Youngest on Top - Chapter 35

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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 35

The other Temple Priests who had heard the news furrowed their brows.
Especially Sirius Elder.

“Giving a child a fortune? What in the world…”
“Look at this before you say anything!”

Devon held the paper in his hand high so everyone could see it.
The Temple Priests’ jaws dropped.

“H-how much is all this…”
“Heavens… I’ve never seen such a long number before.”
“They’re really giving this amount? Why?”

The High Priest entered as the Temple Priests murmured among themselves.
Devon greeted him eagerly.

“High Priest! High Priest!”
“What’s the matter?”
“From now on, we must send our little fortune-maker, our blessing-bringer, to every place that could bring us money!”

Devon shouted with bloodshot eyes.
Honestly, it was a bit frightening.

Sirius furrowed his brow.

“No, what does the child know about money?”
“Does knowing what money is mean you’ll earn it well?!”
“Still, one should at least understand—”
“Money is something the fortunate naturally earn!”

Devon cried out as if spitting blood.

“The reality is that no amount of deliberation and scheming can match a single cat blessed with fortune!”

His words carried an unmistakable note of resentment.
Derrick whispered from beside me.

“Devon’s merchant ship sank, but the street cat’s merchant ship—the one he marked with his paw—generated twenty-seven times the profit.”

Ah, I see.
I gazed at Devon with sympathetic eyes.

* * *

A few days later.
The temple buzzed with the sounds of Mado engineers hammering away.
Construction had begun, starting with the Trainee Priest Quarters Dormitory that had burned down.

‘I made the right choice securing a financial backer.’

Gerald had even selected the construction company and sent them over.

“Ahem, an excellent firm befitting my superior judgment! Our wonderful young priest will surely be satisfied.”

His personality was a bit odd, but his competence was undeniable.

I didn’t need to pay anything.
I didn’t need to scrutinize and select construction companies myself.
He even sent professional supervisors to oversee the work.

‘So this is what it means to live the easy life?’

I was chuckling to myself when Devon asked me something.

“Come now, our little money bag, our little fortune. How does this feel?”

A sacred relic was thrust right in front of my nose.
I shook my head.

“No good.”
“Tsk, another dud. I heard some duke gifted this one.”

Devon tossed the item aside.
Another Temple Priest caught it and sorted it properly.
Though I’d called it no good, it wasn’t a sacred relic—just a fairly valuable item.

“So, what about this one?”

We were currently sorting through antiques.
Due to extensive renovations, we needed to move things, and we were taking the opportunity to organize them.

Over a thousand years of history had accumulated, along with countless antiques.
And not just ordinary antiques—sacred relics and holy artifacts were mixed in among them.

“I like this!”

That’s why I was sniffing out value like a search dog.

“What? You’re really entrusting the sorting to Sae?”
“A nose for treasure never lies!”

It was truly absurd.
But since there were no clear sorting criteria anyway, and Devon was a trusted elder, I ended up being the one to sort them.

‘It’s the right choice, though.’

Still, as a former Messenger of God, I had knowledge of sacred artifacts.

‘But… why can’t I see the truly important ones?’

The most important items didn’t need to be reclassified anyway.
They must have been moved beforehand.

‘Should I use this chance to check if they’re still here?’

“Devon.”
“Oh, did you call for me, my little fortune and blessing?”

Devon’s eyes crinkled into crescents as he asked.
Honestly, it was a bit uncomfortable.

“I’m asking about it. You know, that pendant thing with the sand flowing backwards?”
“Ah, you mean Lursum’s Horologium. A very famous sacred relic indeed.”

Devon nodded and spoke brightly.

“It’s on loan.”

Pardon?
On loan? What is?

“What about the Rose of Ouroboros?”
“That’s on loan as well.”

Devon added wistfully, his tone tinged with melancholy.

“It was a decision made by the previous Elder. I do miss it. We received quite a substantial rental fee for it.”

My jaw dropped.

‘No, surely not—they’re lending out sacred relics, not just any ordinary items, relics that Artemia herself bestowed directly, and they’re charging money for it?!’

Have the priests of this era become so different from those of old?
When the brothers first received the sacred relics, they were willing to lay down their very lives to protect them.

“Actually, there’s a theory that all those sacred relics were directly bestowed by Artemia herself. Haha!”

It wasn’t a theory—it was the truth.

