What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 330

#330

Each One’s Great Adventure (8)

A pair of stars piercing the night watched me, spitting sparks.

“······.”

Kwaaaang! Kaaang! Ssaaaaa······! The ear-splitting crash and the sound of rain faded far beyond the Milky Way.

I just felt dazed.

The Crown Prince and I stood motionless, separated by a single window.

His whole body steamed with intense heat.

The golden sanctuary shielded the man with dazzling light.

-Saaaa······

It didn’t feel real.

“No······.”

It was hard to form a proper sentence. I was slow to grasp the situation due to excessive confusion.

My pale head quickly filled with orange question marks. Why did you come all the way here?

What about your guards? You’re alone? You have a legion to be responsible for.

You could have sent reinforcements. Why is a guy who received a good education being so reckless?

As my thoughts flowed there, the damp bandage on his right arm caught my eye.

“Ah!”

Only then did I gasp and return to reality.

‘Kruooooh―!’ The roar of the demon mercilessly struck my eardrums and shook the heavens and the earth.

Regardless, I opened the carriage door and stepped out.

Click! Swaaaaa― Cold summer rain instantly soaked my shoulders.

‘Volunteer!’ I heard the soldiers’ desperate voices from inside.

Since they were all lying down, they hadn’t noticed the Crown Prince outside.

I hurriedly approached him and checked his condition. Fortunately, there was no blood visible from his wound.

His white shirt clung to his body like melted sugar.

“Your Highness.”

His eyes wavered at my call.

Only a beat later did I realize I hadn’t used ‘Your Highness’! Jeong Ye-seo!

-Purung!

Oh my!

-Pururung

“Charles!”

I was shocked to see the black horse standing a little away from the Crown Prince.

Soaked to the bone, Charlemagne shook his head.

His body was also emitting white steam.

He didn’t seem too tired, but I was worried about him being exposed to the rain.

I felt a surge of emotion and turned my head. How could you mistreat a friend like this!

“······It was you.”

The man whose eyes met mine reached out his hand. I froze in place.

As he released red mana, the crystal bell I was holding became silent as if by magic.

To be honest, I had even forgotten that the bell was ringing.

Goosebumps rose all over my body, and the air felt too cold. I blinked.

‘It was you.’

“······.”

I couldn’t possibly not know what that meant.

-Kkirururu! Keuroaaaa―!

“Why didn’t you say so?”

Splash. Water dripped from the hand gripping the Hyegeom [sacred sword].

Cheeeee······. The sacred fire blooming at the tip of the sword was resisting the rain with all its might, but it was clear that the consumption of Ether [magical energy] would be extreme.

He wasn’t in good condition on rainy days anyway.

My heart ached, my thoughts tangled, and my overloaded head felt like it was about to explode.

As if he didn’t like seeing me hesitating, Charles nudged me with his nose.

I staggered forward. Okay, okay. There’s nowhere to run now.

I bit my trembling lip hard once.

“······I’m sorry.”

“······.”

“I thought it would raise suspicion. It’s not that I didn’t trust you, Your Highness, but I······. It’s my problem.”

‘Because I deceived you for a year.’ The addition was small but definitely spoken.

Then, an even heavier sense of guilt sank like an anchor. My gaze fell weakly.

The black horse, sensing my anxiety, brushed against my back.

With that warmth, I was barely able to form a sentence again.

“······.”

“It may seem pathetic, but I was scared. I look completely different, and when I first came back, I didn’t have any Ether······. As you can see, I’m not someone like a prince of a country. My eyes are originally brown too. Just a common―”

-Kwaaaang!

My heart almost dropped! I jumped up from my seat and looked up at the carriage roof.

A demon with a house-sized head was crushing the dome of the sanctuary with its mineral-hard beak.

Like a beast driven mad by the desire to crack walnuts or oysters.

Kwang! Kuwoong! As the circle, unable to withstand the impact, shook, the carriage also vibrated precariously.

‘Ughaaaa······!’ Groans poured out from the soldiers inside the carriage.

Without thinking further, I quickly opened the door and jumped in.

“Ugh······.”

“Gasp.”

I saw blood!

“What’s wrong? Did the wound burst open?”

I crawled towards the injured soldier.

The others generally seemed okay, and the roof of the ambulance wasn’t leaking.

A knight with a flushed face smiled at me.

Blood was flowing from the bandaged head.

Colleagues were trying to stop the bleeding next to her, but it didn’t seem to be stopping quickly.

“I’m okay, Priest. I just bumped my head on the floor······. It’s not serious······. Just a little dizzy······.”

“Don’t get up, Knight.”

“But······.”

I dissuaded her to the end and rummaged through the straw bag.

Meanwhile, the Ark gently swept over the patients with its wings.

