Youngest on Top - Chapter 248

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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 248

* * *

Amelia stared blankly at the scene unfolding before her eyes.
Even seeing it, she couldn’t believe it.
How could she even put this shock into words?

But standing there in a daze, unable to do anything, was what ordinary people did.
A special being like herself shone brightest in times of crisis.

Amelia spun around to face Saelika.

“Refuse it, Saelika.”
“What are you talking about?”
“If you accept subjugation, we lose our central pillar. Do you think we could stand against that Demon in such a situation?”
“Ah, the ‘you’ as our central pillar?”

Saelika let out a soft laugh.
Despite the mockery, Amelia remained composed.
She gestured to the Sacred Maidens bound to her and spoke.

“I understand the desire to become like me. But in times like these, you must think of the greater cause rather than personal ambition.”
“Hmm, what about you? Do you think of the greater cause over your own desires?”
“Of course. I always have.”
“Then it’s simple.”
“…?”

Saelika smiled brightly.

“Amelia, what if you became subjugated to me instead?”
“…!”

Amelia’s face went rigid.
The other Sacred Maidens beside her stifled their laughter.

“You’re right, Sae.”
“Then all of our power will unite as one. Just as you advocated, Amelia.”
“The only difference is that the focal point shifts to Saelika.”
“Didn’t you say you prioritize the greater good over personal desire?”

Amelia glared at the Sacred Maidens with cold eyes.

‘These petty, selfish creatures—that’s why they swore their oath of servitude to someone like Saelika!’

How dare they demand that one born to the destiny of the Grand Sacred Maiden kneel before them!

“There’s no reasoning with you.”

Amelia raised her scepter high.
Wasting words on these creatures was pointless.

‘I’ll crush them with power!’

The scepter responded to Amelia’s will, shining brilliantly.
Just as sacred power was about to erupt—

“I declare. This land belongs to Artemia.”

A calm voice resonated through the air.

Uuuuuuung—!
The earth itself resonated with that declaration.
In that same instant, brilliant light erupted from Saelika, who stepped forward.
The sacred domain of the god Artemia had unfolded!

The Sacred Maidens raised their hands to shield their eyes from the overwhelming surge of power.

“This… is a sacred domain?”
“I knew she was formidable, but to this extent…!”
“Even with the higher Sacred Maidens subjugated, this is…!”

It was unlike the ordinary, gentle and warm sacred domains.
The power staining the earth was tyrannically overwhelming.
As if she would devour all the land and make it her own territory!

Saelika’s sacred domain expanded far beyond where Amelia’s sacred domain could reach.

Kiiiieeeeee—!
The spirits shrieked and melted away.
It was on an entirely different level from Amelia’s sacred domain, which had merely blocked the spirits’ intrusion.

That wasn’t the end of it.
She even invaded Amelia’s sacred domain and made it her own.

As if to make it abundantly clear whose territory this land was.
Who the sovereign of this realm truly was.

* * *

The stadium fell eerily silent.
Instead of Saelika’s broadcast screen, now clouded and hazy.
The screens of countless Sacred Maidens displayed the same spectacle from their respective positions.

An expansive sacred domain unfurled.
A vast plain dyed in the realm of divinity.
And in the center of it all, a young girl standing serene and composed.

“My goodness….”

The moment someone’s gasp burst forth like a dam breaking.

“Waaaaaahhhhh—!!”
“God’s territory has descended upon the earth!!!”
“Did you see it? Did you?! This is the true power of Saelika!!!”

The stadium erupted with roars that seemed to shake its very foundations.
People spilled forth words burning in their chests, their faces flushed with excitement.
The cacophony of voices tangled together until it was impossible to discern who was saying what.

Yet one thing was certain.
Everyone’s attention was fixed on Saelika, yearning for her continued triumph.

As if reading her thoughts, Saelika leaped forward.
Leaving trails of radiant light, her small divine form shot forward with breathtaking speed.
Toward the barbaric Demon who dared to desecrate this sacred land.

“Woooow!!”
“A direct charge!”

Saelika never disappointed the spectators.
Unlike other Sacred Maidens who cast buffs and provided support from the safety of the sanctuary, she charged directly into the fray herself.

