What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 419

Finding the Lost Piece (8)

Meanwhile, at the Temple of the Boundary…

“Ugh.”

Orelly Boutier groaned softly as she sat on the sofa.

Erb, who had escorted her to the guest room’s living room, scratched the back of his head with a troubled expression.

The notebook and documents he held seemed somehow lighter than they should have.

Sant, who followed behind, also looked troubled, creating a strangely heavy atmosphere.

Herit, sitting beside Ganael and playing cat’s cradle [a game using string to create shapes], tilted his head.

On the child’s lap was a silk pouch containing the letters his father had sent him.

Tite had long since fallen asleep, carried in a sling on Ganael’s back.

The table was laden with snacks and fruits brought by the Vatican’s vice-deacons.

The spacious guest room seemed peaceful at first glance.

However, the adults returning from the library looked grim.

“Ugh?”

-Cheep cheep?

Eventually, Herit imitated the adult’s voice, as if asking what was wrong.

Tuk-soom [the wren] didn’t give up either, shaking its body.

Then, the Cardinal turned to look at them and smiled softly.

The sleeves of his ornate priestly robes rustled as he stroked the child’s forehead and rubbed the wren’s belly.

Then, a gentle voice broke the silence.

“It’s not as easy as I thought.”

“······.”

-Cheep······

The child’s mouth fell open.

It was the first time he had seen His Eminence the Cardinal struggling with something.

Ganael’s eyes were filled with worry.

Soon, the boy attendant put down the string—not forgetting to promise Herit, ‘Let’s do it again later’—and began to brew tea for the three of them.

Soon, the rich scent of black tea permeated the room.

-Clink, clack

-Pour, pour······

It had been two days already.

Orelly spent all her time in the Vatican Library, known as the ‘Sanctum Sanctorum’ [Latin for “Holy of Holies,” the most sacred place], except for three meal times and short breaks.

This was an area that only the Cardinal could enter.

Naturally, Sant and Erb could not accompany her inside, and the vice-deacons here couldn’t help her either.

Moreover, the position of librarian of the Sanctum Sanctorum originally belonged to the Pope.

However, the highest-ranking clergyman was currently vacant, and the Secretary General only managed the Pope’s household and did not take care of the Pope’s sacred duties.

He wasn’t in a position to dare to do so.

He came about twice a day to check the magic lighting or ladders and then left.

There was no friendly conversation between the two.

In short, Orelly had to find the materials alone in the vast tomb of books.

All the Cardinals except her were from the Holy Nation, so there was no one to ask for advice.

“Thank you, Ganael. I’ll enjoy it.”

-Rustle

As the Cardinal lifted the teacup to her lips, Herit gently grabbed her sleeve.

The middle-aged woman turned her gaze to the gentle tug. The small face was full of confusion.

“Uhm······.”

“He seems curious about what you’re looking for that’s so difficult. He is a very curious child.”

Ganael smiled as he placed a gland [likely a type of pastry] on her plate.

Orelly took a sip of tea and then smiled kindly.

“That’s right. I’m looking for ancient records from before Liester and Venetian were built. I once read a fairy tale about my homeland ‘Unio’ with you, do you remember?”

Nod, nod.

“That’s right. I came here wondering if there might be any secret stories left by the people who lived there at that time. I was hoping to find the original sin or weakness of the Venetian royal family. But now I see… it seems they’ve all been hidden away, so that even a Cardinal can’t look into them carelessly.”

“Hidden?”

-Cheep cheep?

Ganael and Herit’s eyes widened. Sant sighed deeply and answered instead.

“I learned that there is a sacred ether barrier in the deepest part of the Sanctum Sanctorum. Only by boldly uncovering it and entering can you reach the Ark of the Covenant [a sacred chest]. In other words, it’s another secret archive within the secret archive. Your Eminence… he suspects that all of the Vatican’s most valuable materials are stored there.”

“I was told that only those who are qualified can enter the Ark of the Covenant.”

Erb, holding a small teacup, said with a sigh. Ganael’s eyebrows furrowed slightly.

The attendant was the eldest son of the Kalamar viscount family, known for their faith, and he was quite knowledgeable about words prefixed with ‘God-‘ or ‘Holy-‘.

The feeling was not good.

“Could it be······.”

“Yes. It is written that only a ‘saint who has received the service of a sacred object’ can enter the Ark of the Covenant. If the next Holy Father does not appear, no one will be able to enter the Ark of the Covenant after all······.”

