The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 141

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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 141
As expected.
I broke into a wide smile and clapped my hands together.
“This turned out wonderfully!”
“It’s all thanks to the hint Miss Rubian gave me.”
Yuliope continued softly.
“I’m truly grateful for listening to me and helping me all this time.”
“Oh, what did I really do?”
Though truthfully, there was quite a lot I’d done!
In any case, I humbly downplayed my role and waved my hand dismissively.
Then a sudden thought struck me, and I lifted my head sharply.
“Professor! Does that mean I can visit the Ancient Manuscript Archive freely now? It’s not a restricted area anymore?”
“Pardon? The Archive is originally a restricted area. Basic authorization is still required.”
“Really?”
Ah, that’s right.
That lock looked incredibly ancient.
‘It’s just my guess, but… I have a feeling whoever installed the magic circle on that stele also created that lock.’
I thought so vaguely.
Yuliope patted my head with a laugh.
“Still, Miss Rubian can visit whenever you wish—just say the word. Though I suppose tomorrow will be the last day anyway.”
“Wow, thank you! I’ll visit quietly and behave so I don’t burden your salary, Professor!”
“What a wonderful student you are.”
Yuliope lifted me up in his arms with an moved expression.
“Ah, but new restoration experts will be arriving tomorrow. I think it would be good to visit frequently today.”
“Ah, yes.”
Restoration experts… he’d hired them.
I nodded.
“Professor, work hard on the restoration!”
“Yes! Though I suppose I won’t be leaving on time again!”
Ha ha ha ha!
Beneath the clear autumn sky, Yuliope’s laughter rang out loudly.
* * *
Three days after Rubian left for the Camp.
Northern Region, Zelocks.
“….”
Morris stared at the Annex Lobby with an exhausted expression.
Looking at the colorful gift boxes lined all the way to the ceiling made his mind spin.
“Swords~ Bows~ Shoes~ Clothes~ Hairpins~”
Ballock wandered between the boxes with an excited face.
“…Sir, what are you doing?”
When I asked with a tone of reluctant curiosity, the old man who had been humming suddenly spun around. His skin was darkened to a deep bronze—evidence of a rather eventful summer.
“I’m heading to the Capital.”
“What? All of a sudden?”
“Leviathan mentioned he had some urgent business. I’ve been dying to see our youngest anyway, so this works out perfectly!”
Morris spotted a wooden crate haphazardly placed near the entrance. It was brimming with acceleration magic stones—apparently, Leviathan had sent some.
“Even if we leave now, we’ll barely make it by the final day! We need to hurry!”
“So you’re packing for the Capital trip right now? What about Rosetta?”
“Mm-hmm. Rose insisted I go enjoy the Capital air. She said she’d keep the house safe!”
Something about this didn’t sit right with me.
Morris felt a vague sense of unease but decided not to press the matter.
“Our little one must be dying to see Grandfather. I’ll just slip over the Academy walls and catch a glimpse of her face.”
“Why skip the formal visitation procedures? Sir, do you understand the meaning of propriety?”
“What’s that?”
“It’s something Your Excellency should uphold. Surprising, isn’t it? And furthermore…”
Morris wiped the sweat from his brow and drew in a deep breath. Then came the barrage of complaints.
“How are you going to carry all of this? Even twenty horses couldn’t manage it all. I’ll be generous—please take only five items. Five! Please… maintain your dignity!”
“What? Five? Are you joking?”
“Have you ever seen me joke?”
“No!”
“Hmm? What’s this now? A sword, a bow… Good grief, why are you bringing these? Are you heading to war? The young lady gets frightened just having you nearby!”
“They’re child-sized! And our Rubian needs to catch bugs properly. Magnificently!”
What nonsense, Morris sighed deeply.
This called for the ultimate measure.
“If Grandfather is late because he was packing… what do you think Rubian will think?”
Stiff.
The old man’s shoulders went rigid as if struck.
“Don’t you think our young lady would rather see Grandfather’s face than trinkets?”
“Well… that’s true, isn’t it? My actual presence is far more precious.”
Watching his lips twitch, Morris found himself at a loss for words. He understood the young lady was precious and beautiful, but… wasn’t this obsession getting worse with each passing day?
Ballock made his decision and kicked the boxes aside with decisive thuds.
“Fine! Get rid of it all! Come to think of it, I can just raid the Capital shops, can’t I? We leave immediately. Coachman! Get the reins!”
