What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 498

Sub Male Lead’s Strike – #498

A Secret Big Shot (1)

Wow, seriously.

Our Stubborn caught a lizard that six people couldn’t catch!

-Beep beep beep

“Huk, what should we do? Is there anything you need?”

-Beep beep

I barely managed to get my arms out from under the blanket and asked.

Grandfather chuckled, saying, ‘That little one is quite remarkable.’

Meanwhile, the wren fluttered over to us and stretched out the leg with the dangling lizard towards me.

Huh? Is he telling me to take it?

“Um, but. It exploded when Sir Johan caught it earlier. Ah, it wasn’t animal abuse!”

As I hurriedly added, Stubborn flew even closer and handed me the lizard.

The cute, beady eyes were still sparkling.

I figured there must be a reason why he was going this far, so I scrambled up and received the little one with both hands.

Only then did Stubborn chirp briefly and flutter back.

It almost sounded like he was clicking his tongue…

-Kit!

“Uh oh, it’s okay. I won’t hurt you.”

Thwack. The tiny fire lizard hit my palm with its tail.

The intensity was so weak that it would be more accurate to say it just touched me.

Sir Johan’s hair floated slightly into the air, so I hurriedly shook my head.

Then, I gently stroked its back, feeling extremely nervous about whether it would explode again.

Trying to use the softest voice possible.

“We want to help you if you need it.”

-······.

“What’s wrong? Isn’t there something you want that you keep coming to us for?”

-Kit

I slightly parted my fingers to observe the little one.

The beautiful, dappled leopard pattern and the orange back, resembling a certain man’s passionate gaze, flickered.

The eyes, filled with what looked like a handful of ashes, were terrified for some reason.

It was pitiful just to look at.

I showed him my purple eyes, which mythical creatures liked, and also took out the Noctiluca lizard that the little one wanted.

“Awesome, my spot.”

When Ms. Gain, still in her pajamas, tried to sit next to me again, Stubborn pecked her shoulder and chased her away.

Then, he quickly grabbed the hem of Prince Stanislaus’s shirt and pulled.

He’s so busy as soon as he arrives, our great mythical creature.

-Beep beep

“You mean I should sit next to the baby. I understand.”

-Beerrrrr

“What, me too? Why?”

Zibril Diop, who was leaning against the window, frowned.

However, Stubborn, like a friend of the imperial family, didn’t accept any objections.

-Beep beep! Beep beep!

“Ah, I got it. I got it! Don’t peck my crown.”

The man scratched the back of his head and approached me.

In the end, I ended up sitting in the middle.

The wren looked around at everyone one last time, then approached the Crown Prince, who was standing there with a sulky expression.

Then, he pecked at the Hyegeom of Mars [a ceremonial sword] hanging from his waist with his beak.

“What is it?”

-Bireut

“······.”

Having seen him for quite a while now, the group was quick to understand Stubborn’s intentions.

The man unhesitatingly untied the string and handed me the Hyegeom.

I had no idea what the flow was, but I obediently accepted it.

Keep the holy knights away, I’m the one subduing the lizard, and on top of that, I have to hold onto another fire-attribute mythical creature…

-Beep beep?

“Yeah. It’s all set. I’ll stay like this.”

“I’ll stay still.”

Stubborn definitely knows something. I don’t know what it is, though.

Ms. Gain and I nodded our heads at the same time.

As I sat comfortably with the Hyegeom in my arms, the wren settled on the Crown Prince’s shoulder.

The man calmly untied the ribbon on the little one’s ankle and checked the letter.

Sir Johan checked the situation in the hallway and outside the window, then locked the door again.

The inside has been quite noisy so far, but we have the Cardinal, so there’s no risk of being caught.

“What does it say? Who sent it?”

“The first letter is from His Majesty.”

‘He says he’s marching towards the capital.’ The man added in a low voice.

His eyes darted busily over the stiff letter.

Indeed, high-quality paper with magic is completely waterproof.

He probably wouldn’t be too surprised that my phone is waterproof either.

“Also, the rumors that Grandpa heard were correct. There will be no engagement between the two countries until January 8th. The news is that an additional national letter urging the peaceful handover of Werner Venetian has been sent to the Shin-guk side.”

“That’s good. That’s really good.”

Grandfather’s beard moved greatly.

We shrugged our shoulders and let out silent breaths. That’s really a relief.

We have some time to spare!

“And?”

“He says he’s planning to send reinforcements to the north. Huh!”

“Huh, here?”

I was so surprised that I stopped patting the lizard.

The Crown Prince made a sound that was halfway between an answer and a groan.

Ms. Gain lifted her heels and continued to read the contents.

“The leader of the Fleur-de-lis [a secret society] has been having bad dreams lately. It’s not that Bakari officially made a prophecy, but His Majesty seems to have judged it by gut feeling. He has a really good intuition.”

“Bad dreams······.”

Camille? That was a bit of ominous news. I blinked and fell into thought.

It probably wasn’t because of his psychological anxiety.

He was becoming stable enough to reveal his real name to me, and the priests of the Victory Prayer Society, except for Eva, decided to stay in the military camp for the time being.

He must be receiving constant soul healing with Princess Marguerite······.

“That’s a decision that’s strangely like His Majesty and unlike His Majesty at the same time.”

“Huh? Why?”

