Chapter 09

From then on, every time Nina entered the forest, she carefully examined the plants around her.

Whenever she found a plant that the heroine of the original novel had discovered, she dug it up and transplanted it into a small garden of her own.

“One day, when you become Duke, we’ll use all of these to restore the duchy together.”

Nina said it with a bright smile.

Adrian looked at her quietly.

“When I become Duke?”

“Yes.”

“And if I don’t?”

“Then we’ll just use them here.”

She shrugged as if it were the simplest thing in the world.

“What’s there to worry about?”

Adrian gazed at her little garden for a long moment before speaking again.

“Nina.”

“Yes?”

“Do you want me to become Duke?”

“Hmm…”

She frowned thoughtfully before answering in a quiet voice.

“…No.”

His rose-colored eyes settled on her.

They were so breathtakingly beautiful that Nina unconsciously held her breath before continuing.

“I want Adrian to smile.”

His eyes widened.

Then he laughed.

“You always wish for the hardest things.”

“What’s so hard about it?”

“I’m here, aren’t I?”

Nina planted her hands confidently on her hips.

Adrian looked at her as though he had just realized something.

“…You’re right.”

“You are.”

“See?”

Nina happily rambled on about all the plans she had for her little garden.

Adrian listened to every word with complete sincerity.

Year after year, Nina’s garden grew larger.

Before long, the members of the Black Knight Order had become accustomed to seeing all sorts of strange plants growing there.

Transparent fruits harvested from the garden…

Oil pressed from special oil trees…

Those ingredients were used to make powerful lamps.

Compared to ordinary lanterns, these burned brighter and filled the air with the pleasant scent of wood instead of smoke.

Meanwhile, Nina herself had grown considerably.

Her long coat finally fit her properly.

Adrian, however, had grown even taller, standing more than a head above her.

Although the supplies arriving from outside became poorer with each passing year…

The Order had become increasingly self-sufficient.

Ironically, life was now more comfortable than before.

Nina smiled to herself.

This isn’t bad.

You’ve done well, Nina.

At least…

That was what she believed until today.

Nina slowly crouched down.

“…Damn.”

She let out a long sigh.

That rough language was a habit she’d picked up from Jin.

All around her stretched the familiar sea of violet.

The Violet Forest.

At its center stood the pristine white cube-shaped building, each of its six faces embedded with shining jewels.

The Barrier.

Normally, the ground around it was covered with fallen leaves.

But now…

One section had been completely cleared away.

There—

An intricate magic circle had been drawn.

Nina carefully searched the surrounding area like a hunting dog tracking prey.

Nothing.

No footprints.

No signs of people.

Only the magic circle remained.

No ordinary person ever came to this cursed forest.

Much less dared to tamper with the Barrier.

Except…

Mad cultists.

“…We’re seriously screwed!!”

Her shout disappeared into the silent forest.

No one answered.

Squatting there alone, Nina grabbed fistfuls of her short brown hair.

After a moment, she groaned and straightened up.

“Come on, Nina…”

“How could you overlook something this important?”

She let out another heavy sigh.

This was the one disaster she absolutely had to prevent.

4. Because of the villain’s scheme, the Black Knight Order is annihilated.

+ Adrian suffers emotional wounds that can never be healed.

I have to stop this.

Nina narrowed her eyes.

It’s definitely this magic circle.

The intricate design beside the Barrier was far too elaborate to be dismissed as coincidence.

When did someone even sneak in here and draw it?

No…

Nothing has happened yet.

Right?

The important thing was that she had discovered it early.

If she reported it immediately…

There was still time to stop everything.

Now eighteen years old, Nina had grown into a tall, slender young woman.

Her long coat suited her perfectly.

Her brown hair had grown to her shoulders.

Just as her older sister once did for her, she tied it into twin braids.

It didn’t look nearly as elegant as when her hair had been longer.

Still…

She refused to stop wearing it that way.

It reminded her of her family.

Of the gentle hands that used to braid her hair.

“…?”

Suddenly…

She felt someone watching her.

In one smooth motion, Nina drew her sword and scanned her surroundings.

Nothing.

The forest remained silent.

What was that?

She slowly backed away without lowering her guard.

Then—

Her vision blurred.

A wave of dizziness washed over her.

Poison!

