Treat the Second Male Lead Like a Stone

Chapter 120

Peril wore an expression like he had a pile of words stacked up inside. But he couldn't bring himself to spit them out, instead glaring at me fiercely.

“Please stop looking at me so intimidatingly….”

He wasn’t even this bad when we first met!

“So you do realize it's scary.”

Peril sulked.

“Yet, knowing that, you dare to act this way towards me?”

“I—I’m just desperately trying to survive. Getting kicked out of here scares me even more.”

“...Ha.”

Fortunately, he didn't press further.

Instead, he stood with arms crossed in a sullen stance. It was amusing because it didn’t fit the image of the great Tower Master at all.

Unable to help myself, I laughed a little, causing Peril’s eyes to sharpen instantly.

“You’re laughing?”

No sooner had he spoken than my expression returned to seriousness.

“No.”

“Ah, I feel like you’ve cut my lifespan in half.”

He sighed heavily, pressing a hand to his forehead.

Considering Peril’s objective was death, shouldn’t this actually be good for him?

Such thoughts briefly crossed my mind, but I barely swallowed them back.

“If you knew how shocked I was, you wouldn’t have dared behave like this.”

“I—I’m sorry….”

His gaze, which had been fixed on me, shifted toward the direction where Onyx had disappeared. I glanced in the same direction, then waved my hand in front of Peril’s eyes.

“I’m right here, you know.”

“…….”

“Or perhaps you're looking for something?”

Peril immediately denied my suggestion.

“Do you really think there's anything in the Empire I can't find?”

“Well, no. It's just that you had the look I get when I crave something sweet.”

“Stop talking nonsense and just go back already.”

He reprimanded me with a dumbfounded look, but the feelings he couldn’t hide were clearly visible.

“Hmm, if you're here for the same reason I am, you're looking for the holy relic, aren't you?”

Though his intentions had already been exposed, he stayed silent, perhaps hoping I'd quickly leave the temple.

Eventually, I was the one who broke the silence first.

“Are you really going to deny it now?”

“...Why ask when you already know the answer?”

“Because you clearly don’t intend to be honest with me.”

I let out a small sigh.

“You said you couldn't stop me by force, so now you've decided to stay quiet instead?”

“This is for your own good. I've told you already, the reason I agreed to help him was…!”

I knew exactly why Peril was trying to send me away.

But what good would that do?

“I never asked for your protection. And I hate even more just staying safely tucked away somewhere.”

“……!”

“If that were my wish, I wouldn’t have recklessly proposed a deal the first time we met.”

I lightly tapped my foot against the ground as I spoke.

“You know what I'm like.”

At my words, Peril twisted his lips as if hearing something unpleasant.

However, shortly after, he seemed to accept that he couldn't stop me, releasing a deep sigh.

“...If you went to Cardiff, you'd undeniably be in a better position than me.”

At his next words, I tilted my head.

It’s fortunate he feels that way, but….

“Is magic unusable inside the temple?”

“No. It’s usable.”

“…Then?”

Why is he saying my situation is better?

“Have you visited the tower on the west side of the temple?”

“No.”

His words were vague, but it wasn’t difficult to understand what place he was referring to.

‘The place where His Holiness stays.’

That was probably it.

“It’s a place my magic can’t reach.”

“…….”

“I’ve already checked everywhere else, so that's the only spot left.”

In other words, don’t waste time, just go straight to the western tower.

“I don’t even know if what they’re talking about is actually the holy relic.”

I unknowingly paused at his words.

Regret quickly flooded Peril's face, but he stubbornly added another remark.

“I’m going to find it first.”

“No one's saying you can’t…?”

“Just wait. I'm going to be the one to obtain it.”

“Wow, that's really childish.”

Peril let out a hollow laugh, as if doubting his ears.

“Did I just hear that wrong?”

“No, you heard correctly.”

“Hah, that's the first time anyone’s dared to say that to me.”

Of course. Who else would dare say such a thing to the Tower Master?

“You’re getting quite confident. Then, should we make a bet?”

“What?”

Peril lightly shrugged his shoulders.

“Let’s see who finds the holy relic first.”

“…What do you plan to wager?”

I felt strangely uneasy.

“Hmm, let’s see.”

He chuckled softly, tilting his head.

“If I win, how about you back out of this matter?”

“Wait, wasn't that already settled?”

“According to whom?”

“Oh my gosh, not only childish but petty too!”

Peril laughed pleasantly at my words, lifting his chin slightly.

“If you win, I'll gladly acknowledge your claim.”

“That's already true, so what changes if you admit it?”

“It can't be helped. Didn’t I promise to help the Duke for your safety?”

“…….”

“Isn't this better than retracting that promise?”

I wished he'd say it was just a joke, but Peril was serious.

It felt unfair.

And what made it worse was that his reasoning wasn't exactly wrong.

In the end, I reluctantly accepted the bet.

“May the God of Victory be with you.”

Peril arrogantly greeted me, clearly believing there was no chance I'd win.

‘Ridiculous, seriously.’

Wasn't Peril the one at a disadvantage right now?

“The God of Victory is always on my side.”

“Oh, really?”

“I’m very confident.”

“We’ll see about that soon enough.”

Peril flashed me a bright smile.

* * *

‘Two days left….’

I stuck close to Onyx all day, trying somehow to get close to the western tower, but he never once mentioned the holy relic.

〈I heard from my brother that you have a schedule in Drimokan?〉

〈Haha, yes, that's right.〉

〈Then, about that...〉

〈It has nothing to do with our research. You can rest comfortably that day, Lady Roygin, and focus on your studies!〉

Onyx casually brushed the topic aside, smiling each time.

After several similar conversations, I couldn't press any further.

If I aroused suspicion, he'd surely kick me out, especially since he'd already been so accommodating.

‘…Was the relic they’re talking about even Idette to begin with?’

What if my assumption was wrong?

Then finding Idette, whose whereabouts were unknown, would be the top priority.

I was deep in thought, frowning slightly, when I heard the door opening behind me and got up from my seat.

“Oh, Big Sis, there you are!”

Penny ran over to me quickly.

“Why aren’t you sleeping yet?”

“I couldn’t sleep.”

“My uncle said that to get taller you have to sleep early….”

Penny tilted her head, looking at my height thoughtfully.

“Maybe that's why.”

“…Penny.”

“I’m just joking!”

She hurriedly took back her words and perched herself on a chair.

“By the way, Big Sis, aren't you going to the Lantern Ceremony? The aunts said they’re going!”

“Wasn’t it canceled?”

“See? You really can't manage without me!”

Penny scurried back over to me.

“It was canceled everywhere else, like the capital and other regions, but they're still holding it in Tyrannian.”

The Lantern Ceremony was an event held in preparation for the coming winter. For ancient people, winter was a fearful time since farming was nearly impossible.

“…They're holding it in Tyrannian?”

“Yes, yes!”

I let out a brief sigh.

Eileens, forgotten unlike in the original novel. Her choices in the past had changed many things.

However, among those changes, a few events remained the same.

‘The incidents where Idette nearly lost her life.’

The first incident occurred at the lake in the Imperial Palace. The second happened at the masquerade ball.

The last accident was originally scheduled to happen during the Lantern Ceremony.

The cause and results had changed from the original, but the fact that an incident involving Idette occurred remained unchanged.

Wouldn't the last accident be the same as well?

I quickly recalled the details from the original novel and hastily checked the date of the Lantern Ceremony.

“Penny.”

“Yes?”

“You really are the best.”

At my words, Penny blinked blankly at first, then broke into a bashful smile.