Youngest on Top - Chapter 263

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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 263

The highest priority threat had already arrived at my doorstep.
The same thought crystallized in my fathers’ minds.

‘Our daughter is in danger!!’

* * *

The eyes of those who had come to the Artemia Temple’s branch in the capital converged on a single point.

“My goodness, is that really…?”
“It’s true, I can’t believe it…”
“Now I understand why they speak of Elves so reverently.”
“Not just any Elf. A High Elf—and the sovereign of all Elves at that.”

A beautiful sculpture carved from white jade walked among them.
The sculpture soon disappeared into the inner courtyard.
Even after they vanished, the lingering gazes of the people remained.

Wiridian, who had entered the courtyard, spoke to Nemus.

“You should have used the entrance reserved for priests only. The stares of humans must have been uncomfortable for you.”
“…Wiridian.”
“Speak, my King.”

At the weighty tone, Wiridian immediately straightened and bowed his head.

“Have you been frequenting this place so often that you even know which door only the priests use?”
“…Pardon?”
“You said you would never accept this, yet now you seem intent on settling permanently in the Empire.”
“Your Majesty…”
“And you haven’t even bothered to return with a report.”
“That is…”

Wiridian broke into a cold sweat.
Beside him, Silvester chuckled softly.

Nemus, who had been walking in silence for a while, finally spoke.

“Wiridian, do you still resent him?”
“…I’m not sure.”

I had believed that it was entirely because of him that the Elves were confined to live near the World Tree.
But….

“Come to your senses!”

A hand striking my cheek sharply.

“You’re not dead. A wound like this is nothing. Come on, move forward again.”

A voice urging me to overcome it on my own.

“You’re not weak, and you’re not useless. You’re not strong either. But— you will become strong today.”

Yet he never left me alone.
At the same time, he guided me forward.

“I know best because I’m the strongest.”

Smiling brilliantly even in a world clouded by the cries of monsters and murky air.

Seeing Saelika, who resembled him so much, awakened memories from the past that had been submerged.

“You’ll definitely become an incredible swordsman. Maybe even the King’s Knight?”
“So live. Living means— fighting and overcoming.”

Would someone who spoke such words truly intend for the Elves to live confined?

“The truth is, I harbored resentment.”

At Nemus’s words, Wiridian lifted his head.

“I wished he could appear before us once more—”
“….”
“But now even his face has grown hazy….”

At the king’s earnest voice, Wiridian hesitated for a moment.

There was a thought that had lingered in his mind for some time.
Saelika was not merely similar to that person.
In a comparable situation, she had even spoken the exact same words.
It was impossible, but just in case….

“Your Majesty, there is something I must say—.”

Wiridian stopped mid-sentence.

‘Killing intent!’

At the sharp aura, Wiridian and Silvester swiftly threw themselves out of harm’s way.

Clang! Clang clang!

“Ah, so that’s why—High Elves don’t fall for such simple tricks, do they?”

A smooth, smug voice echoed through the air.
Admiral Ekellan gazed at the elves and smiled wickedly.

.
.

At the same moment.
The dragon-kin serving Tarasius spoke with displeasure.

“How dare humans show such audacity.”
“To block the path of the dragon-kin prince itself.”

Randel smiled gently.
It was the kind of smile that Saelika adored—warm as spring sunlight.

“The dragon-kin prince? All I see before me is a wretch eyeing my daughter.”
“What?”

Tarasius was left speechless.

‘Who’s targeting whom?’

“Cleaning house for one’s daughter is surely a mark of an excellent father.”

Sacred magic radiating destruction began to unfold from Randel’s hands.
The dragon-kin trembled at the overwhelming destructive power they sensed within it.

‘What? He wasn’t a healing Temple Priest?!’

.
.

“What is the meaning of this sudden assault! Prince Ekkelan, Duke Perardin Noishurael!”

Edmund protested.
Mikhail’s offensive magic was arrayed around him like mines.
The front was held by Demian, who was essentially a human weapon.

“As the Protagonist’s true older brother, I felt I needed to clean up what was bothering me.”
“What are you talking about?”

Dmitri spoke with a bewildered expression.
Ilay looked at Demian and spoke.

“You’ll come to regret this.”
“Only if you were truly thinking of Sae as merely family.”
“…!”
“You’re exactly the type to pretend to be family while stabbing us in the back.”

Unlike Edmund and Ilay, who had fallen silent, Dmitri cried out with an astonished expression.

