What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 493

#493

Self-Severance (1)

Whoa!

“You······!”

I was so surprised my eyeballs almost popped out!

-Swish, swish.

The cutie in the leopard print onesie was scurrying across the windowsill.

I quickly checked on the sleeping Ms. Gain, then observed the little guy.

Even though the patterns might be similar among lizards, there was no doubt that this little one was the first one I met through Duke Dioph’s introduction (?).

I just had a feeling.

Its palm-sized stature was still impressive, and the spots spreading to its tail were unique.

Soon, its chubby little arms, like a baby’s, rose slightly upward.

The round, gray eyes hid between the tangerine-colored skin before reappearing.

The thin jowls diligently breathed in and out.

It was only after a while that I realized what the little one was trying to do.

I was so dumbfounded that my lips fell open. Oh, you······?

Is this little guy looking back at me without losing? Are we making eye contact right now?

“Huh. What are you? How did you get in here?”

-······.

“Is this your house too? Where’s your family?”

Only after asking a question that was unlikely to get an answer did I realize that the window was slightly open.

This wasn’t surprising at all.

It had been like this since I came to this bookshelf to find Ms. Gain.

I had been clearly aware of the fluttering curtains from the beginning.

So, the really important thing is.

“······Why didn’t I feel the cold?”

Whistle―! As if on cue, the icy north wind lashed across my forehead and nape.

White breath poured out as I muttered.

Goosebumps rose on my arms and back.

I swear it wasn’t this cold just a moment ago.

But my skin was cold, and my teeth chattered so much that I didn’t even have time to be shocked.

I quickly took off my coat and covered Ms. Gain’s body, reaching out to close the window.

As I leaned forward, I caught a glimpse of the scene outside. All orange······.

“Eek!”

Flap flap flap! A scream burst out, embarrassingly exaggerated.

I was so startled that I pulled my upper body back and looked at the little boss lizard.

The palm covering my mouth was hot with excitement, but the cheeky reptile was all alone in a state of indifference.

It didn’t run away anywhere, and it didn’t seem to have any intention of attacking Ms. Gain or me.

But the situation outside was really serious.

“No, what’s with all this······. Are they all your family? Did you bring them all?”

-······.

That’s right. It was truly a spectacle.

-Whoo······

Orange lizards were crawling up the school’s outer wall, leading to the library window, standing in orderly rows of two.

In short, the building’s exterior had living, breathing red lines drawn on it.

The procession was so long that it stretched almost infinitely.

Whether it was luck or intentional, it was lunchtime, so there was no one on the playground.

Since they caught the precious ‘Brown Sugar Rock Peony’ [a rare and delicious treat], maybe the meal would be longer than usual.

When I made a shade with my hand under the bright winter sunlight, the sign under the shade across the street came into view.

The lizard family had definitely moved as a group from there. Oh my gosh······.

“Why did you come all the way here? Because it’s cold? There’s warmth-preserving magic over there, right? Weren’t you living there because it’s warm?”

-Throb.

“Huh?”

Did it just answer? No, it didn’t feel like that.

I felt an instinctive chill and examined the lizard.

Since there were little ones outside, I couldn’t completely close the window, leaving about a centimeter of space.

Our protagonist was still sound asleep, colorful like Tete [likely a reference to a colorful character or toy].

In an instant, a chilling sensation sharpened its claws and scratched my spine like a chalkboard. Squeak······.

“······.”

Did Ms. Gain always sleep this deeply during naps?

-Throb, throb.

“······Did you eat something wrong?”

The lizard began to twist its waist in earnest.

I was very flustered and brought my hand to the front of its snout.

The round eyes narrowed with clear pain.

It seemed like it wanted to throw something up, but unfortunately, I had never raised a reptile, so I didn’t know how to help.

I don’t even know what its digestive system looks like; can I just pat its back?

What if it gets hurt? I need to check Ms. Gain’s condition in detail too.

-Gurgle, clink.

“Uh, uh, it’s okay. I’ll pat you.”

