What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 371

#371

If You Hold Me Like That Day (3)

“Um….”

“What are you saying? Why are you crying?”

Huh? I stopped calling for Yuliter and turned to look beside me.

Christel, looking confused, came into view.

Seidi, Lady Elisabeth, and François had similar expressions.

The divine beasts, circling around my feet, were also tilting their heads.

My mind instantly became complicated. What’s going on?

「I’m sorry… I was wrong, it’s my fault…」

I busily checked on Yuliter again. She was shedding tears while looking at Karme.

There was no voice, but it wasn’t hard to understand her clear lip movements.

It was strange that I was the only one who understood this. The priestess was crying like a child of six or seven.

Her tone and expression felt much younger than her appearance, and the doll she was holding seemed quite old.

She was completely different from how she was depicted in novels or paintings.

I carefully whispered to my friends.

“She’s looking for her… mother. She’s crying, saying she’s sorry.”

“Mother? Suddenly?”

The group frowned at once.

Christel stared at the rabbit doll Yuliter had dropped for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed,

“Ah!”

She suddenly looked surprised and gathered us in a circle.

She checked the priestess’s condition and whispered.

“That doll belongs to a child I knew in the village. A girl named Yullus used to carry it around. She called it Mommy Rabbit.”

“Yullus…? It sounds like a nickname for Yuliter.”

François said seriously. Christel immediately nodded.

“Yes. I didn’t think about it then, but now that I see it, that child must have been another persona of Yuliter. Her eye color is the same. ‘Etta,’ who was the priestess here, was the same. That must have been her nickname too, right?”

“It seems likely.”

“But I heard that ‘Annemarie’ was the one who stole Seidi’s power. That name has nothing to do with Yuliter, does it? Besides, that person was an old woman, but Yuliter Statia died at thirty.”

Lady Elisabeth whispered quickly. My gaze wandered around in the air.

It felt like I was about to grasp something, but it remained elusive and confusing.

Why did she need personas with her nicknames, and who was that old woman who borrowed her body?

Just someone she knew who wanted a plausible disguise?

Or were they fragments of Yuliter’s memories?

“But that old woman was creepy too. She even came out to meet us at the thorny vine barrier. She was the main culprit in the kidnapping, so to speak. She also said she was Yullus’s guardian.”

“Guardian?”

“Yes. Oh, and she often stood at the village entrance, looking somewhere.”

“Which direction exactly was she looking?”

The vice-captain sharply asked.

Ms. Gain explained in detail, pointing out various buildings.

Honestly, it was hard to understand, so I gave Seidi some water, touched her forehead—thankfully, her fever had almost gone down—and turned around.

Karme looked peaceful in her sleep.

Yuliter, who met my eyes, was shedding tears.

Before I knew it, there were many dolls I hadn’t seen before beside her.

Mommy Rabbit, Daddy Rabbit, Baby Rabbit… and lots of other animal toys.

「Mommy isn’t coming…」

The woman moved her lips while holding the doll. It felt like I was looking at Mia, and it didn’t feel good.

Even though she clearly had the appearance of an adult.

“If she misses her mother, could it be towards the lord’s castle?”

“No, that’s probably towards the royal capital [the kingdom’s main city]. If you recall the map, the Statia lord’s castle is on the opposite side…”

My friends’ voices faded beyond my ears. What on earth was her story?

She was the lover of the late Emperor Romero Liester, but she betrayed him in the end, started a massive war, and became a criminal who stabbed the heart of the empire.

A troublemaker who opened up space-time, taking advantage of the World Tree’s injury.

As if that wasn’t enough, she stole the aether [magical energy] of innocent people without the main god knowing, and controlled their minds… Hmm.

“Let’s go ask her.”

I quickly suggested to Seidi. I couldn’t just let her go like this.

The child actor-like face slightly crumpled. The child was just entering a stable period.

“…You’re being arrogant.”

“It won’t be dangerous. It’s cloudy here, but a full moon must have risen in the outside world by now. Whatever her original plan was, it’s all over now.”

“Serenite.”

“You’re curious too, aren’t you? There won’t be another chance. Besides, we need to check Karme’s condition in detail.”

—Kugugugung—!

At that moment, a majestic earth-shaking sound occurred outside the temple.

The ground beneath our feet vibrated, and the temple building shook slightly.

My friends, who had been seriously discussing, closed their mouths and exchanged glances.

Christel and François hurriedly gathered the divine beasts into their arms.

Lady Elisabeth moved quickly and pulled back the curtains. Thuck, thuck!

—Kugugugu…

“Good heavens.”

The knight’s face, who had checked outside the window, turned pale.

A black crack was spreading at the distant edge of the sky.

Like broken glass, torn paper. Any description would seem plausible.

