The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 54

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 54

Chapter Title: Mithril's Solution

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Professor Gerahim signed the contract after requesting that all her disciples be hired as well.

She was surprised by the unique emptiness of Black Shield Castle with so few people around, but the interior decor and atmosphere inside were quite splendid. It was hard to believe this was the castle with such a notorious reputation.

Gerahim was initially tense when she began talking with Lui, but she soon realized he was someone reasonable.

She wanted to apply the bureaucratic system—her own research project—to the ducal family as well, and Lui was prepared to listen to any rational system.

After first investigating the existing structure of the ducal household, she created a new bureaucratic framework tailored to the Rubaenu Ducal Family.

Her disciples, Pasha and Lote, took over the accounting. Jin handed over the ledgers he had organized and let out a cheer of joy.

It took some time for the handover, but Pasha and Lote quickly adapted and reorganized the ledgers into a new format.

Jin grinned from ear to ear as he increased his training time.

By the time Gerahim had finished the new organizational chart, replies had come back to the ducal residence for about a third of the letters Nina had sent.

Gerahim was amazed by the Rubaenu Ducal Family's inclusivity, which gathered people regardless of gender, nationality, or age.

To outsiders, they might look like a ragtag bunch, but to Gerahim, they were talents perfectly suited to their roles.

'Just how much budget are they pouring into intelligence?'

She could guess why the castle felt so empty, and it made her head spin.

'And what is the Grand Sage of the Isle of Sages doing here?'

Listening to the news Lote brought from all over, Gerahim wondered why rumors about the Rubaenu territory never leaked out.

'If it all explodes at once, the impact will be enormous...'

Suddenly recalling the duke, whom she had met several times for approvals, Gerahim shuddered slightly.

Whenever she spoke before him, she always felt the same nervousness as when she had stood before her professor in her undergraduate days presenting her research results.

'Compared to him, Viscount Dell is a relief.'

As the captain of the Ebony Knight Order, he was essentially the martial leader of the Rubaenu Ducal Family.

He handled one of the duke's right and left arms alongside the mild-mannered chief steward.

Nina didn't seem careless by any means, but she didn't quite look like someone bearing one of the pillars of the ducal family either.

'It's all so peculiar.'

She had truly entered a mysterious place. Gerahim shook her head with a wry smile.

Nina approached the mithril mine and dismounted her One-Horned Horse.

'Why does the atmosphere feel so gloomy?'

Was it because the mine work was so grueling?

'Something to boost morale would be good. What could it be?'

As Nina pondered while dismounting, Poko came out to greet her.

Her expression was as dark as the mine's mood, with deep shadows under her eyes.

"Lady Nina, you've arrived."

Nina greeted her in return and asked,

"Are you unwell? The mine work must be extremely tough. Shall I speak to the Young Master—"

"No, it's not that."

Poko jumped at the mention of the Rubaenu Duke and waved her hands frantically.

"That's not the problem."

"Then what is it?"

When Nina asked worriedly, Poko looked down at her and sighed.

"This way, please."

Near the mine stood neat kilns and wooden buildings.

But everyone passing by had grim, groaning faces, which only heightened Nina's bewilderment.

Poko led her to a small kiln and said,

"This is a specially made kiln. The temperature inside rises high enough to melt iron."

"Fascinating."

"But the mithril won't melt."

"Ah."

Oh no.

Nina inadvertently stared at Poko. On one side, a large basket was filled with mithril ore.

"We believe we can achieve the highest temperatures possible. That's why Lengsi steel is so renowned for its hardness. But..."

The mithril wouldn't melt.

If it wouldn't melt, it couldn't be processed.

It was like having treasure right in front of them but being unable to take even a single coin.

"We're researching ways to raise the furnace temperature even higher."

"Poko."

Nina grabbed her hand firmly, startling Poko into widening her eyes.

"I can solve that for you!"

"Pardon?"

