The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 175

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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 175
The same size as when I was young. That mark, imbued with blue mana, had a spell of frozen time woven into it.
“Sigh.”
I knew it was the only part of my body where growth had stopped, but every time I saw it, I felt inexplicably tense. After all, I never knew when my magic might break and it would start growing again.
“But more than that….”
I was turning eighteen.
I gazed at my reflection in the mirror with a touch of emotion.
A round-faced woman with blue eyes met my gaze.
Rice bows lower the riper it grows. So the bun that had hung from the crown of my head had gradually become more humble, settling beneath my ears.
Well, overall…. Not bad. But.
“A sharp, sleek jawline!”
—I didn’t have.
Why was it still so round?
“Keen, piercing eyes!”
—Those either.
Why did the corners of my eyes look so sad?
“Ugh, then at least I’ve grown as tall as Hazel!”
“Miss!”
“Oh, you startled me.”
Thump. I still found myself lightly buried in Hazel’s embrace. Though I supposed it was some consolation that now it was at least chest level….
‘How frustrating.’
I had wanted to become a sexy beauty.
But there was a way.
“Alright. Hazel. I need to go the bulk-up route.”
“Pardon? What bulk?”
I solemnly rolled up my sleeves and flexed my arms with all my strength.
Pop.
“Look, look! My arm muscles are popping out! Ha! Finally, the results of my special training are showing!”
“…?”
“Could you not put a question mark on my moment of pride?”
“Oh, my apologies.”
Hazel laughed and pulled me into another embrace before checking the fireplace and window of my room.
“You’re not cold, are you?”
“Nope!”
“But Miss.”
Hazel tilted her head as she was about to leave with the lamp.
“What?”
“Have you perhaps lost weight?”
I had just bragged about my muscles—what was she talking about?
“No, I haven’t.”
“Tch, something soft seems to have gotten smaller.”
“How exactly are you measuring a person’s weight?”
“Well, for now, please get some rest. Tomorrow I should arrange a truly lavish meal for you.”
Watching Hazel burn with determination, I couldn’t help but laugh.
She was finishing her inspection of the bedroom and approaching to arrange my hair as she pleased when there was a knock, and Father entered.
“I’ll do it, so you can go.”
“Yes, sir.”
Father had already changed out of the clothes stained with ice cream into a clean outfit.
Surely he wasn’t coming to scold me.
I was just cautiously observing his mood when Father sprawled onto the sofa and tapped the seat beside him.
“Come here, dumpling.”
“Yes.”
I obediently sat down beside Father.
His large hand removed the pins from my hair with perfect precision, pulling them out smoothly.
A ticklish yet careful touch.
“Still cotton candy, I see.”
“…Don’t eat it.”
“I’ll think about it.”
I quickly brought my long silver hair forward and tied it firmly under my chin.
A soft chuckle escaped.
“So, Rubian.”
His quiet voice flowed from behind me.
“Hmm?”
“Tell me what’s been bothering you today.”
“…”
My expression, which had been floating about, finally hardened.
* * *
Leviathan gazed quietly at Rubian as she turned to face him.
“I’m in a good mood…”
A hollow laugh escaped.
“Even if Father doesn’t have keen observation, he has good intuition.”
We’ve been together for several years now.
“Especially when it comes to our youngest daughter’s mood, I’m quite perceptive.”
“Ohoho…”
Rubian laughed with an awkward gesture, covering her mouth.
It was a peculiar laugh—her hand brought to her lips as she turned her head slightly.
‘She’s read it again.’
His gaze naturally drifted to the nightstand beside the bed.
A book titled “The First Step to Becoming a Wonderful Adult” was placed there, so Leviathan was certain that this laugh must be one from its pages.
He glanced sideways, broadening his view to survey Rubian’s bookshelf, and couldn’t help but let out a hollow laugh.
The selection was largely similar.
“101 Ways to Start Your 18th Year Without Regrets,” “18 Years Old, Striking a Blow Against the World!,” “Become an Adult Who Communicates Well,” “18 Years Old, Race Toward Wealth”—that sort of thing.
“Huff, huff, being an adult really is busy. You have to strike blows against the world, communicate well, race toward wealth… It’s exhausting!”
