Youngest 232
by Cristae232
Freed from their restraints, the children began speaking at once, as if they had been waiting for this moment.
“In Arcadia, there are screams every day, every single day. The royal mages just snatch people up and use them as test subjects. As sacrifices to summon dark magic, just, just…!”
“There are lots of children our age in the kingdom. They say they’re forcing people to marry just to increase the number of mages. So, while the number of mages has increased compared to before, the adults say times are harder than ever.”
“I… I once secretly watched the battle mages train. I saw them shape dolls out of earth and transfer magical power into them many times.”
To sum it up:
“The Mage King is preparing to invade Babylon as well.”
Even at a glance, it was clear they were raising troops for invasion and rushing their research on dark magic.
‘And it seems they’re experimenting with mages and the blood of dark beasts from the Delcan Ruins.’
My brow furrowed slightly.
‘I’m the only one who knows the summoning circle for dark magic, but if they manage to create something similar through these bizarre experiments, it would be a real problem.’
I can’t just let them stumble into a catastrophe while backing away.
Besides, according to the original story, it’s not long from now that the Mage King succeeds in reviving the dark mage. In the end, he will obtain the dark magic summoning circle.
‘In my dream, the “seventh” Crest was fully grown. I could have escaped for a short while, but… In the end, it seems I couldn’t completely fend off its encroachment.’
Of course, the reality and the original work have become worlds apart, so much so that they feel a million light-years distant, and I can’t even tell if this is still a novel’s world.
But as long as there’s not a 0% chance, I can’t forget about that future.
“I’d better report this to His Majesty the Emperor~”
With a flourish, I wrote a tattling letter. Just in case, I added a note suggesting they prepare against a possible invasion.
“Alright, Kal. Let’s go send this.”
I turned on the long sofa, stretching out my arms.
‘This time, I absolutely have to get a piggyback ride. It’s less stimulating that way.’
Today the straps of my tunic were tightly knotted in Liam’s style, so it was better than yesterday, but still, the feeling of touching a well-trained body was just too odd.
“No, that’s not what comes first. Ruby.”
Just then, Khalid spoke in a low, subdued voice.
“Hm?”
“That magic you did, earlier.”
I tilted my head. Only then did I realize how close the body beside me was. The tension rushed back, and as I tried to pull away, my wrist was gripped firmly.
“Why are you running away?”
The slanting sunlight seeped into those blue-grey eyes. The glimmer there looked, for some reason, like flames roaring to life.
‘Why does he seem so…’
Intense?
Or maybe, a little angry.
I braced myself with both hands behind me and bit my lip slightly. If I lost my balance even a bit, I felt like I’d fall backward.
“If not sending a letter, what comes first, then?”
“Do you really need to ask?”
At that moment, a large hand began slowly tracing my body.
As if exploring, from my wrist to my arm, to my elbow, to my shoulder. Then smoothly, almost absentmindedly, down my back to my waist.
The callused thumb moved slowly up and down, as if trying to soothe my tense body, and before I knew it, had reached dangerously close to the small of my back.
Before I could even process it, he pressed my lower back with a firm grip.
“This.”
“Ah—!”
My arms, supporting my body, gave way.
I was buried in the sofa. Thankfully, his hand behind my head cushioned the fall, so I felt no shock.
“Are you alright?”
His tall form loomed over me, casting a shadow so deep I felt I might be swallowed whole. My breath caught in my throat.
Even his pretty teardrop mole was slightly pinched in concern.
His strong, hot hand was palpable through the thin cloth. From the rolled-up sleeves peeked thick forearms veined in blue.
Pulling my scattered thoughts together, I tried to make sense of the situation.
“You, what are you doing…?”
Khalid gazed down at me intently and moistened his dry lips.
“…The Crest.”
“…What?”
“I wanted to ask if you really erased it. Why are you so surprised?”
My eyes blinked slowly, once, twice.
Ah.
“Ah…!”
The Crest!
“Aaah, my Crest!”
I babbled in a panic. The place his hand had pressed was exactly where my back bore the Crest.
My face burned up.
“You! Why would you check like that? You could have just asked!”
“Oh, sorry… I wanted to see if I could sense any magic.”
