5 - The Youngest is Hiding a Lot
Episode 5
I was nervous.
Very nervous.
‘Magic Power Measurement is a no-go!’
It was because Yuris Teacher, who had suddenly come after dinner, said that all the new children had to undergo a Magic Power Examination.
‘I can’t get caught being a magician in a place like this.’
I first made the excuse that my stomach hurt and locked myself in the bathroom.
And sitting on the toilet lid, I recalled what Yuris Teacher had added as if to herself.
“I heard they’re looking for a female magician… I wonder if they really need to go this far just because she crossed the border.”
Fortunately, it seemed that the exact description had not been conveyed. Besides, I was unintentionally mistaken for a boy.
‘Thank you, Leviathan, for abandoning me.’
Tch. I hate to admit it, but thanks to that heartless Uncle, I had many excuses to make.
‘More than that, has the kingdom already found out that I’m alive?’
I thought I would get caught someday, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.
‘No… Judging from the fact that the pursuit isn’t full-scale, they don’t seem to be sure.’
The ‘Magic Power Examination’ that Yuris Teacher mentioned must have been using a ‘Magic Power Detection Device.’
‘If they were really going to catch me, they would have sent a Tracking Wizard, not a simple Magic Tool.’
In other words, there was a high probability that it was a probing attempt.
Since they were not sure about my life or death, my location, or anything else, they were just casting a net first.
That meant that if I could get through this crisis, I would be safe for the time being.
“Let’s run away.”
My conclusion was simple. Without hesitation, I came out of the bathroom and headed to the backyard. And…
“Huh?”
I witnessed some thief-like guy jumping out of a large window.
“What, Uncle?”
“Get out of the way!”
Thud! I fell over from the merciless hand. But I stood up like an Othello doll.
The thief had a heavy pouch in his arms.
“Was he really a thief?”
It looked like a donation…
No matter how hard life is.
“Isn’t stealing money from a children’s shelter a bit much?”
As expected, the easy targets are the weak.
I looked around carefully.
What should I do?
“Hmm.”
Should I revise the plan a little?
‘If attention is focused on the thief, it will be easier to escape, right?’
I recalled the side path I had seen earlier.
Yeah, let’s go find Uncle.
If I grab onto his pants, he won’t kick me away, right?
“Okay.”
I put my palm on the ground and infused it with a little Magic Power.
The ground quivered and moved.
“Ugh!”
The thief, who was running unsteadily, fell spectacularly over a rock that suddenly popped up.
Clatter- It was basic that the gold coins in the pouch poured out like a waterfall.
Thump! It was a bonus that the boxes piled up nearby fell on top of it.
“What? What’s that sound?”
“Thief! Thief!”
I quickly shouted and hurried away.
“Thief? Knights!”
“Call the security forces!”
The commotion of the shelter faded behind me. I pushed through the bushes and crawled through the hole I had seen in advance.
Outside, it had already started to rain.
I moved as quickly as possible, lest I be caught.
Did Leviathan Uncle go to the Imperial Palace? Or is he in the Knights?
“Huff. Huff.”
Before long, I stopped in a dark alley. I was out of breath.
‘Crazy Magic Power deficient country… Is it this hard?’
Honestly, I was embarrassed.
I had only used a very small amount of Magic Power, not even an ant’s tear…
‘This land is really bad for magicians.’
Not only did my power drop to less than half, but there was no Magic Power in the air to use.
Or did I use too much power to go see Leviathan Uncle?
“Ugh…”
My head was spinning and my energy was rapidly declining.
Rumble, bang!
When I was hit by the cold rain, my eyes were burning.
‘First, the Knights…’
I moved, holding onto the wall.
But what if I get rejected again?
“……”
I felt like a black cloud was following me.
“Aish.”
I quickly shook my head. When the body gets weak, the mind also gets weak!
“Let’s go to the Knights!”
I clenched my fist bravely.
I concentrated quietly and organized the messed-up Magic Power pathways in my body.
“If they kick me out again, I’ll curse them.”
A magician with a grudge is scarier than any Dark Creature.
The place I got out of that dark alley was…
“Uncle?”
Uncle was there! No way!
“You…!”
Uncle, who had a pale face, widened his eyes when he saw me.
Why did that Uncle become a ghost in one day?
