The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 277

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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 3
“Excuse me, Mage Tower Master. Are you alright?”
One of the mages from the Mage Tower had spoken.
“Oh, I’m fine!”
I spun around and stepped away from the window.
As I returned to the large table, the faces of the research team mages came into full view.
“You’ve all worked so hard!”
“Phew, you’ve worked even harder, Mage Tower Master. So shall we proceed with testing the portable communication device version 2?”
The mages waved magical tools embedded with crimson mana stones.
“Yes, yes. I’ve been using it for the past few days, and it seems quite good!”
“Ooh!”
“The transmission and reception range has expanded nicely all the way to the Capital Outskirts where the Mage Tower is located.”
“Oooh!”
“I’ve been exchanging messages smoothly with my family at home.”
I scrolled through the message box rapidly.
Ding!
At that moment, a cheerful notification chimed.
“Ah, look at this! It’s from my family at the mansion!”
“Ooooh!”
Rubian, our daughter. Did you sleep well? Fighting today!
“It’s Mom!”
I smiled brightly and typed out a reply with rapid keystrokes.
Me too, Mom! Remote hug!
Smooch.
Oh right, Mom got a nice quote from Hazel, let me share it~
Mother had been sending me nice phrases every morning lately.
How to be happy: be grateful for everything, stay present, enjoy freedom, tell Mom you love her, swear to live with Mom forever, don’t rush into marri—
The message cut off.
‘Don’t rush into marriage? That’s unique!’
I felt a bit more confident.
These days, I’d been wanting to go public about my relationship with Kalid, so I’d been carefully watching my parents’ reactions.
“But… is this 80-character limit still difficult to overcome?”
Just then, one of the mages asked.
“Yes. We’d need to use mana stones with higher compression rates…”
“Heheheh. Non-mages can’t self-charge, so they can only send 50 messages, right? It’d be frustrating if an important message gets cut off!”
“Yes. It seems the key is obtaining larger-capacity mana stones.”
“Hmm. That’s difficult. For now, let’s wait for the new report from the Mana Stone Research Team!”
“Oh, but in version 2, we’ve increased the message send and receive count to 70!”
“Ooo! How on earth!”
“Well, if you adjust the formula this way and that way and like this and so on, the numerical limits that were originally set get released and…”
“Indeed! What a brilliant approach!”
Just as I was about to launch into a lengthy discourse on mana manipulation, a sharp chime interrupted me.
A warning.
A warning? Suddenly…?
Yesterday at 14:38. Someone secretly infiltrated my library.
I furrowed my brow.
‘I’ve never set foot in Liam’s library.’
Being generous, next time could you at least brush the dirt off your shoes? Of course…
Assuming there is a next time.
Chime!
Father.
Liam remained… colorfully chaotic as ever.
‘How in the world does someone manage to get lost even in the communication channels?’
It was truly exasperating.
‘Is it really right for such an eldest son to become the heir?’
I pressed my brow and took a moment to contemplate the future of our family.
That’s right.
A few weeks ago, Liam was decided as the heir to House Zebert.
Wow…
It was truly a fierce and brutal succession struggle.
A desolate wind howled, and a cruel whirlwind of fate swept over us three siblings…
And the one who distinguished himself in that blood-soaked battle was undoubtedly,
“Rock, paper, scissors!”
Liam.
“…How could you, brother?”
He swallowed his tears of regret and knelt before me in defeat.
“My fairy…? You said you’d throw scissors against your older brother?”
“I regret to inform you that you fell for my sophisticated psychological tactics, brother. I’ll hand over the heir’s sword later…”
“How could you, brother? You… deceived me…?”
“Liam, hang in there. We had no choice if we wanted to get you out of that Graduate Research Department. Oh, Mother’s coming over with a beaming smile.”
“…Even you, Void?”
Liam’s face was one of disbelief as he clenched his fists against the dirt.
It was Father who ended the situation, having watched it all unfold quietly.
“So the loser becomes the heir?”
Thus concluded House Zebert’s succession (avoidance) struggle…
But regardless, realistically speaking, Liam was the only suitable candidate for heir.
I was busy managing the Mage Tower, and Void had dumped all his stats into physical strength and swordsmanship, leaving him completely unsuited for family management.
In such circumstances, Liam—a well-rounded talent—becoming Zebert’s heir was perhaps an inevitable outcome.
‘Besides, he only hesitated at first, but it turned out to be perfectly suited to his aptitude.’
“Liam, you seem to have forgotten. One of the family head’s important duties is…”
“Father, I’m still in the process of parting with the Academy…”
“Demon subjugation.”
“….”
“Besides, you’re free to harvest byproducts too. Whether you boil them, pound them, or grind them—you can do whatever you please. No one’s permission required.”
