Youngest on Top - Chapter 107

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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 107

Randel flashed an endlessly gentle smile toward the demon.

“Sae called me daddy.”

The demon’s face contorted further, its aura growing more vicious.
My skin prickled from the intensity, but Randel didn’t seem to care at all.

“Isn’t that right, Sae?”

He even turned to ask me with an even brighter smile.

“That is…”
“Try calling me daddy again, just like you did a moment ago.”

Kaiser strode purposefully toward me from behind the radiant Randel.

“Saelika.”

Kaiser’s expression as he called my name in that low voice was ominous.
I had no idea what might happen next!
I looked up at Kaiser nervously.

“…?”

But Kaiser merely gazed at me for a moment before leaving the room.

‘That expression just now was a bit…’

Then Randel called out to me.

“So Sae, what was it you wanted to ask daddy for?”

I snapped back to attention. “Oh.”
Now was the time to move forward with the meeting with Molorestia.

“Randel! I need to go out!”
“But the High Priest forbade you from going out. You were already caught trying to sneak out once.”
“But it’s to prepare for the gathering!”
“Others will handle all the preparations.”
“Randel….”

I clasped my hands together and gazed at Randel with sparkling eyes.
But Randel remained resolute.

“Tell me what you need, and I’ll take care of it for you.”

If this doesn’t work, there’s nothing else I can do.

“Dad….”
“…!”
“Really, can’t I go out? I want to go out with Dad Randel.”
“…!!”

Randel flinched, then broke into the brightest smile I’d ever seen.
The light radiating from his face was nearly blinding.

“Of course, our Sae. Where would you like to go?”

Perfect.
Even during the restriction period, I could go out confidently with Randel.

Enrik: Falling for something like that.
Enrik: Does he really like that? I don’t understand.
Enrik: I don’t get it at all.
Enrik: I would never fall for something like that.

I ignored Enrik’s grumbling as always.

* * *

“My goodness, our Sacred Maiden!”

Madame Caitlin greeted me with a radiant smile.
I had come to know Madame Caitlin through a gathering in Reyatan long ago.
She was one of the members of the so-called Bread Devotee Family.

Madame Caitlin was destined to become one of the most prominent figures—the chief artisan overseeing all military supplies for the imperial palace.
Of course, even now, there was no one who could match her skill in mana crafting.
The reason I had sought her out today was precisely because of that ability.

“Thank you so much for welcoming me despite my sudden visit.”
“What are you saying? Our Sacred Maiden is always welcome. Oh my, and Temple Priest Randel as well. Hello there.”
“It’s been a while, Madame Caitlin. May Artemia always guide your path forward.”
“Yes, may we always find happiness in our Bread—ahem! In Artemia’s embrace.”

Madame Caitlin led us into the Atelier.
The Atelier was always filled with wondrous objects, no matter when I visited.
The crafted mana stones emitted their own peculiar light, while within them, swirling currents of mana danced like slow-moving sandstorms.

“What brings our Sacred Maiden to me today?”
“Well, first of all, I wanted to see you.”

I spoke with bright cheerfulness, and Madame Caitlin let out an excited cry, pulling me into an embrace.

“How can you be so adorable and lovely! So what’s the second reason?”

Madame Caitlin rubbed her face against my cheek playfully, smiling mischievously.

“Ah, let me guess. It’s about the gathering with Molorestia, isn’t it?”
“Sister, you’re amazing!”
“Everyone’s been in quite a fuss about it lately. The entire eastern region is abuzz.”

For the first time in decades, a gathering between Artemisia and another Octagon was being held.
Since both were rooted in the eastern part of the empire, it was only natural that the people of the east were deeply interested.

“I’m delighted that you came to me instead of someone else, Sacred Maiden.”
“Yes, it won’t be a loss for you either, sister. This time, the advertising effect will be quite substantial—”

As I was explaining, something seemed odd about Madame Caitlin’s expression.
What was wrong?

“No, no, that’s not what I meant—. The advertising effect and other benefits, of course they’re good. They’re definitely good.”

Madame Caitlin laughed softly and pinched my cheek.

“I’m just happy to be helpful to my little sister.”
“…!”
“And in Sae’s eyes, I’m the greatest mana craftsperson, aren’t I?”

Madame Caitlin gently stroked my cheek and lifted her chin arrogantly.

“So, what do you need?”

Her face carried the scent of wealth.

“If it’s something my little sister wants, I’ll prepare whatever you need.”
“Sister…!”

Madame Caitlin spread both arms wide open.
I leaped into her embrace and hugged her tightly.

‘Connections really are the best!’

I was glad I’d cultivated these relationships when the opportunity arose.

* * *

After hearing my explanation, Madame Caitlin nodded.

