The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 2

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 2

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot (2)

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"Yeah, no need."

And just like that, I got turned down flat.

So cleanly that I was left speechless.

"Tch..."

"Tch?"

Leviathan flicked my lip.

"I thought you were the quiet type, but you're a foul-mouthed kid. Fooled me."

His deep purple eyes stared straight at me. When I pouted in dissatisfaction, he deliberately softened his gaze, as if interpreting it that way.

"And what's this sudden 'youngest' talk? No idea."

"Hah..."

Well, I had been a bit hasty.

To Leviathan, I was just a kid he'd met a few hours ago.

'Got too caught up rereading the original story.'

I gave an awkward smile and stared straight ahead. The horse carrying us was slowly heading toward the Babylon Empire's capital.

'But I had no choice. If we dawdle and run into pursuers, it's all for nothing.'

Because the truth was, I had a secret... no, quite a few secrets.

"You really from Iosiah?"

Ugh, straight ball.

I tilted my head ambiguously, somewhere between shaking no and nodding yes.

My chest stung, probably from the lie.

Of course, I wasn't from Iosiah.

"Yep, Iosiah kid. But then shut your mouth again."

"Ow."

Thwack. A light punishment came.

"I told you, when someone's asking, don't just nod or shake your head."

"Tch... It hurts!"

"Tch again?"

I clutched the back of my head and whipped around. Our eyes met, and the handsome man with the cold demeanor let out a smirk.

"A boy... making such a fuss."

"...?"

Hold up. Freeze right there.

I think you're seriously misunderstanding something.

"Unc...?"

But for a moment, my words caught in my throat, and I couldn't respond.

'Somehow, it's getting...'

harder to breathe.

Looking around, I quickly realized what this sensation was.

"...Guess the empire's getting close."

The mana in the air was rapidly thinning—that was the proof.

The Babylon Empire's capital was practically mana-free.

"You ever been to the empire?"

"Nope?"

"Then how do you know it's close?"

"It feeeels like we've been riding forever..."

The truth was I could read mana flows, but I couldn't say that outright.

I was a mage.

A mage from the Arcadian Magic Kingdom, summoned by the Magic King to this war.

The Magic Kingdom's king sent even underdeveloped kids like me to the front lines as long as we had mana.

The other allied nations criticized the Magic Kingdom harshly for using child soldiers, but the Magic King—the original story's black curtain and corrupt ruler—didn't listen.

Thanks to that, I ended up in rear support managing magic tools, but as the war dragged on, even that issue got brushed under the rug.

Anyway, I shipped out two years ago. I realized this was a book world after a year on the battlefield.

'After all that suffering, die together? No way!'

I couldn't close my eyes in injustice!

So I decided to stick to Uncle like a cicada on an old tree.

'To do that... I have to hide my secrets well.'

First, that I was a mage.

The Magic Kingdom where I was born and raised was extremely isolationist. They didn't allow mages to migrate without permission.

If caught, forced repatriation.

'And Leviathan hates mages...'

Because of an incident ten years ago, he despised them. No way he'd keep one around.

Next, my past.

I was a deserter who ditched my mage unit before the war even ended. The reason? Obviously to meet Leviathan in that village earlier.

'He probably thinks I died in the Black Magic Beast attack.'

So I definitely couldn't reveal my identity.

In summary,

'A child soldier mage who fled the Magic Kingdom.'

...Nothing normal about me!

And on top of that.

"A boy making such a fuss."

Of course...

'I was wearing scavenged Iosiah boy's clothes.'

My hair was a mess too!

'Didn't intend the gender mix-up.'

I debated clearing it up but decided to let it slide. For someone hiding and on the run, it was better this way.

Anyway, thanks to this thick-headed hero, I ended up with even more to hide unintentionally.

"Hng."

I can do this, right?

Worrying about the future made my shoulders slump.

Maybe from all the thinking, or the thinning mana around us, but even sitting still, my stamina felt like it was draining away.

'Tired.'

I rubbed my sleepy eyes with the back of my hand.

Rest now, think later!

Leviathan looked down at the bobbing head of the shaking child.

The kid had fallen asleep against him before he knew it.

'Worn out from all the chatter.'

At first, so wary.

A chuckle escaped him.

In their short time together, the child's walls had crumbled, and questions poured out in a chirpy chick-like voice.

"Uncle, what first in the capital?"

"Imperial Orphanage."

"Ugh... Can't you just take me with you, Uncle?"

'Take me with you?'

Leviathan laughed in disbelief.

The child following him was absurd to begin with.

Kids were supposed to fear him.

Ten years rolling in battlefields. Kids sensed the grim, savage aura of a blood-soaked warrior like ghosts.

'This is trouble.'

