What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 907

The Finale and the Overture (9)

As the imperial representatives rose and gestured, the officials from the Palais de Vencel [a palace or government building] assisting them began to carry boxes and stacks of documents with practiced efficiency.

Snaider’s final misdeeds seemed to involve a vast amount of evidence.

To think that the investigation ordered by Her Holiness Irena in the pure white interstellar space would yield such swift results…

Wilhelmina wore a look of utter dismay, but the Lieisterians’ steadfast expressions never faltered.

I watched their movements for a moment before suddenly raising my gaze.

-Tap, tap, tap…

“Please fill the empty seats from the front row.”

“Please be seated from the front row of the gallery, madam.”

In the seats vacated by half of the Venetian nobles, new spectators were flooding in.

The priests of the Pantheon [a temple dedicated to all gods] and the Imperial Army guided them inward.

I spotted familiar faces here and there, craning my neck and rolling my eyes.

In the highest seats of the gallery on the right, Lord Lorenzo Corleone and his wife, along with their two children, were seated from the very beginning.

The siblings Jibril Diop, Duke Paul Blanquer and his wife, Duchess Antoinette D’Huem, and Lady Sarah Belliar were also among those who had been with us since the start of the trial.

The Sant and Roseharder families were seated in the left gallery, and Gain and Isabel, wearing the robes of the Imperial Twelve Palaces—along with Camille, were assigned seats closest to the dais.

The moment I made eye contact with him, I subtly waved in greeting.

And…

“Oh, look, Viscount Clement Rambouillet is here. And Viscountess Marise, too.”

“Indeed.”

Among the newly arrived spectators, I finally found a welcome face.

The Viscountess gracefully bowed as soon as our eyes met, then moved along.

When I spotted Eva and Joan as well, I almost shouted with joy.

The two exchanged several glances with us before taking their seats under the guidance of the attendants.

Princess Berenice, the second daughter of Duke Florian Mendy and a good friend of the group, sat beside them.

Several bishops who appeared to be high-ranking officials from the Vatican also entered.

And as the courtroom doors were about to close…

-Creeeaaak…

“Ah…”

“…”

-Thump!

The last person to enter was Lady Martier Zeelstra.

She was quite a distance from the entrance, so I couldn’t be sure if we made eye contact.

But she was definitely the person I knew.

Even though there were no seats left and she had to stand to observe the trial, the priestess obediently nodded and stood near a pillar.

Surprised, I straightened up, and Prince Yeser next to me said quietly,

“…She said she wouldn’t attend until the end, so I told her to wait outside with my sister. But I suppose she couldn’t suppress her feelings.”

“…”

The Prince’s explanation didn’t continue. I quietly nodded.

“…Esteemed Chairman Leon Cisse, and distinguished nobles.”

Soon, one of the imperial representatives cleared his throat. The murmuring gallery quickly fell silent.

“In various parts of the Snaider ducal lands, material evidence has been found proving that the Snaider family cursed past Popes. This includes the name of Her Holiness Irena, who was from the ducal family…”

…What?

“Wait, wait. What did you just say?”

Marquis Cisse’s profile was deathly pale.

“I said that evidence has been found that the Snaider family cursed at least four past Popes. Black magic tools for exclusive use were found in nine wells on the ducal lands…”

“We have confirmed that the names and middle names engraved on these tools all belong to past Popes. The strands of hair and pieces of cloth found in various locations are currently undergoing detailed analysis by our mage division.”

“Oh…”

“…”

It was as if a bomb had dropped in the courtroom.

Everyone, including the judge, Snaider’s guarantors, the Imperial Knights, the Vatican bishops and priests, the great nobles, and the spectators—even Wilhelmina Snaider herself—froze like stone.

I mulled over the imperial representative’s statement three times before realizing how serious the situation was.

Their statement was less of an opinion and more of a natural disaster.

My belatedly startled heart began to pound loudly.

The Prince’s violet eyes and Cedric’s crimson eyes were also wide open.

“What…”

…No, who did what?

“…What? So Snaider…”

“It appears that the ducal family has assassinated several Popes over hundreds of years, or at least committed acts close to attempted assassination. Presumably, they targeted leaders who took actions that conflicted with the family’s political stance…”

Good heavens.

“Valerie, good heavens!”

“Oh, Esther, patron saint of faith…!”

“Objection! We didn’t know! I swear to the Lord, we knew nothing, this is the first we’ve heard of it—!”

“The sins of our ancestors are not related to us now!”

