The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 28

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 28

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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‘A little hum……?’

The former vice-commander of the Jebert Knights and current steward of the annex, Morris Lilten, furrowed his brow at the old duke's antics that had been going on for days.

“Hm hm hum~.”

It was because that Ballock Jebert, who could make even birds drop from the trees with his presence, was humming a tune from the morning.

Goodness, even wiggling his hips.

‘His leg condition seems mysteriously improved.’

Morris quietly set the tea down on the table.

‘Could Lady Rubian's ointment really have worked?’

If so, that would be truly remarkable.

“Your Excellency, what are you doing? From the morning, no less.”

“Hm. Working on new blueprints.”

His voice even sounded gentler somehow.

“Blueprints? Making new swords?”

“Yes. Got to give one to each of the snot-nosed brats.”

Second snot-nose and youngest snot-nose~

Ballock's humming reached a fever pitch.

“Ah, yes.”

House Jebert was a knightly family. It was common for elders to gift swords to the young ones.

“Engrave their names on the hilts too…… Hm?”

Ballock's hand, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly stopped.

“What's wrong?”

“Come to think of it, the youngest snot-nose……”

A deep furrow formed between his brows. The pen had stopped right at the letters Rubian.

“Did she take the Jebert name?”

Ballock stormed straight into his son's study.

“She hasn't been formally registered yet.”

Kaboom. It felt like thunder and lightning crashed behind Ballock.

“Wh……at……?”

His massive frame staggered comically.

“Rubian isn't going to stay here forever?”

“Yes. Adoption isn't a simple matter. Ruby's own wishes matter too…… Are you alright?”

“No, I'm not!”

Ballock bellowed.

Leviathan pinched the bridge of his nose with a weary expression. He'd written so much in the letter when bringing the child from the capital.

‘Reading only what he wants to read again.’

He sighed and set down the documents he was reading.

“Thinking of that little one being gone…… Ah, just a moment.”

Ballock rubbed his nose and looked up at the sky. Leviathan was dumbfounded.

“When did you start liking Rubian so much? You were desperate to kick her out at first.”

“I don't remember!”

Ah, yes. Of course you don't.

“Do you know how cute that kid is?! When she comes running from the end of the hall yelling ‘Grandpa!’, it's like ten years of pent-up frustration just melts away……”

“You don't have indigestion.”

“Your verbal disrespect is top-tier.”

The grumpy old man plopped down on the nearby sofa.

“Rose is coming back soon?”

Leviathan glanced at his wife's letter on the desk.

“Yes. About two weeks left.”

She was with Liam too, and considering Rose's condition, he'd replied not to rush.

Still, she'd arrive in two weeks. Thinking of his wife's face after so long made his hands itch idly.

Ballock let out a long whoosh of a sigh.

“Discuss it properly when Rose returns. Definitely! Properly! Talk to Rubian nicely too. Alright?!”

“Of course I will.”

Leviathan emphasized, but Ballock still looked unsatisfied.

“We absolutely cannot let that kid go. Got it? Absolutely not!”

“That's not something I can force. Father, you stop poking at Ruby's nerves too. Lingering around her like that……”

“Lingering?!”

At that moment, a soft knock knock sounded.

The old man, who had been fuming, sprang up reflexively.

“Ah, it's time.”

“Time?”

“Time for my snot-nose to put a patch on Grandpa's knee.”

Ballock left the study with flushed cheeks. Leviathan, left alone, shook his head.

Truly, he was full of surprises.

Ruby too, matching that stubborn old man's whims so well.

Leviathan turned back to his documents.

But something was off. Not a single tiny letter entered his eyes.

The pen slipped from his hand with a clack.

His sharp gaze stared fixedly into space.

“……Running over calling him ‘Grandpa’?”

Imagining the scene.

Why did his stomach twist?

“Phew.”

I wiped my forehead with a satisfied face.

After lunch and before dinner was my free time. I used it to infuse mana into the magic stone.

Hazel was busy with mansion chores during this time, Void was in sword training, and Uncle was, well, never not busy.

‘Old Duke…… Grandpa seems busy these days too.’

Something about making new weapon blueprints.

Anyway, with no one to bother me for once, I could process the magic stone in peace.

The activated magic stone shimmered with transparent mana.

Of course, those who couldn't read mana wouldn't see it.

‘Now I need to embed this into a suitable tool.’

As its name was ‘Barrier Stone’, and I'd activated its power with my mana.

Naturally, it could produce some barrier effect on its own.

But that was a one-dimensional effect.

Like the difference between ingredients and a cooked dish.

Ingredients could be eaten raw, but processed with the right recipe, they yielded far better flavor and benefits.

‘What I want is a powerful protective barrier to guard this place long-term. One that alerts me to intruders and holds them off temporarily.’

I turned to look in the mirror.

Using Wijeria's wisdom, a fierce red light swirled in my irises.

Fortunately, this Zelox was mana-rich land.

So, linking a magic circle with the ambient mana and the Barrier Stone's own mana meant the barrier field could be maintained without my constant input.

As long as no major disruptions to the walls or magic tools occurred.

‘I've already designed the magic circle.’

The problem was……

“Finding the right tool and spot to embed this magic stone.”

I stared at the purple stones on the floor, deep in thought.

“Hmm. It'd be great if I could at least scout around the area……”

Checking the walls might give me a hint.

‘But suddenly volunteering to inspect the castle's defenses would be suspicious……’

I buried my face in the sofa, agonizing.

Knock knock.

A knock sounded.

“Ruby.”

It was Uncle.

“W-wait a sec!”

I jumped up and tidied the magic stones. They just looked like stones anyway, but better safe.

‘Ah, my eyes.’

The red glow was fading to pale pink. Blink, blink. Ah, why won't it go away faster!

“Ruby?”

Uncle called again from outside.

I confirmed my eyes were fully blue and opened the door.

“What were you doing locking the door…… Your eyes are red.”

Eh? No way!

“What were you focusing on so hard your eyes got bloodshot?”

“Guess I read books too intently.”

Phew, close call.

I swallowed a sigh inwardly.

Uncle meant the veins in my eyes. Made me feel guilty for no reason.

“So, what's up?”

I chomped into a plain butter cookie and asked.

Uncle had brought a heap of daddy-long-legs desserts today too and was handling them himself.

“Do I need a reason to snack with you?”

Uncle's eyes snapped up.

Huh? Feels a bit sharp.

Not sharp, more like……

‘Sulking?’

I shook my head vigorously.

What would make Uncle sulk like a kid?

“No, not that, but…… Well, it's your house. Do whatever you want.”

“……Uncle.”

“Yes?”

His expression was thoroughly twisted toward me. After staring, Uncle let out a long sigh.

“Never mind. Were you reading books all day?”

His deep purple eyes scanned my room. A few books lay scattered near the window.

Borrowed from the ducal library.

I couldn't process magic stones all day. Too much mana use would tank my condition.

This wasn't Arcadia. Two or three a day was my limit.

After that, I'd flipped through the borrowed books to kill time.

Uncle suddenly asked.

“Ruby. Want to study?”

“Study?”

“Shall I get you a tutor?”

“Uh……”

“Tell me if there's something you want to do.”

Something I want to do?

I stared at the half-eaten cookie. Nuts dotted it, leaving a nutty savor in my mouth.

‘What do I want to do?’

I'd never thought about it seriously.

‘Ah!’

It hit me suddenly.

What I wanted to do was obvious.