Adopting the Male Protagonist Changed the Genre - Chapter 248

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 248

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The war ended as suddenly as it had begun.

Cries of victory and tears covered the land where so many people’s blood had flowed.

Even while listening to those cheers that sent chills through my entire body, I could hardly feel any sense of reality.

Was everything really over now? Truly?

Throughout the journey back to Baluashten Castle with my back to the battlefield, it felt like I was walking on clouds rather than solid ground.

Despite the commotion all around, my ears felt muffled as if I had climbed a high mountain, making it difficult to hear the sounds around me.

With my mind elsewhere, I celebrated victory with the Northern lords, was dragged to the war’s end meeting, and had just stepped out onto the balcony for a moment to catch my breath.

“My lady, are you alright?”

The cold touch on my forehead snapped me back to attention.

“You seem to have a slight fever.”

Cheri was looking at me with a worried expression, placing his hand on my forehead to check my temperature.

“Ah…”

Looking around with a dazed expression, I realized night had already fallen deep.

The war council room, where we had been discussing subsequent issues like transporting the wounded, protecting the Barrier Forest, and urgently convening the Five Nations Conference, had somehow transformed into a giant liquor barrel.

As if tomorrow would never come, the Northern lords were pouring strong whiskey and vodka down their throats.

It wasn’t just them who were intoxicated by the atmosphere of victory. The knights and soldiers participating in the hastily prepared victory banquet in the castle’s front yard below the balcony were in a similar state.

I could easily spot familiar faces among them.

Starting with Chaser, who had safely recovered his magical power and was being interrogated about food by the Magic Tower elders, Penandel who had steadfastly protected the center, Terry and Vivian who had come north with Mikhail, and even Hound.

Finally, after confirming Leo bursting into laughter while being tossed in the air by drunken knights, I finally felt my feet touch the ground.

Really, everything was over.

I pulled Cheri’s hand from my forehead to my flushed cheek and smiled.

“I think the alcohol is getting to me a bit. Even though it’s a Northern tradition, using such strong liquor as celebratory drinks. Everyone’s stomachs are remarkably intact.”

Even at my casual murmur, Cheri didn’t smile and just quietly looked down at me.

I suddenly realized that his hand cupping my cheek was no longer cold. As if I had suddenly developed a fever, Cheri’s gaze upon me was burning hot.

The curtain separating the balcony from the war council room was thin since it was for summer, but it was enough to shield us from people’s gazes.

Perhaps emboldened by this, Cheri opened his mouth as if he had made some decision.

“The war is over.”

“Mm-hmm.”

“So as promised…”

Just as I swallowed nervously at what would follow.

The curtain was suddenly pulled back and Mikhail burst in.

“Ha, I barely survived the battlefield only to nearly drown in a liquor barrel…”

He who had stepped boldly into the balcony stopped short upon discovering us.

Then, as if sensing something, he stepped back and naturally continued his words.

“…that wouldn’t be so bad either. It’s celebratory liquor after all. Continue what you were doing.”

“…It’s already ruined, so please come in.”

“Then excuse me. Just know it wasn’t intentional.”

Mikhail entered with a cough, naturally moving to stand on my right before stopping and positioning himself a few steps away from me. As if he had seen something terrifying.

I glanced at Cheri, but he was just looking down at me with a satisfied expression.

Perhaps he was being mindful of the gazes from the people below the balcony.

Thinking nothing of it, I spoke as usual.

“When we return to the Royal Capital, I’ll immediately begin preparations to attend Your Majesty’s coronation.”

“Yes, I look forward to the Marquess’s coronation gift.”

Though our exchange was light, the emotions contained within weren’t entirely pleasant.

Shadows fell across Mikhail’s expression as he looked down at the front yard where the banquet was in full swing.

When asked how he could defy the royal command and come north, he had answered like a very bad joke that he had dethroned his father.

Though Mikhail couldn’t respect his father, he loved him dearly.

I couldn’t even imagine what feelings the son who had lamented that his father didn’t have much time left and only wished for his twilight years to be peaceful, must have had when deposing the king.

After hesitating briefly, Mikhail’s words stopped me as I was about to offer comfort.

“The Marquess said before that things were different from childhood now.”

He seemed to be referring to the conversation we had before my succession ceremony.

That conversation must have been quite impressive, as Mikhail smiled and looked back at me.

