What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 102

#102 The Target (3)

Dugun.

Cedric flinched. His burning orange eyes snapped towards the Imperial Palace.

It was fleeting, but the presence was too distinct to doubt his senses.

A clear and intense burst of Aether [magical energy/life force in this world].

The flow wasn’t continuous, so it wasn’t a symptom of a rampage. But still,

“That just now.”

Christel’s words broke his train of thought. The Prince merely turned his gaze to her.

Her blue-gray eyes shimmered faintly with unease.

“Was that just my imagination?”

“No.”

“Wow!”

Simultaneously with his answer, cheers erupted from the audience.

The Marquis Dhiem’s polo team had scored again.

Amidst the polite whistles and applause, the eyes of the two narrowed.

It might have been nothing.

For instance, a Holy Knight encountering a wild animal while running through a forest path might have needed Aether…

“Papa?”

Just then, Elisabeth’s flustered voice was heard. The two turned their heads to look at the Baron.

Following her gaze, they saw her father, Sir Michel Mutet.

The Prince rose from his seat without hesitation, and the entire party stood up.

The middle-aged man was approaching with hurried steps, without an escort.

His appearance was disheveled upon closer inspection.

His jacket collar was crumpled, as if he had rushed from the Count’s residence.

His dark gray hair was sticking out, and sweat beaded on his neck.

Whatever his business, it was not something to be conveyed by a mere messenger.

“Your Highness.”

“Sir Michel.”

“A message from Marquis Mutet.”

He mentioned his spouse. The Prince sensed misfortune.

“While interrogating the pirates captured by Elisabeth and Princess Christel, they extracted a statement from the leader. He claimed to have fought a young Holy Knight in the Divine Kingdom’s territorial waters last year. The opponent had jade-colored eyes and controlled the wind.”

“Continue.”

“He said that even a hundred pirates couldn’t defeat him, so he scoffed, asking how they would face the Archbishop…”

Sir Michel continued. Elisabeth gripped her father’s hand tightly.

“He replied that wasn’t the issue. When the white-haired Holy Knight chanted a spell, the sky split, and the waves surged, shattering the ship to pieces.”

Christel gasped. A rare look of bewilderment crossed the Prince’s face.

“The same statement was secured from another pirate captured in the forest. Your Highness, Sir Johann Haines is not the Archbishop…”

The middle-aged man’s tone was tinged with near terror. He whispered, barely audible.

“He is a Cardinal who uses Stigmata [holy wounds/marks].”

-Kwaang!

Christel and the Prince’s shadows shot out into the arena.

The startled horses cried out, but the two paid no heed.

A black-gloved hand roughly grabbed François Dhiem by the collar.

Johann Haines had concealed his position. There was ample reason to act.

*

“I almost died for real…”

I muttered in a hoarse voice. Kuluk, coughs occasionally erupted.

Of course, just because Sir Haines was alive didn’t guarantee my survival.

But he had been flung far away and hadn’t yet gotten to his feet.

At least I had gotten over the critical moment. I thought so and staggered to my feet.

Then, I examined the magnificent golden circle. Its size and pattern were completely different from the sanctuary.

The second circle boasted much more elaborate and geometric designs.

Moreover, it was easily twice the size of the largest holy ground recorded in history.

I don’t know how it happened, but…

“That’s a relief.”

The words slipped out.

Thanks to it, Benjamin and Ganael in the carriage, and the guards and coachman who had fallen to the ground, were all within my circle.

I couldn’t fight back, but I could protect them. To be promoted to Archbishop in a place like this.

-Bbi-

“Ttuk-ttuk.”

I was startled and looked down at the warmth on my palm.

The wren moved its right wing slightly. It was alive. I choked up for a moment.

I gently brought my forehead to its head and whispered.

“I’ll give you Aether. Take it.”

-Bbi…

Ttuk-ttuk cried as if it would collapse.

Frustratingly, it still didn’t absorb my Aether.

I swallowed hard, watching Sir Haines staggeringly get up outside the circle.

For a moment, my legs felt weak.

I wanted to grab any horse here and run away immediately.

