What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 395

#395

Refining (4)

The Venetian military camp was bustling in the morning.

A strange vitality and cool energy swirled like smoke through the alleyways of the barracks.

The storm of war was once again looming just around the corner.

-Clack, clack, clack, clack!

“Morning training is dismissed! Everyone, return to your barracks.”

“Yes!”

Of course, on the surface, the atmosphere was orderly and calm.

Wilhelmina Sneider was a respected noble and knew how to boost the morale of her soldiers when needed.

During the temporary truce, she deployed more than twice the usual number of medical personnel to the aid stations.

More than half of them were priests from her territory.

Meanwhile, she significantly increased food rations and provided ample rest for the soldiers.

Both internally and externally, she worked tirelessly to reduce the impact of the Imperial Army’s air raids.

Their second wave of attacks was noticeably less effective than the first.

This was the result of deploying a large number of air-attribute paladins for source defense and providing bonuses to those who recovered the fallen airships.

The Empire’s strategy instilled doubt and fear in the hearts of the people, but there was little opportunity for it to be expressed outwardly.

The heretical leaflets may have reached the East Sea, but she had many agents there as well.

Duke Sneider consistently responded with composure.

No one had ever seen her raise her voice in decades.

Soon, the soldiers busily scurried away.

One of them subtly approached a passing comrade.

“Where are you going to pray today?”

“At the barracks where Kim and Kuman are staying.”

“The one next to the pagoda tree?”

“Yeah.”

“Thanks.”

And they quickly distanced themselves.

Their faces were innocent, as if they hadn’t exchanged whispers at all.

Everyone huddled, shoulders hunched against the chilly air.

Some of the soldiers were praying day and night for the safe return of Crown Princess Elysee.

Most of them were those with little education.

They had never even speculated about the political situation in Venetian, the power struggles between nobles, or the power structure.

However, hope existed even for the ignorant masses.

They, too, had a leader to rely on and a vaguely dreamed-of tomorrow.

The promised future shone brightly like the sun, even in the darkest night.

“So, what’s for lunch today?”

“Hey. Be grateful for what you get and eat it thankfully.”

“Sigh. I eat better than I did back home, but still. The battle starts again tomorrow, you know.”

“I know, right? I wish we had some meat broth, if possible!”

“No! Think about it. What if Her Highness returns… …”

-Thud, thud, thud… ….

‘She’ who left a golden spear on the desolate plain and disappeared like a lie.

-Whoosh… ….

“… …”

The Count of the Holy State, Arno von Loy, watched the soldiers’ retreating figures with sunken eyes.

Alone in the training ground, he was lost in thought.

The people are truly simple yet complex creatures.

Despite the fact that Duke Sneider clearly provides tangible ‘grace,’ the object of their deep reliance is none other than Elysee Venetian.

Her touch as she visited the aid stations and personally checked the foreheads of the soldiers, or the small acts of kindness, such as offering words of blessing to the children in the village and adding firewood to the stove.

With just those things, everyone sincerely cherished her.

He knew that such behavior was rare among the upper class.

He also knew that she was particularly generous to the common people and unable to do things she didn’t believe in.

However, the people showed genuine affection for the Crown Princess simply because she was of royal blood.

They didn’t care how naive and clumsy she was.

On the other hand, the emotion towards Sneider seemed closer to awe than love.

“Count.”

“… …”

“Count Loy?”

Arno was skeptical of Grand Duke Kamingha’s decision to join hands with the Crown Princess.

He had helped the old Duke’s plan, but he doubted how far someone who had lived their entire life in a cage could fly.

But perhaps the people unconsciously knew.

Perhaps the instincts of those who had been pushed to the bottom for so long were the first to realize.

That the leader who would truly care for them until the end was not Sneider, but the Crown Princess.

“… …”

“Twelfth Apostle.”

Arno quickly turned his gaze.

Sneider’s subordinate was standing next to him before he knew it. The man inwardly clicked his tongue.

As long as she was alive, the current reality was that he couldn’t even continue his thoughts in peace.

He didn’t regret the role he had volunteered for, but being a spy was so tiring.

“What is it?”

“The Duke wishes to abandon your liquor storage.”

“The location.”

“Francon.”

“… …”

Arno frowned as if he couldn’t understand.

The woman waited for his answer with an expressionless face.

She never explained anything unless asked first.

