Youngest on Top - Chapter 218

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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 218

After Saelika left the hall and returned some time later.
Wiridian’s gaze remained fixed upon her.
Others might not have noticed, but Beatrix could see it clearly.

‘…What on earth happened between her and the Artemia Temple?’

Yet there was one fortunate thing.
The emotion contained within Wiridian’s gaze as he looked at Saelika.
That emotion was nothing but dark—pure hatred and contempt.

From that alone, I could tell.
That Wiridian would never surrender the 【Arbor】 to Saelika.

* * *

The day after the banquet.
Upon waking, I offered my morning prayers from bed before asking my brothers.

“What do you think?”

Kailros: What a lovely prayer, just like our youngest.
Kailros: Artemia must have been pleased to hear it.
Enrik: ‘Please guide George— the righteous path’? That prayer?
Kailros: It’s admirable that you’re making the effort to change.
Anakin: Admirable? What a load of nonsense.

“Why are you eavesdropping on someone else’s prayers!!!”

Anakin: Are you stupid? That’s literally our job.
Enrik: Besides, you asked for our thoughts in the first place.

“No, not about the prayers! I meant the elves!!”

Kailros: Ah, me too.
Kailros: You were praying so adorably and affectionately that I naturally thought you wanted me to share my appreciation.
Kailros: One mustn’t hold back praise for such an enchanting performance.
Anakin: ♩♪♬!
Anakin: This is seriously ♬♩♪♪ isn’t it? I’m getting goosebumps!!
Enrik: I understand the sentiment, but be careful.
Anakin: How am I supposed to be careful in a ♪♩♬ situation like this?!
Enrik: If you keep that up, you’ll get suspended

[Notice] Conversation has been temporarily suspended due to frequent use of profanity.
[Notice] We ask all users to use our service in a manner befitting an angel’s dignity—courteously and orderly. Thank you*^^*

Enrik: again.

Anakin gets caught every time.

‘It’s not like Anakin would be helpful with the elf situation anyway, so it doesn’t matter if he gets suspended.’

Enrik: You’re thinking something rather harsh there.

“Anyway, what do you two think—Enrik and Kailros?”

Enrik: Let me ask you something first.
Enrik: Youngest, do you know the elves?

“Huh?”

Enrik: You were treating the elves as if you knew them well.

“W-when did I ever?!”

Kailros: Your voice cracked.

I cleared my throat with a soft cough.

‘Calm down. There’s no way they could have found out.’

When dealing with the Elves, I was incredibly careful to ensure my inner thoughts remained hidden from my Brothers.
So they would absolutely have no way of knowing what I was thinking.
I tensed my abdomen and spoke with confidence.

“How would I know the Elves? I’ve known the location of the Sacred Maiden since the Heavenly Realm. This is the first time I’ve met them in person.”

Enrik: Really?

“Of course~!”

Kailros: But the way the Elf King looked at my younger sibling felt unpleasant.
Kailros: Like he was lost in nostalgia, disgustingly so….

“I can’t control his eye movements, can I?”

Enrik: Hmm.

“Well, I did see Silvester, Wiridian, and Nemus before the regression. They were incredibly close with Amelia.”

Just close?
The incident where Demian and the Elves fought over Amelia was extremely famous.

Three High Elves.
One of them was even the King who ruled over all Elves.
Amelia was revered even more as a Sacred Maiden whose charm transcended all races.

Kailros: Nemus?
Kailros: My beloved younger sibling calls the King of the Elves so casually?

Oops.
I had been so careful all along.

Enrik: It’s also strange that flowers bloomed on the branches of the World Tree.
Enrik: We didn’t even lend you our power for that.
Enrik: Even if we had lent it, it wouldn’t have been connected to the World Tree, so flowers wouldn’t have bloomed.

That was unexpected for me too.
I thought blooming flowers was impossible, so I told Helene, Eyrene, and Zabelina to use a workaround instead.

Enrik: The flowers bloomed in response to your divine power, which means one of two things.
Enrik: Either Artemia herself personally helped you.

That’s impossible because of the covenant the gods made with each other.

Kailros: Or she awakened your divine power that had been sleeping within the World Tree.

“….”

Enrik: Here’s the problem.
Enrik: How did our youngest’s power end up dwelling within the World Tree?

I let out a deep sigh.
I tried so hard to keep this hidden, yet here it is, exposed.

“Promise you won’t get angry.”

