What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 477

#477

What to Do (2)

“Of course, I know.”

Verner Venetian was keenly aware of what he was doing.

-Creak, thud…!

The heavy stone door of the VIP room slowly closed.

The man stared at it, taking a long, thin breath.

Finally, he had his own space. Only now could he finally feel relieved.

Barely.

He survived.

“Ha…”

*Thump!* The Royal Secretary slumped onto the nearest sofa.

Compared to those in the Venetian royal palace, the furniture was terribly hard and shabby.

The stench of poverty permeated every corner of the inner castle, and the food was on par with what the servants of his main family ate.

Moreover, the old lord’s castle of the Baarn fiefdom was made of black, solid rock, not only on the outside but also for most of the interior.

Since the territory consisted of islands, protecting the buildings from storm damage and monster attacks was the top priority.

Not even a single tapestry hung in the corridors.

There were no portraits or silver dishes to be seen, as they were difficult to handle and manage.

Magical lighting was also woefully inadequate, making it hard to tell whether this was a castle or an underground prison, even in broad daylight.

Just stone everywhere… all piles of stone.

“Cough, cough! Hack! Haa…”

But compared to what he had experienced on the way here, this environment was nothing.

The man covered his eyes with his forearm and took a deep breath for a while. Hoo…

“Can you breathe now?”

Startled, Verner quickly straightened his posture at the rough voice.

It would be shameful for his body to react like this, but he had learned through many near-death experiences that life was more important than pride.

A familiar woman stood before him. She was probably the subordinate in charge of his security today.

She was one of the mercenaries who had dug tunnels with Verner in the Yeriho black market and advanced to the North Sea coast in just one night.

That’s right. In just ‘one day.’

“…What is there not to breathe?”

At his question, the woman looked blank.

“So many people died in the bare ground, and you’re not bothered by it?”

“You see me as a monster. I’m also human. Of course, my heart ached.”

‘I felt sick.’ Verner frowned slightly, as if reminded of the scene that night, then picked up the kettle on the table and poured water.

Most of the teacups were chipped and incomplete.

The lord of this place was said to be without a husband, and indeed, the household management was a mess.

Well, even if she wanted to remarry, no nobleman would want to marry into such a shabby land.

Unless they didn’t receive a dowry.

“…You felt sick?”

A creaking question returned.

Verner looked into the glass, which clearly contained Curaçao [a blue-colored liqueur], and replied.

“Isn’t it obvious? They were killing each other to survive, so seeing such a sight was bound to make me nauseous. Blood was everywhere.”

“That’s not what I’m talking about. You could have stopped them!”

The woman finally raised her voice. Her voice, roughened by the northern wind, cracked.

At that, the Royal Secretary suddenly raised his head.

“…”

“…”

Again, their eyes met. The mercenary instinctively took a step back and swallowed hard.

When she met the man’s snake-like gaze, an inexplicable fear arose.

It wasn’t just once or twice; it happened every time.

Fear welled up from the depths of her heart, and her lips stuck together, making it impossible to say anything more.

Just like the night they had advanced to the North Sea.

‘Hey! Isn’t that cookie from my pocket?’

The beginning was very trivial. An argument between two unknown men.

‘What, it was lying on the ground!’

‘That’s because I dropped it. Give it back!’

Those who had escaped the black market and decided to head north numbered well over two hundred.

The vast majority of them were patients gripped by anxiety and delusion.

Starvation, fatigue, cold, and pain firmly gripped their throats, scratching at their nerves.

The moon was waning and it was pitch black, and there was no god to mediate them.

Thus, it took only a few minutes for the fight to escalate.

‘Half of it is already in my stomach! What’s wrong with just giving it to me?’

‘I risked my life to get that! I ran barefoot from the collapsing mansion, you trash thief!’

‘What, you bastard? Why am I trash when I ate what you dropped on the ground! You’re worse than trash!’

‘Oh, come on!’

The ensuing punches were merciless.

The two men tangled and began to beat each other, and even those who initially tried to stop them fell away, exhausted.

If they got caught up in it, they would be beaten and knocked down.

The best the onlookers could do was let out faint groans.

In fact, they were going to freeze to death even if they did nothing.

No. Was that really the best?

‘Hey! Stop it, both of you!’

‘Agh, ack! Cough!’

-Thwack, thwack! Thud! Thwack!

‘Kuh-heuk, ugh!’

‘…’

It was then that Verner saw the signal from ‘Bozena.’

He received the sacred revelation from the woman pulling the cart.

Of course, she didn’t say anything, nor did she send him any special gesture.

But the man instinctively gained enlightenment.

That brilliant idea was impossible to ignore.

‘…Good heavens. He’s dead. You killed someone!’

‘Oh my god! Just for a cookie…!’

Finally, a gaunt man rolled on the ground, and a bloodied man stood on the ground.

Verner recognized his identity at a glance.

He couldn’t help but know because of his unique attire and the cane sticking out of his pocket.

It was the one he had seen at Madam Morhan’s mansion.

‘It’s unfortunate… You should end his remaining breath.’

A black magician.

Leeches who gain power by sucking the life force of others, not their own mana.

‘What did you just say?’

‘Sir, surely…’

The onlookers, dumbfounded, turned to Verner.

The Royal Secretary drooped his eyebrows with a very sad face.

Then he said this.

‘Our lives are also in danger, so we cannot formally hold a funeral for him. But conversely, the deceased can give us something.’

‘…’

‘With his last life force, he can save many lives here. He will give warmth and add speed.’

