What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 170

#170 Exit (6)

The moment came to mind.

The instant Sir Haines attacked to kill me, and the little bird opened the Ark to protect me.

“This is…”

But this time, everything was so different except for Dduk-shim’s appearance.

The golem, which had been trying to regenerate for the umpteenth time, hung in the air in pieces as if time had stopped.

I was still holding the unconscious Duke Cecil Blanquer, covered in her blood, flying in the air.

Every time Dduk-shim flapped its wings, dirt and dust fell from its body.

But I couldn’t care about any of that; all I could see was light right in front of me.

I squinted and scanned the ground. The first thing I saw was Christel.

She was looking down at her body with a very surprised expression.

A bright blue light emanated from the protagonist’s entire body as she created water droplets.

-Paaaa!

“Sir Christel!”

Lady Elizabeth rushed to her, greatly alarmed.

The light emanating from Christel pierced the center of the universe, where the blood-red sun was setting and the white moon was rising.

Her feet lifted off the ground and drooped. The miracle did not stop there.

-Oooooong!

“……”

The Crown Prince’s Hyegeom [a type of sword], which emitted radiance from the red gem, also shot a red beam to the zenith, as if following Christel.

Crown Prince Cedric frowned and looked down at his sword.

The young Count hurriedly embraced Christel, but she seemed to have lost consciousness.

I tried to go down, stomping my feet,

-Saaaa!

“Ugh!”

Dduk-shim, violet celestial light poured from the jewel at the end of the wings of Biryeom’s Ark [a sacred artifact].

I staggered back from the recoil.

Dduk-shim’s light also drew a dazzling straight line towards the same point in the sky.

Finally, there was the sacred artifact of the East, the ‘Divine Bow of Trees and Wood.’

-Jiiiiiing…!

An enchanting light-purple aura exploded from the green gem embedded in the center of the tree.

The emerald light raced to the exact same spot as the other three sacred artifacts.

The mysteries of the four colors of light were gathering at one high, endless celestial point.

It was a beautiful and eerie sight that could be seen even from the extremes of the continent.

But what happened next was an anomaly that no one, including me, probably not even the author of ‘Toegye-gong’ [likely a reference to a fictional or real-world author], could have predicted.

‘Thump!’

“Gasp.”

My heart beat loudly. Or maybe it stopped.

I was horrified as my breath suddenly constricted and my mind went blank.

My stiff body repeatedly turned as hot as lava and as cold as a glacier.

“Ha, ugh, uh…”

I put a hand on my chest instead of my neck and writhed in pain.

I couldn’t breathe, but it was a fundamentally different sensation from simple ‘suffocation.’

It felt as if I shouldn’t be here, as if my soul didn’t belong here, as if I was being rejected by the entire world.

My jaw dropped and my lips trembled with an instinctive fear that something was wrong.

Startled by my struggles, the Ark lowered its altitude. That was a stroke of luck.

-Thud!

“Huff!”

With trembling arms, I placed Duke Blanquer on the ground and began to crawl away from her.

It didn’t matter where I was going. This was a very dangerous sign.

I instinctively knew that I had become a very ominous presence.

I had to go somewhere where there were no people. The blood vessels in my temples stood out, and my eyes felt like they were about to pop out.

“Kkeueu, cough…”

“Your Highness! Prince Yeseo!”

Lady Elizabeth, who was sitting down holding Christel, shouted.

Her voice was filled with anxiety.

I wanted to tell her I was okay, but I didn’t even have the strength to lift my head.

My strength drained from my waist, and I felt like I was about to fall over. In that precarious moment,

-Tak

“Kkht….”

“What is it?”

My gaze was forcibly raised.

My vision was blurry, so I couldn’t see the man’s face clearly, but I could recognize his orange eyes, as if garnets were embedded in them.

He tilted my chin up further with the end of his scabbard.

My vision cleared for a moment and then blurred again.

“Tell me the problem.”

“…Hammer.”

“Clearly.”

“…Hammer, hammer…”

‘Tsk.’ He lowered himself and began rummaging through my bag with rough movements.

Various medicines, including painkillers, and various tools that I had hurriedly packed, scattered on the dirt floor.