“Thanks to those words of yours, I was able to keep moving forward, Belinda.”

“…Please don’t say that anywhere else. It sounds like I’m to blame for your rebellion.”

Our topic soon turned to how Mikhail had been able to lead his army to the North so quickly.

Mikhail’s answer was simple but revolutionary.

“I used dungeons.”

“Dungeons?”

“Yes. Dungeons whose entrances are close to the Royal Capital but exits are near the North, with relatively low clearing difficulty. By going through several such dungeons, we could dramatically reduce the army’s travel time. Of course, communication magic tools don’t work inside dungeons, so I couldn’t contact you, Belinda.”

It was the moment the truth behind why contact with Terry had suddenly been cut off was revealed.

“Just finding dungeons that met those conditions must have taken a long time. When did you start investigating?”

“From when you and the Duke went missing.”

I couldn’t hide my surprise.

It was a plan that had started much earlier than I had expected. So it was as if… he had read the future.

Cheri, who had been quietly listening to our conversation, asked.

“Was it perhaps the High Priest’s suggestion?”

“…Yes.”

Heavy silence flowed between us.

At one time, I thought Giuseppe had been swayed by Ophelia’s persuasion and betrayed humanity to protect what he held dear.

But when the meteor shower fell, I could no longer guess his intentions.

And the only person who could resolve our questions was in a state where he couldn’t recover easily.

That was precisely why Cardinal Lionel was absent from that banquet.

She who had faced Giuseppe on the battlefield had been staying by Giuseppe’s side ever since the war ended, but no good news had been forthcoming.

But as if sensing our worries, a Paladin visited the war council room.

The Paladin who came straight to the terrace, passing by the completely drunk Northern lords, got straight to the point with an urgent expression.

“Cardinal Lionel is looking for you.”

Cardinal Lionel?

Perhaps it was news that Giuseppe had recovered. Just as Mikhail moved first.

The Paladin stopped Mikhail’s steps with a troubled expression.

“I’m sorry, but she said to bring only Marquess Blanche.”

“Me?”

Everyone’s gaze turned to me, but I was the most puzzled by this situation.

However, since the Paladin’s attitude seemed so desperate, I moved without asking for reasons first.

I hurried to the room where the High Priest was staying. I could see Cardinal Lionel guarding the door ahead.

“Your Eminence, the High Priest is…”

I stopped short while trying to ask about Giuseppe’s condition.

The eyes of Cardinal Lionel, who always maintained a face so cold that not even a needle could penetrate, were red. That was answer enough.

She turned to me weakly, gave a light bow, and spoke.

“Thank you for coming. Giuseppe says he has something to tell you. May I ask you to visit him?”

“Of course. I happened to have something to ask him too.”

Cardinal Lionel blocked me as I was about to enter the room immediately.

“I’m sorry, but there’s a visitor ahead of you. Please wait until that person comes out.”

“Very well.”

Waiting for the prior visitor to finish, I stood side by side with Lionel in the corridor. Unable to bear it, I asked.

“How is the High Priest’s condition?”

“Giuseppe won’t make it through tonight.”

“Are the injuries that serious? If divine power can’t heal them, then with the ‘Spring Water of All Things’…”

Before I could finish speaking, Lionel shook her head.

“No. Nothing can heal it. This is the price for drawing out the sacred relic’s power.”

The word ‘price’ struck my chest heavily.

Cardinal Lionel’s voice that followed was as rough as desert sand.

“The Comet’s Lance has a powerful divine attack sealed within it. Two things are required to use it.”

It was when she continued speaking after hesitating for a moment.

“First, half of the divine power possessed by the sacred relic’s owner. And the life of the sacred relic’s owner is exactly that.”

A system window appeared before my eyes.

‘Giuseppe Aria Sernandel’ transfers divine power to ‘Leo Blanche’.

I straightened my body as if pricked by a needle.

I couldn’t immediately understand the contents of the system window. Giuseppe transferring his divine power to Leo.

Soon realizing the situation, I turned to look at Cardinal Lionel.

“Don’t tell me… the passenger you mentioned was Leo?”

“Yes.”

As soon as her answer fell, system windows appeared one after another.

Hero’s Star’s divine power has increased by +499.

Hero’s Star’s divine power has reached its limit.

Congratulations. A new route for Hero’s Star has been pioneered.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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