The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 154

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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 154
* * *
Second’s head snapped upward.
‘It’s magical power.’
Faint as it was, this was unmistakably the aura of a mage.
Narrowing her eyes to peer closer, she spotted a small gathering taking place near a vast lake in the distance.
‘Is Seventh over there?’
She quickened her pace.
That was when it happened.
“Pardon me.”
A youthful voice drifted from behind her.
“That’s not the direction of the library.”
“….”
She turned slowly to find a young boy with dazzling golden hair staring intently at her.
His face bore a gentle, graceful appearance, yet there was an inexplicable coolness emanating from him.
“An Academy event is currently underway near the lakeside, so outsiders are not permitted to enter.”
Licht spoke kindly while gesturing toward the opposite path.
“Please return.”
He appeared to be an Academy student.
Second answered with an unbothered smile.
“Ah, I see. But I’m not a suspicious person, you know.”
“….”
She recalled the conversation between Yuliope and Jenda Camel that she’d overheard at the cafe.
This woman had mentioned having a younger brother at the Academy Camp. His name was… Jerdin Camel, if she remembered correctly.
“I’m just here to check on my younger brother for a moment. I work at the Academy.”
She produced a temporary access pass.
“So would you mind stepping aside? Kid.”
“You are….”
Licht tilted his head slightly.
“Are you really Jenda Camel?”
Second stiffened.
Why…? Did I say something wrong?
Licht approached steadily, his gaze fixed intently on the identification she’d presented.
“If you truly were Jenda Camel, there’s no way you wouldn’t know me….”
“Huh?”
“Have you forgotten? Ms. Camel. I had asked you to help with translating foreign books for the Southern Orphanage.”
Damn it.
Of all people, it had to be someone she knew.
“I was so busy finishing that project, my re-enrollment at the Academy was delayed….”
“Ah, so that’s why….”
“And while it’s a bit awkward to say myself, I’ve become somewhat famous because of the Southern Orphanage incident.”
The Young Boy smiled brightly.
“My portrait has spread here and there, so I naturally thought you’d recognize me… Was I being too self-conscious?”
Cold sweat trickled down my back.
The Southern Orphanage. A portrait!
Combining those words with the appearance of the boy before me, I reached a single conclusion. I’d heard in passing at the Royal Palace about the Babylon Royal Family. Which meant this person…
“…Ah, ah! Your Highness!”
Honestly, I never imagined I’d meet a prince in a place like this.
‘No, if they’re royalty, shouldn’t they be receiving custom education at the Imperial Palace? Why are they attending the Academy like a normal person!’
Second awkwardly laughed and hastily made excuses.
“N-now that you mention it, that’s right! You see, my eyesight isn’t very good. Since this is my first time seeing you in person, I only just recognized you…”
“Hmm. That’s a lie.”
The response was utterly composed.
Second went rigid as if doused with cold water. The prince, watching that reaction, smiled beautifully with his eyes narrowed.
“I’m meeting Camel for the first time today, you know? Royal Family portraits aren’t distributed so easily.”
“…”
“I’m not sure what you were looking at when you said ‘now that you mention it, that’s right.'”
What a personality…
‘How infuriating.’
Whether Licht knew my true thoughts or not, he raised his hand without hesitation. Then the prince’s escort knights, who had been concealing their presence and surrounding the area, popped out one by one.
“Restrain her. She’s a suspicious individual.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
I ground my teeth bitterly.
‘I’m detecting magical power that might belong to Seventh!’
A fluttering aura was moving ceaselessly like a butterfly. I couldn’t abandon this trace.
“Let’s detain her for now and consult with Headmaster Odeli…”
Now there was only one method left.
I had brought several magical artifacts for emergencies when I left the Kingdom.
As I quietly slipped my hand into my pocket, a clinking round object and a few thin sheets of paper came into my grasp.
‘A firecracker magical artifact… should do the trick.’
Still, I didn’t want to kill anyone…
I carefully gripped the magical artifact in my hand.
‘I mustn’t accidentally break the demon stone.’
The demon stone containing the sealed demonic beast was my last resort. I’d brought it in case my life was ever in danger.
“Wait!”
The knights roughly bound both my arms.
The moment the prince turned his gaze away and spun around.
Second dropped the magical artifact I was holding.
“What—”
Whoooosh—
“Aah!”
Whoosh!
The startled Knights stumbled backward.
Seizing the moment, Second manipulated his mana to conjure a gust of wind.
The sparks from the fireworks quickly caught onto the dry leaves below.
“Fire!”
Clang, clang, clang, clang.
Emergency bells rang out from all directions.
The flames erupted violently, cutting off the path leading to the Library.
‘Now’s the time!’
“Stop!”
“Your Highness, it’s dangerous!”
Ignoring the Young Boy’s urgent cry, Second bolted toward the Central Library.
* * *
Poooo—
“Hm?”
My head tilted naturally as I blew into the trumpet.
“Just now… did I hear something…?”
Or did I imagine it?
