What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 680

The Coward and the Catacombs (3)

In a flash, a hypothesis flickered through my mind, but it was difficult to immediately put into action.

Before that, we needed to rest and hold a strategy meeting.

Everything in its own time!

And clear communication is our best bet in this chaotic situation.

“The royal capital of Fenetian is quite different from the imperial capital of Liester.”

“Indeed.”

After finishing his aerial reconnaissance, Sir Johann projected a large map of the Holy State in the air and began his briefing.

Much of it was familiar, but there was a lot of information that needed revisiting at this point.

Above all, we needed to ascertain the current location of our 33rd Cavalry Division and understand the situation beyond the valley where the Heavenly Road [a strategically important mountain pass] ended.

The group sat in a circle around the campfire, listening attentively.

Cedric and Duke Dioph, who had returned from their latest reconnaissance, also settled into their seats.

The two didn’t get along particularly well, but surprisingly, there was little friction when it came to official matters.

“Kuh-ung… Khuh. Keu-heung.”

“Now he’s even snoring.”

And the cowardly prisoner in question… was still fast asleep, completely oblivious.

I muttered to myself and continued taking notes.

The cardinal’s soft voice fell like stardust over the darkness of the Heavenly Road.

Or perhaps it was gunpowder, but only harmless to us?

“The imperial capital is far from the sea, and while there are low mountain ranges to the north, the land is generally flat. On the other hand, the capital of the Holy State faces the Sea of Abundance to the east and is shielded by the formidable Memphis Mountains to the north and west. This is the primary reason why the Imperial Army, which occupies the northernmost part of the Holy State—the head of the Crescent Moon—cannot directly strike the royal capital. Also, the climate is mild to the south of the royal capital, leading to a concentration of prestigious nobles in that region. In particular, the Valentin barony, with its large-scale iron mines and hundreds of blacksmiths, acts as a gateway to the south-central region, and the weapons distributed from there account for over 60% of the total weapons流通 volume of the Holy State.”

“The territory’s security must be tight. It’s a major source of resources and weapons.”

I clicked the end of my pen and said. Herrit nodded elegantly.

“In my mercenary days, assignments to the southern part of the royal capital were highly prized. Unless there were requests to go north, mercenaries were wary of heading south. It was a kind of danger pay.”

Then, he tapped a spot on the map with his long riding crop.

“Finally, the renowned Kamingha Grand Duchy is holding out at the tail of the Crescent Moon, so you all know that the Liester Navy is having a hard time. However, with the Grand Duke away, it will be difficult for them to hold out for much longer.”

“Yes. Emma reported that. Well, I suppose that’s how it is.”

Gain said, stirring dried camilla flowers in hot water.

Her tone suggested a subtle trust in the admiral.

I took the riding crop from Sir Johann and poked at the wide map.

“And the partisan cavalry, including us, are here now… on the Heavenly Road. Unless someone found the underground passage first, we should assume that we are all trapped. It’s too dangerous to try and force our way through the Heavenly Road as it is, because the Sneider and Kamingha forces are massed beyond the valley.”

“Yes. Smoke and embers are still rising there.”

The cardinal said calmly. The Crown Prince raised his eyes, surprised.

“Don’t tell me they haven’t stopped fighting, even at this hour?”

“If you can call that a fight, Your Highness.”

The man’s voice was very dry.

From his eyes, which were darker than usual, I could tell that he had witnessed something horrific.

“The Sneider side is attacking with the intent to annihilate Kamingha, and conversely, the Kamingha side is fighting back with the determination to stop them from getting through the Heavenly Road, no matter what. There’s no need for a specific strategy. Neither side has any intention of opening the way to the royal capital.”

“······.”

-Kugugugung······

Just then, the ground rumbled in the distance. Kwagwagagang······! Then, a roar reminiscent of an air raid exploded indifferently like summer fireworks.

But I knew it was the sound of people killing people. Suddenly, a cold air swept down my back, and I shuddered.

The leaves of the coniferous forest seemed to tremble slightly.

Then Cedric, who was next to me, stared at me.

I quickly smiled it off, just moving my lips.

