Youngest on Top - Chapter 276

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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 276

* * *

The heavens opened, and light descended from an unfathomably distant height.
The world held its breath, gradually settling into stillness.
Simultaneously, a gentle and warm light enveloped me tenderly.
I could recognize it instantly.

‘Artemia.’

My everything.
My origin and the reason for my existence.
It was Artemia’s presence.

Even knowing, I asked.

‘Is it really you, Artemia?’

—Yes, Saelika.

Because I wanted to hear that answer.
My heart tickled with warmth, and I wiggled my toes without thinking.
I could feel Artemia smiling.

—You’ve grown so much, Saelika.

It was the same words she had spoken the last time Artemia descended upon me.
But that wasn’t all.

‘…It’s exactly what Ardin’s Father said.’

After it was revealed that I was his daughter.
Words he had whispered while stroking my hair as I dozed off.

Feeling oddly self-conscious, I couldn’t stay still and opened my mouth.

‘I’ve become the High Priestess. The coronation ceremony was interrupted by unforeseen circumstances, so I couldn’t complete it perfectly…. But as Artemia’s priestess, it’s a natural result, and yet—.’

—You did well.

My heart swelled at those words.
How does Artemia always know exactly what I most want to hear?

‘Then… does that mean?’

I hesitated, but gathered my courage to ask.

‘Am I still… your joy, Artemia?’

—Always.

Ah.

—Saelika, you are always my joy.

Those words were too wonderful, too thrilling.
With just those words, I could do anything.

—Saelika, the strongest and most fragile—my beloved child.

Artemia’s sacred voice grew distant.
The aura enveloping me was gradually dispersing.
I desperately wanted to hold onto that presence for even a moment longer, but it was futile.

—My one and only—.

The sound echoed from afar, barely audible.
My vision blurred.
The world that had been flowing slowly was beginning to return to its proper pace.

I clenched my fists tightly, focusing my mind.
Before I drift away completely, there are things I need to say.

That I want to see her again.
When I might see her next.
That she shouldn’t strain herself appearing in the mortal realm because of me, despite her limitations.
Countless words pressed against my lips.

But there’s something far more important than that.
To swear a solemn vow as Artemia’s messenger with exalted resolve!

‘Please watch over me, Artemia! As your messenger, as the Sacred Maiden, and as your joy— I will punish that arrogant demon and all his minions!’

I felt Artemia laughing.

—Go and strike them down.

Artemia encouraged me with such warmth and tenderness.

Kuuuuung!
The world pulsed again.
My consciousness, which had soared to distant heights, was suddenly sucked back down to the earthly realm.
I felt my severed senses awakening.

Enrik: Youngest!
Kailros: You have no idea how shocked I was when my connection with my beloved sibling suddenly snapped.
Anakin: Are you alright?
Serha: Fortunately, the child’s body seems unharmed.
Anakin: That’s not the issue right now.
Kailros: …Maybe it would’ve been better if the connection had just stayed severed.
Serha: This is not something one can avoid.
Enrik: Run away!

The dialogue window before my eyes scrolled upward frantically.
So fast I couldn’t even read the text.

And then.

Asquiel: Saelika.

The dialogue window froze instantly.
The other brothers didn’t make a single sound.

Asquiel: Saelika.

I never knew my four-letter name could sound so terrifying.
I felt genuine chills run down my spine.

Enrik told me to run.
But can I actually… run?

Asquiel: Answer.

‘U-uh…!’

Asquiel.
The first among Artemia’s Messengers—the five most renowned of them all.
The one who leads them.

No matter who I am, I could only shrink in Asquiel’s presence.
Because Asquiel received me when I was born.
From a moment I don’t even remember, Asquiel raised me.
I was truly… terrified.

‘I never had any thoughts of running away!’

My other brothers in the Heavenly Realm would scold me to stop causing trouble.
They would even clean up my messes before Asquiel could notice them.
Because if Asquiel caught me, I’d really be done for.

Asquiel: …

‘I-I’m serious!’

My heart trembled.
From long ago, Asquiel possessed a mysterious ability to see through all my lies.

Asquiel: We’ll discuss this later.

For now, it seemed she was letting it slide.
I exhaled a sigh of relief inwardly.

Asquiel: What is your duty as Artemia’s Messenger?

‘To crush Artemia’s enemies!’

Asquiel: No matter how much I teach you, you can never shed those crude speech habits.
Asquiel: However—.

Uuuuuuung—!
The space trembled under the intense power.

Asquiel: Yet what you said isn’t wrong.

A fierce energy descended from that lofty height like a thunderbolt.
It was Asquiel’s power.

‘Asquiel truly is remarkable….’

It was on an entirely different scale from when I borrowed the authority of my other brothers.

‘Of course, this is also because I’ve grown stronger in accepting this power….’

It wasn’t merely lending me strength—it felt as though Asquiel himself was manifesting within me.

As the connection deepened, wings sprouted from my back.
A halo began to shine above my head.
Asquiel’s authority had completely descended upon me—.

‘No.’

I hesitated at the strange sensation.
This wasn’t Asquiel’s authority.
It wasn’t the power of another angel like Serha or Kailros either.

‘This is….’

I observed my own body.
A familiar power welling up abundantly from within.

Thump, thump, thump.
The Divine Circuit spun frantically with each heartbeat.
Yet it felt no burden at all.
Everything flowed smoothly, like wearing a perfectly fitted garment.

‘My power…!’

From the Heavenly Realm—my power from my days as an angel.
This wasn’t the radiance and wings of another angel merely reflecting upon me.

It was mine.

* * *

The surroundings, steeped in profound darkness.
Through that abyss, a fierce light descended from the heavens.
And.

“What is this?”

