What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 312

#312

A New Life as a Cleric (1)

It was a pure white space without a ceiling, floor, or walls.

“Where is this…?”

Did I crash-land again?

Numerous people were bustling around.

They moved, leaving afterimages like subjects photographed with a very slow shutter speed.

Even though there was no path or direction, everyone seemed to have a clear destination.

However, their eyes, when glanced at, lacked focus, and no motivation could be felt.

Everyone seemed faded.

Their appearances were all eerie, as if they had stepped out of *I Quit and Became a Princess in Another World* [a fictional or well-known isekai story].

Among them were children and hunched-over elders.

I rubbed my goosebump-covered arms and looked around.

Clearly, only I was moving at an excessively high frame rate. What is this…?

“Dduk-sim?”

I called out loudly, but there was no response.

‘Dduk-sim? Sim-ah? Sim-ah?’ Echoes rang out, but no one turned to look at me.

Everyone was walking diligently without a sound. To the east, west, south, north, up, down, left, and right.

Breaking countless laws of physics.

“Excuse me. May I ask you something?”

In the end, I braved my fear and spoke to a passerby.

However, the person passed by without even glancing in my direction. Swish….

“What is this.”

The woman passed right through me and walked away leisurely. I was so shocked that I froze in place.

What the heck? Are these people ghosts? Is this the afterlife?

…Could it be that I fell and died?

“No way. That can’t be…”

Overwhelming bewilderment and despair washed over me.

I was so shocked that tears wouldn’t even flow, and my mind went blank.

For a long time, I just kept opening and closing my mouth.

No—really? Am I dead? Why?

“Ah.”

Just then, beautiful blonde hair fluttered before my eyes. I flinched and turned my gaze.

A very familiar face came into view. I was shocked once again, and my jaw dropped.

“Prince….”

Kind purple eyes and a picturesque smile.

It was Prince Yeser Fenetian, whom I met in the mirror every day.

The young man, wearing a long, flowing gown, stood with his hands neatly folded.

His saturation and brightness were definitely higher than the others.

I instinctively knew that he was not a guardian spirit or an illusion.

The man looked somewhat sad, and on the other hand, he seemed guilty.

Nevertheless, his gaze towards me held a clear warmth.

This time, it was ‘real.’

“Please help me. Is this the afterlife?”

I asked desperately.

There were countless questions I needed to ask him, but that was all I could think of at the moment.

The reality was so terrible that I desperately needed someone’s help.

I didn’t have the presence of mind to ask how he was doing.

Fortunately, the prince seemed to recognize me. He seemed to have heard my voice as well.

Soon, his beautiful lips moved.

「Don’t worry, Yeser.」

There was no voice. But I could clearly read his lips.

I had never learned such a skill, so how could this be?

Why did his one word reassure me so much?

「I owe you a great debt.」

「I am truly grateful and sorry.」

“No… It’s not. I’m the one who should be sorry. I used Your Highness’s body so carelessly.”

‘Maybe I’ll… have to use it again,’ I confessed hesitantly.

He gracefully curved his eyes and looked at me for a while.

And then, with a look that seemed like he was about to cry, he said.

「I know you had no choice.」

「But next time… please choose your own happiness. It’s okay if you do.」

“Yes?”

I couldn’t understand what he meant. So I couldn’t find the words to answer right away.

In the meantime, the prince began to drift away slowly.

It wasn’t that he was moving, or that I was stepping back, but strangely, the distance between us was increasing.

It was as if we were on opposite moving walkways. I blinked in confusion.

There were so many words I hadn’t asked, so many apologies I hadn’t conveyed.

But the speed was increasing.

Swish, swish, swish! The crowd passing by soon blurred into black dots and lines.

I felt like I was being sucked somewhere alone. I became desperate.

“Your Highness!”

「Please take care of my sister and brother.」

He was now so far away that I couldn’t even see his face. I reached out desperately.

“Wait!”

A small drop of water touched my fingertip.

—Fwoosh!

The moment I realized it was the prince’s tear, my vision went dark.

*

I had a dream.

‘Prince, that alchemist is a fraud. Did you believe his words?’

Cristel said, giggling, from across the table. Now that I think about it, she was right.

Belatedly, I wondered what I had done, and my mind went blank.

「When very powerful aether [a hypothetical medium believed to carry light waves] gathers in one place, amazing things happen, they say. If desperate hearts are attached to it, miraculous things will occur.」

The alchemist in the original story had definitely said something like that.

I had clung to his words as if they were a golden rope.

But Dduk-sim didn’t object and pushed me along.

…Was it a mistake? Did I misjudge?

