The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 36

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 36

Chapter Title: Passed and Potatoes

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Knocking down over a hundred people hadn't taken all that much time, but glancing at the clock showed it had been quite a while.

As the fight dragged on, the faces of the remaining contestants grew deathly pale, to the point where Jin almost felt sorry for them.

He could see the Ebony Knight Order members breaking out in cold sweats too. Since they already knew Nina, they could truly appreciate just how much stronger she'd become.

'Yeah, they'd be thinking, "What kind of freak is she?"'

Her strength was brute force, her technique impeccably precise, her body light and nimble—blindingly fast.

And on top of that, she took down that many without summoning a single spirit.

Once everyone was down, Nina dragged the passed candidates off to one side and piled them up.

"I'm hungry!"

At Nina's shout, Jin went to the servants and ordered a mountain of steamed potatoes.

While Nina was in the captain's office reviewing the passers' documents, the servant arrived with a tray piled high with steamed potatoes.

The mountain of potatoes looked delicious, but Nina felt a pang of sadness.

"At least when I say I'm hungry, couldn't it be something other than steamed potatoes?"

"We have no money."

Jin said it matter-of-factly. As the second son of a merchant house who'd once handled the ducal family's accounts, he was ruthlessly practical about finances.

"Then at least steam them with some salt."

"I'll suggest that."

Nina let out a massive sigh and started eating the potatoes. When you're starving, food tastes like anything but still, it was a bit depressing.

That sadness vanished once her belly was full.

Jin brought cold juice to the utterly satisfied, slouched Nina and said,

"Well done, Captain."

"Mm."

His tone dripped with sarcasm, but Nina decided to forgive him because of the juice he held.

She'd loosened up her body, relieved her stress, and recruited some people.

Three birds with one stone.

She downed the juice with beads of condensation in one go, and a satisfied "Kya!" slipped out automatically.

Jin snatched the empty glass away and asked,

"But is that all you're taking?"

"Huh?"

"Isn't the number too small?"

"That's already generous with the cutoff. Otherwise, I'd have only taken those three up front."

Nina grinned cheekily.

"Well, we can train them up."

At those words, Jin's memories of hellish training resurfaced, making his whole body shudder.

More comrades, huh.

Wait, no—having rookies and the vice-captain trained at the same level felt off somehow?

'No, that's how egos get you killed.'

Jin shook his head inwardly. There were more important things.

He wanted to fight side by side with her, shoulder to shoulder—not staring at her back.

For that, he could swallow his pride. As Jin steeled himself, Kiril entered the captain's office.

She was stylishly draped in a white robe for once.

"Everyone who got hit in vital spots is fine, mostly. The first guy who took a hit might need soup to recover, but the rest are good."

"Well, I went easy on them."

Nina winked playfully. Kiril continued,

"Sent all the ones who are okay back home."

Jin asked, puzzled,

"No one complained?"

"You think they'd dare?"

Kiril jerked her chin at Nina, and Jin nodded with a "Yeah, fair enough."

Besides, Kiril was seasoned at dealing with the rough types in the Ebony Knight Order.

She'd probably made good use of Nina's name.

He'd worried about a mass protest, but losing 1 vs. 100 made complaining tough, apparently.

'Yeah, even I'd be too embarrassed to talk about it.'

As Jin nodded in understanding, Kiril pulled a letter from her pocket.

"Oh, and a letter came from the Isle of Sages."

Nina took the proffered letter and examined the envelope.

[Randell]

The two words stood out clearly.

"Huh? For real?"

Nina shot upright.

"What's up...?"

Jin's words lagged a beat, and Nina chuckled.

"You can drop the formal speech when it's just us."

Jin shook his head.

"No can do. Rookies around—if I slip up?"

"Fine, whatever."

She was too lazy to point out he'd already gone informal with "No can do." Nina nodded half-heartedly.

She checked the name Randell again.

The male lead.

'Whoa, I didn't think he'd actually reply himself. No way, right?'

He was supposed to meet the heroine via Violet Forest plants and animals anyway, but he might not care right now...

'But it is him. Wow. Huh?'

Nina broke the seal and read the letter, then frowned.

Jin asked awkwardly in overly polite speech, "What's wrong? Bad news?"

"Nah, a Sage is coming to our territory."

"What? Why?"

Informal speech burst from Jin's startled mouth. Realizing, he coughed and rephrased,

"I mean, what's their business?"

"They got the plant samples and report I sent—apparently sparked a lot of interest."

Nina finished the letter. Departure and arrival dates were listed.

'Tomorrow? Arriving tomorrow?'

"Are we ready to host? Why are they coming so fast? Shouldn't they ask if it's okay first?"

Don't nobles schedule way in advance?

Nina frowned in thought.

'Gotta tell Adrian.'

But Adrian wasn't around?

Nina folded the letter.

"Arriving tomorrow."

"Tomorrow? Are they nuts?"

Jin goggled. Kiril snorted.

"Sages are all like that. Selfish and stuck-up bastards."

Nina eyed Kiril at the crude language.

"That sounded personal."

"By this age, you've got grudges everywhere."

"Kiril, maybe rethink your life choices?"

"Brat."

Kiril flicked Nina's forehead. Nina yelped with a laugh, "Eek!"

Jin shook his head.

"Anyway, rotten guests. Hope they don't bring bad news."

Nina chuckled and shook her head at Jin's grumbling.

"Doubt it. For us, having them research it instead is a win."

She'd sent the letter hoping they'd do the legwork, never expecting such a quick reply.

"Gotta spread the word. Prep guest rooms..."

Off to Sir Lui, Nina thought, standing up. This news needed sharing ASAP.

As she left the captain's office, a man who'd been squatting by the door jumped up.

Lavender hair, navy eyes.

One of the passers from earlier. His papers definitely said...

"Raja Kota."

Raja never dreamed the Knight Order Captain would know his name. He swiftly crossed his arms in an X and bowed deeply.

"Ra, Raja Kota, ma'am!!"

"Yeah, what is it?"

"I, I came to thank you for your guidance."

"Didn't really teach you anything."

"N-no, just witnessing your divine prowess made my heart race—felt like I was dying!"

"Can't have you dying."

"Thank you!"

Nina tilted her head, wondering if he was all there, then chuckled.

"So, thanks was the whole point?"

"Y-yes!"

"Got it. No biggie. Go rest up. Training starts tomorrow."

Training!

Raja's eyes sparkled. He gazed at Nina with pure adoration and said,

"Yes!"

Jin eyed him dubiously, then followed Nina, muttering,

"That guy's weird."

"Voice a bit loud, kinda slow on the uptake."

"That's what makes him weird."

"Nah, that's not the same as weird."

Nina glared like he'd gone too far, so Jin grumbled and shut up.

They were squadmates now—badmouthing wasn't cool.

"It's fine, fine. A good thrashing makes 'em obey."

Jin swallowed hard, chills running down his spine at Nina's follow-up.

'Yeah, after that training, they'll toe the line.'

As Jin mused that he wouldn't need to do anything for rookie bonding, Nina turned her gaze toward the Violet Forest.

The Young Master had left for the woods at dawn without so much as a goodbye—cold as ever.