The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 46

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 46

Chapter Title: Herb Hill and Memorial Garden

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Rubian felt a surge of power rushing in rather abruptly and made a face like she'd just bitten into a sour lemon. Hehe, good, great!

"I was a little worried when you showed up, but honestly, I'm thrilled!"

She could say things like that so casually.

Khalid awkwardly scratched his jaw with his free hand. His stomach was churning strangely. As always, he had no idea why.

Was it because of that heart-shaped pin...

"You... who picked out that hairpin?"

Cal asked before he could stop himself. It had been bothering him since earlier.

"This? Hazel picked it."

"I like it."

"Huh?"

"..."

The boy feigned nonchalance as he brushed the dust off Rubian's shoulder with a few pats.

"I like it, I asked. You've always complained that your hair flying around was annoying."

"Oh, that's what you meant. Yeah! It's comfy!"

Khalid inwardly sighed at his chronic condition that had been worsening lately. Doesn't matter. Just play it off well.

At that moment, there was a knock at the door. Knock knock.

"Um, Ruby? Bastard Sword? Mind getting the door?"

Rubian quickly pulled away. Khalid slipped his bracelet onto the hand that suddenly felt empty.

Before opening the door, Rubian paused with a thoughtful expression, then suddenly pressed close again.

"W-Why?"

"You know, even so, having someone who knows my secret nearby makes me feel so much more secure. Thanks!"

Her face, whispering with a secretive smile.

It was different from the smile she'd shown the Jebert folks.

Ah, this face is mine alone to know.

Khalid realized in that moment. A strange satisfaction made his toes twitch.

"See? You really do need me."

"Huh?"

"I need you... Wait."

This one he couldn't play off.

"Ta-da! Pretty metal scraps, as promised!"

"Ah, did you look over all the blueprints? What do you think?"

"Ruby, from today onward, I've decided to make you my religion."

"Whoa, no thanks!"

Their chattering voices faded away. Khalid was left alone in the workshop, stroking his neck, which had turned red as the midday sun.

"...For real."

Am I sick?

* * *

The barrier work progressed smoothly.

Khalid had brought the blueprints just as promised, from somewhere or other. When asked, he said his animal friends had found them in the forest where a merchant caravan had passed by.

He's good at procuring stuff like that.

Whenever blueprints came in, I'd visit the forge, shoo Maddix away, and complete one magic tool after another.

Cal said he'd procure the remaining blueprints, and the spirits promised to handle replacements on their own.

Victory was in sight.

Hehehehe...

Good job, me!

"Lady Rubian?"

"Y-Yes?"

I snapped my head up.

"Is it still difficult?"

Borvel, stroking his brown beard, came into view as my vision cleared.

"Uh..."

I looked down at Basic Healing Studies. My pen had veered upward with a screech.

"A little?"

I whined with a smile. Borvel nodded understandingly and began explaining step by step.

Honestly, it was so boring I nearly dozed off. No more daydreaming—focus!

"-And by this principle, it works like so, producing these effects. Do you understand?"

"Yes, completely!"

Wow, now I see—Borvel was a star instructor for healing studies.

"Then, shall we spend the remaining time looking at herbs directly?"

"Yes! Field practice is the best!"

No sleepiness at all!

I hurriedly gathered my books. Seeing fresh green herbs up close outside was a hundred times better than sitting still.

Ahem. If any special blending methods come to mind while observing, feel free to teach me anytime.

"Sure. If I remember any!"

Borvel seemed curious if I knew Iosiah's unique herb blending techniques. I naturally played dumb and brushed it off.

"Ruby? Where you headed?"

As Borvel and I descended the stairs, Void's voice came from above.

"Herb hill!"

"Oh, me too."

"Young Master, please dress properly first."

"Eeeh."

At the light whining, Borvel sternly raised a finger.

"If you ignore me and catch a cold, I'll give you the bitterest medicine."

Void pouted but eventually came back down with his attendants, bundled in fur clothes.

"Ooh, refreshing! So vast!"

