Declared Dead, Exiled, and Betrayed— Now I Walk Away, but I'll Save One Who Cared - Chapter 7

“Another Stampede… I can’t believe this. What’s the current situation?”

My father, already elderly, looked even more worn down by the news. The moment he heard about the Stampede, he had forced his aging body to come to the guild.

“So far, a few dozen monsters have emerged, but they’re all from the upper levels. The adventurers on site have managed to eliminate them.”

Guildmaster Gandos answered, his face visibly pale.

A Stampede was when monsters surged out of the dungeon. It always started in the lower levels, with creatures migrating upward—first into the middle levels, then to the upper levels, and finally, pouring into the city.

That meant the monsters currently appearing were only the weakest ones.

Before long, middle-level monsters would start emerging, followed by the ones from the lower levels.

When that happened, it would be all-out war.

This wasn’t just an adventurer’s battle—it was a fight for the survival of the city.

The guild’s emergency call had gathered a large number of adventurers.

If a Stampede wasn’t contained, it would mean the city’s destruction.

And any adventurer who refused to fight despite being in the city would be branded a coward. Their reputation would be ruined.

No one wanted to be known as the one who ran away.

“How many adventurers have gathered?”

Even my sister, acting as the lord’s representative, looked nervous.

“Almost all of them. Around a hundred are here now. Claire and I will lead them to intercept the monsters at the upper levels.”

“Jekyll….”

I watched as Jekyll and my sister exchanged words, though I could hardly believe he was the one leading this charge.

There was no way he could handle middle- or lower-level monsters.

And yet, he stood there, full of confidence.

My sister looked at him with admiration, as if he were some kind of hero.

Jekyll and Claire had never been known for taking on lower-level monsters.

If they could fight at that level, they would have been diving into the lower floors long ago.

Had they done so, this Stampede wouldn’t even be happening.

“Will this really be okay… without Lax?”

My father voiced the question I had been thinking all along.

But as if they had rehearsed for this moment, my sister and Jekyll immediately responded.

“Jekyll has inherited Lax’s weapons and magic items.”

“Look at this sword. I’ve got other powerful items too. With them, I’ll cut through these monsters with ease.”

Could equipment alone really make up for the difference in strength?

Could an unproven fighter like Jekyll really handle what was coming?

I had my doubts, but no one would listen to me.

As an adventurer, Lax had trained others and fought alongside them.

But I was just the lord’s daughter, someone who had only ever observed from the sidelines.

Even if I spoke up, who would believe me?

“If you say so. Without Lax, you’re the ones we have to rely on now. I’ll leave it to you.”

My father’s words made me freeze.

Had he not been told what had happened to Lax?

Before I could say anything, he suddenly collapsed into a chair, too exhausted to continue the conversation.

That was the end of it.

“We’re heading out! Listen up, everyone! This is a battle to protect our city! It’s dangerous, but if we don’t fight, everything will be lost! Give it everything you’ve got!”

“OOOOOHHHHHHH!!!!”

The adventurers roared in response to Jekyll’s rallying cry.

They marched into the dungeon, determined to stop the monsters before they could reach the surface.

Despite everything I thought about Jekyll and Claire, I couldn’t help but pray for the safety of the adventurers following them.

This Stampede was dangerous.

Not everyone would come back alive.

Even so, I prayed that as many as possible would return safely.

That the losses would be few.

“While we hope for their success, we must prepare for the worst,” my father said.

“Yes,” my sister agreed. “If they fail to contain the Stampede, we need to be ready to defend the city.”

She and the guild master began planning their next move.

“Eranda. Guildmaster. We need to ensure this doesn’t spread beyond the dungeon.”

A voice interrupted their conversation.

The speaker was Alessandro Horneld, the third son of Duke Horneld and the manager of the casino next to the guild.

Despite the crisis, he wore a perpetual smirk, as if this were nothing more than a casual discussion.

To him, a Stampede reaching the surface meant his casino would suffer damage.

