The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 118

‘Uncle Madix?’ 

 

“I’ll get off work!”

 

She dashed out through the back door of the shop. At the same moment—bang! The door flew open. 

 

“Asha!”

 

A blacksmith with slender muscles and long green hair that was tied up carelessly today. 

 

“Uncle Madix!”

 

Seeing his face after such a long time, I quickly ran over to greet him.

 

Uncle’s eyebrows twitched slightly.

 

“Ruby? It’s been a while.”

 

“What brings you here… Kyaah!” 

 

Not only did Uncle Maddox lift me up effortlessly, but he also flipped me around in the air. 

 

“No wonder… you keep wanting to gift me pretty pieces of metal. Indeed, hmmm.” 

 

An unknown muttering flowed out. 

 

Ah, now that I think about it… I mentioned that the fact that I’m a girl has spread all over Zelox.

 

I changed the subject, feeling a little embarrassed.

 

“Isn’t Grandpa here?” 

 

Uncle Madix and I locked eyes. 

 

“Ah, Lord Balrog is banned from entering our forge.” 

 

“Huh, why?” 

 

I hesitated as I reached to wipe the soot off Uncle Madix’s forehead with the edge of my sleeve. 

 

“Because everyone had a nervous breakdown because of his excessively arrogant remarks.” 

 

“….”

 

“He should just brag a little about his granddaughter. I wanted to work with a piece of metal stuck in my ear.” 

 

Oh, it’s embarrassing… 

 

“Um, I’ll apologize on his behalf…” 

 

“Okay, let’s go.”

 

At that moment, my body lifted off the ground once more. 

 

And then, I landed on his thick neck. 

 

“Kyaa! Why, why are you doing this?!” 

 

With an indifferent expression, Uncle glanced up at me while carrying me on his back. 

 

“Well, it seems my body is moving on its own, likely because I’ve been brainwashed by Lord Balrog. So just stay still and be my helmet. I’ll even forgive you if you make something that looks like horns with your fingers.” 

 

“I don’t want to be a helmet!”

 

I hate it so much! It’s embarrassing!

 

However, since falling was even more frightening, I tightly grasped his dark green hair. Then, a satisfying hmm, audible roar came out of my throat. 

 

I tried asking Carl for help, but he merely raised an eyebrow and mouthed, “You look comfortable.” 

 

That traitor!

 

“Oh, right, right! Didn’t you come to see Asha?” 

 

“Ah.” 

 

He halted his steps as he was about to leave the shop.

 

Madix looked around the room. 

 

Whaa. My eyes are spinning. 

 

“But it seems she’s not here… That’s strange. I wonder why she always rushes to leave whenever I come by.”

 

A mumble followed. 

 

The image of Uncle Madix rushing in with a huff earlier came to mind. 

 

After all, that blueprint nerd wouldn’t leave Asha alone. 

 

‘… Sorry, Asha.’ 

 

I knew it, but I acted like I didn’t see… 

 

Anyway, Uncle Madix carried me on his back and walked toward the forge. 

 

I felt extremely embarrassed as if everyone around was staring at me.

 

In my frustration, I twisted Uncle Madix’s long hair into sharp, pointy horns. 

 

Anyway, after a short and humiliating march, we arrived at the forge. 

 

“So, what are you going to do….” 

 

I jumped down to the floor and said, 

 

“Uncle, I have a new blueprint for you! Actually, I got it from Asha in advance!”

 

Then, the muscle man with the pointed horns on his head put his hand on his left chest with a moved face. 

 

“…Let’s make Ruby a religion.” 

 

“I don’t want to.”

 

Seriously, everyone is so annoying!

 

* * *

 

“Phew, it’s done. Finally!”

 

I lightly wiped my forehead. 

 

The glowing blue magic circle soon began to fade away. 

 

Carl shared his magic power with me and placed the completed magic tool in a corner. 

 

Now the bell in the watchtower will need repairs, and Carl will take this to install it!

 

“Huh, what is that?”

 

As I watched Carl move without much thought, I noticed something sticking out of his clothing pocket. 

 

The colorful colors somehow felt familiar? 

 

“Oh, I thought I lost it… It must be something Sir Obron left behind.” 

 

Calid pulled out the academy pamphlet and tossed it carelessly. 

 

The words on the cover caught my eye again. 

 

‘Heart…’

 

The word that had been bothering me for some reason. 

 

“Aim for the heart. Don’t miss it. Everything you want will be in the center.”

 

It felt like something was constantly nagging at me, like a hangnail under my fingernail. 

 

‘Come to think of it, it’s a bit strange. It’s quite wordy for someone who’s come to kill you, isn’t it?’

 

I pursed my lips and thought.

 

“…What you want…”

 

‘What do you want?’

 

The 7th in the original story. 

 

What did she want? 

 

I thought about it carefully and suddenly laughed in vain. 

 

‘Well… it’s already decided.’

 

I wasn’t the seventh from the original work, but after having that dream, I instinctively came to know certain things. 

 

For example, her feelings or desires.

 

‘The desires of the seventh… that would be…’

 

Maybe. Or quite naturally. 

 

‘Could it be that she wanted to escape the stigma just like I did?’

 

Even though she failed. 

 

In that case, how about reinterpreting Leviathan’s words? 

