What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 300

Miroa (Lost Child) (3)

I felt as if all the blood was draining from my body.

The maze began to vibrate rapidly. I desperately gripped the tree root.

-Kugung! Kwaaang! Kugung!

“No, no······.”

All sense of crisis and guilt vanished, leaving only concern for the Crown Prince.

He may be large and strong, but mentally, he was still vulnerable.

Even without knowing the full story, I could guess how difficult his upbringing had been.

So, I knew what, or who, he was seeing right now.

Even seeing ‘Nikki’ who looked exactly like him had shaken him greatly, so the situation on the other side must be dire.

The Guardian Spirit was likely inflicting terrible pain to test his mettle.

Just like it did to me.

In the guise of Alexandre, the Prince Consort.

-Kugung!

“Do it to me instead.”

I immediately turned around and said. Prince Yeseo, who met my gaze, tilted his head.

Whether it was some trickery or I had changed in the meantime······.

It wasn’t hard to look at him anymore. To be exact, he didn’t feel plausible at all.

Then, my voice gained strength.

“Torment me more and leave him alone. He’s not yet fully mature.”

-······.

“It’s too much to judge a hurting person by the same standards!”

-······.

The Prince, the Guardian Spirit, did not answer.

He simply stared at me with emotionless eyes.

He didn’t seem to have any intention of helping. Tuwoong! Twukwang! Harsh tremors continued. Damn it!

“It’s okay! Calm down. I’m here, so wait!”

I shouted at the top of my lungs and looked around. Even sharp gravel would do, or wait. Hold on.

I have a weapon!

“Master. Please help me.”

I muttered, looking at the scepter in my hand.

What stood between us was a maze as thick as a wall.

It was a part of the black and solid World Tree. But what I held was also a root of the temple.

The Cardinal’s staff, made of the same material.

-It will surely be of help.

Hahan’s voice echoed in my ears like a prophecy.

I gritted my teeth and gripped the scepter with both hands.

The crescent moon at the end of the bumpy staff gleamed.

From behind, I heard the Guardian Spirit’s flustered voice.

-That’s a reckless idea. No matter who you are, you cannot destroy the World Tree······.

“Shut up if you’re not going to help!”

-Wheeik!

And I swung the staff wildly. Kagagang!

Fzzzt! Sparks flew from the black tree trunk.

It was an intense and chilling light, like when electricity short-circuits.

But I wasn’t afraid. It sounds crazy, but I really wasn’t.

I was consumed with the thought of helping him beyond the wall, and I had Dduksoomi in my arms.

The sleeping wren might not be able to protect me, but Nikki’s words gave me a strange sense of resolve.

-The world is already relying on you.

······If that’s true, surely it wouldn’t kill me.

-Kugung! Kuwoong!

“Just hang in there a little longer!”

-Kagang! Kagagang!

I shouted and swung the staff like a pickaxe.

The scepter, made from the same root, was slowly showing its effect.

There was a noticeable wound on the black wall. I saw hope.

I bit my lip and swung my arms diligently. Kang! Kwagang!

-Thwack! Thwack!

It pierced through!

-Pshushushut!

“Ugh!”

Something like ink spurted from the punctured tree root.

Black liquid stained my cheeks, neck, clothes, and boots.

The strong scent of ink and the smell of electronic devices vibrated all around.

I roughly rubbed my eyes with my sleeve and continued to strike the World Tree.

I had no time to worry about the aftermath.

Because while I wasted time on such things, Crown Prince Cedrick would be suffering and collapsing.

He might even suffer wounds that he could never recover from.

-Kung! Tung! Kwang!

-Thwack! Thwack! Fzzzzzt! Kang!

-Good heavens, you······.

The astonished Guardian Spirit muttered to himself. I didn’t care.

Something, whether sweat or ink, streamed down my forehead. It didn’t matter either.

The Crown Prince shouldn’t be exposed to such pain yet.

Because he wasn’t fully healed.

“Huk, huuk, hoo······.”

-Aren’t you afraid? The World Tree is the source of life! It’s the only entity that protects the world line!

“Haa, ha······.”

One of the thicker trunks was on the verge of snapping.

The black liquid soaked my feet, and my wildly swinging arms rang.

The scepter was fine, with only a little rust flaking off.

Gagabang also had a dagger, but it probably wouldn’t have lasted this long.

It might have broken in the first strike.

I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them to gather my last strength.

Then, I saw what I hadn’t seen before.

“Uh······?”

Beyond the tree trunk, which was about to be severed, there was a white wall. As if possessed, I approached and looked at it.

When I casually touched the clean surface, I felt a very familiar sensation. This is—

-Swish

“······It’s paper.”

It was the texture of smooth printing paper.

Not the yellow paper commonly found here, but typical modern paper.

As my stained fingers brushed against it, the paper was stained with black water.

In an instant, all sorts of thoughts came to mind, and goosebumps rose on my arms.

But what was urgent right now was something else.

