Youngest on Top - Chapter 297

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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 297

When I heard that something had happened to Beatrix, I anticipated that Amelia’s circumstances would also take a turn for the worse.
But then.

“She disappeared?”
“Yes.”
“How on earth…?”

Escaping the spire was no simple task.
In fact, it was nearly impossible.
Edmund answered my question.

“She killed Beatrix to create an opening.”
“What?!”

It was something I never could have imagined.
Amelia killing Beatrix.

‘In a sense, she truly is Parmanase’s Sacred Maiden.’

She resembled Parmanase’s very incarnation.
Not merely a Sacred Maiden, but bearing fragments of Parmanase herself—she was all the more alike.

‘And Beatrix raised Amelia with such indulgence.’

Well, it was none of my concern.
Beatrix died by Amelia’s betrayal, so for her, it was a far more wretched end than mere execution.

‘Having aided Parmanase in defying the Heavenly Realm and the Creator, she will find no peace even in death.’

Countless were those who had died because of Beatrix’s machinations over the past dozen years.
Beatrix would pay the price for it even beyond death.
Above all—

‘That Misa will come for her.’

Beatrix seemed to regard her contract with Misa as nothing more than a convenient tool, but that couldn’t possibly be the case.
Misa was already in a foul mood to begin with.
There was no way he would simply leave the fallen soul who had contracted with him unattended.

‘…I’m starting to feel almost sorry for Beatrix.’

I paused as I recalled Misa’s hobbies.

“Wait, hold on a moment.”
“…?”
“Amelia killed Beatrix while trapped inside the spire?”
“That’s what I heard.”
“How?”
“Apparently she had a hair ornament hidden. She stabbed her with it.”

Ilay made a stabbing motion.
I furrowed my brow.

“That’s strange.”
“It is strange.”

A hair ornament capable of becoming a dagger and taking a life in one strike was hidden inside?
It couldn’t have been needle-thin at the very least.
Even if it were needle-thin by some miracle, it still seemed odd.

“Doesn’t Shuri personally oversee and manage the spire?”
“That’s what I’ve heard.”

Shuri was meticulous and thorough by nature.
I could tell from my last visit to the spire.
When I saw the dozens of magical enchantments hanging within, I was inwardly astounded.
Beyond the magic, the physical restraint mechanisms were equally formidable.

‘And he even had the words people exchanged replayed to torment Amelia…’

With such thorough management, he overlooked a hair ornament?
And failed to prevent Beatrix’s death using it?
If he had discovered it quickly, Beatrix would not have died.

“Amelia won’t be able to use divine power anymore.”
“Could she possibly still use it?”
“That’s impossible.”

I kept my mouth firmly shut as I listened to the children’s exchange.

‘Is this Shuri’s scheme?’

Of course, it might not be.
Parmanase’s remaining agents could have been planted as spies in the cathedral.

‘But why do I keep suspecting it?’

* * *

The streets of the Imperial District were packed with people.
Those who had gathered from all over for the Sacred Maiden Selection had yet to depart.

The coronation of the Great Sacred Maiden and the subsequent overcoming of calamity.
The ascension of the Divine Emperor and the forthcoming betrothal ceremony between the Great Sacred Maiden and the Emperor.
With each passing day, more people flocked to the streets.

Thud.
Collisions between people were unavoidable.

“Oh, I’m sorry—.”

The pedestrian who had apologized frowned as the person she’d bumped into pulled their robe over their head and hurried away.

“I mean, if you were at fault too, why act so dismissive and just leave?”
“Ugh, that attitude is just like that fake, isn’t it?”

Hearing the voices behind her, Amelia pulled her robe even further over her head and swallowed her curses.

‘Damn it. Do they know who I am?’

‘That fake’ was what they called Amelia.

‘Not only do they call me a fake, but they use it as an insult!’

I was indignant and resentful.
Yet all I could do was bow my head lower.
So that others wouldn’t recognize me.

‘Why must I live so miserably?’

Amelia had always carried herself with confidence.
I had never needed to hide myself, nor had there ever been reason to.

The moment people recognized Amelia, they showered her with praise.
They all clamored desperately to form connections with her.

‘But now I slink through the streets like a sewer rat, avoiding every gaze!’

All those countless accolades that had once been directed at me now flowed toward someone else.

“Have you heard? The Whitepearl Merchant Guild is developing a new flower species for the Sacred Maiden’s betrothal ceremony.”
“I heard dozens of carriages laden with treasures entered the Perardin Noishurael Duke’s residence.”
“Do you think if I donate gifts to the Artemia Temple, they might be presented at the Sacred Maiden’s betrothal ceremony?”

