Youngest on Top - Chapter 168

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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 168

Houston muttered stupidly without realizing it.
But there was no other word quite fitting.
What else could rolling naked across the scorching desert floor while bound in shackles be called if not torture?

That was when it happened.
A colossal serpent with hundreds of eyes embedded between its scales burst forth from the sand dune.
Venom dripped steadily from its gaping maw.
The beast lunged directly toward the children.

“What do we do?!”

The nobles gasped sharply.
The children were currently pinned to the ground, unable to rise properly.
They couldn’t respond adequately to such a sudden ambush—.

[Damn it! I told you not to interfere!]

Crash!
A fist swung shackles and all connected with the serpent beast, sending it flying backward.

[This is so annoying!]
[This is not the time to be dealing with small fry!!]
[Are you going to take responsibility if I miss the first-come-first-served slot?! Huh?]

The children kicked the serpent beast repeatedly with vigor.

“The Trainee Priests of Artemisia Temple are truly formidable.”
“Indeed. That must mean they possess such refined divine power, wouldn’t you say?”

Refined—though their behavior was far too thuggish to deserve the word.
The nobles deliberately averted their eyes.
It wasn’t like they were doing this to people, after all—they were fighting a beast.

“Wait, the desert floor?!”

The desert floor where the children crawled and struggled forward with difficulty.
That ground undulated, and sand began to flow.

“Quicksand! It’s quicksand!”

A sand pit!
Of all times, it appeared when all the children were collapsed(?) on the ground.
The key was escaping quickly, but the situation was far too disadvantageous.
On the quicksand, it was difficult to even properly raise one’s body.

“This is… the work of a magical beast!”
“It’s a Deathworm!”

The knights quickly grasped the situation upon seeing the shape of the quicksand.
Multiple small sand pits forming simultaneously.
It was a typical attack pattern of a Deathworm.

“A Deathworm?”
“It’s a desert magical beast that creates quicksand while hiding itself in the sand. But it shouldn’t be able to create this many quicksand pits…”
“Yes, four or five is the limit, so why…”

Getting caught in even one of those small quicksand pits meant being sucked into the deep sandy depths in an instant.
Yet here they were, forming so abundantly that they covered the entire ground.
Truly, they had to crawl through a minefield that appeared out of nowhere!

“This is very bad.”
“…We must be prepared. The casualties won’t end with just one or two.”
“They’re children who haven’t even reached adulthood yet…”

As feared, the children crawling on the ground began to be sucked in one by one.

[Ugh…!]
[No! I can’t collapse here!]
[Stay focused!! The summit is right before us!]

The children attempted to stabilize the ground using holy power.
They thought the quicksand itself was small enough to control with holy power.
But the restraints were the problem.

[Damn it, I’m already late! Go on ahead!! Go and take revenge for my share too—]
[Don’t say such foolish things!]
[That’s right, we’ve overcome every hardship together like this!!]
[But because of me, you all….]
[If we abandon you and leave, it’ll hurt even more. You know how the youngest is.]
[…!]
[So hurry up and take my hand, you fool!]

Mines scattered everywhere.
Even tears had dried to dust beneath the sandstorm obscuring their vision.
Under the scorching sun that heated their entire bodies, the children clasped hands together.
As firm as the bond in their hearts for one another.

“Ah….”

The nobles exhaled sighs.
Several noble ladies even shed tears.

“Truly, such beautiful camaraderie.”
“To extend a hand like that, even as they’re about to be dragged into the quicksand together.”
“Not a moment’s hesitation.”

Children rushing into the jaws of death without hesitation to save one another.

“True nature reveals itself in crisis. A temple with priests like these would be worthy of establishing a branch of our order.”
“Rather, I wish to ask them to establish one.”

The nobles spared no praise.
The moment the Artemisia Order branch was completed, they seemed ready to rush there immediately.

“But… isn’t there something odd about the children’s gazes?”
“Odd, you say?”
“It seems like they’re steeling their resolve not against the monster, but toward the Sacred Maiden….”
“No, how could that possibly be? That makes no sense—.”

The person who had turned toward the crystal display with a hollow laugh froze.

[If we get sucked in like this, I don’t know what that demon will do…!]

Why is he glaring at the Sacred Maiden while saying that?

[Squeeze it out! Wring out your holy power no matter what!]
[C-can’t we just remove the restraints? If I could just use my holy power a bit more freely—.]
[Are you insane?! Do you really want to die?]

What on earth could it be?

“Oh, rather, wouldn’t seeing the Sacred Maiden at the most critical moment give them courage?”
“Exactly! The moment they saw the Sacred Maiden, the children suddenly began displaying tremendous power!”

It was true, at least.
The terrified children had begun squeezing out every last ounce of strength they possessed.

“But why are they wearing restraints, and why won’t they remove them?”
“It’s probably not an ordinary restraint. Rather than limiting holy power or physical strength, wouldn’t it have the effect of building resistance to heat and poison?”
“Ah, so that’s why they said removing it would mean death!”

