What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 662

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – #662

People Forbidden During Wartime? (10)

“Surely, someone who received a ‘good education’ wouldn’t fail to consider that far.”

“……”

The sneering tone was extremely cynical, enough to make me frown involuntarily.

I pondered whether to retort sharply, but realizing there was no need, I simply started organizing my notebook.

As I silently focused on taking notes, Jibril Diop let out a hollow sigh.

He was sitting with the chair back turned forward in a rebellious posture, and amidst the sound of the quill writing, he kept making noise by rolling a jawbreaker candy in his mouth.

It seemed he had changed his strategy.

When I continued to pretend not to notice and focused only on my work, this time he dragged the chair around, creating unpleasant noises.

The precious little ones, who were just falling asleep, began to whine plaintively.

I had no choice but to put down my pen and hug Tete first.

Then, the troublemaker scoffed.

The question, ‘Confucius’s sixth cousin is already facing elementary school graduation, do you really want to act like this?’ repeatedly came to the tip of my tongue but was swallowed back down. [This is a humorous, exaggerated way of saying someone is acting childishly.]

– Squeak, screech.

“……Young Master Diop.”

I spoke only after enduring a great deal.

The magician looked at me with a bitter smile. Ugh, why is he like this!

“Please be considerate.”

“Sorry to hear that. I just don’t like the angle of the chair.”

The angle of the chair, my foot! [An idiom expressing disbelief or annoyance.]

“Then you can just get up and leave.”

“Sharp-tongued, aren’t we.”

‘I’m tired from running around all day thanks to someone.’ The young master added, lifting his chin.

His face didn’t look tired at all. It was truly a talent to use such a handsome face in such an annoying way.

I managed to soothe the fussy Tete and lay him back down, then I comforted Leah.

Stroking the child’s fluffy bottom and warm back made me feel a little calmer.

After patting the two little ones several times, I sat back down.

Now, where was I?

“Ah, here it is.”

Number 3. The terrain and structure of Cheonro…….

It seems like all the reports say the same thing. Still, I have to examine it carefully.

There was a detailed map in the back, so I should compare the text and the pictures side by side.

– Flap.

– Squeak.

– Tack-tack-gul.

“……”

– Flap.

– Screech.

– Deck-de-gul.

“……”

– Flap.

– Screeeeeech.

– Tack-tte-gul-tack-tte-gul.

Wow, I can’t take it anymore!

“L3.”

– Flutter, wham!

“Kugh!”

– Thwack!

As soon as I muttered, the third wing on the left fluttered up and hit the young master!

The magician didn’t even try to resist and was knocked into the corner of the cabin.

I was horrified and jumped up, even though I was the one who did it.

In the meantime, Demi rolled off my lap, so I hurriedly bent down to catch the child.

Oh my!

– Kkyaaa!

“Oh dear! Young Master, are you alright?”

“You pack a punch, Palace Master……”

He brushed off his strawberry-colored hair and leaned against the wall, staggering.

I couldn’t see his expression, and he was groaning, so my heart sank.

Crazy, what did I just do to one of the most important combat personnel of the Empire?

Am I out of my mind?

“I’m so sorry! I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to hit you that hard, but I haven’t gotten the hang of controlling my strength yet, so I made a mistake. Are any bones broken? Should I call a doctor?”

“……Ha. Call a doctor for being grazed by a scrawny wing.”

As soon as he said that, the man raised his head.

Seeing his slick face, I let out the breath I had been holding for a few seconds.

I was upset that I had been tricked, but on the other hand, I was relieved.

What! He’s perfectly fine!

“You scared me!”

“Hey, I was more surprised. But that wasn’t bad.”

‘When I return to the palace, I might switch to being a combat priest.’ He said, stroking his neck and Adam’s apple as he dusted himself off.

He wasn’t exactly teasing.

I stroked Perry’s stiff head and quietly looked at him.

Haa…… I never got along with classmates like him since I was in school.

“Regarding the consequences of my changing position, it’s not as if I haven’t thought about it.”

“……Aha.”

Finally, when I gave an answer to the part he was so curious about—why?—the young master tilted his chin.

Then, he lightly picked up the fallen chair and sat down again.

