Youngest 264

Episode 264

“It’s a medicine that creates a temporary core for a mage who has lost theirs. The principle is to absorb mana from the air and maintain a new core within the body.”

The atmosphere in the room changed instantly.

“But its effects don’t last very long—you might have to take the medicine for the rest of your life to maintain the newly formed core. Of course, if you can receive a steady supply of mana from someone else, that wouldn’t be necessary…”

The girl shrugged.

“But honestly, what mage would do something as reckless as sharing the mana that’s the same as their own life?”

Sliiide. The family members’ eyes all turned to Khalid.

He wiped the cold sweat from his jaw and shamelessly straightened his back. With his monstrous recovery, it seemed some of his mana had already returned.

“All right, let’s get you the medicine first. Rubian, what do you want? Just say the word. Liquid, powder, tablet, jelly… Oh, sorry, it’s only vanilla flavor for now. I’m still working on strawberry and chocolate.”

“Wow, cough! You guys, cough! That’s amazing! Cough! I want! Jelly! Cough! Cough, cough!”

“…Sorry. You don’t need to say any more; a glance is enough. I feel like a criminal.”

She quickly took out the medicine and helped me take it. It tasted sweet and rich, like creamy milk.

The effect was immediate.

There was a sensation, as though a tiny fruit was forming beside my heart, in the place that had felt so empty.

‘A new core.’

It was as small and fragile as that of a newborn child, unable yet to contain much mana.

Even so.

‘It used to hurt so much, like shards of glass running through my veins…’

The pain faded almost at once, and my mind cleared sharply.

“Ah, thank goodness.”

Only then did Licht, seeming to relax at last, slide down to the floor. Kal let out a deep sigh and ran his hand over his face, and my family members’ tension visibly eased.

It was only then that Father, who’d tried so hard to stay composed, suddenly pulled me into a tight embrace. His voice, as he exhaled at last, was thick with emotion.

“Ruby, you truly…”

“Dad…”

I too, feeling all at once at peace, broke down in tears.

“How much more are you going to torment your old man before you’re satisfied?”

“I’m sorry…”

Truthfully, the idea that everything was all right was just my own belief.

My family must have been terrified. I’d considered such a final battle only in theory—never thought I’d actually have to do it.

‘If I’d told them in advance, they would never have let me go to the palace…’

Sigh. I ended up showing my parents something they should never have had to see.

“To make up for my unfilial behavior, cough! I’ll give you a hundred massages when we get home!”

“…Just please, just please, stay healthy.”

Mother, Grandfather, and my brothers clung to me like magnets.

I hugged them all tightly with both arms and smiled.

“I’m sorry, everyone. I’m all right now!”

---

“She’s asleep again?”

Late at night.

Balok asked as he saw Ideline return after checking on Rubian.

“Yes. Yes.”

“Her condition? Is she really okay, just sleeping like that?”

The giant old knight, who seemed fearless of anything, now fidgeted anxiously. Ideline bowed slightly.

“I think her new core is just settling in. It’s still very weak, so she can’t take in too much mana at once.”

“Then… what about magic?”

Ideline couldn’t answer right away.

But it wasn’t something to hide. Rubian probably already knew.

“It will likely take a very long time before she can use magic again. Years, perhaps… maybe even forever.”

She tried to soften it as much as possible, but it was, in truth, as close to impossible as could be. Among the children of Canalran Gorge, not a single one had ever regained their magic as before.

Sensing this, Balok’s shoulders slumped dejectedly.

Zevert was a family of ancient knights.

Balok had never particularly liked mages as a group, but when it came to his granddaughter, everything was an exception.

He’d always thought it lovely, that little mage grandchild among all the big, gruff knights—a jewel nestling among stones.

“But there’s nothing wrong with her body—not our little one, right?”

“No. Other than the wound on her leg reopening and a few minor scrapes, there are no further injuries.”

Balok gave a harsh sniff, tilted his head back toward the sky, and covered his eyes with a broad palm.

