Chapter 8
8
In other worlds, this is called a high-five, but here, they slap each other's palms when making a promise.
Sometimes they interlock fingers, and sometimes they even turn their interlocked hands over and kiss the back of each other's hands, but Nina had never made such a vow.
Adrian examined Nina's face and then released her hand.
Nina looked at Adrian's short sleeves and thought that when she made a lot of money later, she would have to get Adrian some clothes.
'Actually, Adrian probably knows more about clothes than I do.'
Even in this place, in this situation, Adrian's attire was always neat.
Even if it was old and didn't fit, he knew how to wear clothes so that he didn't look dirty or shabby.
He smiled and said.
"Good night, Nina."
"Good night, Adrian."
Nina escorted him to the front door. Closing the door, Nina threw herself onto the bed.
'So, Case Number 3 has passed...'
Nina was now starting to worry about Case Number 4.
The Jet-Black Knights annihilated.
They were just starting to look like a proper knighthood, wasn't this too much?
She felt wronged, but sleepiness came first.
Nina fell into a deep sleep.
When morning comes, the routine is always the same.
Training, breakfast, and patrol.
Her partner, Jin, looked down at Nina.
A mercenary by birth, he had a fiery temper like his red hair, but he was also very sentimental.
His bear-like physique was noticeable everywhere.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Yeah."
Nina replied lightly. She then asked.
"Jin, what has to happen for us to be annihilated?"
"You're saying scary things?"
"It's just a hypothesis."
"Did you have a strange dream or something?"
Nina's expression became strange.
"You could say that..."
Can memories from another world be considered dreams?
Jin replied, "You're just weak, so you're having strange dreams. Eat meat, eat meat."
After a normal day, Nina helped with paperwork.
Nina and Jin were the only ones in the knighthood who weren't illiterate, so they often helped Louis and Adrian.
The vice-commander, Louis, said.
"We're excluded from the Exchange Tournament again this year."
"The Royal Knights are taking it?"
"Yes."
Adrian chuckled.
"I find it interesting that they think it's an insult to us. I'm more grateful that they don't invite us."
"It's an honor given to the knighthood representing the territory."
"Honor."
Adrian said, spitting out the word, and tapped the desk with his fingertips.
"Hearing that makes me think we should pick out an elite squad."
It seemed like an impromptu remark, but everyone except Nina knew it wasn't.
"An elite squad?"
Nina asked, tilting her head, and Adrian nodded.
"We gather the best and rank them. Without competition, they'll become stagnant."
"It's hard to become stagnant in this situation, though."
To survive the fight with Bellac, they have to be fierce. Adrian shook his head at Nina's words.
"It shouldn't end with just surviving."
They have to look beyond that, to the next step.
Adrian knew well that it was the leader's job to set goals for that.
A few days later, a notice for the elite selection was posted at the Jet-Black Knights' quarters.
It was a group specially created to fight higher-level Bellac, and they would be provided with long coats to resist the poison.
The Jet-Black Knights' uniforms were black from head to toe because they were dyed and processed with a special plant that prevented contamination from Bellac's poison.
Thanks to this, the Jet-Black Knights were somewhat free from contamination.
This special plant was a specialty of the Violet Forest, so only the Jet-Black Knights of the Louveaen Dukedom were given uniforms dyed with this special plant.
Taking it a step further, an elite squad was created to provide long coats that blocked strong poison.
The elite knight selection test was held over several days, and the members were named at the founding ceremony of the elite knight squad. The final number of elite knights selected was less than ten.
Jin and Nina's names were also on the list.
A week later, Nina, who had received her long coat, burst into laughter.
"It's too big!"
"You'll grow into it."
Jin said with a grin. Nina folded the dragging hem of the coat and tied a belt around her waist. She decided to just ignore the sleeves.
Giving her a long coat that covered her fingertips, wasn't that too much?
But knowing that the tight knighthood budget wouldn't allow them to tailor clothes for her several times as she grew, Nina just nodded.
