Youngest on Top - Chapter 97

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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 97

“My apologies. I spoke out of turn.”

Zaphrez immediately bowed his head deeply.
Demian’s gaze grew distant.

‘Was I overthinking it?’

Seeing such a reaction, I wondered if my concern had been unfounded.
Given Demian’s nature, even hearing that he was different from usual would make him lose further interest.

‘I’ve conditioned him to feel guilt even for taking interest in something.’

To exist as if dead, incapable of caring about anything.
To feel guilt whenever he showed interest in even the smallest thing.
I raised him to devote himself solely to finding his lost sister.

So he would no longer bring up the subject of Artemisia—.

“Investigate the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia.”
“…What?”

Zaphrez lifted his head at the unexpected command.
Demian, as always, merely gazed out the window with a cold expression.

Yet Zaphrez observed Demian’s state with keen eyes.

“Are you perhaps interested in the Sacred Maiden of Artemisia?”
“Of course I am.”
“What?”

Zaphrez stared at Demian in surprise.

“A Sacred Maiden who has only recently awakened is already showing such promise. She should still be adapting to her newly awakened power.”
“….”
“If the Sacred Maiden’s abilities are exceptional, I may be able to receive an oracle concerning that child.”

Blue eyes that had been gazing out the window moved slowly toward Zaphrez.

“Isn’t it strange not to take an interest in her?”

Zaphrez felt his mouth go dry.
The young boy was still just a child, yet his gaze alone carried enough pressure to overwhelm an adult.

“That’s odd, Zaphrez.”
“….”
“I thought you would naturally have reached that same conclusion.”

Investigating Sacred Maidens who showed promise was Zaphrez’s responsibility.

“Is there perhaps a reason to exclude the Sacred Maiden Artemia?”
“There couldn’t be.”

Zaphrez took care not to answer too quickly or too slowly.

The blue eyes continued to regard him without the slightest emotion.
Zaphrez composed his expression and lowered his head.

“My thinking was insufficient. I shall begin investigating the Sacred Maiden Artemia at once.”

Only then did the gaze turn away.
Watching Demian’s profile as he gazed out the window, Zaphrez quietly exhaled in relief.

Demian’s judgment was correct.
Ordinarily, Zaphrez should have been the one to step forward first and report on Saelika.

‘But something doesn’t sit right.’

He couldn’t quite put his finger on it, but his instincts were screaming.

Still, now was the time to conduct a proper investigation according to Demian’s orders.
Inviting unnecessary suspicion would only work against him.

* * *

A Sacred Maiden’s tea party—an unexpected incident unfolds!
Artemisia’s Sacred Maiden appears, skipping two generations—her first public appearance
Shock! What happened at the Sacred Maidens’ tea party!

Just as Saelika had anticipated, newspaper articles flooded the press.
From daily papers to gossip columns and network articles circulating through Manashell, Saelika’s face dominated the front pages.

And for good reason—it was an issue that couldn’t help but capture attention.

The Sacred Maidens of this generation were beginning to emerge one by one.
Their tea party alone was worthy of public interest.

But then Artemisia’s Sacred Maiden was also attending.
The mere fact that a Sacred Maiden had appeared in Artemisia, which had been without one for so long, was a major story.
And this was her first public engagement.

Journalists naturally staked out positions to capture the moment.
But her companions were particularly noteworthy.

Kaiser the Sacred Knight, who had been absent for a long time due to the Holy Demon War, made an appearance.
Admiral Ekellan, famously at odds with the Temple, attended as the Sacred Maiden’s partner?
And the High Priest himself graced the occasion?

The journalists snapped photographs and hurried to their typewriters.

Kaiser the Sacred Knight, the High Priest, and Admiral Ekellan?! The Sacred Maiden of Artemisia’s partners
Never before has there been such a lineup!

By comparison, the Temple Priest Randel was a relatively unknown figure, so they didn’t pay him special attention.
But then.

“Wait? This Temple Priest Randel is getting quite the reaction?”
“What a filthy world. Look at them responding just because he’s handsome.”
“Should we post an exclusive photo?”

[BREAKING ANALYSIS] The Man of the Hour, Randel Hartz! Who is he?!

“Gasp, the view count is absolutely exploding!”
“People are complaining about why you won’t upload solo photos of the other three.”
“…This filthy world. Where all the handsome bastards get everything!”

But thanks to it, I made money.

The scandal didn’t end there.

“They made bets playing card games?”
“And the youngest Sacred Maiden, Artemia, swept them all? Is that even possible?”
“Hey, get an interview. Talk to the employees who were at the tea party and find out what happened. Run the story!”

