What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 101

#101 The Target (2)

“Prince, are you alright?”

Cristelle and Cedrick, seated in the back, were naturally the first to notice something was amiss.

Prince Yeser’s aether [magical energy] was fluctuating.

It wasn’t a depletion or runaway symptom, but he was clearly unstable.

Benjamin snatched the teacup from the Prince’s hand and quickly packed up their belongings.

Ganael had already rushed to the entrance to prepare the carriage.

They seemed to be trying to move quietly so as not to disturb the other attendees.

“I think I’m just a bit stressed. Seeing the royal physician should help…”

The Prince’s voice trailed off. His cheeks, usually flushed, were pale.

The Emperor glared at the Moon Halo tea Cristelle had been drinking, as if he could evaporate it with his stare.

Feeling his gaze, she quickly checked on Eva, who was sitting on the other side.

Although she had drunk the same tea, the young lady’s complexion was as normal as everyone else’s.

It didn’t seem to be a tea that had a special effect on priests.

As the Prince said, it seemed to be an acute stress reaction or an allergy.

The child seemed to realize the situation a beat late and looked surprised.

“Cousin. Can you use your healing power?”

The Emperor’s low voice echoed.

Eva was startled to realize that ‘cousin’ was what he called her.

“Ah, no. I’m sorry. I’m not a healing priest…”

Elizabeth comforted the child, saying it was alright. Cedrick clicked his tongue.

He was well aware that the Prince was a special case.

Becoming a healing priest was a difficult path, and unless one had decided to become a healer from the start, few priests bothered to study the healing circle [a magical formation used for healing].

Soon, Sir Haynes helped the Prince up from his seat. At the same time, the Emperor also rose.

“Your Majesty.”

No, he was about to rise. Cristelle’s cool water energy grabbed his right arm, stopping him.

“Let go.”

“If we go out together, it will become noisy again. It will be a burden to the Prince.”

Cristelle’s blue-gray eyes stared straight at him. The Emperor stopped moving.

“There are many eyes watching the Prince since the annual prayer meeting. You know that.”

“……”

The orange irises darkened.

The Prince was enduring a lot of groundless rumors alone because he was a hostage from an enemy country.

Although many admired him, there were also not a few who were wary of him.

The lesson the Emperor and Cristelle had learned from the last prayer meeting was that they should not always step forward to protect their partner.

They had to consider their positions. They couldn’t make him more noticeable now.

Sir Haynes bowed to them and escorted the Prince out of the stadium.

“There. It’s the Marquis’s personal physician.”

Elizabeth pointed.

The doctor, who had been waiting on the side of the stadium, was running towards them at Antoinette Diem’s gesture.

“Send him back.”

The Emperor ordered in a low voice.

Since it seemed to be an aether problem, it would be most effective to show him to the High Priestess of the Imperial Palace.

Unless they were going to stop the game, they couldn’t take away the only doctor here.

Cedrick turned to his friend.

“How many knights came with you?”

“Me, two 7th-grade swordsmen, two 5th-grade mages.”

“Leave only you and send the rest to the Prince.”

Elizabeth nodded her head and called one of the guards to give the order.

The Emperor’s judgment was quick. Johann Haynes was an Archbishop-level paladin [a holy knight].

If two 7th graders did their best and the 5th graders restrained him, it wouldn’t be too difficult.

“We made a vow. He’ll be fine.”

Cristelle whispered calmly.

The two men and women had heard that Sir Haynes had made a vow to the Prince.

They didn’t know the details, but it was certain that he had sworn with holy power.

There was no new intelligence from Count Mute either. So nothing would happen.

It had to be.

*

“Ugh…”

I groaned softly and opened my eyes. The imperial carriage was running through the outskirts of the Imperial City.

I was worried about getting motion sickness, but fortunately, I seemed to be getting better.

My head definitely hurt less, and my stomach had calmed down a lot.

The tinnitus [ringing in the ears] was still there, but it was more bearable than when I was in the stadium. Was it really because of stress?

“Prince, how are you feeling?”

A soft voice was heard right next to me. I turned my gaze to Sir Haynes.

“You rode with me.”

“Someone has to escort you. Many guards came too.”

I nodded and looked out the window.

