Absolutely Do Not Touch Eldmia Egga – Chapter 72

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

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

The dinner and drinking session with the hero didn’t last as long as expected.

Surprisingly, the hero’s body had a low tolerance for alcohol.

“You… hey? If I tell you not to do it, don’t do it, dammit.”

“This is driving me crazy, seriously.”

Whatever it was that she wasn’t supposed to do, Sieg, who had been forming coherent sentences when sober, had now reached a state where he was skipping the content in his head and only spitting out conclusions.

“Sieg. It’s late now. Let’s go back.”

“Huh? Is it? Then we should go. Girls shouldn’t be wandering around late at night in this fucked up world.”

“Sigh. I told you to watch your language.”

Unlike Eldmia and Lagnis, who could only look at him with cold eyes as he made a fool of himself after getting drunk, the three girls were smiling at him as if they found even this side of him lovable.

However, with his usual venomous demeanor gone and his eyes looking as innocent as a lamb’s, even I couldn’t deny feeling like I was looking at a dim-witted younger brother.

As I was about to click my tongue at the sight, I poured myself another drink instead.

That was when Esselua took Sieg’s glass away and spoke to me.

“Egga seems to be quite good at drinking. It’s rare to find someone who can drink this well among the people around here.”

“Is that so? I thought I was just drinking normally.”

It seemed that Yekaterina and Gin were indeed beyond the realm of common sense.

Of course, if the alcohol here had been beer, I wouldn’t have been able to drink much due to feeling full, and if it had been soju, I wouldn’t have been able to drink it because of the taste.

But since it was closer to whiskey in both taste and strength, I was able to enjoy it quite pleasantly.

In my previous life, I wouldn’t have been able to even taste such expensive types of alcohol, so I had to make the most of it now.

“Anyway, as Esselua said, it’s getting late, so let’s get up, Hero. Tomorrow isn’t a holiday, you know.”

“Ugh… There’s a sad legend about tomorrow…”

“What nonsense are you talking about?”

“I don’t believe in legends…”

I had been trying to maintain my composure, but I couldn’t help but frown.

To think that the first drunk person I met in this other world would be the hero – the world is truly unpredictable.

“And you, huh? What’s with this ‘Hero’ crap? Call me Big Brother Sieg, dammit.”

“Why would I use a pet name for a guy? Stop saying disgusting things and get up. Is the hero losing it over just one bottle of alcohol?”

“I’m fine, you bastard…”

Of course, Sieg was far from fine.

In the end, Esselua had to use magic to levitate him, and that was how we managed to leave the restaurant, and parted ways.

“Having a drinking party with the hero on the first day. You’ve got quite a talent.”

As soon as we left the restaurant, I couldn’t help but be surprised to see Radnelbandes leaning against a carriage, bursting into laughter as he watched the hero’s party leave for their lodgings.

How on earth was this gentleman here?

“Don’t be surprised. The 4th Imperial Princess contacted the lodgings and asked for a carriage, so I came along.”

“4th Imperial Princess?”

“Hm? I mean Imperial Princess Esselua. Didn’t you know?”

She was an imperial princess?!

I was so shocked that I couldn’t even speak.

As we got into the carriage, Lagnis sat down next to me and explained.

“She’s called an imperial princess, but in reality, she has virtually no right of succession, so it’s more like an honorary title. That’s why people gossip about the hero trying to gain succession rights through her when they see them together.”

“Forget about that for a moment. So, does that mean Zeke was groping the buttocks and breasts of an imperial princess all over the academy? Doesn’t the empire have laws against insulting the imperial family?”

“Of course they do. It’s just that she has so few rights that those laws don’t apply to her. They call her an imperial princess and provide her with enough funds to leave her completely fulfilled, but that’s about it.”

It was a reality that I couldn’t easily accept with my common sense, but since both of them seemed to take it for granted, I didn’t press the issue further.

Instead, as I listened to Lagnis explaining the day’s events to Radnelbandes, I reflected on the conversation I had with Siegfried.

He wasn’t completely thoughtless, so he didn’t reveal everything in our first meeting.

After all, that dinner was more like a reconnaissance mission for both of us.

But one thing became clear: he wasn’t living recklessly without any thoughts.

Siegfried, while a bit ill-mannered, wasn’t stupid.

He clearly recognized that this world wasn’t a fairy tale fantasy world full of dreams and romance.

He was doing his best to protect himself under the premise of “equality” guaranteed by the academy.

He was constantly exploring and understanding this unfamiliar world, trying to figure out how much freedom he was allowed within the title of hero.

Of course, it was also true that he was indulging in his desires in between.

“Although I can’t be certain yet, it seems the hero can be regarded as a hero after all. Thanks to Eldmia, just finding out that the first impression was merely an act could be considered the greatest achievement of this visit to the empire.”

