What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 335

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

Of course, I was reading it so frantically that I didn’t have time to feel any emotion or enjoyment.

I was engrossed in reading Marquis 퇴계 [pronounced Toegye, likely a reference to a Joseon-era Korean scholar and philosopher] solely for study, and I even took notes from time to time.

In those few days, my reading was constantly interrupted by work and household chores.

But why am I suddenly talking about a ‘good novel’?

Well, because I don’t think there’s a more educational story than this.

“Haa…”

A masterpiece that constantly reminds me that I am absolutely not the center of the world, so I should always check my self-awareness, and that life is never easy.

That’s Marquis 퇴계.

I sighed and looked out the window at the passing yellow scenery.

I’ve gained some very new lessons in the past few days.

Whether this world line depends on me or not, things don’t go my way here.

Absolutely.

“Giddy up!”

-Clack, clack, clack…

“Marquis, please have some of this.”

“…Thank you.”

I forced a smile and accepted the two crackers Benjamin offered.

The travel snack with sliced 숌 [pronounced Shom, likely a type of cheese] cheese contained a warm heart.

The middle-aged man had been very enthusiastic about feeding me for the past few days.

Even though it was the first time he’d seen my face, he even said, ‘You seem to have lost weight.’

As I crunched on the cracker, 티테 [Tite, a small animal companion] fluttered its wings, looking satisfied as it folded its eyes.

-Awoo woong

-삐이! [Ppii!, likely an onomatopoeia for a bird’s chirp]

Okay, as long as you guys are happy… This is delicious too.

“The message should have arrived to His Majesty by now. He will be very happy to see you, Marquis.”

Sir 요한 [Yohan] said in an indifferent voice from the next seat.

He was skillfully holding the sleeping 페리 [Peri, a small animal companion] while reading a small book with his other hand.

. I glared at the man without making it obvious.

…Let’s go back three days. Let’s go together, even if I don’t want to.

‘Are you the same person I know?’

‘…I’m sorry for deceiving you.’

After leaving the tent that day, the first person I met was Modest 바카리 [Bakari].

He had rushed to the temporary camp on horseback after hearing the Crown Prince’s announcement (I still don’t know the exact details).

He was so hurried that he didn’t have his magic tool glasses on his nose, and his 청은색 [Cheongeunsaek, a bluish-silver color] eyes were trembling like exploding stars.

His outer robe was crumpled and dirty with mud.

I quickly took out a handkerchief and dusted off his robe.

The prophet covered his face with trembling hands.

‘Good heavens…’

‘I’m really sorry for surprising you. I thought it would be hard to believe…’

I tried hard to soothe the horrified teenager. He staggered, saying, ‘I knew it, I knew it.’

I took him to the assigned barracks and served him warm tea.

The rain started to fall, making the atmosphere even more gloomy.

No, was it really?

-Taang!

‘I thought the future was not visible when you were around.’

The teenager, who emptied his teacup like a liquor glass, started to act up.

I repeatedly checked if what I poured was really tea, and nodded like a guilty person (lying is a sin).

‘I’m sorry.’

‘There can’t be two people like that in the world, I was foolish… How could 주신 [Jushin, likely a deity] pull off such a trick…’

‘I’m sorry for causing you trouble, Mr. 바카리. But… Uh?’

I was startled and stood up from my seat. The little guy in front of me started to shed tears!

‘Oh my, why are you crying? I’m the one who did wrong, why are you crying?’

‘…’

‘Sir 요한! I’m sorry, but could you please bring some bread?’

I hurriedly looked for the holy knight in charge of guarding.

He seemed to have grasped the situation roughly, and without asking any further questions, he delivered a basket of freshly baked bread.

In the meantime, the prophet cried silently.

Without frowning, without sniffing, just shedding tears with his mouth tightly shut.

Watching him made my heart ache and feel guilty.

It’s not that I left this place because of my fault, but as a result, I hurt him.

This child, and my other friends too.

‘…You said you came from another world.’

Mr. 바카리 opened his mouth after a long time of extracting moisture.

He seemed used to this kind of crying, as his voice was barely hoarse.

I borrowed Sir 요한’s handkerchief and handed it to the little guy.

I made him hold a glass of water in his other hand.

The twenty-one-year-old with reddened eyes now looked about seventeen.

‘Yes. That’s how I can explain it.’

‘Then, is the Marquis 주신’s representative? A noble sent to us by God?’

I was speechless at that question.

Mysterious eyes were sparkling as if exploring the truth.

I couldn’t answer for a while and hesitated.

That was a question I had also wondered about.

So I went home and dug into Marquis 퇴계.

I desperately scraped together any clues about ‘주신ism’ and tried to match them with what I knew.

But I couldn’t solve that setting with effort alone.

주신ism did not have complex philosophies or concepts like real-world religions.

No matter how I looked at it, it was a kind of primitive religion that worshiped the creator god ‘주신’, especially a form close to shamanism.

Of course, there was a plausible religious order, and there were scriptures and commentaries.

