The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 5

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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 5
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I was terrified.
Absolutely terrified.
‘I can’t let them measure my mana!’
After dinner, Mrs. Uris had suddenly appeared and announced that all the newly arrived children had to undergo a mana examination.
‘I can’t let them discover I’m a mage here.’
I immediately locked myself in the bathroom, claiming my stomach hurt.
Sitting atop the toilet seat, I recalled the words Mrs. Uris had muttered under her breath.
“They said they’re looking for a female mage… I’m not sure why we have to go this far just because she crossed the Border.”
Fortunately, they hadn’t received my exact description. Moreover, I had inadvertently been mistaken for a boy.
‘Thank you so much, Leviathan, for abandoning me.’
Tsk. I hated to admit it, but that cold-hearted bastard had given me plenty of excuses to work with.
‘But has the kingdom already discovered that I’m alive?’
I’d always known it would happen eventually, but I never expected it this soon.
‘No… if they were serious about capturing me, they wouldn’t rely on such a vague search.’
The ‘mana examination’ Mrs. Uris mentioned was likely conducted using a ‘mana detection artifact’.
‘If they truly intended to capture me, they would have sent a tracking mage, not just a simple artifact.’
In other words, this was probably a fishing expedition.
They weren’t certain of my survival, my location, or anything else—so they cast their net first to see what they’d catch.
Which meant that if I could just get through this crisis, I’d be safe for a while.
“I’ll run.”
My conclusion was clean and simple. Without hesitation, I left the bathroom and headed toward the back garden. And then…
“Huh?”
I witnessed someone who looked like a thief tumbling out through a large window.
“Who are you, mister?”
“Get out of my way!”
Smack! A merciless hand sent me tumbling to the ground. But I bounced back up like a roly-poly toy.
The Thief had a heavy pouch clutched in his arms.
“Were you really stealing?”
It looked like a donation box at first glance…
No matter how desperate life got, there were limits.
“Stealing from an Orphanage full of children—that’s pretty low, isn’t it?”
The weak were always easy prey.
I glanced around carefully.
What should I do?
“Hmm.”
Maybe I should revise my plan.
‘If everyone’s attention is on the thief, escaping will be much easier, won’t it?’
I recalled the side path I’d spotted earlier.
Yes, let’s go find that man.
If I just grab onto his pant leg and hold on, he won’t kick me away no matter what!
“Fine.”
I pressed my palm against the ground and gently infused it with mana.
The earth trembled and shifted.
“Gaaah!”
The Thief, who had been stumbling along in a run, suddenly tripped spectacularly over a jagged stone that erupted from the ground.
Gold coins cascaded from his pockets like a waterfall—that was just the beginning.
Crash! Boxes stacked nearby came tumbling down on top of him as a bonus.
“What? What’s that noise?”
“A thief! A thief!”
I shouted the alarm and bolted away.
“A thief? Knights!”
“Call the Security Force!”
The commotion from the Orphanage faded behind me. I pushed through the tall grass and crawled through a hole I’d spotted earlier.
Outside, a light drizzle had begun to fall.
Afraid of being caught, I quickened my pace as much as I could.
Had Leviathan gone to the Imperial Palace? Or was he at the Knight Order?
“Huff… huff…”
I stopped in a dark alley before long. I was gasping for breath.
‘This cursed mana-starved land… why is it so exhausting?’
I was genuinely bewildered.
I’d only used the tiniest amount of mana—barely a drop in the ocean.
‘This world really is terrible for mages.’
Not only did my power drop to half or less, but there was no ambient mana to draw from the air either.
Or perhaps I’d spent too much energy just to meet Leviathan?
“Ugh…”
My head spun and my strength drained rapidly.
Rumble, crash!
When the cold downpour struck me, my eyes burned.
‘Let me try the Knight Order first…’
I moved forward, steadying myself against the wall.
But what if I’m rejected again?
“…”
Dark clouds seemed to follow me everywhere.
“Tch.”
I quickly shook my head. When the body weakens, the spirit weakens too!
“Let’s head to the Knight Order!”
I clenched my fist with determination.
I focused carefully, straightening out the tangled mana pathways within my body.
“If you cast me out again, I’ll curse you.”
A mage holding even a shred of power was far more terrifying than any dark creature.
And beyond that shadowed Dark Alley lay….
“Uncle?”
Uncle was there! It made no sense!
“You…!”
The pallid uncle’s eyes widened dramatically when he saw me.
