Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 48

“Lord Eranda? Yeah, no thanks.”

“Telling us to go to the casino? What a joke.”

“No way. I’d rather drink at the guild’s tavern than throw my money away there.”

“Agreed.”

“What about the brothel…?”

“Now that, I can get behind. As long as it’s not the casino, anything’s fine.”

“Seriously, though. Kicking out even Lord Lax after he came back—what the hell is going on?”

“Knowing Lax, he probably avoided making a scene to keep others from getting caught up in the mess.”

“So they’re taking advantage of Lax and Shifa’s kindness… They really don’t care about anything anymore, do they?”

“Wait… does this mean Lax isn’t coming back?”

“This is the worst… Maybe it’s time to move on. Dungeons pay well, but there’s no future here.”

“At least adventurers can leave. But us…?”

“If a guard abandons their post, they’re immediately fired—and charged with desertion on top of that.”

“Damn it… guess all we can do is drink.”

“Alright, alright, Laila. This great Samid will cover your tab tonight.”

“Ugh… Just leave your wallet here.”

“Wait, are you trying to rob me blind!?”

The tavern was filled with voices of despair, men and women drowning their sorrows in alcohol.

Every face bore the same dark expression.

The beacon of hope that had been Shifa was gone.

And their protector, Lax, had vanished as well.

Eranda, however, ignored all of it.

The only thing that mattered to her was securing her position as the ruler of this city, ensuring her child became a noble, and above all, surviving.

The rest—the people, their struggles—meant nothing to her.

This city was slowly but surely heading toward an inevitable, grim future.

Even as everyone sensed it…

“I saw Lax and got my hopes up, but he just left quietly.”

“Guess he really abandoned us.”

“I wanted to call out to him, but for some reason, I suddenly felt… empty.”

“Couldn’t say a word.”

“Honestly, maybe it’s better that Lax isn’t here. If he stayed, he’d have to deal with Eranda. Then he’d have to fight Duke Horneld, too. Why should he go through all that trouble? If he can use his power to live a happy life as a noble somewhere else, then…”

“Yeah… It’s like the words just wouldn’t come out. He was probably just here to pick something up, right?”

“Still, seeing him take down those Ark Knights was satisfying.”

“Do you think he met up with Shifa?”

“He must have. And if he came back just to retrieve something before leaving again… then this really is the end.”

“Guess this is the last we’ll see of him. Hope he finds happiness.”

“Yeah… I just hope he takes care of Lady Shifa.”

“No doubt. They made a great pair.”

“But that means… we’re stuck with Lady Eranda as our ruler, huh?”

“Ugh…”

“Just let us live like normal people, at least.”

“One thing’s for sure—we’re not going to the casino.”

“You lost money there once, and now you’re making it everyone’s problem?”

“I heard that idiot son of the tool shop owner went in last week and lost everything in one night.”

“Idiot…”

“Wait, wasn’t he supposed to get married next month? What the hell happened?”

“That’s the weird part—he doesn’t even remember. He said he was out shopping for wedding preparations, but somehow, he ended up inside the casino.”

“That’s terrifying.”

“Came out crying, too.”

“What a disaster.”

“Why is Eranda so obsessed with that damn casino?”

“It’s part of her deal with Duke Horneld.”

“She’s selling out the city just for his support? Give me a break.”

“So a man like that helps a woman like her take over, and the result is a place like this? What a nightmare.”

“No kidding…”

BANG!

“What was that!?”

A man in a military uniform stepped into the tavern.

Behind him were several soldiers—presumably his subordinates—and a group of rough-looking men.

The insignia on their uniforms bore the mark of Duke Horneld’s household.

“Hmph. I’ve been listening, and all I hear is criticism of Lady Eranda and His Grace the Duke. Consider yourselves under arrest.”

“Huh!?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“Try it, and see what happ—Gwah!”

“Samid!?”

“You bastards! You have no authority to bypass the city guards like this!”

“Hmph. That’s because you’re all useless.”

*”What!?”

“Urgh—!”

“Laila!?”

“Wait… are those Ark Knights!?”

“Damn it… those thugs got their asses handed to them by Lax, and now they think they can throw their weight around?”

“Silence!”

“Gah!”

The soldiers, accompanied by the Ark Knights, ruthlessly attacked.

They struck down Laila, a city guard, and began arresting the adventurers who had been drinking and lamenting their future.

Despite the fact that this was Riofendarl’s territory, they acted as if they owned the place, abusing their authority without restraint.

Yet, despite all the commotion, not a single guild officer entered the tavern.

Something was clearly wrong.

“Hmph. Perhaps we should make an example out of one of them. That should silence any further dissent.”

“Wha—!?”

The adventurers, now sobered by fear, fell into an uneasy silence.

The soldier’s blade was aimed directly at Laila—who had already been beaten down by the Ark Knights.

She had served the House of Riofendarl since her parents’ generation. Though rigid in her thinking and inflexible at times, Laila was a soldier who commanded a certain level of respect due to her dedication. Since Lax’s return, everyone had seen how earnestly she had served Shifa.

And now, that very same Laila was about to be cut down like an insignificant pawn.

“Laila… so even you would defy me?”

“L-Lady Eranda…”

Eranda stepped forward from behind the soldiers, casting a cold glance at Laila as she murmured those words.

Once, Laila had been a loyal subordinate of Eranda. But that loyalty had long since crumbled.

“I have sworn my allegiance to Lady Shifa. To Lord Lax. Because I have seen the truth. I’m sorry, but I have no intention of serving you.”

“I see… then do it.”

Without any trace of interest, Eranda averted her gaze and gave a signal to the uniformed officer.

Those who had been restrained let out strangled cries, but they could do nothing more than groan in helpless protest.

“Hmph. Savor the punishment for your defiance as you die.”

“Laila—!”

“No—!”

“Damn it!”

The adventurers screamed her name, but the blade swung down mercilessly—

CLANG!

Only to be deflected at the last moment by a figure that had suddenly leaped in.

“Uh…”

“Lax is saving another girl again, huh?”