Youngest on Top - Chapter 36

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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 36

An encounter I had never anticipated awaited me.

* * *

The day after receiving permission for an outing.
I left the Temple with my companions.
Derrick, the combat priest, was our guardian for this excursion.
Of course, I had deliberately chosen him.

Ilay and Dmitri walked beside me.
Ilay said he wanted to come along. He’d surely be helpful, after all.
I understood why Dmitri tagged along too. He admired Derrick so much, after all.
But…

“I didn’t come here to be your servant!”

Edmund shouted.
Handing me a sandwich he’d made himself.

‘Why did he even come?’

Edmund, a young master from an immensely prestigious noble house, supposedly disliked going shopping himself.

“Why bother mingling with commoners to shop? You could just have the stores come to the house.”

Yet here he was, following along regardless.

Roana had wanted to come too, but she lamented that her parents were visiting that day.
It wasn’t just Roana.
Dmitri’s subordinates had whined about coming along until Dmitri gave them a flick on the forehead.

‘If the group grows larger, I’ll need more guardians, which is problematic. I also need to avoid the children’s attention.’

I had asked Dmitri and Edmund for their cooperation beforehand.
To help me slip away discreetly for a while—I had somewhere I needed to go.

Dmitri readily agreed, since he had already helped me sneak out of the Temple before.
I expected Edmund to be picky and ask endless questions, but surprisingly, he simply nodded without complaint.

‘Derrick has a surprisingly scatterbrained side to him. With three of them helping, sneaking out shouldn’t be impossible.’

I could do this!
I clenched my fist lightly and pumped myself up.

Derrick simply lifted me up and placed me in the carriage.
I was nervous about this important mission to recover the Kailum Crystal, but now that we were actually going, I felt exhilarated.
The carriage was incredibly high—much taller than I expected.

“Everyone’s down below! It’s so high!”

The different height gave me an entirely different perspective on the world.
Looking down at the tops of people’s heads was such a rare experience for me that it felt wonderfully strange.

“That’s because you’re so short. I see nothing but the tops of heads every day. You need to grow quickly.”
“Should I open the window? Dogs get excited when they feel the wind in a moving carriage.”

Dmitri and Ilay spoke up.
Edmund let out a scoff.

“This is why commoners are so simple. Making a fuss over nothing. I’m more accustomed to this height.”

With that, he took my half-eaten sandwich and handed me milk instead.
When I finished the milk, he took it back and gave me the sandwich again.

‘…What is he even doing?’

I didn’t have time to worry about Edmund right now.
The scenery was rushing past us with every moment.
It looked as if someone had painted the landscape with broad brushstrokes.

“The wind feels amazing!”

I gasped in surprise, my eyes widening.
My voice came out strangely trembling.

Ilay explained with a smile.

“It’s because of the wind. We’re moving so fast.”

The carriage enchanted with holy magic moved at incredible speed.
Dmitri thrust his face toward the window.

“Really whoooooosh?”

Dmitri, whose eyes had gone wide like mine, exclaimed, “Oh, how amazing!” in wonder.
Edmund scoffed at him.

“How unrefined.”

While they chattered away merrily, the carriage arrived at Krapuka Street before I knew it.
The moment we stepped down, I stood slack-jawed at the vista that unfolded before me.

The Eastern Commercial City’s greatest thoroughfare.
Among them, the main street—Krapuka Street.
A landscape befitting its reputation spread out before my eyes.

The Glass Dome Plaza gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight, and the endless arcades were lined with shops of every kind.
My eyes felt as though they might spin from the dazzling array of unique and vibrant colors I was seeing for the first time.

“Th-there are so many shops! And so many people!”

Derrick laughed heartily as he looked at me.

“That’s right! Incredibly many! And there are even more goods! If there’s anything you’d like, just say the word.”

Thanks to the donation from Gerald, we had gained considerable means.

Everything was nothing but wonders.
Wondrous shops sold wondrous things, and on the wondrous streets, wondrous people performed wondrous shows.
I followed along, mouth agape in amazement, as the children and Derrick led the way.

“Here, take this.”

Derrick held out a small pink cloud to me.
I was swinging it around and playing with it because it looked so pretty, but he shook his head.

“No, no, it’s not a toy—it’s food.”
“Food….”

It didn’t look like something edible.
I brought it to my mouth with a bit of skepticism.
The cloud melted away in an instant, and a sweet taste spread across my tongue.
Derrick laughed when he saw my expression.