The guarantors, their faces pale, rose like a swarm of bees.

As soon as they stood up, dozens of spectators joined them, raising their voices.

“Don’t lie! Those vile and wicked people must all be punished! Your Majesty—!”

“Emperor! Exterminate three generations of that demonic family!”

“I can’t believe it, it’s impossible! How could anyone even imagine such evil deeds?”

“Are you saying they manipulated the Vatican and even trifled with the lives of the Popes!”

“Even if it was just attempted assassination, they cannot be forgiven for even trying!”

“Stop, stop—! Everyone calm down and take your seats!”

Even Marquis Cisse, the judge, was momentarily stunned, and for a while, the chamber was deafeningly loud.

The Vatican officials, shocked by the sudden announcement, stood up in various places.

Several elderly people complained of difficulty breathing and dizziness, and left the courtroom as soon as they had entered.

Wilhelmina hung her head and trembled all over.

I covered my mouth with my fist, shuddering and shuddering again at the memories that flooded my mind like a tidal wave.

‘”I… was cursed by the old Pope in that secret document and gradually became younger.”

‘A curse? Ah…’

‘”Snaider was a family that could easily eliminate an old Pope, and I suffered from a fever as my body grew younger day by day.”‘

“Good Lord, could it be…”

…That wasn’t His Holiness Pope Mateus’s curse.

His resentment may have remained in the secret document, but it wasn’t enough to harm a life.

Her Holiness Irena believed until the very last moment that she had been cursed by her predecessor, but in fact…

-Bang, bang, bang!

“…Everyone calm down! Medical staff, anyone who needs medical assistance, please raise your hand to express your need. Representative, continue your statement. Ahem.”

Huh. I hurriedly took my hand away and tried to concentrate.

Meanwhile, Cedric had an attendant bring me some ice water. Thank you…

“Also, as a result of a thorough investigation of the ports owned by the ducal family, old records of secret meetings were found at the bottom of a certain fishing boat that had been docked in one place for decades. These records were preserved in five boxes, wrapped in multiple layers, and were protected by powerful waterproof magic.”

“The records appear to be documents from at least two hundred to as long as three hundred years ago…”

-Gulp…

I couldn’t tell if that was the sound of water passing down my throat or the sound from the pale throats of the Vatican officials.

It wasn’t my fault, but it was the first time I was afraid of the truth being revealed.

Wilhelmina was now staring intently at her own bare feet.

“…They contain the contents of secret talks and oaths between the Snaider ducal family and high-ranking Vatican officials. Most are documents concerning personnel favors and slush fund support, presumed to have been kept for a long time in preparation for situations where the Vatican, having received huge sums of money, would change its tune…”

“If it’s personnel favors, does that refer to placing a member of the Snaider family in the position of Minister of the Sacred Council? Or the position of Vicar General?”

It was Aurelie Boutier, not Marquis Cisse or His Majesty the Emperor, who calmly asked.

Then the imperial representatives looked up at her with troubled expressions.

“No, Your Highness. To be precise…”

One of them licked his lips and continued,

“…It’s about intervening in the election of the Pope, the conclave [a meeting of cardinals to elect a pope], and massively manipulating the results.”

“Ahhhhh…!”

A sigh that shook the ground poured out from the gallery, and the Vatican cardinals and bishops collapsed on the spot.

Screams, shouts, cries—reactions of chaos and denial erupted like volcanoes from all directions.

The sound of the gavel striking the table and the shouts of the knights demanding order were meaninglessly drowned out. The courtroom was now spiraling into uncontrollable chaos.

With a sensation as if my mind was being bleached white, I couldn’t even let out a groan.

The only scene etched clearly below my eyes at that moment was…

“Sniff… Hic… Cough…”

“…”

It was the sight of Wilhelmina Snaider, pouring tears onto her scarred feet, suffering as if she had become a tragic victim.

I realized that she was the devil of the Lord.

Some time passed, I don’t know if it was minutes or tens of minutes…

“How noisy.”

Finally, His Majesty Frederick frowned and uttered a word, and the atmosphere was barely brought under control.

The imperial representatives had finally finished their statements.

The air inside was as hot and humid as midsummer, and everyone was looking for cold water and fans.

Soon, Wilhelmina Snaider, the key defendant in the war crimes trial, stood in the center of the courtroom.

Having rejected all the guarantors who had protected her, and of course, without even a court-appointed lawyer.

As alone as she was when she was first born into the world.

“…”

The face of the criminal was as calm as if she had never screamed or sobbed.

