What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 29

#029 The Last and Only One (1)

After that, it was chaos.

“Good heavens, François…”

Cardinal Boutier looked unusually perplexed at the news that Marquis François Dhuem had offered the Divine Artifact ‘Comet Sword of Mars’ as the grand prize for the monster subjugation competition.

He promptly declared the end of the lesson and hurriedly left the training grounds to meet the Emperor.

The Prince also left without a word of greeting, looking grave.

I, too, seized the opportunity amidst the vague atmosphere and quickly returned to Juliette Palace.

I exchanged brief greetings with Christel before parting ways, and she also seemed to be deep in thought.

Even I, who had possessed this body for only a month, was taken aback, so I could only imagine how surprised the people who were born and raised here must have been.

In a land where using Divine Artifacts for personal gain was considered a grave sin, there was someone who would offer it as a tournament prize?

“Marquis François Dhuem… he *is* someone who would do that.”

Benjamin opened his mouth in a calm tone. It was our first tea time on the balcony in a while.

I stroked Demi’s tail and waited for his explanation.

“The current Marquis is the one who has put all his efforts into selecting a grand prize that would be a hot topic every year, and he has established the ‘Monster Subjugation’ as a national event. He has also turned his territory into a tourist attraction, enriching the lives of his people. Knowing that the ‘Blessing of the Azure Sea’ had disappeared, he probably thought there was no reason why he couldn’t use the Divine Artifact himself.”

Indeed, Marquis Dhuem would have heard the details of how the Blessing of the Azure Sea disappeared.

The Cardinal had contacted him directly to entrust the Lesser Pandas to him.

It would have been difficult to explain in any other way the reason for sending the Divine Beast all the way to his territory, right in front of the Sarnese Duchy.

Having decided to raise Christel as a Paladin, there was no reason to hide the truth from the Dhuem family, who were close aides to the Emperor.

“Even so, isn’t using a Divine Artifact like this clearly a major sin?”

“It is a punishable offense.”

“Perhaps he thought it would be okay since no one can take the Comet Sword of Mars anyway?”

Ganael, who had been listening quietly, offered his opinion. I tilted my head, not understanding for a moment.

Demi tilted her head, following my action.

“Why can’t they take it?”

“The Comet Sword of Mars is stuck in the middle of the wilderness in front of the Lord’s Castle.”

“No one has ever succeeded in pulling it out.”

Seriously, is this Excalibur…?

“It is said that when the Main God bestowed Divine Artifacts upon the continent, the Comet Sword of Mars embedded itself there of its own will. There is a prophecy that only the chosen one will be able to pull it out and gain the power of fire.”

Isn’t this cliché of following the Arthurian legend a bit trite?

I thought as I popped a small crème brûlée into my mouth.

The texture of the thin caramel layer breaking crisply over the sweet and moist custard cream was superb.

So delicious.

“Until now, countless people have tried to pull out the Comet Sword of Mars. Regardless of status or occupation, thousands, tens of thousands of men and women, young and old, have come and gone from the territory.”

“Perhaps hundreds of thousands. But they have all failed.”

Ganael added.

Seeing that Benjamin and Ganael’s plates were empty, I gave them each another crème brûlée.

Benjamin nodded in gratitude, pointing to a spot on the Divine Artifact map I had spread out on the table.

A black thread, shining as if ground with pearls, embroidered the south of the Imperial City in the shape of a jet-black sword.

Around it, luxurious crimson threads rippled like flames.

“Is he trying to attract attention by offering something that no one can have anyway?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what he’s doing. Marquis Dhuem really loves attention…”

At the boy’s murmur, Benjamin nodded with a pitiful expression.

“He is intelligent and understanding, so he is popular with the people of his territory, but his reputation in society is somewhat mixed. He is someone who will use his abilities and wealth to do anything to get attention. He is loud… Of course, that is helpful to His Majesty…”

‘He has a frivolity that is not befitting of a Marquis,’ he concluded.

