Absolutely Do Not Touch ELdmia Egga – Chapter 103

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Yuzio
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The fact that the guy’s headless body crumpled to the ground was a blessing in disguise.

It wasn’t because of the Tarantino-esque geyser of blood, though that was certainly unsettling.

No, it was because I couldn’t bear to look at the cleanly severed flesh, a wound that defied any normal cut.

Stabbing, slashing, even decapitation – I had seen my fair share of bloodshed.

But there was something about this that made my stomach churn.

Maybe it was the lingering shock of the fight, or maybe it was the sheer absurdity of his curse, but the blood spraying from his neck seemed to flow around me, a crimson curtain parting before it could stain my clothes.

Did every cell in his body have to cease functioning for him to truly die?

What kind of twisted fate led someone to be cursed like this?

As much as I wanted to delve into the mystery of his past, now wasn’t the time.

I shoved those questions aside and took stock of my own battered body.

“Damn, I’m a mess.”

My arms, outstretched from the force of the blow, were covered in cuts and bruises.

My right shin, scraped raw from kneeling on the forest floor, throbbed in time with the gash on my left thigh.

I had survived, yes, but reality wasn’t a game where you leveled up after defeating a boss.

There was no fanfare, no sense of accomplishment, just the lingering ache of a battle won.

He was the “captain” those demons at the gate mentioned.

There was no doubt in my mind.

He was strong, far stronger than any demon I had faced before.

If he had been just a regular soldier, or even a mid-level commander, I would have broken down then and there, tears mixing with the blood staining the ground.

The only reason those other demons hadn’t caught up yet was because they had too much faith in their captain, too much confidence in his abilities.

They probably thought he could handle me, dead or alive.

But any sane group would realize something was wrong.

They would have sent a search party by now.

I couldn’t afford to wander around like this, bleeding and exhausted.

I had to find somewhere safe, somewhere to recover before they found me.

“At least it’s early autumn. Finding herbs for a makeshift bandage won’t be too hard.”

My magic reserves were completely drained.

I was running on fumes, but the fear of bleeding out kept me moving.

I had to find a source of water, clean my wounds, and stop the bleeding before it was too late.

Thankfully, the artery wasn’t severed.

Or maybe I just couldn’t feel it yet.

The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

I clutched my side, willing myself to keep moving.

I stumbled through the undergrowth, following the whispers of the forest spirits.

They guided me towards a cluster of Black Thistle and Bubble Nettle, two herbs with remarkable healing properties.

Crushing the thistle root and mixing it with my saliva, I created a crude paste.

It wasn’t the most pleasant sensation, but it would have to do.

As for the nettle, I carefully plucked a few leaves, my fingers tingling from the contact.

I needed to soak them in water to neutralize their stinging properties, but for now, they would serve as a makeshift bandage.

Asirye could have sniffed these herbs out in an instant.

It was one of the many things I envied about her connection to the forest.

I had tried to replicate her tracking skills countless times, but to no avail.

Pushing those bittersweet memories aside, I made my way to the nearby stream.

The cool water, a welcome relief against my burning skin, helped clear my head.

This was good.

This was manageable.

“Thanks for the assist, guys. You’re lifesavers.”

My voice, hoarse from exhaustion, echoed through the silent forest.

The spirits had already anticipated my needs, guiding me to this oasis.

I stripped off my tattered shirt, grimacing as the cool air stung my wounds.

Cleaning and bandaging my injuries should have been simple enough, but the aftereffects of overusing my magic power were starting to hit me.

My body felt heavy, every movement a monumental effort.

I was a puppet with its strings cut, a marionette with no master.

This was the price I paid for exceeding my limits.

“Right. Think of it as preemptive training for your revenge quest.”

There would be no rest for the wicked, no peace for those seeking vengeance.

Compared to the trials that awaited me, this was nothing.

With a sigh, I asked the water spirits to erase any trace of my presence.

Then, choosing a direction at random, I plunged deeper into the forest. It was time to find a place to hide.

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Decades ago, the demon known as Bael had been a rising star in the Demon King’s army, a contender for the prestigious rank of Legion Commander.

A single misstep, a foolish mistake, had led him to his current predicament – cursed with unimaginable power, yet stripped of his true potential.

The magic he once wielded with ease was gone, replaced by a pale imitation fueled by mana.

He was a shadow of his former self, his sanity slowly eroding with each passing year.

Yet, he was still valuable, his curse a double-edged sword.

He was immortal, impervious to any conventional attack.

It was this very curse that made him the ideal candidate for the mission to kidnap the Imperial Princess.

And he had been so close to succeeding.

So when his soldiers stumbled upon his severed head, their minds struggled to comprehend the impossible.

They had followed the trail of blood, confident that their captain would return, perhaps a little worse for wear, but ultimately victorious.

The sight that greeted them was beyond their worst nightmares.

“How….how is this possible?”

The demon leading the search party could only stare in horror as his captain’s lifeless eyes stared back at him.

The other soldiers, their faces pale with terror, could do little more than collapse to their knees, their minds reeling from the implications.

They had assumed their captain was invincible, that his curse made him immune to harm.

To see him defeated, his body desecrated in such a manner, shattered their perception of reality.

“He…he must have been the hero. There’s no other explanation.”

“There’s no way we can defeat him. We have to abort the mission. We have to warn the others.”

“But…he’s injured. This could be our only chance. We have to pursue him. ”

“What does it matter if he’s injured? He shrugged off the captain’s attacks like they were nothing! He came through that gate swinging, remember? Something went wrong on the other side, I’m telling you! He probably doesn’t even have any potions! It’s a trap!”

The more rational members of the group tried to assess the situation, but their opinions clashed, each argument canceling out the other.

They had no concrete information, no way to explain the impossible.

All they had were assumptions and fear.

“The hero is just an eighteen-year-old boy! He wasted years of his life in the Empire, refusing to cooperate! He might have killed the captain, but that doesn’t mean we should be afraid of him!”

“Killing the captain is one thing. Don’t forget what we saw at the gate. He only landed one hit on the captain, but he dodged every single attack. He knew what the captain was going to do before he did it! We’re being played!”

“Enough!”

The leader’s voice, barely a whisper, cut through the panicked shouts.

He turned his gaze towards the trail of blood, his eyes filled with apprehension.

The forest, once a familiar training ground, now felt alien, hostile.

“…You there, retrieve the captain’s body. We leave at dawn. Erase any trace of our presence. The rest of us will pursue the target.”

“Are you sure that’s wise, sir?”

“Of course not! Our captain is dead! The one we thought was invincible! But I refuse to believe that he died without landing a single blow!”

He couldn’t afford to hesitate.

If word got out that he had panicked, that he had abandoned his mission after the death of his superior, the consequences would be dire.

“We’ll be back before dawn. If we’re not…consider us dead. Return to base and report.”

He didn’t wait for a response.

With a final glance at the bloodstains leading deeper into the forest, he beckoned his remaining men forward.

Six demons, their faces grim with determination, disappeared into the undergrowth, their whispers swallowed by the rustling leaves.

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[Demons are FUCKED eldmia is coming to town]