What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 445

#445

The Devil’s Claw, the Wreck of Despair (9)

Alika clicked her tongue. The group huddled together again.

The situation seemed to be heading in an unexpected direction!

“We were all thinking of the same person just now, right?”

Gain whispered seriously.

Hugging Lopi, who was suddenly bothering my sleeve, I nodded.

Of course, there was no definite proof anywhere, but didn’t we have ‘clichés’ that we had encountered through various media in our lives?

It wasn’t difficult to deduce this much. The Crown Prince and Sir Johann had similar looks in their eyes.

We were simultaneously thinking of the basement guest in the tavern, ‘The Unforgiven Drink’.

‘They say that good fortune follows those who help and care for the Divine Beast. It is said to have the power to chase away curses.’

‘I pray for and look forward to your efforts.’

…Information Broker Noe. A person known as the ‘Abbot’ in Yeriho.

A priest who lost his years due to the divine punishment of loss and was forced to live as a child forever.

“But didn’t Noe make a pact with a black magician? I haven’t heard that the Claw was involved. Could something have been distorted?”

-Saaa…

I whispered while making a round, fluffy Ether doll for Lopi.

The feline Divine Beast excitedly began to tear at the golden mouse.

The Cardinal quietly tilted his head.

The mask, hastily made from scrap metal picked up by the scrap iron siblings, looked perfect when painted black.

Though it looked fake up close.

“That seems likely. It’s been hundreds of years at least, so it wouldn’t be strange if the story had been altered.”

“Or, Noe really might have made a pact with a black magician. In exchange for giving the black magicians the stones embedded in the Claw’s body… Ugh. Anyway, wouldn’t there have been something?”

Gain twitched her lips and chattered.

Crown Prince Cedric looked around at us with a cautious gaze.

“You’re taking it as a foregone conclusion. There’s every possibility that he’s not the priest from the story.”

“That’s true, too.”

“How nice. Do you know that those guys are desperately waiting, risking their lives?”

Ah! Prince Jibril Diop sneered from above.

We hurriedly composed ourselves—we had to make the scariest expression possible—and turned around.

Among Duke Sneider’s subordinates, who were wearing black and red robes, the boss, wearing a red and black checkered dress, was also visible.

Eight out of ten of them had been thoroughly beaten up.

As the group straightened up, everyone turned pale and avoided eye contact.

The main couple was one thing, but I hadn’t done anything special since I came in. They were terribly intimidated.

“Then, let’s go back to square one and ask.”

“You said you were going to change direction, but now you’re back to square one! What point is that anyway? We’ll never know, even if we die and come back to life, right?”

“That’s right!”

Alika grumbled, and the masked old man raised his voice.

I pretended not to hear and continued speaking.

“The person who swept up all the black market’s magic stones. We need to sneak into his residence, so please cooperate.”

“That’s not asking, is it? It’s just an order?”

“Do you think you have a choice?”

The Crown Prince snapped in a sharp tone.

Swish! At the same time, a sharp dagger was drawn from his boot and wrapped around his hand.

The boss quickly bit his lip and lowered his gaze.

Diop drawled.

“You haven’t come to your senses after being beaten like that? Do you think these people are letting you live because they don’t know how to kill?”

“……”

“They’re keeping you alive because you’re valuable. So you have to earn your keep. Does a black market person need to have this explained to them?”

“……”

The atmosphere instantly froze. I glanced up at the loafer.

I could swear there wasn’t even a hint of warmth in his blood-red eyes.

Frankly, I felt a little creeped out.

Even though the other person was the worst kind of human who bought and sold corpses, how could he rattle off lines like that?

I had only heard that he had complicated relationships with women, but was his relationship with people generally like that?

No. Let’s not have such rude thoughts.

“……Shall we go then?”

“Okay.”

“I will follow.”

When I carefully asked, Gain and Sir Johann gave their answers.

The Crown Prince also nodded readily. The lightning magician crossed his arms again in a defensive posture.

Finally, Lopi bit the Ether mouse hard.

-Nyap!

-Paaat…!

Thus, our ‘Werner Fenetian Capture Operation’ began.

*

Of course, the operation would be accompanied by several unexpected difficulties!

This was something that could be easily understood just by watching movies about special forces or movies where the main characters worked as a team.

For example…

“Honestly, I really hate it.”

“Shut up.”

“Look at this. His Highness says he hates it too.”

Chronic teamwork issues.

“Gain, Your Highness.”

I spoke in a soothing voice, checking the two people’s luggage for the last time.

Lopi glared at them with a pathetic look.

Then the Crown Prince glared back at the Divine Beast.

Watching them, I sighed from the bottom of my stomach.

They weren’t even children, and one of them was even older than me. They were like this, but they did well once they were sent out.

“You have to get along. You’re partners.”

