The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 63

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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 63
“No, you don’t have to eat it!”
“If you want cake, you need to eat dinner first. Let’s go.”
“Huh?”
As I stood there dazed, Liam, who had already made his way to the middle of the corridor, turned back to look at me.
His gaze fixed on me with an unwavering stare, followed by a short sigh.
“What. Void mentioned it, but you really are a spoiled one.”
“W-what!”
I flailed my limbs about like a freshly caught fish.
Liam had approached me with quick strides and, with an expressionless face, hoisted me up effortlessly.
“Swing your legs. Come on.”
His voice was stern. Or rather, was it stern enough?!
The young man carrying my body quickened his pace.
He faithfully followed the sticker I had placed pointing toward the Dining Hall.
For a bookworm, his back was surprisingly broad! And why was he so strong?!
“H-hey, slow down!”
“…”
His steps, which had been descending two at a time down the staircase, finally stopped. His head tilted slightly, and his violet eyes turned toward me.
“That word sounds strange.”
“Huh?”
“The word you just used.”
I wonder why…
At his oddly-toned voice, I pressed my lips firmly shut.
“Youngest fairy. I’ll investigate this question, so until I reach a conclusion, you’re forbidden from using that word.”
“O-okay… research forbidden…”
But thank you for giving me some distance… you picky otaku teenager…
Yet it was unexpected.
Liam turned out to be my perfect dining companion!
“Bell peppers? Hand them over right now.”
“Eek.”
I eagerly transferred the green monsters from my plate to Liam’s.
They were seasoned so exquisitely that they were almost edible, but I still hated them all the same!
“Still picking out only the vegetables, I see.”
Father shook his head as if he had given up.
“A vegetable-focused diet helps me stay awake while reading.”
“If you’re sleepy, please just sleep…”
“Father, I would appreciate it if you would button up your shirt.”
Both of them ignored each other’s words.
A spear and a shield… or rather, just a spear and another spear?
I chewed on the meat Void had cut for me and quickly changed the subject.
“You know, there’s supposed to be a children’s competition at the New Leaf Festival.”
Uncle spoke with an air of indifference.
“I know. And how much longer are you going to keep chewing on that?”
“I ate too much cake earlier, so I’m still stuffed…”
“There’s a problem. I should have brought Borbel along.”
“I’m perfectly fine. But I’m going to participate in the New Leaf Festival competition!”
At that, Void, who had been tearing into bread, furrowed his brow. Despite having eaten so much cake during the day, his appetite remained voracious.
“Why would you bother with something so trivial?”
I swallowed the meat.
“Brother, you haven’t heard yet. The prize for the New Leaf Festival competition.”
“What is it?”
I cupped my hands around my mouth and whispered.
A Hero Collection Card. Limited edition, unreleased.
“…!”
Void’s nostrils flared impossibly wide.
“Ha… I’m sorry, Rubian.”
His expression screamed that he couldn’t compromise on his favorite item.
What? Father asked tentatively, but Void and I exchanged glances and silently agreed to keep our mouths shut.
“Let’s settle this fair and square.”
“Yay!”
This was exactly what I wanted! I burned with enthusiasm as I heard the declaration of competition.
Void turned his head toward Liam, who sat beside me.
“Are you going to participate too, Liam?”
“No, not really.”
Liam’s expression showed complete disinterest.
Watching his flawlessly handsome profile, I couldn’t help but admire him genuinely.
“Wow, the way you eat bell peppers is truly elegant…”
“What! I could eat bell peppers elegantly too!”
As I pressed myself against Liam’s side, Void cried out indignantly.
I laughed brightly and gave a double thumbs up.
“You lose on execution!”
“It’s basic.”
“Tch! I’m writing this in my diary!”
Diary… My lips involuntarily puckered like a duck’s.
“Sigh.”
That’s right. I could no longer access Void’s diary.
As I glared forward in displeasure, Void, reading the meaning in my gaze, made an annoying expression and giggled.
“My diary~ My diary with a lock~”
“How irritating!”
