What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 375

#375

Profane (4)

Marquis Francois Dheim wasn’t particularly known for his consideration of others.

-Step, step, step…

Of course, that didn’t make him an inconsiderate person, not exactly.

Rather, Francois was quick to understand situations and possessed a keen eye, so he rarely *needed* to be mindful of others.

He knew how to skillfully shift the atmosphere and anticipate the needs of those around him.

The deep affection of the territory’s people and the Liester Imperial Family’s unwavering trust weren’t things earned overnight.

Moreover, he seemed capable of anything, having raised his four younger siblings into healthy and well-adjusted adults.

The Marquis always exuded confidence and composure.

Attracting attention was both his hobby and his forte.

“The castle is magnificent. Don’t you think so, Sir Haines?”

“Yes.”

“……”

‘Step, step, step……’ However, Johan Haines seemed to be an exception.

At least, that was the conclusion Francois had reached after observing him closely for quite some time.

Even now, he walked with an air of complete indifference.

Though the dim light made it difficult to see clearly, the Paladin constantly scanned their surroundings.

The white-haired Cardinal showed interest in nothing but his only son and Princess Juliette.

Fortunately, his loyalty to His Majesty was genuine.

He clearly cared for his disciples, but his default expression was rather cold.

Those who were charmed by his rare smiles might not realize it, but Francois, a seasoned aristocrat, could tell at a glance that the man rarely put his whole heart into anything.

He was a creature driven solely by the need to protect those under his care.

“It seems to be a very old building. Quite different from the Imperial style.”

“Yes.”

“……”

Even when Francois tried to engage him in conversation, Johan stuck to monosyllabic responses, making any real exchange impossible.

It wasn’t that he disliked or rejected Francois.

The esteemed Marquis Yeseo might not be aware, but the Cardinal was simply born with that kind of disposition.

It was often said that those aligned with the air attribute were inherently free-spirited.

Francois sighed inwardly and observed the castle wall through a narrow window.

A large spider was devouring a ladybug caught in its web.

His handsome brow furrowed involuntarily.

“Oh.”

“What’s wrong?”

“……Nothing.”

If it had been Erve, he would have launched into a dramatic complaint, but that approach wouldn’t work on Johan.

More than anything, Francois needed to make a good impression on this man.

So, he forced a smile and kept his thoughts to himself.

Johan simply nodded and continued forward.

-Drip, drip, drip……

The sound of water droplets echoed from somewhere within the castle.

The rock castle they had infiltrated was as imposing as the Dheim Lord’s castle, but it radiated a palpable sense of menace that the latter lacked.

The family crest that had once adorned the entrance of the massive stone gate was now a mangled ruin.

The portraits hanging on the walls were either burned or slashed to ribbons.

There wasn’t a single soldier patrolling the corridors, let alone a guard, and the decorations were either broken or looted, making them difficult to even identify.

Thus, it was impossible to determine whose castle this had once been.

Mold grew in patches on the ancient carpets, and the shattered chandeliers looked beyond repair.

A foul odor emanated from the depths of the castle. It was clear that the place had been abandoned and neglected for a long time.

“It seems to be an abandoned castle.”

“No. There’s something here.”

“……”

The Paladin’s sharp reply cut through the silence.

He was now intently studying each of the grim-looking doors lining the corridor.

Francois shrugged and followed him. *I have no choice but to cooperate!*

What could a non-combat mage with no training in lethal spells possibly do?

He discreetly activated a defensive magic spell instead.

-Step

“Let’s go this way.”

But Johan stopped abruptly in front of a staircase. A tremor flickered in his light pink eyes.

He had the distinct impression that magical energy was writhing in the pitch-black darkness below.

“……The basement? I have a bad feeling about this.”

Tereze, whom he cherished more than anything, was a genius who had devoured every adventure novel on the continent.

The stories she shared during mealtimes always followed a similar pattern.

‘Big brother, you must never go into suspicious attics.’

‘Suspicious basements are also forbidden. I hope big brother only goes to sparkling places, as befits him.’

‘Or a laboratory.’ ‘I hope that’s on the 1st or 2nd floor, too.’

“You can go back if you’re scared.”

The Paladin’s calm statement stung Francois, as if he’d been personally challenged.

He swung his mace around—nearly dropping it, but managing to recover with surprising grace for someone in his condition—and struck a confident pose.

“How could you say that! Some people are prejudiced because of my beauty, but I’m actually quite brave. The little young master admires that side of me, too.”

“……”

“I’m talking about Herrit Haines.”

The Marquis’s voice was noticeably softer now. Then, an unexpected reply came.

“I know.”

“……”

“I know that the Marquis sincerely cherishes my son, and that Herrit really likes the Marquis. I know it well.”

A gentle expression flickered in his mint-colored eyes.

Francois’s instincts, sensing an opportunity, went into overdrive.

*Now is the time! I have to seize this opportunity…!*

“So, Sir Haines. Another legal guardian for the young master…”

-Creak!

The two men flinched and exchanged a look.

It was clearly the scream of an animal coming from beneath the ground.

