Youngest 167
by CristaeEpisode 167
Leviathan stood dazed for a moment, then coughed awkwardly.
“Uh, well, when you listen closely, it’s kind of cute.”
“…You don’t have to make excuses to me.”
“…Don’t tell anyone. I’ll sulk.”
“…All right.”
I grew curious as to what on earth could have been going on for such noises to be made.
Heading out into the hallway, I checked out the window and let out a breathless, incredulous chuckle.
“Ha ha ha!”
Out on the hillside behind the barracks, Rubian was gleefully sledding.
On a sack of fertilizer.
“…Isn’t she technically a princess?”
“Ahem. Hem hem.”
This time, Adolf coughed repeatedly.
“So that’s why she darted outside so excitedly…”
I couldn’t help but rub at my throbbing forehead.
“Well, as long as she’s having fun, I suppose.”
Nearby, as usual, were Void, Khalid, and Liam. It seemed she had managed to entice the three, who had finished their morning duties, into joining her.
‘No wonder she’s been sparkling with anticipation since the first snowfall…’
And to think…
She claims she’s all grown up and insists on coming along on these trips?
Of course, I knew by now that Rubian was a mage with prodigious power.
But that had nothing to do with this. Rubian was a child; therefore, she was vulnerable. That was all.
‘All I’ve managed to do as a father is run around searching for gravestones.’
The Crest of the Kingdom on my child’s body.
Whenever I thought of it, it felt as though I were swallowing thousands of needles. The thought that I couldn’t even remove it myself just made it that much worse.
Rubian always looked apologetic, as if Leviathan were shouldering her burden for her.
But honestly, the one who felt sorry was me.
For being such a powerless father.
“By the way, sir… A letter arrived from the Imperial Household.”
Lost in thought, Leviathan heard Adolf speak quietly.
“What is it?”
“The Mage Kingdom, sir. The reconnaissance vessel sent this time failed to find the island.”
“…”
It was what I’d expected, so I wasn’t surprised.
The island rising from the midst of the sea.
The Kingdom of Mages, Arcadia.
It had already been a year since the Mage Kingdom, now Babylon’s enemy, had vanished from the world without leaving a trace.
No matter how one charted a course by sea, the island wouldn’t appear. Carrier pigeons and seeking magitech failed, and the gate portals to the Kingdom had long since stopped working.
A disappearance, utterly complete.
“Marlon Ama the Second, apparently activated every protective barrier of the Kingdom… And hiding even the island itself likely means they intend to remain in seclusion for quite some time… Once the spell is cast, it’s the sort that doesn’t unravel until a set period has passed…”
Rubian’s muttering voice echoed in my mind.
After that, she had added, “Sorry, I think I’m still not strong enough to break the barrier.” It was utterly preposterous.
No matter where the Mage King was, I had every intention of finding him and removing his head.
Wherever he might be.
Even if he was buried in hell, I would drag him out and kill him a second time.
At any rate, thus began a long game of hide-and-seek with the Mage Kingdom.
‘The Emperor is pursuing them alongside the Confederation’s forces, so results will come soon enough.’
Which meant, for now, I could spend a measure of peaceful days with the children—until new developments arrived.
“Was that all His Majesty’s letter contained?”
“Ah, there was just one more thing…”
Adolf’s gaze drifted naturally toward the window.
“There was a brief note asking if it wasn’t time to decide the successor of House Zevert.”
Leviathan let out a dry chuckle.
“Shouldn’t have bothered asking. Ignore it.”
“But…”
“I said ignore it.”
He knew why the Emperor insisted on this.
Other noble families had long since named successors, drawing their twelve- and thirteen-year-old children into the affairs of the house.
‘And yet…’
For some reason, he simply found the idea distasteful.
He knew it would be necessary someday, but right now, not at all.
“Ha ha ha! I won!”
“Ruby! Save me! I’m turning into a snowman!”
“You’re really bad at sledding, Brother… But where did Liam go? Don’t tell me he got lost sledding…?”
“No idea!”
“Whoa, Kal, you’re really fast! Admit it’s fun! You tried so hard not to join, but you’re having fun now, aren’t you!”
“I’m only sledding because I had to. It’s not that fun.”
“How many times did you go?”
“…Seventeen?”
For now, I simply wished those boisterous voices would linger as long as possible.
“Truly, the best thing for children is to run around without a care in the world.”
Childhood was fleeting enough as it was. Let them be a little reckless.
“Turn up the fireplace. When they get back, we’ll need to dry them off in front of it.”
“Yes, sir.”
Leviathan shook his head and turned away.
I gave it my all, left nothing behind…
“Haah, hah. Sledding is serious exercise…”
“Get up before you catch a cold.”
A white hand abruptly entered my vision as I sprawled across the snowy ground.
“…”
I grabbed the hand and hoisted myself up, staring intently at the figure before me.
“…Why are you staring like that?”
Kal averted his gaze, scratching lightly at the end of an eyebrow.
“I don’t think I did anything wrong…”
“You, just stand right there.”
“…?”
As I approached, the boy in his training clothes stiffened, as if holding his breath.
And my own heart… cooled, turned rigid too.
“…How much milk do you drink a day?”
“Two cups?”
“I drink three!”
Why?
“Uh, that’s… good, I suppose…?”
Why is it impossible to catch up!
‘Damn, my nose can’t get any bigger!’
My height was finally shooting up, I thought I’d finally reached eye level with him.
But Khalid, as if mocking my efforts, had shot up like a weed over the past year.
‘Is it even possible to grow that fast? What, is all his weight in his feet now?’
“What, why are you two talking just among yourselves?”
At that, Void cut in with a tone of disapproval, resting his hand atop my head.
“If you bully my sister, you’ll die!”
“Who’s bullying whom, honestly…”
Kal muttered under his breath, busy brushing the snow off the fertilizer sack.
“Listen, please stop squeezing my cheeks like dough. They’ll burst.”
“Oops, I didn’t mean to.”
He jerked his hand away in alarm.
How humiliating… Now even Void could rest his hand on my head without a second thought…
“So, have you decided on a birthday present, Ruby?”
Void tightened my scarf and asked.
His nose and ears were a bright red from having thrown himself into sledding like any good representative of the North.
I drew in a noisy sniffle and replied.
“Hmm, not really. There’s nothing I particularly want.”
“Then why, exactly, do you insist on the ‘one gift per person’ policy! It’s so cruel!”
“I just don’t want anything to go to waste!”
“Do you have any idea Grandpa howls in distress every night over your present?”
“Oh, so that wasn’t the sound of wild beasts in the annex at night…”
Again… I thought an animal had gotten into the annex…
“And as you’re all aware, I’ve gained a bit of prosperity now. So if I need anything, I can buy it myself.”
Hmph.
When I twisted my lips in a smug smile, Void looked as if he were in shock.
“M-Magic stone shop owner…!”
That’s right.
The lavender magic stones had become a hit across the Empire and…
‘And with the Mage Kingdom cut off, the supply of mana stones for magitech was left to…’
Our shop has taken over!
So, everyone.
I’m a rich twelve-year-old now…
It was just around the time Arcadia vanished from the map with every barrier deployed. They issued a recall order to all outpost mages on the continent.
Naturally, I raced to Asha.
“Asha! What are you going to do? They say the Mage Kingdom recalled all outpost mages!”
“It’s fine! I’ll just become a fugitive mage!”
“Eh?”
“Why?”
Asha, as ever, made major decisions without a hint of concern. Whether that was courage, I couldn’t say.