The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 276

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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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Side Story 2
Ch. 1 Rubian, 19 Years Old, Early Summer
Warm sunlight streamed through the Reception Room.
In stark contrast to the beautiful weather, the man seated in the Reception Room carried an air of darkness and melancholy.
Tap. Tap.
A sturdy thumb drummed relentlessly against a rectangular magical artifact.
Rubian, where are you?
It was a small magical artifact that seemed incongruous with his large frame. Of course, with half his reason scattered to the winds, the size of the artifact hardly mattered to him.
Sent.
Grooooan.
5,
4….
3, 2, 1.
“….”
His thick brows shot up sharply.
“Why isn’t she replying?”
He bit his lip hard and flicked his thumb again.
What are you doing? Working again?
Did you eat?
Sent, sent.
Yet the crimson mana stone embedded at the top of the magical artifact remained utterly silent.
‘Read and ignored…? Or not read?’
What on earth was this?
What he held was a “portable messenger-type communication device” recently developed at the Magical Artifact Production Tower, commonly called the Mage Tower.
It was an object capable of sending and receiving simple messages in real time, and prototype testing was currently underway, limited to Babylon Capital.
The response from testers, led by young people in the Capital, was nothing short of explosive. Naturally, the reputation of the Mage Tower and its master rose accordingly.
‘Lucky bastards.’
It was fine to praise Rubian, but it grated on him how easily they consumed her precious blood, sweat, and late nights.
Regardless.
Kalid steeled himself and composed another message.
Prince Void said you didn’t come home yesterday.
As he wrote that far, he checked the message thread he shared with Void.
“Tsk.”
Still clumsy with the controls, the entire conversation had spilled out unintentionally from the very first exchange.
Kalid, are you at the Marquis Residence? Want to spar at the Zebert Training Ground? Today I’ll win for real with killing intent lol
Yes. I’ll head there now.
Sparring at the Training Ground?
Yes.
Sparring?
I need to sharpen my blade first.
A duel?
Yes.
DL?
Y
We’ve exchanged more messages than I expected.
New message, new message.
Have you arrived at Rubian’s place?
Nope, not yet
But don’t worry lol
Liam hyung is planning to hold a summoning ceremony for the Demonic Beasts at the Mage Tower soon lol
?
If we destroy the Mage Tower, wouldn’t Rubian have to leave work too? Our hyung is seriously genius, right?
Kalid tilted his chin quietly.
Sometimes I wonder if these brothers are in their right minds.
Of course, the Demonic Beasts mentioned here are undoubtedly referring to Ballock, Rosetta, and Leviathan in that order.
Just then, ding! The crimson magic stone glowed.
But are you still banned from entering the Mage Tower?
Why did you blow up my little brother’s locker and cause all this trouble?
After a brief pause, ding! again.
DL?
N
Kalid’s expression grew cold as he finished composing his next message to Rubian.
You’re not planning to pull another all-nighter at the Mage Tower today, are you?
And please tell me
you’re not planning to abandon me again today. I’m counting on you.
“….”
The young man stared intently at the screen.
Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap.
Finally, he snapped.
Rubian, it’s been four days—no, exactly 85 hours and 27 minutes since you’ve been ignoring me. I swear I’ll destroy that Mage Tower someday, and not just me, but even Liam and Duke Zebert said they’d definitely do it too. And now here I am actually listening to what he says,
Whether consonants and vowels scattered like dust or not, there’s no retreat for a young man blinded by jealousy.
He frantically mashed the ‘send’ button…
Beep beep!
Character limit exceeded!
“…Damn.”
You can write up to 80 characters per message♡
“Are you serious?”
Of course.
Nothing in this world comes easy.
“Sigh.”
He let out a low groan and collapsed onto the desk.
Glaring resentfully at the magical artifact, he finally scribbled out what he truly wanted to say in crumpled handwriting.
Rubian, I miss you.
A twenty-one-year-old desperately craving his lover’s attention: Kalid Liork.
Occupation: Marquis, Knight, and Mage.
Of course, his favorite hidden job was “Rubian’s boyfriend.”
But lately, that position’s sense of fulfillment had hit rock bottom.
How had things come to this?
Weren’t things good back during our cruise trip?
‘The cruise…’
Kalid retraced the recent journey in his mind.
“Kalid. Once everyone’s asleep… will you meet me at midnight in the inner cabin on the first floor?”
