The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 91

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————

Chapter 91
“Where on earth did you find time to prepare all this?”
I asked in surprise, speaking up before Kalid could respond. Father answered as though he’d already anticipated the question.
“Money and coercion… or rather, money and negotiation skills. With those two things alone, you can accomplish anything.”
“Ah… I see.”
How impressive.
Just as I was about to protest that this seemed excessive, the Knight Order guardians who had arrived late shouted from behind us.
“Woah, go for it, Kalid! If you don’t place in the top three, we’re scattering flower petals all over your bed!”
“Win and I’ll tell you about that legendary Northern Desert restaurant you’ve been obsessed with! Though, did he even like cake?”
What kind of life was he living in the Knight Order?
That shameless Kalid let out a loud, exaggerated cough and turned his head away.
As all eyes shifted toward me, I could clearly see his lips forming the words: “I don’t know these people.”
“Pfft, he’s embarrassed.”
Kalid’s ears, hidden behind his hair, were completely flushed red.
The raucous arrival of his family members only intensified the crowd’s cheers. Buried in that noise, I too called out softly.
“You can do it! My friend.”
Though my voice was far too quiet to be heard, Kalid suddenly looked up and gazed directly at me.
The announcer entered, and the atmosphere reached its peak.
“Then everyone, please be careful for safety… Ready, go!”
The race had begun!
“Hmm. There was such talent in the Northern Region?”
The judges’ stand for the equestrian competition.
There sat the Competition’s evaluation panel, who held the authority to award star stickers. Most of the Academy professors had taken on this responsibility.
“Principal Odeli, you seem quite interested.”
Odeli nodded vigorously.
“Very much so. A healthy body houses a healthy spirit, as they say. And I’m particularly drawn to that composed expression even after victory.”
It was nothing short of a whirlwind victory.
Kalid shot forward like an arrow, opening an overwhelming gap between himself and the other children, finishing the race in the blink of an eye. Judging by his unruffled breathing, he didn’t even seem to have exerted his full effort.
As Odeli peeled off star stickers in abundance, a professor added with a concerned expression.
“It doesn’t appear he’s from a noble house… Would it be difficult for him to enter our Academy? He seems to have already passed the typical enrollment age.”
Odeli responded with a stern face, letting out a dismissive sound.
“Did I establish the scholarship and transfer admission systems for nothing?”
“Ah, I see.”
“Send Academy brochures to him immediately.”
The professor answered briefly with a yes. Then another professor from the opposite side spoke up.
“Now that I think about it, the youngest daughter of the Duchy is also approaching Academy enrollment age soon.”
Odeli smiled broadly.
“Yes. We absolutely cannot lose either of these students. You all know our Academy’s enrollment rates have been declining, don’t you?”
“Oh, yes.”
“We cannot let Southern Mariad steal these two from us!”
The young lady who made an unconventional entrance from the start, and that boy who had become the hottest topic of the moment.
“You must come to our Academy!”
Odeli’s eyes blazed with fervor upon discovering new talent. That was when a professor who had been quietly observing threw cold water on the idea.
“Well, I hear the Duke of Zebert refuses to let his youngest daughter out of his sight for even a moment. Wouldn’t he hire a private tutor instead of sending her to the Academy?”
“There’s no parent who can resist their child.”
“I… beg your pardon?”
“Professor Yuliope, when is our Academy’s experience camp scheduled?”
A young professor sitting in the back row with a weary expression answered.
“…Ahem. We had no plans for this year.”
“Plans exist to be revised.”
Odeli spoke with delight.
Ah, I could hear it—the sound of workload increasing. The professors’ eyes trembled violently.
“Anyone free in autumn? A perfect opportunity to meet—no, to charm—the adorable prospective students. It only takes a week, doesn’t it?”
“Hmm. I have urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave.”
“Oh my, the headmaster’s nonsense.”
The professors skillfully ignored the headmaster’s rambling.
* * *
“Amazing.”
I gave Kalid a double thumbs up.
“You didn’t use acceleration magic, did you?”
“What do you take me for?”
“You really are incredible! First place!”
When I even clapped my hands, Kalid seemed a bit embarrassed, fidgeting with his lips.
‘He was really incredibly fast!’
