Youngest on Top - Chapter 258

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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 258

The wyverns seized the sky.
As if performing acrobatics, the wyverns circled the stadium and descended to the ground.
Their backs carried the Draconic race.

Upon catching sight of the Draconic people, the crowd gasped in awe.

“It’s, it’s Tarasius Prince!”
“The Crown Prince of the Draconic race!!”
“And Princess Terese too…!”

The Draconic race, who neither allowed other species within their barrier nor ventured beyond it themselves.
Their mere appearance in the heart of the Empire was extraordinary.
And yet the direct royal bloodline—the Crown Prince and High Priest no less!

But the astonishment had only begun.

“I never expected to see the Draconic race in such a place.”

A voice as crystalline as a deep forest, yet carrying the weight of ancient timber.
That commanding tone resonated through the stadium, compelling all to bow their heads.

Thud!
The Elves knelt in unison.

“My goodness…. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the Elves do this.”
“Even during their time in the Empire, they never once accepted the Emperor’s invitation.”
“Such arrogant beings….”

Their movements were so reverent and disciplined it seemed impossible they were the same individuals.
Especially when Wiridian, who had always regarded all existence as beneath him, bowed his head with such piety—it was nothing short of shocking.

“My…. Even Wiridian….”
“…Then the man before us must be someone worthy of such deference.”

An overwhelming presence like an ancient tree stretching endlessly, even obscuring the heavens themselves.
A living crown positioned above his head.
The Guardian of the World Tree.
King of all Elves!

“…Seeing him in person, the footage didn’t even capture his hair properly.”
“Back then it felt like opening my eyes to light for the first time, but in reality….”

At that moment, Tarasius furrowed his brow looking at Nemus.

“Why is the King of the Elves who should be living among the grass here?”
“That’s what I’d like to ask. Aren’t all the Dragon-kin hermitic loners?”

The two men faced each other.
That alone was enough for a crushing pressure to blanket the entire stadium.
The moment people shrank back.

“What’s going on here, you two?”

A clear voice cut through.
Both men turned to look at Saelika at once.
The oppressive atmosphere instantly dissipated.

“Saelika!”

Terese, who had been beside Tarasius, approached Saelika with a brightened face.

“We meet again, Princess Terese.”
“Ah, Saelika is welcoming me….”

Terese placed a hand on her head as if her mind was hazy.
Tarasius regarded his sister with weary eyes.

Nemus spoke to Saelika with furrowed brows.

“What’s going on? Is that what you should be asking me?”
“Hm?”
“Didn’t we agree to meet again that day?”
“Ah.”

Nemus’s face grew cold as if he had only just remembered.

“You forgot, even after I gave you a token of my promise?”
“No, that’s not… it’s not like that.”
“I believed in you because I felt the power connecting us through that token.”

Saelika scratched her cheek awkwardly.

‘The way he says it makes it sound so grand…’

It was just a communication artifact.
I had simply tossed him whatever was in my hand at the time.

Then Tarasius stepped forward.

“So the King of the Elves lacks magnanimity. Interrogating her like this?”
“This is between Saelika and me. The Draconic race has no business interfering.”
“But Saelika is clearly uncomfortable.”
“You dare interfere for such a reason? The Draconic race? What are you scheming?”
“…Because my sister likes her.”
“What?”

Sparks flew between the King of the Elves and the Draconic Prince.
People began to murmur among themselves.

“My goodness, are the two of them really fighting over Saelika right now?”

Oh my, oh my.
The Noble Ladies fanned themselves rapidly as if something delightful had occurred.

“Indeed, Saelika has deep ties with the Elves. That Wiridian only meets people through Saelika.”
“The Draconic race only met her briefly during the last mission, yet they came seeking her out. She must have made quite an impression.”
“And to think, Princess Terese was a fan of Saelika from the start. Perhaps the Prince has been interested since then…”
“To receive the favor of both the mystically gifted Draconic race and the Elves who command the World Tree…”
“Doesn’t it seem only fitting that Saelika becomes the Grand Sacred Maiden?”
“Above all—”

The gazes of the fanning Noble Ladies grew suggestive.

“—To bestow such magnificent blessings upon the eyes and optic nerves….”
“Ah, truly exquisite.”
“What a spectacle. A masterpiece of nature. A gift from the divine.”
“Goddess Artemia, I thank you. Today I have come to understand the true meaning of the Sacred Maiden Selection….”

