Youngest on Top - Chapter 44

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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 44

The Shedman swirled his wine glass lightly as he spoke.

“I find myself quite looking forward to the day of competition where the children will grow by testing themselves against one another.”
“Hehe, I’m truly excited as well.”

The Leiyatan Priests and Helene gazed toward the Trainee Priest Quarters beyond the window.

* * *

The next day.
The first day of the Conclave Festival dawned.
The once-quiet Artemisia Temple swelled with people.
Crowds had flocked to the temple to witness the festival.

“You left the smithy for this?”
“How could I miss such a spectacle!”
“Mom, hurry! Hurry! We’ll lose all the good seats at this rate!”

The entrance seemed as though the temple itself might be carried away by the throngs of people streaming in like clouds.

Artemisia, the lowest rank in the Octagon.
And Reyatan, the rising comet.
This was their Conclave.
Naturally, everyone found themselves captivated by interest.

The spectators’ attention was singular.
The competition of the trainee priests who represented the temples’ futures.

To properly witness tomorrow’s competition, one had to purchase seating tickets today in advance.
The festival was designed to be enjoyed over two days beyond the competition itself.
Of course, today held its own highlight.

‘Wagering!’

The very heart of the competition—betting.
All wagers had to be placed the day before, not on the day of competition itself.

Everyone crowded in the bustling space thought only of tomorrow’s competition.
And why wouldn’t they—what entertainment could a crumbling Artemisia Temple possibly offer?

But then….

“What, what is this?”
“What on earth….”

Those who had just entered looked around with vacant expressions on their faces.

“Is, is this really supposed to be a temple in ruins?”

Artemisia was nominally part of the Octagon, but it was known to be little more than a name on paper.
Without a Sacred Maiden for decades now, all the faithful had abandoned it.
Naturally, it was desperately poor.
That’s why people said all the buildings were crumbling away.
With no funds for repairs, the gardens and forests were in even worse condition.
The saying that it was more desolate than a slum alley wasn’t without reason.

“Weren’t they supposed to be maintaining it properly?”
“Who knows…. It’s been so long since anyone visited.”
“No, that’s not it. Even the last time I came, plants were growing through the cracks in the walls.”

Rainwater had seeped through those cracks, and mold bloomed rampantly everywhere.
Not to mention the foul stench.

“Wow! Dad, look at that! It’s so beautiful!”
“Y, yes. It’s amazing….”

People gazed in wonder at the buildings that seemed to have undergone a complete transformation.
It looked far more magnificent than most major temples.

Of course, the grounds were exceptionally vast, given how prosperous it had been in the past.
The buildings themselves had originally been of high quality, so even simple repairs made them extraordinarily splendid.
And with the latest magical engineering added on top of that….

“Hey, this isn’t bad at all?”
“I should have come sooner. This is wonderful!”
“They said it was falling apart, but it’s not? Did something good happen?”
“Right? Maybe we should attend the next service and try it out ourselves?”

The ordinary visitors clicked their tongues in admiration.
And then people who stood in stark contrast to them began to enter.
They were dignitaries adorned with pure gold and jewels.

Among them, the most luxurious carriage came to a halt before the Main Building.

“Oh my, welcome, Count Noris!”

Upon seeing the carriage’s emblem, the Shedman bolted out like an arrow.

“It’s been a while, Shedmon Elder.”
“We’ve been waiting for your arrival. Please, come this way.”

Despite being at Artemisia Temple, the Shedman greeted the dignitary as though he were the master himself.
And he glanced at the Artemisia priests with a show of pride.

As if to say Count Noris had come not as your guest, but as mine.

“Ah, you know Count Noris, don’t you? That Count Noris who owns the platinum mines. We’ve been maintaining a very good relationship with him lately, you see. You understand, yes?”

Even when he had visited rudely without notice before, he had boasted by invoking Count Noris’s name.

“How have you been? Did the medicine I sent you last time help with your knees?”
“It helped somewhat, but it’s still quite uncomfortable.”

The Shedman clasped his hands together with an “Oh dear!”