Grit.
I ground my teeth.

The joy of escaping that dreadful spire was fleeting.
Every voice I heard on the streets spoke only of that insufferable Saelika.

‘Blind fools, all of them!’

I was born as a noble being, carrying within me a fragment of divinity itself.
Yet that thieving wretch stole everything from me.
She even stole Beatrix, who loved me so dearly.

‘I suffer so miserably and painfully, yet that maggot celebrates her marriage and promises as if she were happy?’

This was unbearably unjust.
I felt pathetic, wretched, and pitiful.

That was when it happened.
As our bodies collided, I reflexively lowered my head and pulled my robe closer.
But then.

“Amelia?”
“…!”

My heart pounded violently.
I spoke without thinking.

“You’ve mistaken me for someone else.”

The words only made me feel more pathetic.
Now I was even denying my own existence.

“You truly are Amelia.”
“I’m not—.”
“Meeting you like this is surely Parmanase’s blessing.”
“…?”

I froze.
Only then did I realize the stranger’s tone was respectful.
Unlike the other passersby, he hadn’t called me “that fake,” “that demon,” or “that charlatan.”

I slowly lifted my head.
He was tall enough that I had to crane my neck considerably just to see his face.

“I’ve wanted to meet you.”

His smiling face was handsome in a masculine way.
With a sturdy build and an air of quiet authority emanating from him.

I recognized it immediately.

‘This man is no ordinary person.’

His appearance aside, the clothes he wore were exquisite.
Most of all—.

‘His power is absolutely tremendous.’

Amelia remained cautious at first.
This world was no longer as kind to her as it once had been.

“You wanted to meet me?”
“Yes, there is still much you have yet to experience, Lady Amelia.”
“….”
“My master grieves deeply knowing that someone of your caliber remains confined in this tower.”

‘He has a master?’

Amelia was astonished.
Any man who commanded someone of such extraordinary ability must surely wield immense power.

Thump, thump.
Her heart raced with anticipation.

‘The world hasn’t abandoned me after all!’

Of course it hadn’t.
The protagonist of this world was not some thief like Saelika, but herself!

Yet Amelia did not believe him outright; instead, she examined the man carefully.
Though he had lost most of his power, traces of it still lingered within him.

Just as spirits—not gods—could manifest power beyond measure when worshipped, Amelia possessed similar capability.
As long as Parmanase’s followers remained, she retained a degree of strength.

‘He’s not lying….’

“My master shares a connection with you, Lady Amelia. Here.”

The man even produced a sacred relic of Parmanase.
It was one of the sacred relics Amelia had once gifted to her wealthy devout followers.

‘Ah, I see.’

Upon confirming the relic, Amelia smiled.

‘There were many men who desired me.’

There were countless men who followed Amelia, desperately trying to win her heart through various means.
This man’s master was one of them.

“You’ve accomplished much during your time here, Amelia. You cannot spend your entire life confined within the spire.”

The Priest spoke only the truth.

“Come with me. I have prepared everything for you, Amelia.”

Amelia gladly took his hand.

* * *

Artemia Temple Institutional Branch.

“Ugh, I’m absolutely exhausted.”

Saelika collapsed face-down onto the bed.
The days had been relentlessly busy.
She had to console Shuri, whom she’d thrown out the window, participate in shopping expeditions with Ardin’s Father and Serju Uncle, attend tea time with the sulking Artemia Temple Priests, repeatedly reject calls from the Late Emperor, and contemplate how to respond to her Sisters who wanted to attend the betrothal ceremony….

‘And why haven’t the princes, the beastmen, the elves, and the dragon-kin left yet?’

Wasn’t it time for them to depart by now?
They kept visiting the Artemia Temple under the guise of prayer, insisting she reconsider the betrothal.

“I never knew betrothal preparations could be this exhausting.”

It was more draining than tracking down the Cult or fighting those Parmanase bastards.
She couldn’t even think about anything else.

“…Then don’t do it.”

At the voice that reached her ears, Saelika lifted her head.
Ilay, who had been drawing the curtains, was staring directly at Saelika.

These days, Ilay always checked Saelika’s room.
He insisted it was necessary to thoroughly inspect and secure it in case any suspicious intruders tried to sneak in.

‘Even if someone did sneak in, I’d be stronger anyway.’

I didn’t stop him since Ilay seemed to enjoy this protective routine far too much.

“Are you also opposed to the betrothal, Ilay?”

At Saelika’s sullen question, Ilay simply smiled without answering.
Saelika shrugged and opened a connection to the Heavenly Realm.

