Absolutely Do Not Touch ELdmia Egga – Chapter 98

Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuzio
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As a million questions flooded my mind, my body reacted before my thoughts could catch up.

I instinctively surged forward, drawing on my mana, and only then did the gravity of the situation sink in.

The fact that the gate had changed after Sieg and the other students had passed through meant that a highly skilled mage was lurking nearby, capable of manipulating the gate in real time.

Their target was undeniably Esmée.

However, there was no sign of anyone acting suspiciously.

Were they using an invisibility spell?

Or was it a demon, which expertly concealed and infiltrated the event?

If so, how powerful must they be to alter the gate’s coordinates without being detected?

Were they working alone?

Did they have accomplices?

Was the enemy’s objective to kidnap Esmée?

Or to kill her?

Who should I alert?

The hidden guards assigned to protect her?

Or the Imperial Knights standing nearby?

Should I warn Esmée directly?

If so, how should I address her?

Should I maintain formality, given the public setting?

Or should I use her name to instill urgency and shock?

My mind raced, unable to process the overwhelming influx of information.

“Esmé…!”

Just as I was about to call out to her, a shiver ran down my spine, and I instinctively drew my sword.

-Clang!

The blade, only partially drawn, met the full force of a descending sword, aiming to cleave me in two.

It was only thanks to the scabbard that I was able to withstand the blow.

Had I fully drawn the sword, my side would have been sliced open.

The impact sent me staggering backwards, and when I finally regained my balance and looked up, I saw an Imperial Knight, clad in gleaming gold armor, his sword pointed directly at me.

It was obvious why he had blocked me, and judging by the lethal intent in his eyes, he wasn’t one of Esmée’s personal guards.

However, he didn’t press the attack, instead positioning himself to shield Esmée from further harm.

That’s when I realized he wasn’t the enemy.

“What’s the meaning of this…!”

Instead of wasting time trying to convince him, I decided to warn Esmée.

“Esmée! Get away from the gate…!”

My attempt was cut short as something crashed down from the sky, scattering the crowd like bowling pins.

The force of the impact sent me flying backwards, even as I tried to regain my footing.

As I tumbled through the air, I saw a figure, surrounded by a cloud of dust and debris, standing amidst the carnage.

Esmée’s personal guards, clad in black armor, materialized seemingly out of thin air, forming a protective barrier around her.

The sound of the impact hit a moment later.

-BOOOOM!

“Shit!”

The deafening roar shook me to my core, threatening to rupture my eardrums.

Whether it was magic or sheer brute force, the impact had transformed the area where the figure had landed into a bloody mess.

As I struggled to get up, I realized that thankfully, none of the mangled bodies belonged to anyone I knew.

Most of the onlookers were in a similar state of shock and disarray, their attention fixated on the mysterious intruder and the surrounding carnage.

The two horns protruding from the figure’s head were enough to confirm their demonic origin.

But where had they come from?

How had they managed to appear so suddenly, causing such devastating destruction with their arrival?

I couldn’t comprehend it.

As the demon slowly straightened up, I finally managed to tear my gaze away and look at Esmée.

Relief washed over me as I saw that she was still standing near the gate, unharmed.

But my relief was short-lived.

The demon, having captured everyone’s attention, suddenly looked at me and raised their left index finger to their lips.

“Shh.”

The gesture, executed with an unsettling calmness and a blank expression, sent a chill down my spine.

I instinctively raised my sword, holding it defensively in front of me.

Suddenly, the demon’s hand blurred, nails extending into wicked claws.

The air crackled with energy, and I braced myself for the impact.

-Crack!

“Ugh…!”

The pain was blinding.

It felt like I had been struck by lightning.

The sound of metal grinding against metal was deafening.

The demon’s shadow passed by me.

“You blocked it?”

The speed was unimaginable.

Even with my enhanced senses, I could barely track their movements.

But despite their overwhelming power, the demon didn’t immediately turn to finish me off.

They continued forward for a moment before speaking, their voice a low, chilling murmur.

“Too many unforeseen variables.”

“What the hell are you talking about, you…monster!”

I knew my taunts were futile. The demon was clearly far stronger than me.

