What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 298

#298

Miroa (迷路兒) (1)

The time when the weakest fragment of the Main God surfaces. It was a crescent moon.

It was the hour when the successors of Fenetian and Liester decided to enter the labyrinth.

“I’ll be back.”

Elise, standing in the living room, opened her mouth expressionlessly.

Her gaze towards her father held not a shred of affection.

With the light erased from her face, which flowed with innate dignity, she was as solid as marble.

The figures in the ceiling mural overlooking the father and daughter wore warmer expressions than she did.

The Crown Princess decided to regard her attitude as a habit.

She resolved to conclude it as a habitual pity for the man who had cared for her and poured warmth into her, filling the void of her busy mother.

Now, even she had reached her limit in trying to fathom each of her current emotions.

She had to endure to the end, and she was someone who carried many burdens.

Once, she had deeply loved her father. But she couldn’t crumble because of that.

It was a poisonous heart.

“Please be careful. I heard there are vicious monsters in the underground labyrinth. What if something were to happen to the Crown Princess….”

“There’s no need to worry.”

Elise cut him off. Werner didn’t stop.

He was in simple clothes because he had come straight from tending to Cornelise, and he held a towel in his hand.

“How can a father not worry? Please, take the Royal Guard with you.”

“I told you I can’t.”

At the stiff reply, the man’s eyelids fluttered. Elise didn’t budge.

“The labyrinth is, in principle, an area only accessible to clergy of cardinal rank or higher. Have you forgotten that this summit is a special case?”

“But…”

“The guardian spirit of the labyrinth sees through the vessel of the intruder. This is a test that anyone who comes before the Sacred Tablet must undergo.”

“Crown Princess, then at least let me escort you to the entrance—”

“I am the acting Head of State.”

His brown eyes widened greatly. It was a more painful word than a blade.

Elise was now directly rejecting her father’s heart.

She prioritized the relationship between the acting Head of State and the Prince Consort over that of father and daughter.

Werner twitched his pale lips a few times.

But in the end, he couldn’t add any more words.

Soon, he slowly bowed his back.

It was to pay the most formal respect of the Theocracy’s royal family.

Following him, numerous servants bowed in unison. A trembling, delicate voice echoed through the air.

“…Farewell. I will be waiting.”

The Crown Princess did not answer. She merely turned her body proudly, holding the golden spear.

Her sapphire-like eyes were cold, and her long, braided blonde hair was as merciless as a whip.

Toc, toc, toc…. The firm footsteps faded away.

Attendant Zanin bowed to Werner and followed her master. It was then.

“Elise! May I come out to see you off?”

Pause. Her father asked. The Crown Princess’s lips slightly parted.

It had been a very long time since he had called her by her name.

The short sentence was filled with desperate and affectionate emotions. Elise slowly closed her eyes.

She took a deep breath so that the movement of her shoulders wouldn’t be visible.

“……”

She resolved not to waver. So she would move forward.

For a better Theocracy. To protect her siblings and achieve peace between the two nations.

-Step, step, step….

The Crown Princess, who had opened her eyes sharply, advanced without a word.

She didn’t look back, nor did she gesture to her father.

She just walked forward like a warhorse made of steel. Zanin, who had been silently accompanying her, carefully asked.

“Your Highness, are you alright?”

The middle-aged woman’s face was full of worry.

Elise knew that she wasn’t worried about the father-daughter relationship.

Zanin had always thought only of her.

Her loyal servant’s top priority had been only her since she had taken her first steps.

Always, no matter what happened.

So what she was concerned about was only her pain.

That she might regret treating her father like this in the future.

She was worried that Elise’s heart would be hurt.

“My mother once said that.”

Toc, toc, toc. A strong resonance continued.

Zanin looked at her master, who had grown so much before she knew it.

In her calloused right hand, she held the divine artifact as firm as her wick.

The transparent walls and floor reflected the gold mine, constantly sparkling.

“She said that even a king cannot have everything. Rather, one must know how to sacrifice what is precious, and sometimes one must even uphold a pebble on the street.”

“……”

“I will do as she taught me.”

The sculpted lips were pressed into a straight line. Zanin quietly lowered her head.

If she said so, it would be done.

Of course, there were those who didn’t agree.

“…Where is the medicinal herb?”

Werner, who was watching their receding figures, asked sharply.

The frail appearance from a moment ago was gone, and he now had a face filled with spite.

His white skin was flushed red with shame, and blue veins bulged on his once wrinkle-free forehead.