There were no people, only carriages passing through the forest road on the outskirts.

The summer trees were lush. I could feel the presence of the knights and soldiers following behind.

“Benjamin?”

Only then did I find Benjamin sitting across from me. But he was,

“…sleeping.”

He had his eyes closed. Ganael in the next seat was the same. That was a little strange.

It’s natural to rest when you’re tired, but the two people I knew weren’t the type to fall asleep easily when they had a patient.

A strange anxiety crept up my fingertips.

-Heeheeing!

-Heeing!

At that moment, the horses pulling the carriage neighed loudly. Soon the speed slowed down.

My condition wasn’t fully recovered yet, but my mind was slowly waking up.

-Thump, thump

Soon the carriage came to a complete stop. Sir Haynes opened his mouth.

“It looks like some wild animals have appeared. I’ll go check it out.”

“…It’s a big adventure to come out of the Imperial Palace.”

I replied. Sir Haynes got out of the carriage with a calm face.

The voices of him and the guards were faintly heard.

I immediately grabbed Benjamin and Ganael’s necks.

Fortunately, they were both breathing normally. A sigh of relief escaped.

-Thud!

“Cough!”

I flinched. Someone outside made a painful noise.

I immediately grabbed the carriage doorknob. A strong and ominous premonition struck my spine.

Something was definitely happening outside.

Thoughts didn’t quickly come together.

Should I open it and go out right away? No, what about Benjamin and Ganael? Should I hold out here with them?

-Bang!

A tremendous force pulled the door from the other side.

I was dragged out without even resisting. The man beyond the open door was smiling.

However, his mint-colored gaze was filled with obvious pain. Why?

“Adventure is always dangerous.”

Johann Haynes said. A fresh breeze blew.

“You have to risk your life, Your Highness.”

-Stab!

Then a sharp air sword pierced my heart.

-Stab!

“Heugh.”

And it was pulled out in an instant. My body slumped forward. He didn’t catch me.

-Thud!

I rolled to the ground as it was. I couldn’t breathe well due to the overwhelming fear and shock.

I frantically groped my chest and crawled forward.

Beeeeee! A siren-like tinnitus rang.

Behind the carriage, the scattered guards came into view.

There were no traces of blood. It was an overwhelming difference in power.

The coachman in the front seat had his head bowed.

“Huck, heuh…”

I covered my mouth with one hand and tried to calm my ragged breathing.

Johann Haynes was a paladin of the air attribute. He had subdued them and suffocated them all.

Benjamin and Ganael too, in the same way.

“You’re not bleeding. Are you wearing a stab-proof vest inside? Or a magic tool?”

He asked coldly. Only then did I realize that there was no blood on my hands.

I hurriedly rummaged under my torn shirt.

“Ha…”

A notebook with a sunken center was glowing red and emitting mana [magical energy].

The only item Prince Yeser brought from the Holy Kingdom, which I always carried with me.

“It’s okay. I’ll make it painless.”

The man above my head said. It was a voice that sounded like it would collapse at any moment.

“Sir Haynes. Why on earth,”

-Whoosh!

A blade of air soared from his hand.

-Kagaang!

My golden circle [a protective barrier] blocked the paladin’s attack in the air.

He hadn’t used the full power of the Archbishop.

As I used aether, the headache that seemed to be receding returned.

What on earth did he do to me?

“It’s Duke Berner’s order. To kill Your Highness and bring back something to show him.”

“That’s ridiculous. You made a vow to me.”

“Yes, because I’ve never received money from that person. I’m not an employee.”

The end of his words trembled slightly. Could it be.

“The Duke is holding my son hostage.”

Goosebumps rose all over my body. Then an even more powerful blade struck the sanctuary.

[Stop it!]

-Kwaaaang!

My oracle [divine power] and his attack collided. A short flash occurred.

-Kigigik, kigigik…

The golden dome was painfully opening.

His long, sharp sword had finally pierced the sanctuary. He reached out through the pointed gap.

I instinctively pulled my upper body back.

“I didn’t want to use this method. I didn’t want you to go through something you’ve already experienced.”

“Cough.”

I quickly grabbed my neck. A vivid pain that narrowed my windpipe washed over me.

It was a sensation that I had pushed to the back of my mind and didn’t want to think about again.