‘But we met like this anyway.’

I said with an awkward smile. No, I tried to. But no sound came out.

I just opened and closed my mouth like someone who had been muted.

While I was at a loss, someone sitting next to me suddenly cut in.

‘I told you to just stay home. Why are you making yourself suffer, little brother.’

It was Eun-seo! I was horrified and looked at him, then turned back to Cristel.

The two were smiling innocently.

I had lost my voice, but this time I was naturally speechless.

Are they acquaintances? Since when? I guess Jeong Eun-seo would know Cristel—

Ah. This is a dream.

‘Let’s eat.’

I flinched and turned my head.

To make matters worse, my brother, pulling a familiar trolley, came in and set up all sorts of delicacies on the table.

His indifferent expression was the same as usual.

Even though I was dumbfounded, I helped him place the dishes.

As befitting a dream meal, the menu was erratic and diverse.

Boiling chicken feet and cool peach mousse. Fresh steak tartare and Cheongha [a type of Korean rice wine]. Sweet Riole [a type of dessert] and bitter Ssanghwa tea [a traditional Korean herbal tea]. What on earth is this…? It seems like a good combination?

‘Please eat a lot, Your Highness.’

Distracted, I suddenly looked at the man sitting across from me.

Sir Johan was smiling, crinkling his characteristic drooping eyes. I don’t know when he arrived.

For some reason, Herrit wasn’t visible. He said kindly.

‘Since meetings are uncertain, you must store up energy.’

…Excuse me?

—Whoosh!

At that moment, the tablecloth caught fire.

Unlike me, who was horrified and got up, my family and friends didn’t react.

Since I couldn’t make a sound, I couldn’t tell them to evacuate.

I quickly covered my nose and mouth and looked for water—

—Whoosh, whoosh!

The flames spread everywhere in an instant.

The warm lighting was gone, and the surroundings were dyed black with darkness and ash.

Huge crimson flames were devouring the tableware and food.

Clang! Crack! The dishes that had somehow matched well shattered like ashes in an instant.

Before I knew it, I was the only one left at the table. Suddenly, I felt a deep loneliness and despair.

My heart throbbed and my stomach felt stuffy. No one understands me….

‘No one understands me.’

‘Peace is a luxury.’

‘I’m alone again.’

‘Indeed, the curse of the main god exists.’

—Oh my god. These weren’t my emotions. As soon as I realized this, I turned around.

Black boots were visible,

‘Cough!’

The man’s black gloves grabbed my collar.

I couldn’t even resist and was pulled up by him.

Drag, drag, my toes barely touched the floor.

I struggled because it was hard to breathe, but he didn’t budge. Hey, come on!

‘Ugh! Keuh.’

Whether it was because the flames had burned all the oxygen, or because of this guy’s collar grab….

My consciousness began to fade. I groped and grabbed his wrist.

And barely made eye contact. At the same time, a thunderous shock hit the back of my head.

‘Ah….’

Large orange eyes, flushed with tears. It was little Sadie.

【Hee-eok!】

—Thud!

I woke up completely soaked in sweat. At the same time, a small mocha bread fell from my body.

Ugh! Reflexively, I moved my arm and caught the wren.

I wondered if I had a nightmare, but Jeong Dduk-sim was lying on my chest, sleeping!

【Hah, hah, whew…】

My ragged breathing didn’t subside easily. I took a deep breath and first checked on Dduk-sim in my hand.

Fortunately, she didn’t seem to be hurt. Her beak was fine, and no feathers had fallen out.

The small body moved faintly. She was just fast asleep.

When I think about it, it couldn’t be helped. She had used so much power in the middle of the night—

【Heok!】

Crazy, where am I! I quickly turned on the lights and looked around.

I held my head up stiffly, then moved it from side to side like a fan, observing the room.

Gaga Bag [likely a character’s name or a specific item] was at the head of the bed. A dazzling growth was lying at the foot of the creaking bed.

At least I haven’t been put in a coffin. It’s not a hospital either. This is….

【It’s a cabin.】

It was a very old log cabin that I had never been to before, but it was definitely not the world I lived in.

The room smelled of musty soil and medicinal herbs.

Light and wind leaked through the gaps in the wood, and the ceiling supported by rotten beams was not high.

There was not enough storage space, so the wooden shelves were packed to the roof.

Chipped bowls and bent spoons were scattered on the shelves.

Next to the bed were a bumpy washbasin and a blood-soaked washcloth.

In the fireplace that took up one side of the cabin, a clear soup was boiling without any solids.

The dented pot was an old item at first glance.