How had he come to look like a ghost in just a single day?
Puzzled, I took a step closer.
“What are you doing here…. Oof!”
In an instant, I was pulled into those massive arms. Warmth enveloped me.
Wait? I was supposed to be the one clinging to him?
Startled by the sudden turn of events, I could only blink.
Shimmering heat rose from uncle’s solid frame. His breathing was ragged—terribly ragged. Thump, thump, thump, a heart thundering like madness.
‘Surely he wasn’t looking for me?’
Ah, surely not.
“Rubian.”
I stiffened. The name I hadn’t shared—the one I’d never offered—fell from uncle’s lips, and something twisted in my chest.
“Ruby.”
Noticing how my body temperature had plummeted, uncle stroked my back.
His rough hands were so achingly gentle.
I forgot my vow to cling to him and simply surrendered in his embrace. The body I’d been holding together through sheer willpower crumbled in an instant.
“…Yes.”
My jewel. My treasure.
A voice overlapping like a phantom echo.
“…Wait. You, why are you like this?”
As my vision blurred and receded, I suddenly understood.
“Ruby, Ruby? Stay with me!”
The only thing I could never hide from uncle… was this name alone.
And then, darkness.
* * *
When I opened my eyes, an unfamiliar ceiling came into hazy focus.
Ah, where am I?
‘For a Barracks, the décor is rather refined….’
Then awareness crashed back.
“Uncle!”
My eyes went wide before crumpling again into tears. But more than that, more than that!
“My clothes, my clothes!”
Regardless of my being female, I couldn’t let anyone see my bare body.
‘Because I have the mage’s mark!’
It was marked on the lower right side of my waist—a sigil denoting a mage of Arcadia loyal to the Mage King.
‘If that gets exposed, everything is finished!’
I hurriedly glanced down at myself. My body was completely swaddled in a large, plush towel.
Had I been discovered? Could they have seen? The mage’s mark! The fact that I’m female!
“Right, you need to change into some clothes.”
Just then, a gruff voice came from somewhere.
It was Leviathan.
I swallowed hard.
As I carefully felt my body, wrapped up like a cocoon… it still felt damp and uncomfortable!
Thank goodness. It seemed I hadn’t been unconscious for long.
“You were shaking so much I just wrapped you up for now… Tsk, why doesn’t the Knight Order have even one set of children’s clothes?”
Wouldn’t it be stranger if they did?
“This won’t do. Go wash yourself with some warm water, then wrap up in the towel again.”
“I’ll, I’ll do it myself.”
I quickly accepted a dry towel. A small bathtub with steam rising from it sat nearby.
“What are you doing?”
The man, who had been rolling up his sleeves, stopped abruptly. His voice softened.
“Come here. This is really serious.”
Lying on the large sofa, I slowly inched my body away.
“I know you’re upset. But right now, please.”
Upset? Why would I be?
Now that I thought about it, the man didn’t look particularly well either. He still resembled a thoroughly drenched rat.
“Rubian.”
“I have a large scar on my body…”
I stammered in response. My throat felt swollen, and it stung every time I spoke.
“I don’t like being touched…”
I spoke with my eyes squeezed shut. If the man came any closer, I was prepared to unleash my mana if necessary.
Should I cast a memory spell? Or perhaps an illusion? But… I didn’t want to cast such magic on him.
The man, who had been staring down at me intently, roughly ran his hand through his hair.
“This is driving me mad.”
“…”
“…Can you manage on your own?”
I answered quickly.
“I’ve always done it alone! I’m fine!”
For a moment, something indescribable seemed to flicker in those violet eyes, but I had no time to dwell on it.
“Understood. I’ll turn around then.”
I hurriedly changed into fresh clothes. My hands trembled, but it didn’t matter.
I needed to finish quickly and rest. The man was starting to look like three people to me…
“All done!”
Changing into the fluffy dry clothes made me feel considerably better.
“Anyway, what a temperament.”
My body lifted effortlessly. Noticing that my clothes were soaked, the man lowered me onto the bed with extraordinary care.
The bed was warm and soft. Sleep descended upon me as if on cue.
I rubbed my drowsy eyes and studied the man intently. Then, suddenly, the sensation of being pulled into his arms urgently in that downpour came rushing back.
“But why were you standing in front of that dark alley?”
My head throbbed, but it felt imperative to ask now rather than later.
“Did you… come looking for me?”

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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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