“No, wait! Don’t be so hasty! Give me a moment! I’m not even ready yet…!”
Whoosh.
The old man vanished in a gust of wind.
“Ha ha ha. Truly an extreme gentleman.”
Left alone, Morris chuckled softly and meticulously wiped his brow. Then he hurled his handkerchief to the ground.
“Ah, really! I want to clock out!”
No, just… retire!
In any case, the carriage carrying the old man cut through Zelocks like it had sprouted wings, moving at breathtaking speed.
As always, it was a mad dash, yet the townspeople, as always, waved Ballock off with serene expressions.
“Open the castle gates!”
The Gatekeeper flinched at the sight of Grandfather and his entourage thundering toward him in a cloud of dust, yet he opened the gates with practiced efficiency.
At that moment, Ballock, who had been inside the carriage, waved his hand dismissively.
“Wait! Hold on!”
The procession ground to a halt with a screech.
“What is it, sir?”
As the escort Knight approached, Ballock lifted his eyes with an indifferent gaze.
“Obron is here, isn’t he?”
“Yes, sir, he is.”
“Tell him to dispatch more Knights to these Castle Walls. Autumn is when this place causes the most trouble.”
“Ah, yes! Understood!”
The Knight hastily turned to leave when he suddenly tilted his head in confusion.
“But sir… lately, the monster invasions have decreased significantly. Even when they attempt to attack the Castle Walls, they lose their strength and perish the moment they enter a certain range.”
He continued with a newfound expression of wonder.
“It seems the Outpost Mage’s barrier is quite formidable.”
“So you’re saying you can relax now?”
“Ah, no! That’s not what I meant—I was simply saying you can travel with peace of mind!”
“Hmph. Complacency leads to disaster. If even a single scratch appears on these Castle Walls, we’ll all take a leisurely stroll through the Northern Mountains when I return! Understood?”
“Yes, sir!”
Hearing the properly chastened response, Ballock lowered the window without hesitation. The procession resumed its rapid pace.
Inside the jolting carriage, Ballock turned to Morris with a question.
“…Do Mages really just whip up barriers like this so easily?”
“I couldn’t say. I’ve never been curious about their abilities, and neither have you, sir.”
“That’s true.”
Ballock muttered to himself.
Even in his youth, he had never taken much interest in such ticklish magical abilities, so there was nothing more to add.
The Outpost Mage who had relocated to the Northern Region had offered to reinforce the Castle Walls against monster invasions.
Leviathan had seemed uneasy about a mere Mage laying hands on the Castle Walls, but I heard he had reluctantly agreed after sensing that Rubian somehow wanted it.
‘If our little Rubian wants it, then it must be done.’
How could I refuse when that tiny thing had hesitated, saying she was frightened of monsters?
I wondered if perhaps she had wanted to say so long ago but had been holding back all this time—my chest ached strangely at the thought.
‘When I went to the Castle Walls before, monsters suddenly appeared and startled her…’
The memory of when that arrogant brat Kalid had shown up came flooding back.
‘Hmm?’
Ballock suddenly tilted his head.
‘But was our little one actually frightened back then?’
As the time spent together accumulated, there were things I came to realize anew. Things I hadn’t known then, but now understood upon reflection.
Rubian would curl up tightly whenever facing something truly frightening that she wanted to avoid.
But what was she like back then?
“That doesn’t make sense!”
“Don’t lift your head, child!”
Yet there was no hesitation in gazing beyond the Castle Walls—as if she had sensed the presence of a demonic beast, and with an unsettling familiarity at that.
“Nonsense. Idle thoughts.”
Ballock shook his head vigorously.
“Sir?”
“Speed up! If we don’t arrive before our little brat’s observation day, you’re done for!”
He deliberately raised his voice and stretched his legs out sharply.
“I’m sleeping!”
A snore rumbled out, followed by a soft snuffle.
I could feel Morris exhale an exasperated breath beside me. Regardless, Ballock stubbornly closed his eyes.
‘What child grows up familiar with demonic beasts!’
Even if Rubian had a difficult upbringing, it wasn’t the sort of environment where one would become accustomed to dark magic or demonic beasts.
Unless she had been raised in the hands of that madman from the Mage Kingdom.
‘Damn it.’
Ballock swallowed the curse.
Merely recalling that filthy mage left a bitter taste in his mouth.
The carriage departed the Northern Region with a speed matching Ballock’s temperament.

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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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