Beauty, after all, transcends race and moves the human heart.

‘Hehe, excellent.’

Terese wore a satisfied smile.
The atmosphere had completely shifted in Saelika’s favor.

‘All that effort to sacrifice my brother paid off!’

The spectacular aerial display of the wyverns, orchestrated deliberately for effect, had worked beautifully.

‘I never expected it, but the Elves made their entrance at just the right moment too.’

Annoying as those Elves were, today they had proven useful.

‘If things continue like this, winning over the initial voters will be—.’

That was when it happened.

“My, Saelika certainly knows how to capture attention even before the selection begins.”

Amelia appeared with a bright smile.
Alongside the Beastmen.

“So the Dragon Prince and the Elf King have both lost their sight.”

Reks glared at Tarasius and Nemus.

“Wagging your tails before a savior to a demon’s lackey.”
“What?”
“How ridiculous. A beast making such comparisons.”

Crackle.
Thunder erupted between the three men.

People stared at the spectacle with their mouths agape.

The King of the Elves, blessed by nature as the guardian of the World Tree.
The King of the Beastmen, a born warrior with instincts bordering on foresight and sharp fangs and claws.
Even the Prince of the Dragon-kin, possessing divine powers so formidable he was once revered as a god.

The Hosts, who had been at a loss for words, regained their composure and seized the amplification magic devices.

[What on earth is happening!]
[We thought the King of the Beastmen had appeared, but now the King of the Elves and the Prince of the Dragon-kin as well!]
[Truly, a spectacular finale to the Sacred Maiden Selection Tournament has unfolded!!]

The voices resonating through the stadium stirred the crowd’s reactions and heightened their excitement.
Among them, Amelia regarded Saelika with a composed gaze.

“Saelika, I’ll give you one last chance.”
“A chance?”
“Yes, a chance to kneel before me.”

She was asking her to swear an oath of submission.
At this absurd proposition, Saelika regarded Amelia with a serious expression.

“You’re not old enough to be senile yet.”
“Hehe, I thought you’d say that. Thank you for refusing. Actually—”

Amelia approached Saelika.

“—I was worried you might kneel and lose the opportunity to humiliate yourself.”

Amelia whispered in her ear and smiled wickedly.

“Thank you for summoning the Dragon-kin and the Elves. Once this battle ends, both will become mine, won’t they?”
“….”
“After all, you’re destined to lose to me.”

* * *

When I returned to the waiting room, the children greeted me.
Edmund asked.

“What were you talking about with Amelia up there? We couldn’t hear the conversation from the broadcast.”
“She said I’d lose to her?”
“What?”

The kids stared at me with shocked expressions.
And then.

“Pfft!”
“Pffahahaha!”
“She’s really lost her mind. Though I guess none of us have ever taken a punch from Honeybread before.”

The kids stretched and loosened their bodies as they spoke.

“Yeah, she actually said something so ridiculous.”
“That’s hilarious.”

The way they cracked their knuckles looked just like thugs, and I found it oddly satisfying.
Just then, an announcement came through the amplification artifact.
[The priests of the Artemia Temple are entering!]

“Alright. It’s time for the magnificent Dmitri to show what he’s made of.”

Our kids strode confidently into the arena.

“Woooow!”
“The Artemia priests!!”
“Ilaaaaaay!!”
“Edmund, look over here!!”
“Eek! Did you see? Dmitri waved at us!”

The crowd’s reaction was surprisingly enthusiastic.

‘Is this because the kids performed well in the last mission?’

In the stands, I could see people waving placards.

[Smiling Angel Ilay]
[Bewitching Noble Edmund]

Dmitri burst out laughing at the sight.

“Hey, hey, they call you the Smiling Angel, Ilay? Puhaha! The Smiling Angel, puhaha!”
“…Would you shut up?”

Ilay smiled menacingly.
Of course, it had no effect on Dmitri whatsoever.

“Ahahaha! That smile just now was perfect!”
“….”

Edmund frowned at the snickering.

“We’re broadcasting. Don’t be frivolous, Dmitri.”
“Yes, yes, the Enchanting Young Lord’s word is law!”
“Want to die?”
“That remark didn’t sound like the Enchanting Young Lord at all!”

