The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 157

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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 157
My lips moved soundlessly, unable to form any words.
“Zebert Duke….”
Second, who held me like a hostage, growled menacingly.
“Let go of her.”
Father’s violet eyes flickered with a low, dangerous light. It was an expression of terror I had never witnessed before.
A dark, shadowy aura poured forth. A killing intent so palpable it burned the skin.
A high-ranking magical beast, sensing the danger instinctively, rushed forward belching flames.
“Father…!”
But before I could even finish speaking.
Kuuuung.
“Ha….”
The massive creature’s body fell to the ground, cleaved in two.
A magical beast that would have been difficult to handle even with an entire unit at one’s command fell without so much as unleashing a proper flame.
With a single stroke of Father’s blade.
Step, step.
His footsteps continued forward.
“I said let go… I’m telling you for the second time now.”
Father’s eyes, somehow seeming unfocused, were fixed solely on Second’s hand that held me.
Yet he did not rush forward as easily as he had cut down the magical beast.
‘He can’t move freely because I’m being held.’
At this rate, the Mage King might attack Father first.
I didn’t want that!
I thrashed against Second’s grip, struggling to break free.
“Let go. Let go!”
The moment I tried to channel my mana to strike that hand away again.
Whiiiish!
Something fast and sharp cut through the air with a piercing sound.
Thunk!
“Kugh!”
The strength drained from Second’s hand in an instant.
My body tumbled across the ground, but with so many fallen leaves cushioning the impact, I suffered no serious harm.
I lifted my head sharply.
An arrow pierced through slender shoulders.
‘That arrow… Could it be!’
“Huff….”
Pink hair fluttering in the distance. Rough, heavy breathing.
“I said let go of my husband and our daughter.”
Rosetta smiled coldly. The bowstring drew taut once more.
“Why won’t you listen the first time? How rude….”
An arrow sliced through the air once more.
“…!”
Before I could even trace the arrow’s trajectory, someone seized me in a fierce embrace.
“Ha.”
It was Father, who had rushed over like lightning. His massive frame collapsed as he knelt down, quickly cradling me in his arms.
“Thank goodness….”
His voice, thick with suppressed emotion, came in fragmented gasps.
“Thank goodness….”
I squeezed his collar tightly, my eyes shut firm.
A downpour of arrows cascaded upon us.
Second frantically deployed defensive magic, but was overwhelmed without recourse.
“Such infuriating nonsense….”
A slender silhouette stood between Father and me, shielding us both.
Even from behind, the woman’s ragged breathing made her fury palpable.
“Oh, Mother…!”
“Rubian. Are you hurt anywhere?”
Rosetta turned her head slightly, offering a gentle smile.
I remained seated on the ground, nestled in Father’s embrace, my gaze unfocused and dazed.
“No, nothing’s wrong, but Mother, how did you even…. Or rather, when….”
“Your eyes are wide as saucers. How adorable.”
“….”
“Mother came to give Rubian a little surprise. Seems I surprised myself instead, though. Anyway, don’t worry now.”
Mother turned her head forward again, her gaze fixed on the enemy.
“Mother will take care of…, …them.”
“Pardon?”
A large hand covered my ear, then released it, so I missed the middle part of what she said….
At that moment, Second, who had been sprawled flat on the ground, pushed herself upright.
“…Ha, you’ve lost your mind.”
Blood dripped steadily from her slumped shoulders.
“Mother? Father? Did you really think that child was just an ordinary girl?”
Her gleaming eyes turned toward me.
In that instant, ice seemed to flow down my spine.
Second laughed mockingly.
“She’s a——”
“Don’t…!”
“Mage.”
In that moment, I forgot how to breathe.
* * *
“Family, I’m actually a Mage.”
I had practiced those words countless times.
When the fact that I was a girl was exposed.
I swore to myself that I would reveal any remaining secrets with my own words.
Once I was free from the stigma….
Once I shook off the Tracking Mage, then.
“But I’m different from those mages who brought misfortune to the Duchy!”
I should say it with a composed demeanor.
