28 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Chapter 284
‘Humming……?’
Maurice Lilton, the former Vice-Captain of the Zeberth Knights and current steward of the annex, frowned at the Old Duke's bizarre behavior that had been going on for days.
"Hehehe."
It was because Balock Zebert, who could make even a flying bird fall with his spirit, had been humming since morning.
Goodness, even wiggling his butt.
‘His leg condition seems to have improved strangely.’
Maurice quietly placed the tea on the table.
‘Could Rubian's ointment really have worked?’
If so, wouldn't that be a truly amazing thing?
"Your Excellency, what are you doing? From morning."
"Hmm. I'm making a new blueprint."
His voice also seemed to have become kinder.
"A blueprint? Are you going to make a new sword?"
"Yes. I have to give one to each of the snot-noses."
The second snot-nose and the youngest snot-nose~
Balock's humming reached its peak.
"Ah, yes."
The Zeberths were a knight family. It was common for the head of the family to gift a sword to a child.
"I'll even engrave their names on the handle……. Huh?"
Balock's hand, which had been moving smoothly, suddenly stopped.
"What's wrong?"
"Come to think of it, the youngest snot-nose……."
A deep furrow was etched between his eyebrows. The pen was stopped right at the letters, Rubian.
"Did he receive Zebet's Castle?"
Balock went straight to his son's office.
"The adoption hasn't been finalized yet."
Kwa-gwang. It felt like thunder and lightning struck behind Balock.
"What……is it……?"
His large body staggered ridiculously.
"Rubian wasn't going to stay here all along?"
"Yes. Adoption isn't an easy thing. Ruby's opinion is also important……. Are you alright?"
"I'm not alright!"
Balock shouted.
Leviathan pinched the bridge of his nose with a tired look. He had written so in the letter when he took the child from the capital.
‘He only reads what he wants to read again.’
He sighed and put down the documents he was reading.
"Just thinking about that, that little one disappearing……. Ah, just a moment."
Balock raised his head to the sky, touching the bridge of his nose. Leviathan was dumbfounded.
"Since when have you been so welcoming of Rubian? You were so eager to kick him out at first."
"I don't remember!"
Ah, yes. As if you would.
"Do you know how cute that kid is?! When he runs towards me from the end of that hallway, calling 'Grandfather!' all the indigestion I've had for 10 years just goes away……."
"You don't even have indigestion."
"Your filial impiety with words is top-notch."
The cranky old man plopped down on a nearby sofa.
"Rose will be back soon, right?"
Leviathan glanced at his wife's letter on the desk.
"Yes. About two weeks left."
He had replied, telling her not to rush, considering that she was with Liam and Rose's physical condition.
Still, she would arrive in two weeks. The thought of seeing his wife's face after a long time made his hands tingle for no reason.
Balock let out a long sigh, "Phew."
"Talk it over well with Rose when she gets back. Be sure to! Be sure to! Talk to Ruby well too. Huh?!"
"Of course, I will."
Leviathan said firmly, but Balock's expression was still uneasy.
"You must never let that kid go. Do you understand? Never!"
"It's not something I can do by forcing it. Father, please stop messing with Ruby's feelings. You're always loitering around him……."
"Loitering!"
Just then, there was a small knock.
The old man, who had been raging like fire, reflexively stood up.
"Ah, it's time."
"Time?"
"It's time for my little snot-nose to put a patch on my knee."
Balock quickly left the office with an excited face. Leviathan, left alone, shook his head.
He really does all sorts of things.
Ruby really knows how to cater to that crazy old geezer's whims.
Leviathan lowered his eyes back to the documents.
But it was strange. The tiny letters were not coming into his eyes at all.
Thud, the pen fell from his hand.
His sharp gaze stared blankly into the air.
"……He runs over calling me Grandfather?"
Imagining that scene.
Why does it feel like my stomach is turning upside down?
\ \ \
"Phew."
I wiped my forehead with a proud face.
After lunch, before dinner, was my free time. I used this time to infuse Magic Power into the Magic Stones.