However, their hesitation, coupled with the wild swing of their attack, suggested a lack of precision control.

Perhaps I could buy some time, gather information, anything to give us an edge.

“I must act quickly before things deviate further,” the demon muttered, ignoring my insults.

“Block the gate…!”

As they charged again, their claws aimed for my left thigh.

I barely managed to deflect the blow with my sword.

They were trying to prevent me from warning everyone about the gate!

As I instinctively glanced towards Esmée, her calm voice cut through the chaos.

“Seize him.”

She had understood my warning.

She had taken a step back from the gate, and her eight personal guards moved as one, stepping forward in unison.

They acted with silent precision, their movements perfectly synchronized, their roles seamlessly assigned.

“Tsk.”

Even amidst the pandemonium, the demon’s voice rang out, a clear sign of their annoyance.

It was strangely reassuring to know that even this monstrous being acknowledged the strength of Esmée’s guards.

“So you are Eldmia of Itisiel, the boy who defeated the hero,” the golden-clad knight, who had been observing the fight, finally spoke, sheathing his sword.

His sudden nonchalance filled me with unease.

Was he really that confident in the midst of this chaos?

“If you had intended to harm Her Highness, you would have had ample opportunity. It seems you sensed something amiss and acted to protect her. I apologize for my earlier actions. I nearly made a grave mistake.”

Despite my anxieties, he approached me with a reassuring smile, offering me a hand as I struggled to get up.

The scene behind him was utter chaos – guards battling the demon with deadly intent – yet he exuded an air of tranquility, as if the situation was already resolved.

I understood that his calmness stemmed from his faith in the guards and their abilities, but I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling of dread as I watched the demon effortlessly deflecting and countering their attacks.

“You were simply fulfilling your duty. However, I’m not quite comfortable enough to relax just yet. We’ll have to postpone introductions,” I replied, forcing a smile as I accepted his help and stood up.

His smile, visible beneath his helmet, suggested that he wasn’t offended by my cautious demeanor.

Since the demon’s target was clearly Esmée, I moved towards her, determined to protect her at all costs.

“Eldmia, are you alright?” Esmée asked, turning to face me.

As one of the guards behind her glanced at the ongoing fight and then turned to Esmée, extending his hand, I noticed something odd.

His hand, seemingly aimed at stopping her from moving, was actually angled inwards, towards the gate.

He was trying to push her into the gate!

Yes, of course!

It made perfect sense!

It wouldn’t be a proper betrayal without an inside man!

There was no time to shout a warning.

I surged forward, closing the distance between us with a burst of speed.

The traitor, perhaps wary of revealing his true intentions, seemed to be focusing solely on Esmée.

It was as if he believed that getting her into the gate would solve everything.

For a fleeting moment, I couldn’t help but wonder why.

Why would a skilled guard like him betray his duty, his loyalty, his entire life dedicated to serving the Empire?

But there was no time for contemplation.

I didn’t know this man, and my relationship with Esmée was limited to a stolen kiss.

For all I knew, he could be a demon in disguise.

In that moment, my instincts took over.

My loyalty lay with those I knew, with those I cared about.

“Get your hands off her, you bastard!”

Without hesitation, I swung my sword, my grip tight on the pommel.

It was a maneuver I had only used once before, when rescuing Lagnis, but even I could tell that the blade was arcing towards the guard’s neck with deadly precision.

I felt the satisfying resistance as it sliced through flesh, finding its mark between the gaps in his armor.

A choked cry escaped the traitor’s lips.

“Gah…!”

I had hoped to sever his head, but the blade had only managed to graze his carotid artery.

It wasn’t enough to stop him.

He pushed Esmée with all his might, sending her stumbling towards the gate.

Blood spurted from his wound as I leaped forward, shielding Esmée with my body.

Without a second thought, I shoved her towards the approaching golden knight.

There was no way to know if other traitors lurked among the guards.

If he turned out to be one of them, we would be doomed.

But in that moment, it was the best I could do.

My desperate lunge sent me tumbling into the gate, the world blurring around me.

I had no idea what awaited me on the other side, but I would deal with it.

Dammit.

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[Thinking with portals]