Absolutely Do Not Touch Eldmia Egga – Chapter 90

—————————————————————–
Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuziro
—————————————————————–

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

“Quite the malicious combination, isn’t it?” Esmée remarked, a playful smile lingering on her lips as she addressed Lagnis, who had voiced her observation.

Lagnis, however, couldn’t find any humor in the situation.

“It may be so.” she conceded, “But under the current circumstances, this is the best course of action.”

Incompetent fools they might be, but at least these individuals wouldn’t resort to backstabbing.

Conversely, it meant that the Empire viewed the other envoys, those excluded from this arrangement, as potential threats.

“Do you see that woman with the sharp gaze? She’s Sevela, the Singing Spear of the Voltabeian Maritime Kingdom. The others seem unremarkable… but the way they’ve gathered around her without hesitation suggests that the Empire has made quite a few enemies.”

Lagnis, preoccupied with Itisiel’s internal affairs for the past year, had no knowledge of this Sevela.

She could only surmise from Esmée’s tone that the woman wasn’t someone to be trifled with.

This was despite Esmée’s seemingly cheerful demeanor.

Esselua’s reaction, however, surpassed even Lagnis’s expectations.

“Siren Sevela? Isn’t she a criminal?!”

“Lower your voice, Esselua. There’s no need to raise your voice over this.”

A criminal as an envoy’s attendant?

And this wasn’t a matter to get worked up about?

It wasn’t just Lagnis who struggled to grasp the situation; even Esselua and the hero’s other companions wore similar expressions of disbelief.

Esmée, however, remained unfazed.

She continued to exchange greetings with those paying their respects from the spectator stands, her explanation barely a whisper.

“There’s no concrete evidence that she plundered ships from other countries. Only circumstantial. As long as Voltabei maintains her innocence, we have no grounds to protest.”

“Are there really that many women in Voltabei who wield spears enhanced by song?”

“Without witnesses, there’s no way to be sure.”

Turning to Esselua with a graceful movement that belied the true nature of their conversation, Esmée continued with a smile.

“I have a feeling we’ll learn the truth today.”

“…If the price for that truth is the hero’s life, it seems rather steep.”

“Don’t be foolish. The hero isn’t invincible. Besides, this time, the one who defeated him is also participating.”

Her smile, though seemingly ordinary, held a hint of mischief.

“I wonder how much accurate information they’ve actually received?”

“…You’ve already made your move, haven’t you?”

“I always make preparations. Except for when dealing with those who are exceptionally foolish or predictable.”

Esmée settled back into the plush sofa, popping a grape into her mouth as if to signal the end of their conversation.

Lagnis, though irked by her casual demeanor, couldn’t help but feel a sliver of relief.

At least Esmée seemed to genuinely like Eldmia.

She wouldn’t intentionally put him in harm’s way.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

Sevela, the Singing Spear of Voltabei.

A title bestowed upon her by the Voltabeian people, praising her prowess in both bardic arts and spear combat.

However, Sevela preferred the title given to her by her enemies: Siren.

A creature that lured sailors to their deaths with its enchanting voice.

The implication that she was a monster who happened to be skilled in combat sat better with her.

“Do they truly believe that a single hero can turn the tide of war?” she wondered aloud.

“Hmph. Those fools are letting fear cloud their judgment. They are nothing but beasts with a fancy name. Even Itisiel has been holding them off for years. How can such a race threaten humanity?”

“They mistake exaggeration for truth because the lie is so grand.”

“It’s lamentable. If the world were truly that simple, how could the Empire have maintained its power?”

“Indeed.”

Those who knew her infamous title didn’t object to her leading their group. After all, her skills were undeniable. At the young age of twenty, she had become the captain of Voltabei’s Sea Dragon Knights, a testament to her abilities.

Even though those present were considered skilled in their own right, they were no match for Sevela’s reputation.

“It must truly be the will of God that such clear-sighted individuals as ourselves have gathered here.”

Since the hero’s announcement by the Holy See, the kingdoms had focused more on espionage than on supporting Itisiel.

As a result, they were well-informed of the situation on Itisiel’s front lines.

Though they lacked detailed intel, they had all come to the same conclusion:

The demons posed no real threat.

Though there were occasional large-scale losses due to magic, most encounters could be handled by adventurers.

If the demons were truly a threat to humanity, Itisiel wouldn’t have been able to maintain the front lines for seven years.

This widespread belief rendered the rumors meaningless.

“It seems the Empire is desperate to maintain its grip on the surrounding kingdoms by using the demon threat as leverage. Or perhaps…”

The speaker was an attendant from the Pazonian Kingdom.

“Perhaps this has something to do with the rumored power struggle between the First Princess and the Second Prince.”

Her gaze shifted to Esmée and Lagnis, seated in the VIP section.

To them, the two women, both strikingly beautiful, seemed to be enjoying each other’s company.

The implication was clear.

“It seems the First Princess lacks wisdom, despite her ambition.”

“Ahem. That’s a bit harsh, don’t you think? Such words are unbecoming of this setting.”

“My apologies…”

They perceived the Empire’s intentions clearly: Use the hero to emphasize the Empire’s importance.

Then, by forging a good relationship with the Margrave, who was responsible for the demon front lines, the Empire could claim a share of the spoils when the war escalated and use it to suppress the other kingdoms.

It wasn’t a bad plan, but the execution was clumsy, a transparent ploy easily seen through.

“It’s almost pitiful, using such tactics against us.”

“Indeed. It’s as if they think we’re children.”

None of the envoys present were young.

The youngest was Sevela, in her mid-twenties, while the oldest was nearing thirty.

All had experienced their share of territorial conflicts and duels of honor.

And the Empire dared to pit them against students?

It was almost laughable.

Still, they had no reason to refuse the Empire’s offer.

They had been granted a legitimate opportunity to achieve their goals.

“As the saying goes, ‘Even a lion hunts a rabbit with all its might.’ Let’s seize this opportunity and demonstrate our kingdoms’ true strength.”

With those words, Sevela and the others shared a knowing, if somewhat sinister, smile.

They agreed to keep their true intentions hidden, for now.

Blinded by their arrogance, they had no idea that this would be the last moment of confidence they would experience.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[Once again, I hate politicians]