Youngest on Top - Chapter 121

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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 121

Kailros.
Artemia’s angel, arrogance incarnate.

His temperament was so foul and his pride so insufferable that a single glance could infuriate the other angels, and a single laugh could make them tremble with rage. The power that made angels clutch the back of their necks in frustration was remarkably, extraordinarily potent.
The archangel-grabbing power of Kailus is extremely, extremely strong…

It was healing.

Enrique: It really doesn’t suit you.

Honestly, it’s a mystery how someone with a personality that would give even a perfectly healthy angel high blood pressure could possess such power.

“It’s not like I’m giving you the disease and then the cure.”

He would only snicker at the sight of angels clutching their necks because of him, making their conditions worse.
I laughed at the sight of angels grabbing the back of their necks because of him, and if that made his illness worse, then so be it.

Enrik: We’ve kept failing to establish a connection with Kailros.
Enrique: We’ve kept failing to connect with Kailush, haven’t we?

Setting aside his detestable personality, his abilities were far too useful.
Setting aside his personality, which is like that of a mongrel, Kailous’s abilities are very useful.

“Above all, I thought it would help with Shuri’s curse.”

But the results were all failures.

“Things are different now than they were back then. It’s not like I’ve just been playing around all this time.”

Enrique: Well, that may be true, but…

Enrique looked displeased.

Communication with the Heavenly Realm could not be forced in the first place.
As the Sacred Maiden’s power grew stronger, the angels’ voices would naturally reach her.
As the saint’s power grew stronger, it was natural for the angel’s voice to be conveyed.

No matter how much I call from the mortal realm, the angels will not answer.
To forcibly establish a connection on my end, my soul had to reach the Heavenly Realm and receive the angel’s response.

And that was something no Sacred Maiden had ever accomplished—or more precisely, had ever even attempted.
The reason was simple.
It was madness.

‘The timing is favorable now. Thanks to Molorestia’s gathering, the influence of Artemisia Temple has grown stronger.’

The power of the divine flows from the myths that resound, from the faith of believers.
And the power of priests comes from the divine they serve.

Now that Artemisia Temple had established itself as the foremost temple in the Eastern Provinces.
The priests’ power had naturally grown one tier stronger than before.

Enrik: The timing is good, but.
Enrik: Your condition isn’t good.

Right now, I was operating my divine power to the point where my Divine Heart was fracturing from the strain.

‘…But I can’t wait for it to recover.’

I gazed at Kaiser’s pale face.
Just looking at him made my heart ache and throb painfully.

Enrik: There’s no point in trying to stop you—you won’t listen to me anyway.
Enrik: Sigh.
Enrik: But you absolutely must succeed.
Enrik: In your current depleted state, if you fail, your body won’t be able to withstand the rebound.

I knew all too well how agonizing and painful the rebound was, having failed to connect with Kailros several times before.
In my current weakened state….
Honestly, I don’t even know what will happen.

But I couldn’t possibly back down out of fear.

‘No matter what price I have to pay, I will save Kaiser.’

Enrik: …Sigh.
Enrik: I wonder who I inherited this stubborn streak from.

Enrik grumbled while preparing to assist me.
I too was in the midst of readying myself, my hand placed over my heart.

“Sae.”

Randel grasped my shoulder.
When I looked at him, he offered a smile that was tender yet tinged with melancholy.

“Don’t try to resolve everything alone. Tell us what you’re planning.”
“Yes, what are you trying to do? How can we help you?”
“Don’t bear this burden by yourself. Rely on us a little more.”
“That’s right! Even a tiger fares better with a pack than alone!”
“We may be unreliable adults in your eyes, but….”

Randel, Devon, Sirius, Derrick, Mogen….
The adults were watching me intently.

Before I could formulate a response, the High Priest firmly grasped my hand.

“We are here to help you, to protect you.”

My reflection was clearly visible in the High Priest’s silver eyes.
I gazed at the adults for a moment before asking.

“How did you know?”
“…?”
“How did you know I was going to do something?”

I hadn’t said anything—I’d merely placed my hand over my heart. How could they have known?
It was remarkable.

The adults answered as though my question was the most obvious thing in the world.

“We’ve lived with you and watched over you for years now. Of course we’d know.”
“We’re your family, after all.”

Family.

“Then please help me.”
“Of course.”
“What should I do?”

The adults asked me eagerly.

