Youngest 161
by CristaeEpisode 161
“Otherwise, I was about to die, but there was nothing I could do.”
“Ah, yes.”
“If it hadn’t been for my father hurrying back from the capital, I probably would have cleared out two more habitats nearby…”
“But what does that have to do with this?”
At that, Leviathan burst out laughing.
“I’m telling you I had a very miserable childhood, you punk.”
“…?”
Their eyes met.
“No adult wants to pass on misery to a child.”
Those words made him pause and think.
Had Leviathan Zevert, who first gripped a sword at twelve, truly been unhappy? Was it because he had witnessed too much death and blood?
Khalid bit his lip hard.
He had been strong, mature, and fearless.
Many adults welcomed him for those traits. They even liked his taciturn and cool-headed nature, saying it suited the work of a mercenary.
“I don’t know how you lived before, but… the clothes you’re wearing.”
“…”
“I’ll have you know, I’m the captain over there.”
Khalid squinted one eye.
“As captain, that’s an order. For now, just try smiling and have some fun.”
“…”
“Forget the bothersome stuff. Go do something trivial to your heart’s content. That’s the rule in my house.”
Khalid listened quietly and answered.
“I don’t understand what you mean at all.”
With a huff, Leviathan tapped the apple he was holding squarely on Khalid’s head. “You got it already. Tsk, that kid.”
“I’m going. Lock the window.”
Khalid turned his head away sharply.
A chilly autumn breeze drifted in through the slightly open window.
The apple that had rolled atop his head dropped into his hand.
After a moment’s hesitation, the boy took a bite of the apple and closed the window.
A servant from the Imperial Palace filled Leviathan’s teacup.
“Enough. All of you, leave.”
With a wave of his hand, the emperor dismissed everyone, then personally unlocked a cabinet to fetch a bottle of liquor and poured himself a drink.
Tap.
He wet his lips with the strong liquor and sat down. His face was deeply weary.
“You likely already know, but at next year’s Round Table meeting, I’ll propose to formally exclude the Mage Kingdom from the Continental Alliance.”
“That is exactly as it should be, Your Majesty.”
Leviathan replied, spinning his glass.
“To be honest, the pushback from the elder nobles at today’s council was almost a headache…”
“…”
“But now, I doubt it’ll be a real problem at all.”
The emperor shrugged, a trace of resignation in his smile.
“That Balok Zevert himself made an appearance.”
After nearly a decade in seclusion, the old duke had suddenly appeared at today’s council.
He burst into the hall with his signature fierce gaze and, without hesitation, bowed before the emperor.
“Call on this old man whenever I am needed!”
His voice rang out, echoing in the chamber.
In one hand, he gripped his greatsword tightly.
Everyone knew it was not only support for the emperor’s decision, but also the action of a knight willing to ride out to war.
With a single blow, he had silenced the elders who still insisted that confronting the Mage Kingdom would be foolhardy.
Many among them had once trusted and followed Balok.
“Thanks to that, I can now focus solely on next year’s Round Table. But more than that, how do you feel? In the end… it all went as the duke intended.”
The emperor took another bitter swig, a slightly rueful smile on his lips.
“…War may break out on these lands again. This time, against the Mage Kingdom and its mages.”
“No, Your Majesty.”
Leviathan responded curtly.
“I did warn you, did I not?”
“Warn me of what?”
“That if you strike the leader first, it’s over. I’ll make sure to bring you that bastard’s head, so don’t worry.”
His darkened eyes could not conceal the murderous intent within.
“So, Your Majesty, just secure a proper justification to drive the Mage King out.”
So that innocent mages would not be attacked.
“You make it all sound so easy.”
Leviathan clenched and then relaxed the fist resting on his thigh as he watched the emperor give a hollow laugh.
The time for grief and lamentation was over.
It was time to take up the sword again.
This time, the sword would be wielded to protect his precious daughter.
His heart pounded heavily in his chest.
It was not fear—the enemy did not frighten him. Nor was it nervousness—everything felt too calm for that.
If anything… perhaps it was closer to excitement.
