Absolutely Do Not Touch ELdmia Egga – Chapter 127

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

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The wide plain offered an unobstructed view.

With the only light sources being the campfires and the lanterns hanging from the numerous carriages, it wasn’t difficult to monitor their movements.

However, those “guests” lingered late into the night, leaving us with nothing to do but graze on grass, bored out of our minds.

“If you drop the torch from that watchtower over there, Eldi can take care of things.”

“Okay, then I’ll extinguish that one, and the two torches by the tent below, and then we’ll start.”

Of course, we weren’t actually just grazing idly.

We used the time to solidify our plan, observing the camp’s layout, anticipating the location of supplies, and calculating the coverage we could achieve if we took control of the watchtowers as sniper points.

We estimated the camp housed at least forty people, judging by the ten or so tents.

Based on the arrangement, we also figured out where they were likely holding the slaves.

But even that analysis only took about thirty minutes.

Their business went on much longer than we anticipated, forcing us to endure the chilly night air with the help of spirit magic for another hour before the last carriage finally departed.

“Looks like that’s the last one. Let’s go, sis.”

The objective was simple: secure any documented evidence we could find and rescue the slaves.

While I would have preferred to purify the entire place with fire, we needed the camp relatively intact for the investigators from the capital.

So, I decided to restrain myself.

We didn’t rush.

It took time for the day’s work to end, for personal time to begin, and for the atmosphere to relax.

We needed to strike when a sense of relief settled over the camp, shattering their routine and giving those slave traders a taste of the karma they’d been sowing.

As we approached, Asirye nocked an arrow.

Without a word, I channeled my mana and sprinted towards their wooden barricade.

The barricade was nothing more than a fence reaching my waist.

Even with the sharpened stakes meant to deter animals and monsters, it was easily jumpable.

With my athleticism, honed to cover over 200 meters in under five seconds, it was child’s play.

My mana control, which significantly improved after the incident in the Empire, made my movements even lighter.

I ran silently.

A mercenary, lounging and yawning on the watchtower, only noticed me when I entered the area illuminated by his torch.

Our eyes met.

Before he could react, Asirye’s arrow pierced his throat, pinning him to the watchtower’s post.

Thud!

The sound of the arrow embedding itself, like a driven nail, was our signal.

I vaulted over the barricade, landing like a hurdler.

I listened for any signs of alarm, but heard nothing.

Only a poor soul, blissfully unaware, washing his face.

The noisy splashing drowned out even the sound of the arrow.

“Talk about bad luck.”

“Huh? Who…”

Swish!

Normally, I might have spared him, interrogated him for information.

But he was in league with slave traders, so there would be no mercy this time.

I drew my sword and beheaded him.

It was the same whether I killed them first and searched later.

They weren’t likely to bury important documents, were they?

I peeked inside the nearest tent.

Two men slept inside.

I swiftly dispatched them, then used the dead man’s water bucket to extinguish the torch by the tent.

Asirye followed me into the camp.

“This is the first time I’ve seen you fight, Eldi. You’re remarkably clean. I’ve heard beheading someone isn’t easy.”

“Surprisingly, you get the hang of it. Oh, could you toss down that guy’s sword, and any daggers he has? This one was washing up, so he’s unarmed.”

“Sword? Daggers too?”

“If he has any, yes.”

I’d heard that beheading someone, even a defenseless person, wasn’t easy, but that kind of common knowledge didn’t apply to a body rigorously trained and enhanced with mana.

Asirye scaled the watchtower with the agility of a squirrel.

She extinguished the remaining torch with the water bucket and tossed down two daggers and a shortsword, still attached to their belt.

Even a cursory glance revealed they weren’t high-quality weapons, but they were well-maintained and sharp.

I slung them over my shoulder and, stooping low, began moving through the shadows, mindful of any sound.

Even with precautions, my large frame made stealth difficult.

As a devotee of surprise attacks, I appreciated the concept of infiltration, but my body wasn’t cooperating.

It was a bit depressing.

“Not much longer of this, huh?”

“Didn’t they say you could rest for a week this time?”

“Yeah, and with a hefty bonus. I’m planning to spend three days at the brothel.”

I’d been checking every tent as I went.

This time, I heard voices from inside before I could lift the flap.

“How long do you think you can keep doing this? You need to save your money, kid.”

“Screw that. I can do this for another ten years. The pay is too good. A little spending at the brothel won’t make a dent.”

“What’s the point of hoarding the goods the boss gives us if you’re just going to waste it at the brothel? I don’t get you.”

“I’d rather jerk off than do that with a slave.”

“You’re hopeless.”

Three voices.

A lamp lit inside the tent, revealing their shadows.

We’d barely missed them.

Judging by the moving shadows, they were removing their gear and changing clothes.

It was the perfect opportunity to take them out silently.

I checked for anyone nearby, then, drawing a dagger in each hand, strode into the tent.

“Huh? What?”

“I’m off duty tod— Who are you?”

The three men were positioned perfectly for throwing knives.

Two were in the process of removing their leather armor.

I flung the daggers at their foreheads, then lunged at the third, who had his back to me, and smashed my elbow into the back of his skull.

The tent was cleared in an instant.

Crack!

“Ugh!”

“Oops.”

Except for the last one.

I was confident in my throwing skills, so I hadn’t doubted the daggers would find their mark.

But I hadn’t expected to break his neck with a single elbow strike.

“Did I get stronger without realizing it…?”

It felt like I’d shattered at least one of his cervical vertebrae.

I’d actually intended to interrogate them, find out where the slaves were kept.

It was a bit disconcerting.

But what could I do?

The deed was done.

I looted their pockets and weapons, then extinguished the lamp.

The night was young.

I’d find what I was looking for eventually.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

From atop the watchtower, Asirye identified the other guards and eliminated them.

She observed Eldmia’s movements, tilting her head.

He was strangely proficient, despite never having been taught these skills.

He was also remarkably smooth.

Did he take assassination requests instead of adventuring jobs…?

She knew it was impossible, yet the thought lingered.

His actions were too clean.

He extinguished lights efficiently, moved silently even at a distance, and was acutely aware of his surroundings.

He showed no hesitation.

He’d already cleared four tents.

Asirye felt her support was almost unnecessary.

She’d expected to feel a range of emotions watching him fight for the first time, but she was surprisingly calm.

It was a new discovery.

Remaining vigilant, she decided to move to another watchtower.

He’d already eliminated nearly half the camp, but complacency was dangerous.

She descended and moved through the camp like a cat.

The area Eldmia had cleared was eerily silent.

The only scent was the faint smell of blood.

But Asirye felt a sense of relief.

That Eldmia, only fifteen, was so proficient in so many areas meant his chances of achieving his revenge were high.

A strange sense of elation filled her.

She hoped the remaining enemies would be dealt with just as efficiently.

Reaching the second watchtower, she located Eldmia.

At that moment…

“Aaaaaah!”

A piercing scream shattered the silence.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

[The cliffhanger wizard strikes again…]