What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 627

#627

Color Matching (1)

And like a lie, my feet gently touched the ground.

“Heok!”

-Faaaaat······!

The pure white before my eyes gradually took on a light purple hue, slowly darkening and transforming into a place we all knew.

I blinked rapidly and shook my head.

‘Kkyaang!’ ‘Awoo!’ The precarious cries of the troublesome things, the intensified tremors of the earth, and the sound of the Divine Creature’s hard pincers gripping the ground—all of it rushed to pierce and invade my eardrums.

The hands we held clasped gently released, and instead, another object was placed in my grasp.

The scene before my eyes flared up entirely in gold before finding its color and shimmering.

Holding the long, hard object in both hands, I tried to calm my emotions and gritted my teeth.

“Heut, Hoo······.”

I know better than anyone what this is. I also know roughly what that system message meant….

[Your growth is reacting to the sacred will!]

-Badeudeuk!

And what I have to do with this.

[From now on, it’s a counterattack. Everyone, hold on tight and endure!]

-Faaaaaa―!

“Arian, blessed by the Saint!”

Kwaak! I slammed the growth in my hand straight into the floor, detonating all the aether [a mystical energy source] in my body as if exploding.

The sacred domain of maximum radius unfolded.

My hair and clothes scattered in all directions, and at the same time, the room lit up brightly.

The platinum-colored staff quickly grew longer, reaching the ceiling in an instant.

Kikikiik―! Kigigigik! The crescent moon hanging at the end scraped against the Ark’s dark legs, scattering golden sparks.

But I didn’t back down.

I strengthened my knees and heels, focusing all my energy on the determination to break the Ark this time, until my veins bulged.

Saaaaaa! Every corner of the ruined temple became as bright as midday without shadows.

The Dongsan party raised their voices in surprise.

“Good heavens! Where did you all suddenly appear from? I really thought you had died and gone back!”

“Of course, I mean died, not returned! You disappeared like magic for hours―”

“Why is Sir Haines unconscious? Is he alright?”

Christel, Francois, and Elizabeth exclaimed in turn.

But we didn’t have time for this.

I looked back at the slightly pale Prince Yeseo and quickly replied.

[Sir Johan will be fine as long as we’re here. And this is the Ark’s test! This Divine Creature won’t harm us! It may have some intention to scare and punish us―]

“Not harm us?”

-Kigigigik······!

The crown prince of this area, who was supporting one side of the ceiling with his shoulder, frowned.

I closed my mouth for a moment. Come to think of it, everyone looked terrible.

They were covered in sweat up to their necks, had long since thrown off their stuffy coats, and were now using all sorts of chairs and broken furniture to block the Divine Creature’s crushing force.

Even the elderly Suu-nim was picking up broken bricks and building a wall here and there.

While we were away, the situation had clearly worsened.

I definitely felt that the space had narrowed. I quickly looked down at the Divine Beasts.

-Kiiha!

-Haak

-Auk!

“You startled me!”

I expected it, but thankfully, the children were all fine.

They seemed rather energetic, using their divine power freely, and didn’t seem particularly worried about us (they probably understood right away that the Divine Creature had swallowed us).

Gain and Cedrick had already drawn their ice spears and Hyegeom [a type of sword], and were wrestling with the Divine Creature.

I glanced at the man’s reddened eyes, then quickly turned my head to find the prince.

He was trembling, with Sir Johan, whom Gain had asked him to take care of, lying on his lap.

Of course, he was trying not to show it, but I couldn’t fail to notice.

I’ve learned a thing or two from borrowing that body for nearly a year.

-Kigigigik, Kikiiik······!

“Ugh.”

The Ark pressed down on me steadily. I strained with all my might, feeling the back of my neck stiffen, and shouted.

“Your Highness! Please go into the confessional over there first. We’ll follow you!”

-Saaaa, Saaaaaaa!

Then he looked up at me, dyed in purple and gold, with wide eyes.

He seemed reluctant to leave his friends’ sides―

“The confessional?”

“As you know, a subtle flow of aether runs through that place all year round. It’s made of Vatican materials, so it won’t collapse. Please go first!”

“But Yeseo-ssi, too…!”

“I’m fine!”

Udududuk······! As soon as I said I was fine, sharp thorns sprouted from the Divine Creature’s thick legs. No, should I call those bird bones instead?

I clenched my mouth and glared at the top of the growth.

My staff is a gift I received from my teacher, made from the roots of the World Tree that grew around the Temple of Boundaries.

Also, the World Tree is the source of life and the only being that protects the world lines.

Then no matter how great Bi-ryeom’s Ark is, it won’t be able to destroy this.

That’s physically impossible, and perhaps theologically impossible too!

[Jeong-ttuk-ssim, this test is guaranteed to pass with an A+.]

If you are our last rainbow, I will definitely get it here.

So watch closely. Your Majesty, the Royal Consort, please watch closely!

“Hwaaaap!”

-Saaaaaaa―!

As I gripped the growth tightly and poured in aether, the growth reacted to me and sprouted new buds from its long body.

With a Ppoddeudeuk! sound, fresh sprouts appeared, and slender vines wrapped around the Divine Creature’s legs.

Gain, who was hurriedly tying Christel’s hair with her Sungseok hair tie [a magical artifact]—otherwise, her hair would get caught in the pincers—gaped in surprise.

The same was true for the other members of the party and Cedrick who were watching.

That a staff, broken off from the World Tree and having lost its life force long ago, would sprout new shoots by the will of its owner—

“Wait a minute! Could that be Her Highness Aurelia Boutier’s!”