In short, he’s an attention seeker.

“His Majesty and the Cardinal will persuade the Marquis.”

“Of course, they will. No matter how much of a Marquis Dhuem he is, it would be difficult to set a precedent for handling Divine Artifacts carelessly.”

I nodded and sipped my chrysanthemum tea. I was getting interested.

So far, two Divine Artifacts had successfully triggered two possessions, and it would be a lie to say that I didn’t have the thought, ‘Maybe?’ when seeing another Divine Artifact.

But I came here to save Yeser Venetian from the war and death that will happen in the future, so the probability of not being able to return home until then was overwhelmingly high.

Well, being a hostage, it’s hard to even go outside the Imperial Palace. I guess it will be difficult to see the Comet Sword of Mars in person.

“Being a fire attribute, it’s not compatible with the Sarnese Duchess, who is going to become a Paladin.”

I muttered.

Matching the Ether [magical energy] compatibility was quite simple.

Water is stronger than fire, fire is stronger than earth, and earth is stronger than water.

Air does not take much damage from other attributes, but its own influence is also low.

Also, Paladins must have weapons that match their attributes to maximize the efficiency of their abilities, as I read in .

Having a fire attribute weapon would make it difficult to use water attribute abilities, so Christel would not want the Comet Sword of Mars.

“By the way, the Sarnese Duchess has recently had several interviews with various bishops. She has also met with a couple of archbishops.”

Ganael suddenly brought up.

The boy was steadily practicing the penance I had given him earlier, ‘Delivering news about the Sarnese Duchess and Prince Cedric.’

“Seeing her contacting high-ranking priests, she is probably looking for a partner as a Paladin.”

The two agreed with my guess.

I put a piece of kiwi in Demi’s mouth and quietly sighed in relief.

I may not be aware of it, but everyone here said that my Ether was amazing.

Therefore, it was difficult to ignore the possibility that Christel had marked me as a partner candidate.

Since the category is a romance fantasy, I was anxious about when and under what pretext we would get entangled, but the wise Christel seemed to be comparing all the options before deciding on a partner.

If she tries to sound me out again, I should rip her off by asking how much she’s been offered and reject her.

-Squeak

“Yes, pretty. Thank you.”

Demi bloomed an orange small chrysanthemum from her paw and pushed it into my arms.

I thought she might be interested in chrysanthemum tea, so I poured a little tea into a dish, but she ignored it.

Raising a companion Divine Beast was not easy.

*

“My brother probably isn’t just doing it to get attention.”

Erbe Dhuem, the Marquis’s younger brother and Captain of the Imperial Guard, said in a serious voice.

Emperor Frederica rested her forehead on one hand, remaining silent.

As always, Aurélie Boutier stood beside her, sitting at the massive desk in the office.

The Cardinal wore a painted smile, but nothing could be read in the eyes beneath the monocle [a single lens eyeglass].

“Of course, I cannot argue that he had no such intention at all. But the three of you are well aware of what my brother has long insisted. The Comet Sword of Mars is a fire attribute Divine Artifact, and His Highness the Prince was born with a fire attribute Ether…”

“I wasn’t born with it.”

It was Cedric Liester who interrupted.

The orange eyes, filled with long despair, shone brightly.

“It’s cursed.”

“Your Highness.”

“The moment I release even a little of that power, I lose my body. Can that be called an ability?”

The Captain of the Imperial Guard closed his mouth. A suffocating silence swept over them.

The Sarnese Ducal Family, the Dhuem Marquis Family, and the Mute Count Family were among the closest aides to the Imperial Family who knew about the Prince’s ‘condition.’

Having sworn allegiance unto death and watched over the Prince for a long time, they knew the situation well, so Erbe Dhuem had to be even more careful, but he could not easily give up his attachment.

The Blessing of the Azure Sea melted into the body of the Sarnese Duchess.

The most plausible plan had fallen through.

