What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 465

Soul’s Rest (4)

For about four days after that, everything was peaceful.

So peaceful it made me wonder if we were even allowed to enjoy such times during a war.

It was December again.

-Screech!

“Demi, be careful! You’ll bump into the workers!”

-Woof woof!

Thump thump! The excited lesser pandas pulled the mobile cradle, running around the castle.

Tete, lying in the cradle, flapped his fin-like feet, thoroughly enjoying himself.

The busy wizards also stopped and smiled at us.

Ropi, using the sunlight as a toy, rolled around on the porch of the cloister, and the passing knights hid behind the pillars, secretly watching the cat.

The soldiers, who finally had a place they could call a ‘temporary base,’ looked much more settled.

Thousands of tents were still set up inside and outside of Yerihol’s lord castle, but having a fortress made a difference in their mindset.

Even His Majesty had recently started making light jokes again.

“Oh my, I see the esteemed Palace Lord.”

“Thank you for your hard work taking care of the Divine Beasts!”

“Hahaha, hello.”

“Palace Lord, today the cooks are baking Riester-style pastries in the bakery. We’ll bring them to you as soon as they’re done!”

“Thank you for the thought. They already sound delicious.”

Even though it was a ruined city, Yerihol was still a proper ‘city.’

Vacant shops and homes were full of intact kitchens and household goods.

The number of territory residents who hadn’t left (or been abandoned) was also quite significant.

Most of them, except for a very few knights, surrendered.

In short, there were surprisingly many resources here that the Imperial Army could use.

In particular, the elderly and children were very actively helping the Riester natives.

From dawn, people lined up to bring dried flounder, large Gouda cheese, or warm nonnevot [a type of traditional pastry].

Everything was delicious.

-Thud, thud, thud…

I strolled through the castle with the children, enjoying the rare peace.

I didn’t feel the cold much, so I didn’t need a scarf or gloves.

A balaclava would be perfect for midwinter.

-Hello, Little Moon. Out for a walk again.

-Kkiha!

“The children love playing outside. Did you sleep well, Spirit?”

-I never sleep. I enjoyed listening to the stories of the night birds. The crickets’ sleep talking and the voles’ grumbling!

Splash, splash! Whoosh!

As the Spirit raised its magnificent body, high waves rose in the lord castle’s moat.

‘Kkihoo!’ ‘Awoo!’ Perry and Tete raised their voices in excitement.

Even Leah, who was easily scared, seemed unafraid of the divine beast and happily lifted her paws.

I shook off the water droplets that had wet my hair and smiled brightly. It’s like an amusement park!

-Oh, the Wind Bird isn’t with you?

“Yes, Dduksumi left for the Empire this morning. There’s a child there he chose as his master. He’s also delivering letters from here.”

-That explains why you look so happy!

The Spirit wrinkled its nose and replied.

Its face was as bright as a child’s, which made me feel good too.

Soon, a large horn sparkled in the sunlight and tilted to one side. Charrrrr…

-I can always smell the scent of the sisters on you.

-It makes me feel warm!

Here, ‘sisters’ seemed to refer to divine beasts like the Spirit.

Before I could reply, Balto was already excited!

-The Rose Child has the same grassy scent as me on her fingertips,

-Fiery Flower petals bloom from the Little Fire,

-The Little Waterdrop is as fresh as the morning dew path.

-The silkworm that made clothes for that person is now singing adventures!

Whenever the divine beast shrugged its shoulders, sprouts that were hard to see in winter popped up from the bubbles.

The shining beige energy came close like early spring and then vanished.

I looked up at the Spirit with a beaming smile.

Soon, my eyes met its wondrous eyes.

-And you are truly special. Really…

“……”

-Moon. Do you know that you have been chosen by the most precious person in the world?

The Spirit, bowing its head deeply, placed its hands on the edge of the moat and whispered.

I nodded with a slightly embarrassed smile.

“I heard a similar story from Biryeom’s Ark. That this world is relying on me. But I don’t know how it happened.”

-You don’t know either?

The Spirit widened its eyes and sank underwater up to its nose.

It looked like a giant puppy.

“Yes. I don’t know why it had to be me…”

-But your vessel holds the most precious treasure?

-I thought I could see everything in you.

“If that were the case, we would have done a lot more. Of course, it’s not like we haven’t caused any accidents.”

-Hahahaha!

Then a clear laugh followed.

The Spirit’s long hair—or vines—spread out on the water’s surface like paint.

Its eyes stared at me for a while, then rolled up towards the sky.

I slowly raised my head, following its movement.

-……

-Swish, swish, swish…

“……”

I saw three white lines crossing the sky. Now forming a ‘ㄷ’ shape [similar to a reversed ‘C’].

Most people seemed to have already adapted to this natural phenomenon that they couldn’t understand.

“Do you know what that is?”

At my question, its gentle eyes drooped.

-Eutteum and Hanan also asked me that. But I don’t know anything.

“I see.”

-But Hanan…

The Spirit hid under the moat and then slowly came back up.

-I’ll only tell Little Moon.

“Yes?”

I stopped arranging the gauze towel in Tete’s cradle and turned my head.

I felt a chill down my neck for some reason. Does it suspect something?

-It’s not clear, but a huge energy is gathering there.

“…Those white lines? Is another door opening?”

-Door? Hmm…

‘I don’t think so.’ The brightly shining horn became dim.

It seemed unsure. I looked back and forth between the sky and the Spirit and lowered my voice.

“Then just one more thing. Do you feel any danger when you see that?”

-……I’m not sure. But for some reason, it feels familiar.

“Familiar?”

-Yes… It’s not scary. It doesn’t seem like it will bother the flying squirrels either.

The Spirit answered carefully.

I gave Tete an ether bead to suck on and observed the sky.

