What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 852

If It Can’t Be Done, Make It Happen (2)

Some time later, the Moon Chaser party finished their meeting, decided on a direction, and started moving.

-Thud, thud, thud…

“Wow, there are swindlers even in the middle of this desert. Well, I guess Carme was here too. All places where people live are the same…”

-Rustle, rustle, rustle…

‘Tsk.’ Gain clicked her tongue, glancing back as she walked, holding Doria’s reins.

The horses seemed tired, so everyone except Herrit had dismounted.

The sandstorm blew again, and the deserted shack creaked and groaned, its old sign swaying.

The roughly carved letters were crooked and uneven, like a child’s scribbles. Not that Gain, with her terrible handwriting, could talk.

It was probably written in the neutral zone language or Venetian, but just like at the Chaum Caravanserai, where they could understand bits and pieces, they seemed to understand it now.

“Let’s go, Doria. If we go a few more kilometers that way, there will be a village. Gigolt Village. Let’s rest there for a day and then go straight to the Temple [of Vigilance].”

-Neigh

“Good, my baby. You’re working so hard.”

The paladin patted his beloved horse, who nodded obediently, then turned his gaze forward without hesitation and walked on.

The Crown Prince and the Young Master seemed to have no interest in alchemists and were already leading the way.

Gain smiled slightly at Prince Yeseo, who was waiting for her along with Areumhardt.

“Hmm…”

However, Herrit, sitting on Areum’s back, couldn’t take his eyes off the alchemist’s shack.

‘If it can’t be done, make it happen!’

-Coo

-Beep

-Clatter, clatter, clatter…

The same went for Demi and Ttukssim.

The three pairs of round eyes shared a serious look for a while.

*

As the sunset began to spread from the west, the group arrived near the Gigolt Caravanserai, the closest lodging to the Temple of Vigilance.

It was a stroke of good fortune.

In the moonless desert night, even with the stars shining, it was too dark underfoot and very dangerous.

Jibril Diop sighed from deep within his abdomen and pulled down his mask. ‘Haa…’

“We’ll need to do a quick inspection.”

“Hey, do you know who this is…?”

“Even if a great noble comes, the inspection will proceed as is. Please open your bags.”

Gigolt Village and the caravanserai were not much different from other areas of the desert.

The Papal troops, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, had all retreated to the Temple of Vigilance and were out of sight, and some Imperial soldiers were guarding the village and lodging in shifts.

Gigolt was the largest village in the neutral zone, so the number of residents was high, and security inside and out was very strict.

Although the floating population definitely felt smaller than before due to the war…

‘It means this is where the Chief Administrator’s influence reaches.’

…Right, ‘Yeseo’ definitely said something like that. I remember.

“I heard that the Chief Administrator’s power is strong here. The Papal States can’t win the war; the Liester army is right under the temple’s nose.”

“To be precise, there must have been political pressure from His Highness Boutier.”

“His Highness Oreli?”

Gain blinked and looked up at the prince.

He smiled sweetly, still wearing his black veil.

“Ah, it might be more appropriate to say ‘religious’ pressure.”

“Next. Open your saddlebags and luggage.”

At that moment, the Imperial knight guarding the village entrance ordered, looking at the Crown Prince.

The man was obviously grinding his teeth under his mask.

Gain quickly squeezed between them.

“I am D’Artagnan. This is Richelieu, this is Porthos. That one is Aramis. And the young boy on the saddle is called the brave Athos!” [Referring to characters from ‘The Three Musketeers’]

“…Pfft! Princess, are you from the Empire a hundred years ago? Your name and even your way of speaking…”

“Enough. Then Princess D’Artagnan, please show us your bag first.”

Some of the knights, certain that the group was from Liester, burst into laughter—their attire made it clear that they were nobles—but the one who seemed to be their superior was very picky.

With a face that showed no openings, she carefully inspected Gain’s luggage, followed by Prince Yeseo’s and Herrit’s.

Once everyone’s inspection was over, only the Crown Prince remained.

The knight looked at him with a stern expression and said,

“We will need to inspect you.”

“…”

Wow. Cedric Liester’s ether [magical energy] was boiling.

Gain whispered to him, ‘Just let it go once, okay? Just let it go once,’ but each time, Jibril had to grab her arm and tell her to just shut up.

Having gone through a difficult war and all sorts of hardships, one would think he could easily get through this kind of inspection, but perhaps because his memories were not normal, the Crown Prince reacted very sharply to the approach of a stranger.

Regardless, the knight, performing his duty, rummaged through his saddlebags with a nonchalant attitude.

-Rustle, rustle, click!

“…There’s a box inside. I’ll open it. Please understand that we’re doing this because some madman recently detonated explosives in Gigolt.”

“…”

“Huh? Isn’t that guy really crazy? Were there many casualties? No, were there many casualties?”

“Fortunately, there were none, Princess. Just a lot of noise and smoke.”

“Was the culprit from the Divine Nation?”

“Oh, I heard that his ancestors were from the Divine Nation. But he’s a neutral zone person with no family register, so there’s no way to confirm.”

