What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 288

Discovery of Fate (2)

Discovery of Fate (2)

She heard it. And perhaps, she roughly guessed it.

My secret.

“Do you know what that means?”

‘Of course, how could I not?’ Instead of answering, I nervously swallowed.

The gulping sound seemed too loud. Sant, who was lying on the left, tossed and turned, changing his position.

From the other side, Joan’s regular breathing could be heard.

Meanwhile, Christel kept her gaze fixed on me.

Her eyes were the same as usual. Straightforward, clear, and honest.

Not a hint of bad intentions was visible.

“······.”

I am the opposite of her.

“Well.”

That’s how I whispered. Fortunately, my voice came out calmly.

I suppressed the flow itself to hide the ripples of Aether [a magical energy or life force].

Unawkwardly, very slowly. I pretended to have the energy of someone who was so sleepy that they would fall asleep soon.

Christel waited for me in silence.

She must have been tired all day, but there was no sign of fatigue on her face.

“I’m definitely different on the outside and inside.”

“······I see.”

My fingertips grew cold, so I clenched my fist. How did my answer sound?

“What about the Prince?”

“I······.”

‘I don’t know.’ I really couldn’t know at all.

Is today the day? Is it okay for me to say this kind of thing now?

If so, how much can I say? Honestly, I was just scared and confused.

In a short moment, all sorts of thoughts came to mind.

First was self-reproach.

You were going to tell her everything, weren’t you, Ye-seo Jeong? You were going to tell her all your secrets. Now you’re pretending you don’t know? Are you scared now that you’re faced with it? Was it all just bluff?

Second was avoidance.

Then how about this. You only reveal that you’re possessed, and keep the rest a secret. Christel will get an answer to her question and step back. Then······.

“······.”

Then I become the worst kind of trash. It would be better not to say anything at all.

It was like covering deceit with deceit.

I would have to constantly lie to cover up my vile excuses.

I would have to deceive the people I like more actively every day.

The truth would fester inside me and eventually stink in all directions.

You guys are just characters in a novel that I’ve only heard stories about.

Two of you are destined to marry, and I didn’t even know the names of some of the others over there.

The reason I tried to distance myself from you was just because I wanted to go home safely.

I wanted to remain a noble bystander.

Because you’re not ‘real’.

“But, if you give me time······.”

My chest felt heavy as if pressed by a rock. I ended up lowering my gaze.

How could I say such a thing?

“Yes?”

Ruffling, rustling. Christel moved closer to me. Her large eyes were close enough to touch.

I asked in a faint voice.

“Could you wait a little longer?”

And I tried to add something, but in the end, I couldn’t form a sentence and closed my mouth.

I couldn’t even guess how stupid I must have looked.

I was going to tell her everything, but I was just extending the deadline. I felt pathetic and ashamed of myself.

It was fortunate that the carriage was dark. When will I ever become an adult?

Really, when?

“Yes. I’ll wait.”

“······.”

I blinked. I couldn’t dare to hope for such an answer.

In the familiar dimness, Christel was smiling beautifully.

Her pink hair touched my forehead.

“My birthday is coming up soon.”

She whispered. A strong scent of herbs and flowers came from between her parted lips.

So, this is―

“······Thank you.”

“I said my birthday is coming up soon? I won’t wait long.”

Christel giggled and whispered. Only then did I smile and answer, ‘Yes.’

Since it was past midnight, today was March 10th, and Christel’s birthday was March 18th.

It was also the day I first opened my eyes here. But it wouldn’t be ‘Ga-in Ham’s’ birthday.

As I thought that far, I suddenly had a thought.

On the 1st anniversary, I must ask Ga-in about her birthday. Let’s not run away like now.

“Instead, as a reward, here.”

She tapped her cheek.

I looked back and forth between her thin fingers and white face, then opened my mouth wide.

I got goosebumps in a different sense. My face flushed with embarrassment, and Aether was released.

“······Excuse me?”

She wants me to kiss her?!?

“I’m saying, please take good care of my dental treatment tomorrow too.”

“Ah, phew······.”

Wow, that startled me! Christel’s eyes narrowed as I openly felt relieved.

She said, ‘What were you thinking? Why do you have that expression?’ and then started tickling my side mercilessly.

I wriggled like an earthworm and resisted, suppressing my voice. Ugh!

“Ah, no! Heuk! Stop it! It tickles!”

“I’m going to tell Eva everything when we get back. That you’re a pervert, Prince.”

“Ugh, no!”

Then,

-Thwack! Thwack!

“Keuheuk!”

“Eopuk!”

A pillow flew at our faces! It was as intense as if there were stones in the cotton.

