The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 53

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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 53
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“Did you not sleep last night?”
I asked casually. Kalid, whose face bore a peculiarly rough expression, raised one eyebrow at an angle.
“I slept fine.”
“No, you didn’t. That’s exactly the face of someone who stood watch all night.”
As I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer, Kalid quietly turned his head away.
“The bell.”
“….”
“I was busy with the shift change.”
He was dodging the question.
Well, he’d obviously been playing with his animal friends anyway.
‘I’ll let it slide.’
I glanced at the squirrel perched quietly atop Kalid’s head. The squirrel, which had been munching an acorn, met my gaze and tilted its head curiously.
“Heh, how adorable.”
“…Indeed.”
“Hmm?”
“Here.”
Kalid quickly handed me a scroll. When I opened it slightly, it contained newly acquired blueprints.
I hastily tucked it inside my clothes so the other senior members of the Training Ground wouldn’t see.
“But why is it that Maddix doesn’t even flinch at most blueprints anymore?”
“Tsk, he’s being difficult.”
That was true. The creation of magical artifacts had recently hit an unexpected snag.
“Rubian, sir. This is terrible. I’ve become addicted to the stimulating blueprints you provided, and now my heart doesn’t race at ordinary designs. I’ve completely fallen into depravity….”
It was Maddix, utterly intoxicated by dopamine. Through various means, I managed to keep him functional, but it seemed a limit would arrive soon.
“I only need to make two more. One I can manage with this blueprint somehow.”
The other one was the problem.
Hmm, I folded my arms and thought for a moment.
Kalid tapped the wooden sword in his hand against the ground and spoke listlessly.
“Don’t rush. The tracking mage has been quiet. Oh, speaking of which….”
“Hmm?”
“The Babylon Base mage has made a move.”
A base mage? I opened my mouth slightly, and Kalid added, searching his memory.
“That’s right, isn’t it? Those mages who received permission to live in other countries.”
“Oh yes, I remember. They exist at every major base and are called base mages.”
“They’re oddly particular, anyway.”
Mages could fundamentally only live in the Kingdom. However, some mages could relocate to other countries with the King’s permission.
In fact, apart from the Kingdom’s humanitarian concerns regarding child soldiers, mages with extraordinary power were generally well-treated wherever they went.
Moreover, the Mage Corps had performed quite notably in this war, making their standing even higher.
‘It’s Zebert that’s unusual for hating mages.’
Though it was hatred with reason behind it, nonetheless.
In any case, the Babylon Base mage lived in another country and provided magical assistance as needed there.
And they smoothly procured whatever Arcadia required. Information, supplies, anything at all.
‘Arcadia is an isolated island, after all.’
That’s how they maintained their connection to the Continent.
I stroked my chin thoughtfully.
“But it seemed like Babylon only had mages in the Eastern and Southern Regions…?”
“I said the Eastern Region.”
Since Babylon was a land with low mana concentration, the number of base mages was also scarce. Even those were only low-rank mages handling the work.
‘The Eastern Region means… that person.’
Perhaps I could actually solve Maddix’s dopamine addiction…?
“But how did you even find out about the Eastern mage? Did a reconnaissance familiar return?”
“Well….”
Kalid’s gaze slipped away as he scratched his cheek. My sharp eyes narrowed to slits.
“You… aren’t you overusing magic? If you get caught being a mage and dragged off to the Kingdom, what then?”
As I spoke with slight sullenness, a sharp glint flashed across his grayish-blue eyes.
“Then I’ll just kill them all and come back.”
“There you go spouting nonsense again….”
Come to think of it, maybe Kalid had a touch of middle-school syndrome too.
I hoped it wouldn’t be too severe….
“Alright, I get it! I need to think about what to do.”
I rose to my feet, noticing that Kalid had already grasped my wrist and was sharing his mana with me.
“Where are you going?”
“Uncle… No. Ah, it’s time for tea with Father.”
Missing dessert time meant he’d sulk, making things difficult later. Skipping was absolutely forbidden.
Kalid, who had been mulling over my words for a moment, fastened his bracelet and straightened his posture.
“Hey, Rubian.”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t you think you should tell the truth about your gender?”
“What?”
I quickly glanced around. Then Kalid whispered low, “There’s no one here.”
“You said you’d stay here. Setting aside that you’re a mage, can you really keep hiding that you’re a girl?”
His face looking down at me held an oddly troubled expression.
“You’ll grow eventually.”
Well… true enough.
Since arriving here, I’d been growing steadily in a way that was remarkable given how little I’d grown before.