Hazel was busy helping with the mansion's work during this time, and Void was busy with swordsmanship lessons. Uncle was always busy.
‘Old Duke……. Grandfather also seems busy these days.’
He was making new weapon blueprints, or something.
Anyway, I was able to process the Magic Stones stably because there were no annoying humans bothering me for once.
Transparent Magic Power rippled in the activated Magic Stone.
Of course, it wouldn't be visible to those who couldn't read Magic Power.
‘I need to embed this in a suitable Magic Tool.’
Since the name of this stone was 'Barrier Stone,' and since I had activated the power of that Barrier Stone with my Magic Power.
Of course, it could produce a certain degree of Barrier effect on its own.
But that was only a one-dimensional effect.
It was like the difference between ingredients and cooking.
Ingredients can be eaten as they are, but if you process them with a suitable recipe, they produce even better taste and efficacy.
‘What I want is a powerful protective Barrier that will protect this place for a long time. One that can detect intruders and block them, even temporarily.’
I turned my head and looked in the mirror.
When I used the Wisdom of Wijeria, a fierce red light swirled within my eyes.
Fortunately, this Zellox was a land with Magic Power.
So, if I added the Magic Power in the air and the Magic Power of the 'Barrier Stone' itself and linked it to the Magic Circle, there would be no problem in maintaining the Barrier Field even if I didn't keep pouring Magic Power into it.
Unless there was a major change in the castle walls or the Magic Tools themselves.
‘I've already drawn up the Magic Circle.’
The problem is…….
"The Magic Tool and place to plant this Magic Stone are ambiguous."
I stared at the purple stones on the floor and fell into thought.
"Hmm. It would be nice if I could at least look around this area once……."
Maybe I could get a hint if I inspected the castle walls?
‘But it's a bit strange for me to suddenly offer to check the security of the castle…….’
I buried my face in the sofa and agonized.
Knock knock.
Just then, there was a knock.
"Ruby."
It was Uncle.
"J, just a moment!"
I jumped up from my seat and tidied up the Magic Stones. It would look like I was just looking at stones anyway, but just in case.
‘Ah, my eyes.’
The red light was fading to a light pink. Blink, blink. Ah, why isn't this disappearing quickly!
"Ruby?"
Uncle called me again from outside.
I checked that my eyes had completely returned to blue and opened the door.
"What were you doing that the door……. Your eyes are red."
Huh? No way!
\ \ \
"What were you concentrating on so much that your eyes are all bloodshot?"
"I must have been reading too hard."
Phew, what a surprise.
I swallowed a sigh inwardly.
What Uncle said meant that there were blood vessels in my eyes. I felt guilty for no reason.
"But what's up?"
I asked, munching on a plain butter cookie.
Uncle had brought a bunch of sweet desserts again today and was taking care of them himself.
"Do I need a reason to have a snack with you?"
Uncle raised his eyes wide.
Huh? It feels a bit sharp.
No, rather than sharp…….
‘It feels like he's sulking?’
I shook my head vigorously.
Why would Uncle sulk like a cheapskate?
"No, it's not that, but……. Well, it's Uncle's house. It's right for Uncle to do whatever he wants."
"……Uncle."
"Huh?"
A face full of twisted feelings turned to me. Uncle stared at me intently and then let out a long sigh.
"No. More than that, have you been looking at books all day?"
Dark purple eyes swept across my room. A few books were lying on the floor near the window.
They were borrowed from the Duchy Castle library.
I couldn't process Magic Stones all day. My condition would worsen if I used too much Magic Power.
This wasn't Arcadia. Two or three a day was my maximum.
After finishing that, I spent time flipping through the borrowed books.
Uncle suddenly asked.
"Ruby. Do you want to study?"
"Study?"
"Should I get you a tutor?"
"Um……."
"Tell me if there's anything you want to do."
Anything I want to do?
I stared at the half-eaten cookie. Nuts were studded in it, leaving a rich nutty flavor in my mouth.
‘What do I want to do?’
I had never seriously thought about it.
‘Ah!’
I suddenly remembered.
What I wanted to do was naturally decided.
