The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 227

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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 227
From the moment the fake father was sent, or rather from when the Casalia Kingdom unveiled that paternity verification potion to the world.
The Mage King had foreseen this situation together with First.
There were multiple scenarios.
The fastest and easiest method would have been for the fake father to deceive Rubian and bring her all the way to the Mage Kingdom.
‘As long as Leviathan stands firm, it won’t be easy.’
Then the mage’s role was sufficient to serve as the spark that ignites the incident.
Sooner or later, Seventh would walk here alone to confirm the truth of her bloodline and meet me—without Leviathan trapped in that cave.
There might be other rabble, but well.
Among the sword and shield protecting Seventh, only Leviathan posed a threat to me.
That cave was teeming with terribly vicious high-rank monsters. It would be best if he died in that cave altogether, or at the very least suffered some unavoidable wounds.
‘Of course, by some stroke of fortune, with Seventh’s help, there’s a possibility the Duke escapes that cave unscathed, but….’
Does he know?
From the moment Seventh sets foot in the Southern Region, the outcome is already decided.
The Mage King mobilized his completely recovered magical power.
The force that surged forth in black, stretching unobstructed, suddenly halted as if blocked by something. Instead, he redirected his magical power through a different mark.
I couldn’t fathom how Seventh’s mark had failed to grow all this time.
But that’s fine.
‘It will grow in a single breath very soon.’
He bared his teeth in a smile.
“Listen! Decorate my Seventh’s bedroom with flowers! Lay down jewels and silk, and burn plenty of expensive incense! Fill the wardrobe with the finest dresses and ornaments. I shall present them myself!”
The Attendant bowed deeply and withdrew.
“Did I not tell you, Leviathan Zebert?”
The Mage King laughed darkly.
“You will be defeated forever.”
* * *
The Alifa Mountain Range, located south of Babylon.
The mountain ridge stretching refreshingly east and west marked the beginning of the Southern Region.
In a cottage somewhere deep within those rugged mountains lived an elderly man with white hair.
He had been living in the Empire since very long ago, together with Asha Drucan, who was once an Eastern Base Mage….
“Huff.”
He was the Southern Base Mage.
Having completed his duties as a Hub Mage in his younger days, he had lived in seclusion here for decades now, wanting to spend his old age quietly.
“What is this!”
The old man shrieked.
He had certainly been sitting at the table reading a book, but when he came to his senses, he was already holding a pen.
And at the tip of the pen, instead of ink, red blood dripped, dripped….
“Aaaahhhhh!”
As he looked around, he nearly fainted on the spot.
A dead chicken lay carelessly scattered on the floor near the table.
“At last, the day of reckoning has come.”
I had no memory of twisting a chicken’s neck in the coop, nor of using its blood as ink to write something.
As the Mage staggered and surveyed his surroundings, his eyes caught sight of words written in blood.
“This… this is…”
These were not words he had written of his own volition. They were a message from someone else.
“The Mage King… has recovered his power!”
Hastily checking the inside of his forearm, he sensed the lingering traces of light that had just faded from the dark brand.
This light meant the Mage King had manipulated his actions through the brand. It seemed he had issued orders through these very words.
‘I heard that years ago, when he moved Second’s brand, he lost considerable power. It appears he issued me commands while withdrawing his magical energy.’
“But… what in the world does this mean?”
Looking at the paper again, two peculiar magical circles remained.
“An improved nullification magic circle, and this… an auto-navigation magic circle?”
Nullification magic was a high-tier spell that deactivated all magical devices, and it had been modified so that someone of his lower rank could use it exactly once.
Moreover, the auto-navigation magic circle beside it was precisely what its name suggested—a circle that allowed one to set coordinates and automatically navigate to the destination.
The coordinates pointed to the northern port of Arcadia in the Mage Kingdom.
A recall order.
He muttered to himself before reading the next instruction, then immediately shook his head.
“This recall order is not directed at me.”
His seventh child and weapon.
This command was meant for Rubian Zebert.
