Youngest 222
by CristaeEpisode 222
The first thing to change was the air on the tip of my nose. It was somehow humid and warm—the distinctive scent of the South.
‘Ugh, my magic…’
It was completely depleted.
Though the tingling southern mana clung to my whole body, it wasn’t nearly enough.
I swallowed hard, feeling truly nauseous, and just as I tried to open my tightly shut eyes—
“Ruby.”
A large, familiar form filled my vision. Strong arms wrapped firmly around my back, and a wave of mana flooded every corner of my body.
“Kal?”
“Thank goodness…”
His voice sounded as if something tightly wound inside him had finally come loose. Hot breath brushed the edge of my exposed neck.
“I left before I could see you open your eyes.”
His voice was laden with emotion.
“It’s been weighing on me so much…”
“Hey, hey. I’m fine. And—I can’t breathe.”
Khalid seemed set on scraping up every last bit of his own mana for me, pouring it into me without end.
As though the magic I’d lost in the transfer was nothing at all, strength quickly returned, filling me to the brim.
“Were you very worried?”
“Yes, very.”
“I’m sorry.”
“…Really, very much.”
A faint laugh slipped from him. For some reason, he wasn’t gruff or sarcastic today—just a docile, faithful puppy.
I thought of patting his head, and gently pulled back.
“…?”
“…?”
“…?”
I found myself facing three question marks in a row.
“Uh, um… What are you… What are you two doing?”
Ah.
“Father? Clearly, there’s no dirt in my eyes yet. Why? What did I just see?”
“What the—Kal? That armor of yours looks suspiciously tough.”
Of course.
Anyone in my family could easily misunderstand this situation.
I calmly stepped away, cleared my throat.
“Everyone, it’s not what you think. Kal was just giving me some mana—”
“Let’s go. We’re not far now.”
What? Why’d you cut me off there?
Unconcerned, Khalid simply took my hand and strode forward.
“No, really, I’m fine for mana now—”
“So am I.”
What was that supposed to mean?
I glanced back, about to gesture for my family to follow, but then quickly turned away again.
“What is it?”
“Walk faster. Hurry. Run! Or you’re dead!”
“…?”
The last thing I saw was Mother, sweetly smiling as she reached for her bowstring, with Grandfather swallowing tears of blood to stop her.
Wheeeooo—
A chilling, acrid wind blew through the gorge.
I stood before the large stone cave.
“This is another exit?”
“Yeah.”
Khalid muttered, eyes fixed on the jagged rocks.
“There’s still no sign of movement inside.”
The explosion inside the cave had weakened the terrain. A careless spell could bring collapse from any direction.
“Any trace of magical beasts?”
“Not much, but… There’s some kind of elaborate illusion magic intertwined inside. I can’t read it well.”
Biting my lip, I gauged the range within which I could use magic.
At that moment, Grandfather, rolling up his sleeves in spite of everyone’s protests, pushed aside a large boulder.
It revealed a narrow gap amid the tangled heap of stones.
It was a cleverly slanted space formed by wide, flat stones leaning together. Apparently, the villagers, uneasy about this place, had tried to seal up the entrance.
‘With some luck, this might lead inside the cave.’
My eyes narrowed in calculation.
“Lucky I’m short.”
Khalid raised an eyebrow, as if to ask what I meant.
I ignored his puzzled look and rolled up my sleeves.
There was only one thing for me to do right now!
Dad!
Leviathan turned around.
“Just now… Did she say, ‘Dad’?”
He spoke, only to hear a wry snort beside him.
“What are you talking about?”
The baby, lying quietly in her cradle, wiggled her tiny hands and babbled.
“Ba-boooo!”
“See? I told you. She said ‘Dad.’”
Leviathan insisted stubbornly, but Rosetta ignored him, simply lifting the fussing baby into her arms.
“Ruby, my pretty darling, you’ll say ‘Mommy’ first, won’t you?”
“Myaaah.”
“Oh, she answered. My daughter.”
Leviathan gave a short, amused laugh.
There was no way the baby had actually called him ‘Dad,’ or replied clearly to Rosetta, but before the cradle, both parents were completely disarmed.