“His stride is too big, so I have to run. Johann never does that. I guess Prince Diop wouldn’t either.”

“Please match your pace like a gentleman, Your Highness. I beg you.”

“And I hate it when you suddenly change direction without saying anything.”

“Please give your partner prior notice when changing routes. I beg you for this too.”

I worked hard to mediate between the two.

The 26-month-old had a dissatisfied expression, but he tilted one eyebrow.

That meant he roughly understood.

The fragrance shop ‘Alika’s Land of Fragrance’ had become our outpost.

I hung an ‘Closed’ sign on the door and locked all the latches tightly.

Gain scrubbed the floor clean with water, and Sir Johann circulated the air to remove the strong scent.

Diop brought in a few chairs from somewhere without being told and made a place to sit (this was really unexpected).

Finally, the tightly bound boss and bad guys were piled up like luggage behind the counter.

I glanced at them and whispered barely audibly.

“Surely one of those many stars will spit out useful information. I’ve made it so they can’t volunteer. Or they might be useful as His Majesty’s prisoners someday.”

Then, I firmly packed the two people’s Ether lunch boxes (holy stones).

Gain still had a slightly sulky face. I knew it well.

We had promised not to separate from each other no matter what, and this operation was a complete contradiction to that.

But shouldn’t we do our homework properly?

“I’ve placed several layers of divine protection to prevent them from acting out of the blue. They’ll close their mouths and follow you wherever you go.”

Thus, Sir Johann, Diop, and I remained in the black market, and the main character team decided to go to the surface for a while.

It was all for efficiency.

“You need to hand those people over to Lady Elizabeth and the Divine Beasts, and also check the situation above. And most importantly—”

“Information broker.”

The Crown Prince cut off the end of my sentence bluntly.

He had just sent a bracelet signal to Ganael.

I smiled and nodded.

“Yes. I hope you can get as much information as possible from Noe. He didn’t seem like a bad person, so he might cooperate if he hears about Kina and Willem.”

“The best thing would be to bring him here. I haven’t taught you the art of benevolence yet, but Your Highness has learned about kingship, so you know how to use people.”

“……”

Sir Johann’s words suddenly made me feel uneasy, but I decided to think it was just because I was nervous.

Surely the two of them would do well on their own. So I just had to say one more thing.

“I heard that you two swept through the battlefield and achieved many feats when I wasn’t there. I read it in the records. I’m always grateful and proud.”

“……”

“……”

“This is a much easier task than those dangerous things. You’ll be back down soon. I’m not worried.”

Then, I fastened their bags tightly.

Finally, I pressed the Crown Prince’s hood down further and checked Gain’s mask.

She giggled, saying her nose was ticklish. I felt like I was sending children out to the well….

“Aja aja fighting [Korean phrase for ‘Let’s go!’]”

They’ll do well.

When I clenched my fist and gave a small cheer, our main character raised her fist with a fairy-like face.

The Crown Prince frowned but looked down at his fist.

Hahaha. It means let’s fight well.

*

About an hour later, deep in the Salt Pillar Zone.

It was night in the always dark market.

-Thump, thud! Thump, thump!

“……”

The cart diligently made its way through the bumpy brick road.

Sir Johann, me, and Diop were hiding in a large wooden box, holding our breaths.

We suppressed Ether and Mana deep within our bodies.

Only Lopi seemed to like the dark interior of the box, purring intermittently.

Gain and the Crown Prince had already returned to the surface, leading the prisoners.

-Clatter!

“Ugh, I’m going to die. I’m going to end up cleaning up my own corpse while dealing with corpses!”

Alika’s faint sigh could be heard from outside.

I stroked the small back of the Divine Beast and snorted.

That person was a great merchant in many ways.

She was very strong, but I never thought she would be so energetic.

She was pulling a carnival-sized cart with three adult men inside without stopping.

Also, she had an Alban ring that emitted green Mana, which she said would help her navigate the winding roads and reach her destination.

Fortunately, there were no uphill slopes here.

It seemed that black magicians hated exercise.

They didn’t carelessly create a single hill on the ever-changing streets.

-Clatter, thump!

“Hey, Palace Lord.”

“Yes?”

At that time, Diop called me. I flinched and craned my neck.

But Sir Johann was in the middle, and the surroundings were all dark, so only his red irises were faintly visible.

I couldn’t tell his expression at all. Soon, a languid voice flowed out.

“I heard you have a younger sibling.”

“Ah, yes.”

“And an older sister.”

“……Why are you suddenly asking that?”

“……”

The Prince became quiet again as if he had lied.

I moved my lips several times but just closed them.

I guessed he was thinking about his younger sibling he had left at the tavern.

Maybe he had undergone some kind of change of heart while watching Kina and Willem.

I was curious about what had happened, but this wasn’t the kind of story that would come out if I pried.

