What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 39

#039 Rolling, Rolling, Rolling (2)

“Wow…”

“It’s so pretty, isn’t it?”

All that escaped my lips was an exclamation. Cristelle smiled brightly and turned to look at me.

I blankly nodded at her question.

The underground room, where not a single ray of sunlight penetrated, was glowing brilliantly on its own.

It was as if the space was carved out of stars.

“Platinum? But it doesn’t seem like it…”

I muttered, slowly stepping into the room.

The floor, walls, and ceiling of the circular room were all made of the same metallic material.

From every corner, meticulously cleaned without a speck of dust, a white and bluish light emanated and reflected off the opposite surfaces.

When I looked down, the outlines of myself, Prince Cedric, and Cristelle were faintly visible on the floor.

It vaguely resembled the backdrop of a science fiction movie.

“Oh my, I’m getting dizzy.”

Only then did Cristelle stagger. I quickly reached out and grabbed her elbow.

Having constantly materialized a large amount of water in various forms, she must have consumed far more Ether than when sparring with the Prince or catching the Rogue Bull.

“Stay within my Sanctuary.”

“Thank you.”

Cristelle smiled slightly at my words. I released her arm and calmly deployed the Sanctuary.

The golden radiance that encircled the three of us created an even more mystical atmosphere than usual, blending with the pale blue space.

As I steadily released Ether, the color began to return to Cristelle’s face, which had been somewhat pale.

The Prince silently watched the scene.

“This seems to be the portal.”

Cristelle, who had been quietly absorbing Ether, pointed to the center of the floor.

I craned my neck and followed her fingertip with my gaze.

In the middle of the room, a massive circle-like design was engraved. However, the shape was not a ‘circle’.

It was a form with two squares overlapping diagonally, one above the other, and upon closer inspection, it was meticulously carved into the floor.

“It’s incredibly elaborate.”

“I heard that Ether Circles and Magic Formulas are completely different, and it’s true.”

Cristelle and I repeatedly expressed our admiration for the intricate design.

Compared to this, the patterns of the Sanctuary I was deploying looked like a four-year-old’s scribbles.

However, the Magic Formula was not complete either.

The center was cracked open, as if someone had struck it hard with a spear or axe.

“So that’s why they say the portal is closed.”

The Prince nodded once at my words.

Long ago, a part of the Magic Formula was destroyed, rendering the portal useless.

99% of it was filled with characters and drawings that I couldn’t decipher, but there was one part that caught my eye.

“‘…For my beloved Juliette.’”

I read it aloud.

“Juliette is the name of the palace where the Prince resides.”

Cristelle said. I nodded.

A story Benjamin had told me during tea time about a month ago came to mind.

It was something I had encountered several times in history books as well.

Romero, the late Emperor, the grandfather of the current Emperor Frederick, had a lover named Yuliter to whom he was betrothed.

She was a noble priestess from the Theocracy of Fenetian, and since there were no issues with the national relationship between Liester and Fenetian at the time, a state marriage was not impossible.

Yuliter was very fond of her name being pronounced in the Liester style as ‘Juliette,’ and Emperor Romero built two new buildings in the Imperial Palace for his lover.

Those were Romero Palace and Juliette Palace.

Romero Palace blocking the front of Juliette Palace was said to be the late Emperor’s will to forever be her shield.

But…

“Juliette is the one who betrayed Emperor Romero. That’s why Juliette Palace is called the ‘Cold Palace.’”

I explained. Cristelle tilted her head slightly and opened her mouth.

“I need to squeeze my tutor again when I get home. I’ve lost a lot of memories since I was sick for so long.”

I chuckled and nodded.

She was busy enough adapting to life after possession, so Cristelle wouldn’t have had time to study history.

As for me, I was a neglected hostage with plenty of time to spare, and I had the pressure of needing to gather information to survive as the ‘terminally ill sub-male lead,’ but she was different.

Anyway, if it was made for Juliette of all people, it made sense that the portal was in the Imperial Palace.

