The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 28

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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 28
Ch.4
‘Humming…?’
Morris Rilton, the former Vice-Commander of the Zebert Knight Order and current Butler of the Annex, furrowed his brow at the Old Master’s eccentric behavior that had persisted for days.
“Hm-hm-hmm.”
It was because Ballock Zebert—the man said to be capable of shooting down birds mid-flight with his presence alone—had been humming since morning.
Even swaying his hips along with it, no less.
‘His leg condition seems to have improved remarkably.’
Morris quietly set the tea down on the table.
‘Could Miss Rubian’s salve truly have been effective?’
If so, that would be quite extraordinary.
“Sir, what are you working on this early in the morning?”
“Mm. I’m drafting new designs.”
Even his voice seemed to have grown gentler somehow.
“Designs, sir? Are you planning to forge new swords?”
“That’s right. I’ll gift one to each of the little brats.”
The second little brat and the youngest little brat~
Ballock’s humming reached its crescendo.
“Yes, sir.”
The Zebert family was a house of knights. It was customary for the family patriarch to present swords to his children.
“I’ll even engrave their names on the hilts…. Hm?”
Ballock’s hand, which had been moving without hesitation, suddenly froze.
“What’s the matter, sir?”
“Now that I think about it, the youngest little brat….”
A deep furrow carved itself between his brows. The pen had stopped precisely at the name Rubian.
“Did she take the Zebert name?”
Ballock stormed straight into his son’s study.
“The adoption has not yet been finalized.”
Thunder and lightning seemed to crash down behind Ballock’s departure.
“What…is…this…?”
His massive frame swayed awkwardly.
“Rubian wasn’t going to stay here permanently?”
“Yes. Adoption is not a simple matter, after all. Rubi’s own wishes are important too…. Are you alright, sir?”
“I’m not alright!”
Ballock shouted abruptly.
Leviathan pressed his brow with a weary expression. He had written as much in his letter when he brought the child from the Capital.
‘He’s only read what he wanted to read again.’
He sighed and set down the documents he had been reading.
“The thought of that little one disappearing…. Ah, give me a moment.”
Ballock pressed the bridge of his nose and gazed upward at the sky. Leviathan found the situation utterly absurd.
“When on earth did you start welcoming Rubian like that? At first, you were desperate to throw her out.”
“I don’t remember!”
Ah, yes. As if you would.
“Do you know how adorable that girl is?! When she comes running from the end of that hallway calling ‘Grandfather!’ it’s like ten years of constipation just melts away….”
“You don’t have constipation, sir.”
“Your disrespect knows no bounds.”
The stubborn old man grumbled and collapsed onto the nearby sofa.
“Rose will be back soon, won’t she?”
Leviathan glanced at his wife’s letter resting on the desk.
“Yes. About two weeks remain.”
Since she was traveling with Liam and considering Rose’s physical condition, I’d written back asking her not to rush.
Still, she should arrive in two weeks. Thinking of my wife’s face after so long, my hand unconsciously trembled with anticipation.
Ballock released a long, heavy sigh.
“When Rose returns, discuss it with her carefully. Very carefully! And explain it well to Rubian too. Understood?!”
“Of course I will.”
Leviathan spoke with conviction, but Ballock’s expression remained unsatisfied.
“You must never let that girl slip away. Do you understand? Never!”
“That’s not something I can control through force. Father, stop meddling with Rubian’s feelings. You’re always hovering around the child….”
“Hovering?!”
Just then, a soft knock sounded at the door.
The old man, who had been fuming moments before, sprang to his feet like a conditioned reflex.
“Ah, it’s time.”
“Time?”
“Time for my little rascal to put a patch on my knee.”
Ballock hurried out of the Study with an animated expression. Left alone, Leviathan shook his head slowly.
He really was full of surprises.
Rubian certainly had a gift for appeasing that cantankerous old fool.
Leviathan returned his gaze to the documents.
Yet something was strange. The tiny letters refused to enter his vision.
The pen slipped from his hand.
His piercing eyes stared quietly into the void.
“…She comes running while calling me Grandfather?”
Imagining that sight.
Why did his chest feel so unsettled?
* * *
“Phew.”
I wiped my forehead with a satisfied expression.
