What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 436

#436

Ding-dong-deng Black Market (6)

-Thud, thud, thud…

“I thought you weren’t going down to the market,” the landlord said. “What about that?”

“My schedule changed a bit.”

“You should have told me sooner. It’s hard to get into the black market these days. The atmosphere isn’t what it used to be since the war broke out.”

“I’m sorry.”

The landlord in his pajamas grumbled, and I chuckled softly, apologizing.

The old man was guiding us, holding a large lantern and wearing a gown over his pajamas.

Though his actions were rough and his tone wasn’t very gentle, he was quite the skilled businessman.

It turned out that the tavern ‘The Unforgiven Booze’ was one of the many entrances to the black market.

That’s why Sir Johann knew about it, and that’s why the kid from Sondegi asked us if we were ‘going to the market.’

We relied on the old man as we walked down the dark hallway where we couldn’t see an inch ahead.

It was the same path we took to meet the information broker, Noe.

“Hey! More booze! All gin!”

-Thump, crash!

“How can you drink now? The country is about to collapse, and you’re drinking!”

Even though it was well past midnight, the underground gambling den was rowdy.

Harsh shouts echoed from behind the firmly locked doors.

We pulled our hoods down and hurried along.

‘Meow-ooh.’ The divine beast Ropi ran ahead and behind us with the group.

It was a scary and dark place, but the little guy was so brave.

“Wahahaha! I won again! I’m so sorry!”

-Clang!

“Why is the Divine Nation collapsing! Are you a doomsday prophet? If you and I collapse, then we’ve collapsed, but the higher-ups are doing just fine!”

-Rustle, rustle, rustle…

“It’s a friendship belt, a friendship belt.”

Ms. Gain whispered, subtly approaching me.

I smirked and looked down at her waist and mine.

A seemingly ordinary leather strap was wrapped around our waists.

It was something that Marquis Francois D’Heim had personally inscribed with a magic formula and cast an 8th-circle spell on.

The same thing was tied around the Crown Prince’s torso as he walked ahead.

Looking back, Sir Johann was also part of the set.

However, his strap was jade-colored, unlike ours.

Did Francois foresee this situation?

“Please be careful, all four of you. I’ll be waiting for the signal,” Ganael whispered, walking with us to see us off. We quickly nodded.

A bracelet with a vermilion mana stone was on the boy’s wrist.

As expected, it was a very simple design, and Crown Prince Cedrick wore the same model on his right hand.

The user manual—written in Francois’s own handwriting, of course—stated that the two bracelets were made with a single high-grade mana stone.

It was said that this inherently had resonating properties and was traded at a very high price.

“If everything is fine, inject mana for more than 5 seconds, and if things are bad, inject it repeatedly for 1 second each time, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Don’t worry too much.”

Ganael smiled brightly at my words. Demi, nestled in the child’s arms, fluttered his ears.

In short, the Crown Prince was in charge of relaying messages to the surface, and when he poured mana into the mana stone bracelet, a red light would appear on Ganael’s bracelet.

It wouldn’t work if the distance was too great, but it was better than nothing.

Lady Elizabeth and the other divine beasts remained in the guest room with Lady Marguerite.

We quietly walked, checking each other’s luggage for the last time.

Occasionally, our eyes met with Prince Djibril Diop, who was following behind.

He was wearing a mana restraint, but this time it wasn’t handcuffs, but wristbands made of demon beast leather (naturally, Francois’s patent).

The wound on his side had healed quickly, but he still looked like he was in pain.

It wasn’t just a dissatisfied look.

It’s really bothering me.

“Don’t worry about my brother. He’s a strong person who survived even in Yuliter’s clutches and in the war.”

“……”

When I spoke softly, unable to bear it any longer, he glared at me. What.

“I don’t know what happened, but Lady Elizabeth will listen to you. Of course, she’ll take care of basic meals and sleep.”

“I hated the environment that made him have to ‘survive.’ You know?”

The prince suddenly whispered harshly. I was surprised and blinked.

His expression and voice weren’t their usual nonchalant selves, so I felt awkward.