Emperor Romero must have wanted her to be able to come to him comfortably at any time.

But what he faced beyond the portal were the holy knights of the Theocracy.

I guessed that Romero himself had probably destroyed the Magic Formula like this.

“Then, even if we inject Mana into it, it won’t function at all?”

I turned to look at the Prince and asked. He replied as if it were obvious, ‘Yes.’ Hmm…

“I kind of want to see it though.”

Cristelle, who had the same thought as me, voiced it out loud.

I subtly glanced at the Prince. Cristelle also stared intently at him.

The man’s orange eyes narrowed slightly.

“What is it?”

“I’m just curious to see what it looks like when it lights up.”

“Since it doesn’t work anyway.”

At his question, Cristelle and I hastily made excuses.

Unlike us, he was a mage and a swordsman.

If he wanted to, he could inject Mana into the broken Magic Formula.

It was safe because there was no possibility of the portal taking us somewhere, and this was an opportunity to properly see a historical site created before the war era.

It was only natural to be curious.

“Ha.”

“I finished cleaning alone, so Your Highness should at least do this much as a service.”

Cristelle spoke in her characteristically sharp tone.

It felt the same as when she asked me for an ‘Ether sample’ last time.

The Prince was silent for a moment, then let out a long breath through his nose.

Then, he extended his left hand over the Magic Formula.

Since Cristelle’s condition seemed stable, I quickly dispelled the Sanctuary.

I wanted to see the complete Magic Formula, not hidden by my circle.

“…”

Red energy flowed from the end of the Prince’s black gloves. It was ‘Mana,’ the source of magic.

I had seen him manipulate metal with magic, but this was the first time I had seen him draw out pure Mana.

The Mana gently settled onto the floor like paint spreading, then enveloped the Magic Formula, spreading like fog in all directions.

Cristelle and I watched the spectacle without making a sound.

-Whoosh…

A strange sound came from the Magic Formula. This was a sound effect that would only come out in a real science fiction movie.

The red, hazy Mana quickly became liquid, rushing unreservedly along the intricately carved Magic Formula.

The empty grooves were rapidly filled with red ink.

Soon, the portal, filled without a single gap,

-Buzz!

emitted a blood-red glow, shaking the ground. The sharp, metallic light was chilling.

“Heo…”

“Crazy…”

My mouth opened involuntarily. Cristelle showed a strong reaction.

I agreed with her words and looked down at my feet.

The Magic Formula was the epitome of splendor and detail.

Although there was a large crack in the middle, so the portal didn’t budge, my stomach felt like I was in a car with too much air freshener…

“Ugh.”

A gag reflex came out. I hurriedly covered my mouth with my hand. What is it?

“Your Highness, are you okay?”

Cristelle, startled, looked into my face.

The Prince, also flustered, withdrew his hand that had been releasing Mana.

I felt the blood draining from my face and stammered.

“I just feel a little unwell…”

My legs gave way. Suddenly, my forehead turned cold and cold sweat broke out.

I collapsed as I was,

“Cough!”

The Prince grabbed the back of my neck. You crazy bastard, I can’t breathe!

“He’s losing his mind.”

“Let him go, Your Highness!”

Cristelle raised her voice.

As soon as the Prince released his hand, I quickly straightened my posture and inhaled oxygen.

“Huff.”

My vision became clear again, but the queasy stomach remained.

It was a completely different symptom from Ether depletion. No, this is really…

“I think I’m getting motion sickness, ugh…”

I groaned, trying to suppress my nausea. My face contorted involuntarily at the sour taste in my mouth.

Then, in an instant, the red light on the floor disappeared.

The room returned to its elegant bluish-white color as if it were a lie.

I don’t know if the red color made people uneasy or what, but my chest seemed to calm down a bit when the Magic Formula went out.

I slowly raised my head. Orange eyes looking down at me from the front came into view.

The Prince seemed to have completely dispersed the Mana.

