Youngest on Top - Chapter 174

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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 174

“A… romantic interest?”

The Attendant asked hesitantly.
Of course, a young man and woman spending intimate time together in a scenic park could certainly be called a date.
For a Young Boy and Young Girl at the age of first love, sharing an ice cream together would be enough to make for a perfect day.

‘But Kaishurit and a romantic interest?’

There could hardly be a more mismatched pairing in the world.
The Attendant was now convinced that the Emperor had gotten it wrong.

“Your Majesty, thinking children of the same age spending time together means they’re romantically involved is rather… outdated.”
“Outdated?”

The Attendant continued naturally without hesitation.
After several years in the imperial palace, he had become adept at changing his words.

“Not outdated at all—it’s actually very trendy these days. Young people nowadays don’t spend time together unless they’re romantically interested in each other.”
“Say something that makes sense. Say that in front of young people and they’ll call you outdated.”
“….”

The Attendant fell silent.
The Emperor wore a smug expression.

‘Maybe I should just resign.’

Clutching the resignation letter he carried in his heart, the Attendant asked.

“…Then why did you think they were romantically interested in each other?”
“Look at Saelika.”
“…?”
“Doesn’t she look a bit awkward?”

Just as he said, Saelika did look somewhat awkward.

“Have you ever seen Saelika feel awkward around someone?”
“Hmm, I don’t think so.”
“Not ‘I don’t think so’—she hasn’t.”

Saelika had been a confident child even during her first audience with the Emperor.

Her first time in the imperial palace.
A world unto itself.
A grand banquet surrounded by all manner of splendid, magnificent, and glittering things—the sort of place that could easily intimidate.
How had that child conducted herself among these towering, unfamiliar adults?

“We have to win!”

“She declared it boldly, raising her fist high.”

Even in uncomfortable moments that would unsettle a full-grown adult, she had never shown a trace of awkwardness.

“If a child like that were to feel awkward, what could it possibly mean?”

The Emperor broke into a grin.

“A crush.”
“….”

Was that… convincing?

“Honestly, Kaishurit is flawless when it comes to appearances. I hear there are many young ladies who fear him yet are drawn to him.”
“But Your Majesty, what about the Crown Prince?”
“Hmm?”
“Isn’t Crown Prince Kaishurit also experiencing a crush?”
“That is….”

The Emperor fell silent.
The Attendant felt triumphant.
For once, the Emperor was wrong and he was right.

“…It’s not a crush, then.”
“Yes.”

Kaishurit couldn’t possibly be faking it.

That was when it happened.
Suddenly, Kaishurit’s body went limp.

“What—what’s wrong with him?”

The Emperor cried out in surprise.
I could see Saelika, flustered, hastily supporting Kaishurit.

“…Is that bastard actually sick?”
“That’s impossible. He’s Crown Prince Kaishurit. How could he be ill?”
“No, but he can’t even hold himself up properly—he’s just leaning on her!”
“…”
“Could he be faking illness? No, that can’t be it.”

It was the moment the Emperor let out a hollow laugh.

“As expected. I knew the Master would play sick.”
“But he said he never fakes illness.”
“Right, you need to show a little weakness to win someone’s heart.”

I heard whispered voices.
Turning my head, I saw dark-skinned men munching on popcorn with loud crunches.

The men, sensing my gaze, turned their heads.

“Oh, our concealment wore off?”
“Let’s just knock him out and throw him— wait.”

The men who had been chattering fell silent.
They had belatedly realized who they were facing.

“Your… Your Majesty?”
“You are…”

Majesty in the Emperor’s eyes blazed with authority.

“Kaishurit’s lackeys.”
“We greet Your Majesty, the Emperor.”

The men bowed their heads in unison.
The Emperor stood with commanding presence, looking down upon them.
The Attendant thought to himself at the sight.

‘Everything is fine, except… does Your Majesty realize there are flowers attached to his head?’

The Emperor had flowers and grass clinging to his hair in his attempt to hide well.
Trying to appear dignified in such a state would only prove more embarrassing.

“I see. So it was all an act. That Kaishurit even pretended to be weak to garner sympathy.”

The Emperor nodded and questioned the men.

“So they’re definitely flirting with each other, right?”
“…Pardon?”

The men stared at the Emperor in bewilderment.
More precisely, at the Emperor with flowers adorning his head.

The Attendant clutched his head.

‘His Majesty is the frivolous one, so why do I feel ashamed?’

