The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 165

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

Chapter 165
‘What does that even mean?’
The crisp air brushed against my cheek.
Kalid leaned against the carriage window, passively taking in the passing scenery.
‘The ancient Royal Palace….’
Traces of that distant past, now relegated to myth and legend, lay buried like treasures scattered across the Continent.
There were far more undiscovered ruins than discovered ones. The Delcan Ruins were no exception.
‘Regardless, if I want to find Rubian’s magical formula, I’ll have to wander around anyway. I should investigate this together.’
I made a mental note to secretly inform Allen as well, swallowing a short sigh. My instincts told me this wouldn’t be easy.
Just then, a familiar voice came from somewhere.
[ Kalid! Want to switch seats? Are you alive? ]
Hearing that bell-like voice, my restless heart settled into calm. It was as though my drifting soul had finally taken root.
‘…I’m curious about my past and anxious, it’s true.’
For the first time, I thought to myself.
‘But the fact that I am myself hasn’t changed.’
So even if I couldn’t understand all of this past right away, I wasn’t as impatient as before.
At least here, it seemed that whatever I was didn’t matter.
They would surely tell me. Rubian would, and Zebert Duke would too….
“Boy, why are you smiling so wistfully?”
…And perhaps even this bothersome old man.
With that realization, my heart felt a little lighter.
“Ah, please. Don’t touch my head….”
“You cheeky brat!”
[ …Hello? Kalid? At this point, you need to clarify whether you’re ignoring me or blocking me. ]
The carriage rolled slowly toward where it needed to go.
* * *
A gust of wind blew.
“What is it?”
“What’s what?”
“Hell?”
“My territory…. Dad, you’re joking, right?”
Father gently flicked my head without hurting me.
“Ehehehehe.”
Far below, the red stone mountain came into view!
Zebert Territory, Zelocks!
“Wow! Winter again!”
During the journey from the Capital to here, the season had rapidly shifted from autumn.
There was no need to rush, so the family leisurely visited various places along the way before arriving in the Northern Region.
It had been very lively, always noisy and chaotic as usual, and precisely because of that, it was delightful and joyful!
And finally, we had arrived home!
Leon handed me a white fur scarf, just as I had when I first arrived in Zelocks. I poked my head out over the scarf.
“Your Excellency, we’ve received word from each of the Allied Kingdoms confirming their attendance at next summer’s Round Table. Regarding the agenda proposed by His Imperial Majesty, I believe they will likely all cast their votes in favor.”
“I see. And the Mage Kingdom?”
“They remain silent. And just now, a carrier pigeon arrived. It’s from someone named Allen.”
Allen!
My eyes widened in surprise.
Allen was the owner of the Mercenary Company that Father had taken over. I felt like I’d heard the name somewhere before… but it was probably just a common name.
‘Though he did seem to handle quite a lot of the actual work for someone called an owner.’
Well, anyway.
Father bent down and read the letter together with me.
“Wow, that was fast.”
It was a message saying they’d found the location of the second artifact.
“The second one is… in Casalia?”
“Hmm, looks like Father has to go on another business trip?”
I pouted my lips with a slightly gloomy expression.
“…Father, I think I should probably…”
“Duck lips.”
“But—no!”
Father chuckled and folded the letter, tucking it into his breast pocket.
“Children don’t go on business trips. You go on outings instead.”
His large, firm hand gripped mine tightly.
“But to read the magical circles, we do need a mage present…”
Father laughed and gestured ahead with his chin.
“Look over there. The Hub Mage is lying on the castle walls, sleeping away like a log.”
“Oh.”
Indeed, where Father pointed, Asha appeared tiny in the distance, sitting in a chair and nodding off repeatedly…
“She’s… a good kid, I suppose…”
“She looks bored anyway. I should take her along on the business trip.”
“Ugh…”
This was actually something I should be doing.
“But if you ever need my help, just say the word… I’ll roll there if I have to.”
Then Father, who had been gazing down at me, placed his hand on my head.
“By the way, you’ve grown taller, Rubian.”
What a delightful thing to hear!
My shoulders shot up with joy.
“Right! The top of my head now reaches Kalid’s nostrils!”