The enemy that had terrified Rubian had finally taken on a clear shape. If he could only destroy it, the child could finally be at peace, safe and happy…
He was consumed by the urge to destroy the foe at once.
‘…First, though, I must keep Rubian safe.’
The intentions of the Mage Kingdom remained unclear.
He could not risk any rash moves while the child was at his side.
So, for now, it was time to raise defenses and lay the groundwork for an attack.
“You’re heading back north in a few days, I hear?”
“Yes.”
“And… you still won’t tell me what happened at the academy with the princess?”
Leviathan let slip a faint smile.
“Why trouble yourself by asking twice?”
“…”
“If there were something that needed saying, I would have said it.”
The emperor knocked back his drink, grumbling that Leviathan was impudent, insufferable, and irritating.
There was no helping it.
With the Mage Kingdom now an enemy, Rubian’s true nature was better kept hidden a while longer.
‘If you were still my friend… perhaps I would have told you, Ditrian.’
He was a fine emperor.
Because of that, if ever faced with a choice between the Empire and Rubian, he would choose the Empire without hesitation.
Therefore, Leviathan would not reveal all about the child unless absolutely necessary.
“At least see the princess before you leave.”
“I’ll think about it.”
“You really are a hard man to pin down. Besides—wait. I heard the princess won’t be entering the academy next year. Is that true?”
“Yes, well.”
Leviathan answered offhandedly as he lifted his glass.
It was a decision he had discussed and agreed upon with Rubian.
Given the instability of the capital’s mana and trouble among neighboring countries, it was safer for Rubian to remain in the north.
At least for now.
‘I have no intention of raising Ruby in confinement.’
Rosetta agreed as well.
As was only natural.
Instead, what remained for him was to build a stage where Rubian could be safe, wherever she might be.
After downing the rest of his drink, Leviathan stood.
“Then, if that’s all, I’ll take my leave. My daughter is waiting for me at home, probably going out of her mind.”
“Ha, seriously! Next time you come to the palace, bring the princess! You take her everywhere else but always leave her behind when you come here?”
Leviathan ignored him neatly and strode away.
The emperor wore a gentle smile as he scribbled furiously across a stack of papers.
“Fine. Next year’s New Sprouts Festival—I’ll just hold it in Zelox…”
Tap.
The palace doors closed.
A few days later.
“Rubyyy!”
As I was walking through the garden of our townhouse, a familiar voice made my shoulders twitch.
“Gah. Better hide.”
“Where are you going? Are you really not hurt? Then why didn’t you leave your room? You scared me!”
Void raced up, winds swirling around him, and hovered anxiously at my side.
“I was just… busy with things…”
“Busy with what, though!”
“It’s private!”
At my sharp reply, Void drew back with a wounded look.
“My little sister going through puberty…?”
Even though he hadn’t, I had apparently entered puberty first?
I snorted and darted straight across the middle of the garden.
In truth, the days had been restful—I was catching up on various tasks and monitoring the aftermath of the incident at the academy.
“Let’s not tell Liam and Void about your identity for now. Once the Mage Kingdom’s intentions are clearer, we can decide together.”
“Okay…”
“You’re not lying to them, so don’t feel guilty.”
The Mage Kingdom was eerily quiet.
‘I’m pretty sure… the Mage King sustained a fatal injury.’
The moment Father sliced the second time, I summoned my power and destroyed her mana core.
With that, the mana crystallized within the Mage King vanished, as did the second’s magic.
‘Honestly… that’s the surest way to break free from the Crest.’
To break a mage’s core.
‘But it’s impossible to know how much lifespan that would cost.’
Frankly, I could have dropped dead a minute later.
At any rate…
‘With the Mage King in that state and even Babylon turning against them, there’s no telling when an explosion will come…’
Suppressing a brief sigh, I sprinted down the path. Masses of cosmos flowers swayed gently in the breeze.
“Rube! Wait up—ah, Liam! Over here!”
Void waved his hands vigorously.
A tall boy stepped out from the far lobby, a serious look on his face. But… he was coming from the opposite direction.
“…To see Iglius in person. Iglius…”
“Is Liam all right?”