“Right. As long as she’s healthy, that’s enough. That’s all I need.”

“…Are you crying, Lord Balok?”

“I’m not crying!”

The lion bellowed, then clicked his tongue and turned away.

Now that she looked, he was carrying that fearsome greatsword on his back.

“All right, I’d best get going.”

“Aren’t you going in to see her?”

“Leviathan and Rosetta are there, aren’t they? A sick child needs her mother and father beside her.”

With that, he grabbed Void, who’d been sneaking toward the inner chamber, trying to blend in like a shadow.

“Come on! Let’s go mop up those dark beast stragglers!”

“No, Grandfather! I just want to see Ruby’s face…! No, I don’t…!”

“Neither do I!”

A hesitant smile crossed Ideline’s face as she withdrew.

---

The palace was, in a word, half-ruined.

The chaos was far from over.

Though the Mage King was dead and the rifts he’d created had disappeared, there were still dark beasts left running wild throughout the area.

Khalid, Void, and Grandfather had gone out to hunt down the remaining beasts. Of course, I was treated like a frail chick and made to stay in the deepest, safest part of the palace.

‘Not that I could do anything, since I can’t use magic anymore anyway.’

Meanwhile, Ideline worked with the scattered elders to restore the palace from within.

Those who had sided with the Mage King were executed, the innocent ones appointed as palace mages.

All the palace mages treated me with unusual devotion.

‘It’s a bit ironic, but to them, I’m probably still royalty of Arcadia.’

The last royal to return with strength and save the mages from the Mage King’s tyranny…

‘Wow. It sounds impressive, despite myself.’

All I ever really wanted was vengeance against the Mage King, but this left me a bit embarrassed.

‘By the way, I thought quite a few dark beasts flew toward the continent.’

Would Babylon be all right?

Oh dear.

Your Majesty, hang in there…

‘Ah, right, I have to go back soon too.’

Tsk.

Well then, Dad, hang in there…

So I lay in bed, drifting in and out of sleep with idle thoughts like these.

“Ruby, Ideline’s here to see you. The Fourth Prince and the elders have come too.”

Mother appeared with a bowl of warm soup. Beside her, Father, who’d been feeding me slices of apple, frowned deeply.

“Send them away. Why would they bother a sick child…?”

“Shall I?”

“No, Dad. Khalid shared a bit of her mana earlier, so I’m fine.”

I quickly sat up.

“I’m curious why they’ve come. Let’s at least hear them out.”

If Ideline was here, it had to be something important.

‘Besides, I have something to say as well.’

Mother, seeing she had no choice, carefully wrapped me in a thick shawl.

When I entered the drawing room, Licht and Ideline were there along with the other elders.

“Lady Rubian!”

Of the thirteen palace elders, seven—Ideline included—had fled in defiance of the Mage King’s tyranny.

‘Licht tracked down all of them.’

Licht gave a gentle smile. “Are you feeling better, Rubian?” he asked, and I nodded.

‘So this is the gift Licht mentioned.’

People to help rebuild the palace.

‘Of course, the elders bear the guilt for staying silent all this time.’

But what can you do?

It’s not as if you can look into all a human’s heart.

Whether they’d shut their eyes and run, knowing all along about the Mage King’s tyranny, or merely hidden, biding their time for a final blow.

No one could know their reasons.

‘But one thing is certain: Every elder who left the palace made it their mission to protect weaker mages.’

So, resources are resources. Let’s make use of them while we can.

“Are you feeling any better?”

“As you can see. But why is everyone standing?”

I slowly searched for a seat as I walked forward.

‘Hm… This feels strange.’

Why is the only seat left at the head of the table?

Before me sat a prince, the elders—a room full of grandmothers and grandfathers. It felt awkward, but no one made a move to vacate their place, so I had no choice but to take the highest seat.

The reason for this soon became clear.

And I learned what Licht’s promised gift really was.

“Please… Please, become the master of our throne!”

“Pfft—What?”

I tried to drink my juice with all the grace I could muster, and failed spectacularly.