What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 272

#272

Langbue Caraban and the Intruders (2)

The Langbue Caraban moved smoothly into the desert.

Outside the wagon, the constant sounds of camels and the voices of workers could be heard.

-Kkeueooo

-Clatter, clatter······

“It’s all so fascinating. Everything.”

I was constantly looking out the window, marveling at everything.

Everything had been new since I possessed this body, but crossing the desert was one of the most remarkable experiences.

Sant, who was stroking the sleeping Dduk-ssim, smiled broadly at me.

The wren’s silken nest was as colorful as a rainbow-striped jacket.

I had been worried because Prince Yeseo’s body was vulnerable to the heat, but fortunately, the wagon provided by the viscount couple had a magic enchantment that preserved the cold air.

It wasn’t as fancy as the imperial carriage, but it was a compact package with everything we needed.

Unlike last year, we also had the help of Christel and Sir Johann.

So, a thick ring of ice floated above my head.

The cold air emanating from it was so strong that it chilled my neck, and the cardinal maximized the air conditioning effect by circulating the air inside.

Joan was amazed, saying it was her first time experiencing such luxury.

“The sky is so beautiful.”

If Jeong Eun-seo had seen it, she would have easily taken fifty pictures.

The cloudless blue sky welcomed us.

In a land devoid of shade and cities, the sun was imposing all day long.

The square window occasionally framed houses made of sand-colored stones.

There were hardly any people, and scraggly, stunted bushes sat here and there. Tumbleweeds, often seen in Westerns, rolled around frequently. Sometimes, we even saw green trees.

“Wow.”

“That’s a mesquite, Your Highness. It stretches its roots deep into the ground to absorb water. It’s good for firewood, and the pods are edible.”

“You know everything, Sir Johann.”

“Even if I don’t, I’ll answer as if I do.”

“Hahaha.”

The former paladin from the mercenary group, once affiliated with the Papal States, kindly explained.

I looked outside for a while before coming down.

The scenery was too dazzling to watch for long. So······.

-Thwack!

“We must study.”

I declared, placing books and maps on the floor of the wagon.

Unlike Sant, who nodded as if it were a good idea, Christel and Joan pouted.

They had been happily playing while eating butter cookies.

‘Awoo.’ Tete, sprawled on the protagonist’s leg, whined as if she was also feeling left out.

She’s still a baby, what will she learn if she only picks up things like this?

“Prince, I knew you were bookish, but were you really this bookish? Who studies while traveling?”

“Shouldn’t we just trust Grandma and Grandpa? The caraban is accompanying us, so it’s safer than ever. There are even three paladins.”

Christel said, trying to coax me gently.

She was trying to avoid studying by any means possible. I let out a hollow laugh.

Before crossing the border, she kept postponing it, saying, ‘Let’s just get out of the empire and then think about it,’ but now she was acting like it was something she’d never heard of.

It was as if I could see Ms. Gain’s school days before my eyes.

“It’s not that I don’t trust the viscount couple. But we don’t know much about the neutral zone or the desert. Since the two of them were kind enough to give us reference books, it would be good to read them together along the way.”

‘Soon, when we stay at the lodging, we’ll meet foreigners too,’ I said, looking up at the berth.

As the highest-ranking person among us, the crown prince sat regally, looking down at us.

He didn’t particularly object to my opinion, and even raised one eyebrow as if to acknowledge it.

Beside him, the divine beasts were rolling around, bellies up.

With the clothes he changed into earlier, he looked like a sultan in a red panda harem.

“If you find it boring to just read books, the priest and I can also add stories.”

Sir Johann added. Then Sant said, ‘I don’t know anything except about the Papal States,’ and expressed his reluctance.

I turned to the paladin with shining eyes.

He closed the diary he had been diligently writing and smiled.

He said it was a record he was keeping to show to Herrit when he returned.

Only then did the two tomboyish young ladies show interest.

“This is your first time in the neutral zone, isn’t it?”

“Yes. His Highness the Crown Prince has never been here either.”

Christel quickly answered the teacher’s question.

Sir Johann’s white hair flowed down elegantly.

“This place is as desolate and open as it looks, but there are many hidden presences, so you must be careful. Poisonous creatures are also common.”