“It’s called cotton candy.”
“Cotton candy….”

It was a confection that lived up to its name.
All the children held a piece of cotton candy in their hands.
Ilay muttered “I miss this” with a bittersweet smile.
Dmitri looked quite familiar with it, while Edmund grumbled in displeasure.

“Such junk food….”

But the moment he tasted it, his eyes widened.

“Well, I suppose there’s nothing wrong with this kind of thing.”

I came to my senses while walking alongside the children, eating cotton candy.

‘This is not the time for this! Is this the taste of the secular world?’

The taste of the secular world was truly terrifying.
My childish mind whispered, “Look over there! Aren’t you curious about that? There’s a teddy bear bigger than me over there!” but I forced myself to ignore it.

‘Yesterday I even ate plenty of balanced meals and went to bed early for today’s success.’

I have no intention of wasting the effort I put in eating all those mushrooms and bell peppers for optimal condition.
I will absolutely not waver.
Until now, I wasn’t distracted—I was only pretending to look around to catch Derrick off guard.
That’s the truth.

We exchanged glances and entered the Game Hall.

“Oh, a punch machine!”

Dmitri immediately headed toward the punch machine.
He explained that it was a device that measured physical strength through mana when you threw a punch.

“Derrick, you should try it!”
“I bet you’d break the record!”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
“Of course you’ll set a new record.”

We urged Derrick on with exaggerated enthusiasm.
Derrick laughed and stepped forward.

“Since it’s my first time, I’m not sure how it works… but let me give it a try for fun.”

If it was just for fun, why was he cracking his knuckles?
Derrick clenched his fist and threw his punch.

BOOM—!

With a tremendous sound, the machine’s lights flashed brilliantly.

[Congratulations! New record achieved! Please enter your name.]

The announcement of a new record caused murmurs from those around us.

“Looks like he set a new record.”
“Wow, the gap from second place is huge.”

Derrick’s shoulders rose with satisfaction.

“Well, I only hit it lightly and still set a new record.”
“As expected of Derrick! That’s impressive!”
“Let’s try that one too!”

We dragged Derrick deeper into the Game Hall.
That was when it happened.

CRASH—!

With an enormous sound, the punch machine screamed.

[Congratulations! New record achieved! Please enter your name.]

When I turned my head, Derrick’s name, which had been in first place, had dropped to second.
Standing before the punch machine was a man built like a mountain.
A cross-shaped scar running across his face was striking.

The man looked at Derrick and smirked.
Smirk.

“Ha, haha! Want to go again? That was just a warm-up.”
“Yes! That wasn’t even 5% of Derrick’s full power!”

Derrick and Dmitri’s eyes blazed with competitive fire.
And an endless competition began.

SMASH!
CRASH—!
SMASH!
CRASH—!

First place kept changing hands.
People gathered like clouds around the spectacle.

“What? Another new record?”
“Wow, both of them are serious. Are they from some mercenary company?”
“Who do you think will win?”
“I’m betting on the man with the cross scar!”
“I’m betting on the bear-like brother. I like how he’s as solid and steady as a bear.”

With spectators joining in, the competition grew even more intense.
Ilay whispered to me.

“This actually went better than planned?”
“Yeah.”

I glanced around cautiously before speaking.

“Sae’s leg is sore.”
“Then should we rest over there?”
“Yeah, there’s a dessert shop nearby. Let’s wait while we eat.”

Derrick, who had been absorbed in sparring, hurried over.

“Then shall we all go get cake together—.”
“Derrick! That guy just took first place again!”

Dmitri cried out with a distressed expression.
We quickly seized on his words.

“No way! Second place is fine!”
“For Artemia’s sake, you must take first place, Derrick!”
“Shouldn’t your name be carved in the highest place? As Artemia’s priest!”

Derrick hesitated and scratched his head. “I, I suppose so?”
Ilay smiled with mature composure and spoke reassuringly.

“Don’t worry. I’ll take good care of Sae. Edmund and I aren’t at an age to get lost in streets like this.”
“Yes, we’ll rest inside the shop.”
“Derrick! That guy just shook his head at you!”

Dmitri’s indignant cry drove the final nail home.
Thanks to that, Ilay, Edmund, and I were able to slip away.

“That was good teamwork.”
“Dmitri seems genuinely upset, though.”

We entered the dessert shop.

