The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 239

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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 239
“I sense an odd gaze upon us.”
Father narrowed his eyes and vigilantly surveyed our surroundings with a sharp expression.
“We should hurry, in any case.”
Liam wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me deeper into his embrace.
The Main Hall contained several inner chambers.
Passing through the Prayer Room and Meditation Chamber with their tightly sealed doors, I arrived at the grand Central Chapel.
“….”
A majestic statue of a goddess stood behind the altar upon the podium.
I hurried past, casting a glance at the sculpture of Goddess Wistal, who gazed down upon humanity with a compassionate smile.
“Oof.”
In my haste, my forehead collided with someone’s firm back.
“Someone is following us.”
Kalid whispered, gently rubbing my forehead.
“It must be that presence Father sensed.”
Licht, who had been leading the way, had already circled around the chapel and was heading toward the entrance.
“Leave this to me, Rubian.”
Wait—could a crown prince really do this?
Didn’t the future of the Empire rest on those shoulders?
“Infiltration is more thrilling than I expected. I think I’ll keep craving this.”
Ah, dopamine addiction. What am I to do?
“Rubian. Over here.”
Just then, Father, who had been examining behind the altar, spoke. With a sharp crack, his massive hand easily tore through the iron chains, revealing a passage that stretched in a straight line.
Liam stayed behind to help Licht, while I ventured deeper into the inner chamber with Father and Kalid.
My eyes widened dramatically.
“A portal!”
In the small inner chamber, I had discovered an arched gate standing firmly against one wall.
“Wha—ahhh?”
Just as I rushed forward to pour my magical power into it, my face contorted.
“What?!”
“What’s wrong? …Oh no.”
Father clicked his tongue softly and furrowed his brow.
“Why is it in this condition?”
The portal wall, constructed from stacked bricks, had gaping holes throughout, like corn with kernels missing. The stone sections where magical formations had presumably been inscribed had vanished entirely.
Moreover, the magical artifacts necessary to activate the portal were nowhere to be found.
In short, it was a complete disaster.
“This makes no sense. Benjamin said this portal would be intact since he forbade anyone from entering and leaving through this ruined temple!”
I had thought it might take time to repair the magical circuits that had deteriorated from disuse, but I never expected physical damage of this magnitude.
“But this…looks like someone forcibly removed something.”
Kalid muttered beside me.
Now that I thought about it, there were rough scratches around where the magical stone had been removed.
As if someone had deliberately excavated it using crude tools.
“There’s no help for it. We’ll have to use the portal in the nearby village.”
“Ugh. Do we have to pretend to be residents…?”
Father tossed off his priestly robes, saying the disguise was complete.
That was when it happened.
“Rubian! Watch out!”
I heard Licht’s urgent cry.
No! The Empire’s future!
We rushed outside in haste.
“Huh?”
I was somewhat taken aback.
“Villain! Villain! Get away!”
A young boy being held by the ribs in mid-air by Licht, thrashing about….
The grimy child locked eyes with me in my priestly robes and began hiccupping with a sound like “hee-hee-hick.”
“This one seems to be the one who was tailing us.”
Licht scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“What should we do?”
“You came to take us to the Royal Palace as test subjects! I won’t go! Absolutely not goinnnng!”
The moment the child screamed loudly and struggled, the tightly shut door to the Prayer Room burst open. Only then did I realize there was a mana-blocking magic circle drawn on the inside of the Prayer Room door.
“Stop it! Let Aren goooooo!”
A group of people poured out from the entrance leading to the corridor, each wielding different weapons.
“Rotten Royal Palace bastards! We can’t take it anymore!”
A vivid magical spell flashed.
It was simultaneous with my mana stirring into motion.
* * *
“Mister, what’s your name?”
“Leviathan.”
“Wow.”
“How old are you? I’m four!”
What is this.
“That’s a secret, little one.”
“Hehe. Mister Tan is so cool. Right, you guys?”
“Yeah! Cool mister is awesome!”
I lost my father.
I covered my mouth with both hands.
Inside the Prayer Room, Father was surrounded by small mage children.
When our eyes met, Father spoke with his lips.
‘These little mage children certainly have discerning eyes.’
When I first met the children.
Father was the only one who had removed his priestly robes, and it seemed he’d left quite a favorable impression on the young children who had been fearful of the Royal Palace Mages.
Duke Zebert, who typically drew tears from children at first sight, was now being viewed differently.
“Well, there’s nothing to be done about it.”
