What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 481

Your Guild Leader (1)

Camille. It’s a pretty name.

-Whee, whooo…

I didn’t know what it meant, but I thought it suited him very well.

Frankly, the name ‘Modest’ didn’t sit well with me.

After learning its meaning, I didn’t want to call him that anymore.

-Arrr

“Hahaha. It’s still a secret only Hyung [older brother or close male friend] knows. Sorry.”

Tete, wrapped in a blanket under the robe, growled softly.

He seemed to be urging me to tell him, but it seemed Bakari had only told me, so it was a secret for the time being.

I covered the tip of the divine beast’s nose with a soft cloth to keep the cold wind out.

The road to the north was getting rougher.

The wind grew colder every moment, and the clouds lay flat, making the sky seem low.

The land, which had been tinged with blue, gradually turned into barren rocks and reddish hills.

The soil, a mixture of white, gray, and red, looked like poorly made rainbow rice cake and created a very exotic atmosphere.

The horizon in the distance was all curves.

I glanced at Sir Johan, who was walking ahead, and then looked back.

Lophy was sitting on Ms. Gain’s saddle, showing off her amazing sense of balance, and Francois was eagerly explaining his invention next to her.

Behind them was Duke Jibril Diop….

-Clatter, clatter, clatter

“Hahaha. I’m fine. Keep going, Princess.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

It wasn’t five hundred steps, but His Highness Stanislas had been following us for three days already.

Grandfather repeatedly emphasized that he was worried about us, who were ‘newborn and unable to run.’

He said he would just watch us catch Werner and then leave.

So, in the end, there were seven people in our group!

“Halbamama [Grandfather in Korean] is a Sword Master, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

The Crown Prince next to me said, looking at me.

We were all wearing robes with shaggy monster beast fur, but his looked like a luxury item, and I just looked like I was buried in fur.

Charlemagne occasionally gave me an obvious sneer.

“That’s true, but I’m worried that he’ll suffer in a harsh place in this cold weather.”

The elder is old.

“You don’t know that his threshold for hardship is different from yours.”

…Okay, don’t hit me with words. I secretly glared at him and glanced at Ms. Gain.

She met my eyes and sent me a sparkling smile.

We had been getting along fine again since we talked about Hyung that day.

But both she and I knew it. We were just burying it for a while….

That the same topic would come up again someday.

That we can’t be hurt forever.

“……”

I hope we can work it out well then.

Whatever it is, whether it’s confusion or pain, I sincerely want to help Ms. Gain overcome her difficulties.

I smiled back at her and turned back to the front.

Tete, already fast asleep, was warmly melting in my arms.

The baby slept so much that he easily slept 16 hours a day.

I have to work hard this time so that nothing bad happens to this child. Let’s do our best.

“There they come again. Refugees.”

Around that time, Duke Diop drew attention in a languid voice.

I reflexively craned my neck and checked the front.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

It was real. Old ox carts and wagons were visible.

-Tinkle, tinkle, tinkle…

Old ponies were walking with bells on their necks.

Yesterday, around this time, refugees poured down from the north, and today was no different.

Even if I roughly counted, it was a crowd of two to three hundred people.

Sir Johan indifferently turned his direction slowly first.

Following him, we turned our horses’ heads in unison.

This time, everyone’s robes were enchanted with magic that ‘blurred their presence,’ but as with most perception-blocking magic, it was useless to someone who had already seen them.

To get to the North Sea without causing as little friction as possible, it was best not to talk to anyone.

I adjusted Francois’s magic stone glasses and carefully examined the group.

Ms. Gain and Lophy also perked up their ears, pretending to be indifferent.

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

“Hey. What happens to the Military Academy then?”

“What do you mean what happens? Since there’s no one to take care of it, only the young students and teachers are left.”

“Oh, I should have boiled another pot of stip [a type of porridge]. There might be last year’s buckwheat left in the corner of the cupboard….”

“No…. If those friends fight the monster beasts and all die. Will the school disappear altogether?”

“Hey, don’t say unlucky things!”

The elderly walked slowly, whispering.

Francois and I stared at each other with wide eyes. Military Academy?

-Clatter, clatter, clatter

“….Then we’re living in Erie Lake? For the time being?”

“We have to. Atsuma probably won’t last long either.”

“It might not be temporary. You saw it at the Guild Hall. Mercenaries don’t even go near Baren and Atsuma anymore. This year is really serious.”

“The Hall? It’s no different from an inn now, just.”

“But…. There’s a rumor that Erie Lake is occupied by the Imperial Army. I think it’ll be scary to be watched.”

“Even if there are Imperial troops, whether you die there or in your hometown….”

‘Moo.’ The rest of the words were drowned out by the cow’s cry.

I moistened my dry lips as I watched the people moving away.

Everyone looked exhausted, and their rough cheeks were sunken.

Fortunately, they were wrapped in cotton and fur from head to toe, as befitting people from the north.

I wished them luck and busily drew a map of the Shin-guk in my head.

Sir Johan’s scarred finger moved along the temple distribution map of Fenetian, which Cardinal Ari Schot had given him.

‘Large territories like the Duchy of Sneider have four or five Guild Halls each. But the Barony of Baren and the Barony of Atsuma are fierce and remote lands, so even if you combine them, there will only be one Hall.’

‘I see. Is it because it’s difficult for commerce and industry to develop?’

‘You’ve got it exactly. There are no other lord’s castles on the way to the North Sea, and it’s dangerous to stray off the path and visit villages. They may be mobilized for the Shin-guk army’s corvée [unpaid labor]. First of all, it would be good to set the destination as the Northern Guild Hall.’

Then Ganael quickly added.