Sir Johann had no reaction at all from beginning to end. I leaned back.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

“Marguerite attacked that cat Divine Beast.”

Ah.

“I see… What?!”

I was shocked and checked Lopi’s condition.

‘Whyong.’ The Divine Beast, who had suddenly exposed his belly, waved his limbs in dissatisfaction.

Be good for a moment, the Princess is a great swordsman! Are you hurt?

“Are you bleeding anywhere?”

-Whyooo

“I blocked it.”

“It’s too dark to see well, but it doesn’t seem like there are any big scars… What?!”

I kept asking back. But that person was only saying things that made me do that!

“What do you mean, wait a moment.”

I blankly looked at Sir Johann, pushing down the thoughts that were rising like moles.

First of all, Lopi quite liked the Crown Prince, who was of the same fire attribute. He also ate my Ether well.

So the fact that he followed the group must have been because he had positive feelings about us.

The Princess Marguerite attacked such a child, and that man blocked it with his body….

‘No!’

-Rumble, crash!

‘Aaaagh!’

His side was torn and bleeding. At the same time, a long lightning bolt slashed across the sky.

That was the injury we saw that night.

I slowly blinked my eyes.

“……Lopi, you were really trying to protect us. You didn’t just come along.”

-Nyaaao

“Thank you.”

And then my gaze wavered. I chose my words while holding the palm-sized Divine Beast.

Then the Princess, that person, really risked her life for the Crown Prince….

Good heavens.

“Shouldn’t we not send Cedric?!”

-Thump!

“Hey! Isn’t that Alika over there?”

At that moment, someone called out to the fragrance shop owner from afar. We flinched and froze at the same time.

Father Herit had already brought his finger to my nose.

Clang, clang, clang. The heavy footsteps were not alone.

“Oh! Mercenaries, long time no see! Hmph. Is this the entrance to the mansion today?”

Alika nonchalantly joked. An answer came back immediately.

“That’s right. I guess you’re not having fun hiding it at the end of the alley every day.”

“What did you bring so much of at this hour? You’re not a errand boy, you’re doing it yourself.”

“Oh, it’s nothing special. Some magic stones came in.”

“Magic stones!?”

When Alika lied without batting an eye, the voices of the gatekeeper mercenaries suddenly rose.

I pricked up my ears with a nervous feeling that she might betray us.

In the dim light, Lopi’s mysterious eyes slowly blinked.

Excited voices poured out from beyond the thin wooden panel and leather cover.

“Wow!”

“Oh my god! Is that real? Even now, our lord is putting out a search throughout the market…”

“Yes, everyone knows. Since they say he pays so well, I hurriedly packed it up at this late hour. This magic stone is a sensitive item in many ways.”

“How much is there?”

“It’s packed full in that box.”

“Heeheehee!”

The mercenaries clapped their hands and rejoiced.

One of them made a clanging sound as he approached this way.

I hurriedly hid Lopi in my arms. Alika quickly blocked his approach.

“Hey, you can’t touch it. It’s a high-grade magic stone that’s very sensitive to light and temperature. I threw away a few fist-sized ones while packing. They all went bad!”

“Oh, that’s too bad. It’s high-grade.”

‘Tsk.’ The woman immediately moved away. A sigh of relief escaped between my lips.

Soon, the mercenaries spoke in a slightly calmer tone.

“Well, you always bring us reliable stuff. There’s no need to bother checking.”

“If the magic stone goes bad, we’re the only ones who will get in trouble! I’ll go in now. I’ll visit your store next time.”

“Okay, okay.”

Clatter! The cart started moving again.

The mercenaries’ giggles faded into the distance, and the sound of the heavy iron gate opening could be heard. Clang, squeak….

“……Wow, we’re alive.”

I muttered silently.

Of course, this wasn’t the end, and strictly speaking, it was just the first step—

-Tok!

Huh?

I widened my eyes and straightened my posture.

I could feel Sir Johann also raising his energy, as if it wasn’t just my imagination.

Just now, there was a clear sound like hail outside the box.

But this was the ‘underground’ black market.

It was impossible for it to rain, so maybe gravel was falling from the ceiling….

-Rustle, rustle

Huh?

-Srrr…

An unbelievable thing, a thing that shouldn’t be happening, was happening.

My jaw dropped in shock. The cart was constantly moving forward….

“Oh, dear.”

Someone, not Alika or the gatekeeper, was opening the lid of the box.

It was like a scene from a horror movie, giving me goosebumps.

Sir Johann blocked me at a speed that couldn’t be seen with the naked eye.

But I saw it clearly.

“……I didn’t know there were guests.”

Eyes that were slit like threads. A voice that sounded like the breath of the wind.

A man with silver-purple hair, with a golden circlet around his forehead.