What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 431

#431

Ding Dong Deng Black Market (1)

Around lunchtime, we finished preparing to leave for Jericho.

Can that even happen in this atmosphere?

-Bee-boop!

“Ttuk-ssim, come here.”

Yeah. When people set their minds to it, they somehow manage to make things happen.

Bright sunlight streamed onto the rain-cleared hillside.

A chilly wind quickly drove cotton candy-like clouds away.

The surrounding area was filled with the scent of wet earth and fallen leaves.

I carefully wrapped Tete, swaddled in a blanket, again with a robe.

We had been resting during the day and moving at night, but today, for the first time, we decided to move in broad daylight.

We were taking advantage of the nearby area being bustling with flood recovery efforts.

-Ptooreung

“Why, Areum? Are you cold? Should I cover you up here?”

-Ptooreureung

“Ah, you’re telling me not to move your legs. Sorry.”

I smiled, brushing Areumhardt’s mane. She is capable of 100% autonomous driving.

The horses were in very good condition, having rested well and eaten plenty of feed.

Bethane and the apothecary couple, who had warmly taken care of everyone, were packing up luggage from the morning to see us off.

It was truly something to be grateful for.

“Please be careful on the road, Johann! There might be landslides somewhere. I’ve never seen rain like that before.”

“Okay, I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I wish I could tell you to stay for another day or two. But since you have a tight schedule, there’s nothing I can do…”

Nailly and Toby kept stuffing things into our saddlebags.

I felt a little choked up thinking about Benjamin and the Imperial Palace family.

They didn’t seem to be living in great abundance, but the two of them milked the cows from dawn to make cheese to feed us.

They took out a lot of smoked fish from the basement and fried a whole bowl of meat patties and potatoes that boasted a delightful liver taste.

The cozy two-story house was filled with the smell of oil as if a feast was being held.

Ganael re-stitched Gaga’s bag—which eventually had the Crown Prince’s 7th-grade preservation magic cast on it—and it was filled with all sorts of edible and topical medicines.

I told them to keep it in the store for themselves, but it was no use.

“Here, chew on this while you go. It will help you forget your hunger.”

The couple handed Gain a few dried grass stalks.

I couldn’t help but chuckle at the protagonist, who didn’t even know what it was and immediately stuffed it into her mouth.

Ganael was guarding Elizabeth’s side with an even more proactive attitude than yesterday.

The viscount stuttered from time to time as if something was wrong with him.

Sir Johann, who met my eyes, smiled as if he would disappear at any moment. The smile on my face immediately evaporated.

I’m really sorry, Herritt’s father. We’re thinking about fixing things too…

“It’s chilling every time I see it. Is that really okay, Johann?”

Around that time, Toby looked up at the sky with a worried look.

At the same time, everyone’s eyes went up.

In fact, there was something even more serious than Ganael and Elizabeth’s bittersweet romance.

Surprisingly!

-Wheeeeeew…

“Well.”

After the heavy rain stopped, a new side was added to the white line across the sky.

It was a truly eerie result.

It was also white like a cloud and slightly swollen. It was so long that I couldn’t see the end.

Although not exact, it seemed to be at right angles to the existing line.

I didn’t even need to frown in the intense sunlight.

It was thanks to the miraculous magic stone glasses that covered my eye color.

Amidst my friends’ silence, birdsong rang out in the distance. ‘Chirp, chirp, chirp…’

“Hmm.”

With this, two things became clear.

First, the past heavy rain was also a natural disaster caused by the damage to the World Tree.

Otherwise, there was no way an unidentified line would be added as soon as the rain stopped.

The timing is too perfect to be a coincidence.

“Ttuk-ssim, you said you’ve never seen anything like that either, right?”

-Beep beep

Second, there is ‘definitely’ a secret we don’t know in that line across the sky.

That was definitely not a simple weather phenomenon.

Well, the world won’t end because I’m here—since they say they rely on me anyway—but something is definitely stirring.

Something that far surpasses the level of ‘human,’ like Werner Venetian or Wilhelmina Sneider.

A profound being whose identity even the troublesome kids don’t know.

“…It’ll be okay. If God doesn’t hate us.”

“You still worship the Lord God in that tone!”

Slap, Nailly quickly hit Johann’s thigh.