I’m okay, *hyung* [older brother/close male friend]. I’m just a little cold.

“Grand Preceptor, what happened to Count Arno van Loy and Cardinal Adriana?”

“I couldn’t sense their aether [magical energy] in the vicinity. I couldn’t confirm any survival signals, either.”

Sir Johann answered Isabel’s question. Silence fell over the campfire for a moment.

I quickly opened my notebook to the first page.

It was a page filled with scraps of information that I had badgered and extracted from Jeong Hyun-seo when he existed as a status window.

The main god… that is, the settings discarded by the writer ‘Bridget’.

Or hidden information that was not clearly described in Toegye Gong [a famous Korean scholar]. And even fragments of the future that have not yet been revealed in the main story.

· Pleiades, the six cardinals of the Holy State and their king

– Earth: Judith Kamingha Grand Duke

– Earth: Some Bangbaek, initially a title to check the Sneider dukedom

– Air: Some Count, handsome

– Air: Some Duke, handsome

– Water: Some Countess, handsome, Sneider’s person

– Fire: Princess Elysee Fenetian

“······Ah.”

You fat pig Jeong Hyun-seo. I can’t remember anything because you give me information like this!

No wonder the cardinals’ names are all unfamiliar; they’re just disgustingly handsome!

“Lady?”

“Ahem, it’s nothing. Then where is this Raso Duke’s territory?”

“West of the royal capital, specifically here.”

*Tok.* Sir Johann, who gently took the riding crop from my hand, pointed to the central part of the Holy State this time.

Everyone stretched their necks to check the map, then looked back at the prisoner tied up over there.

The Hanan Emperor doll sitting on Isabel’s lap shook its head.

I felt a strange sensation while looking at the picture. That’s because······.

If you get out of the Heavenly Road and run in a straight line, you’ll come to that person’s territory.

It’s closer than I thought.

“Some say that the most fertile land in the Holy State is not the royal capital, but the tail of the Crescent Moon. But the Rose Garden guarding the entrance to the royal capital and the surrounding territories are also quite wealthy.”

“The Raso Dukedom is located directly west of the Roseharder County, and the terrain is extremely rough because a major branch of the Memphis Mountains passes through it. But they say the family is overflowing with gold coins. I’ve only been there once, when I was five years old.”

Sant raised his hand and said cautiously.

I felt a new sense of wonder at this turn of events.

It was so mysterious that a new story was springing up like a fountain from a blank space that had no information value, and that the subject was none other than my friends.

The moment a world that even my brother and mother don’t know is created before my eyes… always makes me tremble.

I don’t know if I’m allowed to feel this way.

“How can a family have money when the terrain is so rough? Were they born with gold spoons in their mouths because they’re royalty? Well, look at that guy’s armor and jewelry. You could get a good price for it at any port pawnshop right away.”

“Well, I heard that the Raso family raises animals. A lot of them, too…”

Sant testified again, watching the Navy Paladin’s reaction.

This time, Jibril Dioph frowned.

“Animals? Half of the imperial nobles raise them.”

“Of course. Commoners too, I imagine.”

As Francois lightly agreed, the priest shook his hands and lowered his voice.

“No. That’s the family’s *business*… I’ve heard adults say that. Like the rhinos in the rhino unit you saw at the entrance to the Heavenly Road, or the large elephants mobilized for national events. They also rent out animals for exhibitions and sell them to collecting nobles. They also distribute rare ivory, deer antlers, and alligator skin… They’ve been building wealth like that for a long time.”

“······.”

“Ah, ‘zoo’! They also have such facilities in their territory.”

Then the atmosphere of the group turned as cold as glacial water.

Cedric tilted his nose to the side at the word he was hearing for the first time.

I quickly grabbed the hem of Gain’s clothes, who was about to jump up next to me.

“Lady, not only did that guy betray his soldiers and hide cowardly, but he also torments animals to make money!”

“I want to check something before that. Just one thing!”

I pleaded rapidly and turned around.

Then everyone’s eyes followed me. It was where the horses were gathered and resting.

-······Purrr

“······.”

