What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 362

#362

The Eastern Eye of the Chief God (4)

The next day was the day before the full moon.

The plain, which had become a barren land overnight, was emitting a skull-like white light through the dawn twilight.

“Immediately wear the provided masks! They are enchanted with special magic, so don’t lose them…”

“Do not take them off until you return and receive further orders!”

“Yes!”

The military camp was bustling from early in the morning. The rather chilly air brushed against my cheeks.

I packed my Gaga bag again today and came out early.

I barely slept, but what’s important now isn’t my sleep.

-Flap, flutter

“Be careful. The footing will be narrow because there are many packages.”

“Thank you, Marchioness.”

With Caroline’s escort, I got back into the Imperial carriage.

Unlike Prince Yeseo, I can’t ride a horse, and if there are patients, they need to be transported, so this was better for moving.

Lesser pandas took turns clinging to me, sharing their warmth.

I was grateful and proud that they were all doing well.

I was worried until the end about whether to bring Tete, but I thought it would be too much for a baby in this environment.

Even if it’s a divine beast, it’s not suitable.

I was relieved that Sant was taking care of her in Juliette.

“Check military gear! Report any deficiencies immediately!”

“Respond to preemptive strikes with attacks unconditionally! Don’t forget!”

“Yes!”

The soldiers answered Marchioness’s thunderous command with a roar.

The vicinity of the barracks was crowded with countless people, half of whom were shining their eyes while watching us.

Some held flyers for ‘Courtly Romance’ in one hand and wildflowers in the other, waving and bowing towards us.

I could see their earnest desire to find their heroes.

I smiled and waved back.

…It’ll be alright, really. Because they are the protagonists, no matter what anyone says.

“It seems like it will be a good day for searching.”

I looked out the window at the familiar voice.

Lady Elizabeth, who was in charge of this journey, was encouraging me with a wonderful smile.

“I agree. I hope we can find them today.”

“Your Highness, here is your mask. Commander Bakari personally cast a spell on it.”

“Ah, thank you.”

Duke Fabrice handed over the supplies from the seat next to me.

I quickly put the white cloth on my face and put on gloves on both hands.

I carefully covered the noses of the divine beasts, just in case. The three of them were very excited.

It seemed like they thought this was an outing.

The village of Mangkrans was only a two-hour carriage ride away—thank you, Chief God!—but it took a full day to prepare for the search.

That was why Marchioness Caroline Mooteh did not easily allow me to accompany them.

She insisted that she could never send me unless the safety of the road was guaranteed.

This was the same even if Cardinal John went with me, and it wasn’t just because she was worried about her daughter’s friend.

Now was wartime, and this was the front line, even if it was a truce.

Besides, I was a completely different person than before.

The Marchioness stroked her half-shaved head and said sternly.

‘If the Marquis was my son, his back would be blown off by now.’

‘Gasp…’

‘Be aware of your position. You are now the lord of the palace, having been granted a part of the Imperial Palace. You are no longer a mere hostage, nor are you in an inconvenient position where your status as a prince of an enemy country takes precedence. You have become no less than a member of the Imperial Family, beyond being a guest of the Imperial Palace. I cannot bear to see you in danger in the military camp I am in charge of.’

‘Yes, Marchioness.’

I was very nervous. Caroline was similar to her close friend, Emperor Frederick, yet different.

If he was a large SUV that skillfully navigated all roads, she was an unstoppable bulldozer.

The Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard silently patted my back.

I realized for the first time that day that she resembled her father’s personality more than her mother’s.

‘So I will send an advance team. Wait quietly until they bring news that they will listen to.’

‘Yes.’

Her sentences were a bit rough because she was from the North, but I knew she was saying that because she sincerely cared about me.

Since there was protocol attached to me, I couldn’t just insist on going.

If I acted rashly, someone might die or get hurt because of me.

I don’t want to wait even a second when I think of Christel and that Crown Prince…

I had to act carefully according to my position. I clenched my formal dress tightly and suppressed my feelings.

The ‘Flying Squirrel’s Ark’ shaped ring attached to the bag swayed endlessly.

-Flutter!

In the afternoon, news like a bolt from the blue fell.

