Youngest 117
by CristaeEpisode 117
< The Heart of the Empire! … >
Somewhere… those words…
Just then, a familiar voice echoed in my mind.
“If necessary, aim for the heart.”
Ah. The words Leviathan had spoken in the original story…
‘But why did that suddenly come to mind?’
Was it simply because the words overlapped?
“Hmm. How cryptic.”
Frowning in frustration, I pressed my fingers to my brow. At that moment, the door opened and Hazel walked in.
“Huh? Miss, why are you standing there like that? You should be getting ready. Aren’t you going out to the ramparts to see the master off?”
“Oh, that’s right!”
This is no time to be dawdling!
I quickly put away the pamphlet and pulled from my pocket the drawing I had kept there.
“Hazel, Hazel! Help me with the scissors!”
“Of course. What do you need cut?”
“This—please cut it out nicely! So it fits in the locket!”
I held out the locket I’d bought in advance, strung with a gold chain from the shop.
With deft fingers, Hazel trimmed the portrait neatly.
“Father will like it, won’t he?”
“Certainly!”
Inside the locket, my family and I, all beaming, were nestled together. My spirits lifted in an instant.
“Let’s go see him off!”
The Zevert Knights, defenders of the northernmost front.
Every spring, they undertook the subjugation of magical beasts.
It was necessary to periodically clear out the beasts’ habitats to prevent a sudden surge in their numbers and an ensuing attack.
As it was a ritual-like battle not missed a single year, preparations always proceeded as smoothly as water flowing. It was routine work.
But this year, things were a little different.
Every knight heading out bore, dangling from their sword scabbards, a small, charming ornament.
“Ah, thank you, our little one.”
“Take care, all of you, and come back soon!”
Rubian had come out to the ramparts to wave them off, her hand fluttering in the breeze.
The castle gates swung open.
The knights, fired up by the youngest one’s cheers, brimmed with fighting spirit.
A pale violet jewel swayed on each scabbard.
Mine is a bit bigger, no?
No, mine is definitely bigger!
Leon overheard the exchange quietly, suppressing the urge to announce that his gem actually sparkled the most.
Rubian’s words urging a swift return echoed in his ears again and again.
He approached Leviathan at the head of the column.
“Your Excellency, I was considering reviewing the tactics to shorten the operation by about a month. What do you think?”
Normally, the subjugation campaign would take about two months. He put forth the suggestion cautiously, but at that moment, the commander’s eyes flashed with determination.
“Ten days.”
In one hand, he gripped a golden locket as if it might burst.
He remembered Rubian’s face, puffed with shy pride as she offered it to him.
“If you miss us, look at this… I’ll be in the portrait room!”
Leviathan grasped the reins tightly.
“It’s clear that it wouldn’t do for a father to be away from home too long.”
A similar lunacy flickered in the eyes of the listening knights.
“You heard him, everyone! Raise the tempo!”
“Whooo! Our morale’s ablaze!”
That spring’s campaign.
The Zevert Knights achieved a victory unrivaled in their history.
There were no wounded.
At critical moments, an uncanny force had shielded them like a barrier.
Of course, since the power was invisible to the eye, they never realized that the energy came from the jewels.
In any case, the knights, brimming with unstoppable vigor, swept through the beast habitats like a whirlwind.
Their spirits soared sky-high and the battles went by almost too easily.
Without even thinking about honing their skills in war, they spent their days painstakingly polishing the sword decorations, thinking,
‘It’s all thanks to our dear youngest’s encouragement!’
Well…
It wasn’t exactly wrong—such things always depend on how you look at them.
The day after Father set out for the campaign.
This time it was Liam and Void who left the estate.
“Did you pack all your academy supplies?”
At Rosetta’s words, Void once more swept his eyes across his luggage.
“Textbooks, clothes, diary, new sword, Hero Card Capital Edition, New Greenfields Edition, Ruby, shoes, writing instruments…”
I blinked slowly.
“Isn’t there something odd mixed in there?”
“Hero cards?”
“No. It sounded like you slipped me in there somewhere.”
Void clicked his tongue, as if in defeat.
“Caught me. Ruby, get into my bag right now. I bought a big one on purpose.”
“No!”
With a start, I fled from Void’s wide-open trunk and hid behind Mother.
Liam stood to the side, looking bored.
“Mother, I think my home education’s been somewhat lacking, so I’d like to study at home this semester. There’s also Master Asha’s lessons…”
“Liam Zevert.”
“…”
Hearing his full name spoken so gently, Liam—who knew no fear—stiffened at the shoulders.
“Our eldest—did you pack everything you need?”
“I packed even my gloomy moods, Mother.”
“You’ll cheer up soon enough once you’re studying with your friends.”
The hidden powerhouse of the Zeverts chuckled merrily, tossing the large trunks onto the baggage cart one by one.
“Both of you. If you don’t set off on time, Ruby and I will run away to the southern lands and you’ll never find us!”
