What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 660

#660

Exhibition Prohibited Person (8)

“Your Majesty!”

“I know.”

I was about to jump up from my seat, but the dignified voice made me sit back down.

The bloodshot eyes, which had witnessed countless deaths and despair, were frighteningly calm.

The Emperor glanced at his partner and slowly opened her eyelids again, focusing on me.

She looked deep in thought, and I felt my heart sink as I wondered what she would say next.

I managed to calm my anxiety with the coldness of my partner’s hand gently holding my wrist.

“You have no intention of returning, do you?”

“No. I will be with my friends on any battlefield. Even if you issue an imperial order—”

“Right. You’ve already returned of your own accord.”

“……”

“Would you even take a step away from the things you cherish like your own flesh and blood?”

A few sips of wine followed the husky voice.

I swallowed hard, my throat dry with tension.

I tried sipping the flower tea again, following the Emperor’s lead, but it didn’t quench my thirst.

Sir Johann, sitting diagonally across from me, was quietly watching me.

“As the Emperor of a nation, I also believe it is beneficial to have you on the battlefield.”

Ah…….

“As the incarnation of the Main God, the so-called angel, keeping you at the forefront will boost the morale of the soldiers, wouldn’t it? Moreover, they have witnessed the miracle falling from the sky with their own eyes, so it will be even more effective.”

“……”

“You must have seen them on your way here. What a tremendous faith.”

“……Yes, Your Majesty.”

The faces of the soldiers who stayed up all night in the cold to see us, sharing cold meals in the military camp alleys, came to mind.

The knights who shed tears looking at the Crown Prince’s jade-like face, the young soldiers who cherished the hand Ms. Gain held, pressing it to their chests, were also vivid in my memory.

It was probably a scene I would never forget for a long time. And whether I wanted it or not, this was already an irreversible reality.

I unfolded six wings and descended from the sky, returning the long-lost heir to the throne, the war hero, and the cardinal to their arms.

Although I didn’t intentionally create such a scene… Anyway, that’s how it turned out.

To them, we are nothing less than a sign of victory sent by God.

“However, my partner points out that you are a non-combatant.”

Oops. I quickly turned my head to look at my teacher.

The gaze under the monocle was clearly wavering slightly.

I couldn’t bring myself to utter such an obvious lie as, ‘I can fight too.’

Of course, I was honorably discharged as an army sergeant, knew how to shoot a K2 rifle [a standard Korean army rifle], and even participated in reserve training, but the war here was completely different from the modern warfare that 21st-century Korea was preparing for.

I don’t possess special Aetherna mana, and I don’t know how to use Riester-style swords or cannons at all.

I haven’t properly studied the empire’s and the Divine Kingdom’s military tactics either.

…It goes without saying that I have a tremendous aversion and fear of killing people itself.

“The paladins you cherish are also knights in essence. According to the royal physician, if they eat well and steadily replenish their Aether, they should be able to go into battle from the day after tomorrow.”

“……”

“Cedric.”

“It is possible. There is nothing wrong with my vessel.”

The Crown Prince answered immediately at his mother’s call.

Sir Johann nodded as if it were natural, and Ms. Gain quickly added, ‘I can fight too.’

I hurriedly opened my mouth.

“Your Majesty, instead, I have a lot of information. Perhaps it could be helpful to the Empire’s victory…”

“On the contrary, you are not a combat priest, nor have you been educated as a commander from a young age, and you are not even capable of wielding a dagger properly, are you?”

“……”

My gaze fell involuntarily. Jibril Diop clicked his tongue softly.

In the meantime, Her Majesty’s words continued like a whip.

“I heard you still can’t control the wings on your back.”

“Frederique.”

“So, I will give you a chance.”

And a sharp sentence pierced my ears. I flinched and looked up.

The Emperor’s face was etched with mature wrinkles from years of experience.

Her eyes held an authority that made it impossible to even think of avoiding, and her voice had weight and power.

Silver hair gleamed like a sword blade alone in the shadow of the winter barracks.

Even without any coercion, I felt my shoulders getting heavy.

“David.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

As soon as the imperial order was given, a servant standing behind placed something on the table.

Benjamin and Ganael, who had been silently serving tea until now, also helped him.

Ms. Gain stretched her neck and rolled her eyes. It was a file.

To be exact, it was a jumbled and mixed collection of letters, reports, various lists, and maps…

-Thud!

“Examine it directly and figure out our army’s tactics before the military conference starts tomorrow.”

“……Yes?”

‘Our army’s’ tactics? I’m sorry, but I didn’t understand what that meant right away.

I tried to show at least some enthusiasm by quickly grabbing the file.

But I couldn’t hide my blank expression, and Her Majesty chuckled, touching her temple with her finger.

Ms. Gain and Cedric, who were looking at me, seemed just as bewildered.

“Across the training ground, there are Exhibition Prohibited People who were brought from Erie Lake.”

“……”

“I must break through the Puppeteer’s Heavenly Road. If I retreat from here, I will only be following in my grandfather’s footsteps.”

“……”

“This is the only way to strike the royal capital.”

“Yes.”

That’s right. You said there was a reason for bringing the prisoners here. To be exact, you said you did it because ‘there was a use for them.’

I nodded and quickly scanned the documents.

My teacher, sitting on my left, gently stroked my back as if to cheer me on.