I rubbed my tingling forehead and looked up.

Sitting alone on the high bed, I saw orange eyes glaring at us.

My liver instantly shrank to the size of a bean. Sorry for being noisy, hey······.

“I’m sorry, Your Highness. I’ll sleep quietly.”

“······.”

“Good night.”

There was no reply. Christel quickly pulled the blanket over her head.

It would be understandable to be annoyed that she ran away without apologizing, but today I was just grateful.

She must have had many questions for me.

Maybe she was happy to think that she wasn’t ‘alone’, but she might have been disappointed by my attitude.

But she didn’t ask anything and said she would wait.

Inside the round, swollen blanket, there was someone much more mature than me hiding.

“······.”

Ruffling, rustling. I lay down straight again.

I didn’t think I would be able to sleep because I was so tense, but as soon as I closed my eyes, my mind quickly faded.

It wasn’t strange since I had been rolling around in the ruins like that.

But why doesn’t the Crown Prince say anything to me?

If Christel heard it, he must have heard it too.

Last time, when I tried to tell him the real reason I wanted to go to the neutral zone, he said he didn’t want to hear it. He ignored me and left.

Well. Why would that guy do that to me, well······.

-Squeak

Right, Demi······. I patted the lesser panda that was crawling into my arms.

A pleasant breeze blew in a place where all sides were blocked.

The sound of an owl hooting faded far away.

*

The next day passed without incident. That was only according to our standards.

While the Rumbuye caravan was heading to the Temple of the Boundary, my friends and I resolved some questions.

For example,

“Isabelle’s ability is not ordinary earth attribute.”

There was the issue of Hanan Lumayan and her incarnation, Isabelle.

The caravan was resting next to an oasis.

As I spoke solemnly by the water, the paladins all agreed.

Isabelle, who was putting foot wraps on the lesser pandas, tilted her head and looked back at us.

The sand was hot, so it seemed necessary. Thank you!

“The vines I saw in the ruins melted even metal, and the color was very dark. It was different from the power of Demi, Leah, and Perry. I don’t think it’s just a characteristic that appears because she’s a Cardinal.”

“That’s a valid question. I’ve seen earth attribute Cardinals before, but they didn’t use that kind of power.”

Sir Johann, who was comforting Tete, gave his support.

Meanwhile, the divine beasts came to me and cried, ‘Kkiing, kkiing.’ They were showing off their new shoes.

After I told them they were pretty about ten times, they headed to Crown Prince Cedrick with a satisfied look.

The male lead, who was leaning against a rock, responded with a ‘So what?’ expression.

Idiot. You’re going to get a cotton swab bombing all day now.

“The energy I feel is also very murky. I hope it’s not the case, but I’m worried that something might happen to Mother’s body.”

Christel’s chin developed a dimple. Isabelle gave a troubled smile.

“Thank you all. But I don’t think you need to worry too much. According to His Majesty Hanan······.”

-It’s because my Aether is rotten.

“Euaaagh!”

“Heuaagh!”

We screamed and tumbled.

Christel jumped onto the Prince’s rock, and Joan threw away the kunafa [a Middle Eastern pastry] she was eating and ran away at full speed.

It was truly a speed that rivaled a paladin. Sant completely froze, turning blue.

I patted his back hard, worried that his heart would stop.

“Sant! You have to breathe. Gut!”

“Cough, cough! Gut! Gut!”

‘Gut’ was his new nickname.

Christel gave it to him, saying that it contained the meanings of ‘Rose of Betrayal’ and ‘His gut has gotten better’ in one word.

He likes it very much―

-Still so fussy.

“Aaaagh!”

Hyung! The doll is moving! The doll is talking!

-This body’s incarnation is quiet, doesn’t make big movements, and behaves well, so it’s frustrating. So I’ve decided to borrow this often, so know that.

A cloth doll wearing a turban, gold jewelry, and fancy clothes declared.

The size was about one span of Christel’s hand.

Isabelle expressed regret, saying that there was no better option.

In fact, the doll looked similar to Hanan.

But Sir Johann was the only one who found it interesting among us.

“Oh my.”

Isabelle and Annabelle······.

“Cough, cough. Gut.”

-Would the power that has been stagnant in one place for a thousand years be normal? It is buried in all sorts of emotions and cannot circulate inside and out, so it is corrupt.

I worked my surprised head hard.

“Then, although it wasn’t your intention, the earth attribute Aether······. You’ve obtained a result that specializes in a kind of poison attribute. Is that correct?”

-Yes. The fact that the time inside and outside the tomb was different is also due to that reason.

The cloth doll said proudly. Tete flapped her flipper feet at her.