We were all familiar with this scenery.

Because the world without me had been greatly shattered before.

The main god, with eyes wide open, had clearly noticed Yuliter’s arrogant behavior.

I steadied Seidi in my arms and approached the sofa. There was really no time left.

Christel and François quickly followed me.

“Karme, can you hear me? Karme.”

“Keuheo….”

While the paladin was keeping Yuliter in check with ice blades, I quickly checked on the patient.

Surprisingly, she was sound asleep. When I carefully gave her strength, the absorption speed was tremendous.

Aether depletion was certain, but her pulse and overall condition were okay.

François, who exchanged glances with me, quickly picked her up and moved back.

An unidentified golden bead fell from Karme’s hand and rolled on the floor.

Yuliter stretched out her arms as if struggling.

「No, no! Don’t take her away! Please…!」

“Stay still. You’re the one who tormented that person.”

Ms. Gain sharply restrained her.

Kugugung, jeojeojeok! Outside, the collapse of space was steadily progressing.

Seidi gripped my collar tightly. I patted the little one and looked at Yuliter.

Her small face was soaked.

“Why did you do that? To Princess Diof, Karme, and even Seidi. I want to hear the reason.”

「To call… the dead souls…」

The woman moved her trembling jaw.

I concentrated all my mind to not miss a single word.

「To meet the souls wandering away from the world… I was told that a great power is needed… A power great enough to imitate the main god… I also heard the story in the pure white interstellar space.」

‘Pure white interstellar space’? Where is that?

“So you controlled the princess’s mind and stole the paladins’ aether to meet your deceased mother?”

At those words, transparent tears welled up like a spring. Yuliter really seemed like a child now.

I felt like my heart would weaken at the sight of her straining her mouth, holding the doll as if she would burst it, and barely nodding her chin.

But I couldn’t do that. It wasn’t the time for that.

My friends were watching me, trying hard to understand the conversation.

“Karme isn’t your mother. Were you trying to bring her into Karme’s body?”

Nod, nod.

“Why….”

「Because that child is of the Statia bloodline.」

My eyes widened, and my mouth dropped open. Seidi pulled on my collar as if urging me.

I hurriedly opened my mouth, stammering.

“Karme, Karme is of the Statia family bloodline. That’s why she was trying to bring her mother into her body.”

“Good heavens.”

“Oh, everyone’s family tree is like this.”

The marquis and Christel were both shocked.

Seidi had a look in her eyes that was tracing back to a certain point in the past.

“Indeed. She said so herself.”

“Huh? Karme said that?”

“She called herself a precious illegitimate child.”

Oh my god. I glanced at Karme and then looked back at Yuliter.

Kwagaagwang! At the same time, a thunderous noise poured down from the sky.

A piece falling white in the distance could be seen. I had to bring up the next question.

Ye-seo, quickly!

“Did you have something you wanted to say? You’re already a sinner! What was it that caused such a commotion?”

Then the woman gave a painful smile.

Suddenly, the story of Duke Fabrice Berang came to mind.

The last words Yuliter left to Romero at the final moment. The words that she had never loved him.

‘I wanted to be recognized by my mother. So I deceived the emperor of the empire.’

Recognition from her mother.

“Could it be that you wanted to be recognized by your deceased mother? So you were trying to bring her—”

Dori dori [head shaking]. Yuliter cried while smiling. Her beautiful lips opened again.

「I didn’t listen to my mother’s words until my last breath… That’s why I’m sorry.」

“……”

「‘Yullus, it’s okay. You are a precious child as you are.’」

“……”

「I… I didn’t believe those words.」

‘What is she saying?’ Seidi asked lowly. I couldn’t continue speaking.

「I was greedy, so I wanted to climb to a higher place. I wanted my mother’s recognition. I thought I could become the most precious person in the world if I did…」

“Wait a minute. I don’t understand. It seems like your mother already recognized you. She said you were ‘a precious child as you are.’”

「…The other mother didn’t think so.」

What?

“Marquis, did something huge just come out? Your expression is no joke.”

“No, yes. She said there was another mother.”

“Oh, tragedy is added to tragedy.”

François muttered in a dramatic tone.

Gugugung…! It was clear to see the vegetation withering away on the other side of the horizon.

The fake space was literally turning to dust under the main god’s gaze.

Yuliter slowly moved her hand and grabbed the stuffed doll.

Seureung! Lady Elisabeth, who had quickly approached her side, aimed her rapier at her.

The gaze staring at the priestess was filled with resentment that had been engraved in her bones for a long time.

We quietly watched Yuliter. Two lion dolls began to move.

It was the last act of the collapsing timeline.

-Buseureok, buseureok

The lioness wearing a fancy dress hugged the male deer wearing rough clothes.