His pleasant voice was lower than usual. Joan swallowed hard.

The three red panda musketeers jumped off the berth and hugged me.

Seeing their trembling tails, I chuckled softly. It’s not a ghost story, what are you so scared of?

“According to legend, the ruins of the ancient nation of Unio are buried deep in the sand. So, tomb raiders and bandits, hiding their identities, roam the desert day and night. If they find treasure, they can make a lot of money.”

“They just dig in the ground without a clue? How do they know what will come out! There must be magical beasts here too, right?”

The genius painter Joan was also a great audience member.

The colorful headscarf, a gift from the viscountess, shook wildly with excitement.

Sir Johann had a satisfied expression.

“Good point, Baroness. There are many corpses left to rot like that.”

‘There’s one over there.’ He pointed casually outside.

We unconsciously turned our gaze and recoiled in shock.

There really was something that looked like human remains not far from the procession!

How is such a performance even possible!

-Squeak, squeak

“Don’t look. Don’t look at things like that.”

I cradled the whining Leah and lowered my gaze.

Sant turned pale and covered his mouth with a handkerchief.

As for Christel, she muttered blankly, ‘It wasn’t a safari······,’ and then straightened her posture. What did you expect?

“Has anyone actually found treasure?”

Crown Prince Cedrick asked sharply. The cardinal nodded as if he had drawn the answer.

“Yes. There are those who have become rich by finding ancient relics or gold and silver treasures. It’s a rare occurrence, but newcomers jump in, believing in their luck.”

“Still, is it worth risking your life like that?”

‘There are people crazy about money everywhere.’ The young baron chewed on jerky and clicked his tongue.

Sir Johann asked for my understanding and then spread a map in the middle of the wagon.
The curious Demi poked her nose out from my arms.

Scarred fingers moved along the red path.

“But we are passing through the only trade route in the neutral zone. You won’t have to see such gruesome sights often. It’s not far from the Winite River, so it’s easy to get drinking water, and if you just follow the road, you’ll reach the Temple of the Boundary. There are large caraban sarais [caravan inns] along the way, supervised by the Papal States, so you can easily trade and stay overnight.”

“He’s an expert, an expert.”

Christel exclaimed sincerely. Everyone except the crown prince nodded in agreement.

Sir Johann smiled and added a joke.

“Since we have Lady Christel, we won’t have to worry about water even if we stray off the path.”

“That’s true!”

The protagonist fluttered her hair with a bright face. Joan scratched her cheek and frowned.

“Is a caraban sarai like an inn? Then are there villages too?”

“I think I saw some houses earlier.”

I responded to her words. Sir Johann nodded gently.

“Small villages are sometimes formed near oases or springs. Since the caraban sarai has a reliable manager, a large village grows nearby. It’s safer, so markets are held regularly.”

“That sounds fun.”

I meant to mutter it quietly, but my voice was too loud, and my friends looked at me and grinned.

I was embarrassed and fiddled with the ice ring for no reason. The cardinal curved his eyes.

“The Grand Festival period is over, but if a caraban of this size goes, there will be a market worth seeing.”

“Ah······.”

At his words, we were momentarily stunned. A chill slowly ran up our spines from our calves.

Come to think of it, the Grand Festival of the Gods, it definitely wasn’t supposed to go beyond March.

For two weeks, commemorating the creation of the continent by the gods, peace is maintained even in combat zones.

But who knows how the situation will change next month.

“What’s today’s date?”

“If I’ve counted the days correctly, it’s March 1st.”

When I asked seriously, Christel answered just as seriously.

Joan’s jaw dropped.

“What, then the two countries are going to start fighting again at the border? They haven’t come to any conclusions yet!”

That was 100% true. I was appalled by my own carelessness.

I was so focused on going to the neutral zone and the Temple of the Boundary that I hadn’t realized the date had passed into March.

How could I do this, Jeong Yeseo!

“How did this happen······. Oh, that’s right.”

I calmly ran the calculations in my head.

If everything had gone according to plan, we should have crossed the border before February ended.

But things don’t always go so smoothly.