I knew he cared a lot about his brother—

“Can’t he just live normally? Why did he have to live like he was struggling before he even turned sixteen? Why did he pick up a sword when he had no talent for it? Things just flow well if he stays still. That’s how everyone else lives, so what’s so……!”

He poured out words like a waterfall, overwhelmed with emotion, and then suddenly shut his mouth when he met my eyes.

Dozens of emotions swirled in his red eyes.

I belatedly realized that he was recalling the unfortunate past of ‘Yeser Venetian’ Prince.

Oh, that’s not me…

“……”

“……”

The prince frowned and averted his gaze.

I opened and closed my lips for a few seconds before finally shutting them.

It was a situation where I couldn’t help but be misunderstood, so I felt a little uneasy.

Ms. Gain frowned, muttering things like, ‘So what?’ ‘Is he the only one with a story?’

Around that time, the group arrived in front of the stairwell leading to the second basement floor.

-Step.

“Looks like you’re going into the black market?”

A familiar voice was heard. Everyone’s eyes moved in unison.

Noe, who was out in the hallway, smirked as he looked at us.

The old lantern flickered in front of the confessional. Ms. Gain waved her hand in greeting.

“Mr. Noe, hello. It’s nice to see you again.”

“Yes, it seems you’ve finally made up your mind. Are you well-prepared?”

“As much as we can. We’ll never get separated.”

“Then that’s good. If you don’t let go of each other’s hands, you won’t get separated.”

With those words, the information broker stared silently at Demi, who was clinging to Ganael’s shoulder.

It seemed that meeting our precious ones a few days ago was a good memory.

His strangely shadowed face looked truly young today.

The landlord bowed slightly and passed the priest.

We also sent smiles and were about to pass by when—

“……You are priests and holy knights.”

Abruptly.

The Crown Prince immediately turned to the information broker. It seemed like sparks were flying from his eyes!

I quickly stepped in front of him, worried that there might be a conflict.

Ms. Gain blocked me again, and Sir Johann extended his arm in front of her.

Finally, Ropi moved smoothly and stood at the cardinal’s feet.

Fortunately, the landlord was already going down the stairs in the distance.

Noe chuckled and cleared his throat.

“Calm down. I’m not going to question anything. I don’t want to confirm the truth either. I just……”

And then he paused for a moment. The information broker’s large eyes searched the darkness.

We tensed our shoulders and waited for the rest of his words.

“It is said that good luck follows those who help and care for divine beasts. They say it has the power to chase away curses.”

That was a story I had heard before.

‘It is said that those who help and care for divine beasts gain good luck and the power to chase away curses. His Highness will also receive such blessings.’

‘Haha, just hearing those words makes me feel good.’

……A long time ago, Benjamin had given me such a blessing.

I swallowed hard and tilted my head. Why would he say something like that all of a sudden?

The Crown Prince behind me was slowly building up his energy.

I hurriedly looked up at him and shook my head.

He doesn’t have any bad intentions, you can feel it too. Let’s wait a little longer.

“……I pray for your success, and I look forward to it.”

Ah.

“Have a precious time. Guests.”

It was just a light greeting! I looked back at my friends with a bewildered expression.

Ms. Gain’s face was not much different from mine.

However, there was no time to question Noe’s intentions or continue the conversation.

“Excuse me—”

“Guests! Goodness, it’s not like it’s a honeymoon. Are you going or not?”

I was startled! The old landlord shouted gruffly from the bottom of the stairs.

We flinched and moved in a hurry.

“We’re going!”

“We’re going!”

“Grandpa, please wait a moment!”

Ganael whispered with a laughing voice.

Prince Diop, who had been silently observing the group, finally woke up from his thoughts and started walking when his eyes met mine.

*

……I guessed we had come down to about the ninth basement floor.

“Ugh……”

The underground was very cold and eerie. I don’t usually get cold easily, but even I did.

White steam flowed from my mouth, and goosebumps rose on my arms.

I quickly moved behind the Crown Prince, pretending to be nonchalant and indifferent.

