Youngest 121

Episode 121

Magic cast with malice leaves a trace that lingers for a long time.

Just as Allen had said, the reason this place felt especially eerie was that malice clung to the space itself like a stain.

‘Magic so thickly saturated with malice…’

Khalid exhaled in short, sharp breaths.

‘It’s not mine.’

Only then did the strength drain from his body. He sank back, slumping to the ground.

“That’s a relief…”

“What’s this? What’s wrong with you?”

He recalled the memory from the Ipsen hot spring, thinking he had lost Ruby once more.

In that memory, Khalid distinctly heard the urgent clatter of a carriage’s wheels.

And beyond the carriage window, he saw the startled face of Rosetta Zevert.

The carriage incident had been officially concluded as the act of a single fugitive mage.

But there had been troubling inconsistencies.

At the time, the duchess’s escort had been flawless, yet during the incident, all the knights except her had suddenly collapsed.

Thus, the duke had raised the possibility of an accomplice, but there was no evidence to support the claim.

Khalid… to be honest, was afraid.

Afraid that, somewhere in his forgotten past,

he might have been an enemy of the Zeverts.

‘Perhaps the mage who attacked the duchess…’

And so… that he might not be allowed to remain with Rubian.

‘It’s truly a relief.’

Khalid roughly wiped his brow with the back of his hand.

At last, it felt as though he could breathe again.

“Hey, hey, you… What is this? Don’t tell me—you’re crying?”

“It’s sweat.”

“Is the north… that rough on you? Damn it, those bastards! Sure, you might be unlucky, but that’s no reason to ostracize a kid! Ha! I should send some guys there and—”

“Let’s go back.”

The boy stood up abruptly.

Allen, who had been chattering away, clamped his mouth shut.

“You weren’t crying?”

Instead of answering, Khalid brushed the dust from his cloak.

Now he could wear the Zevert knight’s uniform with pride once more.

Just the thought brought a warm feeling to his heart. Relief.

“Why would I cry?”

“Yeah, well. I guess you’re not the sort to stand there bawling and whining all cute.”

Khalid summoned two wolf-dogs and mounted one of them.

“Keep a close eye on the kingdom. Let me know right away if anything happens.”

“Hey! You’re just leaving like this? What about the treasure! The hidden gold coins! What about my adventure!”

“Whatever you’re on about.”

Acceleration magic flared with light.

The boy shot swiftly out of the ravine.

“Heyyyy! You’re not really being bullied in the north, are youuuu?”

I can’t stand the thought of my own pup being looked down on out there!

Allen’s frantic words echoed after him, trailing in the wind.

‘Why on earth does he have those weird ideas?’

Unable to understand, Khalid spurred himself faster.

It was time to go back.

There were still many loose ends, but for now, returning was best.

Besides, his trip had not been entirely fruitless.

‘The academy professor—Juliope, was it.’

He recalled the note he’d tucked in his pocket. Now there was a reason to attend the academy camp with Rubian.

‘Going back…’

As he replayed his own thoughts, Khalid pressed his lips together.

He’d never thought before about going back somewhere, about having a place to return to.

‘A place to return to. Where Ruby is.’

It wasn’t a bad feeling at all.

So Khalid thought.

---

“R—R—Rosie. What if Ruby’s finger just comes flying off…?”

Grandfather hovered nearby, anxious.

Today’s training field!

Today’s instructor was Mom—Rosetta herself!

Recently, I’d been too listless, so she’d prepared a special lesson, though of course, Grandfather had protested in horror.

Spring was nearing its end.

I wiped the sweat from my hands and drew the bowstring taut.

“Father, no one loses a finger just from drawing a bowstring. Besides, it’s a children’s bow.”

“E—even so, that little one, learning archery…”

“Liam and Void both started at a younger age than Ruby did, you know?”

“Urghhh…”

“Hi-yap!”

I gave a big shout and let the string go.

The arrow, which looked more like a toy, was tipped with a rounded suction cup.

Off it soared toward the very center of the target!

…Or so I hoped, but disappointingly, the arrow plopped weakly to the ground, not even reaching the target.

“Aw. It’s not working…”

“Here, Ruby. Relax your shoulders and aim carefully at the target.”

“Hmm, okay. I’ll try again.”

