Youngest 044
by Cristae“Of course that’s good, isn’t it?”
It was almost astonishing that he’d hesitated to say that at all.
‘Didn’t I say first that I wanted to be the youngest?’
Had he really forgotten? Or did he truly think that living in the north would disappoint me so much I’d try to run away?
‘I know well enough what kind of people Rosetta and Liam are in the original story.’
Of course, I couldn’t be certain they’d welcome me…
‘It’s fine. I can make a good impression.’
I had no reason to hesitate.
Mister let out a long breath as though releasing pent-up tension. His broad, stiff shoulders visibly relaxed.
“You were that nervous just to ask this?”
So out of character.
“‘Just,’ you say,” he replied, tapping my nose with a now-pale finger.
“It’s the most important thing.”
Click, click, click. Just then, a cacophony of clattering dishes came from beside us. I looked over to see Hazel, tears and snot streaming down her face, carrying a tray.
“H-Hazel?”
“Aww… thank goodness, thank goodness…”
She couldn’t even finish her words.
Nearby, the other maids exchanged awkward laughs, patting Hazel’s nape with the edge of their hands.
Wasn’t that a vital spot?
But the mighty maid didn’t care, only swiftly wiped her tears and replaced the ruined cake plate. Even Butler Adolf watched with a fond smile.
“Hehe.”
Somehow, I found myself laughing too.
Was everyone truly this glad just because I said I’d stay? Their faces were shining with happiness. Would everyone else be just as happy?
‘Void, Grandpa, the cook, Butler Morris, the knight seniors…’
As I counted them off, excitedly ticking through my fingers, my arm suddenly dropped limp.
“…”
“Ruby? What’s wrong?”
Across the table, Leviathan Mister squeezed my cheek.
“And there’s that pouty face again.”
It was because I suddenly realized how many people there were.
The number of people I’d lied to.
And, worse, they were all such wonderful people…
“Keeping quiet again.”
“N-no, I’m fine!”
“Ugly duckling pout.”
It made my heart sting all the more.
Mister gave a small laugh and hugged me tight. Sheltered in that warmth, I had a thought.
‘It’s okay.’
It’s okay.
Don’t panic.
I’m good at hiding things, so I can hide this feeling, too.
‘The barrier… I need to hurry!’
The only way to ease this heavy guilt was to protect the people who liked me, with my own hands.
“And your crown is hot again.”
To protect this Mister.
Nestled in his safe, solid arms, I discreetly covered the top of my head.
“Don’t plan on causing trouble, now.”
“Of course.”
The purple eyes turned toward me were as gentle and warm as ever.
Khalid walked along the castle wall with decisive steps.
“Back again today?”
“Yeah, more or less.”
“Look at you, working so hard!”
The large knights tousled the boy’s hair playfully. Khalid awkwardly straightened his expression and smoothed his hair.
‘Are all people from the north like this?’
Not only did they easily cross boundaries, but they also pulled you seamlessly into their inner circles.
Honestly, he didn’t like it much.
‘If not for Ruby…’
He’d have quit and stormed off a long time ago.
“Look at his eyes. He’s going to suplex me like Delmon, isn’t he?”
“Oh, scary. I almost mistook you for a magical beast and started a subjugation.”
“…Aren’t you going?”
Ignoring the knights’ teasing laughter, Khalid went straight toward the ramparts.
There was always a subtle tension along the castle wall. Even knights who joked freely elsewhere unconsciously tensed up here.
‘So that’s the bell.’
Khalid looked up at the watchtower rising before him.
“What’s this manastone for?”
“It’s a barrier stone! I’m going to make it into a magic device and set it in the wall.”
“Planning to erect a barrier over Zelox?”
“Yup! To keep the bad things out if they come here with ill intent!”
Was she planning to flee the moment a tracking mage appeared?
‘Seems a little much for that.’
Besides, it could end up advertising that there was a mage here.
‘Though it’d normally be inactive… Ruby must know that much.’
Khalid paused.
Ah, there’s another purpose for this barrier.
“Khal, while you’re walking the wall, check if there are any bells that need repairs!”
