Youngest on Top - Chapter 290

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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 290

Saelika was bewildered by this entirely unexpected turn of events.

‘They’re treating me this way even though I was caught red-handed at the crime scene?’

Feeling disconcerted, I quickly hid the jewel I’d been holding behind my back.
Preytsha, standing at the very front, spoke with a smile.

“Our congratulations, Saelika. You’ve finally found your rightful place.”
“Did you know about this, Preytsha?”
“Please, drop the formality. I simply had a keener eye than the others. Beautiful and exquisite things are my preference, after all. Ahhhhh!”
“….”

Preytsha caressed Saelika’s cheek while writhing with apparent ecstasy.
Still a god who seemed dangerous.

“Why… why did you come here?”
“To pay my respects to the Creator’s daughter, of course.”
“…Is that really alright?”

During the ages when the Creator was absent, the gods had lived as the supreme beings.
They couldn’t possibly be pleased about being displaced in an instant.
That’s why the Brothers had assured me earlier that they would handle things well.

“After all, we merely enjoyed our rights under the Creator’s authority.”
“How could we possibly harbor any discontent?”

The gods answered with impeccable courtesy.
No, this wasn’t courtesy at all—.

‘They’re trembling?’

Looking closely, their shoulders were quivering noticeably.
Their faces had turned deathly pale.

‘Why….’

Saelika, who had been deep in thought, froze.
Behind the kneeling gods stood Artemia.
When their eyes met, she smiled softly.

‘…No, surely not.’

Artemia was the only one in the Heavenly Realm who was gentle, kind, and compassionate.

‘Could it really be that Artemia herself threatened the gods—.’

“Kyaaaah!”

Reyatan, whose eyes had met Saelika’s, flinched in terror and slammed his head to the ground.
Thud!

The other gods, seeing this, began prostrating themselves one after another.
Thud, thud-thud, thud!

“P-please forgive us for our rudeness all this time!”
“Please, forgive us…!”
“Please, please just say you’ll forgive us. Please….”

‘…Surely that’s not it?’

Yet why did I feel so uneasy?

.
.

Asquiel watched the gods prostrating themselves with a displeased expression.
He turned his gaze toward the one responsible(?) for all this.

“Artemia.”

That single name contained a hundred reproaches.

“Everything has proper procedures and order. When chaos comes to the Heavenly Realm, its effects ripple down to the mortal realm. We must prevent any confusion—.”
“There’s no confusion. Besides—”

Artemia dismissed Asquiel’s nagging and swiftly raised her fist.

“—Why use your head when you have such excellent fists?”
“….”
“See? Problem solved in one go.”

Artemia winked toward Saelika.

“That thing you called me before—a sky-demon or whatever—I’m, I’m sorry. Or rather, I apologize.”
“I misspoke….”

Following the gods, the angels were now apologizing to Saelika.
Saelika, receiving an apology for the first time, appeared quite flustered.
But soon she nodded clearly.

“I’ll forgive you.”

At those words, Artemia marveled.

“Look at my daughter. How can she be so affectionate, kind, and compassionate?”
“….”

Asquiel had plenty to say but kept his mouth firmly shut.
In the meantime, the angels’ faces brightened considerably.

“Really?!”
“You’re truly forgiving us…?”

Saelika answered with a simple “Yes.”

‘Honestly, I’ve already paid back what needed paying back each time it happened.’

Saelika was no lazy procrastinator when it came to revenge.
The moment she heard an offensive word, she’d swing her fist.

“I am the daughter of the affectionate, kind, and compassionate Artemia, after all.”
“Lady Saelika…!”
“But it would feel awkward for you all if I forgave you without anything in return, wouldn’t it?”

Saelika pulled out her fist swiftly.

“Let’s just say one punch. I’ll call it even.”
“….”
“….”

The angels’ faces went pale.
Those who had experienced that small fist knew better than anyone how deceptively sharp it could be.
And now that she had regained her strength, she was even more formidable.

‘If she hits us, we might actually be done for!’

At this, Asquiel spoke to Artemia.

“Your kind and gentle and benevolent daughter is going to hit them?”
“That’s right. How kind of her, isn’t it? A mere verbal apology leaves one feeling unsettled and indebted, after all.”
“…Pardon?”
“How thoughtful of her to relieve them of their emotional burden as well. Truly, there is no one in this world as kind as my daughter.”
“….”

Asquiel quietly closed his mouth.
He had no confidence in winning an argument when words made no sense.

Meanwhile, the angels were frantically shaking their heads and waving their arms (for their lives).