Although hideous with blood, sweat, and wounds, her eyes were very detached.

It was the moment of her final statement.

“I… am the one who will become the god of the new world. I am the one who has received the divine revelation.”

Snaider opened her mouth in a dry voice.

Without realizing it, the courtroom doors were wide open.

The people of the capital and the soldiers of the Imperial Army, lined up densely outside, also held their breath and listened to her statement.

“…From a very young age, my faith has been steadfast. The Lord does not love us equally. He does not give us the same opportunities, nor does he give us the same health or happiness. No one in this world can choose their family or wealth at birth.”

“…”

“For a long time, I thought it was unfair. I believed that the god of the continent was not just and that she should step down from the throne of God. I believed that a god who does not cherish everyone equally and cannot give everyone equal attention should leave the continent.”

…

“However, this body has never harmed anyone in my life. It is only that they followed my beliefs and sacrificed their lives of their own accord.”

“…”

“I have never slandered or harassed anyone. I have only eliminated unnecessary evil in the new world, and erased those who cannot be with us in the new world… I have not committed any immoral acts.”

“…”

“…For over sixty years, everything I have done in my life has been for the well-being of the people. There has not been a single act for myself.”

Having said that, Wilhelmina slowly raised her head and looked up at the dais.

In her eyes, which were aimed at the Emperor, something that could be called a spark was flashing.

We all lost our words for a moment and looked down at the criminal.

Even though she was bound by restraints and ropes, Snaider’s posture was upright, and her rusty voice was filled with absolute self-assurance.

Frankly speaking, it was difficult to tell whether she was shamelessly acting or whether she had reached the point of completely believing her own lies.

“Many people have gathered countless pieces of evidence and brought witnesses to prove my guilt. But this body is still innocent and upright. The guilt that you have placed on my shoulders is by no means mine.”

“…”

“I have no reason to prove my innocence, nor do I have a way to do so. Because inaction cannot be proven.”

That was truly… breathtaking. I blinked and let out a dry breath.

It was then.

“Huh. She’s been eaten up by black magic.”

“…”

Suddenly, a mocking voice popped out from the gallery.

Because the way she spoke and her voice were so light and clear, the audience felt an enormous sense of incongruity in an instant.

I slowly turned my head and looked back at her.

It was our Gain.

“Wow, what a load of crap. Seriously, what is she even saying? Anyone would think she’s some kind of savior, ready to take all the world’s original sin on herself and leave. If you’re going to spout such nonsense, shouldn’t you at least show some effort, like carrying a cross and crawling up a hill? Why are these cult leaders so half-assed these days?”

“…”

Wilhelmina also turned to look at her with a blank face.

Gain was making a face as if she had never seen such a pathetic creature in her life.

“No, I’m just speechless after listening to you. ‘I didn’t do it, so how can I prove that I didn’t do it?’ Seriously? They’re shoving a million pieces of evidence that you did it right in front of your face, and even feeding you witnesses, testimonies, and everything else while playing airplane and choo-choo train games. But you’re closing your eyes and ears, saying that you don’t understand and that you can’t accept it no matter what, so you’re innocent. How has such a blockhead been a cult leader until now? Don’t tell me that’s why you’ve been hiding behind the scenes, pretending to be fatal while never even getting close to the Lord’s J since you turned sixty? You don’t really have the ability to become a god, but you just find it so, so fun to manipulate and kill people while playing god? Huh?”

“What…”

The Duchess twitched her shoulders. The mouths of the spectators hung open. Jeong Eunseo, good heavens…

“Even kids who bully ants in the playground stop doing that when they get a little older because they feel sorry for the ants, but you haven’t been able to break free from that mentality even at your age, right? Is that something to be proud of now? If you’re going to continue acting so childishly as a cult leader, you should just retire. Seriously, I recommend it. This isn’t your thing.”

“…”

“Oh, and by the way, if you’re sentenced to death, you have to come back to life three days after the funeral. Maximum three days. That’s the trend these days to be recognized as a god. Do you have any plans for that?”

“…”

The criminal glared fiercely at the protagonist, her eyes bulging.

But our Gain never gave in.

As the two continued their staring contest…

“Hahaha, hahahahaha…!”

From a corner of the courtroom, someone burst into laughter that shook the temple.

Everyone flinched and looked in that direction.

After a long time, I realized that it was Lady Martier Zeelstra.

And not long after…

“Wahahaha, hahahahaha!”

“She calls herself a god, a god! Ahahahaha!”

“What a clown!”