What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 103

#103 Target (4)

“Thank you for saving me,” I said.

Stubbornness, or rather, ‘Nikki’… nodded.

I know this isn’t the time for such thoughts, but the Royal Secretary was truly breathtakingly handsome.

It made me think Emperor Frederick had an eye for talent.

-You are a good person. I wanted to repay your efforts to protect the child of the Main God.

It seemed that my desperate attempts to protect Stubbornness were viewed positively by the Ark.

I was grateful but also a little embarrassed because I felt anyone else would have done the same.

So, I changed the subject to satisfy my curiosity.

“How are you here? I clearly saw a divine object in the Evelyn bell tower, even on the day I returned to the palace.”

-That was my afterimage.

“Excuse me?”

I widened my eyes, unsure if it was a joke or the truth.

Nikki covered his mouth with the voluminous sleeve of his ceremonial robe and laughed.

-I am like a free bird. Creating a doppelganger is simple.

“So, you’ve been following us since Evelyn… But why did you take the form of a wren? Can’t you transform into a human?”

-You will understand if you retrace my name.

“Ah.”

That was true. ‘Bireom (飛廉)’ [Bireom is the Korean reading of the Chinese characters 飛廉, meaning a mythical wind deity] is an imaginary bird that stirs up the wind.

I don’t know why all the divine objects have names in Chinese characters in this medieval Western-style fantasy novel, but I figured consistency was all that mattered.

From the moment I saw the wing-shaped divine object, I thought it was faithful to the setting.

-Taking human form is only allowed inside the Ark because that is where my power is maximized.

“I see.”

-But I can’t borrow just any human form. The beings I tried to transform into earlier were only possible because they contained clues to the Main God.

“Yes?”

I asked. Goosebumps rose on my arm.

When Stubbornness transformed into Christel, the Prince, and Benjamin, I thought he was imitating humans he had become close to.

But it wasn’t just a simple choice?

-I don’t know any other clues yet.

“I don’t understand what you mean. What is a clue to the Main God?”

In response to my question, Nikki silently reached out into the air.

Then, a light purple glow appeared, and a chair materialized behind me.

My body stiffened at the sight of it. I felt the blood drain from my head.

My chin trembled slightly.

“…This.”

-Sit down, Prince.

“Why is this here?”

I hurriedly turned to Nikki, seeking an answer.

His deep-sea-like eyes rippled with all sorts of emotions.

Affection, pity, curiosity, worship, and admiration….

“How do you know about this? Why is this here?”

The tip of my finger, pointing at the chair, trembled. It was Jung Eun-seo’s dining chair.

To be exact, it was her designated seat where she sat every day for meals.

A pink pig-shaped cushion was on it, and a thin checkered blanket was draped over the back—my sister’s seat.

-That is also a clue to the Main God.

“Explain properly. This is my sister’s thing. I have a right to know.”

I avoided the chair and approached him. Nikki looked embarrassed.

-I’m sorry. I am a sacred divine object, but I am not omniscient. The Main God always realizes his will in mysterious and incomprehensible ways. The same goes for ‘clues.’

I felt breathless for no reason. He explained to me as if to soothe me.

-A clue refers to a fragment containing the principles of the world. It is a piece that holds the secrets of creation and circulation.

I tried to stabilize my breathing. And I tried to cram his words into my head as much as possible.

Principles of the world. Creation. Circulation. .

-Is it the result of a few drops of the Main God’s capricious heart splashing on me like paint? For some reason, I was aware of the existence of clues. The same goes for that chair.

He and I looked at Eun-seo’s chair simultaneously. Nikki continued in a soft voice.

-That object is a clue deeply intertwined with the mysteries of this place, but I don’t know anything else.

“So….”

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them. I had to stay calm.

A huge hint had come out after a long time, and I couldn’t afford to miss or forget anything by being foolish here.

I took a deep breath and exhaled.

I raised my damp palm and slapped my cheek. Get a grip.

