Youngest 070
by Cristae70
Jingle, jingle!
“Correct!”
The cheerful sound of the bell filled the cave, and Sortie grinned, exclaiming, “I got it right!”
“But do Abelita herbs really have pointy leaves? I can never tell…”
I puffed up my chest with pride.
“There’s a trick to recognizing them. If you visit the ducal estate later, I’ll show you myself.”
“Wow!”
“Rubian, you really know so much.”
Olivia admired me with pure wonder.
The children sat in a circle by the campfire, and I was their center, drawing the next picture on the ground.
“All right, here’s the next one. Which of these herbs is best for stopping bleeding? This round’s multiple choice!”
“Aww, I liked true-or-false better…”
“I never thought I’d be taking part in a quiz competition here,”
Licht, sitting a little apart, muttered with a faintly rueful smile. I kept sketching as I answered.
“When you sit quietly, you only think depressing thoughts.”
“I meant it—you’re impressive. I was worried because you seemed a bit down.”
“Come join us.”
At my invitation, Licht smiled and scooted over to sit with us.
‘I can’t keep being gloomy forever!’
More than Licht, I was worried about little Sortie and Olivia.
I’d been through things like this before, but for children used to tea salons and boutiques, this situation must be terrifying…
Just as I was about to resume the herb quiz, Asha returned from her lookout post.
“The rain shows no sign of letting up.”
Drops of water spattered as she brushed off her hands. Outside the cave, the rain was still pouring down in thick sheets.
“Asha! Come join the quiz!”
“All right!”
Now familiar with our group, Asha cheerfully agreed and stoked the campfire before sitting down.
And so we quizzed each other for a while, and when we’d tired of questions, we played a word chain game.
‘Whew. At least they finally stopped crying…’
I glanced at Sortie and Olivia, now smiling.
“I’ll start!”
Clearing her throat, Sortie announced:
“Since we’re lost now… mia! [‘Lost child’]”
Asha quickly took her turn.
“Father!”
“……”
“……”
Clouds gathered again.
“Father… Dad…”
Tears welled up in Sortie and Olivia’s eyes. I seized Asha and whispered sharply,
“Asha! Read the room!”
“O-oh, sorry.”
After all the effort I’d spent to comfort them!
I forced a laugh and quickly took charge again.
“Alright, I’ll go first this time! Asha, you go last.”
“Okaaay…”
“Um… health!”
“Puppy.”
“Roof!”
“Carp!”
“Mother!”
“……”
Asha Drukan—are you a villain?
“Mommm!”
Olivia and Titi clung to each other and burst into tears anew. As I glared daggers at Asha and was about to suggest another quiz—
-Via! -Tieeee!
In the sound of rain, distant voices echoed in our ears.
The girls jerked their heads up. The voices were rapidly drawing closer.
“D-Dad?”
“It’s my father!”
“Dad!”
Both girls jumped to their feet and raced outside the cave. Licht cried, “Careful, my ladies!” and hurried after them.
Finally!
“They’ve come to rescue us! Let’s go, Rubian!”
“Yeah.”
I stood automatically.
Jingle.
At that moment, the golden bell I’d tucked away tumbled from my coat.
‘Has Mister come too?’
I scooped up the bell and wondered.
But no matter how long I waited, I didn’t hear anyone calling my name. Normally Mister would have been the first to rush over.
“Guess he didn’t come…”
He must be angrier than I thought.
“Rubian?”
“I’m coming!”
Concealing my disappointment, I made my way to the cave’s entrance. Just as I took my first step out into the open—
KUUUUUUNG!
A deafening roar, unlike anything I’d ever heard, shook the mountain.
“What, what was that?!”
“RUBY!”
Before I could even react to the familiar voice, a tempest of mana swept over me.
It was Khalid.
He dropped straight from the sky, grabbed hold of me, and sent a torrent of mana into my body. The energy was so rough and heavy that I let out a short gasp.
“Ugh. Khal!”
“Sorry, I’m sorry.”
Breathing deeply, Khalid finally managed to steady his mana.
“My mana really wasn’t that low! You didn’t have to get so close!”
I squirmed out of Khalid’s embrace.
He finally released me and scrutinized my face. His jet-black hair was thoroughly soaked with sweat and rain.
“Are you hurt?”
“No.”
“…You don’t look well.”
“I’m fine. You just gave me some mana.”
“Honestly…”
Khalid seemed to sag with exhaustion.
“This is rough…”
His long, heavy sigh seemed to carry the weight of all the world’s worries.
“Maybe I should’ve bound our bodies instead of our mana.”
…What?
I dug in my ear.
“…I must’ve misheard that?”
Khalid looked away but didn’t bother denying it.
A chorus of footsteps and voices closed in. Heavy boots thudded on the ground; someone was hacking a path through the vines, getting nearer all the time.
“Over here! They’re here!”
A knight burst out of the undergrowth, eyes wide. In no time at all, crowds gathered.
