The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 25

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 25

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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"Old Duke?"

Sometime without me noticing, the Old Duke was standing behind me.

His eyes blazing fiercely.

"Leviathan, you damned bastard...!"

Suddenly?

"Rubian, doesn't His Excellency even give you pocket money?"

Sir Leon had dropped to one knee and was pressing her.

What are they talking about?

Unaware that my thoughts had slipped out like a sigh, I stared at the two frenzied people with a bewildered face.

"What do you want! Huh?"

"Huh?"

"What do you want so badly that your ears are drooping like that! Tell me right now!"

The Old Duke pounded his chest and roared.

S-something I want?

"Tell me quick, Rubian. That's an order from your senior."

Why is Sir Leon acting like this too?

That was when the shop door creaked open, and a familiar face entered.

"Lower your voice. It's echoing all the way outside. How embarrassing."

"Uncle!"

I ran over to him joyfully.

Uncle Leviathan placed his hand on my head.

He looked dashing as ever today, dressed in light armor after returning from knight duties.

"I heard you were nearby, so I came just in case, and sure enough, what trouble have you caused now?"

"I didn't cause any trouble!"

It's true. Not yet!

As I grinned brightly, Uncle narrowed his eyes.

"Your Excellency, you've arrived."

Sir Leon gritted his teeth in greeting.

For some reason, it sounded like "Finally, you've shown up, you jerk..." or something...

"...? That glare feels rather insolent, Leon."

"It's a misunderstanding."

Uncle tilted his head.

In that instant, a fist like a lump of iron flew at him. Uncle naturally dodged it with ease.

"You bastard!"

"Why are you doing this again?"

"What have you done for the kid besides not giving her a single coin for allowance!"

The room fell silent.

"...Pardon?"

The response came a beat late, like a broken doll.

"She wants something but can't buy it because she has no money, and she's stomping her feet over it!"

Thud thud. The Old Duke was the one stomping his feet.

"No, I, wait, that's not it..."

Of course, it was true that I wanted something!

But how did they know?!

"Ah, my blood pressure..."

The Old Duke clutched the back of his neck and staggered.

"Is it true?"

Uncle bent down abruptly to look at me.

"You wanted something?"

His face somehow seemed pleased. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I hesitated.

"I do want... something, but it's not like I need it right this instant."

"Tell me. What is it?"

"Uh..."

"Rubian."

Urged by his voice, I had no choice but to raise my finger.

The six eyes in the room followed my fingertip diligently.

"This, over here..."

I shyly pointed to one side of the shelf.

"-all the way to there?"

My fingertip moved faaaar.

Since I'm getting them anyway, it would be nice to have them all...

"..."

Uncle was silent for a long while.

Was it too much?

"No, actually, just this one..."

"Call the owner."

At that moment, Uncle shot to his feet.

Yes sir! Sir Leon moved with lightning speed. The Old Duke was scratching at his chest again, muttering about it itching.

Soon, the owner who had stepped out returned in a fluster. Uncle said to him,

"I'm buying this shop. Name your price."

"Y-Your Excellency?"

"I don't have a hobby of buying cheap junk. Make it expensive."

...What?

I went in as a customer and came out as the owner...

"..."

Rustle. I blankly stared down at the paper stuffed in my bag.

The shop deed, somehow now in my hands.

"Will sending just one box of purple magic stones to the castle really be enough?"

"Y-yeah."

The shop owner asked me. I answered in a daze.

Having accidentally become the shop owner, I now had the right to dispose of the magic stones as I pleased anytime. Even Uncle couldn't interfere...

"I didn't know you liked stone decorations."

"Ahaha... They're pretty..."

'The purple magic stones would have been enough for me!'

Of course, I had thought it would be nice to have the green ones, the red ones, and even the blue magic stones since I was at it.

'Sigh, oh well.'

It's rude to refuse a gift, after all.

So, with no real choice, I signed the papers.

I had no intention of touching the other magic stones anyway, so I just asked for a bit of the purple ones stored in the warehouse to be sent.

"Such a small appetite!"

The Old Duke clicked his tongue beside me.

Uncle was in the middle of giving various instructions to the shop owner.

Select only the ones without poison mixed in when sending to the castle, package them so the child can open them easily...

A bit overwhelmed, I left Uncle and Sir Leon behind and stepped outside.

"Is there anywhere else you want to stop by?"

The Old Duke followed and asked.

"Well, actually..."

That was when.

"Hee hee! Grandpa! That tickles!"

A small cart rolled over with innocent laughter.

A kindly-looking merchant and what seemed to be his grandson sat side by side on the driver's seat.

"Whoa, kiddo. Don't touch the reins..."

At the same time, the child playing around yanked the reins. The cart coming straight at us swerved in that instant.

"Watch out!"

The cart lost control.

The startled Old Duke pulled me sharply.

It was sudden, but I easily assumed the Old Duke would support me.

Because... the Old Duke was bigger and sturdier than a massive mountain range.

But contrary to expectations, his large body swayed weakly.

"Old Duke!"

"Ugh."

Thud. In the end, we tumbled to the ground.

"Oh no, are you alright! I'm so sorry! Oh dear, what to do!"

The merchant hurriedly steadied his cart and came running in a panic.

"K-Kid! Are you okay!"

The Old Duke, who had fallen on the dirt ground, quickly turned to check on me. I'd landed on my butt, but thanks to him cushioning me, there was no major injury.

"Ah, that was a scare. I'm fine."

I calmly dusted myself off and stood.

"More importantly, you..."

"This damned..."

Grip. His hand clenched the dirt. Veins bulged on his flushed forehead.

"This damned body of mine."

The Old Duke's jaw clenched tight.

"What happened?"

Uncle came out of the shop.

The Old Duke on the ground, me standing awkwardly beside him. The merchant sweating bullets and apologizing profusely, the child frightened and on the verge of tears.

Uncle quickly grasped the situation.

"Leon."

Sir Leon, who had been with Uncle, stepped forward promptly and began handling the merchant and clearing the area.

"Father, get up first..."

"Just take care of the booger!"

The Old Duke shot to his feet. His heaving body trembled faintly.

"I'm going back!"

The massive figure bellowed and walked away. I stood dazed, staring blankly at his retreating back.

"Uncle, the Old Duke seems angry..."

Plop. A warm hand settled on my head.

"He's not mad at you, so don't worry. More importantly, you okay?"

"Yeah. Just my clothes got a bit dirty."

"Let's go. You have clothes ordered, right?"

"That's true, but..."

My gaze kept drifting to where the Old Duke had vanished.

'He wouldn't meet my eyes.'

"This damned body of mine."

As if he were some criminal.

My heart grew heavy.