But I couldn’t, and shouldn’t. Until the protagonists arrived, until someone who could subdue Sir Haines arrived, I had to protect the people here.

Let’s endure. I gritted my teeth. Even if I’m scared, I have to do what I can.

“…Sir Haines.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He answered from afar.

I struggled not to tremble my voice, not to avoid his gaze.

“I will help you find a way to save your son. If we inform the Prince, we can get help.”

“I told you.”

He smiled weakly.

Through his white hair covered in dirt, I could see his face, soaked with tears.

“The Crown Prince stops at nothing. Your Highness knows that better than anyone.”

I was at a loss for words and stared at him.

I didn’t know Prince Bernar’s past, but I knew what had happened recently.

The Crown Prince Bernar was a man who would sacrifice children as young as thirteen and even plant assassins in other countries to eliminate his adopted son.

Moreover, he had taken Haines’s sick son hostage, imprisoned him, and didn’t even give him medicine.

Only to torture Haines. So that he could kill me without hesitation.

“…”

I wanted to tell him that there would be a loophole because it was something a person was doing, that he would get to see his son.

But to him now, it was no different from deception.

“I am now an Archbishop. I can block your attacks.”

So I calmly changed course. There was no change in his expression.

“If you keep using Aether like that, you’ll run out. Then it’ll end here eventually. First of all,”

At that moment, the Holy Knight moved his arms strangely. I stopped talking and looked at him.

What is he doing?

“I told Your Highness that you would soon be able to see the Stigmata.”

The man said. His arm gestures were like nocking an arrow on an invisible bow.

It was completely different from the previous motion of drawing an opaque sword from the air.

Mint-colored eyes clearly aimed at me. I reflexively held Ttuk-ttuk in my arms.

-Swaaaaa…

A chilly wind, uncharacteristic of July, shook the dense trees.

The air in the forest path began to stir uneasily. It wasn’t just my imagination.

“Sir Johann Haines.”

“I didn’t mean you when I said that back then.”

I was breathless. It felt like a panorama was flashing before my eyes.

The words the man had said were pouring into my ears like a waterfall.

‘It’s an Espri [a type of demonic beast]. A demonic beast often found in the mountains of the Divine Kingdom.’

‘It’s my first time seeing an Espri since I was very young.’

‘It stays in the body for 6 months… It’s something only commoners in the countryside know.’

‘I was a mercenary before I awakened as a Holy Knight. Since I was very young.’

No way.

-Hweeiiing!

My eyes slowly widened.

The strong wind emanating from Haines wildly shook my hair and shirt.

The sky was rapidly darkening.

Thick, massive gray clouds swirled overhead. Like a sign of a storm.

‘If you unlock the Stigmata, you can immediately rise to the rank of Cardinal. Unless you’re from a commoner background.’

Pajijik! The sound of branches breaking echoed throughout the forest.

My whole body was drenched in cold sweat. I instinctively took a step back.

‘Johann’ was neither a noble nor an Archbishop. He was someone who hadn’t been recognized because he was from a commoner background…

“Cardinal.”

As if my words were a signal, time seemed to stop. The man’s lips moved slowly.

For a moment, the noisy wind died down. His voice echoed widely.

[Tempéstas.]

-Urrreureureung!

Kwang! Thunder struck. A sharp current of arrows exploded from his fingertips.

It was a long and magnificent weapon, as if shot directly by the god.

At the same time, everything returned to normal speed. A tremendous gale slammed into me.

-Ssaeeeak!

-Jjeojeok, Kwaaaang!

The holy ground shattered with a terrible noise.

The arrowhead, covered in pure white divine light, struck me head-on.

I knew instinctively. I can’t avoid it. I will die here.

-Bbi!

It was then.

-Paaaaat!

“Keuk!”

A flash of light burst from my palm. It was a radiance that stung my eyes. Then,

-Chaeng, chaeng, chareureureuk!

A massive metallic wing unfolded before my eyes.

And the world turned white.

*

-Kung!

“Ack. Aeuugh…”

I tumbled across the ground like a fallen leaf.

My whole body throbbed vividly, so I seemed to still be alive.

Am I alive? Again? How?