And I did my best not to make eye contact with Ms. Gain.

Wow, it’s warm. I’m feeling better now.

-Oooooooo……!

-Sniffle, sniffle……

-Aaaaaah!

……But that’s really not it. Why is there a ghost wail at the entrance to the market?

Look at that ominous and black hole!

“Ahem, this is it. Fortunately, the door is open. This sky-blue prince and I will go back up.”

-Squeak.

“Wait a minute!”

I hurriedly grabbed Demi, who was raising his front paws in greeting.

The lesser panda looked at me with an expression that said, ‘Don’t be pathetic.’

The landlord had the same expression.

No, it’s scary! I should at least know why it’s like that before going in!

“There’s a terrible sound coming from the cave.”

“It’s been like that for three hundred and sixty days, it’s nothing. The black market is just like that. If you go over, there will probably be a guard, and you can pass by paying a few coins.”

“Is that all there is to it……?”

“Oh, if you’re really curious, ask the white-haired guest next to you. That’s the experienced one. If you waste time, this prince here will freeze to death.”

The old man scolded, tightening his gown.

I immediately took Ganael, who was trembling, next to the Crown Prince—he’s melting right away!—and quickly turned to Sir Johann.

Just in time, our protagonist was firing a machine gun [speaking rapidly and continuously].

“Sam, what is it? Is this a sequel to what we experienced in the desert? If we go in there, will a lot of red ghosts come out and start dancing? If so, I’ll warm up my throat before going in.”

“That’s not likely. It’s a sound that’s been coming from the black market for a long time, as the landlord said. I don’t know the origin, but it’s a place where evil and ominous things happen every day, so it would be strange if there weren’t any ghosts.”

“……”

In the end, he didn’t deny the ghosts! I bit my tongue and braced myself.

Prince Diop, who was watching, twisted his lips with a bitter smile.

“You were so haughty a while ago, but now you’re trembling like a fawn that’s met its natural enemy. Are you a split personality?”

……It would be better if you were just angry by yourself.

“Demi, please take good care of Ganael and Lady Elizabeth. And the youngest and the other little ones. And keep a close eye on Lady Diop.”

-Squeak!

“Yes. I believe in you. Don’t worry, I’ll be back safely.”

-Gurgle.

As I was whispering to the divine beast, the landlord exclaimed, ‘What a truly clever puppy.’

Ms. Gain also strode up to us. Whisper, whisper, whisper.

“Yerang is also managing his heart well during that time. We all know we’re on Yerang’s side, right? In case Lady Elizabeth accidentally……”

“It’s okay, Lady Christel.”

Ganael smiled softly and replied. We were speechless for a moment and stared at the boy.

A calm and resolute light dwelled in his moist golden eyes.

Even in the midst of the urgency, realization slowly spread.

You, could it be……

“I said I would definitely get George back. So I won’t get tired and I’ll do my best.”

“……Yes. Everything will be alright.”

My eyes suddenly welled up. We hugged each other tightly.

Then, the commotion in my chest subsided completely, and only faith and determination in each other were united.

I no longer felt the cold. Suddenly, I missed Benjamin and my brother, who were not here.

I heard Prince Diop laughing over there, but I didn’t care.

-Miyaaaaa.

Like that, we exchanged noisy greetings once again.

It seems that it has become our way now.

*

-Ooooooong—

That noise continued throughout the crossing of the black market entrance.

My ears were muffled and I felt a strange pressure, like I was on a plane.

Did we walk like that for about two minutes?

-Paaaaah……!

The front of my eyes brightened, and my earholes were blown open!

I frowned and walked forward little by little.

I could hear the murmuring of the crowd not far away.

Right next to me, Ms. Gain was raising her voice in excitement.

“Wow! Heineken, there’s an airship in the sky!”

“Don’t run.”

“Ugh!”

Before I could even lift my head, I was pulled back!

Our protagonist was holding onto my waist and groaning.

The Crown Prince, who had been walking normally, stood firm with his legs firmly planted.

Wow, Sir Johann already pulled the waist strap!