There was a small hill behind the ducal residence.

"Wheeee!"

"Ruby, don't run!"

I dashed across the open expanse.

Spring hadn't fully arrived yet, so it was a bit chilly, but the wind was incredibly invigorating!

"Young Master, don't run either! If you fall, no medicine for you!"

"I'll ask Ruby for some!"

"Gasp, my job's gone."

The herb hill looked a bit barren since green sprouts hadn't emerged yet, but there were always survivors in such harsh conditions.

"This one! I just saw it in the book!"

I crouched and pointed at the swaying grass. Borvel grinned with satisfaction.

"You're strong in practice."

"What's this? They all look the same to me."

Can't you see this delicate pink mana? Sword brat.

"This is a good herb for reducing fever."

Borvel explained.

And surprisingly good for stopping bleeding too.

I blankly thought as I fiddled with the tender grass.

"Then I'll harvest some of these, so why don't you explore the surroundings more?"

"Yep!"

"Young Master Void, ask Lady Rubian if there's anything you don't know. You're worried about your herbology grades next semester, right?"

"Gasp, that's a secret. Too mean! And it's the brother teaching the little sister!"

"I hope so, truly."

Borvel chuckled and stroked his beard.

Leaving him to unpack his gathering tools, Void and I raced across the herb hill.

Of course, I was the only one who got tired...

"Sl-slow down..."

"Sigh. What am I gonna do with you."

Void deliberately lagged behind to let me win.

"First place!"

I sprawled out on the ground.

After a moment like that, something caught my inverted vision, and I sat up.

"Huh? What's that over there?"

"Where?"

Void, who had been fanning me with his hand, turned his head. At the edge of the hill, a tiny dot turned out to be a dense fence.

"Ah."

Void scratched his jaw with an ambiguous expression.

"It's the Jebert Family Memorial Garden."

"You mean a cemetery?"

"Yeah. Looks close, but it's pretty far. You're not thinking of going there, are you..."

Void trailed off and let out a long sigh.

He must have read the curiosity about the memorial brimming in my eyes.

"Why is my little sister so reckless!"

He yelled but obediently turned his back to my outstretched arms. I giggled and hopped on.

Warm and toasty, big bro... Oppa-back.

"For real... Are you a feather?"

Why are your shoes so small? He grumbled.

I'm dying, gonna die! He muttered.

But true to Jebert manhood, Void boasted terrifying stamina.

He carried me and arrived at the memorial in no time.

Rather than gloomy or somber, the memorial looked like a well-tended garden.

"What else are you curious about? Let's just look around quickly."

I glanced around, sightseeing the cemetery.

The black tombstones gleamed so much—thanks to the groundskeeper, no doubt—that I could see my face clearly reflected.

"Wow, it's huge... Will you be buried here too, big bro?"

"Hey! Why say something like that?"

Void glared and snapped.

"Huh? Why?"

"Talking about dying is bad luck!"

"You just said you were dying."

"That was... just a figure of speech!"

I have no idea why he's annoyed.

"Just live long and then die, duh."

That's why I'm working so hard. Whew, whew.

I passed well-kept trees, mindlessly reading the names on the black stones. Alton Jebert, Gaian Jebert, Brandon Jebert...

"You too, Ruby."

"Huh?"

Wondering what he meant, I turned to see a youthful face staring intently at me.

Now that I noticed, Void had grown another handspan in just a few days.

"You said you're joining the Jebert family register. Adolph mentioned it. So of course, when you die, you'll be here too..."

His smooth voice cut off abruptly.

"Die... Sob..."

"Please. Don't tell me those are tears welling up."

Hiss. Void roughly rubbed his eyes with his hand.

"It's creepy to even say! You absolutely won't die, Ruby! You'll be buried here, but absolutely not die!"

So, alive burial then?

But I didn't press further. Void, eyes red, tugged me along.

"Sigh, my mood's ruined. Let's go. Borvel will look for us."

"Yeah... Huh? What's that?"

Then my gaze landed on a spot that felt strangely out of place.