The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 232

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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 232
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The moment the children were released from the restraint, they spoke in rapid succession as if they’d been waiting for this chance.
“In Arcadia, screams echo every single day. The Royal Palace Mages just grab people and use them as test subjects. As sacrifices to summon Dark Magic, and, and…!”
“There are many children our age in the Kingdom. They’re deliberately having people marry to increase the number of Mages. So while the number of Mages has grown compared to before, the adults said it’s harder than ever.”
“I… I once secretly watched combat Mages training. I saw them sculpting figures from earth and transferring magical power into them a lot.”
Putting it all together, the picture was clear.
“The Mage King must be planning to invade Babylon.”
Even from their fragmented accounts, I could sense he was raising military forces for invasion and accelerating Dark Magic research.
‘And it seems like he’s experimenting with something using Mages and the blood of Dark Creatures from the Delcan Ruins.’
My brow furrowed slightly.
‘Only I know the Dark Magic summoning circle, but if they manage to create something resembling Dark Magic through these strange experiments, that would be problematic.’
I couldn’t afford to take a step backward and stumble into a trap.
Moreover, according to the original story, the Mage King succeeds in resurrecting a Dark Mage in the not-too-distant future. He ultimately obtains the Dark Magic summoning circle.
‘In the dream, the mark of Seventh was fully matured. Fleeing for a brief moment might have been possible, but… it seems I couldn’t completely prevent the mark’s erosion.’
Of course, reality and the original story had diverged by what felt like a million light-years, and I could no longer even tell if this place was the world within a novel.
As long as the possibility wasn’t zero percent, I couldn’t forget that future.
“I should report this to the Emperor right away~”
I quickly wrote a tattletale letter. I added a note that it would be good to prepare for an invasion just in case.
“Alright, Kalid. Let’s go send this.”
I turned my body on the long sofa and stretched my arms out.
‘This time I absolutely have to get a piggyback ride. That would be less stimulating.’
Today the tunic’s strings were tied tightly in Liam’s style, so it was better than yesterday, but the sensation of my exercised body touching his still felt strange.
“No, that’s not what comes first. Rubian.”
Then Kalid spoke in a low, subdued voice.
“Hm?”
“That magic of yours.”
I tilted my head. I belatedly realized the body sitting beside me was closer than I expected. As tension rushed through me again and I tried to shift away, my wrist was suddenly gripped firmly.
“Why are you running away?”
The light of the setting sun seeped into his grayish-blue eyes. That reddish glow somehow looked like flames burning fiercely.
‘Why is he like this today…?’
So forceful?
Or was he slightly angry?
I braced myself with both hands behind my back, biting my lip slightly. If I lost my balance even a little, my body would tip backward completely.
“What could be more important than sending the letter?”
“You don’t know what that is?”
In that moment, a large hand slowly traced across my body.
As if exploring sensation itself—from my wrist to my arm, to my elbow, to my shoulder. Then naturally, his hand descended along my back in a caressing motion until it reached my waist.
The calloused thumb pressed into my tense body, moving slowly up and down in a soothing rhythm, and before I knew it, it had dangerously reached just above my hip.
Before I could even process the situation, he pressed firmly against my lower back.
“This.”
“Gasp.”
My arms finally gave way beneath me.
I sank into the sofa, though the hand cradling the back of my head cushioned the impact.
“Are you alright?”
His body draped over mine, and I held my breath as though consumed by his dark shadow.
His beautiful tear mole crinkled slightly.
Beneath the thin fabric, I felt his warm, firm hand. The rolled-up sleeve revealed thick forearms traced with prominent blue veins.
I struggled to gather my scattered thoughts and make sense of what was happening.
“What… what are you doing right now…?”
Kalid stared at me intently, wetting his dry lips.
“…A mark.”
“…What?”
“I was asking if you really erased it. Why are you so startled?”
My eyes blinked slowly, twice.
Oh.
“Oh…!”
The mark!
“Ah, my mark!”
I fumbled with my words. His hand had pressed directly against the location of my lower back mark.
Heat flooded my face.
“You! Why would you check it that way! You could have just asked!”
“Ah, sorry… I wanted to see if I could feel the mana.”
Kalid murmured without a hint of apology in his expression.
“So what did you do with your mark?”
I squirmed, trying to sit up.
“I’ll explain, so move… you’re heavy.”