Dmitri clutched his stomach, laughing.
I patted Dmitri’s back gently.

“Huh? What’s wrong, Honeybread?”
“Look at that.”

I pointed to a particularly cute and adorable placard.

[The Cutest Dmitri]

“….”
“….”
“…Pfft!”
“He’s the cutest!”
“Captain, you must be really cute?”

The kids teased Dmitri.
Dmitri huffed indignantly.

“What are you talking about! I’m not cute, I’m cool!!!”

At his cry, the girls holding Dmitri’s placard squealed with delight.

“Did you hear that?”
“So cute!”
“The cutest thing in the whole world!!”
“….”

Dmitri’s cheeks puffed up as he pressed his lips together.
I stifled a laugh.
So there was something in this world that could render Dmitri helpless.

“Alright everyone, you’ve all loosened up now, right?”

The children laughed confidently at my words.

“What’s there to be nervous about?”
“We’re just going to crush some amoeba blob.”

Now it was time for an all-out battle.

* * *

The Parmanass Priests watched the Artemia Priests with tense expressions.
It was identical to the last mission.
They joked around without a shred of tension, as if they’d simply stepped out for a casual stroll.

‘Last time I ignored that behavior….’

But I couldn’t do that now.
The prowess the Artemia Priests had displayed while fighting the Demons was honestly impressive.

“Are you worried?”

At the crystalline voice, the priests lifted their heads.
Amelia gazed at them with her usual serene smile.
Seeing her, all tension vanished from their hearts.

“How could we be?”
“Amelia is by our side.”

Amelia was extraordinary from the moment she first awakened as the Sacred Maiden.
With each passing year, she grew stronger, and eventually earned the title of the mightiest Sacred Maiden.
Yet inversely, her growth rate slowed.
As if her potential had been exhausted.

‘But recently, she’s grown explosively powerful again. As if she’d broken through a wall!’

Amelia had transcended even her own limits.
A noble soul who never rested in the present, forever reaching toward greater heights.

But what of her opponent?

“I heard it from Beatrix. Saelika stole Amelia’s possessions through filthy schemes.”
“Such a dirty little thief facing Amelia as her final opponent… How repugnant.”

Amelia smiled gently, as befitted a compassionate Sacred Maiden.

“Don’t be angry, everyone. I’m fine. After all, I’ll reclaim what’s mine today. I have faith in all of you.”
“Amelia…!”

The Parmanass Priests gazed at Amelia with moved expressions.

“We will absolutely reclaim what belongs to you, Amelia!”
“I’m counting on you.”

Amelia laughed softly and raised her scepter.

Uuuuuuung—!
Space resonated as a sacred realm began to manifest.
The Parmanass Priests marveled as they felt power surging forth from their own bodies.

‘Such tremendous power…!’
‘With strength like this, it feels like we could destroy absolutely anything!’

Power so intense it was difficult to contain.
There was no reason to restrain it.
The target to crush stood right before them!

Parmanass Priest simply raised his fist and drove it forward.
The wind pressure that erupted was far too powerful to be called merely a punch.
And then.

Boom!!

[Incredible! A powerful attack right from the start!]
[Normally, the orthodox approach is to exchange passive offense and defense at first to gauge your opponent!!]
[But before overwhelming power, even that becomes unnecessary. Truly remarkable!!]

‘Done!’

Parmanass Priest exulted in triumph.
An attack with this much force had landed perfectly.
That foolish Artemia Priest hadn’t dodged or blocked it.
Surely he would stumble away, spitting out his front teeth disgracefully and gushing blood from both nostrils—

‘…But he should be falling back?’

“That was your attack?”

Artemia Priest, speaking those words, appeared perfectly fine.
Despite taking the attack head-on without blocking or evading!

‘This can’t be real!’

Parmanass Priest poured all his strength into his fist.
Powerful holy power swirled and gathered at his knuckles.

Yet his opponent before him still didn’t budge an inch.
It was like pushing against Mount Tai itself.
No matter how much strength he exerted, no matter what he tried, it wouldn’t move at all…!

Tap.
Artemia Priest simply wrapped his hand around the fist and pulled it away with ease.
Then he smiled wickedly.

“Compared to Honeybread, this is just ticklish.”
“…!”

—————
This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
—————