What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 276

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – Episode 276 (276/920)

#276

Langbuiet Caravan and the Intruders (6)

A moment later.

I found my mana stone glasses (I should really attach a string) and sat down.

The divine beasts were let into my room. It was to greet a guest.

“…Are you okay? Would you like more baklava?”

I asked, watching Marion carefully.

The eleven-year-old girl sitting on the sofa across the living room had her eyes and nose all red and swollen from crying so much.

Still, she bravely stopped crying and appeared with Monica.

I was so impressed and wanted to sincerely support her, so I kept taking care of her.

I hope I’m not making her uncomfortable by doing this too much.

“Thank you.”

The girl nodded, then stole glances at me as she took a large baklava and bit into it.

She ate even more deliciously when Christel wiped the crumbs from her mouth.

She looked like she wanted to ask me something about myself but was trying hard to hold back.

I smiled faintly and focused on the healing circle again.

A blue light gently enveloped Monica’s body.

The ether particles gathered near her eyebrows diligently exerted their healing power.

-Saaaah…

“Thank you so much, Young Master. For such a precious healing priest to use her power on someone like me.”

“I use it on anyone. I’m not that expensive.”

When I answered with a grin, Monica bowed her head even lower, saying that was not true.

I felt relieved to see the wound, which had stopped bleeding.

I memorized the circle for this, and it was rewarding to actually have a place to use it steadily.

The Crown Prince sat in the seat of honor, silently watching what we were doing.

Joan and Sant were each drawing Marion’s portrait and pouring goat’s milk into a cup for her.

I was pleased that everyone was of one mind in comforting the child.

“When will the Viscount couple and Isabel arrive?”

“I don’t know. Wholesale can be over in an instant when it’s quick, but they said it can take all day if it takes long.”

‘It seems we’ll have to proceed with the story among ourselves,’ Christel added seriously.

After the sandstorm and earthquake subsided, the Chaum caravanserai quickly returned to normal.

I heard that such weather phenomena themselves were not uncommon in the neutral zone.

Although this one was unusually large, fortunately, the inn staff and villagers were not shaken.

Everyone calmly cleaned up the fallen supplies, repaired the broken parts, and calmed the camels and horses.

Business such as trading specialties and exchanging letters also began to take place normally.

The Langbuiet family, except for Christel, had also left the inn to participate in the spice wholesale at the Chaum village market.

I nodded and looked at the Papal knight standing by the door.

The man looked to be in his late forties, with receding hair and prominent cheekbones that were impressive.

He bowed to me as soon as our eyes met.

“Sir Knight, you said that a swarm of monsters appeared in the Chaum ruins where India went?”

“That’s right, Young Master.”

“It seems to be the result of tomb raiders disguised as archaeologists tampering with the ruins.”

“Yes. Judging from the fact that the black amber wasp swarm, which had been quiet until now, suddenly rose up… It seems something happened inside the ruins. There are no cave terrains around where the swarm could have been hiding.”

“Would it be difficult to go back?”

“That is…”

‘Yes.’ He concluded with a grim look. His voice was barely audible.

Joan showed Marion a picture to comfort her as she was about to cry.

The knight’s neck and face were covered in wounds from being bitten by the black amber wasps.

I tried to use healing power on him, but he glanced behind me and politely declined.

All that was behind me was the window and Sir Johann… He seemed very upset that he was attacked by monsters in his own territory.

I glanced at Sir Johann.

He smiled at me as refreshingly as a watercolor painting.

Actually, I wondered if Sir Johann was the one who caused that terrifying whirlwind.

But Herrit’s father returned to the inn too quickly, and he didn’t seem to be lacking in ether.

Above all, there was no reason for him to hide the fact that he used such power from me.

My hands still trembled when I thought of the day I was struck by his stigmata [marks resembling Christ’s wounds, often associated with divine favor], but it was really okay.

He was a bit scary, but I could understand since he was a cardinal. But…

“You reported that the sandstorm that occurred earlier was a simple natural disaster.”

“That’s right. The Chaum village and the inn were lucky. It was the grace of the Lord…”

The knight spat out each word.

Christel and Crown Prince Cedric snorted at the same time.

I gestured to the two of them not to do that.

He came here trying to protect this place, and it wasn’t polite to react like that.

When I said, ‘Thank you. Go and get some rest,’ he saluted stiffly and stepped back.

I heard that nearly ten military horses were eaten by the monster swarm.