“A lock~ A lock~”
“Sir, my share is practically 99%! I thought this was supposed to be an exchange diary!”
“It’s not an exchange diary, though?”
“Don’t worry, little sprite. Once I understand the lock mechanism, there’s nothing I can’t open.”
Liam interjected from where he’d been listening.
“What? Liam, whose side are you on!”
“I’m on my own side. And the gods are on my side too, so….”
“…? I don’t know what that means, but it sounds cool.”
“Void, don’t admire that. It’s just teenage angst.”
“Teenage angst? What’s that? Huh…. Did I catch a disease? Rubian, fix it.”
“Well, it’s an incurable illness that only time can heal….”
“Sounds like there’s a story there. I kind of like it.”
“Children.”
Father exhaled a deep sigh and pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.
The cacophony of voices came to an abrupt halt.
“I never thought I’d hear something like this in my lifetime.”
“….”
“Stop making noise and eat your meal.”
The father of three children looked utterly drained, as though his very life force had been sapped away.
‘Oh, without meaning to.’
I cleared my throat with a dignified hum and picked up my fork with composure.
Just then, hurried footsteps interrupted the moment.
“Your Excellency.”
I turned to see Leon, his complexion noticeably pale.
“What is it?”
“A message came from the Gate….”
What is this ominous pause?
“The Duchess, who was returning, has gone missing….”
“Gasp!”
Clang. My fork clattered from my hand.
What do I do! The sickly, gentle-hearted heroine has vanished! I turned to Father with an anxious expression.
“Sigh….”
“Oh dear….”
“I’ll take my leave.”
But the humans’ reactions seemed oddly lukewarm?
“I thought things had finally settled down…. Here we go again.”
“Father, shall I borrow a tracking tool from Grandfather in the Separate Building?”
“Go ahead.”
“Last time, he was disguised as a fruit vendor. I wonder what he’s planning this time….”
Void vanished with a murmur.
“Well then, I hope you have an enjoyable time.”
Liam also finished his meal neatly and headed up to the third floor.
“What’s going on? Why is everyone so used to this?”
“Hide-and-seek.”
“….”
“It’s my wife’s hobby.”
Father rose to his feet and ruffled my hair affectionately.
“I’ll go pick her up, Rubian.”
Perhaps… the Duchess was the strangest person of all?
* * *
Uncle led the knights out on a pursuit mission (?) for the lady.
Fortunately, since the attempted kidnapping incident in Ipson had been resolved, there was no need for all the knights to remain here.
Grandfather, who had been soaking in the hot spring, also left at Void’s summons, so I ended up being the only one left at the mansion.
Father asked me countless times if I’d be alright alone. After the questions exceeded a hundred, I shut the door in his face with an exasperated expression.
“Hooray for staying home!”
As I buried my face in the white blanket, a sudden thought seized me.
“Wait, hold on. Isn’t this an opportunity?”
It was the first time all three troublesome people were going out at once.
The reclusive youth Liam had barricaded himself in the separate building with a cake box, insisting no one talk to him for two nights and three days.
I sprang up from my seat and pressed my earlobe.
‘Kalid, Kalid, Kalid! Friend! Kaaaalid! Emergency! This is serious!’
A crackling signal went through at my desperate cry.
[ You startled me. What’s going on? ]
‘So you were ignoring me after all.’
[ …It seems to be broken again. What? I can’t hear you well, Rubian. ]
I ground my teeth in frustration. I wanted to call him out immediately, but… I’m the one in need right now, so let me set that aside for now.
‘Help me out! Now’s the time! Zebert Hot Spring! You’re at the Training Ground, right?’
[ Yeah. Everyone rushed out, so I wondered what was happening. ]
Kalid seemed to take a short breath.
[ I’ll send the squirrel. Come follow it. ]
Hooray! The squirrel! Hooray!
I laughed, wiggling my feet with excitement.
“Hehe, I didn’t know such a place existed. Hehe.”
The Zebert private hot spring that stretched out behind the mansion was literally paradise on earth.

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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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