My voice might tremble a little, but I’d try my best to seem unaffected.
“Look. There’s not a single trace left on my body. It’s proof that I’ve distanced myself from that world.”
So don’t regard me with suspicion. Don’t recall those painful memories. Don’t grieve….
But then.
‘Why…. Why does nothing ever go the way I want….’
Where did things go wrong?
How did it come to this?
I had only tried to do what I could do first.
‘Not the stigma, not the pursuer!’
If that wasn’t it…. What should I have done?
The inescapable reality unfolded before my eyes once more.
I clasped my trembling hands together.
I lifted my heavy head and looked up at Father’s profile.
His lips were clenched rigid. His keen eyes stared straight ahead, wide open.
A dark, low aura shimmered like heat waves rising from his stone-like shoulders.
Father was genuinely furious.
“Do you really think you can handle her?”
Second laughed with a deranged expression, seeming to relish my pale, frozen form.
“She’s a seed of misfortune. That very mage you despise, and how cunningly she’s lived all this time…!”
“Stop it!”
I could bear it no longer and cried out.
“Rubian.”
“Please…. Stop.”
As I roughly wiped my eyes with my fists, hot tears spilled out.
“What gives you the right to say that….”
Don’t I even get a chance to speak?
“What gives you the right….”
Every time tears began to fall, I wiped them away frantically. As my eyelids swelled red, Father muttered something under his breath and pressed my hand down.
Suddenly, along with indignation, an unbearable urgency surged through me.
It might not be too late yet. I couldn’t miss this opportunity now.
“Ah, Father.”
I quickly wiped away my tears and grabbed Father’s collar desperately.
The face looking down at me seemed strangely contorted.
“I know it’s late, but actually I…!”
My breathing had become ragged and tangled.
Reality proved far different from imagination.
I couldn’t maintain composure, couldn’t hide my trembling.
Not because I’d deliberately concealed it.
I’d intended to tell him everything truthfully once I achieved my goal, but I was confused about how to convey it without misunderstanding.
“So, actually, I’m from the Mage Kingdom, no, I’m a mage…!”
“Rubian.”
I was enveloped once more in that vast warmth.
Pat, pat.
As his hand continued to stroke my back, the tears I’d been holding back began to fall in droplets.
“Wait… I have something to say… Something I absolutely must say….”
“Yes. I’ll listen to whatever you need to say. So calm yourself.”
His voice flowed with soothing tenderness. Father pulled back slightly and gazed at me with gentle eyes.
“Haven’t I always said it? In our home, you do what you wish.”
“….”
“That remains true now.”
His hand carefully wiped away the tears from my cheeks.
“Rubian, speak what you want to say. Not what you must say.”
I lifted my trembling eyes.
“Is that really what you want to hear from me?”
Patter, patter.
My tears fell onto my clothes.
What I truly wanted to say. That was….
“Father….”
My voice came out broken with sobs. In that brief moment our eyes met, Father seemed to anticipate my next words and pulled me into a tight embrace.
I clung to his strong neck like a lifeline, trembling.
“I’m scared….”
So please.
“Help me….”
Those were words I’d suppressed for so very long.
“Won’t someone help me….”
Perhaps from that battlefield onward, I’d always wanted to cry out like this.
I’m frightened. I’m suffering.
Won’t anyone help me?
But who?
This is my second life. Enduring things alone was inevitable, and I’d grown accustomed to it.
Only I had ever protected myself. That truth was etched into my very bones from my previous existence.
And yet….
If I’d asked for help earlier, would something have changed?
Once I resolve the stigma.
If I shake off the tracker….
Without any conditions to wrap me up, just like that.
It’s hard and difficult, so help me.
I’m scared and in pain, so hold my hand.
Even clinging like that, was it still okay?
“…Of course, Rubian.”
A soft voice answered me.
“Father will help you with everything.”
Crunch. The sound of gripping the sword rang out clearly.
Father handed me over to Mother and slowly rose to his feet.
From his towering, mountain-like silhouette, a fierce killing intent rippled forth.

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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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