The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 244

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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 244
“Have the residents been evacuated?”
The Knight Commander answered the Emperor’s question with unwavering loyalty.
“We’ve completed the evacuation of all residents from the southwestern regions where combat is anticipated. The barrier magical artifacts installed on the Castle Walls, developed by the Capital’s Hub Mages under Asha Drucan’s leadership, are also operational.”
Barrier magical artifacts.
The Emperor recalled their unfamiliar appearance and unconsciously murmured.
“Like the bells of a watchtower.”
“Huh? My granddaughter created that on the Zelox Fortress Wall!”
Ballock boasted without hesitation.
“When she was only ten years old!”
“….”
“To stop the invasion of magical beasts!”
The Knight Commander clapped his hands. He had to—otherwise he’d get flipped over.
“Indeed, indeed. Young Lady. In any case, they say they’ve modified the existing magical formations so that even lower-ranked mages can create them without consuming excessive mana.”
“How… remarkably clever, you little brat!”
Ballock snorted through his nose and glared back at the Emperor.
“Hurry up! If those combat mages all swarm toward our children and attack!”
“I know, I know.”
His skill at pestering the Emperor was on par with Leviathan’s. Ah, they really were father and son.
The Emperor could have completely sealed off the mages’ invasion.
But as long as there were those who had gone to conquer Arcadia, it was also his duty to disperse Arcadia’s forces in this direction.
“Well, let’s torment them slowly then.”
Let’s welcome those who dare cross the Border warmly. If ten invade, I’ll kill eight and send two back.
Then those two will return with a hundred. When that happens, I’ll kill ninety and send ten back again….
‘The Mage King must be completely absorbed in attacking the Zebert Duchy by now.’
He won’t even notice where the water is leaking from the small hole, and by the time he realizes it, he’ll be holding a shriveled pouch.
“Let’s go.”
A radiant smile bloomed across the Emperor’s beautiful face. As if he’d been waiting, Ballock shot out like a cannonball.
“It’s a defensive battle.”
* * *
Arcadia, Southern Region.
Father infiltrated the village alone, stole the magical artifact, and returned in less than an hour.
It was truly incredible speed.
Our Duke really was more of a phantom thief type than a hero.
“Phew. Anyway, I love my strong father!”
I ran over and hugged him tightly, half in admiration and half in relief.
The villagers had salvaged stone from the ruins of the collapsed Temple, carved the edges, and fitted it into the portal.
Idelaine and I carefully drew the magical formation on top of it.
As always, Father and Kalid stood guard behind me.
“Good. Once I complete the formula for this section….”
I was rolling up my sleeves when it happened.
“Elder Mage! Elder Mage!”
Someone burst into the Inner Chamber in a panic.
“Disaster, an attack——!”
The man couldn’t finish his sentence.
A tremendous surge of mana crashed down all at once, accompanied by the deafening sound of something crumbling and shattering.
“No!”
I quickly layered three different protective spells over the portal.
As if a bombardment had begun, ominous attack spells rained down alongside the screams of people.
“Rubian!”
Father wrapped his arms around me, and Kalid quickly placed his hand on the ground.
“What are you doing, Mage!”
At the fierce command, the Senior Mage who had once served the Royal Palace swiftly drew a barrier formation on the floor, and Kalid poured his mana into it like a madman, expanding it all the way to the Prayer Room.
Boom!
With a tremendous shockwave, the remaining structure of the Main Hall collapsed.
Thick stone walls and debris tumbled chaotically, but they bounced off the barrier Idelaine had deployed with a series of thuds and booms.
‘Senior Mages!’
Based on the flow of mana, it was a direct attack from mages.
‘Have they discovered I’m here?’
I’d anticipated this would happen eventually.
But they’d found me faster than expected.
‘If the portal had been intact, I would’ve left this place long ago and none of this would’ve happened.’
I gazed at the portal wrapped in protective spells from within the barrier that thudded and trembled around me.
‘Just ten more minutes!’
Cold sweat dripped down my face. The aftereffects of using the Demon-Breaking Formation and barrier spells consecutively still lingered.
“Move aside.”
In that moment, Father rose to his feet, gripping his sword.
“Duke Zebert!”