“With Dmitri around, Derrick will be well-matched with him, so we should have time to spare.”
“Even if not, we’ll come back and drag Derrick along with us.”
“Thanks.”
“Still, come back quickly. Be careful.”

Ilay draped a robe over me, offering his final instructions.
With my face and body completely concealed, I now resembled a dwarf or an elderly person whose height had dramatically diminished.

I exchanged farewells with the two of them and began walking.
Toward the Papuka Black Market, situated beside Krapuka Street.

* * *

Entering the Papuka Black Market proved effortless.
Though it was a lawless territory, the state made no effort to suppress it, and any adventurer worth their salt visited at least once.
Yet the atmosphere differed entirely from Krapuka Street.
From those leading pigs to individuals clad in gleaming golden armor—every conceivable type of person gathered here.
But no one paid attention to anyone else.
Even if someone collapsed from a blade wound right beside you.

The shop Gerald had mentioned lay hidden in an alley few people frequented.
As I presented the access card, the door swung open.
Gerald had sent this card along with his letter.

‘Ugh….’

The acrid stench that assailed my nostrils upon entry caused my face to contort involuntarily.

This place was utterly unlike the other shops.
Hearts, brains, eyeballs—such organs were displayed, and materials for curses and dark magic lay scattered everywhere.

Even for a black market, dealing in such merchandise was uncommon.
Typically, they trafficked in stolen goods, contraband, and state-prohibited items.
But here, everything on sale was genuinely forbidden.

‘There are even slaves here?’

The condition of the slaves was equally disturbing.
They appeared destined to become test subjects….
Beyond poor quality—this place was utterly repugnant.

Suppressing the urge to obliterate this vile establishment, I quietly centered my focus.
Soon, I perceived it.
Even in this repulsive place, a pure and crystalline aura untainted by corruption.

‘There it is.’

I pressed down my racing heart and moved toward it.

The Kailum Crystal lay buried among dust-covered junk and trinkets.
It looked like a worthless, faded antique.
No one around paid it any attention.

‘That’s exactly why everyone keeps overlooking it as a sacred relic and lets it roll around.’

It was also the reason I came myself.
Even if I asked Gerald, he wouldn’t have recognized it.

The moment I reached out toward the Kailum Crystal—

A chill.
Goosebumps raced down my spine in an instant.
A force so overwhelming it defied description came crashing in like a tidal wave.
The pressure made my stomach churn.

I quickly seized the Kailum Crystal.
Whatever was happening, one thing was certain.

‘I need to leave this place now—’

CRASH!

The ground trembled with a deafening roar.
I lost my balance and fell hard.

“Aaaahhhhh!”
“W-what’s happening!”

Screams erupted from the crowd.
Since this wasn’t a shop ordinary customers would visit, I noticed people immediately taking combat stances.

The tremor ceased, and tension hung thick in the air.
People’s breathing was ragged, as if standing on a knife’s edge.
In the suffocating silence,

Thud, thud.

Slow, languid footsteps echoed through the space.

The figure that emerged was still a young boy.
His raven-black hair fell like the depths of night, his face half-concealed behind a mask.

“Ah, so many vermin gathered in one place.”

His voice carried an oppressive weight far too mature for his apparent age.

‘…Getting involved with this doesn’t seem like it’ll lead anywhere good.’

I pulled my robe back over my head and crawled behind the display case, concealing myself.
For reasons I couldn’t explain, that boy seemed intent on demolishing this entire shop.

‘I don’t know who he is, but I support the idea—why does he have to show up when I’m here?’

Fortunately, with the other customers putting up such vigorous resistance, slipping away unnoticed seemed entirely feasible.

“Die! Cough!”
“M-mad! This monster!”
“Ahhhhh! Stay back!”

The shop was being obliterated like bombs were detonating inside it.
I seized the opportunity and moved swiftly through the chaos.
Just as I was about to make my escape, I froze.

The slaves trapped in their cages were being exposed to the customers’ attacks.
Moreover, the shop looked like it would collapse any moment.
If that happened, those slaves…

‘Damn it!’

I turned back into the shop.
Destroying the locks on the slave cages and their shackles wasn’t difficult.

“Get out of here. I’m only helping you this far.”

The slaves, who had been staring blankly at me, snapped back to their senses and bolted from the room.
I was about to follow them out when—

“Where do you think you’re going?”

A voice, unnervingly smooth, whispered against my ear.

—————
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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