It was the Sneider family’s unique way of keeping secrets.

“Did an accident occur?”

“No.”

“Then it’s even harder to accept. You haven’t used the Salt Marsh for a long time, have you? There’s no reason to abandon it, given its geographical advantages.”

‘Ting!’ A silver coin flipped from the man’s fingertip.

The woman silently watched his hand trick before offering a sigh-like answer a little later.

“It’s a kind of deception.”

“Was something discovered? That’s rare. By whom?”

“… …”

‘Ting, ting, ting!’ The silver coin performed tricks without rest.

As a Cardinal of the Air Attribute, he had faithfully carried out Duke Sneider’s plans with his amazing stigmata [holy wounds or marks].

His only flaw was that he asked too many questions, but the Duke considered him a very good asset.

He could easily go berserk and die at any time, so there was no need to worry about the aftermath, and he successfully completed any task he was assigned.

The woman, who had been silent for a moment, opened her mouth. After all, Count Loy was the master’s ‘Apostle.’

It was right to provide the necessary information.

“… …Before the battle resumes, Statia’s secret chamber will be closed.”

“I didn’t expect that.”

Indeed, the Empire seemed to have discovered the traces of the Rock Castle.

They must have finally crossed the halo grass mist.

“Therefore, noise is needed in various places. The marsh is just one of them.”

“I see.”

“The master has a next move. It’s not a big deal if a single storage is lost.”

“I understand. I will follow the Lord’s command.”

It was an unpleasantly clear answer.

The woman frowned slightly and raised her head.

The circlet that wrapped around the man’s forehead gleamed in the sunlight.

He turned to her and tilted his head. His cool, refreshing eyes curved into crescents.

“Is there anything else to say?”

“… …No.”

The other party bowed politely and stepped back.

Arno composed himself, ignoring the throbbing headache.

And this time, he continued his thoughts about the Salt Marsh.

‘Ting!’ The silver coin drew an arc again.

*

Huff, huff… ….

“Serenite.”

The shock was too much.

“Haa, ugh… ….”

It was excessive and terrible. For a while, I trembled all over, squeezing my eyes shut.

I felt like a brush that had fallen into a bucket of water.

The surroundings were all dyed with dark paint, my ears were muffled, and my vision was spinning, making me completely disoriented.

I needed to get off the boat and do something right away, but I couldn’t breathe properly.

But I couldn’t just scream and run somewhere.

My startled heart was beating and pounding wildly.

Even in the midst of all this, I clung to a single thread of reason and firmly locked down my ether [magical energy].

It wasn’t the first time I’d seen a corpse.

But wasn’t this the kind of sight that would mentally shock anyone?

“Serenite.”

I was just an ordinary office worker.

“Hoo, haa… ….”

“Yeser.”

I flinched. Only then did my vision become a little clearer.

I barely closed my chattering jaw and slowly looked up at the man.

The orange eyes under the mask were shining like a guide.

Only then did the world register clearly in my mind.

Behind him, I could see Ms. Gain leaving the boat first.

The pale nape of her neck had prominent blue blood vessels.

She, too, seemed to have barely suppressed her shock. I swallowed hard and took up the oars.

Clunk, clunk. In doing so, I had to look at the corpses below the surface of the water again.

As white as marble, with expressions as peaceful as if they were asleep. Flowing hair.

Lips turned purple… ….

“… …”

“Can you walk?”

No, hyung [term for older brother or male friend], I have no strength in my legs. If you touch me wrong now, I think I’ll throw up stomach acid.

“… …Of course. I’m a person who has completed military service.”

21 months. Two sessions of commando training.

“… …”

“We haven’t been caught yet, have we?”

Whether my condition was that bad, the guy whispered a joke for once.

I smiled faintly and got up from my seat.

I staggered slightly, but quickly grabbed the Crown Prince’s robe to avoid falling.

The sentry standing like a grim reaper by the water’s edge quietly watched us.

The surroundings were all dark blue, and the part where the other person’s face should have been was as black as a sewer.

I felt so much danger that I almost greeted him.

“… …”

“… …”

“… …”

But what we needed now was not small talk but silence.

We moved, firmly believing in the robe that ‘blurred our presence.’

-Step, step, step… ….

And while following Christel, who was walking ahead, I never looked back.