And now that I thought about it, our position seemed rather compromising.
I couldn’t claim innocence—I was a pervert after all—but he was one hundred percent pure, so he’d be the one wronged.
In short, if someone walked in on us unexpectedly, it would become terribly awkward.
‘Especially Father. Though he wouldn’t be back for a while.’
That was when it happened.
The firmly closed door swung open with a bang.
“Rubian. I need to talk to you for a moment…”
Oh, heavens.
“F-Father…?”
I scrambled to my feet with a crash and a bang.
“You two… what.”
Kalid, shameless and audacious as ever, showed no sign of panic—only concern as he checked whether my calf wound had reopened.
“You two, pressed so close together… what are you…”
“Father! Calm down!”
I hurried to explain myself to my father, whose jaw had clenched so rigidly he could barely form words.
“It’s not like that!”
“Not like what… ? What do you mean, not like what? Rubian, what exactly do you mean?”
This was a crisis. My explanation had backfired spectacularly.
I jabbed Kalid sharply in the ribs with my elbow. Only then did he let out a loud cough and raise both hands in a gesture of innocence.
“A misunderstanding, Duke Zebert. I was merely providing assistance because Rubian appeared to be running low on magical energy.”
“…Magical energy… exchanged across the entire body like that?”
Crack.
Father’s expression shattered into something even more pitiful.
The explanation was awkwardly phrased, but not technically wrong, so I couldn’t refute it.
“Ha…!”
His massive frame swayed as though the ground had shifted beneath him.
After what seemed like a thousand dry washes of his face, Father appeared to have reached a state of enlightenment.
“Ah, I see.”
A gentle smile played at the corners of his mouth.
“I understand perfectly.”
But his eyes held no focus whatsoever.
“What are you saying, Father….”
“I must still be trapped in an illusion spell.”
Then, gripping his sword tightly, he turned to Kalid and spoke.
“Come at me, beast.”
No, Duke Zebert! That’s not it!
* * *
The expedition to the Mage Kingdom.
Three days remained.
Today was the day my advance guard would be announced.
“What is that?”
Grandfather squinted as he entered the Reception Room.
“Why is there a squirrel here instead of that Kalid boy?”
“Chirp, chirp!”
The squirrel, its brow furrowed in concentration, sat in Kalid’s place and brandished a twig-sword.
“Father, look closely. Kalid is over there.”
“…So why is the real body crouched in the corner like that?”
In one corner of the spacious Reception Room.
The broad back of Kalid, who sat facing the wall, appeared before my eyes in a melancholy haze….
“Kalid has his struggles as a knight.”
Father’s lips twisted upward.
“Such as discovering a more effective and wholesome method of magical energy transfer.”
“….”
“Like a proper method of mana transfer.”
The way he emphasized it twice made his true intention painfully obvious. I pushed out my lips in protest.
“Still, I feel a bit sorry for him….”
Look at that. His broad shoulders are sagging a little.
I gathered my courage and spoke up, but it was futile. Mother set down her teacup with a soft laugh—clack.
“Rubian, did you forget that when you sit in the thinking chair, it’s at least five minutes?”
“No, that was just when I was little….”
He’s a grown man now, dark as coal.
Poor thing.
He’s innocent.
I’m the pervert.
Just then, someone pinched my cheek. It was the Duke, wearing a devilish smile.
“Your turn next, Rubian Zebert. As a mage, you shall ponder a new method of mana transfer.”
“Huh!”
In the end, Kalid and I had to take turns sitting in the thinking chair for five minutes each. Of course, it didn’t produce any answers.
In any case, after that meaningless period of contemplation, several more hours passed.
“Well then, shall we call it settled?”
I stood up with a snap.
Thanks to the Southern Physician’s excellent medical skill, my legs had recovered enough to walk on my own.
Moreover, I had assembled the personnel to accompany me to the Mage Kingdom.
And of course, I had safely sent word to the Babylon Imperial Palace.
‘Most importantly, I’ve even solved the automatic navigation magical artifact thanks to the Southern Base Mage!’
I recalled Benjamin, the Southern Base Mage I’d met yesterday, and stroked my chin with a villainous grin.
Nothing stood in my way now. All that remained was to move forward without hesitation alongside my family and friends who supported me so steadfastly!
The time of departure was drawing near!
“Let’s go beat up the Mage King!”

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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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