The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 7

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 7

Chapter Title: The Youngest Hides Many Secrets

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No, wait a second.

What's going on here?

"Cut it out already."

I clutched my churning stomach and widened my eyes hugely as I sat slumped against the roadside.

Had Uncle finally had enough of me?

-No, it wasn't that.

The one who cut me off with a blast of icy chill was...

The blue-haired knight standing beside me. Sir Leon, Uncle's adjutant.

"Your Excellency hasn't slept a wink for days."

His stern gaze turned toward me.

We were on the road from the capital to the north by carriage.

And I was suffering from severe carriage sickness, of all things.

This was the third time I'd bolted out because I couldn't handle the unfamiliar motion. I just couldn't bring myself to get back in.

"Uncle... can't I ride a horse instead?"

That's what I'd asked—couldn't I ride with Uncle on horseback instead of the carriage?

'But Uncle hasn't been sleeping?'

Now that I thought about it, there were dark circles under his eyes, and his skin looked rough... Ah, it's because of me.

I realized it too late.

While I'd been ill, my sleep had been completely irregular.

But Uncle had always been by my side, no matter the time. Even when he stepped away, it was only briefly.

'Because I didn't want anyone else taking care of me...'

A duke had personally tended to me without even looking after himself.

"This is already the third stop, and at this rate, we won't make it in time..."

"Leon."

Uncle growled lowly.

"Where did you pick up the habit of not knowing when to speak and when to shut up?"

"My apologies, Your Excellency. But..."

"Enough. Step aside."

"Ah, wait! Hold on!"

Unable to bear the tense atmosphere, I shot my hand up.

"What."

"Blue-Haired Uncle is right! You need some rest."

I wriggled in Uncle's arms, trying to slip out. He'd picked me up at some point.

Huh? Why won't this work? Normally, a little squirming would let me hop down.

"I don't need rest."

"You do. You're tired!"

"Tired?"

Uncle snorted derisively.

Yeah, I know. I know. Of course, the continent's greatest Sword Master has stamina that doesn't tire easily and a body that won't break!

Still, quality sleep and proper meals are the basics of human life!

"Stop being stubborn and sleep in the carriage. I'll... Sir Leon!"

"...Me?"

"Yeah! I'll ride with you. Give me a lift!"

"...Huh?"

Confusion flickered across the knight's straight-laced face for the first time.

"Ruby, just let me."

Uncle's arms tightened. I firmly shook my head in refusal.

"Come on, the tired one sleeps inside, and the one who hates the stuffiness rides outside!"

I'd reached a conclusion that made everyone happy.

"Ah, I feel alive again."

I gulped in fresh air atop the horse, with open space all around.

Of course, that bliss was short-lived.

'Ugh... so hard... uncomfortable.'

I shifted this way and that in front of the rigidly tense knight, but no comfortable position came.

'Riding with Uncle was so comfy.'

Comfy enough that I'd fallen right asleep.

But it seemed I wasn't the only uncomfortable one. Sir Leon was fidgeting too.

"...Is this right?"

A short sigh came from above my head.

"Any spots hurting?"

From head to toe!

But I smiled and shook my head.

My face wasn't thick enough to complain about the rough ride.

And...

Truth be told, I wanted to make a good impression on Sir Leon.

'Uncle Leviathan's right-hand man.'

I, who'd read the original story, knew better than anyone how genuine his loyalty was.

A comrade who'd shared life and death. A loyal retainer who'd leap into hellfire for his lord.

So I didn't mind if Sir Leon was a bit cold to me. After all, we were practically comrades protecting Uncle Leviathan.

"Why did you insist on following His Excellency?"

A deep voice followed from behind.

"Uh... Uncle's the one who found me."

"If you think becoming an adopted child of the ducal house means an easy life, wake up."

Hey, why talk to a kid like that?

Well, I'm not fully a kid, but...

"Jebert isn't the paradise you imagine."

A stickler for principles. Impeccably thorough to the point of coldness—that was Sir Leon, the epitome of knighthood.