‘…’

Those words became the fuse of tragedy.

Criminals who had spent most of their lives underground were easily tainted by darkness.

Truly, like a lie, that’s how it happened.

‘If that’s the case… there seem to be many patients here who won’t be able to reach the north. Isn’t that right, sir?’

‘You bastard! You speak well. What did you say to me underground earlier? Huh?’

‘What, won’t you let go?!’

‘You said someone like me is better off dying in the black market, didn’t you!’

‘Thwack! Thud! Thwack!’ Following that, the sound of blood splattering and terrible screams tore through the night sky.

The number of people, close to three hundred, began to decrease rapidly.

Meanwhile, Verner moved nimbly and hid behind the three-wheeled cart.

The woman who protected him, Bozena, had disappeared like a fog.

But the man was sure. This was the opportunity the main god had given him.

‘Save me! I can walk! I can go to the North Sea!’

‘Go my ass!’

-Crack!

‘Kuh-heuaaack!’

The cart she had left behind was tinged with a bluish light in the dim moonlight.

“…What do you get by doing this?”

“What?”

The Royal Secretary, lost in thought, suddenly returned to reality.

The mercenary in front of him was trembling, clenching his fists.

“That’s right, I’m not a decent human being either. I couldn’t stop my colleagues because I was afraid of being disliked, and I couldn’t protect the dying because I was afraid of being attacked. So I’m also a sinner who will fall into hell. But what about you?”

“…”

“A precious person. Someone who looks noble to anyone, why did you just watch such slaughter? What do you get by doing that?”

“What do I not get? I swallowed a territory in the north with this intact body.”

“Is that all?”

“…”

Verner closed his mouth for a moment. The mercenary pointed to the stone door with trembling fingertips.

“My colleagues outside, and the low-level black magicians. They’re only enough manpower to occupy a village! You’re saying it’s good to get a piece of land in the north with people like us? You want me to believe that? I may not even be able to read properly, but I know this is a ruined backwater―!”

“I will go to His Majesty.”

*Gasp.* In an instant, his breath caught in his throat.

It was as if thick chocolate-colored eyes were melting and pouring directly into his throat.

Suddenly, it was hard to breathe, and he couldn’t even make a sound at will.

The woman dropped her jaw like a hunted wild animal.

The vocal cords, consumed by shock, trembled madly.

“Th-that’s, that’s… Wh-what…”

“Sadly, I can’t trust anyone anymore. Not my lovely daughter. Not my sister.”

He didn’t look sad at all. The mercenary desperately backed away.

“But now that I have regained my strength and am receiving the special care of the main god, what is there to hold me back?”

The man stroked the cart he had brought with a tender touch.

A chilling shiver ran down his spine at the sight.

“Gathering forces to protect me, I will go to the royal capital. And I will meet His Majesty.”

“Heo…”

The mercenary, who had already been pushed to the door, hurriedly reached behind him to find the doorknob.

The palm of his hand, damp with cold sweat, kept slipping near the target. Quickly, quickly, quickly….

“You have helped me to come here safely, so in the future, perhaps even a knighthood…”

-Creak, thud!

The woman, who had quickly opened the door, disappeared from sight in an instant.

Verner chuckled and slowly sipped the water mixed with alcohol.

What can that wretch do alone? He will let her leave.

“…”

And he will steadily move towards the royal capital and meet his wife.

Only in front of her will he reveal all the truths of the past.

That he killed Yeser Venetian, and it was all because of you, the king.

That your lack of virtue and infidelity caused your beloved son to die in terrible pain.

That everything is solely the karma of you and Michael, and that he has steadfastly endured all the oppression and abuse of the world alone.

That he did not wither despite your cold indifference, but survived the winter and finally returned as a victor.

-Swoosh, clang!

“It would be even better to take Cornelise with me.”

And he will watch.

The sight of her regretting belatedly, holding onto him, shedding tears, and collapsing miserably.

The ecstasy of her beloved woman’s mind being completely shattered.

“Cristana…”

Until she dies, he will make her look only at him.

Verner’s prosthetic hand, which had thrown the glass, was emitting a brilliant glow.

*

Morning of December 15th.

-Step, step, step, step…

Jibril Diop walked with a slightly faster pace than usual.

The Yeriho Lord’s Castle had been very noisy since dawn.

In fact, there had never been a quiet moment since the military camp arrived, but this time, the atmosphere was quite solemn.

The man’s long amethyst earrings fluttered busily.

Every day at this time, there was someone who came out to the first-floor terrace of the VIP room to get some fresh air.

Today, he had to meet her first.

-Step.

…Yes, that girl.

“Evan.”

“…Brother.”

Marguerite, sitting in an old rocking chair, turned to him gently.

Seeing her wrapped in a blanket because it was cold made him feel both good and bad.

If she caught a cold, he would be the one to hear the nagging.

But Bishop Blaise said that it was a good sign that his sister wanted to get some fresh air or see a different scenery.

If she was interested in other people, that would be an even more positive indicator.

“What were you looking at?”

‘Prince Ganael and Lord Mute. They are so affectionate and beautiful,’ the princess’s voice flowed gently on the wind.

Jibril followed her gaze and looked far into the desolate garden.

Then he continued.

“I’m going to the north. Leaving you here. Under the protection of that great Palace Lord.”

“…”

“Will you be okay?”

‘If you’re uncomfortable, I won’t go.’ As he added that, a small laugh returned.

Indeed. It was a very positive expression.