“There is a ‘clue’ that contains the principles and secrets of the world, and Christel, the Prince, and Benjamin are included in it. And my sister’s chair too. I don’t know if there are any other clues, but anyway, you can feel it instinctively?”

-That’s right. Excellent, Prince.

Nikki tilted his head and praised. His long black hair flowed softly over his shoulders.

I swallowed hard and asked the most important question.

“Eun-seo isn’t here, is she?”

-You are the only stranger here.

At his confirmation, my stiff back relaxed.

I had no strength in my body, but I didn’t sit on Eun-seo’s chair after all.

If I did, I thought my heart would weaken, and I wouldn’t be able to do anything.

It was enough to know that my sister was not suffering here.

I shook my head violently and opened my mouth. I had to get everything I could.

“Was Royal Secretary Verner also a clue?”

“Pardon?”

“You’re borrowing his appearance right now. Did he also possess the principles of the world?”

Then Nikki smiled bitterly.

-No, my friend was an exception. He was for his son….

-Rumble!

At that moment, the space began to vibrate. I looked around in surprise.

I already had no energy, but I couldn’t keep my balance as everything shook around me.

Nikki grabbed both of my arms tightly.

“What’s going on?”

-I have to leave soon, Prince.

He looked genuinely sorry.

-You are not my master. Opening the Ark was impulsive and temporary… Currently, your divine power cannot handle me.

“Does that mean we can’t meet again?”

The sound of his voice grew farther and closer as the surroundings echoed.

My voice rose along with it. The man answered kindly.

-I will be by your side. I am curious about your story and your friends’.

“Does that mean…”

-What are you going to do when you get out?

My eyes met his navy blue eyes. Rumble! A stronger tremor was added.

White space was cracking in places, and rays of light resembling sunlight began to pour in.

I answered without hesitation.

“First, I have to protect the people. They’re all unconscious. And… I want to help Sir Haines.”

Then he smiled dazzlingly. At the same time, the whole world brightened.

Just like when I first entered the Ark.

*

-Woo-oong!

It was the sound of magic starting.

Hundreds of thousands of light pink mana particles gathered densely in the air.

Soon, the forms of five men and women appeared on the quiet forest path.

The first to move was Christel.

“Prince Yesuh!”

She shouted loudly and looked around.

The unconscious guards were sprawled everywhere.

The horses were fine, and there were no bloodstains, but the coachman was also collapsed.

Elizabeth ran over with a pale face and checked the two servants inside the carriage.

Fortunately, they were breathing. She groaned and buried her face in Ganael’s shoulder.

“Everyone seems to be alive. They’re just asleep.”

Doctor Michel Moutet said urgently, examining the people.

Cedric gave orders to Francois Duhem.

“To the Imperial Palace.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Francois obeyed immediately.

The commemorative polo match was interrupted, and the revised edition was never released.

He was grabbed by the collar for no reason and had to use his teleportation skills.

To the ‘place where a powerful ether storm occurred.’

But there was no resistance. As the Emperor’s loyal subject, he would serve her successor.

Soon, the Marquis turned into small particles.

Christel continued to search the scene.

Due to the aftermath of the terrible power, all the trees in the vicinity had fallen.

There was a huge hole in the path leading to the Imperial Palace.

The attack had just taken place, as the dust in the air had not yet settled.

But nowhere was there any trace of the Prince.

His pure ether was no longer felt. A silence devoid of even birdsong followed.

“What did you do?”

Christel muttered.

In fact, she knew. Still, she didn’t want to accept it.

She barely raised her head and looked straight ahead. Then she hardened her jaw.

The damn human was standing on the other side of the road. The man’s mint-colored eyes were red.

“What did you do?”

“…”

“Tell me, what did you do!”

-Kwaang!

The place where she was standing caved in. The protagonist rushed towards Johann at high speed.

-Kagang!

