The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 15

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 15

Chapter Title: Reunion After Two Years

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It was a pitch-black night.

"Huh? Wow? Really?"

Letting out a sigh, Nina shouted and hopped around in excitement. Mid-jump, she gasped again.

"Ah, my body feels incredibly light. Amazing."

She tried a backflip in place and laughed brightly. Her lush, long hair was so smooth it untangled with just a run of her fingers.

"I can't believe it—it's really silver-white..."

Nina marveled at her hair, the color of a moonlit snowfield. Her eye color must have changed too.

'Compared to before, my eyesight has improved a lot. Even at night, everything's so clear.'

Her vision had declined after the poisoning, but with her body remade, it should be fine now.

Nina gazed up at the moonlit night sky. It was the same as that time. She couldn't believe two years had passed.

Looking back at the barrier, she saw the crests of the Sun and Winter spirits etched into the air like a magic circle on the collapsed wall, glowing and pulsing with golden and silver light as if alive.

'The spirits sealed it. Thank you.'

Normally, it would have taken the sacrifice of several priests to erect a barrier like that, but now no such tragedy would occur.

Nina offered her silent thanks. She probably wouldn't see the living spirits again as long as she lived.

"Two years... two whole years."

Adrian surely hadn't killed his family in the meantime, had he?

She hoped not, from the bottom of her heart. Who would enjoy slaughtering their own family?

No matter how horrific they were, she prayed nothing would push him that far.

Nina groaned softly and checked her clothes. She was still in her black uniform.

One foot was still bare. At least the bandages were still wrapped—that was a relief, she supposed.

"Judging by the moon's position... everyone must be asleep."

There might be people at the nearest fortress, so she made that her first destination. Nina started running. Her limbs felt light.

My goodness.

It was like she'd become a cheetah. Her cheers burst out in a clear, ringing voice.

Wind wrapped around her limbs, and her speed surged in an instant.

Each step propelled her forward three or four meters.

Was it her imagination, or was she even faster than before?

The fortress she reached in a flash was dark and empty.

For a moment, she thought they'd completely withdrawn, but upon closer inspection, it wasn't ruins—it seemed maintained.

'Then maybe I'll stay here tonight?'

The gates to the main castle wouldn't open until dawn anyway.

Most buildings were locked, but the infirmary was open. It was worn, but there were blankets.

As Nina shook the dust off a blanket, she suddenly snapped her head up.

She tossed the blanket aside and dashed outside.

'Belak!'

The sound of wings slicing through the air rang out. Nina looked up at the sky and narrowed her eyes.

It was a lion-shaped Belak with wings. The lion Belak sharply turned in the air at tremendous speed. It had a clear target.

"Not even letting me sleep!"

Fuming, Nina shook her fist at the Belak and gave chase.

Realizing she had no weapons, she snapped off a suitable branch.

To get a better view, she climbed a tree, kicked off a branch lightly, and launched herself above the forest canopy.

'Ah!'

Three lion-like Belaks were attacking the fortress. Only three knights were holding them off from inside.

Nina's body plummeted down, then soared back up.

"One first!"

Nina shouted and gripped the branch tightly with both hands.

The branch in her grasp froze stark white.

The lion Belak, unaware of the descending figure, took Nina's kick full-force from above and tumbled downward.

"Krraaang!!"

"Hyaa!"

Nina precisely stabbed the branch into its throat, then kicked the falling Belak to launch herself safely to the ground.

The fortress interior fell into stunned silence.

Jin's fingertips felt frozen. He nearly took a headshot from another Belak, but Vice-Captain Lui yanked him back.

"Pull yourself together."

At Lui's words, Jin stammered, "But... that... I mean..."

Snow-white hair streaked across the dark night sky like a shooting star.

The woman he knew didn't have hair like that...

But...

Adrian gritted his teeth. His hands trembled so much he nearly dropped his sword.

At Adrian's incantation, a Belak clinging to the fortress wall was seized by its shadow.

Adrian's sword cleaved the panicked Belak's head clean off. Black blood splattered onto the lantern, gleaming like ruby shards.

"Huh? Young Master?!"

Only then did Nina recognize the people in the fortress and raise her voice. Hearing that dazed tone, Adrian bolted forward.

The third Belak dove at Adrian's back as he ran, claws extended.

"Kweeeek!"

But Lui's thrown spear pierced it first. Adrian finished the fallen Belak with a thrust.

The flapping of wings ceased, and silence fell around them.

Nina stood frozen, unsure what to do.

From the darkness, Adrian called out as if confirming her presence.

"Nina."

Nina gritted her teeth, then smiled.

"Yes, it's Nina—the cutest in the world."

Adrian dropped his sword and ran to her. He stopped right in front of her.

Even after a short sprint, his breathing was uncharacteristically ragged.

In the darkness, the two faced each other. Nina stared blankly at Adrian.

Two years had passed—she could tell.

He was no longer a boy. He was a full-grown man. The youthful softness was gone; he was the kind of striking figure anyone would glance at twice.

Two years.

Two years had flown by.

"Young Master, you've grown so much..."

Nina said awkwardly, and Adrian took a step forward. One step, two, three. At a steady pace, neither rushed nor slow, he pulled her into an embrace.

"Ack!"

Nina let out a short yelp and gave a small laugh. If she didn't laugh, she'd cry.

He hugged her crushingly tight. His cheek pressed against her hair.

"Nina, Nina, Nina."

His grip was so fierce she felt like she'd crumple.

Still holding her tight, he sank to the ground as if his strength had given out.

"Yes, I'm right here."

"Nina."

His hands caressed her cheeks, his voice calling her name.

As if confirming her existence with every sense, he demanded her presence. Nina gladly obliged.

"How... how... you..."

Words spilled from his gritted teeth in fragments.

Staring into his rose-quartz eyes swirling with rage, sorrow, joy, and hatred, Nina whispered softly.

"I'm sorry."

"If you knew me... how could you..."

How could you do that to me?

Decide to leave me here alone?

The words wouldn't come. Suppressed emotions erupted, and he gripped her shoulders hard.

"Adrian."

Nina whispered.

Even looking at her changed golden eyes and snow-white hair pained him.

"I was wrong."

At her whisper, he crumbled. What had she done wrong?

What?

Throwing herself to save him?

Giving everything?

Returning like this?

"No, no, Nina. No."

Nina cupped his tear-streaked cheeks.

Her heart ached at the deepened shadows in his distorted eyes, his gaunt, sharpened face.

"But I'm back now."

She tried to smile, but tears kept welling up, so she laughed through her sobs.

Even after two years, Adrian was still Adrian.

Not some stranger.

Adrian hugged her tightly again.

"Yeah, you're back. That's enough."

That was plenty.

The dark Violet Forest. The scent of Belak blood. The two had reunited.