The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 166

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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 166
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“Father!”
A familiar face I encountered on the way to the lobby!
It seemed Father had just returned from the Knight Order—he was handing his coat to the Butler when he spotted me, and his brow furrowed.
I tumbled down the stairs in my haste.
“I’ve told you before—it’s dangerous. Come down one step at a time.”
A large hand tapped the rounded curls of my hair.
“What is this, did someone give you cotton candy?”
“It’s steamed dumplings!”
“What kind of dumplings are those? What’s the difference?”
“The density is completely different… Wait, what’s that?”
That’s when I noticed a letter in Father’s hand. The envelope looked oddly familiar.
“Oh, I was just about to give this to you anyway.”
Licht!
I quickly took the letter. After glancing cautiously around, Father made a sweeping gesture and dismissed all the servants except Adolf the Butler.
After all, the fact that I was a Mage was known only to a select few within the Duchy.
Once the area was clear, I opened the envelope.
“Oh…”
The letter contained a brief greeting along with information about the locations I had requested.
(Omitted) It seems the place called ‘Hail Lo Ibina’ refers to somewhere in the Eastern Continent Jungle Region. But the exact location isn’t clear from the contents… For now, I’m attaching all related materials. And next…
Hmm.
I read Licht’s letter slowly, about twice over.
‘With the information provided this time… I should be able to narrow it down to about three locations and investigate.’
I was investigating materials left behind by Second from the Northern Region.
A place where magical formulas capable of completing the Parquet Formation existed.
I would painstakingly decipher materials written in ancient language and transmit them to Licht in Imperial script, and Licht would search through the Imperial Palace Archives based on that information and send me regional data related to it.
Once we narrowed down the region that way, Father would dispatch people to investigate whether there were similar steles in the Academy Ancient Library.
“Can you narrow down the next region to investigate?”
At the touch of a hand on my cheek, I nodded vigorously.
“I think I can narrow it down to a few more locations.”
“Good, tell Father. I need to plan our next moves.”
“…”
At my brief silence, Father casually rolled up his sleeves and glanced at me sideways.
“Making that ugly face again.”
“Ow.”
A chestnut fell with a tap.
I grasped Father’s sleeve somewhat dejectedly.
“It’s just… you go on business trips so often… and when spring comes, I’ll have to go on subjugation missions too, but in the meantime I’m searching for magical formulas…”
For places confirmed to have steles, Father always went himself. Taking only Asha and a few senior Knight colleagues, quietly.
‘I can’t let it spread that Zebert Duke is overturning the entire Continent searching for magical formulas….’
The Imperial Court had apparently covered it up by claiming he was searching for traces of mages who had vanished over the past year.
In any case, whenever Asha Drucan transcribed a formula, I would examine it once more to verify what kind of spell it was.
To be honest….
This was an extremely irrational method.
I could simply go there myself and take a quick look, and it would be done!
But Father absolutely refused to take me with him, even if it killed him.
“When will I finally be old enough to go on Father’s business trips? I’m already almost twelve…. No, I’ll be twelve soon, so I’m practically grown up!”
“You’re only twelve.”
“Ugh!”
Father pinched my cheeks and stretched them out.
“I’ve said it countless times—not until after your eighteenth birthday. Asha Drucan has come of age, so that’s why I take her with me.”
“That’s not fair!”
I was far more powerful in magic than Asha!
But as if anticipating my next protest, Father gave me little chance to open my mouth.
“More importantly, have you done your homework or not? Borbel and Ullin have been searching for you since this morning.”
“Oh no.”
A sudden homework ambush.
That was right. I had been studying in the Northern Region instead of attending the Academy lately.
The Mage Kingdom had been suspiciously quiet, and there were many variables in the situation.
‘Still, maybe I’ll be able to go to the Academy once more time passes.’
Once I grew a bit more and became capable of protecting myself better than I am now.
“You haven’t done it, have you?”
As I shifted my eyes away, Father let out a sigh and released my cheeks.
“Two cute little cotton candy puffs on your head and that’s all it takes?”
“I’m sorry….”
“Rubian.”
He shifted his posture, crossing his arms. His thick eyebrows rose sharply.
