The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 10

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 10

Chapter Title: Hiding Many Secrets

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But the Young Lord just grinned away. The round eyes of the boy, who was a full head taller than me, curved openly as if to show off.

"Let's skip the greetings and head inside. The sun's setting, and the wind's getting chilly."

Uncle placed his hand atop my head and Void's. He suddenly furrowed his brow.

"The height difference..."

Is too much.

He seemed to mutter, but I was too busy observing Void to notice.

"And the Old Duke?"

The butler grandfather, wearing stylish round glasses, stepped forward at Uncle's question.

"The Old Duke's health has been poor lately, so he's been staying in the northern annex..."

It was a low whisper. Uncle nodded curtly.

"I see. I'll visit him later, then."

His tone was familiar.

"First, you should wash up and eat something. The journey here was rough."

"Yes, we'll prepare right away."

The butler grandfather bowed politely.

"Um... Father, may I come to your study later?"

Void fidgeted shyly, lifting his hips slightly. His eyes, gazing at his long-absent father, held both respect and fear.

"Sure."

Void beamed and bolted up the stairs.

"Elto! Where's my perfect-score exam paper? The swordsmanship record?"

"Aigoo, Young Master! Don't run! And there is no perfect score!"

Impressive energy, indeed.

"You've grown quite close to the Young Master."

The butler grandfather said with a chuckle. Uncle Leviathan scratched the back of his head awkwardly.

"Well... yeah."

"Huh? You two weren't close before?"

I couldn't hold back my curiosity and asked.

"It wasn't a matter of being close or not."

"Then?"

"Well, you see."

The butler grandfather bent down to meet my eye level.

"The Family Head avoided the Young Master Void. The Young Master would cry whenever he saw him, so out of consideration..."

"Aha."

"Though it's all the Family Head's fault. Who wouldn't be scared of a grown man staring like this?"

The butler grandfather playfully widened his eyes with both index fingers.

"Right?"

His soft, kind smile made me nod vigorously.

Yes, exactly.

I know that grumpy personality all too well.

"Now the awkwardness has finally thawed. The Duchess worked hard as the go-between."

"...Adolph, you're awfully chatty today."

Uncle said with displeasure.

The interior was filled with warm air, making my body heat up. The butler grandfather gently removed my cloak with a smile.

"That's why everyone's surprised."

"Huh?"

"It's the first time a child has been held in the Family Head's arms so casually."

"Uh, it was more comfortable than I thought..."

Ha. I suddenly realized.

I should have walked on my own! I needed to look more dignified for the Northern Region!

"Casually? The backtalk is top-notch too."

Uncle ruffled my hair so much it sparked with static, making it poof up like a lion's mane.

"Stop it!"

"See? A little beast."

Uncle laughed wickedly. Even the butler grandfather pushed up his glasses and joined in the laughter.

"Shall we wash up and have something to eat, then? Hazel."

The brown-haired maid sister stepped forward.

"Rubian-nim. Would you like to bathe first?"

'A bath!'

It was welcome news midway through listening, but I couldn't nod right away.

As I hesitated, Uncle Leviathan added,

"Bathing or dressing assistance only if Rubian allows it."

The servants exchanged glances.

Uncle emphasized again, as if reining them in.

"Don't force it."

He seemed less grumpy like this.

"Understood, Family Head."

I sniffed once and took the maid sister's hand.

We slowly ascended the stairs to the second floor.

Jebert Ducal Residence contrasted its rigid exterior with a bright, warm interior.

Yellow chandelier lights illuminated every corner, polished carpets and marble corridors gleamed softly.

"This way, Rubian-nim."

Seeing the Jebert family crest embroidered everywhere... it felt strangely odd.

Have I safely entered House Jebert?

'Now I need to find the reason Uncle dies.'

This was the real game starting now.

"Then, shall we wait outside?"

I nodded obediently.

"If there's any trouble, ring the bell."

The maid sisters looked back at me worriedly several times.

'I get they're concerned because I look young.'

But I've bathed alone countless times in my past and current lives.

This was even more comfortable.

'Smells nice.'

The bathroom was filled with white steam and pleasant fragrance. I undressed and slipped into the tub.

The foam was incredibly soft.

Leaning back relaxed my body languidly.

"Ahh, this is good..."

Enjoying the comfort briefly, I suddenly thought of Khalid.

Alone now, I pressed my earlobe to call him, but as expected, no response.

'This kid really blocked me.'

I was starting to get genuinely annoyed.

Honestly, my biggest fear was him popping up suddenly like this. He had that unpredictable side...

I soaked a bit longer before getting out.

I checked myself in the large mirror. My scrawny, unimpressive body appeared. And the scar crossing my right side.

'It's not a complete lie, at least.'

There were minor scratches, but this wound was the largest. From somewhere... I honestly couldn't remember well.

'Must have hurt a lot...?'

Good that I don't remember.

I slowly turned to check my back.

"This is the real problem."

A small Arcadian Magic Kingdom emblem stamped on my lower back.

'I need to handle this somehow.'

Prepare for any contingency.