The fact that we wandered around for hours after leaving the imperial palace, and the delay caused by the Eastern Metropolitan Portal checkpoint, also played a part.

Even after joining the Langbue Caraban, the speed didn’t pick up.

We couldn’t speed along like a regular carriage, and the procession was moving slower than usual because it was carrying heavy specialty products.

Since we were being taken care of, we couldn’t even dream of making unreasonable demands.

“Oh my god.”

That’s how it turned out.

Reality was different from novels, and nothing went as neatly as planned.

I despaired at the completely misaligned timeline.

Would it have been different if the protagonist Christel and that crown prince had taken the lead?

Are we doomed······?

“Y-Yes, Prince Yeseo. It’s okay. Don’t worry.”

Our heads turned sharply. Sant stuttered, even though he was startled.

“His Majesty······. By now, he must have noticed the absence of His Highness the Crown Prince and the prince. He probably knows that you’ve gone to the neutral zone, so there’s no need to start a battle at the border······. Um. So.”

“You mean he won’t create any factors that would put us in trouble in a distant land.”

Sir Johann was eloquent. I blinked. Sant’s face brightened, and he clapped his hands.

“That’s right! Even though the unique warm atmosphere of the Grand Festival period is gone.”

“Now that I hear it, it makes sense, Prince. Now that things have come to this, wouldn’t His Majesty be cheering us on? He wouldn’t come to catch us himself, would he?”

Christel said, looking at the crown prince. Then the man tilted his head slightly.

Judging by the calmness in his eyes, it meant he agreed. I nodded involuntarily.

“Well, Grand Duke Rüpert hasn’t proposed a specific negotiation date either. Until we return home, His Majesty and Prince Oreli may prevent a conflict.”

Hmm, maybe I was overreacting too much on my own. But I was really taken aback earlier.

I looked at the young priest and asked worriedly.

“Then Sant’s plan to make a pilgrimage to the Temple of the Boundary······.”

“Hehehe, I’m fine. My father’s letter was an order to leave the country under that pretext. And the pilgrimage itself continues until mid-March. If I’m disappointed, I can arrive at the temple, see my father, and then join you later.”

“That’s a relief.”

I smiled back at the priest, who was smiling innocently.

In short, even though we won’t have the merits of the Grand Festival period······. Since Emperor Frederick can’t possibly not know we’re here, she will maintain peace until there is a meaningful harvest.

At this point, it wasn’t the peace of the gods, but the ‘peace of the emperor.’

I squeezed the growth given by my teacher in one hand.

······I mustn’t disappoint her.

It’s important to actually see the Holy Grail, but let’s negotiate properly with the royal family of the Divine Kingdom and return.

I need to reassure Elissa too.

“Come to think of it, there’s one important thing I haven’t told you.”

Sir Johann said casually, covering Tete with a blanket.

The man’s profile was already facing the setting sun outside.

“The spirits of a fallen kingdom wander in the desert. This is not a legend, but a fact.”

“Huh?”

The jerky fell from Joan’s mouth.

Christel quickly put it back in her mouth.

We diligently followed the cardinal’s gaze, then were startled and became like Hallasan rabbits [a type of Korean rabbit known for being easily startled].

The red pandas also raised their tails in a flash.

“Good Lord.”

“Wow······.”

A pillar so tall it seemed to pierce the sky, more than enough to be described as the size of a house, came into view.

It was a stone pillar so thick that twenty adults could barely encircle it.

There was nothing where a roof would have once been.

Buried deep in the sand, it was leaning at an angle, and it was difficult to imagine its original appearance because it had been worn down and broken over the years.

Right behind it, one of the pillars was completely lying down.

I was so amazed by the mystery and vastness of the world in the novel that I couldn’t close my mouth.

I had never seen such a huge ruin before.

It was as if it had been made for beings greater and more magnificent than humans······.

-Ooooo!

“Gasp.”

I flinched! I looked around in horror.

Did only I see that just now? Or did I see something that wasn’t there?

Red shadows were walking around······!

“No. You saw it correctly, Your Highness.”

Sir Johann said as if he had seen through me.

While Christel screamed silently, he slowly raised his gaze and stared at the crown prince in the upper seat.