What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 319

#319

The Black Prince (3)

-Pitter-patter, pitter-patter, pitter-patter

-Thud, thud, thud······

Modest Bakari led the way, followed by the brown-haired young man from the Holy Kingdom.

The commander was haunted by déjà vu as he walked. No wonder—

“Volunteer, good morning!”

“Hello, soldier. How’s the swelling in your legs?”

“It’s gone down a lot! Thanks to the compress you gave me.”

“Give me the book, Volunteer. We’ll take care of it.”

“Thank you. I’ll come to pick it up before it gets late.”

The nameless commoner attracted attention wherever he went.

Though he tried to have a secret conversation, he was constantly interrupted by soldiers eager to speak with him.

Many people whistled or waved at the man.

Modest frowned, pulling his hood down deeper.

Just what kind of human is this guy?

To stir up the imperial army this much in just a few days, he was suspicious beyond words.

A sudden suspicion arose that he might be a spy from Count Trossart or the Fenetian royal family.

Even though he already knew that wasn’t the case.

“Ah.”

Suddenly, a word he had seen in a military textbook flashed through his mind: ‘Honey trap’ [a deceptive tactic using romantic or sexual relationships to gain information]?

“Hello, Volunteer!”

“Did you sleep well, knight? Have you had breakfast?”

“Not yet. I don’t have an appetite because I’m sick······.”

“You still need to eat well to recover quickly. Should I come by later?”

“Oh, I’d like that! Want to eat together in the forest?”

“In the forest?”

Glance. Modest rolled his eyes and looked behind him.

The young man was looking at the woman with a bewildered expression.

‘Since you hurt your back, shouldn’t you rest comfortably in bed?’ Sincere concern was a bonus.

He even mentioned needing permission from the 담당 신관 [in charge priest].

The prophet sighed and moved his feet. Honey trap, my foot.

“Hurry up.”

“Sorry!”

At the teenager’s sharp rebuke, the man hurriedly quickened his pace.

Eventually, the two arrived at the lodging area in the center of the military camp.

Naturally, it was where the commanders stayed, and Modest used a tent next to the Crown Prince’s quarters as his private room.

A large navy flag fluttered at the entrance.

The twelve constellations of the zodiac were embroidered in silver thread throughout.

The guards who spotted the commander bowed politely and pulled back the cloth.

Modest strode inside, took off his hood, and straightened his back.

“What are you doing? Not coming in······.”

“Ah.”

He turned around, expecting the young man to be standing there blankly, but the young man was right in front of him.

It was an attitude that was unbelievably bold for a commoner.

As the prophet’s eyes widened, the man also blinked his clear eyes.

He seemed to realize his mistake belatedly.

“Should I go out again?”

“······It’s fine. It’s a waste of time.”

Modest replied curtly and sat at the tea table.

His throat was dry, so he poured water from the kettle, but for some reason, he became conscious of the other man and took out another cup.

After acting this far, he felt a little annoyed with himself.

Why was he acting as if that guy was his superior?

“What are you looking at? Trying to find information to steal?”

“Yes? No, I’m not.”

Sharp words popped out, fueled by his dissatisfaction.

The young man, who had been smiling as he looked around, was startled and shook his head.

Seeing that, he felt another inexplicable sense of guilt. It seemed to be because of that voice again.

When you think about it, his actions and 말투 [manner of speaking] were quite similar too······.

No, this isn’t the time for this.

“What’s your name?”

“Oh, that’s······.”

Then the man visibly panicked and 방긋거렸다 [smiled brightly].

Modest frowned and waited for an answer. Did he really have something to hide?

Did he forget the alias given to him by his superior? Or perhaps, his name was ‘예서 [Yesuh, a common Korean name]’?

······That couldn’t be, though. The prophet chuckled at his own delusion.

He had seen the prince lying in Juliette Palace’s bedroom.

Without any vitality, someone who would never return.

“Hi······.”

“What?”

“······Ken.”

“I can’t hear you. Unless you’ve done something shameful with your name, speak up.”

“Heineken······.”

Modest tilted his head.

“‘Heineken’? Is that your name?”

When he asked to confirm, the young man turned as red as an apple and nodded his head.

It sounded like a normal Holy Kingdom name, but he couldn’t understand why he was suddenly so embarrassed.

The commander clicked his tongue and got to the point.

There was no reason to give a long explanation to a commoner with no connection to him.

“Alright, Heineken. I can’t help but be suspicious of you.”

“Me······? Are you talking about me?”

“I heard you go in and out of the relief center with the permission of the healing priests.”

“That’s right, Commander.”

“You also confessed that you weren’t a minion of the Holy Kingdom.”

“That’s correct.”

“Then what the hell are you?”

“······Pardon?”

The man asked anxiously, fidgeting with his clasped hands.

Modest sharply raised his eyes beneath his silver-rimmed glasses.

A strange light dwelled in his 새초롬한 [slightly sulky] eyes.

“Because you’re around, I can’t see the future of the imperial army.”

“······.”

“At first, I doubted my health, but after a few days, I realized that wasn’t the case. I can’t read any information from you even now.”

Then the young man gave a faint smile. Why was he brightening up?

