What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 625

#625

Liberation (4)

Sparkle.

【The Avatar System is protecting you.】

…Huh?

【ADDRESS_625: ‘The Flow of Inevitability’ is activating.】

【The Will of the World Tree is guarding you.】

What are you talking about, all of a sudden?

【Your Growth awakens.】

Hyung…?

-Faaaaaa—!

“Ugh!”

The world exploded in a flash of light, blurring my vision.

It was as if I had fallen onto a snowy field in the middle of a raging blizzard; all I could see was pure white. Nothing else.

I couldn’t even tell if my eyes were open or closed, nor could I understand what was happening.

The last thing I saw at the cliff was the inky black hand of the Divine Object reaching right in front of my face.

But suddenly, the world turned white.

“Haa, ugh…”

Instinctively, I flailed my arms, trying to pull the children around me into an embrace.

But despairingly, no one was within my reach.

Demi, Leia, Perry, Dotori, and even Titema, who had been in my arms until the very end, had completely disappeared.

I couldn’t feel the warmth of Gaine and Sir Johan, who had been by my side.

My heart plummeted, and goosebumps rose all over my body.

No, no—

“Prince! Prince Yeser!”

I screamed until my throat was raw, thrashing about.

In reality, I wasn’t even sure if this was struggling or aimless running.

But I couldn’t give up.

The unexpected fear and guilt began to tighten around my throat.

I was the thief who had secretly stolen him from the Imperial Palace, and the jailer who had forcibly dragged him out into the world when he had tried to turn away from it.

Yet, instead of gifting him with precious memories, I couldn’t even protect him properly.

So, I had to find him first, no matter what. Absolutely.

“Prince Yeser! Where are you!”

If he was hurt, I wanted to heal him.

If he was afraid, I wanted to tell him it was okay.

“Prince! Please answer me! Prince Yeser—!”

I promised.

That I would reunite you with your family, no matter what.

“Yeser Venetian!”

-Shhh.

“Haaack!”

Thud! The moment my wrist was gently grabbed, my feet stood firmly on the ground.

But that was only for a moment, and my strengthless shins began to buckle.

Then, the other person grabbed my other wrist and gently applied force.

The action wasn’t forceful at all, but the grip was so strong that my upper body was easily pulled up.

Only then was I able to straighten my back and look him in the face. It was only then that I realized how ragged my breathing was.

“Cough, ah…”

I almost dislocated my jaw. The man was smiling sweetly at me.

Long black hair cascaded over his shoulders like a beaded curtain of black jade.

“Your Highness, Nikki!”

Good heavens, it was Nikki, the guide of the Ark!

“No, wait a minute! Then, is this inside the Ark? Did you let us in?”

I forgot to even greet him properly and frantically looked around.

Come to think of it, this did seem like the Ark!

Everything had been so sudden and frightening that I think I had briefly fallen into a panic, but as I slowly regained my senses and looked around again, there was no place that felt more like a false space [a space that feels artificial or unreal].

I had definitely been to a place like this several times.

A pure white space where the ceiling and floor were indistinguishable, the endlessly vast nest of Bireom….

“Your Grace! Your Grace, over here!”

Huh!

“Gaine!”

I instantly turned around and ran in the direction of the sound.

As I had guessed a little while ago, the Ark seemed to have let most of our group inside.

Gaine, with her hair disheveled, was sitting on the floor, and next to her, the Crown Prince stood like a great general, with a dagger drawn.

And in her arms was Sir Johan, unconscious….

“Oh my god! Sir Johan!”

I was truly horrified and knelt down in front of them with a thud. No way!

“He seems to have overdone it. You know, trying to take on the Ark virtually alone….”

I heard Gaine say something, but my shocked eardrums and brain couldn’t come up with a proper interpretation.

Seeing his pale face, I felt like the ground was sinking beneath my feet.

Fortunately, I could feel a pulse, but the Cardinal’s forehead and cheeks were covered in cold sweat.

His fingers were as cold as ice, and his protruding Adam’s apple didn’t move at all.

He didn’t flash his mint-colored eyes and make jokes with us like he usually did. Only after seeing his deep eyelids closed as if dead….

