What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 848

Now I’m Coming to Find You (5)

Once again, a moonless night.

The Chaum Caravanserai, a lodging in the neutral zone closest to the Liester Empire.

Gain greeted the familiar innkeeper warmly.

Lowering her shawl to show her face, nearly a handful of sand poured out.

Perry, stepping on the gravel, complained and ran around.

Prince Yeser chuckled and stroked him a few times, and the little one finally calmed down.

“Lady Christel Rambouillet. It’s been a while since I’ve seen you three esteemed guests. Thank you for visiting again.”

“Hello, Monica.”

Monica hadn’t changed.

Her courteous and polite attitude, her refusal to bring up unnecessary stories—even though she must have heard of Gain’s achievements and fame—and her neatly dressed desert attire were not much different from the Holy Knights’ memories.

The still life inside and outside the inn, decorated with beautiful turquoise, and the adobe buildings painted in exotic blue were also the same as that day.

Gain received the guest book and quill from Monica, looking around slowly.

The difference was that the guests at the inn were generally less energetic and quieter than before.

The number of people itself was not as large as it used to be, so most of the restaurants were closed.

Although there had been no battles in the neutral zone, it was inevitably affected by the war since it was located in the middle of both countries.

Currently, a small number of Imperial soldiers were guarding the caravanserai and Chaum village instead of the Papal forces.

Gain signed ‘Christel R.’ and looked at Monica.

“Has anything happened since we left? Like another swarm of black amber bees appearing, or a lingering spirit that hasn’t fully dissipated…”

“Hehe. Thanks to the grace of the Main God, nothing like that has happened.”

“That’s a relief. Also, I’m curious to know if the children are doing well. Their names are…”

What were they again?

There were very cute sisters here. The ones who went into His Majesty Hanan’s tomb with us…

“Marion. India.”

The Crown Prince replied bluntly. Gain glanced at him with a ‘What’s up?’ expression.

Monica bowed gracefully to the Prince and smiled.

“The children are doing well, thanks to you esteemed guests. They attend school in Linde Village for two weeks and return to Chaum for a week to rest. They still go on relic expeditions whenever they have time. I’m grateful that the Imperial Knights accompany them every time.”

‘Sometimes they come home late and get scolded by Grandpa Scotty or other adults,’ she replied with a bright expression.

Only then could Gain relax and smile back.

She hoped the little ones wouldn’t lose their everyday lives even in the midst of war, and thankfully, they seemed to be at peace.

It was then.

“Aunt Christel?”

“Wow! It’s really Prince Your Highness!”

“Shh! Oh my gosh, Marion, India!”

Speak of the devil, the little tigers in their pajamas came running out of the pawnshop with pillows in their hands.

Monica, shocked, scolded the children with a fierce look.

Djibril Diop warned them, ‘You’ll be in trouble if you walk around in your pajamas in front of other guests.’

‘Sorry.’ The sisters then shyly hid behind Monica, only showing their eyes.

Herit’s eyes sparkled as she looked at the girls her age. As Gain, looking at the familiar faces, was about to smile broadly—

Suddenly, a scene came to mind.

‘Since India is still young, when an archaeologist comes to study the relics, she can learn from them little by little.’

…Huh?

‘Read books together, practice nearby. She’ll be an adult in six years, so they’ll teach her more difficult things then, right?’

‘Really? Is that okay?’

‘Of course. I’ll ask them to send a theology teacher for Marion too. It’ll be more fun if she takes classes with her village friends.’

In the colorful memories, Marion, with her mouth wide open, looked back at Gain with an unbelievable expression.

The past her smiled brightly and nodded.

The Prince in front of her was looking at the children with sparkling purple eyes.

Skilled and affectionate touch, warm words…

“…Has the children’s teacher not arrived yet?”

“Yes?”

“Huh?”

The innkeeper blinked at the sudden question, and the little sisters also tilted their heads.

Gain, who had asked the question, paused and shook her head.

The fingertips holding the necklace unconsciously were icy cold.

Logically speaking, there was no way a teacher from the Empire would have come all the way here.

Because they, who had crossed the desert, could not return to the Imperial Palace.

…We lost the Prince at the hands of Werner Venetian in the Papal States, so we had to participate in the war.

All borders were completely closed—no, wait a minute.

A drop of water falls.

‘-Drip!’

‘Prince Yeser Venetian has been resurrected!’

What? Watery eyes widened. India under her nose and the past India overlapped—

‘They say the Empire’s Moon has descended again! Rumors are spreading!’

‘-Drip!’

The water droplets of memory spread out in ripples.

‘Descended?’

‘They go to school here for two weeks and rest in Chaum for one week. The Marchioness of Serenite is paying for the carriage and driver. That… a person named Chantal!’

‘They also send books to the school every fifteen days. A lot of them.’

‘Hey, sorry. I’m so happy and relieved that you’re doing well… but I’m in a hurry right now. Can I ask what that was about earlier?’

Her heart was pounding loudly, and her breath reached the tip of her chin, and rough breaths flowed out.

As she moved her lips with all her might, the Gain in her memory also moved her lips.

The Prince has been resurrected?

‘I’ve only heard rumors… Until recently, the sky of the Divine Kingdom was torn for a long time, and a scary thing called the ‘Sword of the Main God’ was falling from there. It suddenly stopped one day. The sky became clear as if it were a lie.’

‘-Drip!’

‘But on the day the hole closed, they said an angel fell from there.’

Ah…

“…”

“Rambouillet?”

“Lady Christel?”

‘They have one very large wing, and their eyes turn purple when they use Aether [magical energy].’

“Gasp, definitely…”

Gasping for breath, Gain hurriedly looked into the man in the pendant. The brown eyes, turned to the side, were beautifully curved. Suddenly, she remembered holding his hand.