Khal muttered in a tone that was anything but apologetic.
“So, what did you do with your Crest?”
Struggling, I tried to sit up.
“I’ll explain, just move… You’re heavy.”
And honestly, our position is a little suspicious right now.
Of course I can’t claim to be innocent of perversion, but with him, he’s a model of purity, so it felt unfair.
In short, if anyone walked in unexpectedly, there would be trouble.
‘Hmm. Especially Father. Though it’ll be a while before he gets back.’
Just then.
The tightly closed door burst open.
“Ruby. Come talk with me for a…”
Oh, dear heavens.
“Ah, Father…?”
Crash, bang! I jumped up in alarm.
“You two… what…”
Shameless, arrogant Khalid wasn’t flustered at all, but simply stared to make sure the wound on my calf hadn’t reopened.
“You two, just now, clinging close like that…”
“Father! Calm down!”
I interrupted my father, whose words were stiff with shock.
“It’s not what you think!”
“Not what I think? What is ‘what’? Rubian, what do you mean by ‘that’?”
Red alert. This is backfiring.
I jabbed Khal in the ribs with my elbow. Only then did he clear his throat and, as if he were a model of innocence, raise both hands in surrender.
“You misunderstand, Duke. I was just giving Ruby magic because she seemed to be lacking.”
“…You’re exchanging magic—like that, with your whole body?”
Crack.
Father’s expression crumbled tragically.
It was phrased a bit funny, but it wasn’t technically wrong, so I couldn’t argue.
“Sigh…!”
His large frame wobbled in disbelief.
After what must have been a thousand times rubbing his face, Father finally reached spiritual acceptance.
“Ah, I understand.”
A gentle smile formed on his lips.
“I understand very well.”
But there was no focus in his eyes.
“What are you talking about, Father…”
“I must still be under an illusion spell.”
He gripped his sword tightly and addressed Khalid:
“Face me, beast!”
No, Duke! It’s not that!
The expedition to the Mage Kingdom.
Three days remained.
Today was the day my vanguard would be announced.
“What’s this? What’s that thing?”
Grandfather entered the parlor and frowned.
“Why is there a squirrel sitting in Khalid the brat’s place?”
“Squeak, squeak!”
The squirrel scowled and sat in Khalid’s spot, swinging a twig sword.
“Father, please look more closely. Khalid’s right over there.”
“…Then why is the real one crumpled up in the corner?”
On one side of the spacious parlor, Khalid’s broad back was hunched toward the wall—a rather sorry sight.
“Khalid, as a knight, has things he must ponder deeply.”
Father’s mouth twisted into a smirk.
“For example, a more effective and wholesome method of transferring magic power.”
“…”
“A more wholesome method of transferring magic power.”
The fact he repeated himself made his meaning clear. I stuck out my lip in protest.
“Still, isn’t that too pitiful…”
See? His big shoulders look all droopy.
But my plea was useless. Mother gently lowered her teacup—rather abruptly, in fact. Bang?
“Ruby, did you forget that thinking chair time is at least five minutes if you do something wrong?”
“That was when I was little…”
He’s an adult now, and a big one at that.
Sob. Poor Khal.
He’s innocent.
I’m the pervert.
Just then, someone tugged hard on my cheek. It was Father, with a devilish smile.
“Next is you, Rubian Zevert. As a mage, you should also ponder new methods of transferring magic.”
“Eh!”
And so, Khal and I had to take turns sitting in the thinking chair for five minutes at a time. Not that any solutions came of it.
At any rate, after several more hours of meaningless brooding—
“Well, I suppose that’s settled, then?”
With a clap, I stood up from my seat.
Thanks to the skill of the southern medical officer, my leg had healed enough for me to walk on my own.
I had also gathered the team that would accompany me to the Mage Kingdom.
Not only had we safely informed the Babylon Imperial Palace,
‘And most importantly, thanks to the southern mage, we solved the problem of the automatic navigation artifact!’
I thought back to Benjamin, the southern outpost mage I had met yesterday, and grinned villainously.
Now there was nothing left in my way. All that remained was to move forward, unimpeded, with my supportive family and friends!
The time for departure had come!
“Let’s go give the Mage King a thrashing!”