The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 279

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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, Chapter 5
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“Let’s eat that!”
Rubian dashed forward.
Kalid steadied her belongings and followed her at a leisurely pace.
The two were enjoying a brief date in the Capital’s Shopping District.
As soon as they arrived at the Gate, they left the carriage and decided to walk the rest of the way to Zebert Duke’s Mansion.
“Goodness, this is delicious too. The Capital’s dessert industry really has raised its standards across the board.”
Rubian crunched on honey-glazed walnuts.
Kalid watched her cheeks moving up and down with serious intent.
‘Honey pastries, one bag… added to the list.’
So far: one ice cream, one plump macaron, one financier in vanilla, one in lemon, and the caramel one—she’d taken one bite before it disappeared into Kalid’s mouth.
‘She must have skipped lunch again.’
Kalid swallowed a sigh.
Watching Rubian, who had surprisingly delicate tastes, sample this and that, it was clear she hadn’t eaten a proper meal.
‘Does that blasted Mage Tower really fall apart without her?’
There was nothing about this situation he approved of.
‘Gone for just a few days and look at the state of things.’
Kalid ground his teeth.
Before coming to meet Rubian, he’d discovered three confession letters wedged in her locker. Of course, he’d destroyed every single one.
‘Are these people insane?’
Why did they keep confessing? To the Mage Tower Master herself? How dare they?
In truth, genuinely romantic confession letters were rare.
Most were letters of admiration and respect, but to a man drowning in separation anxiety and jealousy, there was no difference.
‘She received these almost daily back at the Academy.’
Back then, Kalid had been on the Battlefield searching for the magical formula to remove Rubian’s mark.
Thinking of all the men who’d flirted with her during that time… his teeth ground again.
So Kalid was now throwing a tantrum all at once—the one he hadn’t fully thrown back then.
‘That barrier magic really doesn’t suit me.’
His extended finger traced his jaw thoughtfully.
This time, his clumsy attempt to install magic on Rubian’s locker had exploded.
As a result, he’d received complaints from the Mages and been banned from the Mage Tower for seven days.
‘Hmm. Next time, I should borrow one of those traps Liam uses when hunting magical beasts.’
Kalid made a firm decision and snatched the pastry bag from Rubian’s hand.
“Stop eating. You need a proper meal when we get home.”
“But this really is delicious. It tastes like something I loved as a child.”
“…Honey-glazed walnuts? You?”
“Don’t you remember? You roasted them for me on the Battlefield.”
Kalid laughed helplessly.
“Charring chestnuts and seeds you found on the ground over a fire is nothing like this.”
Back then, I must have been clumsy at everything because I was so young.
I don’t remember exactly, but I probably fed you something no better than street snacks.
“Is that so?”
But I feel like I have a memory of eating something. Am I mistaken?
Rubian murmured to himself, then shook their joined hands back and forth as if it didn’t matter much.
“Ha, anyway, it’s nice to play with you after so long.”
At that, Kalid grumbled irritably.
“So you were aware it had been a while. And here you were claiming you hadn’t neglected me.”
“What? Are you upset?”
“I’m sulking. You ignored all my messages.”
“…Huh?”
In that instant, Rubian stopped dead in his tracks.
“Messages… I didn’t receive any?”
“…?”
Rubian hastily pulled out his communication device from his pocket.
As he held up the empty message inbox as evidence, Kalid blinked blankly.
“…Kalid, you didn’t…”
“….”
“You didn’t send them to my old communication device, did you? I told you I was testing Version 2!”
“Oh.”
“The previous version is with Father!”
Now that I thought about it, I vaguely recalled hearing that Leviathan had lost his communication device, so Rubian had given him his own instead.
“What, what did you send? You didn’t send anything weird, did you?”
Kalid furrowed his brow slightly, reflecting on his past self.
What did I send back then?
‘Hmm.’
Whatever it was, it probably didn’t look particularly dignified.
But.
“Don’t worry, Rubian.”
Kalid calmly stroked Rubian’s cheek.
“Zebert Duke doesn’t even read his messages much anyway.”
“Well, that’s true, but….”
In that moment, a look of resolve flashed across Rubian’s face.
‘Does it even matter what I sent? We’ve already decided to go public with our relationship anyway.’
