The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 109

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 109

Chapter Title: Isle of Sages

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Nina lowered her eyes slightly before lifting them again.

Her blessed forehead burned hot, as if branded.

"I'll be back."

"See you later."

He released her shoulder, and Nina ran off to Randell and Jack, who were waiting.

Randell glanced at Adrian before turning his gaze to Nina.

"Shall we go, then?"

"Let's go."

Randell took out Taruk and began chanting a short spell.

A sparkling, spinning door just like the one she'd seen before opened up.

Jack looked uneasy, so Nina went in first, followed by Jack.

Before Randell entered last, he said to Adrian,

"Thank you for allowing this."

"Not for you."

Randell grinned.

"Yes, of course."

It's mutual, isn't it?

He stepped through the door. It closed behind Randell.

Having crossed through the door, Randell took a deep breath.

The salty sea air wafted around them.

It was the scent of the place he remembered as home.

"Whoa, the sea!"

Nina's delighted voice rang out. The three of them stood amid rocky outcrops on a rugged, deserted beach.

Jack eyed the sharp rocks.

"Climbing those is gonna be rough."

"There's a cave further in. We go through there."

Jack nodded.

Better to listen to the locals in unfamiliar territory.

The three of them slipped side by side into a gap in the cave amid crashing waves and emerged into a wide cavern.

"Without magic, we'd be drowned rats right now."

Jack whistled. Nina agreed.

No, ordinary people would've been swept away by the waves and carried out to the distant ocean long before that.

"How'd you find a cave like this?"

"I liked watching the waves crash during storms."

"Dangerously."

Randell laughed at Nina's words.

"Yeah."

Nina looked at him and said,

"Even with the glasses on, you still had that Randell vibe somewhere."

"What's a 'Randell vibe'?"

"Someone who tries to take on the world—"

"Ah, Nina."

Randell rubbed his face as he spoke, and Nina burst out laughing. Her bright voice echoed cheerfully through the cave, making Jack wave his hand.

"Keep it down."

"Yes, sir."

Nina covered her mouth with both hands, then dropped them with a grin. Jack asked,

"So, where do we end up if we leave from here?"

"You'll come out on a hill above. Go down from there, and you'll hit the village."

"Heart's racing already."

Jack grinned.

"Doesn't your merchant group come to the Isle of Sages?"

"We drop off goods and go. The pearl divers are locals from the Isle."

Jack pulled an item from one of his packs and hid it carefully.

"What're you doing?"

In response to Nina, Jack said,

"If things go south and we have to run, remember there's emergency supplies here. First rally point is right here."

"Oh, got it."

Jack finished hiding the supplies and slung his pack back on.

"Alright, let's move."

The hill they climbed through rock crevices was covered in low grasses battered by harsh sea winds. The weather was perfect, and the sea sparkled sapphire blue.

Facing the gusting sea breeze, Nina tried to suppress her bubbling excitement.

But it showed in her steps and expression, so Jack chided her with a deflated look.

"You think we're on a picnic or something?"

"But the weather's so nice, and the scenery is beautiful."

Jack shook his head at Nina's excuse-like words.

"Don't worry. I'll handle business properly."

"If Lady Nina gets hurt on my watch, the master will have me demoted. Dear me."

"I won't get hurt. And even if I do, why demote you? If anyone's getting demoted, it should be me for letting you get hurt."

I'm the stronger one, after all.

Jack gave Nina an odd look before replying.

"You're the first person to say they'd protect me."

"Good for you. Life has its moments like this."

Jack unwittingly laughed at Nina's response, then cleared his throat.

"Anyway, in a crisis, follow my orders."

"Yes, understood."

Nina replied politely.

At that moment, having reached the top of the hill, the view opened up completely, revealing everything on the other side.

This side where she stood was one end of the island, with a path leading down to a village. And atop the opposite hill stood a stone castle.

Randell stopped.

He drew a deep breath, and Nina gently took his hand.

Randell turned to her with a faint smile and gripped her hand tightly in return.

"You okay?"

"Yeah. I'm fine."

Randell answered. His shining golden hair was turned ashen by magic, and his eyes were a deep gray. He turned to look at the castle and said,

"Then let's go see what things that can't come out in the sunlight are hiding in their mole hole."

"Hold on a sec."

Jack pulled a surveying tool from his pack, and Randell crossed his arms.

Nina couldn't help but laugh loudly.

"I've decided to respect Jack from now on."

Nina shook her head as she looked at the food bundles Jack had procured. Jack spat out an apple seed and said,

"Sounds like you didn't respect me before."

"No, the stuff Randell got just felt like casual acquaintance magic, you know? I tried chatting up locals too, but it was just polite friendliness."

Randell made a weary face as he replied.

"I never imagined we'd get all this for free."

"Closed societies are hard to crack from outside, but once you're in, it's easy."

Jack shrugged and began jotting down notes on paper about the places they'd seen today, compiling information.

He was quite meticulous about the people they'd met too.

The three of them were staying in an old house. They'd learned the previous occupant had left the Isle of Sages and abandoned it, so they'd moved in.

They'd roughly swept away dust and cobwebs, and Nina had used North Wind to blow the rest clean.

They hadn't used overt magic.

It was too easy to get caught by other mages, and if the locals sensed something 'off,' the spells would break.

Early summer evenings were chilly, so they lit a fire in the hearth.

The delicious aroma of Randell toasting bread Jack had gotten and frying eggs wafted through the air.

Nina leaned against the outer stone wall, eyes closed, inhaling the scent.

The yellow firelight shining through the broken window looked warm, and the cooking smells felt comforting.

Ah, takes me back.

That feeling of running home after playing all day. As sunset faded and everything sank into twilight.

Running along the field ridges, following long shadows. She was always proud of the long twin braids visible in those shadows.

Smoke rising from chimneys in every house at that hour.

Calling "Sis!!" and being swept up laughing into her sister's skirt folds, that sisterly scent.

Ugh, I miss Adrian.

Want to go cling to him, throw a tantrum.

Nina opened her eyes, thinking that. She could indulge in tantrums plenty later.

Lights were on in every house, voices carrying.

North Wind swept through the entire village. Nina felt it caressing everything, as if she herself had become that wind.

"Nina, dinner."

Randell leaned out from inside, calling, and Nina opened her eyes.

"Ah, yeah."

"Nina?"

"Yeah?"

"What's wrong? You okay?"

Randell waved a hand in front of her face. Her dreamy, hazy brown eyes now focused on him clearly.

"No, just taking in the surroundings. Let's go in. Smells amazing!"

Nina went inside, sat down, and took the plate Randell handed her. Jack was already neatly eating his toast topped with egg.

"Population's smaller than expected. Around 176 in this nearby village? No kids at all. Aren't they short on people from outside?"

Jack's mouth fell open.

"How'd you know that?"

"I roughly counted the breathing people with North Wind."