Light erupted from Saelika.
That radiant brilliance illuminated and drove back the darkness.

“This power is….”

The Elves flinched and lifted their heads at the power contained within the light.
A power from memories so distant they seemed like a dream.
Yet a familiar power they had always felt within the World Tree.

“Surely it’s that person’s….”

Nemus murmured as if in pain.
There was no room for doubt.
The aura was unmistakably, undeniably clear.

The Beastkin also looked up in shock.
Rashka released a trembling voice as if groaning.

“This is what we felt during the revelation….”
“Yes.”

Reks answered in a low voice.
His gaze remained fixed upon Saelika as if entranced, unable to look away.

At the very top of the altar.
Sae floated in serene silence against the sky.
Dazzling light descended upon her.

Pure white wings undulating through the void.
Hair as radiant as the sun rippling in the breeze.
Within eyes that held the sea and sky dwelled the Holy Spirit.

The world itself seemed to bow before such sacred and noble beauty.
Even time appeared to flow more slowly.

Arms as graceful as a swan’s neck moved with fluid elegance.
Everyone watched her movements as if entranced.
And then.

BOOM!
SCREEEEEECH!

A piercing wail erupted through the air.

“….”
“….”

The Elves and beast-folk fell silent without realizing it.
Sae grinned wickedly after sending dozens of flying monsters scattering with a single punch.

“Ah, now this is getting fun.”

The people who had been gazing up at Sae blinked.
She was an angel, certainly an angel, but….
Why did her actions seem exactly like—.

‘A thug?!’

* * *

Amelia’s pupils trembled uncontrollably.
She stared at Sae with eyes full of disbelief.

‘This… this can’t be real…’

Why?
Why?
Why did this happen?
How did Saelika receive the selection?

Everything was wrong.
Something impossible had occurred.

‘She should have remained helpless, crawling on the ground like a worm.’

That was Saelika’s role.
Until the very end, ignorant of her place, interfering with me.
And in that final moment, witnessing me—the true savior chosen by God—and falling into despair.

But reality was…

‘This should have been me…’

Shouldn’t our positions have been reversed?
My preparations were flawless.
Everything had been flowing according to plan.

‘Today was supposed to be my rebirth…!’

“So why?!”

Amelia let out a cry of anguish.
Saelika’s gaze turned toward her.
Amelia’s shoulders flinched.

‘W-what…’

Amelia was shocked by her own reaction.
To be frightened.
By that worm?

“…No matter what tricks you’ve used, it’s pointless. I’m the true savior!”
“….”
“Artemia is a demon, so she must have resorted to some petty scheme!!”

At Amelia’s gesture, the demons moved to block her path.
Amelia wore a crooked smile.

“What do you think? Demons are ultimately people. If you’re truly the savior, you could kill all of them….”

Whoooosh!
The Allis Celestia in Saelika’s hand sent the demons flying.

“…?!”

Amelia’s mouth hung open in shock.
Saelika let out a soft laugh.

“These people—what about them?”
“H-how could you kill people? You really are a liar after all—.”
“When did I?”

Saelika swung the Allis Celestia once more.

Crash!
The demons went flying again.

“When did I ever kill people?”

How shameless could she be!
Amelia, who had been about to argue, froze.
Her gaze turned toward the demons that had been sent flying.

‘H-how is this possible?!’

The demons, now returned to human form, were groaning.

‘This can’t be! Restoring demons to their original form should only be possible with my power…?!’

Seeing Amelia’s face drain of color, Saelika asked.

“Why, what’s gone wrong with the plan again?”
“You…!”
“It’s only natural. Someone like Parmanase could never measure up to the feet of our great Artemia.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! There’s no way I’m inferior to you!!”

Amelia shrieked as if seized by a fit.
At her gesture, demons rushed toward Saelika.
But it was all for naught.

Crash!
No matter what the demons tried, they were simply beaten down and sent flying with satisfying force.

The Artemia Priests watched with expressions that said “here we go again.”
Edmund muttered under his breath.

“That’s not what it’s supposed to be used for.”

The Artemia Priests spoke with resigned expressions.

“Let it be. When has the youngest ever used it properly?”
“She did show some restraint during the Grand Sacred Maiden selection broadcast.”
“Either way, the results are good.”

And indeed, the results were good.
With each swing, demons were purified in great numbers.
But.

“Since when did the Sacred Maiden’s scepter become a blunt weapon!”

At Edmund’s outcry, Dmitri tilted his head in confusion.

“…? Wasn’t that a blunt weapon? There’s a rock embedded at the top, perfect for striking.”
“…Please don’t call the sacred holy stone a rock.”

In any case, it was truly… a mystical sight.
An angel wielding a blunt weapon with a halo and wings spread wide.

Ilay watched the scene and thought.

‘I think I’m starting to understand how Sae lived during her time as an angel.’

A one-sided massacre was unfolding.
Fortunately, she hadn’t died and had returned to human form.
But that didn’t make this look any less like a massacre.
It wasn’t for nothing that she’d been confined to the human realm after recklessly beating up other angels.

‘If you only look at the results, it’s a miracle that even transforms Demons back into people….’

My only concern was that the countless people here might misunderstand.
The way they were whispering to each other right now….

“This is so typical of the Artemia Temple.”
“Right, if it’s the Artemia Temple, nothing surprises us anymore.”
“Wow, the blood of Demons is pouring down like rain.”
“I heard wherever the Artemia Temple passes becomes a sea of blood.”

The Artemia Priests who heard those words felt disheartened.

‘What’s happened to our temple’s image anyway.’
‘It wasn’t a sea of blood, it wasn’t!’
‘The Monsters just all died when our youngest went wild.’
‘It’s all because of our youngest!’

They themselves had no awareness that they’d contributed to that image.

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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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