“He’s out of his mind. He was exiled a long time ago and doesn’t even live here, so there’s no way to punish him. Besides, the desert isn’t Imperial territory.”

The knights, excited to meet people from their hometown after a long time, eagerly shared various information.

Gain and Jibril nodded, listening attentively to the story.

At that very moment when their attention was focused in one place—

-Thud!

“Oh my, Young Master! You can’t interfere with the inspection!”

“Ugh, damn it.”

The Crown Prince’s dark fist was gripping the arm of the inspector tightly.

Gain, who had been momentarily distracted, gasped in shock.

In the knight’s hand was a small box that looked expensive to anyone.

The Crown Prince had brushed against it a few times when taking out daily necessities from his luggage, but he had never taken it out.

“Crazy… Hey, hey. Your sixth cousin is angry.”

“Half of it is your fault, Princess.”

…Just a jewelry box that looks incredibly precious to anyone, even those who don’t know him well, and doesn’t fit this endless adventure!

“He’s going to burn down an entire village like this. Go and freeze him again.”

“Don’t treat me like a freezer. He’s your family, so you take responsibility.”

“Family, my foot—”

-Clatter!

Wince! Something hard rattled on the stone floor.

Everyone blocking the entrance quickly turned to look.

“What is that…? What is that grotesque thing?”

“Is that blood? Is it some kind of cursed wooden doll?”

“Oh my, how can it look so terrible…?”

“Something similar. It’s a special pig that blesses the owner’s journey.”

Prince Yeseo, who had dropped the red and mottled pig statue, turned to the Imperial knights and gave them a strange smile.

The knights, unaware of the situation, seemed greatly shocked by the appearance of the statue, but Gain was surprised for a different reason.

Wait a minute, that’s definitely…

“…‘Jeyukie.’”

Princess Cornelise. That child must have somehow given it to her brother through her older sister, the Crown Princess.

I clearly remember that too. I named it, how could I forget?

It must be very precious to the prince…

“It’s usually kept in this gentleman’s jewelry box, but it seems the lid opened inside the saddlebag.”

The noble lied without batting an eye.

While Gain mouthed ‘jackpot,’ Jibril raised an eyebrow and whistled softly.

The prince approached the Crown Prince and the knight with graceful movements, naturally took the jewelry box, opened the lid—the Crown Prince’s brow furrowed greatly for a moment—and put the pig statue inside.

Then, looking into the inspector’s eyes, he carefully lifted his veil.

“…You must recognize who I am. Then you’ll know who this person is, so please clear the way.”

“Good heavens, the color of his eyes…”

‘I am deeply sorry. Please forgive my rudeness!’ The knight immediately took a step back and bowed politely.

No one who saw the black hair peeking out from under the veil and the burning crimson irises could fail to understand the situation.

His subordinates also quickly grasped the unusual atmosphere and bowed quickly.

“…You have worked hard.”

“…I am overwhelmed.”

“…”

The situation was settled like that.

The Crown Prince strode into the village with Charlemagne and the Divine Beasts, and the prince, after lowering his veil again, followed him lightly.

Herrit was also surprised by the unexpected ending.

The boy widened his mint-colored eyes and looked back at Jibril.

The wizard waved his hand roughly, replacing a complicated answer.

“That’s what royalty is, kid. If you want to marry into a ducal family, watch and learn.”

“Um, I have a favor to ask. Please don’t tell anyone our identities. No, please don’t. Do you understand? We’re traveling incognito, so it would be difficult if our real names were leaked.”

‘It’s a secret even from our colleagues!’ Before finally passing through the entrance, Gain whispered to the knights at the checkpoint.

The group looked down at the stone floor as if they had made a promise and nodded.

*

-Rattle, rattle, rattle…

-Kak [sound of a notification]

“…”

Time flowed mercilessly, and it was already the last Friday of April.

-Rattle, rattle…

-Kak!

“…”

I was staring blankly out the window on the subway on my way home from work.

Even a single common advertising phrase or a short video didn’t catch my eye, so the outside of the window, where nothing was visible, was more comfortable.

The black color that melted the shadows of the underground.

Something like the headlights of a train flickered and disappeared over the dark, ink-spilled darkness.

This seemed just right.

-Kak

“…”

…I just didn’t want to think about anything. I didn’t have the strength to do so right now.

-Kak, kak

“…”

But if I stop… If I give up, it might be cut off forever.

Everything might end here.

-Kak, kak, kak

“…”

No, maybe we’ll be separated forever like this. That’s reality. So never let go…

“Excuse me, you keep getting Kak messages.”

I flinched.

“Yes? Oh, I’m sorry. I forgot to put it on silent.”

At the passenger next to me’s remark, I hurriedly apologized and took my phone out of my pocket.

Familiar names were floating up in yellow on the basic standby screen.

There were a lot more contacts than usual, maybe because it was Friday. Friends from middle school, junior soldiers from the army…

‘Yeseo hyung [older brother/male friend], are you really not thinking about a blind date this weekend?’

‘My younger sister really wants to meet you.’

“…”

…Should I go? Suddenly, I had such a foolish thought.