The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 9

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 9

Chapter Title: An Ominous Magic Circle

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After that, whenever Nina ventured in and out of the forest, she meticulously examined the plants.

If she found any of the plants the original heroine discovered, she would bring them back and plant them separately in her field.

"Someday, when you become the duke, Young Master, we'll use these to revive the territory together."

Nina said with a beaming smile, and Adrian gazed at her.

"If I become the duke?"

"Yes."

"What if I don't?"

"Then we'll use them here, whatever."

What's there to worry about? Nina shrugged. Adrian looked at her small field and asked,

"Nina."

"Yes."

"Do you want me to become the duke?"

"Hmm..."

Nina furrowed her brow for a moment before whispering softly,

"No."

Adrian's rose quartz-hued eyes fixed on Nina.

Captivated by that enchanting, beautiful color, Nina swallowed and replied,

"I want Adrian to smile."

He widened his eyes, then laughed.

"Nina, you always wish for the hardest things."

"What's so hard about it? You've got me."

As Nina placed her hands on her hips, Adrian looked at her as if realizing something.

"You're right. I've got you."

"Exactly?"

Nina chattered on about the future of her field. Adrian listened to her seriously.

Nina's field grew larger each year, and the Ebony Knight Order members became familiar with the plants in it.

They used transparent fruits harvested from Nina's field and oil from the oil trees to make high-powered lanterns, among other things.

These lamps were brighter than others and emitted only a pleasant woody scent.

In the meantime, Nina had grown quite a bit, and now the longcoat fit her properly.

Adrian had grown even more, towering a full handspan above her.

Supplies from outside grew shoddier by the day, but with some level of self-sufficiency, life was more abundant than before.

Nina was pleased.

'This isn't bad at all. Good job, Nina.'

She thought.

Until today, that is.

Nina crouched down on the ground.

'Damn, this is bad.'

She let out a deep sigh. Her rough language had rubbed off from her comrade Jin.

All around her was purple.

The now-familiar Violet Forest.

In its center stood a snow-white cube building embedded with gems on each face.

The barrier.

Fallen leaves had originally piled up around the building. But now, on one side, the leaves were gone, revealing a vividly drawn magic circle that anyone could see.

Like a hunting dog tracking prey, Nina scanned the surroundings, but there were no other traces.

Just the magic circle.

No one would come to this cursed forest, let alone touch the barrier.

Except for mad heretics.

"This is really bad!!"

Even her shout echoed into silence.

In the uninhabited forest depths, Nina crouched and tore at her short brown hair.

With a groan, Nina straightened her back.

"Ah, why did I make such a mistake, Nina? Here. Like this."

She sighed deeply.

A problem she absolutely had to avoid.

[4. Because of the villain's plan, the knight order is annihilated. + He suffers an irreparable emotional wound.]

'I have to stop this no matter what.'

Nina groaned and furrowed her brow.

'It's the magic circle, right?'

Nina stared at the magic circle drawn next to the barrier. It was too intricately drawn to dismiss as coincidence.

Who the hell came in and drew this?

'No, nothing's started yet. Right?'

For now, she should head back and report it.

In a way, discovering it early meant she could definitely prevent it.

Now eighteen, Nina was tall and slender, and the longcoat suited her well.

Her brown hair had grown long enough to reach her shoulders.

She tied it into two braids like her sister used to, but it didn't look as good as when it was longer.

Still, she didn't give up on the braids. They reminded her of family and the touch of hands combing her hair.

"?"

Then, feeling a gaze, Nina instinctively drew her sword and scanned the surroundings.

No presence, all around was silent.

'What is it?'

She cautiously backed away, alert to her surroundings, when suddenly her vision distorted and dizziness overwhelmed her.

'Poison!'

She'd been hit.

Suddenly, the ground caved in beneath her, and she began sinking into smooth mud like being trapped.

The moment she reflexively tensed her legs to escape, something grabbed her ankle.

"!!"

Her vision blurred white, and Nina gritted her teeth, swinging her sword.

Even as her body was yanked upside down like in a trap, her blade precisely severed the vine.

With the vine around her ankle cut, her body flung outward from the centrifugal force.

Nina twisted in midair like a cat and landed balanced.

"Ugh!"

A stabbing pain like a knife wound shot through her ankle.

Blinking away tears, Nina cursed repeatedly.

"Gah, hack, ah, it really hurts. Damn, I can't use this ankle."

If Adrian saw, he'd say, "You still using Jin's speech?" but he wasn't here.

Besides, the pain made curses spill out uncontrollably.

Fortunately(?), the opponent wasn't the one who drew the magic circle, but a plant-type Belak.

It had looked like ordinary plants earlier, but now it resembled a giant carnivorous plant.

No, a man-eating plant?

The vine plant Belak, boasting huge leaves, shot out stems rapidly again.

Belak, corrupted lifeforms, harbored hostility toward humans and always attacked them.

"If Jin nags me because of you, you're taking responsibility, right?"

She'd heard "don't go alone" drilled into her ears endlessly.

'Ankle's busted, mobility's down. And I inhaled poison.'

With every shake of the giant vine plant's leaves, a colorless, odorless poison seemed to spread.

"North Wind! With your swift speed, blow everything away!"

As Nina chanted, a cold wind began to blow fiercely. It would block some poison, but the fight needed to end quickly.

"Frost! With your sharp breath that freezes and slices all—here!"

With that cry, frost formed on her sword.

Nina gritted her teeth, slicing the charging vines and dodging those sprouting from below.

Reaching the main body, she cleaved it in one stroke. Green smoke hissed out as the Belak melted gooily.

"Urk."

Nina recoiled from the foul stench. Her eyes and nose burned.

'Gotta get back fast...'

Nina limped along, calling the North Wind. The cold gust enveloped her, lifting her body lightly.

Unable to use her ankle properly, the North Wind allowed her to gain speed.

Fortresses dotted the edge of the Violet Forest, and patrolling them regularly was the knight order's duty.

As the sun set, she finally reached the fortress. Surprisingly, elite Jin was on gate duty. He spotted her.

"Nina?"

Spotting her silhouette in the twilight, he softly called her name. Tension released, Nina collapsed forward.

"I can't walk anymore!"

She yelled, and Jin rushed over.

His bear-like bulk and flaming red hair were unmistakable from afar.

"Nina? Hey! You okay?!"

Roughly approaching, he crouched and paled at her ashen, gasping face.

"Ankle hurts, and I think I got poisoned."

As Jin reached out, she shook her head. The plant's poison might still be on her clothes.

"Poison might be on my clothes—kya?!"

Jin removed his longcoat and wrapped her up tightly. Given their size difference, it was like bundling her in a large blanket.

"Ow, lift gently."

"If you can yell, you're fine. What did I tell you? Huh?"

"Don't go alone."

"You know, so why not listen? Why? Our rule is two-man teams. Even rookies follow that basic rule!"

Deeply agreeing with Jin's nagging, Nina panted.

Entering the fortress infirmary, doctor Kiril scowled.

"Why do you always come back injured alone?"

"Tell me about it."

Nina chuckled dryly.