What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 290

Discovery of Fate (4)

She looked like an easy target at first glance.

Karme had the eyes of a hyena, sharpened over a long time spent hunting.

“Hey there, cutie with the glasses!”

As she shouted and waved, the blond priest pressed his forehead against the window.

Even from a distance, his handsome features were clearly visible.

His light pink eyes, visible beneath his glasses, showed a mix of bewilderment and curiosity.

She deliberately exposed one shoulder and the nape of her neck. The reaction was immediate.

The handsome man seemed flustered, his gaze darting around.

It had been a while since she’d seen such a naive target.

“How cute.”

It would be fun to take him around. And ultimately, she could probably get a good price for him.

“Are you the one they’re calling for? Are you a priest too? Are you trapped like me?”

She asked in a friendly tone, and the young man pursed his lips before nodding.

Indeed, he was the protagonist of the commotion in the lobby a few hours ago.

She had heard there were two of them, but only one was visible at the moment.

She couldn’t clearly sense any ether [magical energy], indicating it was well-sealed.

But Karme was secretly cheering.

Approaching a priest protected by a paladin was difficult, but stealing one left unattended like this was easier than eating cake.

Even if he was being held captive, the other party wasn’t a child.

With a little sweet-talking, getting him to come out on his own wouldn’t be too difficult.

Besides, she was an experienced hand in this business.

“I see. I thought we were in a similar situation, so I struck up a conversation…”

Karme said with a sad expression. The young man looked around with a troubled expression.

– Creak, creak…

Then, he carefully opened the closed window.

Karme chuckled inwardly as she watched him.

In about ten minutes, she might be able to bring him into her bedroom.

– Thud!

With just one pane of glass removed, an even more handsome face appeared.

Judging by the ice ring floating above his head, his partner was probably water-attribute [elemental affinity].

The object wrapped in black satin in his arms was clearly a sword.

Judging by his shoulders, his physique wasn’t bad either.

If she took a commission and sent him to a wealthy family in the Holy Kingdom, she could make a big profit.

A real catch!

“Did your paladin colleague leave it behind?” the pretty boy asked worriedly.

Even his voice was pleasant to listen to, and she still couldn’t sense any ether.

*Moreno* [referring to the paladin] seemed new, but well-trained. *Well, if I had a priest like that, I’d be nagging and watching him day and night.*

Karme licked her lips and said,

“Yeah. He’s probably fighting in the arena or something. He’ll probably demand ether from me as soon as he gets back.”

It was a lie. She didn’t have a paladin partner. She was a paladin herself.

“…Demand?”

Thankfully, he took the bait. Karme decided to embellish the story.

After a moment of silence, she drooped her beautiful eyebrows and opened her mouth.

“It’s common between us. If we’re short on ether, we get scolded and humiliated, and if we don’t stand by on time, we get hit.”

“Hit?!”

The man turned pale. Karme was surprised inwardly.

The cases she mentioned were rare, maybe one in a hundred.

Unless he was a complete scoundrel, no paladin would do such a thing to a priest.

Still, how could he be so naive, not having heard the worst rumors?

Maybe the pretty boy’s paladin was polite. Or maybe he was completely under the priest’s thumb. He didn’t look like it, but was he a fox [cunning person]?

“You should report it…! You should get help. Can I help you?”

The man raised his voice before quickly lowering it.

His expression was so serious that he looked like he would jump over the window and rush over here right away.

For a moment, Karme genuinely worried about his safety.

*If she were that handsome man’s paladin, she wouldn’t be satisfied with just locking him in a room.*

She clicked her tongue while continuing her act.

“No. Everyone lives like this, so what can I say? You’ve never been humiliated by a paladin, have you?”

“…”

“That’s good.”

“I and my friends will help you. I’ll take you to the Papal State. You’ll be able to get out of this situation.”

The man spoke more desperately than she did. Karme waved her hand with a bitter smile.

“The Papal State is nothing. It has no power.”

At the same time, she was shocked. *Goodness, he’s not just kind, he’s downright nosy?*

She was embarrassed and amused because this was the first time she’d encountered this type.

The Papal State had been virtually defunct for about a hundred years, but there was no way a notorious criminal like her would want to enter the *총대리’s* [Director General’s] headquarters.

She must have kidnapped at least twenty priests so far—

Wait a minute.

“…But are you on your way to the Papal State?”

“Yes. If you don’t trust us, I’ll get a reference from Gonzalo, the manager here. My partners will definitely help…”

He continued to speak softly. Karme picked out another part of the handsome man’s sentence.

‘Partners.’ The rumors she heard in the hallway were correct.

