The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 38

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 38

Chapter Title: The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

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Clang clatter.

The knife that fell to the floor spun sharply in place.

"Surp......"

-Snap!

Ugh, what the hell!

I calmed my pounding heart.

Everyone except Uncle Leviathan and Cal had eyes wide like frightened rabbits.

"Baby, it's okay. You're okay."

Ah, excluding Grandpa who was patting my back.

"Wha...... wha......!"

Delmon, who had suddenly been grabbed by the scruff of his neck, flapped his mouth in horror.

"Ah, sorry."

Khalid finally came to his senses and let him go.

"I sensed killing intent."

"Killing intent...... so you used me as a shield?"

Delmon plopped down on the floor with a dazed expression.

Senior Obron rushed over, demanding to know where he'd hidden the knife. Cal slyly looked away.

Uncle Leviathan, who had watched the whole thing, let out a sigh and rubbed his temple.

"Trouble just walked in."

"Your Excellency, sorry for stepping in."

"Enough."

For some reason, I felt awkward and furtively rolled my eyes.

Uncle stood from his seat and gestured.

"That's it. We're done here."

Senior Obron, who had been raging, shut his mouth tight.

"Show these three to their quarters in the knight order."

"Ah, yes......"

Senior Obron quickly tidied up.

I locked eyes with Khalid, who was brushing dirt off his own shoes with an indifferent face.

'Sorry.'

His lips moved faintly.

Thanks to his flashy wind slicing, all the white powder on my body had already blown away.

'Agh. Really......'

I slid back into my seat.

"Uncle, what about Khalid......"

"Yeah. He doesn't seem used to mock battles."

"......Yeah."

Khalid was a child forged in battlefields.

He'd roamed harsh war zones where lives hung in the balance, honing his strength, so elegant duels and ticklish mock fights were utterly foreign to him.

How to fight 'fake' without killing or maiming the opponent.

Clearly, Cal hadn't grasped that fundamental idea.

Realizing that, my mouth tasted bitter.

"Right, mercenary kid."

A large hand came down on top of my head. I tilted my head up slightly to look at Uncle.

"But Ruby."

"Yeah?"

"You two close?"

Wondering what that was about, I blinked and answered softly.

"We're...... close? But why?"

"He sensed the killing intent and checked on you first."

"Oh...... right."

I awkwardly turned my head, pretending to finish my walnut pie.

'Can't say it's because he's a pooch.'

Ugh. The gaze piercing my temple felt hot, so I raised a hand to cover my profile.

"Our youngest has some unusual friends."

Of course, he'd been lightly brushed off.

* * *

There was a minor incident, but...... as the Jebert Knights never turned away arrivals or let go of departures, the three joined the order's ranks without issue.

I felt a bit wronged, because......

"Why? Why am I still the youngest? Since when do they go by age!"

"It's not that, Ruby."

Uncle pointed coldly at Khalid's application. It was the prominently filled experience section.

"He has experience."

"......"

"You don't."

"Wow, a veteran hire."

It was just heartbreaking that I had to hide my flashy resume.

Anyway, Khalid Riorc proudly donned the Jebert Knights' cloak.

Not only that—he even got assigned quarters in the knight order building.

The mage boy and Part 2 male lead had suddenly planted stakes in the North.

"I'm fine with it."

Khalid scanned my room and said indifferently.

"As if you'd have a choice."

I sprawled sideways on the sofa and grumbled.

"Mad?"

"Nooo. How dare I get mad? You've gone off alone without consulting me twice now, so I'm used to it."

Even so, I couldn't control my prickly tone.

Khalid, who had been watching quietly, gently pressed his finger to my pinky.

Cool mana carefully flowed in.

"Don't be mad."

"Won't work even if you infuse mana and act cute."

"Dunno, seems to be working."

"......"

Clown, lip corner.

You guys really?

I awkwardly stood, letting out a long sigh.

"Do you have to go this far? We can keep in touch even if we're not together."

I tapped behind my earlobe, where a small magic array was engraved.

Khalid smiled ambiguously.

"That's the problem, master."

"What the hell! If you don't block it, there's no issue!"

"Rely on that, something happens again, and you'll ditch me to run?"

"I didn't ditch you for real......"

"Not anymore. Never."

His tone was firm. Khalid smirked and drove the point home.

"Besides, I've decided to walk the swordsman's path. No more peeking at magic."

"Then what's this?"

I chin-nodded at the surging mana.

"Hm...... loyalty?"

"What?"

"Loyalty. You're my master."

Seeing Khalid's soft laugh, I realized we'd crossed an irreversible river.

"Sigh. What to do with you."

"Exactly."

I side-eyed the boy who looked oddly pleased. I was stubborn, but so was he.

Letting out a resigned sigh, I mumbled sullenly.

"......If you're staying, fix the title first."

"Yeah, was gonna."

"......"

"Ruby."

Bathed in the fading sunset glow, the boy was...... so beautiful it hurt to say.

'Well, whatever.'

I shrugged and grabbed a handful of cookies. Khalid, bracelet jangling crisply on his wrist, watched me with an intrigued look.

"I get what you're worried about, Ruby."

"Nng ca munwaw......"

"Swallow first...... Good. Anyway, I'm better at pretending not to be a mage than you, so don't worry."

Honestly, true. Khalid had lived pretending not to be a mage his whole life.

Though he had a habit of using mana carelessly.

'Yeah, maybe...... it's for the best.'

I forcibly spun the hopeful circuit.

Anyway, Jebert was the strongest knight order.

'Khalid's still a novice with the sword.'

No matter how battle-hardened, self-taught had limits.

And...... who knows?

As Part 2 male lead, he might help a bit when Uncle Leviathan goes to lop off the Magic King's head later.

"Got it...... Then since you're training, get strong properly."

"Until Duke Jebert goes for the Magic King's head?"

"Yeah...... Huh?"

I froze mid-chew.

"You...... read my mind?"

No such magic exists?

"Knew it."

Khalid stroked his chin and muttered.

"Been thinking about it. Why you're here."

The sun set quickly. Night's shadow swiftly cloaked the boy's smooth face.

"You're using Duke Jebert to kill the Magic King, right?"

"......"

"You can't because of that damn brand."

I unconsciously stirred my mana. A sound-mute spell bloomed like a white veil, seeping into the air.

Khalid clicked his tongue briefly and infused more mana into me.

"That amazing magic vault of yours is still searching for a way to erase the brand?"

"Wi......jeria."

My voice caught slightly.

Wow, really. What's with his insight.

I was honestly shocked. Khalid had pieced it together from just the info I had.

"I've said like five hundred times, I'll do it."

A strange glint flashed in his smoky gray-blue eyes.