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Never touch Eldmia Egga - Episode 342

The gunman, who had a reputation among his colleagues for having a particularly good ear, thought. It's clear that a fight broke out, but the sound I heard is strange..

"I just heard the captain's voice talking about archers.."

It was also a very urgent tone. Considering the general's personality, this was a very rare occurrence. Does that mean it was an unexpected surprise attack? The battle seemed to be over quickly, but somehow it was ominous..

"They must have been adventurers."

After regrouping, the others looked at each other's wounds and ignored his words. Although their wounds were not that serious, they were in a bit of a hurry because they had to check each of the prisoners to see if they had any fatal injuries, and there was no time to seriously react to the self-talk they were hearing..

The gunman with good ears also tried to shake off his anxiety and think positively after hearing his colleague's words. If they had been trying to help the prisoners, they would have launched a joint attack long ago, and judging from the size of the fire, there would not have been that many people moving..

A surprise attack by one archer will not cause any major problems. When the gunman who came to that conclusion turned his head to look at the prisoners, one of the men who was in the most intact body scolded him..

"Henchmen of the damn empire. And you guys are the sons of the West?!"

"No one would fall for such a foolish provocation, so gather your strength. If it goes away, we'll be in trouble too.."

It was very funny to see him struggle like a mad dog, ignoring the physical pain, when he roughly bit down on the crab, thinking he might bite his tongue. You're a stooge of the Empire. Do you really think the Empire is interested in the West? Excessive self-consciousness is also at this serious level..

All anti-imperialist factions were like this. Armed with the logic that as the empire grows in power, they will one day eat up the western kingdom and wield hegemony, they call themselves the true children of the West and assert their legitimacy. And there were several holes in that logic big enough that even an uneducated stranger could see them..

One of the biggest holes was that the empire's power was already too great, and the other was that the empire's expansion policy had already shifted from human territory to unexplored areas encroached by demonic beasts for several years ago..

To the Empire, the western region was a land not much different from the distant Itisel. If that side is a barrier blocking demons, this side is just a barrier blocking orcs and steppe monsters..

There was no good way to keep the empire in check because the western region was fighting with each other anyway, so it was foolish to take over other people's battle lines by swallowing up less productive kingdoms, unreasonably increasing its size and making unnecessary expenditures..

'And the Empire ain't no fool.'

I don't know what it will be like on the day the fire dragon dies and the monsters and orcs of the steppes disappear, but now is not that day, so the claims of anti-imperialists are nonsense. They just see reality the way they want to see it because of their excessive pride and vanity..

While he was clicking his tongue because his appearance was once again so pitiful, the stranger felt someone coming from behind him and turned his head. He felt his blood run cold..

A large young man they had never seen before was glaring at them from the forest. In one hand he held a familiar-looking sword, and in the other he held a large two-handed ax with a corpse hanging from it..

At that moment, a thought occurred to the assailant: 'Is it really the right expression to say that there is a corpse hanging there? There was a brief reflection on the topic, but I couldn't think of a better way to express that appearance than that. There was a high possibility that it was worn while digging into the breastplate and bones, but what was important now was not such trivial details, but that the corpse was a captain..

"If you even lift a finger, they will judge you as hostile and kill you.."

It was just a word that was muttered indifferently, but no one could resist. Ten strong men died in an instant, and even the captain returned as a corpse. There was absolutely no way for the five injured to do anything..

Even if it was the result of an ambush, it was even more dangerous if the young man did it alone..

"you have three options."

The young man, who seemed to like the reaction of the gangsters, nodded slightly and raised the hand holding the sword and spread three fingers..

"One is just left out here. Nothing special. All I have to do is follow him and follow his path. It's the simplest and quickest option, so it's good for me too.."

I'm still worried that the stew for dinner will burn. One of the young man's fingers was folded as he said something that was unclear whether he was serious or joking..

"The other one runs away, leaving the guys tied up there alone. These bastards all swung their swords at me, so they're all dead, and you were told to stay still, so I'll give you that much consideration. But I don't think this will be a very attractive option for those of you who went through the trouble of trying to trap him.."

That was correct. Even if we escape safely like this, if the anti-imperialists go their own way, the future will be difficult. Anti-imperialists will use this assassination and kidnapping attempt as an excuse to strengthen their claims, and their actions will be restricted by the failure of this operation, so they will inevitably be forced to remain silent for a while..

It is clear that it will take quite a long time before suspicions are lifted. If the number of people joining in the meantime increased, anti-imperialism activities might really break out..

If that happens, it will ultimately lead to destruction. The reason the Empire is not interested in the West is because they are wild dogs that do not bite, and at the same time, they guard homes even when not specifically asked to do so. If a wild dog that has been neglected due to lack of food suddenly shows its teeth, the empire will try to dispose of the wild dog even if it means mobilizing its own wild dogs..

Previous emperors did not do this, but future emperors will definitely be able to do so. When the gunman finished thinking for a moment, the young man said his last option..

"It's the last option there. After dragging all the tied up guys and explaining to them what kind of division this is and why they did this damn thing, if I want them to just go, they will just go, and if they want me to take them, they will take them. It is the only option that can achieve your goal.."