There was no other way!

I couldn’t just stand by and watch, so I lifted my index finger and gently stroked the reptile’s small back.

What if my body temperature is too high and it gets burned?

What if it jumps up like in ‘Alien’ and covers my face?

In an instant, all sorts of thoughts came to mind, but fortunately, nothing bad happened.

Rather, I was surprised that the lizard was so warm.

The bumpy back trembled up and down.

-Clink, clink!

“That’s right. Let’s spit it out coolly. You can do it.”

-Throb throb······! Thud!

Finally, a round bead popped out of the lizard’s mouth!

When I praised it habitually, saying, ‘Good job!’ it lifted its stubby forefoot and grabbed and released my finger.

It probably meant thank you. The pink tongue that slipped out was very adorable.

I smiled faintly and turned my gaze.

The lizard spat out a blue sphere that had no foreign substances, including saliva, on it.

The way it emitted a subtle light was very eye-catching. As clear and pure as water······.

Wait, ‘water’?

“······Ms. Gain. Ms. Gain?”

The eeriness I felt a little while ago poured down from my head.

I shook her shoulder with a somewhat urgent touch. No way, it can’t be.

“······.”

But there was no response from the paladin.

The long eyelashes were tightly locked together like a lock and did not open. I felt a chill for a moment.

My breath caught in my throat and then started to breathe out of rhythm.

“Ha······.”

Ms. Gain didn’t just fall asleep; she lost consciousness.

“You, you little rascal. Did you do this?”

Rummage! I quickly rummaged through my bosom and took out the Growth [likely a magical artifact or weapon].

I hurriedly picked up Ms. Gain, who was sitting on the chair, and put my shoulder under her arm to support her.

The opponent wasn’t a demon, but it wasn’t exactly a divine beast either.

I sharpened my eyes to the fullest and poured ether [magical energy] into the staff. Flash―!

-Swish······!

“What did you do to Ms. Gain!”

The Growth grew taller and taller, emitting dazzling rays of light.

A threatening golden light poured out of my body.

Then the lizard seemed very surprised and stepped back.

To be exact, it seemed to be frightened by the staff, not me.

The golden light flickered in its ash-filled eyes.

It had been quiet all along, but its slightly protruding tongue clearly revealed its embarrassment.

-······Tap.

Soon, the lizard hit the bead it spat out with its tail. Rumble rumble······.

-Tap tap rumble!

It immediately fell from the windowsill and rolled to my feet.

I lowered my voice as much as possible and made a scary face.

I straightened my chest and shoulders and frowned deeply.

I’m sure Cedric did this.

“What do you want me to do?”

When I asked gruffly, the little one looked at me with pleading eyes, flicking its tongue.

Beyond the crooked glasses, I could see the lizard family peeking out from the window gap.

I felt strange for some reason. What······.

“To feed it? You don’t mean to tell me to feed the bead to Ms. Gain?”

-Tap!

The tail hit the windowsill repeatedly. It was a clear sign of affirmation. I stiffened for a moment―

“Okay. You’re not lying, are you?”

‘I believe you.’ After adding that, I hurriedly sat Ms. Gain back in the chair.

It was the advice of a little imp whose actions I couldn’t understand.

The reason I decided to follow it was because I was sure that this bead came from Ms. Gain.

It seemed clear from the circumstances that the little one had made the protagonist lose consciousness and stolen this.

I don’t know the motive or the process at all.

“Excuse me. It’s a pill. It’s a little big.”

I picked up the bead, blew on it, and rubbed it hard on the lining of my shirt.

After that, I carefully supported Ms. Gain’s neck, opened her mouth, dropped the bead in a straight line, and quickly closed her jaw.

Then I patted her back hard with my fist.

“I’m sorry. You have to swallow it······.”

-Swish······!

The reaction was immediate.

I was terrified and watched the situation closely, holding her arms tightly.

Beautiful water light flowed out of Ms. Gain’s body, then gently subsided.

The azalea petal-like bangs danced gently, covering her forehead.

