What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 522

Dragon King’s Onward March! (2)

Without incident, three days passed.

Today is the birthday of our esteemed Frederick the Great.

Therefore, it is a very important day for us.

-Nyaooo

“Shhh.”

-Beebee

“Shush.”

-Awooong

“Shushush.”

-Tap tap tap

“Goo goo. Even you?”

I cautiously peeked my head out the door, adorned with the two Divine Treasures and two Divine Beasts all over my body.

The troublesome ones also wriggled their heads out, eagerly showing their curiosity.

On my left chest was a neatly squared name tag.

It was a symbol that only guild members registered with the Assembly Hall could wear.

‘Heineken’.

…I really feel like a glass of draft beer now.

Our Crown Prince still doesn’t know what his alias means.

If he finds out, he probably won’t leave Gain and me alone.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

I shook off the idle thoughts and focused on the task at hand.

The internal structure of the Barun-Atzuma Guild Assembly Hall had similarities to the caravanserais [roadside inns or compounds for travelers] in the neutral zone.

The second floor had a corridor-style layout with an open center, providing a clear view of the first floor, while the third floor and above were blocked off with thick walls like a normal building.

Thanks to this, we were able to observe the lobby and closely monitor the population and cargo flow by time.

The location of the back door and the ‘hidden back door,’ the guard rotation cycle, the number of stairwells leading to the basement.

Even the appearance time of the ‘armored supervisor’ that Allein mentioned.

Especially, Sir Johann was a man who had lived as a mercenary his entire life.

It only took him about two days to figure out the secrets of this building.

To dismantle a well-established group, one must be thoroughly prepared.

Especially when we are strangers and the organization is a secret society.

“…So, they said they can’t pay the remaining balance?”

“Of course! How can they talk about fate after receiving such a thing? The ones at the bottom of the box were completely rotten…”

“Hey, still, give them a break…”

“No way! I was scammed by that guy before…”

The first floor was bustling with people today as well.

The Barun Territory was a very sparsely populated land, but coming down towards Atzuma, there were always at least dozens of people in the Assembly Hall.

The peculiar thing about this place is that despite the existence of such a terrible secret chamber in the basement, the ground floor is functioning perfectly as an Assembly Hall.

I guessed that Baron Atzuma might have been aiming for that aspect.

No one would ever suspect that the bodies of Barun Territory residents would be piled up here, on the border between Barun and Atzuma.

Because no one could imagine that such a cruel thing was happening in this place, where dozens of ordinary merchants and customers come and go every day.

‘Then perhaps… the cargo wagons we saw were not carrying ordinary cargo.’

‘If so, this place is no different from the Baron’s base.’

Crown Prince Cedric’s voice rippled through my mind.

Yes, it’s truly the worst kind of treachery. To resort to such vile deception.

“…There she is. I see Tess.”

I finally found Tess, who had arrived in the lobby, and breathed a sigh of relief.

Herrit and Joan, who Dduk-sim was carrying, could only come out when she was not around.

The inside of the Ark was very cozy and full of water and food, but separately from that, it was important for Herrit to spend time with his dad.

Even if Joan was a very good aunt to the child.

I quickly put the wren back into the room and walked back into the hallway as if nothing had happened.

I was definitely not taking a walk alone, but just playing the role of an affable priest in a public place.

Just like Tess was pretending to be a wealthy tobacco merchant on the first floor.

The gaze on the back of my head was as hot as an electric blanket in the middle of winter, but I stubbornly ignored it.

“…I’ll leave the door open. I’m right in front, so don’t worry too much.”

Namjoo, have some conscience.

If you or Sir Johann are next to me, no one will approach me out of fear.

“Which one makes it impossible to take your eyes off?”

Then, a low, dark chocolate voice retorted from the window.

I thought he was engrossed in reading, but he had been holding the same page for over ten minutes.

It wasn’t even a small book, but it looked like a miniature in his hands.

Over the past three days, we had struggled to find a new balance.

Without Gain, communication was not as smooth as before. That was the same even with Sir Johann around.

“Sorry, but I’m the older brother.”

Cheer up. Why waste your handsome face and cause national loss?

“Hmph.”

A snort immediately returned.

I was about to retort, but I thought it wasn’t like an older brother, so I stopped.

I’m sorry that the older brother is bad at acting, but if you need to go to the bathroom urgently, I’ll be sure to speak up.

Please don’t embarrass me in front of people.

“Ahem. Hmm.”

Then, I leaned against the railing and pretended to read the Bible.

Soon, people passing by in the hallway greeted me with their eyes.

They were all people Tess had won over with sugar cube tobacco over the past few days.

She had such a good eye that she picked out only the most gossipy people among many and earnestly asked them ‘not to reveal anything about us.’

That included the Assembly Hall doormen who let us in.

Even Cedric, who was royalty, highly praised her eye for people.

“Hello, Priest.”

“Hello.”

As planned, our rumors spread very cheaply and quickly.

‘A combination of a priest and a merchant who seem to have a story.’

‘People who say that Yeriho went bankrupt and came all the way up here because they had nowhere else to go.’

‘People who seem to be on the run.’ ‘Four men and women in a strange relationship.’

It was such a cheap price.

“Wow, you’re reading the Bible again today. You must be very devout.”

“Hahaha. I’m just ordinary.”

“Rumor has it that our Baron Atzuma has also heard about you, Priest. The Baron originally treats priests very generously. And since you’re a healing priest, the Baron will soon throw a lavish dinner for you. You can look forward to it!”

