The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 114

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 114

Chapter Title: The Seed Crystal

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He understood, but even he couldn't define what to call it.

The only one in the world.

Special.

Precious.

Cherished like a treasure.

"Randell."

He turned his gaze to see Nina pointing at the ground. She wanted to be let down.

He frowned and set her down as he said,

"The rocks here are sharp."

"I know, but I can walk. It won't hurt."

"Then let me take off my shoes for you."

"No need."

Watching her pristine bare feet stride fearlessly across the rugged wasteland, Randell gazed at her back.

The strength he loved, her will to press forward, the courage that feared no obstacles.

I'll never forget this day, this sight of you walking barefoot over the rocky ground.

He caught up to her and walked alongside as he said,

"There was something about Taruk in the notebook too."

"What was it?"

Nina asked carefully, stepping over sharp stones onto smoother ones.

"The seed crystal."

"Huh?"

Nina looked up in surprise.

"Ow."

"See? What did I tell you."

"Eek."

Nina checked her sole. There was a mark, but no injury.

"Should I freeze the path?"

"You'd get frostbite."

"I have a contract with the Frost spirit. Oh, Jack!!"

She waved her hand, and a finger-sized person in the distance waved back. Randell narrowed his eyes.

"You spotted him quick."

"At this distance, of course. Randell, is your eyesight going?"

Randell squinted.

Jack strode over and gaped at Nina.

"What happened? Why are you soaked through? Did the mage drop you in the sea?"

"She jumped in herself."

Randell answered curtly.

Jack frowned at Nina, then at Randell, before saying,

"You threw the notebook in the sea?"

"......"

Randell whipped his head away, and Nina burst out laughing. Jack clicked his tongue at her bare feet.

"Wearing leather shoes into saltwater? You don't know the value of things."

"Sorry......"

She had nothing to say to that. Jack looked at her like a drowned rat, pitiful, then took off his own shoes.

"It's fine—no, why are you wearing shoes inside your shoes?"

"To avoid being tracked by footprints."

Nina put on the shoes Jack handed her, exasperated. They were loose, but had ankles, so they didn't slip off easily.

Nina asked,

"Randell, what were you saying earlier? Seed crystal?"

"Remember the Tree of Origin?"

"Oh, the tree from Yara?"

"Its fruit seed was Taruk. How did I not realize? I even said Taruk means 'origin'...... It was literally the Taruk Tree. The name was too obvious, so I missed it."

"The seed is a crystal?"

"Yeah, it didn't look like a normal seed. I thought it was some mineral lump. But—"

"Randell."

Ignoring Nina's call, Randell muttered to himself.

"Should I take a branch and propagate it? Would it grow?"

"We have the seed crystal too."

"......!!"

Randell's eyes went wide. He stared at Nina intently before saying,

"I... didn't even... think......"

His expression changed in an instant.

"Let's go back."

"Huh?"

"Let's go back. We've learned everything we need, so let's return, check if the seed crystal can substitute for Taruk, then come back."

Nina and Jack exchanged glances at his urgency and shrugged.

The three hurried down the hill, stopped at their lodgings to grab their things, and headed out.

The moment they tried to leave the village quickly.

Boom—!!

Everyone whipped around at the explosion. The three let out dumbfounded noises in unison.

This was the Isle of Sages, Blue Stone Island. A place never invaded by Belak before.

Until now.

"My god."

"Am I seeing this right?"

"Looks A-rank? Why'd it show up out of nowhere?"

A rooster's body with reptilian wings and a long serpentine tail.

The massive creature clung to the Blue Stone Castle walls, ripping out stones with its forepaws and smashing them.

It hurled the stones like catapult boulders, causing the earlier boom.

Stones rained into the village below, throwing the lower village into chaos.

The damaged walls began to crumble.

At the same time, Randell clearly saw the barrier enveloping the castle distort.

"Kweeeek!!"

Its cry echoed deafeningly. Nina muttered,

"Not a rooster, huh?"

"Let's hurry."

Jack grabbed her arm, but Nina ran a few steps and stopped.

"Randell, you okay?"

Randell stared at the castle, fists clenched, face pale.

"Kyaaak!"

"It's a Belak!"

"Monster!"

"Help!!"

Screams rose from below. Nina felt chills down her spine and drew her dagger.

"Looks like it brought its attendants."

High-grade Belak often summoned lower ones.

As she began attaching the dagger to her staff, Jack yanked her shoulder roughly.

"Are you insane? Fighting here will expose us. What do you think happens if they find out you snuck onto the Isle of Sages?"

"But—"

"No buts. With rumors of corrupted spirits colluding with the ducal family, and now the ducal knight captain hiding here while a top-grade Belak appears? You know better than anyone how the story would twist."

Nina bit her lip and looked at Randell. He met her gaze.

Nina closed her eyes and took a deep breath in and out, memories flooding back.

Her hometown.

Her sister hugging her gently, the embankment she ran to at dusk, the forest she walked with her brother.

The low house of wood.

The barley fields swaying in the wind.

All gone now.

Burned away, trampled by Belak, surviving only in her memories.

That feeling of hearing her sister's screams from the crate.

That sensation.

Losing everything, it all spilling onto the floor—

Nina opened her eyes.

I can stop it. Do I have to let it happen?

She quickly reattached the dagger to the staff and said,

"Leave the top-grade Belak to the Sages. They can handle it. Jack, evacuate the people. I'll block the lower Belak."

"Nina!"

Jack hissed through gritted teeth, annoyed.

"Nina......"

Randell's voice was feeble by contrast. Nina smiled brightly.

"I have a plan. You mentioned invisibility magic? Cast it."

Jack's face lit up with an "Oh," and Randell's expression brightened. Jack rubbed his chin.

"Then cast that affinity charm on me. It'll help with evacuation."

Quick change of direction, so like him. Jack turned to Nina and said,

"No credit for this. You'll owe me later."

"Put it on my tab."

Nina shrugged, and Jack grinned, saying, 'If it's owing Nina a favor, not bad.'

Randell cast spells on them both, and Nina summoned North Wind as she charged out.

Bodies of the fallen already littered the ground, along with families' wails.

Belak always targeted the weak first—children died quickest.

Each swing of Nina's spear felled a lower Belak.

Frog-like things the size of forearms shot tongues like spears to impale and devour people.

"Gross, frogs. So ugly. Eugh—"

These Belak were designed as the most repulsive frog form.

Nina's spear sliced through them like a hot knife through butter.

She dispatched the lower Belak effortlessly. Jack shouted, directing people to boats.

Thankfully, the frog Belak didn't swim into the sea.

"Good, now!"

Nina pushed with force. North Wind drove the lower Belak back, widening the gap between them and the people.