The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 39

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 39

Chapter Title: The Youngest Hides a Lot

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I'd once casually mentioned it to Khalid in passing.

To completely escape the Magic King's shackles after being exploited by the kingdom, the surest way would be to get rid of the king.

From that moment on, Cal had been grinding his teeth, vowing to kill the Magic King himself.

As if I hadn't freed him from his chains in that cave and given him his freedom.

"No way. You're... still too young."

"Ha. Is that why you came here?"

A short scoff escaped him.

"Sorry, Master. I'm gonna be a bit cold from now on."

"Don't be too cold..."

"Why Duke Jebert?"

His icy voice dropped bluntly.

"I get that the duke hates mages. But he's not crazy enough to kill another country's king without reason."

"......"

Honestly, I couldn't entirely fault Khalid for reacting like this.

'He doesn't know the Magic King will openly pull black magic schemes if left alone.'

The Magic King was still playing nice for now.

Arcadia was an island isolated in the sea.

Going against the continent would only hurt the kingdom. So on the surface, he played the saint while secretly waiting for a chance to devour this continent.

Even if he was catching flak right now over the child soldier scandal.

'World conquest! What a childish, cheesy dream.'

That must've been why he wanted a black mage in his grasp. Honestly, he probably thought war was the right call once it broke out.

'The order he gave me was "Capture a black mage alive," after all.'

But Uncle Leviathan killed him, ruining everything. Hah, serves him right!

Anyway, the Magic King would cause trouble on his own, so Uncle just needed to stay alive until then.

"Zoning out again..."

Khalid stared at me rolling my eyes, then dropped his head with a sigh.

"I really just wanna peek inside your head once."

"No way..."

I have too many secrets...

Then, he snapped his head up.

"Still, I'll kill the Magic King. He made you suffer."

"Got it, got it. Then train hard."

Build up your strength so we can team up with Uncle later!

I swallowed the words I couldn't say and grinned. Seeing Khalid's expression soften, I dispelled the sound-muting spell.

It was about time Hazel came up to say dinner was ready.

"Alright. I have a goal now."

Khalid said with resolve.

"A goal?"

"Leviathan Jebert."

"...?"

"I gotta surpass him first."

No, that's not it?

"If he's the strongest and that's why you rely on him, I'll become even stronger."

His boy's eyes burned with fighting spirit.

For some reason, it felt like the Part 2 Male Lead's goal...?

Khalid bit his lip hard and glanced at me.

"And somehow, I feel like he's gonna make my life hell."

As if worried about the future, Khalid kept his serious face for a long time.

Well... knight order life with Uncle won't be easy, right?

Or... something else?

What?

That evening, in the dining room.

Khalid had been invited to dinner as my friend.

"Huh? Even Grandfather?"

The moment we entered the dining room, we ran straight into three generations of Jeberts.

Grandfather usually ate separately in the annex, so eating together was rare.

Something was up.

I sat with Khalid. Uncle was at the head seat, with Grandfather and Void opposite.

"Father...?"

Void stared blankly at the seat next to me and called out to Uncle in a daze.

"Yes."

"I think I'm seeing things right now."

"Probably not."

Void blinked, then whipped his head around.

Chop chop chop. As always, the hands slicing meat and veggies for me didn't stop.

"Did you bring another stray from the capital? But when...?"

Smoothly, a plate of perfectly sliced steak slid in front of me.

Khalid, sitting beside me, saw the antics and let out a "ha" laugh.

You think it's ridiculous for a young lord to serve food too?

Yeah... I know.

"Not that either."

"Then...!"

"Shut your trap and eat some bread, kid!"

"Oof."

Grandfather, who'd been slicing five steaks at once, shoved a white roll into Void's mouth.

Void's cheeks bulged as he looked up at Grandfather with a face full of things to say.

"Uh... Grandfather."

"Huh?"

Clink. Grandfather set down his knife at Void's call. His thick brows wiggled as he looked down at his grandson beside him.

Void's shoulders twitched away slightly.

"What's with that look? You hitting puberty already?! No wonder... you haven't come eat at your sick grandpa's in ages!"

"When I do go, you're not sick at all!"

Apparently, Uncle Leviathan had called Void over for meals sometimes when he wasn't at the castle.

Though Void clearly found Grandfather uncomfortable...

"This won't do! Time to enter relationship-building mode. After dinner, let's take a light stroll up the northern mountains!"

"Eek! No, ugh!"

Void flailed, pushing away the meat stuffed into his mouth again. Grandfather's lips twitched.

...He's enjoying this. You're today's sacrifice, Void.

"Stop watching and eat."

Thud. A neatly sliced piece of bread landed on my plate.

"Uh, thanks."

I popped a piece into my mouth while looking at Khalid.

'This kid really has no shame.'

Eating with people he just met like it was his own home...

Impressive in many ways.

"No, really, is no one gonna explain what this guy is?!"

Void finally exploded, jumping up and pointing at Khalid.

"Ruby! You explain!"

I swallowed my bread and answered.

"My friend."

"What...?"

"Friend."

Void tilted his head with question marks all over his face. Why that expression?

First time hearing the word "friend"?

'Gasp... Does he have no friends because he takes after Uncle?'

Despite my worry, Void just blinked with a soulless look.

After that, only the occasional clink of silverware sounded.

Clink. Khalid set down his fork beside me. He'd already finished eating and was dabbing his mouth with a napkin.

His half-empty plate.

Impeccable table manners.

'Hmm, he's a bit reckless sometimes, but he learned manners well.'

...Huh? Now that I think about it, where did he learn...

"You managed to survive in a dump like that market, huh, Ruby."

"......"

"Even though you hate noise."

Someone shut that rude mouth.

"What'd you say? This brat."

Grandfather slammed down his utensils. Uncle just sipped his wine without a glance.

Khalid stood up.

"Thanks for the meal."

Ha, at least his manners were normal.

I thought he'd leave, but he paused and pointed at the green pepper awkwardly stuck to my fork.

"But she hates these. Change the recipe..."

"Ahaha."

I sweat bullets and elbowed Khalid in the side.

"You're just freeloading, so why talk so much!"

I was about to drop that pepper a second ago. Busted!

"Uncle! Grandfather! I'll handle him..."

"Oh ho. That cheeky tone and glare. Enough."

Grandfather thudded his utensils again.

"This little punk needs a mental re-education trip to the northern mountains too!"

"So it was mental re-education!"

Void gaped.

"I don't wanna."

"What?"

But the cheeky Khalid boy's mouth didn't stop.

And Grandfather's eyes blazed even fiercer.

In the tense air, only Uncle at the head seat calmly continued his meal.