“Make the bells themselves into magic tools? Where are you planning to do that?”
“I’ve got it all figured ouuut~”
Of course.
The boy gave up on further guesses. There was no way he could anticipate everything Rubian would think of, and if anything happened, he would protect her anyway.
So for now, he just had to help her do what she wanted.
With a deep sigh, Khalid climbed the watchtower and checked the bell. It was so shiny it didn’t look like it needed any repair.
‘Maybe I’ll let some animals loosen the bolts a bit at night.’
Fingering the bracelet on his wrist, the boy thought with indifference.
Bang!
Rubian burst through the doors of the smithy.
“Mister! I’m here to pick some pretty metal pieces!”
Trailing behind her, Khalid quietly closed the door she’d just thrown open.
“Oh, you’ve finally come.”
The blacksmith, Madix, who had been tapping the floor with his hammer, straightened up. His face, usually bored, lit up with a hint of welcome.
“You know, right? Keep this a secret… Mister and Grandpa would be upset about me coming here, so if they find out, I’m not allowed back…”
Rubian approached shyly, wringing her hands and whispering. Madix awkwardly bent closer.
“Honestly, I really love them… weapons.”
When Rubian covered her mouth with her hand to whisper, the blacksmith’s bronzed arm muscles twitched with excitement.
“Swords.”
A ripple.
“Shields.”
A flex.
“Stuff like that.”
A glint of madness flashed in Madix’s eyes.
“Ha! Should I file a report in the capital? It’s only right that a growing child should play and dream in a forge full of hopes, not just study in some gloomy old castle!”
He’s nuts. About weapons.
Khalid thought indifferently as he looked around.
It was a gigantic smithy.
Rubian’s manastone shop was right next door. Without a doubt, she was using visiting the shop as an excuse today, too.
“I want to try quenching! And… pouring molten metal!”
“Hehe, I don’t really want to do those.”
Rubian laughed awkwardly and waved her hands.
“Anyway, I’ll play in the back room today!”
The small, round finger pointed to a little workshop at the back where weapons were being finished.
“Guess I’ve no choice but to join you…”
“Huh? Don’t you have work to do, Mister?”
“Can’t you see business is slow—oh!”
At that moment, Rubian stretched out a hand toward Madix. Clutched in her small fingers was a rolled-up scroll.
Khalid, watching from behind, raised an eyebrow.
“This… this is…!”
“Yes, a new blueprint. A gift… and a bribe!”
“And why exactly would you bribe me with a gift…?”
“Um. So you’ll keep it a secret that I play here?”
“I swear my loyalty to you in faith to the end!”
No sooner had Rubian grinned broadly than the blacksmith snatched the scroll with trembling hands and began to pore over the plans, marveling the whole time.
“Hah… Haaa… To balance it out with this calculation? And to use this material just so… Amazing… Eh? But…”
Madix’s face suddenly contorted.
“The important details are missing… Rubian, you didn’t—”
“Yup. I figured it’d be better if not just anyone could see the critical parts, so they’re in glow-in-the-dark paint.”
“So… I have to study these blueprints by myself in a pitch-black basement?”
“Wow, your face is looking fired up right now.”
“Like a blast furnace.”
Madix’s eyes glittered with desire.
“But Rubian, where on earth do you get things like this?”
“From him!”
Rubian swung around and pointed at Khalid behind her.
Meeting her wide grin, Khalid quietly averted his gaze.
“You mean that arrowhead of a boy who’s been standing guard and sneaking glances at your face all this time?”
“…”
This crazy bastard.
“Correction—his gaze is more of a bastard sword. You be careful, now.”
Madix hugged the blueprints to his chest and hunched over.
“Hehe. He’s got a few blueprints from jobs he did before! Right, Khalid?”
Rubian pressed her foot down on Khalid’s to prod him. He played along.
“Yeah. Picked them up wandering through various countries.”
“Ah, so this punk kid is your blueprint supplier…”
Narrowing his eyes, Madix scurried around and then splashed red dye all over the floor.
“I’ll treat you both like royalty. Here. This is the way to the workshop.”
A red carpet? Rubian whispered under her breath with a slightly queasy look.