What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 422

#422

The Land of Gods and Fairy Tales (1)

Five days ago, the Temple of the Boundary.

The little one’s transformation became everyone’s opportunity.

“Herit, you absolutely mustn’t laugh. Even if you want to, you have to hold it in. His Highness Rüpert doesn’t laugh easily. He’s stiff, blunt, and colder than Kristel’s ice.”

“Okay.”

“That’s right. Just stick close to His Highness Orel. When it’s all over, come back and let’s laugh together.”

“Uh-huh.”

Sant tidied up Herit, who was disguised as the Vicar General, and whispered.

The boy nodded, swishing the cardinal’s plain clothes he was wearing for the first time.

Seeing him with such an innocent expression in the guise of an old adult made everyone feel strange.

The priest bit his lip, barely managing to compose his expression.

Perhaps the biggest problem was himself.

– Creeak…

“Let’s see.”

Ganael peeked out the door, glancing at both sides of the hallway.

Fortunately, there were no passing subdeacons or soldiers around the guest room.

It was all thanks to His Highness Orel Boutier dismissing all the guards in front of the door.

The cardinal, as a member of the imperial family, was skilled at managing subordinates.

He personally comforted them for their hard work and offered to treat them to imperial cuisine, which delighted both the young sentries and the dignified knights.

It seemed he had done well to bring wine and champagne from the imperial palace for the long journey.

Everyone was completely unguarded, saying there was nothing to worry about with the Imperial Guards present.

Soon, the attendants who had followed from the imperial palace took the Vatican group down to the dining hall.

No one seemed to notice Herit’s special aura.

It was a phenomenon difficult for ordinary people to understand, but Orel smiled knowingly.

‘I see. Herit’s power doesn’t manifest externally but only circulates within his vessel, so others can’t feel it. It’s an amazing ability that even a holy knight can’t detect.’

‘Wow…!’

Gulp. Ganael swallowed hard, finishing his brief recollection.

The wide hallway was very quiet. It was the perfect time to move.

“Then, let’s get going.”

Erve, who had been peeking out with the boy, said.

He had the most nervous look she had seen on him recently.

The cardinal rose from his seat with an incredibly elegant gesture.

The middle-aged man’s beige eyes sparkled with delight.

‘Awoo!’ Tete, nestled in his arms, flapped his flipper-like feet, expressing his excitement.

The captain of the guard silently sighed.

Since His Majesty was not present, he had to concentrate even more today.

Soon, the five people and one divine beast left the room and began to walk.

– Tap, tap, tap…

The footsteps heading back to the library were hurried.

In the meantime, Herit had behaved quite maturely.

Whenever a passing worker quickly bowed, the child raised his eyebrows with a stern attitude like the Vicar General.

Sant tried his best not to giggle. His bear-like round shoulders became even rounder.

Ganael walked ahead, constantly looking around.

He had to prepare for the possibility of the ‘real’ Vicar General appearing.

His fingertips were cold with tension. He suddenly missed Georges.

– Step!

“I will guard the path here.”

Finally, as they entered the corridor of the Sanctuary, Erve whispered in his unique, cavernous voice.

Following from the rear, he had been covering Herit as much as possible with his large frame.

The boy looked every bit like the Vicar General, but it was better not to expose him to too many people.

Orel gave him a kind smile.

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”

“Yes. Please be careful.”

“Okay.”

Soon, the captain of the guard strode to the window, his cloak billowing. This was the cardinal’s strategy.

Passersby, who had been busily moving around, began to blush as they glanced at the man.

Among them were high-ranking clergy and elderly people.

Erve Dheim was incredibly handsome, and the charisma emanating from his physique was considerable.

It was difficult for anyone to approach him easily, so he was perfect as a watchman.

If someone from the Vicar General’s side approached, it would be easy to lure them out by striking up a conversation first.

Ganael gave him a nod and quickly headed to the library entrance.

The knights they had met a few hours ago greeted them with surprised expressions.

The attendant feigned a calm voice.

“…Hello. Their two Highnesses have something to examine together and have come to visit again.”

“Yes, welcome.”

They immediately bowed their heads. The group breathed a sigh of relief without showing it.

They couldn’t rule out the possibility that the Vicar General was in the library, but when they asked a worker earlier, he said he had headed to the office.

They had come relying only on that, so it was a truly reckless operation.

“Are there any other guests inside?”

“There is no one else, young master.”

“I will open the door for you.”

But didn’t they succeed anyway? They lived!

– Clang! Creeak…

The large door opened with a heavy sound.