‘Marchioness! The Mangkrans advance team is returning. Half of them are unconscious!’

We, who had been anxiously waiting in the barracks, stood up in a flurry.

The knight’s cheeks, which had been exposed to the cold wind, were soaked with sweat.

‘What are you talking about? Explain it so I can understand.’

‘Cough! It seems… there’s something in that fog. It’s not just mist. Even after crossing the Winite River and entering the vicinity of Mangkrans, visibility was not secured, and after about thirty minutes, soldiers began to lose consciousness one by one. Most of the ordinary soldiers fainted, and cough! The knights suffered from hallucinations and auditory hallucinations. The higher the rank, the longer they lasted, but it was difficult to advance any further, so they retreated…’

‘Damn it.’

Caroline cursed and ruffled her unkempt hair.

The place that could not be approached due to weather problems during the first search turned out to be an area of concern.

I immediately approached her and asked. I felt a sense of crisis that we shouldn’t back down any further.

‘Please send me, Marchioness. Even if the three of them lost consciousness in the fog, I can awaken two of them with my power. I can also assess their condition and heal them on the spot. I will be far better than other priests.’

Then Cardinal John added.

‘…I think I can guess the identity of the fog. I will accompany you.’

We were surprised and turned to look at him. His mint-colored eyes were smiling faintly.

Was it my imagination that he seemed embarrassed?

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

The Imperial carriage that departed in that way diligently ran on the rough road. The escort alone was well over forty.

I sat holding tightly to the ‘Comet Sword of Mars’ and the ‘Treasure Box of the Ice Silkworm’ that the two men and women had left behind.

The Comet Sword was quiet even without its owner, and the Treasure Box occasionally sprinkled snowflakes on the carriage, as if it was happy to see us for the first time.

The divine beasts were delighted, fidgeting their front paws.

“I heard that the Marchioness sent a message to His Majesty. Also, high-intensity questioning will be conducted on the residents rescued from ‘Purple Canyon’.”

I flinched. I turned away from watching Ferry and looked at Francois.

The eyes of the man wearing the mask were calmly sunken.

“Specifically, what kind of…”

“The residents will be bombarded with questions about the village and the fog. If the mist of Mangkrans is artificial and the disappearance of your son and the two is a trick by the Shin-guk side [Shin-guk refers to a rival nation or faction], His Majesty will naturally come to the front lines.”

“Good heavens.”

Fabrice covered his eyes with his hand. I couldn’t not know what that meant.

‘Total war’.

I looked back and forth between Cardinal John and the Marquis.

“The Crown Princess and the Grand Duke also disappeared at the scene, is it really intentional?”

“There is a possibility of ‘accompaniment’ rather than disappearance. To ensure the succession of the Empire is properly handled. It wouldn’t be difficult for two cardinals.”

“…”

My mouth slowly opened. If that was true, wouldn’t it be too base a method?

I wanted to believe that Elissa wasn’t the kind of person who would do that.

“The important fact is that His Majesty did not know the slightest bit about the secrets of the plains. Even after the neutral cardinals of the Papal States surrendered to him. He must be very sharp by now.”

“Did they hide it on purpose?”

“Or it’s a top secret that even they don’t know.”

Cardinal John gently added. All eyes were on him.

The man was the only one among us who wasn’t wearing a mask. Because he didn’t need to.

“The fog is getting thicker. Be careful not to take off your masks by mistake.”

-Thump!

At the same time as his words, the carriage shook violently.

Ugh, Francois blocked my body, which was swept forward, with his arm. Thank you!

“Whoa, whoa!”

-Neigh, neigh!

The carriage stopped abruptly. From just outside, brave voices poured out.

“Stop! Everyone stop!”

“There’s an obstacle under the carriage! Stand by!”

“We’ll take care of it, Marchioness Mooteh!”

“Lower-level mage support!”

It seemed like the wheel had gotten caught on something. I hurriedly checked on the little ones first.

“Let’s see, are you hurt?”

-Squeak!

-Kihou!

-Kia!

The little ones, who had done somersaults, jumped up and down on the floor.

Their bean eyes were sparkling, and their pink tongues peeked out. They must have had a lot of fun.

