The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 8

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 8

Chapter Title: Elite Knights Selection

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In other worlds, this is called a high-five, but here they clap their palms together when making promises.

Sometimes they even interlace their fingers, and on occasion flip the interlocked hands to kiss the backs of each other's hands, but Nina had never gone that far with a vow.

Adrian scrutinized Nina's face before finally releasing her hand.

Nina glanced at Adrian's crumpled sleeve and thought that once she made a lot of money, she should have clothes tailored for him.

'Actually, Adrian probably knows more about clothes than I do.'

Even in a place like this, in situations like these, Adrian's attire was always neat and tidy.

Even if the clothes were worn out or the wrong length, he knew how to wear them without looking dirty or shabby.

He flashed a grin and said,

"Good night, Nina."

"Good night, Adrian."

Nina saw him off to the door. After closing it, she flung herself onto the bed.

'And just like that, Incident Number 3 has passed...'

Now Nina began to worry about Incident Number 4.

The total annihilation of the Ebony Knight Order.

They'd finally started looking like a proper knight order, and now this? It felt too harsh.

She felt indignant, but sleep came first.

Nina fell into a deep slumber just like that.

Morning brought the same routine as always.

Training, breakfast, and patrol.

Her partner, Jin, looked down at Nina.

A mercenary at heart, he had a temper as fiery as his red hair, but he was full of compassion.

His bear-like bulk made him stand out anywhere.

"Sleep well?"

"You bet."

Nina answered lightly. Then she asked,

"Jin, what would have to happen for us to get totally wiped out?"

"You're talking some scary shit."

"Just a hypothesis."

"Have some weird dream?"

Nina's expression turned peculiar.

"You could say that..."

Could she think of memories from another world as dreams?

Jin replied, "You're just worn out, that's why the weird dream. Eat some meat, meat."

After the usual day ended, Nina helped with paperwork.

Among the knight order, the only ones who weren't illiterate were Nina and Jin, so they often assisted Lui and Adrian.

Vice-Captain Lui said,

"This year, we're excluded from the exchange meet too."

"Royal Guard Knights handling it?"

"Yes."

Adrian let out a smirk.

"What's interesting is they think it's an insult to us. I'm actually grateful they didn't invite us."

"It's an honor given to the knight order representing the territory."

"Honor."

Adrian spat the word out and tapped the desk with his fingertips.

"Hearing that makes me think we need to select an elite unit."

It sounded offhand, but everyone except Nina knew it wasn't.

"An elite unit?"

As Nina tilted her head and asked, Adrian nodded.

"Gather the skilled ones, rank them. Without competition, they stagnate."

"Hard to stagnate in this situation, though."

To survive fights with Belak, they had to stay sharp. At Nina's words, Adrian shook his head.

"Survival alone isn't enough."

They had to look beyond that, to what came next.

Adrian knew it was the leader's job to set goals for that.

A few days later, a notice for elite selection went up at the Ebony Knight Order barracks.

It was a special group formed to combat upper-rank Belak, and they would be issued longcoats to resist the poison.

The Ebony Knight Order's uniforms were black from head to toe, dyed and processed with a special plant that blocked Belak's poison contamination.

Thanks to that, the order had some freedom from contamination.

This special plant was a specialty of the Violet Forest, supplied exclusively to the Rubaenu Ducal Family's Ebony Knight Order.

Now, they were taking it a step further with longcoats for elites to block stronger poison.

Over several days, elite knight trials were held, and at the inauguration ceremony, the members were named. Fewer than ten made the final cut.

Jin and Nina's names were on the list.

A week later, upon receiving her longcoat, Nina burst into laughter.

"It's too big!"

"You'll grow into it."

Jin grinned as he said it. Nina folded up the dragging hem and tied it with her belt. She decided to ignore the sleeves.

Issuing a longcoat that covered her fingertips—wasn't that overkill?

But knowing the knight order's tight budget couldn't afford multiple fittings as she grew, Nina just nodded.

"Gotta grow fast, then."

Normal weapons didn't work well against Belak.

They needed Lengsi steel, a special alloy from the Lengsi Kingdom.

The Ebony Knight Order's budget was always tight, so their swords contained only about 10% Lengsi steel.

The elites got slightly better ones, around 15%.

Higher-rank Belak had tougher hides and higher regeneration.

'Ah, right—there's supposed to be a mine somewhere in the Violet Forest.'

She knew there was a mine producing 'famed steel' even better than Lengsi steel, but not its location.

Just that Fiona had stumbled upon it by chance.

'Can't just comb the forest blindly, though.'

She'd die if she ran into a high-rank Belak alone.

Literally.

'Gotta at least scout around wherever I go.'

Even if she found the mine, processing it was another issue.

'Still, better to locate it now for when processing methods or routes open up later.'

Hopefully it's nearby.

'15% is this good already—how amazing would famed steel be?'

Then Kiril beckoned to Nina.

"Kiril, what's up?"

Even the rough Ebony Knight Order was polite around Kiril.

As the only healer in the order, they had to be courteous to the one holding their lifelines.

Kiril, in contrast, was always gruff. Still, her white robe was impeccably worn, and she must have gotten resupplies from outside, as her pipe never ran out of leaves.

"Heading into the Violet Forest today?"

"Yes."

"Then look for this plant."

Kiril handed over a paper. It was a finely detailed illustration.

"This plant? What for?"

"Herb research. I've dissected enough humans; time for something else."

She shook her head, saying it was getting boring.

Nina nodded, feeling a chill for some reason.

"Of course."

Looking at the illustration reminded her of something.

The heroine Fiona had turned the Rubaenu Ducal territory into a prosperous land overnight by exploiting a plant found there.

Find it early, cultivate it early—perfect.

'Not sure when the young master will become duke, though...'

The thought made her gloomy.

Would Adrian really kill his family?

With his own hands?

'I don't want that.'

If anyone was going to kill them, she'd do it herself before letting Adrian be branded a family traitor.

Thinking of the duchess's deeds made her teeth grind, but still...

If Adrian slew his half-brother and real father with his own hands...

'I don't want that for Adrian's sake either.'

But if not, could he ever become duke?

Because the third young master was still alive?

'Maybe skip full-scale cultivation...'

Just stockpile some now to use later when Adrian takes over.

'Or a rebellion? Coup?'

But no justification.

Nina let out heavy sighs. Kiril narrowed her eyes.

"What's a kid like you sighing about?"

"Ah, stuff Kiril wouldn't know."

Kiril eyed Nina's outfit, which looked like she'd borrowed adult clothes, then chuckled.

The longcoat made her look even younger.

"Yeah, how could I understand a fifteen-year-old brat?"

Nina pouted. Ignoring it, Kiril continued,

"Rumors about the ducal territory aren't good lately."

Kiril exhaled smoke. Nina subtly dodged it.

"What rumors?"

"Piles of debt, creditors coming and going. Losing every exchange meet, not even entering the imperial tournament."

Nina stared blankly at Kiril. She'd thought it before, but Kiril was peculiar.

Why was someone this capable working for the Ebony Knight Order?

She seemed connected outside, and her skills were top-notch.

"Kiril, why are you really here?"

It slipped out, and she wondered if it was rude, but Kiril answered calmly.

"So I can dissect humans to my heart's content."

"..."

Speechless, Nina muttered "Mm" and turned to the illustration.

"I'll grab some if I can."

"Do that."

As Nina tucked the illustration into her bosom, she thought,

'Why is everyone around here insane?'

It was lamentable.