Youngest 139

Episode 139

The water of Lake Reim was, in truth, nothing more than ordinary lake water. Yet…

‘Given that it’s an inexplicable and mysterious phenomenon, it’s not so odd for it to be solved in a mysterious way.’

Moreover, by instilling a suitable amount of fear, I was able to keep Yuliope quiet.

“Miss Ru-Rubian! You, you didn’t hear anything just now, right?”

“What did you say?”

“If you didn’t hear, then that’s fine! I, I, I’ve something to do for a moment!”

“Yes! Go ahead and take care of it!”

Yuliope immediately fetched pails of Lake Reim’s water and sprinkled it on the sealed tree in the archive.

The tree was surely looking even more vibrant now…

And I, without Yuliope’s knowledge, erased the contents of .

Upon discovering this, Yuliope appeared convinced it was some divine and enigmatic revelation, and resolved once again never to speak of it to anyone.

‘She seemed to be confirming whether the whitening phenomenon in the archive had really stopped.’

For now, I’d best wait!

Though—truth be told, I already knew the answer.

‘At least, the immediate problem is solved!’

Breaking out of my thoughts, I stretched wide.

“Huaaah.”

Taking in the sunlight as I walked across the sports field, a yawn naturally escaped me.

“Rubian, did you read the ancient language book with Professor Yuliope this morning, too? You’re really diligent…”

Sortie sidled up to me and whispered.

“Heh, well, I suppose.”

Somehow, by sticking to my miracle morning routine, I hadn’t been able to eat breakfast with Sortie. I lightly tugged on Titi’s sleeve.

“Sorry I couldn’t have breakfast with you.”

“It’s okay! I signed up for a packed lunch, so I ate with Zerdin in the garden!”

“Oh, I see. Look, there’s Zerdin now.”

Off in the distance, Zerdin was running toward us.

The three of us, one way or another, had become friends.

His shaggy hair still covered his eyes, but his expression was noticeably brighter than on the first day.

‘Haben must be keeping quiet for once.’

Apparently the threat of demerits was real; Haben no longer tormented Zerdin as before.

Instead, he’d occasionally direct petty provocations at me.

But honestly, it was no more than harmless griping—nothing I couldn’t handle.

Though, admittedly, there were times it was a bit annoying.

For example, during craft class.

“What’s that? Some kind of mud monster?”

That’s what he said of my painstakingly molded clay masterpiece.

“…It’s my dad.”

“Pffft! How is this a person? The eyes are where the feet should be.”

“He’s lying down.”

“…?”

“Sideways, at an angle.”

The boy had absolutely zero artistic sensibility!

And during our tour of the herb greenhouse…

“Wow, you’ve sorted all these stinky herbs so neatly? Well then… thaaanks?”

He’d snatch away the stems I’d carefully trimmed—right behind the professor’s back.

‘…Those were the toxic parts I’d separated out.’

Hmm? Did I only think that to myself just now?

Surely I said it aloud?

“Huh? My fingertips feel kind of… prickly? What’s this? Pr-Professor! Something is wrong!”

“No, Haben. Who told you to dismantle the stems so thoroughly? I only asked for the flowers!”

“Aahhh!”

Well, that’s about the extent of it—small, petty incidents like those.

‘But the other day, when Haben tripped me, that was really annoying.’

Thanks to Haben, I ended up scraping my knee, but Khalid’s ointment healed it up in no time.

Honestly, I was so preoccupied with the library situation at the time that I barely had energy to care about Haben as well.

Anyhow.

“All right, is everyone here?”

A burly professor greeted us as we gathered on the sports field.

This morning’s class was a simple training session.

“I’m Jeks, your martial arts instructor!”

“Hello!”

“You’re all just adorable!”

Jeks grinned broadly at us.

I breathed in a lungful of fresh air.

‘Whew, lately I’ve been short on sleep—if I’d been sitting still I’d have nodded off. I like phys ed!’

“Since many of you are still so young… rather than riding or fencing, how about we try this?”

He set a box down on the ground with a tap.

‘Wait, a jump rope?’

And you call yourself a martial arts instructor?

‘But more importantly…’

I can’t do that!

“Ha, that’s my area of expertise.”

Just then, I heard a cocky voice. Turning, I saw Haben grinning from ear to ear.