Fortunately, Rophy hid under the Crown Prince’s coat and moved quietly.

I tried desperately to think only positive thoughts.

When I get back, I’ll feed Charlemagne and Doria lots of delicious vegetables.

I’ll hug the red pandas for a long time, and if possible, I’ll make a cat tower for Rophy.

I’ll send long letters to my teacher and friends… ….

-Squeak, clank!

The balloon I was chasing burst, and my eyes flew open.

It was because the door behind me had closed again.

The stone building connected to the swamp was, as expected, damp and dark.

There were no magic lights, and torches were sparsely lit on the mossy walls.

The place we entered seemed to be underground. Beyond the black tunnel, a wide waterway continued endlessly.

A passage of stagnant water filled with corpses.

“… …”

“Don’t stop.”

The Crown Prince whispered behind my head.

I quickly nodded and moved forward.

-Step, step, step… ….

-Clatter, clatter, clatter… ….

From the arched doors on all sides, people wearing black robes walked out in droves.

Some were tall, and some were burly.

On the other hand, there were also those who were very small and frail.

Everyone was wearing a half-mask, so I couldn’t see their faces.

However, the way they all moved in a line, with their hands clasped together reverently, was very unsettling.

The air was filled with the stench of decay.

I didn’t want to think of bad scenes, but I couldn’t help but feel nauseous.

There was no choice.

-Clatter. Clatter. Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter… ….

We cut in line as naturally as possible.

I was nervous that we might be dragged out, but fortunately, no one found our group strange.

The stiff neck loosened a little.

I never knew that a simple ‘reconnaissance’ could be such a dangerous and terrifying thing.

But when was it ever not? Ms. Gain was still Toegye Gong’s ‘protagonist.’

I accept all aspects of her as a truth beyond reality, but there were still parts that didn’t change.

This was a kind of formula that was maintained even if the world line changed.

For example, the fact that the incidents she was involved in always grew in scale.

The fact that the journey would not end easily. At the same time, the fact that she was strangely kind and… ….

“Do not rush. Everyone will be able to enjoy the blessing of the Lord God.”

… …Sometimes she provides huge bait.

“Come in one at a time.”

… …It was a voice that could not determine gender or age.

The person was standing alone in front of the room at the end of the hallway, holding a blue lantern.

The robe crowd moved as meekly as if they were following a shepherd.

Ms. Gain glanced at me and nodded solemnly.

I didn’t know what it meant, but I nodded too. Yes. I believe in Ms. Gain.

-Tap, tap

“Excuse me.”

Then Ms. Gain spoke to the person in front of her. I never agreed to this!

“… …”

Ugh, the person in front is turning around!

“I’m here for the first time today, so I don’t know the rules very well. Are we going to see the ‘Lord’ now?”

What is it? What is the protagonist’s guts really?

“… …Something like that.”

Then a young man’s voice returned. I quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve.

Does this work? Does this work!

“It is a time to embrace the grace that the Lord gives us.”

“Grace?”

“Yes. The Ether infusion.”

“Then the Lord is,”

“Aaaaaah… …!”

I was so surprised! I reflexively took a step back and collided with the guy behind me.

The Crown Prince let out a low groan, but that wasn’t the important thing right now.

The woman who came out of the room at the end of the hallway… ….

“Aaaaaah! Aaaagh! I have gained power. The power of God!”

She was glaring with both eyes and stretching her arms towards the sky.

She seemed somewhat crazy and drunk.

She just looked like someone immersed in tremendous joy.

The Crown Prince, sensing something, immediately stretched his arm in front of me.

It was a posture to defend against an attack.

“Ehehehehe! Hahahaha!”

-Whoosh!

Flames soared from the woman’s right hand, unable to contain her joy.

It was a very unstable color.

Beyond the flames that repeatedly turned red, blue, and pale… ….

“I have received the power of God!”

-Swish!

A stream of water began to pour from her left hand.

The three of us stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.

When a person is too surprised, they momentarily lose their language, and this was exactly the case.

I forgot how to even blink and stared at the woman.

Then a drunken shout echoed through the hallway.

“The Lord has chosen me! Me!”

‘Hehehehehe!’ She began to stagger to the other side.

The robe crowd was eerily unresponsive. The group was stunned for a while.

-Crackle, sizzle… ….

Until the woman’s body, dancing in joy, slowly collapsed.