What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 497

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – 497

#497

Self-Severance (5)

“······.”

-Swish, swish

The tiny fire salamander moved to the edge of the window frame in an instant.

It was too dark to see clearly, but Gain expected that this one must be ‘that one.’

The cheeky little rascal who stole Marquis Francois’s kiss and ran away.

Perhaps this kid also stole Johan Sam’s hair tie and showed interest in Djibril Diop’s cane.

There might be hundreds of similar salamanders, but it seemed only one was acting as the leader.

-Swish, swish, swish

The little one hesitated for a long time as if the window frame were a diving board….

-Plop!

Finally, it mustered the courage to jump onto the Palace Lord’s bed.

The priest twitched his eyebrows for a moment, but fortunately, he managed to compose himself by just tossing and turning slightly.

Gain blinked her eyes alternately, observing the salamander.

The short legs moved busily, going all the way to the Palace Lord’s pillow―

-Pop!

It jumped up in fright and retreated.

The paladin didn’t know much about the salamander’s biology, but this was clearly a terrified reaction.

She had heard that the Palace Lord had touched this kid before, but she couldn’t figure out what the problem was.

As the Crown Prince behind her was about to emit uncomfortable Aether [a magical energy or life force], she quickly tapped his arm with the back of her hand.

Stay still!

-Plop! Pop! Plop!

The salamander startled itself and backed away, then repeated getting closer to the Palace Lord.

Honestly, it was fascinating.

Among the group, the only ones who weren’t the target of the salamander were the Palace Lord, Crown Prince Cedric, and the Divine Beasts.

Well, the Divine Beasts were Divine Beasts, so that was understandable.

‘······It seems to be because of the Hyegeom for the Crown Prince.’

‘Hyegeom?’

‘Yes. If that salamander is a Divine Object of the fire attribute, the Hyegeom [a legendary sword] has the exact same attribute. It might be difficult to approach a paladin who already receives the blessing of fire.’

‘······.’

‘Or it could be a matter of the vessel.’

The words her partner couldn’t bring himself to add, Gain whispered instead.

There was no emotion in that sentence, so even the Crown Prince could accept it calmly.

The Palace Lord gave him three Aether beads, smiling silently.

Anyway, unlike the clunker, who seemed to have a clear reason for avoidance―

‘It’s strangely not approaching the Palace Lord.’

Johan Sam pointed out gently.

For reference, he was a master who could tie his hair with just his hair, without a hair tie.

If he learned properly, he would probably do better with a curling iron than Gain.

‘Right, that’s a bit of a problem. Usually, if they can sense Aether, shouldn’t they be drooling all over the Palace Lord?’

‘Good heavens.’

‘Christel, that’s too much….’

‘Ahahaha!’

Oh, right.

So, looking back, it was somewhat logical that the Palace Lord wanted to use himself as bait.

There were five people who could protect him, and two Divine Beasts.

However, revealing ‘Light-Fry’ in front of the students was a completely different matter.

The Palace Lord argued that he was the only one on the continent who could use this technique, and it had been kept secret until now, so even if rumors spread, no one would be able to connect it to ‘Prince Yeser.’

Opinions were quite divided on this, but Gain was on the pro side.

‘If rumors spread, we’ll all be known. Not just the Palace Lord alone.’

If griffins or high-level magical beasts appeared in droves, the Somaek Guild would have to pour out all its power anyway.

Even if it was a fake guild, they couldn’t ignore the ‘request’ they received and abandon the extermination of magical beasts.

Eventually, rumors would spread; it was only a matter of time.

It might be better to use ‘Light-Hop’ here.

The black market was located in Yeriho, which was a good place for rumors to spread throughout the Holy Kingdom, but Crescent Moon’s head was in an almost isolated area.

In fact, there wasn’t even a single famous ‘leaflet’ in this neighborhood.

Of course, no one knew the Liberator of Baekgok King.

In addition to this opinion, His Highness Stanislaus made a very realistic statement.

