Chapter 6

Maknae On Top Chapter 6 (6/299)

‘Wow… really holding a grudge.’

Bribe—she even gave me mint chocolate, and she’s still keeping it.

She saved it, enduring the temptation to eat it every night.

Did I fail?

Thinking about the days filled with such struggles, tears almost blurred my vision.

The High Priest, annoyingly, seemed to be planning to keep the bribe as he unwrapped the chocolate.

Bad guy.

Eat too much and get a stomachache.

Then, something was suddenly thrust in front of my nose.

It was the mint chocolate.

“……?”

Staring blankly up at the High Priest, he pushed the chocolate into my mouth.

“……!”

The sweet chocolate melted softly on my tongue.

It was a happy taste. My cheeks naturally relaxed.

At that moment.

“Ah?!”

I was startled and clamped my mouth shut, then opened it again.

“Ice formed in my mouth!”

“Ice?”

The High Priest frowned.

“The chocolate is cold!”

Seeing me flustered, the adults chuckled.

“Sae, is this your first time eating mint chocolate?”

“Haha, mint is originally a refreshing and cool flavor.”

Is that so?

Actually, I’ve never eaten mint chocolate in my entire life.

I’ve never even had mint tea or any food with mint in it.

My nose tingled, and I kept blinking and licking my tongue.

“Hmm, it seems too strong for a child.”

“Haha, indeed.”

“It’s fine. Mint chocolate isn’t very good for adults either.”

“What’s so special about mint chocolate?”

Even after finishing the chocolate, my mouth still felt hot.

I was almost on the verge of tears.

“Mint chocolate……”

“So, Sae, you don’t like mint chocolate?”

“No, it’s delicious. It’s amazing!”

I raised both hands.

“—Amazing!”

I thought it would just be stronger than regular chocolate because it’s called mint chocolate.

It wasn’t just stronger.

“It’s incredibly strong! So intense!”

Cheering, I noticed the priests’ reactions were strange.

“Of course! Our Sae has perfect taste!”

People who seemed incredibly pleased,

“This can’t be……”

And people who looked like they had witnessed something unbelievable.

Tilting my head, the High Priest spoke to me.

“Hand.”

Being a good, obedient child, I quickly extended my hand.

“This isn’t a bribe.”

With those words, something was placed in my hand.

‘Am I supposed to eat it?’

Thump.

My heart raced.

‘Hmm? It’s hard……’

It wasn’t something to eat.

It was a shiny pendant.

“Open it.”

Only then did I realize the pendant could be opened.

Nervously, I opened it, and a beautiful melody flowed out.

It looked expensive, and I froze.

Can I really have this?

This is something I’m not allowed to have……

“It’s a prize.”

“A prize?”

“Yes, so it’s yours.”

I can really have it.

It was my first time receiving a prize.

My chest felt tight and itchy, so I curled my toes.

The music continued to be beautiful.

I subtly glanced around and looked up at the High Priest.

“Does it hurt?”

“……Yes.”

The High Priest hesitated for a moment, then reached out his hand.

Just as his hand was about to touch my head—

“Sae.”

Hearing my name, I turned around.

Randel was smiling gently as usual.

“Randel! When did you come?”

I quickly ran to Randel.

I hadn’t seen him all day, so I was very happy.

“I just arrived. How have you been?”

“Yeah.”

Only then did I realize something.

‘Now that I think about it, the High Priest seemed to have something to talk to me about……’

Trying to turn to look at the High Priest, Randel led me to the sofa.

“This is a gift. I thought of you while I was out.”

A gift?

Of course, I was thrilled.

Thinking of me while he was out!

And buying a gift for me!

It was such a wonderful thing!

Randel handed me a covered dish.

Unsure if I could hold it with one hand, I carefully set the pendant down.

“Is this for me?”

“Of course, it’s for you.”

Swallowing hard, I lifted the cover.

A yellow object on the plate jiggled.

It was covered in brown sauce and smelled very sweet.

I had never seen this food before.

‘Is it jelly?’

Jelly and chocolate were rare treats in the orphanage, only available on very special days.

Excited, I quickly picked up a spoon.

And took a bite—

“……!”

My eyes widened in surprise.

It was nothing like jelly. It was much softer and more tender.

Extremely soft, rich, and sweet……

“What is this?”

It felt like I had entered a land of happiness.

Is this the taste of the secular world?

Randel hesitated for a moment before answering.

“It’s pudding.”

“Pudding……”

The name matches the taste.

“So delicious……”

I said dreamily, cupping my cheeks.

Randel chuckled.

“Do you like it?”

Do I like it?

“Randel is the best!”

I put the pudding down and hugged Randel.

