What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 54

#054 What I Won’t Miss (2)

I gritted my teeth and carefully placed my hand on the little one’s forehead.

It seemed his fever had gone down quite a bit compared to before. His breathing also seemed fairly stable.

“You seem quite used to taking care of children, Prince.”

Cristel commented in a light tone.

It seemed like she didn’t mean anything by it, but I felt a little guilty.

Soon, an excuse popped out like a coin-operated vending machine.

It’s not like I’m doing this because I’ve helped this kid a few times.

“I have a younger sibling.”

“Ah, I heard. You have an older sister and a younger sibling below you.”

“That’s right.”

I didn’t think Prince Yeser and the two princesses were close siblings, but it was a perfect excuse to smooth over the current situation.

Anyway, it’s true that I have a younger sibling.

I glanced at the boy’s condition and hugged Demi, who was climbing onto my lap.

“Come to think of it, you seemed to be having a hard time earlier… Demi too. Are you alright now?”

I asked.

The image of Cristel collapsing and retching as soon as the Prince’s flame erupted, and Demi running away from my arms to Cristel, came to mind.

After the embers disappeared, they both seemed to recover naturally.

“Yes, I’m fine. The Crown Prince’s ether pressure was too intense, so I felt a bit nauseous. Demi probably felt something similar.”

‘Ether pressure’…. I definitely read that there was such a concept among the paladins.

It wasn’t relevant to me as a priest, so I skimmed over it, but I didn’t know it applied to Demi, a sacred beast, as well.

Should I take some time to look into it when I return to the Imperial Palace?

Cristel, noticing my expression, smiled brightly and stood up.

I didn’t bother to stop her as she walked out of the sanctuary.

After all, the Crown Prince had killed every monster in the mountain.

“To selectively kill only the monsters despite such intense pressure, that’s amazing control. You’re so strong, it makes me feel a bit competitive.”

Competitive spirit, that must be a good thing, right? I nodded at her words.

For the two protagonists to be in love, any emotion would be the foundation.

Isn’t the opposite of love indifference?

As long as they weren’t indifferent to each other, I was all for it now.

“Oh, the scent is so nice. Demi could start an orchard later.”

Cristel exclaimed, picking the four remaining apples on the apple tree.

The mountain was truly intact and peaceful. The sound of birds chirping could be heard nearby.

If you just cleared away a few blackened stones, no one would believe that a fire had occurred here.

She returned to the sanctuary with the apples and continued.

“I also have a question. You don’t seem to be seeing any hallucinations, Prince…”

“Yes, I also find that part strange.”

It was shocking that the circle that nullified all power didn’t have an air purification function, but what bothered me more was the effectiveness of the hallucinations.

“The Crown Prince was the first to react to the fog, followed by the Princess. Demi didn’t react much because I covered him with a towel… He’s a sacred beast, so he might be different from us. But it didn’t affect me much. I definitely inhaled the fog, but… This is just my guess,”

Cristel held out three apples.

I split one of the orange apples and brought it to Demi.

Soon, he grabbed the flesh with his front paws and made a delicious sound.

– Squeak, squeak.

“Thank you. Anyway, I think the higher the mana sensitivity, the easier it is to fall for its hallucinations.”

I couldn’t think of any other factor that would explain the difference in the three people’s reactions.

My mana sensitivity is so low that it was possible I couldn’t see the monster even if it shoved the hallucination right in front of my face.

It was fortunate, but a little sad.

“That makes sense. Your Highness is a mage… Perhaps you saw even more vivid hallucinations than I did. Then it’s understandable why you were so angry.”

She nodded, taking a big bite of the blue-gray apple.

“What if the same monster comes down again?”

“I doubt that will happen.”

“There’s no guarantee it won’t. Its family or friends might come after us for revenge.”

Cristel pointed to the end of the valley with her finger.

Between two apple trees, a monster that looked like a combination of a centipede and a scorpion lay dead, its belly turned upside down.

It was huge even from here.

I frowned and turned back to Cristel.

“First, it would be good to use the Princess’s ‘explosion’ magic tool to temporarily clear the fog.”