The savior of countless tribes who had never opened their hearts.
The miracle-worker who reversed the collapse of a mountain.
And that was not all.
She had even won the favor of the veiled Dragon-kin.

Now Saelika was approaching the calamitous Demon head-on.

My heart pounded as if it would burst from my chest.
Who could have imagined witnessing such a spectacle alive!

Through the amplification artifacts, the Hosts’ voices poured forth.

[What power will she unleash?]
[The divine authority she displayed when the mountain crumbled was already extraordinary!]
[Now that the sacred power of the other Sacred Maidens has been added, I’m certain we’ll witness something even more magnificent!]
[Perhaps she’ll deploy the highest-tier sacred magic…!]

Everyone gazed at the crystal display board with eager eyes.
What magic would it be!

As if answering their anticipation, Alice Celestia gracefully slashed through the air.
And then.

Crash!

She simply smashed the Demon.

[Huh…?]
[What…?]

Even the hosts, who had been preparing to explain whatever magic might appear, let out something stupid.
People stared at the screen with their mouths agape.

“Just now, so— a moment ago, uh, what magic was that?”
“The Sacred Maiden definitely swung her staff, and um, perhaps? Some magic….”
“With magic… the large divine stone attached to the end of the staff crushed the Demon’s head….”

People trying to make sense of the situation faltered.

‘…It doesn’t seem like magic, just like she hit it with the Sacred Maiden’s staff.’

But that couldn’t be right.
Wasn’t the Sacred Maiden the representative of the divine and the executor of miracles?

“Ah, so that’s what the magic was!”
“Yes! Truly remarkable divine magic!”
“I’ve never even heard of such sacred magic before?! How amazing!”

Saelika, who had sent the Demon flying with magic(?), turned around and smiled sweetly.

[Listen up, everyone.]

A voice like a gentle breeze.
A smile as benevolent and sacred as an angel’s manifestation.

People nodded their heads.

‘Right, someone like that would never crush a Demon’s head with a sacred object—’

[Beat them down.]

‘—w-w-w-what?!??!’

.
.

Unlike the bewildered audience, the priests of Artemisia remained composed.
They responded with an air of familiarity.

“I was already planning to take them down anyway?!”
“Taking them down? How undignified.”
“Why are you only criticizing me! You don’t say anything to the Protagonist!”
“Instead of arguing with words, use that time to fight the enemies.”
“How about we make a bet on who defeats the most?”
“How childish. …I’m on my fifth one.”
“I’ve already taken down eight?”

The Spirits couldn’t breach the sacred ground, so they merged and fused with each other, swelling their bodies.
The evolved Spirits could now invade even the sacred ground.

Artemia’s Priests rampaged through the area like unbridled horses.
With each of their charges, the Spirits fell in droves.

In the gorge, there was the concern of soil that could fall from above at any moment.
There was the need to look after and protect the people from other temples.
There were many troublesome matters.

But now, they were free of such burdens.
Above all, the land upon which they stood firmly was a sacred ground created by their Sacred Maiden.
They moved skillfully through contaminated zones without sacred ground—what of a place like this?

“Incredible….”

Elizabeth murmured without realizing it.
The other Sacred Maidens and Priests also gazed at Artemia’s Priests with astonished expressions.

They were truly strong, truly powerful….

“Ahahaha! That’s thirty now!!”
“Hey, they’re running, they’re running.”
“Catch them! Take them down!”

—Aren’t they a bit scary?

Then, Saelika spoke to them.

“What are you doing?”

Tap, tap!
Patting the—no, Alice Celestia in my palm with little taps.
My posture was incredibly casual.

“Are you just going to watch?”
“…!”
“Roll.”
“…?!???”

Roll? Did I hear that correctly?
Am I understanding this right?

But I couldn’t question it.
I could only obey.
It felt like I had to obey.

‘Did I… make the right choice swearing my submission?’

Elizabeth swallowed the rising doubt.

* * *

CRAAAAAASH!
The earth split open as a massive explosion thundered out.

“See, darling’s always so fiery.”

Misa winked at me.
I was so irritated that goosebumps erupted all over my body.

Enrik: You crazy ♪♫♪♬!
Kailros: ♪♩♩♩♬ ♬♬♪ bastard!
Anakin: ♪♩♬!! ♬♪♬!!!