“That’s not a compliment. Your voice is also annoying.”

“······.”

At those words, his brown eyelashes fluttered.

The man barely raised the corners of his lips and lowered his gaze.

The shallow joy from before had completely disappeared.

Modest suddenly thought it was truly ridiculous that his heart was stinging.

So, he focused on observing other aspects instead of the other’s complexion.

Heineken had fair skin and delicate hands. Now that he saw it, that was also strange.

The prophet was born as a noble, raised being treated well, and had never done manual labor.

But he knew well that the imperial commoners couldn’t grow up so preciously.

Moreover, this place was a poor village completely abandoned by the lord.

Even compared to the other villagers, this guy was too neat.

······Just what is he? Just someone favored by the 주신 [chief god]?

“Perhaps a priest?”

Flinch! The man trembled at the words he threw out without much thought.

Modest immediately narrowed his eyes. Got him!

“You better answer.”

“No, that’s. Not now.”

“Not a priest now? Did you lose your powers?”

“······Yes. You’re 용하십니다 [insightful/perceptive].”

He smiled bitterly. The prophet scowled and gulped down water.

‘I see right through you. You’re 용하십니다 [insightful/perceptive].’ Those were the words the prince had said to him in the Blanquer Duchy.

Clang! He put the glass down loudly and picked up the kettle again.

With one hand, he pushed the other glass far away.

Why did two such people exist in the world?

Even a priest?

“Thank you. I’ll enjoy it.”

“Were you a 사제 [priest]?”

“······.”

“If you were a 부제 [sub-priest], you wouldn’t have had any power to lose. If your ether disappeared, you must have suffered the tragedy of the covenant.”

“Well, um. I was a 대주교 [archbishop], though.”

The man who was drinking water stammered with a troubled expression. He couldn’t believe it!

“Are you saying that a commoner from this rural village rose to the position of 대주교 [archbishop]? Besides, you’re a fresh-faced twenty-something?”

“Umm······.”

His fine eyebrows drooped downward. Now even his expression was the same, to the point of giving him goosebumps.

At the same time, Modest realized that he was telling the truth. 주신 맙소사 [Oh my god]······.

“Haa, my head hurts.”

He briefly took off his magic tool glasses and massaged his eyes.

He was confused as to whether he should accept this as a simple coincidence.

Heineken looked at him anxiously, then,

“Have you had breakfast?”

He suddenly asked this. Modest stared at him in disbelief.

His lips moved on their own.

“I’m hungry. What’s it to you?”

“Oh my.”

Then the man made a greatly shocked face. Following that,

-Rustle, rustle······

He dared to rummage through his pockets in front of the Fleur de Lis commander.

He didn’t seem to know any fear, even though the 8th-circle mage in front of him might kill him right away if he misunderstood.

Modest was even more surprised and left him alone.

Eventually, the young man piled something onto an empty plate.

Half a loaf of slightly hard bread, two oliebollen [Dutch doughnuts] wrapped in paper. A handful of dried raspberries. 오르르 [onomatopoeia for rustling sound]―

“Please eat, Commander.”

“Hey. Are you telling me to······.”

“I received all of this today. Nothing is spoiled, and it tastes good. You can’t find a missed meal again.”

‘You need to take good care of your health. Aren’t you still young?’ ‘Are you hurt anywhere on the battlefield?’

He put tea leaves in the kettle and spoke energetically.

Modest realized for the first time that he was weak against the bombardment of questions from elders.

This didn’t happen during operational meetings, so it was strange.

Time flew by like an arrow.

When he came to his senses, he had already given all the answers without exception.

‘His Highness the Crown Prince is safe. Why are you curious about that?’

‘Lord Rambuillet went to the sea. I heard he was famous even in the Holy Kingdom, and it was true.’

‘Serenite is one of the farthest imperial territories from here. How could it be dangerous?’

‘Stop asking questions. I’m not a combat mage, so I’m fine.’

“Should I put milk in your tea too?”

“······Not bad.”

The prophet mumbled.

The dried raspberries were refreshing and had a good chew, and the oliebollen that the villagers had fried for the imperial army were also edible.

Perhaps they were better than the commanders’ meals.

“Make sure to eat lunch too. You need to have strength.”

“I know.”

“Thank you for calling me today.”

“You came to be interrogated, but you’re saying that? You have a strange personality.”

Then the man smiled brightly.

The hands that stirred the teacup and prepared the honey were only gentle.

Modest picked up the bread and stared at him blankly.

This guy had become an obstacle to his 예지 [precognition].

Even if he wasn’t an 악인 [villain] or a 세작 [spy], he was definitely a hindrance.

So, he had to be removed, and to do that, it was right to banish him far away to somewhere in the empire.

That was absolutely necessary for Liester’s effortless victory.

“······.”

“How’s the bread? Actually, I helped with the dough from dawn.”

“What. It’s not inedible.”

But the bread was sweet.

From the dry and humble food, he tasted something he hadn’t felt in a long time.

“That’s a relief. There’s a child named Kun in the village, and that kid delivers bread to the soldiers every morning. I don’t know how kind that little guy is. I told him not to because the basket was heavy, but······.”