The other children hadn’t even caught up—they were several laps behind. The voices of people marveling in astonishment still echoed vividly in my ears.
“Here.”
Kalid handed me a golden badge.
“Huh? Why are you giving this to me?”
“I don’t need it. And these stickers covered all over it too.”
A card plastered with star stickers was placed in my hands as well. Ten stickers total, and with the badge points added, that made 150 points!
“But is it okay to trade like this?”
“As long as you’re a Competition participant, it doesn’t matter, right? Look, they’re pooling their star stickers too.”
Where Kalid gestured, I could see children gathered in small groups.
Whether they had agreed beforehand or not, several children were pooling the star stickers they’d earned in this Competition to give to one child.
Though none of them had exceeded 100 points yet.
“Indeed… obtaining badges and stickers through negotiation could become a strategy as well.”
I gazed at the badge and stickers in my hands.
Wait, if I could earn some star stickers from the maze-finding event, couldn’t I aim for the championship?
“Thanks, Kalid!”
I spoke with a bright smile, delighted.
“Well, it’s thanks to your cheering, after all….”
“Huh? Isn’t that too generous for a cheering score?”
Kalid let out a small cough, muttering with an embarrassed face.
“Besides, I could only hear your voice anyway.”
“What? That can’t be right.”
Not that I didn’t want to hear it or anything?
* * *
The second day of the Competition.
Today was Liam Zebert’s day.
“Now, let us begin the quiz competition!”
Children seated in tiered rows on the platform.
“This quiz competition’s theme is history and biology!”
The examiner announced the quiz competition’s theme.
‘Huh? Wasn’t it herbalism?’
Sitting in the spectator stands as well, I tilted my head in confusion. Olivia and Titi had said it was herbalism, but it seemed the information was incorrect after all.
‘It’s a good thing neither of them participated.’
I was fortunate not to face the cold sweat of a mistaken exam scope….
The participants entered one by one.
“Did you eat your caramel for luck?”
“Fork, fork—bring your fork! Answer well out there!”
The parents’ earnest cheers followed in succession.
“Now then, everyone put your books away. This reveals your usual abilities. If you’ve gone through the textbooks about three times, you’ll have no problems.”
The examiner’s stern voice….
‘What is this, an entrance exam or something….’
Among them, I could see Liam Zebert pushing up his glasses with an arrogant expression.
The sharp, cold-faced youth without a single flaw had a colorful cheering banner draped across one shoulder like a sash.
‘I thought he’d hate it, but I’m glad he likes it.’
It was the handwritten cheering banner I had worked hard to make last night.
“Come on, big brother, do your best!”
As I called out encouragement, Liam raised one hand in response with an expressionless face.
“Then, question number one! History! Let’s start simply with the legend of Babylon!”
Finally, it begins!
“Now, the ancient goddess Wistal fled to this land to escape the curse of the first Mage King. When she first met,”
Beep. Liam blew the buzzer.
“I haven’t even finished reading the question yet…. Yes. Liam Zebert?”
Liam answered smartly, as if this problem was child’s play.
“The founding Emperor, Rin Babylon.”
“Which Rin Babylon?”
“….”
“Since question one is just a warm-up, we decided to make it multiple choice this year.”
A crack—subtle but unmistakable—splintered across Liam’s face. Yet the Young Boy refused to yield.
“…Number?”
“Pardon? I didn’t quite catch that.”
“One, two, three, four… five….”
“…?”
A smirk tugged at Liam’s lips.
“Number 3, Rin Babylon?”
“Oh? That’s correct!”
What a skill that was.
Pushing and pulling at the numbers while reading the host’s subtle physical reactions….
“You’re quite fortunate. Next question!”
That was the only moment Liam showed any hesitation.
After that, he dominated entirely.
“Pointed ears and a body hard as stone… Yes, Liam Zebert.”
“An Orton Forest boar. A species primarily inhabiting the Eastern Region, often mistaken for a magical beast due to its enormous size, but actually quite adorable….”
“Yes, that’s enough elaboration. Next question: the method for extracting poison from Swampland creatures….”
“Crush, double-boil, then desiccate.”
“Then the next qu….”
“Mudworm.”
“I haven’t even started the question yet!”
The host burst out in exasperation. Liam, with an intelligent expression, adjusted his glasses and replied smoothly.
“Based on recent questioning patterns, it’s about time this one appeared.”
You’ve even pierced through the examiner’s intentions.
Whether I should call it impressive or simply tiresome….

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————