The Male Leads Were Stolen By The Extra [EN]: Chapter 99

The realization dawned on Celonia, a bitter smile forming on her lips. The shock was considerable, her hands trembling slightly.

But she balled her fists tightly, determined to hide it from MacLion.

Just then, a warm sensation enveloped her hand. Startled, she looked up to find Tan staring intently at her.

“It’s embarrassing to be seen in such a state.”

Celonia scratched the back of her neck, a nervous gesture, and bit down on her trembling lip.

*Would it be too weak of me to cry?*

It was truly ironic.

Her companion of six months had never considered her a comrade, and the one comforting her now was the Demon King they had killed.

Celonia felt a sharper pain in her chest than when Grace’s scheme led to the male leads betraying and abandoning her.

The subjugation was unavoidable.

She had woken up in this body, already part of the expedition, deep within the demon forest.

Unable to wallow in despair, she strived to survive, not wanting to burden her companions.

Knowing she couldn’t rely on their protection forever, she relentlessly learned swordsmanship from Ian, gaining enough strength to defend herself.

But the opportunity never came.

She was always the heroine who needed protection from the male leads.

In times of crisis, she was either helped or rescued by them, further highlighting their strength and charm.

As time passed, it became the norm. She would only support, while the male leads took the spotlight.

The same was true when she was nearly killed by the Demon King as bait.

She risked her life to create an opportunity for the male leads, and ultimately, they were the ones who defeated the Demon King.

It was always like that.

They had always fought together, but all the glory and spotlight were on them.

“Don’t step forward. What if something happens to you at a crucial moment…?”

“Seli, you don’t have to do anything. We’ll protect you.”

Celonia realized that MacLion’s words from the past weren’t just out of concern for a comrade.

They sounded like warm concern, but MacLion had prevented her from doing anything she was capable of.

*I was just a hindrance, someone to hold him back.*

Now she understood. Her efforts were useless to MacLion.

“Celonia, what that guy is saying is just barking.”

Tan, who had heard everything, was carefully checking Celonia, worried she might be hurt.

It was a stark contrast to MacLion’s behavior.

“Of course. I know.”

Celonia smiled reassuringly, squeezing Tan’s hand.

She felt a lump in her throat, but she wouldn’t shed tears. Even crying felt like a waste.

Even if MacLion belittled her, she had done her best in her position.

And the reason they were able to return from the subjugation unscathed was all thanks to her.

And now what?

“If I had known you’d be alive and flapping your gums so freely, I wouldn’t have bothered saving you.”

“What? Ha! Who saved whom? You’ve become one with the monsters, and now you have no sense of honor. Have you forgotten that you owe me your life?”

Celonia shrugged at Tan, and MacLion flared up, shouting.

He had always been the one to save her, and now she was ungratefully forgetting it!

“Who’s barking now?”

“You…!”

“You’re the one with no honor. You’re incredibly arrogant. You don’t even consider how you got the opportunities to shine.”

Celonia’s eyes, colder than ice, stared at MacLion.

Her face was devoid of emotion. It was as if she no longer cared what he said, as if she wouldn’t be shaken by anything.

It was true that he had been tricked. But his current feelings were his true feelings, regardless of the trickery.

She wondered what his regret would be like, once the spell clouding his eyes was lifted, and he saw her not as a comrade, but as someone he loved.

“Who do you think brought peace? Without my help as a dragon, you’d still be wandering in the forest or dead, nothing but bones.”

MacLion scoffed.

He arrogantly believed that the peace the empire was enjoying was almost entirely thanks to him.

He had always played a major role in moments of great crisis. His power, as a transcendent being unlike humans, was immense.

No one in the Flanagan Empire was more noble than him. Even the lofty emperor tried not to offend him.

It had always been that way since he opened his eyes.

“Hand over the monster. Otherwise, I won’t spare even you.”

“That’s not going to happen.”

Celonia scoffed at MacLion’s ridiculous warning and adjusted her grip on her sword.

She couldn’t stand to see the male leads hogging the spotlight any longer.

Especially that selfish dragon who thought he was so great, completely forgetting the help and consideration of his former comrades.

So, from now on, she intended to step into the center of the action, which she had always been one step away from. She would no longer be the heroine who only provided support, but the protagonist who received the spotlight directly.

But Celonia knew that she was not strong enough on her own right now.

“Tan, will you help me?”

She confidently asked for help. Unlike some, she was someone who appreciated her comrades.

“Gladly.”

Tan grinned and replied to Celonia’s words. It was such a pleasant thing to hear.

Asking for help meant that she trusted him that much.

