What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 267

The Road to the Wilderness (1)

I was screwed.

“Driver!”

“Yes, sir. I’m coming to open the door for you.”

I was really screwed. Joan muttered to herself, wriggling out of the driver’s seat.

Until now, things had been going relatively well.

The carriage, which she had personally painted, looked like a plausible freight wagon to anyone.

Although she had wasted about 3 hours wandering around the Imperial City, and if she hadn’t had the prince’s book——she might have ended up in a completely different neighborhood, she had managed alright nonetheless.

The acting she was doing for the first time in her life was slowly becoming second nature.

Thanks to her irregular lifestyle, staying up all night wasn’t a big deal.

There were days when she would paint until 5 a.m. and then go to sleep, and other times when she would wake up at 5 a.m. and look for turpentine.

-Thud!

“Damn it.”

Stepping onto the ground, she covered her face with her scarf and hat.

She had become quite famous, so she had to be careful not to get recognized.

Fortunately, it was chilly, and there were many drivers dressed similarly.

A member of the Imperial Guard asked stiffly, like hardened paint.

“What are you carrying inside?”

“Nothing. I’m on my way back after finishing unloading. I need to load the next cargo.”

“We’ll check.”

“…Yes.”

But to run into the Imperial Guard here!

Joan really didn’t want to encounter public authority.

She had grown up outside the system all her life, and her number one client, Prince Flower, was also far from any kind of authority.

For the same reason, she ultimately declined the Free City that His Majesty the Emperor offered to return to her.

The restored family honor, the modest mansion, and the regular pension were enough.

It was good that they would even let her visit her younger brother if she wanted.

She didn’t want to become a high-ranking person ordering others around.

So Joan deliberately moved her hands slowly.

Fundamentally, she didn’t want to cooperate with the Imperial Guard, and more than anything, it would be the end if the prince’s party was discovered.

They must have covered themselves thoroughly with straw inside! Wait, would that be enough?

Should I tear up the floor of the wagon and hide them in the ground?

“Hurry up! Do you think your wagon is the only one we have to check?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, it seems to be frozen from the cold last night and won’t turn easily.”

Joan apologized roughly and pretended to unlock the lock.

Clang, clang, the anxious and precarious feeling made her break out in a cold sweat.

Inside the cargo hold, it was unsettlingly silent.

She hadn’t anticipated this situation, so she couldn’t even think of a solution.

It seemed like a flash of light had burst inside for a moment, but it was hard to tell if she had mistaken it for the bright sunlight.

What should I do now? Should I open it right away?

“Hey! Not yet?”

“I think it’s almost done. The lock is old and causes trouble every year…”

Then,

-Clunk, crash!

A man’s hand, as big as a pot lid, roughly pulled on the lock!

The metal was crumpled like a piece of paper and trapped in his fist.

Joan was horrified and turned to the side, her jaw dropping open.

Even if she was indifferent to superiors, she couldn’t fail to recognize the face as a guest of the Juliette Palace.

There couldn’t be two such large and handsome aristocratic guard captains! Damn it!

“…It’s open. Check it.”

“Yes! Captain!”

Erbé D’heim commanded in a cavernous voice.

Ugh! Just before the man’s pink eyes moved, Joan quickly turned her head to face forward.

She would definitely be recognized if she met him head-on.

She had seen him often before and after the Simon de Sarnese trial, and she was quite close to the D’heim sisters.

Her heart was pounding, and she was out of breath. Only then did her hands come into view.

The tips of her fingers, which had been painting late into the night, were stained.

She quickly hid them under her sleeves and pretended to be cold. Could he have seen them?

-Screech!

Then, the cargo door swung open. Three or four guards quickly jumped inside.

Joan squeezed her lemon-colored eyes shut!

-Rustle, rustle…

“There’s nothing here, Captain!”

What? Her eyelids shot up.

“All the boxes are empty too. All clear!”

That can’t be. There’s no way? What happened?!

“The driver’s seat is clean!”

“The floor and ceiling are normal too. You can move on to the next wagon!”

Joan’s eyes were about to pop out. Only the guards who had finished their work were calm.

They dismounted in an orderly fashion, saluted the guard captain, and moved to the rear.

The wagon behind them had already opened its cargo hold and was waiting for inspection.

The area was noisy with drivers and Imperial Guard cavalrymen who had gotten out of their wagons.

