Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 36

“Did you hear? Lord Eranda has returned.”

“I heard. What the hell is he thinking, coming back now?”

“Yeah, right? All his wrongdoings have already been exposed.”

“I can’t forgive him. Lax set up a fund, and Eranda embezzled the reward money from the viscount.”

“And yet, he had the nerve to claim that Lax was the one reducing the funds?”

“What was that apology even for, then?”

“Sure, we were fooled, but the one who deceives is always the worst.”

“Yeah, exactly.”

The adventurers were making a ruckus in the tavern attached to the guild, just a stone’s throw from the lord’s manor.

“He tucked his tail and ran from the dragon, so why didn’t he just keep running?”

“Exactly! And now, after all this time, he suddenly comes crawling back?”

“Lax only returned to help Lord Shifa, not for Eranda or Jekyll.”

“Jekyll is still missing, isn’t he?”

“He’s probably dead.”

“Honestly, I never thought Eranda would still be alive.”

“With Lord Shifa and Lax here, there’s no place for him anymore.”

“I heard Lord Shifa was furious.”

“Of course he was! He finally became the lord and was about to govern alongside Lax—then this happens.”

“And to make matters worse, Lax had to leave on royal orders to subdue the stampede in the city of Luberie.”

“Returning at a time like this… was that intentional?”

“Who knows? But Lord Shifa must be in absolute shock.”

“No doubt.”

The adventurers unanimously denounced Eranda and praised Shifa and Lax.

“Apparently, Eranda told Lord Shifa to leave yesterday.”

“Are you serious? The only reason this city has recovered is because of Shifa and Lax!”

“Ugh, I hate nobles. They only see cities as things, not as homes for people.”

“I thought Lord Shifa was a good man—motivated, kind, and fit to be a great ruler.”

“Didn’t he even go to that sulking Doran after the stampede, convinced him to get his arm healed, and asked him to restart his workshop?”

“Impressive. Most girls wouldn’t even dare approach a brooding half-dwarf.”

“Lax was with him, so he was probably safe, but still, Shifa has a strong will.”

“And yet, Eranda tells him to leave? That’s beyond cruel!”

“How did it come to this?”

“Apparently, Eranda gave birth to Jekyll’s child, and since it’s a boy, he has a stronger claim to the title.”

“Are you kidding me? That bastard Jekyll’s son is going to be the next lord?”

“This country prioritizes the firstborn, and even more so if it’s a boy…”

“Unbelievable.”

“But wasn’t there talk of Lax becoming a noble?”

“Yeah, and that’s exactly why.”

“Huh?”

“Eranda told Shifa that since Lax is becoming a noble, he should just marry into Lax’s house instead.”

“That’s the worst! So they’re basically kicking him out!”

“I should just leave with them…”

“That’s not happening.”

“Why not?”

“They probably won’t issue any migration permits.”

“Or they’ll sell them at an outrageous price.”

“Damn it! We’re not the nobles’ property!”

The complaints showed no sign of stopping.

Nobles were often arrogant and greedy, with many seeing commoners as less than human.

Eranda had returned under the patronage of Duke Horneld, a man notorious for his ambition. Nobody trusted him.

“Won’t the royal family intervene?”

“Unlikely…”

“Hey! Should the guild master really be drinking at a time like this?”

“Of course I should! I’m drinking my sorrows away!”

“Yeah! Drinks on the guild master! Drink up, everyone!”

Klein barged into the scene, equally furious.

He had come to this city under the royal family’s orders, but with Eranda taking over and Duke Horneld’s influence creeping in, he was bound to be dismissed.

And yet, there was nowhere for him to return.

The neighboring guild already had a guild master.

The royal family would likely assign him another post, but that would mean relocating once again.

“So why isn’t the royal family stepping in? They got their dragon crystal, didn’t they? And Lax is off handling another royal request, right?”

“If they could intervene, they would have already. But this isn’t about the viscount’s territory being seized by Duke Horneld. It’s an internal conflict between Lord Shifa and Eranda—strictly within the Riofendarl Viscount family.”

“That’s true.”

“So this is a noble succession dispute?”

“And because it’s an inheritance matter, the royal family can’t interfere?”

“Why not?”

“Think about it. If the royal family started meddling in succession disputes, it would enrage the nobility.”

“But wouldn’t the nobles who gained power be grateful?”

“Sure, but what about the ones who lost? Or nobles with multiple heirs? They’d be terrified.”

“If the royal family got involved, they could manipulate succession disputes however they wanted…”

“Exactly. If the royal family whispered to a second son, ‘We’ll make you the head of the house,’ what do you think would happen?”

“It would spark conflict, letting the royal family control everything?”

“Right. That would throw the entire kingdom into chaos.”

“That makes sense.”

“And?”

“You still don’t get it, idiot!!!”

Klein’s rant continued as he struggled to explain things to the muscle-brained adventurers.

“I hate this!”

“I thought we could all stay here with Lax and Lord Shifa forever!”

In the end, the adventurers drowned their sorrows in alcohol, some even breaking down in tears.

No one scolded them.

They just kept pouring more drinks.

“I heard they’re building another casino.”

“Are they insane?”

And so, the adventurers’ grievances continued late into the night.