The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 88

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 88

Chapter Title: Knightly Discipline

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He told him to take Kel to the infirmary and come back.

In the meantime, the two of them heard Shallo's story. Shallo's cheeks were bright red, her eyes glistening with tears.

It seemed embarrassing to tell such a story in front of Nina.

After hearing Shallo's account first, Nina furrowed her brows. Then, upon hearing Raja's side, she let out an exasperated sigh.

With only the two of them left, Jin said with a serious face.

"So, Shallo smashed the guy over the head with a beer mug."

"That's right."

"But she had good reason to, didn't she?"

"Yeah, she did."

"And Kel got hurt trying to stop it."

"Victim, you could say."

"No, but he went through all that training, so why'd he get hit in the forehead?"

"Right?"

Nina rested her chin on her hand, and Jin asked cautiously.

"You're not going to punish them, right?"

"Hm, I need to think about it."

Nina glanced at Jin and said.

"Jin, you can go now. I'll talk to Kel myself."

Normally, he would say, "No, I'll stay." But with Nina gone, it was a good chance for him and Sir Lui to talk alone.

After hesitating, Jin nodded.

"Got it."

"Yeah, yeah. Go on and gossip about me."

"It's not gossip."

He corrected himself and left the room.

"Hm..."

The summarized story went something like this.

The three of them were drinking at the pub when they overheard talk about the Ebony Knight Order.

There was plenty of good talk at first, but as the positive voices grew louder, negative ones started up too.

"Uh, they said some really bad things about you, Captain."

Shallo said that with teary eyes, while Raja mumbled something like, "It was sexual stuff," without looking up.

Unable to hold back any longer, Shallo stood up.

"Take it back. Apologize."

The guy responded to Shallo with an insulting remark.

Shallo held back and demanded he correct the facts about the Captain, but he spat out unspeakable things about Nina instead. At that moment, Shallo smashed the beer mug over his head.

And then the brawl started.

Kel, who tried to mediate in the middle, ended up taking a hit to the forehead instead. Seeing that, Shallo and Raja lost it and...

'Hm...'

Nina stood up and headed to Kel's room. When she knocked, Shallo opened the door.

"Everyone's inside?"

At Nina's words, Shallo flung the door wide open.

"Come in."

As Nina entered, Kel quickly stood up.

"How's the wound?"

"It's fine thanks to the medicine. Almost healed."

He lifted his light pink bangs to show her; only a faint pink mark remained.

"Good thing. If it had been a bit lower, it could've hit your eye."

"I'll be more careful from now on."

Nina turned to Shallo and Raja. Raja stood with his chest puffed out, showing no intention of leaving, while Shallo looked unsure of what to do in this situation.

"Sir Shallo."

"Yes, Captain."

"A knight striking someone over the head with a beer mug without warning deserves punishment."

"But!"

Shallo jerked her head up.

"He said bad things about me?"

Nina's golden eyes fixed steadily on her. Shallo nodded.

"Yes, really harsh things."

"Hm, but you said there was praise before that."

"Yes..."

"You accept the praise about me but go beat up the slanderers? In the end, it's all just talk from others."

"It's different!"

"It doesn't affect me, so it's the same. Their praise doesn't make me a good person, and their curses don't make me a bad one. Shallo, don't let it get to you."

"But if that's the case-."

Her mint-colored eyes blazed fiercely.

"Then what about innocent people who get bullied and driven to death because of rumors? What about that?"

Her voice grew pained, squeezed out toward the end.

"Why does that happen...?"

Nina parted her lips slightly.

She reached out with both hands and cupped Shallo's cheeks.

"Shallo Lem."

Her contorted face looked up at Nina.

"I'm not saying reputation doesn't matter. I'm saying it doesn't affect me. That kind of bullying doesn't touch me, and I don't suffer because of it."

It's okay, Shallo.

"You were worried, huh."

Nina smiled and pulled her into a hug. Shallo buried her face in Nina's shoulder like a child. Kel and Raja looked awkward, glancing around unsurely.

Nina turned her gaze and beckoned Kel over.

Meaning to come closer, Kel approached cautiously.

"Sir Kelloyian, you knew that guy was an instigator, right?"

Raja looked up with an "Huh?" and Kel said shamefacedly.

"I thought he might be."

Nina reached out, patted his head, and continued.

"But that doesn't mean you need to get hurt. Don't do it again."

"...Yes."

His voice grew smaller.

At this rate, he wasn't much different from Shallo crying on her shoulder. Raja said with a sullen face.

"Instigator? Then why'd you let him hit you? Why not hit back?"

"What if he goes around yelling he got beat by an Ebony Knight Order member? Better if we're the victims."

"We laid them all out anyway?"

"Now it's mutual."

Kel pointed to his forehead, and Raja's face crumpled.

"You're really pissing me off."

Then Raja stomped out. Kel shrugged.

"I'm hated now."

"M-Me too, I'm mad."

Shallo lifted her head from Nina's shoulder. As Nina let her go, Shallo looked straight up at Kel.

"Kel got hurt, and it feels like it's all my fault, so I'm mad. And super worried. But you got yourself hurt?"

"Huh?"

"That's what makes me mad. What about our worry and concern?"

Kel stared at her, utterly flustered.

His usually calm olive-green eyes wavered unusually.

Nina watched with great interest.

He fiddled with his earring on his right earlobe out of habit. After a moment, he said quietly.

"I didn't think it'd upset you because of me."

"Yeah, that's why I'm mad."

At Shallo's words, Kel fell silent, and Nina wrapped it up.

"Alright, all three of you are getting punished."

Shallo turned to Nina in surprise.

"It's all my fault. They didn't do anything wrong. They just got caught up."

"Still. Clean the basement tomorrow, all three of you."

Basement cleaning.

It was the kind of punishment students might get, so Shallo clamped her mouth shut.

As she tried to say something more, Kel grabbed her shoulder and said.

"Understood. We'll make it spotless."

"Good. Start early tomorrow morning. No need to tell Raja separately."

"Yes, I'll let him know."

Kel politely held the door open for Nina as she left. Nina chuckled softly as she stepped out.

'I wonder if Sir Lui felt like this watching me and Adrian.'

They were good kids worth raising.

'No, saying I was a good kid might be a stretch.'

Haha, she laughed inwardly as she headed upstairs. She climbed the stairs briskly, then stopped and backpedaled.

"Randell? You alive?"

When she called softly outside his door, it opened after a long pause. Randell stood there looking utterly exhausted.

"Alive."

"You look like you crawled out of a coffin."

"Even I think so, so I can't argue."

His bright, clear blue eyes and sparkling blonde hair somehow looked wilted.

"Don't even wanna ask if you're okay. Wanna head to the rooftop for a bit?"

At that, Randell hesitated, glanced back, and made up his mind.

"No, a bit more and it'll be done. I'll finish it."