I realized.

“That….”

This was Sir Johan’s ‘real’ sleeping face.

He had never rested in front of us until now. My throat constricted for a moment.

I knew he was having a hard time, but I had never imagined him collapsing, so I felt a crushing weight in my chest.

“…It appears to be a temporary fainting spell due to ether depletion and accumulated fatigue. He seems to have consumed an excessive amount of power against the Divine Object in a state of extreme tension. For now, I will only supply him with the recommended daily amount of ether, and the guardian should keep a close eye on him….”

Overwhelmed with shock, I rattled off the same *malttue* [speech pattern] I used to use in the military camp.

But Gaine, who was listening, was also in a state of great shock and didn’t notice anything strange.

While I held Sir Johan’s elbow and infused him with ether, she nodded and stroked her teacher’s hair and wrapped her arms around his shoulders.

His limp body felt awkward and scary, and my fingers kept trembling.

While we were barely managing to pull ourselves together….

-Thud!

“You. What do you want?”

Only Cedric Riester maintained his usual fiery rationality.

His crimson irises blazed, and scarlet embers coiled around his wrist like snakes.

I swallowed hard as I saw the man’s sword pointed at Nikki.

-The answer is not mine, but yours.

The guide, who had whispered that, carefully approached us.

I blinked for a moment, realizing that ‘he’ Nikki was talking about was Sir Johan.

Well, I guess so?

The owner of the Ark was Herit, and Sir Johan was that child’s father, so I could understand why the Divine Object would be willing to help… Wait a minute.

No, that’s not right.

“Wait a minute. You’re not the Nikki we know, are you?”

I snapped back to my senses as if I had been splashed with cold water.

I spread my arms wide to block Gaine and Sir Johan.

Cedric stood right in front of me.

The guide only tilted his head slightly without blinking.

Isn’t that right.

This wasn’t the world line we were in, but the original world line derived from **. [The original story from which this narrative is spun off.]

It was Jung Hyun-seo who said that, not anyone else.

So, ‘Stubborn,’ who knows us, couldn’t be here. At least not yet.

“…Right?”

-That is also not a question that this body can answer.

It was a strange sentence. Really strange.

“….”

I bit my lip and looked back at the unconscious Sir Johan, then looked at Gaine.

And I exchanged glances with the Crown Prince, who was looking down at me.

Everything was happening so suddenly, and something unexpected flashed and banged right under my nose, and someone I didn’t expect at all appeared and said something I didn’t expect at all….

To be honest, I was completely out of it.

Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Hyung’s phoenix since I came in here.

What happened to the troublemakers and the Dongsan crew?

“Serenite. Slowly.”

“Yes. I’ll think about it slowly. Slowly….”

I nodded slowly at the voice that resonated softly above my head.

The guide was just waiting for us with his usual kind jade eyes.

I looked at him and retraced the current situation from the first chapter.

Occasionally, Gaine would stroke my back with her cold hands.

Then my head would feel refreshed and my vision would become clearer.

You’re not alone, Jung Yeser. Let’s stay calm….

“First. The reason we were able to come here… is because our force worked. Right now, you don’t have a master to serve, and you’re not fully awakened. Therefore, you couldn’t withstand the heat pouring from the Hyegeom of Mars [Mars’ Sword] and the heart of the Four Dragons and moved. Is that right?”

-…I don’t want to admit it, but that’s right. That lump of charcoal tends to get quite boisterous in front of its master.

The guide answered, covering his mouth with his sleeve and laughing.

I knew that the ‘lump of charcoal’ he was talking about meant the ‘Hyegeom of Mars’ and let out a sigh.

Then, continuing.

“Second. You… are angry with us. We fought in the sacred temple and dared to destroy the building and insult it, so we couldn’t help but incur the deep wrath of the Divine Object. Is that right?”

-Yes.

“But….”

I trailed off and looked up at him.

Then, I looked around at the peaceful interior of the Ark and my friends who weren’t badly hurt.

Although one person would need to rest for a while, we were all safe anyway.

We weren’t forcibly separated or torn apart.

Besides, the Crown Prince’s embers were still moving, even if only slightly, which was a harmony only possible with the Ark’s permission.

