The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 37

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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 37
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‘How on earth did this happen….’
I stared blankly at the Training Ground where a parched wind swept across the grounds.
‘How did things turn out this way….’
Standing there alone was my mage friend, the male lead of the second arc, and a pint-sized mercenary.
“Then let’s begin the recruitment test.”
Obron, who had returned at some point, spoke in a solemn voice. Beside Kalid stood two young men with visibly tense expressions.
“Three applicants for recruitment!”
Grandfather snorted excitedly, unable to hide his enthusiasm.
On my other side sat Leviathan, wearing the stern expression of a strict dormitory supervisor.
The uncle who appeared without warning took Kalid’s letter of application and asked a few casual questions.
“You have mercenary experience? At twelve years old?”
“Yes.”
“Don’t tell me.”
“….”
“Were you a child soldier of the kingdom?”
Only Kalid would ever know about the cold sweat that trickled down my spine at that moment.
“I’m not a mage, sir. I only ran a few errands for the guild with a wandering mercenary company.”
“I see. You met Rubian in Iosia?”
“That’s right.”
“Then let me ask you this….”
“Yes.”
“What’s Rubian’s most hated food ingredient?”
“Bell peppers. The green ones.”
“What does Rubian like most?”
“Baths. And a cozy bed.”
“What does Rubian like the most….”
“Excuse me, is this a quiz show?”
“He seems to be a genuine friend, at least.”
…Somehow the interview had taken a strange turn midway through.
In any case, two more applicants had arrived in the meantime.
Uncle said that according to protocol, they would need to undergo a simple recruitment test.
‘But I don’t think I took a test…?’
Hmm, perhaps I was specially recruited.
In any case, I was honestly anxious. Having Kalid by my side was good, but having two more little ones hiding their identities meant, in other words.
‘The risk of my identity being exposed just doubled!’
Interpreting my gloomy expression in some way, Leviathan cleared his throat and spoke.
“Rubian, I’m sorry, but our Knight Order doesn’t recruit based on connections.”
Gasp! That’s exactly what I wanted to hear! No nepotism, no favoritism, no regional bias!
“Of course it should be! We select very rigorously and carefully….”
“Once you submit an application, you’re guaranteed acceptance.”
I clamped my mouth shut. My guardian shrugged nonchalantly and countered.
“We’re facing a labor shortage.”
Damn it…. I’d overlooked that.
Grandfather was now heating up like a pressure cooker.
Obron, standing in the center of the Training Ground, stepped forward.
“It’s a simple procedure, but this test is necessary to gauge your abilities. Don’t be nervous and do your best.”
“Yes, sir!”
The applicants answered with their shoulders tensed.
The arrogant young boy Kalid merely stared down at the ground with an indifferent expression.
“Then, take your wooden swords. It’s a simple mock battle.”
Obron handed over wooden swords dusted with white powder.
“There are no rules. Whoever gets the most white powder on their clothes loses.”
All three wore black protective gear. Indeed, it was the optimal method to gauge ability without causing injury.
“So you, Kalid…? And Edwin. Is that right?”
“Yes! Edwin Cowell! I came all the way from the distant Eastern Region, captivated by the exploits of the hero Leviathan!”
That hero was feeding me walnut pie from beside me.
“Mm. I didn’t ask, but I heard your motivation. Now pick up your sword.”
“Yes!”
Kalid and Edwin, holding white wooden swords, faced each other in the Training Ground.
“Brat, how’s that young pup’s skill? Huh? Is he worth anything?”
Grandfather shifted his body and asked. I thought quietly before answering.
“Hmm…. He should have the basics down at least.”
Actually, he’d probably be better than basic.
Kalid was an ‘unregistered mage’ from the Mage Kingdom. It meant he’d learned to survive without using magic for a very long time, evading the kingdom’s attention.
‘Since he seemed more interested in swordsmanship than magic with all its restrictions anyway.’