“Have I not told you before, Father, that I’ve always dreamed of becoming the head of House Zebert?”
Liam was utterly captivated by the allure of such vivid practical demon subjugation training.
Not only that, but he was also making quite the impression at the nobility councils—his intolerance for nonsense and razor-sharp tongue had proven remarkably effective at decimating the other nobles in debate.
‘These days, it seems he’s practically living at the Imperial Palace.’
It appeared he preferred autonomous learning even for his heir training.
Ding!
Just as I was processing this absurdity, another notification chimed.
New riding gloves
My eyes immediately glazed over.
Swordsmanship manual and spellcraft treatise
Leather boots, Rubian tonic, gauntlets—where should I buy these? Journal, blue ink
Void was at it again….
Ding!
Morning mock battle!!!! Leon’s weak point is his shoulder. Target here next time!!!!!
He was using it as a notepad.
“Hmm, I’ll add a caller-blocking feature in the next upgrade!”
“My goodness! Such a thing exists?”
I really think I desperately need that!
‘Sigh, these tiresome yet precious older brothers of mine!’
They truly haven’t changed one bit—there’s nothing more to say.
I snapped the magical artifact shut.
There was no one else left to contact anyway.
‘Grandfather is traveling, and Father seemed uninterested in magical artifacts from the start.’
Besides, Mother apparently dropped it in the lake while playing on a boat with him. But what on earth were they doing to cause that?
I pouted for a moment, then stopped myself.
“Oh right, I’ll organize the evaluation report for Version 2 and submit it to the Crown Prince!”
“You’re writing the report yourself?”
“Yes.”
“Oh…! I’ve heard the Crown Prince is extremely meticulous, so reports rarely pass on the first submission!”
Huh?
“R-really?”
“Yes. When similar reports come in, he apparently smiles while marking them up with a red pen.”
“Ah, I’ve heard that rumor too. But he’s so capable that…nothing would satisfy him anyway? It’s rather frightening….”
‘That gentle Licht? Surely not.’
Besides, he just stamped my reports without even reading them.
I was a bit flustered, but I laughed it off as if I knew nothing.
“Well, I do have my own set of skills.”
“Oh, as expected!”
I’d worry about the rest later.
“Then, I’m taking the afternoon off today!”
“Yes, please get some rest! Mage Tower Master!”
I dashed down the corridor, leaving the Mages who came to see me off behind.
The mana flowing subtly throughout the Mage Tower wrapped around my body gently.
With so many magical devices everywhere, the Mage Tower was always filled with a pleasant mana.
Suddenly, I felt joy.
‘Wow.’
I never thought a day like this would come.
Once, the fact that I was a Mage was something I had to hide desperately, like a shameful secret.
I was afraid and resentful of myself for being a Mage. So there were many times I hated myself.
‘But not anymore.’
I recalled the Mage King’s mark that once resided in my body, now vanished.
‘I never thought being myself could feel this proud!’
And on top of that, I’m even earning a living like this!
I’m so proud of myself!
That’s why I’m happy!
‘My social life is going smoothly. All that’s left is to be lovey-dovey with Kalid!’
The real reason I called Kalid today was something else entirely.
‘I need to get engaged to him before the year ends.’
Secret romance was thrilling, but lately I kept hearing rumors that certain nobles were trying to arrange marriage talks with Kalid.
That was absolutely unpleasant.
‘He’s mine!’
My eyes gleamed with possessiveness.
‘So I should notify Mom and Dad first and start dating him openly~’
Kalid was already like family to us, but introducing him as my lover was a different matter entirely.
It felt somewhat embarrassing and nerve-wracking, so I needed to prepare myself mentally.
‘But really, what could possibly go wrong?’
Glancing out the window, the weather was remarkably clear.
I had such a good feeling about this!
* * *
I left the Mage Tower in high spirits.
‘When will Kalid arrive?’
I walked while looking around, and someone approached me.
“Mage Tower Master. Are you leaving for the day?”
It was one of the senior researchers from the research team.
“Yes! I have something to do today. How about you, Polbou?”
“I’m heading to the Annex Archive for a moment…. Ah, w-would it be any trouble if I accompanied you to that fork in the road?”
“Well, I suppose…”
Polbou was around the same age as Kalid.
He glanced at me, then his eyes widened.
“Oh! You have luggage! Allow me to carry it for you!”
“No, that’s quite alright.”
“Well, I’ve been cooped up in the research room lately, so I think I’m lacking in exercise…”
He squeezed his eyes shut and cried out.
“Please, help me avoid losing muscle mass!”
“My.”
Employee muscle welfare was a serious matter.
His face was indeed flushed red, which suggested his blood circulation could use some improvement.
“Then I’ll trouble you with it.”
“I-it’s an absolute honor!”
Polbou carefully took my luggage.

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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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