The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 95

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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 95
The Mage clicked his tongue lightly.
The Zebert noble daughter.
I thought her round eyes and smooth forehead resembled that “seventh one” somehow.
‘No… honestly, all children have round eyes and smooth foreheads.’
I’d only seen the “seventh one’s” face once, so my memory was hazy. But I volunteered as a Tracking Mage on purpose.
To catch the Mage King’s attention.
And that judgment wasn’t wrong.
“I can’t disappoint expectations.”
I even received a precious magical artifact.
My lips curved upward diagonally. If I just captured the “seventh one,” the King’s trust would be entirely mine.
I touched the Mage Kingdom’s brand seared into my right forearm.
‘I felt a strange magical power in that Maze.’
So it made sense that the Mage was here.
Of course, because of the magical artifacts Asha Drucan had placed throughout, the auras were somewhat scattered and confusing.
But I could definitely sense the seventh one’s magical power.
‘That noble daughter from earlier is definitely suspicious. If only I could get closer and observe once more…’
Magical power.
If I could just confirm that, it would be perfect.
The Mage smoothed his lips.
His eyes gleamed with a sharp light.
* * *
I sprinted forward at full speed. I was so frustrated about falling behind because of that Mage that I ran even harder!
The victory signal hadn’t sounded yet, so there was still a chance!
But I could see someone’s silhouette far ahead.
“Gasp—it’s Licht.”
Licht was walking slowly toward the exit at a very leisurely pace.
‘Sigh…’
I felt deeply disappointed.
‘I guess I’m losing first place after all.’
If only that Mage hadn’t interfered earlier!
Anyway, the Kingdom doesn’t help my life in any way.
“But!”
I, Rubian, won’t give up!
I threw my head back and clenched both fists tightly.
“Huh, Rubian?”
At my charge forward like a bull (at least in spirit), Licht’s eyes widened in surprise. His face lit up with joy.
“I was waiting… no, wait, a rival appears!”
Licht, who had been sauntering along, suddenly fixed his shoes with quick taps and began running.
“I can’t lose!”
I pushed my legs harder, moving faster.
Surprisingly, Licht’s running speed was slower than I expected. Actually, it was almost the same as mine… no, my running really is fast!
“Huff, huff. Licht, how many stickers do you have?”
“Stickers?”
Licht matched my stride and counted his stickers as we ran.
“Five. I got one at the first gate… but I only answered two questions correctly.”
Oh, interesting.
My competitive spirit blazed even brighter. If I just got the badge, I might actually win decisively.
Encountering a trap in the middle had been the biggest obstacle.
‘What should I do.’
This maze competition might actually be my specialty!
Will this competition be held next year too? Can I win two years in a row? What if I become incredibly strong and smart? Wow, just imagining it makes me feel…
“Like I’m about to fly!”
“….”
Then Licht glanced back at me quietly.
“About to… fly?”
“Yeah!”
“Is that something you say because you can actually fly…?”
The young boy furrowed his brow seriously and muttered.
“What did you say?”
“No, nothing…”
Licht took a deep breath and turned to face me with a serious expression.
“Rubian, you…”
His expression looked somehow grave.
For some reason, Licht’s speed decreased noticeably.
“Could it be that you and Asha…”
Of course, I didn’t miss this opportunity.
Because right before my eyes.
My two hands, which stretched out even before Licht’s.
“First oooone!”
Burst through the door of the Maze Garden wide open!
“Rubian!”
“You rascal!”
My family charged at me like bulls (and I mean literally) and rushed toward me.
Wrapped in the embrace of Grandfather and Mother, who were somehow shedding both tears and snot, I held up the cards I had collected triumphantly.
The Examiner smiled warmly and confirmed my name.
“Yes, the champion of the Maze Competition is Lady Rubian Zebert!”
Wow! I did it!
“Grandfather, the Training Ground running really worked!”
