What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 502

Author Bridget didn’t lightly depict her ‘previous life,’ and conversely, vividly portrayed the process of that experience changing or clashing with those around her.

Notably through Cedrick Liester and Yeser Venetian.

“Are these kinds of stories not your thing?”

But words are just words. A third party’s description that never borrowed the person’s own voice.

“No, not at all.”

Gain returned my answer with a smile.

Then she looked back at the darkening sea.

“…Dad died in a really absurd way. You know how you sometimes see news stories about families who have been suffering from domestic violence finally killing the abuser? We didn’t even have that chance.”

“……”

“He just died in a traffic accident while jaywalking. He died instantly on the spot without any last words or anything. I actually felt sorry for the driver.”

‘How unlucky to get caught up with someone like that,’ I thought to myself.

A burst of laughter escaped me.

I hesitated for a moment whether to take her hand, but decided not to.

I thought about releasing some Aether [magical energy] instead, but I didn’t do that either.

“Well, the rest is obvious. I thought the three of us would somehow manage to live well, but Mom became the new villain. We grew up getting beaten by Mom again. My sister had all her earnings taken away by Mom, and in the meantime, I did everything I could to protect her from getting hit.”

“……”

I just decided to stay by her side. Like the other paladins, just listening.

“Then, after a few years, Mom ran away from home. She scraped together all the money she had and disappeared without a trace. I thought our family was dirt poor, but I guess she still had something to take with her. Looking back, it’s really amazing.”

“Even though we live in different worlds, there are similarities.”

Sir Johann lightly retorted. But the meaning behind those words was heavy.

Gain met his eyes and giggled.

“I know, right? Well, that’s the story. Moderately common, but surprisingly hard to find around you if you look hard enough.”

“What about your sister?”

The Crown Prince asked calmly. For the first time, Gain looked briefly pained.

But she quickly overcame it.

“My sister got married and moved to Germany. When I was twenty-five, she met a really great brother-in-law. She married a foreigner and went abroad.”

“……”

Splash, I suddenly dredged up a piece of memory from the Demon Beast Subjugation.

‘Why is my sister here? She should be living happily after getting married, what is she doing here!’

‘Go. Go to your brother-in-law, it’s dangerous here! Hurry!’

A face where deep affection and intense sadness were mixed together like a paint can.

The sight of her suffering as she saw her sister’s illusion.

The spring when we weren’t even partners yet.

“Haven’t you seen her since then?”

“No. My sister never came back to Korea. Even though she loves me so much, she says it’s hard to see my face now. She says she feels sorry because it keeps reminding her of the old days.”

“……”

“But I understand, so I can’t say anything. My sister played the role of an adult and a parent until I graduated from college. She was always the breadwinner. Now she wants to leave and find her own happiness, what right do I have to stop her?”

“……”

“She must have a lot of painful memories because of me. Just looking at our neighborhood must make her shudder… How can I tell her to come visit sometimes?”

‘Sniffle.’ Gain finally made a sniffling sound.

By the time I hurriedly took out my handkerchief, two men’s handkerchiefs had already arrived before her.

I was surprised because this was the first time I had seen this.

She playfully glared at the three of us and raised the corners of her lips.

“What’s with you guys? I thought I became a priest [referring to the excessive sympathy she’s receiving].”

I couldn’t help but laugh at that joke.

She took all three handkerchiefs and blew her nose and wiped away her tears.

She even soaked the last one in clean water and washed her face.

I think I gained courage from that strong appearance.

“…Actually, my mother is ill.”

Seeing her slip out that story like that.

Everyone’s eyes turned to me. I continued to speak quietly.

“‘Early-onset Alzheimer’s dementia.’ So she doesn’t recognize me or other family members well.”

“Gasp…”

Gain’s eyes widened.

Crown Prince Cedrick also had a surprised look, and Sir Johann seemed to be carefully examining me.

I smiled faintly and shook my head.

“It’s okay. It’s actually been a long time. My mother has been holding on well for a long time. Sometimes she gets surprisingly better, so we all go to visit her regularly.”

“……”

“She’s always been mentally vulnerable. My father was a firefighter—ah, a job that puts out fires and saves lives. My mother seemed to worry every day that something would happen to my father. She also had severe depression and was receiving treatment steadily.”

‘Crackle, crackle.’ The bonfire at our feet burned peacefully.

I stared at that heart and recalled my mother’s face. My mother in her healthy days.

