What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 820

Gemini (3)

For over ten days, smoke signaling the Empire’s victory had risen from the beacon towers of the Memphis Mountains.

It was high enough to be seen even from the distant border temple.

“…They say there have been many eyewitness accounts even among the Imperial soldiers, Your Highness.”

Ganael, with his hands clasped respectfully, delivered the news.

The page had been bustling since dawn, gathering information as soon as a large market opened near the temple.

Benjamin placed a coffee cup on the highness’s table, listening silently to the boy’s story.

“It was the first market since the end of the war, so there were many merchants from the royal capital. But it was hard to find anyone who didn’t know about the ‘Angel of the Lord’.”

“…”

“Among them were wandering sisters who made money by working as blacksmiths, and they happened to be from the royal capital. They swore to God that they had seen the angel descend right before their eyes.”

*Clatter.* Aurélie Boutier, who had been holding the steaming coffee, set down the cup without wetting her lips.

Her sunken beige irises reflected the face of the young page.

Benjamin calmly placed the plate of cookies on the table.

The Emperor’s only consort had been skipping meals frequently lately.

For some reason, the news of the Empire’s victory did not seem to bring great joy to the precious one.

If they didn’t tempt her appetite with snacks, she could barely manage two meals a day, causing great concern among the staff dispatched from the Imperial Palace.

If Natalie, the head of the Amitié Palace’s servants, were to find out about this, she could fill a small pond with her tears.

“Saw it directly?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Their memories may not be accurate due to the life-and-death situation during the war, but they clearly saw an angel with six wings descending in the night sky, holding a radiant staff. And… um.”

“Continue, child.”

The Cardinal gently urged.

Ganael glanced at Benjamin and carefully continued.

“‘Do not be afraid,’ the angel declared. ‘The Fenetian royal family will be judged by the Lord… Everyone must repent.'”

“…Was that all?”

“Ah, they said they remembered seeing a great light.”

The boy quickly added.

“A huge temple shining brilliantly with gold rose up, screams echoed from all directions, and the surprised people fainted here and there… It felt as if the whole world was collapsing. They were so scared that tears streamed down their faces, and they couldn’t see properly, so they had no choice but to hide under the roof of a chapel and lie flat. And then, when they came to their senses…”

“The war was over.”

“…Yes.”

Ganael nodded with difficulty.

The Cardinal looked down at the coffee cup with a contemplative gaze.

“…Also, the continent’s moon disappeared.”

No light reflected in the blackish beverage.

Benjamin, who had been silent, asked the boy.

“Did the sisters’ testimony match the testimony of others?”

“Yes, Benjamin. Although there may be differences in detail, most of them told similar stories. The Angel of the Lord with six wings, the golden light that swallowed the royal capital, and the ending where the moon disappeared were all similar.”

The boy neatly concluded his report.

Aurélie quietly held the coffee cup for a while.

“…The moon disappeared, and the Holy Kingdom of Fenetia officially became a defeated nation. Amidst the chaos, both Crown Princess Elysee and Grand Duke Werner died.”

A quiet voice flowed out.

The silhouettes of the three people looked small beneath the majestic pillars supporting the temple.

The distant ceiling seemed as far away as the constellations of gods looking down on humans.

Ganael felt his heart beating anxiously and clasped his hands tightly.

“I had expected that Grand Master Lüpert had political reasons for not proceeding with the papal election… And the Holy Relic was destroyed as well.”

“…”

*I vaguely believed that I would be able to return to my daily life after the war ended, but I couldn’t understand why I felt so empty until now.*

*Perhaps Her Highness Aurélie is feeling something similar?*

*That’s why she often skips meals and stays awake late into the night.*

“Indeed… The history of the continent may be rewritten once again.”

The Cardinal, after taking a few sips of coffee, rose from his seat.

Benjamin politely pulled out the highness’s chair and took her coat.

His expression, anticipating something, was unusual.

“Your Highness, you are scheduled to leave for the royal capital of Fenetia tomorrow. If you clash with Grand Master today…”

“Clash? Oh, Benjamin.”

Aurélie smiled as if she had heard an amusing joke.

“I intend to hold him accountable. I will corner him faster than any other clergyman on the continent.”

“…”

“As the steward of the Holy See, he failed to protect the supreme sacred object and concealed that fact. Not only did he postpone the conclave [a meeting of Catholic cardinals convened to elect a new pope] indefinitely without special reason, but to make matters worse, the moon, the symbol of the Lord, disappeared from the sky. The Grand Master, who is served by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith [a department of the Roman Curia], must present his position on this situation, wouldn’t you agree?”

“Ah…”

“He will have to pay the price for not mediating the war.”

Beneath the sharply shining monocle, her eyes still held their spirit.

Ganael opened his mouth in surprise.

“The disappearance of the moon is surely a disaster that will be recorded in all historical records, and if we are not careful, Liester, who led the divine kingdom to defeat, may take the blame. Such a stain is unnecessary for my Frederick.”

*My Frederick.* At the very natural title, the two servants bowed their heads demurely.

“Turning the arrow before such a thing happens is quite important. Since the opportunity has come, I think I should seize it.”

