The Youngest Hides a Lot - Chapter 120

Carl bit his lips tightly. 

 

At that moment, Allen, who was feeling the shackles, squinted one eye.” 

 

“Hmm? It feels a bit bumpy on the inside. Carl, shine a light here. Is there some precious gem embedded there? Ha, you little brat… Is that why you wanted to come here?” 

 

“Get out of the way.”

 

Carl quickly snatched the shackles and shined light on the inside. 

 

The shackles that were tied on the wrists and ankles. 

 

While they were bound, it was impossible to see the inside. 

 

“…This is.”

 

“What is it! What is it!”

 

Allen ran wildly. 

 

‘The World Tree, entwined by the ascending dragon…’

 

As far as he knew, this kind of phrasing could only be found in one place. 

 

The Magic Kingdom. 

 

‘Did the kingdom imprison me here as a penalty for violating a taboo?’

 

But he was an unregistered wizard of Arcadia. So the current Wizard King didn’t know of his existence 

 

‘That bug-like king would have pretended not to know me even if he knew about me.’

 

The boy’s eyes narrowed.

 

At that moment, a small letter engraved next to the kingdom’s emblem caught his eye. 

 

‘What is this?’

 

It didn’t seem to be in the imperial language. It also wasn’t in the common tongue of the continent. 

 

Carl read the letters in order. 

 

“Nagre…”

 

“What did you say?”

 

“Me…rope?” 

 

What are you talking about? 

 

Carl frowned.

 

“What are you talking about? Alone.”

 

“Do you know the phrase ‘Nagre me rope’?” 

 

Allen shrugged instead of answering. He leaned in towards Carl, wrapping an arm around him and pushing his head forward. 

 

“I’ve never heard that phrase before. Could it be read completely differently? Well, do you… have any idea?” 

 

Allen nodded and took out his notebook and began to write letters as if he was drawing them.

 

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Juliope.”

 

“Juliope?”

 

The name somehow felt strange. 

 

“Ah, a linguistics professor. I once had a chance encounter with her at a bar while doing some work. Of course, she doesn’t know my true identity.” 

 

“…Are you saying he’s a professor at the academy?” 

 

“Right? Where was it…?” 

 

“Rieta?” 

 

“Yeah, do you know?”

 

Carl stared into space for a moment, lost in thought. 

 

“It’s been a while since we last met. How about we create a masterpiece together… Hey, why are you taking the notebook?”

 

The boy silently tore off the page Allen had copied.

 

“I’ll find out.”

 

After putting the paper in his pocket, he got up without any regrets. 

 

‘Let’s not ask Rubian…’

 

Rubian might recognize it right away, but that’s why Carl disliked it. 

 

‘What if it’s something bad?’

 

He decided that he should first grasp the general content. 

 

Allen muttered at the sudden change of heart.

 

“Ah, yes yes, Your Majesty. Of course, you will know. Please take care of it yourself.” 

 

He bowed deeply, his back bending in a show of respect.

 

Somehow he felt annoyed and wanted to kick him, but he stopped himself.

 

The two of them went outside.

 

“Where are we going now?”

 

Allen asked, shaking off the black dust.

 

Calid looked down at the mountains below, feeling the dry wind against his face. Allen thought that face looked strangely tense. 

 

“West of Bamillon.” 

 

“What?! Hey, you energetic fool! When will we get from here to the West again…!” 

 

Phew. But soon, a long sigh of resignation escaped. 

 

Right. Who could possibly stop this willful kid? 

 

“Where in the West!” 

 

“Trapista, Bydel Valley.” 

 

Allen froze for a moment.

 

“…You’ve been there.” 

 

“Yeah.”

 

His gray-blue eyes rolled slowly.

 

He muttered indifferently while making eye contact with Allen. 

 

“It’s the place where the Duchess of Zibert had her carriage accident.” 

 

* * *

 

A leisurely afternoon.

 

I was at the mini training ground with Mom Rosetta.

 

Mom had returned to her pink cotton candy hair. After surprising the Zelox people with her black hair during the outing, it seemed that she really felt refreshed.

 

“When will Dad come back?”

 

“I wonder if he’ll come soon.” 

 

“Carl should come back soon too…”

 

“You said he was going back to his hometown, right? It’s already been two weeks.” 

 

“Yes…”

 

Mom pinched the tip of my nose and let go. 

 

“I hope they both come back soon. By the way, our Ruby seems a bit down today. Did you not sleep well last night?” 

