The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 27

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 27

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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Did Hazel tell you?

"Footsteps. The sound of your shoe hitting the floor was different. It seemed like you were dragging one leg slightly......"

"......"

"And back in the village, when you dodged the carriage, you staggered to the right."

Chomp chomp. Her hands wrapped the cloth with impressive skill.

"So I thought your leg might be hurting."

Ha, Morris let out a sigh without realizing it.

"If you keep holding it in, it'll hurt even more."

"......"

"Whoa, your knee is burning hot."

The child frowned after gently pressing a finger against it.

Rubian, who had been fanning him with her hand, seemed to give up and leaned right down to the bed.

Then she pursed her lips over Ballock's knee and blew softly, whoo.

Like cooling a fever, her delicate breath touched his wound.

Morris bit the inside of his cheek hard.

Even Ballock's frozen heart might melt under that tender puff of air.

'I can see your lips trembling, Your Excellency.'

He stared at Ballock's face squirming in the darkness.

In decades, he had seen Ballock cry exactly twice.

Once when his wife passed away.

And once when his granddaughter was born dead.

Those were wounds that lingered for everyone.

His son collapsed, and his daughter-in-law lost her health. Then the black magic beasts invaded. Ballock wanted to fight in place of his despairing son. But his body wouldn't obey.

A useless hunk of flesh.

That had become Ballock's habit ever since.

"Even though I made it so big, it's still not enough......"

The cloth fell just short of wrapping his thick thigh completely.

Rubian alternated looks between her small hands and Ballock's massive frame, her face full of dissatisfaction. Finally, a small mutter slipped out.

"I wish I could be as strong as this."

"......"

Unable to hold back any longer, Ballock lifted his head. He stared at the back of the child's head with narrowed eyes.

His gaze was calm, and it lingered for a long time.

A few days passed.

I was spending some fairly peaceful days.

'Hmm, no one's around?'

Checked inside the room, outside the door— all clear.

I went to one corner of the room and pulled out a purple magic stone. Luxurious box, individually wrapped stones.

'Perfect.'

I channeled mana to grip the magic stone.

Light seeped into the purple stone, glowing briefly before fading.

The power of the barrier stone had been activated.

Now I just needed to embed it into a suitable tool...

Making a magic tool was far more complex than just activating a stone.

'Need space to unfold the magic circle, too.'

There'd probably be flashes of light and gusts of wind, so the bedroom wouldn't do.

'Worry about that later.'

For now, process this mountain of stones!

'But...'

Bam bam bam!

Furious footsteps approached.

And finally, a knock rang out.

I sighed briefly, hastily packed away the stones, and neatly arranged them on the windowsill as decoration.

This way, I'd just look like a magic stone fanatic...

"At least you're not breaking the door down anymore."

Was that a relief?

"Eat up!"

I stared blankly at the pile of snacks in front of me.

"What's all this?"

Why was I dragged to the dining room and sitting on Grandpa's lap?

"Can't you tell? All your favorites."

Strawberry milk, strawberry cake, strawberry cream buns, strawberry pudding, strawberry candy, strawberry... strawberry...

Strawberry tart overload incoming. I looked up at Grandpa with a queasy face. Somehow, a strawberry tart was already in my hand.

Hot damn, when did that happen!

"Oho, eating well."

He grinned in satisfaction as I bit into it like I was entranced.

"Um, why are you doing this to me...?"

"Eat all this, and you'll check my knee again?"

Ah, a bribe.

Grandpa's eyes crinkled slyly.

"You'll tickle it with that hoo-hoo again?"

"Eek!"

I clamped my hands over my ears.

Hoo-hoo!?

My dropped tart dirtied his foot, but he just bellowed with laughter.

"Stop teasing me!"

"You little booger!"

That night, I had no idea Grandpa was still awake.

'I was trying to hide the healing magic!'

I'd poked his knee with a finger and slipped in just a tiny bit of mana.

Just enough to ease the pain, without leaving a trace.

I'd blown on it to mask the sensation of mana seeping in!

"Ow ow, my knee hurts again. Will our genius apothecary take a look?"

"......Damn it!"

Felt like I'd given him endless teasing material.

I pounded on Grandpa's shoulders, pow pow pow. Of course, his rock-hard body didn't budge.

"Give me back the salve patches!"

"No can do! Giving and taking back is naughty."

"Then let me go! I don't want any more strawberries. I'm busy!"

"Even more no!"

Grrr. Grandpa rubbed his fluffy beard all over my cheek.

Argh, annoying!

Even his threats to kick me out were better. Wait, was that salve that good? Enough to turn a grumpy old man into a doting grandpa?

"Ouch, it stings, Grandpa!"

"Grandpa? How cold!"

"Huh?"

"Aren't you my adjutant? Just call me Grandfather!"

No, since when did we have that kind of bond?

But I couldn't endure the beard assault any longer.

"Fine, fine! Grandfather!"

"Hahaha!"

His laughter was deafening. His softened eyes turned to me.

"Now eat! To be as tough as your grandpa, stuff yourself silly!"

"Ugh......"

"What the hell is this?"

Uncle Leviathan froze in the dining room doorway.

"Looks like it's starting again, Father. I'm busy, so I'll eat separately today......"

Void bolted with a queasy look.

Indeed. Lately, meal times often included Grandpa—no, Grandfather.

I pitifully reached out toward Uncle.

"Save... save me...!"

Save me! I'm gonna die buried in the strawberry maniac grandfather's beard!

An island in the middle of the sea.

The kingdom of mages, Arcadia.

"Ah, my 7th. My baby."

In a place of endless white pillars, a man in white priestly robes let out a sorrowful wail.

Around the throne where he lounged slantwise stood people dressed in matching white.

"Your Majesty."

"She left my arms again... left again......"

His voice dripped with grief.

After weeping for a moment, the king with snow-white hair tied long rose with effort.

The beautiful, sensitive man lifted a dry face as if he'd never cried.

"At least it's good this time? She left with a body."

"......"

"A body leaves traces."

Hm, yes. Indeed.

The king nodded to himself, a long smile curving his smooth lips.

"It's fine. I'll find her soon. As long as she's here... Kids grow up rebelling and all that. Right, right."

His slender fingers flicked.

Shadows in masks rose from the floor.

"Dispatch more tracking mages across the continent. Bring back my child, no matter what."

"As you command, my lord."

"To bring back the great Black Mage, her power is absolutely necessary... Absolutely......"

The king's eyes gleamed coldly.

He thought for a moment, then added,

"She's clever, so she's hiding everything. Search the entire continent like rats—age, gender, no matter."

"By your will."

The king wailed for his child once more.

Ah, my dear child.

I long to see again your noble silver-thread hair and blood-red eyes... The archmage who inherited Wijeria's wisdom, the jewel I stole, find my 7th at all costs...