* * *

Several days later.

“Our Sacred Maiden.”
“Our remarkable Sacred Maiden Saelika, please come this way.”

The Elders called out to me with beaming faces.
They looked immensely proud.
And rightfully so.

‘Today is the day—.’

“Wasn’t it the Sacred Maiden who deserves the greatest credit for establishing the Artemia Temple’s branch in Jedo?”

Today was the inauguration of the Artemia Temple’s Jedo branch.
It was the result of the magical engineers’ tremendous overtime and an amount of funds that was difficult to refuse.

“Without our Sacred Maiden, it would have been absolutely impossible to rebuild the Jedo branch.”

I felt a bit embarrassed.
Being praised for something I had done still felt awkward.
I had always only been scolded before.

Kaiser placed his hand gently on my head.

“You did well.”
“Yes, you worked hard.”

Randel smiled warmly and patted my back.
The Trainee Priests ahead were waiting for me with smiles on their faces.

I walked slowly through the sunlit temple.
And the moment I stepped out onto the open plaza—

“Waaaaaaah—!!”

A tremendous roar reverberated through the air.
It was the crowd that had gathered to witness the Artemia Temple standing in Jedo.

“Artemia!”
“May Artemia’s glory shine upon Jedo!!”
“Bless Jedo with Artemia’s grace!!”

The name of Artemia rolled through like waves of sound.
Hearing that name, my heart swelled with emotion.
From the moment I first arrived in Jedo, I had been running toward this single moment.

‘Artemia. I hope I was of some help to you.’

A headache for Artemia’s messengers.
Artemia’s only blemish.
A thorn in the side of the heavenly realm.

That was what I used to be called, but now…

‘But this is only the beginning.’

I had merely reclaimed one fragment of my former glory.
There must be a reason why Artemia chose me, an exile, to be her Sacred Maiden.

‘I will restore Artemia’s name to the highest place it deserves. To where she should have always been.’

I gazed upward at the sky, my resolve hardening.
For some reason, today Artemia’s face appeared vividly in my mind—smiling warmly down upon me.

I raised the Sacred Maiden’s staff, Alys Celestia, high above my head.
Golden light radiated outward from the staff in brilliant waves, blessing the gathered crowd.

‘It would be a shame to end it with just this.’

They must not forget today’s blessing.
Only then would they continue to visit Artemia’s temple.

Fortunately, I had the perfect method.
There were people who, once they tasted a blessing, could never escape its allure.
Specifically—

‘The bald man!’

The sacred light shone brilliantly upon his gleaming head.
Shine!

Ah, truly it was a dazzlingly beautiful day.

* * *

Beyond the gathered crowd, many distinguished guests graced the occasion with their presence.

“Truly worthy of bearing the name of the Blood Angel! I was in awe witnessing your subjugation of the desert!”

Not only the high-ranking nobles,

“Saelika, this fruit tea here—it has diamonds in it… well, not actual diamonds, mind you. You won’t die from drinking it.”
“This cake contains diamonds inside. Well, not real diamonds, I assure you. You won’t perish, so do try some.”

Even the imperial family had come.

‘Where is Shuri…?’

Shuri was nowhere to be seen.

‘Is he suffering greatly?’

When I saw him at the garden, he had looked unwell.

‘It troubles me.’

That was when it happened.

“Sae!”

At the familiar voice, I lifted my head.
Nelije approached with Dinah, her godmother.

“Thank you for coming, Nelije.”
“Of course I had to come. Now that Baltelo and Artemia are one, how could I possibly miss something like this?”
“That’s true.”
“This is my first time in the empire… Say, if you don’t mind, would you like to—”
“Sae.”

A gentle voice cut off Nelije’s words.
It was Dolores, the Sacred Maiden of Preytsha.

“Sister Dolores.”
“I always believed you would succeed.”

Dolores grasped my hand.
Nelije furrowed her brow.

“Wait, sister? Did you say sister?”
“Hehe, so the traitor of Balotelo used our Preytsha’s sacred relic?”
“Yes. But the culprit was elsewhere.”
“Even with such evidence, Sae believed in me without wavering.”

Dolores spoke while gazing at Nelije with a peculiar expression.

“I am Sae’s older sister.”
“…!”

And Nelije looked at me with a somewhat aggrieved expression.
It was then.

“What does it matter what we call each other, sister or not?”
“Princess Grizelda.”

Princess Grizelda wrapped her arm around my shoulder.