Kailros: My beloved younger sibling, how could I possibly be angry with you?
Enrik: …Just recently you were ranting and raving about breaking that troublemaker’s wings.
Kailros: That was a gesture of affection to add a bit of tension to our otherwise relaxed brotherly bond.
Enrik: ….

Kailros really is….

Enrik: I absolutely won’t get angry, so tell me.

“Well, the thing is—.”

* * *

Artemia’s angel Saelika had never descended to this land.
Not once in all those long ages.
That was the accepted truth.

“But actually, there was one time she came down.”

Enrik: What?!
Enrik: How on earth did you—?!??!!
Enrik: If I go down there, what other disaster will—

“….”

Enrik: I’m not angry.
Enrik: I’m just shocked.
Enrik: Continue.

At that moment, I was desperately fleeing from my Brothers’ pursuit, cowardly outnumbered five to one.
My Brothers were so ruthless and cunning that they even mobilized lower-ranking angels besides themselves to capture me.

Just as their vicious encirclement tightened around me.
I discovered a tiny opening.
It happened to be when Misa was causing a commotion about invading the Heavenly Realm.
Thanks to that, such a small hole had been torn open.

My Brothers’ grasp reached toward me with each passing moment.
There was nowhere left to flee.
Without hesitation, I dove through the opening.
Thinking that if my Brothers found out, they would be astounded, saying ‘What kind of angel uses a pathetic hole made by the Demon King!’

Enrik: What kind of angel uses a pathetic hole made by the Demon King!!

‘As expected.’

Kailros: Such an adorable scheme worthy of my younger sibling.
Kailros: What angel would ever do such a thing? You caught us completely off guard.

‘…Is that an insult or a compliment?’

In any case, I fell straight down.
Precisely into a settlement of Elves.

“Who goes there!”
“How dare you invade the Elves’ territory!!”

In an instant, the Elves surrounded me, brandishing bows and swords.
And then.

“An angel…?”

That was my first encounter with the Elves.

* * *

Teruasel Palace—built within the imperial palace specifically for distinguished guests.
The Emperor had arranged for the Elves to stay at Teruasel Palace.

“Wow, there are so many people here.”
“Of course. A path to exchange with the Elves has opened. Who wouldn’t rush in?”

It wasn’t only the Sacred Maidens who had come.
The Sacred Maidens had visited together with the lords surrounding the main temple building.
The foreign Sacred Maidens clearly bore the marks of receiving national support.
Carriages filled with all manner of rare treasures lined the streets.

“Anyway, get good shots. The Sacred Maidens already have such high publicity value from the preliminaries. And now the Elves too. I can hear the sound of money flowing in.”
“Don’t worry— huh?”
“What’s wrong?”

The senior reporter lifted his head at the junior reporter’s startled voice.
Parmanase’s procession was entering Teruasel Palace.
They moved with the grand bearing of a triumphant general’s procession.

“Wow, so it really is Parmanase.”
“Don’t be surprised. Look at that.”

The Parmanase Temple moved to the front of the line that had been waiting in order.
And they entered without any obstruction.

“Wow, some temples have been waiting for four hours, but Parmanase just walks right through.”
“They say Parmanase has maintained relations with the Elves for a long time. They deserve that kind of treatment.”
“It looks like the Sacred Maiden Amelia will claim victory.”
“Most likely. The only temple that could even compete is Artemia’s, but there’s no sign of them….”

The senior reporter clicked their tongue disapprovingly.

“You got that last shot, right?”
“Of course.”
“Hurry it up. Those Empire Times bastards already saw Amelia walk in and they’re typing away.”

The senior reporter clamped a pipe between their teeth and placed their hands on the typewriter.

“The headline should be something like… 【The Sacred Maiden Who Captivated Even the Elves, Amelia】.”

* * *

The reception hall of Teruasen Palace.

Amelia’s hair rippled with clear sacred power.
That majestic yet gentle, soft aura.
The Elves couldn’t help but marvel at the sight of Amelia.

“…Despite being human, she truly possesses remarkable grace.”
“And yet she’s so vibrant, like a branch that’s been drenched in rain and matured.”
“Even more so than when we saw her through the mirror…”
“A Sacred Maiden of this caliber… we could certainly stand beside her—.”

Beatrix smiled as she heard the whispered voices.
She gazed at Amelia with eyes full of pride.

Having demonstrated her abilities, Amelia was now explaining Parmanase’s proposal.
The way she spoke with composure and confidence was nothing short of admirable.

