What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 874

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike (8)

To hell with it all.

Gain was lying flat on the dirt floor, feeling almost like that.

“Ha… Seriously, I’ve shoveled more in the last five days than I ever did in the navy. If Emma saw me, she’d laugh her head off at how much I’ve improved.”

-Kkiuuu…

“Exactly. I’m worried about Demi, Leia, and Perry. Does this Count Giegolt’s remains even exist? Isn’t it just bones that old hag imagined?”

-Kkiaaa…

“Ugh, if I knew it would be like this, I would have rested a few more days at the Vatican… No, no. I went there under the pretense of some sanctification thing, so I’m glad I got out of there quickly…”

‘Ugh.’ Gain covered her face with both hands and rolled around wildly.

The lesser pandas also lay down next to her and rolled around in all directions.

She thought she had become immune to hard labor after experiencing all sorts of incidents, but—after spending five days straight digging sand, inhaling sand, and eating rice covered in sand dust, she felt like this was a form of torture.

Cedric looked down at his partner’s partner, who was writhing in despair, with a look of disdain, but he plopped down near her.

‘Clang.’ His shovel fell to the ground nearby. Gain slowly lowered her hands and stared blankly at the sky.

“Ah! It’s blinding. Ah.”

“……”

The Crown Prince glanced at her as if he was seeing all kinds of weirdos.

Tete was sleeping in his arms like a cicada attached to an old tree.

Gain shielded the sunlight with her forearm and grumbled.

“We don’t have time to waste like this if we want to find Court Lady… What are we going to do now?”

“It wouldn’t be a waste of time since there’s no other way.”

“No, I know that, but… shouldn’t we approach this differently now? Court Lady must be racking her brain trying to meet us right now.”

“……”

“She’s not the type to stay still after being attacked like that. Her last wish was to save you, Your Highness.”

“……I suppose so.”

‘Whoosh….’ A dry wind blew.

The two didn’t exchange words for a while, but they clearly knew what each other was thinking.

“Do you think our Court Lady is okay? At least she didn’t bleed. Even though those three old hags are the worst, they didn’t show any hostility towards her…”

“Yeah.”

“……”

“She’ll be safe.”

‘She’ll be safe.’ The man spoke the sentence that Gain desperately wanted to hear.

It felt like warmth was returning to her heart, which had been frozen with fear, even if only for a moment.

Around that time, Demi rolled over and snuggled into her arms.

The paladin stroked the divine beast’s round back and muttered seriously.

“Anyway, if we keep digging based on what that old hag said, this place will become our grave.”

“Liesterians don’t bury bodies.”

“……”

“……Were there any clues in the water mirror?”

Gain almost got angry and straightened up, but the Crown Prince immediately changed the subject.

Only then did Gain realize that he was trying to make a joke in his own way.

*Hey, pick the right time to joke.*

“It’s the same every time. The direction Court Lady in the mirror is looking at is……”

‘Clink.’ The Cardinal carefully took out the water mirror necklace and looked into it.

A beautiful woman with striking brown hair came into view.

“She’s the same as always today.”

The Court Lady, who had been showing only her back the whole time, slowly turned to look at Gain at some point, and when they had fully regained their memories, she was looking straight ahead as if it were a lie.

Sometimes she blinked, and sometimes she waved her hand and smiled at her.

When she was sleeping outside, Court Lady also seemed to be sleeping.

She wasn’t as full of life as the real Court Lady, but she was happy just to be able to see her beloved face every day.

However, right now, he was watching one place with a very worried expression, and that was…….

“That old hag. She’s been looking over there for days.”

“……”

“The Water Mirror of Wishes is a relic that shows me what I want, but the Court Lady in the mirror is always looking at the old hag, so to put it bluntly, it means that the old hag is the one who will fulfill my wish… Isn’t it frustrating? Isn’t it?”

“……”

Cedric was silent for a while.

Gain suddenly remembered what Court Lady had said and created a small water droplet and handed it to him.

The man frowned reflexively.

-Splash!

“You have to drink water even if you don’t like it. It’s too dry here in the desert. Listen to me for Court Lady’s sake.”

“……”

*I’m not giving it to you because you’re pretty, but because of the pretty Court Lady.*

She didn’t say that aloud and reached out her hand while still lying down.

Cedric glared at it as if it were the enemy of the imperial family, but in the end, he received the water droplet with his bare hands and drank it.

Gain quietly stared at the Hyegeom of Mars [a legendary sword] and the magic wand hanging from his waist.

“……”

When she thought about it, the Crown Prince quite liked magic, just as Court Lady had said.

He was a genius swordsman, but he certainly had an amazing talent for magic, and he wasn’t interested in blades other than the Hyegeom, but his eyes lit up when he saw magical tools…….

“Hey, you can’t go there. ‘Primus’ is a residential area, so you can’t just dig up the land.”

At that moment, she heard the voice of Djibril Diop, filled with annoyance.

Gain sighed from the bottom of her stomach and closed her eyes.

*Oh well, that’s how it is. What rest is there in my fate?*

“Ah, that’s right! That’s right, that’s right. Then… over there! How about over there, young master!”

“……That’s where we’ve already dug three times and even put up a sign. Can’t you see it?”

‘Haa…….’ The swallow also sighed as if the ground was sinking.

The knights carrying out his orders were all exhausted.

*Yeah, you and I are trying hard.* It was clear that everyone was getting tired.

If only we could get even one meaningful clue.

Then I’ll try my best to work hard somehow…….

“……That old woman doesn’t sleep.”

“Yes?”

“Even if I underestimate it, she looks over seventy, but she doesn’t close her eyes for more than three hours a day. What do you think?”