I let out a long sigh.
A thousand years had already passed, so it was understandable that it had become mere legend.
At this point, I should be grateful they hadn’t sold them off entirely.

‘…Well, there’s no helping it. The temple needs funds to survive.’

It was far better than watching it crumble to ruin.
Still, I needed to verify whether there was something that absolutely had to remain.

“Then what about the Kailum Crystal? Has that been loaned out as well?”

The Kailum Crystal.
A sacred relic fashioned from the very breath of Artemia herself.
There was no way that could have been loaned out.
It was the symbol of the Artemisia Church itself.
It was even written in the scriptures.

Devon’s face darkened.

‘Surely… you didn’t lend that out too?’

But the answer that came back was far worse than a simple loan.

“That… was lost.”

What?
Lost what?
Not even lent out, but lost?

A sudden sharp pain shot through the back of my head, and I clutched my neck.
High blood pressure at this tender age, apparently.

“Sae? Sae!”
“Dondung!”

The voices calling out to me as I staggered forward were remarkably loud.

* * *

The Kailum Crystal had been lost approximately fifty years ago during the Demon War.
Without a Saint, the Artemisia Temple would have been vulnerable to demon invasions, so I couldn’t say I didn’t understand.

‘…Now that I think about it, the deterioration throughout the temple was too extensive to blame on mere lack of funds.’

It wasn’t natural decay—it bore the scars of war damage.

‘…The Kailum Crystal is absolutely essential to the temple.’

Not because it was a sacred relic and symbol of the Artemisia Church.
The Kailum Crystal possessed an overwhelming power.

A power absolutely necessary for the Artemisia Temple without a Saint.

“Hehehehe, young Priest! It hasn’t been long since we parted, yet you already missed this genius Gerald Delc! I understand completely!”

Gerald swept his hair back brilliantly as he entered the reception room.
Seeing him, I immediately regretted calling him.

‘…Why did I summon him?’

Gerald spread both arms wide toward me.

“Come now, I shall permit you to embrace me. Feel free to express your joy as much as you wish. After all, we’re both geniuses!”
“Stop it.”
“Hehe, how shy you are.”

I exhaled deeply and gestured toward the sofa.
It seemed better for my mental health to state my business and part ways quickly.

“I have a favor to ask. It’s rather difficult.”
“A difficult favor? There’s nothing difficult for this genius!”
“Then you can find the Kailum Crystal?”
“The Kailum Crystal?”

Gerald stroked his chin thoughtfully.

“I believe it was lost quite some time ago… If it didn’t become stolen goods and leave the area, finding it will be difficult. I could attempt to track it, but it will take time.”
“That can’t be right.”

Gerald looked at me as if questioning my certainty.

“It’s not in its original place.”
“Its original place?”
“Yes. It can’t stay in one location and will continue to wander. Until it returns to where it belongs.”

Gerald leaned back against the sofa with a thoughtful “Hmm.”

“While not particularly convincing evidence, if I investigate, I should be able to determine whether your words are true or false.”
“…”
“If it proves true, then even if you told me that Iadelphe flowers bloom in my own backyard garden, I would believe you.”

He was saying he would reassess the credibility of my information.
I shrugged my shoulders.
Since it was the truth anyway, my credibility wouldn’t fall—it would only rise.

“So what’s the price for this favor?”

I handed over the note I had prepared.
It contained additional information about the Iaadelph flower.

Naturally, I hadn’t revealed where the Iaadelph flower bloomed all at once.

‘If I told him everything, he’d wash his hands of me the moment he found it.’

So I was feeding him information piece by piece, like puzzle fragments.
Gerald seemed quite satisfied with that much.
The time, manpower, and cost required to find puzzle pieces.
The uncertainty of possibly never finding them at all.
Considering all of this, he’d judged that partnering with me was advantageous.

‘Besides, I’m giving Gerald exactly the puzzle pieces he needs.’

“The gentlest crimson lifeline… Ah, you’re referring to the Pterica River. Hmm, I really should be diligent about fulfilling the little priest’s requests, shouldn’t I?”

Indeed, Gerald’s face lit up with satisfaction as he winked at me.
Then he extended his hand toward me.

“That’s the payment. (You already gave me payment.)”
“But surely we geniuses must have some token we exchange between ourselves?”

I tilted my head in confusion.
Was he asking for something extra?

“The daisy flower! The one you gave only to me and no other staff member! A symbol of our friendship!”
“….”
“I was so looking forward to taking it today and decorating it on my desk, greeting it every single day, watering it, and cherishing it!”

