Youngest on Top - Chapter 105

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 105

“Ed…”
“I can’t allow that.”
“…Really? You really won’t allow it?”

Edmund furrowed his brow with a sharp exhale.
But as if he’d made up his mind, he strode purposefully toward Saelika.

“I’m not letting you off today.”
“Eek!”

Edmund, standing at the threshold between boyhood and manhood, wrapped his fresh, limber arms around Saelika like a verdant branch.
Even after pulling her completely away from the window frame, he refused to release her, as if unconvinced of her safety.

“Honestly, what kind of Sacred Maiden causes trouble like you do?”

Enrik: That’s what I’m saying.

“Trouble? I was simply trying to conduct an earnest inspection of the people’s welfare.”
“You certainly have a way with words.”
“You just didn’t want to bother with interviews, so you bolted.”

Roana, who had entered the room at some point, shook her head in disapproval.

“The journalists are waiting. Don’t you feel sorry for them?”
“Roana and Ed are better at interviews than I am anyway.”
“Well…that’s true.”
“Honestly, that part is fair…”

Despite her angelic beauty, Saelika’s specialty was exterminating demons—not blood and slaughter, but demons—with her fists.
With her bare hands.

“Right, so it’s better if we each do what we’re good at, isn’t it?”
“No.”

A sharp refusal came back.
And the arms wrapped around her waist tightened their grip on Saelika.

“Will you walk on your own feet, or shall I drag you along?”
“…I’ll walk on my own.”

In the end, Saelika had no choice but to surrender.

“Escape attempt number 29,921. Fortunately, I caught her today.”

At Edmund’s muttering, Saelika’s expression grew weary.
He’d been counting all of them?

‘Well, Edmund was always like that since childhood.’

It made sense that he’d count her failed fork attempts and complain about them.

“29,921? That’s impressive. With how many times you escape each day, it’s only a matter of time before you hit thirty thousand, isn’t it?”

Enrik responded to Roana’s words.

Enrik: That’s only the ones she got caught. If you count the nights she disappeared and the times she got out without being noticed, it’d be double that.

After a moment of silence, Enrik asked.

Enrik: Don’t tell me you did the same thing in the Heavenly Realm?
Enrik: Getting caught wasn’t the only thing?

Ha, haha!
What beautiful weather!
Perfect weather for an interview!

Enrik: I won’t be angry, so tell me honestly.
Enrik: Just how much trouble have you caused?!

Saelika laughed brightly and quickened her pace.

“Let’s go do the interview!”

* * *

The reception hall of Artemisia Temple.
Reporters were waiting inside for today’s Sacred Maiden interview.

Nothing seemed particularly unusual, but there was one peculiarity.
Seasoned reporters sat sprawled across the sofa, fumbling nervously before a young man.

“Brighten your expression. Do you plan to meet the Sacred Maiden with that face?”
“You made a promise and kept me waiting—are you in your right mind?”
“The appointed time hasn’t arrived yet. Seven minutes remain.”
“Yes, and besides, stars rarely arrive on time, do they?”

At their placating words, the young man let out a derisive snort.

“That’s something you do with expendable underlings. I’m different. They should arrive early and wait for me.”

The man’s credentials were indeed impressive enough to speak with such confidence.
This young man was no ordinary reporter.

His name was Gunter Brentz.
He was a star journalist famous even beyond the empire—one whose single article could shift sales figures.

His handsome appearance, witty expressions, and raw honesty were the secrets to his popularity, but…
In reality, he was notorious for viciously tearing apart his subjects in his articles.
After all, no gossip captured public attention quite like the scandals of the famous.

“If I’m to help Artemisia, I need to make a favorable impression and receive a positive article.”
“But this interview was difficult for us to arrange. The Sacred Maiden doesn’t particularly enjoy interviews…”
“What? Do you need to be so submissive about it?”
“Gunter.”
“Artemisia Temple has grown larger than before, that’s true. But it can’t compare to Parmanace or Netiarsen.”
“That’s a matter of power struggles among the higher-ups, but sales figures are another matter entirely, aren’t they?”
“Yes, if Saelika the Sacred Maiden’s face appears, we wouldn’t even need separate advertisements.”

At the other reporters’ words, Gunter chuckled.

“Hmph, you still believe that?”
“Pardon?”
“Photography technology these days is incredible. And retouching techniques keep improving by the day.”
“Well….”
“Photographs in newspapers and magazines can never be trusted. We know that better than anyone, don’t we?”
“That’s true, but….”
“Looking at the photos, it’s not just the Sacred Maiden—all the other children around her are beautiful and handsome too? Not to mention the adults.”

Artemisia Temple was famous for its beautiful and handsome clergy.

“Does it make sense that all the Artemisia priests are uniformly beautiful and handsome?”
“There are rumors that they’re blessed by the Artemisia deity….”
“Hmph, it’s all marketing. Just trying to squeeze more believers out of people.”