The tension was completely relieved, and I let out a hollow laugh—

-Knock knock

The carriage door opened with a quick knock. It was Lady Elizabeth.

“…Marquis, we’ve arrived.”

“Yes?”

I was embarrassed. It was about time, but I couldn’t see any buildings outside the carriage.

All around was as white and hazy as a sea of clouds.

She, whose eyes met mine, also looked embarrassed.

A gloved hand held up a dirt-covered sign.

“It seems this is near Mangkrans. There’s a light over there.”

At the same time, seven pairs of eyes scanned the letters. ‘Maankrans Village.’

The spelling was different from Liester, but there was no other way to read the word clearly written.

The word Cardinal John taught me. ‘Moon’s (maan) wreath (krans).’

We hurriedly got out of the carriage.

“Everyone, be on guard!”

“Don’t neglect watching the front!”

“Yes!”

“Anyone with physical abnormalities or experiencing hallucinations, leave the line and report immediately!”

“Yes!”

Thud, thud! The sound of orderly military boots and shouts echoed through the fog field.

I looked around and carried the lesser pandas on my back.

Chilling air, eerie sensation. Cloudy vision and black underfoot.

The clear sky was gone, and the world was now monochrome.

Beyond the muddy ground where not a single breeze blew, a lonely magic light stood.

But there was no light. It was like a scene from some horror game.

“Oh, there’s no mana. It’s been neglected for a long time.”

Francois muttered as he looked at it. I whispered to him.

“Then should we see this as an abandoned village? That’s why the sign was stuck in the mud.”

“Actually, it’s the opposite, Your Highness. The village drove people out.”

Cardinal John’s gentle voice rang out from the side. I tilted my head, wondering what this meant.

‘I’ll show you.’ He put one arm to his chest and bowed. It was a gesture asking for my permission. As soon as I nodded, there was a change in the air.

At first, it was a breeze. Whoosh…

-……Hwaaaaa!

Then everyone’s collars began to flutter wildly.

My eyes were tightly closed as my hair scattered madly, and the wind, which had its belly on the ground like a snake, mercilessly swept around.

‘Saaaa!’ A serpent that swallowed the fog with a huge mouth neutralized the moisture with an invisible poison.

The sound of the carriage teetering could be heard, and my two legs, which were barely holding on, staggered back half a step.

I struggled not to fall backwards and focused on the warmth clinging to my back.

Rea clung to my formal dress and cried loudly. ‘Heehee!’ Just as the startled horses were pawing their front hooves—

-Whew…

Like a lie, the wind subsided. Huff! My eyes snapped open and a rapid breath burst out.

I slowly raised my head, raising and lowering my shoulders.

The fog had completely disappeared. Instead, in its place…

“Oh, my god.”

-Whew…

An endless field of flowers and thorny bushes stretched out.

Everyone except Cardinal John was in awe and shock.

Mangkrans, covered with thick, sharp nettles and thorny vines, was by no means an environment where people could live.

There were ‘traces’ of the village, but that was it.

Blackened houses and fences that only left traces. A dying old tree in the middle of the village.

A broken well, a shrine that had half collapsed. Black tombstones were embedded grotesquely everywhere.

A windmill with broken wings stopped…

What filled the gaps tightly was a life form that no one had expected.

-Saaaa…

Thousands of silver-shining flowers were lying in the wind as if welcoming us.

Every time an unknown plant lifted its leaves and danced, white particles poured out.

It was a terrible sight and a creepy spectacle.

I was mesmerized and approached it, lowering my posture.

Cardinal John quickly came to my side, but he didn’t stop or dissuade me.

It seemed okay because I had a mask and he was there.

‘Be careful, Marquis.’ Lady Elizabeth whispered heavily.

I nodded and slowly reached out my hand.

-Tap!

As I gently touched a shell-like flower bud,

-Paaaa!

Sparkling blue-white pollen burst and stained my glove. My eyes widened.

I hurriedly turned to look at the Cardinal. A familiar sense of guilt was on his face.

“Cardinal John, this…”

Moon’s wreath.

It’s a ‘Moon Halo Grass’ colony.