The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 89

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 89

Chapter Title: Shattered Spirit Fragment

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“Really? Here?”

His laboratory it was not—this was the Rubaenu Ducal Family's townhouse.

There weren't many research materials available, yet he said he could finish it. Nina found herself admiring Randell's abilities anew.

Randell shook his head.

“To make the finished product, I'd need materials. But if it's just for a short time, I think I can manage somehow.”

“A short time... until we return to the territory, maybe?”

“That should be about right.”

Randell swept his hair back.

He was working on creating a sealing circle to seal the spirit fragment. Nina quietly rose onto her tiptoes to peek over his shoulder.

“Can I come in and open a window?”

“Mm, no.”

The room gave off a clear vibe that no one was allowed inside during his research, so Nina tilted her head and looked at him.

“No?”

“No.”

“Then maybe you could open the window yourself...”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“If wind blows and the papers fly away, it'll be a hassle.”

“Oh, that's why.”

Nina looked at him with concern. Randell preferred meeting her golden eyes.

They seemed to swirl with endless light from within. If he stared, mesmerized, it would never end, so he desperately squeezed his eyes shut.

“Go on now.”

“You're so heartless.”

“Heartless?”

He wondered how to explain just how superhuman an act it was for him to have opened the door during his research.

Normally, he would have ignored anyone—a hundred out of a hundred, even the emperor himself.

The only reason he had come out, faced her, and spoken was that she was the one person who didn't annoy him.

“You are eating properly, right?”

“Yeah.”

Nina narrowed her eyes.

“Bread and water don't count as a meal.”

“No, it's really fine—ack?!”

Suddenly, she yanked his arm. As she dragged him out of the room, Nina spun around and slammed the door shut with her back.

Boom—!!

A heavy explosion erupted from inside. The whole house buzzed and trembled, dust falling from the ceiling.

“Holy...”

Nina peeled her back off the door. Randell leaped forward, flung the door open, and rushed inside. Nina followed behind him.

“Randell? Cough, cough. What the heck happened?”

“The barrier broke. The material durability must have been too weak after all.”

“The barrier breaks with an explosion like that? That's dangerous. Don't do stuff like this in the townhouse room.”

“Nina, don't move. I can't see the orb.”

At his words, Nina grimaced and froze in place. Meanwhile, people gathered in a clamor at the door.

“Nina? What happened?”

“Lady Nina, are you all right?”

“Captain?”

“Yes, yes, I'm fine, and so is Randell. It was nothing, so you can all go back.”

Nina waved off Jin, who was trying to enter.

“No. Jin, don't come in. It's just—”

At that moment, something bumped her toe, and Nina crouched down, waving away the smoke with her hand.

“Randell, it's here.”

“Wait, Nina, don't touch—”

Nina held up the crystal orb in both hands. Her face was scrunched up, clearly displeased, but aside from that, it seemed fine.

“Nina, you okay?”

Nina nodded.

It felt disgusting, like handling a lump of rotten meat, but otherwise, it was fine.

“Aside from the gross feeling, it's fi—”

Her cheerful words cut off abruptly.

The orb in her hands began to glow brightly and ignite.

“Nina! Don't!”

“I'm not doing anythi—”

Nina squinted her eyes.

Her energy started draining away rapidly. The two lines of the spirit contract etched on her arm lit up in rainbow colors simultaneously.

‘These things?’

No, was a spirit allowed to force someone like this?

Her vision went pitch black for a moment.

-I am the true proxy!

-Begone, Nodolu.

Flashes of light and words flashed by in bursts.

-To you, a heavy burden—

-Instead, I shall grant you a gift.

It was the voice from her dream.

-I bestow my blessing upon you.

-You alone believed in me. Therefore—

Her body could no longer withstand the energy draining away, and Nina dropped to one knee.

She didn't even register kneeling.

Dizzy...

Then, the buzzing in her head stopped dead, and a single phrase rang out powerfully.

-Perish.

The next instant, with a crack, the crystal orb shattered, and its contents vaporized and scattered in an instant.

Kieeek—.

A small scream echoed.

“Gasp!”

Nina braced herself with both hands on the ground. Her vision spun wildly.

“Nina!”

Someone scooped her up in an instant. Just from the arms wrapping around her, Nina knew who it was.

“Adriaaan...”

“What the hell are you doing!”

His voice was fierce. Nina pouted, feeling wronged.

“No, I didn't...”

The words "do anything" wouldn't come out properly.

Instead, she went limp and mumbled,

“I'm hungry.”

Adrian furrowed his brow but said nothing more and started walking through the crowd.

“Everyone, go back to your duties.”

At his word, the servants exchanged glances and dispersed, while Jin and Lui sent the knights away.

Randell followed behind.

“It's my fault. There was a problem with my experiment... Is Nina okay? Nina.”

Nina weakly raised her hand as a sign that she was fine. Her hand trembled from hunger.

“Nina is fine. Randell-sha, go check on the laboratory.”

“No, more importantly, Nina—”

It was the first time he'd seen Nina collapse or get hurt right in front of him, and Randell's hands shook, his stomach churning.

How could the Rubaenu Duke stay so calm?

‘My strength is fading more and more. Is it because the tension's wearing off?’

Nina closed her eyes and let her body slacken. But her mind raced.

‘The fragment is gone.’

Annihilated.

It wasn't purification like a saintess, but she had erased it.

‘No, it said only a saintess could do it. No one else.’

Then why could I?

And what was that voice?

‘Does that mean I can annihilate fragments? Because I contracted with two high spirits? But at this energy cost...’

As she grumbled inwardly, Nina realized she hadn't lost consciousness this time.

‘Better than last time.’

The threat was completely eliminated, and she was unscathed.

She was hungry, but wasn't this a fair trade-off?

Once they reached the kitchen, the maids bowed in panic at the sudden appearance of the master.

“Something quick to eat. Anything.”

“Master, we'll prepare it and bring it up. Please go to the dining room.”

The butler from Viscount Chara's estate rushed over, sweating profusely, and pleaded.

“At least give her something to drink first.”

Randell darted into the kitchen, moved about with practiced ease, and came back with sugar water.

The maids fretted, “No, that precious sugar,” and “Oh dear, the sugar,” but no one dared stop the young master in front of the duke.

“Nina, can you drink this?”

She didn't need to be treated like a critical patient, but Nina still drank the sugar water he held to her lips.

“How is it? Feeling better?”

Randell's eyes shook too much, drawing a laugh from Nina.

Nina giggled and reached out to lightly touch his cheek.

“I'm perfectly fine.”

Only then did relief wash over Randell's face.