His role was to cast the nullification spell on her to dismantle all devices restricting brand control, then create and deliver a magical artifact embedded with this auto-navigation circle.
‘Since his power has recovered enough to manipulate the brand… he intends to fully dominate Seventh.’
Chills ran down my entire body. Though the Mage King had withdrawn his magical energy, I understood perfectly.
If I defied the brand’s command.
Only death awaited me.
* * *
Port Rencia, the southernmost port city of Babylon.
The Butler of the Weber Marquis House, a distinguished noble family and the great lord of the Southern Region, rushed down the corridor with an unusually contemplative expression and knocked on the study door.
“Marquis Mariel! An urgent matter, my lady!”
“What is it? Such commotion.”
The Marquis furrowed her brow and lifted her gaze from the documents. She despised bustle and fussiness, so the Butler’s current agitation displeased her greatly.
“It’s… it’s that… Duke Zebert has sent an urgent messenger!”
“What? Duke Zebert?”
Mariel tilted her head.
“The reports indicated the battle had concluded. You mean to say he did not return to the Capital as expected?”
“Yes, yes. It appears he has become entangled in another conflict. According to the messenger, during the subjugation of cave beasts, casualties occurred, leaving him without the means to reach the Zebert Villa. He urgently requests to visit our mansion and receive medical attention from a Physician.”
“Surely His Excellency has not been wounded.”
The middle-aged woman rose with precise movements.
And without a moment’s hesitation, she issued commands in a resonant voice.
“Bring him at once. Have the Maids prepare the fourth-floor Reception Room without delay…”
“W-well, Your Grace. In my humble opinion, it seems…”
The Butler paused briefly, moistening his lips before continuing.
“We may need to open the Separate Building.”
“What do you mean?”
“There are quite a lot of… people…”
A lot of people?
Mariel Weber Marquis furrowed her brow in confusion.
“Did you bring the entire Knight Order with you?”
“No, it’s just that the entire Zebert Duchy seems to have come…”
“Pardon?”
Even after the explanation, I couldn’t quite grasp it.
The entire Zebert Duchy?
The whole family?
And it’s not even vacation season?
“…Why?”
A moment later.
As I watched a group of figures approaching in the distance, my confusion only deepened.
“Seriously… why?”
Mariel Weber Marquis stood there with her mouth agape, rubbing her eyes frantically. Her Butler looked much the same.
“It’s been a while, Mariel Weber Marquis.”
The man at the front—Zebert Duke—greeted her in his usual tone.
Though covered in beast blood and looking disheveled, it somehow accentuated his raw, rugged charm, making his inherent dangerous appeal shine through… No, wait, that’s not the point.
“Forgive me, but has the Zebert Duchy perhaps… been cursed?”
Mariel asked in her characteristically sharp tone.
Her golden eyes swept across the cluster of people clinging together like dough.
“Something like… you die if you’re separated from the Duke…?”
The Duchess clung tightly to the imposing Zebert Duke on his right side, while Void clung stubbornly to his left. But that wasn’t all.
When Mariel spotted Ballock embracing the Duke from behind in an awkward position, she felt a wave of intense dizziness.
“What on earth is this?”
Just as she was wondering if they’d somehow contracted some high-grade tick-like beast curse…
“Haha! Hello, Marquis!”
A face suddenly popped up from the Duke’s broad shoulders.
“The Princess?”
Since the Zebert Duchy often vacationed in the Southern Region, the two were quite familiar with each other.
“Ah, I injured my leg, you see. I apologize for greeting you so impolitely!”
“No, that’s fine, but… Princess, why are you in the Southern Region?”
“Rubian, don’t move. Your wound will open.”
Zebert Duke adjusted the Princess on his back, and the family members clinging to him scattered like autumn leaves.
“No! My daughter! I can’t be separated for even a second!”
The Duchess hurriedly clung back to Zebert Duke’s arm. Only then did it become clear—they weren’t clinging to the Duke, but to the Princess on his back.

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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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