In the spot that kind Doria had moved a few steps away from, Duke Leopold Raso’s horse was sitting demurely.

I quietly bit my lip as I looked at the bell ribbon around the child’s neck.

I couldn’t forget the embroidery I had seen briefly earlier.

The next day. We prepared to leave before the valley brightened.

-Gugugugung······!

-Kwaaaang······

I seemed to have become a little accustomed to the intermittent explosions heard in the distance overnight (although I didn’t want to).

First, we cleaned up the fire pit neatly, and Cedric was asked to incinerate all the miscellaneous garbage.

With the help of the Hanan Emperor, we erased the footprints on the dirt floor as much as possible.

Duke Raso, who had spent a night as a prisoner, seemed to be much more comfortable than yesterday for some reason.

He seemed quite surprised when I took off the cloth covering his eyes, but he quickly adapted and looked around at us, rolling his eyes.

Looking only at his gentle features, he definitely didn’t seem like someone who belonged on the battlefield.

Gain occasionally glared at the man sharply but silently did her job, not forgetting our ‘operation’.

She refilled everyone’s canteens and provided clean washing and brushing water.

“Hey, Duke Raso.”

“Heok······.”

Then, when I suddenly spoke to him, the prisoner flinched and shrank back.

I checked that ‘my friends weren’t looking this way’ and whispered solemnly.

“We’re going to go to the place where you were first discovered. Someone saw groundwater springing up there. It may simply be water filling the cracks in the bedrock, but…”

“······.”

He was already looking incredibly nervous, even though I hadn’t said anything yet.

His Adam’s apple also seemed to be throbbing a lot. It was truly amazing.

I shouldn’t be saying this, but for a duke, his insides are so transparent…

“I thought there might be a hidden space underground. It’s the only clue we have right now, so we plan to search it.”

“Euk······.”

Anyway, I had to push him hard and sharply.

That’s what the Hanan Emperor told me last night.

I put as much strength in my eyes as possible and lowered my voice menacingly.

I thought I heard a sigh from a certain heir to the throne behind me, but I stubbornly ignored it.

“Maybe? If we dig up the ground, we might find a cave or passage that will allow us to escape the Heavenly Road safely. So we’re going to drag you along. Very barbarically. You can’t help it even if you don’t like it.”

“Wait, wait a minute. Angel Gong.”

“Cough, yes?”

What, what? I covered my throat, almost choking, and was shocked. What is this human saying?

Then the duke blinked his golden eyes.

He looked just as embarrassed as I was.

“Aren’t you, aren’t you an angel who fell from the sky? That day, the day when there was extreme thunder and lightning and the horses were uneasy. I could feel the beautiful Crown Aether even from afar… Your Aether now is very similar to that,”

“Stop the nonsense.”

Suddenly, a sharp mid-bass voice cut in from behind.

I looked up at the man with my mouth open.

I couldn’t believe that this guy was interfering with such a simple operation in this way.

You royal pig! I haven’t even gotten to the main point yet!

“We will use your armor and saddle.”

“······.”

While I was just gaping like the Nutcracker Marquis, the Crown Prince was perfectly delivering even the lines and facial expressions for my part.

He even pushed me back and completely blocked my view so that I couldn’t even see the duke’s nose. His momentum was so terrifying that Gain, who regarded the duke as a thorn in her side, had a very satisfied look on her face for once.

That means the Crown Prince’s actions pleased her for the first time in a long time!

“And the warhorse seems to be suffering from a disease, seeing as it has been sitting down without even drinking water.”

“······I’m sorry. I’m really, really sorry about that. If there is a priest who can use healing power…”

“I think we should take care of it here.”

Cedric Liester spoke like a villain from hell.

Even though I knew it was acting, I was still shocked as an audience member by his viciousness.

Francois, who was greatly shocked over there, had a similar look on his face as me.

Oh my god, how could he say such a thing…!

“Ah, ah······.”

“We can’t leave it to be a burden to the soldiers.”

-Seureung!

Finally, when the man drew his Hyegeom [a type of sword], the duke turned as blue as his eye makeup.