It was a distinctly different sound from the divine beasts outside, a cry filled with pain that anyone could recognize.

‘Thud!’ Then, there was the sound of a heavy door slamming shut.

It was the work of humans, unless it was an extraordinary coincidence.

Francois started down the stairs without hesitation.

Johan was momentarily surprised, but quickly moved to follow behind him.

-Tick, tock, tick……

The stone stairs, broken and uneven, creaked and groaned with every step.

The castle itself was dark, but the basement was shrouded in absolute darkness.

Fortunately, the Marquis’s defensive magic spell emitted a faint red glow.

Even as he rushed to rescue a distressed animal, Francois didn’t lose sight of his primary goal.

In fact, the urgency of the situation seemed to loosen his tongue.

“Sir Johan Haines. If you and your son are amenable, I would like to become your son’s godfather. Not just in name, but as a spiritual parent.”

“……What do you believe in?”

Francois turned to face him, adopting a dramatic expression.

“Arian, blessed by the Holy Spirit of the Lord. It’s not for me to sing my own praises, but surely you can trust me, the left arm of the great Frederick the Great?”

“I believe His Majesty is right-handed. My apologies. I didn’t mean that, but…”

-Thump!

“……Eat, again! Prepare the 34th injection! Medicine!”

The two men froze at the bottom of the stairs. Without a word, they pressed themselves against the wall and held their breath.

Two pairs of eyes gleamed in the dim light.

The meaning of the words they had just overheard was chillingly clear.

The ruined old castle and its desolate surroundings. The agonizing cries of an animal.

*34th, medicine, injection.*

……A secret experiment was being conducted here.

“I don’t know what it is, but I’m already feeling nauseous.”

At Francois’s murmur, the two figures began to move again, their pace quickening.

When they reached the bottom of the staircase, a long corridor stretched before them. No light or sound emanated from either direction. Right, or left?

“His Majesty is right-handed, so let’s go to the right first.”

“……You’re holding a grudge.”

Johan’s response was delayed by a beat, and the two quickly chose their path.

Francois whispered, remaining vigilant.

“How can I convince you? By the way, my whole family adores the young master. Antoinette is already knitting winter clothes for him. It’s limited to the first three people, so Maria missed out last year.”

“There’s a misunderstanding. It’s not that I don’t trust the Marquis. It’s just that you don’t know my past, so…”

“Francois Mirlande Dheim.”

“Yes?”

The Cardinal’s composed expression faltered for the first time. He looked genuinely surprised.

But the Marquis was a man of action. He had no interest in dwelling on the pasts of his acquaintances.

*Because my own past isn’t exactly honorable either.*

“That’s my middle name. You’ll find out through the young master anyway…”

-Nyaaaa―!

-Clang! Clatter!

Suddenly, a cacophony of noise erupted from a room at the end of the hallway.

Johan instantly drew a translucent sword from thin air.

‘Woong!’ Francois dimmed the defensive magic spell and narrowed his eyes.

Through the partially visible doorway, a thick, viscous liquid was seeping out.

Fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, it wasn’t blood. He quickly reached into his coat and retrieved a small glass bottle.

Holding it with a gloved hand, he carefully collected the liquid and sealed the lid with the practiced skill of a magical scientist.

It didn’t appear to be poisonous, but the strange herbal scent was disturbingly familiar.

Meanwhile, Johan leaned against the door, assessing the situation inside.

No one was more skilled than the ‘Pope’s Cleaner’ [a nickname for Johan, implying his role in eliminating threats] at reconnaissance techniques, suppressing his own presence and detecting only the enemy.

It was a large room, resembling a ballroom. Eight paladins, five regular knights.

More than thirty soldiers and civilians. Surprisingly, there were even a few wizards among them.

In addition, there was some kind of energy present, but for some reason, it was difficult to pinpoint.

It felt as if it was hidden behind a thick barrier or curtain.

……Experimental animals and subjects?

-Thump! Clatter!

“You’re not listening to me today!”

“All the precious new medicine has been spilled. Damn it.”

“Hey! Bring a broom and clean the floor!”

“Yes!”

The room quickly descended into chaos. Johan quietly waited for the opportune moment to strike.

His master would have done the same (how fortunate that he wasn’t here), and the Marquis who accompanied him wore a determined expression.

“Hey, wait a minute! If you sweep it with that, you won’t be able to use the medicine. You have to salvage at least a little.”

“Salvage it? It’s already soaking the floor?”

“Don’t you know the lord’s personality? If he finds out you wasted it like this, he’ll be furious. Collect it separately, separately!”

“Even so, can this be recycled? It’s something you put in people’s bodies.”

“Come on! You know the unit price!”

A knight shouted, and his colleagues buzzed with nervous energy.

The soldiers began scrambling to find cleaning tools. Now was the time.

‘You have to close your eyes, Marquis.’ The moment Johan whispered those words and prepared to swing his sword―

-Thud!

The door was smashed open from the inside.

“Ah! It flowed all the way to the hallway,”‘

‘Swish!’ The Paladin mercilessly cut him down.

