The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 44

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 44

Chapter Title: Captain's Personal Training

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Nina was loudly pointing out Raja's movements.

"You're swinging too wide because you're excited. Even if training just ended, if your lower body is weak, your sword won't come out right. Wrist, wrist. It's open."

After getting thoroughly thrashed, Raja finally stretched out flat. Nina poked him a few times with her training sword.

"Not dead, right? Still alive? Looking fine."

Raja could only groan.

Watching Nina like that, Shallo also poked Raja with her sword. Raja tried to swat her away with a "Hey, come on!" but he didn't have the strength, and his hand flopped limply.

Kel glanced sideways at Shallo and tilted his head.

'Does she prefer types like Raja?'

Nina looked back and forth between Shallo and Kel.

"Next?"

Shallo's eyes sparkled for a moment before she pouted.

"A little more left."

"Got it."

Kel shot his hand up.

"I'm done, Captain."

"Good, come on."

Kel felt a chill again at the sight of the Captain's refreshing smile, but he gripped his training sword with both hands.

A moment later, Kel was plastered to the floor like a jellyfish washed ashore. Shallo charged in next, but she met the same fate.

Looking at the three of them, Nina couldn't help but chuckle. All three had similar hair tones.

Light purple (Raja), light pink (Kel), beige (Shallo).

Among all the new recruits, these three were the best, and they were the most enthusiastic. Nina turned her gaze to the rest of the recruits.

"Everyone, finish your training quickly. If you don't, we'll redo individual training."

At Nina's words, everyone panicked and sped up their training. Nina walked among them, correcting faulty stances.

By the time Jin emerged in his training clothes with a refreshed face, everyone was collapsed in exhaustion.

Nina tapped her shoulder with her sword and grinned at Jin.

"Then I'll give the Vice-Captain some special tutoring."

This time, Nina was holding a buckler, so everyone dragged their exhausted bodies up to watch the two train.

Watching their exchange, Raja murmured softly.

"She's the one teaching us."

Kel glanced at Raja and saw the admiration in his eyes. Kel smiled.

"Yeah. Unless you're a squire, it's hard to get personal instruction from someone."

Wasn't that true for him too?

It was his first time receiving such thorough instruction from someone of that skill level.

Knight orders, unless you're a squire, recruit talent ready to use right away.

Even if a learning opportunity arose, direct training from the Captain was rare. Most knights learned by following seasoned knights for years and picking up what they could over their shoulders.

Some hired swordmasters for a fee, but he never imagined he'd be learning like this at his age.

Shallo whispered softly.

"Dazzling..."

Kel gave her a 'Pardon?' look, but Shallo seemed oblivious to his gaze.

Her cheeks flushed with excitement, eyes sparkling, her gaze fixed on the Captain.

'Wow...'

These two are completely smitten with the Captain.

Kel shifted his gaze to the Captain and Vice-Captain.

The bear-like bulk of the Vice-Captain swung his sword, but the Captain dodged lightly as if weightless or deflected it with a twist of her buckler.

'Is she even human?'

Anyone would fear injury.

The moment you sense a sword cut or stab, you instinctively flinch and step back.

But the Captain showed no such fear.

She was dodging by the barest margin, like a sheet of paper.

It wasn't just skill; it required exceptional courage.

In the end, the training ended with the Captain's victory.

Kel let out a long breath and only then realized his fist was clenched tight. His hand was trembling.

He clenched his fist and sighed.

Looks like he wasn't in a position to criticize Raja and Shallo for being too enamored with the Captain.

"You three, still got some strength left?"

At Nina's sudden question, Kel tried to jump up but wobbled as his knees gave out. Nina grabbed his arm.

Feeling the steady firmness, Kel's heart raced oddly as he stood straight.

"Sorry."

"No, it's fine."

Kel felt Shallo's sharp glare and gave an awkward smile. Shallo and Raja also scrambled to their feet.

"Anyone among you three have guard duty experience?"

At Nina's question, the three exchanged looks. Kel cautiously raised his hand.

"Do you mean Royal Guard Knights?"

"Yeah."

After a moment's hesitation, Kel spoke.

"May I speak freely?"

"Go ahead."

"I don't think any of us are at Royal Guard level."

Guard.

In other words, Royal Guard Knights were the innermost circle.

It's no wonder the Royal Guard Knights were hailed as 'Royal Guards.' Some believed loyalty came from bloodline, so to become one, you needed both high birth and exceptional skill.

But this statement could wound the pride of the Ducal family and the Ebony Knight Order's Captain, so Kel was extremely cautious.

After he spoke, Raja's face hardened, and Shallo lowered her gaze slightly.

But Nina casually replied, "Ah, as expected?" and Kel blinked in surprise.

Nina laughed at his expression.

"What? You thought I couldn't tell that much?"

"No, that's not it."

Nina gestured for him to continue, but Kel shut his mouth.

She chuckled and said,

"Guess I'll have to train you myself then. You three, think you can handle more personal training?"

At Nina's words, Shallo's head snapped up like a foal eyeing a dangling carrot.

"Of course!"

"We can."

"It would be an honor."

The last one was, of course, Raja.

Nina nodded. "I'll contact you later separately." Then she turned away.

As she approached the Vice-Captain and said something, making him grumble and stand, Shallo murmured again.

"Jealous."

Kel suppressed the reflexive question, 'Of which one?'

He rubbed his sweaty, salt-crusted pink bangs with his fingertips and said,

"I'm off to wash up."

He added,

"Don't like being sweat-drenched when the Captain calls."

At that, Shallo and Raja hurried after him.

Kel smirked inwardly.

I think I know how to handle them.

After a refreshing wash and changing into clean clothes, Nina focused on her work.

Buttons were luxury handmade items, so most people here wore blouses woven as tubes, paired with pants or skirts below. The well-off added a short tunic on top.

Nina dressed similarly. Just a tunic of expensive fabric.

In the capital, buttons were all the rage. Decorative buttons, jackets, coats, and vests that could take them were popular.

Of course, some just loaded tunics with gold and silver buttons.

In short, uniforms were expensive.

'But skimping on money is absolutely not an option.'

All black from top to bottom. Even adding hats now wouldn't be enough...

Nina blinked.

'Come to think of it, this world's uniforms don't have hats yet. We'll add hats to our dress uniforms.'

Make it so everyone gasps at the Ebony Knight Order, looks at us with envy, dying to copy our style.

Can't ignore the prestige from appearances.

Nina paused her thoughts at a knock.

"Come in."

Unexpectedly, it was Kiril. Since she rarely left the lab, Nina stood from her seat.

"Kiril? What's up? Did something explode in the lab?"

"Do you think I cause explosions all the time?"

"Hm, or did you fight with Randell?"

Kiril snorted.

"I'm past the age of fighting with that kid."

As Kiril waved her hand, a rhombus-shaped gem engraved with geometric patterns appeared.

It resembled a pendulum.

Nina's eyes widened.

"This... Didn't Randell have something similar back then? Like a celestial globe."