“The Training Ground… Let’s expand the Training Ground! Our family’s pride! What a blessing!”
Hehehehe. I laughed, nestled in Grandfather’s arms. Father stood behind me with his arms crossed, pressing his lips together to suppress a grin.
“As expected… my daughter.”
See? Leon. She’s my daughter.
Did you see? Evrich Marquis. She’s my daughter, I tell you.
Father went around talking to people in a way that didn’t suit him at all.
I landed back on the ground and proudly pinned the badge to my chest. Behind me, Licht crossed the finish line in second place.
“Oh right. Licht, what were you saying?”
“Ah.”
Licht glanced at my noisy family for a moment, then shook his head.
“Never mind. Next time.”
“Really?”
“Honestly, I was trying to talk about something in the Maze Garden earlier…”
He scratched his pale cheek.
“Your competitive spirit was stronger than I expected.”
Heh. That must be a compliment.
“Congratulations on your victory.”
Licht extended his hand.
I happily reached for his hand to shake it… or rather, I tried to.
“Thank youuuu?”
“Congratulations, Rubian.”
Both my hands were suddenly seized.
Immediately, a surge of blue mana flooded in.
It was Kalid, intercepting the hand I had extended toward Licht.
Licht made an exasperated expression and took a step back.
I glared at Kalid with a terrifying look.
‘How dare you, right in front of everyone!’
The Tracking Mage seemed to have disappeared into the distance, and of course, no one here would sense the mana.
Kalid, reading the meaning in my gaze, turned his head awkwardly.
“…I need to recharge.”
“Recharge?”
“You’re exhausted from running.”
Well…
‘I suppose that’s true…?’
Unable to refuse the battery’s inexplicable logic, I quietly submitted to being recharged. She pressed herself against me and whispered.
“Did it help?”
The meaning was clear.
“Immensely.”
I mimicked a squirrel, chittering softly.
His handsome lips curved upward in a long smile. But then, as if remembering something, they slowly drooped.
“…Should I approach again?”
I answered with silence.
* * *
“My dear Rubian. I’m so incredibly proud of you.”
Rosetta planted a kiss on my cheek.
I returned to the Zebert Mansion with the golden badge pinned proudly to my chest, and all the servants—Adolf, Hazel, and the rest—wept with joy.
Perhaps because it was real gold, there seemed to be an almost ethereal glow emanating from it.
I smiled at my reflection in the bedroom mirror. The star stickers I’d collected during the Competition had already been submitted to the judges.
They said the final scores would be announced at tomorrow evening’s awards ceremony and banquet.
“Hehe.”
After admiring the badge, I settled onto the sofa. Father was leaning against the backrest with both arms draped over it, chuckling softly.
My mood soared like a balloon as I saw how happy my family was.
“You did well.”
Father ruffled my hair with a smile.
The memory of him boasting about me everywhere with that stoic expression kept making me laugh.
“Aren’t you tired?”
“Nope! I feel amazing right now. I think I could run twice more….”
“Your eyes are spinning in circles. This child’s lost their mind, Rose.”
“Oh my.”
Whoosh.
The moment Father finished speaking, I deflated like a punctured balloon.
“Actually, I’m utterly exhausted.”
I confessed the truth. The endorphins that had been coursing through me vanished, and the fatigue I’d been pushing aside came crashing down all at once.
“Let’s go to the Hot Spring with Mother! If we soak our bodies and have dinner, all the fatigue will melt away!”
“Huh. The Hot Spring.”
I sprang to my feet. I couldn’t possibly refuse such a tempting offer.
“Rubian, but the examiners mentioned there was an uninvited guest in the Maze Garden.”
Father suddenly asked.
“Oh, it was just some lost man, I think! It wasn’t anything serious!”
….
I brushed it off vaguely. I couldn’t very well tell him, “A Tracking Mage showed up and cast a nullification spell on me!” after all.
Yet despite my deflection, both their expressions hardened.

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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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