Youngest on Top - Chapter 275

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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 275

* * *

Saelika gazed at Amelia with an unmoved expression.
It was not the reaction she had anticipated.
Amelia tilted her head in confusion.

“You’re not surprised?”
“So what’s locked in that prison is merely a shell after all. I couldn’t even detect any magic… Is this the work of the Beastmen?”
“I never expected you to catch on.”
“Congratulations. You’ve added ‘escaped prisoner’ to your long list of crimes.”
“Escaped prisoner? A counterfeit power like that could never restrain the real me.”

Amelia swept her hair back and moved forward.

“Saelika, why do you frighten people by saying a calamity approaches?”
“….”
“So they’ll cower and depend only on your god? To fatten your temple’s coffers?”

Amelia’s emerald eyes mocked Saelika.

“Don’t deny it. Who benefited most from the Sacred Maiden selection tournament?”
“….”
“Artemia is accumulating massive donations. Even at this very moment!”
“….”
“And you’re out here enjoying parties as the so-called Grand Sacred Maiden! While people are in such danger!”
“….”
“Who saved those people?”

Amelia pointed to the largest crystal display board.
There, a Demon held the small child she had rescued.

“And you call that heresy? Ha! You’re the one who decided all of it. Simply because it displeased you!”
“….”
“Who prevents humanity’s evolution and leaves them unable to protect themselves? You hold their right to survive hostage and demand blind faith like slaves!”
“….”
“The true heresy is you! Artemia is a Demon God!”

Artemia.
At that name, Saelika’s face, which had been listening with an expression of indifference until then, turned cold and rigid.

“Are we done now?”
“…What?”
“You went through all that trouble rambling to yourself while intoxicated with your own words. I watched how far you’d go, and it just got more pathetic. I had such a hard time restraining myself from countering everything you said.”
“Ha! So you couldn’t counter me?”

At those words, Saelika looked at Amelia with a shocked expression.

“Don’t tell me… you weren’t just spouting whatever came to mind to distort the truth. You actually meant what you said?”
“…”
“Wow, I tend to rely more on my fists than my head, but you… you really are stupid, aren’t you?”

Amelia clenched her trembling fists.
That arrogant little rat still thought she’d won, looking down on me like I was beneath her.

“Well, since I’ve heard you out, I should leave a review. My one-line review is… stop spouting nonsense.”

Saelika shrugged her shoulders.

“It was funny hearing you say you saved people. The first thing the Demons did was attack people, didn’t they?”
“…That all had a reason—”
“In the first place, Demons are nothing but puppets that move according to your commands.”
“No! I did it for humanity—”
“Yeah, enough.”

Saelika clenched her fists tightly.

“I’m not interested in arguing with you about what’s right and what’s wrong.”

Verbal sparring wasn’t Saelika’s specialty.
More than that—

‘How dare you mention Artemia.’

This couldn’t end peacefully with mere words.

“Seems like you’re the same way, though?”
“What are you talking about? You think I’m as violent as you?”
“Really? Then what are those demons?”

Saelika’s gaze swept across the attendants in the banquet hall.

“D-Demons, you say?”

The people scattered in panic, distancing themselves from the attendants.
Amelia’s eyes narrowed.

‘I never expected her to know everything.’

I had wanted to create a scene where Saelika attacked first, but that plan had failed.
But it didn’t matter anymore.

‘In the end, I’ll be the victor.’

A cruel smile played across my lips.

* * *

Boom!
A deafening explosion erupted.

“Insane—are they committing suicide attacks?”

The demons clung to the protective barrier the Temple Priests had erected and detonated their own bodies.
Even as parts of their bodies flew off, they charged again without hesitation.
The people inside the barrier flinched in terror, shrinking back.

‘The demons are preventing the people from evacuating.’

Rashka, the wolf beastman, quickly assessed the situation.
Strategically, it was a sound choice.
They couldn’t use their full strength while protecting the people on the other side.

‘But…’

Rashka spoke in a hesitant voice.

“Is this really all right?”
“…You said yourself that some sacrifice is inevitable for the greater good.”
“Still….”
“The one who must be suffering most is Amelia. You saw her tears.”
“….”
“We need only focus on the enemies before us. We’re not fighting such weak creatures, are we?”

The goat-man Paffenpa’s words were right.
Blocking Rashka’s path were the Temple Priests of Preytsha.

‘Still, if I cut down too many, there won’t be enough forces to protect the people….’

