What Happens When The Second Male Lead Powers Up [EN]: Chapter 884

The Sub-Male Lead Goes on Strike – Episode 884 (884/920)

Blessing (7)

So, our meeting with ‘that being’ was a complete coincidence.

「······Ouch!」

“······Ouch?”

I had been calling out the names of Gain and Cedric, wandering through interstellar space for an hour or two, when suddenly a tiny groan came from the floor.

It definitely wasn’t Sir Johann’s voice.

He was walking more than thirty steps away from me, and there was no way he would suddenly appear at my feet.

I widened my eyes and quickly looked down. What is it?

“······Huh?”

A little kid? No, this isn’t even little kid level.

I swallowed the sweet treat in my mouth, squeezed my eyes shut, and opened them again.

「Ugh······.」

“Oh my goodness······.”

······Thumbelina? Is that really a thing? Oh no, this is not the time for that.

“Are you alright? I’m so sorry. I didn’t see you.”

I hurriedly lowered myself and apologized politely.

The person was about the size of my thumb, wearing an ornate mitre [a type of ceremonial headdress worn by bishops] I had never seen before, and the outfit was also very fancy.

The face, pained from falling, looked very young.

Barely eighteen, nineteen? Just a child.

「······I’m fine. I’m alright, so you can go on your way.」

The girl answered, grumbling. Her tone was completely like an old man.

I gently offered my index finger so the unknown cleric could get up.

After all, this place was a space where countless character settings lingered, the ‘blank space’ of the world.

So maybe this person was also a fragment of someone······.

“I’m really glad you’re okay. Um, if you don’t mind, is there something I could ask you?”

「Hmm?」

Having thought that far, I quickly seized the opportunity before she left.

Even though she was a bit prickly, she was the first person I had met since entering interstellar space.

If I was lucky, I might get some valuable information.

“Have you perhaps seen a beauty with pink hair and blue eyes, or a handsome man with black hair nearby? The man has orange eyes, and he’s tall with broad shoulders, so he has an unforgettable impression once you meet him. A peerless beautiful man······.”

I trailed off, having explained enthusiastically. Wait a minute, come to think of it, this person······.

“······Cleric, there are purple patterns on your mitre and robes. I know that’s a color only His Holiness the Pope can use.”

「······Good heavens. I barely escaped, and now I’ve run into his comrade······.」

The girl cleric muttered, turning pale.

Only then did I narrow my brows and examine her more closely.

A face I feel like I’ve seen somewhere······? No, I still don’t know. But one thing is clear.

This person is wearing the Pope’s attire. If this young-looking person is the Pope, could it be······.

“You’ve captured a prisoner in the meantime, Your Highness.”

“Eek!”

I was startled by Sir Johann, who had approached without a sound! When did you get so close?

While I was in shock, the thumb-sized Pope started running in the opposite direction—

-Grab!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

「Uhhh!」

“Whoa!”

Sir Johann grabbed the child in one handful! To be exact, it’s not even one handful, it’s half of half a handful!

“This is perfect. I caught a prisoner over there too.”

「Let me go! Please let me go, I’m in a hurry!」

“You caught a prisoner?!”

「Please, I beg you, there are people I have to stop······!」

Then, the man smiled and showed what he was holding in his other hand.

I had an experience where my eyeballs almost popped out when I saw another fragment person.

My jaw dropped so wide that my lips felt parched.

Unlike the youthful Pope, this one was very quiet, and although he looked scared, he calmly placed his arms on Sir Johann’s finger.

For a moment, I couldn’t tell if this was a dream or reality. Eyes with a delicate, soft color contrasted with bright emerald hair······.

‘-Crackle!’

‘「Valerie, my······.」’

‘-Crack!’

······No way, it can’t be. He was an acquaintance of mine.

A person I haven’t forgotten for a single day since that day.

“······Mr. Nicolas Pomphily······?!”

