Absolutely Do Not Touch ELdmia Egga – Chapter 110

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Esmée’s Royal Guard, undeterred by the downpour, located and decimated the demon base in a single day.

I heard from Esmée, amidst the flurry of portals and gates on our return trip to the capital, that while they hadn’t gleaned any new information immediately, they had captured a number of prisoners, which offered a glimmer of hope.

While I showed off the Levien family uniform Lagnis had prepared for me to Asirye, we were escorted under heavy guard by Esmée’s returning Royal Guard.

Naturally, we drew attention, but Esmée, unfazed, spoke as if it were any other day.

“Unless the demons’ technology has advanced beyond comprehension, we must assume that they have infiltrated via the sea.”

The seas in this world are more dangerous than the land.

Being an inland dweller, I’d never seen the ocean myself, but the information I’d gleaned from books during my time with the Ogatorf family was enough to dissuade any desire to venture near it.

If I were to mention this to a passerby, they’d likely dismiss it as madness rather than a serious concern.

No matter how physically superior demons are to humans, they still drown.

Normally, I would have reacted similarly, but this time, I had a hunch.

I could engage with Esmée’s words seriously.

“They could have entered during the breach at Mandelli Port.”

Since we were in public, I responded respectfully.

The three women stared at me in surprise.

“My, you’re surprisingly well-informed.”

“Indeed. I didn’t expect you to know that.”

“I happened to overhear a conversation recently.”

I hadn’t expected my chat with the kind Garun to be so helpful.

As a tribute to his memory, I decided I’d give that sex offender, Dantel, another beating if I ever saw him again.

“In any case, while I would normally dismiss such a notion, as you said, it’s a possibility this time. It seems they planned to return through a gate.”

Esmée and her Royal Guard surmised that the demons intended to return to the Demon Realm using the same method I had – collapsing the gate behind them – and then destroying any remaining gates.

Thanks to the Royal Guard’s swift raid, the constructed gate remained intact, so the truth would likely come to light soon.

“Your contribution this time is undeniable. I would bestow a title upon you immediately if I could, but unfortunately, that’s difficult given your Itisiel citizenship.”

Apparently, one of the conditions for allowing Esmée’s swift action without interference was the handover of my person.

I tilted my head in confusion.

What kind of bizarre condition was that for an Itisiel citizen?

Lagnis, seeing my bewilderment, explained.

“You defeated the Hero at the Academy, killed Rudra’s Young Lion, and now you’ve thwarted the princess’s kidnapping. From the Empire’s perspective, while they might face criticism for being brazen, they could easily bestow a title upon you and grant you Imperial citizenship.”

She glanced at Esmée, her look suggesting unspoken reasons she couldn’t voice in public.

I could easily guess what they were.

Given Esmée’s personality, she would have jumped at the chance.

“Indeed. It’s a shame,” Esmée said, a faint smile playing on her lips, confirming my suspicions.

Unlike the others, who held official positions, Asirye, who was there purely due to her personal connection with me, cheerfully chimed in, her arm linked with mine.

“It hasn’t even been two years, and you’ve grown so much. Even defeating the Hero! As expected of Eldi.”

“I didn’t even train that hard. Given this incident, maybe I’ll surpass you in a few months?”

“If you win once and refuse to fight again, you win forever.”

“As expected of Asirye. A brilliant solution.”

Truly, my life mentor and intellectual beacon.

Her thinking was always so admirable.

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After that brief moment of peace and pleasant conversation, we returned to the capital only to be thrust into frantic packing.

Renisa informed us that Itisiel had sent word as soon as my safety and well-being were confirmed.

Normally, they would have been more cautious of the Empire, but since this was merely fulfilling a pre-existing condition, Itisiel seemed unconcerned.

In the end, we were the only ones inconvenienced by the rush.

Their curt demand for our return by the next day nearly sent me into a rage, but knowing it would only upset Lagnis, I decided to simply expedite our preparations.

Unlike us, Radnelband seemed to be extending his stay in the Empire under a personal guise, using Gidley as an excuse.

We had only traveled together initially, and I had barely seen him since, to the point I wasn’t even sure he was still here.

“Yo, little bro. Heading back in a hurry?” Sieg greeted me, waving casually as he entered my room as if he owned the place, just as the sun began to set.

“You have no idea. Your negligence has left me cleaning up the mess.”

“I already feel bad, don’t rub it in.”

“Why feel bad? You didn’t start the war.”

He seemed genuinely bothered by my teasing, which was baffling.

I added, “I was just kidding, so don’t overthink it. Just say your goodbyes and be on your way. I have a feeling we’ll see each other again soon.”

Esmée was determined to commend me for my actions as soon as the Itisiel situation was resolved, so another meeting was inevitable.

Yet, Sieg continued to hesitate, seemingly genuinely apologetic.

“It was pretty dangerous this time, you know. I heard that if it weren’t for you, Esmée might have actually been kidnapped. Not to mention your own life being on the line.”

“Oh! I almost forgot to tell you about that. You should have seen that crazy demon. His attacks didn’t even work on me!”

I was determined to share everything I knew about the red-haired demon.

I doubted there were two such cursed individuals in the world, but similar cases were certainly possible.

Honestly, I felt like I had only been able to kill him because I bared my unique affinities.

I had stumbled into a deadly situation without realizing it.

If the Hero had died in a similar encounter, we would have been doomed.

Sieg listened intently, albeit with a slightly bewildered expression, as I recounted the details.

“Anyway, if you ever encounter anything like that, run. Don’t worry about your pride or anything.”

“But how did you kill him?”

“That’s a trade secret. Don’t look at me like that. If I thought you could replicate it, I would have told you.”

I couldn’t exactly tell him I could use magic power like a demon.

Even if he was the Hero and a fellow reincarnator, it was information I couldn’t share yet.

Thankfully, Sieg didn’t pry further and changed the subject.

“So… I heard from Esmée…”

“I don’t like it when people beat around the bush. What is it?”

“About me being uncooperative with the Empire.”

So that’s what was bothering him.

He was referring to our previous dinner conversation.

“Is that why you’re being so awkward? If you feel bad, just train harder from now on. Two months of progress like that, and you’ll be unstoppable soon.”

“…Is that really it? You’re not bothered at all?”

“Didn’t Esmée tell you? Lagnis and I never really expected anything from the Hero. If we had no expectations to begin with, why would we care what you do?”

My initial anger before visiting the Empire stemmed from the possibility of someone exploiting this national crisis for personal gain.

And that anger was based on the assumption that the Hero was from this world.

The current Sieg had nothing to do with the Empire.

“You received your divine revelation as the Hero… when I was twelve, right? I keep getting confused. Anyway, it was around then, but my village burned down when I was eight. If anyone deserves blame, it’s the gods who chose a young, inexperienced Hero four years later.”

Of course, most people wouldn’t see it that way.

They might have a fit if they heard the Hero had wasted years.

But even if the Hero had trained diligently and become powerful, it wouldn’t change the fact that he couldn’t protect everyone single-handedly.

People would still die.

Even if a fairytale hero or a fantasy savior existed, this was still reality.

There’s no such thing as perfect in reality.

Even the gods aren’t perfect, evidenced by their choice of Sieg as the Hero.

“Of course, most people won’t agree, but we don’t care, so just act normal. Once you’re on the battlefield, you’ll face far more direct resentment. Why worry about this now?”

“…Thanks.”

“Ugh, seriously.”

His awkwardness was so cringe-worthy that I punched him in the shoulder.

He winced, but smiled.

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