The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 139

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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 139
The water of Laim Lake was truly ordinary lake water. And yet….
‘After all, it’s a mysterious phenomenon that can’t be fully explained in words, so there’s nothing strange about a mysterious solution following suit.’
Besides, by cultivating an appropriate sense of fear, I could also silence Yuliope’s mouth.
“R-R-Rubian! You didn’t just hear that, did you?”
“Hear what?”
“It’s fine if you didn’t! I, I have something to do!”
“Yes! Safe travels!”
Yuliope immediately went and filled buckets with water from Laim Lake, then sprinkled it on the sealed trees in the Ancient Manuscript Archive.
The trees would surely become even more vibrant….
And I secretly erased the contents of “How to Draw Squirrels” from the archive.
Upon discovering this, Yuliope seemed to believe it was some sort of mysterious divine revelation, and appeared to have resolved once more to keep this fact secret forever.
‘It seemed like he was currently checking whether the blank page phenomenon in the Ancient Manuscript Archive had truly stopped.’
For now, I should just wait and see!
After all, the answer is already decided!
‘With this, the immediate problem is solved!’
I pulled myself out of my thoughts and stretched languidly.
“Yawwwn.”
As I walked across the Training Ground bathed in sunlight, a yawn naturally escaped my lips.
“Rubian, did you read ancient language books with Professor Yuliope again this morning? You’re really diligent….”
Sortie leaned in slightly and whispered.
“Hehe, well, sort of.”
Somehow, in my pursuit of miracle mornings, I hadn’t been able to eat breakfast with Sortie. I gently tugged at Titi’s sleeve.
“Sorry for not eating breakfast together.”
“No way! I ordered a lunch box and ate with Jerdin in the Garden!”
“Oh. I see. There’s Jerdin coming over there.”
Jerdin was running toward us from a distance.
Somehow, the three of us had become friends.
The fluffy hair that covered his eyes remained the same, but his expression was certainly better than on the first day.
‘Haven seems to have quieted down.’
Whether out of fear of demerits or not, Haven no longer bullied Jerdin as he had before.
Instead, he picked petty fights with me.
But well, it was merely at the level of cute pouting, so it didn’t really hurt.
Of course, there were times when it was a bit annoying.
For example, during crafts class.
“What is this? Some kind of mud monster.”
He said such things upon seeing my masterpiece that I’d molded from clay.
“…It’s my father.”
“Pfft! How is this a person? The eyes are on the feet.”
“…He’s lying down.”
“…?”
“Tilt it to the side.”
He truly had zero artistic sensibility!
And during the Herb Greenhouse tour as well….
“Wow, you’ve organized these medicinal herbs so neatly? Where… is the goodwill?”
He brazenly snatched away the stems of the herbs I’d carefully arranged, right under the Professor’s nose.
‘…I specifically removed the toxic parts.’
Hm? Did I only think that to myself?
Or did I say it out loud?
“Huh? My fingertips feel… tingly? What is this? P-Professor! Something’s wrong!”
“No, Haven. Who told you to dismantle the stem portion so thoroughly? I said to pick only the flowers!”
“Aaahhh!”
Well, such minor incidents simply continued to pile up.
‘A few days ago when Haven tripped and fell, that did annoy me quite a bit.’
The scraped knee I got because of Haven healed quickly thanks to the salve Kalid applied.
Truth be told, I was so preoccupied with library work at the time that I didn’t have the leisure to worry about Haven as well.
Anyway.
“Is everyone gathered?”
A Professor with an imposing build greeted us as we assembled on the Training Ground.
This morning’s class was a simple martial arts lesson.
“I’m Jex, who teaches martial arts!”
“Hello!”
“You’re all so adorable!”
Jex laughed heartily with a cheerful expression.
I breathed in the crisp morning air deeply.
‘Phew, I’ve been sleep-deprived lately and almost dozed off sitting still. I love physical education!’
“Since there seem to be quite a few young students… shall we try this instead of horseback riding or swordplay?”
He set down a box on the ground with a thud.
‘Gasp, it’s a jump rope.’
A martial arts professor, no less?
‘More than that….’
I can’t do that!
“Wow, that’s actually my specialty.”
Just then, a rattling voice sounded. When I glanced back slightly, it was Haven, grinning widely.
“What are you looking at? Can’t you do it?”
Since Haven was about to provoke me again, I muttered “Of course I can” and hurried away.