“What’re you looking at? Can’t do it?”

Sensing he was ready to pick a fight again, I muttered, “That’s not true,” and quietly edged away.

And so, quite suddenly, jump rope class began. For those unfamiliar with it, Professor Jeks patiently explained each step.

Alongside Sortie, I diligently attended theory lessons…

But as ever, the real problem was in practice.

“Yup.”

I hopped, and the rope flopped limply to the ground.

Ahem, let’s try again.

“Hyah!”

Again, I leapt—and again the rope slammed uselessly against the earth…

“…You’re really terrible at this.”

Sortie murmured, unable to watch any longer. I could see Zerdin subtly nod along.

“I’ve never learned before!”

How are you supposed to jump and swing the rope at the same time? And how do you plan to swing the rope a second time while you’re still in mid-air?!

“Jump rope is truly a profound art…”

“I don’t think so.”

Titi and Zerdin both skipped nimbly over the rope.

“Whyyy!”

Even Sortie, who looks to have absolutely no stamina (sorry, Titi), could do it—so why couldn’t I?

Was I short on training runs at the parade ground? Or had my northern training been too lax?

“Yup. Yup. Hyah!”

No matter how many times I tried, it quickly became clear: I had no knack for jump rope.

“Bwahahaha! What are you doing?”

Right then, a distinctly ominous laughter echoed.

It was Haben, skipping rope effortlessly and mocking me.

“Why in the world did he come all the way over to do that?”

Annoyed, I kicked at the ground.

“Can’t even skip rope!”

“Tch…”

So frustrating.

“Ru, I, I’ll teach you.”

Unable to watch any longer, Zerdin stepped up. He kindly held my rope with me and explained step by step.

“Swing it like this… and jump over gently…! Ah, sorry. My hand…”

Startled at realizing he’d grabbed my hand to help spin the handle, Zerdin quickly withdrew.

“Hm? No worries. More importantly… Like this?”

I paid it no mind and tried spinning and jumping alone.

Hop, flop.

“No, you have to jump while you swing the rope… at the same time…”

“…Like this?”

Hop, flop.

“No, no! At the same time!”

“…Zerdin. Are you mad at me right now?”

Did you become so proud of jumping rope that you’re lording it over me already?

“N-No! I’m not angry!”

Zerdin flailed his hands in panic.

“Pffft, you guys are hopeless!”

Haben clutched his belly, cackling. He’d even called his friends over, and they were delighting in ridiculing me as their new sideshow.

“Haben, go away!”

Sortie shouted, but Haben only twitched his lips.

‘Tch, just one more try!’

Fueled by frustration, I swung the rope again. Just as I jumped—

“Ah!”

My foot caught on a rope suddenly intruding from somewhere, and I crashed to the ground.

“Ruuuuu!”

“Oh no, are you okay?!”

Sortie and Zerdin hurried over.

“Puhaha! Down again! Hahaha!”

“Haben! Why would you trip someone? That’s dangerous!”

But Haben, laughing with the others, apparently didn’t even hear Sortie’s protest.

Zerdin brushed the dust from my clothes. I glanced again at my lightly scraped knee—then glared at Haben.

“…”

That boy, seriously.

I tapped the toe of my shoe on the ground.

“You okay?”

“Yeah. But Zerdin, so you mean I’m supposed to swing the rope as I jump, right?”

“Uh? Uh…”

“Okay. Thanks. I finally get it.”

Gathering the jump rope handles in one hand, I swung it like a windmill and started bouncing toward Haben.

“Woah! What’re you doing?”

“Amazing! Jump rope is actually really easy, you know?”

Bounce, bounce, bounce.

“Ahhh! That’s not jumping right!”

“Am I not jumping over you now?”

“Ahhh!”

Afraid of being hit by the rope, Haben stumbled backward in a panic—tripping over his own feet, and falling with a loud crash.

The kids burst out laughing at his spectacular tumble.

“Hey now, no dangerous pranks.”

“Yes, sir! I was only jump roping, though!”

I answered immediately and turned away.

Now that the professor was watching, Haben, mindful of further demerits, didn’t dare approach again.

“Just wait! On the last day I’m so going to tell my dad about everything you’ve done—you’ll be bawling your eyes out!”

Haben yelled after me. It was probably the boldest threat he could muster.

‘I have a dad too, you know.’