The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 79

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Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 79

Chapter Title: Becoming a True Jebert

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“For now, leave Iosiah to you. Let me know immediately if any new information comes in.”

“Understood.”

Borvel bowed politely and withdrew.

Leviathan called for Adolph.

“Bring me Rubian's registration documents.”

“Right here, Your Excellency.”

He carefully finished filling out the complex paperwork.

Rubian was his daughter. Whatever past she had didn't matter anymore.

Finally, his pen paused briefly at the section for the child's nationality.

“Adolph, what about that matter I told you to handle?”

“It's been taken care of. A village called Marinevesta in southern Babylon.”

Leviathan nodded and filled in the section.

“I need to go see the Emperor.”

He quickly had a carriage prepared.

As he hurriedly grabbed his overcoat, something went rolling across the floor with a clatter. It was a small glass vial that had been sitting on one corner of the desk.

Adolph snatched the rolling vial before it could fall. It was tied with a faded blue ribbon.

“What is this? Oh dear. There's blood on the ribbon...”

Leviathan stared at the vial. So it had been in his study here all along.

“It's something that helped me on the battlefield.”

A glass vial containing traces of black magic beasts. Tracing it back always led to signs of a black mage.

He had no idea who had sent it.

“Your Excellency, the carriage is ready.”

Leviathan pocketed the vial and set off.

'Ruby is my daughter.'

His grip tightened on the documents.

With this, Rubian would truly become Lady Jebert in name and fact.

A precious child who would grow up under the strongest protection within the house's fold.

What mattered to him was the child's present and future.

“I've come to see His Majesty.”

As he stood before the grand doors, the attendant recognized Leviathan's face and hurriedly bowed.

“But, cough. Why couldn't I reach you from Ipson Mountain?”

I was having a snack with Khalid in the greenhouse.

The warm milk soothed my scratchy throat. Hazel had stepped out to fetch some fruit preserves good for colds.

As he poured more milk into my cup, Khalid replied.

“My mana was unstable. It made it hard to talk to you.”

“What? Were you hurt? What about your bracelet?”

“I was wearing it.”

Cal held up both wrists. With a jingle, the golden rings made their presence known.

The bracelet, woven from three interlocking rings, was no ordinary magic tool.

It was a treasure I'd found in ancient ruins while roaming battlefields. I'd engraved a magic array on it and fitted it on him. A boy's underdeveloped body couldn't handle his overflowing mana yet.

The bracelet held mana like a vessel, then reabsorbed it into the body upon release. Simple principle.

“But why was your mana unstable?”

When I asked, he rubbed his brow with a troubled look.

“Psychological reasons, I guess.”

“Huh?”

“It happens when I'm anxious or scared.”

I tilted my head.

“What could make you that anxious? Sure, the situation was rough, but there were adults around...”

“It's not that.”

No answer came from the boy for a while. Then, after a pause, a curt mutter slipped out.

“...Everyone said twice is easy.”

“Huh?”

“Abandoning and running. The first time is hard, but the second is a breeze.”

“Abandoning...? Who said that!”

His clear eyes fixed on me.

“The mercenaries who ditched their wives and fled. They said it like a habit.”

I was speechless.

Strike out.

What kind of crap did they feed this kid? All my friends are gonna bail!

“Don't hang out with those uncles anymore!”

“They're all gone from this world anyway.”

Ah, that's a relief.

I picked up a cookie topped with strawberry jam and let out a long sigh. So, to sum it up...

'He was worried I'd leave him behind again.'

To the point he couldn't control his mana.

Realizing that, the boy with his head slightly bowed looked pitiful, like a puppy caught in the rain.

Aw. I'm so sorry.

I crunched the top of the cookie and put on a solemn face.

“Got it, Cal. I swear.”

“Swear what?”

“No matter where I go, I'll always tell you first.”

His sharp eyes narrowed suspiciously.

“For real! I swear on this strawberry cookie!”

“...You eat your oath symbols like that?”

Gulp.

I swallowed and laughed haha.

“I swallowed the oath. Here, you eat one too!”

I shoved one at him insistently, and Cal ate it reluctantly.

“We have a promise now. If you break it...”

The boy's words trailed off.

As he struggled to finish, I jumped in.

“If I break it, um, we'll cut ties!”

“...”

“Hurts just thinking about it, right?”

“I wanna spit up the cookie now.”

“What?”

“It's not hard. Hearing 'cut ties' made my stomach churn for real.”

“Hey!”

I shot up as Cal clamped his mouth shut. I hurried to the fragile boy slumped over the table.

“How can you say that so casually...?”

His voice trembled faintly.

“Hey, you crying? Gonna puke? What's wrong?”

I bent at the waist, peering at his face from all angles, but couldn't see well. He turned away irritably.

“Ugh, enough.”

“You mad? Why?”

“Not mad, just sulking...”

“Huh? So you're crying? Are you?”

“I'm not!”

“Your face is turning pale fast.”

“So cancel the cut ties thing.”

“Okay, canceled, canceled.”

I crouched under the table and replied quickly.

Hearing 'canceled', his handsome face hidden in his arms emerged. His pouty expression and squished cheeks were oddly cute.

“Aigoo. Scared of 'cut ties', huh?”

Poor thing.

I ruffled his hair while chuckling.

I even poked his steamed-bun cheeks, but Cal sprang up like he'd been shot.

“Whoa, why so touchy today? Grabbing my hands since earlier...”

Was I?

But...

“Can't a sister be affectionate? Why dodge like it's gross?”

He's the one overreacting today?

My suddenly empty hands felt awkward. His flushed nape was, of course, not visible.

“Keep some distance, please.”

“What? Why the distance?”

Gasp.

His words made me freeze like a stone.

'Come to think of it... me...'

I cautiously lifted my arm and sniffed. Sniff sniff.

“No way...”

Somehow defiant, I shoved my face forward again. Khalid backed away swiftly.

...Look at that.

Suddenly forward.

Swiftly retreating, you.

'Hey? It started as a joke?'

Hurt welled up. I stood still, biting my lip hard.

“You rotten Cal, what do you think of me!”

“Asking that out of nowhere? Obviously!”

Cal stopped mid-sentence and shut his mouth. His face turned beet red to the crown.

What? Who hung him upside down?

In that instant, a huge shadow fell over the boy.

“You brat Khalid, so here you were!”

With a booming voice, Khalid's nape was lightly grabbed.

“How long are you gonna skip training... Hic.”

Familiar voice. Familiar silhouette!

“Grandpa!”

I whipped my head around in delight.

But something was off. Normally, he'd rush over for a beard smothering...

“S-s-s-so...”

He was frozen solid, still gripping Cal's nape.

“S? Um, did you say 'cow', Grandpa?”

“My n-nose...”

Hand hurt?

“Is... aching...”

“I don't get it, Grandpa...”

I reached out once more, but he backed away like I'd seen a ghost.

Wow, backpedal combo twice.

At this point, I couldn't ignore it.

“It's me, isn't it...”

“R-Ru-Ruby?”

I'd skipped baths due to illness.

“You stink!”

Even so, does everyone dodge like this?

“Waaah! That's too much! Goodbye!”

I'll scrub hard and come back!