Randel laughed and picked me up.

A gentle laugh settled in my ear.

“You’ve won.”

“You’ve won.”

“Of course, Randel did……”

“Well, when has the High Priest ever talked to a child……”

The elders murmured nearby.

What are they talking about?

* * *

Randel really seemed busy, as he gave me the gift and disappeared again.

It seemed he had something to handle outside the temple.

Just as I finished eating, Morgan arrived.

“Morgan!”

“Ah! Yes, that voice. I’ve missed it.”

Morgan poked my cheek and made a sad face.

“Without Sae, the atmosphere in our office is terrible……. I can’t live without Sae……”

Morgan is a bit over the top.

“Stay with me today.”

I shook my head.

“I’m with the High Priest. (Sae is with the High Priest.)”

Morgan looked at me with a shocked expression.

“We haven’t seen each other in a while……”

“It hasn’t been a week yet.”

“So, it’s been too long. I’m having withdrawal symptoms.”

Is constantly poking my cheek a withdrawal symptom?

I looked at Morgan with a confused expression.

He changed his expression to a serious one.

“In the afternoon, the High Priest will be moving around outside the office, so it will be hard to follow him.”

Ah, that’s why Morgan came.

“I’m fine. I’m strong. (I’m fine. Sae is strong.)”

“Hmm, but……”

“Leave it.”

The High Priest said to Morgan.

“Huh? But……. Is it okay?”

“We can’t force her to stay. We have to let her do what she wants.”

“But—”

“She said she wants to be with me, didn’t she? If she wants it so much, there’s nothing we can do.”

“……Okay?”

“It’s annoying.”

The High Priest clicked his tongue.

“It’s really annoying.”

……You didn’t need to say it twice.

Bad guy.

* * *

It’s been two hours since I joined the High Priest’s afternoon schedule.

Following his broad back, I quickened my steps.

‘Where are we going this time?’

The temple grounds are huge.

The High Priest is tall and walks fast, making it hard to keep up.

After a few hours of following, I was exhausted.

‘Oh, I’m dying.’

Running to keep up, I was out of breath.

When I slowed down a bit, the distance widened immediately.

Just as I was trying to catch up,

“Ah!”

Thud.

I faceplanted.

Of all places, I fell right in front of the High Priest.

‘I need to get up quickly. Be strong. I’m strong.’

I usually get up quickly after falling.

I even brush off the dirt by myself.

But why……

My lips pouted involuntarily.

The bribe I prepared failed.

The High Priest didn’t look back at me once while walking.

I was out of breath, my legs hurt, and now my knees were stinging.

I felt so sad.

‘No, why now……. Crying children are annoying. Pull yourself together!’

I thought that, but my eyes kept welling up with tears.

I’m in pain……

At that moment, a large hand lifted me up.

“……?!”

Silver eyes were right in front of me.

The High Priest, who had been far ahead, had come close and lifted me up.

He looked at me calmly.

“Don’t cry over just falling.”

His voice was cold.

“Just get up and it’s over.”

His tone was displeased.

I shouldn’t cry.

I bit my lip tightly and tried to answer.

“Yes……”

“The priests of Artemis don’t show tears easily.”

“……!”

An unexpected statement.

I was so surprised that my tears disappeared.

“I don’t cry easily.”

“I won’t cry.”

His long fingers brushed my eyes.

A slight moisture remained on his fingertips.

“Try harder.”

“I will.”

“We’ll see.”

“Yes!”

The High Priest didn’t put me down.

I stayed in his arms as we moved.

His firm chest was surprisingly comfortable.

* * *

Several days passed.

I became accustomed to going to the High Priest’s office with Randel.

To what extent……

“High Priest!”

I let go of Randel’s hand and ran to the High Priest.

The High Priest, looking annoyed, lifted me and placed me on his lap.

‘Hehe, look at this great progress!’

Looking up proudly, the High Priest was looking at something.

With a smug smile.

‘What is he looking at……. Randel?’

Why is he looking at Randel so arrogantly?

I checked Randel, but there was nothing unusual.

When I looked back at the High Priest, his usual cold, indifferent expression had returned.

“Eat.”

The High Priest pushed cream into my mouth.

It was very soft and sweet.

“Is it delicious?”

“Yes!”

“……More than pudding?”

“……?”

Why did pudding come up?

Confused by the strange question, I looked at the High Priest, who cleared his throat and looked away.

“Ahem, hmm……”

“Hmm……”

I heard a faint sound of someone fainting and saw some elders with their heads bowed, trembling.

‘Again……’

The elders are pillars of this temple, but they don’t seem to be in good shape.

If this continues, what will happen to the future of the temple?