After lunch and before dinner, this time was mine. I used these hours to channel mana into the magic stones.
Hazel was busy helping with the mansion’s chores during this time, and Void was occupied with sword lessons. As for the General, he was never not busy.
‘Old Master…. Grandfather seems busy these days too.’
I heard he’s designing new weapon blueprints or something like that.
In any case, for once I had no bothersome people interrupting me, so I could process the mana stones stably.
Transparent mana rippled within the activated mana stone.
Of course, those unable to read mana wouldn’t be able to see it.
‘I need to embed this into an appropriate tool.’
Given that this stone’s name was a ‘Barrier Stone’, and given that I’d activated its power with my own mana.
Naturally, it could produce a certain degree of barrier effect on its own.
But that was merely a one-dimensional effect.
It was like the difference between raw ingredients and a finished dish.
Ingredients can be eaten as they are, but when processed with an appropriate recipe, they yield far superior flavor and efficacy—the logic was similar.
‘What I want is a powerful protective barrier that will guard this place for a long time. One that can detect intruders and temporarily repel them.’
I turned my head to look in the mirror.
Using Wizeria’s wisdom, a fierce crimson light swirled within my pupils.
Fortunately, Zelocks was land rich with mana.
So if I combined the mana in the air with the mana of the ‘Barrier Stone’ itself and linked it to the magic circle, the barrier field would maintain itself without me continuously channeling mana into it.
Unless something major happened to the castle walls or the magical artifacts themselves.
‘I’ve already drawn up the magic circle.’
The problem was….
“The tool and location to embed this mana stone in are ambiguous.”
I stared at the purple stones lying on the floor, lost in thought.
“Hmm. It would be nice if I could at least take a look around this area….”
If I inspected the castle walls, couldn’t I get some hint?
‘But it’s also awkward for me to suddenly volunteer to inspect the castle’s security condition….’
I buried my head in the sofa, troubled.
Knock, knock.
Then, I heard a knock at the door.
“Rubian.”
It was Uncle.
“Just a moment!”
I sprang up and organized the mana stones. It would look like I was just examining stones anyway, but just to be safe.
‘Oh, my eyes.’
The crimson light was fading to a pale pink. Blink, blink. Ugh, why won’t this fade faster!
“Rubian?”
Uncle called to me again from outside.
I confirmed my pupils had completely returned to blue and opened the door.
“What were you doing that you— Your eyes are red.”
Huh? That’s a lie!
* * *
“Why are your eyes so bloodshot from concentrating so hard?”
“I must have been reading books too intently.”
Phew, that startled me.
I swallowed my sigh inwardly.
What the man meant was that my eyes were bloodshot. I felt oddly guilty for no reason.
“But what’s the matter?”
I asked while crunching into a plain butter cookie.
The man had brought an abundance of sweet desserts again today and was personally working through them.
“Do I need a reason to have a snack with you?”
The man’s eyes suddenly lifted.
Huh? Something felt a bit sharp about that.
Or rather, not sharp exactly….
‘Sulky?’
I shook my head vigorously.
What reason would the man have to be sulky like a spinning top?
“No, it’s not that… Well, it’s your house anyway. You should do as you please.”
“…Sir.”
“Hmm?”
His expression, thoroughly twisted with displeasure, turned toward me. The man, who had been staring intently at me, soon released a long sigh.
“Never mind. Have you been reading books all day?”
His deep violet eyes swept slowly across my room. Several books lay scattered on the floor near the window.
They were borrowed from the Duke’s Mansion library.
I couldn’t spend the entire day processing mana stones. Using too much mana would deteriorate my condition.
This wasn’t Arcadia. Two or three stones a day was my maximum here.
After finishing those, I’d idly flip through the borrowed books to kill time.
The man suddenly asked.
“Rubian, do you want to study?”
“Study?”
“Should I hire a tutor for you?”
“Um….”
“Tell me if there’s anything you want to do.”
Anything I want to do?
I stared at the cookie I’d bitten halfway through. Nuts were studded throughout, and the rich, nutty flavor lingered in my mouth.
‘What do I want to do.’
I’d never seriously thought about it.
‘Ah!’
I suddenly remembered.
What I wanted to do was naturally already decided.

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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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