In the dark underground passage, in the universe where bright light poured out. In the forest, in the valley, in the field. Smiling, crying, with a serious face, sometimes frivolous. Talking gently, shouting loudly—memory fragments poured down like waterfalls from all directions, engulfing her vision. Each one is a piece filled with longing colors. At the same time, a familiar warmth quickly spread throughout the vessel. ‘Swish…!’

‘Gain.’

“Rambouillet.”

“Ha…”

A dizzying dizziness struck. Cold breath was exhaled from her lips. She clearly thought she felt warmth, but her fingertips were covered in frost so white they were almost pale. From one side of the chilling cold that seemed to devour even her soul, a hot energy permeated and held her. If she dug in any deeper, the frozen vessel might break. But Gain jumped into the water mirror, trusting only in one tiny flame. ‘Splash!’ There were bubbles that seemed to be caught but weren’t, yet they still caught on her fingertips. In her memory, in the fading illusion, Gain promises her partner.

‘You can go anywhere you want quickly. No matter how far away.’

‘With us.’

‘-Whoosh…!’

The sound of waves is heard. A faint flame runs through the middle of the water to catch her. Even as it touches the cold water and fades and goes out, the flower fire never gives up and follows. Her jawbone is trembling madly.

‘So I’m going to take you.’

‘-Swoooooosh…!’

‘Princess! What is this!’

“Wait a minute, I remember, I’m remembering again… !”

“Christel Rambouillet.”

‘-Bubble bubble bubble…!’

‘Yeser!’

Your name—

“Ah!”

-Thud!

“Hey, watch your step… !”

-Ouch!

Her dry body tilted and fell.

With her hearing, sight, and touch all separated, Gain did not realize that she had fallen until she completely lost consciousness.

-Thump!

The heat embracing the midday desert wrapped around her. That was the end.

Consciousness sank with a gurgle.

*

“…Huh?”

I flinched and looked beyond the veranda. The evening glow over the window was red and blue.

Just now…

“…Gain?”

Was it a delusion? It must be a delusion…

“Jeong-ye, come and taste the yukjeon [thinly sliced beef, lightly battered and pan-fried].”

“Oh? Ah, I’ll go right away!”

Around that time, Jeong Hyun-seo, who was making pancakes in the kitchen, called me.

Instead of Eun-seo, who was taking an online class in her room, I hurriedly went to the kitchen and tasted the yukjeon.

It had been raining heavily all day, and because of that, Hyung [older brother or close male friend] wanted to eat pancakes all day.

Since it wouldn’t be fun to make them with just Cardinal Johann, he waited for us to come back, drove out, and bought a lot of groceries.

While I was mumbling, Jeong Hyun-seo waited for feedback, sharply shining his eyes under his glasses.

Cardinal Johann, who was placing the grill on the island table and making mincemeat pancakes, also turned to me.

Um, this is…!

“…It’s heavenly. It’s so delicious!”

Wow!

“Hahaha.”

“It’s real, it’s really delicious. Even if Eun-seo and I ate it and one of us died, we wouldn’t know.”

“It’s not delicious enough for both of you to die?”

“Ah, that’s about right. Try a little harder.”

Then Hyung chuckled and pressed down on the yukjeon with a spatula.

Sizzle, the savory sound of oil splattering was as pleasant as Chopin’s piano music.

I then tasted Cardinal Johann’s mincemeat pancakes and was so surprised that my eyes popped out.

This is also delicious!

“No, Cardinal Johann, why are you so… You’re so good? The seasoning is excellent, the ratio of batter to fish is perfect, and above all, the pancake melts in your mouth. You can start studying for a Korean food certificate.”

“You flatter me.”

The man showed off an Imperial bow with a very satisfied face.

I giggled and helped organize the counter and sink.

Cardinal Johann bought a set of thermal underwear for our siblings while shopping with Jeong Hyun-seo today—I refused several times, but I couldn’t break the stubbornness of the world’s Haynes, and his ‘first salary’ donated by the pig of greed [a piggy bank] was about ninety thousand won—Hyung’s advice was to choose thermal underwear.

I tried to raise the corners of my mouth as I looked at the Cardinal’s back, who was focused on cooking.

“…”

Later, I decided to check on the situation of those friends with Eun-seo and everyone.

I think the youngest has become somewhat attached to our story, so I’m slowly trying to scroll down.

I wonder if everyone is okay. I hope nothing bad happens. I hope they’re doing well. I hope Herit isn’t suffering too much…

“Jeong-ye, if you’ve used all the water, turn it off.”

“Ah, sorry.”

I bit my lip as I quickly turned off the faucet.

The closed faucet dripped a few tears before becoming quiet.

“…I’ll make the ham. Hyung, take a break, your back must hurt.”

Because we have Eun-seo, who is the Main God.

Even in the midst of tension, I tried to have a positive mind.

Today, my emotions were wavering easily, so it wasn’t easy to maintain my composure.

Was it because of the heavy rain?

*

Ham Gain drowsily opened her eyes.

“Um… Ahem. Where am I…”

Everything is black, black, black… What, is this Cedric Liester’s room or something.

She cleared her hoarse throat several times and sat up.

‘Creak.’ The small but neat bed firmly supported both palms.

The curtains surrounding her were as thin and translucent as paper, swaying gently in the desert night breeze flowing in from outside the window. It was a dawn as deep as the sea.

What’s that suspiciously looking thing over there? It’s just a flowerpot. This is a display case…

“…Wait. Did I faint?”

That hardly ever happens. I hardly ever do that.

Gain made all sorts of faces and moved her gaze here and there.

“Oh…”

Then she suddenly found it.

“…”

“…”

A blonde man was sitting uncomfortably in a chair by the bed, asleep with his arms crossed.