The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 235

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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 235
“Senia!”
“Ugh!”
A woman shot forward like an arrow, wrapping her arms around Sebelena and tumbling across the floor with her.
“What…?”
“I was just about to come find you anyway!”
“Wh-what? Senia? Sister?”
Sebelena stared blankly at the gaunt woman sprawled across her body.
Though her complexion still bore the pallor of illness, her eyes gleamed with vitality.
‘What is this? Magic manipulation?’
No, that couldn’t be it.
The magical power required for such a thing no longer remained in Senia’s body.
“How is this possible? Who treated you?” Licht asked, concealing his confusion. Senia blinked as she studied the man, and upon recognizing him, her expression twisted slightly.
“I owe the Academy a debt. Your Highness has quite the keen eye.”
“When did that—”
“Come inside first.”
She rose to her feet and led the two into the cottage. Sebelena moved as though entranced by a phantom.
“First, let me explain.”
“Senia! Time for your medicine!”
At that moment, a group of people pushed through the creaking cottage door.
They bustled about holding gleaming blue herbs, but froze upon spotting the guests inside.
‘They look about the same age as me or Rubian…’
Licht narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Who are they?”
At Sebelena’s question, Senia laughed with a smirk.
“Children.”
“…But they’re adults?”
“The Children of Kanalan Gorge!”
Sebelena furrowed her brow. She couldn’t make sense of it.
“Surely not…”
In that moment, Licht, who had been watching the situation unfold in bewilderment, suddenly widened his eyes.
He recalled a time when he’d casually asked Rubian how she managed to escape the Mage Kingdom. The words she’d spoken then came flooding back.
“I helped the young mages of Kanalan Gorge escape.”
“Senia, did you take your medicine? How are you feeling?”
“Good.”
“That’s a relief. The magical herb seems to be working quite well. But replacing your destroyed core will take more time. Based on our experiments so far, perhaps a year? Of course, you’ll need to take this potion for the rest of your life. We’re also conducting trials to convert this elixir into small pills… Are you interested?”
“I’ll help with anything.”
“Perfect.”
The young man smiled and set down the tray of herbs.
The young man smiled and set down the sieve containing herbs.
Licht asked urgently.
“Don’t tell me you’re all…. Those Young Mages that Rubian saved? The survivors of Kanalan Gorge?”
At his words, the dozen or so people who had been moving busily froze in their tracks.
“What? Seventh…. You know Rubian?”
Starting with that question, people swarmed around Licht.
“Is she healthy? Is she doing well?”
“Senia said that the adopted daughter of the Duke’s Mansion is Seventh, but she’s not being neglected, is she? No one’s mistreating her?”
“Where is she now? Is she happy?”
The barrage of questions came down like a torrential downpour, leaving me dizzy.
“So…. You’re the ones who restored Senia.”
I barely managed to murmur this when a woman with long braided hair shrugged her shoulders. At first, she seemed wary of the sudden outsider, but when Senia nodded slightly, she appeared reassured.
“Over all these years, we’ve only researched how Mages without a mana core could survive. That was also the way we continued to live.”
“Though we couldn’t save many of our friends.”
Someone added dejectedly.
“Finding mana-healing herbs in Iosia was truly fortunate. Perhaps it was a reward for our efforts.”
Licht nodded and echoed her words. Though expressed in simple language, I recalled the countless hardships and sacrifices contained within it, and my heart grew solemn.
After a moment, I asked again.
“But…. How did you know Senia was alive here?”
“Well. That was…. Thanks to the child we reunited with most recently. Ah, there she comes.”
“Drucan! Is the base finished?”
Drucan?
My head snapped around.
My eyes met those of a woman carrying a small jar-like furnace. A woman with familiar carrot-colored hair tied up tightly.
“Asha Drucan’s….”
Sister?
“She was also saved by Rubian back then.”
“Eeeeeek.”
Crash, clatter, tumble….
“F-f-fire!”
The woman who spotted the prince’s face opened her eyes wide as saucers. She must recognize my face. When I quickly shook my head, she caught on and closed her mouth with a huff.
When I asked what was going on, she explained.
“Y-yes, back then Asha unni told me about ‘Second’…. And then these children came looking for me….”
“Ah….”
“I thought I’d try to find her, so I came here without telling unni, and luckily the timing worked out….”
Seeing that slow manner of speech, she was definitely Asha Drucan’s sister.
“…I see. But….”
“Why did you save a woman who was once the Mage King’s servant?”
The braided-haired woman laughed as if she’d anticipated my next question.