It would be a big blow in many ways.

-Click

The door closed. ‘Theologian’ Marion jumped up from her seat.

There were still traces of dried tears, but her eyes were as bright as could be as she looked at me.

“I greet His Highness Prince Yeser Venetian, who has received the blessing of the Lord.”

And she bowed, uttering tremendous words. I was horrified.

The blue ether particles were also horrified and gathered together!

“N, no? I think you’ve got the wrong idea.”

I cracked. I felt like even the particles were looking at me pitifully.

“I saw you in the courtyard earlier. Your blessed purple eyes were sparkling and pretty. It has always been said that the eyes are the windows to the soul. There’s no doubt that the One God cherishes Your Highness especially.”

“That, well. Maybe there was an optical illusion due to the scattering of light?”

I just blurted out whatever came to mind. Now that I saw it, my vocabulary was worse than a child’s.

The Crown Prince looked at me with a ‘trying hard’ look. Bad guy.

“Plus, you have blonde hair, and you’re as beautiful as a fallen angel, just like the rumors say.”

“Hmm.”

The girl with pigtails had no trouble speaking her mind in a nasal voice.

The red iris surrounding her pupils had a green tint towards the outside.

It was a heterochromatic eye unique to a continental minority.

Monica, who couldn’t bear to watch, grabbed Marion’s hand and opened her mouth. Savior appeared!

“I am honored, Your Highness. The child is still young and extremely rude. Please forgive her…”

She knows too! What happened to the anonymous guest book?

My strength drained from my limbs, and the healing circle turned off with a snap.

As I stammered in embarrassment, the woman smiled awkwardly.

Then, she bowed deeply to the Crown Prince first.

Joan giggled and snatched a slice of orange sprinkled with cinnamon powder.

Christel smacked her lips as she looked at her, but didn’t readily reach for the orange.

The manager carefully continued.

“The story of Lady Isabel, the daughter of the wealthy merchant Langbuiet, and her daughter, Lady Christel, is widely known here. The noble guests of the Empire often mention it. Especially the adventures of the three nobles, including His Highness the Crown Prince and His Highness the Prince.”

Those damn ‘three nobles.’ I just ‘wish’ the two of them would date.

“I see…”

“When you said you were Lady Christel’s friend, I had my doubts, but when I saw ‘C. R.’ and ‘J. V.’ written in initials, I knew they were the names of distinguished people. But I pretended not to know because it seemed like you wanted to hide it.”

Damn it. I shouldn’t have copied the Crown Prince.

But even if I had used a pseudonym like ‘Gagabang’ or ‘I Gamsin,’ I would have been caught like an idiot anyway, so I decided to humbly accept reality.

I gave up and took off my glasses, and Marion’s face brightened up. I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Hello.”

“Wow!”

“Marion, you can’t look at such high-ranking people so directly.”

Monica was startled and tried to stop the child.

I waved my hand, saying it was okay, but she insisted on correcting Marion’s posture and making her formally greet the Crown Prince and me.

The little girl performed both the Imperial and Divine Kingdom bows. She was as smart as I had heard.

“I greet His Highness the Crown Prince. I greet His Highness the Prince. It is the greatest honor as a theologian!”

“Nice to meet you too, Marion.”

I greeted her. Christel shook hands with the child happily.

Sant joked that it was an honor to see such a young theologian for the first time.

Marion bit her lip shyly.

I looked around at my friends and carefully opened my mouth.

“Um, your sister. You said India left for the Chaum ruins with the adults.”

“Yes…”

The child’s face darkened in an instant. I calmly continued.

“I heard that was early in the morning on the 28th.”

“…That’s right.”

Marion said in a trembling voice. I asked quietly.

“Today is the third day, did your sister pack enough food and water?”

“Yes. India is resourceful and takes good care of herself. She took all the jerky, ham, cheese, and even the baghrir [a type of Moroccan pancake] left over from the day before. Two water bottles are missing. She also knows how to find her way in thousand-year-old ruins, and she’s the best at mazes among the village children. She’s better than Tommy, who’s fifteen years old.”

The child poured out words as if chanting a spell.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for her as I saw tears welling up in her big eyes.

Even though her voice was choked and her breath was short, Marion didn’t stop.

“Grandpa Scotty, he said. India is the kind of kid who could be dropped off alone in the middle of the neutral zone and still find her way back to Chaum village. Hic.”

