Chapter 2

Youngest One on Top Chapter 2 (2/299)

But that was all.

The High Priest only stared at me as if I were some strange creature, taking no action.

I reached out my hand again.

"Let me in too!"

Twitch.

The High Priest's eyebrow twitched.

His expression seemed to ask, "Why should I?"

Why indeed.

"Chingtu! (Divine Beast!)"

I need a divine beast, don't I?!

"......"

The High Priest silently looked down at me.

His gaze was so cold it felt like a biting north wind.

But I didn't back down, my eyes sparkling.

In the end, the High Priest picked me up.

To be more precise, he lifted me up.

"Is that okay?"

"Yep!"

I won!

I answered firmly and reached out my hand toward the High Priest's chest.

More specifically, toward the holy relic adorning his High Priest's robe.

'No need to rush.'

The divine power I currently possess is only as big as a pea, but it doesn't matter.

Just like how the holy relic I used to teleport recognized it as 'higher divine power,' my divine power is a bit special and works very well with holy relics.

Especially with the holy relics of the Artemis Church.

'Just a slight touch.'

The moment my divine power touched the holy relic—

Paaaaaah—!

Blinding light erupted from the holy relic.

"This, this is...!"

The light poured out, merging and forming into a shape similar to a wolf.

A sturdy mane.

Snow-white fur that shone silver.

And a blue pattern glowing on top.

"Alkierus! It's the divine beast Alkierus!"

Though much smaller than its original size, it was definitely the divine beast Alkierus.

"R-Really a divine beast...!"

"How in the world...?!"

But the divine beast couldn't maintain its form.

The light flickered unstably, as if it were about to be recalled.

"Oh no...! It seems it can't wake up!"

The divine beast's eyes were tightly closed.

To maintain its presence in the mortal world by its own will, it needs to be awake, but it was still asleep.

'So, even tricks have their limits.'

If I were a saint, I could have awakened it properly, but this is my limit.

'To regain consciousness, a large amount of divine power is needed.'

My divine power, which was completely drained from summoning the divine beast, is not enough.

At that moment,

The divine power extending from the High Priest enveloped the divine beast.

Like a warm nest.

'Phew, thank goodness.'

The High Priest's divine power was much stronger than I expected.

'With this level of divine power, he's on par with the High Priest of Parmenas. No, maybe even more...'

He's not just politically savvy; his abilities as a priest are also exceptional.

'With the High Priest being this strong, that's why the Artemis Temple is still in Octagon.'

The Holy Knight Kaiser and the High Priest.

These two people turned the impossible into the possible.

'I need to make a good impression!'

With this level of divine power, the divine beast will open its eyes someday.

Thinking this, I turned my head—

"......!"

I was surprised.

The High Priest was staring at me intently.

Everyone else was excitedly looking at the divine beast, but the High Priest was different.

He was only focused on me in his arms.

An unreadable, expressionless gaze.

'Good impression, good impression.'

They say a smile can disarm even the most stern person.

I smiled at the authority figure, tilting my head.

The High Priest's eyes narrowed.

But his expression remained as inscrutable as a thick fog.

Feeling awkward, I fidgeted and asked,

"Are you, not a monster, right? (Are you, not a monster, right?)"

How could a monster summon a divine beast?

My question made the previously noisy meeting room suddenly quiet.

The priests' gazes all turned to me.

Completely different from before.

I understood that the misunderstanding about me had been cleared up.

But what mattered was the highest authority figure with the final decision-making power.

I looked up at the High Priest with the most innocent eyes I could manage and asked,

"Are you, going to take me in?"

The High Priest, who had been silently looking at me, slowly opened his lips.

"It's too late for a child to be awake."

His gaze shifted from me to the priest we first met.

"Give him a room in the training acolyte quarters."

"......!"

Was he going to accept me as part of the temple?

"Are you going to accept this child as a training acolyte?"

The priests seemed to share the same doubt.

Another high-ranking priest beside him asked the High Priest.

"No."

But the High Priest shook his head firmly.

Even after summoning a divine beast, I wasn't accepted?

Just as my shoulders were about to droop,

"Only as a candidate."

"What do you mean...?"

"Observing and then deciding isn't a bad idea."

Candidate?

So if I work hard, I can become a training acolyte?

"Thank you so much!"

I hugged the High Priest's neck.

But the High Priest frowned and glared at me.

'Why is he frowning even when I greet him?'

They say adults like polite children.

But authority figures are picky.

The priest extended his hand cautiously toward the High Priest.

Since I was clinging to the High Priest, he was probably going to put me down.

But the High Priest didn't let go.

"......?"

I tilted my head, and the High Priest flinched, suddenly letting go.

The priest caught me, so I didn't fall.

'Hmm...'

The High Priest's lips were slightly stiff as he turned away from me.

'Why is he like that even though I summoned a divine beast?'

Anyway, I managed to avoid being kicked out.

I wasn't accepted as a member of the temple yet, but...

'If I get closer to the authority figure, it'll be fine.'

With that thought, I waved at the High Priest.

"Bye. (Goodbye.)"

The High Priest didn't respond.

Tch.

* * *

After the child left, the meeting room was still filled with excitement.

Everyone looked at the divine beast, covered by a divine barrier, sleeping.

"For a lost divine beast to return is an incredible event, isn't it?!"

"It's amazing that the divine beast responded to the child's touch!"

"Children are inherently pure souls most beloved by the gods. It's not strange that the divine beast responded."

"Especially Alkierus, who cherishes children."

"Is that all? The child must have exceptional talent as a priest."