“By that logic, there was no reason for Rubian to save us either.”
Her expression suggested that since we received help without reason, we return it without reason.
“And if it’s someone Rubian saved, there must be a reason for it,” I thought.
Senia hesitated before prostrating herself flat on the ground. The Mages, as if accustomed to such apologies, playfully tapped her back as they passed.
They bustled about the interior, setting a large cauldron over the fire and stirring it. After carefully trimming fresh magical herbs and adding them in order, along with various miscellaneous ingredients, the interior quickly filled with a pleasant warmth.
“….”
Licht turned his head and met Sebelena’s eyes.
“It seems.”
She shrugged her shoulders once.
“I should tell the Princess not to worry about the letter.”
“…Yes.”
He gazed at the interior scene once more.
When Rubian fled from Kanalan Gorge, could she have imagined a day like this would come?
That those she had saved would rescue the dying Senia, and that Senia, having survived that way, would ultimately become helpful to Rubian once again.
“Rubian has been rewarded for her kindness.”
Licht murmured without realizing it.
“Some might call it a trite and predictable story.”
Sebelena laughed.
“But I do like endings where goodness wins like this.”
“….”
“It’s even better when it’s adorable.”
Licht found himself agreeing with that sentiment.
* * *
The portal flashed with a brilliant blue light.
“Princesssssss!”
The moment Sebelena stepped through the portal, she rushed toward me and planted kisses on both my cheeks.
“Thank you. Thank you so much!”
“Oh, Princess….”
Sebelena poured out everything she had confirmed in Iosia, speaking rapidly. I was so startled that I could only blink for a moment.
“It’s all thanks to you, Princess.”
“No, oh… Wow.”
So things could turn out that way.
‘I never thought of it.’
The Children of Kanalan Gorge had continued to survive in such a manner.
Wait. If that’s the case….
‘Could I survive without a core?’
I stood there in a daze, thinking.
“Being kind and cute is the best!”
Sebelena rubbed her cheek against mine again.
Being kissed by my ideal woman—my heart was pounding so intensely.
“Why? What are you looking at, Kalid? She’s mine.”
“…What.”
I barely managed to slip free from Sebelena’s embrace. Leaving the two of them sparking oddly behind me, I turned toward the First Prince, who had been hesitant to approach until now.
“Licht?”
“Rubian, it’s been a while. Are you alright?”
The very person asking this question looked gaunt, his complexion hollow—it was painfully clear how much mental anguish he’d endured, and I felt a pang of sympathy for him.
Instead of launching into a lengthy explanation, I playfully tapped his arm.
“You have no idea what’s happened to me while you’ve been gone. You’re going to be absolutely shocked.”
“Really?”
Only then did Licht’s expression soften, and he smiled warmly at me.
“Tell me slowly. Everything. Don’t leave out a single detail.”
“Of course.”
‘He seems fine, though.’
Given his nature, he’d definitely been digging himself into a mental hole this whole time.
The plan to deal with the First Prince had fallen apart, and in the process, he’d put me in danger as well.
That good-natured perfectionist Licht had undoubtedly turned his anger inward. When someone fixates on a single thought, even the most sensible person can become twisted.
That’s why I’d sent him to Iosia instead—to think of something else.
‘Actually, I was the one who benefited.’
Licht had promised to help the Children of Kanaral Gorge, who wandered without a homeland, settle in Babylon. The same went for the Mages who would soon be freed.
I looked up at the First Prince, whose eyes had softened as he gazed at me, and chattered away.
“You know what? I discovered the secret of my birth, and I’ve even devised a plan to invade the Mage Kingdom. And…”
“What else?”
“I became a Master of Stigmas.”
Hehehehe, hehehehe…
“That’s… quite something.”
Licht’s beautiful eyes narrowed slightly.
The First Prince, who rarely made exceptions to his blunt way of speaking, made one this time.
“I really don’t like that.”
Why! Why does everyone!
* * *
At last, the day came to depart for the Mage Kingdom.
“Be careful, Rubian. Never push yourself too hard. If it seems impossible, abandon everything and cry your heart out. Mother will be there soon.”
With Mother’s warm embrace as my farewell, I boarded the ship with a light heart.
A long horn blast echoed, and the sails unfurled. As the wind pushed the vessel forward, the hull smoothly cut through the water.
“If anything happens, hide right behind Leviathan!”
The harbor receded into the distance. The faces of Mother, Grandfather, and Void, waving with worried expressions, slowly shrank to mere dots.

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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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