What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 845

Now I’m Coming to Find You (2)

Similar days in the royal capital of Penetian.

The Pantheon adjacent to the Liester headquarters.

-Woo-oo-oo…

“……”

Elisabeth Mute, the captain of the Imperial Close Guard, stood silently, looking up at the ceiling.

‘The window that gathers the gaze of the Main God’.

The Lumináre, located in the center of the Pantheon’s dome-shaped roof, cast an inky black shadow over her head.

The skylight, which until just before the end of the war had absorbed moonlight during the night and illuminated believers during the day, had now turned into a chilling void that dripped blood-like darkness day and night.

High-ranking clerics from Penetian, as well as Liester and the Vatican, could not clearly explain the phenomenon.

However, the most plausible reason they all agreed on was just one.

‘Since the moon in the sky has disappeared, the Lumináre is also unable to gather the gaze of the Main God.’

‘Since ancient times, the sun has been called the Main God’s western eye, and the moon the Main God’s eastern eye. Since God is originally the master of dawn and the ruler of dreams, it is only natural that the moon has a more important meaning among them.’

“Still……”

The moon still hadn’t returned, and the night was pitch black, causing magical lights and firewood to be consumed quickly.

Elisabeth slowly lowered her gaze and looked at the being crouching right below the skylight.

The majestic horns and the ethereal energy flowing from its entire body filled the temple’s lobby.

-Sheee……

The spirit of the sacred object, Irian, was cradling the seed in its arms.

The gray eyes of the Close Guard Captain sank with a more serious light.

It was a kind of protective shield that had once wrapped around the body of Eliser Penetian.

The surface shimmered with a mysterious linen light, and it emitted an even brighter ray when the spirit carefully stroked or kissed it, pouring blessings.

Around that time, the face of the peacefully sleeping Crown Princess could also be seen clearly beyond the translucent membrane, so anyone who came to the Pantheon to pray or go to confession could greet her.

Since all temples were originally the territory of the Pope, no one cared about the nationality or status of visitors. The emperor of the empire, who had occupied the royal capital, also did not separately monitor or manage the Pantheon.

So Elisabeth came to check on Eliser from time to time, half by imperial order and the other half by her own will.

However, there had been a big change in the Crown Princess in the past few days.

-Hello, Elisabeth. You’re here again.

“Yes. I came to pray for the rest of my comrades and Her Highness the Crown Princess.”

-Good girl.

The spirit, who had discovered Elisabeth, spoke kindly and then hunched its shoulders again.

The knight carefully examined the seed of the sacred object, which was as red as a pomegranate containing flames and as hard as charcoal made of oak.

It no longer reflected Eliser’s appearance in any way.

The shape was also no longer round like before, but a seed shape with a pointed end, and the size had decreased to about the size of an adult man’s upper body.

The priests here who attended to the spirit—although all they did was occasionally carry clean water—testified that the sacred object constantly poured divine power to turn the Crown Princess’s body into its own seed.

Elisabeth wanted to hear the opinion of Lord Martier Zeelstra, who had been staying here since the funeral.

However, for some reason, she was absent today.

Soon, the Close Guard Captain carefully broached the subject.

“……What will happen to Her Highness the Crown Princess now?”

Then the spirit slowly blinked its eyelashes and raised its eyes.

It seemed to be falling asleep again, perhaps because it had used too much energy.

The sacred object created small wildflowers all over its body before answering. ‘Saaa……’

-It will become a fruit.

“……A fruit?”

-Yes. Flames alone are not enough. I am diligently sharing nutrients, but a vessel can only be formed if it receives complete moonlight……

Sleepiness spread like vines from the spirit’s voice.

So many clues and mysteries were buried in just two lines of text.

Elisabeth, standing alone, narrowed her brows and looked up at the ceiling.

With the moon missing, there was no way moonlight could permeate. But if it’s ‘flame’……

‘-A little spark.’

‘-Will you pour strength into the hungry plumule [embryonic root]?’

“Perhaps, are you talking about the flame that Cedrick poured during Her Highness the Crown Princess’s state funeral?”

-There is no fire closer to the source than that child’s power…… Haaahm.

The spirit yawned widely and hugged the red seed even deeper.

The broad shoulders drooped, and the large eyes were already more than half closed.

The Close Guard Captain hurriedly took a few steps closer and asked clearly.

“Cardinal Aurelius Boutier will be coming here soon. What about his power? If he pours the purest ether [spiritual essence] into Her Highness the Crown Princess—”

-Moon.

The spirit firmly cut off the words. The eyes, wet with sleepiness, were very firm.

-It has to be the sacred moon. To bear fruit, you need the moon.

“……”

-Umm…… Good night, Elisabeth.

-Crunch, crunch……

That was the end. The spirit hugged the seed again and fell asleep.

Part of the translucent soul body turned into hard bark, and the horns, as beautiful as pieces of God, were tightly dried like winter branches waiting for the spring breeze.

The fair cheeks were stained with soil, and sand and adventitious roots [roots that grow from unusual places] fell from the spirit’s fingertips.

The knight stared blankly at the sight for a moment.

-……

“……Oh my god, nothing is easy.”

I guess I’ll have to report it as it is for now.

Elisabeth walked out of the Pantheon with a sigh mixed with her mutterings.

Then, some of the guards who had been waiting for her at the entrance hurried over.

“Captain, a distinguished guest has arrived.”

“Hearing that the Close Guard Captain was inside, they insisted on waiting outside……”

Their expressions were all troubled.

The knight immediately rolled her eyes to check the presence below the stairs.

Then her eyes widened. What is this?

“Good heavens, isn’t that Princess Cornelise Penetian?”

“Yes, but……”

Before the soldiers could add anything, the knight ran down the stairs towards the princess.