“We’ll be off, Mother.”
At the pointed threat, both brothers bowed deeply.
They offered polite farewells and climbed into the carriage at last. Only then did I dare peep out from behind Mother’s back.
“Come back safely, brothers… Let’s play again over the summer break…”
I gently waved toward the receding carriage.
Pressed against the window like sticky rice cakes, Void’s and Liam’s cheeks flattened even further.
The afternoon after seeing my brothers off.
I had a lesson in healing studies with Vorbel, and was now sitting alone, reviewing my work.
Mumbling over my book, I suddenly glanced out the window.
‘…Wow, it’s really quiet.’
The castle, so silent.
Neither father nor my brothers were here.
Grandfather was in the annex, absorbed in more weapon blueprints, and Mother was gathered with the maids, whispering about something.
‘It feels like a different house!’
With the usual lively bustle replaced by stillness, a strange awkwardness settled around me.
Hmm, it did feel kind of lonely.
‘This won’t do.’
Leaping up from my desk, I touched my earlobe.
‘Khalid. Khaa-lid, what are you doing?’
Only my childhood friend could soothe this emptiness!
I called out with all my heart, and unexpectedly, a reply came from nearby.
“I just checked where to put the bell.”
That is, directly behind me.
“Ah, you startled me.”
Khalid shut the door and walked over.
“When did you get here?”
“I knocked—didn’t you hear me?”
I hadn’t heard a thing.
Probably because I’d been spacing out by the window.
“Is this the last bell now?”
“Yeah.”
“Great. Then, let’s get the magic device made.”
It was perfect timing—I needed something to do.
Once I made the last bell at Mister Maddix’s workshop and handed it to Khalid for installation, the barrier project would finally be done!
“I should check how Asha’s doing too!”
With determination, I went to find Mother for permission to go out and set off with Khalid from the castle.
“The weather is so nice, don’t you think!”
The sky was deep blue, the sun warm!
Stretching lightly, I glanced at Khalid, who gave a curt nod.
“Ruby.”
“Yeah?”
“Once we finish the barrier… just as Ipsen said, I may need to be away for a while.”
My steps came to a halt.
Oh, now that he mentioned it, I remembered those words.
“So… you’ve got business outside?”
“That’s right. Don’t worry. I won’t be gone long.”
I regarded the calm-faced boy in silence.
Just as I was sprouting up, Khalid, too, had shot up like a bean sprout.
Judging by the blunt cut in his bangs, one of the knights must’ve cut his hair.
…He’s adorable.
‘So Khalid is leaving, too?’
I kicked at pebbles on the road for no reason.
My lips stuck out like an indignant duck.
Of course, Khalid leaving my side wasn’t so rare. He always appeared and vanished like a puff of smoke.
But for some reason, it felt especially sad today.
“Grr… What is this feeling?”
“Hm? What’s wrong?”
“I don’t know. I just feel… disappointed.”
Father left on his errands. My brothers went off to do theirs.
And Khalid was off to do his, too.
‘Maybe I’ve gotten spoiled, with everyone doting on me.’
They say people adapt to anything, and indeed…
I bit my lip before finally managing to speak.
“…Just, don’t take too long.”
“Of course.”
Khalid replied without hesitation. His deep blue hair fluttered gently in the breeze.
Strength gathered in his darkly defined brows. Khalid, in a rare display of gravity, declared:
“I don’t like being apart from you too long, either.”
Just those simple words put me at ease.
Truly, it was a strange thing.
The moment we entered the magic stone shop, a mass of something hurled itself at me.
“Ruuubyaaaan!”
“Gah, Asha!”
I flailed as the mage seized my cheeks.
At that moment, from behind Asha, the shop assistant’s voice called out.
“You should address her as Madam President, Director Asha.”
Asha flinched, startled, then released me and stepped back.
“Ah, sorry, Manager. I just got too excited.”
Asha straightened up. The two of them exchanged a few clipped words, each with exaggerated formality. Hm, proper executive comportment if ever I saw it.
“Heh heh.”
Putting my hands behind my back, I laughed like a true business owner.
“So what’s the difference between a director and a manager, anyway? There are only two employees.”
Khalid whispered beside me.
“A little title-juggling to foster mutual respect—my management philosophy, you see.”
“Hmph.”
He looked utterly unconvinced.
Still, I was glad that Asha, a mage, didn’t seem to be facing any alienation and fit in well here.
“Ahem, ahem. …So, do you have the blueprints?”
I whispered quietly to Asha as she dusted off a shelf.
Asha arched her brow and discreetly handed me a scroll.
“But Rubian, why did you want it coated with luminous paint?”
“There’s a reason.”
I took hold of the blueprint, while the confused-looking mage regarded me quizzically. Now, to visit Mister Maddix for the first time in a while…
“Yikes!”
Just then, Asha turned pale as if she had encountered a wild beast.
Following her gaze out the window, I saw, approaching, a figure with familiar bronze skin.