A chilly wind brushed our cheeks and ran away.

-Whoosh…

“……”

‘A familiar feeling.’ What does that mean? Dduksumi didn’t make any particular gestures about it either.

Maybe he didn’t know anything, or there was nothing he could tell me. Hmm.

…Do I have to wait for a meaningful change for now?

“Now you’re even seducing the divine beast?”

Huh? I whirled around. And my eyes widened.

“Gasp! You!”

-Thunder Thunder!

“Hey, I’m alive and well, okay? Don’t look at me like I’m a ghost.”

Zibril Diop, holding his staff at a slant, walked towards me with a refreshing gait.

The man smelled of disinfectant and strong candy.

He didn’t seem to be injured, which was strange.

I reflexively looked around at my precious children and the Spirit, but then realized there was no need to be so wary and let them play.

Then the Duke’s thick eyebrows furrowed.

“I’m not going to eat you. I clearly remember that the Palace Lord saved me, so don’t worry.”

“No, that’s not it… I understand.”

Sorry about that, really.

-Thunder Thunder, will you show us thunder again?

“Not now. If I do it too often, the soldiers get scared and fall over.”

-Aww…

“Hey, why are you alone today? Did you break up with your lovers?”

…My apologies vanished in 5 seconds. Do you think I’m you?

And they’re not my lovers. They’re going to date each other.

“Everyone’s busy. And Bishop Blaise said it’s good to have some quiet time alone, huh.”

Oops, I shouldn’t be talking about this carelessly. Medical records are my personal information!

“That’s true.”
Huh? My mind briefly stopped at the unexpected answer.

I stared at him with an astonished face.

The Duke knew about Bishop Blaise’s major, so I expected an unwelcome or rude reaction, but…

He had an expression I’d never seen before. It was unfamiliar.

“My sister also meets that bishop. Since a few days ago.”

“Ah…”

Thud. Those words rolled in casually like a roadside stone.

I didn’t know how to respond, so I bit my lip.

It didn’t make sense that he was telling me about his sister’s private life, but on the other hand, I was relieved.

I had heard about Princess Marguerite from Ganael…

“She said it’s thanks to you.”

“Yes?”

This was news to me. I was so surprised that I poured ether all over Tete’s whiskers.

What’s supposed to be thanks to me?

-Awoo, awoo.

“Oh, I’m sorry.”

“My cousin asked His Majesty for a favor. He wants Marguerite to have deep soul healing.”

He said, tossing his staff into the air and catching it.

I narrowed my brow slightly, collecting the golden grains.

Somehow, the distance between the sentences felt too far.

Why are you suddenly talking about the Crown Prince?

Shouldn’t I be talking to him instead of you?

“I went to say thank you. That incident was buried, and anyway, my sister didn’t die.”

“……”

“As a bonus, me and my family too. Instead, I became responsible for cleaning up the black market.”

“…I see.”

“Damn it, not this.”

Clack! The Duke snatched the staff from the air and got annoyed. What’s wrong with him?

“Cousin His Highness was talking about your partner.”

…What?

“He told me to thank him.”

“No, what…”

A moment of silence passed.

He scratched his forehead with the short staff, then straightened his expression and looked straight at me.

“I’m grateful.”

“Yes?”

I opened and closed my jaw, staring at him.

I couldn’t understand anything from start to finish.

It was shocking to hear thanks from that thug, but what did Cedric do to talk about me, and why did the Duke believe it and come to me to say these things…?

Isn’t the communication between the royals too sloppy? What if there was a mistranslation in the middle?

“I can’t live with owing someone.”

“Yeees.”

It seems so…

“I’ll definitely repay you, so remember it. Juliet’s Palace Lord.”

“Uh…”

Before I could even form a proper sentence, the lightning mage walked away as quickly as he had come.

The strawberry-dyed blonde hair disappeared in an instant.

I was really embarrassed, and it was amazing to see that side of him for the first time…

-Moon, did you make a new friend?

The Spirit, who had been watching the situation, asked me.

I immediately shook my head.

“No, that’s not it.”

-That’s a shame. That child’s thunder is very pretty.

-Oh, there’s the Kaleidoscope Child too!

-Hiding is useless. I saw everything!

The Spirit stretched out its body and raised its voice.

Splash, splash! At the same time, the water in the moat poured out powerfully.

I picked up Leah, who was soaked, and looked around. ‘Kaleidoscope Child’?

-Kkiwoo, kkia!

“That’s right, get excited. Get excited. Where’s the kaleidoscope…”

Ah, I found him. I couldn’t miss him because our eyes met. Hahaha.

“Mr. Bakari, if you’re bored, let’s walk together. How did you become friends with the Spirit?”

Then the prophet, who had been hiding behind the well, came out with a surprised face.

He always looked like a teenager at times like that, which made me laugh.

But on the other hand, I was also a little worried.

Like in the living room the other day, and today too. Why does he seem to have something to say these days?

…Did something happen?

*

That night, the ruins outside Yerihol.

-Crack, crack, crack…

A part of the black, muddy ground was slowly cracking.

It was a phenomenon that anyone would look at, but whether it was bad luck or good luck, there were no passersby nearby.

The Imperial sentries didn’t come out here to stand guard, and even fewer new citizens came to the city occupied by the enemy.

Only earthworms and insects occasionally hid in terror at the underground anomaly.

-Sizzle, crackle…

It was neither an earthquake nor a mole coming out at night.

It was only an omen.

Shortly after—

-Boom!

“Huff, huff! Haaack!”

‘Rumble!’ Unpleasant mud and gravel flew everywhere, and a man rose from the underground, defying death.

“Huff, huff…! Huff, cough cough!”

It was Werner, the national secretary of the Divine Kingdom.