Sant’s shoulders drooped.

Ganael quickly placed a piece of cherry flan in his hand.

When he was feeling down, the Palace Lord would give him something sweet like this, and it somehow made him feel better and gave him strength.

However, everyone’s faces turned bitter in a situation where no easy solution could be seen.

He had thought that everything would work out well since he had come to the temple with His Eminence the Cardinal, but once again there was an obstacle.

Although the front line was far away, the entire continent was like a battlefield.

He wanted to finish his work faithfully and go to meet Georges in a good mood…

What will happen now? Will we end up parting ways without any results?

Should I escort His Eminence back to the palace tomorrow?

He couldn’t spend an unlimited amount of time here.

The late Former Royal Consort said that it was difficult for him to stay in the Imperial Palace for a long time, and it was impossible for him to take care of state affairs.

-Chirp chirp chirp

At that moment, Tuk-soom, who had fluttered up, settled on Ganael’s thigh.

Then, as if to show off, it puffed out its belly and began to hop.

The boy smiled and stroked the little bird’s back.

His Majesty at the front must be expecting good news.

It was really disappointing and sad to go empty-handed.

What would our Palace Lord do in this situation?

He is always a noble person who comes up with ingenious and amazing ideas…

-Chirp chirp! Chirp chirp!

“Yes, Tuk-soom. I will still cheer up.”

-Cheep cheep cheep cheep! Cheep cheep cheep!

As Ganael whispered that, the wren now flapped its wings and opened its beak wide.

The attendant tilted his head with a puzzled expression. Is he stuffy?

Some sand might get in, but he thought he should open the window for a moment.

Erb seemed to have the same thought, as he silently got up and began to move his rock-like body.

Tuk-soom’s bean-like eyes finally sharpened.

-Chee ree reet! Chirp roo reet!

“It must be stuffy because the air is heavy. Tuk-soom is a friend of the wind.”

The Cardinal said in a kind voice.

Then, the wren flew to Herit as if it couldn’t stand it anymore—it really looked like that—and sprawled out in its owner’s arms like waterlogged cotton. Thud!

The boy smiled brightly and wrapped the sacred object with his small hands…

Ah!

“Good heavens!”

Ganael, horrified by the realization, covered his mouth with both hands.

Everyone’s eyes immediately turned to the attendant. Orelly hurriedly put down her cup.

The sun was setting outside, but the boy’s golden eyes were shining like the sun at midday.

“What’s wrong, Ganael? Are you feeling unwell?”

“No, Your Eminence. Rather, I feel like my mind and body are as light as a feather. ‘Sacred object’!”

So this is how it feels.

His Honorable Juliet, the Palace Lord, comes up with these ideas every time!

“A little while ago, you clearly said that only a saint who has received the service of a sacred object can enter the Ark of the Covenant. But we already have the owner of the sacred object by our side. Herit, I mean!”

“Wow!”

Sant’s face brightened instantly.

Herit, who was kissing Tuk-soom, blinked in surprise.

‘Squeak, squeak!’ Erb, who was about to break the unopenable window, turned to look at the group with wide eyes.

‘Awoo.’ Tite, who had finally woken up, began to whine, shaking his flipper feet.

Ganael moved his body back and forth to soothe the baby.

“I read that the Ark of the Covenant is a record box in which the Lord God himself revealed his will, or a space where humans have carefully collected his long-standing will. At least, that’s what the teachers in our family taught us.”

-Ooooong

“You have learned well, Ganael.”

“I am deeply grateful. Until now, I also thought that only the Holy Father could enter the Ark of the Covenant. But since you said that there were no such words on the barrier······.”

“Yes. There was only the condition that ‘the saint must receive the service of the sacred object.’ Perhaps you are right. But······.”

Orelly stroked Herit’s back and drooped her eyebrows.

She already knew that this child had become the owner of the sacred object, but there was still one difficult part.

“Only Cardinals are allowed to enter the library. The Vatican’s paladins are standing guard at the door like General Winter [a personification of winter’s harshness], how can we disguise such a young child? I’m worried that he might get hurt.”

-Cheep—po!

No sooner had the words left her mouth than Tuk-soom cried out loudly and flew to the ceiling.

Everyone’s heads jerked up.

At the same time, the little bird’s body emitted a light purple color and glowed dazzlingly. ‘Paaaaa······!’

-Whoosh whoosh whoosh······!