The ice sword and the wind shield collided with intense light. Christel gritted her teeth.

Endless disappointment and anger towards the person she thought was her teacher surged up.

On the one hand, her heart was empty, and she was afraid. Her eyes burned hotly.

“How could you do this, huh? How….”

“…”

“Damn it, say something!”

-Kaaang!

Her voice cracked madly, and the sword shattered as well.

Johann retreated quickly as if trying to get out of the way.

But Christel did not miss the gap. She quickly turned around and appeared behind him.

-Kaang!

She stabbed him in the neck with an ice dagger drawn from her fingertips.

An opaque stream of air blocked the attack. Christel’s arm trembled.

This was a technique she had learned from Johann.

A way to block the rear of a fleeing enemy and cut off their breath at once.

“What are you crying about!”

-Kwaaang!

She kicked Johann in the stomach. The man fell helplessly. His body flew away,

-Thud!

He lay pathetically at Cedric’s feet.

The white-haired man was silent as if he was not even allowed to groan.

The Prince looked down at him with indifferent eyes.

Christel walked towards him, panting.

“You bastard….”

She muttered. But the person she was most angry with was none other than herself.

Christel’s mind was filled with regret and self-reproach.

She should have come with him. She shouldn’t have been careless.

She shouldn’t have trusted that human so easily.

She shouldn’t have stopped the Prince back then.

She shouldn’t have just thought about having fun and should have prepared even a little.

Just because her life was easy didn’t mean the Prince’s life was easy too.

You idiot, Hamga-in [Hamga-in is likely a term of endearment or a playful insult in the original language].

-Hwiririk!

She wiped her cheeks roughly and took out her whip and swung it.

Johann immediately moved out of her attack range.

-Kwaaa!

The ground cracked, and a stream of water gushed out.

Jjeojeok! Sharp icicles popped out of the quickly frozen water.

Christel fiercely pursued Johann. Soon Elizabeth joined in.

-Kugugung!

“…”

The Prince quietly stared at the three.

At the same time, he tried to calm the ether in his body, which was constantly fluctuating.

He knew that excessive excitement, a rage that shook his brain, could kill him.

If he moved wrongly now, he would eventually burn even his own body and turn to ashes.

The heat blurred his vision. The man slowly raised his left hand.

-Chiik….

The black glove, a magical tool that could withstand flames, was gradually burning away.

It was already difficult to control. His irises darkened like sunspots.

Maybe like this….

-Paaaaat!

At that moment, an ether that stimulated his heart burst out from behind him.

The Prince turned his head with an unbelievable expression.

He couldn’t see anything because of the large, pure white light, but he didn’t know how to avoid looking.

“Ugh, my back.”

Then, a familiar voice rang in his ears. A small breath escaped from the Prince’s lips.

What was revealed through the gaps in the fading rays of light was a large, light purple wing.

The metallic divine object sparkled in the July sunlight.

It was attached to the back of the slumped Prince Yesuh, fluttering and enveloping him.

“Your Highness, you’ve arrived. Thank goodness.”

He smiled as he found Cedric.

His blonde hair was covered in dirt, and his torn shirt and pants were full of scratches, but he didn’t seem to care.

The Prince gripped the hyegeom’s [hyegeom is likely a specific type of sword in this world] hilt tightly.

“What do you want?”

That was the man’s question. The Prince looked around, somewhat embarrassed.

He seemed to be grasping the situation in his own way, watching Michel examining those who were waking up one by one, and the two shadows chasing Johann.

Soon, his purple eyes resolutely looked at the Prince.

“I would like you to capture Sir Haines. He is someone who needs help. If you let him escape, he will suffer again under Royal Secretary Verner. But he’s a Cardinal….”

His face took on a troubled light.

“Would you be okay with that?”

Then Cedric Liester replied.

His ether had already calmed down. Like a lie, or a dream.

“It shall be done as you wish.”

Kwaang! His figure shot out with a fierce aftershock.