You could tell just from his perfectly creased, razor-sharp uniform.

'The total opposite of Uncle.'

The hero snoring away in the back had probably lost a few imperial medals along with his uniform.

"Is the north that bad?"

"Jebert Duchy was built after subjugating the land of Magic Beasts. They eye their old habitat and invade constantly."

"..."

"It means war year-round."

I know. While reading the original, I'd thought it was a perfect backdrop for the protagonist of [Sword Pierced into Ruins].

For reference, Black Magic Beasts are monsters created by Black Mages, while Magic Beasts spawn naturally in the wild.

'Magic Beasts, Black Magic Beasts.'

Imagining how grueling the last ten years must've been for Uncle made my heart sink suddenly.

"Hey, Sir Leon."

I shook off the thought and focused on the conversation.

I felt his gaze looking down at me.

"Does Uncle want me gone?"

"Because it's no place for a small, weak child to survive."

Was I overthinking the odd kindness in those words?

"I heard that from that rascal uncle earlier too."

"Insolent toward His Excellency..."

"I won't be a burden. Don't worry."

I stared straight ahead as I said it.

The endless cliffside road stretched on forever.

But I knew. This path would end someday, as would everything.

Humans too. With finite lifespans, death awaits at the end.

But if I wanted a somewhat human-like end... was that greed?

Not as a sacrificial lamb in the second war sparked by a resurrected Black Mage.

'Since I've survived this far.'

Uncle Leviathan, Sir Leon, and me too.

"And I won't let it harm the lord you serve loyally."

"You..."

Veins bulged on the back of Sir Leon's hand gripping the reins.

That was the moment.

"Ugh."

Sir Leon, who had been fine, suddenly clutched his shoulder and groaned.

"Huh? What's wrong?"

"It's nothing..."

Nothing? His arm was trembling badly.

'No way...'

I shot my hand up.

"Nope, I want down! Hey! Let me off this time!"

"Don't do anything pointless. Stay quiet..."

Sir Leon blocked me, sweating coldly. Seriously, what was he doing to push himself this far?

"What's going on?"

The carriage halted amid the brief commotion, and Uncle leaped out.

"Uncle, Sir Leon's hurt!"

"What?"

"Shoulder, right one!"

Uncle, smoothly transferring me to his arms, frowned at Sir Leon.

"Leon, is your injury not fully healed?"

"No, sir. I'm fine."

A short silence followed his nonchalant tone. Uncle soon let out a long sigh and halted the entire procession.

"Set up camp. We're resting."

"Your Excellency! I'm truly fine! We don't have time to delay...!"

Sir Leon acted like it was a catastrophe.

He ground his teeth, looking strangely anxious. Seeing his face, my lips moved on their own.

"Sir Leon."

"..."

"The war's over."

Our eyes met. I hastily tried to retract my blurted words.

"I mean... no need to push through pain just to hurry. We're not heading to fight or anything, um..."

"..."

"We're going home."

Well, to someone else's home in my case...

At that instant, tension drained from Sir Leon's body like a lie.

"So it seems."

Uncle, who'd been listening quietly, patted my head.

"Also, Leon, hiding your condition from your superior is a violation of military code."

"Th-that's..."

Sir Leon, fiddling with the reins, bit his lip and bowed his head.

"...My apologies. I was short-sighted."

He dismounted obediently.

"Rest up."

Uncle clapped his broad back.

While Sir Leon reflected, our quick-handed Jebert Knights swiftly pitched the camp.

I sat quietly on Uncle Leviathan's thigh, watching it all.

"Huh?"

Something caught my eye.

"Ruby, where are you toddling off to so..."

"Ooh!"

I squatted in the corner of the campsite.

The grass swaying in the wind was a sight I hadn't seen in ages.

'Abelita Herb, sure enough!'

Pink flowers peeked shyly from jagged leaves, wrapped in a faint blue aura of mana emanating from the plant itself.

'Great for bruises and pain relief.'

I reached for the herb. I already knew how to harvest it.

In that moment, my hand was smacked away.