A scene I occasionally saw in nightmares. The twin assassins.

“I’m sorry for making you drink the tea. Moon Halo grass isn’t poisonous. It’s just that when mixed with the essence of Sun Halo grass, it has the side effect of disrupting aether.”

“Cough, cough…”

Thank goodness. Even in this situation, I was amused by the thought that others would be okay.

Physiological tears welled up and blurred my vision.

“While touching the teacup that day, I applied the essence of Sun Halo grass.”

“Hic,”

“It’s colorless and odorless, so it’s not easy to notice. A very small amount is enough. It stays in the body for 6 months…”

“Ugh, cough…”

Is this how I’m going to die in the end? Did the writer nail down the cause of death?

My whole body trembled and my head felt like it was about to explode.

I pushed the dirt away with my boots and struggled.

Behind Eunseo, Hyung, and Mom’s faces, a familiar image came to mind.

Fluttering pink hair, the flame that wrapped around her forehead…

“It’s a story that only peasants in the countryside know.”

-Flap!

At that moment, a small creature flew in with the sound of flapping wings.

A brown cotton ball attacked Sir Haynes.

“Kut!”

He frowned and stepped back. At the same time as the taut aether was ruffled, my breathing cleared.

“Heok! Cough, cough! Cough cough!”

I took a deep breath and coughed. I roughly wiped my cheeks and quickly assessed the situation.

-Bireureureu! Bbibbi!

“Dduk-ssim,”

No. My eyes widened.

The wren, which I had clearly left in the Imperial Palace, was flying towards me and pecking at Sir Haynes’s face.

How did you know this place!

[Cough! Come here, stop it!]

I staggered and got up from the floor.

There was no way that little guy, a chick who hadn’t even awakened as a sacred animal, could face an Archbishop.

Dduk-ssim had no ability. I had to stop him. Sir Haynes swung his arm nimbly.

-Bbibbibbi! Bbibbibbi!

[Dduk-ssim-ah!]

-Whoosh!

The wren was slammed down with a thud.

I couldn’t even scream. I hurriedly sat down towards the guy who was rolling on the ground.

[No, no…]

-Bbi, bbi…

The bird made a feeble cry. I reached out with a trembling hand and wrapped him up.

It was so light and small, and the temperature that felt like it would fly away was contained in the palm of my hand.

The left wing, which had hit the floor, seemed to be completely broken.

Dduk-ssim looked at me, moving his right wing slightly.

His black eyes were half-closed.

-Bbi, bbi

[Why did you do that. Why did you come all the way here…]

I gritted my teeth. My lips trembled and my throat burned hotly.

[What are you doing!]

“I’m sorry.”

Sir Haynes apologized.

I was furious, but his voice was submerged in water, so I didn’t know what expression to make.

My chest rose and fell with anger and sadness.

“If you kill a royal priest and a sacred animal, you will be cursed by the main god.”

[……]

“But my son is trapped in prison, enduring day after day without medicine.”

[……]

“This kind of life is already cursed anyway, Your Highness.”

The man’s face was wet with wind and rain.

He split the air without hesitation and pulled out an opaque sword.

I reopened the sanctuary without giving in.

-Wuoowoong!

[There will be a way to save your son. Stop it!]

He deeply wrapped the arm holding the sword.

I hugged Dduk-ssim as close as possible and bent over.

At some point, I couldn’t hear the tinnitus.

Only my heartbeat and the faint breath of the bird filled my ears.

-Bbi

Dduk-ssim had to live. He was a young bird who hadn’t done anything wrong and didn’t know anything.

I put my mouth close to his beak and whispered.

It’s okay. Hyung [older brother] will stop it. Run away. Towards the forest.

-Ssaeaeek!

The wind blade split the sanctuary. I squeezed my eyes shut. Then,

-Kwaaaang!

A tearing sound shook the forest.

At the same time as a sense of overwhelming emotion, my eyelids flashed open.

-Paaaa!

At the same time, an explosive golden ray of light erupted from my body and the floor.

Sir Haynes’s figure being thrown away was seen slowly.

“Ah…”

What unfolded before my eyes was a very large and magnificent circle.

My second circle with a diameter of 200m.

Holy ground.