The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 230

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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 230
“Mm.”
I borrowed Liam’s glasses and transformed into a meticulous, exacting examiner.
“Experience is one of the crucial aspects I lack, so I shall take it into consideration.”
Just then, a small cough escaped from beside me—Mother, who had been linking her arm through mine the entire time.
“Rubian, I….”
“Aww, Mother… Perfect score for emotional appeal.”
Mother’s mere existence was a blessing in itself.
Her soft hand caressed my head as her sweet voice continued.
“As part of my personal development, I’ve mastered assassination techniques, and I’ll use them to protect my precious daughter.”
“Heh, who learns assassination techniques as self-improvement… But I love you for it.”
*Click.*
Sensing the danger of being left out as Mother and I clung together like magnets, Void wedged himself between us.
“Rubian, I’m strong! Super strong!”
“Huh? Your pitch is a bit off.”
“Well, uh… Oh! The New Leaf Festival! Seven consecutive champion of the New Leaf Festival sword tournament!”
“Ah, awards and accolades do earn bonus points. So what remains now is….”
*Whoosh.* Everyone’s gaze shifted.
Toward Zebert Duke, who stood with folded arms, watching this spectacle with a wry smile.
“Why are you looking at me like that? Of course I’m going. If I’m not the vanguard, then who is?”
“The cave….”
In that instant, Father unfolded his arms. The mightiest warrior, suddenly regaining his humility, began sweating profusely.
“No, that was an unavoidable situation….”
“It was surprisingly shallow, though.”
As I spoke with a smirk, Father uncrossed his legs.
“Rose, if I tell the Emperor’s brat that he fell to your welcome magic, will they look down on our house?”
“Hmm, we should choose our words carefully. Perhaps focusing on how Rubian played a dramatic role….”
I waved my hands dismissively.
“Oh my, everyone! Don’t poke at my sore spots. Of course, if I hadn’t saved Father, he’d probably still be sleeping right now!”
“….”
“Of course, it was a bit embarrassing how the so-called strongest hero on the continent looked so weak. I know, I know. But everyone has their vulnerabilities, don’t they? So let’s not dwell on it or make fun of it! Of course, if I hadn’t saved Father, he’d probably still be sleeping right now!”
“Is Father about to cry?”
Father covered his face and shook his head slowly.
“You’re the worst, Rubian.”
“Hehehehe.”
I giggled for a while, then noticed the faint tears gathering at the corners of Father’s eyes and decided it was time to stop teasing—for now.
Of course, that was just today’s quota, and I had 23,450 more days of teasing planned.
Anyway, it was time to conduct the examination….
“But why isn’t Liam saying anything?”
Just then, Void suddenly asked.
That’s right. Normally, my older brother would have stepped forward first. But today he was unusually quiet.
“Phew, finally I get a chance to speak.”
Liam, who had been silent until now, spoke while looking at a nearby potted plant.
I quickly returned his glasses to him.
“First, if I may pose a question.”
Oh, starting with a question to draw everyone’s attention? A fresh approach.
I nodded, finding it rather clever.
Liam swallowed hard, then asked calmly with a face that struggled to hide his confusion.
“Was the youngest fairy… truly Mother and Father’s biological daughter?”
“Ah.”
So that’s where he’d been lost.
“Why…? How…? Where is this? Who am I?”
Spinning round and round.
The sound of the bewildered eldest son’s mind churning filled the room.
* * *
“The advance team examination results will be announced three days before departure. Now, dismissed!”
Rubian called out cheerfully.
The schedule for heading to the Mage Kingdom was set for roughly a week later.
Until then, everyone decided to prepare for the final battle and handle their respective tasks.
After losing rock-paper-scissors, Kalid found himself cradled in Ballock’s arms, watching Rubian’s retreating figure grow distant with a somewhat anxious heart.
…What if I’m not selected for the advance team?
He licked his well-formed lips, entertaining such thoughts idly.
Arcadia was a land abundantly rich in mana. Once we arrived there, Rubian would be able to move freely in ways she couldn’t here.
‘All I have is mana.’
A sense of crisis rose to the tip of my chin.
‘And from what I saw earlier, she doesn’t seem to like physical strength either.’