The Crown Prince glanced at my condition and picked up a magic tool flare.

He seemed to have judged that it would be faster to call for support since he couldn’t give me just any medicine.

Even as my stomach churned, I shook my head, panting. You idiot, that’s not it….

“Kkeu…. Heuek.”

“Yeseo. Loudly.”

“Get, get out of here…!”

Beeeeee! An ringing sound echoed in my ears. Something welled up from my core.

At the same time, the clock turned completely white,

-Kwaaaa!

A golden wave of light exploded from my body. The young Count’s cry faded away.

*

-Thump!

“Wake up, Erbe.”

Frederic Liester smiled languidly and swept back her hair.

Her treasured sword, Durandal, in her right hand, showed off its sleek figure.

It was an ordinary afternoon in the Liester Imperial Palace.

Last June, the indoor training hall, reborn after shedding all kinds of old stains and scars, was to the Emperor’s liking.

It was annoying that her son and the Sarnez brat had destroyed the training hall, but she was satisfied after the repairs were completed and luxurious onyx sofas and silver-crafted tables were brought in.

Orelie frowned but pretended not to notice the occasional extravagance.

“Kuk, Your Majesty… If you give me just one minute, I will carry out your imperial command.”

“That’s too much whining. I’ll give you five seconds.”

“Ugh.”

The captain of the Imperial Guard, who was groaning in the corner of the training hall, reluctantly raised his upper body, unable to disobey his master’s orders.

Erbe Duiem was one of the strongest mages in the Empire, boasting a large physique and excellent agility, but unfortunately, she was no match for the Emperor.

In fact, her sparring with him was an infinite honor and one of the few opportunities for growth.

“Frederic, take it easy. What if Erbe collapses?”

“Then I’ll have to guard the palace. Elizabeth isn’t here either.”

‘Oong!’ The aura of a sword master formed and then disappeared at the tip of Durandal.

The Emperor shrugged, and Orelie shook her head as if she couldn’t help it.

She took a sip of coffee and opened her mouth.

“The children haven’t contacted us yet. Didn’t they say they were coming today?”

“They must be out dancing.”

“Maybe so. Cedric is good at waltzing.”

“I taught him.”

The Emperor, who knew nothing of humility, raised the corners of her mouth.

Erbe laughed heartily without thinking, and received her sharp gaze.

The Cardinal couldn’t help but smile this time.

It was enjoyable to wait for the children who were causing trouble all over the Empire, helping others and growing up.

But a break with her longtime friend and partner was just as welcome.

These days, every day was peaceful and warm.

“Shall I go to the wide-area portal to pick up the children?”

-Bang!

At that moment, someone rudely opened the door to the training hall and rushed in.

The Emperor and the captain of the guard’s gazes moved in alarm.

The Cardinal’s beige eyes widened. The person was surprisingly Chief Secretary Laura.

She had only acted this way once in the past few decades.

And that day, Frederic and Orelie lost the most precious man in the world.

“Laura? What’s wrong?”

The Cardinal hurriedly got up from her seat.

Clatter! She spilled hot coffee in her confusion, but she didn’t even have time to care.

Frederic quickly approached and grabbed her wrist, clicking her tongue.

Laura bowed and began to speak.

“Your Majesty, this is an urgent report from Sir Johann Haines. A golem has appeared in the eastern part of the Empire. In the Blanquer Duchy… There has been a golem’s rampage.”

“What?”

“The Crown Prince’s party is joining forces with the Duke of Blanquer to stop it, but it is said that the First Dungeon was opened just before, making it difficult to handle.”

“……”

A look of bewilderment crossed her cherry-colored eyes. It was unbelievable news.

The last record of a golem’s appearance was 500 years ago, no, almost 600 years ago.

Even in the midst of extreme absurdity and confusion, she made a quick decision.

That was the monarch’s top priority.

“Immediately convene an emergency meeting of the Aristocratic Council. If the great nobles themselves are absent from the Imperial Capital, have their successors attend, and send three thousand Imperial troops and thirty knights of the 5th rank or higher to the Duchy. Have them stand by at the border of the territory until the Duke requests it.”

“I will obey your command. And Your Majesty.”

“Is there more?”