“I should have sent healing priests to attend to you. If this conference had been held in Reyatan, that would certainly have been done, but since Artemisia Temple is hosting this time, their circumstances are… well.”
“Circumstances?”
“Artemisia Temple is facing a severe shortage of personnel.”
“Ah, a shortage of personnel. So Artemisia Temple still can’t recruit capable priests?”
“Without a Sacred Maiden, how could we recruit priests from other temples? Even if we wanted to, we can’t.”
“Hmm, it seems their situation won’t improve anytime soon.”
“Indeed. We didn’t even have a carriage befitting a noble like yourself. Our followers are so few… please understand, Count.”

The Shedmen were disparaging Artemisia under the guise of being considerate toward Count Noris.
The expressions of the Artemisia Temple priests darkened.

‘That damned bastard…!’
‘There was no need for the Temple Council to send carriages to the guests in the first place!’

They were belittling Artemisia by fabricating conventions that didn’t even exist.

Above all, Count Noris was an invited guest of the Reyatan Temple.
If a carriage were to be sent, it should have been sent by Reyatan.

The Reyatan Temple priests sneered at the Artemisia Temple priests.
They lowered their voices and whispered among themselves.

“What are they going to do if they’re upset?”
“Exactly. Count Noris is on our side.”

The trainee priests’ parents could not participate in the Council.
A children’s quarrel could escalate into an adult dispute.
That would contradict the Council’s purpose.

Furthermore, high-ranking nobles and major figures like the heads of the Three Great Merchant Houses had no interest in competing for these lower positions within the Octagon.
Such prominent figures would attend the Council meetings between the Octagons themselves.

In other words, among the distinguished guests attending today, Count Noris was the most prestigious visitor.
I didn’t know Artemisia’s invitation list, but it was likely certain.

“Who could those insignificant fools have possibly invited?”
“They probably could only invite unremarkable people.”
“Or could they even manage to invite anyone at all?”

Then someone burst out laughing.

“They might come to collect on debts instead.”
“That would be hilarious.”

The Reyatan Temple priests giggled excitedly among themselves.
The expressions of the Artemisia Temple priests grew increasingly rigid.

“Forget the gathering, forget the review, just—”

The Reyatan Priest smirked at the Artemisia Priest’s words.

“Why are you so angry? You look like someone who’s been caught.”
“How dare you!”
“Ah, let’s not do this in front of our distinguished guest. Even if they are our visitors, we should maintain some dignity.”
“You people—!”
“Count Noris. Count Noris is here. We must be careful with our conduct in front of such a person.”
“I understand the feeling of jealousy, but—”

Then it happened.

“Look, Elder! Over there!”

The Reyatan Priest watching the carriage procession gasped.

“…!”
“W-what is this…!”

A carriage far more luxurious than Count Noris’s was entering.
And the emblem carved on the carriage was…

‘Isn’t that the emblem of Whitepearl, one of the three great merchant guilds of the continent?!’

The Reyatan Priests stirred greatly.

“W-Whitepearl?! Why is Whitepearl here?”
“I don’t know. They weren’t on our invitation list?!”

Even if the Reyatan Temple extended an invitation, there was no reason Whitepearl would accept.
No matter how he thought about it, there was no reason such a magnificent carriage would arrive here.

“Perhaps Artemisia owes a debt to Whitepearl as well? They may have come to collect.”
“Is that so? Tell me, do you also owe a debt to Whitepearl?”

While they spoke, the carriage door opened.
And the one who descended was a young man.
A man whose appearance seemed to inspire favor in anyone at first glance.

Upon seeing him, a Leiyatan Priest nodded with an “Ah.”

“He looks so young—it seems a lower-ranking employee from the merchant guild’s branch office has come.”
“In any case, for a temple to be indebted to a merchant guild—”
“No, wait!”

Another Leiyatan Priest exclaimed with a start.

“It’s Gerald Delc! Gerald Delc, the youngest son of Whitepearl’s merchant guild master!”

The Delc family—so wealthy with their golden veins that even nobles yielded to them.
The guild master had three sons, and this man was the youngest, said to be a genius among them.

“What? The guild master’s son?”
“That Gerald Delc who’s practically been designated as the successor?”
“Elder, why would he come to this place?”

Shedmon Elder also stared at Gerald with a bewildered expression.
He too was taken aback.

