What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 377

A bright red ruby flashed in the air. A wizard with a staff had arrived.

“Marguerite!”

A handsome man landed nimbly and ran towards us.

We were flustered, unsure where to look.

Duke Fabrice, who had been tending to the Dioph daughter, stared with wide eyes.

Calling the patient by her name suggested they were acquaintances or family.

But we couldn’t afford to pay attention to him right now.

The golem’s head, which had been about to surge upwards, was suddenly struck by a thunderbolt. The force deflected, sending it rolling across the floor!

-Kwaaaang! Thump―!

“Carmel, now!”

“If I die, just cremate me, no questions asked!”

With that shout, she squeezed her eyes shut and ran forward.

‘Hwaaa!’ Christel, held by Sir Johann, unleashed a furious gale and blizzard at the golem.

Whirr, patter! Its body staggered and began to freeze, turning white.

Stiff frost climbed its legs like a snake. Thankfully, the restraint seemed to be working.

But it was by no means a comfortable situation.

The moment the bravely charging Carmel reached out her hand to its head—

-Ooooong, ooooong!

“Ouch!”

The boulder that had been embedded in the ground floated up and away from her. It was an enormous resistance.

This golem was definitely not easy.

I hurriedly looked down at the Lesser Panda Trio.

I hoped they would help us, but it was too much to ask right now.

The little ones were just wailing and lamenting over the dying cat (probably) deity.

But I couldn’t just leave my fallen friends behind and run.

Besides, I didn’t have any ability to help, so how could I?

“Aaaaaah······!”

Just then, hundreds of shouts pierced the fog from below the hill. I turned around in surprise.

It wasn’t a mistake. It seemed to be the soldiers that strange man had brought.

Lady Elisabeth was at the front, riding a horse.

She must have joined us after chasing the escapees. It’s the Imperial Army!

“Liester―! His Highness the Crown Prince is safe!”

“Front! Fire the magical tools for capturing monsters!”

“Fire!”

Papat, chwaaaaa―! Soldiers with machine gun-like weapons fired over a dozen nets.

François was already unconscious, but I didn’t need to ask him to know.

That was also the Marquis’ invention.

The nets, with round magic stones attached as weights, wrapped around the golem’s head in layers.

Then, they began to plunge towards the ground with full force.

Carmel’s face lit up as she stretched her arms towards the sky.

All the magic stones trembled as if they were about to break at any moment. Zzzzzing―!

“Okay, just a little bit! Lower it just a little more!”

“Criminal girl! Jump! Just climb on!”

‘This is one-time use, if the magic stone breaks, you can’t use it again!’ Soldiers who knew her well shouted while hanging on to the net.

It seemed that about 2~3m above the ground was the limit of this magical tool.

The woman seemed frightened and took a few steps back before turning to look at us.

Then, she glanced at the cat I was holding and my friends.

She also looked at Ms. Gain and Sir Johann, who were struggling in the sky.

Soon, her scabbed lips closed tightly. Carmel turned her head,

“Iyaaaak!”

She let out a loud shout and leaped into the air.

Thump, ‘Uhhh!’ The soldiers let out a cry of dismay as her arm, clinging to the rock, slipped.

I couldn’t breathe properly and clenched my fist.

Thud, her red-painted fingernails caught on the net!

“Waaaaa!”

“Okay, okay! Climb up!”

“Hang in there! Climb up, miss!”

The Imperial Army cheered for Carmel.

Fueled with determination, she fluttered her faded blonde hair and climbed up the golem’s head.

By the time she reached the vicinity of the red-glowing crown, a shout of support burst from my mouth as well.

‘Carmel, you can do it!’ No sooner had the words left my mouth than the woman placed both hands on the golem’s crown. Paaaaa!

-Kugugugung!

-Tremble tremble tremble······!

The giant head vibrated as if resisting her control.

Soon, Carmel’s nose began to bleed profusely.

Her thin arms trembled as if they would break, and the mana emanating from her drew increasingly erratic waves.

Even from a distance, I could see the blood vessels bulging on her forehead and neck.

I heard that Carmel was a 2nd-class mage.

No matter how great her ability to manipulate the mana core, it might be difficult to defeat a golem of that size.

Judging by appearances, it was an opponent that Sir Johann would have difficulty facing without using a stigma [a powerful, often dangerous, magical ability].

In the sky, Christel was struggling to knock down the monster. ‘Get lost, joooom!’

-Jjejeong!

“Oh no, what to do!”

One by one, the magic stones of the net weights, having exhausted their magic power, began to break. Clang, clang!