「······Oh, Lord. How is it that you are still here, noble one?」

His eyes also widened greatly. The beautiful cleric clearly recognized me!

A shiver ran down my spine and my heart fluttered.

Eunseo, oh my god, it felt like witnessing a miracle before my eyes.

I didn’t even think about greeting him and hurriedly covered my mouth, looking up at Sir Johann.

Then the man tilted his head.

“You mentioned it once before······. It seems to be the person who was destroyed by the scythes of the three sisters.”

“Yes, at that time, he clearly shattered into pieces, spilling black ink······. He scattered into dust······. I thought he had disappeared completely, but how······.”

Really, how······! I couldn’t finish my sentence, but I revealed my beaming smile.

I’m so glad. I’m really glad. I thought I would never see you again!

Oh God, thank you so much to our readers!

I was so worried that this person would never meet Valerie the late Emperor again······!

「I am truly happy to meet you again like this. I was broken into thousands of pieces and scattered beyond interstellar space······.」

「Let me go! Please! If things continue like this, our family will commit a terrible act!」

-······Ooooo······

At that moment, there was a strange sound that echoed long through interstellar space. I blinked and raised my head.

The two fragments, who had been telling their own stories, quickly quieted down.

-Pooooooo······

“······.”

“······A horn sound?”

Far away, in a very distant place, the instrument of war was sounding.

Sir Johann’s eyes, who had also caught the same noise, darkened to green.

My heart fluttered for no reason, and suddenly I had a premonition.

I slowly turned around.

There was a name that instinctively flowed out from beyond my lips.

“······Cedric?”

*

A piece of sweet tart bourdaloue [a French pear tart] slid down Gain’s throat.

“······Oh, it’s delicious!”

「I’m glad. Soon Gain’s vessel will gain strength and recover.」

“Thank you. No, how is there such a tart in interstellar space······? You could open a restaurant here.”

「Ho ho ho.」

The pies and drinks that Christel took out of the picnic basket were all excellent in taste and had the miraculous ability to energize the group.

Not to mention Cedric Liestel, who seemed to have entered an awakened state, let alone a mana break, and Herrit, who had woken up a little while ago, was also happily cutting and eating the Royal with sparkling eyes.

The Duchess said that this was presumed to be a kind of ‘authority’ given to her.

She was the first being here from the beginning, so no one in interstellar space had ever attacked or tried to harass her.

That was truly fortunate. However, even Christel, called the ‘Duchess of the Remaining Stars,’ had someone she deeply feared.

「······Those three old women used to break nameless souls separately and together.」

“Ha······.”

I felt like I was losing my appetite. Herrit blinked and looked at Gain’s complexion.

「And one day, they would make them their subordinates and use them as they pleased······.」

“Star······.”

「They were always polite sisters to me, but I was always scared and difficult with them, so I was busy avoiding them.」

“······.”

No, I can’t swear in front of pure kids.

Gain forced a smile and crunched on the pears on the tart.

Then, she took a bite of the Royal that Herrit handed her and ate it deliciously.

Anyway, those old hags are turning people inside out even after death.

You crazy things, even our Princess Consort stabbed her heart with a scythe and chased her away······.

「They also exiled small fragments far away under the pretext of establishing order. Saying, ‘It is unnecessary in the sacred space.’ I used to hide a lot of these escapees in my basket······. I was always scared and nervous.」

‘My heart was pounding.’ Christel smiled slightly and placed her hands on her chest.

Gain looked at her and suddenly spoke a sentence that came to mind.

It was an unfiltered expression this time as well, but this time it was something she really wanted her to know.

“Then the Duchess is also a hero of these fragments.”

「······Ah······.」

The girl’s eyes widened like lanterns.

「But, but I’ve never held a sword in my life.」

“Even if you’re not a star that gains a name and shines brightly in history, even if you’re a remaining star wandering through interstellar space without fame, you’re protecting them so reliably. Even though you must be scared alone, you don’t run away somewhere.”

