TYHL 53

~Chapter 53~

“Did you not sleep last night?”

I suddenly asked. Khalid, with a strangely sharp face, raised one eyebrow slightly.

“I slept well.”

“No, you didn’t. That’s exactly the face of someone who stood guard all night.”

As I narrowed my eyes and stepped closer, Khalid quietly turned his head away.

“Shift.”

“……”

“I changed shifts, that’s all.”

He made an excuse.

Well, no doubt he had been playing with his animal friends.

‘I’ll just let it slide.’

I glanced at the little squirrel sitting neatly on Khalid’s head. The squirrel was nibbling on an acorn, then tilted its head as it met my gaze.

“Hehe, so cute.”

“…Yeah.”

“Hm?”

“Here.”

Khalid quickly handed me a scroll. When I opened it slightly, it was a newly obtained blueprint.

I quickly tucked it inside my clothes so the senior knights at the training ground wouldn’t see it.

“But still… Maddix uncle doesn’t even react to most blueprints anymore.”

“Tsk, how picky.”

That was true. Lately, making magic tools had hit an unexpected obstacle.

“Ruby! It’s terrible. Ever since you gave me those thrilling blueprints, I can’t get excited by normal ones anymore! My heart won’t beat! I’ve completely fallen into corruption…!”

It was Uncle Maddix, fully addicted to dopamine. I’d managed to distract him somehow for now, but I felt like his limit would come soon.

“We only need two more. One we can somehow make with this blueprint…”

The problem was the other one.

I crossed my arms and thought.

Khalid tapped his wooden sword on the ground lazily.

“Don’t rush too much. The tracking mages are quiet anyway. Oh, by the way…”

“Hm?”

“A Babylon stronghold mage moved.”

Stronghold mage? My mouth opened slightly, and Khalid added while recalling.

“That’s right, isn’t it? The mages who got permission to live in other countries.”

“Yeah, you remember. They exist in major strongholds, so they’re called stronghold mages.”

“They sure act special, huh.”

Mages usually could only live in their kingdom. But some, with the king’s permission, could migrate to other lands.

Actually, apart from the issue of child soldiers and the kingdom’s humanitarian problems, powerful mages were respected wherever they went.

And mage troops had played a big role in the war, so even more so.

“It’s Jebert who especially hates mages. That’s unusual.”

Though, of course, there were reasons behind that hatred.

Anyway, stronghold mages lived in other countries, providing the magical help needed there, and helping Arcadia obtain what it needed—whether information, goods, anything.

‘Since Arcadia is an isolated island…’

That was how they kept ties to the continent.

I stroked my chin, thinking.

“But in Babylon, weren’t there only mages in the East and South?”

“He said Eastern.”

Because Babylon had weak mana density, the number of stronghold mages was also low. And even then, only lower-rank ones handled it.

‘If it’s the East… then it must be that guy.’

Maybe that could even help cure Uncle Maddix’s dopamine addiction.

“But how do you even know about an Eastern mage’s movements? Did your scouting summons return?”

“Well…”

Khalid scratched his cheek and avoided my sharp eyes. My gaze narrowed dangerously.

“You’re not overusing magic, are you? What if they find out you’re a mage and drag you back to the kingdom?”

As I spoke a little gloomily, his bluish-gray eyes flashed cold for an instant.

“Then I’ll just kill them all.”

“There you go again, full of bluff…”

Could it be… Khalid was going through a chuunibyo phase?

Hopefully not too badly.

“Anyway, okay! I’ll think about what to do.”

I got up, looking at Khalid who was quietly holding my wrist and sharing his mana with me.

“Where are you going?”

“Unc… no, ah—time for tea with Grandpa.”

If I missed dessert time, he’d sulk and it’d be hard later. No skipping allowed.

Khalid fastened his bracelet and straightened his back.

“Hey, Ruby.”

“Hm?”

“Why don’t you tell the truth about your gender?”

“What?”

I quickly looked around, but Khalid whispered low:

“There’s no one here.”