I screamed internally, knowing I was being blocked.
‘You need to hold back your strength and take it easy, understand?!’
Of course, the boy standing in the wind gave no response whatsoever.
Soon, at Obron’s signal, the duel began.
‘If he suddenly charges in like a whirlwind and turns his opponent to mush in the blink of an eye, that absolutely, absolutely cannot happen…. Huh?’
I blinked quietly.
Thud. The walnut pie I was holding fell.
“…Brat? Didn’t you say he had the basics down?”
Grandfather’s voice came from beside me, sounding puzzled.
“Uh, well…?”
“That’s not even basic.”
My guardian added, handing me a fresh walnut pie.
So here’s the thing.
“What is he doing…?”
A gust of wind swept across the Training Ground.
Young Kalid was getting thoroughly beaten, covered head to toe in white powder.
The first match was Edwin’s overwhelming victory.
I stared blankly at Kalid as he brushed the dust from his clothes.
‘Has his swordsmanship deteriorated…?’
It was hard to say. But looking at those furrowed brows twisted in frustration, something was clearly not right.
This was strange. He wasn’t like this before.
I knew Kalid’s abilities better than anyone. I’d secretly helped him from behind whenever opportunities arose while serving in the Mage Corps.
‘How many dark creatures did we kill together.’
The Mage King, who faced heavy criticism over the child soldier issue, initially pretended to reassign young mages to rear support—but that wasn’t what actually happened.
‘He simply deployed us more cunningly.’
He’d infiltrate us first before operations began to search for traces of dark mages, or send us secretly to unknown dark creature habitats.
In the end, I’d been carrying out both rear support duties and the Mage King’s covert missions simultaneously.
Before I realized this world was from a novel, I’d been a brainwashed puppet under the Mage King’s control, so I didn’t even know it was grueling…
‘Which made it all the more brutal!’
To have been exploited without knowing I was being exploited—how absurdly unfair!
‘Sigh.’
I exhaled sharply and forced myself to shake it off.
There was no point dwelling on it further; I needed to focus on what was happening right in front of me.
‘But seriously, something’s off about him today.’
I furrowed my brows seriously, forgetting even to eat my pie.
The second match had begun.
The second opponent was a young man named Delmon, even larger than Edwin.
Kalid fared the same here as well…
“Begin!”
He became thoroughly white again.
“Your movements are rather sluggish.”
Uncle muttered from beside me.
“That doesn’t seem right at all.”
Delmon swung his wooden sword with a sharp cry, and Kalid hesitated before taking a glancing blow to the shoulder. Despite wearing protective gear, the boy’s expression was deeply dissatisfied.
As if he himself was thinking, ‘Why am I like this?’
“Hmm…”
Leviathan, who had been slouching with a crumpled posture, suddenly straightened his back.
“You said he was with a Mercenary Company?”
“Yeah.”
Grandfather clicked his tongue.
“So what? If he’s at that level, it’s a miracle he survived in a Mercenary Company.”
“Surely not…”
That murmur came from Leon, who was watching the match from behind Uncle.
“Leon, senior?”
He glanced casually around before his gaze settled on the walnut pastry I held in my hand.
“What? Are you hungry?”
“Let me borrow that for a moment.”
What? I handed over the walnut pastry in confusion. Leon took it and, without a shred of hesitation, hurled it straight ahead with a sharp whistle.
Infused with a faint, lethal edge—as if throwing a dagger.
“…!”
In that instant, Kalid’s head snapped up and our eyes met.
I watched as a sharp glint flashed across the young boy’s previously listless eyes. Simultaneously, he kicked Delmon’s shin to throw off his balance, then drew the knife he’d hidden at his ankle.
Thunk!
The blade pierced straight through the center of the walnut pastry and flew toward Leon.
“That crazy bastard….”
It collided with the Knight’s drawn sword with a metallic ring and clattered away.

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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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