I Am The Commander Of The Second Male Lead’s Knights - Chapter 8

Chapter 8
In the rest of the world, this is called a high-five. However, here, putting our palms together is a gesture we make whenever a promise is made.

They often put their fingers together and sometimes even kiss each other on the back of their hands. Yet, until now, Nina has yet to make such an oath.

Glancing at Nina’s face, Adrian let go of her hand.

Noticing Adrian’s tight sleeves, Nina thought to herself, to buy clothes that fit him when she had a lot of money later on.

‘Honestly, Adrian is more knowledgeable about clothes than I do.’

Even in such a place, Adrian’s clothes and outfits are still neat.

He knew how to dress in such a way that it does not feel dirty or scruffy even though it may not be fitted for someone of his stature.

He grinned and said.

“Goodnight, Nina.”

“Goodnight, Adrian.”

Nina saw him off at the door. Closing the door, she flung herself onto the bed.

‘I’ve finally completed the 3rd incident…’

Now, Nina started to worry about incident number 4.

The annihilation of the seven dark knights.

Now that he’s got the figure of a knight, isn’t it a bit too much for such a thing to occur?

Despite feeling unjustified and unfair, she unconsciously fell asleep.

Nina fell into a deep sleep.

***

It is almost the same thing every morning.

Training, breakfast then patrol.

Her partner, Jean, looked down at her.

As a former mercenary, he had a fiery personality, well-suited to his red hair, but he was still exceptionally talented and skilled.

His large bear-life figure stood out everywhere that it was almost hard to miss him.

“Did you have a good rest?”

“Sure, I guess so.”

Nina replied casually, following up by asking a question as well.

“Jean, what would happen should we be annihilated?”

“He must’ve been saying scary things, right?”

“No, I’m just stating a hypothesis.”

“Then, did you have a strange dream?”

Nina’s expression seemed to change strangely.

“It must be true then…”

Is it possible to think of the memory of another world as a dream?

Jean replied with a mocking tone, “I had a strange dream because I was weak. Here, eat some meat. Meat.”

After the usual day, Nina went to help out with the organizing of documents.

As Nina and Jean were illiterate amongst the knights, they would usually help Louis and Adrian.

Louis, the deputy commander commented.

“For this year’s exchange meeting, we’ll all be participating except myself.

“You’re going to be in charge of the knights?”

“Yes.”

Adrian smirked.

“It’s interesting to think that that’s considered an insult. I’m rather grateful for not being the one called.”

“But it’s an honour given to the representative knight of the territory.”

“Honour…”

Adrian mouthed out, his fingers drumming the desk as he thought.

“Hearing that…It makes me want to choose a separate person to be an elite.”

To anyone else, it would have sounded like an impromptu sarcastic remark, however, Nina was the only one who knew it wasn’t”

“An elite?”

Adrian nodded when Nina asked, clarifying her doubts.

“The main aim is to group up everyone, grade and single out those who are talented. After all, if they have no competition, they will soon be wiped out.”

“It’s hard to selectively choose and single out talented people in such a situation.”

To survive a fight with Bellacs, one has to be tough and fierce. Adrian shook his head upon hearing Nina’s words.

“You can’t simply just survive during a fight.”

After doing that, you have to plan the next action.

Adrian knew for a fact that it is the leader’s job to set goals and train for them.

A few days later, the seven dark knight’s quarters were notified of the selection of the elites.

To create a group of knights specifically created and trained to deal with high-class Bellacs.

In other words, they are placing a large bet in order to fight an even larger evil.

A dark knight’s uniform is black from head to toe. The dye used on it is made from a special plant that prevents contamination from the poison used by Bellacs.

Thanks to this, the dark knights were at least free from one of their main issues. Poisoning.

The special plant is specifically found in the Violet forest and is used as dye on the uniform. A uniform that is only given to the Seven Dark Knights of Luvwayne.

From then on, the elite chosen were given the long coat created to prevent strong poison.

The selection of elites would take place throughout the duration of a couple of days, with the members chosen and called out during the ceremony for the creation of elite knights. In the end, the number of elite knights chosen was less than ten.

Within the few, the names of Jean and Nina were present.

***

A week later, when Nina was passed the long coat, she burst out in laughter.

“It’s too big for me!”

“It’s fine, you’re going to grow to fit it.”

Jean grinned widely as he spoke. Nina folded the hem of her drag coat and put on a belt. Ignoring the hand he reached out.

The long coat he passed to her that was so long it covered her fingertips. Isn’t that really too large?

However, with the knight’s strict budget, she knew that it would be impossible to fit her still-growing body multiple times so Nina just nodded her head.

“I’ll just have to grow up quicker then.”