It couldn't be revealed that I was the runaway mage they're seeking from Arcadian Magic Kingdom.

I hadn't uncovered Uncle Leviathan's cause of death yet, nor averted the downfall ending.

I pondered deeply.

'Worst case is my identity and power as a mage being exposed.'

That would be a true bad ending.

I'd be chased back to the Magic Kingdom, failing all goals.

Couldn't prevent the downfall, obviously.

'Then, what if my past fighting in the human war gets out?'

I looked at the side scar again.

"Ugh."

That implied I was a child soldier from Arcadia, highly likely to expose me as a mage.

Bad ending again.

'Then, revealing I'm a girl?'

That was the lightest secret I was hiding.

But since it's public knowledge the runaway mage from the Magic Kingdom is female, no need to invite needless suspicion.

'Besides...'

I recalled Leviathan from the original story.

Yeah, actually.

'I've considered confessing everything to Uncle Leviathan.'

But I just couldn't.

Leviathan lost a child in a carriage accident caused by a runaway mage.

"A girl... child."

To be precise, the child Rosetta carried in her womb.

The Duchess gave birth to a stillborn.

A fact known to all in the Empire.

'How despairing Leviathan was in the original.'

I knew better than anyone.

That was when it started.

Leviathan and Duchess Rosetta began adopting children.

'But they were all boys.'

Eldest and second son alike.

The meaning was clear.

"Sigh..."

I didn't want to be Uncle's trauma. Or remind him of his dead daughter.

Moreover, that incident made Uncle—and all Northerners—hate mages.

'I don't want to be hated...'

Uncle has a kind side despite appearances, so his attitude might not change abruptly.

But if he showed even a hint of aversion...

'I don't think I could bear it.'

So, at least while I'm here.

"I'll be a normal kid."

Even if I end up keeping many secrets... no choice.

Splash! I splashed water to snap out of it.

'Fortunately, mana isn't as scarce here as in the capital.'

Because this land originally belonged to magic beasts?

I'd been circulating mana slightly the whole way, and it wasn't as breathless or strenuous as in the capital.

'Maybe that's why I could contact Khalid.'

Though he blocked me. Damn.

"Alright. Concealment magic first."

I circulated mana.

The feeling of blocked internal mana channels remained, but using ambient mana made it much easier.

Plus, concealment magic was basic of basics.

I created a thin veil matching my skin tone and covered the mage's brand and side scar.

'As long as my condition doesn't drop much, I can maintain it.'

I'm a pretty excellent mage, after all.

Probably.

My head held knowledge of countless magic circles and circuits.

My innate mana wasn't abundant, but that knowledge earned me recognition as a skilled mage in the kingdom.

'With low internal mana, it gets tough if ambient mana is scarce...'

Anywhere but the imperial capital is fine.

This is sufficient.

'Found a circuit to synchronize ambient and my mana in real-time.'

Link it to this concealment magic...

My mind spun rapidly.

Glancing at the mirror, red light swirled in my eyes.

Not when using normal magic, but when drawing on head knowledge, my pupils changed like this. Unknown reason.

Whoosh.

Magic light flashed briefly and vanished.

I completed a new circle using ambient mana to keep my concealment always active.

This way, even if I suddenly have to undress, it's fine!

'Can't conjure what's not there, so still need caution.'

I glanced down(?) a bit embarrassed.

'Anyway, good that Northerners are ignorant about magic.'

Feels great using power without detection!

"Rubian-nim? Aren't you staying too long?"

"C-Coming out!"

I yelled hastily and scurried out.

Ack, don't run! It's dangerous!

Hearing the maid sisters' anxious voices, I left the bathroom.

A quite meaningful first bath.

When I came out after washing, Hazel was waiting.

"Rubian-nim, let me greet you properly again. I'm Hazel, assigned to attend you."

"Yes! Hello, Hazel!"

"Feel free to speak casually."

"Mm, I'll take it slow."

Hazel smiled warmly, saying she understood.

Somehow, characters not prominent in the original tend to be shy...

"Shall we head to dinner? The head chef put in extra effort hearing you'd arrived."

Heh heh. No need to go that far.

Hazel, wiping moisture from my limbs, tilted her brow.

"Hmm... The clothes are still too big. Should've prepared smaller sizes."

The other maid sisters nodded in agreement.

None of the pre-prepared clothes fit me.

"Sized for Young Master Void as a child... Guess we need custom orders."

"I'm fine with this. Like..."

I folded the long sleeves neatly.

"This!"

Ta-da!

"Kkyuung..."

Hazel let out a strange groan, wiggling all ten fingers.

"So so so cute, but no! You need properly fitted clothes. I'll contact the boutique right away!"

Hazel's eyes blazed.

Hmm, is this such a big deal?

Not knowing, I stayed quiet.

"Shall we go to dinner, then?"

"Yes!"

I went down to the dining room with Hazel.

"Where's Uncle?"

"The Family Head has urgent matters and will dine separately."

"Ah, okay."

Makes sense. It's been ages since his return, so he's busy.

I sat obediently.

In the vast, somewhat austere dining room, soon the second son of the house appeared.

Void Jebert.