 

“That’s not it…”

 

Actually, I was a little sick last night.

 

While I was sleeping well, I suddenly felt a burning sensation on my back. 

 

Of course, it was only for a moment, and the pain quickly subsided, but… it was incredibly startling. 

 

‘The mark has grown.’ 

 

When I immediately checked my lower back, I found a branch had sprouted a little.

 

‘I’ve never felt the mark growing before.’

 

Then, I suddenly thought of Dad, who often said I had severe nightmares. Could it be that the mark had been growing a little each time? 

 

‘I guess I really had nightmares.’

 

Anyway, I started feeling anxious for no reason.

 

“Ruby? If you’re not feeling well…”

 

“No! It’s precisely times like this that I need to train my stamina!”

 

I snorted and shook my head.

 

‘It’s not like I didn’t know that marks grow!’

 

I just need to find a way to get rid of this on my own.

 

Be brave, Rubian Zibert! 

 

If I continue to hold onto anxious thoughts, I will only be consumed by my emotions!

 

I shouted as I stretched my arms out towards the sky.

 

“I will become strong!”

 

I firmly resolved to put my shoes back on and saw my grandfather running towards me from afar.

 

“Oh my! Our precious granddaughter is in the training grounds again!”

 

Ever since my grandfather found out I was a girl, he has been extremely reluctant to let me wear the knight’s uniform. The same goes for Dad…

 

Didn’t they say that in the North, they don’t make their daughters into knights? 

 

It seemed they regretted taking me in as the youngest member of the knight order, but it was already too late for that. 

 

I had completely immersed myself in the charm of this functional clothing and the enjoyable life in the knight order… 

 

“Today is… four laps!” 

 

Shouting about breaking my record, I spun around the training ground again today. 

 

Right now, that was the maximum effort I could put in, so I would give it my all with what I could do! 

 

* * *

 

Allen shivered.

 

“It’s still chilly around here.” 

 

Trapista, West of Bamilon, Bydel Valley. 

 

Allen looked up at the distant cliff and rubbed his arm.

 

“Oh, it’s creepy.”

 

It was definitely a warm spring.

 

However, it gave him goosebumps strangely. 

 

In terms of energy, it felt even more ominous to him than the cave he had seen a few days ago.

 

Was it because of the awareness that this was the place where the accident had happened ten years ago? 

 

Allen gestured right in front of him. 

 

“Is that it? The place where the accident happened?” 

 

Carl nodded with an unreadable expression. 

 

The deep valley didn’t receive much light. 

 

“The Duchess really has a difficult fate.” 

 

Allen muttered, touching the dry ground without a single grass.

 

“Having helped a runaway wizard with good intentions, only to face such a fate…” 

 

Ten years ago, not many people knew the detailed circumstances surrounding the accident involving the Duchess of Zibert. However, Allen was also a seasoned informant and a mercenary from the back alleys.

 

“So why are you here…What’s wrong, Carl.” 

 

Allen frowned.

 

“Why are you shivering? Are you cold?”

 

He touched the boy’s shoulder with a rough hand.

 

Carl lightly shook his hand away.

 

“…Get out of the way.”

 

The very ground where the accident had occurred.

 

Carl imagined the situation at the time as he touched the ground. 

 

The wizard who had escaped the Magic Kingdom wounded himself and collapsed. 

 

The Duchess’ carriage passing through the valley must have found the wizard.

 

The wizard must have pleaded with a desperate and pitiful expression, asking for help to cross this valley. 

 

The Duchess felt sorry for the injured wizard and allowed him to accompany her. 

 

Finally, here.

 

When they reached this deep place that no one could easily reach.

 

“Suddenly attacking…”

 

Carl gripped the ground tightly, the damp soil clumping between his fingers. 

 

Rosetta Zibert was severely injured in a sudden magical attack and was unable to protect the child in her womb. 

 

The results of her faith and good intentions came back to her in such a way.

 

‘…You can’t trust a wizard.’ 

 

Carl bit his lips tightly.

 

“Carl? What are you doing?”

 

The boy, who had made up his mind, soon took off the bracelet on his arm. 

 

He forcibly controlled his overflowing magical power and read the dizzying traces of magical power that had permeated this land.

 

‘As Rubian…taught me….’ 

 

Carl focused and sensed the magical energy in the area. 

 

Let’s do that for a moment.

 

“….”

 

His stubbornly closed eyes slowly opened.