With a puzzled mind, I took a step closer.
“What are you doing here… Ugh!”
In an instant, I was sucked into a large embrace. A warm warmth enveloped me.
Huh? I was going to cling to him?
Surprised by the sudden situation, I just blinked my eyes.
A haze-like smoke rose from Uncle’s solid body. Come to think of it, his breathing was very rough. Thump, thump, thump, the sound of a heart beating like crazy.
‘Don’t tell me he found me?’
Ah, no way.
“Rubian.”
I stiffened with a flinch. It felt strange to hear the name that I hadn’t told him because he hadn’t asked, come out of Uncle’s mouth.
“Ruby.”
As if worried about my cold body temperature, Uncle stroked my back.
That rough touch was so soft.
I forgot that I had decided to cling to him, and I relaxed in Uncle’s arms. It was instantaneous for the body that had been enduring with mental strength to collapse.
“……Yeah.”
My jewel. My treasure.
Someone’s voice overlapping like a hallucination.
“……Wait. What’s wrong with you?”
Between the fading vision, I suddenly realized.
“Ruby, Ruby? Wake up!”
The only thing I can’t hide from Uncle… is only this name.
And it was blackout.
\ \ \
When I opened my eyes, I could vaguely see an unfamiliar ceiling.
Ah, where is this?
‘The barracks are pretty fancy…’
Then I suddenly came to my senses.
“Uncle!”
My eyes spun around and I collapsed again. More than that, more than that!
“Clothes, clothes!”
Regardless of the fact that my gender is female, I couldn’t show my bare body to others.
‘There’s a magician’s mark!’
It was stamped on the lower part of my right waist. It meant that I was a magician of Arcadia who was loyal to the Magic King.
‘If that gets found out, everything will be over!’
I hurriedly looked down. My body was wrapped in a large, fluffy towel.
Did he find out? Did he find out? The magician’s mark! The fact that I’m a girl!
“Yeah, you need to change your clothes.”
At that time, a blunt voice was heard from somewhere.
It was Leviathan Uncle.
I swallowed hard.
When I felt the body wrapped in a cocoon in detail… it was still uncomfortable!
Thank goodness. It seemed that not much time had passed since I lost consciousness.
“You were shaking so much, so I wrapped you up for now… Tch, why doesn’t the Knights have children’s clothes?”
Wouldn’t it be weirder if they had them?
“That won’t work. Take a warm bath and wrap yourself in a towel again.”
“I’ll, I’ll do it.”
I hurriedly took a dry towel. A small bathtub with steaming steam was placed around me.
“What are you going to do?”
Uncle, who was rolling up his sleeves, stopped moving. A softened voice followed.
“Come here. Something really bad will happen.”
I, who was lying on the large sofa, slowly moved my body back.
“I know you’re angry. But please, not now.”
Angry? Why would I be?
Come to think of it, Uncle’s condition didn’t look very good either. He was still a soaking wet rat.
“Rubian.”
“I have a big scar on my body…”
I mumbled. My throat was so swollen that it stung every time I spoke.
“I don’t like anyone touching me…”
I squeezed my eyes shut and said. If Uncle approached any further, I was going to move my Magic Power.
Should I cast a memory spell? Or a illusion spell? But… I don’t want to cast such a spell on Uncle.
Uncle, who was staring down at me, roughly ruffled his hair.
“I’m going crazy.”
“……”
“……Can you do it alone?”
I quickly answered.
“I’ve always done it alone! I’m okay!”
At that moment, an unknown emotion seemed to flicker in his purple eyes, but I didn’t have the luxury to pay attention to that.
“Okay. Then I’ll turn around.”
I hurriedly changed my clothes. My hands were trembling, but it didn’t matter.
I need to finish quickly and rest. Uncle is now seeing three of me…
“It’s done!”
I felt much better after changing into fluffy clothes.
“What a temper.”
My body floated up. As if conscious of his wet body, Uncle very carefully hugged me and put me down on the bed.
It was a cozy and soft bed. As promised, sleepiness came over me.
I rubbed my sleepy eyes and stared at Uncle. Then, I suddenly remembered the feeling of him urgently hugging me in that rain.
“But why were you in front of that alley?”
My head was throbbing, but I felt like I had to ask now.
“Don’t tell me you found me?”