The first page was filled with details about the war exploits and martial prowess of the captured Divine Kingdom nobles.

The second file I glanced at began with the following bold subheading:

‘Report on the Capture of the Puppeteer’s Heavenly Road’.

“If you can read my mind, I will acknowledge your qualifications as a commander and send you with your paladins.”

……Yes?!

“Of course, if you fail, you will have to retreat to the rear.”

“Did I hear you correctly?”

“Oh, wise Empress Dowager Alienor!”

“I know what your objection is, so skip it, kid.”

Duke Diop raised his hand nonchalantly, and Her Majesty stopped him with a single word.

The magician shrugged once and threw two *bêtise* candies [a type of hard candy] into his mouth.

François, who had been listening all along, was surprised and raised his chin, then hurriedly adjusted his scarf.

Ms. Gain, realizing that the situation was not normal, raised her hand for the second time.

Until then, I was just gaping in surprise. No, really, what is going on here!?

“Your Majesty, are you perhaps giving the Palace Lord a test?”

“It’s too much for a palace marquis without a knighthood.”

“Then, could it be that just by looking at this…”

“That’s right. You have to figure out what Frederique is thinking just by looking at that.”

My teacher added calmly, gesturing to the pile of documents.

I looked back and forth between the two with an astonished expression.

The shock quickly retreated, and I began to wonder if this was a proposal worth giving up on.

It’s so good and grateful to have the opportunity to move with my friends, but how can I figure out the inner thoughts of Her Majesty, who is an adult, in just one day…

-Rustle, rustle

“……Until tomorrow morning.”

No, I have to try anything. I muttered resolutely, fiddling with the documents.

I even dove off the balcony to be with my friends, so what can’t I do now?

This is really a safe and reasonable opportunity.

“Yes. The military conference will start quite early.”

“You cannot receive advice from other commanders, nor can you obtain intelligence from them. You must look into my mind with your own eyes.”

“I will.”

“Aurelie will not open her mouth to you either.”

“I understand.”

I answered in the firmest voice I could muster, and a delighted reaction came back.

Isabelle, who had been watching our conversation like a table tennis match, placed a small cloth doll on the table.

It was the late Lumaian Emperor. The elder clearly seemed to want to advise me.

The glorious ancient king crossed the table, patting it.

-The hawk of the sky has no complicated path.

“……”

She brandished a finger-sized scythe and said solemnly.

-Palace Lord, you must think like that Emperor. Then the answer will be revealed.

“That’s enough clues.”

Empress Frederique still spoke with a smiling mouth.

I couldn’t hide my confusion and gathered the files.

Meanwhile, the Emperor got up from her seat and kissed her son’s sideburns.

It seemed that she had finished her short business.

“Yeser.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

“I will replace my visit with this.”

“……I am grateful.”

The last sentence had her unique subtle warmth, so I didn’t feel disappointed at all.

When I think about it, she deliberately called me out to a wide place to meet my friends, including the spirits, lifted the confinement order, and even gave me a hint by revealing the existence of the Exhibition Prohibited People, so I couldn’t ask for more.

With that, Her Majesty and my teacher left the barracks first.

I immediately got up, bowed, and looked back at my friends.

There were generally troubled expressions, though to varying degrees. The last person I exchanged glances with was Camille.

“……”

“……”

The teenager took out a pocket watch from his robe pocket, checked it, and said very cynically.

“There’s less than a day left. If you exclude the Palace Lord’s meal time, dessert time, and snack time from that…”

Ugh.

“It would be tight even if you reviewed Her Majesty’s past strategies from now on. Let’s move right away.”

*

And we mostly scattered!

To be exact, it was a situation where we had no choice but to separate even if we wanted to be together.

The joy of reunion was very short and intense.

Ms. Gain left to comfort the soldiers right away, and I heard that her symbolism and meaning, especially in the Riester Navy, were very special.

Along with Admiral Emma Corleone, she was someone who, by her very existence, raised the morale of the sea soldiers to the top of the sky.

Cedric, who had regained his body and recovered from some of his fatigue, was naturally busy.

Even if he didn’t take on a significant amount of Her Majesty’s military affairs right away, he was still in a position to listen to the commanders’ overdue reports.

It would definitely require tremendous concentration to catch up with the amount of information accumulated in the meantime.

And as for me…

-Whoosh!

“Uh, uh, uh! Sir Johann—!”

“I’m supporting you. There’s no need to worry.”

“No, that’s not it! My leg just sank down!”

Holding the documents bestowed by Her Majesty in both hands, I was spreading only two wings wide at an altitude of about 50m.

In short, I was practicing flying and studying tactics at the same time.

As pointed out, I had to learn wing control and understand the strategy of the higher-ups, but I simply didn’t have time to do both separately!

“When you first came down to the military camp, I heard you controlled your six wings freely as if you were born with them.”

“I’ve heard that story too. But no matter how much I think back, I can’t recall the feeling of that day, so I’m frustrated. Maybe it’s because I was struck by lightning by that human…”

“Hahaha.”

“Hahahahang.”

As I glared at Diop, who was standing on the ground with his arms crossed, and answered, Sir Johann, who was walking in the sky with me, laughed cheerfully.

Little Herrit, who had spread the wings of Stubbornness, was also with him.

The moment I glared at the Haines father and son without malice—

-Whoosh!

“Aaaagh!”