Then, a cold warning echoed.

“Show no mercy, Rashka.”
“Reks.”
“These are minions of demons who stand against the Savior.”

Reks’ blade cut through space without mercy.

Crash!
The Temple Priests of Preytsha couldn’t withstand even that single strike and fell.

“Gasp!”

Reks looked down at them with emotionless eyes.
Just as his blade was about to take their lives.

Clang!
Sparks flew as the blades clashed.

“…Wiridian.”

The Elf Captain Wiridian blocked his path.
Reks growled.

“What are you doing? Not content with turning your back on the Savior, you obstruct us too!”
“…You’re right. I did sense the power of the World Tree within Amelia.”

Clang!
Wiridian knocked away Reks’ blade as he spoke.

“So what.”
“What did you say?”
“We’ve already decided to stand with Saelika.”

That was the conclusion the Elves had reached.

“Are you insane? That High Priestess— no, she’s not even a High Priestess. The coronation failed! The gods themselves rejected her!”
“The coronation would have succeeded if there had been no interference.”
“Are you certain?”

Wiridian let out a soft laugh.

“Perhaps Amelia truly is ‘that one.'”

Clang! Clang!

“But I just remembered.”
“…”
“That one told me to live as I wished.”

Their blades clashed again, and the distance between Wiridian and Reks closed.

“Forget the revelations and prophecies. Ask yourself, Reks. Ask that instinct your kind prides itself on.”

Wiridian’s voice grew low.

“Do you want to stand with Amelia?”

Reks’ pupils constricted sharply.

Boom!
A tremendous blade strike erupted from Reks’ hand.

“Ugh….”

Wiridian staggered backward, a groan escaping his lips.
Even though I’d blocked the strike, my wrist tingled with numbness.
My grip on the sword hilt had weakened considerably.

“Don’t get cocky, Wiridian.”

Sparks ignited in Reks’ eyes like molten steel.

* * *

Kieeeeeee—!
The wails of monsters painted the surroundings.

“Damn it, how did the monsters even get inside the imperial palace…!”

Already overwhelmed dealing with the Demons alone.
As monsters poured in, the number of collapsing positions began to increase.

‘But we’re holding out better than expected…?’

Amelia furrowed her brow, surveying the battle situation.

‘It must be thanks to Perardin Noishurael Duke, Admiral Ekellan, Demian, and Mikhail.’

Whenever we seemed to be pushed back, they appeared like ghosts to provide support.
And each of their interventions was so remarkable it reversed the situation entirely.

‘According to the Matriarch, those four men should have become mine.’

If only that fool Shuellina hadn’t failed.
Though, how could someone like Shuellina ever capture those men’s hearts?

‘If I had stepped forward myself, all four would have been mine.’

That wasn’t the only regret.
The Artemia Priests and their clergy shone brilliantly even in this chaos.

‘I knew Kaiser the Sacred Knight was impressive, but…’

Randel, who slaughtered monsters in a single stroke despite his gentle appearance.
The priests including Ilay, Dmitri, and Edmund.
And what of the Elders from Parmanase, no different from doddering old men confined to their chambers?
Even the High Priest firmly positioned at the center of it all.

‘What a shame.’

If the Artemia Temple had simply collapsed as it was—.

‘I could have taken them under my wing specially.’

In the sky, the dragon-kin riding wyverns were slaughtering the flying monsters.
Each time Tarasius Prince swung his spear, lightning crackled.

‘In the end, it’s because of you.’

Amelia’s gaze turned toward Saelika.

“Honestly, I’m surprised. That you could respond so well. You’re at a disadvantage in both numbers and circumstances.”
“Thanks for the compliment?”

Unlike Amelia, who bore wounds from various places, Saelika remained completely composed.
But it didn’t matter.

‘Unlike Saelika, I know how to use my head.’

Saelika’s weakness was obvious.

“Ugh!”
“Roiland!”

Grizelda cried out her brother’s name like a scream.
Saelika’s gaze reflexively turned in that direction.

The space where people were taking shelter.
Roiland was caught in the grip of a Demon’s hand.
He looked as though his breath might escape him at any moment.

“Your Highness!”

Saelika immediately deployed sacred magic.
Without a moment’s hesitation.
Even though she left herself completely defenseless while saving Roiland!

“Heh.”

Amelia laughed.
I knew she would.