“Sortie! Sortie! Titi!”
“F-father! Dad!”
“Olivia! My daughter!”
“Father…”
The noblemen threw all etiquette aside and rushed through the throng, sweeping their children into their arms.
“Your Highness!”
A red-faced young man, presumably Licht’s attendant, appeared and clung to the prince.
“I’m so glad you’re safe. But now I’m finished. His Majesty will kill me for letting this happen. Goodbye, Your Highness! Waaah!”
“Haha…”
Licht, surrounded by his attendant and imperial knights, began to explain what had happened.
I watched dazedly as the scene unfolded. Hardly had the adults arrived when the rain began to let up.
Then—a tremendous crash shattered the air, just like before.
“What on earth is that noise?!”
“Duke Zevert…”
“What?”
At the same time, the wind shifted and I sensed a tingling, unfamiliar surge of mana.
“No way…”
“He’s killing the sealed magical beasts nearby.”
“B-but… weren’t they supposed to be sleeping?”
“You.”
“…”
“You might have been in danger.”
His voice was swallowed by the last great crash. Then came the pounding of hooves.
Khalid gave a dry little laugh.
“Five high-rank magical beasts, all on his own…”
Leon, Rosetta, and the old knight—people calling my name—pushed through the crowd.
“RUBY!”
And then Mister’s voice crashed down like a thunderbolt.
At this moment, Leviathan was almost relieved that it was still raining.
It wasn’t enough to wash away all the blood that had soaked him, but at least it let him embrace his child.
The moment Khalid said there were sealed magical beasts, Leviathan didn’t hesitate for a second. Whatever threatened Rubian, he would destroy it—no matter what it was.
“RUBY!”
Leviathan called out, eyes fixed on the flash of silver hair in the distance.
The child stiffened, taking a hesitant step back.
A face pinched with fear and shame. It hurt just to see it.
“Leviathan.”
“Rose, wait here. I’ll bring the child.”
“Okay. I’ll take the knights and secure the culprits.”
With every step Leviathan took, Rubian, gnawing nervously at her fingertips, retreated farther into the cave, one step, two steps.
Soon she’d backed herself deep inside.
Leviathan stopped Khalid from following and stood at the entrance, peering into the cave’s darkness.
“Rubian.”
He called softly to the child crouched in the shadows. Her small shoulders, hidden behind a boulder, flinched.
“Ruby, first…”
“Sorry…”
A trembling voice answered.
“Listen, it’s not like I meant to hide it on purpose… I-I had a really good reason, I swear… so…”
I’m sorry, Mister…
Leviathan’s brow creased deeply at those words. He stifled a groan and quietly knelt at the cave entrance.
“Ruby, are you hurt at all?”
His voice was low and careful. He wanted nothing more than to rush over and embrace Rubian, but he didn’t dare shock or startle her further.
“Are you in pain? …I’m sorry. I should have come sooner.”
“Why…”
Rubian’s voice, wet with tears, wavered.
“Why aren’t you angry?”
“Of course I’m angry.”
“…”
“I told you in the capital not to run off alone. What’s a father to do with such a troublemaking youngest child?”
Ugh… Rubian’s head drooped.
“I lied to you, Mister… I’m not a boy.”
“I know.”
A quiet sobbing echoed through the darkness.
The sound of Rubian’s crying—hearing it for the first time—made Leviathan’s heart twist painfully.
“But it’s not your fault. It’s my own stupid mistake for assuming things.”
“…”
“Ruby… it doesn’t matter who you are. You’re just Rubian—that’s all that matters.”
My precious child, Rubian Zevert.
Leviathan spoke with all his heart.
“So… come here, sweetheart. Please?”
He held out his arms, desperate, but for a long time there was no answer from Rubian.
Growing anxious, he was about to call out once more when the clear sound of a bell, bright and true, rang through the cave.
“…”
Jingle—jingle—
Leviathan clenched his fists and quickly stood, striding forward.
He parted the darkness that had hidden the child. The thick shroud finally broke apart, scattering piece by piece.
And at last, when the small figure hunched alone was revealed, and Leviathan himself stood exposed—raw and unguarded—
Ah. He realized he could give everything he had for this child.
“M-my legs gave out…”
Rubian raised her head, face streaked with tears and snot.
Without hesitation, Leviathan drew her into a tight embrace.
“You should have just called me ‘Dad.’”
At that, Rubian finally broke down in sobs.
“Dad…”
At the quavering voice, something overwhelmed Leviathan’s throat.
“Dad…”
Rubian clung to him and wept with all her heart.
What on earth am I going to do with you.
Dad, I’m sorry. Dad…
Rubian cried that single word over and over, like a child learning to speak for the first time.
“I’m sorry I didn’t realize sooner.”
You must have suffered. It must have hurt.
But it’s all right now. I’ll fix whatever pains you.
My precious Ruby.
My one and only jewel.
Leviathan felt as if he’d circled the world just to find his child all over again.