The painter only moved her lips under her scarf.

It’s a relief for now, but no.

The prince, Christel, His Highness the Crown Prince, and even Teacher Lily have disappeared, so how is this a relief?

Not even a single fluff of down left from the cuties!

“Let’s depart immediately.”

Twitch.

“We must not obstruct traffic.”

“Yes… You’ve worked hard, sir.”

Joan deliberately made her voice rough and bowed her head.

Clang! The guard captain threw away the lump of metal and strode away.

Only after the long cloak disappeared into the rear of the next wagon did the novice baroness hurriedly pick up the lock.

And she was horrified.

“Good heavens.”

She had fiddled with it so much that the lock, which had been brand new when she left, was now stained with oil paint.

The back of her neck felt cold, so she turned around sharply. The guard captain was nowhere to be seen.

He’s letting me go knowingly…? No, that can’t be, right? That’s not it, is it?

“If the inspection is over, leave! The area near the portal must not be congested!”

“Yes, sir!”

Joan answered spiritedly to the knight’s shout.

Whether they soared into the sky or plunged into the sea, the cargo hold is empty, making her feel perplexed and embarrassed, but she had to go to the public garage for now.

Who knows? Maybe the prince’s party, who are said to appear and disappear in a flash, might have arrived there first.

The artist baroness hurriedly fixed the cargo door and dashed to the driver’s seat.

The spiky hair fluttered outside her hat.

“…”

Erbé glanced sideways and watched her, then sighed softly and turned his gaze away.

The handsome man was troubled.

*

“Uh…”

I was momentarily speechless.

‘Hurry up! Do you think your wagon is the only one we have to check?’

‘Oh, I’m sorry, it seems to be frozen from the cold last night and won’t turn easily.’

-Faaa!

Just before the cargo door opened, the area right in front of me lit up with a purplish hue.

Unable to overcome my surprise, I briefly closed my eyes and opened them, and here I was.

Christel had taken out her whip, while Sir John was looking around with his bare body.

The newly awakened divine beasts were sniffing here and there and tilting their heads.

Without distinction between ceiling and walls, it was just a pure white open subspace.

I knew for sure where this was.

I was the most familiar with this place among us.

But it was just as sudden and surprising. So, the little one was trying to hide us…

“Toughie?”

-Bee!

‘Saaa…’ Along with a mysterious noise, a small purplish orb sprouted at my feet.

I smiled brightly and lifted the ball of light with both hands.

The protagonist’s eyes widened, and Sir John turned to me and smiled.

He had an expression that said he had roughly expected it.

“This is inside the divine artifact ‘Biryeom’s Ark’.”

“Yes. How did you know?”

“It’s filled with the same power as my soul. It’s a place so perfectly dominated that I hesitate to wield the air.”

“Wow. But it’s not unpleasant at all.”

“Air attribute doesn’t clash with other attributes, disciple.”

‘Ooh.’ Christel, who heard her teacher’s explanation, peered into my hands and sparkled her eyes.

It wasn’t Toughie’s form yet, but the ball of light was clearly a wren silhouette.

The divine beasts who recognized the little one rushed over and clung to my legs.

The moment I lowered my palm to show them the friend’s true form,

-Saaaa!

Toughie emitted a bright radiance and grew rapidly in an instant.

I hurriedly released him into the air.

The bird’s outline was gone, and the ark had already taken on a human form.

Christel gaped and watched the divine artifact’s transformation.

It was a wondrous sight no matter how many times I saw it.

-It has been a long time since we met like this, Prince. I am glad to be able to help you and your friends.

A voice that was unbelievably wonderful echoed. The radiance subsided.

“Hello, ‘Nikki’. Thank you so much.”

At my greeting, the aquamarine eyes drew a beautiful arc.

Christel gasped and covered her mouth with both hands. Sir John was also rarely very surprised.

“Oh my gosh. Isn’t that His Excellency Alexander, the Prince Consort? What’s with the beauty? Did I just say that out loud?”

It was then.

-Sreung!

A jet-black sword was drawn from behind Nikki.

Whirr! Crimson flames bloomed from the tip of the blade, aimed precisely at his neck.

I was startled and moved a step. Strangely, forward instead of backward.

“You will know your sins.”

“Your Highness.”

The Crown Prince’s face had no trace of sleepiness.

He was burning vividly like someone who had been awake all night!