There was only one bed I was lying on, and there was a hole in the blanket—

【…Huh?】

I suddenly gasped at the sleeve covering the back of my hand. Isn’t this my cardigan for work?

Jeong Eun-seo picked it up at the outlet. Why am I wearing this?

【What. What is it.】

Only then did I frantically touch my face and pinch my cheeks like a madman. This wasn’t enough to be sure.

I pulled the bangs covering my forehead and raised my eyes as much as possible.

【Brown?】

Oh, crazy world! How did this happen, Jeong Dduk-sim!

【I’ve come into my own body!】

“Heuaang.”

Surprise! I turned around in a flash.

At the doorway of the cabin, an adult and a child were trembling and kneeling.

It was a space far from the fireplace or window, where no light entered.

The two were wearing tattered robes, and the child among them seemed to be holding back tears in fear.

A basket made of woven grass had fallen to the floor.

A handful of raspberries spilled out and rolled around.

They were surprised because of me….

【I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there,】

“Ugh!”

As I carefully reached out my hand, the guardian was horrified and hugged the child.

The two huddled together like hedgehogs, not even showing their faces. I bit my lip.

It seems like those people rescued and took care of me and Dduk-sim….

They even wiped off the blood and gave me the bed. I felt guilty because they were so scared.

It’s my fault.

【Um… My friend and I are in your debt. Thank you so much for saving us. Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you. I promise.】

“……”

【I’m just an ordinary person with no power.】

I spoke as slowly and gently as possible. I even mixed a faint smile into the last sentence.

The two didn’t show any reaction and just trembled.

I sat still and silently until they could feel at ease.

How many minutes had passed? The child carefully raised his head from the guardian’s arms.

Now that I saw them, the two were covering half of their faces below their noses with white cloth.

The tearful eyes were pitiful. Where does it hurt?

【Hello.】

As I whispered a greeting, the child flinched.

But he didn’t seem as scared as before.

Just as I was about to raise the corners of my mouth slightly, the child’s guardian also looked this way.

I made long eye contact and then moved only my lips to speak.

—Grumble….

Failure! Damn it, my empty stomach spoke first. The two people opened their eyes wide at the loud noise.

My cheeks flushed red.

【I think I slept too long. Could you tell me how long I’ve been unconscious?】

“……”

【If it’s okay, I’d also like to ask what day of what month it is in the Holy Calendar. I’m also curious about exactly where this is.】

Even though I asked clearly and slowly, the two people’s expressions were just confused.

I felt a strange sense of incongruity.

It was like being in a foreign country on a backpacking trip where you couldn’t understand anything—

“I, I’m sorry, angel. What are you saying….”

…Huh?

“We, we are lowly and ignorant, so we can’t understand the words you use in the sky… But, but. But I know that the angel is merciful….”

Yes? I was so shocked by the situation that my mouth dropped open.

The fact that that person was calling me an ‘angel’ wasn’t even an important issue.

So now, we don’t speak the same language?

I can understand the words here, but those people can’t understand my words?!

【No… Wow… What is it?】

I was so dumbfounded that the sentences wouldn’t come together properly.

To be honest, I had somewhat expected that I might cross over into my own body.

It wasn’t based on any particular reason, I just thought it might happen.

So I deliberately wore comfortable sneakers. But isn’t this flow too much?

Even though it’s not a ‘textbook’ possession, there’s even a language barrier?

【The inside is the same, but why are you so unfriendly? I’m going to leave a 1-star review when I get home.】

“Um….”

While I was vowing revenge, the masked little kid, who had approached hesitantly, held out his small hand.

It seemed like he had collected only the prettiest of the crushed and burst raspberries.

No matter how angry and absurd I was, I shouldn’t make the child anxious.

I quickly managed my expression.

【It looks so delicious. It’s really pretty. Did you pick it yourself?】

“Eueueum….”

The child, who didn’t understand, smiled awkwardly. Ha….

First, let’s eat it to show my gratitude. If I can’t communicate with words, let’s try to communicate with gestures.

I’ve come all this way, so let’s not get discouraged already.

Didn’t the grandmother upstairs communicate well with her German son-in-law?

【Thank you, I’ll enjoy it.】

I popped a plump, red raspberry into my mouth.

The expression on my face naturally relaxed at the popping texture and sweet juice.

I felt like I could empty two baskets of this in a flash.

The child and the guardian seemed greatly relieved to see me. Gulp!

“Wow. It’s really delicious. You could sell it.”

As soon as I said that, the two jumped like deer. Why are you doing that!

“M, mercy! The angel speaks Fenetian! Oh my!”

“Uwaa!”

Yes? Suddenly!?