The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 76

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 76

Chapter Title: Venomous Centipede Assault

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The centipede had as many legs as it was long, and its speed matched. On top of that, being a venomous Belak, it spewed a pale green mist-like poison in all directions.

'Uniform, damn it. Uniform, uniform.'

Nina shed tears inwardly as she pictured her longcoat. If she were wearing her uniform, she wouldn't have to fear that poison.

Nina chanted as she drew her sword. The centipede's countless legs froze to the ground in an instant, halting it.

But it was only momentary. The centipede soon ripped its frozen legs free from the earth.

'Stronger than it looks. And tough too.'

It seemed at least A-rank.

Nina gripped her sword tightly. This was a public fight, so she didn't want to go all out.

She had no intention of using the Sun spirit, at least.

"What are you going to do?"

"When did you get here?"

Nina replied indifferently, and Benzel scowled before forcing down his anger to speak.

"It's spewing poison everywhere, so getting too close will be tough. Even if we do..."

"No need for explanations. Control the area. Don't get in my way."

"You-"

Ignoring him as he grimaced and raised his voice, Nina kicked off the ground and charged.

A blast of pure white wind erupted. In an instant, the poison mist around the centipede thinned, its joints froze over, and its speed slowed.

Nina dove in and swung her sword. At that moment, the centipede's tail whipped around to strike her.

"Lady Nina!"

Benzel shouted.

'I know without you yelling!'

Nina twisted her body midair, and her sword only grazed it shallowly.

'Ha, it was faking slowed speed from the frost?'

The centipede had timed its poison spit for the moment her landing stance faltered.

A thin ice barrier formed before her, blocking the poison. The frozen venom thudded heavily to the ground. At the same time, Nina landed silently.

'This isn't your average Belak.'

Someone was controlling it.

That heretic from earlier?

She'd known heretics could open rifts in the barrier, but controlling Belaks? That was new.

Nina took a deep breath in, then out.

'Alright.'

The North Wind coiled around her limbs, boosting her speed in a flash. Far beyond the centipede's reaction time.

"Hyaah!"

Her slender sword, gleaming with bright light, slashed invisibly fast.

The centipede's body split in half, green bodily fluids spilling out.

"Woooah!"

The onlookers cheered. Nina was exasperated.

'Not running away to watch?'

Just what you'd expect from barrier city folk who didn't know Belak terror.

Nina flicked her sword to shake off the fluids. She raised a hand to halt Benzel's approach.

An A-rank Belak wouldn't die from this.

'As expected.'

The severed halves began moving independently. Fresh screams erupted.

The body segments scuttled in different directions, the head end more agile.

Nina rushed the head as Benzel went for the lower half.

She slashed diagonally through the head.

"Kieeeek!"

The centipede collapsed shrieking, and amid the crowd's screams, Nina's sharp ears caught a human one too.

She glanced sidelong at the crowd, then at Benzel. With the head dead, the legs slowed.

Benzel swung his greatsword, vertically shredding the lower body. All movement ceased.

The massive insect's cross-section lay exposed.

'Ugh, bleh.'

If bug-hating Jin saw this, he'd be cursing up a storm right now.

'Good thing Jin's not here.'

Nina surveyed her surroundings with that thought.

Everyone murmured, "Is it over?", "Did they kill it?" while gulping and staring.

Nina didn't hold back, flashing her sword high with a small "Yay."

If the crowd was watching, playing along was only natural.

Her unmistakable victory pose unleashed a roar of cheers.

"Waaaah!!"

"Nina!"

"Nina Randel!"

"Ebony Knight Order! Ebony Knight Order!"

Nina smiled contentedly at the chanting cheers.

She could hear her fame rising.

She briefed the rushing guards—who saluted upon spotting her twintails, calling her Lady Nina—then sighed at the crowd ready to toss her in the air.

'How do I get through this? And I need to check that scream.'

Time for a plausible exit.

"Well, I'm busy, so I'll take my leave."

Nina wrapped North Wind around her legs and leapt stylishly to a rooftop.

The crowd whooped, and she pretended to hop a few roofs before dropping right back down nearby to undo her hair.

'Should've brought a hat.'

How to slip back in now?

As Nina pondered, she turned with a startled "Whoa, you scared me."

Jack stood in the shadows, arms crossed. Nina blurted,

"What? Nice timing?"

"What does that mean?"

"You know, arriving right on time."

"You caused quite the commotion."

Jack chuckled and shrugged off his cloak, handing it to her. Nina pulled on the hood firmly and asked,

"Can't head back to the square like this, right?"

"Why?"

"I heard a scream."

"Finding who screamed there would take all night."

"Not that..."

Nina squinted and explained.

"I spotted a heretic. Right after, the Belak appeared, and it wasn't moving normally."

Jack held up fingers to halt her and asked,

"You saw a heretic?"

"Yes."

"How'd you tell?"

"They had a weird necklace... Can I explain that later?"

"Got it."

He looked skeptical but readied for more.

"So I figured it was being controlled. No screams during the fight, but the moment I killed it."

Jack stroked his chin as she paused.

"So the Belak and its heretic controller are linked. You want to check if that heretic died. Right?"

"Yes."

Jack shrugged.

"I'll handle that."

"You sure?"

"Isn't that what a spy's for? Besides, going back hooded like that? Your cover's blown in a second."

"True."

A hood would just look suspicious.

He grinned and added,

"Plus, looks like you've got a tail following you..."

"Huh? Oh? Ah..."

As Nina slumped her shoulders, Jack melted into the shadows.

"Don't cheat on your master."

"What're you talking about?"

Nina replied indifferently to the darkness.

'How does he vanish like that? Amazing.'

Maybe he's contracted to a darkness spirit?

'Wait, then could Adrian do it too? Shadow and Darkness spirits, so no?'

Musing, Nina leaned against the rough wall. She tapped her heel idly when heavy footsteps approached soon after.

"Lady Nina."

Benzel lit up at her hooded figure and strode over.

"How'd you know I was here?"

"I can manage that much."

He replied casually, as if it were nothing, then asked,

"Not joining the investigation?"

"The Rubaenu Ducal Family's Knight Order Captain investigating with the capital guard? No thanks."

"But you said you saw a heretic? How'd you know?"

"More suspicious is your letter."

Benzel darkened.

"A Belak appearing in that square at that time. At least A-rank minimum."