He pulled the tunic’s laces taut and tied them up to his neck, thinking. Honestly, he’d loosened them slightly with somewhat improper intentions, but he never expected Rubian to hate it so much that she’d squeeze her eyes shut.
‘Ah, this is troublesome…’
Kalid walked with heavy steps out of the Conference Hall and into the Corridor.
It’s difficult.
Rubian is truly too difficult.
Just as he was thinking this and exhaling a deep sigh.
“…”
A stabbing headache struck him, and he stopped in his tracks.
…Yes.
His breath caught in his chest.
Now that he thought about it, he’d been suffering from such headaches frequently since arriving in the Southern Region.
The deep mana within him surged greatly. His mana trembled and reacted as if being drawn in one direction.
He swallowed a groan and forcibly suppressed it with an even stronger will. Why was this happening?
‘Could it be because the Mage Kingdom is drawing near?’
“For my King.”
I still hadn’t fully uncovered the meaning behind that phrase inscribed on the shackles.
Allen had once mentioned there might be hints on the Western Continent, but what would happen if I went to the Mage Kingdom as things stood? What other secrets might be hidden there?
“Sigh… You’re right, Rubian. You have to take me with you.”
He tapped his head against the wall with dull thuds.
“For that to happen, I need to get my head straight.”
With that, he straightened his posture and resumed walking despite the pause. The piercing headache persisted, but Kalid wiped his expression clean as if nothing were amiss.
…Can’t have… her.
The voice within me stirred restlessly.
“Shut up.”
He muttered through gritted teeth, suppressing the power within himself. The dark desire writhed, but it showed no intention of surrendering easily.
* * *
The expedition to the Mage Kingdom.
Six days remained.
Leviathan stood gazing at the azure waters of the Southern Region.
More precisely, he was meticulously inspecting the exploration vessel before him. Knights and laborers bustled about the warship’s perimeter.
He had spent the entire night discussing the coming battle with his adjutants, and at first light, he penned a letter to the Emperor requesting supplies and reinforcements.
Upon hearing Leviathan’s report, the Emperor showed no hesitation. This war had been inevitable since the Mage Kingdom was excluded from the Alliance, so those granted the Emperor’s permission soon arrived in succession through portals, bearing the necessary supplies.
“Duke, Marquis! The vessel inspection is complete.”
One of the Marquis’s adjutants rushed forward to report.
“Have the magical artifacts from the Capital been loaded?”
At Marquis Weber’s question, the adjutant nodded.
“Yes, for now.”
“The real problem is finding the sea route to the Mage Kingdom. Every time, the surrounding barriers have disrupted our course, and we’ve wandered the seas until our fuel and provisions ran out.”
The Marquis clicked his tongue briefly and turned his head.
“Your Excellency. Can you truly procure an automatic navigation artifact?”
“I’ll find a way.”
If Rubian said it was difficult, he would search every inch of the vast ocean to accomplish it.
The Marquis, catching sight of the unwavering resolve that flashed across Leviathan’s eyes, fell silent.
That was when it happened.
“Marquis! The Outpost Mage requests an audience.”
Another adjutant rushed forward with the announcement.
“What? The Outpost Mage from the Southern Region?”
The Outpost Mage from the Southern Region?
Leviathan tilted his chin.
“How have you been, Marquis?”
“Benjamin! I was just looking for you!”
“Haha, it feels like just yesterday when I last saw you, yet you’ve grown so much.”
An elderly man with snow-white hair approached, leaning on a cane. He appeared to be well over ninety years old.
Marquis Weber greeted the Outpost Mage warmly, as if he remembered seeing him in his childhood.
“Where on earth have you been staying? I’ve been at a loss, unable to get any word from you.”
“Ha. What use would you have for an old man with barely a mouse’s worth of mana left?”
“Ah, there is a distinguished guest who wishes to meet Benjamin….”
Distinguished guest…. The Mage rolled the words around in his mouth before coughing, coughing again.
“Please accept this first.”
The old man withdrew a small device from his bosom.
“I discovered a magical artifact while organizing my home. I hope it might be of some small service to the Marquis in his twilight years.”
“What is this?”
“An automatic navigation magical artifact with coordinates set for Arcadia.”

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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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