Enrik: …Something feels strange about this.
Enrik: Well, but it worked out well anyway.

“Please lend me your divine power.”
“…!”
“You mean—.”
“Yes, I’m going to use 【Consolidation】.”

【Consolidation】, one of the Sacred Maiden’s divine authorities.
An ability to consolidate divine power held by other priests and use it as one’s own.

‘That’s the very power Helene used at the gathering with Reyatan back then.’

Though Helene hadn’t wielded it properly.

For me now, with my Divine Heart completely depleted, it would be invaluable.
If I consolidate the divine power of high-ranking priests, I’ll have far more than what I originally possessed.

‘I should have thought to ask for help sooner.’

Before my regression, no one had ever helped me.
Rather, they constantly hindered and tormented me, so I had to do everything alone.

Enrik: ….

It was the same in the Heavenly Realm.
What I was trying to do could never be discovered.

Enrik: Who would go along if I said let’s go take down the other angels together!
Enrik: If it got out, they’d obviously stop me!

‘I never asked for that kind of help.’

Enrik: Right. You wouldn’t have asked, since I’d lock you up the moment you spoke.
Enrik: But is there anything else you’d insist on doing together besides this?!

‘…There is.’

Enrik: What’s with that long silence?
Enrik: Don’t lie and say I can’t read your true feelings like I used to!

“We are ready.”
“If my sacred power proves useful to you, I shall offer it freely.”

The adults seemed somewhat excited.
I soon understood why.

‘Ah, this must be everyone’s first time.’

Artemisia Temple had not had a Sacred Maiden for two generations.
This meant the High Priest and Elders, as well as the Priesthood including Randel, Derrick, and Mogen, had never combined their power with a Sacred Maiden before.

“How delighted we are to follow the will of our Sacred Maiden.”
“How fortunate we are that our Sacred Maiden is you, Sae, and no other.”
“…I’m truly grateful too, that you are my priests.”

When I first arrived at Artemisia Temple, I never imagined I would gain a family like this.

I closed my eyes and focused.
This was my first attempt at unification.
Yet it felt as though I could succeed on the first try.

The stronger the bond between a Sacred Maiden and her priests, the more they trust and cherish one another, the more their power shines.

“My priests. Come to your Sacred Maiden.”

With the whisper, light blazed forth from the priests’ bodies.
Sacred power gleaming like dawn rushed toward me.
Just as I anticipated, I succeeded on the first attempt.

‘Stronger than I expected.’

I knew the Priesthood possessed exceptional abilities.
But not to this degree.

I felt a clear, unbreakable connection between the Priesthood and myself.
They all responded to my will, resonating with my intentions.

‘If this is the case….’

I can do it.
I can save Kaiser.

Enrik: Follow closely.

Enrik guided the way for me.
My soul followed the path he had opened.

Enrik: This is the third gate that always blocked us.

Unlike the first and second gates I had passed through, the third gate’s door stood immovably before me.
No matter how hard I knocked, it would not open for me.

‘I lack the qualifications.’

The door hadn’t opened naturally—I had forced my way up to this point through sheer determination.

Enrik: You’re wrong. It won’t budge at all.

‘No.’

If the door won’t open, there must be another way.

Enrik: You’re not thinking of climbing over it? That’s impossible.

I closed my eyes and concentrated.

‘Please share your strength with me—!!’

As I yearned with intense fervor, the divine power pouring into me grew even more overwhelming.
Countless forces surged like waves, pushing against my back.

The overflowing divine power spiraled through my soul, swirling with unbridled energy.
I clenched my fist tightly.

Enrik: Surely not—

Toward the firmly sealed gate, my fist of justice blazed with righteous fire.

Boom!

The gate trembled with a deafening roar that shook heaven and earth.
And then.

Craaash!

Fragments of the shattered gate began to crumble and collapse.

‘Knock, and the door shall open.’

I raised my fist with a whoosh and grinned wickedly.

‘It opened.’

Enrik: You absolute madman!!!
Enrik: That’s not opening! That’s destroying it!
Enrik: Was that knocking?! Was that knocking?!!

I tried knocking gently at first, but it wouldn’t open, so I simply knocked a bit harder.
Isn’t striking fundamentally no different from knocking?