It’s a little faint now. Does my brother remember it more clearly?

“After my father passed away at a fire scene, my mother’s depressive symptoms worsened. My aunt, who is a nurse, suggested that she get a thorough examination first. The diagnosis was quite quick, I think.”

“……When was that?”

“Hmm. My father passed away when I was ten, so that must have been when I was twelve or thirteen. It was before I started wearing a school uniform.”

“Oh my. You were too young. What to do.”

Gain covered my hand with her own.

It didn’t cover it all, but it was overflowing with warmth.

I smiled carefully and added.

“So… So I didn’t think my brother, who is a writer, would have written about the two of them.”

“……”

“I heard that King Christiana Venetian, the mother of Prince Yeser, also suffers from a similar illness.”

“Ah.”

“If my brother wrote this story, it would be too cruel to both him and Eunseo. She loves your story the most in the world… Because she named the prince after my name, her older brother, and created someone based on her mother’s situation.”

“Oh my goodness… That’s right. That’s crossing the line.”

Gain’s face became serious as well. The Crown Prince was silent the whole time.

I wondered if he was sick somewhere, so I carefully examined his complexion, but he just looked back at me and remained silent.

I thought I was pretty good at interpreting this guy’s expressions these days.

The man felt distant again as if he were lying. I couldn’t figure out what he was thinking at all.

“……”

“……”

These dark stories must be uncomfortable. Of course, they would be.

Besides, how many people would welcome the fact that they are characters in a novel with open arms?

And here I am, a friend, reminding them of that again.

“Ahem.”

I awkwardly avoided their gaze.

It will take time for the two of them to feel a little more comfortable. Maybe a very long time.

-Whoosh…

-Splash, splash, splash…

Once again, only the sound of the sea roamed our ears.

Gain and I dug in the sand and played meaningless hand games for a while.

“I was actually the one who received the proposal.”

Thud. Suddenly, such a confession flew in.

We were so shocked that we stared blankly at each other.

Then, at the same time, we slowly turned our heads.

Sir Johann’s white hair fluttered like fine smoke in the night breeze. Whoosh…

“Excuse me, what did you say?”

Did we hear wrong? That must be it, right?

“Josephina brought up the marriage first. She said she didn’t want to leave me alone.”

“Gasp!”

“Wow, a huge deal. Steadfast! Call Marquis Francois! Issue a wren [a bird, symbolizing love and devotion]!”

“Gain! Calm down!”

I barely managed to hold onto our protagonist, who was staggering to her feet.

The drab northern sand scattered in all directions.

Even the Crown Prince turned to look at his teacher with slightly widened eyes.

Father Herit simply gave a smiling look as if he had brushed with the breath of God. Wow…

“Of course, I refused.”

“Oh my, why? Why did you do that! You were going to do it anyway, why did you refuse!”

Gain playfully hit his arm.

Sir Johann drooped his eyebrows as if he were troubled.

“Well, I was a wanderer, an orphan, and I didn’t have a stable job.”

“No, honestly, if you’re as handsome as Sam [a common nickname for someone handsome], you can support yourself while living with him, you know? Are you doing this because you want to hear that from me now? Handsome guys are always a problem—”

“Besides, I was about four years older.”

“Crazy!”

“Wow, they say you don’t even need to check the compatibility if there’s a four-year age difference!”

Gain and I became greatly excited and raised our voices.

Suddenly, the atmosphere reversed and our hearts were pounding.

This is privacy. Real, full-fledged Sir Johann’s privacy!

“So what did Josephina say? Like, isn’t it better to marry a younger person?”

“…How did you know?”

The teacher looked at his disciple with pure surprise.

There was about two seconds of silence after that.

“Ugh, what is this!? You guys were totally lovey-dovey while dating!”

The black sandy beach soon turned into a crucible of excitement.

It was an unforgettable December 31st.

*

Rummage, rummage.

“Oh my, oh my…”

Deep dawn. I woke up groggily.

My back was incredibly stiff from sleeping in an uncomfortable position.

The scenery of the tent house where the brazier was placed was unfamiliar.

After blinking several times, I remembered that I had dozed off on the beach and crawled into this place.

“I told you to wake me up right before sunrise… Ahem.”

My throat was also hoarse, probably because I had fallen into a deep sleep.

The moment I fumbled to get up to find some water—

「The preparation is complete. From now on, it will depend on that person’s choice.」

Beyond the thick tent, I heard a familiar old voice.

It was the shadow of an old woman.