The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 223

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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 223
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“Ugh, it’s so cramped.”
I crawled through the narrow crevice between rocks and entered the cave.
Only I could pass through the narrowly constructed passage.
Of course, I faced opposition from Kalid and my family, but this time I couldn’t back down either.
“Father wouldn’t have simply fallen to a demon beast. There must be another reason.”
“But—”
“If he’s trapped and injured, we need to rescue him quickly. Is anyone here capable of healing magic?”
“….”
“Yes! That would be me!”
Grandfather with his massive dark blade, the senior knights, and even Mother—who was taller and larger than me—could never fit through this passage.
“…Sigh. Then we’ll clear away the rocks here while you go ahead. If you sense any danger, avoid it at all costs. Understood?”
With Grandfather’s resolute command, the senior knights burned with even greater determination.
Kalid bit his lip and spoke in a strained voice.
“Tell me immediately if anything happens. No matter what… I’ll find a way in.”
“Just remember—if you cause an explosion here, I’ll be buried too.”
“There are other methods besides explosions.”
“What?”
“Like commanding the cave’s demon beasts.”
“You’re insane.”
I made a large X gesture to show absolute opposition, but Kalid refused to soften his stubborn expression.
‘I need to get out before my backup battery gets corrupted.’
I crawled forward again through the dark rocky crevice.
Often, piles of stone blocked all sides, making it hard to breathe. At those moments, I moved my mana to gently push the rocks aside. One wrong touch could bury me too, so I had to be incredibly delicate and precise.
“This is… a bit frightening.”
The interior was pitch-black darkness itself.
I created a small light with magic. I tried to float it beside me, but there wasn’t enough space.
After hesitating briefly, I embedded the light into the blue necklace that had been dangling around my neck.
A soft glow spread from the necklace’s center. Impossible as it seemed, it felt like Father’s warm affection was wrapping around me.
‘What should I say first when I meet Father?’
That we were actually family from the very beginning?
That despite wandering for such a long time, we finally found each other, and I’m grateful?
That I hope Father won’t blame himself too much or fall into despair?
‘…I don’t know.’
I bit my lip.
When I was with my family, I pretended to be brave.
But the fact that I had to confront Father with the truth frightened me, just a little.
Because I couldn’t even imagine the darkness that surrounded Father.
‘Illusion magic draws people in by touching their vulnerabilities….’
I don’t want to believe Father fell victim to such sorcery, but if his heart harbors regrets, sorrows, and lingering attachments far deeper than I imagined….
“Gasp, the exit!”
Just as I was about to sink into endless rumination, the end of the passage came into view.
I shook my head and quickened my pace.
Crawling into the Cave and finding an exit was admittedly absurd, but I had safely traversed the collapse point and arrived inside.
I lurched to my feet without even registering the sting of blood seeping from my palms and knees, scraped raw against the stone floor.
“Father!”
The interior was damp and dark. I heard the rhythmic patter of water droplets echoing off moss-covered rocks.
‘The concentration of illusion magic is overwhelming.’
The designation of high-rank demon beast was no lie—the residual illusion magic permeating the Cave was far denser than I’d anticipated.
I swiftly erected protective barriers to shield my mind from the oppressive magical aura.
‘Which way should I go?’
The Cave twisted like an ant colony, but I couldn’t afford to hesitate, so I simply ran.
Sharp cave walls began to score my skin, leaving fresh wounds in their wake.
‘There might be a sealed demon beast somewhere.’
An extremely faint magical presence. I instinctively pursued it.
I fell and rose again several times on the slippery ground.
At last, I reached the deepest recesses of the Cave.
And there, alongside a mountain of demon beast corpses.
“Father…!”
I found him collapsed to one side.
I scrambled toward him and shook his massive frame. The moment I saw his eyes closed peacefully, my heart plummeted.
I pressed my ear urgently against his solid chest and felt the blessed thump-thump of his heartbeat.
“Father! Wake up!”
Father’s face was serene, as though he were napping in the shade of the Training Ground.
‘No visible wounds on his body. He definitely fell victim to illusion magic.’
Whether he’d defeated all the demon beasts before collapsing, or whether his instincts carved into his very being had driven him to slay them even while lost in the phantasm, I couldn’t say.
As I reached to shake his shoulder again, my gaze caught on his tightly clenched fist.
“This is….”
I carefully extracted two lockets gleaming with golden light from his grip. One held a family portrait, and the other.
“…me.”
A portrait of me as a child.
Emotions I’d been holding back suddenly surged forth.
I understood what illusion had ensnared Father and ultimately overcome him.
“Father…. Please.”
Then, goosebumps erupted across my skin.
From deeper within the Cave, from that black void-like abyss.
A high-rank demon beast’s magical aura suddenly surged forth, its body trembling as though about to awaken from slumber.
‘The strongest one was sealed here all along!’
I expanded my barriers to their absolute limit.
The massive spider-shaped demon beast that awoke from slumber was a species I had encountered once before on an old battlefield.
‘It lures prey with illusions and then devours them.’
Since it hunted when people were weakened, its offensive power wasn’t particularly strong, but it was still a high-tier demon beast regardless.
Grrrrrowl!
The demon beast began smashing my barrier with dozens of blade-like legs.
Clang! Claaang! Clang!
Fortunately, the barrier didn’t crack even slightly.
‘…Thank goodness we’re in the Southern Region.’
I glanced at the gauge on my magic watch. If I borrowed the surrounding mana, I could hold off the demon beast’s attacks for a while without depleting my own reserves.
‘At least until Kalid arrives!’
I could protect Father.
“Father, snap out of it!”
I shouted toward him.
Screech, clang!
The creature rushed at me with hundreds of gleaming eyes, as if ready to devour me whole.
Don’t be afraid.
By my side stands the strongest hero in the world.
I grasped Father’s hand and let my mana flow into him.
Please, realize it. I am here.
With such feelings in my heart.
‘Father will surely return.’
Long ago, it was Father who rescued me when I was huddled in a dark cave, weeping.
Everyone carries within them a cave in their heart that they cannot navigate alone.
It wasn’t because that person was weak, but because they were kind and gentle that such a cave existed.
Because someone was so precious, so desperately needed. That’s why lingering attachments, regrets, and self-reproach remain, isn’t it?
The person who taught me all of this was none other than Father. My family.
Father led me from the shadows into the light.
So this time, it’s my turn.
To become Father’s guiding light.
‘No matter where he’s wandering, I’ll make sure he can always return!’
My mana, filled with desperate longing, flowed through Father’s hand with even greater force.
Clang! Clang! Claaang!
The demon beast’s attacks intensified, but as I lost mana, the surrounding mana reinforced the barrier, keeping the situation from deteriorating.
Until then.
Kyaaaagh!
Suddenly, the demon beast let out a grotesque cry and bit itself. Just as I felt a moment of relief thinking it was retreating, a massive and ominous aura swept over me.
“…!”
At the same time, the pressure on the barrier intensified. My eyes widened in shock as I turned my gaze.
“One creature… no, that’s not it.”
Monsters swarming and crawling as they awoke from slumber. Sharp claws immediately came lunging forward.

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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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