Beside the child were a girl of the same age, Liester knights, and a priest who seemed to be a guardian.

Cornelise Penetian was currently under the protection of the Imperial Army and receiving the utmost care from some nobles.

In particular, since Marquis Francois Duhem returned home after receiving the imperial order to build a continental portal, it was known that the Count of Nuit’s daughters were spending time with the princess, teaching her imperial history and culture.

But how did she get here……

『His Majesty the Emperor has allowed me to go see my sister.』

As if seeing through Elisabeth’s question, Cornelise answered with bright eyes.

The tip of the child’s nose was a little red, but she didn’t seem to have been crying.

Then the priest standing next to her politely bowed and conveyed the words in fluent sign language.

Elisabeth nodded, listening to the subordinate who could interpret sign language.

“I understand. But who is this? I haven’t seen this priest at headquarters.”

“Diederik Roséharder. He’s Isel’s great-uncle. And he’s Father Sant’s little older brother. I needed an interpreter, so His Majesty specially called him in for me.”

“I see.”

The nasal-voiced princess answered firmly again, and Elisabeth swallowed, looking down at the white bouquet in the child’s hand.

Oh dear, they allowed a visit for condolences on a day like this.

Her Highness the Crown Princess has already become the spirit’s seed……

Wait a minute.

“Your Highness, excuse me, but what did you just say?”

‘Swish’, Elisabeth’s head moved with the sound of the wind.

Startled, Cornelise stood closer to Isel.

“Huh? His Majesty specially called in Isel’s great-uncle……”

“No. Since when have you been able to speak Liester?”

“Huh?”

The child blinked her eyes. Then, surprised, she covered her mouth with one hand.

“Wow! Since when has Mute been able to speak Penetian?”

“Yes? I am now speaking the language of Liester……”

『But I can understand it perfectly!』

Cornelise shouted again in an unfamiliar language.

Elisabeth flinched and exchanged glances with her subordinates. What’s going on?

“Did you hear that too?”

“Yes, Close Guard Captain! I swear Her Highness the Princess spoke fluent Liester……”

“I heard it too. I thought I was dreaming while standing!”

The surprised guards poured out their testimonies as if they had been waiting for it. It was at that moment.

“Shoo—! Step aside! The carriage of a traitor!”

“A traitor! Everyone step aside! Don’t come near!”

-Clatter, clatter, clatter……

Along with the noise of the carriage wheels, Imperial soldiers appeared in a line from beyond the circular Pantheon Square.

The citizens of the New Kingdom, who had set up stalls and stands, gasped and retreated.

Elisabeth recognized the face of the prisoner in the prison carriage at a glance, even from a distance.

“……Your Highness, come this way. We will escort you to the Pantheon lobby.”

『Why? What is it? What are those people saying?』

『Your Highness, follow the Close Guard Captain. It seems there is a prisoner in that carriage.』

Cornelise, who had fallen back into the swamp of language, began to display question marks, but Diederik and Isel led the princess to the temple without hesitation.

As soon as the two children turned their backs on her, Elisabeth gritted her teeth and glared at the square.

The prisoner with her hair disheveled was shaking back and forth with her back against the bars.

In place of her left arm and left leg, there was now nothing left but reddish scars.

-Click, click, click……

“……There, Wilhelmina Schneider, the viper’s child, is coming.”

*

Tuesday morning.

Sitting at the table, Jeong Eunseo asked in an incomprehensible tone.

“Diop? Who the heck is he?”

“Huh?”

I blinked, about to take a spoonful of hot beef bone soup.

Then Eunseo asked back with a dissatisfied expression.

“No, there are too many people I’m seeing for the first time here in the first place. Is he already an existing character in the official setting?”

“He was. He’s a character I planned to write in Part 2 in advance. He was supposed to appear in earnest during the Toegye Gong War……”

Jeong Hyunseo put kimchi on Eunseo’s spoon and said indifferently.

“……He popped out as soon as that war started. I didn’t know he would jump there either.”

“Ha, no wonder my radar was tingling.”

“It gets even worse as you go on.”

“Huh?”

I, who was diligently using my chopsticks, turned to my brother, making the same sound as before. What’s that supposed to mean?

Even though the Young Master sometimes makes people angry, teases them, makes them mad, makes them shout, and makes them violent, his personality itself isn’t that bad.

“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it anyway. Just eat your rice, little brother.”

Eunseo waved her hand as if she was really annoyed. I quickly nodded my head.

“Okay. This is delicious, try it. Sir Johann made this stir-fried kimchi all by himself from start to finish today.”

Zibril Diop, whatever. He’ll take care of himself.

With that thought, I smiled and turned to Sir Johann.

The Cardinal sent a gentle smile as if agreeing.

*

At that moment.

“Ha……”

Zibril Alienor Diop, facing an irreversible difficulty for the first time in his life.

“Hey, so don’t fight—”

“Who’s fighting? Can’t you see the Holy Knights are having a healthy discussion right now?”

“Discussion? It would be better for you to return to the Imperial Capital now.”

“Without me, could Her Highness find the moon alone? You’re the kind of person who comes off as threatening even when asking passersby for directions?”

“How many times have I said that using the portal is dozens of times more efficient?”

“No, you said it was newly built during this war. If we take that, we’ll skip all the places we passed before……”

“How many minutes have we been having the same argument……”

The magician, who had been scratching his head roughly, glared at the prince, the commander, and the boy, who were sitting on that rock over there, sharing bread amicably.

Immediately, a purple gaze met his.

“Would you like a bite, Young Master?”

“……I’m going crazy.”

Somehow, there isn’t a single helpful person, but I can’t go back to the capital after coming all this way, and those two are fighting once every hour……

Damn archangel.