The Sacred Maidens’ Card Game—Who’s the Winner?!
The Youngest’s Rebellion? Sisters, Step Aside
Everyone Defeated by the Baby Sacred Maiden?

“Wait, she didn’t just win—she wagered sacred relics and took them?”
“Wow, this really can’t be written off as going easy on her for being young.”
“The sisters must have felt quite bitter handing over sacred relics to Artemia.”
“The headline is going to be incredibly sensational.”

Sacred Relics—When Did They Become Proof of Defeat!
Where Have the Precious Sacred Relics Gone? The Sacred Maidens Who Wagered Sacred Relics
All the Sacred Relics Are Mine—Artemia’s Baby Sacred Maiden

Even the famous Crown Prince of Noischlahel made an appearance and added the finishing touch
to the story.

Which Sacred Maiden Did the Crown Prince of Noischlahel Request a Private Meeting With?
The Sacred Maiden of Artemia Who Melted the Ice Prince of the North?
Which Sacred Maiden Did the Crown Prince of Noischlahel Choose?

The journalists were quite satisfied watching newspapers fly off the shelves and view counts climb steadily.

“Her entrance alone was spectacular. A natural star, a natural star.”
“We shouldn’t have focused on digging out the Sacred Maidens of the Octagon who are pretending they haven’t awakened and hiding away.”
“Let’s prepare lavishly for coverage of the Sacred Maiden Artemia’s coronation ceremony.”

Public interest was that intense.

“The Sacred Maiden of Artemisia really is impressive, isn’t she? I heard she overwhelmed all the other Sacred Maidens at once?”
“If she even took the sacred relics, that’s a complete defeat, a complete defeat.”
“Hmph, they say Artemisia Temple was absolutely magnificent back when there was a Sacred Maiden!”
“That’s right! Even Parmanace and Netiarsen couldn’t hold their heads high before Artemisia.”
“Ah, that’s not quite right.”
“I’m telling you it’s true?”

Artemisia, which was supposed to be expelled from the Octagon soon.
Parmanace and Netiarsen, the highest-ranking temples among the Octagon.
The mere fact that these three were mentioned together was something unimaginable before.

But now people were placing them on equal footing, debating which was superior.
Without even realizing it themselves.

“Wow, they’re holding a special exhibition of sacred relics to coincide with the Sacred Maiden’s coronation?”
“Sacred relics from other temples will be displayed too… Could they be talking about the relics won from that card game?”
“Wow! I have to go! When will an opportunity like this come again!”
“I was curious about the Artemisia Sacred Maiden’s coronation anyway.”
“Right. The meeting with Reyatan last time was no joke either. I regretted not going.”
“I absolutely can’t miss this one!”

And so the tickets for the Sacred Maiden’s coronation and the special sacred relic exhibition sold out like hotcakes.

* * *

“Oh my, my lucky charm is now earning not just money but sacred relics too!”
“Let me see, my precious! Come here and get some kisses!”

Smack! Smack! Smack smack!
My vision spun dizzily under the barrage of kisses like a bombardment.

Wait, why has even the usually cold Sirius become like this?
Before, he would at least pretend not to, then move slightly, but now he was no different from Devon.

“Come here to me! I’ll give you kisses too!”
“Our tiger! Roar! You devoured all the other Sacred Maidens!”
“Our brave tiger deserves kisses as a reward!”
“Our little rabbit gets kisses as a prize~”

I never asked for a kiss from the Sacred Maiden.

After suffering through their relentless teasing, I finally managed to escape from the adults.
I was about to hurry to the Trainee Priest Quarters when I hesitated.

‘I shouldn’t go near the children either.’

On the day I returned from the tea party, the children were in absolute chaos.

“Of course! I knew the youngest would beat all the other Sacred Maidens!”
“Right, right! The youngest doesn’t just beat us—she absolutely demolishes the children from other temples!”
“Amazing! She’s truly our Sacred Maiden!”

The children who had been excitedly celebrating soon grew sullen.

“…I wanted to be the youngest’s partner too.”
“If I had been in that position, we could have fought together.”
“But what about the Grand Prince of Noishelahel? Why is he pestering our youngest?”
“He certainly has eyes to see…”
“If I had gone, this kind of guy wouldn’t have gotten tangled up with her.”

Hmm.
Just remembering it exhausted me.

‘The children should be in class right now anyway.’

I walked along a path where few people ventured.
The northwestern section of the temple was rarely used, so it was sparsely populated.

‘I should do some personal training here before heading back.’

I wanted to quickly become completely accustomed to my awakened power.

‘Only then can I heal Teodor.’

As I walked toward a suitable spot, I discovered a flower blooming in the snow.

‘Flowers are blooming in the middle of winter.’