“What have you been saying this whole time? The Protagonist is obviously our family! Why are you campaigning about being her real older brother now? I’m her older brother too!”
“….”
“….”
“Let’s fight! For the true position of the Protagonist’s older brother!!”
“….”
“….”
“…? Why are you all looking at me like that?”

* * *

Meanwhile, in Saelika’s chamber.
The eyes gazing upon Saelika sparkled with unmistakable eagerness.

“Hmm? So, who will you choose as your partner?”
“Well, naturally—.”

Saelika faltered mid-sentence.

“What’s wrong?”
“Doesn’t it seem oddly tumultuous outside?”
“Well, I’m not entirely sure.”
“I’m not certain either.”
“It’s probably because many believers have gathered at the main temple.”
“No, it’s not that kind of commotion….”

Though they said she had improved greatly, Saelika’s physical condition remained far from normal.
Moreover, this chamber was filled with people emanating an unsettling presence.
It was difficult to discern what was happening outside.

Then it happened.
With a knock, the door swung open.

“We were so worried about you, Saelika.”
“Every moment we were apart from you burned in our hearts.”
“But now, seeing your face again, all our past sorrows melt away in an instant.”

Entering with gentle smiles were the three princes of Myuat.

“Please, rest here.”
“Your shoulders seem quite tense.”
“Are you not thirsty?”
“Thank you, princes. That’s so refresh—wait!”

Saelika jumped up in alarm.
The princes were seamlessly attending to her as though it were the most natural thing.
The princes, their faces bearing similar features, smiled knowingly.

“Indeed, a husband should have at least three, shouldn’t he?”
“What kind of nonsense is that!”
“One well-trained man is more than sufficient!”

With a loud cry, Ryubik and Crown Prince Decaren entered the room.
Decaren, whose muscular frame seemed incongruous with it, held a delicate bouquet of flowers.

‘Then again, in a certain sense, it suits him perfectly.’

The girls in the room thought simultaneously.
Decaren extended the bouquet toward Saelika.

“These flowers suit you well.”
“Thank you, Crown Prince Decaren.”
“It is only natural for a man to strive for his wife’s happiness— what is the meaning of this!”

Before Saelika could even accept the bouquet, a prince from Myuat intercepted it.
One prince naturally placed the flowers beside a vase in the corner.
Two other princes had already positioned themselves
on either side of Saelika, preparing fruit.
Just as they naturally attempted to feed her grapes, Habid blocked them.

“Saelika! I want grapes!”
“Oh, you do? Here.”

Habid naturally wedged himself beside Saelika.
And just as he was about to hand off to his older brother Ryubik—.

“Oops! My apologies. I’m simply so large.”

Decaren blocked him like an iron wall.

‘Wow….’

The girls watched while munching on the fruits and chocolates the princes had brought.

‘What on earth is happening.’
‘It’s like a harem struggle.’
‘Though even harem struggles don’t usually go this far….’

I suddenly gained insight into the cunning undercurrents flowing between these men.
Unlike the girls who found it entertaining, Terese struck her chest in frustration.

‘What on earth is my brother doing!’

Of course, she wasn’t the only one seething with impatience.

‘…These foreign princes are wagging their tails so shamelessly, yet why hasn’t the Crown Prince arrived yet?’

Princess Grizelda also peered out the window, fanning herself anxiously.

* * *

Gooooooo—
The aura emanating from the two men seemed capable of splitting mountains and cleaving the very heavens in two.
Even the phrase “a one-man army” paled before these two.
Overwhelming power!

Yet despite facing such formidable opponents, Kaishurit remained composed.

“Are you certain? If you draw any more power, Sae will notice.”

At those words, the two men—Kaiser and Perardin Noishurael Duke—flinched.

‘No, anything but that!’
‘We can’t let Sae find out!’

The only thing these two men, who could split the heavens, truly feared.
It was their daughter discovering the current situation.
They couldn’t repeat the same mistake from last time!

Kaishurit gently coaxed the two hesitant men.

“Besides, this is hardly the time for the both of you to be restraining me alone.”
“….”
“Some annoying flies are buzzing about.”
“Flies are just flies, no matter how much they buzz.”
“Even if delayed, I can dispose of them in one stroke.”
“Ah, so you’re saying I’m in danger then.”

Kaishurit smiled faintly.

“I didn’t expect to receive approval so quickly.”
“….”
“Father-in-law.”
“…!”

