The Knight Commander of the Second Male Lead [Novel] Chapter 97

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 97

Chapter Title: That Was Just a Dream

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"...."

Adrian's face twisted as if he had no idea what to say, then he let out a sigh.

"Yeah, you're right."

"Right? Even using spirits to catch them off guard... Hmm, they won't go down that easily."

No matter how hard she thought about it, she couldn't picture herself being helplessly stabbed by a sword and gasping, Huhk... How could this happen?

"Besides, if just dreaming about it is like this, can you really do it for real?"

Adrian took Nina's hand, which was cupping his cheek.

"You're right."

"See? The moment I had that dream, I was like, What kind of nonsense is this?"

Her straightforward tone made the lump in his chest unravel. Nina continued.

"And if Adrian wanted to kill me, he wouldn't do it himself."

Adrian's eyes widened.

"Why would I ever kill you?"

"Then why stab me?"

"That's—"

Adrian paused mid-sentence, and Nina's eyes narrowed.

"What? Another dream thing? Well, there's no way Adrian would stab me out of hatred."

"How could I ever hate you?"

"Exactly!"

Nina leaned in and whispered again.

"So? What was the reason in the dream?"

"To protect you."

"...Huh, so I was stronger, right?"

"No, not in the dream. And, um..."

Adrian trailed off, lowering his gaze.

"Adrian, look at me."

At her words, he lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"That won't happen. And honestly, I'm the one who's worried..."

Nina's golden eyes flickered strangely.

"About me doing that to you. Adrian, you're too precious to me."

Nina blinked and sighed.

"You threw yourself away."

At the time, it had seemed like the only way.

They could have just run away together. But somehow, they had to stop this incident here—the one that would topple his greatest pillar.

That was all she could think about.

Fortunately, things had worked out.

"Don't ever do it again."

His grip on her hand hurt, but he held it tight.

"I know. I won't. If you thought I did—"

Nina's eyes widened in surprise.

"How come you didn't even hit me once when I came back?"

"It's been two years."

First came rage, then sorrow, then longing, then resentment.

Before that, there was only endless darkness like a plummeting cliff.

As Adrian leaned in closer, their foreheads bumped with a soft thud.

"Thank you for coming back, Nina."

"Thank you for waiting. For not getting mad."

Nina grinned.

He pulled back and said,

"Talking it out makes me realize it was a really foolish worry."

"Feel lighter now?"

"Yeah."

Maybe that's why he'd planned this solo trip with her—to have moments like this.

After breakfast, they doused the fire with sand and water.

As they packed up and loaded the One-Horned Horse, Nina asked quietly,

"Why haven't they come?"

She meant the enemies, so Adrian answered easily.

"We might need to head to an even more remote area."

"Hmm. Then let's buy provisions in the next village and move fast."

"Sure."

With their plan set, they hurried to a nearby village for supplies.

Riding side by side, they galloped down the long road.

Even camping and sleeping outdoors felt enjoyable. Summer nights with Nina were cool, free of bugs.

Adrian wished they could ride like this forever.

Sitting by the campfire under the moonlight, listening endlessly to her stories was nice. Pretending to be someone else while sharing his own tales was nice too.

Riding abreast during the day was nice, watching her long hair flutter was nice.

Even rough bedding and hardtack tasted sweet.

Adrian truly realized how much he needed Nina.

Like a seed in barren desert blooming rapidly upon the long-awaited rain, he felt his inner world growing richer each day.

The shrinking distance to Silver Lake Castle felt regrettable.

"Why the hell aren't they coming?"

Nina frowned as she took the grilled fish Adrian offered.

The fresh-caught fish sizzled with oil on the surface.

"It's hot."

"Yeah... Oh man, this looks delicious."

Nina blew on the fatty flesh sprinkled with salt and its crispy, golden skin.

"I think we need to go farther. Or rather..."

Recalling that he hadn't sensed any presence since yesterday, Adrian said,

"I think they're ahead, waiting for us."

Nina's eyes widened, then she took a hearty bite of the fish.

"Ah, hot hot, huff huff."

"Eat slowly."

"It's so good. The flesh is all chewy."

She devoured the fish he'd split and deboned, and Adrian offered another.

Already, five or six more were grilling around the fire.

They were ones he'd caught during the day. He'd taken a rest day thinking the presences might not catch up, but still nothing.

Of course, they could be experts skilled enough to evade detection, but that seemed unlikely.

Even if beyond their sensing range, they couldn't hide from the wind, the air, or North Wind.

Nina had scoured a 3km radius, finding only animals.

They were racing through mountains and forests devoid of people.

Normal horses couldn't handle the terrain, but the One-Horned Horse could.

"So tomorrow, maybe? They must be waiting for us to enter the Ducal lands."

But at this rate, they'd reach Silver Lake Castle.

"They wouldn't try something near the castle, right?"

"That's possible too. Because—"

"Once they think the mission's done, their guard drops."

That's why you always watch that final step.

Whether cooking in the kitchen, descending a mountain, or in battle.

The moment you think it's over, that's when you slack.

That's when you get hurt.

So you stay vigilant until the very end, until the next moment after completion.

"But wouldn't that risk more civilian casualties?"

"Heretics who care about that aren't Heretics."

"Annoying..."

Nina sighed deeply. Adrian said,

"So from tomorrow, we should stick to the proper roads."

Nina nodded, taking another fish.

"Yeah, let's do that."

Ordering Adrian around felt pretty fun.

"Kell..."

"We know."

Nina eyed the sunken, crumbling road.

Stones littered the path, threatening to snap cart wheels.

A well-paved road was the hallmark of public works.

"Are we still poor...?"

"Still, yes."

"Ugh—."

Nina threw her head back. But the farmers working the fields looked bright.

Filled with hope for the future.

Seeing the green wheat fields made Nina proud too.

That's my pro tip.

Of course, Adrian and Kiril deserved credit for planting and multiplying the seeds.

The farmers they passed doffed their hats and bowed deeply.

No one in the Ducal lands was ignorant of what black uniforms meant.

Silver Lake Castle loomed in the distance.

The vast Silver Lake stretched to the fountains within the estate.

Returning stirred childhood memories.

When she was eight and Adrian nine, they'd met here and stayed five years.

"Nothing's changed."

"You can only see the outer walls."

"Exactly, nothing's changed."

"Not enough time for the walls to change."

They set up their final camp by the lakeside.

Crimson sunset swirled with deep purple clouds, painting a majestic scene.

Against it, Silver Lake Castle gleamed across the water.

Adrian paused gathering firewood and straightened.

"Nina."

"Got it."

No need to hide that he was Adrian anymore; they felt at ease.

Cool mist rolled in like clouds along the ground.

"Poison gas?"

"No. Just cold. Really cold."

Staying in it would lead to hypothermia or slowed movement from the chill.

They slowly backed away from the advancing fog by the lake.

Then something rose from the mist.

Bluish and translucent...

Nina's expression hardened. Adrian frowned too.

"Human?"

"Yeah, but humans don't become Belak."

Yet the figure before them retained a human shape.

Wearing a tattered dress with loose hair, parts of its body were rotting.

Blue flames leaked from empty sockets, its jaw hung loose with a long tongue protruding.

Flickering translucent, it looked ghostly.

Nina drew her sword.

This feels like it's gonna be a hassle.