Oh no, this posture….
“Will you even be able to take the Academy entrance exam later at this rate? Who was it that kept singing about wanting to have a diploma from there?”
“….”
“Look, see, Rubian. Your father has been asking around at his regular meetings, and the difficulty of the Academy entrance exam has been rising tremendously these days….”
“Ugh….”
Emergency, emergency. Full retreat.
Father’s nagging button had been activated.
“Father’s meetings are forbidden….”
I muttered quietly, watching for an opening to escape.
At that moment, my eyes met those of Adolf the Butler standing near the entrance, and he gently smiled as he quietly opened the door for me.
Father, who had been muttering for some time, suddenly tilted his head as if remembering something.
“Now that I think about it, the Camelan Young Lady from next door….”
Now’s the time!
“Why are you bringing up Titi, who got top marks at the Academy!”
I burst out shouting, then scrambled away.
“Don’t compare me to Father’s friend’s daughter!”
I dashed quickly from the Lobby and escaped.
Meanwhile, Leviathan stood alone.
“Wait, the Camelan Young Lady said she’d visit next week…”
He watched Rubian’s retreating figure with an expression of bewilderment, his eyes following her as she bolted away.
“What did I do wrong this time?”
“I couldn’t say, sir.”
Adolf closed the door, suppressing a smile.
“Don’t compare me to Father’s friend’s daughter!”
Rubian’s cry echoed in the air as she left. It was absurd.
“Compare her to whom?”
Of course my child is the best.
Cute, spirited, and lovable.
As I climbed the stairs with a shrug, I spotted Borbel and Ullin moving busily about the second floor.
But then again…
She snuck out again, didn’t she?
“Sigh.”
Cute, spirited, and lovable.
And quite good at playing hooky too…
My mischievous youngest daughter, all of eleven years old.
“There’s no stopping her anyway.”
I couldn’t help but chuckle again.
“As long as she’s healthy, that’s what matters.”
* * *
The moment Leviathan entered the Study, the Maid brought something in.
“What is this?”
“Lady Rosetta asked me to bring it to you before she went out.”
It was a cup with steam rising from it.
Adolf checked the contents and widened his eyes slightly.
“Is this a medicinal tea?”
I have to admit, her initiative is commendable.
Leviathan rubbed his brow with a somewhat troubled expression.
“According to Physician Borbel, it contains medicinal herbs that aid in restful sleep.”
At the Maid’s words, Adolf asked seriously.
“Your Excellency, have you been losing sleep?”
“Well…”
Sleep is always in short supply when I share a bed with Rosetta.
Of course, it was always him—the scoundrel who tormented his wife through the night without letting her sleep properly—so it was only natural retribution, but…
This morning was somewhat different.
“…Startled me.”
Pink hair visible the moment my eyes opened.
It was rare for Rosetta to wake later than Leviathan, so he was unusually surprised.
“When did you wake up? Come here.”
“Darling, what sort of dream were you having?”
“Hmm?”
He started to reach out his arm habitually but stopped. Rosetta was gazing at Leviathan with a worried expression.
“You were tossing and turning as if you were having a nightmare.”
“…Was I?”
He didn’t particularly remember.
‘Now that you mention it, I suppose I was dreaming something.’
But that was hardly reason enough to drink medicine.
Yet if he didn’t drink it, something worse would happen…
“Leave it.”
“Yes.”
He obediently drank the bitter tea.
‘A nightmare…’
The word carried an oddly familiar ring to it.
That was when it happened.
Kyaaaaaaah!
A most peculiar sound echoed from somewhere distant.
“What is that? Sounds like some newborn magical beast squealing?”
Listening more carefully, the sound seemed to be coming from behind the Duke’s Mansion. Adolf hurried out into the corridor to investigate.
Leviathan gripped his sword and rose to his feet. His expression hardened instinctively.
“Could it be a magical beast? A flying one? Damn it, what is Obron doing? First, I need to gather the children…”
“Ah, no. No. It is not that, Your Excellency. Please calm yourself. It is…”
“What is it?”
“It appears to be a young lady, sir…”
“A young lady…? My daughter?”
Hiyaaaah!
“…”
“…What is this?”

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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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