The nobles were convinced.
Surely no one would forcibly bind them with restraints and threaten them that removing it would mean death.

Prejudice was distorting the truth right before their eyes.
Meanwhile, the children spat sand instead of tears onto the desert floor.

‘Damn it, we’ve already failed to make it in the first wave.’
‘We have to bring everyone through somehow or we’ll get punished worse.’
‘If even one person falls behind and the youngest one moves, we’re all dead.’
‘Watch anyone trying to remove their restraints! We could be held collectively responsible!!’

The children crawled desperately through the desert.
Even camaraderie that didn’t exist before was beginning to bloom.

* * *

Behind every great hero’s victory, there are always ordinary soldiers bleeding.
It was the cruel reality hidden behind the victory of war.
And if those ordinary soldiers were child soldiers who had never experienced large-scale combat?
Tragedy was all but assured.
It certainly seemed that way.

‘What is this….’

Houston clenched his fists tightly.
After a week had passed, I thought the most fierce and brutal battlefield would unfold.
No, it was indeed a fierce battle.
Fierce, certainly fierce.

[We won in the end!!!!!]
[Uaaaaaaah!!!!]
[We survived the demon’s grasp!!!!!]

Fighting fiercely and savoring victory like this was beyond my expectations.
The nobles who witnessed the entire ordeal even applauded.

[Demon?]

When Saelika tilted her head in confusion, the children startled and spoke up.

[M-monsters, we meant!]
[Y-yes, those demonic creatures!]
[Hmm….]

As Saelika narrowed her eyes, the children swallowed hard.
They seemed even more nervous than when they were being sucked into the quicksand.

[Well, you all did fairly well today.]
[Really?!]

The children’s faces brightened instantly.
I could almost see them wagging their tails like puppies.

[S-so can we rest? We’d like to relax somewhere cool without the sand winds.]
[What are you saying?]

Whoooosh!
A powerful burst of light erupted from Saelika.
As the light faded, the children who had looked like puppies covered in mud became fluffy and clean.

“Wide-area healing!”
“Healing all those children at once…!”
“No wonder the waiting list is full just to receive the blessing of Sacred Maiden Artemia?!”
“With such divine power, the rumor that she even healed baldness might not be false.”
“…!”

In that instant, the nobles in the grand meeting hall perked up their ears.

“B-b-baldness can be healed, you say?!”
“There is such a rumor. But Count, you don’t have baldness yourself, so why….”
“Ahem, cough! W-well, you see, I heard that my wife’s cousin’s daughter’s fiancé is troubled by baldness.”
“Ah, yes….”

The nobles nodded while stealing glances at the Count’s head.

‘Was that a wig? I was completely fooled.’
‘I need to casually ask where he got the wig later… No, wait! I should go to Artemisia Temple first!’

If one were reborn with a full head of hair, there would be no need for wigs.

“Still, it looks like she’s going to push through without rest.”
“Even so, she should take a break….”

The nobles watched the children’s struggle unfold vividly before them.
Naturally, Saelika began to seem harsh to them.
Then, Saelika opened her mouth.

[There’s no time to waste. The desert monsters have become this powerful. It’s an uncommon situation.]

Since we’re already rolling, we might as well roll hard and squeeze out maximum efficiency!
Though her words were filled with that fervent desire, the nobles heard it differently.

“Is she saying she wants to finish the subjugation even faster!”
“Certainly. How anxious must the people living near the desert be.”
“Even enduring more hardship herself, her heart is set on protecting the people.”
“Ah, truly, she lives up to the name of Sacred Maiden.”

The nobles gazed silently at Saelika, reflected abundantly on the display screen.
The eyes of the angelic-looking child were as clear as a cloudless sky.

“…They’re being sincere about this.”
“They don’t even realize the situation is being broadcast.”

Cut off from the outside world.
No one acknowledges it.
Who would recognize someone pushing forward without proper rest for the sake of others?
Yet that child is telling them to move.
To save the others.

[You can do this. If you can’t, I’ll make it happen for you. Trust me.]

Those firm and resolute words.
The Nobles were moved without even realizing it.
If they felt this way, what of the Trainee Priests?

[No! I can do this!]
[The youngest doesn’t need to step up. We’ll handle it ourselves!]
[Yeah! Let’s move quickly!!]

The Children moved with greater determination than ever before.
Smiles appeared on the faces of the adults watching them.

“They’re a good team.”
“We can certainly have high expectations for this generation of the Artemisia Temple.”

Houston’s face twisted.

‘They’re pushing this hard without even knowing it’s a public subjugation?’

He had naturally assumed they would rest for a long time and drag things out.
Usually, the longer a subjugation took, the more it was praised as a grueling battle.

‘…Actually, this works out better.’

