The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 290

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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 16
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Northern Zebert.
‘Like a corpse.’
Kalid reached that conclusion cleanly.
His grayish-blue gaze fell upon the man at one end of the Training Ground with utter indifference.
‘Was the Duke always like this?’
The man sitting beneath a tree, absently fingering the blade’s edge, emanated no emotion whatsoever.
His face appeared only slightly younger—in fact, the current Leviathan seemed far more vibrant by comparison.
He seemed like someone who felt no joy, no desire in living.
As if he continued existence through mere inertia rather than need or purpose.
Eat when told to eat, sleep when told to sleep.
Should someone suggest he try flower arrangement to spark some novel interest… he would do it.
Of course, he’d grow bored and abandon it just as quickly, rendering the effort pointless.
‘All he does is read books, train, read more books, occasionally go on Demon Subjugation Force missions…’
There was a precarious quality to him—as if he might suddenly think, ‘Ah, I’m tired of living too,’ and cast it all away.
Those around him sensed it, and they constantly worried about Leviathan’s state of mind.
‘Nonsense.’
Of course, Kalid harbored no such concerns.
That man would become a complete fool for his daughter in the future—the sort who’d flip out and come running at the mere whisper of her name.
‘He’ll even become a hero immortalized on children’s game cards.’
Kalid withdrew his gaze and swept fallen leaves across the Training Ground with practiced motions.
It had already been several days since he’d been lingering about as a lowly laborer.
Tomorrow was finally the banquet.
‘Well, nothing else matters. As long as I can meet Rubian safely.’
This morning, Kalid had successfully established a communication channel with Rubian in a dramatic fashion.
The signal was terribly garbled and hard to hear, but at least she seemed safe, which brought him relief.
[ I… really had… so many things… anyway my… meet, Kalid! ]
“Young Master, you were here?”
Just then, several Knights approached Leviathan.
“We’ve finished all preparations for departure to the Summer Palace tomorrow. But regarding this banquet… you understand, don’t you?”
“What.”
Knight Obron thumped his chest in frustration. Having trained together since boyhood, he carried a certain familiarity in his bearing.
“A companion, sir! A companion! Please do find a suitable match at this banquet!”
“Yeah.”
“Don’t just answer me. Think about it. Why would the Emperor send an invitation to you, the next family head? The young Duke doesn’t even glance at women, let alone have a betrothed…!”
Leviathan finally shoved a piece of bread from the table into Obron’s mouth.
“Eat your bread.”
“It tastes good, sir.”
“Exactly.”
He swept his gaze across the knights and shifted the conversation.
“How did the search go?”
The knight Leon, standing at rigid attention with military discipline, answered.
“As always, we found nothing of note. My apologies!”
“…I see.”
A familiar resignation washed over me.
Kalid tilted his head.
‘I thought he had nothing he wanted in life….’
Or was that wrong? Did he have something he desired?
‘What is he searching for?’
Just then, Obron swallowed his bread and carefully opened his mouth.
“Forgive me, Young Master. It’s been over ten years now… wouldn’t it be wise to give up? The girl you seek has long since left Biltain, has she not?”
“….”
“After her mother died and she departed somewhere… that old vagrant’s sighting was the last we had. Unless we search the entire Empire, finding her will be difficult. And you don’t even know her name.”
Kalid pressed his lips into a firm line.
A girl.
From childhood.
Searching…?
‘…Her name, somehow I feel I know it?’
Had the two of them met when they were young?
There was no evidence that Leviathan was searching for Rosetta, yet Kalid felt inexplicably certain.
‘But… I mustn’t involve myself too deeply in the past.’
It was merely speculation, after all.
“…Well, I’ll think about it.”
Leviathan spoke in a subdued voice.
Something in his eyes seemed to flicker and dim once more.
‘Well, it’ll burn brightly again soon enough.’
So Kalid decided to focus on his own affairs for now.
The young boy set down his broom and brought the bundle he’d been carrying to Leviathan.
“Young Master.”
“What is it? Did you find something?”
“The Butler instructed me to have you review the books for tomorrow’s carriage before bringing them back.”
Leviathan glanced through the bundle with a listless expression.
“I said to just grab whatever. They’re all equally boring anyway… What’s this?”
His thumb and forefinger fished out a book on a subject he’d never laid hands on before.
Becoming a Good Father: Mindfulness Techniques for When Your Child Becomes Independent
Suddenly, the atmosphere shifted to parenting advice.
Kalid’s eyes narrowed.
‘I wasn’t particularly thinking about that.’
His true desires had been unconsciously laid bare….
Leviathan spoke with a disgruntled expression.
“I’m going to work alone.”
…That’s not it, is it?
“What else is there?”
【The courage to permit】
【How to accept what you dislike】
“What do I need to… permit you to do?”
…Perhaps?
Kalid cleared his throat awkwardly.
“I just thought it would be nice if you became that kind of adult.”
“…?”
“Since we’ve come this far, you might as well read it.”
And so.
The time-traveling Kalid had inadvertently subjected his master to early education(?).
The next day.
A party was held at the Imperial Court’s Summer Palace.
“Then, thank you for allowing me to accompany you.”
Kalid descended from the servant’s carriage and bowed respectfully.
“Yes. Once you finish the errand, return at once. You know the way, don’t you?”
“Yes, Butler.”
“But what errand was it again? …Hm? He’s already gone?”
Kalid had made a convenient excuse and slipped away before the carriage even entered the Summer Palace.
‘Let’s see.’
He circled the Palace Wall of the Summer Palace and searched for a gap in the fence.
With a body barely ten years old, even the smallest opening would suffice.
He wore a tattered robe and carried a small bag slung over one shoulder. It was as if he had returned to his old days as a wandering street urchin.
‘Rubian must be somewhere in this garden.’
Kalid’s eyes gleamed with certainty.
It was the conviction born from a brief but intense history of secret romance.
“Kalid, you know? Want to skip the party and meet me secretly in the garden later?”
“…In a dark and secluded place, just the two of us?”
“Heh, what do you take me for…. Yes!”
On party nights like this, the two of them would invariably enjoy intimate conversations in the sparsely populated garden.
Kalid recalled those moments and searched diligently through every dark and secluded corner.
In the distance, a continuous procession of luxurious noble carriages streamed toward the brightly lit mansion.
‘I hope nothing has happened to Rubian.’
His grayish-blue eyes sharpened for a moment.
Of course, if anything had befallen Rubian, he would have sensed it immediately through their magical connection. So she was probably fine, but.
“…Let me go find Rubian.”
Still, he couldn’t shake the impatience.
In the end, he carefully channeled a modest amount of mana.
Squeak! Crackle!
Three squirrels scattered in perfect unison.
And not long after.
“Squeeeak!”
“…Near the lakeside, you say?”
Squirrel search parties 1 and 2 had returned.
Kalid wasted no time and headed toward the lakeside.
Behind a sprawling thicket.
“Chirp.”
Squirrel search party 3 was clinging flat atop someone’s silver crown of hair.
“Rubian!”
“….”
In a rush, Kalid scooped Rubian into his arms and held her tight.
“Ah, I finally found you… What’s wrong? What happened?”
Her trembling body was far from normal.
He hastily examined her face, and found her blue eyes brimming with transparent tears.
In that moment, Kalid felt the blood drain from his entire body.

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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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