A sharp light lashed out from Amelia like lightning.
Toward Saelika!

KWAAAAAAANG!
A deafening roar shook heaven and earth.
The ground shattered from the tremendous impact, and fragments scattered through the air.

‘It worked perfectly.’

Amelia smiled and waited for the dust to settle.
For the dust to clear and reveal Saelika sprawled messily on the ground, drenched in blood!

But.

“Reks…?”

When the dust cleared, what was revealed was not what Amelia had expected.

* * *

Drip, drip.
Blood fell from his body, forged like tempered steel.
The impact created by the energy blast was so fierce that Reks’s upper garment was completely torn to shreds.

Yet Reks did not retreat a single step.
He withstood it all with his entire body.
The seal inscribed on his back burned crimson.
Behind him stood Saelika.

“Reks?!”

Rashka called out to Reks in shock.
It was he who had wavered, wondering if Saelika might be the Savior.
Reks had instead reproached him for such doubt.

‘But why…?’

Reks ran his hand through his mane-like hair.

“Ah, I can’t help it.”

Amelia stared at him with a deathly pale face.

“Reks, why are you….”
“I don’t know.”

Reks jerked his chin toward Saelika behind him.

“I just couldn’t bear to watch her die. That’s all.”
“What did you just…?”

Amelia felt her mind boiling with rage.

“I saved the beastkin! I protected them! You all said you felt the Savior’s power from me!”
“I know. But I can’t watch her die.”
“Ha….”

A bitter breath escaped her.

Reks did not assume an attacking stance.
Yet the tip of his blade was unmistakably pointed at Amelia.
Ready to strike her down at any moment!

‘Again… she’s stealing from me again.’

That vermin, that wretched rat Saelika had stolen from her once more.

“Ha, ha ha, ha….”

A dry laugh escaped from Amelia’s lips.
Soon she began to laugh so hard her body trembled, her shoulders shaking with mirth.

“Your timing is impeccable, I must say.”

Amelia’s smile deepened with malicious intent.

“No matter how much you regret or cling to me, I will never accept you.”

Rumble, rumble, rumble…
The ground began to shake violently with the tremors.

“W-what is this…?”
“Kyaaaah!”

Even in broad daylight, the world darkened as if swallowed by shadow.
The atmosphere itself seemed to tear apart, writhing with chaotic force.

Shrieeeeek—!
The monsters shrieked in anguish.
Unable to contain the overwhelming power, their grotesque forms swelled and collapsed repeatedly.

‘This is…’

Saelika’s head snapped up in alarm.
She felt a tremendous force descending from that distant realm to the mortal plane.

Amelia ascended in a graceful arc, mounting the Erilaus altar.
She withdrew a ceremonial dagger from her bosom.

‘She wasn’t trying to summon the Demon God.’

Realization struck Saelika like a thunderbolt.

‘Amelia is trying to receive the Demon God’s power. Or perhaps… Amelia herself…’

“I have to stop her!”

It was her family who responded first to Saelika’s cry.
Kaiser, Randel, Perardin Noishurael Duke, and Admiral Ekellan rushed toward the altar without hesitation.
Her older brothers Demian and Mikhail, and her siblings who were Artemia Priests as well.
However.

Crackle!
A hemispherical barrier had formed around the altar itself, preventing anyone from entering.

“Hehehehe, it’s already too late. There’s nothing you can do.”

Amelia lifted her head with a satisfied smile.

“Ah, the heavens are opening.”

Now no one could stop her.

‘Saelika is nothing compared to me.’

Everything had been arranged for her sake.
Saelika was merely an extra.
A stepping stone for my growth as the true master of this world!

Brilliant light pierced through the darkness, descending from the heavens.
It was not a gentle, warm light.
It was a violent, fierce, and intense light that burned away everything in its path.

‘That’s what makes it perfect.’

Amelia spread both her arms wide to receive that light.

—My child.

A voice resonated.
A voice of immense power that crushed everything beneath it.

Amelia cried out in ecstasy.

“Yes. I am here.”

I was the true master of this power.

“I am the one you love, your child…!”

Light descended upon the earth.
Amelia, who had been standing with her arms spread wide and her eyes closed, slowly opened them.
Unlike before, her face had turned deathly pale.

“Why, you….”

Amelia could not continue her words.

A halo shining brilliantly above the undulating golden hair.
Pure white wings spread wide open.

Saelika was looking down at her.
In the form of a sacred angel!

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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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