“Do you really think you can stand against me?”

MacLion’s golden eyes turned cold at Celonia’s declaration that she would fight him.

The veins on his forehead throbbed with displeasure. Celonia was determined to side with the monster.

It was, after all, a betrayal.

The blue energy of the dragon emanated from his body, unable to control his emotions.

“Don’t be so arrogant. You never know until you try.”

Celonia smiled confidently.

If MacLion had a heart, it might be difficult to deal with him even with Tan’s help.

But he had given it to Grace, so he wouldn’t have it now. Then it was worth a try.

“Since things have come to this, why don’t you put up a barrier around here? We don’t want innocent people getting hurt because of us.”

She brazenly demanded of MacLion.

They were currently in the Mirnar Forest, where the hunting festival was taking place, so interlopers could appear at any time.

It wouldn’t be good for others to see the dragon fighting them.

“Ha. I’ll finish this so quickly that the barrier will be pointless.”

While sneering, MacLion diligently moved his hands to create a barrier around them.

It wasn’t so much that he was granting Celonia’s request, but rather that he wanted to eliminate the two of them and then kill the monster to claim victory.

The barrier would prevent the Griffin from escaping any further. It was a rat in a trap.

Celonia smirked, seeing the familiar dragon’s barrier that she had seen every time they camped out during the subjugation.

She knew he would put up a barrier to catch the Griffin. Knowing MacLion well, she had cleverly achieved her goal without lifting a finger.

“Good thinking. We wouldn’t want anyone to see you lose, would we?”

Having gotten what she wanted, Celonia provoked MacLion to the fullest.

“Don’t get the wrong idea, I won’t go easy on you just because it’s you.”

MacLion, thoroughly enraged, exuded a savage dragon’s aura and gnashed his teeth.

“Mac, I won’t listen to any of your excuses.”

Celonia issued a final warning to MacLion.

No matter what he said when he was freed from the spell, it would be useless.

“Remember this clearly. The regret will be all yours.”

Celonia’s voice, sharp as a well-honed blade, echoed through the surroundings.

Then, she and Tan charged at MacLion as if they had planned it together.

MacLion also leaped towards them, his hands filled with blue energy.

* * *

“Where the hell did it go!”

Crown Prince Helius, enraged, threw a tantrum.

He had followed the Griffin’s cries back the way he came, but he couldn’t see the Griffin or even a single animal hair.

It seemed to have been startled by the evil monster’s cry and fled far away.

“W-Would you like to rest here for a moment? We’ll quickly search the area and come back.”

Knight Thor of the Royal Guard stammered anxiously, his face pale with fear.

“Is that what you’re saying now! Move!”

At the harsh command, the knights, led by Thor, scurried around, searching every inch around the Crown Prince.

“Damn it, damn it!”

Helius jumped up and down in place, frustrated by his aching legs and the stinging scratches on his cheeks from the branches as he passed through the forest.

He shouldn’t have dragged it out like this.

If he caught it too quickly, he would be suspected, so he was supposed to stall for time and then just cut down the captured monster…!

“You can’t even handle one simple task properly!”

Helius wildly swung the sword he was holding, causing the surrounding lush branches to fall and the leaves to flutter.

“T-There, there it is! I see the Griffin…!”

It was then.

A hurried, yet excited voice pierced the Crown Prince’s ears.

Helius immediately walked towards the direction of the shouting knight.

“Get out of the way!”

Even though the knights were clearing the way for him, Helius deliberately shoved their shoulders as he walked.

Finally, he pushed aside the shouting knight with a rough hand, and his eyes fell upon the Griffin he had been searching for so desperately, standing right in front of him.

“What are you doing! Capture it immediately!”

Knowing he couldn’t catch it alone, Helius shouted, pushing the knights beside him.

“T-There seems to be someone there.”

A hesitant, low-ranking knight spoke in a trembling voice.

“What? Who…!”

The Crown Prince’s head snapped around.

A dark silhouette approached the struggling Griffin, which looked exhausted, and swung a long sword in one swift motion.

“Heok…!”

The knights who witnessed the scene were all startled and held their breath.

The Griffin’s head was cleanly severed.

The Crown Prince saw it clearly with his own eyes. The Griffin’s head being cut off by the sword swung by the silhouette.

“Who dares…!”

*His* prey!

Helius rushed towards the Griffin.

At that moment, his pupils widened and his mouth dropped open. He immediately recognized the identity of the person who had beheaded it.

They looked disheveled, as if they had been fighting the Griffin, but it was clear to anyone,

“…Lady Vessian?”

It was Celonia.