She seemed to be asking if it was a new toy. How do I explain it?

“Does that mean that Aether also affects the flow of time?”

The Prince asked the next question. Hanan nodded his chin.

-Is there anything I can’t do? My tomb was a swamp of highly condensed Aether for a long time. The distortion of space you mentioned must also have been the work of Aether.

‘Distortion of space’.

It meant that when we first entered Hanan’s tomb, we were going around in circles in the same place.

At the time, I thought it was like a horror movie, but it turned out there was a reason.

In short, it seemed that if the authority of the main god exceeded a certain level and became stronger, it could even distort space-time.

Then the Chaum ruins that Hanan left will now be an ordinary tomb. How amazing.

-It’s a shabby doll, but it’s not bad for viewing the world.

Hanan stood on the incarnation’s lap and looked down at the oasis.

The short veil fluttered.

Now that I see it, there was also a finger-sized scythe hanging on her waist.

“Oh my!”

-Crash!

“Grandfather!”

Once again, a scream rang out.

This time it was Baron Rumbuye, who was bringing us snacks.

The old man was horrified to see the doll and threw down the silver tray.

The lokma [Turkish delight] that was piled up like a tower―Aigo! It’s all flying away!

-Tsk. You have to build up your courage first. How can the guys who serve this body be so weak?

“I will try harder.”

Sir Johann answered like a breeze from behind. ‘Aueueu.’ Tete chimed in.

Fortunately, the Baron’s heart muscle was safe.

Joan, who had run from somewhere, started picking up donuts with us.

It was a peaceful day in the desert.

*

The next few days were uneventful. We finally arrived at the second lodging!

“This is the Moreno Caravanserai.”

Baroness Marise gestured.

I carefully took the still sleeping Dduk-sim in my arms, found my magic stone glasses, put them on, and got out of the cart.

And I opened my eyes wide at the unexpected sight.

“Wow······.”

‘Moreno’ was completely different from ‘Chaum’.

If Monica’s caravanserai had the atmosphere of a large resort hotel, this place was like a temple.

I don’t know well, but the style of construction seemed completely different.

The pillars and outer walls surrounding the entire building were densely covered with colorful paintings.

Bright sky blue, jade, camel, and milky white paints were mainly used, giving a cool feeling.

The population passing by also seemed to be three or four times larger. The beauty of the desert was endless.

“There are a lot of people in armor here.”

I said admiringly. Then Marise carefully explained.

“Yes. It’s mainly because paladins rest here. In fact, I was going to stay at ‘Gigolt’ at the next point······. That place is the closest lodging to the Temple of the Boundary, so there are many guests coming and going, and the scale is about the size of a city. So I chose this place because I thought it would be a nuisance to the precious people.”

“I see.”

Sant, Joan, and I nodded.

In short, it meant that she chose this place because she was worried that our identities would be revealed and troublesome things would happen.

By the way, if there are many paladin guests, are the people who are watching us at the entrance also paladins?

Is the person getting off that camel also a paladin? Maybe the person looking down at us from the roof too?

“Uh······.”

I tilted my head. But why are they all looking at us?

Is it because Christel and the Prince are too handsome? That’s right.

“Close your Aether.”

“Yes?”

A very murderous voice was heard from behind. It was daytime in the desert, but the air was cold.

With a chilling sensation, I turned around. Then my eyes met the sunlight eyes.

A black solar eclipse was cast in his deep irises. What’s wrong with him again!

“Immediately.”

“Me?”

“It’s an imperial order.”

‘I got it······.’ I grumbled and closed the Aether faucet.

He growls so much that I can’t even understand if he’s speaking human or animal language.

It was definitely not because I was dozing off.

Then somehow Christel and Sir Johann seemed satisfied.

Looking at the three of them, a sigh came out on its own.

The priest is becoming more and more like them.

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

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

SMPU TWSB What Happens When the Sub Male Lead Goes on Strike When the Third Wheel Strikes Back ขอทีผมคนนี้อยากหนีจากบทพระรอง 男配角罷工的話會發生的事 서브 남주가 파업하면 생기는 일 섭남파업
Status: Completed Author: Native Language: Korean
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[English Translation] Imagine waking up not as the hero, but as the second fiddle in your sister's favorite romance novel! That's exactly what happened. Except, this isn't just any supporting role—it's a fast track to a tragic war and an untimely demise. Forget destiny! This second lead is rewriting his fate. He's dodging the main characters, embracing a life of leisure, and counting down the seconds until he can finally go home. Can he escape the predetermined plot, or will he be forever trapped in a romantic fantasy gone wrong?

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