“…Do you really have to use that comparison?”
But my shoulders, which had been raised high with joy, quickly drooped.
“But because of that, the shoes Mother gave me don’t fit anymore. My feet are too cramped…”
“That’s something Rosetta will be happier to hear than anything in the world. She says you even appear in her dreams wearing those shoes now.”
“Huh.”
Isn’t that a good thing?
Father ruffled my hair mischievously, grinning. Oh no, now it’s dry and I’m getting static electricity!
“When we get back, I’ll buy you 500 pairs of shoes. We’ll just swap them out whenever your feet grow.”
My brow furrowed deeply.
“If you waste money like that, the territory will go bankrupt. I prefer being reasonably wealthy, you know….”
“Is that so? Then 100 pairs.”
Father and I exchanged this silly banter as we crossed through the gates of Zelocks.
Seasons flowed past.
The seasons that had passed accumulated within me, becoming my height, my laughter, my memories.
At first, this path leading to Zelocks felt like a dark tunnel where I couldn’t see even an inch ahead.
I was always anxious and afraid, never knowing what might leap out when I reached the end of that road.
But now I understand.
What awaits me at the end of this path!
“Young Miss! Welcome home! Did you have a good journey?”
A place filled with warm, unchanging love.
Our home, where my family is!
“I’m home!”
It had been such a long time away!
Ch.18
“Sigh. What do I do.”
I gazed at my reflection in the full-length mirror and let out a deep sigh.
“My goodness. I’ve grown so much.”
I…. had matured.
My age had already crossed into the latter half, the younger digits long since passed.
“It’s been such a long time….”
My once round, youthful face had sharpened into maturity, and my height had shot up until I was now over 170 centimeters—nearly as tall as Hazel….
“Young Miss, what are you doing?”
“Oh, you startled me.”
The moment I turned around, my face was mercilessly buried in something soft.
“Ah, how cute. Suddenly hugging me like that.”
Squeeze. Hazel bent her torso and wrapped me in an airtight embrace. The sensation of her flexing muscles was remarkably vivid….
“Hazel, breathe, breathe! And I’ve grown so much now that I can’t just be hugged like this anymore…!”
“Grown so much? But why are you standing on your tiptoes?”
Well, I’d grown to about Hazel’s chest height!
“Oh, but have you picked out all your birthday gifts? Your 11.9th birthday is coming up soon!”
“Pout.”
“Sigh, it feels like just yesterday when you came back from the Academy Camp and said ‘I’m home!’ but already a year has passed.”
Hazel released me, tears streaming down her face.
That was true.
I was now in my late eleventh year.
“Still, I’m grateful you didn’t suddenly make me shoot up into adulthood….”
“Excuse me, please stop touching my cheeks. They’re elastic and stretch when you do that.”
“I’m developing healthily with a fuller appearance. Soft and supple.”
“No! My jawline has become noticeably sharper and more defined!”
“Sharp…? Where exactly?”
“Look carefully at my jawline and the bridge of my nose and you’ll see…. Never mind! I’m going out!”
How frustrating. That only I could recognize this dramatic transformation!
In any case, I spun around before the mirror and dashed toward the window.
As I drew back the thick winter curtains slightly, a glittering white world spread before my eyes.
“The snow finally stopped!”
“Where are you planning to go?”
I answered with a grin instead of words.
“Where is the gardener?”
“He’s probably by the Herb Garden?”
“Perfect! I need to sweet-talk my older brothers!”
The snow that had continued for days finally ceased.
And there was something I absolutely wanted to do the moment the weather cleared.
As I wandered through the Dressing Room putting on gloves and grabbing a scarf, Hazel tapped me and pointed to a large chair.
“Everything looks good, but first, please sit here. I’ll tie your hair!”
Two small hair ribbons were held hostage in her hands.
“Gasp, you don’t mean two buns?”
“Buns…? Should I tie it all in one anyway?”
“No, wait! Two!”
“Wonderful! Hehe, the time has finally come to demonstrate the technique Rosetta taught me.”
“…You mean you learned how to tie hair, right?”
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh.
The invincible Maid’s hands moved so swiftly they were barely visible.
I finished my preparations for going out with two white buns perched on either side of my head.

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