The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 226

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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 226
Father sighed again. It seemed the entire Southern Lands would collapse by day’s end.
“If you’ve confirmed the grave… Rose must be devastated.”
“Yes…”
I couldn’t presume to understand Mother’s feelings, so I said nothing more.
Afterward, Father told me about the Mage King’s letter.
While troubled by the empty potion bottle he’d seen at the Lakeside, receiving the Mage King’s letter led him to the same conclusion I’d reached instinctively, he said.
“You saw the potion bottle… But Father, can I ask you just one thing?”
“You can ask me a hundred things.”
“What illusion did you see in the cave? Was it related to me?”
I voiced the question I’d only vaguely suspected. Father’s violet eyes gazed at me tenderly.
“Yes.”
“What was it?”
“You were born.”
“…”
“A cowardly, troublemaking daughter who wouldn’t eat bell peppers and was always saying she hated her father.”
“I’m not sure what to say to that…”
“Mm.”
“That’s completely me.”
Father chuckled softly.
“Exactly.”
My magical energy depleted, I lifted my heavy arm and gently squeezed Father’s hand. He returned the grip with greater strength.
“You know, Father? Maybe that wasn’t just a fantasy—maybe it was what we look like in another world.”
“Is that possible?”
“Well, I’m not sure, but movies like that happen all the time!”
Father pondered my words seriously, though he had no idea what a movie was. Then he nodded.
“I hope so. I’d like to think there’s somewhere you’re happy.”
At his softly trailing voice, I smiled brightly.
“I’m happy right here, right now.”
Father gently stroked my hair.
Soon after, the blood that had been trickling ceased completely.
“Then shall we move? Father will carry you—”
Just then, a deep rumbling sound echoed.
Immediately after, the sound of many people rushing frantically toward us followed.
“Leviathan! Rubian!”
The first thing I saw was pink hair, its owner breathing heavily.
“Mother!”
“Are you alright? Rubian, your leg!”
Mother looked at Father and me with trembling eyes, then covered her mouth upon seeing my wound.
“Oh, it looks serious, but actually it’s not as bad as all that…”
“Rose, calm down. Let me explain.”
“Leviathan….”
Mother staggered toward us. Concerned by her unsteady gait, Father sprang to his feet.
‘Oh my.’
I sniffled softly. After all, this was a reunion between husband and wife who had endured such hardship.
“Leviathan….”
Soon came a passionate embrace….
“You @#$@%@ fool!”
Smack!
…Huh?
“You couldn’t escape a single cave and did what exactly?!”
Mother’s voice echoed throughout the entire cavern.
The footsteps of the humans rushing behind us seemed to stop abruptly.
“I’m sorry, Rose.”
Father approached without minding his shin being struck, pulling Mother—who radiated an intimidating aura—into his embrace.
“How much, how much did I….”
“I’m sorry.”
“I was so worried!”
Mother cried out in a trembling voice. Father gently brushed away the tears from her eyes.
Noticing her eyes bloodshot from burst capillaries, Father stiffened momentarily. His jaw clenched tightly, as if restraining something.
“…I’m sorry.”
“Always just apologizing…!”
“It’s my fault. And.”
Soon, with a long sigh, Father pressed his lips to Mother’s forehead.
“I’ve never had any intention of defying you, then or now.”
His lips traced down across her brow and nose, stopping at her upper lip.
“I’m sorry for being late.”
A soft whisper trembled between their tightly pressed lips. Mother’s expression wavered as if she might cry, then she pulled Father’s lips toward her….
‘Oh no.’
I hastily covered my eyes.
‘Hello, hello? I’m here! Your daughter is here!’
My parents’ display of affection?
‘I’m curious but also not curious.’
What should I do? But…. Shouldn’t I be learning about this by now?
Just as my fingers began to fan open slightly.
“Rubian!”
“Ack!”
Someone suddenly grabbed my shoulder, and my heart nearly leaped out of my chest.
“Kalid! You startled me!”
“Your leg….”
Kalid was breathing heavily, having sprinted at full speed for who knows how long.
He knelt on one knee and examined me as I leaned against the cave wall, his expression hardening as he looked down at my calf, dried blood making it an unsightly mess.
Rubian!
Soon after, Void and Grandfather came rushing in as well.
‘No….’
We needed to leave the cave, so why was everyone excitedly running inside?
“There were… more demon beasts than I expected.”
Kalid coldly surveyed the dead demon beasts scattered around, then began examining my wounds meticulously as if probing into them.
“Yeah. But Father defeated them all.”
“Then what good is that? You’re still injured.”
“Um. If I say I’m fine, could you drop that scary expression?”
“No. I won’t.”
He’s being stubborn again.
I shook my head, but Kalid suddenly leaned toward me.