“I feel like I’m constantly indebted to you. I need to repay you somehow.”

“It’s just something I stumbled upon by chance.”

“A talent who solves things others can’t do even when they try, just by chance encounters, is someone we should maintain good relations with through proper compensation, don’t you think?”

Radnelbandes answered with a very quiet laugh, perhaps because it was nighttime, he was indeed a respectable person with common sense.

He was on a different level from those inconsiderate people who think they’re entitled to things just because they’re treated well.

“Well, we’ll think about that later. The lodgings that Count La Vender arranged for us are quite nice. It’s hard to believe they prepared such a place for people staying only a week.”

“It must be quite extraordinary in order for you to say that, Master, I’m suddenly curious. I hadn’t paid much attention to it all day.”

“When you see it, your curiosity might turn into suspicion. I can’t even guess what kind of ulterior motives the empire might have.”

While I wondered if we really needed to worry so much over just a house, but considering the welcome we received in the morning and the hero’s affairs, it seemed like a reasonable suspicion.

Above all, Radnelbandes didn’t strike me as someone who would make a fuss over nothing.

Unlike me, who was just an ordinary commoner, he and Lagnis had unique positions in the kingdom.

It was clear that this visit was very important and serious for both of them, even if it didn’t seem related to me.

“Why would it not be related to you, you fool?”

“Huh?”

“The steward and attendant assisting Margrave Levien beat the hero in a duel, even if it was just practice. Do you really think that will end as just today’s surprising event?”

“Haha. Surely that can’t be. The rumor has already spread even among our servants who were unpacking at the lodgings.”

“What?”

Is the empire connected to the internet or something? How is this possible?

“You even had dinner with the hero today. You might be busier than me during our stay in the empire.”

All I could do in response to Lagnis, who explained with a snort, was sit in silence.

I could only look at Lagnis with an expression like a beaver watching a zookeeper demolish the house it had just built.

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇

As Radnelbandes had said, the lodgings prepared by Count La Vender were extraordinary.

The mansion was already filled with incredibly luxurious items, even to my untrained eye.

It felt like a villa, which wasn’t too large, as if it was prepared to match our number.

However, with the alcohol taking effect and the shocking facts I had heard from Lagnis clouding my mind, I had no time to admire such things and could only wash up and go to sleep.

Just before falling asleep, I prayed that nothing would happen, and then I drifted off.

It felt like I had only dozed off for a moment, but I was already greeting the bright morning, struggling to get up.

There was no hangover.

I just didn’t want to get up because I knew that the reality that couldn’t be changed by mere prayers was about to come.

After having breakfast prepared by the servants at the lodgings, getting ready for the academy, and boarding the carriage with Lagnis, we passed through what felt like an eternal journey to school and arrived at the academy.

At that moment, the nightmare became reality.

“Lord Eldmia! If it’s alright with you, would you like to have a serious conversation about swordsmanship with me?”

“Lord Egga! How long are you planning to stay in the empire? We’re having a small banquet at our family house in seven days, and perhaps… What? You’re leaving in six days? Since it’s a small banquet, it would be very easy to move up the schedule! Please do visit…!”

“Mr. Eldmia! Please give us swordsmanship guidance!”

It was like trying to secure a super rookie for a club activity; an absurdly large number of students were tracking our every move and trying to make contact.

At first, I naturally thought Lagnis would suffer like me, but to my surprise, not a single person approached her.

“We’re one step removed from the academy’s rules. I’m a Margrave. You’re a commoner attendant of a Margrave, even if you beat the hero. In other words, you’re an approachable commoner.”

Lagnis, who briefly resolved my doubts during the Introduction to Magic class, just smiled mischievously as if teasing me.

You’re laughing?

Is this funny?

“Are you finding this amusing?”

“Of course. How can I not laugh? The Margrave Levien of Itisiel, whose attendant is also exceptionally skilled. The Margrave Levien of Itisiel, who can even use silent casting. My reputation is skyrocketing just by sitting still, you know?”

“I see why you find it amusing.”

Hearing that, I realized that while it was a bit troublesome for me, it was quite beneficial for her, so I couldn’t help but lose some of my anger.

Still, the thought of enduring this for the next six days was daunting, and my desire to cry remained unchanged.

I wore a gloomy expression, and Lagnis laughed at the sight.

And so, when the Introduction to Magic class ended in that state of frustration…

“Mr. Eldmia! I love you!”

“Would you please consider dating me with the premise of marriage?”

“If you come to our family, we’re prepared to arrange a knight’s title for you right away…”

Lagnis’s expression began to turn ice-cold as she witnessed the sudden appearance of a new type of female student group.

Why was she biting her nails again…?

◇◇◇◆◇◇◇