So, he couldn’t say it outright. That you will soon be kicked out of the military camp.

*

On the same day, the inland basin of the Fenetian Holy Kingdom. The Sneider Duchy.

“Prepare to fire!”

-Clack, clack! Clack!

“Fire!”

Roar! Soldiers in armor took their positions in an orderly manner like sculptures.

Today was not a real battle, so 성석 [holy stone] shells were not being fired.

Nevertheless, the military discipline was taut.

Even the soldiers fighting in the lowest positions had eyes that were prepared for death.

The commanders were also fiercely raising their spirits.

Most were 대주교 [archbishop]-level holy knights, and three of the six cardinal-level holy knights on the continent were gathered here.

There were five hundred knights and three thousand skilled soldiers.

It was a large-scale base that needed no explanation.

“Reload!”

“Hut!”

-Clack! Clack!

“Prepare to fire! Fire!”

Crash! Elissa Fenetian was at the forefront of them.

Even in the hot summer sun, the crown princess stood without shedding a single drop of sweat.

She didn’t need shade or wind. Her hair, like a part of Venus, emitted a fierce light.

The air-attribute cardinal who guarded her side shouted loudly.

“Trossart Mountain is located far away! Can you see the red peak beyond the clouds!”

“Yes!”

Thousands of thunderous shouts returned. It was a spirit that would shake the fields and reach the mountains.

The holy knight continued his lion’s roar without hesitation.

“The Crown Prince is coming over that place! Do you understand!”

“Yes!”

“That man is neither a Sword Master nor a Cardinal! He is just a 마검사 [magic swordsman]!”

“Yes!”

“Don’t be afraid! A holy knight who has lost his partner is powerless!”

“Waaaaa!”

The soldiers shook their swords and spears and shouted.

Elissa gritted her teeth and clenched her fist tightly.

Her palms, covered in leather and metal, heated up relentlessly.

But her expression was as cold as ice. She couldn’t show any signs right now.

She had to endure even though her younger sibling died miserably, and that child was being treated so lightly because he was a bastard.

For the same reason, she also dissuaded Martier from running all the way here from the capital.

The priest had to stay by his mother’s side in case of an emergency.

No one should leave their place.

At least not now. Not now.

“You all must have heard the joyous news! Princess Cornelise has awakened as a holy knight!”

“Waaaaa!”

“On that very day, the hole in the sky closed!”

“Waaaaa―!”

“This is the grace that 주신 [chief god] has bestowed upon us!”

“Long live the princess! Long live! Long live!”

The army’s morale soared. Elissa knew that this was a thoroughly fabricated rumor.

Cornelise had awakened as a water-attribute holy knight much earlier than that.

However, the royal advisory nobles all advised that the announcement should be postponed.

They believed that the ‘효용 [effectiveness/utility]’ of this celebration should be maximized at the most appropriate moment.

“주신 [chief god] has ordered us to avenge 국서 [father-in-law of the nation, referring to the deceased king]!”

“Aaaaa!”

“He constantly gives us divine weapons and endlessly cherishes our 신국 [holy nation]!”

“Long live the Fenetian Holy Kingdom! Long live! Long live!”

······Indeed, their judgment was correct.

Even though there was a disaster of a giant sword pouring down from the sky, the people of the capital shed tears, enthusiastic about the princess’s awakening.

A consensus was formed that the past calamity was a ‘test of 주신 [chief god].’

It was a public opinion battle that Elissa wouldn’t have been surprised by normally.

She was always busy taking care of national defense, and that was the crown princess’s main job.

But now she knew exactly who was behind all of that.

The countless 정국 [political situations] that had touched her life until now slowly rewound in her head.

It was chilling.

Everything was the achievements of that person.

“I’m sure you miss the princess.”

Wilhelmina Sneider.

A 은근하고 자애로운 [subtle and benevolent] noble with a common appearance that could be seen anywhere.

A politician respected for her humble attitude and utmost impartiality.

“······Yes.”

“The congratulatory letter for her birthday must have arrived safely.”

“It must be thanks to your efforts. Thank you.”

Elissa replied bluntly. Wilhelmina bowed with an elegant smile.

She was a person who willingly opened the gates of her territory for the defense of the 신국 [holy nation], opened the granary of the 영주성 [lord’s castle], and offered her private soldiers.

She was also a patriot who trained the 신국 [holy nation] army with her own money.

For four months, she ate the same meals as the people of her territory and saved money, and during that time, she didn’t collect a single penny of taxes.

At the same time······.

“Come to think of it, I don’t see the crown princess’s attendant.”

“······.”

Using her dissolute and vicious younger brother as a smokescreen, she was the one who quietly conquered the 신국 [holy nation] from behind the curtain.

She was the idol of a perfect crime that left no witnesses or traces.

“Was it Janin? He seemed loyal to Your Highness, so I remembered him.”

Elissa suppressed her eyes, which were burning hotly. She tasted a bitter metallic taste in her mouth.

It felt like flames would burst out if she parted her lips like this. But she had to endure.

“······He was passing my information to the empire.”

So, she answered like that.

“I executed him at the border.”

Because it wasn’t time yet.