[Notice] Chat has been temporarily suspended due to frequent profanity.
[Notice] Please use our service in a manner befitting the dignity of angels, with courtesy and order. Thank you *^^*

Serha: How foolish.
Serha: Messengers of Artemia, yet unable to control a single emotion and subjected to restraint.

“This time, darling, try to catch me.”

Misa blew me a kiss.

Serha: A lowly Demon dares!!!
Serha: Even if I seared your lips with sacred flame and gouged out your eyes and ♫♪♬♩ your ♩♩♪ and ♫♩♫♪♬, it wouldn’t be enough ♪♬♪!!

[Notice] Chat 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, with courtesy and order. Thank you *^^*

“….”

I stared at the chat window in disbelief.

‘Wait. The broadcast?’

Glancing back, I saw the spirits had grown several meters in size.
Until moments ago, two spirits had merged together, but now six or so had become one body.

The Sacred Maidens were too occupied fighting the spirits to notice.
The magical recording devices following the Sacred Maidens were the same.
Above all, the thunderous sounds of battle echoed from all directions.

It seemed unlikely that Misa’s nonsense would be heard.

“Are you really that concerned about our relationship being exposed?”
“Don’t lump us together like that.”
“Ahhh, it’s thrilling like a secret romance.”
“You’re insane.”

Whoooosh!
As I swung Alise Celestia, a heavy sound cut through the air.
Misa chuckled.

“That’s not quite how you’re supposed to wield it, is it?”
“I have a decent feel for it. This divine stone is perfect for striking.”

The Sacred Maiden’s staff, Alice Celestia, was adorned with beautiful wings and divine stones embedded within it.

“This divine stone is harder than diamond—”

Whoooosh!

“And every time it strikes, it drives holy power right into you!”

Crack!
Holy power burrowed into Misa’s body as his back took the blow.

Misa staggered.
The impact itself was nothing, but the shock from the holy power accumulating inside his body with each strike was considerable.
However….

Thud.
I drove Alice Celestia into the ground and stopped my attack.

“What are you playing at?”
“What do you mean?”
“You haven’t thrown a single proper attack this whole time.”
“How could I attack my beloved darling? Such a heartbreaking act, I simply couldn’t….”
“Stop spouting nonsense.”

Misa was the one who delighted in tearing at my wings.
Of course, he was even more ecstatic when he tore at my wings.

“I simply want to extend our time alone together a little longer, darling.”

‘…So there’s a time limit?’

Does that mean he hasn’t fully crossed over?
Or perhaps….

‘No, I’ll think about that later.’

Since I’d encountered Misa, there was something I absolutely had to confirm.

“Let me ask you one thing. When I was kidnapped, who ordered you to take me?”
“Darling, you were kidnapped? You’re really weak, aren’t you? I’m losing interest already.”
“Answer me properly.”
“Don’t be angry. I’m joking. My interest in you could never fade, darling. I saw you being weak with my own eyes years ago, and it didn’t happen then, did it? I surprised myself. This is what true love really is….”

Crack!
I seized Misa by the collar.
At the close distance, Misa laughed languidly.

“Darling, aren’t you being too aggressive?”
“Stop spouting nonsense and answer my question. Why did you take me to the Orphanage under Parmanasus Temple? Who ordered you?”

Misa stared at me intently.
It was a completely different gaze from when he was spouting jokes just moments ago.
There was something about it—.

“I’m the one getting angry now.”

Stained with cruel emotion….

“Did you mistake me for another man?”

Misa’s pupils constricted sharply.
Chills ran down my spine.

“…!”

I quickly dodged out of the way.

Crackle, crackle, crackle—
The ground where I had been standing let out an ominous sound as a black maw split open wide.

Misa looked at me with a face full of irritation.

“I’m about to get jealous.”

He meant it.

‘Misa really doesn’t know.’

What is this?
What I felt back then was definitely Misa’s aura.
There’s no way I was mistaken.
There’s no way I was confused.
‘Then—.’
“I can overlook you playing around with other men. But I won’t tolerate you confusing me with another man.”
“….”
“I’m the most special person to you, darling.”

—————
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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