The Youngest Hides a Lot of Things [Novel] Chapter 9

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Translator: Harry Potta

Chapter: 9

Chapter Title: Hell? It's My Territory.

-----------------------------------------------------------------

"What?"

"What is."

"...Hell?"

"It's my territory."

Uncle Leviathan poked my forehead.

I blankly gazed down at the vast expanse of land stretching out before us.

The harsh northern wind tousled my short hair.

"There's nothing but rocks?"

"I told you."

A tumbleweed rolled by in the chilly dust.

Uncle's territory, filled with gray stone walls... Honestly, it looked like the ruins of a fallen kingdom.

Of course, that might be rude to the people living there...

The stone mountains, dyed red by the sunset, encircled it like a fortress, and ominous beastly howls echoed from within.

The black chasm ahead looked like a black hole you'd never escape if you stepped into it.

"Somehow, the weather feels even colder here."

"This is warm compared to the rest. In midwinter, the snow piles up as tall as you are."

"Eek. No way."

"Bundle up tight."

Uncle chuckled and pulled the cloak hood over my head.

"Did you make that ointment for the knights again yesterday?"

"Ointment? Yeah!"

On the way here, I'd gathered every Abelita Herb I spotted.

I'd upgraded the knights' ointments one by one, and they loved it!

"How did you even know that weed was Abelita Herb?"

Uncle narrowed his eyes at me.

I rummaged through my small pouch, pretending not to hear.

"My mom was a healer in Iosiah."

"..."

Uncle stiffened up.

"So I picked up a few potion recipes just by watching her. I've read a lot of herb books too..."

"You put stuff you learned over her shoulder to use?"

I glanced at him nervously as the air grew heavier.

"...Why? Did I do something wrong?"

Iosiah was a small nation advanced in medicine and pharmacology.

Anyone from there would pick up random knowledge from childhood, so this shouldn't be weird, right?

"Unexpectedly..."

Uncle crossed his arms and tilted his chin up. His cheek seemed to twitch like he was holding back a grin.

"You're the genius type, huh."

"Huh?"

"This complicates things."

His face was etched with genuine, serious worry.

Like a parent discovering their kid's a prodigy... But why was he worried?

More importantly, unexpected?

What did he think I was!

"Anyway!"

I spun my fist like a windmill and pummeled his rock-hard leg in revenge.

"Your massages are top-notch too. My smart little pooch."

Uncle scooped me up with a proud look (why was he proud?), beaming.

At the same time, a familiar horse approached.

"Your Excellency."

It was Sir Leon. Thankfully, his injuries seemed fully healed; his shoulder moved just like before.

"Uncle Sir Leon!"

I reached out happily.

Sir Leon hesitated a moment but gave a slight nod.

'Still stiff-faced as ever.'

I knew it. He was just bad at expressing himself!

He hadn't threatened to send me back anymore either.

"Your Excellency, if I may."

Sir Leon approached straightforwardly.

"Huh?"

A white fur stole dropped into my arms.

"Whoa, what's this? So fluffy!"

"You sure pull out all the stops, Leon."

Uncle raised an eyebrow and wrapped it around me snugly. My breath caught in an instant.

Strength control! Uncle! Strength control!

I poked my head out from the white fur, exhaling.

"Thanks, Uncle Sir Leon!"

It seemed a bit much for thanks over ointment, but refusing a gift would be ruder!

Sir Leon looked down at me impassively as he turned his horse.

"Not uncle..."

"Huh?"

"Call me senior."

"...Pardon?"

"Whoa! Sir Leon's allowing that title."

The watching knights made a fuss.

What? What did that title even mean?

"You've set foot in the knights' land, the North. Joining the Jebert Knights is the natural next step."

"..."

"We'll be waiting. Welcome in advance to being the youngest knight."

Ex-mage here?

Ignoring me, Sir Leon galloped off toward the setting sun, cloak billowing dramatically...

Movie scene or what?

I turned to Uncle Leviathan in horror.

"Is that how it is?"

"Well... yeah?"

In truth, it was just about training my stamina... But I didn't grasp that back then.

I made a face like the world had ended.

No, I said I wanted to be that family's youngest.

Not the runt of those burly knight uncles!

We arrived in Zelox, the northern city housing Jebert Castle.

Right past the gates stood sturdy stone houses.

It looked barren from afar, but up close, it buzzed with life.

