The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 116

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 116

Chapter Title: The Exquisite New Sword

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In the past, preparations for heading to the capital would have been a chaotic bustle, but now the well-trained servants showed no sign of such commotion.

They were so disciplined that even if Nina walked into the dining hall carrying a toad, they would politely hold out a silver tray and ask, "Would you like to move the little guest over here?"

Not that it actually happened, of course. It was just a figure of speech.

'To actually meet Fiona.'

The thought of it made her feel strange. Her heart fluttered with a mix of giddiness and excitement.

Was it because they were meeting sooner than expected?

'Dream.'

She recalled a line Adrian had sneered in her dream.

-He's probably bawling his eyes out in the Saintess's arms.

'Was that laced with jealousy?'

Nina tilted her head.

She had felt some of her own emotions back then, but she didn't seem to have thought much of it.

A sense of it being natural?

'Then maybe after Randell and Fiona started dating?'

After Adrian got dumped?

'What the hell is this dream, anyway.'

Nina let out a deep sigh. Just then, a stealthy presence approached her.

A cautious, hamster-like footstep.

"Shallo."

Nina turned to see Shallo smiling brightly and saluting.

"Captain."

"Preparations done?"

"Yes, we can depart at any time."

Shallo had become the leader of the elites. She had a broad field of vision overall and knew how to read people.

Her shortcomings were covered by her peers Kel and Raja, forming a stable system for the current elites.

'Gathered nothing but the most eccentric bunch...'

To join the elites, one had to be obsessed with the sword. People mad about one thing weren't the type to live quietly in a group.

Of course, none of them would dare defy their captain.

Knights obeyed when properly whipped into shape.

That was one of Nina's creeds.

"Good work."

Nina pretended to glance around casually and patted Shallo's head.

Shallo accepted the touch with a beaming smile.

"Then I'll take my leave."

Nina waved her hand in permission, and Shallo backed away a few steps before turning around.

Her light footsteps suggested she'd come specifically for the head pat.

Nina spotted Kel and Raja peeking from over there but pretended not to notice.

If they wanted one, they'd come themselves, right?

With departure tomorrow, Nina headed to her room for a final check of her belongings. The servants had handled most of it, but she needed to oversee certain parts personally.

A servant was waiting at the entrance to her room, holding a long box that was unmistakably a sword case.

"Where's the smith?"

"The master smith is busy and sent the sword through me."

Huh.

Rare for him.

Poco usually delivered the swords he personally hammered himself.

Though it wasn't as if he owed her that much...

"Thanks. You're dismissed."

Nina took the box and spoke. The servant bowed politely and withdrew.

As soon as she entered the room, she haphazardly shed her clothes and placed the box on the desk.

With careful hands, Nina untied the leather straps around the box, opened the lid, and peeled back the smooth cloth inside.

"Oh my."

Nina let out an involuntary gasp.

The pitch-black scabbard was patterned like scales, resembling one made from a black dragon's hide. It gleamed steel-gray in the light.

The guard and hilt were black as well.

The simply and smoothly finished hilt's pommel sparkled like obsidian.

Taking a deep breath, Nina drew the sword.

From the jet-black scabbard emerged a dazzling silver blade. It scattered rainbow hues like a diamond in sunlight, shimmering like the surface of Silver Lake under light.

Nina swallowed.

It was hard to believe it was steel. If this was steel, she could claim diamonds were steel too.

"It's truly beautiful."

It was so pretty it seemed a shame to use it as a weapon, but a sword was a tool for cutting.

Not for decoration.

Nina checked the edge and summoned a spirit.

The blade instantly turned gold, then silver again.

"Hya!"

Nina swung it at the candlestick.

There was almost no sensation of cutting.

Approaching the intact candlestick, she blew on it gently, and the diagonally severed section slid off a beat later.

Stunned at how effortlessly the silver candlestick was sliced, Nina glanced around in panic.

'Shouldn't have swung at the candlestick. This thing's expensive.'

It cut just like that without any real force?

"Dangerous. For real."

Nina carefully sheathed the sword. One wrong move while drawing, and she might lose a finger.

'And how do I maintain it?'

To sharpen this famed steel, she'd need an extraordinary whetstone.

Swords needed daily care.

'Guess I should ask Poco.'

Nina swapped the scabbard to her waist and left the room. Poco's forge was built separately from the mansion.

Not entirely detached—it was a quaint stone cottage in one corner of the garden.

No one knew how much hair Mimina had torn out designing it.

It looked like rustic garden decor from outside, but inside was a fully equipped workshop.

When the master smith Poco crafted personally, it was quality over quantity. No need for clutter since he took his time on each piece.

Nina knocked on the door, seeing smoke rising from the chimney.

"Poco? You in?"

"Can't leave the fire right now—come in!"

Poco shouted. Nina opened the door and entered. The heat from the bellows-fired furnace filled the space.

Nina wrapped North Wind only around herself. Last time she'd done it for Poco too, she'd gotten an earful.

She needed to feel the fire's temperature with her skin.

Gazing at the fiercely glowing famed steel that hurt the eyes, Poco carefully poured it into the mold.

'Ah, Sir Lui's fountain pen nib. That's why he couldn't come.'

Poco's famed steel nibs were used by everyone in the Rubaenu Ducal Family, but Sir Lui's stood out at a glance.

The nib was slimmer to suit his handwriting style, engraved with intricate, beautiful floral patterns varying by season.

After meticulously pouring the last drop into the mold, it fit perfectly.

Checking it thoroughly to the end, Poco looked up.

"You can cool it now."

Nina smiled and reached out, and Poco patted her flushed cheeks with the cool breeze before gulping down water with a happy face.

Wiping sweat roughly with a towel, Poco asked,

"Problem with the sword?"

"No, it's too beautiful. But how do I maintain it? Can I use the same whetstone as regular famed steel?"

"No, you don't need to."

"Huh?"

"You don't need to. The oil won't gum up, blood won't stick, and the edge won't dull. Once a year—no, half a year for you, Lady Nina. Just leave it with me then."

"Really? No maintenance needed?"

"Yes."

"Wow."

So convenient!

"Can you show me?"

At Poco's request, Nina gladly drew and presented the sword.

A golden core glowed within the transparent blade, and the engraved Frost runes boasted delicacy no human could achieve.

"Beautiful as ever."

Poco sighed.

"Thank you, Poco."

"No trouble at all. I'm thrilled to be the continent's top exclusive swordsmith."

Poco smiled.

Nina chatted with Poco until the nib had cooled enough, then left as she began grinding and engraving it.

The characteristically long summer evening,

Breathing deeply the evening air and the bluish sky tinged with encroaching dusk, Nina smiled.

Finally, she would meet Fiona.