The old chief servant immediately lowered his back.

He had seen his master like this once before. It was a long time ago.

That day, a certain priest died.

“Here it is, Your Highness.”

The old man held up a silk pouch. Tak! The Prince Consort snatched it and hurriedly opened it.

A bitter medicinal scent rose from the bundle of dry herbs.

Werner clutched it mercilessly, thinking. This mere weed is nothing.

Rather, it might be too sweet, melting his tongue.

Compared to his heart, where the stabbed wound festered and burst, with blood and pus flowing mixed together.

-Grasp!

The man shoved the herbs into his mouth without water. The faces of the underlings turned snow-white.

“Your Highness!”

“Good heavens!”

The chief servant stopped them from trying to dissuade him in horror. The rest stamped their feet, looking back and forth between the old man and the man.

The Prince Consort had taken poison before, but at that time, everything had proceeded slowly.

There was the help of the royal physician and the healing priest, and the situation was clearly under control.

But now, Werner was emptying the pouch like a madman.

Like a glutton, like an addict.

He crushed and chewed the herbs as if he didn’t think about the aftermath at all.

He didn’t even care about the dignity of the Prince Consort.

The way he devoured them greedily was like a starving beast.

The tips of his fingers instantly turned dark green.

“Ugh.”

“Prince Consort…!”

The bitter scent rose from his nose, causing him to gag. A taste resembling blood was also strongly embedded.

Werner desperately forced that down his throat as well. This much was fine.

The man could gladly do anything, and this was not in preparation for death, but for life.

For complete revenge, perfect liberation….

And for pure happiness.

“Yo, Your Highness. Th-there—”

“Shh!”

“Bu, but….”

At that moment, the youngest page stepped forward, fidgeting. Werner immediately turned to the side.

The long, narrow eyes flickered like snake scales. The child’s expression quickly clouded over.

“What is it?”

The man asked with green lips.

As far as the Prince Consort remembered, that one wasn’t brave by nature.

But today, he was acting persistently as if possessed by something.

The page trembled and gave his answer.

“Th, the apple. The apple merchant….”

“It was nothing, Your Highness.”

The old servant immediately cut him off. But Werner didn’t miss the thrilling premonition.

Ordinary and common opportunities were very rare for him.

That’s why, if even one came close, the man would open his huge maw and snatch it up in an instant, swallowing it whole.

“No. Speak.”

Like a habit. For example, like now.

“H, he said to give this to you…. He said he was deeply grateful for buying all the fruit, and that….”

The child trembled and held up a dark rag.

Werner recognized it at a glance.

It was the tattered robe that the old woman had been wearing.

Looking at it up close, the condition was even more serious.

It was so worn out on all sides that it didn’t seem like it could even block the wind, and a terrible stench emanated from the places stained with filth.

The pages grimaced and lowered their heads. The chief servant also sighed.

They had offered such trash to a precious person, so now it was time to be punished.

Today, even if a hand flew at him, he would have nothing to say….

-Swish

At that moment, the Prince Consort picked up the rags. Everyone was shocked and raised their heads.

-Rustle…!

“Oh my god!”

The shock didn’t stop there. An unbelievable thing was happening right before their eyes.

*

Time flew by like an arrow. It must be because we had so much fun.

“I’m full! That was really fun, today.”

“Indeed, Baron. What did you buy so much of at the market?”

“Same as the Prince. Gifts for friends in the Empire.”

“Hahaha! Herrit will be very happy. Actually, I also bought one more souvenir each for Benjamin and Ganael….”

We were all heading towards the entrance of the labyrinth.

Knights in solid armor guarded the group in front and behind.

Only the Crown Prince and I were allowed to enter the Sacred Chamber, but everyone decided to see us off.

The friends who had been eating and playing all day were chattering excitedly as they went ahead.

Behind them, the Marquis and Marchioness of Rambouillet and Isabelle were chatting as they followed.

Here, Hanan, Tete, and the Lesser Pandas each added a word.

The temple, which had seemed bizarre and eerie when we first entered, now just looked like a giant training camp.

The gloomy underground was no longer scary. I let out a hollow laugh.

I was really happy and glad to have everyone, but there was only one downside today.

“Prince, are you feeling unwell? You’ve been a bit… since earlier.”

“No. It’s nothing.”

I hurriedly shook my head when Christel asked.

‘Hmm.’ She narrowed her eyes but pretended not to notice.

Not being able to be alone with her was a really fatal flaw.

