Translator: Nox

36 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot

Episode 36

Come to think of it, the blacksmith was right next to the Magic Stone shop. The Grandfather who was coming out of there found me and rushed over.

"You said you were going out, so you were here? Huh?"

"Beard, beard..."

Rubbing, rubbing. Grandfather, who picked me up and rubbed his face against mine to his heart's content, belatedly fell away.

"Ha, really. You're a sight to behold."

"Ah, Blacksmith Uncle."

"Hello. Will you be choosing a pretty piece of metal?"

"No... Later..."

I belatedly realized that Blacksmith Uncle was there, hidden by Grandfather's huge frame. He was shirtless as usual today, with a pipe in one hand.

"Get lost. You're wearing out my kid. I'll contact you when the next prototype comes out."

"Yes. That's what I want."

Blacksmith Uncle scratched his loosely tied green hair and turned away.

'Huh? He seems strangely listless?'

I tilted my head, looking at the man who was calmer than usual.

"Hmph, go away."

As soon as he disappeared, I asked Grandfather.

"Why is that Blacksmith Uncle so listless today? He's different from last time."

Grandfather answered gruffly.

"You mean Maddox? It's because he doesn't have any blacksmith work."

"Huh? Really?"

"The war is over, so weapon orders have decreased."

"Gasp, then is he going bankrupt?"

"Puhaha! It would be fun if he went bankrupt! But unfortunately, that's all based on what that weapon-crazed guy says."

"Ah."

Grandfather didn't seem to care. He smelled faintly of iron, as if he had been at the blacksmith since morning.

"Probably, once he finishes making the swords for you and Void, there won't be any new weapons to make for a while... That's probably why he's more depressed."

"I see."

"Tsk, enough with the useless talk. Show me your hands."

Suddenly, why hands?

But it wasn't difficult, so I spread both hands wide and held them out in front of Grandfather's eyes.

"Here you go."

"Ha, really! Seriously!"

Grandfather's nose was busy twitching back and forth.

"Small and soft and a mess! No wonder he doesn't like any of the swords he makes!"

Ah, it was because of the sword.

I imagined myself holding the sword for a moment.

It would be very heavy and very sharp, right?

'But it will look very strong.'

Hehehe. Suddenly, I wanted it quickly.

"Tsk, at this rate, I'll have to redesign the handle from the beginning..."

Grandfather's muttering continued.

I stared at him and pondered for a moment.

Then, in the distance, I spotted a knight kicking up dust and running at an incredible speed.

"Huh? It's Obron!"

I wondered where he had sold his horse, as he was sprinting this distance with the strength of his two legs alone.

Of course... he was incredibly fast, almost as if he were riding a horse.

"Obron, that rascal. He's gone mad."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Grandfather timed it perfectly and stuck out his left leg.

Thump, thump, crash. Obron rolled loudly on the ground.

"Where are you going?"

"Ugh. Who the hell?"

"It's me."

A beast smiling against the sun... I looked up at his dark face and realized anew.

'He's really... mean.'

Would it have been so bad to just call him to stop?

"Gasp, Your Excellency! To fail to avoid a surprise attack, my training is still lacking! I have gained enlightenment!"

But Obron seemed very used to it.

"Where are you going in such a hurry?"

"Ah, I'm going to Duke! There's a new applicant for the Knights!"

"What...?"

Grandfather's beard twitched.

"New talent in our North?"

His voice was filled with joy.

Conversely, hearing that news made the back of my neck feel cold.

It was close to a premonition.

'No way...'

It couldn't be, right?

"Grandfather! I'm so curious who it is! Wow, finally someone under me! Waaah!"

Overdoing it with the encouragement, Grandfather, who was serious about fostering new talent, took the bait.

"Oh, really? Let's go right away!"

After yanking the horse tied to the carriage, Grandfather mounted it, held me in his arms, and took off.

"Gasp, Rubian! Your Excellency!"

No one could stop the Old Duke's mad dash.

The people of Zellox calmly moved aside and cleared the stalls, as if they were used to it.

Thanks to that, we covered the 30-minute distance in just 10 minutes and arrived at the Knights' building...

"Wow. Madness forever..."

\ \ *

My hunch was right.

There was no twist.

"What is it? This half-grown brat."

The one who confidently barged into the Zeberth Knights and said he wanted to join was indeed.

'Khalid Liork...'

My friend, the wizard boy.

Grandfather circled around Khalid, observing him as if he were prey.

"Hmm. He seems like someone who's been swinging a sword around."

An old cloak and an old sword in one hand. A bag slung over one shoulder.

I craned my neck and peeked into his bag. A crumpled map flashed by.

Thanks to that, I realized that Khalid had been wandering around Zellox all night to learn the geography.

'I'm going crazy. I shouldn't have given him that map.'

I told him not to prove that he was a mercenary so much.

"..."

"..."

After sighing briefly, I made eye contact with Khalid.

Only then did I realize my situation.

Me, being held like a stuffed animal by Old Duke Zebert...

It was a sight that Khalid, who had only seen my independent and sharp side, would have a hard time accepting.

'I know what you want to say.'

I glared and warned.

'Keep your mouth shut for now.'

Zip it up neatly.

'Go back. Let's talk later!'

Shoo, shoo.

He must have understood, but Khalid just smiled and turned away. His dark blue hair fluttered slightly.

Is that... a sneer?

"Here's my application."

"An application? He's more solid than I thought."

Grandfather accepted the paper that Khalid handed over. Something was written on the cream-colored parchment in large handwriting.

"To... catch?"

"Ah."

He hesitated for a moment and crossed out "catch."

"..."

Grandfather looked dumbfounded at the parchment.

As silence continued, Khalid raised his eyebrows slightly.

Looking back and forth between his documents and his surroundings with a face that asked what was lacking, Khalid said, "Ah." and put the paper down again.

Then, without a moment's hesitation, he took out a dagger.

"What...!"

He cut the tip of his thumb and pressed his handprint firmly.

"I don't have a seal."

"I've never seen such an extreme guy!"

The knight Uncles, including Grandfather, all looked horrified. Khalid calmly licked his blood.

'That crazy bastard, really...'

His cat-like eyes curved slightly upwards. The two vertical dots under his left eye felt somehow seductive.

'Is this right?'

A proud face that seemed to ask.

Would it be right?

"What I wanted to ask was, what the hell is this 'childhood friend'! You crazy brat!"

Grandfather pointed to the bottom of the document and asked.

Khalid tilted his head as if that was what he was wondering. Soon, he reached out with his other hand, the one that wasn't bleeding.

"Her."

"What? Me?"

"...No. The doll-like kid you're holding like a stuffed animal."

"..."

"I'm her childhood friend."

The atmosphere stirred greatly.

"What! Our little snot-nosed friend?!"

"What snot?"

Grandfather slammed the table. The fragile table cracked.

'Oh, oh, finally!'

Whether he knew my trembling heart or not, Khalid just smiled at me.

After a moment, he strode across the room with his documents in hand.

"Judging by your expression, you seem to have missed me a lot..."

The boy's footsteps stopped in front of the door that was starting to open.

"Will you allow it?"

"..."

"Duke Zebert."

Uncle, who had just appeared, frowned at the blood-stained document.