Youngest on Top - Chapter 124

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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 124

“…I’m afraid I don’t know all the details either.”

Quentin began slowly recounting what had happened that day.
Even he doubted that Kaiser would have properly explained to Saelika what he’d experienced.

“When we arrived, the situation in the Pearen region was dire.”

It was only natural—there were multiple demons, not just one.
But it was strange that the demons were cooperating and executing a coordinated operation.
Demons are inherently individualistic and don’t typically cooperate like that.

‘Unless they were acting under orders from a more powerful entity.’

When Kaiser arrived leading the Holy Knights, the forces were drastically unbalanced.
The battle in the Pearen region had been prolonged, and casualties were mounting.

“More people were dying than reinforcements could arrive, and as you know, the dead….”
“Became undead. Or served as a source for monsters.”

Given how long the battle had raged, the corruption level in the Pearen region was severe—unavoidable.
This is why fighting monsters is so troublesome.
Unlike humans, who barely receive reinforcements from afar, monsters continuously multiply—the worst possible scenario.

Of course, with a great Holy Knight like Kaiser present, the situation on the battlefield could change.

“Kaiser took the vanguard and shattered the monster lines in one fell swoop. We carved a path through them and pushed forward. Deep into their ranks.”
“….”
“But the main force never followed.”
“…!”

When there’s a vanguard, the main force must support it from behind.
Especially when forces are so vastly unequal.
If the main force doesn’t arrive in time—.

“We were surrounded, then.”
“Yes. Our retreat was cut off, and demons were gathering in front of us in steady streams.”
“To capture Kaiser?”
“Yes.”
“…How remarkably convenient.”

The vanguard had demonstrated enough martial prowess to break through the collapsing front lines and launch a counterattack.
Yet the main force failed to follow, squandering a golden opportunity and leaving the vanguard isolated?
And on top of that, the demons gathered at precisely the right moment?

“Well, when I returned and heard the report, they said the main force was suddenly ambushed from the left flank and had no choice.”

Only a fool would believe that explanation at face value.
There were far too many temples that stood to gain from Kaiser’s death.
They all resented the rise of Artemisia Temple.

“So he was injured while escaping the encirclement?”
“The moment Kaiser saw the demons gathering ahead, he began breaking through the rear lines.”

What was remarkable was that he actually succeeded in carving a path.
It was martial prowess worthy of a god of war.

Following his command, Quentin and Kaiser’s other subordinates retreated in succession.
Kaiser himself was about to withdraw as well.

“One demon approached Kaiser. He didn’t fall for the provocation and focused on defense, waiting for an opening to escape, but….”
“….”
“He suddenly switched to an offensive stance. As if retreat was never his intention.”

He fought as though he would slaughter every demon before him, even if it meant dying in this place.

“No one knows why he suddenly changed like that.”

Quentin added, “However.”

“I saw it. Before Kaiser changed his stance, I saw that demon say something to him.”

The distance was too great and the noise of battle too loud to hear the words.
But it was clear that Kaiser had reacted to what the demon said.

Saelika recalled the words Kaiser had left unfinished earlier.

“…Could it be that in the Demon Realm they….”
“…?”
“Never mind.”

As a former angel, Saelika naturally had poor relations with demons.
However, demons weren’t diligent enough to pursue a lowly angel who had been reincarnated as a human.

A world of individualism and typical survival of the fittest.
Even if the demon next door died, they’d simply drink and say, “Weakling. That’s what happens,” celebrating the death.

‘It’s a completely different dimension from the heavenly folk, who swarm together and make a fuss over one angel breaking a wing.’

It would be fortunate if only angels came, but a god even showed up claiming our child was hurt.

Enrik: Hey, you’re an angel too.
Enrik: And you call breaking a wing “a little”? Huh?
Kailros: Kids break wings when they play around. Why are you complaining to my younger brother?
Enrik: …You’re saying this, and you’re not even another angel?
Kailros: You, to your older brother.
Enrik: Aaaah! Ugh!

Despite taking considerable damage to his head, Kailros’s power remained undiminished.

In any case, ordinary demons wouldn’t care whether Saelika was dead, alive, or reincarnated.
However, there are always exceptions wherever you go.

‘Could it really be that Misa bastard?’

The Demon King Behemoth.
A deranged psychopath, a perverted stalker.

Whether Saelika was reincarnated as a human, a tree, or even a stone—he was the persistent type who would find and pursue her.

* * *

“Say ‘ah.'”

I blew gently on a spoonful of soup before offering it to Kaiser, who accepted it obediently.
It was rather surprising.
Kaiser was hardly the type to accept care so meekly.