“Hmm, indeed. It’s difficult to find such quality crafting stones in such a short timeframe. And on top of that, we’d need to add mana circuit crafting as well….”
“Is it impossible?”
“My goodness, what are you saying! For this sister, nothing is impossible. The crafting stones already have sufficient quality, and I can craft the mana circuits with any precision you need.”

Madame Caitlin, who had been speaking confidently, trailed off.

“The only problem is the design….”

That was when it happened.
Suddenly, the magic stone resting on the table glowed red.

Madame Caitlin placed her fingertips to her lips with a soft “My.”

“It seems an uninvited guest has arrived. How dare they covet what is mine.”

This meant the Atelier had been broken into.
We hurried out of the Reception Room.
But the thief was nowhere to be found.

“Did they already leave?”

Madame Caitlin shook her head at my question.

“They won’t be able to leave even if they tried.”

Following Madame’s gaze, I could see that indeed all the exits were sealed.
Madame Caitlin sighed as if troubled and fanned herself with her fan.

“Hmm, I do hope they refrain from unnecessary movement. Finding a corpse in my sacred Atelier would be most unpleasant.”

I looked at Madame Caitlin with some surprise.

‘Ah, that’s right. I’d forgotten since she’s always been so kind to me.’

Mana craftspeople were, at best, obsessed with their research.
The higher their skill, the more so.

This place, though called an Atelier, was essentially a den to any intruder.
Above all, Madame Caitlin was someone who had built her reputation in the hidden world.

“Ran— Dad.”

I almost called him by his usual name before quickly correcting myself.

“You like coming out with Dad? I like coming out with Dad and Sae.”
“Should we go to the Dessert Shop with Dad later?”
“Dad found that pudding shop that our Sae loves.”
“Dad is….”

It was because of words I’d heard so often my ears were practically bleeding by the time I came to the Atelier today.
There was no way to counter someone speaking with such a gentle smile.

Randel, understanding my meaning, deployed his sacred power.

“Argh!”

The moment vines shot forth from Randel, a scream pierced the air.

“H-Hey, let go!”

But the vines had only ensnared empty air.
Empty air in the shape of a person.

“Not a mage… could it be an invisibility artifact?”

Madame Caitlin, muttering to herself, approached the vines and reached out her hand.
The moment the artifact deactivated, the thief’s form was revealed.
It was a young boy, appearing to be in his mid-teens.

“That’s m-mine! Why are you taking it! You damned woman!”
“My goodness.”

Madame Caitlin, laughing softly, picked up an artifact nearby.
It was a lethal artifact.

I quickly intervened before Madame Caitlin could commit murder.

“This artifact is yours, you say?”

The boy, seeing me, hesitated before his face flushed red with anger.

“Yeah! Idiot! I just said it—did you already forget?”
“…”

Well, perhaps I should simply encourage Madame Caitlin to pursue her intentions.

Madame Caitlin laughed sharply at the boy.

“You’re claiming something you stole is yours?”
“I didn’t steal it!”
“Yet you were caught red-handed trying to steal from my Atelier. Your words ring hollow.”
“That’s…!”

The young boy bit his lip, finding himself at a loss for words.

“Regardless, it really is mine. I made it myself!”
“You made it?”

Madame Caitlin regarded the young boy with piercing eyes.

The boy’s appearance was utterly shabby.
A transparency artifact was the sort of high-priced item that nobles would compete for at auctions.
It was nearly impossible for a boy like him to obtain such an object without theft.

‘But if he truly made it himself….’

Caitlin began examining the artifact, apparently sharing my thoughts.

“What do you think?”
“…Honestly, I’m astounded. I’ve never seen a transparency artifact code structured this way before. Connecting them like this… The technical skill is crude, though….”

In other words, the technical execution was sloppy, but the creativity was extraordinary.
I turned to the boy still struggling with the vines and asked him.

“What were you planning to take from Madame Caitlin’s Atelier?”

The boy merely pouted his lips and refused to answer.
Only after Randel tightened the vines further did his mouth finally open.

“I needed a mana stone to use as a core for a new artifact I’m making. Response speed is crucial, but mana stones cut by other artisans are too slow….”
“So you were planning to steal Madame’s fast-response cutting stones?”
“N-no, I wasn’t trying to steal!”
“Taking something without permission isn’t stealing, then what is it?”
“I was planning to repay you later! I’m going to become the greatest mage engineer! Then I can compensate you however much you want!”

At those words, Madame Caitlin let out a scoff.

“The greatest mage engineer? What on earth were you trying to create that’s so impressive?”

At my words, the young boy bristled and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper from his pocket.
It was an artifact blueprint.

