What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 439

#439

The Devil’s Claw, the Wreck of the Abyss (3)

“Ah, about that!”

“I’m sorry, but we don’t do things like that.”

My excited younger sister started to speak, but her brother quickly cut her off.

I blinked in surprise. The boy’s young eyes were sharp.

“Passing this customer’s information to that customer, and that customer’s information to this customer. Then no one will trust us, so how can we do business? Not a single black magician will be left to sell us scrap metal.”

“Ah······.”

“Oppa [older brother, a term of endearment in Korean], you think about things like that too? Amazing.”

“Be quiet, please.”

“What did you eat to suddenly get so smart? Let’s share.”

“Hey.”

The siblings bickered while holding the cart handle.

I finally smiled and looked at the children.

They didn’t seem to be that far apart in age, but somehow they reminded me of my three siblings, and I felt a lump in my throat.

Suddenly, the last chicken we ate together came to mind, and my nose tingled.

The comedy movie we watched together in the living room was still vivid in my mind.

Lopi looked up at me and tilted his head.

I forced a shake of my head and pulled up the corners of my mouth.

I hope they’re both doing well. No, I hope they’re sleeping well?

“I see, I’m sorry. I didn’t think that far.”

······I’ll be back soon. After I keep a few promises here.

“Then can I ask you something else?”

“Yes, what is it.”

When I asked, exchanging glances with the Crown Prince, the boy replied with a slightly softened attitude.

That alone was a truly grateful reaction.

The black market people we had experienced since dawn extremely disliked strangers talking to them.

They would get angry at a light greeting or blatantly ignore you.

It seemed like everyone was a potential criminal. The war also contributed to everyone being on edge.

The only ones who would accept questions were the merchants, but even then, most of them were gruff and unfriendly.

Even Sir Johann said he didn’t have any proper connections here.

Most black magicians were on the run, and few lived long lives.

It wasn’t called the underground dark city for nothing.

I lowered my voice to a whisper.

“Have you heard any strange rumors in the market lately? I’m looking for a man with fancy magical tools on his arms and legs, and tattoos on his face. His hair is light purple. He’s supposed to be very handsome.”

“······.”

“······.”

Then the two children widened their eyes and looked at each other.

It was a reaction that clearly meant something. I quickly continued. I couldn’t miss this opportunity!

“I’ll give you a generous reward. A lump sum, and advance payment is possible if you want. Of course, all secrets about you will be guaranteed.”

“Oppa, instead of that, let’s ask them to help us. They’ll give us money right away!”

“In return, I want you to keep quiet about us. There are no other conditions besides that.”

“······.”

Then the boy frowned and looked up at me. I swallowed hard without realizing it.

My heart pounded, wondering if this kid would also refuse and turn away.

Since they were little kids living in a rough place, their wariness would be even stronger, and there was no reason for them to suddenly make a deal with us, whom they were meeting for the first time.

If they had a guardian, getting their permission would be the first thing to do.

Cedric the Crown Prince and Lopi also looked subtly nervous.

That’s when it happened.

-Rustle, rustle

“Heineken-nim, Pilsner-nim. I brought lunch!”

Ms. Gain appeared, carrying a bundle of takeout food!

“A huge sausage and our favorite yogurt. Pang-Pangi? [Likely a brand name or affectionate term for a type of bread]”

Pain Perdu [French for “lost bread,” a dish similar to French toast]. They eat it like this on the other side of the continent too!

“Anyway, it’s bread soaked in milk and eggs, grilled, and sprinkled with sugar. A set for 10 people. This is a salad, and these are cookies I got as a bonus! I bought a dessert recommended by Teacher Johann. What was the name again?”

“It’s called Banket [a type of Dutch almond pastry]. It has almond paste in it, so it’ll be delicious. I brought coffee and tea too, so let’s eat first.”

“Thank you, both of you. I’ll enjoy the meal.”

“You’re going to eat all this from midday? Are you planning to skip dinner?”

Prince Djibril Diop, who had approached unnoticed, asked in astonishment.

I shrugged and looked back at the children.

The girl was staring blankly, licking her lips.

The boy’s reaction wasn’t much different.

Seeing them wearing goggles that were much bigger than their faces, covered in soot, and working without even being able to eat properly, my heart ached.

On the other hand, I smiled bitterly, feeling like I had found a way to break down the siblings’ defenses.