“Wow, I’d rather just die and be done with it.”

My words were cut short. I paused at the sight before me.

Whether the buttons fell off my torn shirt or not, I quickly got up and looked around.

This wasn’t the forest path on the outskirts of the Imperial Capital where I had confronted Sir Haines.

“…Why is it all white?”

For a moment, my mind went blank. Everything was white, and I was standing alone in a space with nothing.

It was all white to the point where I couldn’t gauge the position of the ceiling and walls.

I wondered if all my senses were just my imagination, and if I was actually dead.

Could it be that I died in the story and got out of ‘The Retired Grand Tutor’? Then what about Ttuk-ttuk who was with me?

“Ttuk-ttuk!”

-Bbi!

As soon as my cry fell, a small, familiar cry and a light purple glow rose from the floor.

The round mass soon turned into a wren.

I hurriedly knelt in front of it. Ttuk-ttuk was fine, unlike before.

Flapping its wings and blinking its black eyes, it looked perfectly healthy.

I was so surprised that my words came out a beat late.

“You… What happened? Are you not sick anymore? Are you okay?”

-Bireureu

“I don’t know what that means. Are you dead too?”

-Bbirrit

Ttuk-ttuk tilted its body and hopped.

It seemed like it had something to say, but it was frustrated because we couldn’t communicate.

Soon, it turned back into a light purple sphere.

“Ttuk-ttuk,”

-Saaaaaa…

The ball of light grew silently. I stared blankly at Ttuk-ttuk’s transformation.

Is this Ttuk-ttuk’s ability?

-You don’t know where this is.

I flinched. Soon, a very familiar beautiful voice greeted me.

It was definitely Prince Cedric’s voice. It was the Prince’s voice, but…

“Princess Sarnese?”

When the light cleared, it was Christel who appeared. I gaped in shock.

It’s Christel’s face, but the voice is the Prince’s. What a terrible hybrid.

-Tsk.

Christel frowned and clicked her tongue.

She kept touching her neck and clearing her throat, as if she wasn’t satisfied with her condition either.

She sighed, and a bright lilac light enveloped her body again.

Then the ball of light grew bigger and bigger. With a feeling of anticipation, I waited for the second transformation.

It’s so hard to get an explanation.

-Prince! Are you okay,

“No. This isn’t it. Change it quickly.”

I hurriedly waved my hand.

The Prince’s face with Christel’s voice was scary to even dream about.

The man’s handsome brow furrowed, and soon he disappeared into the stream of light.

Ttuk-ttuk’s next target was an unexpected person.

“Benjamin?”

-Bbibbibbi, bireureu

“Puhut.”

I burst out laughing inappropriately.

Because as soon as Benjamin opened his mouth, Ttuk-ttuk’s bird sounds came out.

It seemed like it wanted to explain by borrowing the form of the humans it had met, but it hadn’t fully mastered the tone and behavior yet.

Benjamin groaned loudly, as if frustrated himself. His blue eyes shone resolutely.

He was determined to show something this time.

-Saaaaaa!

“Heok.”

My jaw dropped when I saw the person who appeared before me. I quickly covered my mouth with my hand.

Otherwise, I would either shout or point, I would definitely do one of the two.

“You…”

-Nice to meet you, Prince Yeser. I didn’t expect to meet you like this.

Dark blue eyes curved beautifully.

The black hair reaching to the waist and the Grand Mage’s luxurious robes were definitely something I had seen in portraits.

As soon as I recognized him, lightning struck my mind.

Only then did I realize what Ttuk-ttuk’s identity was. It wasn’t a divine beast!

“I greet the esteemed Grand Preceptor Alexandre.”

-I am merely borrowing the form of a friend. It is not me.

As I quickly bowed my head, he tilted his head and replied.

-Still, when referring to me here, ‘Nicky’ would be better than ‘Ttuk-ttuk’. I cannot advise you in the form of a bird.

The face that resembled the Prince smiled softly. The tone was lower and more gentle than his.

-Isn’t ‘Bireom’s Ark’ too long to say?

I nodded my head. So this is inside the ‘Ark’. Awesome.