Two priests were in charge of three paladins, and the paladin who caused the commotion was a bishop.

Therefore, the three who suppressed him with ether pressure were likely very powerful bishops or archbishops.

Even if she conservatively assumed they were three bishops with some power, the priests would have to be at least priests to handle such vessels.

They would have to be either two bishops or one archbishop and one priest.

In addition, according to another piece of information she had heard…

‘I felt amazing ether at the entrance to the inn earlier. It was only for a moment.’

‘Are you going to make another unpleasant joke?’

‘No, listen. I’ve been a paladin for thirty years, and I’ve never felt such energy before. It was like an oasis suddenly appearing in the desert. It was unbelievably clean, and it completely drained my body of strength! I almost got drunk and fell asleep on the roof. It seemed like a priest accompanied a caravan today. Should I ask if they’re on a pilgrimage?’

‘Oh my. Your husband would love to hear that story.’

‘Hey! It’s not like that!’

‘Wahahaha!’

“…”

Her intuition was never wrong. One of them must be an archbishop.

Could it be him?

“It doesn’t matter even if he isn’t.”

Karme muttered.

With such beauty, she could sell him for the highest price even if his ether was unremarkable.

For a moment, she felt a sudden desire to keep him for herself, but such precious jewelry should go to someone who pays the price.

The woman cast a shadow over her face and parted her lips.

“Thank you for your concern. But I’m still afraid to go far away with strangers. My partner and I have known each other for a long time. I’ll just take your kindness!”

Then the pretty boy’s face became even more serious.

Regardless, Karme pretended to close the window.

The priest was startled and flustered, acting as if the conversation was over.

“Wait! Won’t you have dinner? Is there a set time for you to come down to the restaurant? Or how long will you be staying…?”

It was funny how his voice grew fainter as he seemed to think she was asking too many questions.

No paladin on the continent would refuse such a priest.

Karme stopped her movements, suppressing a laugh.

The handsome man’s eyes lit up as she hesitated. She suddenly wondered what he looked like without his glasses.

“I’m leaving tomorrow at dawn! I think I’ll go down for dinner. Are you coming too? Aren’t you going to get scolded?”

“No! My friends aren’t like that. Then can I see you at the restaurant tonight? I want to hear your story—”

In an instant, all the hairs on her body stood on end. Karme’s body was faster than her eyes.

– Kwaaaang!

– Clang! Clang!

“Damn it!”

She ducked under the window before she could even confirm what it was.

*Kwaaaang!* The guest room wall was struck by a powerful force.

Crumble! Broken bricks, dirt, sand, and glass shards poured down on her head.

It didn’t hurt, but it was annoying and awful. *Damn it, it was all set!*

“If you break the guest room…!”

‘We’ll get a warning!’ the pretty boy’s troubled voice was heard.

Karme peeked out to see the face of the madman.

She quickly packed her bags. A man was standing at the shattered window across the street.

He was an absolute beauty with jet-black hair dripping with water and burning eyes.

His body, wearing only a gown, was a breathtaking sight even from a distance.

Whoosh! Then his sleeves burst into flames. Karme exclaimed!

“It’s my nemesis. What bad luck!”

She immediately put on her veil.

It was impossible for Karme, who was earth-attribute and a priest, to overcome such power.

The ether waves she felt were at least archbishop-level, and the sharp murderous intent was already prickling her skin.

It felt like she could bleed at any moment.

She had run into the wrong person and had to leave this place immediately!

“Hey, stop! I told you not to lift me like this!”

‘I’m sorry, *hyung* [older brother/term of respect]!’ a desperate cry rang out from the other side.

At the same time, an unbelievably dazzling ether spread out.

*No way.* Karme stopped her busy feet and turned around in shock.

That golden pretty boy was the owner of the ‘amazing ether.’

And now he was being lifted up by the beast-like man.

The man had an expression that looked like he would brutally murder someone at any moment.

She wondered if he was abusing such a precious priest, but—

– Thud!

“Ugh!”

He threw him onto a nearby sofa—

– Swish!

Of course, he drew a black sword that resembled him!

“Damn it!”

‘Wheee!’ Karme whistled with all her might.

It was to call her swift horse, Randi, who was in the stable.

Yes, it would be strange if a mad dog wasn’t attached to such a coveted item!

– Kwaaaang!

“Oh, I’ll take my hands off! I won’t steal it, so calm down!”

Swoosh, swoosh! She created a large leaf and used it as an umbrella to start running away.

Shame, humiliation, she had thrown those away since birth. In the lawless zone, the one who survives is the winner.

