The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 138

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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 138
Beneath my knees, the fabric of a light indoor dress swayed gently. Did he really grow not just in height, but in perceptiveness as well?
“I only scraped it a little when I fell at the Training Ground today…”
“Can I take a look?”
Kalid approached abruptly and asked. His eyebrows were raised so sharply that it seemed he had no intention of backing down easily.
I had no choice but to crouch down on the floor and try to lift my skirt. In that moment, a light grip on my arm stopped me.
“Please, just…”
“Why! Again!”
“You hurt your knee. Sit here.”
Anyone watching would think my knee was broken!
‘Besides, I was crouching in front of that tree just a moment ago.’
Ah, is that how he noticed?
In any case, I grumbled inwardly as I sat on the simple chair Kalid indicated. It was one of the chairs placed throughout the Corridor near the Ancient Manuscript Archive for rest.
The Corridor near the Ancient Manuscript Archive was very dark, without even a single common lamp light. But the moon was so bright that we had no great difficulty seeing each other’s faces.
“…”
As I lifted my skirt slightly, my knee covered in band-aids was revealed.
Kalid bent at the waist and peered at my knee as if he were about to press his nose against it. His gaze examining the wound was more serious than ever.
“Who did this to you?”
“I fell while running…”
I brushed it off vaguely.
“Sigh… Did you apply medicine?”
“I applied it this morning, but now that I think about it, I forgot to apply it in the evening.”
I was too busy with work at the Ancient Manuscript Archive to think about it.
When I laughed awkwardly, Kalid sighed once more and rummaged through his pocket.
Transparent ointment, disinfectant, and band-aids were revealed beneath the pale moonlight.
“… You carry all sorts of things around. It’s not like the old days on the battlefield, so why do you have so many injuries that you need to carry these?”
He muttered absently as he opened the ointment cap.
“Try going to the Medical Building five times a day like you do. You’ll end up bringing back ointment like this.”
Ah, that truant boy.
“Well, I just get handed these things and then get kicked out every time.”
The band-aids fell away under his very careful touch.
“I’m not a child who skips like you… Ugh.”
In the moment I was chattering away carelessly, a cold sensation touched my knee. I flinched involuntarily.
“Are you okay? Sorry.”
Kalid apologized with an even more startled expression than I had.
Huu, huu.
An unfamiliar breath settled over my knee. Beyond the window, the sound of autumn crickets chirping could be heard.
“I’ll apply it gently.”
“Uh, uh, uh…”
What is this? Another strange sensation…!!
I stood frozen in confusion, unable to move in either direction, my fingers clenching desperately at the fabric of my skirt.
The sound of crickets chirping was drowned out by the thunderous pounding of my heart.
‘This is so awkward!’
Why was he staring at my knee with such an intense gaze? Why did his breath feel so ticklish against my skin? Why? Why were his eyelashes so impossibly long?
“…Why are you squeezing your eyes shut like that?”
I couldn’t hold back any longer.
I hastily slapped a bandage on and shot up from my seat.
“If you do it so carelessly, what if it gets infected….”
“Kalid! This is so awkward!”
“What?”
Kalid squinted one eye as if questioning what I’d just said. I shook my head frantically and began backing away slowly.
“I don’t know! You’re just being so awkward right now!”
It’s so hot! Has summer come again?
“Why? What do you mean?”
I muttered in bewilderment. Kalid’s expression grew visibly displeased as I kept retreating.
“Why are you asking me that? More importantly, let’s go together.”
“No! Stay back! Don’t come within one meter of me!”
“What? One meter? Did you mean one millimeter?”
“What are you talking about!”
I snapped irritably, and in that instant, our eyes locked directly.
“….”
“….”
“Ahhhhh! This is so awkward! Why is this so awkward!”
I spun around and bolted away at full speed.
Kalid chased after me, grumbling in exasperation.
“What on earth did I do wrong!”
“I don’t know! Stop chasing me!”
“I’m saying we should go together! A ghost will appear!”
“You’re scarier than a ghost right now!”
“Am I a ghost!”
