What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 353

#353

The Crown Prince, the Saintess, and the Wardrobe (3)

A beautiful face instantly contorted.

-Thud, patter! Tap!

A few more drops of water fell from the sky. Cedric reflexively wiped his cheek.

He only wanted rain, not water of opposing elements.

Among all things, skin contact was the most detestable and unpleasant.

Thanks to that, the heat in his body quickly subsided, and as a result, the emotions he felt converged to zero.

As his vision cleared, a hopeful thought arose. It wasn’t a mistake.

What he was touching now was definitely the Ether he knew.

There’s no way.

“There! Your Highness, reinforcements are coming!”

“Waaaaah… …!”

Marguerite and the soldiers’ shouts mixed together. Cedric flinched and turned his gaze.

‘Thud, patter! Swish―!’ As if signaled by him, sleet began to pour from the night sky.

‘Swish… …!’ Pure white frost spread like paint across the battered and burned field.

It was a weather change hard to believe for early September.

Even in a situation where his vessel was under extreme pressure, the Crown Prince realized that this was not a phenomenon like ‘abnormal climate’.

This was also a feat that a single Paladin could not perform.

‘Tss… …’ The Holy Sword, soaked in Holy Water, emitted a jet-black light and briefly cooled down.

The Divine Kingdom forces also seemed greatly embarrassed.

The torches of allied forces surging like a tidal wave from the direction of the canyon were visible.

“Uwaaaaa!”

“Long live Liester! Long live His Majesty the Emperor!”

“Victory! Victory! Victory!”

-Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!

The earth-shattering shouts and the sound of horses’ hooves. The sound of military boots and valiant drumbeats cutting through the harsh weather.

The sharp noise of weaponry crying out for revenge.

The flag of the Great Liester Empire was flying high.

The leaders leading thousands of troops at the front came into view.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

“You villains! The war will end here!”

At the center of it, a swordsman on a brown Thoroughbred roared, brandishing a greatsword.

Cedric recognized her at once amidst the scattered eyes and rain.

A dazzling aura like a supernova formed at the end of the thick blade. ‘Ooooooong―!’

“How dare you insult the Empire!”

The Swordmaster of the border, Baroness Caroline Mute.

“… …It’s a Swordmaster! Inform the Princess! Immediately!”

“Send word to Duke Sneider immediately!”

“The Cardinal must come! Hurry!”

A few Divine Kingdom knights, their faces pale, rode off at full speed.

‘Swish, swish, sweesh―!’ At the same time, a rain of arrows poured from the rear of the Imperial army.

‘Thud, thud! Thwack!’ Some of those who were swiftly heading to the camp fell like fallen leaves.

The war situation was slowly tilting to one side.

Cedric reached out his arm amidst the randomly bursting commotion and shouts.

It was to not neglect the attack.

Crimson mana spewed from the man’s fingertips. ‘Swish!’

-Paaaaah!

At the same time, a woman beside Caroline raised her staff.

Not only the path of the reinforcements but the entire field was lit up as bright as day.

‘Ugh!’, ‘Agh, my eyes hurt!’ The Divine Kingdom forces, exposed to a truly enormous amount of light, staggered.

The Imperial soldiers were also taken aback, but the knights, who were well aware of the mage’s specialty, quickly regained their composure.

‘It’s our side’s magic! Don’t be surprised!’, ‘Stay calm! Get a hold of yourselves!’ The commanders encouraged their subordinates with a clatter.

Cedric pulled out a dagger from his saddlebag and threw it, deflecting the enemy’s arrowheads.

He also used his magic to control metal, lifting one of the knights in his armor and throwing him away.

And he quickly identified her.

The Master of the Eastern Magic Tower, 8th Circle Mage Duchess Cecil Blancair. Next to her―

-Clang! Clang, clang! Thwack!

“Guh, Haaack!”

Wielding a very familiar rapier and main gauche [a thin parrying dagger]… …

“Where do you think you’re going!”

-Swoosh!

“Keuh! Kehaaack!”

Elizabeth? Cedric narrowed his brow, doubting his eyes.

She had clearly participated in the war under the pretext of escorting her mother, and her name was not on the list of reinforcements.

Why she was here, how the main camp was doing, numerous questions flashed through his mind in an instant.

Even amidst this, the Crown Prince raised his palm towards the flying spear.

‘Ooooong!’ The blade stopped in mid-air, and the moment he turned it around to cut off the enemy’s breath,

“Uhaaaack! Lady Elizabeth! He won’t stop!”

A voice mixed with laughter and embarrassment echoed.

It was a clear voice that did not suit the night’s pandemonium at all.

