What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 308

Transcending Heart (7)

-Weeeeee!

“No way······.”

A tiny wren turned around and met my eyes. My heart ached for a moment.

It was such a familiar sight.

Judging by how quiet it had been until now, it must have woken up because of the vacuum cleaner.

Its feathers were ruffled, and its startled, beady eyes were wide. I quickly turned off the machine.

The shocking situation made me swallow hard.

Stay calm, Ye-seo. Stay calm.

-Chirp?

“······.”

No, no, no. Dduk-sim couldn’t have crossed over. It must be another bird.

-Chirrrr

Think rationally.

You sometimes see similar stories on those kinds of shows.

A swallow came into the house. An Eurasian kestrel came onto the veranda.

They build nests, lay eggs, and live happily ever after······.

-Chirrrrr!

“Ouch, ouch, ouch.”

The little one hopped over and pecked at my instep in dissatisfaction.

I quickly squatted down and covered my foot. Then, I stared intently at it.

Its round belly rose and fell. Its head, only the size of a finger joint, moved busily.

It was a familiar sight. I bit my lip, trying not to get my hopes up too much.

I didn’t want to be disappointed after thinking it was Dduk-sim for nothing.

“You······.”

I lowered my voice as much as possible and whispered to it.

If it couldn’t understand, there was nothing I could do.

If it wasn’t hurt, I could catch it carefully and let it out.

Hyung [older brother] and Eun-seo are here, so it’ll be okay.

It’s okay.

“Are you Jeong Dduk-sim?”

-Chirp!

The little one chirped loudly with its adorable beak, then fluttered into my arms.

It was only after a few seconds that I realized what was happening. My eyes felt like they were about to pop out.

It was truly a miraculous event.

“Oh my gosh······.”

A foolish smile escaped, and my eyes welled up for no reason.

I carefully cupped the coffee bean-like warmth in both hands.

Dduk-sim then rubbed its body all over my palm. It seemed happy to see me too.

I choked up. I first poked my head out the door and checked the surroundings.

Eun-seo hadn’t come out of her room yet, and Hyung, who works seven days a week, was still working.

As long as we were quiet, we wouldn’t get caught!

“Dduk-sim, ahem. How did you get here? Huh? It must have been so hard for you, you little thing, when I was having a hard time too.”

-Bbing······

When I whispered, it chirped as if sighing. It must have been very difficult.

“Weren’t you hurt? Are you okay? Did you come with Hyung?”

-Chirp, chirp chirp

Dduk-sim answered diligently.

It seemed to be explaining something, but unfortunately, I was ignorant of the divine beast language and couldn’t understand it.

As I just smiled foolishly, the wren fluttered its wings a couple of times.

Its gesture clearly showed frustration, which made me laugh again.

Its body was covered in dust, probably because it had been under the bed the whole time.

Since it’s a divine beast, would it be okay to wash it with human shampoo······?

-Chirrr!

“Oh, okay. You’ve worked hard. You’re the best. Did you sleep well?”

-Chirrrrr!

It finally hopped up and down.

It looked like it really wanted to say something, so I wondered if I should bring it a keyboard.

It’s the smartest bird in the world, so maybe it can even write―

-Bbit, ket, kek!

“Why is it doing this?”

-Ket! Kit!

Dduk-sim started coughing unusually. I was startled and straightened my posture.

It had happened before, but that was a kind of reaction that appeared when the ‘Phoenix’ transformation was undone.

I didn’t remember Dduk-sim being like this when it was in wren form. Is something stuck in its throat?

“Did you eat dust? Spit it out, spit it out.”

-Kit! Kit!

“Let’s spit it out on Hyung’s hand. Good.”

I felt sorry for some reason.

The room must have gotten very dirty during the week (which is a year and a week for me).

Dduk-sim coughed and hopped around on my palm for a while, then,

-Flit!

It went down to the floor as if it couldn’t stand it anymore. I was really restless.

I was worried that it might be seriously ill. This is a completely different world from that place.

Just like how people can suffer from jet lag or altitude sickness, maybe Dduk-sim too―

-Ket!

“Oh dear.”

Dduk-sim spat out something that shone in a light purple color!

I quickly pulled out a wet wipe from the desk and wiped its beak.

The little bird fluttered as if it were annoyed.

Meanwhile, a tremendously mysterious event was unfolding next to it. Wait, what is that······?

-Whoosh······!

Dduk-sim’s ‘dust,’ which had been emitting a faint glow on the floor, was growing long horizontally.

It was a very similar sight to what I had seen inside Bi-ryeom’s Ark.

Just like when Dduk-sim transformed into Benjamen or Nikki.

I was horrified and repeatedly looked out the door. Hyung no movement, Eun-seo no movement. No problems with the living room lines.

