The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 33

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 33

Chapter Title: Karak's Legitimate Heir

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'Karak? Where have I seen that before. What was it?'

While Nina was racking her brain, Poko finished her explanation.

"I am the rightful heir to the Karak Workshop, but I was expelled from the workshop for certain reasons."

Poko bit her lip once before continuing.

"So, to reclaim my position as heir, I came here in search of the Brightsteel that our ancestors are said to have brought back long ago."

"Brightsteel?"

When Jin asked, Poko looked at him and replied.

"Yes. It's an iron brighter than pure silver, clear, and possessing purifying properties. It's not a weapon, so if you'll excuse me for a moment..."

She pulled a necklace from her bosom. Attached to it was a mineral shard like a piece of silver, faintly glowing.

"Ah."

A small sound escaped Nina's lips.

The Brightsteel mine discovered while searching for the heroine Fiona, kidnapped by Belak. But without a blacksmith skilled enough to work it, they struggled greatly.

Then a blacksmith from afar shows up saying, 'I heard a legend that the great founder of Karak brought this iron...' That was this story.

The rightful heir of Karak Workshop went off to find Brightsteel and vanished, after which the workshop lost many of its secret forging techniques and never recovered its former glory.

'They all died here. Probably wiped out by that bear earlier?'

"Why? Do you know something?"

Jin asked, but Nina shook her head.

"No, nothing at all. I understand your circumstances, but we'll have to address the crime of trespassing into our territory without permission separately. How exactly did you get in?"

"We came by ship."

"What?!"

Jin was the one shocked. The end of the Violet Forest did abut the sea.

But it was a sheer cliff where no ship could possibly dock.¹

"There are so many reefs there, it's impossible by sea..."

"Yes, many of my people were lost because of it. We climbed the cliff using tools, but we never imagined we'd fall to Belak..."

Poko gave a bitter smile, and Jin admired her sturdy build. Climbing a cliff barehanded.

"Let's head back to the territory first. We'll decide what to do next after that. You're leaving a trail of blood..."

Nina smiled.

"Look, more Belak coming."

Jin turned his shoulder and gripped his glaive. At that moment, Poko took a spear from the person beside her and offered it to Jin.

"Use this one. The iron in this spear is far superior in quality."

"Alright, let's try it. Captain?"

"Later."

"Got it. Fall back over there and stick tight to the cliff."

Jin gestured to the group, and Nina narrowed her eyes, thrusting her spear forward.

The moment her sword began to glow white, Nina exploded forward.

"Raaah!!"

Nina cleaved through dozens of leopard-like Belak. Jin handled the survivors behind her.

As Jin swung the spear, he couldn't help but blurt out in disbelief.

"What is this."

It felt too easy.

The blade's sharpness was excessive; it felt like slicing sausages instead of meat.

"No joke."

Only when he cleaved through bone did it finally feel right.

Once the two finished off the Belak, Poko's group quickly gathered and tended to their fallen comrades' bodies.

Having climbed back up the rocky mountain, they marveled at the One-Horned Horse.

After passing through the Violet Forest at a moderate pace, Nina housed them not in the main castle but in a small fortress.

"I'll go consult with the Duke."

"Thank you for your consideration."

"It's not consideration; I just don't want strangers in the main castle."

Nina shrugged, and Poko responded with the traditional Lengxi Kingdom greeting of clasped hands raised.

"Just bringing us here instead of abandoning us in the Violet Forest is more than enough thanks."

"No need to mention it."

With that, Nina lightly spurred her mount. The One-Horned Horse set off with light steps, and Jin followed behind.

Watching Nina ride ahead silently, Jin spoke up.

"No need to be so harsh on them. Lengxi steel forging methods are top secret, but if we're lucky, we might get them out of this."

"Heh..."

"What?"

"Hehehehehehe."

"...You're laughing right now, aren't you?"

"Ehehe, Jin! Karak Workshop, Karak Workshop! We've hit the jackpot!"

"Jackpot?"

"You know, that kind of thing. Let's make them churn out tons of Brightsteel. No, have them hand over the forging method. I'll squeeze them dry. Use the fact that we saved their lives to pressure them as much as—"

"Yeah, yeah."

Jin nodded.

In truth, he quite liked the group. Of course, their uninvited entry into the territory was unpleasant, but who wouldn't covet better weapons?

Their spears outperformed his own by far. This would be a huge help against upper-tier Belak.

Lives were on the line here.

"Sir Lui or His Grace will handle the negotiations well. Brightsteel... Does something like that really exist?"

"It does. Of course it does."

Grinning broadly, Nina urged her mount faster. Having matched pace with the humans through the forest, the frustrated One-Horned Horse now accelerated freely.

Jin flattened himself against his mount and picked up speed as well.

"We're way behind schedule."

"We might not make it back today."

Nina shook her head at the setting sun.

Despite hurrying, the sun set first, forcing the two to camp.

"I want a proper meal."

Nina sighed as she chewed on hardtack. Poko's group had almost no food left, so Nina and Jin had to forage and hunt to cross the forest.

"Come to think of it."

Nina opened the pouch containing the seed crystals.

"Maybe these are edible... or..."

"How would you eat those? They're like glass seeds... Huh? Why's that glowing?"

Nina took one crystal out of the pouch.

The crystal was shining brightly. As bright as two or three candles.

When she poured out the rest, every crystal sparkled with golden light.

Nina and Jin both gaped.

"It's super bright."

Nina nodded at Jin's words.

"How long will it last?"

"We'll have to test it."

Nina left one out and put the rest back in the pouch.

She planned to check if it glowed all night.

The crystal glowed through the night. Confirming it dimmed and went out only when sunlight hit it, the two returned to the castle.

"Karak Workshop..."

Adrian fiddled with a chess piece in one hand, lost in thought. Nina smacked his knee.

"Young Master, hands off."

"..."

Swallowing a sigh, Adrian resumed stroking Nina's head as it nuzzled against his thigh.

"I don't know much about Lengxi Kingdom, but if they share the forging method with us, it's a win, right? They're not planning to just grab the Brightsteel and run, are they?"

"Grab and run?"

"Eat and bolt."

"Mining ore requires massive manpower, time, and money."

"But they need proof, don't they? Like taking just one piece and vanishing."

"Hmm."

Adrian's tone was odd, so Nina asked.

"Do you know something?"

"For the heir to risk her life coming all this way. Can she really reclaim her position with just that one piece?"

"Now that you mention it... Is she lying?"

Did she get duped?

As Nina tilted her head, Adrian asked.

"You left them at the fortress?"

"Yes."

"What if they run?"

"I attached a spirit to Poko. If she runs, it'll be the day her head parts from her neck."

Nina explained with a satisfied breath. Adrian's petting skills seemed to improve daily.

"That's a shame, then."

What was in his head.

"Then we'll catch her still attached and bring her to you. Do whatever Young Master wants."

Adrian spun the piece in his hand.

"'Whatever I want'..."

He smiled faintly.

"I suppose I should meet them formally."

¹ Sheer cliff