Youngest on Top - Chapter 209

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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 209

The chaos wasn’t limited to the Mana Network alone.
The Sacred Maidens watching the broadcast screen also widened their eyes in astonishment.
Of course, the reaction of the Nobles observing the relay inside the Imperial Palace hall was no less dramatic.

“W-What?! An Elf?!”
“I-It’s really an Elf!!”
“Isn’t that a H-High Elf?! Good heavens…!”

The Nobles cried out, all dignity forgotten.

“Wait, isn’t this the broadcast artifact of Sacred Maiden Saelika?”
“Then, does that mean they’ve encountered Elves all this time?”
“…! The Elves possess branches of the World Tree!!”
“And they’re pristine, uncorrupted branches at that!!”
“…!!!!”

Realization and excitement flashed across everyone’s faces.

“Then did the Diamond Team obtain a branch of the World Tree from the Elves?”
“That’s unlikely. The Elves would never willingly hand over even a fragment of the World Tree to humans. Stealing it must have been their best option.”
“But seeing the Elves captured on screen now, it seems….”

They trailed off into silence, unable to finish their thought.
Then the Temple Priest of Badarler spoke up.

“It appears they were discovered and are now trapped by the Elves with no way to escape.”

The excitement drained from the Nobles’ faces.
It was a bold new attempt, certainly.
But if the result was this, wasn’t it more of a burden?

“With calamity approaching, they had to provoke the Elves too.”
“Heh, the price of recklessness is indeed steep.”

At the Nobles’ reactions, Beatrix’s lips curled into a slight smile.
When the Elf first appeared on screen, she too had been taken aback.

But winning over the Elves in just a few hours? That’s impossible.

Parmanasus Temple had been approaching the Elves cautiously for a long time.
Because of this, I understood their nature better than anyone else in this room.

Ah, it would be troublesome if the Elves killed Saelika. I had wanted to play with that child with my own hands.

Beatrix let out a regretful sigh.
As expected, the High Elf snatched the broadcast magical artifact with a displeased expression.

[So it’s a toy for humans. It seems to be peering at my appearance.]
[In other words, we’re connected.]
[…!]

At the voice heard from beside him, realization flashed across the High Elf’s face.

[Connected even from a distance…. There could be no more fitting token to promise a future meeting.]

And with a considerably softened demeanor, he gazed upon the broadcast magical artifact.
Not a trace of intent to destroy this irritating human toy!

“Why would Elves, who despise humans, do such a thing…?”
“A token to promise a future meeting? What on earth does that mean?”
“Wait, hold on. For a High Elf to treat someone with such reverence….”

The voices trailed off.
The angle of the crystal viewing stone shifted, and something came into view.

“…Light?!”
“Why is there light instead of a face….”

Light dwelled above the neck.
The Nobles rubbed their eyes and looked at the screen again.
Upon closer inspection, it wasn’t light at all.

Hair as noble as moonlight shining solitary in the depths of night.
Eyes of jade that held the light and shadow of every forest.
Cheeks and jawline as elegant and pristine as if carved from sacred wood.
Lips sealed together like the divine fruit said to grant life even to the dying.

My breath caught in my throat at the mere sight of him.
A face so impossibly beautiful that I was certain he was not human.
And upon his head—

“—a living crown!”

The peculiar crown, woven from what appeared to be pale wooden vines, was alive.
And there was only one being in all the world who could wear such a crown.

“I-It’s the King of the Elves!!”

The Emperor shot to his feet.
His excitement was palpable as he rose from his seat.
Duke Makandor spoke quickly.

“Your Majesty, it appears Sacred Maiden Saelika is forming a covenant with the Elves.”
“Yes, they’ve exchanged pledges for a future meeting—this is certainly no fleeting bond!”

Count Daymon also nodded, his face flushed with excitement.
The Emperor clenched his fists tightly.

“I asked for branches of the World Tree, and now we have a Sacred Maiden who’s formed a covenant with the Elves!!”

The Emperor’s excited voice rang out loudly.

“And she’s none other than the Empire’s Sacred Maiden!!!”

In other words, the right to trade with the Elves could fall to the Empire.
The rulers of other nations watching this broadcast right now must be dying of envy!
As Emperor, I couldn’t help but be delighted with Saelika.

“Truly, Saelika! My vote for her was no mistake!”

It was a pleased exclamation, but there was an edge to his words.

“My, Your Majesty, did you perhaps cast your vote rather hastily?”
“We had hopes until the broadcast ended, but it seems it wasn’t to be.”
“Indeed, it was the same before.”

