Youngest 162
by Cristae162
“First of all, it seems finding his way is a lost cause. He’s not himself right now. The magical beast destroyed his beloved natural history museum—he’s in the throes of utter chaos.”
“Oh dear.”
I couldn’t understand the trouble at all, but I furrowed my brow in a show of sympathy.
In the end, as Liam drifted off in thought, heading toward the pond, Void finally grumbled, “For crying out loud!” and hurried off to fetch the eldest brother.
“Little fairy… come here.”
Liam, looking despondent, staggered over and reached a hand toward me.
“Sit beside me in the carriage on our way back. I’ll give you a chance to cheer up your older brother, who is so downcast.”
“No, thank you!”
I shouted, then tilted my head in sudden realization.
“But… are you both heading back home too?”
“The academy’s destroyed, so we’re on break! Until next year!”
“What…?”
Looks like winter is going to be lively all over again!
“Haha! My demerits are on hold! When the year ends, they’ll reset!”
Watching Void so delighted, I was reminded of my own resolution.
‘A report on living conditions… The day to submit it has finally come!’
All the evidence I’d collected, now was the time!
“Ah.”
Come to think of it, what had become of the old library?
And Professor Yuriope?
‘I need to go check! I also have things to do!’
I tightened my shoelaces and started to run.
“Ruby! Where are you going?”
“I’m busy!”
“No way…!”
By habit, I called for Khalid to slip away but caught myself, my hand freezing.
“Oh. Right. I’m not supposed to dash out alone.”
I turned calmly and gazed up at the grand silhouette of the duchy’s mansion.
Leviathan was straightening papers in his study when he lifted his head.
The pounding footsteps outside were all too familiar.
‘Three, two, one…’
Crash!
But instead of the study door bursting open…
“Dad! Father! It’s me! Ruby! Knock knock knock!”
A bright, chattering voice came from beyond the door.
Leviathan let out a short sigh and got to his feet. When he opened the door, a round crown of hair greeted him.
“Who taught you to knock?”
“Self-taught! But, more importantly—”
In Rubian’s sparkling eyes, he saw his own reflection, leaning nonchalantly on the doorframe.
A small hand clutching her hem. Bold, round eyes curving with a mischievous tilt.
Lips forming the words Leviathan was always happiest to hear.
“Dad, help me!”
What a wonderful child.
Father called Professor Yuriope outside the old library.
“It’s been a while, Yuriope Molton.”
“Ah, y-yes, sir. Parent…”
Yuriope coughed awkwardly, giving a haphazard answer. Today, as always, she was busy with restoration work in the old library.
“I heard you taught my daughter how to jump rope the other day.”
Father looked down at the professor, voice low.
“I’d like you to share the progress.”
“…Sorry?”
“She’ll be getting special training up north.”
“What in the…?”
The professor furrowed her brow in disbelief, but Father pressed on mercilessly. With each of his heavy steps, she found herself edging farther from the library.
“There are all sorts of techniques, aren’t there? Hopping on one foot, things like that…”
“Just ask your daughter!”
Catching Father’s quick glance, I slipped quietly into the library.
For the last time, I’d come in full academy uniform, since I wouldn’t be returning to the academy for a while.
“Oh, so that’s a parental luring technique…”
“Hurry up.”
Khalid, already ahead, called briskly.
‘Ha, this is smooth sailing.’
Was it because Father helped?
“At least the old library survived.”
I looked around as I spoke.
Other halls had taken heavy damage…
“So what? You said that woman’s documents are all gone.”
“Hmm…”
Before we knew it, we were standing beneath a large tree.
“We’ll just restore them!”
“…?”
I summoned my magic.
In my hand was the scrap of parchment the second had given me, now blank.
When the Mage King appeared, I had, by instinct, erased the writing on the page.
Just in case it was discovered that I’d come into possession of those records.
‘But still…’
Just as I had restored my hair color, I intended now to restore the letters on this paper.
‘Wigeria will help me.’
Sometimes she didn’t listen, but when it was something to aid me, this sea would gladly provide the answer.
Whsssh—
Magic glowed, and before long, the vanished letters floated back onto the page.
‘Of course, it’s not as if I can use time magic like this whenever I want.’
Only when necessary would Wigeria draw a magic circle for me.
“…Incredible. So you restored your hair color the same way.”
Khalid let out a disbelieving breath as he watched.
“Let’s see what it says.”
First, I planned to jot down the place names in my big notebook.
Sitting on the floor, I took out the magnifying glass I’d prepared and began laboriously reading.
“…? Why are you reading like that?”
“What?”
“Your finger’s moving the other way.”
Khalid was watching as I traced the text with my finger.
“Oh, it’s this arrangement. There are multiple ways of organizing runes in ancient script.”
“…You don’t read them all the same way?”
Khalid murmured half to himself.
“No. Why? Is there something you needed to read?”
“…No. Go ahead and read that one first.”
What was that? Was he just curious?
Anyway, I buried my nose back in the documents.
After some time—
“As expected… We need to find the hidden magic formula to complete the Oath Sigil’s dispelling.”
“And that formula… exists somewhere on the continent?”
I nodded.
“And the words you’re writing down now?”
“They’re place names. This one is, Bamiless…”
I turned to look at the great sealing tree behind us. And the monument beneath it.
“Unfortunately, what was left in Bamiless wasn’t the Oath Sigil formula.”
It was a magic circle that shifted time.
“But there are lots of words here.”
“Yes… All the other terms, except for Bamiless, must be ancient place names. The problem is, I have no idea what present-day regions they correspond to…”
“It’ll take a long time.”
“Probably.”
We’d have to uncover the place names and then scour the continent.
“I’ll take care of searching the continent. You handle the ancient script.”
Khalid, who had been silent, suddenly spoke up.
“What?”
“You know I’m good at getting around.”
He walked forward, straightening from his slouch.
Staring at my loosely tied ribbon, he reached over and untied it.
“I did promise to find anything you might need…”
His hands deftly retied it, perfectly straight. Strangely, I swallowed hard.
“You’re not going to forbid me from that too, are you?”
“…That’s not it…”
I bit my lip, then let go. A sigh escaped without meaning to.
“But I don’t really like the idea of being apart…”
At that, Khalid grinned broadly.
“I can’t say I like it either.”
Just then, the dazzling sunlight streaming in from the courtyard lit up his face, making it shine.
Whoa. What’s happening.
“My heart almost—”
“What?”
“My—my ribbon’s about to fall off!”
“This is starting to feel like a familiar situation…”
Khalid scratched his cheek and tied my ribbon tight.
Pop pop pop. It felt like fireworks were going off somewhere. What is this? What’s going on?
Why does he look especially good-looking today?!
‘Am I getting butterflies just because he said he’d help me find the magic circle?’
Am I going to think anyone’s handsome if they buy me candy?!
‘Wait…’
At that moment, I realized this fluttering sensation was actually very familiar.
And that feeling, it could follow an arrow pointing to the word ‘excitement’…
“Ka-Khal… I feel awkward again…”
“What? Again?”
No, that’s not it—it’s not awkwardness…
Then—
Zzzzip.
“Yes. You two really do need to be at least a little awkward.”
With no hesitation, the distance between me and Khalid stretched.
“Dad?”
Father had suddenly appeared, grinning as he lifted me up and placed me far away.
“Why do I feel so uneasy about the future?”
“Huh? Whose future?”
What was he talking about?
“It’s going to be quite thrilling. Very much so.”
His own future, maybe?
“I don’t know what you mean…”
Father folded his arms and smiled with a complicated expression.