Then, it exploded like a firecracker and turned into thin, fluttering light powder!

The group, greatly embarrassed, jumped up from their seats without anyone saying anything first.

However, there was no time to respond.

It was because the blessing of the sacred object was poured directly onto the owner’s head. ‘Charrrrr······.’

Herit quietly closed his eyelids like a baptized believer.

Everyone was speechless at the somehow familiar expression.

Soon, the child’s body was dyed the same light purple color as before.

-Paaaaat······!

And a flash of light, almost white, filled the room.

No more beautiful expressions, no more rosy cheeks could be seen.

“Oh my god. Herit!”

“Your Eminence!”

Orelly, pale as a sheet, tried to hug the child, but the captain of the guard, who had rushed in, wrapped her in his arms.

Sant was simply넋을 빼놓고 [넋을 빼놓고 (neogeul ppaenoeugo) is a Korean expression that means to be so shocked or stunned that one’s soul seems to have left their body] watching the small miracle.

The cherry flan he had half-bitten was now rolling on the carpet.

And Ganael, the devout believer in the Lord God, the boy attendant—

-Aheung!

“Yes, Tite. The God of the continent truly possesses great power.”

‘Amazing!’ He burst into a clear laugh after a long time and watched Herit’s transformation.

When the light finally subsided, the person sitting in the seat instead of the child was none other than…

“Hehehe.”

“Lord God!”

It was Secretary General Ronald Lüpert, smiling bashfully.

Sant, horrified, slumped down, and Orelly buried her forehead in Erb’s shoulder and began to laugh as if sobbing.

Ganael was busy soothing Tite, who had become excited again after seeing the unfamiliar old man.

Soon, Erb’s hearty laughter echoed through the spacious living room.

*

A few days later.

On an unknown road in an unknown forest.

It was already quite far from the Venetian capital.

-Clop, clop······

“······.”

Werner Venetian, sitting in the saddle, quietly looked back.

Early darkness was descending, reflected in his chocolate-colored eyes.

His splendid castle, beautiful banquet hall, and beloved daughter had long since disappeared from sight.

The luxurious prosthetic leg hung limply from the stirrup.

The escape that night still felt like a dream. His bruised neck screamed every time he moved.

‘I’m ready. Me and my daughter.’

‘······Very well. Let’s go.’

The Royal Consort fled, packing his bags in rags that anyone could see were unsightly.

Wearing a robe that turned transparent against his will.

If the situation were reversed, he would have unconditionally inspected the luggage of his companion before departure.

He would have done so without fail because he could not know what items were packed inside and he did not trust the other person.

However, Martier Jielstera did not do such a thing.

There was a lack of time, but it seemed that she did not feel the need to rummage through his bag.

He was appalled by her attitude of not seeing him as a threat at all.

It was obvious that she thought that a guy who had lost one limb each would not be able to do anything on horseback.

She was actually an excellent battle priest, so she would easily subdue him alone.

On the other hand, Werner had never learned martial arts since he was born.

-Click, click, click

“······Dare.”

So he bit his lip slightly and turned his gaze away.

The woman’s shaved head, going about half a god ahead, caught his eye.

He hated the fact that he had become like this overnight to the point of death, but there was nowhere to turn his horse and run away.

Elise was his own daughter, his eldest daughter.

It was wise to rely on her for the time being as she would never harm him. But on the other hand…

“······It’s work! What should I do, huh?”

At that time, a person’s voice was heard far ahead.

Martier frowned slightly and slowed down.

Then she quickly reached out towards him.

Werner pulled on the reins, gritting his teeth at the arrogant attitude.

As he turned the corner, a predictable situation came into view.

It was a postal carriage with its wheels stuck in the mud.

“It’s okay, elders! This is a shortcut, but the road is rough, so this happens often. Stay inside! I’ll use some strength.”

“Oh my, the coachman is also skinny······.”

“Everyone should get off! We have to empty it all out first to make it even a little lighter!”

The old men in the cargo hold clicked their tongues and felt sorry for him.

Martier passed them with a blunt look.

The Royal Consort felt that it was quite unexpected, but he also did not want to get involved with lowly people, so he slowly took his eyes off them.

No, that’s what he was going to do. But his eyes met.

It was because the old woman who got off the carriage last was staring at him with cloudy eyes.

“······.”

That day. It was the old woman who had left him the robe in the desert and disappeared.

A chill ran down his spine.