It was very strange and funny to see him being treated like that for the first time.

The Crown Prince Cedric signaled to start, and we said goodbye to the kind couple.

The two kept urging us until the end.

“Anyone who wears a reddish robe and wanders around like a ghost is unconditionally from ‘Twilight Sanctum’ [a potentially dangerous religious order]. Please don’t talk to them.”

“Yes. We will.”

“And if someone talks about the end of the world at first sight, don’t get information from them, even if they seem ordinary. They will surely spread lies and try to seduce you. I almost got fooled when I went on a business trip last time!”

Toby waved his arms wildly. We burst into laughter (‘Oh, I’m serious!’).

Soon, the Crown Prince, who had made eye contact with the couple, began to lead the way, click-clacking.

The group slowly moved forward.

I looked back at them for the last time and lowered my voice.

Even though I knew this place was safe.

“Goodbye, you two. If a suspicious guest comes and asks if there is a way to become a holy knight or if you are interested, please ignore them. That’s a scam that’s popular nationwide these days. It’s very bad.”

Then Gain quickly added.

“Actually, we are cracking down on those guys under the order of the royal family. Have you ever heard of ‘Secret Royal Inspector’?”

I was taken aback and looked back at her, but the apothecary couple already had an expression that they believed the words like iron.

No, what’s a secret royal inspector in a Western-style worldview?

Besides, how can a pirate king hold the position of royal inspector!

“Oh my, what a scary world… I’ll keep that in mind. Goodbye. Please take care!”

“And please take good care of Johann, lords. He’s the type who doesn’t say a word even when he’s in pain!”

“Johann! Say hello to Herritt for me!”

“Let’s meet again! Write a letter!”

The couple stood at the edge of the hill and waved their hands.

‘Woof! Woof!’ Lovely Bari also wagged his tail and greeted us.

Sir Johann was looking at the three families with a warmer face than ever.

It was a sight that made the corners of my mouth go up.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

We left like that, becoming secret royal inspectors of romance fantasy.

*

The next day, afternoon. The walls of Jericho.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…!

“Areum, just a little more!”

Six horses galloped wildly, plowing through the muddy ground.

The sun was already leaning towards the west.

The black magic robe fluttered like a flag.

The divine beasts were hiding in our arms, holding their breath. Every minute and every second was urgent.

“Ganael!”

“It’s 4:27, Princess!” the boy shouted, taking out his heirloom pocket watch. Only 3 minutes left.

‘Ha!’ The Crown Prince’s white forehead and Charlemagne’s black hair quickly struck the group. Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Until now, it had been a generally smooth journey.

Although the fact that Jericho was ruined was not in our script, we met the Bethane apothecary couple by happy coincidence—or by God’s blessing.

We took the necessary rest there and obtained some information.

Above all, Sir Johann, who met them, seemed very happy, so we were also secretly pleased.

But this place, the ‘City of the Monastery,’ Jericho, was really different.

Hoping for that kind of luck again was shameless, even for the protagonist’s party.

Even Herritt’s father had only passed through a few times a long time ago, and we had no place to rely on here.

Besides, right now…

-Squeak—

“Ugh, crazy!”

In the distance, the huge gate was closing.

It turned out that Jericho locks all entrances tightly from 4:30 PM.

It wasn’t that Nailly’s couple forgot, but that the whimsical lord suddenly issued such an order two days ago.

We only heard it from a poacher who was passing by two hours ago!

“Like this, heot!”

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

Everyone was essentially going full speed.

The hood that had been slipped off fluttered wildly, and Tete wriggled his flippered feet in excitement.

I gritted my teeth and aimed straight ahead. We’re almost there, really!

We can get in if we do well!

“It’s 29 minutes!”

-Clatter, clatter, clatter!

-Squeak…

The gap in the door was now less than 30cm, no, even 20cm!

“Hot! Look here!”

At that moment, Elizabeth shouted loudly.

Whoosh! At the same time, a heavy pouch flew from her hand.

Thud! The bag that passed through the door frame was lying on the muddy floor beyond the wall.

But no one seemed to have noticed him. The cruel door did not stop and narrowed the gap.

The appearance of the city inside was disappearing like long chopsticks.

-……Clatter, clatter, clatter!