It was a remark directed at those who had been subtly criticizing the Emperor’s hasty vote.
Duke Makandor let out a soft chuckle and quickly bowed his head.

“I cannot presume to match Your Majesty’s wisdom, sire.”
“With this, the Empire has opened a path with the Elves as well. My gratitude, Your Majesty.”
“Kahahaha!!!”

The Emperor’s laughter rang out powerfully through the chamber.
The Nobles exchanged meaningful glances.

‘Has His Majesty laughed so heartily in recent times?’
‘Not that I recall.’

With the Emperor responding in such a manner, even those Nobles who had subtly disparaged Sacred Maiden Saelika moments before shifted their expressions.

“Ahem, Sacred Maiden Saelika is truly remarkable.”

Yet their positions had not truly changed.
After all, they were all backed by their respective political factions.

“Indeed, which is precisely why it is such a pity.”
“A pity?”
“Had Sacred Maiden Saelika only passed this mission, she would have soared to even greater heights.”
“…!”

The Emperor’s face hardened visibly.
Regardless, the Nobles of that faction continued their exchange with expressions of regret painted across their faces.

“It is truly lamentable. The birth of an exceptional Sacred Maiden is something we all desire, is it not?”
“Yet there is nothing to be done. She failed the mission, so her elimination is confirmed.”
“To alter the rules for the sake of special treatment for one person would be unthinkable and absolutely unacceptable.”

Their praise of Saelika had been nothing more than groundwork to guide the atmosphere in this direction.
They feared the Emperor might recognize her achievements and allow her to pass this mission as a special exception.
What they truly desired was to block Saelika from advancing at any cost!

“The qualities of a Grand Sacred Maiden depend on how perfectly she can deliver results given the circumstances.”
“Time is running out now. What good is it to devise better methods by exercising ingenuity when we’re already pressed for time?”
“We could arrive too late and find everyone already dead.”
“Sacred Maiden Saelika is the youngest among us, isn’t she? Perhaps that’s why she doesn’t seem to understand priorities—.”

That was when it happened.

Boom!
With a tremendous crash, the Mission Hall began to collapse with a deafening roar.

“W-What in the…”

The sudden turn of events.
The Nobles who had been harshly criticizing Saelika were left stunned.

* * *

The Mission Hall loomed ahead.

“Aki, hurry! We don’t have much time left!”

Saelika urged Alkiers forward.
Alkiers flew even faster through the sky.
To anyone watching, it was clear they were about to plunge directly into the Mission Hall.
The three Sacred Maidens were taken aback.

“W-Wait just a moment!! My hair is completely ruined!”
“Look at my appearance! It’s a disaster!! This is the perfect moment to make a grand comeback!”
“Just one minute!! At least let me fix my clothes…!”

The Sacred Maidens, who had been protesting while struggling not to bite their tongues, froze.
Alkiers, whom they thought would land gracefully before the Mission Hall’s main entrance, had already passed through the gates.

The speed showed no signs of decreasing.
At this rate—.

“W-Wait. No, that’s not right?”
“W-Why aren’t you slowing down?!”
“A-Are you insane?!”

Boom!
Alkiers’ front paw smashed through the building’s ceiling with a devastating sweep.
The Sacred Maidens shrieked and hastily erected a protective barrier.

‘Is he out of his mind?! This walking disaster!!’
‘This ungrateful beast!!’
‘I’ve never seen such a troublemaker in my entire life!!!!’

The three Sacred Maidens, unable to contain their exasperation, cried out in unison.

“Are you some kind of thug?! Why are you demolishing the building when there’s a perfectly good door right there!!!”

Saelika spoke with an indifferent expression.

“I told you. I have some experience with reckless behavior.”
“Sigh….”

Walking disaster, troublemaker, nuisance, problem child, thug.
These were the words Saelika had heard so often.
I’d wondered why she’d been subjected to such harsh criticism so frequently, but now I finally understood the reason!

The people in the hall—even the Sacred Maidens themselves—seemed unable to comprehend what was happening.
Everyone stood with gaping mouths, staring at the falling ceiling debris and the divine beast.

Rumble, rumble, crash!
Bang!
Once the final pieces of debris settled, dust descended like a thick fog throughout the space.
In the midst of it all, the divine beast with its radiant blue markings lifted its head with majestic pride.
It was a scene worthy of legend itself.

‘…If only she hadn’t crashed through the building to make her entrance.’

Saelika stood atop the divine beast’s back, raising her hand triumphantly.
And she flashed a brilliant smile toward the assembled crowd.

“Fortunately, I made it in time.”

The moment those words left her lips.
The last grains of sand in the enormous hourglass behind Sacred Maiden Saelika tumbled down with a soft whisper.
The timing was impossibly, perfectly flawless.

