The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 163

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 163
“So. What sort of scheme were you plotting again?”
I blinked my eyes rapidly.
Those violet eyes were fixed on the parchment clutched in my hand.
“Ah…!”
Right, Father was here!
‘If Father helps me, I won’t have to be separated from Kalid!’
Moreover, lately Father loved it most when I clung to him saying ‘help me’!
I quickly grabbed his sleeve and opened my mouth.
“Father, I, he….”
Look at that.
Those smooth lips curving up with satisfaction.
“Give me money!”
“….”
“…?”
Huh?
* * *
“You’re taking over a Mercenary Company?”
Father asked with an incredulous expression.
“Yes! No matter how I think about it, the most efficient way to build a network across the entire Continent is definitely through human resources….”
“What….”
“Why?”
“The Academy’s influence reaches this far?”
“Ahem.”
Father ruffled my hair, making it stand on end.
But since he nodded, I decided to forgive him.
“I understand what you mean. Leave it to me. I think I might know the owner there….”
With a wealthy and powerful Father, everything truly proceeded without a hitch!
“Ah, really? Then sign the contract carefully! Read even the fine print thoroughly…. And tell me if there’s anything to stamp with the seal….”
“Now I’m hearing all sorts of nagging.”
Father then received a summons from the Emperor who had visited the Academy and headed to the Reception Room.
And Kalid, who heard this….
“I… wait… I have something urgent….”
He spoke like a broken wind-up doll before disappearing. It seemed he urgently needed the restroom.
Before leaving the Ancient Manuscript Archive, I placed my hand on the tree.
One last task remaining.
“Hehe. It was fun, Magic Tree.”
I’m leaving. Going back to the Northern Region.
Until the Kingdom’s movements are clarified, I won’t return to the Capital.
So even if we meet again, it will be much later.
“Yap.”
I moved my mana one final time.
As I lifted my school uniform slightly and channeled mana, a circular magic circle emerged above the stigma.
A spell to stop time.
“Now…. it won’t grow anymore.”
With a blue glow, tick-tick-tick, the hands of my wristwatch spun around once before stopping with a click.
This had now become a timepiece that transmitted mana to the magic enveloping the stigma.
‘How many years can it hold with this spell?’
The power of the Mage King that had seeped into this stigma was a living, breathing force.
It was fundamentally different from stopping time in ancient manuscripts.
So then.
Until the Mage King is revived.
I will scour the Continent to complete the formation of destruction.
I am no longer alone now.
I don’t have to struggle alone with the stigma, nor with standing against the Mage King.
‘…But if I fail to keep pace with time and this stigma grows according to the Mage King’s will….’
I….
It was then that I was lost in calm contemplation, imagining what lay ahead.
“Rubian…?”
A trembling voice came from behind me.
“Licht?!”
I hurriedly covered my back, and Licht’s eyes widened before he quickly turned around.
“Gasp, sorry! I didn’t see anything!”
He didn’t make a sound at all…!
Licht remained completely turned away, stammering. The prince who usually wore a smile even in difficult situations seemed genuinely flustered this time.
“Zebert Duke came looking for Father Emperor, and when he said you were here, I….”
“Did you…. see?”
“…W-what?”
Licht hesitated before speaking.
“…A pattern like an earthworm wrapped around a pretty tree?”
Damn it.
“…It’s a dragon.”
I’ve been found out….
Licht shuffled nervously before slowly turning around. His slightly drooping eyes glanced at me repeatedly.
I could have erased Licht’s memory using the mana in this place….
But I didn’t.
Since I intended to continue my connection with him, there could be no perfect secrets in this world.
“You know. During the Ipsen Shinrok Festival…. your suspicion was correct.”
“….”
“I…. can do things like this.”
With a whoosh, my magic pulled a single book from the shelf.
“This too… and that as well….”
Writing implements, teacups, and breath mints floated lazily through the air.
Licht raised his hand to calm me down.
“Okay, okay, Rubian. I understand….”
“Are you going to tell the Emperor?”
I withdrew all my magic and asked.
“Well….”
What? My magical intimidation wasn’t working. Had I only levitated light objects? Should I have lifted a stone instead?
