The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 12

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 12

Chapter Title: Descent of Crimson Flame

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Goosebumps prickled all over her body. Nina scrambled out of bed. In that instant, her ankle throbbed with pain enough to bring tears to her eyes.

"What's wrong? What happened?"

Kiril's question was met with Nina's reply.

"I have a bad feeling that something huge is about to go down. Really huge. Where's my uniform?"

"Burned it. The spare clothes are under the bed."

Nina pulled a basket from under the bed. It was oversized and baggy, but now wasn't the time to be picky.

Kiril sighed as he watched her shed her patient gown and change into her uniform.

"Stop it. You just woke up from poisoning. Your body's in no shape, and if you go into battle like that, you'll be the first to die."

"I wouldn't if I had a choice, but this is too serious to ignore."

She donned a black longcoat and buckled her sword to her belt.

One boot on, the other wrapped in bandages, she headed out the door.

"Kiril, if people come, run. All the way to the main castle. Don't wait for me, no matter what."

The ominous atmosphere made Kiril frown.

"What? Why?"

"Just run, no questions!"

With that stubborn declaration, Nina broke into a run.

"Of all the times to get hurt. It hurts like hell, damn it!"

She yelped in pain but didn't slow down. If anything, her speed kept building.

Boom-!

The next moment, a ground-shaking roar filled the air, and purple lightning flooded her vision.

At the same time, a wind laced with poison blew fiercely.

'The barrier's broken?!'

Crackling sounds accompanied blue flames that didn't just spark—they devoured her coat.

Even the uniform's special treatment against Belak corruption couldn't withstand such potent poison.

Blown back by the wind, Nina grabbed a tree branch, spun once, and shed the coat.

Then she charged forward again.

'Damn, damn, damn.'

Muttering curses under her breath, Nina drew her sword.

By the time she reached the explosion's epicenter, the battle was already underway.

'Are they insane?'

Belaks swarmed like they were throwing a party.

And only the high-rank ones, at that.

Quickly scanning the survivors, Nina felt despair sink in.

The regular knights were all wiped out. Only two elites remained.

Jin and Vice-Captain Lui.

'Where's Adrian?'

There—behind Jin and Lui, Adrian lay collapsed. Without thinking, Nina shouted.

"Adrian!"

Jin responded to her cry.

"He's alive! That crazy priest bastard triggered an explosion with that thing and got him caught in it..."

"He's still breathing."

Lui added.

Thanks to the two holding off attacks, Adrian had survived.

Those near the barrier, near the blast, had been torn to shreds.

One side of the cubic building was completely gone, oozing a sticky liquid.

Belaks kept crawling out from within.

Worse, a massive pincer-like claw was forcing its way through the narrow barrier gap, threatening to collapse the rest.

"Nina! Watch out!"

Jin yelled.

A giant squid-like Belak lunged at her. Its countless legs were extremely long, each covered in steel-hard scales.

Clashing with her sword produced sparks with a clang.

The spirit pattern under her rolled-up sleeve blazed with light.

The blade froze bone-white in an instant, slicing through the massive leg like soft butter.

The severed end flash-froze white. Nina darted between Jin and Lui.

With dozens, hundreds of battles syncing their moves, coordination came naturally.

The fight grew manageable, but victory was nowhere in sight. Nina gritted her teeth.

'We can't win this.'

Even handling this giant squid Belak was overwhelming, and more were swarming.

Plus, only one side of the barrier was broken now—but if all collapsed?

Purple mist crept along the ground, spreading outward.

Humans wouldn't survive that, plain and simple.

'And I'm injured. Damn it, damn it all.'

Raising her sword high and shouting, a round barrier formed like freezing ice.

"Young Master!"

She stabbed her sword into the ground and knelt on one knee beside him. Even inside the barrier, Jin stayed vigilant, while Lui approached to check the wound.

Blood oozed stickily from Adrian's head.

As she stripped off his contaminated coat, Adrian regained consciousness.

His eyes fluttered open hazily. He jolted up, then staggered.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The barrier thudded under repeated blows. Nina spoke quickly.

"Leave this to me. You two escort the Young Master and retreat."

Short and to the point, but neither accepted.

Jin shot back, "Don't be ridiculous." Adrian just frowned.

Seeing the barrier crack, Nina pressed on.

"I'm the only one who can seal that hole and finish the monster. You're the only other spirit user here, Young Master, but I can't leave it to you."

"Why not."

Adrian reached out and gripped her arm.

"I'll do it."

"No, not in your condition. Besides, you're the Young Master. It has to be me."

Nina flashed a grin and stood, brushing off her knees.

"Jin, Vice-Captain. I'm counting on you."

Jin asked uneasily.

"What are you planning?"

He had a guess, but needed confirmation. To talk her out of it.

Nina shrugged.

"Gonna contract a new spirit."

Jin tightened his grip on his sword.

"If I die, I die with you. Not leaving you alone."

"I'm not telling you to run away. Protect the Young Master."

"Don't need to."

Adrian growled. He struggled to stand but dizziness kept him unsteady.

His vision blurred. Lui steadied the wobbling man.

"I'm not leaving you. If someone's gotta stay, it's me."

Panting, he wiped the flowing blood roughly and said.

Nina puffed her cheeks.

"You're impossible. But you have to go. Someone needs to report this. If the Young Master dies, what happens to knights who abandoned their captain and fled?"

Adrian bowed his head at her words.

Nina gave his chest a light push.

"Fulfill your duty."

Surviving was a duty. Living on was responsibility.

Adrian ground his teeth. He didn't want to move a step from here.

One mistake in judgment, and he'd lost everything.

But, but...

You too?

Even you?

No, I hate that.

I absolutely hate it.

Without you, I—

The words rose to his throat.

No one cares about my life. So at least with you, here.

"Captain."

Lui called to him.

Adrian looked at him with a twisted expression.

"Let's go."

At that moment, the barrier shattered. Nina kicked off the ground.

A squid leg pursued her. Dodging the strike, she began her long incantation.

The air hummed and trembled. Nina gripped her sword tight.

"Descend, Crimson Flame."