Cedric doubted his ears this time – he was a physically healthy young man – and confronted the Fire Attribute Archbishop’s attack.

‘Whoosh!’ At the same time as the opponent shot a fire arrow, he kicked up someone’s frost-covered shield.

‘Clang!’ Fortunately, the defense was successful.

The old General Cisse Marquis wielded his sword to restrain her.

Elizabeth’s subsequent cry was heard.

“Please appease him, Sir Christel!”

… …

“The Crown seems too excited! I’m not the owner, so I can’t control him!”

Why is that person here?

“Your Highness! The Cardinals are coming!”

Cedric flinched. He belatedly readjusted the Holy Sword and mounted his saddle.

However, Charlemagne pawed his front hooves, unable to get a grip.

The light cast by mana and the darkness created by the night constantly intersected. It was a scene where the moments of soldiers who barely survived and knights who died in one blow were intertwined.

Hail the size of marbles covered the ground, falling on hot bodies and melting away.

‘Tss… …’ A hazy steam blurred the vision.

And their eyes met. It felt like the second hand was moving slowly.

“… …”

The woman, wearing a splendid crown on her head and riding a horse while wielding a whip, hardened her expression.

It was an expression not much different from the last time he saw her.

Cedric reflexively checked her side. It was the spot where he had pierced her with the Holy Sword.

For now, it didn’t seem to affect her horsemanship or combat,

“Ah! What! You’re fine!”

A tinkling, extremely angry voice pierced his ears.

Time began to flow at its normal speed again.

‘Heeheeing!’ Startled, Charles stomped his feet and crushed an enemy soldier. ‘Kuaaack!’

Cedric looked at her with slightly widened eyes. Just now―

“Charge!”

“Ether is abundant, very! It’s youth, youth!”

What?

“Iyaaaaa!”

“Some people are saving and eating even the Ether of unknown priests!”

The angry shouts echoed across the plains.

Meanwhile, the reinforcements, who had advanced to just below his chin, spread out, unleashing a great cry under the command of the Margrave.

‘Dududududu… …!’ Soldiers like a herd of water buffalo passed by Cedric and Charlemagne and rushed forward like a torrent.

The Crown Prince’s garnet-like eyes narrowed. The greetings were over.

He immediately turned his horse and ran forward.

‘Thwack!’ Christel whipped her whip, freezing the enemy’s arm and persistently following.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

“Is Prince Yeseo okay? Is he healthy and safe?!”

“More than necessary.”

-Swoosh! Puuuk!

“Kehaaack!”

“Is he pretty?!”

“Have you finally gone crazy?”

-Thud, sizzle!

“Damn it! My leg!”

“No! What I mean is, will you act the same as before even after the Prince returns! I’m curious about his face too!”

“That’s a pathetic question.”

-Ooooong, whiririk!

“Eunha! This way! The Crown Prince is here, Keheok!”

“Ugh, I should have listened to the adults! If I had just gone to the Imperial Capital, I would have seen the Prince!”

“Let’s stop this vulgar conversation.”

“You’re going to die, you!”

‘Clack, clack, clack!’ Angered, she sped up and overtook him.

Just as he was about to take offense, thinking she was talking to him, Christel threw the end of her whip at Elizabeth.

‘Whiririk, chuck!’ She grabbed the leather strap in one go and sprinted across the plains alongside her friend.

The two knights, connected by a single whip, headed at full speed towards―

-Bang!

“Keheok!”

-Crash!

It was the giant knight who was running towards them, holding a boulder the size of a small carriage.

Her scream as she was knocked over by the whip quickly faded away.

‘Clack, clack!’ Elizabeth hurriedly looked back at her childhood friend.

“Cedric! If you have something to do, do it quickly, the Cardinals are coming!”

“Princess Elysee is approaching our side!”

Christel added. Cedric quickly analyzed the situation.

First, the energy felt in the north of the field was a powerful force of earth.

Until a little while ago, it was only the Archbishop and priests, so that was evidence of Duke Judith Camingha.

Judging from the sharp sword energy being added to the air, the Margrave seemed to be facing him.

It was difficult to confirm the appearance due to the chaotic vision of darkness and white light.

In the south of the field, a fierce Ether of air attribute was felt.

It was such a fierce energy that his cheeks tingled and his body hair stood on end.

It must be Cardinal Count Arno van Roy.

A fierce mana storm was raging nearby, so it seemed that Duke Blancair was confronting him. And―

-Flash!

-Rumble, sizzle!

Through the pouring sleet, Diof’s lightning struck, and a blonde lancer was captured in the vision that had become as bright as midday.

In her hand, riding a silver horse, was a dazzling spear.

Her blue eyes were piercing, as if to penetrate the Crown Prince even from afar.