The thrill I felt when Rubian, completely absorbed in our secret(?) romance, would secretly seduce me was indescribable.
When she’d softly scratch my forearm while whispering, or slip a small note into my hand, I thought my heart would burst.
Perhaps the compensation psychology of pretending to be strangers in front of others played a role.
When we were alone, she was quite bold and generous. That was precisely why I enjoyed this secret(??) romance.
The two of us wandered throughout the cruise, savoring our secret(???) romance. In empty cabins, in darkened banquet halls, in the grand bath, in the artificial garden…
It was truly, truly a blissful and sweet month…
But the dream was cruelly short-lived.
The moment we returned, Rubian became swamped with work.
As the Mage Tower’s reputation grew day by day, all magical-related problems across the entire Continent poured into the Tower.
I felt like a child who’d been given a large basket of candy only to have it snatched away. It was hollow and infuriating.
The cruise was just a taste, and I’d planned to properly savor her now… but my hardworking cotton candy is being taken away.
“I can’t take this anymore.”
In truth, there was a way to overcome this situation.
A way to never be separated from Rubian, not even for a moment.
And that was,
‘Marriage.’
A promotion.
From boyfriend to husband.
“…”
But there were many hurdles to overcome for this.
First… I’d have to end this secret(????) romance.
‘That’s right, it’s about time.’
Kalid made his decision.
I would formally acknowledge my relationship with Rubian to the Duke and Duchess,
‘and hold a public engagement ceremony.’
There was no better timing than these peaceful times.
The Duke and Duchess were as close as always, and the atmosphere of the Duchy was at its peak.
So perhaps I’d hear some annoying remarks, but I should be able to become engaged without much trouble, and then successfully reach marriage by next year.
‘To do that…’
Kalid’s mind raced.
First, I needed to consult with Rubian, so I had to see her face right away.
The moment I found a good excuse and sprang to my feet—
Zzzzzt!
A familiar connection sound struck my head.
I quickly moved my mana to establish the communication circuit.
[ Honey@#$@%! ]
A refreshing voice pierced my mind.
[ Kaliiiiid! ]
What?
[ Hey, what are you doing? I’m leaving work early today. Can you come pick me up? I used the Mage Tower Master’s authority to lift your access ban early! ]
“…”
[ …Why aren’t you answering? Oh, are you mad that I used the communication circuit? Come ooooon. My mana is totally amazing! ]
I staggered slightly and barely caught myself on the desk.
[ Honey@#$@%? Kalid? ]
“…Honey, you say.”
How could she say something like that so naturally…
[ …? ]
I barely managed to squeeze out my voice, my entire head flushed.
“Rubian, you really… understand me so well.”
That I wanted to be your…
Your…
How did you know I wanted to be that.
Boom!
I couldn’t say another word.
It felt as though my heart had just exploded.
* * *
“Hello? Hello? Kalid?”
Why is he acting like this?
‘It seems like he’s only hearing what he wants to hear?’
I tilted my head in confusion.
“Maybe he’s got heat exhaustion.”
That must be it.
[ I’ll be there soon to pick you up. Don’t waste your mana, princess. ]
The conversation ended with his oddly flustered voice.
‘Still, it’s nice to talk through communication magic after so long.’
I removed my hand from my earlobe. The ticklish low tone lingering in my ear felt warm.
My mana core, completely destroyed and then restored, remained small and modest.
That’s why Kalid never did anything that would deplete my mana. It’s why he never initiates the communication circuit.
‘I suppose I can use real magic now.’
Well, it probably helps that this Capital is depleted of mana.
‘Anyway, he’s such a coward when it comes down to it.’
“But if that’s the case, shouldn’t you have at least sent a message!”
I stared at the silent communication device and felt my chest tighten.
‘I developed this portable communication device so he could contact me anytime! Does he really not even wonder about me?’
Honestly, I could have sent him a message first, but curiosity got the better of me—I wanted to see when Kalid would reach out to me first. So I held out.
In the end, I lost.
‘What can I do? The one who misses the other has to reach out first.’
“Of course… a master of ignoring people.”
That was true.
Even as a child, Kalid had always been the indifferent type, never obsessing over communication.
Some things never change.
“Hmph. If you keep making me anxious like this, marriage is the only option left.”
I muttered to myself irritably.
Then, someone tapped my shoulder from behind.

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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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