A priest cannot perform dual eruptions [simultaneously cast two spells].

It is theoretically possible, but in reality, not even the Pope has ever succeeded.

So, I couldn’t use healing powers while keeping the sanctuary open.

My expression crumpled in frustration and desperation. Please, please, please······.

“Found it!”

In the corner of the torn bag, I found a bundle of medicine I received when boarding the carriage. Thank you!

“This is a hemostatic agent, but the medicine is strong. It won’t be good on an empty stomach. Please give them a cookie first. Here it is.”

“Yes, Priest. I will.”

I handed over a crumpled bag of cookies. Nearby soldiers covered me with a blanket.

Thank you.

“But outside······.”

“Crown Prince Cedric is here.”

I answered immediately. Everyone’s eyes widened.

“Pardon?”

“Good heavens!”

Shock, joy, gratitude, and fear spread inside the carriage.

The surprise that such a precious person had come all the way here, the joy that they hadn’t been abandoned.

The gratitude for his direct visit. The fear that something might happen to him.

It was both excessive hope and worry for those who were already weak.

But it was a part that couldn’t be kept secret.

Wiping away the spilled water, I quickly retreated towards the door.

“Volunteer?”

“Everyone, please take care of yourselves and hold on. Even if there’s a loud noise outside or something explodes, don’t worry too much. I’ll take care of everything and see you later!”

······Was that too much like a death flag?

I belatedly had that thought, but it was too late to take it back, so I quickly got out of the carriage.

I made sure to close the door tightly so that the rain wouldn’t get in.

I brought out the fluffiest and largest towel I could find, but the Crown Prince was nowhere to be seen.

First, I brought Charles, who was getting rained on, under a low roof, wiped him with my blanket, and covered him with the remaining waterproof cloth.

I don’t know how effective it will be, but―

-Ssaeeeeek!

-Kwaaaang!

“Euheok!”

I screamed and covered my head. Wow, it sounded like a jet plane!

-Kkirurururu―!

Flap! Flap! To exaggerate a bit, a demon as big as the Romero Palace flapped its wings and cried.

Sarr, sarrrr······! The trees around the wide dirt road bent over as if they were about to break.

Anyone would think the demon was controlling the air.

I squinted between my arms.

Whirr! I saw a fan-shaped flame spreading through the rain. Oh my―

-Peok!

“Kut!”

Then, black hair bounced out like a bullet. I was so surprised that the area under my eyes trembled.

-Kwaaang!

“Your Highness!”

I screamed and ran out.

It was terrible, the fact that he had been thrown down so hard that the ground was dented.

Fortunately, he fell within my sanctuary.

“What to do······.”

I carefully laid the pale man down on his back.

Tung, my shoulder flinched at the sound of the Hyegeom rolling on the floor.

His already heavy body drooping was terrifying.

A faint spark flickered in his crimson eyes. He was still thinking of fighting, no matter who looked at him.

Crazy bastard!

“No, this won’t do. Get in the carriage right now. Just hold on until reinforcements arrive. I can do it.”

“······Eut.”

“If it’s hard to move, I’ll give you Ether first.”

I tried to stay as calm as possible. I deliberately talked a lot.

If I didn’t, it felt like I couldn’t keep my sanity.

Too many situations were happening at once, and it would be a disaster if I faltered at this time.

After checking the demon slowly circling above the carriage, I swept back my wet hair and took a deep breath.

I have to act mature. I’m the older one.

-Paaaaaa······!

Streams of golden Ether gushed out like fountains from all over.

I imagined a certain image in my mind.

The raindrops falling right in front of me seemed to be moving very slowly.

Closing my eyes and recalling my teacher’s voice, my soul seemed to become calmer.

‘The most important thing for a paladin is not Ether or divine power, but imagination. But that applies to priests as well, doesn’t it?’

That’s right. I imagined the warmest and fluffiest shape possible.

I imagined a soft, long, and wide Ether cloth wrapping around the Crown Prince like a hotel towel.

You’re okay now. Really.

‘Thud.’

“······Huh?”

The path was blocked. My eyes widened.

I wondered what was going on. My Ether couldn’t reach him at all.

His soul, his vessel, was completely rejecting me.

With a sinking heart, I looked down at the Crown Prince.

The man was staring blankly into the air with a blank expression.

His eyebrows were moving, so he was clearly conscious. But why isn’t he accepting it?

“Your Highness. Please open the door. He’ll be back soon.”

“······.”

“Just hang in there a little longer. I know you’re very tired. But if your Ether is depleted here―”

Eyes filled with daylight revolved towards me.

“Are you thinking of leaving again?”

“······.”

It felt like my throat was blocked, even though I hadn’t been grabbed by the collar.