In the moment when a flustered Francois staggered and shouted,

“Shh.”

The man who opened his eyes with the wind whispered. Kuung!

“Heot!”

“Ah······!”

Ssaeeeek! With a short, swift aftershock, Sir Johan, who had regained consciousness, slung the Marquis and the Prince over his shoulders and moved swiftly to the confessional.

A sigh of relief escaped at the fact that he had woken up safely. The prince reached out to me with a desperate expression.

Although most of the temple had collapsed, there was still some distance between the intact confessional and this place.

In an instant, a small gap appeared in the middle as the three people moved out.

The Ark’s black claws flashed sharply for a moment and aimed for that spot. Hweeik!

-Kwaaaang!

“Uwat!”

“Yeseo-ssi!”

One of the dark pincers slammed down behind me with a Kung!

The surprised prince called out to me desperately.

The crown prince reflexively supported Christel’s swaying waist.

Lady Elizabeth, who met my eyes, calmly led Suu-nim and ran to the confessional.

I craned my neck and looked back at the prince. I’m really okay!

“Don’t worry about us! Just focus on getting back safely now!”

-Kuuuung······

“How can I do that? I’m afraid you’re pushing yourself too hard!”

The prince struggled to escape Sir Johan’s arm and shouted.

Holding the growth, I smiled slightly and met his eyes.

I could feel the gazes of Gain, Cedrick, and the two people from this world looking at me.

For some reason, I felt a lump in my throat.

“······.”

To be honest, my eyes were still hot.

We had so many stories we wanted to tell each other, and so many stories we had to tell.

I just wanted to hug the Ark silently and be together for a long time.

However, I couldn’t possibly tell all the secrets to the protagonists of this place.

Perhaps that’s why it feels even more affectionate.

“Your Highness, I owe you a great debt! I owe you such a great debt that I don’t know how I can ever repay you!”

-Badeudeudeuk······!

The fingers of the black Divine Creature and the golden staff were intertwined like a love knot.

Seeing the Ark sparkling in light purple wherever the growth’s sprouts touched, I felt an inexplicable surge of emotion.

The ground beneath my feet vibrated brilliantly, and the scene before my eyes was dazzling with light bora [Korean word for purple] resembling violets.

Meanwhile, the prince was just staring at me with a blank face.

He will never be able to understand how I feel about him. Just as I can never understand his heart forever.

I wiped my cheeks and continued to shout.

“I said I would tell you the story last time, but I never did. I’m sorry!”

“······.”

“But I hope you will be happy! I hope your family will have unimaginable adventures, sneak around the country with your friends, and sometimes get scolded by adults. Always be healthy and happy! I mean it. I think we all do!”

I paused for a moment to wipe away sweat and looked back at my precious ones.

Gain, Cedrick, Sir Johan, and even the small but shining children.

I hope he has such relationships too. Very, very many.

“Later, please be sure to tell your younger sibling and older sister about your adventures in person. If possible, include our story too!”

“······.”

Don’t ask me to do it.

I tried to make the brightest expression I could. Conversely, the prince’s eyebrows seemed to furrow slightly.

A face that I couldn’t tell whether he was angry or wanted to cry.

“······I swear by the Hwareun [a sacred oath] of the Divine Kingdom that you will be safe. I will protect you.”

Before pouring in the last of my aether, I returned the words I had once heard from him.

Finally, his purple eyes helplessly crumbled and drew a curve.

He was smiling brightly.

-Jijijijik!

At that very moment,

-Peopeong!

[☆Congratulations!☆]

[♡Hidden Quest Achievement Status♡

Bora: Acquisition Complete (NEW!)(Details)]

······Huh?

[Name: Blessing of the Prince

Classification: ?

Type: ?

Alias: ?

Details: He is the one who has always protected your breath. Yeseo Rosna Venetian is deeply intertwined with you through the Gemini bond. His inner self is very complex and 불안 [Korean word for unstable], but on the other hand, it is full of intense desire and attachment to life. A great destiny will be placed in your future with the sincere grace of the prince!

Remember, there is only one chance left.]

What······?

“Uh uh······?”

‘Jijijik, Jijijijik!’ Sparks kept flying right in front of my nose, and suddenly Jeong Hyeon-seo’s status window started tapping the air like crazy.

It was already blinding because the background was flashing all over the place, but I couldn’t figure out what was going on.

I momentarily forgot that I was even an applicant for the Ark’s test and spaced out.

What are you saying?

No······. Is this how it’s resolved······?

“Gungju-nim [term of endearment], is Hyung-nim [term of endearment] back?”

“Yes? Yes, I just got a call. They said we’ve collected all the rainbows······?”

At those words, Cedrick frowned as if he couldn’t understand. I’m dazed too, right now!

-Jijijik, Pajijijik!

[Congratulations! Your rainbow has been completed!]

[A special reward will be given to your party for completing the hidden quest······.]

[Loading rewards······.]

[Summoning the Rainbow Bridge······.]

“Huh? Now? Right now?”

“Gungju-nim, why?”

“Yeseo-ssi?”

“Something’s coming. They said they’re giving us something because we collected all the rainbows!”

-Kugugugugu······

No sooner had the words left my mouth than the ground beneath my feet began to vibrate like crazy.

It was a truly terrifying omen, not even comparable to the tremors so far.

I gaped and gripped the growth.

The frightened Divine Beasts and GuGu hurriedly clung to me and climbed up my back.

Even the little ones seemed to feel that something really big was coming this time.

“Ik······.”

Hey! Wait a minute, Jeong Hyeon-seo―!