The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 44

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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 44
“Of course it is, right?”
It was almost surprising that I had hesitated to say this at all.
‘I was the one who said I wanted to be the youngest first!’
Had I forgotten so completely? Or did he really think I’d run away because living in the Northern Region wasn’t to my liking?
‘I know roughly what kind of people Rosetta and Liam are in the original work.’
Of course, I had no guarantee they would welcome me, but…
‘It’s fine. I can make a good impression.’
I had no reason to hesitate.
My Guardian exhaled a long breath as if releasing pent-up air. His broad shoulders, which had been rigidly tense, visibly relaxed.
“You were that nervous just to ask that?”
It didn’t suit him.
“Just? Just?”
My Guardian tapped my nose with his pale face.
“It’s the most important thing.”
Clatter, clatter, clatter. Just then, the sound of dishes clattering loudly came from beside me. When I turned around, Hazel was moving a tray while tears and snot streamed down her face.
“Ha, Hazel?”
“Whew. Thank goodness, thank goodness…”
Hazel couldn’t even finish her words.
The other maids nearby laughed awkwardly with “Oh my, oh my, this one too,” and struck the back of Hazel’s neck with the edge of their hands.
Isn’t that a vital spot?
But the superhuman maid paid no mind, simply wiping away her tears and replacing the ruined cake plate. Even Butler Adolf, who had been watching, wore a pleased smile.
“Hehe.”
I found myself laughing.
Were they so happy that I said I’d stay here? Happy enough that their faces lit up like that? Would the others be happy too?
‘Void and Grandfather and Chef and Butler Morris and the Knight seniors…’
As I counted on my fingers excitedly in my mind, my arm suddenly dropped.
“…”
“Rubian? What’s wrong?”
Leviathan, sitting across from me, squeezed my cheek and asked.
“You’ve got that sulky, pouty face again.”
It was because I had just realized how many there were now.
The number of people I had lied to.
And all of them were so happy because of it…
“Close your mouth again.”
“Ugh, no, no.”
“Ugly duck mouth.”
It pricked my heart quite sharply.
My Guardian chuckled and pulled me into a warm embrace. In that warmth, I thought:
‘It’s okay.’
It’s fine.
Don’t panic.
I’m good at hiding things, so I can hide this feeling too.
‘The barrier… I need to hurry!’
There was only one way to ease this heavy guilt: protecting with my own hands those who cared for me.
“Your head’s warm again.”
Protecting this Guardian.
I nestled into his safe, solid embrace and quietly had my head covered.
“Don’t cause any trouble.”
“Of course.”
Those violet eyes gazing at me were always gentle and warm, just as they’d always been.
* * *
Kalid trudged along the Castle Walls.
“You came again?”
“Yeah, well.”
“Damn kid, why are you working so hard?”
The large Knights mischievously ruffled the Young Boy’s hair. Kalid stiffened awkwardly and smoothed down his locks.
‘Are all Northern Region people like this?’
Not content with casually crossing his boundaries, they drew him into theirs with the ease of flowing water.
To be honest, he didn’t welcome it.
‘If it weren’t for Rubian.’
He would’ve quit and left long ago.
“Look at this brat’s eyes. Should I throw him like Delmon does? Huh?”
“Yikes, scary. I almost mistook him for a demon and tried to subjugate him.”
“…Aren’t you leaving?”
Kalid ignored the Knights who teased and laughed boisterously, heading toward the Castle Walls.
The Castle Walls always carried a subtle tension. Even the Knights who exchanged trivial jokes elsewhere unconsciously stiffened when they came here.
‘So that’s the “barrier”.’
Kalid thought, gazing at the towering Watchtower.
“What is this Mana Stone?”
“A barrier stone! We’re making it into a magical artifact to embed in the Castle Walls!”
“You’re going to create a barrier around Zelocks?”
“Yeah! So we can block anything that comes here with bad intentions!”
So if a tracking mage was detected, they’d flee immediately.
‘That seems excessive though.’
Besides, if done carelessly, it would be like advertising that there’s a mage here.
‘It’ll be deactivated normally, so it shouldn’t matter… but Rubian couldn’t possibly not know that.’
Kalid stopped walking.
Ah, so this barrier has another purpose.
“Kal, walk around the Castle Walls and check if there are any barriers that need repairs!”
“You want to turn the bell itself into a magical artifact? But where are you planning to make it?”
“I’ve got it all figured out~”
As if I could know what she’s thinking.
