The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 37

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 37

Chapter Title: The Knight Order Entry Test

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"How did this..."

I blankly stared at the training ground swept by a dry wind.

"...even happen..."

There, standing all alone, was my mage friend who was also the Part 2 Male Lead and a pint-sized mercenary.

"Then let's begin the entry test."

Senior Obron, who had returned at some point, announced in a solemn voice. Beside Khalid stood two young men with tense expressions on their faces.

"Three applicants!?"

Grandfather huffed excitedly, unable to hide his enthusiasm.

Sitting on my other side was Uncle Leviathan, wearing a stern face like a strict dormitory supervisor.

The uncle had appeared out of nowhere, taken Khalid's blood oath letter, and tossed a few light questions his way.

"You have mercenary experience? At twelve years old?"

"Yes."

"Don't tell me."

"......"

"You were a boy soldier in the kingdom?"

The cold sweat trickling down my spine at that moment was something only Khalid would know about.

"I'm not a mage, sir. I just ran a few errands for the guild with a wandering mercenary group."

"I see. And you met Ruby in Iosiah?"

"That's right."

"Then let me ask you..."

"Yes."

"What's Ruby's least favorite food ingredient?"

"Bell peppers. The green ones."

"What's Ruby's favorite thing?"

"Baths. And a cozy bed."

"Ruby's most..."

"Hey, is this a quiz show?"

"Guess you really are friends."

...Somehow, it had turned into a weird interview midway through.

In the meantime, two more applicants had arrived.

Uncle said that, per tradition, they had to go through a simple entry test.

'But I don't remember taking any test?'

Hmm, special hire, maybe.

Anyway, I was honestly on pins and needles. Having Khalid around was great, but having two kids hiding their true identities meant...

'The risk of getting found out is twice as high!'

Misreading my sullen expression or whatever, Uncle Leviathan cleared his throat and spoke up.

"Ruby, sorry, but our knight order doesn't hire based on connections."

Gasp! Music to my ears! Down with cronyism, nepotism, and favoritism!

"Of course! They should pick super strictly and ruthle..."

"Everyone who applies gets in."

I clamped my mouth shut. Uncle shrugged nonchalantly.

"Manpower shortage."

Damn... I overlooked that.

Grandfather was practically steaming like a pressure cooker by now.

Senior Obron stepped forward from the center of the training ground.

"It's a simple procedure anyway, but it's necessary to gauge your skills. Don't be nervous and do your best."

"Yes, sir!"

The applicants replied with shoulders squared.

The cocky Khalid boy just stared at the ground with an indifferent face.

"Alright, take these wooden swords first. It's a simple mock battle."

Senior Obron handed over wooden swords dusted with white powder.

"No real rules. The one with the most white powder on their clothes loses."

All three were wearing black protective gear. Perfect way to test skills without injuries.

"Alright, you, Khalid...? And Edwin. Right?"

"Yes, sir! Edwin Cowell! I was so inspired by Hero Leviathan's exploits that I came all the way from the distant east!"

That hero in question was busy feeding me walnut pie right next to me.

"Hm. Heard your unsolicited motivation. Just grab the sword."

"Yes, sir!"

Khalid and Edwin faced off in the training ground, wooden swords in hand.

"Pooch, how's that brat's skill? Eh? Any good?"

Grandfather leaned forward eagerly. I thought for a moment before answering.

"Hmm... He can at least handle the basics."

No, more than basics, probably.

Khalid was an 'Unregistered Mage' from the Magic Kingdom. It meant he'd long since learned how to survive without using magic to avoid the kingdom's prying eyes.

'He seemed more interested in swordsmanship than restrictive magic anyway.'

I knew he could hear me, but I yelled internally anyway.

'Hold back and play it average, got it?!'

Of course, no reply from the boy facing the wind.

Soon, the spar began on Senior Obron's signal.

'Don't suddenly charge like a gale and turn him into mincemeat in the blink of an eye. Absolutely not... Huh?'

I blinked slowly.

Thud. The walnut pie dropped from my hand.

"...Pooch? Didn't you say he could handle basics?"

Grandfather's puzzled voice came from beside me.

"Y-yeah... I did?"

"That's not even basic."

Uncle added, handing me a fresh walnut pie.

I mean...

"What the heck is he doing...?"

The wind whistled by.

Khalid was gleefully getting covered in white powder all over his body.

First match: Edwin's overwhelming victory.

I blankly watched Khalid brush off his clothes.

'Did his sword skills rust...?'

Who knows. But that frustrated furrow in his brow clearly showed something wasn't going his way.

Weird. That's not how he was.

I knew Khalid's skills better than anyone. He'd secretly helped me from behind whenever he could, even when I was with the mage unit.

'After all the Black Magic Beasts we killed together.'

The Magic King, heavily criticized for the boy soldier issue, had pretended at first to assign young mages to rear support. But later, no.

'He just got sneakier about putting us on the front lines.'

Sending us ahead to scout for black mage traces before operations or slipping us into unknown Black Magic Beast habitats, that sort of thing.

In the end, I'd been doing rear support plus the Magic King's secret missions.

Before realizing this was a novel world, I'd been brainwashed into a puppet by the Magic King, so I didn't even know it was grueling work...

'Which makes it even harsher!'

Exploited without even knowing it—what could be more unfair!

'Sigh.'

I let out a short sigh and shook my head to clear it.

No point lamenting; better focus on the situation at hand.

'But he's really off today.'

I narrowed my eyes seriously, forgetting to eat my pie.

Meanwhile, the second match began.

The second opponent was a bulkier guy named Delmon.

And Khalid, same as before...

"Begin!"

Turned into a white fluffball.

"His movements are a bit sluggish."

Uncle muttered beside me.

"He doesn't look it at all."

Delmon yelled with a kiap! and swung his wooden sword. Khalid dawdled and took a hit to the shoulder. The protective gear dulled the impact, but the boy looked extremely displeased.

Like he was wondering, 'Why am I doing this?'

"Hm..."

Uncle Leviathan, who had been slouched, suddenly straightened up.

"He said he was in a mercenary group."

"Yeah."

Grandfather clicked his tongue.

"So what? Surviving as a mercenary with that skill is impressive enough."

"No way..."

That mutter came from Sir Leon, who had been watching the spar behind Uncle.

"Senior Sir Leon?"

He glanced around casually before his eyes stopped on the walnut pie in my hand.

"Why? Hungry?"

"Borrowing it for a sec."

What? Puzzled, I handed him the pie. Without hesitation, Sir Leon whipped it forward!

With a hint of sharp intent, like throwing a dart.

"...!"

At that instant, my eyes met Khalid's as he snapped his head up.

I saw a sharp glint flash in the boy's previously drooping eyes. At the same time, he kicked Delmon's shin to disrupt his balance and drew a knife hidden at his ankle.

Thwack!

The knife pierced straight through the center of the walnut pie and flew toward Sir Leon.

"That crazy..."

It clanged off the drawn sword of the knight and fell.