It seems like this is the fastest way.

“Do you want to eat together?”

“······.”

“······.”

“I’m not offering it in exchange for anything. It’s just that there’s too much for us to eat. I didn’t know the street vendors were so generous.”

When I handed over the warm bread and spoke softly, even the boy’s expression softened. Cute.

“······Go to where we live instead. It’s dangerous here because there are too many eyes watching.”

The little boy took the bread with both hands and grumbled.

Ms. Gain gasped.

Are you going straight to your house? We’re strange adults, isn’t that more dangerous?

“Hmm······.”

“Come about 100 steps behind us. Pretend to be doing something else.”

“Okay, I understand. I’ll follow you right away.”

I nodded my head.

Then the two children and the cart slowly moved up the hill.

I took the lunch basket and looked back at my friends.

Thankfully, our main couple didn’t seem to object much, and Prince Diop didn’t have the right to speak in the first place.

It was thanks to Lopi that we got to talk to the scrap metal kids, so of course, this side was also quiet······.

“······Let’s go. Everyone is careless when dealing with young children. They might have seen and heard more than you think.”

‘There was no special energy or smell of blood either.’ Sir Johann finally stamped his approval.

His expression was also pleasantly smiling. Ms. Gain’s and my faces quickly brightened.

Thank you, Teacher!

*

An hour later.

-Thud!

I took the last step with the basket on my back. I was out of breath.

“Hoo······. The kids’ house is in such a high place······?”

-Nyaaah

Before I knew it, my robe hood was completely off, and my magic stone glasses were crooked.

No, I’m not kidding. This is just mountain climbing.

-Dududududu······!

“Ugh.”

Besides, a zeppelin the size of the Juliette Palace is flying right in front of me!

I couldn’t help but be shocked and looked back. Whoosh! A hot and humid wind blew.

From here, I could clearly see the black market scenery like a stain of poison.

“Hoo, hoo······.”

The huge and dark underground space had everything and every terrain.

We passed the star-shaped Grand Plaza, climbed the hillside, walked downhill again, and navigated through winding alleys.

I felt like I had been wandering around for about thirty minutes, but suddenly a steep uphill appeared in front of me.

To exaggerate a bit, it was at a level where ropes or ladders were needed.

Even on such a road, the scrap metal siblings were pushing the cart together in harmony.

“Ha······. But it seems like we’re almost there. I exercised for the first time in a while. Let’s sit down for 10 seconds.”

-Nyaawoo

“Yeah, it’s thanks to you. Thank you.”

Our lodging owner also had signs like ‘No Doomsday Believers Allowed’ and ‘No Unnecessary Conversations,’ and didn’t even accept greetings.

Even though they were just children, I couldn’t miss this opportunity.

Besides, weren’t they the ones Lopi had picked?

The divine beast walked about ten steps ahead, waited for me, and then went about twenty steps and waited for me again.

Seeing how cooperative he was, there must be something there.

However, the paladins and lightning mages had tremendous stamina, so naturally, I was in last place.

It’s not like I’m falling behind anywhere, but really······.

I’ve even won first place in the long-distance running at the company sports day.

“Shall I carry you on my back, Heineken-nim? Or a princess carry?”

“No! I’m okay!”

Ms. Gain giggled and asked, and I waved my hands in a flustered manner.

Before I knew it, the Crown Prince was looking down at me from beside her.

“You need to build up your stamina. You can’t handle the imperial schedule with that body.”

Ah, it’s because you two have excessive stamina!

-Whack!

I grabbed the ankles of the two people in resentment and stood up.

It was meant to be revenge, but Ms. Gain laughed cheerfully, and the Crown Prince only raised his eyebrows.

I was very angry. I won’t let this couple get away with this······!

“We’re here! This is our house!”

-Dududududu······!

-Woo-woo-woo······!

I flinched.

Beyond the terrifying noise of the zeppelin and the chilling ghostly cries, the scrap metal girl waved her arms.

Sir Johann and Prince Diop were looking at something while facing the wind.

We followed them and slowly moved our gaze.

And for a moment, I was stunned.

“······Crazy, awesome!”

The old tree ‘Devil’s Claw,’ which supports the entire black market, was extending its branches all the way up here.

It meant that we had climbed that high, but this wasn’t just about the branches growing.

The yellow stems were densely overlapping and woven like a miniature painting, building a large nest on top of the hill.