“W-we’re not unsettled at all…!”
“Y-you’re right! We’re really not unsettled even with just forgiveness— Aaaah! Ow!”

Thunk, thunk! The angels who took blows to the crown of their heads crumpled to the ground.

‘…Blood truly cannot lie.’

Asquiel let out a sigh.
Yet a faint smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.

‘I was planning to beat them myself if she just forgave them, but it seems that won’t be necessary.’

In any case, the youngest sibling had grown up quite competently.
The effort put into teaching her well from childhood had borne fruit.

* * *

‘Good.’

I nodded in agreement.
Before me lay a mountain of belongings stacked high.

The moment I arrived in the Heavenly Realm, I had stolen—no, wait! I had found these local specialties from my homeland.
And these were treasures I had diligently turned over from Parmanase’s treasure vault.

‘With this much, Shuri should recover well.’

The last image of Shuri I had seen still haunted my mind.
The pitiful way he had groaned within the shattered barrier….
Those large, doe-like eyes gazing at me so sorrowfully—.

‘Ah, was that not it?’

But I was fairly certain that was how it had been?

In any case, I couldn’t take everything as it was.
I stuffed the treasures into Molloresta’s bundle (which I had stolen) while mentally calculating who should receive what.

‘These should go to the High Priest. He’s still vigorous, but he’s getting on in years. And the Elders too.’

A fine sword that Dmitri would love.
Earrings that would suit Ilay well.
The temple family, Ardin’s Father, and Serge Uncle.

‘Demian has perfect control over his demon sword, but having divine artifacts would still be more helpful. This one is for Mikhail—.’

I paused mid-thought.

‘If I give this to Mikhail, won’t he just cause more trouble?’

As numerous as the gifts were, so too were the people who came to mind.
The people who had made my life colorful—neither confinement nor punishment.
My family.

As I added the divine liquor last, the bracelet slipped down my wrist.
A bracelet made of seashells.
It was a bracelet my mother had made for me with her own hands.

‘If only Mother were here too.’

I would have offered her the divine liquor, the honey, the fruits—everything.
If only she would smile and say it was delicious.
If only I could see that smile.
I would gather and bring her these gifts again and again, countless times.

“Come on!”

I tied the bundle tightly.
Mother wouldn’t like it if I seemed dispirited.
It was the same in the past.
Whenever I showed even the slightest lack of spirit, she would act as though the world was crumbling.

I can live with vigor because of those memories.
Because I know how much Mother cherished and loved me.

‘Still, just one more time.’

Just once more.

“Mother…”

I miss you.

Almost habitually, I gently stroked the bracelet.
That was when it happened.

“Saelika.”
“…! Artemia.”

I jumped up in surprise.
Artemia gazed at me intently without a word.

“Ah, Father…”

At those words, he smiled gently.

“I’d like to tell you to simply stay here now that you’ve come home.”
“….”
“But you won’t do that, will you?”

Artemia spoke while gazing at what I held in my arms.
I was cradling Shuri’s divine essence.
I couldn’t bear to leave it anywhere else.

Artemia gently stroked my head with infinite tenderness.

“I’ve prepared a gate for you.”

As I followed Artemia outside, a gate was indeed waiting.
She had taken care to ensure I could travel to the mortal realm comfortably.

Other gods and angels had come to see me off.
Of course, my brothers were there too.

“Don’t cause trouble while you’re down there.”
“If you do cause trouble, at least do it discreetly.”
“Wait, don’t we not need to be discreet anymore?”
“What’s so good about the mortal realm anyway? Just come back quickly.”
“Make sure you eat well. Chew thoroughly.”

My brothers each offered their own words, gently tapping me as they spoke.
Artemia pulled me into a tight embrace.

“Go and return safely, my daughter.”

Those words filled my heart with warmth.

“I’ll be back soon!”

I waved my hand and threw myself into the gate.
Looking back, I could see my family’s figures.
As Artemia’s face began to blur in the distance.

“I hope you like the gift.”
“…?”

I clutched the bundle in my arms tightly.
A gift prepared for the people.

‘Is he talking about this?’

That moment.
I felt something was off.

‘What is it? The gate—.’

It wasn’t the gate connecting the Heavenly Realm and the mortal world.
Multiple layers were intermingled within the gate.
That was when.

“…!”

Light poured from my bracelet.
The light stretched out toward somewhere.

Without realizing it, I followed the light and moved forward.
In an instant, dazzling light enveloped me.

Whoooosh—
A refreshing breeze scattered through my hair.
Before I knew it, I was beyond the gate.