I didn’t like the way his face lit up for a moment, but I decided to consider it a good thing since I had to address it at least once.

“But……”

“But?”

“It’s actually better. I was prepared for something like that when I came back here. It’s not a very important part for me.”

“Not an important part?”

Then, the young master crossed his arms as if he was intrigued.

It was a reaction that he hadn’t expected these words.

I quietly sat down and picked up the quill again.

I had to minimize the time spent summarizing and use the rest of the time to rack my brain, so I couldn’t dare to let my hands rest.

I kept my eyes on the notebook and scribbled diligently.

– Rustle, rustle.

“……In the past, when I was borrowing Prince Yeseo’s body, I only avoided everything.”

“You’re not even trying to hide it now.”

“You already know everything, Young Master. Anyway, back then, I was secretly uncomfortable with you giving me anything. I was grateful and happy, but I kept feeling guilty…… I felt like I was deceiving my friends. I was the only one who knew, and the other friends didn’t know at all. Besides, the exchanges that took place in that state became increasingly deep……”

“You were afraid?”

“……”

I suddenly raised my head, but as soon as our eyes met, I lowered my gaze.

The quill also stopped for a moment. I bit my lip once and continued.

Perhaps because I wasn’t close to the young master, I felt like I could easily confide my true feelings.

It didn’t seem like he would keep my words for long. And it didn’t seem like he was the type to go around telling people.

I guess this makes him a walking bamboo forest [a person who keeps secrets well].

“Now…… I’m mentally prepared for most things. I’d probably gladly accept it even if you gave me another title.”

“……”

“If it’s fair praise or compensation for what I’ve done here, I’m prepared to accept it gratefully. That’s why I came back. I wanted to be honest with my friends, I wanted to express everything.”

“……”

“Now, I have to take full responsibility.”

“Responsibility, huh.”

That word particularly struck his ear, and the young master tilted his head and pressed the inside of his cheek with his tongue several times.

“Even if His Majesty gives you a seat in the Aristocratic Council?”

“……I don’t know much about politics. If you insist on giving it to me, I’ll have to work harder……”

“He’s planning to officially put you in the political world. The commander position is just the beginning.”

“……”

“Whether you have a talent for politics or not, or what kind of education you’ve received, it doesn’t matter. This means that the Palace Master of Juliet in the deepest part of the palace is becoming a reality, not just a symbol.”

“……”

The hand holding the pen tightened.

The young master’s eyes were as sharp and rusty as someone who had been rolling around in the political arena for decades.

“Right now, there’s not much talk because we’re at war, but the nobles don’t know your true identity. In the future, when the continent is at peace, they’ll be talking day and night about how Prince Yeseo Venetian finally entered the Imperial political world.”

“……”

“Just to point it out in case you don’t know, it means they’ll be nervous and wary every time they see you. Praise doesn’t last long. Is there any guarantee that something like the Sarnez Duke incident won’t happen again?”

“I know. It means I’ll be openly becoming part of the Crown Prince’s faction, so I won’t be able to just play around as comfortably as before. There will be more obligations.”

I answered firmly.

It’s not like I’ve never been checked before, and I’ve even been openly hated.

I know very well how much the nobles of the Imperial Capital love gossip and scandals.

“But it’s okay. I came here to experience those things together. Frankly, I did something that could have killed me to come here, so what’s there to be afraid of?”

– Kkiuuu.

“……”

In fact, there are still many things to be afraid of. Francois and I are known as chewy noodles [meaning they are resilient and stick together].

Hyung, I’m sorry for the trouble my younger brother caused.

“Because we’re friends who rely on each other……”

“The Sacred Vow.”

“Yes?”

Cough. I choked on my saliva. I patted my chest and looked at the young master.

His face was eerily expressionless.

“Have you thought about what will happen if you make a Sacred Vow with a member of the Imperial Family?”

“No, no, no?”

What, why is everyone so interested in this topic?!

“Don’t tell me you haven’t even received a savings account for subscription yet—”

“I have a savings account for subscription. I’ve been putting in 100,000 won every month since my freshman year of college.”

“What?”

The young master frowned. I stabbed the innocent air with my quill.