“Yes, but it will only be temporary. All the magic tools sold by ‘Lugo General Trading Company’ have been reviewed… They only have party supplies.”

“Wait a minute. Party supplies?”

“It’s dangerous to cause a big explosion. They don’t sell weapons.”

That’s… strange.

“Then what happened in Ryuka Village? You pretended to burn down the entire inn. You said you bought a ‘bluff flame’ magic tool,”

My eyes narrowed. Cristel smiled slyly and leaned back.

I quickly looked down, alternating between the sleeping boy and her.

A thunderous realization rang in my head. No way, these people!

“Did Your Highness use your abilities back then? Then the ether you extracted from me that day,”

“Prince, listen to me.”

No wonder the Crown Prince grabbed my neck.

No wonder it felt similar to when I was being scammed by Sadie!

“His Highness said that he absolutely had to receive the Prince’s ether. He said it absolutely had to be you. But he also said that you shouldn’t know that you are an ether holder. He had to help the villagers, and he had so many conditions. So, I had no choice! I told a white lie in the middle.”

“This…”

Words flowed like a waterfall!

“I was wrong. I’m sorry.”

“…Haa.”

A sigh escaped involuntarily. What’s the point of getting angry now? What’s the point of getting annoyed?

“So, is that why you two have been sticking together all this time? To plan such a scheme?”

“We haven’t been sticking together all the time. It’s hard for each other when we’re close.”

She said seriously. I think I’m the one who’s having the hardest time here.

“From now on… If you need ether, just tell me. I can’t tolerate lies.”

“Yes. But please tell His Highness too. Why only me,”

“He’s sleeping right now.”

I cut her off sharply.

Cristel blinked her blue-gray eyes obediently and nodded.

For a moment, I felt suffocated and looked up at the sky.

The clear and blue sky felt even more heartless today. Was ‘Toegye Gong’ [a famous Korean scholar and politician known for his integrity] a childcare romance fantasy?

I haven’t heard that any of the characters had children, so why do I suddenly feel like I have two kids?

“If that hallucination monster appears again, I’ll put both of you to sleep with the oracle and carry you down on my back. Whether you dig up the Hyegeom [a legendary sword] in your sleep or give up with sleep talking, it’s none of my business. I can’t fight, so there’s nothing I can do. Just know that.”

In any case, the divine object didn’t grant my wish, and Sadie, whom I wanted to help, turned out to be Crown Prince Cedric.

Damn it. There was no reason for me to be attached to this competition anymore.

“It seems too heavy.”

“I’m tall. I’m stronger than average.”

“There are three of us, including Demi…”

Cristel looked unconvinced.

It was absurd that she was talking back as if she had already forgotten what she had done wrong. It was then.

“Prince, His Highness.”

I quickly turned my gaze to check on the little one.

Small golden particles were floating from the boy’s body.

It was the familiar ‘buff’ sign [a temporary enhancement or boost in a game or RPG setting].

The little one always left my room’s balcony around this time.

Right, no wonder he left right away. His body would grow so fast that he couldn’t show it.

Damn it. No matter how much the one who hid it is at fault, the embarrassment is ultimately mine.

Would it have been better to ask if he was a hidden younger brother instead of a son? Is that the same thing?

“…Princess.”

I opened my mouth.

“Yes?”

“Like you made a secret with His Highness… Can’t we keep it a secret too?”

“Pardon?”

She stared at me blankly. Her eyes didn’t understand the words right away.

“I hope you pretend not to know that His Highness has turned into a child.”

“Oh my.”

“I’m a hostage. Knowing such an important imperial secret is a threat to me. The reason why His Majesty the Emperor is just watching me is probably because I’m a powerless prince.”

Once I made up my mind, the eloquence flowed smoothly. I bit my trembling lip slightly.

In fact, it’s mostly because I’m too embarrassed to acknowledge it, but I could never tell Cristel the whole story.

The face of Elizabeth, who was laughing and crying, was vivid in my mind. Damn it.

“You mean you don’t want me to tell His Highness what happened today.”