Orel handed Tete to Sant, then stepped forward, one step at a time, with Vicar General Herit.

Ganael pressed down on his pounding heart, watching their backs.

Princess, please help us…!

– Pazzit!

“Ah!”

Suddenly, the Vicar General’s body swayed greatly.

A strange scream burst from his aged lips.

The attendant and priest quickly covered their mouths.

Fortunately—the Lord was watching over them!—the knights were bowing and did not see what had just happened.

No one witnessed the ether, like static electricity, sparking on the old man’s body, and him almost falling over.

Thank you so much! Lord!

“Your Highness?”

“Your Highness! Are you alright?”

The knights asked, paling.

They were not cardinals, so they could not enter beyond the entrance.

If they did, they might be caught in an invisible barrier and become croquettes [a food that has been rolled into a ball or cylinder, coated in breadcrumbs, and deep-fried].

Sant quickly moved his tongue. Indeed, the teddy bear was a nimble animal.

“He just misstepped. Don’t worry.”

“Hmph…”

“But since this is the first time this has happened, shouldn’t we call a healing priest…?”

“No, that child is right. There’s nothing to worry about, so would you close the door?”

Orel, supporting the old man, added kindly.

However, while her voice was gentle, her eyes were very cold.

The Vicar General also raised his head and winked at them. It was clear he meant for them to stop.

The knights quickly became frightened and stepped back. ‘Step, step!’

“Yes, yes! Your Highness!”

“If you need anything, please come and find us at any time!”

“Thank you.”

‘Creeak, thud!’ The door closed.

The last thing they saw were the faces of Ganael and Sant, who were very nervous.

They were young but quick-witted children, so there was nothing to worry about.

Orel hurriedly checked Herit’s condition. Fortunately, the boy was unharmed.

He had no injuries, and his skin had a healthy color. The middle-aged man sighed deeply.

“To disrupt the barrier with an aura similar to the cardinal’s… the divine object is truly an intelligent being.”

“Yeah.”

“I came with you because you said it was somehow possible, but I was very surprised too. How could you resemble Johan so much? Huh?”

“Hehehe.”

Herit grinned.

‘Hwaaa…!’ The tenacity dwelling in the child also reacted, emitting a light purple glow from his entire body.

It meant to trust him and not to worry.

He was already worried about how he should face the young holy knight.

Orel shook his head as if he couldn’t win. He moved his steps to the other side.

He didn’t have the luxury to think about anything else right now.

He didn’t know when another cardinal would barge in or when the Vicar General would appear.

Soon, the two arrived at a secluded space in the corner of the library.

– Thud

“…This is the ‘Crown Ether Veil’.”

“Ah…”

Herit’s mouth widened.

The golden curtain, reaching from the floor to the ceiling, was as thin as a thread and rippled incessantly like a jellyfish.

Horizontally, it carefully covered all sides from that side to this wall, and in the center, a splendid pattern that no one could interpret was undulating.

Just looking at it made you feel overwhelmed by some kind of energy.

In many ways, it had an atmosphere that didn’t seem like a human creation.

Herit narrowed his eyes and cautiously approached the barrier.

Orel held the child’s hand tightly and moved.

“Wow…”

On the other side, there was a golden box that looked like a coffin.

It was very dazzling and shiny, something that anyone would call the Ark of the Covenant [a chest described in the Book of Exodus as containing the tablets of stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed].

The volume was large enough to fit two adults.

The child looked back at Orel, his mint-colored eyes shining.

Confusion crossed the middle-aged man’s face. He wasn’t relieved by the ability to freely undo the transformation either.

“Herit. You really have to be careful.”

“Huh?”

“It’s not that I doubt the divine power of the ark that serves its master. It’s not that I don’t trust you, who are so clever. But…. Do you see down there?”

She pointed to the bottom of the box with her index finger. Herit’s eyes moved.

And widened.

“Uh…”

“Yeah. The remaining roots of the World Tree extend this far. I didn’t know this either.”

Thick as the bottom of an ordinary tree, the black roots, flashing like snakes, surrounded the Ark and the floor.

The cardinal looked up at the boy, who had grown much taller than himself, and earnestly asked.

“If the barrier doesn’t accept you, I will take you back to the room immediately. If the Ark rejects you, I will also take you back to the room. There will be no second chances.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Remember that your safety is the most important thing.”

Orel whispered warmly. The two held hands and promised.

And finally, Herit took a step towards the barrier.

*

“Wowww…!”

Present.

“Soldiers! Keep your wits about you! Everyone, stay calm!”