During the Assembly, people would come to see the flowers, so I deliberately made them bloom.
But it would be wasteful to do that even in winter when snow piles up.
Snow fields have their own beauty, after all.

So this flower had bloomed naturally.
I was delighted by this small miracle I had stumbled upon by chance.

‘It seems like it will bring good fortune. I should give it to Randel.’

Thinking of what would make Randel happy lifted my spirits as well.
A tune spilled from my lips unbidden, humming as I walked—hum, hm-hm, hum.

My long hair swayed with each step, and my pace quickened to match the rhythm of the melody.
Tap, ta-da-tat, tack!

Crash!

“Oof!”

Running without watching where I was going, I collided hard with something.
I tumbled backward onto the ground.

Rubbing my nose and looking up, I saw a person’s legs.

‘Who is this?’

There shouldn’t be anyone coming this far out….
Puzzled, I lifted my head.

“…Demian?”

The person I had collided with was Demian.

Eyes colder than ice crystals, a piercing blue, looked down at me with indifference.
I straightened my shoulders, which had begun to shrink back, forcing myself to appear composed.

He stared at me intently before finally opening his mouth after a long moment.

“You.”
“….”
“Do you really think I’d believe that?”

I immediately understood what Demian was referring to.
It was about the words I had whispered into this child’s ear on the day of the tea party.

“Be careful of Mommy’s shadow.”
”

Vague words, but the clever Demian had grasped it instantly.
His suspicion about his own aide.

“You don’t say?”
“If you thought I’d simply accept your words at face value, I’m disappointed. I thought you were a bit more clever than that.”

Yet despite what he said, something must have bothered him enough to seek me out.
If he truly dismissed it as nonsense, he wouldn’t have come all this way.

‘He must be looking for proof.’

But unlike before my regression, I had no evidence to offer.
So rather than trying to convince him—.

“For you, my lord.”

I held out the winter flower.
It was the blossom I had carefully clutched even as I fell, ensuring it wouldn’t be damaged.

‘I was planning to give this to Randel, so it’s a bit of a shame.’

Demian merely raised one eyebrow.
I spoke again.

“Please accept it, my lord.”

The child only furrowed his brow and made no move to take the flower.
I hadn’t expected him to simply accept it on the first try anyway.

I sprang up briskly and grasped the child’s hand.

The moment my hand touched the child’s, Demian flinched and stiffened.
I seized that opportunity and forcefully pulled the child’s hand toward me.

“…?”

Demian looked at me with a puzzled gaze.
As if wondering how a child could possess such strength.

‘I think he looked at me with that same expression before.’

I pressed a winter flower into the child’s hand.

“You look like Confucius.”
“….”
“Pretty flower.”
“….”

Demian’s eyes narrowed.

Why. What. Why.
Saying someone looks like a flower is a compliment.
I absolutely didn’t mean anything else by it.
Absolutely not.

* * *

“What is that flower?”

The moment Demian entered the room, Zaphrez asked in surprise.

After receiving a report about Saelika.
Demian had gone to Artemisia Temple, saying he would see the child himself and make his own judgment.

Yet he returned holding a flower.

‘Could that cunning one have given a flower to Demian?’

Demian set the flower down on the table and unfastened one button of his shirt.

“Surely you’re not planning to keep that flower?”

His cool blue eyes turned toward Zaphrez.
Zaphrez quickly painted on a relaxed smile.

“Ah, I was thinking of bringing a vase if you were planning to keep it.”
“Keep it? What are you talking about.”
“Then….”
“Throw it away.”

Zaphrez exhaled a breath of relief inwardly.

‘Right, he’s not the type to open his heart just because someone gave him a single flower.’

I hadn’t raised him so carelessly.

But something nagged at me.
He could have thrown it away on the way here, so why bring it all the way to this place?

‘Well, since she’s a capable Sacred Maiden, he probably brought it to avoid suspicion if she found out he threw it away. That must be it.’

It was a convincing reason.
But it was better to make sure.

“Now that I think about it, Artemisia Temple doesn’t have a greenhouse. It seems the Sacred Maiden must have prepared the flower knowing you would come, to please you.”
“….”
“You’re not unfamiliar with such schemes at the temple, are you?”

I glanced at Demian, but he showed little reaction.

‘Perhaps I was worrying for nothing after all.’

It was the moment Zaphrez was reassuring himself.

‘…No greenhouse, he said.’

Demian was somewhat shocked by Zaphrez’s words.
He had naturally assumed there would be a greenhouse.

‘So that child found this flower in that snowy field?’

Now that he thought about it, her hands were flushed red from the cold.
Painfully so.

‘She found this flower like that and gave it to me.’

Demian’s gaze lingered on the small, delicate flower.
It bloomed without regard to season, making it particularly small and fragile.

—————
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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