Clear air.
Beautiful scenery.
And.

“…Mother?”

There stood Mother, whom I had only seen in portraits and in the past.

* * *

Golden hair the color of honey, rippling in the breeze.
Violet eyes as mysterious as the night sky.
A long neck and an elegantly extended frame.

She possessed the grace and beauty of a goddess itself.
And yet, in that very form—

“Stop moving! Do you want your arms blown off?!”

—she was making threats.
The playing cards Mother had elegantly thrown embedded themselves in the heads of the others like darts.
I stood speechless, watching the scene unfold.

‘Was she gambling this whole time?’

Then Mother lifted her head.
Our eyes met.
Her pupils trembled slightly.

“Lesha…?”

Mother had never seen me fully grown before.
Yet she recognized me instantly.

“Lesha!”

Mother rushed toward me in a single bound.
Whoosh!
Her soft embrace pulled me close with surprising strength.

‘Ah.’

All the words I had prepared vanished in an instant.
This alone was enough for everything.
More than any words could express, Mother’s embrace was—

“I hope you liked the gift.”

I held Mother close and smiled.

“I like you, Artemia.”

We held each other in silence for a long time.
When I lifted my head, our eyes met immediately.
Mother had been watching me the whole time.

“…How did you know it was me?”
“Of course I knew. You’re my child, born from my own womb.”

Mother looked at my wings and laughed as if amused.

“Hehe.”
“Why?”
“Oh, I just remembered my prophetic dream.”
“A prophetic dream?”
“Yes, I had one when I was pregnant with our princess.”

I was curious.
My ears perked up.

“It was a dream of the most adorable baby angel flying into my arms. But when I gave birth, wasn’t it a truly lovely angel born—just without wings?”

Mother kissed my cheek as if she couldn’t help herself.
Even though I had suddenly grown so much larger, she treated me no differently than when I was small.
No matter how much I grew, I was still a baby in Mother’s eyes.

“Back then, I thought it wasn’t just a dream but a premonition. A real baby angel flew into my arms.”
“Into Mother’s arms?”
“No.”

Mother’s expression twisted.

“Into your father’s arms.”
“….”
“That Ardin had the nerve to have that lovely dream all by himself. The scoundrel.”

Mother, who had been muttering, suddenly looked at me with an “oops” expression.

“It’s truly a shame that our princess’s father is the only one enjoying such a lovely dream, isn’t it? Doesn’t father look like a strong, protective guardian?”
“….”

Why did that scene from the past come to mind?

‘…She really is my mother.’

She was truly consistent.

“Did you have a conception dream too, Mother?”
“I had one as well.”

Mother smiled.

“It was a dream of commanding a vast, boundless sea just like before I was married. I encountered mermaids during my voyage.”

Beautiful mermaids of the mysterious sea.
This conception dream was equally wondrous.

“But those mermaids refused to hand over their treasure and resisted, the rude creatures.”
“….”
“So I beat them and took it by force.”

…Pardon?
I stared at Mother with astonished eyes.

Noticing my expression.
Mother became delighted, saying “It was a very large and beautiful pearl.”

“The moment I obtained the pearl, a golden fist descended from the heavens and destroyed all the monsters that were wreaking havoc in the sea. It was truly a magnificent fist.”
“….”

What kind of conception dream was this….
Only then did Mother notice my expression and let out another “Oh dear.”

“The greedy mermaids kidnapped our princess, so Mother had no choice but to wield the hammer of justice—.”
“You don’t have to make it sound so nice.”

Did the Brothers feel this way?
Somehow, I found myself reflecting.

Time spent with Mother was incredibly joyful.
Even just exchanging trivial conversation brought me such happiness.
I felt I could spend my entire life like this.

‘But.’

As I hesitated, Mother released my hand first.

“Children grow and must leave their mother’s embrace. But remember this—Mother will always have her arms open wide for our princess. Always.”
“Mother….”
“So that I can embrace you whenever you return.”

Mother smiled.

“So go now. To where you need to be.”

Soft.
Mother’s hand gently pushed me away.

“I love you always, my daughter.”

Soon the light of the gate consumed me.
As Mother’s figure grew increasingly blurred, I felt tears threatening to spill.
But I lifted the corners of my mouth.
I wanted to show Mother my smile.

* * *

“…e!”
“—nae!”

I heard voices.
Familiar and comforting voices.
Even though we’d only been apart for a day or two, I had missed them.
And.

“I was worried about you!”

Warm arms wrapped around me.
It was Jisang.

—————
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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