“Create an opening. At this rate, my daughter will collapse first.”
Heat shimmered like a mirage rising from his broad shoulders. Just as Idelaine hesitated and began to carefully widen a gap in the barrier.
“Father, wait!”
The relentless barrage of attacks suddenly stopped.
The soaring ceiling had long since been completely destroyed. The majestic pillars were half-collapsed, and the surroundings were already devastated.
“They’re trying to assess the situation here, it seems.”
“Or perhaps they’re preparing another attack….”
I felt the ground trembling ominously as I answered Father. Either way, this was our chance.
As I gasped for breath and pushed myself up, Kalid rushed over and transferred his mana to me.
“Rubian! Are you alright?”
“Ugh. Am I bleeding from my nose?”
“Phew, no.”
“Fine then. I’ll handle the portal repairs. In the meantime, we should gather the people from the Prayer Room over here.”
Idelaine nodded. Beads of cold sweat dotted her forehead as well.
“If we gather the children, the elderly, and the wounded near here and shrink the barrier’s range, I can maintain the magic alone. Let’s hurry before the next attack begins!”
She sprang to her feet.
“And until the portal is connected, those who can fight….”
“Must fight.”
With a growling tone, Kalid gripped his sword.
* * *
Beneath a low hill, countless earthen golems writhed in seething masses.
Blue magical circles spiraled in patches across the ground, and dozens of Senior Mages standing upon them stared intently in our direction.
Leviathan remembered them well.
Warriors sculpted from earth in human form—golems designed for close-range combat by mages.
Their massive frames and muscles evoked ogres. He knew well their explosive offensive power and iron-like defense. During the Human-Beast War, he’d often considered them quite useful.
“I never thought we’d face them like this.”
“And the numbers…. There are far too many.”
Licht muttered, scratching his pale face.
As the wind pushed the clouds aside, the shadows gradually receded, revealing thousands of soldiers filling the vast plain below.
“Then go guard Rubian’s side instead.”
At that moment, Kalid—brushing dirt from his shoes with casual taps—muttered coldly before launching forward like a projectile.
He plunged into the enemy ranks without a trace of fear, swinging his blade without hesitation.
With a single aura, the monsters wielding club-like arms collapsed in succession.
The front lines crumbled in an instant, and the golems hesitated briefly before surging toward Kalid once more.
His eyes gleamed with sharp light.
He’d been methodically scanning the area and spotted a mage controlling the earthen golems nearby. The moment the mage sensed the danger and hesitated.
Kalid detonated his mana, overturning the surrounding earth.
The ground cracked and split.
The golem warriors flailed and perished in the fissures. The Senior Mage barely saved himself with a levitation spell, but that was all.
A merciless blade severed his neck without mercy.
“Your Highness. What exactly are you raising?”
“Did I teach him something like that….”
Leviathan tilted his head.
“I was thinking of throwing him in prison for insulting the Imperial Family this time, but it seems I’ll have to postpone that as well.”
The Imperial Prince smiled gently as he cleanly severed the warriors rushing at him with economical movements.
“Prison or whatever. Please don’t get hurt. Dietrian will kill me.”
“Haha.”
“But still….”
Leviathan’s sudden question made him stare at Licht’s pale face.
“Why did Your Highness follow us here so willingly?”
“You’re asking that now?”
“I’m just curious now.”
“That’s because….”
The Imperial Prince drew his blade in a long arc, smiling with an inscrutable expression. Then he glanced back toward the Temple.
“There is something I desire in this place.”
With those words, Licht bolted forward, leaving Leviathan behind.
“….”
A guttural roar tore from his throat.
Leviathan let out a sharp cry and gripped his sword tightly.
Everything was falling apart.
“My daughter….”
A deafening explosion erupted, and everything around him was thrown into chaos. His muscles swelled as if they might burst, and scorching blood pumped from his heart surged through his entire body.
With a mighty downward slash, dozens of artificial warriors crumbled to dust. Licht turned to face him with a slightly bored expression.
As if he cared.
“You raised your daughter far too well.”
Leviathan approached, dark energy billowing around him.
Look, Rose. Enemies surround us on all sides….
The eyes of the mightiest burned with fighting spirit.
The eyes of the strongest burned with fighting spirit.

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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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