I guess I have to lead well.

At that moment,

A serious-faced priest rushed into the office.

“High Priest, priests from the Reiatan Church have visited!”

The office buzzed with the news.

“What? Without notice? Weren’t we supposed to meet next week?”

“They’re doing it on purpose.”

“There’s a limit to rudeness……!”

I perked up my ears.

‘Reiatan Church…… That’s the one that’s vying to become the Octagon, surpassing the Artemis Church!’

Why are they here?

It doesn’t seem like they came with good intentions.

Just as Randel was about to take me out,

“Hey! Without permission, what—”

“Tsk, does Artemis block the path of guests?”

The priests from the Reiatan Church entered confidently, as if they were at home.

‘Those guys?’

My eyes flashed with anger.

* * *

“I’m sorry for the sudden visit. We were told that Lord Norris would be here next week.”

The representative of the Reiatan Church, Elder Shedman, said with no hint of apology.

“Ah, you know Lord Norris? The one who owns the platinum mine. He has a very good relationship with our temple……. You understand, right?”

Shedman smirked, sitting down without permission.

“But it doesn’t seem to be a hindrance to the Artemis Church.”

“What……!”

“Isn’t that right? Artemis doesn’t seem to have any special appointments. Whether he comes next week or today, it’s the same, isn’t it? You seem to have some free time.”

“Elder Shedman!”

“Or.”

Shedman lifted his head arrogantly.

“Do you have an appointment today?”

The young priests who were about to protest fell silent.

Shedman enjoyed the angry looks of the priests.

‘Hmph, what a pitiful sight. You dare to occupy a seat in the Octagon when you don’t have the ability.’

He sneered and turned his gaze to the High Priest of this pitiful group, Anatorio.

Contrary to expectations, the High Priest looked at him indifferently.

‘Pretending to be unaffected.’

Today, I will definitely strip off that perfect mask.

And I will make sure he can never look down on me again.

The High Priest’s lips slowly opened.

“I have no appointments.”

“Of course—”

“Not even with you.”

Shedman’s face twisted.

“Ha ha, High Priest Anatorio. Even if we are quite familiar, I am an elder of the Reiatan Church. Please show some respect.”

“An uninvited guest has no right to speak.”

Silver eyes looked at Shedman as if he were a trivial insect.

The High Priest neither adjusted his posture nor stood up.

He just sat there as he had before.

Yet, an overwhelming aura radiated from him.

The oppressive presence.

‘Damn, damn!’

Just meeting his gaze made his back damp with sweat.

Shedman’s smug face turned pale.

He gritted his teeth and forced a smile.

“Indeed, you are the High Priest of Artemis. You are truly great. I’ve learned a lesson.”

“……”

“Artemis should have a ‘Holy Maiden’ soon. Only then can such a great and excellent High Priest be comfortable.”

Even though you don’t have a Holy Maiden.

Shedman, regaining his composure, mocked the High Priest.

“Did I mention? In our Reiatan, the next Holy Maiden has already appeared……”

He boasted about his temple’s Holy Maiden, even though no one asked or cared.

“……So, I’m really looking forward to the upcoming assembly. I’m curious about what achievements the trainee priests of Artemis have made.”

No matter how hard you try, you will lose to us.

Shedman chuckled and continued.

“The trainee priests are the future of the temple. If our Reiatan’s children perform better at this assembly, shouldn’t you reconsider the future?”

Yes, reconsider—

‘And give us the Octagon seat.’

You should have done it long ago.

Our Reiatan Church is more suitable for the Octagon than this shabby temple.

“Isn’t it tiring to maintain such a heavy position? We can help you with that burden.”

His words were beyond arrogant.

Just as the combat priest Derrick was about to say something,

“Wow! Well said!”

A child’s voice, out of place in this setting, rang out clearly.

‘What is this?’

Shedman turned his head.

There was a child clapping.

The child smiled widely.

His chubby cheeks were raised high.

“I’m showing my strength! I don’t know what you’re talking about. I just do the work!”

The child pointed at Shedman with a tiny finger.

“Noir!”

“……?!”

Noir?

Did he just say Noir?

Shedman, along with everyone from Artemis and Reiatan, looked at the child in disbelief.

“Sae doesn’t have a master. Noir is for those who have a master!”

“……”

“Being controlled and being hit are the same! (Being controlled and being hit are the same!)”

“……”

The child stood in front of the High Priest, as if protecting him.

And he shouted loudly.

“Stay back!”

The High Priest stared at the child blankly.

His face was a mix of disbelief, absurdity, and speechlessness.

“—That’s what the teacher said.”

The child, noticing the High Priest’s reaction, mumbled.