Fire blazed in Kaiser’s and Perardin Noishurael Duke’s eyes.
Their paternal instincts surged forward faster than anticipated.
A tremendous aura erupted from both men, surging toward Kaishurit.

In that instant.

“Dad!”

A daughter’s voice rang out.
Both men creaked to a halt, turning their heads simultaneously.

“What are you two doing!”

The precious daughter they would not harm even if placed upon their own eyes stared at them with profound disappointment.

“S-Sae, this is—.”
“A misunderstanding. My blade hasn’t even touched him yet….”
“Ugh—.”

A pained groan escaped.
Both men turned, cold sweat dripping down their faces.

“…!”

Kaishurit lay collapsed on the ground, groaning.
At first glance, he appeared pitiful, yet… perilous.

‘Why is his collar torn!’
‘Does this never get old for them!!’

Regardless, his appearance was so breathtakingly beautiful that it captivated not only the hearts of countless women, but even those of men.

“Your Highness, the Crown Prince!”

Saelika approached him in alarm.
Kaishurit—whose hobbies included feigning illness and whose specialty was orchestrating drama—lifted his head toward Saelika.
Sweat glistened across his furrowed brow, whether from genuine pain or theatrical effect.

“What should I do….”
“I’m… fine.”

The moment the Fathers saw Kaishurit lean into Saelika’s embrace, their blood pressure skyrocketed.

‘Does this bastard do this every single time!’

Kaishurit, catching sight of their expressions, grinned wickedly.

‘Why would I abandon the most effective method when I have it?’

Either way, he had seized the advantage.
If he pressed forward like this, Saelika would choose him as her partner.

‘Whether it’s underhanded or not, it’s better than letting those other fools take the partner position.’

Behind Saelika, foreign princes became visible.
They stared at Kaishurit with expressions of shock.

‘Is that really Kaishurit, the Crown Prince, doing such a thing?’
‘Is he truly the same man I knew?’
‘We’re losing to false modesty… and to Kaishurit, the Crown Prince of all people!’

The impact was all the greater because they knew exactly what kind of man Kaishurit was.
Beside them, the Elf King Nemus, who had drawn near, murmured thoughtfully.

“So humans will go to such lengths to obtain what they desire…. I have reconsidered. They are not to be underestimated.”

Tarasius, the Crown Prince of the Dragon-kin, regarded Nemus with an incredulous gaze.

“No, what do you mean ‘not to be underestimated’? It’s obviously suspicious.”
“Brother, you should at least make some effort like that!”

Terese patted her brother’s back with a series of soft thumps.

In the meantime, Kaishurit asked Saelika with a seductive smile playing at his lips.

“Have you decided on a partner for the Grand Sacred Maiden Selection?”
“Of course I have.”

Watching Saelika nod immediately, Kaishurit’s smile grew even more radiant.
It was a smile like poison.
The kind that would cause trouble if another person’s name were mentioned.

Saelika hesitated slightly before asking.

“Um, Your Highness. If you don’t mind, would you become my partner?”
“…What?”

The smile faded from Kaishurit’s face as if he hadn’t expected those words.
Saelika felt a bit embarrassed and scratched her cheek.

“I naturally had Your Highness Kaishurit in mind as my partner.”
“…Naturally?”
“Yes, I decided from the very beginning.”
“From the very beginning.”

Kaishurit’s face flushed crimson as he repeated her words to himself.

“Your Highness?”

This was the first time Saelika had seen Kaishurit like this.
She called out to him with a puzzled expression.

‘Does he dislike it? Being partners would be good for completely lifting the curse.’

Standing together at the altar would expose him to sacred power.
It was in that moment of thought.

“Gladly.”

Kaishurit smiled.
A smile entirely different from his usual seductive and refined one.
His eyes curved softly, and his cheeks lifted gently.
Saelika’s pupils trembled.

‘What is this.’

Thump.

‘Why is he smiling like that.’

Thump-thump.
Her chest suddenly felt tight.
Heat flooded her face.
Her body felt strange, yet she could do nothing about it.

She couldn’t tear her gaze away from Kaishurit’s face.

“We like each other, don’t we?”

For some reason, those words echoed in her ears again.

‘Huh?’

Thump, thump, thump.
Her heartbeat quickened further.
Now it was impossible to dismiss it as mere tightness.

‘Huh?’

Without realizing it, Saelika covered her mouth.

Meanwhile, the hearts of the Fathers watching this unfold in real-time were being torn to shreds.

‘How long has it been since we got our daughter back!’

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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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