40 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
40
“Thank you for inviting me to dinner. Then, see you tomorrow, Ruby.”
And that boy disappears without hesitation, leaving me wondering if he’s being rude or polite…
Tremble, tremble, tremble.
An earthquake occurred on the table.
“Hoo… Stop crying.”
Grandfather muttered, looking at his rock-like fist clenched tightly.
“I’ll avenge you soon.”
“Grandfather… Please don’t talk to your fist…”
“Hmm.”
Uncle was already watching the situation with his chin resting on his hand. I laughed awkwardly and scratched my temple.
“Uncle, sorry. I guess Khalid has been through a lot since he was young, so he tends to lack social skills…”
“I like his temper.”
“Huh?”
Uncle turned to Grandfather, who was calming his raging fist.
“Father.”
“Hoo, yeah.”
“Aren’t you bored these days? And your health is good.”
“…? I don’t know what you’re trying to say, but respect your elders. Huh?”
“It’s time for you to nurture the talent you’ve been waiting for.”
“……”
What is he talking about?
As I watched quietly, Uncle turned his head to the side. A large question mark appeared on Void’s face as he chewed his rice.
“It seems like it would be a good stimulus for Void as well.”
“Huh?”
Oh, I see.
I easily understood Uncle’s intention.
Grandfather always wanted to train strong knights of the North. As confirmed in the entrance test, Khalid looks promising at first glance, so he’s telling him to raise him well.
“And Ruby too…”
“Yes!”
I answered cheerfully. Even though I look like this, I was also a member of the Zeberth Knights.
Training with Grandfather? It’ll be tough, but I’m curious!
“Ruby too…”
But Uncle only frowned and couldn’t continue his next words.
“…Why am I so reluctant?”
“Huh?”
Uncle looked at me with a very displeased face, putting the bell pepper I was trying to push away back on my plate.
Mean!
“Anyway, I’ll leave the kids in your care.”
“Hap, hap!”
Grandfather picked up his plate and stuffed the mountain of steak into his mouth.
Then, he swallowed it without chewing it properly and stood up abruptly.
“Good! My blood is pumping! I’ll train these little punks properly!”
The dining etiquette of a noble’s elder is worse than that of a mercenary kid…
I took advantage of the fact that everyone’s attention was focused on Grandfather and successfully dropped the bell pepper on the floor.
Void’s complexion now looked blue, almost bruised.
Seeing that made me worried again. If even that reckless Void is scared…
‘Isn’t Grandfather’s training going to be super intense?’
“I don’t want it to be too hard…”
As I muttered without realizing it, Grandfather gasped.
“Aish, who said I’m going to make it hard for you?! You can just hug your grandpa’s arm and watch… or.”
Squeak, squeak.
Grandfather’s expression turned sour in real time as he mulled over his words.
“…Can’t you just watch?”
The same expression as Uncle from earlier.
Soon, a small murmur leaked out.
Why am I so reluctant…?
\ \ *
Void Zebert was deep in thought.
“Young Master, would you like some tea?”
“No…”
“Oh my, it’s your favorite fruit tea…”
He rested his chin on the desk in his study, refusing the maids’ service. His smooth brow was furrowed deeply.
‘Ruby is my sister…’
Tap. Tap. A tapping index finger moved rhythmically on the desk.
‘That guy from earlier… That guy is my sister’s friend.’
Khalid, was it?
A new… guy who suddenly appeared.
He said he was Rubian’s friend. That he came all the way here from his hometown to find Rubian.
Okay. That’s possible.
‘Liam Hyung’s friends come to visit sometimes too.’
But…
‘But why is it so annoying?’
Void’s brow furrowed even more.
It was inexplicable. This feeling, this emotion…
It was as if he was being robbed of his precious sister…
“Hey, my sister brought home some skinny guy as her boyfriend, and wow. It’s really unsettling.”
“Huh? Aren’t you not close to your sister?”
“Tsk, what do you know? This isn’t a matter of being close or not.”
“Huh.”
Why did his academy friend’s words come to mind?
“Why am I doing this?”
Void shook his head seriously. His dark black hair fluttered loosely.
‘Is it because Ruby is so small, weak, and fair?’
That thief-like guy was taller and darker than him. His dirty eyes were like his father’s…
“Hup. I’m insulting Father.”
Void shook his head again.
Anyway, if a guy like that bullies her, Ruby would be helpless.
“Ah, that’s it!”
Void jumped up.
Yes, that’s what he was worried about! As her brother, he was worried that that guy would treat his sister badly! Or that his sister would be influenced by bad things!
“I have to protect her well.”
Void took out his diary to not forget his resolution. The hand that was about to pick up the pen suddenly stopped.
‘But… what if Rubian becomes closer to that guy than me?’
“Haha… How unbrotherly.”
Void frowned and shook his head.
Act like an adult, Void Zebert. You’re already a third-year at the academy…
Void, who had tried to calm himself, turned the pages of his diary again. His hand stopped again.
Nth day of N month, N day of the week / Weather: Cloudy / Mood: Super good
Achieved 100 sword swings today!
Uncle Obron praised me a lot. He gave me raspberries as a reward, but they were very bitter…
…
Had dinner with Ruby…
…
Let’s work harder tomorrow!
Perfect content. Perfect beginning, development, turn, and conclusion.
The problem was the pink writing that intruded on the end of the diary.
Good job! ★★★★★
But swing(x) -> swinging(o)
Bitter(x) -> Tart(o)
“Ugh! She peeked again!”
This devil! Void jumped up.
No, how does she find it every day when I hide it so carefully!
“Young Master! I told you not to run!”
There was no one who could stop the boy who was running out like an arrow.
He burst open the door, and Rubian, who was lying on the bed and fiddling with a light purple stone, raised her head.
“Look at me!”
“Huh? What’s wrong?”
That, that innocent expression that knows nothing!
Void glared at Rubian with a very angry face.
“You my diary… Who was that guy from earlier!”
“Huh?”
“Who was that guy from earlier!”
Rubian tilted her head and sat up straight.
‘Sheesh. What am I saying.’
He had barged in with the diary as an excuse, but when he saw her clear face, completely different words came out.
The diary in his hand was already far out of his mind.
“That guy! The one with the faded night sky hair!”
“Khalid? I told you he’s my friend.”
“How old is he! He’s taller than me, how can he be your friend!”
“Uh… He’s 12 years old.”
“See!”
“I’m just a bit mature. I have a lot of older friends!”
The face of the youngest child, smiling brightly.
For some reason, Void felt anxious.
“But why are you suddenly like this?”
“I don’t know!”
“Huh?”
“You’re my sister, how can you have a friend who’s closer to you than me?”
“But Hyung, you have friends too, right.”
“That’s true!”
Rubian tilted her head. Her neatly arranged short silver hair moved slightly.
The pin gently placed next to her right ear.
Today it was a squirrel. Sheesh… My sister is so cute!
“What’s the problem?”
“I don’t know!”
As he shouted instinctively, Rubian closed her mouth slightly.
“…But why have you been angry at me since earlier?”
“……”
“You suddenly barged in and scolded me…”
Huk, Void gasped.
Her fair cheeks puffed up slightly. These days, the youngest child had gained a little weight on her cheeks, making her very, very X100 cute.
But this was a big problem. She was on the verge of getting upset.