Only then did the crowd realize that something rested in Saelika’s hands.
A branch of the World Tree!

“T-the Diamond Team has returned with the World Tree’s branch!! They’ve miraculously arrived just as the time limit expired…!!”

The Host, finally regaining his composure, fulfilled his duty.
At that declaration, Zabelina, Eyrene, and Helene wore bewildered expressions.
Saelika jabbed her elbow sharply into the sides of all three.

“Smile. Smile.”
“….”
“Smile, I said. Got it?”

It was a whisper that suggested dire consequences if they didn’t comply.
The three Sacred Maidens reflexively lifted the corners of their mouths.

Yet something strange happened.
Once they smiled that way, genuine laughter bubbled up.
They had done it.
They had truly accomplished the impossible!

The three Sacred Maidens raised their hands triumphantly beside Saelika, their faces radiant with confidence.

“Waaaaaaaah—!!”

A roar echoed from far away.
It was the cry of the crowd gathered in the plaza, watching the broadcast.
The shout was so tremendous that it reached all the way here!

‘Even when our Emerald Team arrived first with the World Tree’s branch, the cheers never reached this far….’

The Sacred Maiden of the Emerald Team glanced sideways at Amelia.
If even she felt this pang of regret,
how must Amelia, who had contributed the most to their first-place finish, be feeling?
And yet.

“Wow, that’s truly magnificent.”

Clap, clap, clap!
Amelia smiled brightly and began applauding Saelika.

‘Her caliber is different. So this is what a future High Priestess looks like.’

I was filled with admiration.
Awakened by Amelia’s applause, the other Sacred Maidens began clapping as well.
Soon the entire mission hall was filled with the sound of applause.

* * *

Inside the imperial palace hall.

“She didn’t merely bring back a branch of the World Tree.”

Count Daymon, a scholar, examined the branch carefully before speaking.

“The flowers are blooming.”

At those words, every noble turned their gaze to the branch.
Then they noticed what they had missed earlier in their shock and bewilderment.

“Indeed, the flowers of the World Tree are truly blooming!”
“Obtaining an uncorrupted branch alone would be remarkable, but a branch with blooming flowers…!!”

The Emperor stroked his chin and laughed.

“It’s impossible to change the rules to give special treatment to one person. But while someone sits in their seat and merely raises their voice.”

The Emperor’s gaze turned toward the group of nobles.

“Someone else followed the rules and achieved results so exceptional they cannot be compared to anyone else.”

Ahem, ahem!
The nobles who had merely raised their voices cleared their throats awkwardly and averted their gaze.

‘Damn it.’

Beatrix’s face contorted in a rare display of displeasure.
Saelika had succeeded in her mission?
That wasn’t the issue.
But—.

‘How on earth did she secure the cooperation of the Elves?!’

Consider the immense effort Parmanasus Temple had poured into making contact with the Elves all this time!
Yet Saelika had accomplished it in mere hours—

‘She even forged a covenant with the Elf King himself…!’

There was no denying it now.
She had brought back a branch of the World Tree in full bloom as proof!

Then Kaiser smiled—a rare occurrence—and gazed at Beatrix.

“You asked earlier, didn’t you? That the child I chose as my daughter must have grown into a remarkable Sacred Maiden.”

Beatrix’s crimson lips twisted.

“…Indeed, that answers the question. How fortunate you are to have such an extraordinary daughter.”
“No. You’re mistaken.”
“…?”
“I didn’t choose her. She chose me.”

Kaiser continued, watching his daughter smiling brightly on the screen.

“Such a special child chose someone as lacking as me to be her father.”

A smile graced Kaiser’s face.
A faint smile it was.
So subtle that he himself seemed unaware he was smiling—a barely perceptible warmth.
Yet it was entirely different from the bitter smile he had worn moments before while looking at Beatrix.
So different that one could scarcely believe it was the same person’s face.

Crunch!
Beatrix’s crimson nails dug into the fabric of her garment.

* * *

“Saelika!!”

I heard voices calling me from a distance.

‘Oh my, our Elders are in quite a frenzy.’

I tensed my body in preparation for the kiss.
But then.

“W-Your Majesty the Emperor?!”

The Emperor was rushing toward me with his eyebrows raised!
And wearing the same expression as our Elders!

‘What, what is this?!’

That was when it happened.
A communication stone rang from my bosom.
The caller was….

“King Bennayser?”

He stopped dead.
The Emperor froze upon hearing my voice.
And the way he looked at me was somehow….

‘Like a husband catching his wife with another man.’

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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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