I even experienced and read it directly for a year. But…

‘Hmm.’

The words were old, but the content itself was not difficult.

Interpreting various myths and legends, it was generally about this.

‘Have courage and do good deeds.’ ‘Always be faithful to your life under 주신’s gaze.’

‘Then 주신 will bestow grace upon you.’

‘All your time will have precious value.’

Besides, various mysteries that could be glossed over as ‘주신’s will’.

‘…I don’t know.’

I finally confessed honestly.

I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was deeply involved in the birth of this world line to say no.

But it was hard to guess 주신’s intentions to say yes.

Then Mr. 바카리’s eyes sharpened.

‘Do you know that the Marquis’s return is the first miracle of the resurrection of the dead in the continent’s two thousand year history?’

‘I’m sorry, but I haven’t thought about it that extremely.’

I replied calmly. Why are you suddenly talking so scary?

‘Leave for the rear immediately and ensure your safety.’

‘Yes?’

My eyes widened.

Actually, I was thinking of asking Mr. 바카리 for help when the atmosphere eased, but the situation was flowing in the opposite direction.

The prophet frowned as if he was sulking. The tip of his nose was red.

‘This is not a matter of whether or not a revelation is visible. The front line is too dangerous. Liester cannot lose the Marquis twice. But if 페네티안 [Fenetian, likely a rival faction or nation] knows this fact, they will plot the Marquis’s second death. Wouldn’t it be bad for them if the Imperial Army’s morale rises?’

‘…’

‘It is advisable to ask His Majesty for his well-being and answer his due questions, and then decide on your future course of action.’

‘…’

‘Even if you came from another world, you are His Majesty’s subject on the continent. Moreover, this is not the Marquis’s territory and it is wartime. Surely you were not trying to act independently?’

He scolded me like an adult. He was indeed an advisor to the Emperor.

There was no fact bomber like him, so I couldn’t refute anything and just offered him bread.

When I politely offered him apricot jam, the teenager ate it deliciously.

-Kkia!

Oops.

“Oh, do you want peaches? I’ll cut them for you.”

-Kurreureu

I suddenly woke up from my thoughts and made eye contact with the divine beast.

데미 [Demi, a small animal companion] was running around the carriage floor, acting spoiled.

There were a few more episodes after that, but anyway, the conclusion is…

-Clack, clack, clack…

“Cough! Keuheung.”

Benjamin, Sir 요한, 산트 [Sant], and I came out to the desert side by side.

뚝심이 [Ddukssim, a horse] and the 애물단지 [Aemuldanji, a precious but troublesome object, referring to someone] were also with us. I smiled slightly as I watched the snoring priest.

The sweet scent of summer fruit came from my fingertips.

…I hope the Crown Prince’s party at the front is safe.

“Let’s go meet our friends.”

-Kieung!

Yes. Maybe there is a clue to end the war in the Imperial territory.

*

Regarding ‘the few episodes after that’, Cardinal 요한 헤인스 [Yohan Haynes] also has something to say.

In the man’s eyes, his lord was truly an angelic simpleton.

‘Oops! Suddenly my body? Doesn’t seem to be feeling well? Was I too tired?’

‘…’

‘What should I do? This is a big problem. It will be difficult to leave today.’

The holy knight swallowed a sigh as he watched 예서 [Yesuh, the protagonist] suddenly feigning illness.

In his estimation, his acting skills were similar to those of Elizabeth 무테 [Mute], but the person himself didn’t seem to think so.

The guilt of lying was clearly revealed, but he kept coming out shamelessly.

‘Achoo.’

He sprawled on the bed with the holy stone in his hand, and the divine beasts jumped in as if they had been waiting.

‘Kieing!’ ‘Kieung!’ It seemed like they thought it was a new game since a perfectly healthy person suddenly lay down.

When 레아 [Rea, a small animal companion] jumped on his stomach, the Marquis fluttered violently.

‘Keok, I’m really going to get sick!’

-Kieung?

The divine beast tilted its tail. The Marquis hurriedly looked at the holy knight.

‘No. I’m already sick. So a deeper… A more serious illness may occur thanks to our 레아. 형 [Hyung, older brother, used affectionately] is hurting now.’

-Kieu?

‘…Sorry, sorry! I made a bad joke. There will never be a time when I’ll be sick because of 레아. You can play more. 형 was too wrong. I’ll reflect on it.’

He made a transparent lie to fix it, and then turned pale at the thought that it might hurt them.

요한 tilted his head as he watched the master coaxing the divine beast.

레아 wagged its ears excitedly.

He couldn’t believe that he had been pretending to be someone else while not hiding those actions until now.

Even if there was no 에테르 [Ether, magical energy], it would have been difficult not to know.

His voice and tone were the same, and his gestures, attitude, and even minor habits were the same.

The speed at which he blinked and how easily he was surprised were also the same. Besides, he ate surprisingly well.

It would have been difficult to think of him as someone else when he ate so much.