She’d been hit.

The ground suddenly collapsed beneath her feet.

She began sinking into smooth, muddy earth.

Instinctively, she pushed off with her legs to escape—

Something wrapped around her ankle.

“…!!”

Her vision swam.

Grinding her teeth, she swung her sword.

Even as the hidden trap yanked her violently upside down…

Her blade sliced cleanly through the vine binding her ankle.

The severed vine snapped back.

Its momentum hurled Nina through the air.

Like a cat, she twisted her body and landed gracefully.

“Ugh!”

A stabbing pain shot through her ankle.

It felt as though someone had driven a knife straight through it.

Blinking tears from her eyes, she couldn’t help cursing.

“Damn it…!”

“That hurts…”

“Seriously…”

“My ankle’s done for.”

If Adrian had heard her, he probably would have sighed.

“Are you still copying Jin’s way of talking?”

But Adrian wasn’t here.

Besides…

When something hurt this much, curses came naturally.

Fortunately…

Or perhaps unfortunately…

Her opponent wasn’t the person who had drawn the magic circle.

It was a plant-type Bellak.

Moments ago it had looked like an ordinary vine.

Now it resembled a gigantic carnivorous plant.

No…

More like a man-eating plant.

The enormous vine lashed toward her again.

Bellaks—

Corrupted lifeforms—

Hated humans instinctively.

Whenever they encountered one…

They attacked without hesitation.

Nina glared at it.

“If Jin scolds me again because of you…”

“Are you taking responsibility?”

He had warned her countless times not to patrol alone.

My ankle’s injured.

I’ve inhaled poison.

Every time the creature shook its giant leaves…

Invisible, odorless poison spread through the air.

“O North Wind!”

“With your unmatched speed…”

“Blow everything away!”

Cold wind erupted around her.

It would only weaken the poison temporarily.

She had to end this quickly.

“O Frost!”

“Breath that freezes all things…”

“Grant my blade your cutting cold!”

A layer of frost instantly coated her sword.

Grinding her teeth, Nina cut through the charging vines one after another while dodging those bursting from beneath her feet.

Finally—

She reached the creature’s main body.

With a single slash…

She severed it completely.

Green smoke hissed into the air.

The Bellak slowly dissolved into a foul-smelling sludge.

“Urgh…”

Nina staggered backward.

The stench was unbearable.

Her eyes burned.

Her nose stung.

I need to get back…

She called upon North Wind once more.

The icy wind wrapped around her body, making her feel almost weightless.

Although she could barely use her injured ankle…

The wind carried her swiftly through the forest.

Along the outskirts of the Violet Forest stood several small fortresses.

Patrolling between them was one of the Black Knight Order’s regular duties.

By sunset…

She finally reached one of them.

Oddly enough…

Jin, one of the elite knights, happened to be standing guard at the gate.

“Nina?”

Spotting her silhouette in the fading light, he called her name.

The instant she heard his voice…

All the tension holding her together disappeared.

She collapsed forward.

“I can’t walk anymore!”

Jin immediately sprinted toward her.

His massive bear-like frame and blazing red hair were unmistakable, even from a distance.

“Nina?!”

“Hey!”

“Are you okay?!”

His voice was rough with panic.

Then he saw her pale face as she struggled for breath.

His expression changed instantly.

“My ankle…”

“I think I inhaled poison too.”

Jin reached toward her.

Nina quickly shook her head.

“The poison might still be on my clo—”

“Eek?!”

Without another word…

Jin stripped off his own long coat and wrapped her tightly inside it.

With the difference in their size, she ended up bundled like a child inside an enormous blanket.

“Ow…”

“Be gentle!”

He lifted her anyway.

“You’ve got enough energy to yell.”

“Guess you’re not dying yet.”

“What have I always told you?”

“Huh?”

“…Don’t go off alone.”

“Exactly!”

“So why don’t you ever listen?”

“Our rule is two people per team.”

“Even the new recruits know that.”

Panting heavily, Nina found herself silently agreeing with every word of Jin’s lecture.

Once they reached the fortress infirmary…

Kirill frowned the moment she saw her.

“Why are you always the one getting hurt while you’re alone?”

“…Good question.”

Nina gave an awkward laugh.

“I’ve been wondering the same thing myself.”