It was an amazing sight that made me forget how to breathe.

After a while. Jade-like eyes slowly poured blessings on the world.

“······Ouch. Stiff neck.”

“Yes?”

Cough!

“Oh my. Did I doze off for a moment? It’s a little stiff here.”

“Ms. Gain, are you okay? Is there anything hurting? Are you lacking ether? Is your memory intact?”

When I poured out questions like a machine gun, she tilted her head, turning her shoulders.

“Um. My neck is stiff, Your Highness.”

“Not that······.”

“Why are you doing this? Did something happen in the meantime? I think I fell asleep while reading a book.”

She picked up the book that had fallen on the floor with an indifferent face.

I was silent for a moment, looking at the letters written on the spine of the book.

<10 Reasons Why a Priest Can't Trust You>.

······There was something more urgent than this right now. Oh my god.

“Just now, that lizard, huh?”

Where did it go? I grabbed the Growth and quickly went to the window.

But the troublemaking lizard was nowhere to be seen.

The same was true for its family.

The red procession that had been crossing the playground until just a moment ago no longer existed.

I felt like I had a big dream in the middle of the day. I was so dumbfounded and frustrated that my lips twitched.

You, you······!

“Really, it’s definitely not an ordinary animal. It can’t be. It’s impossible······.”

Even if you look at it from space as a satellite, it’s at least a divine object. How can no one know this?!

“Are you okay, Your Highness? You even took out the Growth. Did a suspicious person come?”

“······.”

Ms. Gain, who seemed to have finally regained her senses, asked.

I immediately locked the window and carefully examined her face.

Fortunately, there seemed to be nothing wrong. What did it take away and why?

And why did it spit it back out?

“Your Highness. Ms. Yeseo?”

“······Don’t you think our friends are strangely late?”

I muttered, looking around urgently. Only then did Ms. Gain frown.

“Huh? Now that I think about it, that’s right. Everyone’s route is obvious, and there’s no reason to be late. It’s a bit strange that no one is here until I wake up······.”

“That group of lizards is very suspicious.”

“······Uh? Let’s go together! You’ve become so serious in a short time!”

“I’ll tell you everything later!”

I almost ran back to the library entrance.

Then, as soon as I grabbed the doorknob, I roughly threw it open. It was a 180-degree different attitude from before. Clang, bang!

“Mr. Guinness! Edelweiss······!”

“Crazy!”

Ms. Gain’s shout burst out sharply before mine. We hurriedly turned to each other.

This was a real situation, no matter what anyone said.

But the scene in front of me was something I couldn’t easily accept.

I thought I had experienced all sorts of things since coming here, but this was a first.

“Oh my gosh, Your Highness······.”

In the empty hallway, with no one around, five people and two animals stood frozen.

They were the friends we had been waiting for so much.

“Wow, seriously. What’s going on.”

Without blinking an eye, frozen like statues.

Just as they were walking.

“Ah······. How could this······. No. There’s definitely a way.”

It was such a shocking sight that my lips trembled, but I quickly shook my head to come to my senses.

Then I strode up to the Crown Prince, who was watching the front from the lead.

I didn’t forget to call my partner right away.

“Ms. Gain, please come over here and touch our friends.”

“Yes?”

“It seems that the lizard family is weak against water attributes. It’s obvious, but this must be their doing too.”

“······I haven’t even seen a lizard’s tail all day.”

‘I think we’re moving too fast.’ She made a face that she couldn’t understand at all, then obediently came over and raised her little finger.

As soon as her white skin brushed against the Crown Prince’s hand―

-Flash!

“······What, when did they appear?”

The man widened his eyes as he looked at us.

Seeing his rarely surprised face, I could roughly guess what his vision was like.

He was walking normally, but suddenly we appeared in front of him.

It was an unnatural and bizarre flow, as if skipping a frame in the middle.

I immediately exchanged glances with Ms. Gain.

“Please take care of everyone else. We need to have a 100-minute debate before going to the cafeteria.”