I was sitting in the deepest corner of the Central Library—the Ancient Manuscript Archive.
I had just finished expelling Professor Yuliope, who was in the process of becoming a bound spirit of this place.
“Professor! Something terrible has happened!”
“Rubian? What perfect timing. Let me give you this elephant trumpet as a gift. It will expand your lung capacity so you won’t get winded when running or jumping rope…”
“I don’t think that’s going to work right now. Anyway, that’s not it—the boys are causing an uproar saying they’re going to search your research room for treasure!”
“What?”
“Did you lock your research room door? You did lock it, right?”
I pressed him urgently. Yuliope’s murky eyes darted back and forth.
“I locked it… I think? Or did I not?”
He bounced his leg anxiously, like a modern person uncertain whether they’d turned off the gas valve.
This was the kind of thing that always became confusing when suddenly interrogated.
“What do we do! There are manuscripts in there! What if the children rummage through everything and spill drinks everywhere? And if your salary gets stained in the process? Right?”
“No, no. I’m pretty sure I locked it…”
“Really? Are you certain? One hundred percent?”
“…Ugh! This is driving me crazy! I’m going to check right now! Tell the new restoration specialist to wait if they arrive!”
“Okay.”
I watched his figure disappear like an arrow and blew the elephant trumpet a couple more times.
Unless I blew with all my might like inflating a balloon, the sound barely came out and the elephant’s trunk barely unfurled.
Well, my lung capacity will definitely improve from this…
‘I suppose I can move around soon.’
I peeked my head out to confirm there was no one around, then headed toward the courtyard of the Ancient Manuscript Archive.
Sensing the energy of mana-infused wood, I plucked several strands of hair from my head.
“Hmm, so that was it.”
A floating blue magic circle materialized.
The moment my eyes turned crimson red.
‘Gasp, it’s changing.’
Because I’d recombined the formula using Wizeria’s power, mana no longer drained away in massive chunks like before.
My hair had transformed into silver at some point.
‘I really did revert it….’
That was when I felt the success sink in.
‘Huh?’
The magic circle floating in midair expanded slightly.
Surrounding mana added its strength,
and as the application range shifted, my entire head of hair began to turn silvery.
“What the—!”
I touched the gleaming silver hair with a deflated expression.
Was it because the mana here was too pure?
Or was Wizeria just showing off to me?
“It all came back the way it was supposed to….”
How am I supposed to explain this?
Should I just say I used a special shampoo….
I was pondering this when it happened.
Skreeeek, thud!
A heavy door sound accompanied the presence of someone approaching.
I hadn’t seen their face, but I could tell.
‘Sigh, first things first…. I need to deal with her.’
I slowly turned my body around.
“Gasp, huff.”
A woman emerged from between the Maze bookshelves, breathing heavily.
“You… huff. So it really is Seventh….”
Hearing her murmur as she saw my pure silver hair, I picked up the elephant trumpet I’d dropped and brushed it off.
My eye color reflected in the smooth surface of the trumpet was a vivid crimson red.
“You know, you don’t seem to have much talent for tracking.”
“…huff, huff.”
“If the seeker is more out of breath than the one being chased, what will people think? They’ll assume you’re the one running away.”
Second looked around bewilderedly, unable to even catch her breath.
“What is this place… exactly? The mana is so… I’ve never heard of anywhere in the Empire like this….”
“There isn’t one. And there won’t be in the future either.”
“…!”
Second, finally regaining her senses, moved her mana.
Of course, I was faster in placing my hand on the tree.
“Ugh.”
Roots erupting from the ground coiled tightly around her body.
Her knees slammed mercilessly against the floor with a dull thud.
‘There’s a reason I lured her here.’
With sufficient mana, my magic circle’s manifestation speed surpassed the Second’s.
Besides, I was currently borrowing Wizeria’s power as well.
In other words, within this space, the Second couldn’t possibly defeat me.
‘Of course, there’s the risk of her discovering this space.’
Well, that would soon become ‘as if it never happened’ anyway!
I approached the Second, whose face had gone deathly pale.
“So, make sure to report that you found nothing in the Empire!”
Then I blew into the trumpet with all my might.
The folded elephant trunk slowly unfurled, and a circular magic circle materialized at its tip.
“…Y-you’re erasing my memories…!”
Poooo, pooooooo.
Ah. My lung capacity.
I didn’t want to make contact with her…. Why won’t this unfold faster?
“N-no! Wait! Hold on! I didn’t come here to take you to the Kingdom!”
The Second convulsed, her body writhing desperately.
I paused mid-breath and scoffed.
“What was that? I can’t quite hear your pathetic whimpering.”
“The Mark!”
I faltered slightly at her sudden outburst.
“I b-brought records about the Mark!”
“….”
“To give to you!”
She twisted her body desperately.
I loosened the wooden roots slightly, and with her freed hand, she pulled down her neck collar.
“Look at this.”
Beneath her protruding collarbone, ancient characters were inscribed in minuscule script.
“I stole it from the Royal Palace.”
The Second spoke in a trembling voice.

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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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