The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 172

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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 172
“Ah, then you should have your birthday party in the Capital too, Rubian. Can’t let the Emperor’s son outshine you.”
“B-but I’m of the Imperial Family…. Wait, would anyone even come to my birthday party?”
“No one?”
“Well, let’s see. Titi, Jerdin, Licht, Olivia, um, and also….”
What kind of people would you meet? What sort of adult would you become?
Leviathan gazed down at Rubian eagerly counting on her fingers, feeling both anticipation and a bittersweet longing simultaneously.
“And last but not least…. Dad!”
Her head tilted back, her face radiant with laughter.
That was the moment.
‘What is this?’
Leviathan felt an inexplicable sense of déjà vu wash over him.
“….”
He hesitated for a brief moment, but it passed in an instant. With a composed expression, he gently pulled down the child’s thin sleeve that had ridden up.
“I will definitely attend.”
As he drew a signature-like mark on her palm, Rubian giggled in delight.
‘…Why did that dream suddenly come to mind?’
Leviathan continued walking while pondering this.
Lately, he had been plagued by strange, inexplicable dreams.
A dark night, beneath a hazy moonlight.
A dream where he faced someone, then died.
Upon waking, nothing remained in his memory, yet the sensation of a blade piercing his heart felt strangely vivid.
“You should have never stood against your father.”
‘If Rubian were older…. Would our heights be similar?’
He was startled by his own unbidden thought and shook his head vigorously.
What was he thinking?
It was merely a dream.
Something that naturally vanished like a mirage upon waking….
Just a simple nightmare.
* * *
Once again, Rubian’s diary!
This is truly my diary alone. (Right?)
The diary that my family scribbled on became a homework assignment anyway, so I just turned it into our household exchange diary.
And this time, I bought a new diary!
A diary with a lock, you ask?
Of course not. Mwahahaha! Now that I think about it, I didn’t really need one.
Because I’m a Mage!
A Senior Mage from the Mage Kingdom Arcadia, a nation of mages now hidden from view.
Because of that status, I ended up participating in the human-demon war, became a fugitive, and as a result became a child carrying quite a few secrets….
But ultimately, I’m glad I didn’t give up, because now I get to meet Dad and my family like this.
Of course, I was able to persevere partly because I had come to realize that I had been reincarnated into this ‘novel’.
Well… that is to say, sometimes.
Actually, quite often these days.
I find myself wondering where this body was born.
Will the day come when I finally learn the truth?
And if it does, will something change?
Hmm, I have no idea.
For now, let me just focus on writing in my diary!
* * *
I’ve arrived at the Capital!
Licht’s birthday party was spectacular. Truly the pinnacle of grandeur and extravagance.
Most of all, there were so many people. He attends the Academy diligently and loves traveling throughout the Empire, so he has an enormous circle of friends!
It seems like this is a time when talk of the next Crown Prince is circulating, so it appears he organized this partly as a show of strength to keep the other princes in check… Hmm, he seems to be managing it quite well?
Ah, aside from how grand Licht’s birthday party was, I nearly died from the experience.
My heart is still so small I can barely endure the endless gazes and attention pouring down on me…
If Kalid hadn’t been by my side, I probably would have fled long ago. He blocked off people to some extent and found me places to rest in between.
Of course, the mana he secretly shared with me was also a huge help!
* * *
Wow, my birthday party, wow…
Is it okay to make this much of a fuss? Won’t I get reported?
The Emperor even said to me, “I thought a new imperial holiday had been established that I didn’t know about, young lady.” (Come to think of it, who on earth sent invitations all the way to the Emperor?)
Anyway, this year too, with great fanfare…
I’ve turned fourteen!
Oh, that’s right! Kalid unlocked the fourth bracelet and gave it to me.
* * *
Ugh… Father’s monster subjugation… (tears)
* * *
Um, is it okay to write about this?
Since only I’m going to read it anyway, it should be fine, right?
So…
From morning, I felt so lethargic and my head was throbbing, my condition wasn’t good. My mood was inexplicably gloomy too…
I thought it was a cold coming on, but at some point my stomach suddenly started hurting.