“What truly matters is how much you can guide the other person. Isn’t that the real mark of genuine friendship?”

Crackle—!
Somehow, it felt as though electricity sparked between the three young girls.

And so, receiving everyone’s congratulations (?), the dedication ceremony was drawing to its finale.
The final location was not the Order’s branch, but outdoors.
Specifically, a park that had belonged to Parmanase until just recently.

‘Finally, it’s time to get rid of that loathsome Parmanase statue.’

Before my eyes stood a colossal statue of Parmanase.
I had deliberately left it standing when I could have removed it long ago.
To serve as the grand finale of today’s ceremony.

‘Surely Lady Artemia desired this as well? Otherwise, there’s no way the Emperor would suddenly donate a “Statue of Miracles” like this…! Ahem!’

For reasons unknown, the Emperor had suddenly procured and donated what he called the “Statue of Miracles.”

“I found it.”
“Pardon?”
“A plump divine statue.”
“…?”

When I wondered what a plump divine statue was, it turned out to be a miraculous one.
Honestly, seeing the statue and its name side by side, “plump” suited it far better—boom! Boom! Ahem!
As expected, it had the charm to seduce the faithful.

Anyway.

‘As they say, if you wish earnestly enough, the entire universe grants it.’

I grinned widely and spread both hands open.

“Once more, I express my gratitude to Priest Houston for graciously returning Artemia’s land!”

Sacred power surged forth from my hands.

“I shall replace the divine statue.”

The divine stone embedded in Parmanase’s statue lost its radiance.
Soon, an enormous statue rose into the air.

Enrik: You’re not destroying it?

‘Of course not. I have common sense too.’

Openly destroying another’s temple statue before everyone was something I wouldn’t do, no matter who I was.
However—

Boom!

“Oops, my hand slipped?”

An accident during the relocation was unavoidable.

Enrik: ….

Ah, I’m telling you, it’s true.
I really did slip.

Kailros: My younger brother is truly remarkable. To crack only the hair portion by accident.
Kailros: It’s like—

“Did it become bald?”
“Surely not on purpose?”
“No, it must have been an accident. The statue is so massive, after all.”
“It’s a coincidence, but it’s unsettling. It feels like the universe’s will that trusting Parmanase leads to baldness…”

At such superstitious nonsense, the person beside me snickered.

“You’re already bald, so why worry about such things?”
“What are you talking about! I still have three strands left!! I’m not bald!”
“Gasp, you! Your hair has increased to seven strands.”
“…!”

People whispered amongst themselves.
I glanced to the side.
The Parmanase Priests waiting to take the statue away.
They were trembling and glaring at me.

In response to their hot and fervent gazes, I answered with a grin.
And I lifted Artemia’s full and plump… no! The miraculous statue.

“Ohhh!”
“How abundant…!”
“Since the statue was so full and plump, I wanted to see just how plump it was, and my goodness….”
“What are you saying? A miraculous statue, you said?”
“No. A miraculous bread.”

Everyone’s gaze turned toward the bread.
The bread that Artemia held to her chest.
…She really was holding bread in her arms, so well.

‘After all, it’s good fortune to serve a god who is handsome and has such assets.’

I felt a swell of pride.
Everyone in the world, behold our Artemia!

It was the moment I docked the gleaming new statue into place with that thought.

Eeeeeeek—

A piercing tinnitus bored into my ears.
A throbbing pain that made my head ring.
Without thinking, I covered my ears—

“Wow!”

The people’s exclamations sounded distant, as if I were underwater.
A brilliant light emanated from the statue.
The people gazed upon that radiance in wonder.

‘Are they all fine? They don’t hear this ringing sound?’

Everyone but me seemed perfectly unaffected.
Yet I was in such agony.

In that instant, the sacred light pouring from the statue engulfed me.

“Gasp!”

The tinnitus vanished.
The pounding ache that had battered my head was washed away.
I gasped for breath like someone who had just surfaced from water.

Then, I felt something wrong.

Time began to slow.
The people’s voices stretched out like a broken spell.
The world’s flow was grinding to a halt.

Thump-thump-thump—
My heart raced as if it would burst.

It was a premonition.
That my origin, my everything, the very reason for my existence would manifest before me.

And that premonition became reality.

—Saelika.

A voice I had longed for.
A voice so desperately missed that even in my dreams I had never heard it.

“Artemia.”

My everything was speaking to me now.

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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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