The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 236

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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 236
Knights bustled about the deck. I stood at the bow, gazing quietly at the azure waves for a moment.
The weather was brilliantly clear, and the waves were calm.
Oddly enough, I felt rather peaceful. Not frightened at all. Perhaps because Father was with me.
‘Good. Once everything is over, I should take the family on a boat trip.’
Something like a luxury cruise vacation!
‘Please let us be able to go!’
Carrying my earnest prayer, the boat cut smoothly across the blue sea.
Thanks to the acceleration magical device the Emperor had prepared, we would reach the waters of the Mage Kingdom in roughly half a day.
I approached Father, who was conversing with Licht nearby.
Licht was an intelligent character who had memorized every exploration report detailing the failed voyage to the Mage Kingdom, so he had been dramatically selected to join the advance party.
“Sir, I believe it would be wise to assume a defensive posture starting in thirty minutes.”
“You mentioned sea beasts appearing in the vicinity?”
“Yes. According to the data that came up in reports, they are aerial types. In the twenty-first attempt, approximately eight Eaglius-class beasts appeared, causing considerable damage….”
I turned my head to look up at the helm. A wheel spinning steadily on its own caught my eye. An automatic navigation magical device was embedded in the center of the round wheel.
‘Navigation won’t be a problem.’
We weren’t yet in the Mage Kingdom’s waters, but….
In truth, countless barriers thin as veils had been brushing past my cheek since earlier. They were like scraps scattered by the Mage Kingdom.
The structure etched itself into my mind in an instant, and I quietly dismantled the layered barriers.
‘This is why they kept wandering in the same place.’
I tilted my head, gauging the magical power remaining in my body.
‘Even without Wizeria lending me her strength….’
It works.
The magical consumption was even minimal.
‘The power of study, indeed.’
Over the past eight years, searching for the true formula of the Destruction Array, I had learned magical circles from across the continent and continuously worked to convert them in ways that consumed less magical power.
“Rubian, why are you smiling like that?”
“Licht…. I’m a hardworking genius.”
“Huh?”
“A genius who also works hard? That means no one can catch up to me anymore….”
At that, Father laughed as if bewildered and stretched my nose out.
“This is troubling. Your pride has reached the heavens.”
“Ow!”
“Let it grow even longer.”
Seeing his playfully smiling face, I felt oddly annoyed. What could I even say!
Licht, who had been watching, covered his mouth and chuckled softly before continuing.
“Returning to the main point, we must be especially careful of the barrier region with phantom fog. Likely….”
In that moment, my eyes gleamed.
“Licht, could you step aside for a moment?”
“Huh? Why?”
“I need to put stickers on Father’s eyelids so he can’t close his eyes….”
At that, Father’s body flinched.
Today’s task…. Complete!
“Now the illusion won’t work on me.”
“No, no, Mother specifically told me to keep watch.”
Father casually replied, “Is that so?” before suddenly leaning his body diagonally against mine. Then he flashed a roguish smile with that handsome face of his.
“Oh dear. Father’s legs are getting wobbly.”
“There’s no mist yet.”
“Help me up.”
The Drama King of Exaggeration draped his arm across my shoulder and put his full weight on me. Of course, it was less than half his actual weight, but my shoulder still felt crushed as if a boulder had been placed upon it.
“Ah, I’m shrinking!”
“Are you going to tease Father or not?”
“I’m going to tease you!”
“Attack.”
“Ugh!”
“Are you going to tease Father or not?”
“I’m going to tease you! I have determination too!”
“Of course. Whose daughter are you? Attack.”
“Ugh! My height!”
I tried with all my might (though I’d never actually nursed) to shake Father’s arm off, but I failed miserably. From a distance, Kalid and Liam, who had already raided the storehouse, were approaching with silver trays laden with all manner of food.
“Sigh….”
Licht, who had been watching, scratched his cheek beside me and laughed, “Ha ha.”
“This expedition lacks all solemnity, doesn’t it?”
Ch.236
I recalled the plan once more as the wind brushed against me.
“Now, pay attention. Our objective as the vanguard is to connect the Mage Kingdom’s portal to Babylon.”
“I know. That’s why we brought the minimum number of Knights. Just enough to handle emergencies at sea.”
Father said.
“Right. So once we arrive at the Mage Kingdom, we should minimize combat on the way to the portal. You’re keeping the necklaces I distributed, yes? It’s a device that resonates with surrounding mana and disguises you as a Mage, so don’t take it off.”