Healing is not omnipotent.
The Trainee Priests’ bodies must be accumulating unavoidable fatigue.
And in a life-or-death battle, that difference determines the victor.

‘And thanks to this reckless push, I’ve gone deeper than I initially planned.’

I would soon encounter the core of contamination.
This core was a living creature.
Danger level: Maximum!

‘This time, I’ll truly have to risk my life.’

Houston’s prediction proved accurate.
Not long after, the subjugation squad discovered the core.
The nobles were startled upon seeing the core’s true form.

“A life-form core?!”

Twenty arthropod-like legs.
Its lumpy body was as hard as armor, and murky air continuously poured from the holes across its surface.
The sand beneath the core was darkened by contamination.

“Isn’t this genuinely dangerous?!”
“It would be different if Kaiser the Sacred Knight were here. But we only have trainee priests….”

The nobles’ words could not continue further.
The core, sensing the intruders, leaped forward without hesitation.
Its massive body blotted out the sun.
The core swelled grotesquely.
It was poised to strike the trainee priests directly at any moment.

“No—!!”

In that instant.
A colossal sacred magic circle was inscribed across the sky.
Beneath it, a young boy with gleaming silver hair held a sacred weapon high above his head.

“P-Phantom Orb?!”

The Temple Priests inside the meeting hall recognized it immediately.

Phantom Orb.
A legendary sacred weapon that renders allies phantom-like, temporarily placing monsters in a state of imperception.

The core, having forgotten even the existence of the enemy before its eyes, ceased its attack and retreated to its original position.

“That’s a legendary-grade artifact! A trainee priest is wielding it?!”
“I thought only someone at the level of a Sacred Maiden could handle such an artifact at that age…!”

The Phantom Orb was no mere legendary-grade artifact for nothing.
Given its formidable effects, it naturally demanded a high degree of control over holy power.

“Wait! Look over there!”

Boom!
The core returned to its original position and exploded with a deafening roar.
Beyond that explosion, a young boy with crimson hair burst through and escaped.

“He attacked immediately from there?”
“It wasn’t a simple attack either. So he must have prepared in advance….”

Ilay drew out the Phantom Orb and simultaneously leaped forward to prepare his attack.
It was a level of composure unbecoming of a trainee priest.

Meanwhile, the other trainee priests had formed their ranks.

[Hurry! That formation!]
[The formation when the youngest uses both fists!!]

Edmund and Roana shouted to the children.

“…What formation is ‘when the youngest uses both fists’?”
“Who knows. Could it be a code?”

Well, it seemed there was no answer other than it being a code.
The Sacred Maiden wouldn’t beat the children for it.

“Is this really a practical combat exercise for trainee priests? To encounter a life-form core unexpectedly and respond like this….”

It took only one or two seconds from the moment the core recognized the enemy until it leaped.

“I knew Ilay was incredible, but I didn’t expect it to be this much.”
“That red-haired young boy is Dmitri, isn’t he? I heard he’s the leader of the trainee priests, and he’s doing exactly what a leader should do.”
“What about the other priests? Such coordinated movements in that situation.”
“Edmund certainly possesses the discernment befitting the Rapashiello family.”
“They’re truly skilled.”

Phantom Orb’s effect lasted only ten seconds.
Yet thanks to Dmitri’s attack, even after the effect ended, the core remained shrouded in explosions.
When the core recognized its enemy once more.
The Sacred Maiden’s priests had already formed their formation and completed their attack preparations.

“By the way, how did they obtain the Phantom Orb?”
“I heard rumors recently that it was sold at an astronomical price in a private VIP auction with only ten attendees…”
“Hehe.”

Empress Adelin let out a pleased laugh.
The nobles of the Adelin faction had made their subtle contribution known.

“Hmm, I wonder who made such a generous donation?”
“Whoever it was, they certainly have excellent judgment.”
“I have a feeling it might be Empress Adelin herself?”

Adelin smiled.

“I’m simply delighted to be of service to a temple doing such important work.”

Watching Adelin with her chin held high, Maxina’s eyes turned cold.

‘If things go this way, Saelika will take Adelin’s hand.’

Adelin’s contribution had proven more beneficial to Saelika than her own.
Just then, Adelin smiled warmly toward Maxina.
It was the smile of a victor.

‘Hehe, throw away that fruit tea, Maxina. The one who’ll share cake cozily with Saelika is me.’

Maxina’s face twisted.
The thought of Adelin eating cake intimately with Saelika made her blood boil.

‘My divine beast should have made a spectacular showing!’

Then I could have been sipping fruit tea cozily with Saelika while Adelin gnawed on her handkerchief in frustration!

The long and grueling seating dispute between Adelin and Maxina ended in Adelin’s victory.
Now the opportunity for Maxina to compete and lavish more attention on Saelika had vanished entirely.

That was when it happened.

Kieeeeeee—!

A chilling cry, utterly unlike anything heard before, pierced the air.

—————
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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