The Emperor glanced at her right-hand man.

Frederic realized only then that a few strands of Laura’s wheat-colored hair were falling out, and her serious eyes were shaking as if they were about to break.

The Chief Secretary continued in a trembling voice.

“Outside, in the eastern sky… Something strange has happened. You must come out and see it.”

“What on earth is that…”

The Emperor frowned and moved her feet. The Cardinal and the captain of the guard followed.

Thang! Frederic kicked open the door to the training hall and stepped outside.

“……Damn it.”

She then cursed. The entire Imperial Palace was in disarray.

Some people had fainted on the street.

Everyone was staring at one place, so shocked and frightened that no one turned their eyes to the Emperor’s procession.

Frederic stared intently at the eastern sky, where the gardeners, servants, maids, and soldiers were넋을 놓은 [넋을 놓은 means ‘넋을 놓은’].

It was clear that the outside of the palace was going crazy right now.

“Laura.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“The Imperial Army will now enter a state of military readiness. Contact Admiral Corleone in the South.”

She spat out the words. Orelie closed her eyes.

Then she murmured the name of her one and only disciple.

*

Blood.

“Ugh! Cough cough! Cough! Ugh…”

Blood poured from my mouth without stopping. The fishy, salty, and disgusting taste filled my tongue and cheeks.

It was scary and terrible, but the fact that I couldn’t even remember when I had started doing this was even more chilling.

Fluttering! Holy Stone beads fell like hail through the tattered shirt.

I coughed, staring blankly at the beads that had fallen into the pool of blood.

“Cough cough! Ugh, haa.”

-Saaaa…

Then the Holy Stone beads began to absorb the blood.

I gasped as I watched the scene, even as I struggled to catch my breath.

The Holy Stones were sucking up my blood like sponges, as if the bright red blood was the water of life.

The back of my neck went cold, and I reflexively pulled my body back. I felt the rough texture of the floor under my feet as I pushed away the dirt.

Cough. Fortunately or unfortunately, the blood and coughing seemed to be stopping.

“Ha, eup….”

I barely suppressed the nausea and looked around.

‘Light’ was no longer there. The presence of the Ark hanging on my back was clear.

I could see Duke Blanquer lying as I had left her, and the Crown Prince collapsed under a tree.

On the opposite side were Christel and Lady Elizabeth, also unconscious….

-Kugugugu…

An earthquake sound came from the sky.

I quickly raised my head and looked to see if there were any flying demonic beasts.

I had to open the Holy Land to protect the people,

“……What is that.”

I muttered blankly.

It was a scene that could only be seen in a science fiction movie.

The spot of light in the middle of the sky, where the four beams had gathered, was rapidly increasing in size.

The spot soon became a surface, and the surface instantly turned into a vast hole.

It looked like a dangerous alien life form or UFO could come over at any moment.

The warning that no one knew what would happen if the four sacred artifacts gathered struck the back of my head again.

No, I don’t know even if I see it. I don’t even know if my body is normal. What on earth is going on….

“Gasp. Hiss.”

I gasped. The tips of my fingers trembled. I stood up as if possessed.

What was revealed beyond the vast ‘hole’ in the celestial palace was….

“My house… It’s my house’s veranda [a type of balcony or porch].”

-Fluttering!

My legs floated up. I felt my vision blurring and flew higher and higher.

It was a space I couldn’t mistake.

The place where Eunseo’s grass doll, which she raised when she was in middle school, had taken root as a flowerpot.

The place where my brother sometimes sat with a fishing chair and blew bubbles, squeezing out the next content of his martial arts novel.

I reached out with both hands like a crazy person.

-Fluttering, fluttering!

That was the exit to go home.

“Eunseo,”

-Thwack!

Then a powerful shock covered my entire body. Not even a groan escaped.

Rustle, crackle! I tumbled mercilessly over a pile of soft maple leaves.

The heavy smell of blood was covered by the scent of grass and flowers. I could feel the man breathing heavily.

He, who had crashed into my torso and broken my wings, was glaring at me with eyes full of anger and betrayal.

A crimson gaze flickered at the end of my fading consciousness.

“Sorry……”

I didn’t mean to hurt you. I whispered. And my vision went dark.