He ruffled his black hair roughly and picked the smoothest plains for the horse.

'Better not pay extra attention.'

Leviathan gripped the reins tight and forced his gaze forward.

They'd part soon anyway.

No need for needless feelings.

But his eyes kept drifting to that bobbing head.

Perfectly round on the right.

Leviathan swore he'd never seen such a tiny head.

His grip tightened on the reins.

Damn.

That's kinda cute.

After a good nap, I felt better than before.

Hm, my body's adapting to the mana shortage! Great!

Uncle had been strangely fixated on my head, nagging me to sleep more.

"What am I, a newborn? Sleeping all day..."

Gasp.

My head snapped around on its own.

'This mana!'

"Uncle!"

With my shout, Black Magic Beasts hidden in the bushes burst out.

"Whoa!"

"Don't move. Keep your eyes shut."

Almost simultaneously, a firm hand covered my eyelids.

Uncle hugged me tight, controlled the horse, and swung his sword. Such terrifying speed I didn't even notice him draw it.

Slash.

Through the gaps in his fingers, I blankly watched the Black Magic Beasts scatter like fallen leaves.

'Hits home again...'

Continent's greatest swordsman, the man closest to Sword God legend, head of the famed Jebert sword family ruling the north.

With all those supreme titles not enough, he had wealth, fame, looks—a perfect munchkin right in front of me.

"You okay?"

Uncle shook off his sword and asked.

"Y-yeah... blood..."

It splattered...

Black Magic Beast blood doesn't wash out easy. Ugh, so depressing...

The horse stopped, and Uncle carefully lifted me down.

"What a mess."

We were both covered in beast blood.

"Ugh..."

"Empire border soon. Hang in there."

Uncle found a clean patch on his hem and wiped my face roughly.

"Ow! That hurts!"

"Doesn't hurt."

With the intensity to spit on it and scrub, I quickly fled.

Vinegar water and moonflower herb soap are best for beast blood...

'Really filthy now.'

I swallowed a sigh, sniffing myself, when I felt eyes from above.

"Why stare like that?"

"...You."

Turning, I met eyes with Uncle, who had plopped down and was gazing at me.

Maybe from the blood splatter, but his purple eyes looked unusually dark, flashing with something unfamiliar.

"Why don't you cry?"

Huh? I just blinked, and he propped his chin on his knee.

"Come to think, you haven't cried once."

Not even looking at me.

'Oh no.'

I felt doused in ice water. Right, the original story described kids meeting him for the first time bursting into tears.

Ah, busted.

Sure, seeing Leviathan made me tear up.

From sheer joy.

But I'd never felt fear. He was the protagonist, the hero who saved this world.

Does that not look normal for a kid?

"Even just now, you didn't seem scared."

"That was..."

"What?"

"Actually scary. But crying doesn't change much..."

I mixed truth and lies.

Memories of crying? Not many.

If it solved things, I'd cry, but most problems don't.

In my past life or this one.

Better shake it off quick and fix it, right?

But Leviathan seemed dissatisfied.

"Who said that?"

"Huh?"

"That crying changes nothing."

"M... mom?"

Truth was, no one I'd call mom in either life, but I bullshitted.

Leviathan stared, his throat bobbing as if swallowing words.

"Holding back too long becomes a sickness."

"Ow."

Uncle flicked my nose.

"Tch, turns red quick."

Rub rub. Clumsy touch followed.

That warmth spread like ripples.

I felt an indescribable emotion. First adult telling me not to hold back.

"Let's go. Almost there."

We brushed off roughly and remounted.

Clop clop. The horse trotted faster than before.

Not knowing when more Black Magic Beasts might appear, Uncle held me tighter. His firm arm felt like the ultimate safe zone.

Wind brushed my cheeks fast.

Red sunset spread overhead.

Swish swish. Trees grazed us, birds flapped somewhere.

The foul blood stench lingered, but suddenly... just suddenly.

It felt peaceful.

Bloody and peaceful. Hilarious.

"Hey, no more monsters now?"

"Yeah. Killed 'em all."

"Uncle, you're really strong."

This peace brought by Leviathan Uncle.

Ten years must've been hell. I barely lasted two...

"Thanks for saving me, Uncle."

"..."

"War too... good work. Must've been tough."

So don't die, Uncle.

"Thanks to you, it's peaceful."

Uncle deserved this peace most.

And I deserve it too!

"Ack! Too loud! Give me back my peace!"

I plugged my ears tight.

"What. Don't act like a country bumpkin."

The empire capital was like a birthday cake!

Boom! Bang bang!

Fireworks nonstop.

Chattering crowds, musicians blasting tunes, kids laughing and running wild, merchants shouting...

My eyes spun like crazy.