I laughed at myself for worrying about something I couldn’t have imagined in the early days of possession.

But today, I was serious.

Even if I wanted to set the mood in a quiet place, everyone was looking for Christel, who was the birthday protagonist.

Her grandparents and mother were keeping her so close and doting on her that I felt sorry for taking her away as an outsider.

‘Excuse me. Is Lady Christel de Sarnese here?’

Earlier, before dinner, some paladins from the Papal States visited the VIP room with a polite attitude.

It turned out that they had come to see the real Christel, who was a celebrity.

She immediately said, ‘Hello. I’m Christel Rambouillet,’ which brought tears to her family’s eyes.

It was a scene that made even my nose tingle.

Yeah. Everything was good. We played a lot of card games, took naps, and even had snacks.

The problem was that I hadn’t been able to ‘confess’ to Christel all day.

Because of that damn timing.

‘If you give me time….’

Maybe she’s waiting.

‘Can you wait a little longer?’

‘Yes. I’ll wait.’

No, she definitely remembers.

“…Christel, about that.”

“Yes.”

So I opened my mouth first. Even if it was late, I had to say something.

I felt her clear gaze reaching me, and even the Divine Beasts became quiet for a moment.

I held my breath even more and bent my neck to whisper. So that only she could hear, very quietly.

“Hamgain.”

Then her blue-gray eyes became as big as saucers. I smiled bitterly and whispered.

“I remember. What you told me that day at the Imperial Palace. Christel’s ‘trace’.”

“……”

“So I also have something to tell you—”

-Clang, clack, clack!

Startled. She and I turned our heads at the same time. The background was now inside a magnificent basement.

Knights and soldiers lined up in formation, circling the circular room.

I instinctively gripped my teacher’s growth [his magical staff].

It was strange and eerie that a space without any lights was so bright.

The white ceiling was so high that the end couldn’t be seen, and on both sides of the room were two long stone doors, like stretched clocks.

Finally, in the center—

-Crackle…!

-Crack! Rumble!

To exaggerate a bit, tree roots as thick and black as Crown Prince Cedrick were protruding from the wall in a very bizarre shape.

I frowned and took a step closer. Sir Johann immediately raised his arm to block the way.

It was familiar protection.

“Sir Johann, that thing is moving…?”

“Yes. It’s bearing its teeth.”

His voice echoed off the walls. It was a very apt description.

It seemed that that thing also served as a ‘door’.

However, currently, twigs were densely meshed together like clockwork through the gaps in the split stems.

Could that be….

“The labyrinth of the Sacred Temple, ‘Labyrinthus’.”

“Oh my gosh!”

Joan, who was terrified, hid behind Sir Johann, and Sant stuck to Joan’s back.

We stood huddled together like a flock of startled sheep.

Ronald Lüpert, the Secretary-General, who I didn’t know when he had arrived, was sending an emotionless gaze towards us.

His bloodless face and the ornate cardinal’s vestments created a somewhat terrifying harmony.

Really scary!

“…Greetings, Secretary-General.”

“Welcome.”

I barely managed to greet him, and he responded like a robot.

Then a calm explanation followed.

“Our Papal States is also well aware of the rumors about Labyrinthus. Most are absurd, some are exaggerated, and a few are malicious. The reason why we don’t bother to correct them is because it is a meaningful help in protecting the Sacred Tablet.”

“……”

“The following is the information I can tell you. First, the guardian spirit here will look into the visitor’s vessel and judge whether he is qualified to approach the Sacred Tablet. Second, the use of mana and aether is impossible inside the labyrinth, including the Sacred Chamber. Third, I will also pass through the same conditions as you and move to the Sacred Chamber, which is the venue for the summit. I have already entered the Sacred Chamber once when I was elected as Secretary-General.”

“……”

Gulp, I swallowed and looked around.

A quiet wave was rising in her orange eyes.

I tried to send her a look as hard as I could, even though telepathy wouldn’t work.

If even the Secretary-General, who wasn’t a combat priest, had been to the Sacred Chamber, wouldn’t we be able to reach it safely too?

Isn’t it surprisingly a simple personality test or something? Then you just trust me and follow me.

“Fourth, only one person can enter at a time, and you will also take the labyrinth test alone. Crown Princess Elise has already departed from the Third Waiting Room a little while ago.”

“Yes?!”

My friends and I dropped our jaws. She went into that terrifying pit alone?!

“Good. I’ll go first.”

Then that Crown Prince bastard spoke as if he had been waiting.

Hey, you traitor!