An unexpected midnight race beneath the moonlight.
* * *
In a corner near the Ancient Manuscript Archive where the two had vanished.
Creak.
A black space untouched by moonlight.
The shadow that had seemed still began to quiver slightly, then suddenly split wide open.
“Those kids certainly have plenty of energy….”
Liam Zebert shed his concealment sleeping bag and stretched briefly. A familiar biology textbook was held in one hand.
“I came just in case they were wandering around alone. Yet that arrogant brat came along….”
Liam found himself unable to focus on the discussion session he had been waiting for.
The thought crossed my mind that Rubian might come to the Ancient Manuscript Archive today.
I was worried she might be crying alone in fear, so I slipped away and came here secretly.
“This is definitely a matter I need to discuss with Father.”
Liam calmed his roiling emotions and surveyed the area in front of the Ancient Manuscript Archive.
“Sigh, she didn’t even close the door properly…. If she gets caught, she’ll cry her eyes out. Really, that careless little thing.”
Liam paused as he reached for the door, where a key dangled loosely in the lock.
Through the slightly ajar door, densely packed books sparked his curiosity.
“What on earth is so interesting about ancient manuscripts anyway?”
…But if I want to have long conversations with my youngest, it would be better if our interests overlapped, wouldn’t it?
He carefully entered the Ancient Manuscript Archive, pulled out a book, and examined it. Though there were oddly many blank sections, what truly captured his attention was something entirely different.
“Wait, this is…. An ancient magical beast… drawing?”
Ha…. Huh! Ha!
Liam’s eyes gleamed as he studied the illustration.
“Excellent. My next mentor is Uliophe Molton.”
Following Rubian around certainly brings good fortune.
‘But….’
Liam’s hand froze as he reached for another book.
‘What did that mean?’
His sharp eyes fixed on empty space. His beloved sister’s small but clear voice echoed in his ears.
“You carry all sorts of things around. It’s not like the old days on the battlefield anymore—what could possibly hurt you?”
“…Battlefield?”
That was… what did she mean? Was it merely a metaphorical expression for a difficult past?
‘…It must be, right?’
But.
Why did something feel so off?
Liam fidgeted with the bookshelf and tilted his head.
* * *
Day 8 of Camp!
After resolving the blank page phenomenon in the Ancient Manuscript Archive, my camp life flowed peacefully and leisurely.
Of course, I didn’t forget to give Uliophe a hint that the Archive’s problem had been solved.
The very next day after infiltrating the Ancient Manuscript Archive.
I casually mentioned it to him as I ate my morning lunch box as usual.
“Professor! I’ve been thinking about it all night, and wouldn’t the answer to the Archive problem be inside the Archive itself?”
“…Inside the Archive?”
“Yes! If we carefully examine what’s unique to the Archive… step by step.”
“Well, I didn’t find anything special.”
Before leaving the Ancient Manuscript Archive, I buried a book beneath a tree. Shallow enough that the top surface was slightly visible.
It was a book I’d created by magically inscribing ancient language onto it.
And the next day, Uliophe found it in the Archive.
“I happened to discover an ancient manuscript called 【How to Draw a Squirrel】. I thought Miss Rubian would find it interesting, so I brought it to read to you.”
“Huh? Professor! This book is strange!”
I spoke while watching Yuliope trace his finger across the ancient manuscript as he read.
“Didn’t you say ancient languages are read from top to bottom? But your finger is moving horizontally right now…”
“Ah, yes. This one was written horizontally… Wait, hold on.”
Yuliope fell silent, his eyes gleaming with intensity.
He began reading again slowly, running his finger down the vertical columns of the paragraph.
“…The water of Laim Lake to the wood of the Ancient Manuscript Archive… then the abnormal phenomena in the Ancient Manuscript Archive will cease… Hoo-oh! This is it!”
I swung my legs back and forth, pretending not to hear.
‘However, this secret must be kept forever, and if not, the goddess’s curse will befall the Ancient Manuscript Archive once more.’
Reciting the next passage silently in my mind.

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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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