"I have to grow quickly."
To fight Bellac, ordinary weapons didn't work well.
They needed Rengsi Steel, a special steel made in the Rengsi Kingdom.
The Jet-Black Knights' budget was always tight, so their swords only contained about 10% Rengsi Steel.
The ones given to the elite squad were a little better, about 15%.
This was because the higher the level of Bellac, the harder the outer skin and the higher the regeneration rate.
'Ah, I'm sure there's a mine somewhere in the Violet Forest.'
I know there's a mine that produces 'Clairon', which is better than Rengsi Steel, but I don't know where it is.
I only know that Fiona found it by chance.
'I can't just rummage through the forest.'
If I meet a high-level Bellac alone, I'll die.
Really.
Literally.
'I should look for it wherever my feet take me.'
Besides, even if I find a mine, I have no way to process it.
'Still, it's good to look for it so that I can respond immediately if I find a way or route to process it later.'
I hope it's nearby.
'15% is this good, how good would Clairon be?'
Then Kirill gestured to Nina.
"Kirill, what's wrong?"
Even the rough Jet-Black Knights were polite in front of Kirill.
As the only healer in the knighthood, they had no choice but to be polite to the person holding their lifeline.
In contrast, Kirill was always rough. Still, he wore a neat white gown, and the pipe never ran out of leaves, probably because he received supplies separately from the outside.
"You're going into the Violet Forest today?"
"Yes."
"Then look for this plant."
Kirill handed over a piece of paper. It was a delicately drawn miniature.
"This kind of plant? What are you going to use it for?"
"Herbal research. I've dissected enough humans, so I think I can do other research."
I've cut them up enough, Kirill shook his head.
Nina felt a strange chill and nodded.
"Of course."
Looking at the miniature, she also remembered something.
The reason why the heroine, Fiona, made the Louveaen Territory a well-off territory in an instant was because she used plants found in the territory.
It would be good to find them in advance and grow them in advance.
'I don't know when Young Master will become the Duke...'
Thinking about it made her depressed.
Will Adrian really kill his family?
With his own hands?
'I don't want that.'
I'd rather Nina kill them instead, I don't want Adrian to be called a parricide.
Thinking about what the Duchess did makes me shudder, but still...
If Adrian cuts down his half-brother and his own father with his own hands...
'I don't want it for Adrian's sake either.'
But if he doesn't, he can't become the Duke?
Because the Third Young Master is still alive?
'Should I stop full-scale cultivation...'
I should just poke around in advance so that I can use it later when Adrian becomes the Duke.
'Or a rebellion? A coup?'
But there's no justification.
Nina sighed deeply. Kirill frowned.
"Why is a kid sighing?"
"Ah, there's something Kirill doesn't know."
Kirill looked at Nina's clothes, which looked like she was wearing someone else's, and chuckled.
The long coat made Nina look even younger.
"Yeah, how can I know what's in the mind of a fifteen-year-old kid?"
Nina pouted. Kirill, unconcerned about Nina's state, continued.
"The rumors about the territory aren't good these days."
Kirill puffed out smoke. Nina subtly avoided the smoke.
"What rumors?"
"That they have a lot of debt, that creditors are coming and going. They're losing every time at the Exchange Tournament, and they don't even participate in the Imperial Tournament."
Nina stared at Kirill. I've thought about it before, but Kirill is really unique.
Why is such a capable person working in the Jet-Black Knights?
He seems to have separate connections to the outside, and his skills don't seem to be lacking anywhere.
"Kirill, why are you here?"
I blurted it out and wondered if it was a rude question, but Kirill replied nonchalantly.
"Because I can dissect humans as much as I want."
"..."
Nina, speechless, said, "Um," and turned her gaze to the miniature.
"I'll bring it if possible."
"Do that."
Nina put the miniature in her arms and thought.
'Why is no one sane?'
It's a tragedy.