‘He’s the sort of man who hid his demon contamination even from his closest confidants and tried to handle it alone.’

I poured a potion and offered it to Kaiser.

“Take your medicine too.”
“…There’s no real need to drink medicine.”
“You should. Quentin said you absolutely must.”

When I spoke firmly, Kaiser murmured softly, “Quentin….”
Yet he obediently drank the potion.

‘Wow, that must taste awful, but he’s drinking it so readily.’

Then again, Kaiser had always eaten mushrooms, broccoli, bell peppers, and carrots well since we first met.

…It wasn’t because I disliked them and foisted them on Kaiser.
I gave them to him because he needed balanced nutrition to recover from the contamination.

I even placed my cherished strawberry-flavored caramel into Kaiser’s mouth.
Kaiser gazed at me intently.

“What is it?”
“I was remembering the old days. How things have reversed now.”

He was referring to when I suddenly awakened as the Sacred Maiden in childhood and fell ill.

“Back then, Father took care of me constantly. He never once showed any sign of annoyance….”
“There was nothing annoying about it.”

Kaiser smiled widely.

“I was actually delighted to have my daughter all to myself without anyone else interfering.”
“Then now it’s my turn to have Father all to myself!”

Kaiser’s eyes widened suddenly.

“Father is always busy, a great Holy Knight after all. Today, I’ll have you all to myself.”
“You….”

Kaiser chuckled softly and patted the space beside him.

“Come here.”

I quickly nestled against Kaiser’s side.
Sharing warmth side by side felt a bit awkward.
Even as a child, I had never spent time like this with Kaiser.

Yet it felt wonderful.
I wanted to stay like this forever.

After spending a long, intimate moment together, I left Kaiser’s room.
The moment I stepped out, Quentin asked.

“How did it go?”
“Failed again today.”

Kaiser refused to speak about the Demons no matter what I said.

“…I suspected he wouldn’t tell us.”

I nodded at Quentin’s words.
Unlike Quentin, who couldn’t even guess what was happening, I had a certain degree of conviction.

‘It’s almost certainly that Misa bastard.’

However.

Enrik: But that Misa bastard can’t appear directly in the human realm.
Kailros: Right, just like we can’t descend directly into the human realm.

There were a few things that made me hesitate to be completely certain.
That’s why I tried to get hints from Kaiser’s words.

“Did Kaiser drink the potion?”

Quentin asked with startled eyes, noticing the empty potion bottle in my hand.

“Yes. He drained it in one go.”
“Kaiser did?”
“Yes.”
“…But that stuff tastes absolutely terrible. I thought he’d hate it.”

I let out a small laugh at Quentin’s words.

“Kaiser isn’t a child. Would he really refuse medicine just because it tastes bad?”
“Well, that’s….”
“Besides, Kaiser eats mushrooms, bell peppers, and broccoli just fine anyway. It’s medicine, not food—why would he be picky about it?”
“…Sacred Maiden.”

Quentin called to me with a serious expression.

“…?”
“Kaiser originally….”

Quentin lowered his voice as if about to reveal a deeply important secret, then hesitated.
He turned his head away and murmured softly.

“No, never mind. He probably wants to appear strong in front of his daughter. Besides, Randel eats anything without complaint….”
“What did you say? I didn’t quite catch that.”
“Nothing. I’ll take the tray from you.”

Quentin took the tray from my hands.

“So you’ll be departing for the imperial palace tomorrow?”
“Yes. I wish I could stay longer by Kaiser’s side, but I cannot postpone the imperial palace’s invitation.”
“Kaiser has nearly recovered, and he’ll be back on his feet soon. …As long as he keeps taking the potion.”
“Come on, I told you he’s taking it fine.”

I laughed at Quentin’s jest, but for some reason, he did not laugh with me.
Was it just my imagination that his eyes seemed sad?

* * *

We traveled to the imperial palace using portals until we reached the gates.
However, entering the imperial palace itself required traveling by carriage.
It was a security measure.

Randel, seated beside me, asked gently with a soft smile.

“This is your first time visiting the imperial palace, isn’t it? Both you and Ilay?”
“Yes! It’s so amazing! It’s incredibly grand and magnificent!”

I answered with the enthusiasm of a child visiting the imperial palace for the first time.

‘Though in truth, I’ve been here several times before.’

I had come along while draining Amelia’s holy power reserves like a battery.
The battery couldn’t be too far away, after all.

“I heard His Majesty the Emperor invited other Sacred Maidens besides us.”
“Really?”
“Yes, I hope you make some good friends this time.”

