Youngest 038

Clang.

The knife spun sharply on the ground.

“That was…”

–Close!

Jeez, what was that?!

I calmed my pounding heart.

Everyone except Mister Leviathan and the knight was staring in shock, eyes wide like startled rabbits.

“It’s all right, little one, it’s all right.”

Ah, except for Grandfather too, who was patting me soothingly.

“Wh—what—!”

Delmon, who had suddenly been grabbed by the scruff of the neck, gaped in terror.

“Oh, sorry.”

Only then did Khalid seem to come back to his senses and let him go.

“I sensed a killing intent.”

“Killing… you used me as a shield because you sensed a killing intent…?”

Delmon sank to the ground, face vacant and dazed.

Uncle Oberon rushed over, demanding to know where Khalid had hidden the knife. Khalid quietly ignored him.

Mister Leviathan, who had been watching all of this, sighed and rubbed his temple.

“We’ve invited trouble in.”

“Your Excellency, I apologize for intervening.”

“Enough.”

For some reason, I felt self-conscious and cast furtive glances around.

Mister rose from his seat and gestured.

“That’s enough. This ends here.”

Uncle Oberon, who had been making quite a commotion, snapped his mouth shut.

“That’s enough—just show these three around the order.”

“Uh, yes, sir…”

Uncle Oberon quickly tidied the area.

I met Khalid’s eyes as he brushed the dirt from his shoes with indifferent care.

‘Sorry.’

He mouthed the word silently.

Perhaps thanks to cutting through the air so flamboyantly, all the white powder that had clung to him had already blown away.

‘Good grief…’

I sat back in my seat with a sigh.

“Mister, about Khalid…”

“Yes. It seems mock battles are unfamiliar to him.”

“…Right.”

Khalid was a child forged by war.

He had built his strength in grim battlefields where lives were at stake; to him, neither refined duels nor lighthearted mock battles came naturally.

The idea of ‘pretending’ to fight without harming or killing the opponent—

It was clear Khalid hadn’t grasped this fundamental concept.

Realizing that left a bitter taste in my mouth.

“He’s definitely a mercenary kid.”

A large hand came to rest atop my head. I looked up at Mister.

“But Ruby.”

“Hm?”

“Are you very close with him?”

Surprised by the sudden question, I blinked and replied in a small voice.

“We’re… close? Why?”

“When he sensed that killing intent, that brat looked to you first.”

“Oh… I see.”

I turned my head stiffly as I pretended to eat another walnut pie.

‘He’s just like a loyal puppy—I can’t even say that.’

Feeling the heat of Mister’s gaze drilling into my temple, I subtly raised my hand to shield my face.

“Our youngest has quite an eventful circle of friends.”

Of course, he brushed off the gesture lightly.

---

There had been a bit of an incident, but… as befits the Zevert Order, which never turns away newcomers but clings tightly to those who try to leave, all three became probationary recruits without issue.

I felt a little indignant. After all…

“Why? Why am I still the youngest? Since when is age the only thing that matters?!”

“That’s not it, Ruby.”

Mister coolly tapped Khalid’s application, particularly the work experience section, where Khalid had written out his background in bold letters.

“He has practical experience.”

“…”

“You don’t.”

“Wow. So, you’re a career hire.”

It was just unfair that I had to hide my own dazzling qualifications.

In any case, Khalid Riorc now wore the Zevert Order’s cape with pride.

Not only that—he even received quarters in the order’s building.

The mage boy and second male lead had, without warning, settled down in the north.

“Works for me.”

Khalid said indifferently as he glanced around my room.

“Of course it does.”

I replied sullenly, lying sideways on the sofa.

“Are you mad?”

“N-no. How could I possibly be mad? I’m so used to you acting alone and making decisions without consulting me—after the second time, I hardly even mind anymore.”

Still, I couldn’t help sounding nettled.

Watching silently, Khalid gently touched his finger to my pinky.

A cool current of magical energy cautiously flowed into me.

“Don’t be mad.”

“A little magic and a cute act won’t work.”

“I don’t know, I think it works pretty well.”

“…”

My cheeks, the corners of my mouth.

Are you two seriously going to keep this up?

Awkwardly, I rose to my feet and let out a long sigh.

“Did you really have to go this far? We could have just kept in touch—we don’t have to stay glued together.”

I tapped the small magic sigil inscribed behind my ear.

Khalid smiled awkwardly.

“And that’s the problem, master.”

“What problem? As long as you don’t block me, everything’s fine!”

“Would you leave me behind again, just because you trust that?”

“I didn’t leave you—come on, really…”

“Not anymore. Never again.”

Khalid’s tone was firm. He reinforced it with a wry smile.

“Besides, I’ve decided to walk the path of the sword now. I won’t bother with magic anymore.”

“Then what’s this, huh?”

I nudged the incoming magic at my chin.

“Um… personal desire?”

“What?”

“Devotion. You are my master.”

Seeing Khalid’s gentle smile, I realized there was no turning back.

“Sigh. How am I supposed to stop you?”

“Exactly.”

I eyed the boy, who seemed peculiarly cheerful. If I was stubborn, he was just as bad.

With a resigned sigh, I muttered petulantly,

“…If you’re really going to stay here, how are we going to handle what to call each other?”

“Yeah, I was thinking about that too.”

“…”

“Ruby.”

Bathed in the glow of the setting sun, the boy was—there was no need to say it—beautiful beyond words.

‘Oh, forget it.’

I dropped my hand and stuffed a handful of cookies into my mouth. Khalid, snapping on a bracelet, watched me with an amused expression.

“I know what you’re worried about, Ruby.”

“M’m not wrried ab’t ayth’ng…”

“Swallow first… That’s it. Anyway, don’t worry. I’m far better at pretending not to be a mage than you are.”

Honestly, that was true. Khalid had spent his whole life passing for something other than a mage.

Though, for all that, he was remarkably careless in how he used his magic.

‘Still, maybe… this is for the best.’

I tried to kindle some hope inside me.

After all, Zevert was the strongest order of knights.

‘Khalid’s still just an amateur with the sword.’

No matter how seasoned by real battle, there were limits to being self-taught.

And… who knows? Khalid was the second male lead; maybe, when Mister Leviathan goes to take the Mage King’s head, he could actually help out.

“Okay then… Since you’re staying, make sure you get stronger.”

“Until the Duke of Zevert goes to take the Mage King’s head?”

“Yeah… um?”

I froze mid-bite.

“Did you… just read my mind?”

There’s no magic like that.

“I knew it.”

Khalid muttered, stroking his chin.

“I kept wondering why you’re here.”

The sun was setting fast. The boy’s smooth features were soon dusted with the shadows of night.

“You’re planning to use the Duke of Zevert to kill the Mage King, aren’t you?”

“…”

“Because of that damned crest, you can’t do it yourself.”

Unconsciously, I shifted my magic. A mute spell settled like a white veil, soaking into the air.

Khalid clicked his tongue briefly and sent me another pulse of magic.

“Has your amazing ‘magic archive’ still not found a way to erase the crest?”

“It’s… still searching.”

My voice faltered.

Wow, seriously. This kid’s intuition is scary.

Honestly, I was shocked. Khalid had come dangerously close to the truth with just the information he had.

“I’ve told you about five hundred times—I’ll do it instead.”

A strange light flickered in his stormy blue-gray eyes.