So maybe this was actually for the best. Sometimes spilled water becomes the catalyst to replace an old tablecloth….
And at the same time, Kalid reached the identical conclusion.
The two lovers gazed at each other’s faces with grim determination.
Both their lips opened simultaneously.
“Rubian, let’s finally make our relationship official….”
“Listen, Kalid. Let’s break up!”
A moment of silence.
“…What?”
Kalid was the first to react.
“What are you talking about quitting?”
“No, I’m saying we should end this secret relationship and switch to a public one! Let’s get formal permission from Mother and Father too. Of course, the secret romance has been fun, but to move to the next stage… well, what I mean is….”
Rubian suddenly grabbed the hem of Kalid’s clothes.
“Marry me!”
Whiiiiing—
A desolate wind swept through the surroundings.
Kalid seemed frozen for about three thousand years before finally coming to his senses.
“You….”
His complexion rapidly flushed crimson.
I underestimated her. Rubian was always someone who far exceeded my expectations.
“You’re really talking about marriage….”
“Yes! With me!”
“While eating walnut cakes?”
Crunch, crunch crunch.
“Let’s get married. I’ll buy you three hundred honey walnuts!”
Let’s move to the next chapter of our relationship!
Let’s spread the word throughout the neighborhood and love each other more openly, more boldly!
“Ha.”
Kalid covered his forehead, which had flushed so intensely it seemed about to burst.
“Well, well….”
In that moment, Rubian grabbed both sides of Kalid’s hood and kissed him. When I came to my senses, a sweet honey taste lingered in my mouth.
“…That’s certainly the sweetest proposal in the world.”
He finished speaking as if enchanted.
The two of them walked forward with a light step.
“Let’s have an engagement ceremony this year and a wedding next year. Some people combine both, but since I like formality—contrary to being an introvert—I want to make both grand. Of course, I’ll minimize the guests….”
Rubian chirped away like a bird.
Kalid realized her plans didn’t differ from his own, and his mood became excellent.
There was nothing left to fear.
“I like everything.”
“Then, while we’re at it, should we discuss it with Mother and Father this evening?”
At the abrupt continuation, Kalid blinked.
“About the engagement ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“Alright. …If my head stays attached.”
“Ahahaha! You’re something else! Always joking!”
“Maybe I went too far. Oh, but Rubian, is it okay if I go buy some armor? We have a first-aid kit at home, right?”
“….”
“I need to buy better swords, sturdy shields, combat-grade magical artifacts… things like that.”
“Are you going to war or something?”
“….”
Kalid swallowed hard. Just moments ago, he’d thought there was nothing to fear, but suddenly the world before him began to spin violently.
‘Nothing will go wrong… right?’
Facing the situation he’d prepared for, tension crashed over him like a wave.
He found himself wishing he could simply fast-forward time to his wedding day with Rubian.
‘What a foolish fantasy.’
Kalid shook his head lightly and reclaimed his cold rationality.
‘So how long will it take to reach the block where the armor craftsman lives?’
They’d make it in an emergency, wouldn’t they? Of course they would. A man’s life and a wedding were on the line—naturally they would.
Creak, creak.
Rubian watched in bewilderment as Kalid’s figure disappeared, his steps hurried and irrational.
* * *
Meanwhile, at that same moment, Leviathan.
“…?”
He tilted his head.
“Sir, what is the matter?”
“No, this communication device….”
Butler Adolf shifted his gaze from his report.
“Isn’t that Rubian’s communication device? But it appears to be… broken.”
Adolf chuckled knowingly as he examined the shattered screen.
“You handled it like a weapon again, didn’t you?”
Given his careless nature, it was obvious he’d damaged the magical artifact while training or some such thing.
“Sir?”
But Leviathan’s reaction was strange.
He didn’t answer Adolf’s question, merely staring intently at the magical artifact.
“Adolf.”
Suddenly his smooth brow furrowed sharply.
“Look at this message.”
“What… has happened?”
“That Kalid fellow….”
His voice carried an odd gravity.
“He says he wants to see me.”
“…?”
Wants to see me.
“All my efforts in raising him have borne fruit.”
Leviathan smiled with unmistakable pride.

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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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