No! Wait!

-Clang!

-Heeheeheeing!

Areum, who finally arrived in front of the gate, raised her front feet and got angry. Ah, we’re almost there!

“Hey, you dog—!”

The moment Gain, who was angry, was about to swear,

-Clang, clang!

The sound of the doorknob moving rang loudly from across the street.

We calmed the excited horses and watched the situation.

I thought they were wrapping a chain around the padlock.

Ganael, who hurried over, put my hood on. Thank you.

“…Cheonga! If you give me a pouch like this, I have to open it for you unconditionally!”

Huh?

“You idiot! Do you know how much this is worth!”

-Kwang!

“Who trained the new recruits, huh? Is it you?!”

Beyond the door, terrible intimidation and scolding continued. I blinked in surprise.

Gain and the Crown Prince immediately blocked my way.

Sir Johann and Elizabeth immediately blocked the rear. Following—

-Thump, Kuwoong…!

White light fell vertically on Ganael’s and my faces again.

Our lips also opened vertically.

*

-Kuwoooong…

Behind the group that entered the city like that, the huge gate slowly closed again.

That was really dramatic just now. I thought we should just go into the forest and camp!

-Whoosh!

The person who snatched Elizabeth’s second silver pouch hid it in his arms and looked up at us.

Three or four guards, who seemed to be her subordinates, were already licking their lips.

I hurriedly stared at the Crown Prince’s back so that our eyes wouldn’t meet.

But the gruff knight, who seemed to appear in cartoons, kept attracting attention.

“Is that enough?”

“Of course, Princess. The first pretty one is a toll without identity verification, and the second pretty one here is a fee for silent practice, right?”

The woman tapped her chest and pretended to sew over her long lips.

The viscount cocked his eyebrows and looked back at the group.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I quickly turned my gaze to the front.

My heart was pounding with the tension that I should never get caught and the excitement that we had done it.

I kept swallowing and my hands were shaking. Oh my gosh. We ended up bribing our way in.

Like in the movies, we illegally slipped a bribe and sneaked in! Not only illegal immigration!

“Serenite. Ether.”

“Huh, I’m sorry.”

I must have leaked it by mistake! I hurriedly turned off the ether faucet again.

Fortunately, there was no passerby who was interested in us.

It was also thanks to the robe that blurred our presence…

“More than half of the stores are closed. The streets are so wide.”

“Yeah, I know.”

Ganael whispered, and I quietly nodded.

The street, as wide as Gangnam-daero [a major street in Seoul], was empty.

It was time for many people to come out to buy dinner, but there were so few people coming and going that I could count the number of pedestrians with my eyes.

It didn’t seem to be just because of the heavy rain.

I could see a tree that had been struck by lightning and turned black, but the stores without signs or with signs that were half-fallen were obviously not just a day or two old.

The lord’s castle and the temple were located in the high ground far away. But at a glance, I could tell that there was no life there.

The city’s owners and young people had all abandoned this land and left.

Most of those who remained were children or elderly people without guardians.

The shops that were still open were all similar in business type.

‘Funeral director.’ ‘General store.’ ‘Bar.’ And again ‘Funeral director’…… Hmm.

“Wheeeeeew……”

Gain, who was walking ahead, made an eerie sound with her mouth.

She keeps chewing on the grass stalks that Nailly gave her, but no matter how I look at it, it seems to be a new concept.

I slyly stretched my neck and checked her expression.

Her blue eyes were barely visible, squinting.

Teacher, it’s all wet here, so the sandstorm isn’t blowing.

“I smell city and death……”

Why is your voice so hoarse all of a sudden? I quickly covered my mouth with my sleeve.

I thought it would attract unnecessary attention if I laughed loudly.

Just in front of us, some old people were pulling the coffin of the deceased.

The atmosphere here is very gloomy…

“Let’s go in there and get some information.”

At that time, Sir Johann pointed to one place. Our slowly moving gaze moved in a row.

‘The Unforgiven Tavern

– Beer, snacks, amazing advocaat’ [a traditional Dutch alcoholic beverage]

“Uh… Is it a tavern?”

“Yes, and it was a famous informant.”

‘Among mercenaries.’ He whispered.

We swallowed hard and looked up at the crooked sign.