“Why else, Pink Princess? His Majesty is a Sword Master, and the Grand Preceptor is a Cardinal. Plus, I’m an 8th-grade combat mage. Unless griffins fly in droves, we’ll win.”

Duke Diop spoke with his arms crossed. I tilted my head as I listened to his argument.

“Hmm.”

Could Camille have seen our future?

But he said that because of me, who is interfering with the flow of the original work, he can’t receive any revelations about us.

It’s confusing.

Still, if His Majesty decided to dispatch reinforcements, there must be something going on, but what is it?

“This is a militarily and politically unstable land. Having reinforcements would be advantageous, but on the other hand, the situation could become too big. He didn’t intend to put us into an all-out war.”

I hope it’s just a worry, but I have a bad feeling.

It’s even more so because I’m holding the last mythical creature in my hand.

“If you’re planning to occupy it, Werner’s capture could be faster.”

······There’s no way it’s a coincidence that these beings keep popping up wherever we go. Absolutely not.

“Both of you make sense, but His Majesty didn’t explain anything. It’s written here like this. ‘Reinforcements will be coming soon. I will refrain from speaking about it. I don’t think anything will change even if I write it down.'”

-Phee

······Huh? Did Stubborn just sigh?

“What? Did he really write that?”

“Ah, if you don’t believe me, go see it yourself. You’re so suspicious.”

“Don’t touch my body.”

The Crown Prince and Ms. Gain glared at each other with wide eyes, and the Duke, who jumped up, struggled to take the paper from between them.

Sir Johan looked up at the ceiling with a slightly tired face.

As for me, I stopped stroking the lizard and blankly stared into space.

Excuse me, but what is that resigned tone, Your Majesty?

You’re refraining from speaking about the reinforcements?

“Even if they depart from Yeriho, it will take quite some time for a large-scale unit. Things could happen in the meantime, so we must not neglect training.”

“Yes, yes. Your Highness.”

Ahem! I barely came to my senses at Grandpa’s calm words.

Since the elder showed a normal reaction, it seemed like the situation was okay for now.

No. We should be happy if the Imperial Army comes.

Even to properly strike Wilhelmina’s secret chamber in Atsuma, it would be better to have reinforcements.

It’s not uncommon for His Majesty not to say much.

He always cares about us, so there’s nothing to worry about. Hmm.

“Annoying, really. Ah! Here, there’s also a letter from His Highness Oreli!”

-Bbippooo!

“Waa!”

My face brightened at those words. Come to think of it, Stubborn went to the capital!

I received the letter sent by my teacher, spread it on my lap, and read it aloud for everyone.

Meanwhile, the lizard faithfully stuck to my palm like a flattened pancake under a press. It’s docile.

“······’I would also like to send greetings to the clear and lovely Christel. Your grandparents and nanny are always praying for you and Isabel. May the blessings within you shine unceasingly even in the darkness, I too pray day and night.'”

“Thank you!”

Ms. Gain said with a beaming face. I finished reading the end in a tone mixed with laughter.

“‘Lastly······. Stubborn says he’s going to take his owner. Since humans cannot interfere with the harmony of mythical creatures, it was difficult for me to stop him. Instead, I selected a suitable guardian from among several candidates to accompany him. That child now has an owner, so he will be even more reliable. Please tell Johan that I am truly sorry?'”

“Huh?”

“What?”

“What?”

“Huh?”

······Ah?

Even after reading it, I couldn’t immediately understand the sentence.

The end of the letter was ‘With sincere faith and affection that cannot be expressed in words.’ And it ended with my teacher’s signature.

I pondered the words written above several times.

Then, I looked back and forth between the paper on my lap and the wren on the Crown Prince’s broad shoulders.

‘Stubborn says he’s going to take his owner?’

Stubborn? Take his owner?

Where to?

“······It’s not easy to understand.”

A long silence flowed, and finally, the father of Stubborn’s owner spoke.

I neatly folded the letter with one hand and met the wren’s gaze.

Whether it was my imagination or not, his expression seemed very nonchalant.

“Stubborn, you wouldn’t happen to.”

-Bbi?

“······You wouldn’t happen to have brought your owner here too? No, right?”

As I barely whispered, the mythical creature tilted his small head from side to side.

It was a reaction as if he didn’t understand what that human was saying at all.

That’s right, there must be some misunderstanding―

-Bireureu

At that moment, the little bird opened its beak.

At the same time, a light purple sphere formed at the tip of its beak. Saaaa······!

“Crazy, seriously. Jung Stubborn!”

The sphere soon began to grow rapidly in size, and I raised my voice in disbelief.

I couldn’t help but laugh, wondering how this situation was unfolding.

I heard Grandpa next to me calling for the patron god.

Ms. Gain burst out laughing like a scream, ‘Euaaak!’

-Saaaa······!

No way, no way! Hey!

“What are you trying to do!”

I shouted, unable to control my expression.

In the meantime, the mythical creature’s light gradually subsided and slowly shrank, eventually turning into the figures of two people.

They were familiar silhouettes. However, they weren’t the heights I remembered.

I knew it wasn’t something to be unconditionally happy about, but I felt a surge of emotion.

The lizard held my finger tightly.

-Sarururu······

Finally, white hair gently fell over a small head.

The purest mint-colored eyes in the world curved like a crescent moon towards us.

“Good heavens, Herrit!”

“Ah······!”

And with a whoosh, the child jumped into his father’s arms.

Like a dream in the middle of the night.