At first, I was terrified thinking it was the pain of the stigma growing. But…
In the end, it wasn’t.
So, um.
It had started.
That thing that happens once a month.
Mother caught me red-handed wiping away blood by myself. She said she had a feeling it would be around this time.
I tried to hide it out of embarrassment, but Mother told me with a joyful expression that it was proof of healthy growth and nothing to be ashamed of. She explained various things to me carefully.
And I… I think I was actually happier seeing Mother like that.
Because in my previous life, I didn’t know what to do, so I wandered alone for a while.
Heh, I’m really glad I have a mother.
* * *
I passed the Academy entrance exam.
It’s a bit boastful, but….
I ranked first! (joy)(cheering)(applause)(applause)(applause)
It feels like one of the happiest days in my fifteen years of life!
But what’s even more surprising is that Kalid came in second. I thought he only swung his sword day and night, but when on earth did he even study?
Anyway, soon I’ll be attending the Academy with my older brothers and friends! Even though it’s a short time, I’ll make the most of it!
* * *
Titi slept over at our house today.
We put on pretty pajamas and lay under the blankets on the same bed, sneaking snacks. Though really, there’s no one to scold us for eating snacks.
I was older than Titi, but we still swore to be best friends forever. We exchanged secrets to commemorate it….
And Titi, of all things.
Confessed to Jerdin that she liked him. And she even got rejected!
Good heavens.
I was going to tell her about sneaking out in disguise with my older brothers to the Shopping District….
Titi was more mature than me….
What exactly is this feeling called love? I find myself thinking about it seriously these days.
(By the way, what’s going to happen to our trio’s fate now…?)
* * *
The investigation of the magical stones was already in its final stages.
Among the remaining list, there’s a location with Farhue’s true formula. Where could it be?
Oh, Kalid gave me the fifth bracelet today.
* * *
I turned sixteen!
Kalid came of age before me and received his knighthood.
I teased him about “Ooh~ Sir Kalid~” roughly three hundred times, but he didn’t even flinch.
Tch, didn’t he at least feel a little embarrassed back in the day?
* * *
The final candidate locations for the magical stone have been narrowed down to three places.
I’m still investigating the remaining one. I’ve searched the Imperial Palace Archives thoroughly and can’t find it! Where on earth is it?!
Anyway, Father decided to go to one of the three candidates, and the other one….
* * *
Kalid left without giving me the final bracelet.
Again, he only left a single note and vanished like the wind! He even closed the circuit, telling me not to waste magical power. Ugh, how infuriating!
Of course, I know he went to find the magical stone for me…. But leaving without saying goodbye is annoying, so I’m going to preserve this note as evidence.
【 I’ll be back. I’ll return all the bracelets and your magical formula when I return, so wait for me. 】
Kalid Liork! Is it enough that your handwriting is just neat and tidy? You better come back, seriously! I’m going to @%!@^!
.
.
.
Wow, my diary was here all along!
It feels a bit strange writing in it after so long.
So… where was I supposed to start?
Oh, right.
Things have been quite busy lately!
I had to prepare for the Academy graduation exam, attended a funeral, and made frequent trips to the Imperial Palace Archives.
Licht and I are investigating the last remaining location, but we still haven’t made any real progress. To be honest, that’s been making me anxious these days.
I think I should meet with Professor Yuliope tomorrow and review the research materials on ancient place names once more.
In just a few days, I’ll already be eighteen.
Incredible. I’m turning eighteen!
I used to think I’d leave the Duchy before reaching adulthood… but looking back now, that was completely unrealistic.
And Kalid…
Since that note two years ago.
He still hasn’t returned my final bracelet.
.
.
.
Wait, hold on.
My thoughts aren’t fully organized yet, so this might be a bit scattered.
How should I even explain this?
While talking with Professor Yuliope today, a strange possibility suddenly occurred to me.
The final location where the magical stone stands.
Until now, I’d focused too much on the “magic” aspect and gotten caught up in simply searching for the place names written in the documents, so I never thought of it this way.
If I shift my perspective slightly…
What if I simply narrow down places where a special “stone” exists?
Don’t I… already know such a place?
That is.
My home in Zelocks.
…The place beyond Herb Hill.

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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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