The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 289

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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 Episode 15
There were no clues to identify which noble house they belonged to, but they were unmistakably knights of an aristocratic family.
They were ones I’d been seeing consistently for the past few years.
‘What are they searching for?’
Or perhaps what they’re trying to hide… their true intentions remained a mystery. Not that I particularly cared.
“Let’s turn back.”
“Yes.”
Nothing good ever came from entangling oneself with nobility.
Rosetta turned her horse’s head and took a different path.
“Oh, right. How did those new weapons you tested today feel?”
“Ah. The crossbow from Aloif’s weapon shop was disappointing. It has poor compatibility with my 35cm bolts. The firing feel was subpar too.”
“Right? I felt the same way. I think Munis’s longbow-compatible bolts reinforced with a single layer of steel tips would suit us better.”
“Hmm, then should we place a larger order with Munis next time, Captain?”
“Sounds good.”
The two of them laughed lightly, enjoying their casual weapon talk. It was their only hobby, really. Of course, they didn’t slow their pace one bit.
Then Hazel approached Rosetta.
“Captain, how is your shoulder feeling?”
“Ah, it seems the wound wasn’t as deep as I thought.”
“Is that so? You bled quite heavily though.”
“You’re right.”
Rosetta moved her bandaged shoulder slightly. The pain was barely noticeable.
Suddenly, I recalled those small hands gripping my shoulder.
‘Could it be…’
For a moment, I thought I’d been hit with some healing magic, but…
Rosetta shook her head dismissively.
‘That little thing isn’t a Mage or anything.’
My imagination was running wild.
‘Besides, I wonder if she’s adjusted well.’
Soft silver hair and blue eyes came to mind.
The shy face asking if I needed a youngest member, and then the shocked expression as if the world had collapsed when I took her to the nearby Orphanage—these memories came in succession, and I found myself smiling.
‘How dare she try to follow me.’
That was what was best for the child.
My side was a terrible place to carelessly step into.
‘I was a foolish child who couldn’t even distinguish gifts from garbage, but that girl seemed incredibly sharp.’
She seemed to instinctively understand that she needed to keep quiet about what she’d witnessed today.
The only thing we had in common was that our parents were hopeless.
“Captain, we should hurry. We’ve lost time taking that detour.”
“What about the ones who went to the Monster Habitat?”
“They’ve already joined up.”
“Good. Let’s go.”
The horse cut across Biltain’s streets like an arrow.
As we approached the western outskirts, a towering barrier came into view.
Creak, boom!
With a heavy sound, the main gate of Thunder Wall opened.
The reason the Mercenary Company had “Wall” in its name was simple.
A barrier that seemed to pierce the heavens encircled the building entirely. Like a fortress or some massive prison.
“Ah… we made it before sunset. Thank goodness.”
Aina, one of my comrades, murmured.
“Let’s hurry!”
The women urged the horses forward urgently.
The mission’s condition was simple: everyone had to return before the moon rose this evening.
If we failed to return inside this “Wall” by then, the curse flowing through our blood would activate and we would be “executed.”
‘In other words… there’s no way to ever escape this Mercenary Company.’
I knew far too many names of comrades who had been executed trying to flee beyond the Wall.
The memory of burying them—their bodies charred as if struck by lightning—remained vivid, as if it had happened yesterday.
Truth be told, lately I found myself thinking more often that dying like that might be better than living like this.
‘But I need to get Mother’s keepsake box back.’
That was one of my goals.
I desperately wanted to confirm what was inside Mother’s keepsake box.
I couldn’t fully understand why I was so fixated on it, but regardless, I wanted to reclaim the only thing my family had left behind.
Of course, there wasn’t complete hopelessness.
The Commander of the Mercenary Company said that when the time came, he would return the keepsake box and “graduate” me from this place.
I didn’t know when that day would come, but still, just a little longer.
‘Just a little more endurance…’
I gripped the reins tightly.
After returning safely, I left my horse at the Stables and made my way to the Barracks.
Suddenly, I stopped.
“….”
A wildflower trembled beneath my feet.
Since I was always more familiar with weapon names than flower names, I usually paid it no mind, but today, for some reason, my gaze was drawn to it.
How had such a delicate thing managed to bloom in a place like this?
The soft petals swayed gently.
I stared at it for a moment. Then, without hesitation, I trampled the flower and moved on.
Now the flower would be free.
Having met death, at last.
“Ro, Ro, Rosetta! Rosetta!”
As I returned to the Barracks and began unpacking, bang! The door flew open.
Along with an urgent voice came a tumbling sound!
Something rolled toward me.
“Teacher?”
“Oh, my dear Rosetta. I heard you were injured!”
Unkempt hair and shabby clothes.
The man rushed toward Rosetta’s location, nearly stumbling several times along the way.
“Are you alright, are you okay? I thought it wasn’t a dangerous mission, but I’m sorry. I’m truly sorry!”
The man was the Commander of the Mercenary Company.
Since everyone here had been taken in and taught by him, they all called him Teacher.
“I’m fine….”
That was when it happened.
Rosetta’s every movement froze.
The other companions who were hastily unpacking their belongings did the same.
Something peculiar was visible in the Commander’s right hand.
A small hand that was wriggling….
In other words, a hand Rosetta recognized.
“You…!”
“Sniffle.”
The child slowly emerged from behind the Commander’s back.
Fluffy silver hair.
Pale, rosy cheeks.
Blue eyes brimming with tears and lips as small as a chick’s.
“Whimper.”
It was that child. The one I’d met in the Forest.
‘How on earth?’
How was this child here?
The Commander read Rosetta’s gaze and explained gently.
“Ah, I happened to meet this child on the road. Poor thing… it seems they were abandoned by their parents. Besides this child, I’ve ‘rescued’ several others. They’re all frightened, so this is the only one I can introduce right now.”
The Commander stroked the child’s head and spoke with gentle affection.
“Look, little one. Don’t you see I have plenty of reliable older sisters? They’re all older sisters in circumstances similar to yours.”
“Yes….”
“Such a good child!”
At the obedient response, the Commander’s lips curved into a smile. He murmured as if letting it slip.
“This is fortunate… lately the Crown Prince and Zebert have been watching so closely that finding new children has become very difficult….”
Rosetta opened her parched lips with difficulty.
“What do you intend to do with those children…?”
“Of course I must protect them!”
Her eyes dimmed.
“I’ll feed and clothe them well like you, and then train them to be strong enough to lose to no one before sending them out into the world!”
“….”
“The outside world is a harsh place for you all. So isn’t this the only path where you can adapt?”
“….”
“Become strong. It’s even better if you embrace fear.”
A heavy silence fell.
Rosetta found herself remembering the hellish training she had endured.
And the even more hellish missions that followed afterward.
They’re going to put those children through that…?
That was when it happened.
Rosetta’s eyes locked with the child who had been staring intently at her.
Looking at that soft, innocent face, for a moment…
For a moment.
“Well then, Rosetta. You should report the results of your mission.”
“…”
“Rosetta?”
“…Ah, yes.”
Rosetta barely snapped back to attention.
…I almost killed the Commander just now.
‘I can’t do this.’
The Commander is absolute.
If I were to defy his orders or attack him, the curse of Thunder Wall would activate.
‘I haven’t even recovered Mother’s keepsake box yet.’
Moreover, if I made a mistake, I might end up crossing blades with my comrades, including Hazel.
She exhaled in ragged, broken breaths.
Barely managing to compose herself, she struggled through her mission report.
After that, she received a new assignment and headed toward the Imperial Summer Palace.
It was harder than ever to tear her gaze away from the child.

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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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