As the first young mage with discerning eyes, I decided to overlook my father’s appearance this time.
My gaze swept across the Prayer Room.
Dozens of people had gathered in the spacious interior—mostly families with young children.
“I… I apologize for my rudeness earlier. I thought you were pursuers from the Royal Palace…”
A woman with her hair pinned up approached and spoke. She was the one who had tried to attack us before being stopped by my binding magic.
“No, we’re sorry for startling you! But… does the Royal Palace really forcibly take people away?”
“Yes. They frame it as if people are being summoned by the Mage King, but…”
“It’s experiments! They said everyone who gets dragged into those experiments comes back dead!”
Aren, who had been clinging to Mother’s side, suddenly cried out.
“Even children?”
At my question, the woman nodded with a devastated expression.
“They primarily target children. Simply because their magical power is said to be the purest.”
“…”
“We abandoned our village and fled here to hide. Most of the people gathered here came the same way. I didn’t realize you were in a similar situation. I’m truly sorry for attacking you so suddenly.”
The woman looked back and forth between me and Father.
Learning that these were villagers who had fled to escape the Royal Palace’s pursuit, we simply claimed to be in a similar predicament.
“Here, please have some of this. Those who are ill can use this medicine.”
Licht spoke. Liam, standing beside him, frowned and pushed his glasses up, but ultimately he and the prince began pulling out food and medicinal herbs from their carriage in succession.
Those who had been sustaining themselves on thin grain porridge hurried forward to receive bread, butter, thick slices of ham, and milk.
In the center of the Prayer Room stood a small brazier that had been used to burn incense for ceremonies. The mages skillfully kindled a fire there and manipulated the surrounding air currents to prevent the smoke from escaping outside.
The rich, savory aroma of heating milk spread throughout the interior. The young children sniffled and sipped warm milk sweetened with honey.
“Ah, all of this should be going into our house sprite’s mouth instead…”
“Wow, your brother’s house has a sprite living in it? I once saw a shimmering sprite-like magical beast near my old home!”
“Little one.”
Liam’s eyes gleamed.
“You should eat five cups of milk and two chunks of ham. And what did that sprite magical beast look like?”
“Um. Irke.”
“Ah, so the name is Irke.”
Slipping away as Liam became absorbed in gathering new information about magical beasts, I leaned against one wall of the Prayer Room.
‘Hmm. What should I do now?’
According to the woman’s account, Royal Palace Mages were already stationed in the nearby villages.
“The magical artifacts and stones embedded in the Temple portal… we dug them all out and traded them for food.”
“Sigh. Just as I thought…”
“We can only hope the Goddess will forgive us.”
“…”
“Perhaps the divine abandoned us long ago.”
Recalling the weary woman’s words, I fell into deep contemplation.
‘Huh?’
A peculiar surge of magical energy emanated from the Prayer Room entrance.
‘Teleportation?’
The moment I lifted my head, a strange sound followed—*whoosh*, *clack*.
“…What? New fugitives?”
The voice was utterly coarse and rough.
*Whoosh*, *clack*. *Whoosh*, *clack*. Someone approached rapidly, their staff striking the ground with each step.
“Elder Mage!”
Emerging from the crowd was an elderly female mage.
“This magical power is surely…”
Her eyes slowly widened in shock as she sensed my aura.
“You, you’re the Seventh…! Gack!”
In that instant, an arm extended from somewhere and pressed a blade’s edge against her throat.
“Kalid!”
“Who are you?”
The voice was chillingly low and cold.
Simultaneously, someone wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me behind them. It was Father.
“Why, why are you doing this! This is our Elder Mage!”
The adult mages fluttered about trying to stop Kalid, but he didn’t budge an inch.
Liam and Licht, who had drawn near, unsheathed their blades and encircled the mages. A tense, precarious silence fell over the space.
“Y-you really were Royal Palace people…!”
“Release our Elder Mage!”
Kalid stared at me, awaiting my command, while I narrowed my eyes slightly at the sight of blood trickling down the woman’s neck.
‘She was about to call me Seventh.’
Could she be someone I’d encountered at the Royal Palace?
‘Since I always concealed my face, perhaps she remembers me by my magical signature.’
If so, she must be a mage of considerable rank.
I observed the woman who stared at me without uttering a single cry despite the blade at her throat.
Then, my gaze suddenly caught on a mark branded beneath her chin.
‘That brand’s location…. A Royal Palace Elder?’

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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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