Although the space was bright without a single shadow, dark clouds hung over his eyes.

The tip of the sword, which had never wavered, was trembling finely.

Sir John and Christel, as well as Nikki, stood still in their places.

The Grand Magician’s long hair scattered like black ash.

Among us, there was no one who didn’t know the reason for his anger.

He wouldn’t be able to have positive feelings for his deceased father, especially one who acted as the empire’s son-in-law.

I carefully reached out my hand towards the burning Hyegeom [a legendary sword imbued with fire].

Demi clung to my boots as if telling me not to…

-Squeak

“Toughie says that the ark was Father’s friend. As you already know.”

“…”

Whirr! The flower fire was wary of me and puffed up its body. It was like a warning not to come closer.

I felt like I would get burned by the glaring eyes.

But I couldn’t just leave Cedric alone.

I am his friend, and right now he is feeling sadness and shock looking at an existence that resembles his father.

Just because there are no tears doesn’t mean he’s not grieving.

“They must have been very close. He can’t borrow the form of another person so perfectly.”

-Whirr…!

“I’m sorry for not telling you in advance. I hesitated because I was afraid it would hurt you.”

I whispered. My fingertips gently touched Hyegeom.

Whirr, whirr! The bright red flames were flickering, but it wasn’t hot at all.

It was just warm, so the corners of my lips went up. Nikki opened his mouth quietly.

-Alexander researched me.

“…”

-To heal you.

‘I showed him my authority as a friend.’ A kind explanation followed.

The man who had lost his friend was making a very sad expression. However, he did not turn around to show it to the Crown Prince.

I realized the very novel fact that the ark had deep affection for him.

The Crown Prince slowly lowered his sword, following my movements.

However, the low-pitched voice was still as hot as a volcano.

“That my father passed away,”

-His body could not overcome the gaze of the Main God.

“What does that mean?”

-I do not want you to feel guilty. Alexander would feel the same.

“What does ‘the gaze of the Main God’ mean?”

-…

Nikki had a very troubled look.

He looked at me with endlessly kind eyes, then took a step closer to Christel.

The protagonist’s cheeks flushed red.

-Alexander wanted to meet the Main God.

“Oh my gosh.”

I muttered blankly. Sparks soared from the sun that had risen on the opposite side.

To heal his sick son, he wanted to directly meet the monotheistic god of mythology that had existed for thousands of years?

Does that even make sense?

-‘Only the Main God can undo the Main God’s curse.’ That was the conclusion he reached.

“Nonsense.”

-It may sound like a preposterous statement… But it was an answer close to the truth. I am still amazed by his courage and determination to this day.

Having said that, Nikki looked at Christel for a long time, then slowly kissed the back of her hand.

I felt a kind of respect in his gesture.

-I used too much power. I will have to sleep for a long time.

The man said as if whispering.

It was only a few seconds later that I realized that it was the ark’s own story.

Rumble… Then, the white space began to vibrate.

Christel and the Crown Prince quickly looked around and were wary, but Nikki was only calmly gazing at Sir John.

-Crackle!

One side of the ceiling cracked like a broken screen, and soon began to drop fragments sharper than paper. Clang, clang!

Crash! The tremor was now as big and ominous as an earthquake.

The ownerless ark’s divine power seemed to no longer be able to withstand us.

Christel and I plopped down and hugged the divine beasts in our arms.

Fearful Leia cried for a long time and clung to the hem of my robe.

The swaying figure of the Crown Prince was captured in the chaotic and blurry vision.

-Cardinal, please protect them.

Those were Nikki’s last words.

“Don’t worry.”

Crash! A very large piece fell.

For some reason, I didn’t even pretend to bow my head and looked up at the darkness beyond the ark.

In a situation where nothing was clear.

-Awoo, awoo

“Ah…”

A thin, long rectangular object was flashing with pure white light.

However, there was no time to reason and judge what it was.

Saaa! The rapidly brightening light source came closer as if to swallow us.

It was a blinding white light. At the same time, a violent destructive sound faded beyond my ears.

-Koo-oong…!

Finally, a gentle breeze swept over our heads once.

When I blinked open my eyes,

-Clatter, clatter…

“Giddy-up! That’s right, let’s go!”

Joan’s spirited voice could be heard beyond the wall.

We caught our breath and checked each other’s condition.

We were back in the freight wagon heading to the border.