The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 45

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 45

Chapter Title: Just Checking the Hidden Texts

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“Then... I'll just check the hidden inscriptions and come back, so you two stay put and nurture your sword dreams quietly?”

After dropping Rubian and Khalid off at the workshop, Maddix turned on his heel.

It was called a workshop, but it was really just a cluttered spot for dyes and protective gear—no dangerous items around.

“Yes! Go on quick and tear into those blueprints!”

The moment Rubian said “tear—,” Maddix vanished like the wind.

“Phew. He was saying he was bored lately, and now he's bursting with energy.”

“Northerners must all be out of their minds.”

Rubian giggled in agreement at the quiet mutter. Khalid gazed down at her face for a moment before he couldn't hold back and asked.

“So?”

“Huh?”

“Why are you in such a funk today?”

Rubian blinked as if she'd heard something utterly unfamiliar.

“Me?”

“You're all mopey.”

“But I'm in a good mood?”

No, you're not. Khalid narrowed his eyes and fixed his gaze on Rubian. Her bright, clear eyes staring up at him looked genuinely puzzled.

But her slightly drooping eye corners and limp shoulders stood out. As he stared her down, Rubian stealthily looked away and scratched her cheek.

“Ah, maybe it's because of what Uncle Leviathan said.”

“What?”

“Uncle asked if I wouldn't become the real youngest.”

Khalid paused for a moment. He recalled Rubian surrounded by the Jebert family on the training grounds.

“Did you say you would?”

“Well, yeah...”

It had been her goal from the start, after all...

“But I'm hiding so much from Uncle... it stings a little.”

Khalid tilted his head as if to ask what the problem was.

“What were you gonna do if not—get dragged off to the kingdom? And...”

The boy's gaze shifted to the pale purple magic stone clutched tightly in Rubian's hand.

“Is the reason you want to stay here really just for your own sake?”

Rubian hadn't said it outright, but Khalid could vaguely sense it.

That this girl was desperately protecting Duke Jebert—this place.

‘Though I don't know the details of why she's going so far.’

Rubian just pursed her lips and said nothing. Khalid let out a sigh-mixed tone.

“Adults are all liars anyway. How many of them live shamelessly after telling far worse lies?”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. And if you officially join the family, it's honestly a win. You'd be nobility. Even if your real identity gets found out later, that status would be a huge help.”

“Sometimes you're so cold... it makes me wanna dodge you.”

“...Dodge? Why say something that scary?”

Rubian grinned, calling it a joke. Her face seemed logically convinced, but those drooping eye corners showed no sign of lifting.

Always too kind, honestly.

Khalid crossed his arms with a hum, tilting his head. Then an unwelcome thought suddenly flashed through his mind.

‘Then Rubian would become a ‘Young Master’ of House Jebert?’

That was... no, right?

Gazing at the heart-shaped pin in her silver hair, Khalid endured his confusion.

“Rubi, listen...”

“Gasp, this isn't the time!”

Rubian snapped her head up as if suddenly snapping out of it.

“No more gloomy thoughts! We gotta finish before Uncle Maddix gets back! Hurry, Cal!”

Rubian whipped her head around the surroundings. Seeing her eyes burning fiercely, Khalid clamped his mouth shut.

“Here we go.”

She rummaged through somewhere in the spacious workshop and dragged out a single shiny bell.

It was the exact same size and shape as the ones used in the watchtowers.

The plan was to embed a barrier stone into this bell, turn it into a magic tool, and swap it with the original.

Once all the bells were back in place, the magic tools would activate, creating a powerful barrier field around the area.

“Hand it over. I'll do it.”

Khalid jumped in quickly. He'd clearly scoped out the bell locations thoroughly during his forge visits.

Outside, the clamor of workers hammering swords overlapped chaotically. In this noisy environment, a bit of commotion wouldn't draw eyes.

“Cal, the bracelet!”

Rubian crouched in the middle of the room and urged him on. Her apple-like cheeks were tinged with strange excitement.

Cal removed the bracelet and held out his hand.

“Wow, seriously. Feels just like sucking down an iced Americano in the middle of summer...”

Wonder what that's like.

Khalid forgot to ask as he watched the wide-eyed, grinning Rubian.

‘Without me, how on earth was she planning to handle her mana...’

Good thing he'd chased after her half-dead. He refined the mana even cleaner and smoother before releasing it.

“Alright, let's get started.”

Rubian gripped Khalid's hand tight and drew the magic formation.

“Yap.”

Her snow-white hair shot upward, defying gravity. Blue light sparkled around them, and a fierce mana wind whipped up.

Mysterious runes floated up beneath the golden bell and pale purple magic stone on the floor.

It was packed with magic script he'd never seen before.

How many layers was this magic formation? He couldn't even count.

‘...I couldn't even imitate this.’

The only magic Khalid knew was familiar summoning and oath magic. He'd learned some basics from Rubian, but he had no real talent for it.

Still, one thing was crystal clear.

How incredible the magic Rubian was unleashing right now.

“Done!”

And just like that, casual as eating breakfast.

Khalid stared at the bell, now tinged faint purple as the stone seeped in. Peering inside, he saw intricate magic formulas engraved there—script visible only to those with mana.

“How many of these do we need?”

“East, west, south, north... and the spots in between? About eight?”

“What? Why activate so many barrier stones?”

Khalid recalled the multitude of stones decorating Rubian's bedroom windowsill.

“I'm making them into sword ornaments... to give to Uncle Leviathan and the knight uncles...”

Rubian muttered as she turned the golden bell this way and that.

That was it?

The boy felt an inexplicable emotion as he stared fixedly at the back of Rubian's head.

“What's up? Suddenly.”

Her blue eyes blinked. Khalid thrust the crest on his cloak right up close to her face.

“I'm Jebert Knights too.”

“...? I know.”

“Don't lose count.”

Rubian pursed her lips and cocked her head.

She seemed tired already, plopping down on the floor and drumming her legs.

“Anyway, we've only finished two, but where do we get the rest of the blueprints? Only way to shake off that weapon otaku uncle.”

Maddix had a habit of lingering slimily around whenever Rubian showed up. The only thing to divert his attention was new blueprints.

Even that wouldn't hold him long, so to make the remaining magic tools, they needed more blueprints to lure him away.

“I'll get more.”

Khalid set the bell back in place and said offhandedly.

“Really? From where?”

“Hm, I'll ask a friend.”

“Your animal friends?”

He turned his head, and there was Rubian blinking innocently.

‘She really... thinks she's the only person I know.’

If anything, that was a plus.

“Yeah.”

“Oho.”

Rubian pushed up from the floor in a flash and tidied the mana-wind-scattered surroundings. The place was so chaotic anyway, it didn't show.

In the distance, the sound of Maddix approaching—Maddix must have finished with the blueprints already.

“Hey, stylish Khalid friend.”

Right before leaving the room, Rubian spun her index finger around the doorknob, turned back, and flashed a beaming smile.

What attack was this? As he stood there wondering, two small, pale palms suddenly popped up before his eyes.

“Gimme more.”

“...”

“Mana.”

Cal nearly handed over every last drop of his mana.