“…But it’s not your wrath that brought the situation this far.”

-….

I narrowed my eyes and stared at him intently.

The guide’s navy blue eyes were clearly anticipating the next sentence.

“Third. You have a hidden motive. The reason you drove us so hard, and the reason you eventually brought us here… is all for a different reason. Is that right?”

-You’re clever. I like you after all.

The man curved his eyes. At the same time, the corners of my lips also rose.

Indeed.

‘This isn’t just a dream. So, it’s a dream, but… you’re borrowing space?’

‘-You’re clever. I like you after all.’

It was a compliment I had heard in a dream once.

In the carriage heading to the Blanquer Duchy.

If so.

“Fourth. You are the Stubborn we know. No, to be exact….”

-….

What should I call this? I frowned for a moment and groped in the air.

There was definitely a suitable word….

“Your Grace, ‘synchronization.’”

“Ah, that’s right!”

I snapped my fingers and jumped up about 10cm. Gaine is a genius!

“When I stubbed my toe on the display case and was in hellish pain, you two ignored me and had a lively conversation, so I remembered it.”

“…I’m sorry.”

After humbly bowing my head at the boomerang-like criticism, I quickly turned back to Nikki.

“It’s synchronization. You are another Nikki synchronized with Stubborn.”

-I wonder.

“…Huh?”

This time, he tilted his head slightly.

The Archmage, who had gotten closer without me noticing, stared at Cedric’s face for a long time, then gently grabbed his sword and lowered it.

The Crown Prince surprisingly didn’t resist.

-Similar, but not an accurate deduction. As this body knows, ‘divine synchronization’ requires a medium. Also, if the medium disappears, the synchronization will naturally be released.

“Medium…. Medium.”

I muttered to myself and replayed the conversation from that day.

It wasn’t that long ago, so all the scenes came back to me quite vividly.

So, Camille clearly expressed that he had ‘downloaded’ his memories….

‘Downloaded? What does that mean?’

‘When I approached, suddenly sea fish jumped out of the swamp in droves. Blue light poured down, and the smell of the sea vibrated from all directions.’

“…Water. It was water.”

And that was Titema’s water.

In Camille’s case, he succeeded in synchronizing using the supreme power of the water attribute Divine Beast as a medium.

However, that was a miracle that could only be caused because it was ‘water.’

Water has had various literary metaphors since ancient times, and as Shu-nim pointed out, this includes ‘regeneration,’ ‘connection,’ and ‘resurrection.’

Perhaps the fact that Camille was a ‘prophet’ character who could see the contents of the original work was also a decisive factor in his success.

On the other hand, Bireom’s Ark was a Divine Object of the free air attribute alone. There was no reason to be particularly affected by the water attribute….

As Nikki said, it wasn’t an accurate deduction.

“Hmm….”

In short, this person isn’t a product of synchronization, but just has a similar nature to him.

It seems like we have to solve this mystery to be released….

-Krrrrrrrr….

Just as I was sharing glances with my friends and feeling frustrated, a rumbling sound came from the other side of the Ark.

We were startled and looked up.

-There isn’t much time, young Duke.

The Archmage, who was already sitting on a chair, was gracefully tilting a teapot.

His suddenly appeared desk was cluttered with all sorts of magic books, novels, paints, and brushes.

Several sheets of colored paper with the grain of the wood were also scattered around.

My mouth dropped open for a moment. The meaning of what you just said…?

-If you want to save your new friends, you’ll have to hurry a little.

“Yes?”

“What?”

“Wait a minute, huh?”

…Uh? You’re suddenly changing the genre like that?

-Kugugugugu…!

“Don’t tell me that outside the Ark, they’re still fighting to the death?”

No way, that can’t be it. That’s not why only we came in separately…!

-Yes. The little beings are together as well.

“Ah! Weren’t you not this mean? Our cute and lovely, soft and chewy Stubborn wouldn’t be like this? You’re really not a Divine Object that would play tricks like this!”

Gaine, who had finally burst into tears, raised her voice in anger.

I stroked her back and tried to calm down with her.

However, perhaps because I was too flustered, my thoughts weren’t coming together quickly.

