Surviving as the Second Main Lead: Second Lead's POV



Horas had not considered Jack’s warning as effective before but as soon as he had stepped into the room all alone, he felt eyes looking him up and down. They were judging his worth and calculating how much he would sell for

It was obvious that these people did not see Horas as anything more than an investment they could benefit from.

“Do not worry. You will get used to these eyes soon enough. I was put off by them when I first attended a party as well.”

Howard assured Horas as he walked past him. Howard looked like he was in his natural habit as he moved from table to table.

Those who knew him as a ‘Spencer’ were extremely friendly to him and his future self. They knew he was the successor of two great adventurers and Howard would be a great person as well.

“Pss, Horas. Come here and I will shield you for some time.”

Horas looked up with a sharp look in his eyes. The voice calling for him was familiar and he followed it without thinking much.

A familiar face came into Horas’s sight and he had a feeling he knew this person. But his brain was drawing up a blank when he tried to connect the face to a name.

“You forgot who I am again, right? Why does it always happen to you? I swear, you will forget your face if you are not able to see yourself for a few months.”

The man sighed and Horas tried his hardest not to laugh his words off. They sounded serious and this man also spoke as if he knew Horas very well. And there were not a lot of people who fitted the bill in Horas’s words.

“Horas, I am Lucas. Do you remember who I am now? I am sure you met Nesh recently so you should also remember who I am now.”

Lucas, ah yes. Now that Horas had a name, he could remember who this man was.

“Sorry for forgetting what you looked like Lucas. I was just under a little stress these past few months and it got to me suddenly. So, I heard that you went into research instead of being an adventurer. How is it turning out for you.”

Usually, Horas did not bother making small talk. He preferred silence over the sound of someone’s voice. But he decided to try this time for his elder friend.

He was curious to know what happened to Lucas now that he was out of the adventurer’s association. It would be worth it to know for future events and planning. And maybe, just maybe, Horas would be able to use him for his means.

“Ah, nothing much. We were not doing anything at first but then we got a weird case recently. I think you will be more aware of this than I am at the current moment. It is about the AD.”

It took Horas a minute to realize what ‘AD’ meant but once it registered, Horas was sure it referred to an Artificial Dungeon. So, the information had been passed on already.

“I know about that case. So, what do you think is causing this phenomenon to occur? Was your department able to find anything?”

As a fellow researcher, Horas was interested in this case. He wanted to know more about the case he was a part of. But it did not seem like Lucas could tell him more for the time being.

“I am sorry but it is classified information I cannot tell you about. Especially not outside of my lab and in a public setting. If you are interested, then why don’t you come and visit me in the labs soon?”

Lucas offered Horas a visit as well as his number. Horas took both and he knew he would be visiting the labs soon.

Once Lucas left Horas alone, it was time for the actual hyenas in the room to try and get him on their side. He was no longer a friend but a chess piece for the people surrounding him.

“Horas, I heard that you are an instructor at the Esper’s academy and the youngest one at that. It is nice to meet you today.”

“Ah, aren’t you the youngest person to enter and graduate from the Esper’s academy? I always wanted to meet you. How about joining my guild?”

“No way. I am the leader of one of the biggest guilds out there. The kid should join me.”

People were fighting over him and Horas felt uncomfortable. He never liked it when he was the center of attention but it was impossible for him to leave this circle of people now. He was surrounded by all sides.

‘If only I could use my powers and make them all backdown. Why is diplomacy such a difficult task?’

Horas asked himself as he was being squeezed by all sides. These people did not care about him and what he wanted, they just wanted to one-up the others around them. No one was paying attention to what Horas was doing.

And since that was the case, Horas decided to use these people and their lack of attention to get out of their circle. He slowly wiggled his way-out crowd and into a more secluded corner. And only then was he finally able to breathe.

‘Finally, some fucking peace and quiet. I felt like I was dying when those people were surrounding me.’

Horas finally took a sigh of relief and relaxed his body. He was alone in the corner and he liked it that was all alone-

“Hey, are you alright? It looks like you were overwhelmed by all the craziness you saw today. Do not mind it all since people are excited to see you.”

-he thought he was all alone in his corner. But it turned out not to be the case. There was someone else standing in the shadows of the corner and Horas had not noticed her before.

But now that he had, Horas had to wonder how he missed the vice-leader of the second most powerful guild in this world right now.

‘Fuck my life.’

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I'll be taking a break. See you next month.