‘Usually, the Guild Hall is attached to a temple or monastery building. Our family is from Shin-guk, so I learned a little bit. Hehe.’

The Guild Hall was a place for commercial exchange where all the guilds in the territory had offices and gathered.

Since it was easy to trade and discuss with each other, almost no guild did not join the Hall.

Even mercenary guilds, whose job it was to wander, usually had their names registered in the Hall in their hometown.

Our primary goal was to visit the Baren-Atsuma Guild Hall to assess the situation and make specific plans.

For now, we had to know for sure how far Werner was reaching.

If he had contacted Wilhelmina, we would have to be even more careful.

Of course, judging from the fact that he arbitrarily revealed my sister’s information in front of ordinary people, it doesn’t seem like he’s in cahoots with her….

Ugh. What the hell is that crazy bastard up to?

“Hey. Can I ask you something?”

At that moment, a loud voice rang out from behind.

I was so dumbfounded that my mouth dropped open.

Grandfather, Your Highness?

“Oh my!”

“There are young children left at the Military Academy, what on earth does that mean?”

His Highness Stanislas was asking, bending down under his sturdy horse.

I could see the refugees, startled, taking a few steps back.

Ugh, Grandfather came along as an ‘escort,’ so his robe is ordinary!

“That, that…. There, there….”

The man holding the child stuttered, shrinking back.

Sir Johan stopped in his tracks and quietly watched the situation.

“Speak comfortably. We are a mercenary guild, so we may be able to help if needed.”

“Yes? Is that really true? Are all the teachers mercenaries!?”

“But the mercenaries have already all left…!”

“Hahahahaha.”

Grandfather smiled kindly, and the startled line of refugees slowly returned to their places.

Diop made a face of open astonishment at the elder.

Ms. Gain and I were very embarrassed and looked back at Cedrick.

Hey, maknae [youngest sibling or friend]. What do we do? Shouldn’t you stop your grandfather?

He’s going in a different direction than our plan….

“Leave it to me.”

Just then, Francois elegantly stepped forward, pulling his horse.

He gave Sir Johan a short wink, then smoothly swept back his milk chocolate-like hair, taking off his robe hood.

In his right hand, subtly pulled back, he held a mace.

Dozens of gazes fell on him!

“Wow. He’s as handsome as an angel….”

“He must be a high-ranking noble, oh my!”

“Everyone, nice to meet you. As this gentleman said, we are a mercenary guild that specializes in catching monster beasts.”

‘Zhiiiing.’ Behind the man, a small, light pink magic circle floated up.

Then, small mana particles like flower petals began to fly in the wind.

I swallowed hard and huddled together with my friends.

Finally, Francois is acting a lie. He’s subtly different from Sir Johan!

“Monster beast, a mercenary guild specializing in monster beasts?”

“Such great people…. Huh, are you going to catch a griffin?”

“I’ve heard the rumors. If that’s true, I want to help.”

His words became a signal flare, and the buzz grew even louder.

Some people began to call out urgently to someone at the front of the line.

Sir Johan came to us like the wind and blocked the three of us.

He was rolling his eyes with only his head sticking out, and he met Grandfather’s eyes.

The elder looked at us and moved his mouth kindly.

‘Don’t worry.’

‘Giving and receiving affection with people,’

‘Is always the best way.’

“……”

“What’s going on? Who are these people?”

Around that time, the person at the head of the line hurriedly came forward to Francois.

The refugees raised their voices without anyone saying anything first.

“They’re members of the mercenary guild, Representative!”

“They’re even specializing in monster beast hunting!”

“They say they can help our territory?”

“That noble said it clearly. I heard it too.”

“What?”

The woman, who seemed to be the village representative, turned her eyes wide and looked back at Grandfather and the Marquis.

But she was not easily fooled, as befitting a leader.

Soon, her thin eyes narrowed sharply.

“A monster beast specialist guild…. There’s no way they would come to a place like this. You look like precious people, but why are you wandering around in a place like this…. Excuse me, but which guild do you belong to?”

“Oh.”

It was a sharp question. Francois paused to choose his words.

Then Ms. Gain quickly chirped.

“World Beer Specialty Store.”

I hurriedly shook my head, and the Crown Prince looked down at her with almost contempt.

You’re not supposed to do that to your partner!

“….So-Maek [a popular Korean drink mixing Soju and Beer]?”

Crazy, in the meantime, Thunder Boy misunderstood and said anything.

He said he was just making alcohol with a straight face!

“So-Maek (小麥) [wheat in Chinese characters] Guild…. You must have come from an area that grows wheat.”

This works! What is this, a family game show!

“I’ve never heard of it, though.”

The village representative added calmly.

She looked back and forth between the faces of the Marquis and Grandfather, and then seemed to make a decision, clearing her throat several times.

I also felt thirsty in a situation where I couldn’t predict even an inch ahead, and I wanted cider.

“….But if you are really members of the mercenary guild, and if you can help our village…. I will naturally cooperate and give you a reward. As you can see, we are on a precarious refugee road.”

“You thought well. I like that you’re quick to talk.”

“No. I’m sorry, but I want to talk to the guild leader who can take responsibility for his words.”

The woman cut off Francois’s words.

Seeing people gathering behind her, she was definitely a proper leader.

The group quickly exchanged glances.

Guild leader? Does this mean we have to pick a representative from among us?

Again, we didn’t prepare for things like this properly, but it’s needed right away?

“Then I….”

-Clatter!

As soon as Ms. Gain came forward, the Crown Prince and Diop moved forward.

However, Grandfather and the Marquis did not budge from the front.

No, in the first place, Sir Johan was blocking his disciples and not letting them go.