“Yes, well… I was just thinking, what if you just said he collapsed from ether depletion and I helped him.”

My cheeks flushed involuntarily. Even I thought it was too obvious.

Cristel tilted her head.

“Well, I’m good at lying, so it doesn’t matter…”

That’s something to be proud of.

“Are you going to be okay with it, Prince?”

“Yes, I’m fine.”

I answered confidently.

I’m living a decent life adapting to this possessed life, so I should be able to lie if I have to.

Anything is better than being laughed at and receiving contemptuous glances from that Crown Prince.

Anyway, when we return to the Imperial Palace, contact will be cut off again.

“Then that’s good. I have a friend who shares a secret with me.”

Cristel shook her pink hair and smiled dazzlingly.

The mention of the word ‘friend’ made me shudder. I didn’t bring it up to become friends…

– Thwack!

At that moment, a loud noise erupted from the top of the mountain. Cristel jumped up from her seat.

I hurriedly packed my things. Then,

“Aaaaaah!”

“Run, quickly!”

From afar, the participants’ screams and warnings could be heard.

Thump, thud! It sounded like stones falling.

“It seems like the third advance has begun.”

Cristel said, holding a whip in her hand. I hurriedly checked on the lying child.

At least the fever is completely gone,

“Crazy, he’s all grown up.”

I flinched and took my hand off his cheek, wiping it on my shirt.

The ether particles that had been floating in the air had also disappeared.

Damn it, when did he get over 190 [centimeters, approximately 6’3″] again?

“What about His Highness?”

“His body has returned, but he’s still unconscious. Princess, are you going to be okay on your own?”

“Leave it to me.”

Her water-colored irises were sparkling.

The whip that would always help her image was gleaming dangerously in the afternoon light.

Cristel muttered quietly.

“It’s coming.”

*

“Wow, it’s so heavy. My back is going to break!”

– Squeak.

The lesser panda squeezed my shoulder with its front paws as if cheering me on.

I staggered with two healthy adult men and women strapped to my back.

When I lowered my head, I could see the green leaves that broadly wrapped around my, Cristel’s, and the Crown Prince’s waists.

The sturdy tree trunk surrounded the outside, so it didn’t seem like it would come undone.

The two sleeping people were only breathing softly.

A short, hollow laugh escaped as I wondered how long it had been since I had done this.

It was a baby carrier sponsored by Demi.

“The monster is the axis of evil, the axis of evil. It’s determined to make things this way.”

I gritted my teeth.

Before executing the plan, I checked one last time that Demi’s nose and mouth were well covered with a handkerchief.

The surroundings were hazy because of the fog, but things nearby were relatively clear.

Yes, this damn fog. Damn it.

– Screeeeeech!

“You really came when I called?”

I snapped at the monster in front of me.

The monster raised its huge pincers and stood up threateningly.

Even though it was safe because of the sanctuary, I reflexively took a step back. I felt a little queasy.

The overall appearance was that of a scorpion, but the closer it got to the tail, the more it looked like a centipede.

The glossy dark brown body was almost the size of a ready-mixed concrete truck, and the length seemed to be over 20m even when viewed from the front.

I guessed it was the parent of the one the Crown Prince had burned to death earlier. The difference in size was enormous.

– Screeeeeech!

“Okay, wait.”

I muttered, rummaging through my bag.

If that monster hadn’t really appeared, if it hadn’t spread the hallucination fog, if it hadn’t brought other monsters with it… This wouldn’t have happened.

Soon, I had two apples in my hand. They were left for me and the Crown Prince.

From now on, they would be that monster’s snack.

“You like apples too, right? Like the one that died over there. Is that why you came?”

When I raised the apples, deliberately saying nasty things,

– Squeak! Kiooooo!

The monster’s reddish-brown eyes moved incessantly, sparkling in all directions.

A white, saliva-like substance was pooling in its snout and dripping down. I squeezed my eyes shut and opened them.

Even though I was scared, it was time to go down.

“Here, bus fare!”

I threw the apples high into the air. Then, I deactivated the sanctuary.