Asquiel: …No marriage. Absolutely no marriage. No marriage—
Enrik: Huh?!
Serha: We’re connected!
Anakin: You troublemaker! What have you done without permission?!
Kailros: Wait! Don’t interrogate my brother. If the connection drops right after we just got it, that’ll be a disaster.
Enrik: Right! First, let’s reassure her with normal conversation, then we’ll stop her from doing this!
Serha: Anyway, I’m opposed to this marriage.
Kailros: We’re all against it. My beloved little brother, you’re far too young for marriage. Do you want to play tag with me until the day you die?
Enrik: Exactly, what marriage for someone who’s barely lived over a thousand years? You’re completely reckless.
Anakin: …But you just told me not to interrogate you?

‘….’

Saelika was bewildered by the flood of messages pouring in.

‘Wait, have they been talking this whole time even when we weren’t connected?!’

Asquiel: Saelika.

With just one word from Asquiel, the noisy chat fell silent.

Asquiel: I think we need to have a career counseling session. Let’s discuss your futu—

Pop!
Before the message could finish, Saelika hastily closed the connection.

‘Anything but career counseling, anything but that…!’

Asquiel’s career counseling session was absolutely dreadful.
It started with “So how are you planning to live from now on?” and exploded into endless nagging.
He even made me do all sorts of things until I showed remorse.

No matter how hard I tried to escape using both body and mind, Asquiel wouldn’t budge an inch.
Asquiel possessed the remarkable ability to see through not only my lies and pitiful acts and feigned illness, but even my fists (!).
…Now that I knew the past, it seemed like an acquired skill he developed from raising me single-handedly.

‘Hmm, I should pretend I didn’t see that and avoid connecting with the Heavenly Realm for a while.’

My family on the earthly plane had all agreed to the betrothal ceremony and were even attending it.
But the fact that my brothers and even Artemia couldn’t say anything about the betrothal ceremony was a bit concerning….

‘Honestly, it’s hard to handle.’

No matter how much my earthly family threw tantrums, they were docile compared to my brothers in the Heavenly Realm.
As for Artemia, she was such a caring and gentle person that she would never oppose Kaishurit.

‘Still, it’s tomorrow.’

I lay back and thought about it.

‘I never imagined I’d actually get betrothed.’

Until my regression, it was something I couldn’t even fathom.
To fall in love, to have it come true, and even to promise marriage.
Such ordinary happiness had always felt impossibly distant.

“Saelika.”

Ilay approached and sat at the edge of my bed.
His face, which always wore a smile, was unusually serious.

“Are you happy?”

At the unexpected question, I blinked.
Happy, he asked.
In truth, I’d never thought deeply about it.
But.

“Yes.”

Saelika nodded and smiled.
There was no hesitation whatsoever.
At the smile blooming on her delicate face, Ilay’s breath caught.

“I’m happy.”

The words flowed so sweetly.
Ilay couldn’t tear his eyes away from Saelika’s face before exhaling sharply.

“That’s a bit irritating.”
“You have a petulant side to you, Ilay.”

Saelika giggled.
Just as Ilay knew Saelika well, she too understood him thoroughly.

‘Except for the one thing that matters most.’

Ilay’s smile turned wry.
Sometimes that fact made him feel spiteful.

“…I was thinking of telling you to be just moderately happy.”
“What?”
“I’d prefer you to be somewhat unhappy—at least enough to endure.”
“Hey!”

Saelika sprang to her feet.
Her eyes sharpened completely.

“But actually, just be happy.”

Thunk.
Ilay pressed his forehead against Saelika’s.
Like they did when they were children.

“For me…that’s enough.”

Saelika had endured far too much suffering.
Ilay, who had stood by her side all this time, knew it better than anyone.
No matter how irritable she became, there was no need to add his own weight to her already burdened shoulders.

‘This girl needs a friend and family who will share everything with her until the very end.’

It wasn’t solely for Saelika’s sake.
Ilay had no intention of surrendering that position to anyone else.

“Ilay—.”
“Go to sleep now.”

Ilay laid Saelika down to rest.
Then he gently patted her body, just as he had when she was very young.
Just as he always did whenever Saelika suffered nightmares she herself couldn’t remember.

Ilay watched over the sleeping Saelika for a long while.
Nothing would change.
As it was before, and as it is now, Ilay would always be on Saelika’s side.

.
.

The next morning, the day of the betrothal ceremony.
Randel, whose heart was restless and who had sought out his daughter’s room before dawn, was startled in shock.

“Sa—Sae?!”

Saelika had vanished.

—————
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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