The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 68

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 68

Chapter Title: Unshattered Glass

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Count Harsa momentarily froze, mouth agape, as the terrace erupted in a massive stir.

Nina spoke coldly.

"If you can't believe I'm the strongest, then come at me. I'm ready to accept your duel anytime."

Nina gestured to a passing servant and took a fork.

"This is just for fun, though. Your Excellency the Count, would you mind lifting your champagne glass?"

Count Harsa's eyes sparkled as he raised his glass.

"Like this?"

"Yes."

Nina stepped back to a suitable distance and thrust the fork forward.

"!!"

"My God."

Jin let out an involuntary sigh.

Her fork pierced straight through the glass champagne flute.

The glass didn't shatter.

Count Harsa gaped and held the glass up high for all to see.

"Wh-what is this..."

Common sense dictated that stabbing glass would shatter it. But right before their eyes, a phenomenon defying all reason was unfolding.

As Nina casually withdrew the fork, three thin streams of champagne poured out.

The fork spun nimbly in Nina's hand.

"So what I'm saying is, if it bothers you, come at me."

Count Harsa burst into loud laughter at her words, turning the glass this way and that.

"I'll take this glass and keep it as a souvenir. Ha, haha! Incredible. I have to show this to everyone!"

Overcome with excitement, he forgot to even greet Adrian and hurried off to his acquaintances, glass in hand.

In an instant, a crowd gathered to inspect the glass.

Jin asked.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Why didn't the glass break?"

"If you stab faster and harder than the glass can shatter, it won't, right?"

Nina countered as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Jin glared at her.

"Does that even make sense? There has to be some secret technique."

Kel nodded gravely with an intensely intellectual expression, while Shallo flushed with pride and smug satisfaction.

Adrian turned to Nina, who bowed her head.

"You told me to do as I pleased."

"You did well."

At Adrian's praise, Nina peeked up with a proud lift of her chin. "Right?" she said, squaring her shoulders boldly.

She continued.

"Since you're here, why not dance? Can't you see those young ladies over there waiting for your request, their eyes sparkling?"

At her whisper, Adrian glanced their way.

The moment they laid eyes on the handsome, dashing Rubaenu Duke, the marriageable young ladies and their parents' gazes lit up.

Nina nodded deeply to herself.

'Yes, yes. Our Adrian is so handsome. That signature shadow lurking behind his elegant, aristocratic poise... It makes you want to wrap this man in your arms and heal his pain.'

It was a face that fiercely ignited the urge to become the one ray of light in his life.

Adrian subtly averted his gaze.

"I'm not here for that today."

"I see. Shall we just take in the atmosphere, then?"

Nina casually clasped her hands behind her back in a relaxed stance and turned to Jin.

"Could you check the outer perimeter too?"

"Understood."

Jin replied and departed with Kel.

Shallo swiftly shifted to maintain their square formation, claiming Jin's former spot with a satisfied look.

Jin surveyed the surroundings to assess security. Even after the Belak attack, it seemed to have had no impact on the nobles—the guards were rather lax.

He did spot knights in uniforms emblazoned with the lily crest stationed sporadically at key paths.

Kel called to him in a low voice.

"Vice-Captain."

"I know."

Kel's face brightened slightly at Jin's response. With his usual leisurely smile, he said.

"What should we do?"

"Do what? We're not here to turn the place upside down. They confiscated all our weapons at the entrance anyway."

"True, but..."

A hint of intrigue colored Kel's voice.

"Are we really unarmed, though?"

It was an odd question, but Jin understood it perfectly.

Did we really hand over all our weapons?

In essence, it was an indirect way of saying, I'm not unarmed.

"At this level, yes, we are."

Kel's head tilted, his light purple hair swaying softly.

Jin, with his own stiff hair, couldn't help but envy it.

"Understood."

Jin nodded at Kel's reply. Just then, his brow furrowed faintly. Kel nearly halted but restrained himself.

"Let's head back."

"Yes."

Jin quickened his pace slightly as he returned to Nina.

In the meantime, Nina had received her third duel challenge. Growing annoyed, she was telling all three challengers to come at her at once when Jin approached.

"Captain."

"I told you, come at me all at once."

Nina cut off their protests sharply and turned to Jin. She grasped the situation from his expression alone.

Adrian did as well.

His question came naturally: "Here?"

Jin rubbed his nape before clasping his hands politely and replying.

"Yes. They seem C-grade or lower, so I was just going to leave them be, but..."

He squinted.

"There's one more. And their movements are systematic."

"Systematic?"

"Well... organically coordinated, I'd say. Not purely instinctual..."

Kel continued in his soft, low voice.

"They're targeting weak security spots. It feels like they're scouting for optimal attack positions."

"Then should we take our leave? What do you think?"

Nina asked Adrian, who replied, "No."

"We'll stay a bit longer."

Nina didn't blink.

"Whatever Young Master desires."

Nina turned to the group.

"Disperse."

Kel and Shallo moved apart at proper intervals. Jin positioned himself between them, while Nina remained at Adrian's side.

"Why stay? Things are about to get messy."

Nina murmured very quietly. Adrian answered.

"I want to know who they're targeting."

Nina went, "Ah," and fell silent.

Could it be me?

The sudden thought made her anxious. They might be trying to kill her to shatter the barrier.

That would drag innocent people into it. No, it's not confirmed they're after me yet.

Nina exhaled deeply and began expanding her senses. With so many people, she couldn't track everyone, but she could detect nearby Belak.

One, two... Huh? Three, four, five... How many are there?

Nina barely resisted whipping around to Jin.

Two, you said?

Screeeeech!!

With a piercing shriek, multiple Belak burst from the ground.

Each was forearm-sized, rat-like in appearance. Including their tails, they were as big as a full arm—a massive rat assault.

"Kyaaak!!"

"Rats! Rats!!"

"No, Belak!"

"Uwaaaah!!"

Screams rang out as people fled in all directions. Some stood frozen, Nina's group among them.

Huh?

Nina blinked.

The Belak lunged precisely at the guards and knights.

As if they knew exactly who their targets were.

The guards yelled and tried to shake off the rats, but to no avail.

The other guards were at a loss. Attacking with swords or spears would surely stab their comrades too.

In the end, the rat-infested guards ended up drenched in blood, clutching their faces as they rolled on the ground.

Short emergency whistles blew in rapid succession.

Nina felt an eerie sensation.

What is this?