「······.」

A person with a strong soul. A bird with steel feathers.

“You must want to hide because you’re shy, but you don’t, and you take care of the people here. You treat even the smallest beings like dust with care······.”

「······.」

“Living as the last person to despair.”

Isabelle Rambouillet’s daughter.

“I call those people heroes. Maybe if I were Romero the late Emperor or another fragment, I would have followed you around. Because I want to rely on you so much.”

「······.」

“You are strong, Christel.”

「······.」

The Duchess didn’t know what to do, clasping her hands together at Gain’s compliment, and finally bowed her head deeply and nodded her chin.

Her reddened cheeks seemed to be clearly visible even in the black and white vision.

A happy smile was on her small lips.

Around that time, Cedric was checking his magical tools and luggage and preparing to get up.

Gain reached out her hand for the last time and carefully wrapped it around Christel’s hand.

“Um······.”

「······.」

“If it’s okay with you, I want to tell my mother about you.”

Then the Duchess slowly raised her head. Two gazes, the same but completely different, met.

Someday, Isabelle had brought up the story of Christel’s ‘funeral’ before anyone else.

She wanted to let her daughter, who was not coming back, rest in peace now. In case her beloved child’s soul was wandering in this world because of her regrets.

She didn’t want Gain to have a hard time taking care of Christel’s vacancy in the future.

Her reasons were various. But I swear, Gain wasn’t having a hard time at all.

On the contrary, the person who had the hardest time all along would be Isabelle, who had agonized for a long time before bringing up those words.

“······In a very distant place······.”

「······.」

“I want to tell you that you have become a hero. I’m proud of that.”

「······.」

Christel looked at Gain for a long time with trembling eyes.

Then she slowly moved her lips.

「······Thank you so much. I······.」

Tears run down her cheeks and run away.

「······Please tell her I love her.」

Then a bright smile, a beaming smile shining like a star, filled her young face.

Instead of answering, Gain quietly hugged her.

There was no warmth in the Duchess’s body, but the Cardinal was rather happy about it.

She had also had a cold for a long time, so she was happy to find similarities.

Christel also hugged Gain tightly and gave her a blessing. A dazzling ray of light began to flow between the hearts of the two people who were touching.

-Saaaa······!

“······Wait a minute, what is this?”

Gain asked in a stuffy voice, surprised. Christel smiled brightly and looked at her.

「It’s one of my ‘authorities’.」

“Yes? What other authority do you have······. You could just be a holy knight?”

「It’s not as great as your ether-like abilities, but it’s so good for hiding fragments and running away.」

-Saaaaaaaa······!

The rays of light became even more brilliant, and at some point, they began to grow rapidly, forming a round shape between the two.

The Duchess had a peaceful face, but the Cardinal couldn’t stay still for a moment, wondering if she should hold this with both hands.

Then Romero, who had been quietly emptying Christel’s teacup next to her, snorted.

-Paaaaaaa······!

「Indeed, the Duchess knows Cedric’s plan.」

“Yes?!”

Even in the bursting radiance, Gain raised her voice, doubting her ears.

That bastard has a plan? But I haven’t heard a single word so far!?

“Your Highness! What is it! Why didn’t you say anything to me!”

-Woooooong······!

Gain shouted loudly at the back of the Crown Prince, who had been standing tall since some time ago.

At that very moment—

-Welling!

The white void of interstellar space fluctuated greatly like a wave.

The holy knight’s blue eyeballs became as big as marbles. Just now······?

「Um, actually······. I can ‘fold’ the blank space of interstellar space a little.」

Christel confessed shyly. Gain’s mouth dropped open. Fold what?

「You said you were looking for someone precious.」

「I can take you to where you want to go.」

-Woooooooong······!

“Ugh!”

-Papapat······!

The sphere of light, which had already grown to the size of a watermelon, was no longer in the shape of a ‘sphere’.

