Chapter 40
40
After being hit on the back by Kirill every day for treatment, Nina realized that no Jet-Black Knights member had the ability to beat her.
'Maybe Young Master?'
Nina tilted her head and thought of Adrian.
'Ah, I miss him.'
She missed those rose-colored eyes, shadowed with a deep darkness.
The sound of delicate fingers turning pages of documents, the sound of a sharp pen scratching paper, the hand that stroked her just right.
'This is happening after only a day. It's a disease, a disease.'
Nina sighed deeply and looked at Jin. Jin was still restless, pacing around the greenhouse.
"Jin, it's no use staying there."
Jin strode over to Nina and asked,
"Did you know Kirill is from Bluestone Island?"
"If Jin doesn't know, how would I?"
"You're different. But Kirill is from Bluestone Island? She's a complete elite? Why is she working as a doctor in the Jet-Black Knights?"
"So she can dissect people as she pleases?"
At Nina's words, Jin replied with a sullen face, "Can't argue with that."
Nina laughed.
"I thought Kirill was amazing, but she's even more amazing than I thought."
To think such talent would be blown away by an explosion.
Just then, a flash of light burst from inside the greenhouse.
"!!"
Nina and Jin simultaneously rushed into the greenhouse. Working in perfect sync, they blocked Kirill's front and sides as soon as they spotted her.
'Wow.'
Nina blinked her eyes wide.
She didn't know where it came from, but a celestial model made of glass was spinning in the air.
'Is that magic?'
She didn't know if it was magic itself or a magical medium. But Randel was nowhere to be seen.
Kirill said to them,
"It's okay. We're not fighting."
"Seriously, who uses magic in this cramped greenhouse?"
Nina grumbled, and the model in the air began to rotate.
"Winter, be a mighty shield that puts life to sleep!"
Nina chanted and drew her sword, and with a light 'pang!' sound, something collided with her shield.
Too light of a hit to be called an attack.
"Don't mess around."
At Kirill's words, Randel revealed himself.
'Why is he naked from the waist up??'
Nina looked at Randel in bewilderment.
Randel without his glasses was so handsome that Jin seemed flustered and asked, "Is that the same guy from before?"
Randel was looking at them with a very annoyed expression.
Kirill said, holding up a stick,
"Stop playing in my greenhouse. I'll apologize for provoking you first."
Randel looked at Kirill with cold eyes, then looked at Nina.
Their eyes met, and Nina said,
"If you attack any further, I will consider it a hostile act."
Nina held her sword diagonally. Whether it was Randel or anyone else, if they fought with Kirill and damaged the estate, it was a different story.
Randel stared at Nina, then took out his glasses from his sleeve and put them on.
"I apologize."
As he apologized, he flicked his sleeve, and the glass Armillary sphere turned into a stream of light and disappeared into his sleeve.
Despite Randel's apology, Nina did not lower her sword.
"What on earth is going on?"
Nina asked, and Kirill lightly patted her shoulder and said,
"Sorry. I provoked him this time. I casually cast a little magic, and he got angry... Tsk tsk, these young people have no patience."
"Kirill..."
"This old woman will work hard to make up for it."
With a deep sigh, Nina put her sword back in its sheath.
Jin lowered his sword but did not put it back in its scabbard.
"Are either of you hurt?"
At Nina's question, Randel replied, "I'm fine," and Kirill also shook her head, saying, "Not even a scratch."
"If that's the case. I really can leave you two alone, right?"
After receiving confirmation from Kirill and Randel, Nina dragged Jin, who had a stiff expression, out of the greenhouse.
Randel waved at Nina as she left and said, "I'll come see you soon."
Jin followed Nina, who was walking briskly, and said,
"Is it really okay to leave them alone? Isn't that guy completely crazy?"
"If Kirill says it's okay, it must be okay. Would Kirill say it's okay if it wasn't?"
"You never know."
Jin swept back his hair.
"Anyway, Kirill can use magic too..."
Nina shook her head in confusion.
"Isn't magic only used by a very small number of people?"
"As far as I know, only Sages can use it?"
Jin and Nina looked at each other and shrugged.
"She'll explain it."
"Right."
Nina rubbed her forehead and said, "My morning sleep is all gone," and turned her gaze to the sky.
It was already bright dawn, and the sound of people in the castle moving busily could be heard.
"Let's go get breakfast."
\ \ *
Nina's time passed quickly.
She drilled the new knights every morning, and after spending all day processing documents as the acting Duchess, night came again.
She was organizing documents in the Commander's office when she heard a knock on the door, and Nina looked up and said, "Come in."
Raja, a new Jet-Black Knights member, opened the door and entered.
His purple hair was so striking that she recognized him immediately. Following behind him was...
'Another newbie. His name was Kell, right.'
His pink hair was also easy to remember.
If she were to cut the top three from the new recruits, it would be Raja, Kell, and one other person.
Those were the only three with the potential to become elites among the new recruits.
Raja had a two-block haircut and sharp eyes, giving him a delinquent vibe, while Kell had droopy eyes and a puppy-like impression, making for a good contrast between the two.
After entering, they introduced themselves in turn. Nina accepted their greetings and asked,
"What's wrong, you two?"
They had entered with great enthusiasm, but when they stood before the Commander, Raja clamped his mouth shut.
Kell, standing behind him, glanced at him and stepped forward.
His silver hair shone like moonlight among the dark furniture of the Commander's office.
Like a Frost fairy or an Arctic queen.
'Scary.'
That was Kell's honest thought. And at the same time, admiration.
There was no knight who didn't admire a strong knight. Especially if that knight was the commander of their own order.
Kell felt like he had come with a pointless story and swallowed hard. He was known for being sociable, but the Commander was difficult.
"Didn't you come to say something?"
At Nina's prodding, Kell opened his mouth.
"I was wondering if we could change rooms."
"Rooms?"
Seeing the Commander leaning back in her chair, Kell felt choked up. He glanced at Raja next to him, and the guy who had been so confident just a moment ago, saying, "Great! Let's go change rooms right away!" was now frozen stiff. Kell blurted out without realizing it,
"I'm fine, but Raja is very uncomfortable and wants to change."
"What? Hey! When did I ever!"
Raja's voice rose sharply in embarrassment.
"Raja definitely said so."
Kell raised his voice as shamelessly as possible.
Nina rested her chin on her hand and asked,
"So, is what Kell is saying true or not?"
"W-Well, that is, I mean..."
Seeing Raja stammering, Nina chuckled.
"Both of you coming to the Commander's office with such a problem. You're full of energy. I guess your training was insufficient."
At Nina's words, the faces of the two new recruits turned pale.
"I'll solve the problem by increasing the amount of training tomorrow. Then the room won't be a problem."
Because you'll be too busy passing out.
I'm telling you, I didn't even give Tae Yang time to rest and just kept pushing him.
And I endured all that pushing alone.
Okay? She waved her hand, clearly signaling them to leave, and the two greeted her with faces as if they had seen a ghost and went outside.
As soon as the door closed, she heard bickering about how it was all his fault, and she burst out laughing.
'Since we've already selected guys who have skills...'
Their skills will improve quickly, and more importantly, they need practical experience.
I should take them to the Violet Forest.
Speaking of the Violet Forest, her thoughts returned to Adrian.
'It's already been three days.'
I wonder if they've found him by now?
