The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 121

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 121
Magic woven with malice leaves traces that linger for a long time.
As Allen had said, the reason this place felt particularly eerie was because malice clung to the space itself like a stain.
‘Mana saturated with such thick malice.’
Kalid exhaled sharply.
‘It’s not mine.’
Only then did strength drain from my entire body. I slumped backward with a soft thud.
“Thank goodness…”
“What? Why are you like that?”
The memory of returning from the hot spring in Ipson, where I thought I had lost Rubian again.
Within that memory, I clearly heard the urgent sound of carriage wheels.
Beyond the carriage window, Rosetta Zebert’s startled face was visible.
The carriage incident was concluded to be the sole work of a single fugitive mage.
But there were unsettling inconsistencies.
The Duchess’s escort had been in perfect condition at the time, yet all the knights except her suddenly collapsed during the accident.
Thus the Duke raised the possibility of an accomplice, but there was no evidence to support that claim.
Kalid… honestly, I was terrified.
What if, in some forgotten corner of my past,
I had been an enemy of Zebert.
‘What if I was the mage who attacked the Duchess…’
And because of that… I would be separated from Rubian.
‘I’m truly relieved.’
Kalid wiped his forehead roughly with the back of his hand.
Finally, I could breathe freely.
“Hey, you… what’s wrong? Are you crying?”
“It’s sweat.”
“The Northern Region… is that hard on you? Damn it, you bastards! No matter how unlucky he is, you can’t just bully the kid like that! Tch! Let me go teach those brats a lesson…”
“Let’s go back.”
The young boy suddenly stood up.
Allen’s chattering mouth snapped shut.
“You weren’t crying?”
Kalid didn’t answer, instead brushing dust from his cloak.
With this, I could proudly wear Zebert’s knight uniform again.
As that fact came to mind, my heart felt warm. It was relief.
“Why would I need to cry.”
“True, you wouldn’t be the type to squeeze out tears cutely and whine like that.”
Kalid summoned two wolf-dogs and mounted one.
“Keep watch over the Kingdom. Let me know immediately if anything happens.”
“Hey! You’re leaving like this? What about the treasure! The hidden gold coins! My adventure—”
“What are you talking about.”
The acceleration spell shone brilliantly.
The Young Boy swiftly escaped the Valley.
“Yaaaah! You’re seriously not being bullied in the Northern Region, right?!”
I hate seeing my own son disrespected out there!
His frantic echo trailed behind him.
‘No, what kind of misunderstanding is this?’
Thinking it incomprehensible, Kalid accelerated further.
I should head back.
There were still many unclear points, but regardless, it was time to return now.
Of course, it wasn’t entirely fruitless either.
‘Academy professor—Yuliope, was it.’
He recalled the memo he’d tucked in his pocket. Now I had a reason to go to the Academy camp with Rubian.
‘Going back…’
Suddenly retracing his own thoughts, Kalid tensed his lips.
I’d never once thought about returning somewhere.
‘A place to return to. Where Rubian is.’
Not a bad feeling.
Kalid thought.
* * *
“Ro-ro-rose. If Rubian’s finger gets sliced off like whoosh….”
Grandfather paced nervously around the area.
Today’s Training Ground!
Today’s training instructor was Rosetta—my mother!
I’d been so bored recently that Mother had prepared this special lesson, though of course Grandfather absolutely despised it.
Spring was already drawing to a close.
I wiped away the sweat beading on my palms and drew the bowstring taut with determination.
“Father, people’s hands don’t get cut so easily just from drawing a bowstring. Besides, it’s a children’s bow.”
“B-but this little one taking archery lessons….”
“Liam and Void started even younger than Rubian, didn’t they?”
“Ugh….”
“Hiyah!”
I let out a sharp cry and released the bowstring with a twang.
The toy arrow had a round suction cup attached to its tip.
The arrow flew toward the center of the target with impressive momentum!
…or so I’d hoped, but unfortunately the arrow fell weakly without even reaching the target.
“Hmph. This isn’t working….”
“See, Rubian. Relax your shoulders and aim precisely at the target.”
“Um, yes. Let me try again.”
I sharpened my gaze once more.
“Hiyah!”
Whiiiish.
But once again, the arrow traced a pathetic arc before plummeting to the ground.