The Imperial Army stamped their feet.

Meanwhile, Lady Elisabeth led the healing priests and ran towards us.

I greeted her in the midst of utter confusion.

The Deputy Commander wore a calmer expression than any of us.

“Everyone! Examine His Highness’s injuries and heal Marquis Dium and the Dioph daughter. Please do so as quickly as possible!”

“Yes, Sir Mute!”

“Are you alright, Marquis?”

“Yes, I’m fine. I’m fine, but······.”

The priests, who bowed their heads to me, took my friends and laid them down on disinfected cloths.

The strange man from earlier was still moving busily, following the Dioph daughter.

Seeing his pale face, I snapped to attention.

That person is a wizard! Why hasn’t anyone thought of getting help?!?

“Excuse me, sorry to bother you!”

Hugging the cat deity, I hurriedly ran to him. The deities followed behind, rolling along.

Lady Elisabeth’s dissuasion faded into the distance, and the young noble frowned when he found me.

It was our first meeting, but this was no time to worry about such things.

“Will you help us? If those net weights all break, it will be difficult for Carmel to hold out alone. If it’s okay with you, could you lend us your mana?”

“······Is that you, the famous Juliet, Palace Master?”

‘Smaller than I thought. Can’t even lift a sword.’ The man said, scanning me up and down.

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth slowly opened. Is that what you say to someone you’re meeting for the first time?

Especially when the situation is like this, right now!

“I don’t know who you are, but I’m grateful that you came because you’re worried about the Dioph daughter. But if we can’t defeat that thing, the daughter and you will eventually be in mortal danger. So please, move.”

“A bit cheeky, aren’t we? Anyway, isn’t that the Cardinal [a high-ranking member of the clergy] over there? Why are you all clinging to it when only one needs to sacrifice themselves? Besides, that pretty girl over there is a criminal, right?”

······What is this?

“I think it’s better for everyone to join forces, especially in a situation like now, when it’s not certain whether we can defeat the opponent with the Cardinal’s ultimate skill. Do you know how dangerous a stigma actually is? If Sir Johann Haynes goes all out, the surroundings will be devastated, and the person’s energy will be virtually depleted. So hurry up unless you want to be impeached later for wasting military power. It’s an order from Juliet, the Palace Master who is quite famous, just like you said!”

Then the other party smiled wryly and looked down at me. Finally, anger surged up.

I don’t know what kind of attitude this is in wartime. Don’t act like a know-it-all, you little punk!

-Whack!

“Keuk!”

I couldn’t help but kick his joint.

I’m definitely not the type to fight with strangers, but this is just like a predictable villainous supporting character.

In the meantime, the enraged Demi grew vines and wrapped them around the man.

Good job, our deity! Anger at the troublemaker has overcome sadness!

“You’ve lost your nerve. You’re going to stall when hundreds or thousands of people can be safe if you help?”

“Hey, Keut! Can’t I even joke?”

“Where do you have time for that! Get lost—go help with the golem!”

-Kiiii!

Our MVP threw the lightning wizard away.

Thwack! The man grimaced as his handsome face hit the rock head, but of course, he wasn’t hurt thanks to Demi’s vines.

But from then on, he listened.

Lady Elisabeth and Fabrice looked at me with wide eyes.

The priests also had shocked expressions.

“Tch!”

-Ooooong······!

When the man waved his staff and absorbed mana into the net, the sacred stone, which looked like it would break at any moment, gained strength and moved downwards.

The net, which was about to break, also began to shine.

Seeing the rock lump trembling but heading towards the ground, I could breathe a little easier.

Demi, who had regained her composure, quickly ran over and wrapped vines around the rock.

Carmel was really doing her best.

Her face, which had been flushed red, was now as white as clay.

Fortunately, the net was stronger and Demi was helping, so it seemed like she could take a breather.

I felt sorry that all I could do inside the sacred ground was cheer.

The blood isn’t stopping; I want to heal her quickly.

“Ugh, hoo······.”

“It’s almost done, Carmel! Hang in there! Just a little more!”

“Miss! You’re the best among the serious criminals we’ve seen!”

“You’re the best even if you’re not a criminal!”

“Carmel! Carmel! Carmel! Carmel!”

Dozens of soldiers ran over to help the net team.

Holding Demi’s vines in their arms, they played tug-of-war to slam the heavy head down. ‘If this is resolved, I’ll treat you to a hearty meal at my house, miss!’ ‘My husband is a good cook too! Hang in there!’ The Imperial Army shouted from here and there.