 

It could mean that the secret of the stigma that the seventh desires lies in the ‘heart’ or ‘this core,’ right? 

 

‘If ‘targeting the heart’ is not meant literally but rather as a metaphorical expression…’

 

I clenched my hand tightly, letting it hang loosely. 

 

Of course, that could have been an overly hopeful interpretation.

 

But there weren’t any other clues.

“Carl.”

 

I gathered the pamphlets scattered carelessly on the floor. 

 

“What are you doing? Don’t tell me… you’re planning to head to the capital?” 

 

Calid furrowed his eyebrows. 

 

“Pretty much, yeah.” 

 

“Is there a clue there that could solve your stigma problem? Did you figure something out?” 

 

“I don’t know.”

 

“….?”

 

“But this keeps bothering me. I want to check it out myself.”

 

I tapped the Academy pamphlet.

 

Carl, who was reading the obviously hastily prepared ‘Autumn Camp’ section, said with a look of discontent. 

 

“But we need to resolve the magic issue in the capital first…” 

 

Just as the low whispers were about to continue, a loud stomping sound was heard coming up from the dark basement.

 

Madix, who had come in an instant, opened the workshop door wide. 

 

“Hey, Ruby?” 

 

He looked a little shaky, unlike usual.

 

‘What’s this?’

 

If it were normal, he would have been running wild, saying it was so new and fun. It’s strange. 

 

Come to think of it, the time spent examining the blueprint was longer than usual.

 

“Why is that?”

 

“This blueprint is interesting, but it seems a bit sloppy. It feels like something is missing… Was this all there was?”

 

Looking at the parchment held in his rock-like hands, I nodded. 

 

“Yes, that’s all there is…” 

 

“Hmm. I see.” 

 

Seeing Uncle licking his lips as if he felt something was missing, I suddenly realized that this blueprint was made by Asha. 

 

“Ah! Maybe it needs a magic stone? It’s a blueprint made by a wizard!”

 

When I told him that fact, Uncle Madix’s face lit up with joy again. 

 

“Indeed!”

 

Drrrk. The man spread out the scroll on the large table.

 

We widened our eyes and searched for a structure where the magic stone could fit.

 

To be honest, I’m not very good at reading weapon blueprints… But if a magic stone is involved, it would be similar to a magic tool. 

 

“I have a feeling it might be around here…”

 

“Hmm.”

 

‘By the way, this blueprint…’

 

I took a moment to scan the entire blueprint. I was so busy getting it that I hadn’t even paid attention to what kind of blueprint it was.  

 

“Is this a blueprint for a shield?” 

 

Then Uncle nodded. 

 

“Yes, it is. The shape is ordinary, but the structure is quite unique.”

 

“Oh…”

 

“But I was puzzled because the material didn’t seem like something used for shields. Of course! If a magic stone is used, the power will circulate, reinforcing the weak durability!”

 

I kept my mouth shut.

 

‘No, no.’

 

My eyes darted restlessly over the blueprint. 

 

‘This is… a shield-type weapon that stores energy when attacked and then releases it.’ 

 

Could this be a weapon ideal for facing giant beasts? Like ogres or trevellops…

 

A chapter from the Beast Encyclopedia that Liam had drilled into me flashed through my mind. 

 

‘The part responsible for storing the energy is probably the magic stone…’

 

At that moment, a light went on in my head. 

 

“Ah!” 

 

When I quickly lifted my head, my eyes met Calid’s, who was standing nearby with an indifferent expression. 

 

“…What’s wrong?” 

 

“Absorb and release!” 

 

“What?”

 

Magic!

 

I tightly grabbed Calid’s arm and whispered. He jumped in surprise. 

 

“Why on earth again!” 

 

“Carl, I found a way to get to the capital!” 

 

“What?”

 

The capital academy might hold the key to unlocking the secret of the seal.

 

But that’s a land with little magic.

 

“Absorb, release!”

 

Could that be the solution?

 

I felt the cold touch of the bracelet on his wrist and smiled.

 

* * *

 

“Oh, I see. That’s an interesting idea. I’ll look into it!”

 

Asha’s sparkling eyes came to mind. 

 

After hearing about my new magic tool, she immediately shut herself in the dimly lit laboratory. 

 

‘If it’s designed to store magic in advance and release it when needed… it seems like it could hold up even without nearby magic?’

 

If I adjust it well, wouldn’t I be able to survive in a similar condition to Ipson?

 

‘The autumn camp is about ten days.’

 

In a short span of time, it could honestly endure even without nearby magic. 

 

In fact, I had stayed in the capital for a few days when I first met Dad.

 

‘But it was really tough back then. Plus, now I need to thoroughly investigate the academy.’ 

 

Stamina and magic! Neither can afford to be depleted. 

 

The only thing left is to convince my family… 

 

I was a bit worried because Dad didn’t like the capital as much as I did. 

 

‘I should discuss it once he gets back!’ 

 

According to Butler Adolf, the subjugation was progressing smoothly. He said it would probably be less than a month before their return. 

 

“Young Lady, there’s a letter from the capital!” 

 

At that moment, Hazel came in with a tray.

 

“Letter? Who?”

 

I paused mid-sip of my milk and tilted my head. A shiny, gold-plated letter was placed in front of me.