Chapter 17: The End of Scum, Part 1 (Elanda’s (=Former Fiancée) Perspective)
I ran.
Showing myself before the adventurers, who were on edge facing the Stampede, was a mistake.
To think Michelle would recover at this very moment.
To think she would tell everyone about the time “Senko” fell into a trap, of all times.
My plan is ruined.
No matter how much I grieve, the dead won’t return.
Mother and my elder brother died so easily.
What “Senko”?
Live up to your name and come sooner!
An adventurer party that arrived just as monsters flooded the town, the people were dying, my family was dying, and my younger sister was on the verge of death.
While I thought we were saved, I also felt an unreasonable anger.
They had no obligation, yet they saved us.
And then, accepting Father’s request, they decided to stay in town.
There’s no doubt I should be grateful.
And then, everyday life returned.
It had returned.
What I needed to do was to sort out the town’s finances, stabilize relations with the surrounding noble houses, and while promoting dungeon exploration to prevent Stampedes, also prepare countermeasures for when one did occur.
With my elder brother gone, I became the next heir to this domain.
Eventually, it would probably be best to welcome a scion of an influential noble family to stabilize our foundation and support the adventurers.
That’s what I thought. Within the bounds of reason, at least.
But my actions couldn’t stay confined to that.
My younger sister, who was saved just like me. Still young, a pure girl, too innocent to be thrown into the world of nobility.
She clearly and purely admired the adventurer who had saved her.
Reason told me that was a good thing.
If I married a noble and she married a powerful adventurer, this town would be stable.
However, my heart didn’t follow reason.
Lux was stronger than I had imagined.
If he had that much power, there was no need for me to marry a noble; he alone would be enough.
That kind of reasoning became plausible.
I outmaneuvered my sister, consulted Father, gained his approval, and got engaged.
He was comfortable to be with.
He was unexpectedly smart and took initiative.
I was captivated by his achievements, to the point where I thought I no longer needed to fear Stampedes.
I thought it was good that I had cast aside reason.
However, the world of nobility is not so sweet.
They dredge up past failures.
I couldn’t talk about this with my family.
I wanted to handle it secretly, discreetly.
If Lux-san just didn’t notice, if I could just use something that wasn’t particularly important to him, it would all be over.
Just a little more.
Just a little more.
It was then that he disappeared.
The report was the worst.
“Lux stepped on a trap and fell into the deep levels. We managed to return, but Michelle is unconscious too.”
Jekyll blurted out to me when I rushed over.
I was surprised that this man could wear such a dark smile, but thanks to noticing it, I immediately knew he was lying.
Considering their formation, there’s no way Lux-san would have stepped on such a trap.
Still, Claire said nothing.
The Guild processed it as the truth.
Lux-san was now treated as missing.
I had no choice but to revise my plan.
The deep levels are not a place adventurers can step into and return from. No matter how strong they are. Unfortunately.
I used my connections as a noble to ask researchers in the Royal Capital, and this was the answer I received.
“Hey, if things go on like this, I’ll be the leader of ‘Senko.’ Me and…”
Some lying idiot is saying something.
This man is truly scum and easy to handle.
It would have been better if he were a little stronger, but beggars can’t be choosers.
I have no intention of marrying a noble now.
If word of that got out, that man… Alessandro would undoubtedly show up.
He’s disgusting, but he’s Duke Hoherneld’s third son.
That guy is watching this town with the Duke’s eyes.
The Duke is our patron, but he’s wary of the dungeon, so it can’t be helped.
Lux-san will remain missing, and after six months, he’ll be declared ‘estimated death.’
Then Jekyll will take over the party, I will inherit Lux-san’s personal assets, and since the engagement will be broken due to his death, I will then get engaged to Jekyll.
Only Jekyll, Guildmaster Gundos, and Claire know the secret.
This way, there’s no need to tell Father.
I can execute everything under my own authority.
By the way, the reason Gundos is involved is because I had originally roped him in for financial stabilization. And because he realized Jekyll was lying.
Claire is on our side, for now, but that’s because she’s after an item among Lux-san’s legacy.
They are accomplices sharing a grave secret, but they are clearly unreliable.
But it can’t be helped.
I just have to manage them. Once I become the feudal lord, I’ll be truly alone anyway.
And yet, Lux-san came back.
I’m being condemned.
What is it…? You’re late. You always are.
The plan has already been changed and is in motion.
It’s too late now.
For him, it must be unreasonable anger, I suppose.
But for me too, the situation is unreasonable.
It goes both ways, doesn’t it?
I drove him out.
Then Shifa suddenly started making moves, Michelle woke up, and Father appeared.
What is it? After doing nothing all this time.
Everyone’s an enemy.
They can all just die in the Stampede.
I’ll disappear.
Thinking that, I fled amidst the explosions.
Then I left the town and entered Riophendal’s fortress built in the outskirts, but there they were… the scum.