“Portal sickness, huh.”

“What?”

A low, deep voice echoed in my ears. I was dumbfounded even after hearing his words properly.

Portal what?

“It’s a problem with Mana sensitivity. Have him seen by the royal physician.”

“Wait a minute, what kind of motion sickness is that…”

I struggled to swallow the saliva pooling under my tongue and formed a sentence.

My stomach was definitely better, but a slight dizziness remained like the aftereffects of motion sickness.

Cristelle supported my staggering waist with her hand.

The Prince moved his long legs and was already out of the entrance.

“No, who gets motion sickness from riding a portal…”

I mumbled, and Cristelle replied softly.

“The Prince.”

“……”

*

“It’s portal sickness.”

Haa…

“It’s a symptom that appears in people with extremely low Mana sensitivity. The body can’t handle the Mana residing in the portal’s Magic Formula.”

The royal physician of the Imperial Palace explained calmly.

I leaned against the head of the bed, placed Demi on my stomach, and listened to his story.

Benjamin and Ganael stood beside me with very worried expressions.

Next to the royal physician were Cardinal Boutier and a guest I was seeing for the first time.

Full course lunch? Gone with the wind.

Because the Prince snitched to the Cardinal that I had motion sickness in the underground portal, I had to make do with two bowls of smooth consommé.

Eunseo was right. That bastard was definitely wrong…

“Even if they are not mages, people are usually born with some degree of Mana sensitivity. They can at least tell whether a nearby animal is an ordinary beast or a magical beast. But sometimes, there are people who only know it’s a magical beast when it comes and uses its magic.”

The doctor gently hit the nail on the head.

I recalled myself realizing that the Rogue Bull was a magical beast only after confirming its abilities in the back mountains of Juliette Palace.

I was the kind of guy who had to taste it to know if it was poop or soybean paste. Damn it…

“Thus, those who are congenitally deficient in Mana sensitivity find it difficult to use portals in the usual way.”

The royal physician declared heavily. I sighed quietly.

I thought I was lucky enough to get a huge amount of Ether when I was possessed, but now it seemed like I had no talent for magic at all.

My stats were all in the priest.

“If it’s difficult to ride a portal, I’m worried if we have to go to the ‘Magical Beast Extermination’ by carriage. I heard the road is rough…”

Cardinal Boutier, who had been listening seriously, opened her mouth.

Her beige eyes showed concern. That part was also a concern for me.

Originally, as a hostage, I would not have used portals outside the Imperial Palace, but I had a schedule to leave for the Diem Marquisate’s territory next month.

“It would be good to take a carriage and move slowly, staying overnight each day.”

I offered my opinion.

Using a carriage would lengthen the journey and increase the cost, but I didn’t have the courage to try the portal again.

Just thinking about that blood-red glow made me feel nauseous and unpleasant.

I thought it would be a hundred times better to leisurely tour the scenery of the Empire.

“No. Leave it to me, Prince Yeser.”

At that time, a stranger who had been silent until now spoke for the first time.

I looked at the slender guest standing to the right of the Cardinal.

He was a handsome man with dark skin and striking pink eyes, boasting an atmosphere that didn’t resemble his younger brother, the Diem Knights Commander, at all.

“Does the Marquis Diem have a better idea?”

I asked, and he raised the corners of his mouth with a smirk and opened his bag.

The Cardinal could already be heard sighing.

Marquis Francois Diem was a mage specializing in teleportation, and he was said to be investing heavily in portal research and development, taking advantage of his specialty.

After hearing about my story of being treated for portal sickness, the Cardinal hurriedly summoned the Marquis, who happened to be in the Imperial Capital.

Although she had a somewhat regretful look on her face now…

“This is it!”

Before long, the Marquis dramatically raised his arm.

In his hand were round, flat, unidentified apricot-colored pieces of cloth.

“Just stick it behind your ear, and portal sickness will disappear completely!”

Hey, that’s trademark infringement!