The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 126

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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 126
Haven’s sharp gaze was fixed on my shoes.
I looked down at my brown leather shoes.
They were Mother’s first gift to me and crafted by an incredibly renowned artisan, but I’d worn them so constantly through spring and summer that they’d grown rather worn.
Besides, being boys’ shoes, they were somewhat clunky to begin with.
‘I do have dress shoes in my trunk, but….’
I wanted to wear these shoes no matter what.
‘My feet are growing so quickly!’
Because it meant the day I’d have to part with Mother’s gift wasn’t far away.
Well, I suppose it could have looked like I was unintentionally wearing worn-out shoes.
‘I see….’
Only then did I realize how I must appear to others.
“Ugh~ the Academy atmosphere is really so shabby~”
Haven turned away with heavy sarcasm. The boys standing slightly behind him snickered with shallow laughter.
“Haven! What are you going on about since earlier? That’s not it, it’s…!”
“Titi, wait a moment.”
I stopped Sortie, who was about to correct him indignantly.
Haven had already lost interest in me anyway and was chattering noisily with the others.
So.
‘…what’s the point?’
That’s what I thought.
“She looked like a maid from a noble household.”
Kalid’s voice echoed in my mind.
There had been talk of a suspicious maid.
I broadened my gaze and scanned through all the children participating in the camp.
‘She might be among their families, you know?’
Meeting parents during camp was forbidden, but exchanging letters was allowed.
‘At the opening ceremony, it would have seemed like I wasn’t there….’
Father wasn’t nearby either, and the situation was unstable in many ways.
So wouldn’t it be better to just leave things as they are?
Well, a small fry like Haven was almost endearing….
“Rubian, why won’t you let me speak? If you don’t say anything, the kids won’t recognize you.”
Sortie leaned in close and whispered.
“Huh? Oh, well….”
I fumbled for an excuse, speaking whatever came out of my mouth.
“I’m actually in the middle of a secret bet! So I’m trying to hide that I’m Rubian for now! If I get caught, I’ll be in really big trouble.”
“Huh? A secret bet? With whom?”
“Um….”
The Mage King?
I barely swallowed those words before they escaped.
My mind raced frantically.
What excuse could I make?
Someone at this Academy who I knew, someone plausible enough that Titi would accept it without question….
Ah.
I broke into a wide smile.
“My older brothers!”
* * *
‘This might actually work.’
I marveled anew as I walked forward.
“Now, this is the Dormitory Building where you all will be living! You know that the first three years after enrollment require mandatory dormitory residence, right? You’ll be staying here during that time.”
The professor in charge of Academy orientation explained with a smile. A group of students trailed behind him like chicks following a hen.
Sortie and I were slowly following at the very back of the group.
‘I was worried the professor might call roll….’
There were barely fifteen students in total, even counting the boys.
The professors had apparently already memorized their names and faces separately, so they only checked attendance without bothering to call roll.
‘I’m not sure how long this will last.’
At least until I finished investigating the secret of the stigma, this arrangement seemed ideal. Everyone ignored me, which was convenient!
‘As long as I don’t run into my older brothers.’
Licht had business at the Imperial Palace, so he’d registered for the autumn semester but couldn’t attend, or so he said.
Titi mentioned he’d probably be able to come after camp ended, so it seemed unlikely we’d meet.
‘That’s why I started searching the Academy.’
I was lost in thought as I walked when it happened.
“Hey, Jerdin! Say it again! What was that?”
A familiar, spiteful voice intruded.
‘Them again.’
I slightly furrowed my brow and turned to look at Haven, who was playing around a short distance back.
“P-please stop….”
“P-please? Puhaha! Do all commoners stammer like that?”
Huh?
My eyes narrowed involuntarily.
Looking closer, there was a young boy in the middle of Haven’s group with his head hung low.
“Sigh, his pranks are getting worse by the day. I shouldn’t keep in contact with him anymore.”
Sortie muttered beside me like she was talking to herself.
‘Pranks? This isn’t a prank….’
Isn’t this bullying?
“Hey. If a commoner can come to the Academy, that means they have money, right? But why are you so filthy? Ugh, the smell!”
“I-it’s not like that… N-no.”
I furrowed my brow deeply.
It was because of the tone that had been grating on my nerves since earlier.
Speech patterns like that usually came directly from their parents.
I’d never exchanged words with Count Habel Abelus, yet somehow I felt I understood his character.
Or rather, borrowing Father’s expression.
‘He’s hopeless.’
That was exactly it.
