The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 128

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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 128
We moved forward cautiously, Kalid leading the way while I followed close behind.
For a moment, it felt as though we’d slipped back into the past. There were times before when the two of us would move like this in secret….
‘Though admittedly, the circumstances were far more dire back then.’
That’s when it happened.
From beyond the door came the Caretaker’s deliberate cough—”Ahem!”
Kalid, who had been treading silently between the bookshelves, froze mid-step, and I, lost in thought, promptly smacked my forehead right into his back.
“Ow.”
“Are you alright? I’m sorry.”
Kalid quickly turned to examine my forehead. I rubbed the spot absently and laughed.
“I’m fine! Let’s go.”
My forehead—did I hit bone? It was incredibly hard.
I waved it off dismissively, but the Young Boy simply remained silent, watching me.
“Why aren’t you moving?”
“Hold on.”
“Huh?”
I stared blankly at the hand that had appeared in my field of vision.
“So you don’t bump into me again.”
“….”
My head tilted slightly.
Huh….
‘What is this.’
The late afternoon sunlight pooled gently at the tips of Kalid’s fingers.
So… holding hands wasn’t really such an awkward thing for us.
We’d overlapped hands quite frequently due to magical issues, and when we fled together, often….
‘But now that I think about it… haven’t I clung to him or pressed myself against him countless times to share secrets?’
In that instant, my scalp inexplicably grew hot.
‘What is this? Why, why does this suddenly feel so strange!’
Was it because Kalid looked unfamiliar in his neatly pressed Academy uniform? Or perhaps… because this place was such a peaceful space.
“What’s your relationship with Kalid, Rubian?”
“You’re not constantly attached to him like you are with Kalid, are you?”
No, why!
Why was I remembering what Titi said right now!
I shook my head vigorously. Kalid’s shoulders drooped slightly.
“…My hands are clean. Do you dislike me?”
“What?”
“You just shook your head.”
“No, it’s not that….”
I quickly grabbed Kalid’s hand as he began to withdraw, an almost defiant gesture.
“I don’t dislike it at all! Why would I? We hold hands all the time!”
“….”
“L-let’s go!”
“…Is something wrong? Your face looks a bit—”
“P-please don’t look? I have a complex about my face!”
“What are you talking about?”
“Never mind!”
Kalid pressed his lips together with a reluctant expression, then gripped my hand firmly.
“Alright, calm down and let’s go. I’ll hold tight, so you can relax.”
“Y-yes….”
A faintly cool temperature emanated from his fingertips. We proceeded cautiously behind the bookshelf once more.
Watching his silhouette in the gray knit sweater, I found myself thinking. When the wind blew, that familiar pleasant fragrance wafted from Kalid.
‘But do close friends really walk holding hands like this?’
Titi probably does this sometimes with that childhood friend she’s always attached to, right?
In moments like these, I resented myself for not having cultivated even a single decent friendship in my past life.
I found myself unable to lift my burning face.
Thud, thud.
Our footsteps echoed through a place that seemed to gather all the world’s silence.
As autumn wind drifted through the window the Caretaker had left ajar, the young boy’s silken hair fluttered softly.
‘It’s hot.’
I swallowed sharply and averted my gaze once more.
‘Summer definitely hasn’t ended yet.’
Yes, that’s definitely it.
Because… look there.
His nape is a bit flushed too.
* * *
“There it is.”
I peeked out cautiously from behind a decorative fixture.
A long corridor stretched far beyond the rear of the central staircase. At the end of that corridor, I discovered a massive door.
“…It says ‘Ancient Manuscript Archive’?”
Kalid whispered softly from behind.
The archive chamber situated at the very heart of the library.
A lock larger than both my fists combined hung upon the tightly sealed dark brown door.
【No Entry Without Authorization】
A placard hammered firmly into the door caught my attention.
I tilted my head quizzically.
“Why is it off-limits? Because they’re ancient manuscripts? Is preservation that delicate?”
“Maybe. But the placard looks too new for that.”
“Ah, you’re right….”
Upon hearing Kalid’s words and looking again, the placard gleamed as if it had just been installed.
As if some reason to protect this archive had only recently emerged.
“Hmm. What do I do?”
I opened my eyes narrowly, glaring at the lock. That’s when I wondered if I should just wait for someone to enter.
“…Huh?”