Madame Caitlin examined the blueprint with a thoughtful “Hmm.”
Though her expression didn’t betray it, I caught a glimmer of intrigue in her eyes.

Madame Caitlin folded the blueprint and spoke to the boy.

“As your senior, I’ll impart a lesson you’ll never forget.”

The boy’s face twisted in displeasure as he stared at Madame Caitlin.

“If you possess a blueprint like this, never show it to anyone, no matter what they say.”
“What?”
“In the worst case, they’ll steal it. In the best case, they’ll copy it.”
“That’s—! Give it back! Do you know how much I suffered designing this…!”

I was somewhat taken aback.
Was this a blueprint even Madame Caitlin coveted?

I approached the boy.

“What’s your name?”
“Why would you need to—Ow! Fine! I’ll tell you!”

The boy, defeated by the vines, opened his mouth.

“Hephastos. Hephastos Athas.”
“…!”

I stared at the boy in utter shock.

‘Hephastos Athas—isn’t he that famous mage engineer!’

A genius among geniuses, lauded for leaving his mark on the history of mage engineering.
The man who advanced mage engineering through brilliant innovations that overturned existing theories and systems entirely!

‘Ah, that’s right. He was originally Madame Caitlin’s slave.’

Now I understood why he’d become one.
Even before my regression, he’d been caught attempting to steal like this.
Madame Caitlin, recognizing his talent, had made him her slave.
Hephastos Athas, like me, was an orphan living in the slums, so he had nothing to lose.

Hephastos Athas would have ground his teeth at the mention of Madame Caitlin, but there was no denying that the Madame had unlocked this child’s talent.
That’s why Hephastos had personally cared for her when she fell ill later.
Even though he was no longer her slave by then.

“Sister, what if you took this child as your apprentice? Or at least as an assistant?”
“Why would I trust a thief?”
“Then what about as a slave?”
“Hey!”

Hephastos shouted harshly.
It was his fate to become a laboratory slave anyway.

‘In this life, I’ve had a hand in that too.’

I spoke to Hephastos.

“If you listen well to your sister from now on, you’ll truly become the greatest magitech engineer. So hang in there!”

As I smiled brightly and clenched my fist lightly, Hephastos flinched.
He avoided my gaze and asked.

“What about you?”
“Huh?”
“You come here often— no, never mind. Well, that woman’s skills aren’t something I can match anyway… Volunteering wouldn’t be so bad.”

I kept smiling as I raised my lightly clenched fist upward.
Then I gave Hephastos a flick on the forehead with a soft thunk.

“Ow!”
“Theft is wrong. If the security forces caught you, they could cut off your hand.”
“….”
“So be good to your sister. Use formal speech consistently, and treat her with respect.”
“My, our Sacred Maiden truly is dependable.”

Madame Caitlin spoke with a pleased expression, then brought her fan to her lips.

“Come to think of it, it almost seems like fate.”
“Fate?”
“The design you mentioned was problematic earlier. With this child’s help, it seems it could be resolved easily.”

Madame Caitlin waved Hephastos’s blueprints.

“My help?”

Hephastos asked back with a slightly bewildered expression.
It was the face of someone hearing for the first time that they could be useful to someone.

When I explained what I needed, Hephastos chuckled and nodded.

“I know how to do that.”
“Really?”
“Hmph, I’ll teach you wh…!”

Hephastos, who had paused mid-sentence while staring at my face, suddenly turned away.

“…I’ll teach you.”
“…?”

Did he notice I had my fist clenched behind my back?
I thought he was oblivious, but he’s surprisingly perceptive.

“You’ll need to come here often to check the progress. Is that alright?”
“Of course it is.”

Since it wasn’t anything particularly difficult, I nodded readily.

‘Either way, things worked out well!’

First, I acquired Madame Caitlin, a mana artificer, and now Hephastos, a magical engineer, falls into my hands!

‘With this, I’ve taken another step closer to power!’

I didn’t notice as I laughed with glee.
That Randel was gazing at Hephastos with a distinctly cold smile.

* * *

Time passed swiftly, and the day of the Assembly drew near.

“I heard the Sacred Maiden of Molorestia has quite an excellent personality.”
“Really?”
“She’s straightforward and bold.”

Hearing Roana’s words, the opening evening gala of the Assembly seemed like it would proceed without issue.

But the Sacred Maiden of Molorestia I actually met was entirely different from my expectations.
Very much so.

“But really, that’s too bad.”

The Sacred Maiden of Molorestia spoke to me with a pitying expression.

“Dmitri and Ilay, I mean. No matter what, wasn’t that too much for you?”
“….”
“Even so, they should prioritize the Sacred Maiden above all, yet they embarrassed you like this.”

I clenched my fists tightly.
Should I punch her?

—————
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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