The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 94

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

Chapter 94
“Hello there?”
“Huh? Another checkpoint? I thought that was the last one just now…”
My words trailed off pathetically.
The Examiner was a man with brown hair. He wore no name badge and dressed in ordinary clothes, but…
No, wait.
He wasn’t an Examiner.
I halted my tentative steps.
‘He’s a…Mage.’
Goosebumps prickled down my spine.
“I was taking a stroll and got lost. Do you happen to know where the exit is?”
The man spoke utter nonsense with a gentle smile. A faint aura of magical power emanated from his hair.
It seemed he’d subtly altered his hair color with magic to avoid drawing attention.
‘Spells that change one’s appearance can only last a few hours.’
Of course… that was more than enough time to disrupt this Maze Competition.
I composed myself with deliberate calm.
Yet I couldn’t prevent the slight tremor in my fingertips.
This was the moment it truly sank in—the Mage King had sent a Mage all the way here to find me.
‘Don’t panic.’
I steadied myself and clenched my trembling hands into fists.
‘It’s fine. My face is well hidden.’
That was why I’d stubbornly kept wearing my mask even after my cold had fully healed.
Because I’d prepared for this exact scenario.
That the Emperor would eventually open the Gate, and the Tracking Mage would make her way here to Ipson.
‘I didn’t expect them to infiltrate like this, though…’
I studied the man’s face intently.
‘But if it’s him, he’d be reckless enough to do it.’
I knew this Mage’s identity.
‘The Fourth Mage of Mage King.’
Though we had no direct connection, I’d heard rumors about him, and just once.
I’d seen his face in person.
At that time, I’d already been planning my escape from the Kingdom, so I’d committed every Mage’s face to memory.
Whether he remembered me was another matter.
“By the way… what a beautiful hair color. Since arriving here, I’ve heard rumors that the Jebert Family’s new adopted child possesses a dazzling silver hair.”
His lips stretched into a long grin.
“Indeed… a color that reminds one of someone.”
I replied with composure.
“Who are you? If you’re lost, I’d suggest heading that way. The Examiner is stationed there.”
He approached me steadily. I retreated by the same distance.
If he closed the gap any further and reached me, he might sense the magical power dwelling within my body.
‘If my identity is exposed, I’ll have to use magic first.’
Whether offensive or evasive magic.
But what about my family waiting outside? Should I reveal everything like this?
My heart began pounding frantically as confusion clouded my thoughts.
“If you come any closer… I’ll scream.”
“My, my. You’re frightened, aren’t you, young lady? Don’t worry. I mean you no harm. It’s just…”
The man curled his thin lips upward.
“I’m rather curious about the face beneath that cloth.”
That was the moment.
Blue mana surged toward me aggressively.
In that fleeting instant, I grasped the structure of the spell formation. A nullification spell.
An advanced magic that dispelled all magical enchantments placed on a target. The crude, inferior mana felt like a serpent slithering across my body.
I frowned but offered no resistance.
I needed to witness the change in the Mage’s smug expression.
And.
‘A normal child wouldn’t even sense this mana.’
I bit the inside of my lip and endured the disturbingly unpleasant sensation.
And not long after.
“…What is this.”
The Mage’s face contorted severely.
“…The eyes.”
“…”
“Why do they remain blue?”
Because these are my natural eye colors, you fool.
‘Did you think I used appearance-altering magic like you do?’
I forced those words down my throat.
Fortunately, the evidence of my magical nature remained hidden from view.
Suppressing my racing heartbeat, I opened my mouth calmly.
“Um… why are you just standing there? Didn’t you say to go this way? Should I show you the path?”
Though I had no such intention, I spoke as innocently as possible.
The red-haired man swept his gaze across my face with narrowed eyes before donning his mask-like smile once more.
“No, young lady. I apologize for my rudeness.”
He bowed deeply and stepped back.
“I’ll seek assistance along the path you mentioned. I’m sorry for obstructing your way.”
“…It’s fine.”
I slowly retreated my body.
The Mage began walking past me with heavy footsteps.
Since even the nullification spell had failed, my only remaining concerns were direct contact to locate the mark or mana detection.
I envisioned the worst-case scenario of the man lunging at me and mentally prepared several contingencies.
‘Of course, the best outcome is if he simply passes by.’
The Garden Path was wide. As the exit drew near, it became even more so. Yet I couldn’t hide my tension.
One step, two steps.
In that fleeting moment when our bodies brushed past each other.
I held my breath and suppressed my mana, pressing it down again and again. And then.
“…What is this? This mana.”
In that instant, the Mage’s head snapped up sharply.
“No way.”
The Mage’s complexion changed in a flash, and he rushed away quickly. Without even sparing me a glance.
‘Squirrel?’
I saw a brown tail disappearing beyond the grass. And the mana suddenly overflowing from the Squirrel as well.
‘Kalid…!’
A hawk had been circling above my head this whole time. Kalid had sensed something was amiss and helped me.
What? Where did he go?
Sure enough, the distant voice of the Mage, lured away by the Squirrel, brushed past my ears.
Who’s there? Who are you? Are you here?
Along with the voice of the Examiner at the final Gate.
Only then did a long sigh of relief escape from me.
For a moment, my legs went weak, but I barely managed to hold myself up against the wall.
“Good. I’m fine.”
I calmed my racing heart.
I had anticipated the Mage would approach, but I didn’t expect him to act so quickly.
‘That was close.’
But… I wasn’t discovered.
I retied my shoelaces and hurriedly moved my legs to leave that spot.
The Maze was not yet complete.
‘The fact that the Mage came looking for me first is proof that he suspected me the most.’
The new adopted child of the Zebert Duchy.
That rumor could not have failed to reach the Mage King’s ears.
‘I wish it would end here.’
But I had a premonition it wouldn’t.
During my time in the Northern Region, I never forgot the existence of the Tracking Mage for even a moment.
Yet facing the situation I had worried about in reality felt far heavier than imagination.
It felt like the shadow of the Mage King was drawing close before me. My breath caught.
‘No!’
I shook my head vigorously.
‘I’m not taking this lying down either.’
That’s why I came here with that resolve.
‘For now, focus on the Competition!’
I clenched my teeth and refocused on the Competition. I gripped the star sticker card in my hand tightly.
There’s no point in trembling in fear. Nothing changes.
So I need to do what I can right now.
“Let’s think about winning!”
Either way, I’m going to obtain the herbs from this Competition!
* * *
“You shouldn’t enter through the Examiner’s Door without permission. How on earth did you manage to wander all the way here?”
“Ha ha, my apologies. It was my first time here.”
The Mage scratched his head sheepishly and bowed deferentially. The Examiner clicked his tongue in disapproval and waved his hand dismissively.
“Well, I’ll let it slide this time. Now go.”
“Yes. Yes.”
He hurried away.
His hair color had been altered by magic, and his clothing changed to commoner’s garb.
The fact that the Mage had come here… it seemed the Emperor was still keeping it a secret.
Honestly, moving about in concealment wasn’t difficult.
‘Still, poking around here and there makes me nervous.’
The Mage King still wanted to remain part of the Continental Alliance.
So he preferred not to give anyone grounds for complaint.
The Mage turned down a path with few people. As the appearance-altering magic faded, his crimson hair was revealed.
“By the way… blue eyes, you say?”

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