Demi’s eyes followed, moving busily.

“And isn’t the Sacred Vow of the Imperial Family a contract with the same value as a marriage contract? If you’re going to ask, shouldn’t you ask the Imperial Family member involved? Please don’t ask me personal questions.”

“It seems like you’re taking the question too personally.”

– Knock, knock!

Right then, Ganael knocked on the cabin door. I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief!

“Palace Master, I’ve prepared a washcloth and basin for the divine beasts. I also have snacks and reading material for you to enjoy while you study. The Spirit Master has grown hundreds of sacks of delicious sweet potatoes and potatoes!”

“Come in, Ganael. Thank you so much!”

– Kkihoo!

Phew!

*

Time flowed by, and it was already late evening.

Gain and Cedric said they would come to see me a little later.

I made a rough sleeping arrangement in case the two of them might stay overnight, ate well, washed up, and sat back down at the table.

The divine beasts, who had cleaned their feet and ears, were huddled together on one side of the bed, warming themselves.

Diop, who appeared with a toothbrush in his mouth, carefully observed the materials I had spread out for studying.

“Don’t tell me this is your conclusion?”

“How can you pronounce so accurately even while brushing your teeth?”

I glanced at him with surprised eyes and then looked back at the scribbles on the paper.

The lines of text I had hastily scribbled were flying in all directions.

· Analysis of the Puppeteer’s Cheonro Conquest

– His Majesty has captured key figures from enemy countries who were banned from entering and leaving during the war, and now he intends to brainwash them and use them in the war.

– The documents His Majesty gave me contain detailed records of their achievements and prowess. This clearly means that he is considering the people forbidden during wartime as combat personnel.

– Since they are mentally controlled by the Empire, it is expected that they will be able to play an active role in the upcoming Cheonro battle. The commanders in the enemy ranks who recognize them will be greatly embarrassed and shaken.

……Hmm.

“……No, it’s not a conclusion yet. I don’t think His Majesty would have thought so simply.”

Just to cause confusion to the opponent?

No, there’s no way he would have summoned the prisoners just for that.

His Majesty the Emperor is a person who aims for multiple benefits with a single move.

“Furthermore, Cheonro is called an impregnable land.”

To be exact, that’s what it says here.

‘The Great Warlord Romero, the late Emperor, said that Lilianer Venetian is as cunning as a devil and uses the lives of soldiers as easily as toys, so he did not waste even a handful of Cheonro’s soil.’

Also, the great magician and geographer, the late Emperor Valerie Riester, left the following words.

‘As long as Cheonro exists, the unification of the continent is distant, so expand the sea route along with the Corleone Principality and actively foster the navy.’

“Since it’s a difficult battlefield anyway, is he trying to minimize the damage to the Imperial Army by putting them forward as sacrifices? No, that’s too easy too. And that’s…… not Emperor Frederick’s way.”

He’s someone who knows the usage of the Holy Stone but ignores it.

There’s no way he’s the kind of person who would use people as bullet shields.

“Not bad.”

The young master smirked, and I put on the coat that the magician Nuit sisters had given me and fell into thought.

The clothes they made all had a long vertical slit in the back, but they were enchanted with a special magic that made them look the same as other clothes on the outside.

Thanks to the warmth preservation magic, they were also as warm as ordinary clothes.

However, as is usually the case with enchanted clothing, there was a risk that the spell would be broken once the fabric was damaged.

“There’s definitely something. There must be a good reason why His Majesty is trying to use them……”

I tapped the reports submitted by the commanders with my finger.

The sentences organized in different fonts came clearly into view.

‘Looking at the records of the war era—although there are slight differences depending on the tendencies and historical views of the historians—it is generally accepted that Emperor Romero lost about one-third of the Imperial Army in the Cheonro battle. The soldiers scattered beyond the valleys and cliffs never returned to their homeland, and were never witnessed by anyone…….’

“A whole third…… Huh?”

Wait a minute. I brought my finger to my lips and flinched.

I didn’t notice it when I first read it, but this sentence is a bit strange.

“……Never witnessed by anyone. Does that mean they disappeared completely?”

I muttered seriously. The young master, who had been quietly watching, whistled.