As if enchanted, I straightened from my crouching position.
“Rubian?”
My feet moved of their own accord. Kalid tried to grab me from behind, looking flustered, but that wasn’t what mattered right now.
There was something I needed to confirm immediately.
I stopped abruptly in front of the Ancient Manuscript Archive door.
“…Look at this, Kalid.”
My hand fiddled with the massive lock.
“This is far more worn than the placard.”
“Yeah, that’s true, but more than that…”
I lifted my head. I hadn’t seen it wrong. The aura dwelling in this lock was…
“Magical power.”
“What?”
“Magic is cast on the lock.”
Kalid’s and my gazes met directly.
That’s when it happened.
“Excuse me, who’s there?”
The sound of the Caretaker approaching grew louder.
“Oh my, a camp participant. Did you get lost? This is a restricted area, so come this way.”
The Caretaker smiled kindly and led me back to the children’s section.
The escorting Professor seemed to have been looking for me, and his expression visibly relaxed when I appeared.
It seemed the children had all just finished the library tour and were heading outside.
“I told you not to wander around carelessly.”
“Yes, I apologize.”
I bowed politely.
“Now, since the other children have finished the library tour, let’s go together. But…where is that student?”
“Ah, it seems he got lost as well.”
The Caretaker added briefly, glancing at Kalid.
“I see he’s an A-class student. How did you end up here?”
“I got lost trying to find the Medical Building.”
When Kalid replied curtly, the Professor’s expression grew troubled.
“Oh dear. Elaine, would you mind?”
“Of course. I’ll take him, so follow me.”
The Caretaker gestured to Kalid.
Kalid followed without hesitation. Our gazes crossed briefly one last time.
At that same moment, a small Squirrel darted out. It happened so quickly that no one noticed.
“Let’s go.”
“Yes!”
I exited the Imperial Library with the Professor.
After that, I explored various corners of the Academy, yet my mind remained fixated on a single location.
‘Why does the Babylon Empire Library have a magical lock?’
As I pondered this, my footsteps halted before a vast lake.
“Now, for our final activity, we shall return to the Dormitory by boat across Laim Lake, another pride of our Academy!”
The Professor announced proudly, pairing the students into groups of two.
Since we were returning to the Dormitory, I naturally found myself boarding a small wooden boat with my roommates.
“Rubian. I was startled when you suddenly disappeared earlier.”
Sortie whispered softly.
Laim Lake was renowned for its beautiful scenery and stood as one of the Academy’s premier attractions. I recalled hearing that Void had been scolded multiple times for secretly fishing from boats on this very lake.
“Oh… I somehow got lost on the way.”
“Now that I think about it, I thought I saw your older brothers at the library earlier. Did you run away because of that?”
“Ah, well…”
I responded vaguely while my thoughts drifted elsewhere.
‘That magical lock…’
Gazing at the azure ripples, the thought resurfaced once more.
Who on earth had installed such a device?
‘It wasn’t a simple magical artifact that ordinary people could use…’
It was a form intricately woven with complex magical circles. Which meant only one thing.
‘Whoever installed it must have been a Mage.’
What Mage would come all the way to the Academy in Babylon Capital and cast such magic?
“Titi, have you ever heard of a Mage… enrolling in the Academy?”
“Huh? Wouldn’t that be an event recorded in history books for generations?”
“…Right?”
I drew my knees up again. Sortie, absorbed in admiring the autumn foliage along the lakeside, casually dismissed my question.
Of course, no Mage had ever been a student or professor here. And certainly not a servant.
After all, this Capital of Bamiless was a place where even Hub Mages were never dispatched.
‘Then could it be one of the fugitive Mages…?’
But why would they bother while being hunted? For what reason?
Besides, that place merely housed ancient manuscripts. Not forbidden texts, so what possible reason could there be for such elaborate concealment?
‘Regardless, something is definitely hidden there.’
I bit my lip firmly. In truth, I desperately hoped there was something—anything.
My hand habitually reached toward the small of my back.
‘Please, let there be a way to escape this stigma!’
I wanted to become a true member of the Zebert family.
“Rubian, we have to go all the way there! The lake is absolutely enormous, isn’t it!”
Sortie spoke with delight and laughter.
Just as I was about to nod with a smile in return, my eyes widened and my body instinctively bent forward.
“Ugh…”

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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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