“You said you’d stay here. Forget being a mage—how are you going to keep hiding that you’re a girl?”

His expression looked strangely uncomfortable.

“You’ll grow, you know.”

Well… true.

Since I came here, I’d been growing so quickly it was surprising. Still small compared to my age (unfair), and compared to Khalid shooting up like bamboo… it was nothing.

“Mm.”

I looked down at myself quietly. The blue lion crest of Jebert knights’ uniform. My neat hair cut by Uncle last night.

Even if I grew, I didn’t expect drastic changes…

“If I just don’t take off my clothes, won’t it be fine?”

It was an objective analysis, but Khalid frowned, looking unconvinced.

“Not sure.”

His voice sounded frustrated.

“With someone as cute as you, no matter what you do, people will notice.”

“Huh?”

“I mean, with someone as pretty as you, how could you not get found out.”

“…Did you just correct your words?”

“……”

I awkwardly scratched my cheek, embarrassed for no reason.

“Later. After I finish what I need to.”

Someday I would confess everything. But not now. Right now, I had things to do.

“The runaway mage is known to be a girl anyway, so once I make a barrier and it’s safe, then. And also…”

I looked far into the distance at the black Duke’s castle and added:

“Dad still can’t even go to the baby’s grave because it hurts too much. He needs more time.”

I also needed time to prepare my own heart.

“Hm.”

Khalid opened his mouth slightly, then closed it without saying anything.

I hurried forward, waving my hands.

“Anyway, I’m going! Khal, train hard today! Don’t fight with the senior knights!”

Khalid reflexively waved back.

“Wouldn’t it be worse if she gets found out suddenly…”

He muttered under his breath awkwardly, scratching his head. Of course, I didn’t hear it.

Snack time!

Today, Grandpa and Void were present as well—a rare occasion. Normally they’d be training hard at this hour.

It must be because of the golden-lettered envelope Dad was holding.

“So this year it’s here, then?”

“Yes. At Count Camelan’s territory, Ipsun.”

“Close, huh.”

“Excuse me, Father, but may I ask what it is?”

Void asked, pushing his cake far away with a disgusted face.

Void wasn’t a kid who liked desserts. Surprisingly, he ate bell peppers just fine though. Odd taste.

“It’s the Green Festival. This year it’s being held nearby.”

“Oh… are you attending?”

“Well…”

Dad, sitting at the head of the table, narrowed one eye. He clearly didn’t want to.

Grandpa snatched the letter off the table.

“The Emperor and princes are all coming? Hah! Looks like they’ll storm in if we don’t attend.”

His voice was full of annoyance. Sitting back like a thug, arms on the chair, Grandpa turned to Dad.

“Son. Don’t tell me you didn’t attend the victory banquet in the capital? That’s why they’re acting like this?”

“Father, please. Don’t use such words. The children are here.”

Oops. Grandpa quickly covered his mouth. Too late—the words had already spread in the air.

“Kids, forget what you just heard, alright?”

“Today’s the first time we heard your voice, Grandpa.”

That Void… he’ll do well in society someday.

Grandpa coughed loudly and shook the letter again.

“Looks like the nobles are dying to see your face! So, what are you going to do? Will you go?”

“Not sure. Do I have to?”

From what I remembered, the Empire’s Green Festival was a huge event marking the start of the year. Normally, every noble family attended.

“It was always a stage for family rivalries, power shows, and political dealings.”

But Jebert was always an exception.

They didn’t need such things. They were already the Empire’s most powerful house, the greatest sword family.

So Uncle usually didn’t attend. And in recent years, there was the war.

Grandpa also skipped, citing health.

“But not this time!”

I was determined to go.

“Me! I want to go to the festival!”

I raised my hand high. All eyes turned to me, and I shrank a little.

“…Ah, is it not allowed? If Dad doesn’t want to, then maybe I can go with the knights…”

“Leon, pen.”

“Yes, sir.”

Without a moment’s pause, the pen moved.

Attending.