In any case, the unexpected jump rope lesson began. Jex taught the children unfamiliar with it one by one.
I attended the theoretical instruction diligently alongside Sortie, but….
As always, the practical application was the problem.
“Yap.”
I’d jump, and then the rope would just drop.
Hmm, let me try once more.
“Yaaaah!”
But again, I’d jump and then crash straight into the ground….
“…You really can’t do this.”
Unable to watch any longer, Sortie muttered under her breath. I could clearly see Jerdin nodding slightly in agreement as well.
“I’ve never learned it!”
How is anyone supposed to jump over the rope and turn it at the same time? How can you think about turning the next rope while you’re jumping over it?!
“So rope jumping is actually incredibly profound….”
“Doesn’t seem like it.”
Titi jumped right over the rope effortlessly alongside Jerdin, bouncing with ease.
“Why meeeee!”
Even Sortie—who clearly looks like she has zero stamina (sorry, Titi)—can do it, so why can’t I?!
Was my running in the Training Ground not enough? Or was the training in the Northern Region too soft?
“Yap. Yap. Hi-yap!”
No matter how many times I tried, it seemed I had absolutely no talent for rope jumping.
“Ahahaha! What are you doing?”
Just then, an ominous laugh echoed out.
It was Haven, jumping rope with abandon while mocking me.
“Why did he have to come all the way here just to do that.”
I kicked at the ground irritably, my face twisted in frustration.
“Can’t even do a simple rope jump!”
“Tch….”
This is infuriating.
“R-Rubian, I’ll teach you.”
Unable to bear it any longer, Jerdin stepped forward. He kindly turned the rope with me while explaining step by step.
“If you turn it like this… and jump slowly…! Oh, sorry. My hand….”
Jerdin, who had grabbed my hand to help turn the handle together, suddenly flinched and pulled away in surprise.
“Huh? No, that’s not it. Rather… like this?”
I brushed it off casually and turned the rope on my own, jumping.
Jump, drop.
“No, what I mean is you have to turn the rope and jump at the same time….”
“…Like this?”
Jump, drop.
“No no no! At the same time!”
“…Jerdin. Are you angry with me right now?”
Did you get so full of yourself just because you can do rope jumping well? Is that why you’re being so condescending?!
“Oh, no! Angry?!”
Jerdin exclaimed in surprise, waving his hands frantically.
“Puhahaha! You guys are really just playing around!”
Haven clutched his belly, cackling with laughter. He’d grown quite fond of parading me around as entertainment for his friends.
“Haven, get away from here!”
Sortie shouted, but Haven merely twitched his lips in response.
‘Damn it, one more time!’
Stubbornness flared within me as I spun the rope again. And as I jumped—
“Oof!”
The rope caught on my foot from somewhere, and I tumbled down hard.
“Rubian!”
“Are you alright?!”
Sortie and Jerdin rushed over.
“Puhaha! Down again! Ahaha!”
“Haven! If you trip the rope like that, how dangerous is that?!”
But Haven was too busy laughing with the crowd around him to hear Sortie’s voice.
Jerdin brushed the dust from my clothes. I glanced at my scraped knee once more, then looked back at Haven.
“….”
This guy, seriously.
I tapped the toe of my shoe against the ground.
“You okay?”
“Yeah. But Jerdin, so what you’re saying is—I’m supposed to jump while spinning the rope, right?”
“Huh? Um….”
“Right. Thanks. I think I finally get it.”
I gathered both handles of the jump rope in one hand. Then, spinning it like a windmill, I hopped toward Haven.
“Whoa! Where are you going?!”
“This is amazing! Jump rope is actually pretty easy?”
Hop, hop, hop.
“Ahhh! Jump over it! You’re not jumping over it!”
“I’m jumping right over you, though?”
“Ahhhhh!”
Haven scrambled backward in panic, afraid of being hit by the rope. Then his own feet caught him, and he tumbled down spectacularly.
His graceful roll sent the children around us into fits of laughter.
“That sort of dangerous play is not permitted.”
“Yes! I was only doing jump rope!”
I answered quickly and turned away.
The moment the Professor’s gaze fell upon him, even Haven—terrified of demerits—didn’t dare approach again.
“You just wait! On the last day, I’m telling my father everything about you! I’ll make you cry your eyes out!”
Haven shouted from behind, his voice cracking. It was the strongest threat he could muster.
‘I have a father too, you know.’

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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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