Then, the only option left for the loyal subject was one.

“If a water attribute Divine Artifact cannot suppress a fire attribute Ether, wouldn’t it be better to fill the Ether with a Divine Artifact of the same fire attribute?”

He finally voiced the family’s conviction.

The Prince fixed his gaze on his hand, wearing a black glove, and remained silent.

The Cardinal sighed softly.

Cedric Liester’s soul, his large ‘vessel,’ was cracked.

It was a narrow gap that would not have been a flaw if he had been born an ordinary person.

However, he was born into the world with a fire attribute Ether.

That was the beginning of all the tragedy.

Immediately after birth, the Prince fell into a deep sleep due to Ether depletion.

Those who secretly came to care for the young Imperial grandson, the empire’s esteemed magicians and the Divine Kingdom’s elderly Cardinals, all agreed that it was ‘the curse that the Main God had bestowed upon the Empire.’

Even when high-ranking priests poured Ether until they fainted, the Prince’s consciousness did not last long.

It was like pouring water into a bottomless pit.

He had to sleep 18 hours a day until he was twelve years old.

There was a miraculous improvement after the death of Grand Duke Alexandre, but from that time on, he could not maintain a healthy body if he consumed even a fraction too much Ether.

That was why the Prince, who would be twenty-five years old after his birthday this year, had not yet ascended to the Crown Prince position.

The moment the precarious balance of Ether was even slightly disturbed, he would instantly turn into a child.

“Your Highness, I dare to speak, risking disloyalty.”

“······.”

“Participate in the monster subjugation competition and, as the winner, draw the Comet Sword of Mars.”

Prince Cedric scoffed.

“I won’t be able to draw it unless I’m the chosen one.”

“It is only natural since a Paladin has not been born in the Empire in the meantime.”

“······.”

“If you infuse fire attribute Ether, the Divine Artifact will react. At least, the people of our family believe so.”

“If I infuse Ether and nothing happens.”

The young man’s low voice sank even lower.

“I won’t be able to draw the sword, and I’ll turn into a child in front of the Empire’s nobles.”

“······.”

“Do you have a contingency plan for such a situation?”

Erbe Dhuem’s head lowered slightly. Instead, it was the Prince’s godmother who spoke.

“There’s someone who can prevent that from happening.”

The Emperor, understanding the Cardinal’s meaning, called her ‘Aurélie.’

However, the Cardinal did not stop speaking.

“That child is good. He won’t reject your hand.”

“I cannot reveal the Imperial Family’s secrets to the prince of an enemy country.”

“The Prince is right.”

The Emperor let out a sigh-like word. Anguish filled her cherry-colored eyes.

“Even if the war I started was not of my own making, the two countries have severed diplomatic relations for 30 years because of the conflict. The Prince came as a hostage, not an ally. We must not give trust carelessly.”

“······.”

“But it is true that he was abandoned by the Divine Kingdom. It is also certain that he possesses an Ether of a level that even the Cardinal cannot fathom. So…”

She took her hand off her forehead and swept back her short silver hair.

“Cedric, do as you wish.”

The Prince’s eyes widened. Frederica looked straight at her son and continued.

“Whether you trust the Prince and get his help to obtain the Comet Sword of Mars, or have one of the Marquis’s legs cut off as soon as he arrives in the Imperial City and have the grand prize announcement withdrawn.”

“······.”

“There must be other ways even if it’s not the Comet Sword of Mars. I promised to give you every opportunity in the world.”

“Mother.”

“There is no need to worry about the Prince’s betrayal either. If such a thing happens, I will take care of it myself.”

There was no need for her, a Sword Master, to step in personally.

If it was the Emperor’s will, Prince Yeser would become a cold corpse overnight.

The Divine Kingdom would welcome it with open arms, as the desired outcome would have been achieved.

The massive office became quiet as if cold water had been poured over it.

“······Give me time to think.”

Cedric Liester replied. Erbe Dhuem let out a long breath.