The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 55

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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 55
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I chose the innermost room on the second floor. It was slightly smaller than the rooms at the Duke’s Mansion, but I found it wonderfully cozy and absolutely adored it.
Most importantly, the bed was the most delightfully plush!
“Hot Spring.”
I lay upon it, gazing at the ceiling as my imagination took flight.
“Hot Spring!”
The one I’d seen on television in my past life!
The expressions of everyone who entered it melted into blissful contentment. It had left quite an impression on me.
“I desperately want to go, but I desperately cannot!”
Even though it was the Zebert Family’s hot spring, that made me all the more anxious. Who knew when Father, Grandfather, or Void might come barging in!
As I flailed my limbs about, a gruff voice came from beside me.
“I’ll keep watch at an appropriate time.”
It was Kalid, who had been polishing his sword while seated in the corner. True to his stubborn nature, he’d rushed to my side the moment we’d unpacked at the Knight Order building.
I sprang up from the bed.
“Really?!”
“Why are you putting in so much effort?”
Wow, he really is the male lead of the second act.
“Kaaaal.”
I grabbed Kalid’s arm and draped myself over the edge of the bed like dough.
“…You’re being cute again.”
“Huh?”
“You’re annoying. Those Zebert people won’t even let you enjoy a hot spring in peace.”
Tell me about it.
Kalid covered his reddened ears and sheathed his sharp blade.
“More importantly, are you really going to meet the outpost mage? Do you know that person?”
I sat up straight on the bed.
“Yes! Asha Drucan.”
She wasn’t someone I’d learned about from the original work. Like Kalid, she was someone I’d met by chance on the battlefield—an outpost mage in Eastern Babylon.
“Drucan… Is she a descendant of dwarves?”
Kalid stared into the distance, pondering, before his expression shifted to one of realization.
“Blueprints. To captivate the blacksmith.”
“Exactly.”
To shake off Maddix, I needed increasingly sophisticated… no, increasingly detailed blueprints.
Understanding my intention, Kalid furrowed his brow sharply.
“I told you not to worry about that.”
“I know. But if there’s a mage, it wouldn’t be strange for Zelocks to have a magical barrier.”
The barriers I created were a double-edged sword for me.
They protected me from the Mage Kingdom, but simultaneously advertised the presence of a mage in this place.
‘In other words, I need a decoy mage.’
Of course, the method for crafting barrier magic tools using barrier stones was a secret technique known only to me. Moreover, the fact that I possessed this knowledge remained unknown to anyone else.
‘In other words, it wouldn’t be strange even if someone else discovered it.’
Asha Drucan was a descendant of an ancient magical weapon craftsman. Though her family had fallen into decline by now.
In any case, the scenario where this descendant studied the Northern Region’s magical stones repeatedly and developed a new defensive weapon wasn’t entirely implausible, even if it was somewhat thin.
“Let me be coldly precise about two things.”
Kalid crossed his arms with a sharp gesture and moved his lips.
“Though maybe don’t be quite so cold about it….”
“First. What’s your basis for believing you can bring Asha Drucan to your side?”
Thump. I collapsed onto the floor.
“Second. Will Zebert Duke really consent to allowing a mage into his domain?”
Flop. My upper body merged completely with the ground.
“What are you doing?”
Kalid lifted me up with a displeased expression.
“My bones are broken.”
“Let me see.”
“It’s just a figure of speech.”
I laughed with a giggle and counted off on my fingers one by one.
“For the first one… Asha Drucan owes me a debt of gratitude, so she has something to repay me with.”
“Is that so?”
“I saved her younger sibling on the battlefield.”
….
Kalid’s expression became subtle.
“Don’t tell me… Asha Drucan’s sibling was among the mages you rescued in Kanalan Gorge?”
“Yeah. Well.”
In the midst of a heavy silence, I finished counting the remaining fingers.
“And for the second one, Liam Zebert will handle it, I think?”
“Liam Zebert?”
I recalled the young boy who was passionate about magical beast studies. And Asha, through her personal interests, had considerable knowledge in magical beast studies. It would be an irresistible temptation for Liam.
‘Of course, if Father says no, there’s nothing I can do about it….’
In the original story, Liam had once employed a mage as his instructor in magical beast studies. The exact identity of that mage wasn’t clearly revealed.