“What on earth did you buy from the bookstore?”
The day I had cleaned out the bookstore.
Right beside me, Liam stood grinning proudly—the one who had lent me the book cart. After that, we both shut ourselves away in the library for two days and three nights, doing nothing but reading.
‘She really doesn’t do anything halfway.’
Why was she trying so hard to become an adult?
‘Unless it’s something else…’
Leviathan examined Rubian’s face carefully.
‘Is something making her anxious?’
“There’s no way you convinced Void to drink with you for no reason. Was it really about your coming-of-age ceremony?”
When Leviathan asked about what had happened earlier, Rubian clamped her mouth shut. He hesitated, about to comfort her by pulling her into an embrace.
In his eyes, she was still just a small, adorable child. But now she was a proper seventeen years old, so he thought he should be careful about initiating hugs.
“…Delmon died.”
The words came out haltingly.
Leviathan stopped deliberating and pulled Rubian into a tight embrace.
Not long ago.
I had attended a funeral for the first time.
Delmon had been one of the members of the Zebert Knight Order.
Years ago, he had taken the entrance test alongside Kalid and trained as a junior knight in the order, honing his skills.
But recently, he had lost his life in a magical beast attack near the Capital. In a tragic turn of events, the beast had attacked farmers returning home in the area, and he had died trying to save them.
At that time, I had cried a great deal. So much that everyone around me didn’t know what to do.
“I thought I was getting better, but sometimes it suddenly comes back to me.”
Rubian continued speaking calmly.
At moments like this, Leviathan felt an indescribable emotion, as if watching a child who had grown so much taller.
“I didn’t think I was that close to Delmon. But it suddenly occurred to me.”
“What did?”
“That Father always said alcohol tasted sweet when he drank it.”
“…”
“I kept asking him how alcohol could taste sweet, and… so we promised that once I grew up, I’d try it myself and tell him if it was true.”
Rubian’s breath hitched. From the way her lips pressed tightly together, she seemed to be holding back tears.
Leviathan gently stroked Rubian’s forehead. No matter how grown she seemed, she remained endlessly small, delicate, and pitiful in his eyes—his daughter.
“Rubian, that was… unavoidable. It was an unforeseen accident.”
“I know…”
Rubian spoke in a muffled voice.
“I understand that well.”
Her blue eyes, glistening with moisture, turned toward Leviathan. The child who had experienced loss now paradoxically carried a gaze that seemed harder than before.
I had hoped she would grow up experiencing only joy and happiness.
Even knowing it was impossible, Leviathan swallowed a quiet sigh. All he could do was stand beside his grieving child and protect her.
After patting her back for quite some time, Rubian’s gloomy mood seemed to lift a little.
Her lips pouted as she muttered, “But I’m not a little kid anymore…” That was proof enough.
“Your father has something to say that will brighten your mood instantly.”
“What is it…?”
“I just received a letter. Rosetta arrives the day after tomorrow. And Father arrives the week after that.”
Sure enough.
Rubian bolted upright.
“Really? Mother and Grandfather? What time? What minute? What second?”
“Rose arrives early in the morning. As for Father, I’m not sure. Anyway, once Rosetta gets here, the two of you should go out and have a change of scenery.”
Unless something urgent came up, Rosetta spent her summers through late autumn caring for children at the newly established Orphanage in the Southern Region.
“Awesome.”
Rubian’s blue eyes sparkled brilliantly. Seeing that, Leviathan suddenly grew anxious and quickly added a warning.
“Hair dye.”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t dye your hair. Keep it normal.”
“Oh… How did you know?”
Rubian laughed again with her hand covering her mouth, that same mischievous giggle. Leviathan resolved to burn that book without fail and rose to his feet.
“Now that you’re feeling better, get some sleep.”
“Okay.”
“Oh, and speaking of which… There will be a grand banquet at the Imperial Palace soon. Before your coming-of-age ceremony.”
“A banquet? What kind?”
“A triumph celebration.”
Rubian’s eyes widened considerably.
“Kalid is coming back.”
“Ah…!”
Kalid is coming back.
Rubian clenched the fist she had been letting hang loosely at her side. A short laugh escaped from Leviathan.
“The boy accomplished quite a bit for his age.”

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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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