Then, a small baby lion doll was born between them. The lioness hugged the baby alone….

-Tuk!

She threw it into the rabbit doll’s house. We were startled and looked at Yuliter.

She moved her hands without stopping.

The Mommy Rabbit and Daddy Rabbit covered their mouths when they saw the baby lion in the yard.

Especially the Daddy Rabbit didn’t even try to look at the baby. But the Mommy Rabbit was different.

She….

-Boseurak

The countess hugged the young Yuliter.

She said she would raise the baby, who hadn’t even opened her eyes yet, together with her own children who would be born soon.

The doll’s belly was bulging.

“Why, why….”

I blankly asked that. Why did she abandon her? Why did she abandon the child she loved and gave birth to?

-Tadak, tadak, tadak….

Yuliter brought the lioness from before with a trembling hand.

The vice-captain’s sword tip shook greatly.

A crown was placed on the lion’s head.

“Oh, my god.”

François groaned.

Goosebumps rose all over my body, and my lips, which had lost their words, repeatedly closed and opened.

The lioness was not with the male deer.

Now, a male lion wearing fancy clothes was standing beside her.

The gold crown decorating his head shone indifferently. The late emperor had a mistress.

Yuliter was an illegitimate child. Just like Ye-seo Fenetian had been.

-Toktok, toktok….

The woman brought a mirror and reflected the rabbit doll.

Kureureung, jeojeojeok! The crack outside the window had penetrated to the entrance of the village and was opening its mouth.

The vibration was so great that I almost bit my tongue. I hurriedly checked the doorway.

In the meantime, Sir Johann, who had come to pick us up, Princess Diof on his back, and….

“Ah….”

Duke Fabrice Berang could be seen.

He had decided to lead the troops and set off if we didn’t return by the time the full moon rose.

The man had a face that was very shocked by Yuliter’s puppet show.

The woman continued her movements silently.

The small mirror contained the baby lion and the young rabbits. They looked like siblings who got along well.

The lion tilted its head, looking at the brothers on both sides. They were too different.

Even though they were a family who had grown up together since they were babies, Yuliter could clearly feel it.

Perhaps she had been realizing it little by little every day from the Mommy Rabbit’s arms.

That she didn’t belong here.

-Kwagaagwang…!

“Did you want to gain recognition from King Lilianer Fenetian?”

Seidi, who had already left my arms, asked sharply. The woman painfully affirmed.

Lady Elisabeth sheathed her sword and shouted.

“We have to retreat! Marquis, let’s go!”

“Just a moment, Lady Elisabeth! Just a moment!”

“Do you think such a trivial matter will wash away your great sin?”

-Kwang! Kuuuung…!

Yuliter didn’t answer the boy’s words.

Instead, she looked at our backs and smiled dazzlingly. I quickly followed her gaze.

The priestess had Fabrice in her eyes.

「He’s of Ingrid’s bloodline. Isn’t he?」

She asked me earnestly. I nodded my head in a daze.

Then the dewdrops that fell, disappeared without a trace.

A happy expression that I had never seen before.

「Ingrid has a family. I’m glad. I’m really glad…」

-Jeojeojeok—!

“Marquis Serenite!”

François called me desperately.

At the same time, the temple’s backyard cracked black, and the windows broke loudly.

The vice-captain snatched Seidi in an instant and ran out the door.

My body floated into the air. It was Sir Johann.

I busily rummaged through my bag and took out Yuliter’s headdress.

But the woman acted as if she had read my mind.

She wrapped her hands around my fist and wouldn’t let go.

So that I could hold the ornament even tighter.

“Yuliter, it’s your thing!”

「I left everything behind that day. The things I loved, the people I loved…」

‘And the greed to be forgiven.’ Yuliter’s lip shape became smaller.

I blankly looked at her. Jjaeng! A sharp sound rang out, and a crack formed on the woman’s cheek.

The torn curtains fluttered madly. Like the angry main god’s grip.

「I dare not ask anyone for forgiveness. Because I am a person who does not deserve to be at ease. Because I am a villain who deserves resentment and punishment.」

“……”

「But the person who raised me… The countess… Even if my soul is destroyed. Just once.」

‘Mom.’ With those words, the woman’s neck ruptured. Jjeojeong!

-Hwiiii!

“Eueot!”

Christel barely grabbed and supported my body, which had risen high.

The lesser pandas hugged me and kept crying.

I instinctively knew it was a warning. Sir Johann’s wind was saying so too.

I had to get out of here right away. But still—

「…Be careful of the Fenetian royal family, you who are loved by the main god. Protect the divine objects of the continent.」

Yes?

「My mother’s ambition was so great and vast that it could even blaspheme the gods. Such a mind will not easily fall asleep.」