“……Just a moment, I heard that story in the square the day before yesterday.”

Thump! Gain raised her waist, stirring up sand dust.

The con artist ‘Anfeta,’ who was arguing with Diop not far away, was visible.

*Yeah, come to think of it, it was a strange thing.*

People often say that sleep decreases as they get older—the last adult to say that was Hanan the Emperor—but how can an ordinary person who can’t even use Aether [magical energy], let alone mana, be so energetic while sleeping only two or three hours a day……?

Even she, as a Cardinal, was running out of stamina after suffering in the underground labyrinth for nearly half a month. Gain’s eyes became as thin as needles.

“I just thought she was a crazy old woman who didn’t sleep? But it’s definitely strange. She seems to have more stamina than us? What is it?”

“……”

-Kkuu

Then Demi answered in a serious voice. Gain quickly looked down at the divine beast.

The little one’s black bead eyes were shining divinely today.

“Right? You think it’s suspicious too, Demi…….”

‘Aunt Chris.’

Halt.

‘That grandma looks like me.’

……Huh?

“……Wait a minute. Wait a minute……”

Gain, with a face full of disgust, dragged her knees across the sandy floor and stood up.

Cedric immediately resonated with her realization.

“What is it? Herrit Haynes?”

“Yes, Your Highness. Herrit told me something the other day, maybe—”

It was then.

-Kugugung……!

Suddenly, the earth shook greatly. Gain quickly regained her balance and glared east. And at the same time—

“Oh oh……!”

“It’s real, a real tree is coming this way! Over there!”

“Good heavens! I thought it was a mirage all this time!”

“Oh my god, Lord God! Call the manager! Knights too……!”

Confusion and screams erupted from the Primus area.

Rofi, who was sitting on Cedric’s lap, raised his head and tail with a sparkle. ‘Jiiiiiing—!’ As soon as Djibril unfolded a defensive magic formula at lightning speed, Gain ran towards the Prince and Herrit.

Fortunately, the two were not far from the work site and were always holding hands.

‘Chiik!’ The Cardinal, who stopped smoothly like a sled, quickly picked up Herrit and looked back at the Prince.

Even though she didn’t know what the situation was—

“Sir Christel.”

-Kugugugu……!

“I’ll take you to the accommodation right away, Your Highness. It could be a group of thieves mixed with magicians, or a group of magical beasts moving in search of water. Or it could be a rebellion in the Holy Nation. Anyway, I haven’t felt anything strange until just now—!”

“If you didn’t feel it, there won’t be any problems in the future.”

The man smiled, folding his eyelashes softly.

Gain momentarily lost her mind and gaped. *No, this isn’t the time for you to be like this……!*

“Your Highness!”

“The lovely Ark told me.”

-Gugugugugu……!

“……That it is coming.”

“Yes?!”

*I misheard!* Amidst the increasingly ominous vibrations, the Prince was alone with a relaxed expression.

No, to be exact, it’s not just him alone!?

-Bbibibibii!

-Padeukpadeuk!

The wren in Herrit’s pocket soared into the sky like a bullet.

It was so fast that a couple of small feathers fluttered belatedly.

In an instant, the sky darkened and a dark shadow fell over the three people’s heads. ‘Gogogogo……!’ Gain quickly grabbed the Prince’s wrist and prepared to run out of the village.

Deep breath, head power on.

To protect him and Herrit first, we must first reach the alchemist’s hut, use it as a shelter, and leave the front to the Crown Prince and the Swallow—

-Basrak!

-Little water droplet?

……Huh?

-Little spark? Thunder thunder?

“……Eing?”

“Ha?”

A familiar, all too familiar whisper of spring was heard.

Gain slowly raised her dazed eyes.

Cedric Liester was also standing there with a very stupid look on his face. No, but…….

-Saaaaaa……!

-Nice to meet you again in a place like this, nice to meet you!

“……Lord of Iran [a powerful nature spirit]?”

-Ojikkeun, Wajikkeun!

……I thought this person shouldn’t be here right now?

Gain stared up at the huge soul body that had sprung up from the ground and opened her jaw wide.

Around the spirit, fresh barley, wildflowers, and saplings poured down like blessings.

Her fatigue disappeared in an instant from her happy face, and all the hairs on her body stood on end.

Her head was dizzy as if she had been hit in the back of the head with a shovel that had been digging in the ground. Could it be underground…….

Did you hide underground, camouflage yourself with bushes, and move?!?

“Ah, Lord Rambouillet! Iseol, that’s Lord Rambouillet over there. My feeling was right!”

“……Crazy, Court Lady will jump and go crazy…….”

Besides, the babies sitting on those branches are Princess Cornelli and Iseol……?

Isn’t this a gathering of young ladies who shouldn’t be here even if the sky splits in two?

Did you get permission from His Majesty to come? Huh?

“……Oh my god, Amy.”

Just then, a groan-like murmur flowed from behind Gain.

She flinched and turned her gaze.

“How could you……”

Prince Yeseo Venetian was making a very extraordinary expression. Gain realized that he was so…….

“……Brother! Brother, brother—!”

She realized for the first time that he could make such a precarious face.

“Amy!”

-Warak!

“Waaaaa……!”

After a hundred nights had passed, the young princess finally met her brother.

It was spring after the war.

*

That evening.

“……The land……. So you’re saying you dug up the entire Giegolt Northern Territory? Am I understanding correctly?”

Lord Martier Zeelstra, who had escorted Cornelli and the spirit to this place, asked the group with a bewildered voice.

The bonfire crackled insipidly. Gain rubbed the tip of her nose and nodded.

Yep, that’s how it turned out, although there were no gains.