Normal weapons do not work well against the Bellacs.

Hence, special steel made in the Kingdom of Lengshi was needed. Lengshi Steel.

The budget for the seven dark knights has always been tight, resulting in the black Lengshi Steel content in their blades only be about 10%.

At least the budget for the elite group is somewhat better, with the blade being around 15%.

This was because the higher the class of the Bellac is, the strong their outer skin and the higher their regeneration become.

‘Ah. I’m pretty certain that there’s a mine somewhere in the Violet forest.’

She knew that there is a mine with better minerals than Lengshit Steel but she had no idea where its exact location is.

All she knew was that Fiona had chanced upon it before.

‘But we can’t simply just go wild and scour the entire forest for the sake of one mine.’

Then, when she meets with a highly skilled Bellac alone, she will search for it.

Really.

Seriously.

‘I’ll try my best to find it anywhere I can reach whenever I am able to freely roam.’

Moreover, even if the mine were to be found, there would be no way to process the minerals in it.

‘No, it’s better to at least look for it whenever possible so that when it is found, the speed of the response would be quicker to find a way and method to process it.’

She deeply wished that she could be posted to somewhere close at least.

‘A 15% blade is pretty alright but how good will such knowledge be in comparison?’

Then, Krill beckoned for Nina to follow him.

“Krill, what’s happening?”

No matter how rough or tough the dark knights were, they were always polite in front of Krill.

After all, he is the only healer in the Knights. They have no choice but to be polite to him as he is someone who can be the reason they lose or hold onto their lives.

Krill, on the other hand, was always on the rougher side. At least Krill adorned a white gown as leaves that were blown in from the outside covered his pipe.

“You’re going into the Violet forest today?”

“Yeah.”

“Then do help me keep an eye out for these plants.”

From his pockets, Krill fished out a piece of paper with a delicate painting on it.

“A plant that looks like that? What are you going to use it for?”

“For the Journal of Herbal Research. Now that manpower has been quite evenly divided, more research in other sectors can be done.”

After explaining, Krill shook his head.

Nina nodded, somehow feeling a small shiver run down her spine.

“Of course.”

His gestures seem to remind Nina of her as well.

Fiona, the heroine, had very quickly turned Duke Luvwayne and his land into a well-off and pretty prosperous territory as she used the plants found at the estate.

It will be a good idea to find and grow the plant in advance.

‘I don’t know when you’ll become a duke, but…’

The thought of such a thing made her mood drop.

Will Adrian really kill his family?

With his own two hands?

‘I don’t like that.’

If Nina herself were to be given the chance to kill instead of him, she would do it in his stead. After all, she did not want Adrian to have to endure even more suffering.

Thinking about just what the Duchess makes her shudder, and yet…

If Adrian were to be the one to cut down his half-brother and biological with his own hand…

‘I don’t want that for Adrian.’

But if he doesn’t do that, then he would not be able to become a Duke?

Since the other heir is still alive?

‘Complete refinement and cultivation should be stopped, yet…’

She will just have to persuade him to use it in advance in case he becomes a Duke later on.

‘Will it be a rebellion? Or coup d’etat?’

However, there is no way to justify such actions.

Nina sighed loudly and heavily whilst Krill frowned.

“What a youthful sigh.”

“Ah, that must be something that you’re unfamiliar with, Krill.”

Krill glanced at Nina’s clothing that seemed as if she were wearing someone else’s and smiled.

Nina looked younger and smaller due to the size of the long coat.

“Yes, how would I be familiar with how a fifteen-year-old looks?”

Nina stuck out her tongue at him upon hearing his words. Ignoring her actions, Krill continued.

“There’s been a bad rumour about the Duke going around these days.”

Krill puffed out a line of smoke. Nina slipped away for the direction the smoke was blowing.

“What rumour?”

“Like a lot of debt, and about how the debtors keep coming and going. Plus, it is also said that during exchange meetings, they keep losing time and time again that they are no longer participating in the Imperial Tournament at all.”

Nina stared at Krill, shocked. She had thought it before, but Krill was very unusual and unique.

Why was such a talented man working for the Seven Dark Knights?

He seemed to have a network of connections outside, places, where she did not believe her skills at this point in time, would be able to get to.

“Why the hell are you staying here, Krill?”

She had thought that she had asked the question in such a rude manner, yet Krill replied calmly.

“I’m able to tear people apart to my heart’s content here.”

“…”

Speechless, Nina attempted to change the topics and divert from what they were talking about. “Well…”

“I’ll bring the plant if I’m able to find any.”

“If you say so.”

Nina thought, putting away the piece of paper with the painting.

‘How come no one here is in the right state of mind?’

What a shame.