“…”

*Good Lord. The boy had forgotten that she was a politician before she was a religious figure.*

*Goosebumps seemed to rise on his arms and even his legs.*

Aurélie, who had finished preparing to go out with Benjamin’s assistance, raised the corners of her mouth gently.

“Just because we have won doesn’t mean that victory remains in our hands. If we want to hold it properly, we need another method, right?”

“…”

The Cardinal began to walk gracefully, and Ganael belatedly grabbed the doorknob in a hurry.

Before the black door opened wide, she whispered softly.

“I must break the neck of the Holy See this time.”

…Gulp. The boy lowered his eyes as if he had heard nothing.

April 9th, dawn. Far eastern part of the Liester Empire.

Convoy of the Great Liester Imperial Army.

“Ha… I’m going crazy, I can’t sleep again…”

*Thump, squeak. Thump, squeak…* Gain, who had picked up and was wearing a subordinate’s shoes with torn heels, was wandering alone around the outskirts of the encampment.

The torches illuminating the area were noticeably fewer than usual.

The number of people on night watch had also decreased significantly. In fact, it seemed that Gain was the only one awake so far, except for the sentries guarding against the demons and some military personnel.

Now that they had finally entered the borders of the Empire, everyone was relieved.

Mom was still grieving over the absence of His Majesty Hanan, and the other soldiers were also suffering from their respective aftereffects, having suffered irreparable wounds.

Nevertheless, the sense of security provided by the homeland was truly absolute.

The soldiers who had miraculously returned alive drank the wine that the Crown Prince personally poured for them last night and fell asleep drunk for the first time in a long time.

Gain was also desperate to fall asleep with the help of alcohol.

To exaggerate a little, it felt like she had emptied a whole crate by herself…

“Damn it, I’m not getting drunk, I can’t sleep… I’m just going to the bathroom a lot because I drank so much.”

Gain, who had washed her hands, straightened up and cursed.

The objects in her pocket collided with each other, making a clanging sound.

She fumbled over her loose pants and suddenly grabbed the necklace pendant.

The clear water mirror reflected the starlight and illuminated her heart.

Probably.

“…Hey, when are you going to turn around?”

Today, too, the brown-haired man in the necklace did not answer.

Gain, with narrowed eyes, looked into the pendant as if she were about to bury her nose in it.

*Why is this person the only one who appears in color? Why, really?*

“Huh? Wait a minute… The angle seems to be subtly distorted? It feels like I can see his chin a little now? Ah!”

-Thud!

While concentrating, she almost tripped over a stone.

Gain roughly staggered and regained her balance.

These days, all her will had disappeared, and she didn’t even want to use her strength for this.

“Who are you… You’re not Teacher Johann, so why are you in there? What, are you my first love or something? He was the class president in elementary school, though?”

“I can smell the alcohol from here.”

What? Gain, who raised her head sharply, frowned instantly.

*Ah, me. When you’re unlucky, it’s always from the crack of dawn.*

“What are you doing, Jay Bee? Is the club closed so you’re going in now?”

Jibril Diop also frowned at the warm welcome.

“What are you talking about? If you’re drunk, just go to sleep.”

“Hey, I want to get drunk but I can’t. You have no idea how shitty a Cardinal-level paladin’s body is…”

“Did you put a rag in your mouth?”

Suddenly, a welcome guest walked out from a different direction this time.

Gain couldn’t contain her joy and buried her face in her palms.

*Oh my god, damn it. Now I can’t even take a comfortable morning walk…*

“Ha… Why is life so hard after the war ends? Is this how it’s supposed to be?”

“It might not be bad to settle down on your grandparents’ estate when we return.”

“Our Highness really knows how to say ‘get out of my sight forever’ in an administrative way…”

*Thump, thump, thump…* And so, the three people gathered in the middle of a narrow crossroads.

It was such a shame that they couldn’t see each other’s faces clearly because there was no moon.

“…It’s better not to see your face as much because it’s dark, you know.”

“You look like a carp even if I just glance at you.”

“Get out of my way unless you have business with me.”

“I was coming here first? I’ve been walking in first place since before the road split, you know?”

“Why are you all awake at this hour anyway?”

“Are you one to talk? Don’t you know that you came out alone the other day and wandered around suspiciously?”

“You’re even more suspicious for knowing that.”

“…How much did Kyung drink?”

“Just consider it a stomach cleanse with grapes since I don’t get drunk no matter how much I drink. By the way, why are you walking around with a cane, Your Highness? Isn’t that a threat to your good subordinates?”

“You look like a wreck.”

“…Are you calling me a wreck right now? Everyone in our army knows that you’ve been looking gaunt under your eyes lately, Your Highness.”

“Hey, you lose weight when you fight a war. It’s the same for me.”

“I’m jealous of your weight loss. You’ve succeeded in escaping Jibril Diop.”

That’s when it happened.

-…Coo!

From beyond the nearby bushes, a very familiar cry erupted.

It would have been easy to miss if they were criminals, but they were a Cardinal, an 8th-level swordsman, and an 8th-level mage.

Gain, with a dazed face, hurriedly turned to the side.

And…

-Rustle, rustle, rustle!

-Gurr!