Randel spoke warmly, but I remained skeptical.
Every Sacred Maiden I’d met so far had personalities as temperamental as the deities they served.

And there were no proper deities in the Celestial Realm.

‘Except for our Artemia.’

“Which temples are they coming from?”
“I heard His Majesty invited Sacred Maidens from five temples among the Octagon.”

I nodded in acknowledgment.
Artemia herself only received an invitation after defeating the Moloresta Temple and becoming the greatest temple in the eastern region.
Since the Emperor personally extended the invitation, he must have selected carefully from among the Octagon temples.

Before long, the carriage came to a halt before a massive building.
Randel went directly to the audience chamber, while Ilay and I, still young, were given time to rest.

“What’s wrong?”

Ilay asked as he watched me walking around nervously, glancing in all directions.

“Are you worried about running into Shuri?”
“Oh, that person?”

Ilay tilted his head for a moment before his expression cleared with understanding.
There was only one person in the imperial palace I wanted to avoid, and that was the Crown Prince—someone I could refer to so casually.
Ilay was perceptive enough not to speak the words “Crown Prince” aloud.
A palace attendant walked beside us, guiding us to our quarters.

“What are the odds? The imperial palace is this vast.”
“Fate has a way of catching up with you. Better to be cautious.”
“True, but if you don’t meet at the party, isn’t the possibility slim?”

Ilay shrugged and continued.

“Besides, according to Edmund, Shuri rarely attends parties anyway.”
“I hope that’s the case…”
“Why are you so desperate to avoid meeting Shuri?”

Ilay didn’t know that I’d met Shuri while concealing my identity.
He didn’t know I’d stabbed him in the back and fled.

‘Well, not stabbed in the back exactly. He was my benefactor.’

But there was honestly a nagging awkwardness about meeting him face-to-face.

“Sure, he was insufferable at the coronation. But you don’t really care if someone’s annoying, do you?”
“Me?”

What was he talking about?
I was a true angel of this age—diligently disciplining and reforming those with rotten potential (with my fists).

“Yeah, as long as they have money, power, and connections.”
“…”

“You’re incredibly materialistic.”
“…Thanks for the compliment.”
“Don’t mention it.”

Did I really need to bring Ilay along?
I should have brought Edmund instead—he’s visited the imperial palace several times before.

While I was lost in such thoughts, we arrived at the chambers where we would be staying.

“This is where you shall reside during your time at the imperial palace.”
“Should you find anything uncomfortable, please do not hesitate to call upon us.”
“It is our honor to serve the Sacred Maiden and the Priest.”

The palace attendants spoke with utmost courtesy before withdrawing.
That was when it happened.

“Oh my!”

At the sudden exclamation, I turned to see two young women standing nearby.
The one standing in front approached me with a delighted expression.

“You’re the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia, aren’t you?”
“Indeed, I am.”

Ilay stepped forward protectively before me to answer.
The young woman’s expression immediately soured.

“I asked the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia, not this gentleman.”

It was the first time I’d seen someone react this way to Ilay’s striking beauty.
Since I detected no malice in her tone, I stepped forward myself.

“Yes, I am Saelika, the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia.”

The young woman’s face brightened immediately.

“How wonderful! I’m Dolores, the Sacred Maiden of Freytscha!”

Dolores stepped forward and extended her hand to me.

“Wow, I heard rumors that the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia would be invited, but to actually meet you! I’m so thrilled!”

Dolores’s face was filled with pure joy.
She was genuinely delighted to see me.

“This is Petrea, the leader of our Trainee Priests.”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Sacred Maiden Saelika. You’re just as I’ve heard.”

The other young woman was the leader of Freytscha’s Trainee Priests.
Petrea also gazed at me with eyes full of warmth and affection.

But as for me….

“Ah…. So you’re the Sacred Maiden and Priest from Freytscha….”

I felt rather lukewarm about it.

“I haven’t quite recovered from my journey yet. Would it be alright if I skipped the pleasantries and retired to rest?”
“Oh! I’ve kept you talking far too long. I’m so sorry. I got carried away in my excitement and was terribly rude.”
“It’s fine.”

I went straight into my room.
Ilay, closing the door behind me, asked with a puzzled expression.

“What’s wrong? Is this another strange temple? Did something happen before the regression?”
“It’s not that….”
“Then what?”
“It’s just that this god called Freytscha….”
“A god?”
“Really loves beautiful things.”
“…?”
“…She… really liked me… so much… it was almost unbearable.”
“…?!?!”

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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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