“I see. Then,”

“She would never leave me and go far away. She said I’m the scariest in the world when I’m angry. She listens to me well. Hic, it’s true!”

“I know. That’s why I sent the knights.”

I gently coaxed the child.

Soon, tears like chicken droppings fell from her clear eyes, and her chubby cheeks crumpled like dark clouds. Oh dear.

“Marion, listen. Because those people aren’t enough…”

“Please! Please don’t give up. Please save my sister!”

The girl prostrated herself and clung to my leg. I was so surprised that I bent down.

The emotions of a young child were usually so great.

Her small shoulders were shaking as if she was having a seizure. Marion cried desperately.

“India is my family. She’s the only one I have! She’s the only one in the world! Please help me!”

“We will.”

“Please, please! If Your Highness leaves like this. Now no one high up, heuuung, hic, heuuuung…!”

“Marion. We’ll go and come back. So don’t worry.”

‘Shhh.’ I stroked her small back and made a wind sound.

The child flinched and slowly lifted her head. Her hiccups didn’t stop.

She had an expression that she couldn’t believe even though she heard it with both ears.

Tearful fruits kept forming in her round eyes.

I took out a handkerchief and gently wiped the child’s face, and also brought it to the tip of her nose.

“Sniff hard, sniff.”

“Sniff.”

“Your Highness!”

Monica was shocked and came over to pick up the child.

Christel gave Marion water to drink. I clicked my tongue.

“I have a younger sibling too, Monica. I know how hard it must be for a child.”

“How could such noble people… go to such a dangerous place in person. I know very well that I shouldn’t even dare to ask for such a favor.”

She said, holding the hiccuping child in her arms.

She was worried about the missing India, but she was also anxious that we might get into trouble.

Then, the respected protagonist replied cheerfully!

“This is a secret, but we’re much stronger than the people who went earlier. If we wanted to, we could even do attacks like the sandstorm you saw earlier, right? So you don’t have to worry.”

“But…”

“Monica said so. She said desert travel would be a valuable experience. Then we have to do everything. Save a lost child, go into the ruins. And if there are any treasures, take a look?”

“Hey, boss. Don’t try to win against these people with words. I’ve been with them lately, and they never let go of something once they get their hands on it. They always see it through to the end. They’re famous in the Empire.”

‘I was badly burned last year too!’ Joan waved her hand, munching on an orange, to stop Monica.

Sprouts of hope sprouted in Marion’s wet eyes.

The manager quickly turned to look at the Crown Prince, but…

“I don’t want to leave anything that bothers me.”

A blunt answer came back.

The most noble man on the continent also intended to go to the ruins.

Even though this place was not Imperial territory, he acted like the son of Frederick Liester.

As the child glanced up at Monica, she sighed as if she couldn’t win.

Sant, who had been watching the flow, brightened his face.

“Then, shall we pack our bags right away?”

-Squeak!

Then, the divine beasts rushed out of the bedroom.

They seemed very nervous that they would be left behind.

Monica and Marion were startled to see the incredibly cute lesser panda.

Demi was rolling Tete, wrapped in swaddling clothes, with her front paws.

‘Euhahaha!’ Christel roared with laughter.

“Demi, your sibling isn’t a ball!”

-Kkia?

Me? What’s there to say? I just turned pale!

*

-Whooooosh…

Tomb of the Forgotten. A bleak wind blew through the Chaum ruins.

The shadows, holding a thousand years of resentment, wandered around as usual.

Ooooooo…

-Aaaah…!

At that time, a spirit turned to look in the direction of the village.

Its empty eyes flashed open, and its dry mouth opened wide. It was evidence of shock.

The blood-colored outline of the vengeful spirit pulsed thickly like the aorta. ‘A certain being’ was approaching from the human village.

It was a bloodline that could never be mistaken. It was not a delusion or a phantom.

The wound engraved deep in the old and rotten soul was screaming.

That human. ‘He’ has returned.

-Aaaah, aaaah!

The sacred and sublime vessel. The body that inherited the Lord’s proxy.

-Aaaaaaah…!

The wraith screamed terribly.

Then, the other spirits nearby began to resonate all at once.

They were also perceiving ‘him’ at their own speeds.

The realization spread like poison, like a convulsion, like a curse.

-Aaaah!

-Oooooooo…!

-Uh-oh…!

A sinister and evil dirge dominated the entire ruin.

Then, a small whisper, too small to be heard by the nightjar, seeped into their screams like fog.

-Want, want, want, want…