The tree cave was as beautiful as a jewelry box carefully crafted by a craftsman, and as mysterious as something out of a fairy tale.

Besides, it was a round sphere made by rolling a snowball.

It was a sanctuary that harmonized exquisitely with the eerie black magic and magical devices.

That was the children’s house.

“Wow······.”

I stared at the young siblings with my mouth open.

The little ones looked excited in front of the adult guests.

There was no fear or dread to be found.

The moment that image was captured in my vision, I gained a brief realization.

Ah······.

-Meow-ooo

“I see.”

That old tree was the protector of these children.

*

The interior we entered was very cozy.

The deafening noise outside disappeared like a lie, and the air was so clean that it felt like entering another world.

It was truly amazing. It didn’t suit the nickname ‘Devil’s Claw’ at all.

“Ah! My name is Kina, and my brother’s name is Willem. We don’t have a last name!”

The girl, who had eaten her fill of bread and sausage, declared with crumbs all over her mouth.

Ms. Gain smiled kindly and wiped the child’s face.

When the soot-covered skin became clean, plump and red cheeks were revealed.

She looked exactly her age, and I was pleased.

I diligently placed potatoes and cheese on Willem’s chipped plate.

The boy ate milk and fruit diligently while watching our expressions.

I heard that the most precious things here are fresh dairy products and agricultural products.

Seven people and a divine beast were sitting around a table made by joining two broken tables.

The occasionally flickering light was said to be something Kina had fixed from something a black magician had thrown away.

Before I knew it, lunch was coming to an end. I carefully brought up the topic.

“That, not having a last name is······.”

“My parents abandoned us here. It was when we were three years old.”

Willem shrugged and replied. I couldn’t help but be stunned for a moment.

The children had indifferent expressions, but I couldn’t even imagine how much difficulty and sadness they had gone through to be able to say that.

It’s not just an ordinary village, how could they think of abandoning three-year-olds in a place like this? Are they even human?

Anger surged, and my cheeks flushed red in an instant.

But instead of being angry at child abusers whose faces I didn’t even know, we decided to focus on the children now.

I need to calm down. I need to be calm.

“······You two have really lived hard. Taking care of each other so healthily. Amazing.”

“I think so too. If it weren’t for Oppa and ‘Claw,’ I would have died a long time ago!”

Kina shouted with puffy cheeks.

Then Sir Johann gently broke into the conversation.

“‘Claw’ means the Devil’s Claw?”

“Yes!”

“It seems the tree in the black market made a house for you.”

“That’s right. But that’s not all!”

The girl’s voice grew louder.

Willem gave her a look, saying ‘Hey,’ but the child didn’t care and rolled up the sleeves of her mana beast leather jacket.

What is she going to do right after eating?

“I got scratched here today and bled. Look.”

“Oh my. I’ll heal it for you.”

There was a long wound on her skinny arm!

I was startled and tried to get up from my seat in a hurry.

Prince Diop clicked his tongue and muttered, ‘Indeed, she was a tomboy.’

But Kina shook her head and stood up.

Everyone’s eyes were on the child.

“It’s okay. Claw will heal it.”

“Huh?”

“It’ll pass in the blink of an eye, so focus.”

The girl groped around the cave ceiling for a while, then grabbed a vine that had drooped down.

Until then, we hadn’t accurately grasped the child’s intentions.

Is she going to eat it raw? Is the legendary tree also used as a medicinal herb? That makes sense.

“Hold the vine against the injured area like this, and ask as if you’re praying. Claw, I hurt my arm and it hurts. Would you please help me······?”

Kina asked earnestly while looking at the ceiling.

But nothing happened in the cave for several tens of seconds.

I guess she wasn’t eating it right away. We quickly exchanged glances.

Willem sighed so loudly that the ground seemed to sink. He seemed embarrassed.

At that moment,

-······Saaa!

From the end of Claw’s thin vine, a beautiful flax-colored light flowed out.

The girl, wrapped in a gentle aura, smiled brightly. I was shocked and opened my mouth wide.

-Sarararara······!

Soon the child’s wound began to disappear as if erased with an eraser.

Oh my god, crazy, this is something Francois would guarantee, oh my god—my jaw hurts!

“Tada! It’s all healed!”

Of course, Kina child!

Now that I see it, that’s 99.9% divine power!