The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 92

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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 92
The next day was the swordsmanship competition.
As I headed toward the Competition Venue, I came to an abrupt halt.
Void, who should have been in the waiting room, was sprinting toward me from a distance at full speed.
“Rubian! I won!”
Void bounded excitedly, wooden sword in hand. I tilted my head in confusion.
“The match hasn’t even started. How did you win?”
“Everyone forfeited.”
“What? Why on earth?”
“No idea. Apparently they all got food poisoning.”
Void shrugged and proudly displayed the badge pinned to his chest.
What? Did everyone eat something bad yesterday?
As I pondered this, I overheard whispers from children passing nearby.
“Fight Void Zebert with swords? If we accidentally hit him wrong, Academy life becomes a nightmare.”
“Besides, we can’t beat him with swords anyway.”
“Right. Let’s just avoid unnecessary trouble. Oh no, he made eye contact.”
….
The young boys hastily averted their gazes.
‘Somehow… it feels less like they’re avoiding him out of fear and more like they’re avoiding him because he’s… filthy.’
Watching Void swing his wooden sword with that delighted expression, I let out a deep sigh.
“Brother, were you the filth?”
“What?”
“Never mind….”
Suddenly, I remembered Olivia brandishing the demerit notebook. I placed my hand on my hip and asked.
“Brother, how many demerits do you have now?”
“Why are you curious about that?”
Grumbling, Void drew numbers on the ground with his wooden sword.
“Minus 20 points? That’s better than I expected….”
Ssscritch. In that instant, the zeros multiplied infinitely.
Void vanished into the distance, leaving only afterimages in his wake.
“How far are you going?!”
What on earth is he doing at the Academy?!
* * *
The long-awaited final day.
“Heheheh.”
I diligently warmed up.
The entrance to the small Maze Garden lay directly before my eyes.
There weren’t many spectators. Unlike the previous matches held in public venues, the maze challenge offered little in the way of spectacle.
“Rubian!”
A familiar voice called out as I was rotating my ankles.
“Huh, Licht?”
I turned my gaze toward Licht as he approached, drawing the attention of everyone around us.
He smiled broadly at the sight of me in my casual attire. I’d wondered if he’d left early since I hadn’t seen much of him throughout the Competition, but to run into him here of all places.
“Are you feeling alright? Seeing you still wearing a mask, it looks like your cold hasn’t fully cleared up yet.”
In truth, I hadn’t been coughing anymore, but I’d simply continued wearing the mask.
The gazes subtly directed my way felt burdensome, and besides….
‘Just in case something unexpected happens.’
I responded to Licht with a composed smile.
“Yeah! I was just a bit embarrassed about suddenly revealing my face…. But I had no idea you were participating in the Competition!”
“It’s my first time competing. I’ve always been curious about it.”
His smiling face gleamed brilliantly.
“So you’re starting from entrance number 2.”
“Yeah. What about you?”
“I’m number 3. Right next to you.”
Licht extended his hand with a laugh.
“Let’s make this fun! And… don’t forget we promised to talk after the Competition ends.”
“Huh?”
Oh, that’s right. We did.
“Yeah, yeah!”
I grasped Licht’s hand firmly and we shook enthusiastically, his smile growing even brighter. But wasn’t the handshake lasting a bit long?
“Um, how much longer?”
I blinked and asked, and Licht hastily withdrew his hand.
“Oh, sorry. I got distracted for a moment.”
“By what?”
“Behind you…. I mean.”
Ah.
“Your family…?”
I feigned indifference and resumed my warm-up exercises.
That’s right. I’d been deliberately ignoring the cheers ringing loudly in my ears since earlier.
“Rubian! Our youngest! You can do it!”
Cheering flags fluttering and waving.
“Good grief, my little runt who used to barely reach my knee on the Training Ground has already grown so tall.”
“Father, you’re getting quite emotional.”
“Rose, you too….”
“How do children grow up so quickly?”
My tearful Grandfather and Mother trying to console him….
“Your Majesty, if Rubian doesn’t emerge within one minute of entering, please grant permission for a search operation.”
Senior Leon, restless and anxious.