“Furthermore, only we of Parmanase can offer these terms.”
“…”
“I don’t wish to haggle over conditions and hurt anyone’s feelings. I’ve always wanted to join forces with the Elves.”
“…”
“To gain such excellent allies, we must offer nothing less than the finest treatment.”
“…”

Keiacsen, an Elf sitting beside Wiridian, turned over the documents Amelia had brought.

“…That’s certainly an impressive condition. The divine power you demonstrated earlier as well.”
“Our Parmanase is currently the temple with the most followers and the highest influence. Not just throughout the Empire, but across the entire continent.”
“So it’s the only temple capable of presenting such a condition.”

Amelia smiled brightly.
Keiacsen nodded and gazed at Wiridian.

“What do you think? Wouldn’t Parmanase be the best choice not only in terms of conditions, but also considering what comes after?”
“….”
“For cooperation, it’s best to work with the strongest temple.”
“….”
“Parmanase Temple has been in contact with us for a long time and has made our intentions clear.”
“….”

Despite Keiacsen’s words, Wiridian remained silent, simply gazing at Amelia.
Beatrix let out a small laugh.

“Our Amelia is certainly charming, but staring without blinking like that is rather burdensome.”
“Huh? Beatrix too…. Wiridian is just assessing whether I’m suitable as a partner, isn’t he?”

Amelia waved her hand dismissively and bowed her head slightly toward Wiridian.

“My apologies.”
“You.”
“…?”
“Are you truly the Sacred Maiden of Parmanase?”
“Ah, haha! Of course.”

Thinking it a jest, Amelia laughed like crystal-clear spring water.
Yet there was not a trace of laughter on Wiridian’s face.

“Then why….”

He muttered, his brow furrowing.

“…?”

Amelia regarded him with a puzzled expression, but Wiridian did not speak again.

* * *

Deep in the night.
The Elves slipped away from the Teruasen Palace that the Emperor had provided and headed toward the forest.

“I can finally breathe properly.”
“Human buildings are far too contaminated.”

This wasn’t merely about the murky miasma that monsters exhaled.

“Did you see that greed written all over their faces?”
“Before we arrived, they were certainly praising another Sacred Maiden. Yet look how they flipped their attitude in an instant, like turning over their palm.”
“I truly wonder if it’s wise to join hands with humans….”
“We cannot overcome the calamity by ourselves.”

At Wiridian’s words, the chattering Elves fell silent.
Keiacsen spoke.

“Yet Artemia didn’t even come. I was curious about the Sacred Maiden whom the King himself blessed with a branch of the World Tree.”
“It doesn’t matter if we don’t see her.”
“But—.”
“Artemia can never be trusted.”
….

Keiacsen looked at Wiridian.
The High Elves who had lived for ages were particularly hypersensitive to the Temple of Artemia.
Some High Elves were extremely favorable toward it.
Others were—

“As long as I hold this responsibility, I will never surrender 【Arbor】 to Artemia.”

—utterly hostile.
Keiacsen could not fathom the reason.

“Then would you choose Parmanase?”
“….”
“Wiridian?”
“…Did you not sense it?”
“Pardon?”
“The power I felt emanating from Parmanase’s Sacred Maiden’s divine essence.”
“…?”
“That was unmistakably the power dwelling within the World Tree.”
“…!”

Keiacsen’s face rippled with shock.

“B-but how—. How could Parmanase’s Sacred Maiden’s divine essence be connected to our World Tree….”
“….”
“Wait! If that’s truly the case, shouldn’t we join hands with Parmanase without hesitation?”
“….”
“Amelia is the master of the World Tree we’ve been waiting for all this time!”
“….”

Wiridian gazed silently upward at the sky.
A pale full moon illuminated the forest.
Starlight scattered like salt and a gentle breeze.
Leaves shimmering faintly in the moonlight and starlight.

It was a night just like this.
The night an angel fell from the heavens.

“Wiridian.”

A voice soft as it wrapped around my ears.

“Look at this. Isn’t it beautiful? It’s a gift for you.”

Lips curved in a fresh, radiant smile.
But now, even with my eyes closed, that face had grown hazy.

Gripped by inexplicable frustration, I moved forward.
The trees bowed of their own accord, creating a path for the High Elf.

Soon, an open clearing came into view.
It was exactly like this place.
Where an angel had fallen from the sky.

And.

“Oh? We meet again in a place like this.”

Bathed in the pale, shimmering moonlight, the Sacred Maiden stood before me.

“Well, good evening?”

As if she had fallen from the sky itself.

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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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