요한 opened his mouth slowly.

‘I’ll tell Crown Prince 전하 [Jeonha, Your Highness] to let you rest for a day since you must have been surprised by the demon beasts. You also got a lot of rain.’

‘Jackpot. Thank you!’

‘But we must leave tomorrow.’

He spoke sternly, but the priest only smiled brightly, thinking it was acting.

He seemed to believe he had bought time.

It was a delusion. 요한 had no time at all.

‘Your Highness, listen to me.’

The next day, the Marquis began to appeal in earnest why he should stay at the front.

At the same time, he filled the holy stone from time to time and replenished his disciple’s 에테르.

He volunteered at the relief center and took care of the black horse 샤를마뉴 [Sharlemagne]’s snacks and health.

If necessary, he used his healing power without hesitation even on the dirt floor.

Even though he had regained his former status, he continued to associate with those of low status.

Even though he was no longer wearing commoner’s clothes, he volunteered to get dirty.

He was burdened by the pouring gaze, but he went wherever he was needed.

As always.

‘I heard that an urgent report came to His Majesty. The demon beast that entered the Trossart Dungeon evolves and comes out. I know about this place.’

‘…’

‘This is a special space called a ‘Reverse Dungeon’. I don’t know how many more there are on the continent, but there is no way to prevent the appearance of demon beasts except to completely close it. So, if I set up a strategy and help Crown Prince 전하’s command—’

‘You’re going to block it with that golem.’

The Crown Prince in armor sat in the middle of the sanctuary and replied lazily.

He was devouring his partner’s 에테르 for the first time in five months.

His eyes were half-closed, but his ferocious momentum was still there.

Then the purple eyes widened.

When he used 에테르, his iris color changed and looked excessively sacred.

‘How did you know? Isn’t this a very ignorant method?’

‘…’

‘…I thought it was my own idea. That’s a shame.’

When the Marquis drooped his shoulders, the wren also tilted its tail feathers.

But he didn’t give up easily.

‘The residents of Honing Village here saved me. They fed me, gave me a place to sleep, and clothed me… I owe them a lot. If only those people want it, I want to bring them to my territory. Prepare calmly,’

‘Discuss it after the war. Now is not the time to move a large number of civilians.’

The Crown Prince resembled his mother in that he was quick and decisive.

The Marquis bit his lip and raised his hand to speak.

‘There’s more. We knocked down a house-sized rainwater reservoir to ambush Trossart Viscount last time. It seems like we can use it in a useful way. In my opinion,’

‘It’s already being used as a prisoner-of-war camp, so forget it.’

‘Hya… Amazing.’

The priest was genuinely impressed. And then he raised his hand again brightly.

‘It was your birthday the day before yesterday. Having a friend will be a comfort in the harsh battlefield. Also, even if I can’t jump into the front lines, I’m not bad as a healing priest. I can also receive the confessions of knights and soldiers,’

‘There are enough necessary personnel. Return to the palace.’

‘A real iron wall…’

He sighed for a long time and patted the whining 티테.

요한 judged that this was enough.

‘Marquis.’

‘Yes, Sir 요한.’

So he ignored the fact that his lord was looking back at him with hopeful eyes.

‘His Highness 오렐리 [Orelli] will be waiting.’

‘…’

His eyes trembled greatly.

In fact, the cardinal had no intention of shaking him.

It was enough for others to gain his master’s various emotions or to make him act.

요한 had no intention of becoming an obstacle to 예서 페네티안—or ‘정예서’ [Jeong Yesuh, the protagonist’s original name]—for the rest of his life.

He does not reveal his emotions because he does not expect my agitation.

He does not show loopholes because he does not prepare for my mistakes.

The feeling that 에테르 is slightly lacking gives a familiar tension.

So 산트’s power is enough. He only focuses on protecting his lord’s peace.

He does not do anything that breaks the routine.

But that day was different. 요한 pushed his master with a smiling face.

‘Little Duke 블랑케르 [Blanquer], 헤릿 [Herit], and the Imperial Palace family are also there. The news will probably reach the 뒤엠 [Dwiem] Marquis family first. It’s good to see you working hard at the front for the victory, but wouldn’t those people also need comfort and warmth?’

‘…’

‘You can be helpful even in a safe place. This place is dangerous, and if the Marquis is here, it will interfere with Commander 바카리’s work. Do you want that?’

He poured out gentle and fierce sentences like a breath. The blessed gaze fell weakly.

His disciple frowned and glared at me fiercely.

He knew better than anyone that it was an unnecessary stimulus.

But at the same time, it was necessary.

‘…No. I will return to the Imperial Palace.’

‘…’

‘Instead, I will leave tomorrow. The healing priests’ fatigue is accumulating. I will only help those people, say hello to the residents, and then go.’

‘…Do as you wish.’

The Crown Prince allowed quietly. And avoiding his priest’s eyes, he glared at his teacher again.

요한 replied with a soft smile.

He already knew that his and my methods were different.