“It’s nothing! We survived the day the sky had a hole in it!”

“Liester will prosper through victory!”

“But suddenly the World Tree is hurt?! What about Herit!”

Breaking through all the chaos and noise, Ms. Gain shouted.

We stubbornly went against the flow in the barracks street, where hundreds and thousands of people were pouring out.

While most of the soldiers were heading to the battlefield, only my friends and I were trudging towards His Imperial Majesty’s barracks.

Ganael, who got off his horse, looked back at us and answered loudly.

“Herit is safe. He has no injuries and wasn’t very surprised! He walked out perfectly fine! But a branch of the World Tree has been torn, Sir Kristel!”

“How did that happen!”

Our pink princess immediately asked back. I held tightly to Areum’s reins, which the boy had handed me.

In the middle of the sky I looked up at, a faint, white line was drawn.

It was so long and distant that the end could not be seen.

It gave the impression of a cirrus cloud [thin, wispy clouds often seen in fair weather] rather than a line, but the identity could not be known.

That was all.

“It’s just a cloud! Soldiers, stay calm!”

“Yes!”

No weather phenomena followed, and the sky was quiet without splitting or breaking as it was.

For now, it seems to be the result of the World Tree damage… What on earth is it?

It’s so different from the artificial space of Yuliter?

“Ganael, are you okay? Is everyone safe?”

“Yes, Princess! I’m not the only one who came! His Eminence the Cardinal has accompanied us here. He said he would definitely see His Majesty and return. They must be meeting now!”

“What?”

My teacher came all the way here?!

“Wait, just a minute! Then what happened to the temple?”

“It’s the same. It’s just that something like that appeared in the sky above the temple. There was a sound like my eardrums were bursting!”

The child explained, spreading his arms wide. His golden eyes, filled with fear, were pitiful.

I stroked Areum, who kept pushing against me, and worked hard to move my feet.

I’m glad to see you too, I missed you. So—

“Herit opened the Ark, and there was no problem up to that point. Everything was normal until he saw the contents and wrote them down…”

“I heard that a piece of paper fell to the floor by accident. As soon as it touched, the roots of the World Tree ‘fizzed!'”

‘It burst out with a terrifying light!’ Ganael answered, rummaging through his arms.

Yes, that description has been bothering me since earlier. Doesn’t it seem like there was a short circuit?

Last time, when the World Tree was hurt, I hit it directly with my staff, so it was understandable.

Growth is ultimately made from the roots of the World Tree.

But this time, the object of contact was paper, so that’s possible…

– Rustle, rustle

“Here it is, Princess. Herit copied some of the contents of the Ark as they were! But I can’t read it at all, so I don’t even know if it’s writing or a picture.”

Ganael took out a piece of paper that had been folded several times.

Lady Elizabeth, who received it in the middle, gave a wonderful smile.

The boy’s face turned as red as a carrot. Oh my!

“I will check it.”

I put Areum’s reins under my arm and hurriedly unfolded the paper.

Kristel’s side hair softly touched my cheek.

What on earth was in the Ark that it was kept there?

How important is it that it caused a contact failure with the World Tree and made the sky look like that again?

– Rustle, rustle

What on earth…

【Kristel Olivier de Sarnese

Height: 168cm

Weight: 53kg

Age: 19 years old (Ham Gain is 31 years old)

Birthday: March 18th

Appearance: Pink wavy hair down to the waist, bright sky-blue eyes, cute and lively mask…】

“Gasp,”

I hurriedly covered my mouth with the back of my hand. The yellow paper trembled.

The jagged letters, drawn like a picture, were running rampant in all directions.

Surely not. Thinking that, I busily looked for the next page. Rustle!

【Cedric Mercedes Liester

Height: 192cm

Weight: 92kg

Age: 24 years old

Birthday: August 13th

Appearance: Black semi-curly comma hair, red eyes, handsome with strong and gorgeous features

Outfit: Typical uniform…】

It felt like my eyes would pop out.

【Yeser Rosna Venetian

Height: 180cm

Weight: 68kg

Age: 28 years old

Birthday: May 31st

Appearance: Neat blonde straight hair, purple eyes, overall soft impression

Outfit: The Venetian theocracy’s clothing is different from the Liester Empire’s clothing…】

This is—

【Kicked the team leader’s Benz on the way out of the company and possessed…】

【Lived a poor and lonely life, but was more just and kind than anyone else…】

【Easy to empathize with】

【Need to change Yeser’s personality】

【PD Feedback: The female lead character is so cool. Writer, you can go as strong as you want ^^7】

This is the setting book.