this childish story. Lukas simply hoped the poor boy might have heard it for himself. To be more precise, he wished the original Lukas could have felt the joy, love, and happiness he had experienced today.
Lukas drifted off. Before losing consciousness, he finally identified the scent lingering in the room. It was chamomile, known for its calming properties. Leonard must have prepared it to ensure Lukas had a peaceful sleep.
Lukas heard the system notification chime in the darkness. More exhausted than he had realized, he could barely keep his eyes open to read the text. He intended to close the pop-up window, but his finger accidentally brushed the shimmering silver button on the right, which seemed to be labeled "PRESENT."
BANG!
A sharp pain jolted through Lukas’s back. He sat up abruptly, finding himself in a bright, spacious room—a greenhouse filled with various plants, some of which were in full bloom. The air was thick with the scent of damp soil and nature. To his right stood a golden lion statue—
Wait a second.
Lukas suddenly realized exactly where he was. Panic surged through him as he scrambled to escape. Why was he here? Was this a dream? No, the sensations were too vivid, too authentic. Regardless, he had to leave immediately, or else—
Just as Lukas scrambled to his feet, a childish voice echoed through the glass walls.
"...Sir Everett?"
Lukas turned toward the source of the voice and saw his student—a seventy-month-old Leonard Wittelsbach—staring at him. The young boy’s hands were clamped over his mouth, his eyes wide with disbelief.
'He’s actually taller and bigger than I was at that age...'
That was the only thought Lukas’s desperate brain could manage as the young version of his best friend charged toward him, arms outstretched for a hug.
[END]