The young boy abandoned further speculation. After all, he couldn’t possibly anticipate everything Rubian had in mind, and if anything went wrong, he would simply protect her. That was all that mattered.
So for now, he just needed to help her achieve what she wanted.
Kalid exhaled a deep sigh and climbed the watchtower to inspect the bell. It gleamed so brilliantly that it hardly seemed to need any repairs.
‘I’ll need to have the animals damage it at night, maybe create some cracks.’
Toying with the bracelet on his wrist, the young boy thought indifferently.
* * *
Crash!
Rubian kicked open the blacksmith’s door and burst inside.
“Uncle! I’m here to pick out some pretty metal scraps!”
Kalid, following behind her, quietly closed the door she had kicked open.
“Oh, you’ve finally arrived.”
Maddix, the blacksmith who had been tapping the ground with his hammer, straightened up. His bored face brightened slightly with welcome.
“You know, you have to keep this secret… Uncle and Grandfather don’t like it because they say it’s dangerous, so I can’t come if anyone finds out…”
Rubian approached shyly, twisting her body as she whispered into his ear. Maddix’s frame bent forward eagerly.
“Actually, I really love it… weapons.”
At Rubian’s whisper, her hand covering her lips, the blacksmith’s bronze arm muscles twitched with excitement.
“Swords.”
Throb.
“Shields.”
Pulse.
“Things like that.”
A flash of madness flickered across Maddix’s eyes.
“Ha! Should I file a complaint with the Capital? A growing child should be playing freely in a blacksmith’s workshop full of dreams and hope, not just studying in some dreary castle—does that make any sense?!”
He’s a madman. About weapons.
Kalid observed the surroundings indifferently.
It was an enormous blacksmith’s workshop.
Rubian’s Mana Stone Shop was right next door. It was obvious she had come out under the pretense of visiting the shop again today.
“Quenching, and? Maybe try pouring molten metal too!”
“Hehe, I don’t want to do that.”
Rubian laughed awkwardly and waved her hand in refusal.
“Anyway, today I’m playing in the workshop!”
Her round fingertip pointed toward a small workshop where finishing work was being done on weapons.
“Then I suppose I have no choice but to join you…”
“Huh? Uncle, aren’t you busy?”
“Looking at you swatting flies… wait.”
Just then, Rubian stretched her hand toward Maddix. In her small palm lay a single scroll, held firmly.
Kalid’s eyebrows shot up as he watched from behind.
“Th-this is…!”
“Yes, a new blueprint. A gift and a bribe!”
“Why on earth would you give me a gift and a bribe?”
“Well, because you’ll keep it secret that I’ve been playing around here, right?”
“I shall serve you faithfully with unwavering trust.”
The moment Rubian flashed that mischievous grin, the blacksmith scrambled to snatch up the scroll. As he hurriedly scanned the blueprints, sighs tumbled from his lips in rapid succession.
“Hah, haah… These blueprints… balance achieved through this calculation? Using these materials in such ways, truly… huh? But wait…?”
Maddix’s brow furrowed sharply.
“The crucial details aren’t visible… Ru, Rubian? Don’t tell me.”
“Yes. It seems the important parts were drawn with luminescent paint so only certain eyes could see them.”
“So… you’re saying these blueprints must be studied alone in a dark basement?”
“My, your face is practically burning with excitement.”
“It’s at furnace temperature.”
Maddix’s eyes gleamed with unbridled desire.
“But Rubian, where exactly do you get these things?”
“Him!”
Rubian suddenly leaned back and pointed to Kalid standing behind him.
When their eyes met his radiant smile, Kalid quietly averted his gaze.
“You mean that sharp-eyed boy who’s been standing there like a wall, stealing glances at your face?”
“…”
This crazy bastard.
“Correction. His gaze is that of a bastard sword. Proceed with caution.”
The blacksmith clutched the blueprints protectively and shrank back.
“Hehe. He has several types of blueprints he received as payment from previous work! Right, Kal?”
Rubian stepped firmly on Kalid’s foot. He simply played along with a vague response.
“Well. I acquired them traveling through various countries.”
“Ah. So this young pup is the blueprint supplier…”
Maddix narrowed his eyes shrewdly and rummaged through something with a clatter. Then he pulled out red dye and poured it across the floor with a flourish.
“I shall serve you with utmost devotion. Here. The path to the workshop.”
A red carpet, really? Rubian muttered under his breath with a slightly exasperated expression.

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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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