Gunter crossed his legs leisurely and spoke as if instructing the other journalists.

“Adolescents, you see. They’re going through the ugliest period of their lives. And I’ve met quite a few Sacred Maidens.”
“That’s….”
“I’ve figured out how to write this article. It’s going to sell extremely well.”

Gunter spun his recording artifact with a flourish as he spoke.

“The true face of Artemisia’s Sacred Maiden.”
“B-but there was pre-arranged content we agreed on….”
“We have to think about sales. You’ll see for yourselves. What would generate more buzz.”

The journalists fell silent.
Honestly, no one could match Gunter’s sales figures.

“If the interview is reluctant, the reason is obvious. That supposedly angelic Sacred Maiden is actually covered in acne and hideously ug—.”
“Excuse me.”

Precisely at three o’clock, the door to the reception room opened.
The first thing visible was a young boy with pale pink hair.

His face, naturally exuding the arrogance characteristic of a great noble house, was like a flawlessly sculpted statue.
The light in his irises shimmered with noble magenta.
Sturdy shoulders and long, taut limbs like well-formed branches.
His appearance was enough to draw gasps of admiration from people of all ages and genders.

The reporters in the reception room inadvertently let out gasps of admiration as they gazed upon the young boy.
Though they had seen his face countless times in photographs, witnessing him in person was utterly overwhelming.

Only Gunter’s gaze was not fixed upon the child.
Rather, it was directed slightly behind him.

“Hello?”

His eyes were drawn as if magnetized toward the young girl whose gentle smile bloomed the moment their gazes met.
Only then did the other reporters’ attention shift toward the figure behind the boy.

‘A halo?’
‘What is that light…?’

Amidst the shimmering luminescence, a young girl smiled softly.
She appeared as if an angel had descended to the mortal realm—sacred and ethereal.

“The… the Sacred Maiden…!”
“We are honored to behold the Sacred Maiden!”

The reporters rose from their seats without thinking, their voices trembling with reverence.

Saelika approached the reporters with graceful, measured steps.
More precisely, she moved toward Gunter.
Edmund discreetly tugged at Saelika’s arm, but no one noticed.

Gunter, who had been entranced, finally regained his composure and bowed his head.
His earlier arrogant demeanor had vanished entirely, replaced by respectful movements.

“Ah… it is an honor to meet you. I am Gunter Brentz—.”
“How fortunate. You’re not covered in acne after all.”
“Pardon?”

Saelika laughed brightly.
It was an exceedingly holy and benevolent smile.
At least, that was how it appeared.

“Still, am I perhaps less handsome than you had hoped?”

Edmund pressed his forehead.

‘This interview is ruined too.’

* * *

Contrary to Edmund’s concerns, the interview proceeded normally.
It was because Gunter apologized immediately.

“That was a slip of the tongue. Please forgive me.”
“Hmm.”
“Despite being a journalist who understands the weight of words better than anyone, I carelessly spoke without proper understanding. How can I ever apologize enough?”

The fellow journalists were startled and stared at Gunter.
He’s not the type to act like this!

Saelika tilted her head.

‘Did he realize that if he disrespected Artemisia Temple one more time, my fists of justice would ignite?’

For a famous journalist, his perceptiveness was remarkable.

“To think I would meet a wingless angel in this place… I can only express my gratitude that Artemia has sent an angel to us mortals.”

The flattery to avoid trouble was extraordinary.
Thanks to it, the interview atmosphere was quite pleasant.

“I’m also quite curious about Priest Ilay and Knight Dmitri.”
“Yes, and Temple Priest Randel and Sacred Knight Kaiser…”
“I heard there won’t be enough seats at the Grand Ceremony just to see the High Priest…”

Flattery feels good even when you know it’s flattery.
Saelika nodded contentedly.

“I should attend the Grand Ceremony as well. Then I’ll be able to meet the others, won’t I?”
“Ah, now that I think about it, I heard that Priest Ilay and Knight Dmitri are not at the temple right now.”
“Yes, it’s unfortunate that both of them are away.”

The reporters caressed their cameras with even gloomier expressions than Saelika, who’d expressed her disappointment.
But it was only for a moment before they resumed snapping the shutter like madmen.

After a few questions were exchanged, the time was nearly approaching four o’clock.
Gunter checked the time and asked Saelika.

“I’d like to ask just one more thing as a final question.”
“Yes, please go ahead.”
“I understand that Artemisia Temple hasn’t held any joint conferences with the other Octagon temples for the past several years.”
“That’s correct.”
“Is there a particular reason for that?”

The reason was quite simple.
The other temples belonging to Octagon had rejected holding joint conferences with Artemisia.
All of them.

‘They basically shut us out, that’s all.’

Rather than holding a joint conference with Artemisia and decisively crushing them in competition, they’d chosen to ignore us instead.
They didn’t include us at all and simply formed their own league among themselves.

‘They didn’t even treat us as a member of Octagon.’