Of course, he wouldn’t accept that.

But was he really about to demand this from the acting lord of the city?

This is a city-wide catastrophe.

How could he only care about his casino?

“Lord Alessandro, as you are well aware, our brave adventurers have already entered the dungeon to prevent the Stampede from reaching the surface. However, as the ruling territory of Riofendarl, it is only natural that we must also prepare for the worst.”

“Oh, I’m not saying you shouldn’t.” Alessandro’s smirk didn’t waver. “I’m simply advising that if things do go wrong, it would be best not to upset my father.”

What is he even saying?

If the Stampede broke through, his casino would be one of the first things destroyed.

And yet… his concern was Duke Horneld’s mood?

As if there were a way to protect only the casino while letting the rest of the city burn?

“Are you asking for financial compensation?”

“See? This is why I like you, Eranda. You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Tch….”

This was absurd.

If the Stampede reached the city, everything would be destroyed.

There wouldn’t even be assets left to compensate anyone.

And instead of offering support as the patron of this region, he was demanding money from the city?

“Well then, I’ll be taking the assets I’ve been holding onto. If the city survives, I might return them.”

What?

What assets was he talking about?

What was he holding onto?

“That….”

“Surely, you’re not thinking of refusing me?” Alessandro’s voice turned almost sing-song. “Your little sister is right there. Are you sure you want to cause trouble?”

Eranda clenched her jaw.

“Tch….”

“That’s the spirit. Just keep quiet and everything will be fine.”

Satisfied, Alessandro wrapped his arms around my sister in an overly familiar manner.

Even though she was engaged—even pregnant—he touched her without hesitation.

What a disgusting man.

Was this really the son of a duke?

Even then, my sister said nothing.

As soon as he left, she shot me a glare before disappearing elsewhere.

“Eranda. Guildmaster. We need to ensure this doesn’t spread beyond the dungeon.”

A voice interrupted their conversation.

The speaker was Alessandro Horneld, the third son of Duke Horneld and the manager of the casino next to the guild.

Despite the crisis, he wore a perpetual smirk, as if this were nothing more than a casual discussion.

To him, a Stampede reaching the surface meant his casino would suffer damage.

Of course, he wouldn’t accept that.

But was he really about to demand this from the acting lord of the city?

This is a city-wide catastrophe.

How could he only care about his casino?

“Lord Alessandro, as you are well aware, our brave adventurers have already entered the dungeon to prevent the Stampede from reaching the surface. However, as the ruling territory of Riofendarl, it is only natural that we must also prepare for the worst.”

“Oh, I’m not saying you shouldn’t.” Alessandro’s smirk didn’t waver. “I’m simply advising that if things do go wrong, it would be best not to upset my father.”

What is he even saying?

If the Stampede broke through, his casino would be one of the first things destroyed.

And yet… his concern was Duke Horneld’s mood?

As if there were a way to protect only the casino while letting the rest of the city burn?

“Are you asking for financial compensation?”

“See? This is why I like you, Eranda. You’re quick on the uptake.”

“Tch….”

This was absurd.

If the Stampede reached the city, everything would be destroyed.

There wouldn’t even be assets left to compensate anyone.

And instead of offering support as the patron of this region, he was demanding money from the city?

“Well then, I’ll be taking the assets I’ve been holding onto. If the city survives, I might return them.”

What?

What assets was he talking about?

What was he holding onto?

“That….”

“Surely, you’re not thinking of refusing me?” Alessandro’s voice turned almost sing-song. “Your little sister is right there. Are you sure you want to cause trouble?”

Eranda clenched her jaw.

“Tch….”

“That’s the spirit. Just keep quiet and everything will be fine.”

Satisfied, Alessandro wrapped his arms around my sister in an overly familiar manner.

Even though she was engaged—even pregnant—he touched her without hesitation.

What a disgusting man.

Was this really the son of a duke?

Even then, my sister said nothing.

As soon as he left, she shot me a glare before disappearing elsewhere.