It was a warm spring day.
Sunlight streamed through the window, wrapping Rosetta and the baby in a gentle glow.
Leviathan was gazing blankly at them when suddenly, the peaceful child burst into wails.
“Oh dear, you’re hungry, aren’t you? Leviathan, just a moment.”
He took the baby in his arms with practiced ease.
At first, honestly, he hadn’t the faintest idea how to hold something this small—but he grew used to it.
He cradled her lightly, bouncing gently, and soon enough Ruby, having just been fussing, smiled up at him, warbling with contentment. A baby was so soft, so warm, it seemed as if she might melt in your arms. So utterly delicate and fragile.
Leviathan gazed absently at the baby’s dark hair, then smiled wryly.
‘The swirl’s on the right.’
The black hair, so like his own, curled endearingly around the right-side whirl.
Damn, she’s cute.
“…”
Then, suddenly,
His hands stopped.
He felt as though he’d had a similar thought once before…
‘Impossible.’
He shook his head. Babies just cried whenever they saw him.
He couldn’t possibly have seen such a cute little head before.
“How can something be so small…”
Leviathan, looking down at his swaddled daughter, thought once more.
Hmm, at this size and weight…
“She could be like one of Father’s compact bombs…”
Immediately, a sharp smack landed on his sturdy back. Smack.
“Is it ever okay to compare your daughter to a weapon?”
Rosetta glared, clutching the milk bottle.
Indeed, that was reckless.
With a deeply furrowed brow, he offered an alternative.
“Then maybe a hotdog bun—”
“Get out.”
He was thrown out in the end.
Time passed peacefully.
In the meantime, Ruby learned to walk, and, awkwardly, to speak as well.
“Young lady! Slowly, please, slowly!”
The maids anxiously chased Ruby as she scampered around the garden.
All the gardens of the Zevert ducal estate were carpeted with thick, lush grass so a child wouldn’t get hurt even if she tumbled.
Leviathan strolled casually, hands behind his back, trailing after the child.
It was another fine day.
It felt like just yesterday she stood on her own two feet for the first time, and now, pumping her short, chubby legs, she could even outpace him at times.
Just then, as she marched along, Ruby suddenly turned around. Our eyes met.
“…?”
Large eyes blinked rapidly, and then Ruby let out a heavy sigh, before turning back and continuing forward.
Then, another quick glance back.
“Heeu.”
Another few steps.
Again—look back.
“Heeu.”
Pitter-patter.
“…Honestly.”
He rubbed his forehead, chuckling softly.
“How did something like her come from me?”
He was the continent’s strongest; Rosetta, too, was formidable in her own right.
And yet, their daughter Ruby…
Seemed—I hate to say it—born timid.
“My little coward.”
She couldn’t take three steps without peeking at her father, then four more steps before checking again.
“Daddy…”
Then, Leviathan felt a little hand seize his hem. The world’s weakest grip, and yet, to him, the strongest and most shattering force imaginable.
“’Scared…”
She had sidled up beside him, pointing at something. He followed that chubby finger and saw a tiny beetle.
It was perched on a green leaf, right in Ruby’s path.
“Come here.”
Leviathan smiled, scooping her up. Taking wide steps, he strode right over the beetle, prompting Ruby to laugh gleefully and wrap her arms around his neck.
“Not scared anymore!”
My daughter, who couldn’t handle even a tiny bug.
‘I must never show her even a picture of a magical beast.’
Well. That wouldn’t be hard.
Within the fence he built, she’d be safe and peaceful forever. She’d only know things innocuous, gentle, bright, and beautiful.
Let me be the only one to bear that hell. There would never be a reason for this tiny, fragile girl to step onto a battlefield stained with bitter blood.
“My precious…”
At that moment, a quick lightning bolt flashed across the bright sky.
“Mister, is the war really over?”
“…”
Leviathan drew in a ragged breath.
He hugged Ruby tightly, as if someone might snatch her away.
“…No.”
It couldn’t be.
Absolutely not.
With a damp voice, Leviathan muttered, clutching the child closer.
The scent peculiar to babies filled his senses.
And with that, once again, he erased everything else.