The man supported himself on the ground with his fist and slowly raised his upper body.

His arms, with bulging veins, were covered in wounds.

His white shirt was stained with mud and blood.

My eyes widened as I was defenselessly exposed to the next sentence.

“I wonder if you plan to abandon this place again.”

“······.”

That was unfair. I never abandoned it. I didn’t want to do that.

“You know that’s not true.”

I decided not to just think it in my head.

Now that my identity was revealed, I didn’t want to shrink back any further.

Jeong Eun-seo said that conversations between characters are important.

“I didn’t want to die. I didn’t leave because I wanted to.”

“······.”

“That’s why I came back. I feel guilty for causing such pain, and I wanted to apologize. We’re still―”

-Pueoong―!

Flinch. I heard a sonic boom from the sky.

I stood up from my seat, startled, and tilted my head back.

A demon several times larger than the Tyrant Dragon was endlessly moving away towards the vertical constellation.

Opening my mouth in bewilderment, cool rainwater poured in.

What is it? Where is it going? There are three relics here, but suddenly it’s high-altitude flying?

“Then prove it.”

“Yes?”

Wiping my face, I turned around.

The Crown Prince, who had slowly risen, was returning to his original height.

His imposing physique was still the same.

“If you didn’t betray me, and if you have no intention of doing so in the future.”

“······.”

“Perhaps you may rest in the Imperial lands in the future.”

The sunlight gaze burned as if it would completely scorch me.

At first glance, he seemed angry, but on closer inspection, that wasn’t his expression at all.

That was the intense competitive spirit he showed when hunting demons or sparring with Christel.

For some reason, I had a creepy feeling, as if I had become the prey.

I was about to ask what he meant and why he was suddenly talking about burial, but―

-Jeobeok

The man took a step closer,

-Chalpak!

“What, why are you doing this.”

He knelt down on one knee in front of me. Before I knew it, the rain was falling endlessly.

I wandered around alone in the drizzle.

Going forward and backward, it was like a siren going off.

Meanwhile, the chimera demon that had moved far into the sky flickered as if it could be seen.

I was so dumbfounded in many ways that I didn’t know what to do. The situation is urgent, but what are you really doing!

“Look, I was wrong. I mean it. You don’t have to do this, Your Highness. The floor is cold, and it’ll be a headache if you catch a summer cold······.”

At that moment, his white chin lifted, and his deep gaze aimed at me.

The stranded voice sank below my throat.

Surrounded by golden mist and Ether, he looked terribly sacred.

[The grandson of the Great Liester Empire and the son of Frederick Liester.]

No, no way. Hey. No······.

[In the name of Cedric Mercedes Liester, I ask you for a sacred oath.]

-Kuoong!

At that moment, a noise like something exploding echoed from the top of the celestial palace.

I glanced at the Crown Prince in front of me and busily looked up.

The flying beast, which had clearly disappeared as a dot in the darkness, was rapidly increasing in size.

The beak, resembling metal, reflected the moonlight and flashed.

Goosebumps rose in real time from the instep of my foot. My hands and feet froze as if the cold of winter had struck.

That, that guy, surely―

“Your Highness, this is not the time for this. That guy is diving down at full speed!”

[You will become my guardian saint, and I will walk the same path as your soul infinitely.]

Inma [exclamation]! I know you’re in a hurry, but let’s live first!

“I can’t do it now! I don’t even have tulips, what can I do! Get up quickly!”

“······A myth-class demon cannot be faced alone.”

In the end, the Crown Prince frowned and snapped. What?

“Myth-class?”

Are you telling me that now?

“The Hyegeom alone is not enough. We need the vessel of a cardinal [high-ranking priest].”

“Crazy.”

I stamped my feet and looked back and forth between the demon, the carriage, and the Crown Prince.

He was right.

According to Toegye Gong’s official setting, you need to bring at least a cardinal to face a myth-class demon.

But why is that popping up at this point!

“If we make a sacred oath, we can exert power equivalent to that.”

······In short, he means that he will combine his vessel with my vessel, infinitely refill Ether, and match that guy.

He’s logical in the meantime?

“No, it’s okay. I’ll try to hold on with all my strength, so please go into the carriage right now, Your Highness. Hurry!”

“No.”

Agh! I finally clenched Ether in both fists and stood back to back with him.

The guy who was standing stiffly as if he had never knelt was dumbfounded.

But right now, survival was more urgent than a sacred oath.

I gritted my teeth and glared at the sky, which had stopped raining, and cheered inwardly.

I can do it.

-Ssaeeeeek!

“It’s coming. Jeong Dook-sim! Hang in there!”

Then, a terrifying bombardment covered the ground. Kwaaaang―!