Of course, I was still smaller than my peers (infuriating), and compared to Kalid, who shot up like bamboo… it was nothing but a drop in the bucket.
“Mm.”
I glanced down at myself. The neat uniform of the Zebert Knight Order with its roaring blue lion. The tidy hair Uncle had cut for me last night.
Perhaps I would grow as Kalid said, but I didn’t think there would be such dramatic changes….
“What if you just don’t take off your clothes?”
It was a cold, objective analysis, but Kalid squinted one eye with a deeply conflicted expression.
“I don’t know.”
His voice carried an inexplicable note of frustration.
“Someone as cute as you would stand out no matter what you did.”
“Huh?”
“I’m saying there’s no way someone as pretty as you could avoid getting caught.”
“Does clarifying that make any difference?”
“….”
A small groan escaped me as I awkwardly scratched my cheek, suddenly embarrassed.
“Later. Let’s handle what needs to be done first.”
I had resolved to bare all my secrets to him eventually, but not now. I had more pressing matters to attend to.
“Since the escaped mage is known to be female, let’s set up a barrier first to stay safe, and then… after that.”
I added my words while gazing at the Black Peacock Castle standing like a painting in the distance.
“It’s just… Father is still so heartbroken he can’t even visit the baby’s grave yet. I need a little more time.”
I too needed time to prepare myself mentally.
“Hmm.”
Kalid’s lips moved soundlessly before he ultimately said nothing. I hurried forward, waving my hand enthusiastically.
“Anyway, I’m heading out, Kalid! Train hard today! And don’t talk back to the senior knights!”
Kalid reflexively waved back at me.
“Acting like that is only going to get you caught faster…”
I, of course, didn’t hear his voice as he scratched the back of his head and muttered reluctantly.
* * *
Snack time—my favorite part of the day!
Today, unusually, both Grandfather and Void were in attendance. Normally, this would be the time for intense afternoon training.
It seemed to be because of that gilded letter Father was holding.
“So it’s there this year, then?”
“Yes. It’s Ipson, the territory of Camelan Count.”
“That’s close.”
“Huh? May I ask what it is, Father?”
Void asked, pushing the cake in front of him far away with a look of distaste.
Void, despite his youth, didn’t particularly enjoy desserts.
Now that I think about it, he ate bell peppers readily enough. Quite the unexpected palate.
“The New Leaf Festival. It’s being held nearby this year.”
“Oh… Will you attend?”
“That’s…”
The man sitting at the head of the table—no, Father—squinted one eye. A sign that he wasn’t particularly inclined.
Grandfather, seated beside him, suddenly snatched the letter from the table.
“The Emperor himself coming with princes in tow? Ha! If we don’t go, it looks like they’ll march right in.”
His tone was one of exasperation. Grandfather, with his arms draped over the back of his chair like a ruffian, turned his head toward the Duke.
“Son. You didn’t skip the victory banquet in the Capital, did you? Is that what all this fussing is about?”
“Fussing, Father? You’re corrupting our children’s ears.”
I gasped as Grandfather quickly covered his mouth. He looked desperate to gather back the words scattered into the air, but it was already too late.
“Little brats, forget what you just heard. Understood?”
“This is the first time hearing your voice like that, Grandfather.”
That Void. He’ll do well in society.
Ahem! Grandfather cleared his throat loudly and waved the letter about again.
“Those noble bastards must have been squawking their heads off wanting to see your face! So, what will you do? Will you go?”
“I’m not sure. Do I have to?”
From what I’d read in the original work, the Empire’s New Leaf Festival was a grand event that marked the beginning of the year. Consequently, it was customary for members of noble families to participate without exception.
‘Political maneuvering between houses, displays of power, behind-the-scenes dealings—all conducted with subtle precision.’
In all of that, Zebert was naturally an exception.
We didn’t need to concern ourselves with such things, being the most powerful force in the Empire in both name and reality—a great noble house, a prestigious sword family.
That’s why Uncle rarely attended. Well, there had been war for the past few years anyway.
Grandfather also refrained from attending, citing health concerns.
‘But this time, it has to be different!’
I was absolutely determined to go.
“Me! Me! I want to go to the festival!”
I raised my hand eagerly, and all eyes turned toward me. For some reason, I felt myself shrink.
“…Ah, is it not allowed? Uncle, Father, if it’s bothersome for you, I could go alone with the Knights and….”
“Leon, hand me the pen.”
“Yes.”
The pen moved without a single moment of hesitation.
Attending.

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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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