Emergency situation only in my room!

“Crazy.”

Growing, growing! The lump of light that had been constantly increasing finally finished transforming.

The main body was revealed in the place where the radiance had faded.

I was as shocked as when I found Dduk-sim and gaped. My jaw is really going to fall off!

“This. This is Master’s staff······.”

Even as I said it, goosebumps rose. There was no way I could mistake it.

The black, rough, and rusty crescent moon at the top, and the mottled beige stick that was barely visible.

The black-stained end decoration, making it difficult to guess its original shape. And······.

Clotted blood in places. It was definitely a gift from Cardinal Aurelius Boutier.

It was the item I had been holding until just before I returned home.

I gently stroked the staff. Oh my gosh, it’s not an illusion, it’s real!

“Dduk-sim, you were in the Holy Land······. You woke up then and took it?”

The wren answered vigorously again. I was so surprised that a hollow laugh burst out.

I rubbed the praise-seeking little one a lot, and then Hana’s voice echoed in my head.

-Take that too.

‘Yes?’

-I feel it accumulating power.

-It’s unusual. There must be a reason, so take it with you.

“Ah······.”

Before entering the Holy Land, the King advised me so.

He told me to take the unawakened Dduk-sim because it was ‘accumulating power.’

At the time, no one knew what that meant.

I just obediently followed, thinking I should listen to the wise elder.

But I never imagined things would turn out like this.

Not only did Dduk-sim store my belongings in the Ark, but it also followed me the moment the Holy Boundary was opened.

“You gathered strength to use it like this? Then did you know I was coming home too?”

-Chirp!

When I whispered, it turned its back as if it were difficult to answer.

I chuckled and stroked the wren’s head. Was it possible because it was a supreme divine beast?

It had warned me of danger once before, so had it sensed and prepared for an even bigger anomaly this time?

Whatever it was, it was amazing and wonderful. I was unbearably proud.

“Thank you. I’m sincerely grateful.”

-Chirp, ket! Ket!

“······Is there more?”

The wren coughed and heaved. I knelt down, very nervous.

What else is in the Ark?

-Kit!

-Thud!

It came out! A lump of light!

-Whoosh······

Dduk-sim jumped onto my thigh as if its work was finally over.

In an instant, all sorts of thoughts ran through my head.

What if it turns into a person? The only one who was there with me was Werner, the Crown Prince.

Could it be that Dduk-sim diligently picked up even that guy? What do I tell Hyung and Eun-seo?

Should I report it to the police right away? That person stabbed me a few days ago.

So I died in that body, but now my body is fine······?

“Wait a minute. That―”

The light disappeared. There was a faint smell of blood.

I crawled on my hands and knees, my eyes wide open.

“Oh my gosh, that’s right.”

It’s the Gaga bag! How could I forget this, Jeong Ye-seo!

“Wow, everything’s in here! My notebook and everything! Jeong Dduk-sim!”

‘As expected, you are the strongest divine beast in existence. Bongdo and Hwangdo are just small fries in front of Dduk-sim!’ I knelt down in front of the wren and shouted.

Of course, I praised it with only heightened breaths instead of a voice, as it would be difficult if Hyung and Eun-seo heard.

If this had remained in Prince Ye-seo’s body, my records would have been exposed without a doubt, but thanks to Dduk-sim, who packed my belongings, I barely avoided such an ending.

It strutted around with an arrogant attitude. It shook its wings and held its head high.

That seemed very cute and great anew.

Even though nothing has been resolved yet, pleasant laughter kept bursting out.

“Hahaha.”

The hope that had been as fine as pollen until yesterday now felt like a fairly swollen bouquet.

-Chirp?

“Yeah, let’s study together.”

······If I do well, maybe I can really reach it.

*

“Little brother! What’s spinning in the dryer?”

I rummaged through the utility room and flinched.

What else could it be, it was the Gaga bag that I secretly hand-washed in the master bathroom earlier.

A lot of blood came out, so I squeezed it for almost thirty minutes, and Hyung gave me a meaningful look.

But even my sister is asking such sharp questions!

“Oh, that, the bag.”

“The bag? The company backpack?”

“No······. Something else.”

“Okay.”

Why are you asking if you’re going to back down so easily? It’s scary!

I glanced at my sister sitting on the living room sofa and turning on Netflix.

It seemed like she was looking for entertainment to change her mood.

In the kitchen, Hyung was making carrot cake.

If you add a cup of rooibos tea to that, it’s really delicious······.

-Chirp

I flinched.

“I know, sorry.” I apologized to Dduk-sim in my pocket and hurriedly took out the steam cleaner.