Ultimately, the media and public attention had no choice but to focus on the competition among Octagon members themselves.
In reality, Artemisia’s prominence had been steadily declining over the years.

When the Sacred Maiden appeared, surpassing two generations before her, many people had predicted that Artemisia would rise to the upper ranks of Octagon.

‘But the fact that we’re still at the very bottom of Octagon is proof of that.’

Of course, even being at the same bottom tier, our standing itself was different from before.

Gunter smiled inwardly with satisfaction.
He’d never intended to ask pre-arranged questions.

No matter how this question was answered, it was bound to become a topic of controversy.
Whether by emphasizing victimhood or by attacking the other Octagon temples.

‘I can’t be foolish like those other reporters and get mesmerized by her superficial appearance without digging up real news.’

To be honest, I was genuinely taken aback when I actually met the Sacred Maiden.
I was a little, slightly, somewhat quite surprised.
The eyes gazing silently at me now were so mystical and sacred, truly like something from mythology—.

“Gunter Brentz.”

Gunter snapped back to attention with a gasp.
I’d heard that the Sacred Maiden Saelika’s divine power was formidable, but it was truly astonishing.
Just meeting her gaze made me feel like I was being drawn in.

“I don’t think I need to answer that question.”
“Pardon? But—.”
“You’ll understand on your own in just a few days.”

Gunter furrowed his brow.

“That sounds like you’re dodging the question.”
“It’s not dodging—I’m simply telling you as it is. You’ll have your answer within ten days.”

Saelika smiled.
Her blue eyes, holding the sky itself, curved softly, and her petal-like lips formed a gentle arc.

“Ah… I see…”

Gunter answered blankly before suddenly coming to his senses.

‘To inspire such instant trust… what formidable divine power she possesses…!’

Just as Gunter was about to say something more.

“It’s already four o’clock. The Sacred Maiden has other appointments.”

Edmund ended the interview.
Faced with that noble’s inherent dignity, the reporters bowed their heads without pressing further.

Of course, Gunter was the exception.

“But Sacred Maiden, regarding my question—.”
“We’ll talk next time, Gunter.”
“Yes….”

In the end, Gunter left the room quietly without further protest.

“Gunter didn’t get to hear the interview answer. That’s a first, isn’t it?”
“Right. Before, he grilled Duke Bekins one by one about the corruption allegations, but today….”
“Gunter’s weak to faces.”
“Exactly. Gunter can’t resist a pretty face.”

Hearing his fellow journalists’ whispers, Gunter burst out loudly.

“What are you talking about! I was overwhelmed by the Sacred Maiden’s divine power (beauty)!”
“Ah, yes. Of course you were.”
“Divine power written, beauty read….”
“You bastards…!”

.
.

Regardless of the commotion outside, the reception room where the journalists had departed was peaceful.

“Still, I didn’t cause any trouble today. Well done.”

At Edmund’s praise, Saelika crossed her arms with a satisfied hum.

“What do you take me for? I can do it when I set my mind to it.”
“…Is that so? The one who ‘can do it’ ripped off Elder Reyatan’s wig in front of the journalists?”
“That, that was an accident.”
“Right, pulling off three wigs in a row was an accident.”
“….”

Saelika closed her mouth obediently.
Edmund chuckled and tilted his head toward Saelika.

“That journalist doesn’t seem to believe you, does he?”
“It doesn’t matter if he doesn’t. In a few days, he’ll realize my words were true.”

Those cowardly and pathetic Octagon fools deliberately ignore and ostracize Artemisia Temple?

‘Then I’ll simply have to make them include us.’

Saelika smiled wickedly.
It was a smile as pure and holy as an angel’s.

* * *

Temples receive evaluations twice each year—once regionally and once across all regions.
Securing a favorable ranking in these evaluations allows temples to attract more followers and patrons.

It was early spring now.
The regional temple evaluations for this year were drawing near.

Moloresta Temple, as a confident member of the Octagon, had held first place among the eastern temples for decades.
More precisely, it had dominated the east ever since Artemisia failed to produce a Sacred Maiden.

“There were no surprises after all.”
“Yes, we were nervous when that annoying Artemisia produced a Sacred Maiden, but…”
“There was no need to be.”

The elders of Moloresta chuckled smugly.

A temple’s ranking could not change so easily.
For two generations, Artemisia had only continued to decline.
Meanwhile, the other Octagon temples had advanced.

Moloresta in particular, which had been suppressed by Artemisia in the east, had made truly remarkable progress.
Second and first place commanded entirely different levels of attention.

“No matter how hard Artemisia pursues us, there is a gap they cannot overcome.”

Everyone nodded in leisurely agreement with those words.
Certainly, until five minutes ago.

“W-What is this?”

The Elders of Moloresta stared at the hologram suspended in the air with vacant expressions.

“Is this really the predicted regional rankings for this period?!”
“When did we fall so far behind in the east?!”
“And to Artemisia of all places…!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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