Enrik: What do we do if you destroy the gate!!
Enrik: Hell! The demons are attacking right now and the angels are in complete chaos?!?!?!!!
Enrique: Damn it! Are the demons attacking right now?! The angels are going crazy?!?!?!!!
Enrik: How am I supposed to handle this?!!!!!

I passed through the wide-open gateway without hesitation.
My Priesthood supported me forward.
I felt certain I could advance further.

Enrik: Though I doubt you’re confident you can destroy it better.

‘Enrik.’

Enrik: …Why.

‘I have to save Kaiser. If something happens to him, then I….’

Enrik: …Right. After coming this far, turning back would be a waste.

Enrik’s power guided me forward.
As I followed that familiar strength, a distant and longed-for air enveloped me.

This time, it truly seemed possible.
I could do this.

Enrik: We’re almost there now.

And I truly arrived.
My soul was forcibly stepping upon the ground of the Heavenly Realm.

Enrik: You actually pulled this off.
Enrik: And through sheer force at that….

It was when Enrik made a sound that could have been laughter or something else entirely.

‘…!’

Enrik: What’s wrong?

‘…Kailros isn’t responding.’

After coming all this way, he wasn’t answering.

Enrik: I can’t bring in any more.
Enrik: Everyone’s in an uproar because the demons are attacking right now.
Enrik: If more come through, we’ll be discovered.
Enrik: We don’t have much time left.

I know it too.
There’s a soul that shouldn’t exist in the Heavenly Realm.
Even now, I could feel the force pushing me out.
I’m struggling to hold on, but soon I’ll be expelled.

‘Artemia…’

I can’t fail.
I have to succeed.

‘Even now, Kaiser is fighting death itself.’

I was anxious.
I tried to stand firm as stone, but bit by bit, my feet were being pushed backward.

I called out Kailros’s name desperately.
But no matter how many times I called, there was no answer.

Screeeech—.
As my feet were pushed back, the ground cracked beneath me.
One more step backward and it’s all over.

No matter how much Kailros despised and looked down on me, still—.
Please.

‘Kaiser— our father has to live!’

Answer me!

“Kailros, you bastard!!!”

In that moment.

“Sae—!!”

A voice reached me.
A voice I had heard long ago, buried in memory yet still vivid and clear.
My brother’s voice.

“…!”

The moment shock seized me, I was cast out from the Heavenly Realm.

* * *

“Gasp, huff!”
“Sae!”
“Are you alright?”

The adults steadied my trembling body.
But there was something far more important than whether I was alright.

‘Just now… he responded, didn’t he?’

In that final moment of being expelled, I heard it clearly.
It was Kailros’s voice.

‘Kailros!’

But there was no answer.
I heard his voice clearly, yet he only responded after I was cast out?
Was it too late?

‘Then Kaiser….’

I approached Kaiser, who lay collapsed on the ground.

No.
This cannot be.

The moment I embraced that cold body.

Kailros: Saelika.

“…!”

I recalled the message from that arrogant angel with the terrible personality.

Kailros: My beloved youngest.
Kailros: My heart. My breath.
Kailros: At last, I’m speaking with you.

I stared blankly at the message window.
Even after rubbing my eyes, it still read ‘Kailros’.
But….

Kailros: My soul, my most precious child.
Kailros: That you would ascend all the way to the Heavenly Realm to meet me….

I gazed at the message window with unease.
This was absolutely not Kailros.

‘…Who are you?’

Kailros: …!
Kailros: Have you forgotten your older brother!
Kailros: I have never forgotten you for even a moment…!

I was certain now.

‘This is definitely not Kailros.’

It seemed like some other mischievous angel had intercepted the message and was playing tricks.
Was the attempt a failure?
Then what about Kaiser….

Enrik: Yeah, it’s a mess.
Enrik: His mind is just… a bit damaged.
Enrik: I guess he developed trauma from you reincarnating into the human realm.

‘…?’

Wait, why would he develop trauma because I reincarnated as a human?

How did Kailros treat me when I was in the Heavenly Realm?

“Pathetic wretch, you’ve brought shame upon Artemia’s name once again.”
“Saelika, how much longer must I clean up after you?”
“Do you have no intention of standing on your own?”
“If you are Artemia’s angel, if you are a being born of the same origin as I, Kailros, then conduct yourself accordingly.”

—That insufferable bastard had only ever spoken such words.

Kailros: You’ve truly forgotten?
Kailros: Our tender days of old….

Who exactly are you?

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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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