Carmel, who was gasping for breath, burst into laughter.

In the sky, Christel was making a final spurt.

“Heurachaaaa! I’ll die and you’ll liveeee!”

“The subject has changed, disciple.”

Jjeojeojeok! Along with an unfamiliar sound effect, an amazing thing happened from her fingertips.

To the extent that Sir Johann, who was holding Ms. Gain like a princess, widened his eyes.

-Jjeok, jjeojeojeok!

“Good heavens.”

Her white hand was covered in blue crystals resembling sapphires.

Whirr! The crown on her head was excited and poured out mad snow.

I forgot about the current situation and briefly poured out admiration. Wow······.

“It’s going over, it’s going over! It’s on the verge of collapsing?!”

-Jjeojeok, jjeojeok, jjeojeok!

What covered her arm in an instant was one of the divine arts of the ‘Blessing of the Azure Sea’.

A secret technique that prevents anything in the world from piercing her and allows her to pierce anything.

Petrification (寶石化) [Turning to Jewel].

“Chargeeee!”

-Kwakwakwakwa!

The master sent her disciple’s body flying as if she had been waiting for it.

Christel was shot out like a cannonball, receiving a powerful wind pushing from behind.

Her slender neck was already sparkling like a jewel.

Hugging the three deities, I gaped my jaw. It was truly an amazing and wondrous scene.

The Crown Prince brat should see this—

-Kwaaaaang!

The protagonist’s treasure fist slammed into the very center of the golem’s body!

-Jjeok―!

And the magnificent incarnation of rock split into three pieces before our eyes.

I could hear everyone inhaling. It was as if someone had pressed the pause button.

Around that time, the baby kitten in my palm twitched for the first time.

I was horrified and came to my senses. That’s right, this is no time to just be amazed!

“Carmel, now is the time! Pour it all out!”

“Don’t forget! If I die, don’t bury me and let me be free,”

“You’re definitely not going to die! You have to go and receive the Imperial Medal! And get a new job!”

Carmel, who let out a hollow breath at my words, desperately scraped together the last mana remaining in her body.

New nosebleeds flowed down over her shabby clothes.

With the red magic power surging hotly, the soldiers also did their best to pull the stone head. Ooooong······!

“Be, be, be, be.”

“Iyaaaaa!”

-Kiiiiit!

“Hwaaaaa!”

-Paaaaaaa―!

And from the woman’s entire body—from every single strand of hair, every finger, and both eyes—beams of scarlet light exploded.

I squeezed my eyes shut and prayed.

Whether it was the Chief God or someone else, I earnestly begged and begged someone who was watching over us anyway.

Please help us. Please look kindly on us because we worked so hard. I may have only been sitting and shouting, but I’m asking on behalf of my busy and struggling friends. Please······.

-Kuguuuuung!

“······Waaaaaa!”

My eyes snapped open. The golem’s large head was rolling on the mossy ground.

It was now just an ordinary ‘rock’ to anyone who looked at it.

A limp Carmel was carried down by the soldiers.

I ran without even thinking about the sacred ground.

Tremors and goosebumps struck my entire body at the same time. Chief God, thank you!

“Oh my god, we did it! The criminal girl did it!”

“She’s not a criminal anymore! She’s a hero!”

“A hero of the back alleys!”

“Yaaaaa······!”

“I’m sorry, I’ll take a look! I’ll examine the patient!”

I pushed through the incredibly excited crowd and knelt down in front of her.

After carefully putting the kitten in my inner pocket of my formal dress, I hurriedly opened a healing circle.

When I brought my hand close to the woman’s nose, I felt a warm breath. Thank you so much!

“Mana, it seems like she’s entered a period of mana hibernation [a state of deep magical exhaustion]. But her breathing and pulse are normal for now. The bleeding is also stopping. I’ll open a ‘hemostasis’ [blood-stopping] circle to completely······.”

“That’s a relief!”

“Ehehehehe! I really thought I was going to die, everyone!”

The Imperial Army hugged each other and rejoiced.

Some shed tears of emotion, and some invariably offered prayers.

-Thump, crash! Kukukung······!

“I was so surprised!”

In the midst of the chaotic relief, I quickly turned around.

The golem’s body, which had been barely holding on, was finally collapsing.

‘Prince!’ The protagonist, skipping over the Crown Prince, ran to me.

Seeing his face full of liberation and satisfaction, I finally let out a hearty laugh.

Sir Johann, who landed quietly, moved his lips with an awkward smile. I seemed to know roughly what he was saying.

‘It would have been okay for you to exhaust me.’