Gain, who had narrowed her eyes, barely recognized the identity of those fluttering at an enormous speed.

At first, they looked like thin bundles of ribbons, and the next moment, they looked like long strips of paper······.

-Pooooooo!

“Crazy, you scared me!”

-Saaaaaaaa······!

The Cardinal, who had jumped up, hurriedly embraced the boy next to her.

Just now, it was a terrifying trumpet sound that could shake the entire interstellar space.

However, Herrit was looking up at the Crown Prince with curious eyes, not at all afraid.

Gain quickly checked the object he was blowing. That is······.

-Pooooooo······!

“Ivory trumpet······.”

······It was the magical tool trumpet that His Majesty the late King Alexandre had carved for his son during his lifetime.

The item that was in the jewelry box that David had given me.

I heard that something special would happen if you blew that······!

-Pooooooo······!

-Jiiiiing!

“Ouch!”

My ears are going to fall off!

The sound ran in circles everywhere, and continued to spread without hitting any walls.

Cedric was blowing the trumpet without wavering with his blood-dried body.

Gain saw the powerful mana waves of the Archmage spreading in all directions, sweeping the floor without gaps.

-Woooooo, Woooooo, Woooooo······!

“Wait a minute, could that be······!”

-Papapapa······!

Christel’s authority bursting out from below, the magic power swirling over their heads, the insane vortex of white and gray—in the midst of the frantically exploding feast of power, Gain suddenly sensed it. Ah······.

Maybe.

-Pooooooo!

“······Herrit! Look closely! See if he’s near Dad!”

“Yes! Yes!”

-Jiiing, Jiiiiing, Jiiiiing······!

-Papapat!

The two narrowed their eyes beyond the concerto of light, hugging each other and focusing all their senses on their vision. Looking out at the pure white interstellar space, they did not abandon hope even a little. In fact, no one in that place abandoned hope. The sound of the trumpet sweeping through the endless interstellar space, carrying all their hearts on the mana flowing along with the sound. ‘Wheee!’ Their hair fluttered madly, the fingertips of their hands holding each other turned white, and blood finally showed on their tightly bitten lips—

-······Sparkle!

“······.”

In a distant place, a golden lamp flickered.

-······Sparkle, sparkle!

Gain slowly blinked her eyes. She could hear Herrit’s heavy breathing.

-Sparkle, sparkle, sparkle!

She could clearly see that color.

“······.”

Maybe.

Really maybe.

-Saaaaaaaa······!

-Papapapa······!

-Tok!

And finally, when the Duchess’s fingertips, having recognized the coordinates, pointed to the center of the light of authority—

‘「It’s a piece I sewed onto a fragment of a noble a while ago, and I received it as a thank you.」’

-Wooo-lung!

It changed into the perfect shape of a bookmark,

Skipping through the pages according to the Duchess’s will and gestures.

“Crazy······?”

—Just like this.

-Pabababababat······!

“Uwaaaaaa!”

“Whoaaaa!”

-Hwiooooooot!

All the blank space surrounding them became slender vertically, and then bounced forward again!

-Ssaeeeeeeeeeng!

“Heoooook! Too fast, too fast, too fast, too fast!”

“Whoaaaa!”

“Where are we flying to, where are we flying to, where are we flying to, aaaaaaack!”

-Woooooooong—!

At the same time as Gain’s scream hit the highest note, the ‘folded’ blank space suddenly slammed on the brakes!

-Wooo-lung!

The space surrounding the group widened again, and the moment it slumped to the floor like a water balloon—

[Oh my god, Gain!]

“······.”

······An unbelievable call was heard.

Gain looked at the angel in front of her in a mess.

[Oh Lord! Cedric······!]

-Whack!

“Ah······.”

Brown, gold, purple······.

All the colors of the world.

All the warmth of the continent.

“Herrit!”

“Aah······. Aaaaa······! Dad—!”

That day, the child finally called out ‘Dad’ and hugged him.