39 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
39
I had mentioned it to Cal in passing once.
That to be completely free from the Magic King's shackles, after being exploited by the kingdom, the most certain way would be to eliminate the king.
From then on, Cal gritted his teeth, saying he would kill the Magic King for me.
Just like I had cut his chains in the cave and given him freedom.
"No. You're... still too young."
"Ha. So that's why you came here?"
A short sneer escaped him.
"Sorry, Master. I'm going to be a bit cold from now on."
"Don't be too cold..."
"Why Duke Jebert?"
A frigid voice dropped.
"I know the Duke hates mages. But he wouldn't be crazy enough to kill the king of another country for no reason."
"..."
Frankly, I couldn't blame Khalid for reacting this way.
'He doesn't know that if the Magic King is left alone, he'll openly start plotting behind the scenes.'
The Magic King was still pretending to be nice.
Arcadia was an island isolated on the sea.
Antagonizing the continent would only be a loss for the kingdom. That's why the king outwardly feigned innocence while secretly eyeing the opportunity to swallow up the continent.
Even though he was currently being criticized for the child soldier issue.
'World domination! To think that such childish nonsense is his dream.'
That must be why he wanted to get his hands on a black magician. Honestly, he must have been thrilled when the war broke out.
'The order he gave me was also "Capture the black magician alive."'
It all fell through because Leviathan killed him. Heh, serves him right!
Anyway, the Magic King would cause trouble on his own, so all that mattered was that Uncle stayed alive until then.
"You're silent again..."
Khalid stared intently at me, his eyes darting around, before bowing his head deeply.
"I really want to peek inside your head just once."
"That's not allowed..."
I have a lot of secrets...
Then, he snapped his head up.
"Still, I'll kill the Magic King. Because he made you suffer."
"Okay, okay, so train hard then."
Train hard and cooperate with Uncle later!
I swallowed the words I couldn't bring myself to say and smiled awkwardly. Seeing Khalid's expression soften, I also lifted the Mute Magic.
It was almost time for Hazel to come up, saying dinner was ready.
"Good. I have a goal now."
Khalid said with conviction.
"A goal?"
"Leviathan Zebert."
"......?"
"I need to surpass that person first."
No, that's not it?
"If you rely on that person because he's the strongest, then I'll become even stronger than him."
The boy's eyes burned with fighting spirit.
Somehow, the second male lead's goal is...?
Khalid bit his lip once and glanced at me.
"And somehow, I have a feeling that person will... torment me a lot."
As if worried about the future, Khalid didn't let go of his serious expression for a long time.
Well... life in the Knights Order with Uncle wouldn't be easy, would it?
If not that...
What is it?
\ \ *
That evening, in the dining room.
Khalid was invited to dinner as my friend.
"Huh? Even Grandfather?"
As soon as I entered the dining room, I ran into all three generations of the Zebert family.
Grandfather usually ate separately in the annex, so it was rare to eat together.
It was unusual.
I sat down with Khalid. Uncle was at the head of the table, and Grandfather and Void were across from him.
"Father...?"
Void stared intently at the seat next to me, calling out to Uncle with a dumbfounded expression.
"Yes."
"I think I'm seeing things."
"Probably not."
Void blinked and turned his head sharply.
Ssak ssak ssak ssak. The hands that were cutting meat and vegetables for me as usual didn't stop, of course.
"Then did you bring a new El from the capital again? But when...?"
Swoosh. A plate of deliciously cut steak was pushed in front of me.
Khalid, who was sitting next to me, laughed at the spectacle.
You're also dumbfounded by Gong-ja serving me, right?
Yeah... I know.
"That's not it either."
"Then...!"
"You brat, stop chattering and eat your bread!"
"Ubbeub."
Grandfather, who had been cutting five pieces of steak at once, stuffed white bread into Void's mouth.
Void, his cheeks bulging, looked up at Grandfather with a face that seemed to have a lot to say.
"Uh... Grandfather."
"Uh?"
Thud. At Void's call, Grandfather put down his knife. Grandfather's thick eyebrows, looking down at his grandson sitting next to him, wriggled.
Void's shoulders moved away slightly.
"What's with that look? Are you already going through puberty?! No wonder... you haven't come to eat at your sick grandpa's house in ages!"
"When I actually go, you're not sick at all, not at all!"
It seemed that Leviathan had often called Void to eat when Uncle wasn't at the castle.
Of course, Void was very uncomfortable with Grandfather...
"This won't do! We need to start a relationship strengthening period. After dinner, let's take a light stroll in the north mountains!"
"Ueahb! No, ub!"
Void struggled, pushing away the meat that was being stuffed into his mouth again. Grandfather's lips twitched.
...He's enjoying this. You're today's sacrifice, Void.
"Stop watching and eat."
Thud. A neatly cut piece of bread was placed on my plate.
"Oh, thank you."
I looked at Khalid and put a piece of bread in my mouth.
'He really doesn't get shy.'
Eating with people he met for the first time today, he's as natural as if it's his own home...
He's an amazing guy in many ways.
"No, so is no one going to explain who that is?!"
Void finally exploded. He pointed at Khalid and jumped up and down.
"Ruby! You tell me!"
I, who was chewing on bread, swallowed and answered.
"He's my friend."
"What...?"
"Friend."
Void tilted his head, a question mark on his face. Why is he making that face?
Is it the first time he's heard the word friend?
'Gasp... Does he not have any friends because he's like Uncle?'
Despite my worries, Void just blinked, his face somehow soulless.
After that, the sound of cutlery clashing continued intermittently.
Clack. Khalid put down his fork from the seat next to me. When I turned around, he seemed to have already finished his meal, wiping his mouth with a napkin.
A moderately emptied plate.
Impeccable table manners.
'Hmm, he's sometimes a bit reckless, but he's learned these manners well.'
...Huh? Come to think of it, where did he learn it...?
"You managed to live well in this market-like place, Ruby."
"......"
"Even though you hate noisy things."
Someone stop that inconsiderate mouth.
"What? This young whippersnapper."
Grandfather slammed down his cutlery. Uncle didn't even glance at him, just continuing to drink his wine.
Khalid stood up from his seat.
"Thank you for the meal."
Ha, at least his greetings were normal.
I thought he would turn around and leave, but Khalid, who had been standing there for a moment, pointed to the bell pepper awkwardly caught on my fork.
"But she hates that. Change the recipe..."
"Ahahaha."
I sweated profusely and punched Khalid in the side.
"Why are you so talkative when you're being treated!"
And I was just about to drop that bell pepper. You caught me!
"Uncle! Grandfather! I'll take care of him..."
"Ooh, yeah. Your impudent tone, your eyes. I can't take it anymore."
Grandfather slammed down his cutlery.
"This little brat also needs to undergo some mental training in the north mountains!"
"It was mental training after all!"
Void's mouth dropped open.
"I don't want to."
"What?"
But the impudent Khalid's mouth didn't stop.
And Grandfather's eyes burned even more fiercely.
In the midst of the precarious tension, only Uncle, sitting at the head of the table, continued his meal with a nonchalant face.