The water that soaked her armor instantly vaporized, leaving no trace, and every strand of her fluttering hair was dry.

There was a sad determination in the hand that wielded the weapon.

Like ‘that day’.

“… …”

-Whoosh! Kwaaaang!

“Cedric!”

The one leading the Divine Kingdom’s war chariot. Elysee Venetian.

“Quickly retreat our troops and clear the plains. Leave only those above 7th Circle [referring to mages of 7th Circle or higher].”

“Okay!”

Elizabeth turned quickly, her bobbed hair flying.

Following this, a resounding order spread throughout the Imperial army.

“Knights and soldiers below 7th Circle will retreat immediately! Repeat, retreat immediately!”

“… …It’s His Highness the Crown Prince’s order! Retreat!”

“All those below 7th Circle retreat to the camp!”

The mounted commanders drove their subordinates into the canyon in an orderly manner.

Cedric looked at Christel, who was wielding her whip beside him.

Her magical tool was becoming sharp like a sword at every moment, cutting down the enemy. ‘Whiririk, thud!’

“Stop the anomaly. It’s interfering with Divine Arts.”

“This isn’t mine, ugh! I’ll try to persuade him!”

The Paladin, holding the Crown with a troubled look, moved her hands, patting it.

Following this, an unbelievable tone flowed into his ear.

“Oh, pretty. Our Divine Object is excited, right? Uh-oh, is it so much fun to make a mess? Is it completely your style? I see. But what should we do? I think you need to stop for a moment now, what should we do? Oong?”

“… …”

It was a voice like a sycophant.

Cedric glared at Christel, calming his nauseous stomach.

‘Swish, swish!’ In the meantime, he aimed at the Princess’s spear army, took away their weapons, and killed some of them with it, which slightly distracted him.

The surprising thing was that his partner’s partner – in that way – was doing a pretty good job of fulfilling her mission.

The sleet that had been falling incessantly was completely stopping.

The frost that had been turning the plains into a snowfield was also slowly melting away.

The Crown Prince raised the Holy Sword to eye level and checked his surroundings.

In the place where the soldiers had retreated like a tide, high-ranking swordsmen and mages remained, desperately holding on.

-Kwaaaang… …!

“Keeuh! We need a defensive magic formation here!”

“Just a moment! Just wait a moment! I’ll be there soon, damn it!”

The man no longer hesitated.

-Paaat, swish―!

As he infused Ether, the jewel embedded at the end of the Holy Sword’s hilt began to shoot thousands of strands of blood-colored light in all directions.

It was an intense trajectory that would reach the Crown Prince’s vermilion eyes, the distant Venetian camp, and even the retreating Imperial army’s rear.

Christel, who was disgusted by the ominous sign, quickly backed away.

The streaks of light stretched out greedily into the world as if searching for something.

-Paaaaah… …!

‘Thump, thump, thump.’ Cedric sensed his rapidly accelerating heartbeat and closed his eyes.

The screams of the battlefield, shouts, cheers, etc., faded away beyond the distant heat.

The lava-like boiling fire Ether seemed to burn his whole body.

Not only the always annoying water energy, but even the energy of the Cardinals, including the Princess, was blurring.

He stood in the middle of the undulating flames and quietly waited for the time.

‘Now.’

-Thump!

Flash! A red planet floated in his fiercely opened eyes.

The man immediately drew his sword and slashed horizontally through the air. His black hair shook like an ominous sign.

‘Ooooong!’ A silence close to a vacuum flowed for a moment,

-Kwakwakwakwa―!

“Good Lord… …!”

With a terrifying shockwave, a storm of flames erupted from the black sword. The language of the battlefield was forgotten and the vision was buried. At the same time, Mars worked a miracle.

The planet, which had become so close that it seemed as if it would fall to the ground at any moment, was finally presiding over the anomaly of the Lord God.

The Divine Kingdom soldiers who looked up at the sky turned pale and fell on their butts.

Already hundreds of people had thrown away their weapons and were running away.

-Kugugugugu… …!

“… …Run away! Run away! A meteor is falling!”

“In this world! How can the Lord God allow such evil deeds!”

“Please hurry!”

“Heuaaack, heuk, teuhuaaaack!”

‘Kugugugung―!’ The sky and the earth vibrated at once, and even the Imperial knights could not hide their expressions in dismay.

The shooting stars falling from beyond the Milky Way were heading this way without an inch of error.

The continent’s strongest secret technique that brings a meteor shower to the sky and devastates the enemy.

An unprecedented Divine Art that can only be used by the owner of the Holy Sword, borrowing the protection of Mars, who governs the battlefield.

-Kwaaaang! Kuwoong!