“Granted.”
Father, nodding calmly, his face drained of all color.
A maze hunt, you say!
‘Anyone watching would think I’m embarking on some grand expedition!’
I continued stretching, and in that moment, I fully understood Kalid’s reluctance to show his face.
This is so embarrassing. Please, just start already….
Licht, standing beside me, burst into laughter.
“I had no idea the people of Zebert were this cheerful. Did you change them?”
“I must have muddied the waters….”
Was I not a rolling stone gathering no moss, but rather a loach slipping into clear waters?
Ancestors of Zebert watching from heaven, I sincerely apologize.
“Ah. Rubian, we should head to the starting line soon.”
“Oh, yes.”
“Come here.”
I was about to take his casually extended hand and move forward when a sudden gust of wind swept past.
“Ow. Where did that bird come from?”
A lark that appeared out of nowhere began pecking at Licht’s pale, straight hand. Licht grimaced and shook his hand vigorously.
Confused, I glanced around, and my ears suddenly burned hot.
[ Hand. ]
‘Kalid?’
[ Greet him. ]
Looking to the side, I spotted him standing a short distance away with his arms crossed.
A hand greeting?
‘Okay. I’ll be back.’
I waved my hand enthusiastically, and Kalid gave me a brief wave in return.
But why did he look so displeased?
I pondered it, but couldn’t figure it out.
“Everyone, take your positions at each entrance. There’s only one exit! I wish you all success! Then, ready….”
I clenched my fists.
“Go!”
Bang! The starting cannon fired.
* * *
The man bowed respectfully.
“Your Majesty the Emperor, I greet you. May the Goddess’s blessing be upon you.”
The Emperor clicked his tongue inwardly.
‘The Goddess’s blessing? Nonsense. They came charging in as if they’d been waiting for this moment.’
The Northern Portal extending from the Southern Region was located slightly below Ipson.
So I thought it would take several more days, but they rode horses from there and arrived here in an instant.
It was clear just how desperately the Kingdom was devoted to this search.
The Mage’s face was obscured by his priestly robes.
Red hair and brown eyes—those were the only distinguishing features visible.
‘These so-called Mages….’
Thinking that his true intentions were unknowable, the Emperor gestured dismissively.
“Rise.”
In the vast hall, the Mage looked up at the Emperor seated upon the throne.
“So what exactly are you proposing? Cutting off magical artifact supplies outright—that’s a breach of our agreement.”
“We will resume supplying magical artifacts. If you would simply permit us to search this location.”
“The way you speak, one would think you’re looking for someone here.”
The Kingdom Mage Order representative neither denied nor confirmed. The Emperor let out a hollow laugh.
“If a rogue Mage were truly here, the Outpost Mage would have detected them first. Why don’t you save yourself the trouble and leave?”
“The Outpost Mage…?”
The man’s gaze shifted to Asha Drucan, who stood beside him picking at her fingernails.
She flinched with a small gasp, shrinking back.
“What could you possibly expect from the Kingdom’s dregs?”
A cold stare touched her, then withdrew just as quickly.
It seemed the Outpost Mage was poorly regarded both here and elsewhere.
“Therefore, grant me search authority. I promise to examine only this location and depart swiftly.”
The Emperor released a long sigh.
“…I will permit it after the festival concludes. We cannot spoil such a pleasant atmosphere.”
The Mage lifted his head. A bloodless smile surfaced beneath his collar.
“Of course.”
He bowed once more with flawless precision.
“I require only the briefest moment of your time, esteemed Emperor.”
The Emperor suppressed the urge to mock such obsequious words. Respect? Hardly.
Then the Mage lifted his head, a subtle smile playing at his lips.
“In that case, I shall quietly enjoy the festival surroundings until it concludes. Surely you’ll permit me that much?”
There was no legitimate reason to forbid the Mage from moving about. He was no criminal, so confinement was impossible.
Reminding himself once more that the magical artifact supply from the Southern Mines depended on this, he pressed his brow.
“…The people must not become unsettled, so refrain from revealing yourself as a Mage if possible.”
His elongated eyes curved gently.
“As you wish.”

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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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