“What, what is it? Why are you doing this?”
Why did I suddenly remember Mother and Father looking so affectionate!
“I should carry you.”
Kalid said it in a matter-of-fact tone.
“What are you saying, are you insane?”
Of course, I was pushed aside by the sudden appearance of that dark back.
“My sister will ride on my back. Get lost. Is armor all that matters to you?”
“Move aside, everyone move! Where are you going to put those scrawny twig-like backs?”
Grandfather approached like a tank, reducing the sturdy young men to nothing in an instant.
“Come here, little one! My precious gem! Surely you’re more comfortable with what you’re used to, aren’t you?”
Grandfather spread his massive arms wide as if to embrace me.
“Ah, Grandfather, what are you doing?”
“Respect your elders! Even water flows downward!”
“Carrying Rubian and respecting elders too…. Well then, let’s settle this fairly with rock-paper-scissors. We’ll divide it into three sections total to the entrance and take turns….”
“Would it be acceptable if I got lost along the way?”
“Kalid, are you Liam?”
Hmm. Everyone’s lost their minds.
“Hey. It’s been a while since I’ve been this embarrassed, so could everyone please be quiet…. Whoa!”
At that moment, my body was suddenly lifted.
Father had defeated all the competitors and successfully hoisted me onto his back before anyone could react.
“Everyone stop with the unnecessary talk and let’s move. We only needed Rose in the first place, so why all this fuss….”
“Father, you traitor.”
Void’s eyes narrowed.
“This son of mine, you were late to the party in the cave, and now you’re trying to be clever?”
“May I serve you?”
What on earth!
Leaving the three of them to grumble in their own ways, I clung to Father’s broad back like a cicada. Regardless of everything, this back felt the most comfortable and reassuring right now.
Thud, thud. His long strides crossed the cave without hesitation.
When I’d entered this place alone, I thought it was an incredibly long tunnel, but surprisingly, the exit was much closer than I expected.
A thin beam of light appeared in the distance.
“Rubian, does your leg hurt a lot? Were you very scared? Oh my. Our daughter always has to suffer through everything alone.”
Mother gripped my hand tightly beside me.
“I was scared, but… Father was the one who took care of the demon beast anyway…”
“Tell me more, Rubian. Appeal to Mother more. How quickly and skillfully did Father handle it?”
“Huh? I had my eyes closed the whole time, so I didn’t see the details.”
“Well, that’s unfortunate.”
I hugged Father’s neck and giggled.
The bright light drew closer rapidly.
I picked off what looked like dried blood crusts from the demon beast clinging to Father’s hair, then exhaled a long breath.
“Phew. That was long.”
As I pressed my cheek against his solid back, I felt a strong, steady heartbeat. Hearing that pulse, relief finally washed over me.
Whether from physical exhaustion or mental strain, my eyelids grew heavy.
Ah, when I wake up again, I’ll need to receive mana from Kalid.
“Rubian, are you sleepy?”
“Yes. Can I sleep a bit?”
“Of course.”
Father patted, patted my uninjured leg gently. Beside us, Mother softly stroked the back of my hand.
We moved toward the light. The long tunnel was finally showing its end.
“This is nice…”
As my vision blurred and faded, I murmured without realizing it.
“This is really nice…”
Like in a dream, I felt as though I were watching the three of us from a distant place.
I was ten-year-old Rubian, riding on Father’s back. That young Rubian grew through many experiences in my parents’ embrace—to twelve, then fifteen, seventeen… and finally eighteen.
‘That’s right. We were always a family from that moment on.’
Our meeting may have been slightly mistimed.
From that moment when we first met as strangers.
We were always family.
“Sleep well, my daughter.”
Mother whispered in my ear. Or was it Father? Either way, it didn’t matter.
Everything we needed to say was the same.
“I love you.”
In the warm, comforting embrace I had longed to return to for so many hours.
I finally found peace.
* * *
“Are you enjoying yourself, Leviathan?”
The Mage King laughed, gazing down at his Royal Palace shrouded in black mist.
Given that contact with the Young Mages I sent to provoke him has been severed, he must have discovered them, taken them under his protection, and by now found himself ensnared by illusion magic.
He would have seen the letter I sent as well, making him all the more agitated.
‘His weaknesses are predictably mundane, after all.’
A child. A dead daughter. Family.
Old wounds that bleed crimson whenever pressed—wounds that never truly heal. His spirit remained as fragile now as it had ever been.
“Now then, what is my Seventh doing at this very moment….”
Drawing closer to the truth?
Rushing forward to kill this father?
‘Not realizing that very act tightens the noose around your neck!’
The Mage King smiled wickedly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
His savage laughter echoed raucously through the vast Royal Palace.

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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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