"Woooah!"

The faces of people welcoming the victorious knights were bright.

I hid shyly in Uncle Leviathan's cloak, but their excitement was palpable.

"My lord, we'll take our leave then."

Jebert Castle loomed like a fortress on a hill.

Before reaching the main keep, Sir Leon and the knights bowed.

"Yes, good work."

At their superior's permission, the knights moved briskly. I poked my head out and waved.

"Bye, Senior! And all you seniors!"

After weeks together, I felt a pang of parting.

"Come visit if you're bored."

"Even if you're not!"

The other knight uncles I'd grown close to waved back.

"Um, but... does Uncle's family know I'm coming?"

"They know."

His answer felt oddly evasive.

I eyed the approaching castle gates, recalling Leviathan Jebert's family ties.

'First, Old Duke Jebert.'

Ballock Jebert. Former Duke of Jebert and Leviathan's father.

'Not much focus on him in the original story.'

A standout soldier, he'd retired due to battle wounds.

Then spent his remaining days quietly in the territory—that was all there was on him.

'Anyone else in the castle...'

Leviathan's second son, Void Jebert, maybe. The eldest was in the south with the duchess.

"Family Head, you've returned."

Scores of servants lined the castle entrance.

Butlers, valets, maids, manservants—all flushed with excitement at their long-absent lord.

'Northerners... all built like tanks.'

The maids stood out especially, with their massive builds.

All over 170cm easy.

Guess you need that to survive here!

True to Jebert, forged by devouring magic beasts...

"You've endured much in our absence."

"You too. Good work."

"Is that... her?"

Flaming gazes snapped to me.

Caught in the spotlight, I buried my head in Uncle's chest again.

Felt like prey tumbling into a den of carnivores...

'No, don't shrink!'

I'd stamped the seal!

I slowly turned and faced forward.

"R-Rubian."

Uncle ruffled my hair. Oho? Polite speech.

"Lady Rubian..."

The maids beamed and whispered.

"So tiny... Fluffy..."

"Smaller than when Lord Void first arrived."

Then, a maid with reddish-brown hair from the front stepped forward.

"Lady Rubian, hello?"

"Yep."

"How old are you this year, Lady Rubian? Six?"

I was dismounting with Uncle's help, feet dangling. I bristled.

"I'm eight!"

My shout made her eyes go wide. Oh my.

Uncle snickered and set me down.

"Careful. She'll get eaten."

Eight years old.

What? Eight?

Really? No way.

Whispers rippled like waves.

Just like Uncle's reaction when he first heard my age!

"...So how old are you anyway?"

Uncle had asked abruptly before heading north.

"For real? Asking that now?"

"Better late than never."

"I'm... eight."

"..."

"Why stare like that?"

"Not... six?"

"Are you nuts?!"

This body was actually ten. But with runaway mage info out, faking my age hid my identity safer.

Being small for my peers made it easy.

Still, shaving off two years stung—but six?!

Why not say I was born yesterday?

I straightened my back and puffed my chest.

Fully grounded, the height gap hit harder.

Felt like a bug amid boulder mountains... Grr, infuriating.

Then, a fuzzy ball came rolling from afar.

"Fa-ther-!"

It spread like a flying squirrel and landed neatly before us.

"Void."

"Long time no see!"

The boy with glossy black hair sparkled with teary eyes. His chubby cheeks flushed prettily.

'Just as I thought.'

The fuzzball was this house's second son, Void Jebert.

'Adopted from a branch family.'

I recalled the book: lost parents in war as a child.

With his bright personality and heaps of love from Leviathan and Rosetta post-adoption, he was a wrinkle-free boy.

...Though a bit big for his age.

Even so, he looked like a yipping pup next to Leviathan's mountain.

"You've grown a lot. Doing well?"

"Yes! I didn't skip sword practice, didn't leave food, and studies too..."

Our eyes met then.

The boy's pupils trembled fiercely.

"Who's that...?"

Void eyed me warily.

"Introduce yourself. You'll be living together for a bit."

"..."

Void hiked up his fur coat and approached. His first words?

"I'm eleven."

"...?"

I tilted my head.

"And?"

"And... you?"

"I'm eight."

Then subtle triumph lit his boyish face.

"Finally... under me!"

Huh?

"Welcome, little sis."*

Did he just say 'under me'?