As a torrent of blood erupted, the basement transformed into a scene of carnage.

‘Kuaaaak!’ ‘Haaak!’ With each rotation of Johan’s blade, three or four humans fell, their blood staining the floor like autumn leaves.

His movements were so swift that no one could even see his face.

White hair danced like a bird amidst the spray of blood, and cruel crimson splatters marked his otherwise flawless cheeks.

‘Intruders! Damn it, wake him up!’ The knight who shouted the warning had his heart pierced in an instant.

‘Thud, thud, thud, thud!’ While the sword of air continued its deadly dance, Francois ducked low and moved deeper into the laboratory.

In the corner, hidden behind purple curtains, was another space.

It was a place where unspeakable acts were taking place.

The test subjects had to be rescued at all costs.

‘Crack!’ Even as someone’s neck was being broken behind him―

-Swish! Swish!

“Who are you!”

“Judging by your clothes, you seem to be from the Empire.”

“No, are you a minion of the Count of the Court?”

The knights, drawing their swords, blocked the Marquis’s path.

He stood in the center of his magic circle, gripping the light pink mace tightly.

Unfortunately, he possessed no real talent for combat.

But he was confident in his ability to use teleportation for disruption.

His mana reserves weren’t vast, but they were sufficient to hold off these fools.

As he prepared to unleash his magic―

-Rattle!

Over there, a soldier frantically pulled a decorative cord hanging from the ceiling. All eyes turned to him.

The boy, who looked no older than sixteen or seventeen, had wet his pants and wore a look of utter terror.

The light purple tassel in his hand was unraveling pathetically.

A moment of stunned silence hung in the air. And then,

“Aaaaaah!”

“Run away, quickly!”

“We’re abandoning S! Anyway, that guy can’t beat ‘Edam’ either!”

“If you get caught, you’ll die! Run!”

‘Aaaaah!’ Everyone in the basement turned pale and stampeded towards the door.

The same was true of those who had been pointing their swords at Francois.

The Marquis felt a growing sense of dread and slowly raised his gaze to the ceiling.

It seemed his instincts were correct. Cold sweat beaded on his handsome forehead.

-Rumble……

An overwhelming surge of ‘magic power’ washed over him.

*

-Kuaaaang!

We scrambled to our feet at the tremendous roar.

I immediately deployed the Holy Land [a protective barrier], while Christel and Crown Prince Cedric took the lead in the front.

Sir Elizabeth led the knights to secure the rear.

I didn’t know what was happening, but I doubted it was good news.

I was most worried about Francois, followed by the Crown Prince standing before me.

My anxiety wouldn’t subside, even with Sir Johan present. Both of them were in bad condition―

-Kooong! Kooong……!

“Huh.”

Somehow, I recognized that sound effect.

The ground was rumbling from afar, no. From very deep below.

Ms. Gain, who had encouraged me about the crown I was wearing—she’d actually said, ‘Let’s do well, pretty girl’—took out her whip and prepared for action.

The Crown Prince glanced back at me as he drew his Hyegeom [a type of sword].

-Kooong! Kuaaaang……!

“Stay still.”

It’s unfair.

“No, I think I’m the most well-behaved among us…”

“I sense a tremendous amount of mana, Marquis. It’s almost certainly a demonic beast or a monster. We have a lot of holy objects, so it will definitely be more stimulated.”

“Oh my god.”

Why was there always something like this happening! I quickly tended to Duke Fabrice first.

I gave him water, reassured him repeatedly, and offered him jerky that I had brought in my bag.

Marguerite Diop’s complexion was much improved.

However, she was still unconscious. Carme, on the other hand….

“Ah. Where am I?”

Wow, she woke up at the perfect moment!

“Oh my, long time no see…… I like your coat. Where did you buy it?”

“It’s not mine. First of all, don’t go outside the Holy Land. I’ll explain later. It would be helpful if you stayed put over there,”

-Kuaaaaang!

Oh my gosh! Everyone’s gaze was fixed on the castle walls.

The heart of the magnificent stone castle was crumbling and disintegrating like a wafer.

The small boulders were like Lego pieces.

We miraculously spotted two figures escaping through the gap.

Francois and Sir Johan were flying through the air!

“I see them!”

The moment Fabrice pointed urgently, the heavy castle gate swung open with a deafening crash!

Then, several people covered in blood stumbled out, seemingly resigned to their fate.

At the same time, a colossal foot emerged from within the fortress.

It was like watching a slow-motion replay. Kuguguung……!

“Crazy!”

“Oh my god. What size is that……”

-Whirring, Kooong!

A golem, exactly the size of the fortress itself, the largest we had ever seen, was lumbering into motion.

Instinctively, I knew we couldn’t win against that.

I would have been more confident facing a mythical-grade demonic beast―

“What’s wrong. I’m really good at staying still.”

Carme whispered in a barely audible voice. I quickly turned to look at her.

Her red eyes were wide with shock, like a rabbit’s. I was wrong!

“Carme, you know how to control golems!”