I helplessly got up and started circling around my friends.

Sometimes good ideas come to mind when you take a walk.

“So, all we have to do is figure out how that person shares memories with our world line’s Nikki… then they’ll release us. Damn it.”

My lips were parched with anxiety. Conversely, my palms, which were behind my back, kept getting sweaty.

-Kuuuuung…!

“Jung Yeser, you have to go back to the beginning. If you go back to the first day and scan through it, something will come to your mind.”

I muttered to myself like crazy and quickly organized my thoughts.

If that Nikki is one with Stubborn, then he must have a considerable bond with us, so he wouldn’t be trying to harm us like this.

Then, the answer might not be that difficult.

It’s not about making us dig up a secret that no one knows, but about making us realize a fact that we already know but have overlooked.

Then it might be very easy.

But what is it?

‘-Saaaaaa….’

‘-You don’t know where this is.’

The day I first set foot inside the Ark.

Stubborn transformed into the appearance of Christel. However, the voice was Cedric’s.

‘-Prince! Are you okay?’

‘No. This isn’t it. Change it quickly.’

Then he transformed into Christel with the Crown Prince’s voice.

‘Benjamin?’

‘-Beep beep, beerrrr’

‘Pfft.’

Finally, he showed off the appearance of Benjamin, who made a wren’s cry.

It turned out that they were all ‘clues to the Main God,’ so Nikki was able to imitate their appearances.

However, it was never a complete imitation.

‘-Is it the result of a few drops of the Main God’s capricious heart splashing on me like paint? For some reason, I was aware of the existence of the clues without knowing the reason or origin.’

‘Was His Excellency the King also a clue?’

So I asked.

Whether His Excellency King Alexandre, whom you are the only one to perfectly replicate, is also a clue to the Main God.

‘-No, my friend was an exception. He was for his son….’

The answer that came back was, ‘No.’

And the rest of the words couldn’t continue.

“Could it be….”

I felt a premonition and raised my head.

Just in time, Gaine, who was firmly angry, was denouncing Nikki.

“There must be a reason why you’re suddenly doing this, huh? What, do you want us to have a dramatic growth like in a movie? A carrot and stick strategy? The stick is a little too painful for a strategy, though?”

“….”

“It’s true that we did something wrong a hundred times over. We committed a sin, and we sincerely apologize for that. We swear we won’t let this happen again. But since when was Ham Stubborn our PTA mom?”

‘Is this educational philosophy okay? Is it okay to hold a hostage situation?’ She continued to condemn him, buttoning up Sir Johan’s buttons.

Even in the meantime, the rumbling was getting stronger and stronger, and now everyone’s hair was visibly vibrating.

I blankly stared at the back of the Crown Prince walking towards the desk.

‘…My father’s death,’

‘-His body could not withstand the Main God’s gaze.’

‘What does that mean?’

‘-I don’t want you to feel guilty. Alexandre would feel the same way.’

‘Tell me what the ‘Main God’s gaze’ means.’

Inside the tea room that once carried us to the desert… Nikki made such a confession.

‘-Alexandre wanted to meet the Main God.’

“….”

The Crown Prince’s broad back seemed small, like a child, for some reason.

From here on out, it wasn’t my role. It wasn’t a story arranged for me either.

Nikki looked up at him and said kindly.

-The time has come, Cedric Mercedes Riester.

-If you say it out loud, you will be free.

“….”

-Rustle, rustle….

The man didn’t answer.

His calloused bare hands were busy rummaging through the clutter on the desk.

It didn’t even take a few tens of seconds for him to pick up a thin picture book and a small candlestick.

“….”

-….

“….”

**. [Likely a children’s book title.]

And the materials for the divine lamp to be sent flying into the distant sky.

The man’s sunset-colored eyes silently looked down at Nikki.

So we waited. For a long time, a very long time.

“…You.”

-….

His voice was wet. I quietly closed my eyes instead of him.

“…You have my father’s soul.”

-Swoooooosh…!

At the same time, a strong wind wrapped everyone in a light purple ray.

The Archmage’s outline scattered into long threads and smiled brightly.

I heard an echo of a violent vibration that shook the heavens and the earth fading away.