-Kwaang! Kuwoong!

“······.”

As if something was constantly striking it from the other side, the plaster wall was dented and then stretched repeatedly.

I bit my lip and gripped the scepter again.

Just because I was ignorant of the world’s lore didn’t mean I didn’t know fear or a sense of crisis.

But I didn’t want to be helpless or swept away by the current.

I just wanted to save someone close to me. So, I would tear this apart too.

I had cut down such thick roots, so what was a piece of paper like this?

-Ssaeaeek!

-Good heavens! Please stop!

“No way!”

How could I stand by when I knew he was being tortured!

-Kwaaaang! Clang!

-Kwazzzzzik!

“Keuk!”

It was a noise that couldn’t come from paper. It was a flash of light that couldn’t burst from paper.

I reflexively turned my head and ducked.

Hwadeudeuk! Broken pieces scratched my clothes and skin and scattered in all directions.

The sound of sparks crackling was threatening.

I covered half of my face with my arm and cautiously lifted my eyelids.

It felt like my eyeballs would pop out.

“Your Highness!”

My voice cracked. Ignoring that, I crawled on my knees.

From the hole that was cracked and broken like a shattered screen, a scarred hand was reaching out.

I was terrified that something might have happened to him in the meantime. There were too many people who would hurt with him if he was in pain.

I didn’t want to see that. I raised my voice as much as I could.

Regardless of whether the Guardian Spirit behind me was horrified.

“Your Highness, Keheok!”

And I was grabbed by the collar and dragged away!

“Keok! Let go of this—”

“······Get a grip.”

It was a low, resonant voice that was tattooed in my ear. I grimaced and looked ahead.

Beyond the shattered crack, in the darkness, I saw two beacons burning brightly.

In an instant, an unknown emotion surged up. Something like laughter even burst out from within.

He was fine. Thank goodness.

“Are you alright? Euk!”

But I can’t breathe!

“Who’s asking?”

“What do you—”

“Just because I can’t use Ether [magical energy] doesn’t mean I can’t feel.”

“Eok, euut.”

It was difficult because of the tightly clenched fist. I grabbed his wrist and hit it repeatedly.

You idiot, you’re going to kill me!

“Don’t shake me recklessly.”

“Aaaah······! Cough! I got it!”

The warning voice was low and sharp.

In the blurry vision, a messily torn shirt and a reddened neck······. What?

“Kulk, kulk kulk!”

Tak! At that moment, he let go. I desperately gasped for breath and coughed.

I couldn’t believe what I had just seen, so I leaned in, but the Crown Prince pushed my forehead away with his long fingers. Ah, why!

“What’s wrong with your neck?”

I didn’t give up and approached him again.

An right arm stained with blood. A shirt that had turned into rags and red handprints.

And shining brilliantly in that gap······.

-Saaaaaa······

The Saint Stone necklace was visible. I was speechless for a moment and stared at him.

He glared back, panting. All the strength drained from my body.

Tteonggeureong! I dropped the scepter haphazardly and collapsed.

I was so dumbfounded that I let out a hollow laugh.

“What are you so proud of?”

“What?”

“Never mind······.”

I didn’t have the energy or the will to add anything more.

Seeing that he had even injured his own arm, it seemed like he had suffered quite a bit, but even in the midst of that, he seemed to have held on to the Saint Stone.

A forehead and black hair, wet with cold sweat, came into clear reality.

I was frustrated that he hadn’t drawn a single strand of Ether.

But on the other hand, I was proud that he had endured like that.

I lowered my head and looked behind him.

There wasn’t even an ant, let alone the Guardian Spirit.

“Is it just me who can’t see it, or has it disappeared?”

“······The former.”

“I see.”

I understood.

Unless you were the person involved, you couldn’t even confirm what form the Guardian Spirit had taken.

Still, seeing his relatively unharmed face made me feel relieved.

I chuckled and took out a canteen to quench my thirst.

I handed it to the other side, and he obediently drank it.

Prince Yeseo silently stared at us.

“Who did you see?”

“It’s a long story. He transformed once in the middle. I’ll tell you everything next time.”

I replied, taking back the canteen. The Crown Prince frowned unhappily.

He’ll get wrinkles.

“Hoo······. I don’t know how much time has passed. Let’s move on.”

‘I’ll see you on the other side.’ I picked up the scepter, stroked Dduksoomi in my arms once, and then got up.

No, that’s what I was going to do!

-Thump!

“Keheok! Hey!”

He’s really using my collar like a handle!

“Act like someone who will be the Emperor’s consort.”

His pupils looked like four because he was so close.

The fierce gaze was so hot that it felt like my face would be burned. I slowly opened my jaw.

Don’t tell me you’re serious?

“······Are you talking about His Majesty Frederick?”

Is he worried that I’ll really become his new father?

-Thud!

“Eoheok!”

The Crown Prince threw me down carelessly.

That hurt! I glared at the hole with resentful eyes.