I pondered for a moment, then raised one hand high. Standing out wasn’t ideal, but asking a question should be fine, right?
“Um, Professor!”
“Hmm? What is it?”
The professor, who had been absorbed in explaining the building before us, shifted his gaze toward me.
“What kind of building is that one? I’m curious!”
As everyone’s attention turned toward me, Haven’s harassment naturally ceased.
“Ah, that’s the Academy’s Central Library!”
The professor explained the building I’d pointed to almost randomly, his face alight with enthusiasm.
“But Haven, why are you all gathered over there?”
“Oh, well, just…!”
“Don’t fall behind. Come over here.”
“Yes…”
Haven and his group of children moved with reluctant expressions.
In that instant, Haven, who had been leading the way, spun around and glared at me.
“You… You didn’t do that on purpose, did you?”
“Huh?”
I tilted my head with a confused expression. He glowered at me, then kicked the ground lightly with a soft thud.
“Ugh, I came here to build connections, and why does it reek of commoner everywhere?”
I stared blankly at the receding figure of Habel Abelus.
‘This guy’s personality is a disaster, yet his perception is surprisingly sharp.’
If only he’d been blessed with both qualities equally.
Sigh. Sigh.
In any case, thanks to my pointed question, the professor led us straight to the Academy library.
“Here we are—the Central Library.”
I tilted my head back, gazing up at the white stone building.
Thick columns carved with beautiful patterns stood in elegant rows like sentinels.
‘Central…’
I turned the professor’s words over in my mind.
It looked less like a library and more like a temple. Something about its unique atmosphere felt overwhelming.
‘I was wondering where to start investigating… Did I really need to overthink it?’
We stepped inside the library.
A brilliantly polished marble floor and a beautiful central staircase came into view ahead.
The professor continued speaking as he stood in the library’s lobby.
“This is the largest library in the Empire. Geographically, it’s also the very heart of our Academy.”
“But the heart is on the left side!”
“Haha. It’s a metaphor.”
Answering the children’s questions, the professor headed toward the small reading room beside the staircase.
“Now then, choose whatever book you’d like from this Reading Room! If you have any questions, ask away, but don’t venture outside this section. Especially beyond the central staircase—that’s a restricted area, so be careful.”
The students responded cheerfully with enthusiastic affirmations.
‘A restricted area? Why would the library have something like that?’
I opened my eyes slightly.
‘Good. Let me explore this place methodically.’
This reading room appeared to be a collection of children’s books—picture books and fairy tales.
I wove between the towering bookshelves, observing my surroundings carefully.
The interior was remarkably spacious, and aside from us, I occasionally spotted other first and second-year elementary students who had come to read.
‘They said we’d be here for about an hour…’
I crept toward the entrance. The professor was surrounded by children pestering him for book recommendations and didn’t spare me a glance.
It was precisely as I was about to cross the threshold of the wide-open children’s reading room.
“Now I understand why my brother always gets lost.”
At the familiar voice from outside, my head snapped around.
“Why?”
“Because he reads while walking. Would you please close the book?”
“Void, you’re being naive.”
“What do you mean!”
“Whether I read or not, I get lost anyway. So I figure I might as well wander while doing what I want. That’s my philosophy.”
“Wow… I’d love to be amazed, but I’m getting annoyed! I said let’s go find Rubian, not help you find your way to the library!”
“Wow… Void, look at this part. Apparently there’s something called a Seal Stone that imprisons the high-rank magical beast Eaglius?”
“Whether it’s Eaglius or Nabalius, come on!”
Good grief.
“Hey, aren’t those the Zebert Duchy princes?”
What are those two doing here?
In a split-second decision, I quickly hid behind a large pillar near the entrance.
Peeking out cautiously, I saw two familiar dark-haired heads approaching from a distance through the wide-open doorway.
“But we already borrowed everything we needed! Why are you going to the picture book section!”
“Because there are actually several picture books with detailed depictions of magical beast claws and tentacles. I’m going to fact-check them carefully and bring them to our fairy. She’ll definitely enjoy it.”
“Hmm, really? Then I approve.”
No! Tentacles and claws—seriously!
‘Damn it, if I’m discovered here, my quiet Academy life is over!’
I shrank further into myself.
Looking closely, there was a small gap between the wall and the pillar. If I squeezed through there, I could probably slip out near the entrance…
Just as I took a small step backward.
“Ah.”
Someone behind me made that sound.
“What? Did you just step on my foot?”
Turning around, Haven stood there with his brow deeply furrowed.

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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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