I was simply trying to accelerate that timeline.
“Don’t worry. If the second option doesn’t work out, I can just obtain the blueprints from Asha instead.”
Either way, it’s a profitable venture!
As I spoke with a smirk, Kalid released a faint sigh.
“There’s no way I can stop worrying….”
At that same moment, a clicking sound became audible.
“Oh, this sweet sound effect!”
I quickly rose to my feet. The boy who had undone his bracelet extended his hand to me.
As I gently grasped his pinky finger, his large hand came down and gripped my wrist.
“The mana concentration is lower than Zelocks. Don’t push yourself too hard.”
I nodded, feeling the rush of refreshing energy wash over me. Yes, yes. Who could argue with that!
“When are we going? I’m really, really curious. The hot spring!”
“Call me when the mood is right.”
Kalid gave a terse reply and focused on channeling his mana. Delighted, I leaned in close and whispered conspiratorially.
“If I were actually a boy, we could go together. Hehe. What a shame. Right?”
“Wh——!”
“Huh? Why did you stop?”
I gazed wistfully at the mana that had abruptly cut off. Kalid rubbed his earlobes as if pleading with me to stop saying strange things, then returned and took my hand.
“Why? Close friends bathe together too, don’t they? Best friends? No, that’s not it. What’s that term used only by boys…?”
I stared at the ceiling, searching my memory. Ah, that’s it!
“Right! Bro——.”
A large hand suddenly reached out and covered my lips.
“Please.”
The dark crown of the young boy’s head hung low.
“Just let me live….”
The surging mana trembled and undulated violently.
* * *
Noble carriages arrived in succession at Ipson, where the New Leaf Festival was being held. The city, alive with the spring celebration, brimmed with joy and anticipation, thrumming with excitement all day long.
When the Emperor and his entourage arrived from the Capital, prayers would be offered to the gods for peace throughout the coming year, and the true New Leaf Festival would begin. The nobles’ banquets would commence then as well.
‘Arriving early feels like I’m on vacation.’
This morning, I toured Ipson with Void and Grandfather. With so many people and the bustling crowds, it wasn’t quite as enjoyable as sightseeing in Zelocks.
By afternoon, I was back to being confined to the mansion.
“Does the Duke really have to work even here? That’s rough….”
I was teasing Father, who sat at his desk working, while rolling around on the sofa. The man, signing documents with a vacant expression, looked up.
Crunch, crunch. His weary gaze fixed on the large fruit candy in my hand.
“If you give me a piece, I won’t bite your hand off.”
“Hmm….”
“This is quite the dilemma.”
I giggled and sat up to hand over the candy when a knock sounded at the door.
“Your Grace, Camelan Count has arrived.”
“Show him in.”
Butler Adolf hesitated before continuing.
“Well, that is… the Count’s daughter has come with him.”
At those words, Father, who had been pushing his documents aside, looked up. With a resigned expression, he rose and came over, scooping me up.
“Go to the reception room. Prepare refreshments.”
“Waaaah.”
It was a sea of tears.
“Waah. Sniff. Whimper.”
“Oh dear, Titi. It’s alright. You’re alright.”
Sortie Camelan, the Count’s daughter with fluffy sky-blue hair, burst into wailing the moment she saw Leviathan.
“I’m scared! It tingles!”
Camelan Count, looking troubled, held his daughter in his arms and tried to soothe her, but the child, already frightened, could not calm down easily.
Now that I thought about it, that was always the case.
Leviathan let out a small groan and pressed his hand to his forehead. I had forgotten about it lately, but children who saw me always reacted that way.
“Perhaps another time…”
Just then, a familiar silver head popped up.
“Miss, our fa… Dad isn’t scary.”
Rubian, who had approached the opposite sofa, spoke to the girl cradled in the Count’s arms.
Standing awkwardly while fidgeting with her index finger, she looked uncomfortable stepping forward like this. Yet she did not stop speaking.
“Look, see?”
Rubian turned her head sharply, pointing to Leviathan sitting at the edge of the sofa.
“He’s sitting as far away as possible because he’s worried you might be frightened.”
Her round eyes folded softly in a gentle expression.
Sortie Camelan’s cries gradually subsided.

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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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