Chapter 36
36
To say she had defeated over a hundred people didn't mean it took a lot of time, but looking at the clock, a considerable amount of time had passed.
As she went on, the faces of the remaining people turned pale, and Jin felt sorry for them.
The Jet-Black Knights members were also sweating profusely. Since they already knew Nina, they could feel how strong she had become.
'Yeah, they must be wondering what's up with that.'
Her strength was monstrous, her technique was incredibly precise, and her body was light, agile, and fast.
Moreover, she was defeating that many people without using a single Spirit.
After defeating everyone, Nina dragged those who passed to one side and gathered them together.
"I'm hungry!"
At Nina's shout, Jin went to the servant and told him to steam a lot of potatoes.
While Nina was in the Captain's office reviewing the documents of those who passed, the servant brought a tray full of steamed potatoes.
The mountain of steamed potatoes was delicious, but Nina felt sad.
"I wish that at least when I said I was hungry, something other than steamed potatoes would come."
"We don't have money."
Jin said nonchalantly. As the second son of the Merchant Guild, and having once managed the Duke's accounts, he was cold when it came to money.
"Then at least steam them with salt."
"I'll suggest that."
Nina sighed deeply and ate the potatoes. She was hungry, so anything would taste good, but she was still a little sad.
That sadness soon disappeared as she ate her fill.
Jin, with a completely satisfied face, brought Nina a cold juice as she slumped down and said,
"Well, good job."
"Uh-huh."
Her tone was full of sarcasm, but Nina decided to forgive him with the juice he brought.
She got to exercise, relieve stress, and pick people.
It was a win-win-win.
As she drank the juice with water droplets on the surface in one gulp, she involuntarily made a "Kya!" sound.
Jin snatched the empty juice glass and asked,
"But is it okay to only pick that many?"
"Huh?"
"Isn't the number of people too small?"
"I already made the cut-off a bit generous. Otherwise, I would have only picked the first three."
Nina grinned.
"Well, we can train them."
At those words, Jin's memories of hellish training resurfaced, and his whole body bristled.
'Comrades are increasing.'
'No, isn't it a bit much for a newbie and the vice-captain to be treated the same?'
'No, you'll fail if you stand on such pride.'
Jin shook his head inwardly. Wasn't there something more important than that?
He wanted to fight shoulder to shoulder with her, not just look at her back.
For that, he could put aside his pride. As Jin was firming up his resolve, Kirill entered the Captain's office.
She was wearing a white gown, looking as stylish as ever.
"They're all fine, considering they were hit in the vitals. Only the guy who got hit first will have to live on soup, the rest are okay."
"Well, I hit them gently."
Nina winked, saying, "Eyy." Kirill continued,
"I sent back all the guys whose bodies were okay."
Jin asked, puzzled.
"Didn't anyone protest?"
"Would they?"
Kirill pointed at Nina with her chin, and Jin nodded, saying, "I guess not."
Besides, Kirill was used to dealing with the rough people of the Jet-Black Knights.
She must have used Nina's name to her advantage.
He was worried that there might be a massive protest, but it seemed difficult to protest after fighting 100 to 1 and losing.
'Yeah, I wouldn't be able to tell anyone out of embarrassment.'
As Jin was understanding, Kirill took out a letter from her pocket.
"And a letter came from Bluestone Island."
Nina took the letter she handed over and examined the envelope.
[Randel]
The two-letter name was clear.
"Huh? Really?"
Nina quickly got up.
"Why, what's wrong...?"
Nina chuckled at Jin's words, which were a beat late.
"You can speak informally when it's just us."
Jin shook his head.
"No. What if I make a mistake when the newbies are around?"
"Okay, then. Whatever."
She didn't bother pointing out that he had already spoken informally by saying, "No," and nodded casually.
Nina confirmed the name Randel again.
The male protagonist.
'Wow, I didn't expect to get a reply from the person himself. I didn't think it would happen.'
Originally, she was supposed to meet the female protagonist through the flora and fauna of the Violet Forest, but she might not be interested now...
'But it's him. Wow. Huh?'
Nina tore open the seal and read the letter, then frowned.
Jin asked with an embarrassing level of formality, "What's wrong? What happened?"
"No, a Sage is coming to our territory."
"What? Why are they?"
Jin immediately blurted out informally in surprise. Realizing his mistake, he cleared his throat and asked again.
"No, what's the matter?"
"They said they became quite interested after receiving the plant specimens and reports I sent."
Nina finished reading the letter. The scheduled departure and arrival dates were written there.
'Tomorrow? They're arriving tomorrow?'
"Are we ready to welcome guests? Why are they coming so fast? No, shouldn't they ask if they can come first?"
Weren't nobles supposed to make appointments in advance?
Nina frowned, thinking so.
'I need to tell Adrian.'
But that Adrian isn't here?
Nina folded the letter.
"They're scheduled to arrive tomorrow."
"Tomorrow? Are they crazy?"
Jin widened his eyes. Kirill snorted.
"Sages are all like that. Selfish and stubborn bastards."
Nina looked at Kirill at her rough language.
"That sounds like a voice filled with personal grudges."
"By this age, there's no place where you haven't made a grudge."
"Kirill, shouldn't you rethink your life?"
"You little rascal."
Kirill poked Nina's forehead. Nina screamed with laughter, "Ugh."
Jin shook his head.
"Anyway, they're really unwelcome guests. I hope they don't bring strange news."
Nina chuckled at Jin's grumbling and shook her head.
"Don't worry. It would be nice if they could do research for us instead."
She sent the letter hoping they would do research for her, but she never thought she would get a reply so quickly.
"I need to tell him. To prepare the guest room..."
'I need to go to Lord Louis,' Nina thought, getting up from her seat. This was news that had to be delivered as quickly as possible.
As she left the Captain's office, a man squatting in front of the door jumped up.
Lilac hair and navy blue eyes.
He was one of the people she had passed earlier. His name was definitely on the documents...
"Raja Kota."
Raja, who never expected the Captain to know his name, quickly crossed his arms in an X shape and bowed.
"R-Raja Kota, sir!!"
"Yeah, what's up?"
"I came to thank you for your teachings."
"I didn't really teach you anything."
"N-No. Just seeing such divine power made my heart race, I feel like I'm going to die!"
"You can't die."
"Thank you!"
Nina tilted her head, thinking, 'Is he not understanding me?' then chuckled.
"So, is that all you wanted to say?"
"Yes, yes!"
"Okay. It was nothing. Go in and rest. You'll have to start training from tomorrow."
Training!
At those words, Raja's eyes lit up. He looked at Nina with eyes full of admiration and said,
"Yes!"
Jin looked at him with a sullen face, then followed Nina and said,
"I think he's weird."
"He seems a bit loud and doesn't understand well."
"That's what's weird."
"No, that's different from being weird."
Nina frowned, saying it was too much, and Jin shut his mouth with a "Hmm."
Anyway, they were now fellow knights, so there was no point in badmouthing him.
"It's okay, it's okay. They'll all listen if you beat them up."
Jin felt a chill run down his spine at Nina's next words and swallowed.
'Yeah, they'll all listen well after going through that training.'
While Jin was thinking that he didn't need to do anything to unite the newbies, Nina turned her gaze towards the Violet Forest.
The Young Master had heartlessly left for the forest before dawn without saying goodbye.