I smiled and nodded.

Yes, it’s about time the Baron heard about us.

Thank you for giving me a discount on the chatter after receiving expensive tobacco.

Ideally, that person would call me tonight.

“Is that so? The Baron must be a devout person.”

“Oh, of course. The Baron’s daughter was very sick before…”

The two merchants started chattering as if they had been waiting for it. This was well-known information.

Baron Atzuma and his sickly only daughter.

I was subtly raising the corners of my mouth as if it were the first time I had heard the story.

Of course, my eyes were constantly scanning the movements downstairs.

It’s 3:56 now, so a new wagon will be arriving soon. It was exactly the same yesterday and the day before.

Only the cargo boxes went down to the basement through the back door, and the new experiment participants passed through the lobby and up the north stairs….

“He suffered a lot at that time, that’s right. Come to think of it, has it already been three or four years since the Princess recovered?”

“It must be. Oh, we have children too, so we know how they feel. Even if the kids just scrape their knees outside, we get worried and our blood runs dry. Besides, the Baron had already lost two before, so how much…”

Wait, what? I blinked and looked back at the merchants.

This was new to me.

“Excuse me, what did you just say…”

“Oops. I wonder if it’s okay to talk about this to someone from out of town…”

The representatives of the chatter outlets belatedly pretended to notice.

Through the half-open door of the lodgings, I could feel the Crown Prince tensing up all his nerves.

I opened my mouth as naturally and nonchalantly as possible.

In times like this, I should show a textbook reaction.

“If it’s an uncomfortable topic, you don’t have to explain it to me. I’m just curious, but I can’t help it.”

“Ayyy! It’s not uncomfortable.”

“Of course it’s okay for someone as beautiful and devout as you! Actually, our Baron…”

Yes, I’ve got them!

“In the past, when he was younger. He had two miscarriages.”

“Ah…”

The two lowered their voices in whispers.

“That was originally a secret, but it became known when his husband passed away at a young age. He fainted on the spot after hearing the news that the second child had been miscarried, and for about three years after that…”

“Three years? He was sick for four years straight. He only saw the third Princess being born and then passed away. The whole territory was in chaos at that time. Even now, I feel sorry for the Baron.”

“I wouldn’t be able to live with my sanity if I were him. That’s why he donated so much when raising the Princess…”

It was then.

-Clunk! Creeeak…!

The main gate of the Assembly Hall, which we had entered through, slowly opened with a heavy groan.

Come to think of it, it was about time for the cargo wagon to arrive.

Since the Barun Territory would no longer be sending the bodies of its residents to the Atzuma Cemetery, it was clear that they were carrying bodies or other experimental supplies procured from other places.

They must have brought participants disguised as merchants from various places as well. And all of them to the basement….

Huh?

-Clang, clang, clang, clang!

Contrary to my expectations, there were no cargo boxes in the procession entering through the door.

There were no participants who had been dragged in without knowing anything either.

Instead, several stretchers covered with black cloth were being quickly transported. What is it?

“Good heavens! Who died?!”

Someone’s cry echoed loudly through the lobby.

As a signal, a swarm of buzzing spread in all directions.

Feeling the commotion, Goo Goo, who was hiding in my arms, popped his head out.

I hurriedly hid the child with my hand.

The people I was talking to stretched their waists out over the railing and exchanged shouts with the people on the first floor.

Tess, who was talking to the merchants over there, also had a stiff expression.

The atmosphere was unusual.

“…They say! It’s a mystery!”

“…Oh my! Goodness, then are all the mercenaries dead?!”

“What happened? What did they say?”

“The Assembly Hall mercenaries went to search for a missing merchant, but they were all horribly killed by monsters! The merchant is still missing!”

“Oh dear! Did they freeze to death in the forest?”

“They must have gone out drinking at night and ended up like that, mooo!”

“…”

I momentarily lost control of my expression and looked into the room.

Cedric, who had already closed his book, was sharpening his eyes sharply.

But to others, I seemed to be looking like a suitably surprised person.

“Priest, don’t worry. This kind of thing is definitely not common…”

“It seems everyone drinks too much because it’s a cold region. If they step wrong, sometimes…”

“…”

The bodies of the mercenaries who were chasing Allein had finally been found.

Sir Johann had hidden them carefully, but it seemed that Baron Atzuma had been persistently searching for them in the meantime.

I rolled my lips inward and quietly nodded. Inside, I had all sorts of thoughts.

“…That’s a shame. I hope the missing person comes back soon.”

Damn it. I was going to start hitting the basement from today if possible.

Will this be a variable? Would it be? If it’s the Baron, he would have definitely tried to get rid of Allein.

Because he is an experimental subject who has not had his memory erased, and if he has died and come back to life once, there is a possibility of awakening.

“It’s a tragedy, a tragedy. Young people at the same time…”

-Clang! Clang! Clang!

At that moment, the cold sound of armor pierced my eardrums from right behind me.

The escort knight’s movements were several times faster than my startled turn. Swish!

-Thud!

“What’s the matter?”

The Crown Prince, who was blocking my path with his imposing figure, was checking the opponent with a terrifying momentum while holding a sparring sword.

I swallowed hard at the silhouette visible over his shoulder.

A knight wearing a helmet and holding a whip.

The ‘supervisor’ that Allein mentioned.

“…The Baron wants to meet the Priest.”

That answer followed.

A chill ran down my spine at the emotionless words.

#523