Whoosh! With flames on her tail, she gritted her teeth and ran.

The heat, hotter than sand, covered her with a wide mouth open.

Bang! Guests who sensed the ether and commotion rushed out from everywhere.

It was the beginning of chaos.

“Oh my god!”

“Is there a duel going on indoors?!”

“Damn it, damn it, damn it!”

*I’m going to survive this time too, Karme!*

*

At the same time, the heart of the desert. The Temple of Boundary.

– Thud!

Elise Fenetian blinked. She saw a quill broken at her fingertips.

It was the third one already. Black ink spread out in circles on the white paper.

It was a letter she was writing to Cornelice. But she had to start over from the beginning.

“…”

“You seem to be troubled.”

An old man said politely while drinking tea. Elise slowly raised her head.

The manager of the neutral zone, the Pope’s representative. *총대리* [Director General] Ronald Lüpert.

She couldn’t read any emotion or information in the eyes of the cardinal, who was approaching seventy.

His neat plain clothes had not a speck of dust on them.

His neatly trimmed beard and gray hair were also flawless.

The princess had seen this type of person in the Holy Kingdom’s political circles.

Attempts to narrow the distance with them were futile.

Because even light pretense didn’t work on them.

“…I have a younger sibling to whom I cannot send letters, so that is why.”

So she told the truth. It wasn’t a heart that could be hidden.

The *총대리* [Director General] nodded slightly.

At his gesture, a *부제* [Subdeacon] waiting at a distance presented the princess with a new writing instrument.

Her refreshments were quietly cooling down.

It was a drawing room that was so magnificent that it suffocated people.

Whether this was due to some premonition, or just the loneliness she felt in an unfamiliar place… Elise didn’t know.

“Prince is coming to the temple under the escort of the Imperial caravan. Also, Crown Prince Cedric is accompanying him for diplomacy. So far, we have not received any reports that there are any problems with the journey.”

A dignified voice echoed.

“Yes, I heard.”

“So there is no need to worry.”

He finished speaking. The princess fell silent instead of giving an answer.

In any way, it was good. This was Elise’s plan from the beginning.

To meet her younger sibling in the neutral zone without anyone’s interference, to talk directly with the Liester imperial family, to promise regular meetings, and to achieve peace.

Now everything was going as she wished.

But why was she anxious? Why was she uneasy, and for what reason was she being seduced by ominousness?

…What on earth was the faint feeling in one side of her heart, as if a very great fate was lurking in the future?

“The wait has been long.”

Lüpert spoke as if answering her agony. Elise moved her blue eyes.

“You have been taking care of state affairs here for almost half a month, so it is only natural that you are concerned about your country and family.”

“…Yes.”

It wasn’t a satisfactory explanation. But the princess decided to believe it.

There was no other way.

– Rustle, rustle…

‘To my beloved Cornelice.’

She began to write the letters again with a strong attitude.

Elise was someone who would act like this at any time.

He was someone who would repeatedly create flames and hammer iron even if he was hit by the wind, eroded by the waves, and collapsed by the earthquake.

It was both his nature and the result of learning.

*

One-third of the second floor of the caravanserai was destroyed.

No, really. I’m not kidding. Our pig did it.

In addition, the attempted kidnapper was never caught.

“…That’s two warnings, sir.”

“I’m sorry! I’m really sorry. Of course, we’ll pay for the repairs.”

I kept apologizing to Gonzalo.

The manager, who seemed to have aged 20 years in a few hours, stared at us blankly.

Behind him, pale employees stood with brooms and rags.

I also saw a plasterer who was familiar with preparing bricks and soil.

I was so sorry and ashamed that I couldn’t raise my head. So I glared at the side for no reason.

“…”

The crown prince, with ‘annoyed’ written all over his forehead, was standing with the *혜검* [blessed sword] in his hand.

Water droplets were still falling from his black hair.

I hurriedly threw him any towel and soothed *산트* [Sant], who still thought this was a dream.

I’m really going crazy. How am I going to explain this to the *자작* [Baron] couple later?

Of course, it’s mostly my fault…

– Kwaaa!

At that time,

“Ugh!”

– Splash!

“Ugh! Ugh!”

A water bomb exploded from the other side of the inn. Faint screams followed.

It was a sound effect that could only be heard at Caribbean Bay [water park].

I blankly opened my mouth and looked back at Crown Prince Cedric.

*No way, right? It can’t be.* There’s no way our protagonist, who was supposed to be watching the arena, would have caused an accident.

He even took his mother with him.

“Hmph.”

Then he snorted lowly. Ah, why!