It’s something Hyung used to push around enthusiastically, but he threw it away after a while because it was hard to wash the mop, so I’ve been using it lately.

For cleaning the veranda.

“Little brother is feeling it today.”

“Um. You could say that.”

Swish. I vaguely glossed over it and opened the veranda door. In fact, I was constantly concerned about this place.

From the first day I returned home, I thought I should take a good look at this place.

On a certain autumn day in Riester, the gate clearly opened towards our house’s ‘veranda.’

Even while my heart was pounding and I was spilling blood, I clearly confirmed it with my own eyes.

“······What on earth is here? Dduk-sim, do you feel anything?”

I muttered as I attached the mop to the vacuum cleaner.

The original plan was to clean only my room and wash up, but since Dduk-sim appeared, I decided to scan this side as well under the pretext of cleaning.

There might be parts that I can’t know on my own, but a divine beast might be able to capture them.

The wren poked its head out.

-Chirrrr!

Then it chirped healthily. A positive reaction is good, but the sound is too loud!

I was horrified and looked back over the glass window. Eun-seo was tilting her head towards this side.

“Was that a bird just now?”

“Uh, uh. One passed by outside. There are a lot of birds in our complex.”

Half of it is true.

“I was surprised. I thought it came into the house.”

She hugged the cushion and turned her gaze to the TV. I had a close call!

“Phew. Anyway, there is something, but······.”

I carefully observed the surroundings while wiping every corner.

Our family really liked to grill meat and stir-fry rice at home.

As far as I remember, it had been like that since my dad was alive.

When you cook in the kitchen, the smell permeates everywhere and the floor becomes slippery, so at some point, we added a table to the veranda.

On rainy days, the four of us used to make Korean pancakes [Jeon] here.

Even after the three of us were left, nothing had changed.

We also grilled oysters and prawns, and sometimes Hyung roasted coffee beans.

The fishing chair over there was also used by Hyung.

It was mainly used to sit and blow bubbles when the novel’s plot was blocked.

In front of it, Eun-seo’s grass doll pots and the pots that Mom used to grow were lined up.

“It’s a special space, but······. I don’t know why it had to be here. When I think of ‘home,’ I immediately think of the living room or my room.”

I muttered and continued cleaning.

Meanwhile, Dduk-sim was restless and wanted to get out of my pocket.

It kept rustling, biting my clothes, and even whining.

It’s strange because it’s not usually like this. Is it because it’s stuffy in an unfamiliar room? Or―

Ah. A static electricity-like realization flashed through my mind!

“Ether? Is there ether here?”

I asked urgently. Dduk-sim fluttered excitedly as if it were the correct answer.

I was thrilled with the meaningful result I had finally obtained.

Indeed, when I think about it, it couldn’t be helped. This was the point where the four divine objects emitted light.

It was also the place where the power of the Holy Boundary within me forcibly opened the gate.

It had only been a few days in Earth time.

It may have faded somewhat, but if as many as five divine objects poured out ether, it was natural for traces to remain.

Jackpot!

“Good······. Then our house’s veranda is now an ether warehouse. It’s also ether that you can feel very strongly. Besides, I have it, you have it, Master’s staff is here too. And.”

I muttered like a madman and counted the contents in the Gaga bag.

Things that I had hidden in the desk drawer earlier······.

“Notebook. Water bottle. Dagger. Holy Stone― Crazy, there’s a Holy Stone bomb!”

Huh! I quickly covered my mouth and checked behind me.

Fortunately, Eun-seo was laughing while watching a failed cooking program.

Beyond the sigh of relief, a broad smile appeared. Two beads. The Crown Prince’s Flame and Sir John’s Wind Flower.

Cristel’s Water Flower was used up a long time ago, but anyway, with this much, the amount of ether I have is great.

I squeezed the vacuum cleaner tightly with a happy heart.

Then the problem is how to use this······.

-Bbit bbit

At that time, Dduk-sim chirped briefly and quietly. I blinked and looked down at it.

The wren was flapping one wing outside the pocket.

As if pointing over there.

“Over there? Outside. The apartment complex.”

-Bbit

“Let’s look out? There’s nothing special to see.”

‘Well, it must be amazing for you.’ I awkwardly grabbed the vacuum cleaner and moved.

I also kept an eye on Hyung and Eun-seo’s movements.

But even after I approached the window, Dduk-sim didn’t fold its wings.

Rather, it fluttered and wriggled even more actively. What on earth―

Huh. Suddenly the veranda was too cold.

“······Are you telling me to jump? Surely not that?”

I whispered, exhaling a breath.

Whether or not, its round eyes were shining brightly.

-Chirp-bo!

What do you mean chirp-bo! Then Hyung will be taking the chirp-bo chirp-bo ambulance!