Youngest 176
by CristaeEpisode 176
Khalid had achieved remarkable feats during this time. He became the vanguard of a large-scale magical beast subjugation force at the border where the Kingdom of Kasalia met the nations of the Western Continent.
In truth, he’d set out to find Rubian’s magic stele, but the location happened to be right at the heart of a massive magical beast habitat, so he volunteered to lead the subjugation.
The Babylon Empire, acting on moral grounds, provided military support, and soon a temporary allied subjugation force with Kasalia was formed.
And not long ago, though it took some time, news of victory finally arrived.
“He… went to find the magic stele and just ended up getting stronger,” Rubian muttered. Then, as if suddenly reminded of something, she jerked her head up.
“Dad, you’ve seen Kal, right? How much taller is he now?”
Her tone was tinged with a curious competitiveness.
“Hmm.”
Leviathan quietly recalled Khalid. He’d visited the front several times to give support.
Of course, with Khalid’s immense combat ability, his own strength was hardly needed, so Leviathan had delivered supplies and soon returned.
‘Honestly, I don’t remember exactly how tall he was.’
Leviathan’s eyes narrowed slightly.
Were their eye levels… about the same?
“Hm, no, that can’t be.”
No matter what, I’m the one who raised him.
Even the last time Leviathan saw him, Khalid was still nothing more nor less than the fledgling kid who used to run around the training grounds. So…
“About this tall?”
Leviathan pointed just below his neck.
“Huh? Really? So he didn’t grow all that much? Maybe because he used his body too much. Oh dear, poor thing.”
Rubian pulled an expression of real sympathy.
Leviathan roughly mussed her round little head again. The way her hair fluffed up, like a dandelion puff, was utterly adorable.
“Anyway, when Khalid gets back, I’m giving him some leave, so you two should go have some fun toge—”
Then suddenly.
“Is Ruby doing well?”
He remembered those pale gray-blue eyes asking the question.
‘Why… am I suddenly annoyed?’
Recalling the deeper, calmer gaze—so unlike the boy from years before—Leviathan felt a sense of crisis creeping over him.
“Dad? Why did you stop mid-sentence? You’re saying I should go out and hang around with Khalid?”
“No, Ruby. I didn’t say anything.”
Leviathan smiled kindly.
“Liar. You said it. You were going to give Khalid leave and—”
“No, I didn’t say that.”
“Huh.”
What’s going on? Is Dad already becoming forgetful?
Rubian put on a troubled face.
“Just go out with Rose, alright?”
He emphasized it stubbornly, but why…
‘Why does it feel like I already lost ages ago?’
That was the thought that kept coming back.
“It’s Mom! Mom’s carriage!”
I waved my arms wildly in front of the mansion’s main gate.
I’d barely started shouting when, in the distance, the carriage door suddenly burst open.
Before the footman could even set the step, a mass of pink hair sprang out, fluttering like a banner.
“Mommyyyyy!”
“Rubyyy!”
Without hesitation, I dashed forward.
Well, well.
I know an adult shouldn’t act this way…
But it’s Mom!
Soft arms swept me up in a warm embrace.
“Why did you take so long? I missed you! While I waited, I wrote a hundred letters!”
“I’m sorry, so sorry! Mom had something come up on the way!”
“Something?”
“No, listen—it’s the truth. The carriage wheel suddenly popped off.”
“Gasp.”
“And then, right on cue, a band of thieves showed up! But wouldn’t you know, they had a perfectly good carriage…”
“And then?”
“We swapped ‘em on the spot.”
Their carriage for ours.
Mom gestured lightly, as if it were nothing.
Ah… Robbing robbers…
“And then I had to hand them off to the local village guard, so I was a bit late! Sorry, Rubyyy.”
She rubbed her cheek vigorously against my head.
“I—I’m a grown-up now…”
“I know, I know.”
But honestly, I can’t resist Mom’s embrace. It’s so warm and soft!
“Aww, you’ve grown up to Mom’s nose already.”
She gave my backside a playful pat, and I smirked.
“I’ll get even taller. I’m still growing, you know.”
“Hm, well, past seventeen it’s a bit hard to keep growing, don’t you think?”
“No! According to The First Step to Becoming a Wonderful Adult, you can still get taller after twenty—”
“Alright, alright.”
The emotional reunion was interrupted.
A man, standing like a shadow and watching us, cut in.
“Why not finish hugging inside? It’s cold out here.”
Oh, right. Dad.
Mom spun me so she could rest her chin on my shoulder.
“What’s this, handsome stranger? I thought you were a pillar. Are you interested in me, perhaps?”
Dad just smiled quietly and shrugged.
“How could I not be?”
“Oh my, just look at him seducing with that face. I almost married you.”
I giggled in the middle.
“Well, guess I have to tag along and live with you after all, huh?”
“Yup!”
Family harmony, how wonderful!
Despite appearances, Mom and Dad had been apart for two whole seasons. Being a naturally dutiful daughter, I quickly reached out and took both of their hands, joining them firmly together.
“Hm. But I want to hold Ruby’s hand too.”
Mom reached out her other hand, and I grabbed it immediately.
“Oh, then if I stand next to Mom…”
“What, Ruby, are you ignoring Dad now that Mom’s back?”
“…”
What now…
“Ah!”
I grabbed Mom’s and Dad’s remaining hands in mine, and smiled with satisfaction.
“How’s this formation?”
“Now that’s clever. Smart girl.”
“…Is this even right?”
Round and round—
The world’s most harmless little circle crossed the mansion’s main gate.
Watching my parents, with Dad embarrassed but refusing to let go, I snuggled into Mom and stifled a laugh.
“But Ruby.”
“Yes?”
“How many confession letters did you get at the academy this semester?”
Gasp.
I urgently looked around. Dad was still trapped in our family circle, blushing with embarrassment.
I whispered cautiously to Mom.
“Fifteen…”
“Oh my!”
Her eyes went wide, and without hesitation, Mom dropped Dad’s hand.
“…What is this?”
The bereft Duke looked down at his empty hand.
“I’m sleeping with Rubian tonight.”
“…What?”
“It’s a Mom thing. Let’s go, Ruby! We’ve got so much to talk about, don’t we?”
“Yes, we do!”
We strolled off, arms linked.
“Heh…”
Dad, left alone, let out a helpless sigh.
“An insurmountable wall…?”
A mother-daughter wall more formidable than any he knew.
‘Alright.’
And with that, he decided on the topic for the next family council.
Kasalia border zone.
Rumble—
At last, the final magical beast toppled over onto its back.
As it fell, foul, venomous ichor spilled in every direction.
Just as Liam Zevert had predicted.
“Oh shit! Oh shit!”
Allen darted about in a panic to avoid the beast’s filth.
“Hey, hey, move! Move! It’s melting my boots—damn it. That bastard Khalid’s the only one with waterproof shoes.”
Step, step.
Watching Khalid’s broad back, Allen spat on the ground.
In the deep, dark cave—
Finally, the last magical beast was slain, and the stele they’d kept hidden so well was revealed at last.
“—Damn it.”
It had taken so long.
Khalid exhaled deeply.
With a flick, he shook the blood—deep red and gleaming—from his sword. Some splattered along his smooth cheek, but he didn’t even blink.
Gone was any trace of boyishness. He was a man now, sharp and cold.
With thick, callused hands, he ran his fingers through his deep blue hair. In the shadows of the cave, those gray-blue eyes scanned his surroundings with a razor’s edge.