It was a one-sided and arrogant attitude, but no one could deny the young man's words..

"Ugh! Eup! Eubeup!"

Except for the anti-imperialist who just got silenced by a gunman. Everyone's eyes were on him for his tactless struggle, but he continued to struggle..

"...Why is that guy like that??"

In the end, the young man could not hold back his curiosity and asked a question, but since his mouth was covered, there was no way to know. In the end, the gunman, who had been watching for a moment, had to follow the young man's gesture and release the cloth he had been holding with a sigh..

Then the anti-imperialist, who gained momentum, shouted at the top of his voice:.

"You damn imperialist bastards! It's a fitting end for traitors who sell out their country! The West wins! Hahahaha!"

I was so angry that I wanted to hit him right in the middle of my ear, but since I couldn't move, the gangsters only grabbed their fists. In fact, this alone was the end of the explanation the young man wanted, so he was even disappointed..

I have experienced many situations where there was no way to do anything in the face of overwhelming force or power, but it had never been like this. If I had suffered damage from a natural disaster, it would have been less unfair than this. He tried to silence an adventurer he encountered along the way, but was killed....

"......"

He belatedly acknowledged that the conscience of the gunman who was unable to kill them all was not unfair. If the young man had been weak in the cause or anything else, he would have been the one who died. Judging from his attitude, it doesn't seem like he was in the same league as those anti-imperialists, so if he had been, he would have met a truly unfair death..

Is it because we have already reached a point where there is nothing we can do even if we turn our heads and struggle? The stranger looked at the young man with his cool-headed judgment and tilted his head without realizing it..

The young man's expression was very subtle..

"Imperialist? Are you saying that you are an anti-imperialist??"

"under! of course!"

"...It's because I don't understand, why? Didn’t the Empire lose interest in the Western Kingdom after the Great Offensive? I know they are from the south.?"

To the young man who tilted his head and asked shakily whether he had some knowledge and common sense despite his ignorant attitude, the man who was tied up spoke with bloodshot feet..

"This is nonsense that imperialists would talk about! Does it make sense that the Empire doesn't target the West just because of orcs?!"

The young man's reaction instantly became cold in response. The young man, who was contemplating something with his eyebrows furrowed and his eyes closed for a moment, shifted his gaze to the assailant and asked..

"Do you guys think like this too? Orcs are no big deal?"

"...That's just nonsense that crazy people say because they don't know what's going on in the world.."

"Do you? Even at this point, you still use Hao script? My neck seems a little stiff. Should I bend it halfway??"

"...It's just."

Judging by the way he spoke, it seemed like he was not just a little knowledgeable, but a very smart guy..

Feeling the threat of death for a moment, the young man immediately changed his language, clicking his tongue in disapproval and pulling out the ax that was still lodged in the captain's body..

"Take it away."

"...yes?"

"Take me with you."

The anti-imperialist who had been so proud just now opened his eyes wide, and the stranger also opened his eyes and looked at the young man. He still glanced at them with a dissatisfied gaze and briefly explained..

"Long live the princess, you fucking bastards!."

At this, the anti-imperialist's face instantly distorted and he tried to shout something, but the gunman acted faster. As he had thought earlier, he blew away his earlobes and then grabbed the cloth again, filled with exhilaration..

And then I asked the young man who was walking away with great strides as if he really had no interest in anything..

"Is this really the end??"

That question stopped the young man. That alone made all the gangsters flinch, but the young man no longer felt any hostility..

"what?"

"I have no intention of saying anything about you killing our group. If your skills were not good enough, it would have been you who died, not them, and it would have been a very unfair death. But, can we really believe that this whole situation will end with just the conversation we just had and end without further ado??"

"He goes on at great length about whether he will change his mind and stab himself in the back. Fuck the stew."

The young man made eye contact with the assailant, responding as if he was more annoyed by the possibility that the stew might burn at any moment than by the attempt to kill him..

"The head that made the decision to attack is dead, and the people who attacked are also dead, and like I said at the beginning, I just listened to them and gave them a chance. And there the gods smiled upon you. But that doesn't mean I have to swear to you and guarantee that I won't backstab you. It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. Will it turn off, or will it turn off now?."

The gunman, who once again felt the threat of losing his life due to a moment of curiosity, took the prisoners with his colleagues without a second thought. Fortunately for him, no exchange of opinions was needed to decide on a course of action. The young man turned his back and walked away again, as if he had no regrets towards those assailants..

"I don't know who you are, but there is no such thing twice. Avoid it well.."

"Now, wait! Shouldn’t you be careful if you know who you are?!"

His colleagues cursed him with their eyes, asking why he kept holding on to a natural disaster that was about to pass by, but the gunman persevered because it was important information that should never be overlooked. Just conveying looks is not enough.

Even if the person who gave them the order wanted to avenge the dead, he had to know their names..

Contrary to the fact that he was prepared to be scolded with his eyes once more, the young man answered with a clear pronunciation even as he walked away..

"Eldmia Ega."

Leaving behind an encounter that could be fateful or ill-fated, the young man who identified himself as Eldmia walked away into the forest..