‘The national fortune of Fenetian is declining. This can be seen not only by looking at people but also by looking at nature.’

‘······.’

‘Even though it’s winter, the beasts are particularly frightened, and the air feels heavy even on clear days. The wind here smells of iron and blood.’

The point was that barren Varna, a virtually dying territory, would eventually fall into the hands of His Majesty Frederick. Perhaps the entire Holy Kingdom!

So, there was no need to hoard their cards too much.

‘I agree with the Palace Lord’s opinion.’

Johan Sam said with a gentle smile. There was no further explanation.

The innocent Palace Lord and Marquis Francois nodded in unison, but Gain and the others knew.

It’s because Sam is thinking of wiping this place out if things go wrong… He’s really full of venom.

‘I’m against it.’

No one asked, but Diop gave his opinion as a guild member anyway.

‘It’s an operation that’s being carried out under the pretext of saving people who are going to die. Yeah, the excuse is fancy and good. The Holy Kingdom’s life is also a life.’

‘······.’

‘But think about it. We’re already giving these youngsters free military training, and now we’re exposing additional information? Even during wartime?’

‘Duke Diop.’

‘Palace Lord, you trust people too much. You must know that there are many trashy people in the world, right?’

‘That’s not wrong.’

The clunker with the worst fuel efficiency finally cast a vote for Diop.

The Palace Lord turned to look at him, slightly surprised.

‘It’s better if information about you isn’t known. If possible, even your eating habits and voice.’

‘······.’

‘Even that expression.’

Damn it, shit. He might as well say he wants to lock him up in the Imperial Palace….

‘What do you think, Francois?’

Her partner finally asked the patient with the last vote.

He was already (temporarily) sickly, and the shock of having his (lips’) chastity stolen added to it, so he had taken up permanent residence in bed.

The Palace Lord seemed not to have seen it because he was covering him with a blanket, but Gain witnessed it clearly.

The Marquis glanced at the Crown Prince for a moment, then looked at Johan Sam.

There was a very intense internal conflict just now, right?

‘······I will follow the Palace Lord’s will. I believe that he, who uses sacred abilities, will make the wisest judgment.’

‘Wow. Thank you for believing in me, Marquis!’

To be exact, it was something to thank Herrit for, but anyway, that’s how it turned out.

The Somaek Guild did Somaek Guild things again today, all vague and ambiguous.

“······.”

Is this really okay? Deep down, she believed it would be.

But if the group were to unleash another Divine Object here, what would happen this time? Would another white line be added to the sky?

Is it a coincidence that there are Divine Objects everywhere they go? Could that really be the case?

As expected, someone’s….

-Swish, plop! Swish, pop!

Startled. The fire salamander bounced up and down like a broken dinosaur doll.

It didn’t seem to get tired.

At the same time, faint Aether flowed from the Palace Lord’s fingertips.

The deep-sea light eyes, lost in thought, widened greatly. Finally!

-Rustle······

-······.

The Aether unknowingly took on a shape similar to the salamander, and the little intruder seemed to recognize it.

The tiny reptile’s eyes became even rounder in the darkness.

Golden sparks flickered in the gray pupils.

A sacred illusion that closely resembled the little one extended half its body out of the Palace Lord’s hand.

-Swoosh······

-Rustle, rustle

Then, the fire salamander finally mustered the courage to start climbing the blanket.

The staggering appearance, as if it would fall at any moment, was impressive.

Indeed, the effect of noctiluca [bioluminescent plankton] was certain.

Gain found herself sincerely cheering for the little one.

Do your best, go for it! Try to steal something like you did to me!

-Snap!

It did it!

The real (?) salamander grabbed the Aether salamander with its front legs!

-······.

-Rustle, rustle!

As soon as it caught its target, it hung on with all its might.

It seemed to be trying its best to make the Aether salamander its own.

Gain, who swallowed hard, slowly took out her whip from under the blanket.

She gestured to the Crown Prince behind her.

Almost there, really almost there. Now soon―

-Whoosh!

The Aether salamander was pulled out and sucked back into the Palace Lord like a yo-yo.