Sharpening my eyes once more, I drew the string.

“Hee-yap!”

Fwoosh.

But again, the arrow took a feeble arc and crashed onto the floor.

Mom hid a laugh and gripped my shoulder.

“Your battle cries are excellent, but the bow needs a quiet, smooth release. If your breathing is off, it makes it harder.”

“Oh, is that so?”

I held my breath until my face was bright red.

But as I went to release the string, I was out of breath, and gasping made the arrow fly off course again.

Apparently, archery just wasn’t my thing…

“It’s so hard…”

Dismayed, I looked back to see Mom clutching her belly, wiping away tears of laughter.

Grandfather, too, had turned his head aside, his shoulders shaking, his whole forehead flushed red.

“You… you weren’t just laughing, were you?”

“Ahem, no, of course not. Here, let me teach you. Try to breathe steadily, and maybe imagine someone you really want to… well, someone you resent, as you let the arrow fly. That might help.”

My eyes narrowed.

‘Someone I want to tear apart and destroy?’

Well, there’s always that one.

I pictured the face of the Mage King as I shot the arrow.

Thud!

It worked wonders.

The arrow struck the target!

“Wow! I hit it!”

“Well done, my daughter! Oh, you clever girl!”

Mom spun me around, holding my arm. Grandfather applauded, utterly pleased.

“Now, with this, any worm that comes after you—shoot them all down, understand?”

“Mm, mm, well done, my daughter-in-law.”

With great pride, I nocked another arrow and fired.

“Yes! Like thi—huh!”

But then a gust of wind blew my shot off course, and the arrow flew wildly, striking somewhere quite unintended.

Right in the middle of someone’s smooth forehead.

“……”

The man calmly plucked the arrow off.

Quickly, I turned and whispered up to Mom.

“Mom, what do I do? I just caught a really big bug.”

“Ah well, but he’s rather good-looking, so maybe we can raise him after all?”

“Gasp, I agree.”

A large shadow strode briskly toward us.

“How long are you two going to whisper secrets?”

With a giggle, I hopped up.

I darted forward, and the man knelt, already used to this.

A purple magic stone and the pendant at his neck jingled softly.

“Dad! You’re home!”

Summer had begun!

---

Basking in the joy of reunion with Dad, I went up to my room to change my clothes.

“……”

The moment I turned into the hallway where my room lay,

my steps halted.

For I’d spotted a familiar silhouette in the distance.

“Did your archery go well?”

He strode right up to me, asking the question. He was dressed casually, and his hair was still a little damp, as if freshly washed.

“Do I know you?”

I stuck my lip out in a pronounced pout.

Khalid hesitated for a moment, then trailed behind me.

“…What’s wrong? Ruby, are you upset? Angry?”

“Tossing me a slip of paper and leaving—sure looks like you care about my feelings now, doesn’t it?”

“That was… only because it was so early in the morning.”

I was a terribly petty person.

Even though I’d meant to welcome him once he returned…

For some reason, just seeing his face made sharp words spring to my lips.

“…Is that why you kept ignoring my messages? Because you were angry? At me?”

Khalid asked nervously, his distress plain on his face.

Before grabbing the doorknob, I rummaged in my pocket. Out came the knot charm I’d always carried.

“Hey, you nameless little knight. Would you take this and just leave? I need to write a letter. I’m busy, you see.”

“This is…”

Khalid’s eyes widened slightly.

The sword ornament with the purple stone was different from Dad’s or the knights’. I’d used a new knot style, tying it differently.

That’s why I’d been a bit slow, but I managed to finish it the night before he was to leave.

It was so late that I couldn’t give it to him right away, and had planned to hand it over as I saw him off the next day…

Tch, what’s the point now.

“You’re giving this to me? Did you wait just to give this to me on the day I left?”

“No. It’s just garbage, that’s all. Completely useless.”

My bottom lip stuck out on its own. I was suffering from a condition where every word had to come out as a sneer.

Khalid turned the ornament over in his hand, his head dropping.

“…Sorry. I didn’t know any of that.”

“Hmph!”

With a huff, I turned away and grasped the doorknob.

“Ah, wait, Ruby—”

Khalid, standing beside me, flinched, but I paid him no mind and flung the door open.

“What…”

I was so startled I gasped.