“What happens after we open the portal?”
“We go catch the Mage King.”
“I’ll handle that.”
Father and Kalid spoke simultaneously.
‘I’m the one who should do it.’
Of course, I didn’t voice that thought.
‘If Father and Kalid’s attacks work, that would be ideal, but if they don’t….’
I had to consider even the worst-case scenario.
And fortunately for me, I had a method.
‘I just hope I won’t need to use it.’
I recalled my stigma, which remained undeveloped yet still existed within me.
“Understood. Then Father, Kalid, and I will head straight to the Royal Palace once we open the portal. Licht and Liam can join us once the reinforcements arrive!”
“But we don’t know the way to the Arcadia Royal Palace.”
“I’ll leave traces of mana along the route, but an actual map would be even better. Don’t worry! The rear guard will bring one with them.”
“A map? Such a thing exists? Who made it?”
I chuckled, and Licht, who knew the truth, grinned at me with a similar expression.
“Senia and the children made it.”
“Is that the name of your new Wandering Troupe?”
Father’s brow furrowed sharply.
Regardless, everything was proceeding smoothly.
I made my way to the cabin to avoid getting in the way of Father and the Knights as they began their battle preparations.
When I opened the door, a familiar face looked up from polishing a sword.
“Are you here to rest? Come here.”
“Kalid, are you alright?”
“I don’t understand the intent behind your question.”
Kalid replied flatly, wiping his sword again with an oil-soaked cloth.
I sat down at a distance and carefully examined his face.
‘Something’s definitely off.’
He looked thinner.
His jawline had become slightly sharper, and the area beneath his eyes seemed faintly darkened.
“You… does something hurt? Your complexion doesn’t look quite right.”
“…”
In that instant, Kalid’s movements stopped abruptly.
He set down the sword he’d been polishing and turned his head slowly. His deep teal hair, reminiscent of the deep sea, fell slightly across his smooth forehead.
His long eyes narrowed as if measuring something.
“Ah, that’s right.”
His voice flowed slowly. His thick, well-defined brows creased slightly, and a peculiar light flickered in his grayish-blue eyes at that very moment.
“I do hurt, Rubian.”
“What? Where!”
Without thinking, I reached out my hand, and he quickly caught it, placing it somewhere.
“Here.”
“…”
My palm met the hard, rigid surface of stone.
The wall was split with brutally harsh contours, and I realized far too late that it was his abdomen.
“Actually, my stomach’s been churning ever since earlier. From the moment you said you’d take the Prince with you…”
“Eek!”
I gasped and pulled my hand away.
What was that just now?
I think I just touched something absolutely incredible. Was a human body really this firm? How could an abdomen be like this? I wanted to poke it with a needle! Because it seemed like even the tip wouldn’t penetrate!
“You startled me! W-what was that? It’s not like you’re sharing mana with me!”
“…Yeah.”
In that moment, Kalid’s head drooped heavily.
This is insane.
He seemed to be muttering something, but I couldn’t make out what.
“Anyway, he was saying he’s in a bad mood because of that bastard.”
Kalid spat the words out bitterly.
“No, why do you keep expressing yourself through actions instead of words? And you should get along with Licht…”
I forced myself to speak casually while trying to calm my thundering heart. The vivid sensation of his touch lingered on my skin. Ah, I’m skipping hand-washing later!
“I don’t like that.”
Kalid laughed, wrinkling his brow, oblivious to my inner turmoil.
* * *
Kalid cursed silently to himself.
‘Is he insane? Really.’
When he came to his senses, he realized he was gripping Rubian’s hand firmly.
Whenever the magic power dormant within him surged unexpectedly, it was difficult to control such impulses.
He clenched his own hands as if binding them, enduring the throbbing headache. He hadn’t realized he would feel the approach of the Mage Kingdom so viscerally throughout his entire body.
‘I’m going to lose my mind.’
When Rubian’s body heat—which had touched him moments ago—suddenly came to mind, heat flared up to the tips of his hair. Now his entire body ached with a different kind of longing.
In truth, he wanted to pull Rubian’s hand that had reached toward him and embrace them roughly—to press their bodies together, to rest their foreheads against each other, their nose, cheek, and lips…
Had he not barely regained his reason, wouldn’t he have already received a slap from Rubian by now?
He remembered the voice that had spread within him.
Take her by force. Possess her. Don’t you desire it as well? That is the only path by which you can survive!

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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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