Gerald employed the body language of a tragic protagonist, wounded and forlorn.
Watching his pathetic display, a sudden realization struck me like lightning.

‘Does this man… not have any friends?’

I had suspected as much before, but now I was fairly certain.

“I’m truly disappointed! I’ve been preparing a gift for the genius baby angel priest!”

As he clapped his hands together, the reception room door swung open.
That Team Leader appeared, dragging a trolley with an exhausted expression.
His face told me everything.
The sorrows of a salaryman, the resignation of working for a paycheck, the urge to quit after cracking that idiot’s skull—all of it was written there.

I stood before the mounting pile of gift boxes while watching Gerald perform his wounded artist routine, and I found myself conflicted.

‘Am I so focused on securing the money that I’m losing my mind?’

Was it really wise to make someone like this my financial backer?

But that worry didn’t last long.
Before much time had passed, I received a message from Gerald.

Geniuses are always lonely and solitary, you see. Ordinary people cannot keep up with our genius thoughts. Therefore, this genius Gerald Delc is today also…

I flipped through the letter with an expressionless face and checked the very last page.

…Only fellow geniuses can truly understand each other, yes? I was quite disappointed by the baby priest’s behavior last time, but given your tender years, I can certainly understand. The connection between geniuses…
(omitted)
…Surely you’re not just reading the last page, are you? I trust you’re not.
Though you probably are, I’ll discreetly hide the information you want somewhere in this letter. Read it all.

Tch.
In the end, I had to read the entire letter from beginning to end.
Gerald certainly had ability.
He’d uncovered the location of the Kailum Crystal in a short span of time.

‘The Papuka black market.’

* * *

The moment I finished reading the letter, I dashed toward the Main Temple.
The adults were working as usual.
I approached the High Priest and clasped my hands together tightly.

“Yes, there is. Sae wants to go to the Kraphyuka Street.”
“Kraphyuka Street? Isn’t that the famous shopping district?”
“Sae, is there something you’d like to have?”

At Randel’s question, I was flustered.
Before my regression, I was at the Orphanage, and afterward, I never left the Parmanace Temple.
I had no idea what was in such a shopping district or how it was arranged.

I rolled my eyes around and made up some excuse.

“W-well, I just want to go… Other friends said it’s a nice place. I went there with my mom and dad, and it was fun.”

I had heard other children at the Parmanace Temple having such conversations before.
If I had listened more carefully, I could have come up with a more convincing excuse.
I only caught a few words in passing because I couldn’t join in the conversation.

‘…Isn’t this too flimsy?’

As I glanced at their reactions, the adults’ faces were contorted.
My spirits sank, and I clasped my hands together.

‘I got too full of myself, thinking people treated me well out of pity after the fire incident.’

Sympathy can only be received if you don’t go against people’s feelings.
The moment you demand more without knowing your place, you become an arrogant child.

“Oh, no! I didn’t mean to—.”
“Then we should go!”

Devon sprang up and grabbed my shoulder.

“We must send her, High Priest!”

At his resolute voice, I looked up at Devon in slight surprise.

“It’s the instinct of a money-maker! There must surely be an enormous fortune waiting there!”

…Pardon?
I stared at Devon with an incredulous expression.
Looking at the other adults’ faces, they seemed no different from mine.

“Why would you keep a child in one place? A snowball grows as it rolls.”
“Sae is not a snowball.”
“Money grows when it rolls too!”
“…”

Devon’s cry echoed through the silent study.
Randel laughed heartily and supported my position.

“Since arriving at the temple, Sae has never left the premises. It wouldn’t be bad to venture out at least once.”
“Yes, unlike the other children who receive visits from family or gifts sent from home.”
“After being frightened by the fire incident, a change of scenery would be perfect.”

I gazed at the adults with moved eyes.
The High Priest looked at my face and slowly nodded.

“An outing wouldn’t be so bad. If it’s Krapyuka Street, it’s a high-class shopping district, so nothing should happen.”
“Yay! Thank you! You’re the best, Dad!”

I seized the moment and quickly flattered him.
The High Priest’s lips curved up arrogantly.

Until then, I thought the same way as the High Priest.
I would slip away to the black market, buy what I needed, and return—what could possibly go wrong?
But then—.

‘Why is the Crown Prince here?’

—————
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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