Mother stifled her laughter as she gripped my shoulder.
“Your battle cry is wonderful, but you must release the arrow quietly. If your breathing becomes unsteady, it won’t work well.”
“Ah, is that so?”
I held my breath until my face turned crimson.
But by the time I was ready to release the bowstring, I’d run out of air. In my desperation to gulp in a breath, the arrow flew off in yet another wrong direction.
It seemed I had no talent for archery whatsoever.
“This isn’t working…”
As I turned around dejectedly, Mother was wiping tears from her eyes while clutching her stomach.
Grandfather had also turned his head to the side, his shoulders trembling, his forehead completely flushed.
“You weren’t laughing just now… were you?”
“Ahem, cough. Of course not. Now, let Mother teach you. If you control your breathing while thinking of someone you absolutely… no, someone you despise… wouldn’t it be easier?”
My eyes narrowed.
‘Someone I want to tear to shreds?’
Well, I certainly had someone in mind.
I released the arrow while picturing the Mage King’s face.
Thunk!
The effect was remarkable.
The arrow struck the target dead center!
“Wow! It hit!”
“Well done, my daughter! How precious you are!”
Mother grabbed my arm and spun me around in circles. Grandfather clapped with a satisfied expression.
“There. Use this to shoot all those bug-like creatures who try to approach you. Understood?”
“Yes, yes. Well done, our daughter-in-law.”
I released another arrow with newfound confidence.
“Yes! Like thi—Eek!”
At that moment, a sudden gust of wind sent the arrow off course, embedding it in an unexpected place.
Right in the middle of someone’s smooth forehead.
“…”
The man plucked the arrow out with a soft pop.
I quickly turned back and whispered to Mother.
“Mother, what do I do? I think I just caught a very large bug.”
“Oh my. But since he’s quite handsome, shall we keep him anyway?”
“Eek, I agree.”
A large shadow approached with long, purposeful strides.
“How much longer will you two keep whispering?”
I laughed nervously and got to my feet.
As I dashed toward him, the man instinctively lowered his stance.
The purple mana stone and the pendant around his neck jingled softly.
“Father! You’re home!”
Summer had finally arrived.
* * *
After savoring the joy of reuniting with Father, I headed upstairs to my room to change clothes.
“….”
The moment I turned into the corridor where my room was located.
My footsteps came to an abrupt halt.
A familiar silhouette appeared in the distance.
“Did your archery practice go well?”
She approached with long strides and asked. She wore comfortable clothes, and the tips of her hair were slightly damp as if she’d just bathed.
“You know about that?”
I pouted my lips and spoke with obvious sarcasm.
Kalid paused for a moment, then trailed after me.
“…What’s wrong? Rubian, are you upset? Are you angry?”
“Someone who just tosses a note and leaves doesn’t care about my feelings, do they?”
“That was… because it was so early in the morning.”
I was a person with a terribly petty streak.
I knew I should welcome her when she returned… but.
Strangely, seeing her face made sharp words bubble up uncontrollably.
“…So that’s why you didn’t respond to my messages this whole time? Because you were angry? At me?”
Kalid asked with a visibly flustered expression.
Before grasping the doorknob, I rummaged through my pocket. The knotted ornament I always carried came out.
“Here, nameless little Knight. Take this and go back, would you? I have letters to write. I’m busy.”
“This is….”
Kalid’s eyes widened slightly.
The sword ornament embedded with a purple mana stone looked different from Father’s and the other Knights’.
I had practiced a new knotting technique and tied it differently.
It took longer than expected, but I managed to finish it the day before Kalid was supposed to leave.
Since it was so late at night, I couldn’t give it to her right away and planned to hand it over while seeing her off the next day….
Tch, what good does it do now.
“Is this for me? Did you really wait to give this to me on the day I left?”
“No, it’s just garbage. It’s worthless.”
My lower jaw jutted out involuntarily. I had developed a terrible habit of speaking sarcastically about everything.
Kalid fiddled with the ornament and hung her head low.
“…I’m sorry. I didn’t know about any of this.”
“Hmph!”
I turned my head away sharply and placed my hand on the doorknob.
“Oh, wait a moment, Rubian.”
Kalid beside me flinched for an instant, but I paid no attention and pushed the door open.
“What….”
I was startled out of my wits.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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