He had already gotten up and was gathering his weapons.

I was annoyed and angry, but there was something I had to say before that.

I struggled to get up and shouted at his back.

“Please use the Saint Stone! I’ll refill it for you!”

“······.”

“I’ll check later! And take some hemostatic medicine!”

Seeing the right hand dripping with blood made me feel sorry for him.

The Crown Prince walked away without answering. A long sigh came out on its own.

“······Come to think of it, I didn’t say thank you.”

I guess he felt my Ether fluctuations and knocked on the wall to wake me up.

It must have been hard enough for him to take care of himself. I felt regret, but it was already too late.

I have to use my healing power as soon as I get out of the maze. I fastened Gagabang and prepared to leave.

Then I met the eyes of the man below my nose.

“······.”

-It’s amazing.

The Guardian Spirit let out a hollow laugh. I nodded roughly and took a step.

-Not only does a rat enter the maze, but someone loved by the Main God is disrupting the world.

Rat?

“······I’m sorry for damaging the World Tree and the maze. But I had no choice.”

-You seem to say you had no choice very easily.

“Yes. I’ll be punished someday.”

I answered that and walked away, shuffling my feet.

I had the illusion that the scepter in my hand and Demi’s vines were emitting warmth.

Purple eyes threatened and aimed at me, but I moved my feet without hesitation.

Now I was really okay. Because I knew that wasn’t real.

-Jeong Yeseo. You are······.

Because I know it’s an illusion created by my heart.

-Sreureuk!

I passed right through the Guardian Spirit.

If it had been a real person, I would have collided and been hurt, but nothing happened to him.

Paaaaa······! I heard the sound effect of something disappearing from behind. I moved forward without looking back.

Just like I always had, I paid attention to what was under my feet and reminded myself of today’s purpose.

The rest could be thought about slowly in the future.

Peace to be achieved with Elissa. Clues to return home. For now, just those two things.

-Jjeojeojeok!

Then, an amazing thing happened.

-Wajikkeun! Woodeudeudeuk!

“Heoeo······.”

The dark passage on the other side was split vertically, and then began to open to the left and right, baring terrible teeth.

The branches moved busily like spider legs, making way.

I stared blankly at the sight from a few steps away.

From beyond the gap, a dazzling golden light poured in.

Even if no one explained it to me, I knew instinctively.

The Guardian Spirit’s test was over.

“······We’re here.”

Finally, it was the Holy Chamber. My feet moved heavily as if possessed by something.

The surroundings suddenly became so bright that it was hard to open my eyes.

I frowned deeply and looked around.

My lips naturally formed a large circle.

The impossibly high and vast circular room was all gold.

It was a very mysterious space, with white light dwelling within and shining transparently.

There wasn’t a single seam or pillar, and I was in awe of how they had created such a place.

Angels were painted on the ceiling frescoes decorated with a clear sky and golden plates.

I got goosebumps because it felt like they were really looking down at me.

“Wow······.”

I limped around the Holy Chamber. Looking closely, the walls and floor were not smooth.

Every corner was densely and delicately engraved without any gaps.

The floor pattern was drawing a vast circle, and the circles in the east, west, south, and north that decorated the inside seemed to symbolize the four holy attributes.

Dozens of lines of sentences written in ancient sacred language were also engraved.

The ornate handwriting was as smooth as flowing water and as clear as if it had been carved yesterday.

Overall, it was a space full of restrained elegance. And in the middle of the circle······.

“······That must be the Holy Tray.”

More simple than I thought, and in some ways, modest.

An extremely ordinary gray tray was placed on a gold stand.

The size was about that of a normal washbasin.

On the other hand, the stand was studded with colorful jewels, and the mythology of the Main God was crafted in chronological order, boasting dignity and luxury.

That was all.

“Hmm.”

I couldn’t even dare to approach and stood in place. There was no one there yet.

I guess I’m the first—

“Euk, keuek······!”

I was startled and turned around. And I was horrified. That side of the floor was slowly being submerged in blood!

“Are you alright!?”

“Eut, keuk······.”

The other person was a man in an old robe.

I didn’t know him, but this wasn’t the time to worry about such things. I hurriedly approached him.

Looking at him up close, his condition was even more serious. A sleek dagger was stuck in his stomach.

It was such a terrible and shocking sight.

He was bleeding heavily, and the patient’s condition was very bad. He trembled and raised his head.

Under the hood, I could see pale cheeks and bluish lips.

Light purple hair, sharp chocolate-colored eyes······.

“How did this happen······. I can’t use healing power here. First, a hemostatic agent—”

At that time,

-Swoosh!

The man pulled out the sword stuck in his stomach in one swift motion.

I couldn’t even scream and froze.

Hwadeudeuk! Red dots splattered in all directions, and the stench of blood vibrated.

The shock didn’t stop there. He immediately swung the blade.

-Wheeik!

-Thwack!

And he stabbed it into my chest. Hellish pain washed over me.