‘Why would that man possibly…’

There was no reason for someone from a merchant guild like Whitepearl to visit Artemisia Temple.

Yet the confusion was fleeting.
Understanding soon arrived.
Shedmon’s lips curled upward as he marveled at his own insight.

“Where else could there be an investment opportunity as promising as us?”
“What do you mean, Elder?”
“He’s come to see us.”
“Sir?”
“He wants to forge connections with us before we enter the Octagon.”

That young genius understands it.
Our potential—still undervalued simply because we are not yet the Octagon!
The moment Reyatan becomes the Octagon, we shall soar!

The expressions of the Leiyatan Priests brightened.

“Ah! So you’ve come to see with your own eyes whether we’re worthy of becoming Octagon!”

The first in line to succeed Whitepearl’s merchant guild had arrived.
Count Noris was no longer the pressing concern.

Shedmon hurriedly left Count Noris behind and sought out Helene.

“Our Sacred Maiden Helene, there you are!”
“My, Elder?”

Helene, who had been receiving attention from the children, blinked her eyes.

“Sacred Maiden, today is a very important day. You must demonstrate what exceptional qualities you possess as Reyatan’s next Sacred Maiden.”

Especially now that Whitepearl’s successor had arrived.
Shedmon continued with a gentle smile.

“Now then, show everyone what kind of Sacred Maiden the temple that will become Octagon truly is.”
“Elder Shedmon, really. Don’t worry.”

Helene waved her fan back and forth as she spoke.

“When the opposition is so lacking, I can’t help but appear superior, can I?”
“That’s certainly true!”
“Humble as I am, well, the gap is simply too great, so I’m not particularly worried.”
“Yes, yes. Our Sacred Maiden Helene is absolutely right.”

Though it was a place falling into ruin, Artemisia was still Octagon.
Trampling such an Octagon would serve well to prove her abilities.

“Crush them thoroughly.”
“My, shouldn’t we, as those destined for higher positions, show magnanimity instead?”
“Hmm?”
“I’m rather worried I might injure them too severely, you see~.”

Shedmon burst into delighted laughter.
Then he cast a glance toward Gerald Delc.
Helene followed that gaze and looked at Gerald.

“Sacred Maiden, that man is Gerald Delc, who is being discussed as the first in line to succeed Whitepearl.”
“Ah, so that’s him….”

Helene scrutinized him with her gaze, taking in every detail.
Gerald Delc was indeed a man worthy of his reputation.

Eyes brimming with brilliance.
Handsome features that inspired admiration.
Even a mind that was called genius.

Even the distinguished guests found themselves stealing glances at him, eager to approach.
Yet none dared draw near easily.

Of course, Gerald possessed an impression so favorable he could serve as a model merchant.
But simultaneously, he wielded a charisma that intimidated the ordinary, preventing them from approaching without hesitation.

Helene’s lips curved upward.

‘But I am different.’

Shedmon Elder whispered to Helene.

“He’s come to see us. More precisely, he’s come to see ‘the Sacred Maiden of Reyatan.'”
“Is that so?”
“Indeed, our Sacred Maiden Helene. Desperate to form a connection, would he have traveled all the way to a place like Artemisia otherwise?”
“My, what am I saying.”

Though she spoke with feigned modesty, Helene’s eyes gleamed with arrogance.

The Shedmon Elder was right.
Why would a young genius who was essentially Whitepearl’s successor come to see anyone but her?

‘After all, one rarely finds someone who has awakened as a Sacred Maiden at such a young age.’

Special people should form connections with each other.
Since he’s showing such interest, perhaps I should extend my hand first.

As Helene smiled brightly, Shedmon Elder nodded.
His expression seemed to say: go ahead.

Helene approached Gerald with light, graceful steps.
As expected, Gerald’s expression softened as he punched the wall, and warmth began to spread across his face.

‘Just as I thought.’

Helene beamed at him with a radiant smile.

“Thank you so much for coming. I am the Sacred Maiden of Reyatan—”

But in that very moment.

“There you are, little priest!”

Gerald rushed past Helene.
Toward Saelika, who stood in the distance with a vacant expression.

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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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