Youngest 142
by CristaeEpisode 142
Ch. 14
The capital, in an alley of Bamiless.
The Second was staggering as she walked.
‘I’m reaching my limit…’
Living in a land without magic was growing unbearable. But she couldn’t leave empty-handed.
‘With Father absent, this is my chance.’
Opportunities to pursue the Seventh alone did not come often.
Having secretly come to the capital to find the Seventh without the Mage King’s knowledge, she leaned against a wall, exhaling a slow breath.
She had already infiltrated and investigated the homes of nearly every noble in the capital.
She had yet to find a child who could be the Seventh.
‘I know that child’s face.’
No matter what disguise was used, she would recognize them.
‘So, only the House of Zevert remains.’
The Second dug into her pocket and pulled out a piece of paper—it was a letter from the Fourth.
A letter sent after investigating Ipsen in the north.
Crinkle—the paper rustled as it was squeezed.
In truth, the Fourth’s letters were twofold.
The first:
Results of the northern investigation.
Target’s whereabouts unknown.
Primary person of interest: Rubian Zevert.
Low probability of a match with the target.
Report of failure.
Accordingly, she had passed the order to report back to the Mage King and return.
Not long after, a second letter arrived:
Further confirmation is needed regarding Lady Zevert. Continued observation planned.
Naturally, it was the Second who received that letter.
Incidentally, after sending it, the Fourth died in a magitech explosion.
After some thought, the Second had decided not to report the second letter to the Mage King.
‘Why did the Fourth keep watching Lady Zevert?’
Did she suspect something?
The Second’s doubts deepened. Thus, she resolved to confirm the truth herself, and with the Mage King absent from the palace, now was her chance.
‘I will be the one to capture the Seventh.’
The Second’s eyes flashed.
‘I’ll check the duke’s house one more time, and if there’s nothing, I’ll head for the academy.’
She set her resolve and moved on at a quick pace. She had heard that Leviathan Zevert and his daughter had come to the capital, but they were oddly hard to find.
The Second hurried toward the Zevert townhouse.
It was, to be sure, an ostentatious and sprawling mansion.
She circled the estate, disguised as a commoner with her robe, examining the grounds. The high walls made it difficult to even catch a glimpse inside.
While skirting the perimeter for weaknesses, she was stopped.
“Who are you?”
A low voice arrested her steps.
“What do you think you’re doing, skulking around my house like a rat, hmm?”
It was the gruff voice of an old man.
The Second choked down her panic and turned slowly.
‘The old Duke Zevert…’
A menacing gaze fell upon her. A massive presence, an overwhelming air. He had apparently just arrived and still wore his sword.
‘Why is he here, instead of at the front entrance?’
As cold sweat trickled down her back, the Second bowed deep.
“I—I apologize. I didn’t realize I was near a noble’s manor.”
“Don’t lie.”
Without even time to be startled by her refined speech, Balok tapped his greatsword against his shoulder.
“I’ll be kind and spell it out for you: there are no jewels in this house. If you’re out to steal something, head north and try your luck with the fortress. You petty thief.”
Thunk—a coin pouch, lightly filled, landed at the Second’s feet.
“Now, scram!”
Apparently, her shabby clothes and thin frame had convinced him she was a beggar.
“Y-yes, sir. I’m sorry.”
The Second hurriedly bowed and withdrew. Balok’s sharp gaze trailed her departure.
‘…Whew. That was close.’
Relief swept through her as she melted into the crowd.
Now what? Should she try for a maid’s disguise again? She was still deep in thought when—
“Hmm?”
Her steps halted near a bulletin board. She’d spotted a small notice pasted in the corner.
“…Academy restorer recruitment?”
“Hm, what was that about?”
Balok watched the retreating woman for a moment before snapping back to himself.
This wasn’t the time.
At that moment, a jarringly familiar face appeared at the corner of the wall.
“What are you doing out here?”
“Ah! You startled me.”
With eyes wide, Morris had charged over.
“Are you in love with me or something? Why do you tail me like this?”
“It’s my job, sir!”
“You couldn’t even look me in the eye when you first joined the knighthood!”
“We’re both going gray—do you have to dredge up the old days?”
The old butler replied primly.
“And I repeat: you are not to climb the academy walls. Nor may you sneak into the dorm. You can see her tomorrow anyway!”
“A single day feels so long! My little one is so close… What if she’s weeping to see her poor grandpa?”
“Yes, sir, please wipe away your own tears first. But think this through, Your Excellency.”
Though he hated to admit it, Balok paused to listen to Morris.
“The young lady has surely made new friends. Would she rather have her grandfather sneak in like a stray cat, or make a grand entrance?”
“A grand… entrance?”
“Exactly! You know it.”
“A dignified grandfather, eh?”
Balok stroked his beard, eyes fixed on the snow-white whiskers.
“You’ve convinced me! Morris, let’s go to the shop at once!”
A broad hand thrust into Morris’s view.
“Money!”
“What? Why the sudden shopping trip… Wait, don’t you have money?”
“I did, until I met some beggar woman and gave it all away.”
“Pardon me?”
A donation, just like that?
While the butler was still dumbfounded, Balok added quickly, as if to forestall more nagging.
“Don’t worry; she didn’t seem like a bad sort. Maybe a bit wretched-looking, but that was all.”
For all his words, the man did have animal instincts sharp enough for such judgments.
Morris dabbed his brow with his handkerchief.
“Still, it was a sizable sum… Sigh. Never mind. Let’s stop by the manor first.”
“But Morris.”
“Yes?”
“Isn’t that our little one over there?”
Balok pointed toward the front gate.
Thunk, thunk.
A distinctly noticeable boy was rolling along with a noisy book cart, his striking looks making him even harder to miss.
“That must be Master Liam. I wonder why he’s out.”
The academy required boarding through the elementary division. From the secondary division on, commuting and even day leave were possible with permission.
Of course, Liam had never once bothered; he spent all his time buried in the library.
Liam and Balok’s eyes met.
“Eldest rascal, what brings you here?”
“Grandfather, what brings you to the capital? Has… Father returned?”
His sensitive features were just a bit off today. Balok raised an eyebrow, shaking his head.
“No, he hasn’t.”
“…I see. I thought perhaps he had, so I came. I’ll wait inside, then.”
Deep in thought, Liam dragged the cart toward the manor.
“What’s with him?”
He seemed a bit out of sorts.
On closer inspection, his glasses were a little foggy, his hair untidy, his bow tie askew…
And most notably, his cart carried far fewer books than usual. Clearly, something was up.
“Is something wrong?”
Balok hurried to catch up.
At his question, Liam came to a complete halt.
Slowly, his gaze returned to Balok.
“…There’s something that’s been bothering me, no matter how much I think about it.”
“Hmm?”
“I’ve brooded over it all night, but couldn’t find an answer. I came to ask Father, but… May I ask you, Grandfather?”
Gulp—what could this be?
If it was an academic question, he wasn’t sure he was up to it.
Still, Balok puffed himself up and adopted a confident air.
“Go ahead. Ask your grandpa anything.”
“It could just be my imagination, but… Ruby…”
Liam frowned, voice trailing off.
Even now, he wasn’t quite ready to speak, as if the very thought made him uneasy.
“Is it possible… that our little fairy… saw much of the war while she lived in Eosia?”
In that instant, Balok felt as though the air around them had crystallized. He sensed something.
“Before she met Father in Eosia… I mean—”
He knew, then, that something was about to crash down upon them.
“Along with Khalid.”
The calm before the storm.