The terrified fire salamander clung to his finger. At that moment,

-Thwack!

“Got you, you little rascal!”

The Palace Lord jumped up and grabbed the salamander with both hands! ‘Click, whoosh!’ At the same time as all the candles in the room lit up, Gain quickly swung her whip. Not a chance!

-Whirr, click!

The window, which had been open about 5cm, was immediately locked.

‘Bang!’ The door swung open at the signal of the three people’s Aether flow.

Johan Sam strode in without hesitation, knelt in front of the Palace Lord’s bed, and held out his hand.

In his other hand, he held a miniature Aether restraint made by Francois.

It was uncertain how effective it would be against a Divine Object, but it was better than nothing―

-Squeak!

The salamander, caught in the cardinal’s grasp, let out a scream-like sound.

It shook its tail and head wildly, struggling. The Palace Lord’s face paled.

The moment he looked at Johan Sam, his heart weakening in an instant,

-Boom!

“Ugh!”

The salamander exploded?!

“Crazy!”

“Good heavens!”

The old grandfather’s exclamation burst out at the doorway. Gain immediately jumped towards the Palace Lord.

Her instinct was to protect her partner no matter what the situation.

Wrapping him tightly in the blanket, she hurriedly turned around,

“······It’s gone.”

The Crown Prince, who had said those words, stood tall right in front of her.

Gain stared at him blankly, then slowly lowered her gaze, following his line of sight.

Black ash was on Johan Sam’s palm. There wasn’t even a trace of the salamander.

Huh?

“As expected, salamanders are different.”

The man’s low voice echoed through the room.

Gain and the Palace Lord kimbap [rolled seaweed rice, implying they were bundled up] were left speechless. What is this….

“It seems it cut off its tail and ran away.”

“Yes······?”

“Wait a minute, are you alright, Sir Johan? Your hand―”

“It was just warm for a moment, there was no damage at all. Don’t worry too much.”

He smiled and took out a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off the soot.

No one had imagined that the operation would turn out like this, so they felt drained and empty.

Even the grandfather looked greatly surprised. However, one thing became clear with this.

That salamander family was now truly a Divine Object, not just a family.

Meanwhile, the clunker was looking down at the Palace Lord, who was rolled up in a blanket, with a dissatisfied look.

Gain glared back at him, not wanting to lose.

What, why? Are you afraid your sister will kidnap him as he is? Scared?

“······Hey, over there outside the window.”

That’s when it happened.

“It seems we have a guest.”

“Yes?”

Diop, who was leaning against the door with his arms crossed, tilted his chin.

Everyone’s eyes rolled to the window.

Then their mouths gaped open, ugly enough to be a defect. ‘Flap, flap, flap······.’

-Chirp!

“Dduk-shim!”

“Sir Dduk-shim?”

“Oh my baby! No, my bird!”

It was the wren they loved most in the world!

‘Heo-eong!’ Gain left the Palace Lord kimbap as it was and ran to the window.

Of course, Dduk-shim wasn’t her bird or her baby, but she was so happy that it came at this time in this way that her face lit up.

Even to this remote place! How hard must the little one have worked!

-Chirp, chirp!

“Aigoo! Our Ham-Dduk! You must be freezing, oh my. Come in and have a bowl of stew!”

‘Clatter, clatter!’ The excited Gain was now about to smash even the intact window.

Diop, who couldn’t stand it, came over, sighed, and opened the window.

‘Flutter!’ The little bird flew straight into the room······.

-Chirrrrr, chirp, chirp!

It cried out with all its might!

A red ribbon and letters were tied to its thin ankles.

But the one who first identified the bird’s ‘spoils’ was, of course, the Palace Lord earthworm [referring to the Palace Lord who was still wrapped in the blanket].

“······Dduk-shim. Is that a salamander you’re holding in your claws?”

-Chirp-Bbo!

‘Flap!’ Another salamander shook its body for a moment and then drooped.

The tongue sticking out was a clear ‘surrender.’