Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 19

“Wait! Alessandro!”

“Haha, are you chasing after me? You really are a terrible man. Leaving behind both your fiancée and your mistress. And wasn’t Eranda pregnant? So, you abandoned not just her but your future child as well. Ahahaha!”

Shut the hell up. I’ve always sided with the winning horse.

There’s no way in hell I’m dying here!

Besides, you had Claire, who was just as much a gold-digging hedonist, as your mistress. And you abandoned all your employees, didn’t you?!

“Well then, you can be my coachman.”

“Yes, sir.”

It seemed like he was willing to take me along.

But why was he alone? A noble should at least have some attendants with him…

Not that it mattered to me.

I climbed into the carriage Alessandro had prepared and fled from the city of Riofendarl.

As expected of a duke’s son, the carriage was well-crafted, and the horses were excellent.

Losing both Eranda and Claire, who felt so good in my arms, was a shame, but my life took priority.

Right now, I just needed to get as far away from the stampede as possible.

This isn’t the end for me.

As long as I survive, I can figure something out.

The item box I inherited from “Flash”’s party assets is filled with gold coins, weapons, and various items.

It’s unfortunate that I couldn’t take the wealth that Eranda inherited from Lax, but I still managed to grab some of his swords and items.

That alone was a fortune.

Roughly 1,000 gold coins…

With that much, as long as I escape now, I can live in luxury for the rest of my life.

We put some distance between us and the city.

Then, we stopped to let the horses rest.

I wanted to keep running until we were completely safe, but since Alessandro ordered a break, I had no choice but to comply.

Even with the pause, traveling by carriage was still faster than running on foot.

“The preparations are done. Let’s go.”

“Ah, I appreciate it. Doing it myself would’ve been a hassle.”

That condescending gaze. It pissed me off, but I had to endure it. After all, this was a noble, the kind of man who could have me killed on a whim if I offended him.

“Oh, one thing I forgot to mention—your carriage fare is 1,000 gold coins.”

“…Huh?”

What the hell did he just say?

“Don’t ‘huh’ me. I don’t care if you’re planning to come all the way to Horneld’s capital or if you want to get off somewhere along the way, but I’m getting you out of the stampede, so of course, you have to pay.”

“What…? But you told me to be the coachman.”

“Yeah, and that’s helpful, of course. That’s why I’m giving you a special deal—1,000 gold coins.”

This bastard… He knows exactly how much I have.

Damn it… This guy…

I clenched my fists.

He was alone. If I acted now…

“Oh? What’s wrong? I thought I set the price at a reasonable amount. Or do you not have enough? What did you even spend it on?”

“…”

That smug grin… I wanted to punch it right off his face.

“You look scary. Are you actually considering harming me, a mere insect like you, against me?”

“…”

Damn it. I clenched my fists tighter. I couldn’t forgive him, but punching him here wouldn’t change anything. Unless… I killed him…

“Oh, are you serious? Do you really think you can kill the third son of Duke Horneld and live?”

“…Damn it.”

“Hahaha! How pathetic. Honestly, for a guy who abandoned his fiancée and unborn child, you should be grateful you’re still breathing, even if you end up penniless! Ahahaha!”

“…You bastard.”

Don’t underestimate an adventurer!

I swung my fist with all my strength, driven by pure rage.

But—

“Gyaaaahhh!!”

“Hahaha! Did you really think I wouldn’t be wearing a defensive artifact? That’s hilarious! Aaaaah-hahaha!”

In an instant, my arm was severed.

“Foolish, isn’t it? Negotiation is all about the basics. You use everything at your disposal to gain the upper hand. Play your cards right while crushing your opponent. Make them lose their composure and take what you want. To think you and Eranda would fall for it so easily… You’re both complete idiots.”

“…Eranda too?”

What the hell does he mean?

“Eranda inherited Lax’s money for me. Even though she had no right to do so. Well, I was the one who instructed Guildmaster Gandos to say it was possible. She was so desperate that she didn’t even bother to verify it. It’s her own fault, really. Ahahahaha!”

“…”

I don’t care about any of that. But I keep glaring at Alessandro while listening.

In the brief moment I have, I pull a healing potion from my item box and pour it over my wound—but it doesn’t work.

“Oh, some people will attack even if they’re injured. Naturally, there are status effects, amplified pain, and a curse to prevent quick recovery. Also, if you try to hit me again, the same thing will happen. Do you still want to give it another shot? Puhuhuhu.”

Damn it. My body is growing weaker.

Is this… where it ends? In a place like this?

I’ve survived this long by cozying up to corrupt merchants, ruthless thieves, hypocritical adventurers, and foolish nobles.

I did whatever it took to live—whatever it took to secure better conditions.

When Lax shielded me, I thought I had won.

Eranda, that insufferable woman who always looked down on me—who refused to take my bait—became mine. And with her under my control, my future should have been secure.

So why the hell should it all end here?

Damn it…

Damn it…

Damn it…

“Well, whatever. By the way, even if you get off here, the price is still 1,000 gold coins. Oh? You’re not moving anymore? Boring. At least Eranda put up more of a fight before she broke. You gave up far too quickly—how disappointing.”

He mutters to himself as he starts rummaging through my body.

“Ah, here it is. Well then, I’ll be taking this. If you’re lucky, you might just survive.”

With that, he takes my item box and steps away.

I’ve lost too much bl00d.

Maybe it’s the status effect, but I can’t even get up.

I can’t… even move my head anymore.

“Huh…?”

A faint voice reaches my ears.

What… is that?

Suddenly, everything darkens.

It’s not night yet… a shadow?

And then, heat.

It’s getting hotter… and hotter.

What is this?

What’s happening?!

Something is falling—something enormous—right where we are…