Poko looked baffled. Nina explained,

"Wait here. Hmm, if I ride the One-Horned Horse, I can make it back by tonight."

With that, Nina hopped back on the One-Horned Horse and vanished at a terrifying speed.

Only a One-Horned Horse could gallop through this complex forest like that.

Poko stared dazedly at the hand Nina had grasped.

"She can solve it?"

How?

The Karak Workshop was one of the most historic forges in the Lengsi Kingdom.

Even up to the previous generation, they had prided themselves on producing the finest Lengsi steel.

Centuries of accumulated artisan wisdom, skill, intricate equipment, and craftsmanship.

'And yet...'

Nina didn't seem like she was lying or bluffing. It felt like she really had a solution.

When Poko relayed her words to the other artisans, they scoffed.

"How does she plan to solve it?"

"Beats me."

"Maybe she's mistaken? They think it's some new technology, but it turns out to be something we already have."

"Could be."

The prideful artisans shook their heads, unable to believe there was some advanced technique they didn't know.

"Let's wait and see, at least."

At Poko's words, they cleared their throats and fell silent.

As midnight approached, Poko grew worried.

Even on a One-Horned Horse, galloping through the dark forest at night must be tough, right?

And Belak could appear too.

It wasn't until past midnight, nearing dawn, that Nina finally arrived.

"Sorry, a Belak showed up midway, so I was delayed."

She grumbled while brushing bloodstains off her uniform and unloaded one of the heavily packed sacks from behind the One-Horned Horse.

"But I figured it was best to bring the solution as quickly as possible."

"Is that the solution?"

"Yes."

Nina grinned and held up a pouch triumphantly.

The artisans, who had waited without sleep out of curiosity, craned their necks to see.

Nina said brightly,

"Transparent fruits."

"Transparent fruits?"

Poko tilted her head. Nina carried the pouch to the kiln and poured out the contents in front of everyone.

The transparent fruits, which turned white when dried, were the size of dates.

"What are these?"

To Poko's question, Nina replied simply, "High-heat fuel."

When lit, they didn't burn with an orange glow but with a bluish flame.

"!!"

Everyone's eyes widened. They knew well the temperature differences indicated by flame colors.

"This should do it, right?"

Nina's solution was simple and perfect.

Poko grabbed Nina's hand tightly.

"It will work! Lady Nina, where on earth did you come from? How do you even have something like this?"

"It's a specialty of the Violet Forest."

She had forgotten to mention it earlier, since they couldn't melt mithril without it. Nina felt apologetic to herself.

"L-Let's try it right now, Workshop Head!"

"Yes, light the kiln!"

Even at dawn, everyone suddenly sprang into action with vigor.

"How much more do we have? A lot?"

"I brought a full sack's worth for now. I know there's quite a bit in storage too."

"I see."

Poko released her hand in relief and began directing the artisans with crisp efficiency.

They first tested if the ore would melt in a small kiln.

From the pitch-black darkness poured molten mithril, glowing with a blinding white light that seared the eyes.

The artisans, silenced in awe, soon erupted in chatter.

"Ooh—!"

"It worked!"

"Amazing, beautiful... It's nothing like steel."

"Isn't it like pure gold? So clear and transparent...!"

Nina whispered to Poko,

"This should do it."

Poko turned to her. The firelight illuminated Nina's face radiantly. Poko tried to smile through teary eyes but couldn't quite manage it.

All the past hardships flashed by.

They had barely found the mithril, only to fear they couldn't use it.

The dead haunted her vision, while the living looked to her alone.

As their leader, Poko had been in an even more difficult position.

"Yes."

Poko managed a small, trembling voice and wiped her eyes.

"Yes, Lady Nina."

Pretending not to notice the tears, Nina said,

"I'll be looking forward to the finished swords."

"We'll make the finest weapons for you."

Poko vowed deeply.

"And let's truly raise the Karak Workshop's banner."

At Nina's words, Poko swallowed hard. After a silence, she replied,

"We will."