Now that the Mage Kingdom had become an enemy, I had no idea how the Emperor would treat a fugitive mage like me. Father hadn’t even insisted I tell him.
‘Of course, His Majesty doesn’t seem like the type to immediately exile me to the Mage Kingdom….’
My secret had loosened somewhat.
Father had discovered it, and the Mage King had discovered it too.
That didn’t mean I should broadcast it to everyone, but at least I didn’t need to clutch it as desperately as before.
“…I wonder.”
Licht trailed off with a murmur, then smiled.
Only then did I realize he was teasing me a little.
“You and that vague way of speaking again!”
“Ha, sorry.”
His beautiful face drew closer.
“You know, if I keep this secret, can we keep exchanging letters?”
“Letters?”
“Yes. You won’t be coming to the Capital for a while anyway.”
“Well, that’s true.”
“Then I won’t tell.”
His eyes curved gently as he smiled.
“I like your letters.”
“Oh….”
Why? What part of those stiff letters could he possibly like….
Hmm, his sensibilities are certainly a bit unique.
“I’ll have to spend more time in the library….”
“I’m not sure what you mean, but I will.”
Licht smiled brightly and glanced at the parchment in my hand.
“What’s that, anyway?”
“Oh, this. It’s ancient script… the old place names are hard to make out, so I’m trying to decipher them now….”
At that, Licht fell silent for a moment.
After tilting his head as if considering something, he spoke again.
“If they’re old place names, the Imperial Palace Archives should have most of the records….”
What!
My eyes widened enormously.
“Really?”
“Yeah. Of course, I’ll need to verify it myself, but I’m pretty sure it’s right?”
“Wow, Licht! What are you? My savior? An angel?”
No, that’s not it! Of course, the Crown Prince!
I swallowed the words I couldn’t bring myself to say and clung to Licht’s arm. The prince flinched slightly before gently patting me to calm down.
“You really have no shame, do you…. Anyway, we should definitely exchange letters often, right?”
“I’ll buy lots of really pretty stationery!”
At that, the young boy added with an impossibly bright smile.
“It doesn’t matter even if you write on a scrap of tissue paper.”
* * *
“Take care, Licht, Your Highness!”
Rubian rode away in a carriage with large windows.
Right beside her sat Zebert Duke and Kalid, wearing his usual disagreeable expression.
“…You could just call me Licht.”
Perhaps he was mindful of the knights’ gazes around him.
The prince hid his disappointment and waved until the carriage disappeared from view.
‘She won’t forget about me…, will she?’
As I looked around at the suddenly empty surroundings, that worry suddenly struck me.
Come to think of it, today was the first time we’d properly faced each other at the Academy.
‘Imperial Family portraits shouldn’t be carelessly leaked….’
Strength entered my fingertips.
‘I should ask if I can enclose one with my next letter.’
After all, I’m only sending it to Rubian.
“Ah. Now that I think about it….”
“Your Highness? What’s wrong?”
“…I forgot to ask Zebert Duke about that.”
At the belated thought, he scratched his pale cheeks.
‘Where they disposed of the mage’s corpse who attacked the Academy that day….’
Since Zebert Duke said he handled it directly, it was reassuring.
“Well, Father Emperor probably asked about it.”
Licht turned around sharply.
“But more than that….”
Rubian was… actually a mage….
It was shocking, but for some reason I soon came to accept it.
I thought I’d laid bare everything that happened in Ipson, but that uneasy feeling I hadn’t consciously acknowledged had lingered like sediment all along.
‘It must have been hard… all this time.’
He clenched his fists tightly.
As I recalled that smiling face with softened eyes, my chest stirred inexplicably.
Perhaps it had been that way from the very first meeting.
The first encounter at the Orphanage was so intense, after all.
Right now, my heart was simply filled with the desire to protect that smiling face.
But as time passes… will this feeling change as well?
In any case.
Licht turned his body around sharply. The tasks that needed doing never changed.
‘So that nothing happens even if your identity is revealed.’
I’ll work hard here.
You work hard there, Rubian.
“Then, let’s head back.”
“Yes.”
The Young Boy’s time was beginning now.

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————