The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 94

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 94

Chapter Title: The Decoy Mission

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“Not that side, but couldn't we lure out the heretics?”

Randell had completed the sealing circle, but it required specific materials.

By tracing the distribution paths of those materials, one could conclude that 'the Duke possesses a spirit fragment.'

Heretics targeting the spirit fragment would surely attack.

“So, Nina, I'm planning to split our group into two.”

“A fast-moving elite squad and a team traveling at average speed, right?”

“Exactly.”

“They'd normally target the elite squad first.”

“Yeah. They'd assume it's rushing the important, dangerous item.”

Nina replied brightly.

“Please entrust it to me.”

“There's no one else I'd trust with it.”

“But leaving the Young Master behind... Hmm, no. I've decided to rely on the others too. I'll leave him in their hands.”

“Heretics are likely to deploy Belak in their attacks.”

“Probably. I'd better pack some spare uniforms.”

Nina answered in a relaxed tone. Lui asked,

“How many do you plan to bring?”

“Two or three.”

“Understood.”

Lui nodded, figuring that sounded about right.

“One-Horned Horses will make for quick travel.”

“If we go too fast, the enemies might not catch up. We'll have to pace ourselves.”

So they agreed to slip away at dawn.

The three conversed briefly.

Lui said regretfully,

“It'd be great if Randell-sama came along too.”

“Intense riding like that is absolutely out of the question for him.”

At Nina's words, Lui nodded. “Yeah, you're right.”

There was no way a Sage could match a knight's endurance.

Once the discussion wrapped up, Nina pondered who to bring.

Jin is the Vice-Captain, so he stays. Kel or Pan would be easiest.

But taking Pan might leave Jayden too isolated.

Kel, then.

She made her decision and informed them.

The day of departure arrived swiftly.

Before dawn broke, when the world was still bathed in a bluish glow before sunrise, two One-Horned Horses appeared before the townhouse.

Nina, seated atop one with her hood pulled up, let out a sigh and said,

“This was the plan?”

“If the Captain permits it.”

The hooded figure—no, the masked one—was not Kel, but Adrian. Even disguised, there was no way Nina wouldn't recognize him.

His deferential posture suggested he was pretending to be a squad member. Adrian slightly lifted his hood. Their eyes met—peridot green—and Nina swallowed hard.

His bangs swayed lightly, a pale purple just like Kel's.

What manner of trickery was this? Nina feigned composure and said,

“Don't come crying to me if Lui chews you out later.”

“The steward, chewing me out?”

Adrian sounded genuinely surprised, and Nina exhaled a breath that was half sigh, half laugh.

Adrian tugged the front of his hood down to shield his eyes and asked,

“Is it a problem if I come along?”

Nina couldn't help but laugh at the question.

“No, I'm just feeling sorry for the poor guy.”

Didn't that mean Kel was stuck impersonating Adrian now?

“He'll manage.”

At Adrian's reply, Nina laughed and urged her One-Horned Horse forward. The pair trotted side by side down the deserted road.

In the cold air, the One-Horned Horses' hoofbeats—duller than iron-shod horses—rang out crisply.

The city gates weren't open yet, but showing the ducal crest got them through.

The soldiers, spotting the One-Horned Horses alone, recognized them and saluted.

Once outside the gates, the two exchanged a quick glance and broke into a swift gallop down the broad road.

“To think the fragment has fallen into the hands of the Rubaenu Duke...”

The Protector could do nothing before the Cult Leader but bow his head.

The heresy that worshiped fallen spirits was led by the Cult Leader and his four Protectors.

The Leader rarely showed himself, leaving the Protectors as the true wielders of power—but even they bowed low before him.

“I'm disappointed in the Third Protector.”

“Cult Leader, I swear I will make amends for this.”

The plan to hand a fragment to the mage for experimentation had been progressing smoothly until that damned 'Star Sage' shattered it.

They'd hurriedly dispatched men to recover it, but no trace remained.

Then they discovered the Rubaenu Ducal Family secretly procuring materials for sealing the spirit fragment.

Surveillance began immediately after.

Rumors spread of them rushing back to their territory without waiting for the grand ball.

The Third Protector prostrated himself, forehead to the ground, pleading with the Leader.

“...Very well. Recover it at any cost. Should you fail...”

The unspoken threat hung heavy; the Third Protector felt cold sweat trickling down his back as he replied,

“I will not disappoint you.”

“See that you don't.”

At the Leader's gesture, the Third Protector backed away on his knees.

He gnashed his teeth.

The Third Protector—no, Baron Berg—breathed heavily in rage.

That insolent whelp!

Baron Berg chewed his lip thinking of the Rubaenu Duke. To suffer such humiliation because of him...

When he'd first heard that a green boy had slaughtered his family and claimed the ducal seat, he'd dismissed it as absurd gossip.

The Rubaenu line is finished.

A bastard atop the ducal throne? Ridiculous.

Who would even acknowledge the Rubaenu family as dukes now?

Everyone was buzzing with such talk, and Baron Berg had eagerly piled on.

That grotesque, monstrous face.

A bastard, sure—but didn't Belak's blood run in his veins?

They'd kept him locked in the basement and thrown him at a Belak to fight.

What appetizer could be sweeter than the downfall of one beyond reach?

Yet the Rubaenu Duke who emerged in high society was young and devilishly handsome.

And his knight order?

Still, a parricidal bastard.

No one would accept him, or so he'd thought—until the nobles turned on a dime, showering him with favor.

His burgeoning trade houses and ventures looked like golden geese.

The irritation when his fellow baldie, Count Toma, flaunted his lush locks smugly...

Hah—but this won't last.

Once the true spirit Nodolu descended and paradise bloomed upon the world, he would rule them all.

With a perfect vessel and immense power.

Then, all those now demanding his audience would grovel at his feet.

The mere thought lifted his spirits; he smirked.

To make it so, I must regain the Leader's trust.

He thought of the 'Ice Maiden.'

A shame to waste her here, but with failure intolerable, better to overplay his hand.

Hmph, the Empire's greatest swordsman?

Human, nonetheless.

No match for a mighty spirit's power.

“Third Protector.”

“What is it?”

“Just before dawn, two from the Ebony Knight Order rode One-Horned Horses out of the capital.”

He narrowed his eyes.

A hasty elite squad heading down.

A trap, perhaps?

Trap or no, seize the smaller group first. If no fragment there, take the other.

“Unleash the Ice Maiden.”

His aide swallowed hard before replying,

“Understood. For Nodolu's glory.”

“For the glory.”