The mansion exploded?
Forced to stay in a town inn?
And then using this as an excuse to sentence Ethan to death for treason!?
"What the hell is this!? Ridiculous! Do you know how many adventurers still can't afford a house in Axel to this day!? Do you know how many adventurers risk their lives every day, living in fear, even having to sleep in stables!?"
If not for Ethan stepping forward, Verdia's appearance might have left most adventurers without a livelihood, and even living in stables—the lowest form of accommodation—would have been a luxury!
"You, who are supposed to be the noble managing Axel—where were you when Axel was repeatedly on the brink of destruction!? After the crisis ended, you showed up to enjoy the rewards, and now you dare spout such nonsense!?"
If not for Ethan's heroic struggle, the Mobile Fortress Destroyer would have flattened Axel, and with the kingdom lacking funds to rebuild, most of Axel's residents would have lost their homes—Axel might even have vanished from the map!
And now, Ethan's hard work is being labeled as treason, warranting a death sentence!?
"Someone like you—even Hell probably despises you, leaving trash like you in this world to wreak havoc!"
Mana surged like a storm, tearing through the cage-like bars around Ethan. A murderous intent, as if from a demon of the underworld, swept through the room, suffocating everyone present.
"Ahhh! Call for help! This criminal still shows no remorse and dares to rebel!? Are you all fools!? Execute him now!"
Alderp, terrified, fell to the floor and frantically ordered his guards to attack Ethan.
At that moment, a sinister aura spread through the scene, causing Eris' eyes to widen abruptly.
"Indeed, as an adventurer, it is utterly disgraceful to behave this way toward the noble Alderp. How pitiful. I hereby declare Ethan guilty of treason and sentence him to death!" The judge suddenly stood up, shamelessly siding with Alderp like a bootlicker.
"That's right! Lord Alderp has contributed greatly to the people of Axel, yet the criminal Ethan attempted to murder him—how deplorable!" Prosecutor Sena and the judge were now on the same side.
"Exactly! Lord Alderp has always cared for us! Even if you're the hero who saved Axel, you can't treat him like this!"
"Right! Right!"
"..."
Not just the judge and Sena, even the adventurers in the spectator seats stood up in outrage, as if Ethan were some vile, despicable villain.
Meanwhile, Ethan gripped the Cursed Sword Gram, gathering Mana as if preparing to fight back against something.
"What's happening!? Why is everyone suddenly turning against Ethan!?" Yunyun's eyes widened in disbelief, while Iris also looked confused and worried at Ethan.
"This disgusting stench… Is this the smell of a demon!?" Eris wrinkled her nose as if catching a foul odor, her holy aura transforming into a radiant white light that illuminated the entire room.
"Exorcism!"
"Ah!?"
It wasn't just one voice of confusion—nearly everyone in the room gasped in shock.
"Why did I suddenly make such a bizarre decision?" The judge sat back down, bewildered, wondering if he was suffering from dementia.
"This is so strange… Why did I suddenly act like that?" Sena was equally puzzled.
"That was weird! Why were we suddenly praising Alderp with such disgusting words!?"
"And even turning against our hero, saying such vile things!"
"..."
The adventurers in the spectator seats seemed to snap out of a trance, murmuring among themselves.
"Ethan! That was demon magic! That fat noble Alderp is conspiring with a demon!" Eris shouted to Ethan, cupping her hands around her mouth—her use of "fat" revealing her mischievous side.
"I never expected Alderp to collude with a demon! As the first princess of the kingdom, I hereby strip Alderp of his noble status and order his arrest on suspicion of treason! Furthermore, I grant Ethan the authority to apprehend and execute him without further trial!" Iris even revealed her royal identity and issued the command.
"What!? That blonde girl is royalty!? And the first princess!?" The adventurers were stunned—they never expected the blonde girl who fought alongside them to be the kingdom's princess!
"Seems the situation has changed…" A cold, blade-like glare locked onto Alderp, who trembled in fear as a storm of mana erupted from Ethan's body!
"Sword Slash!"
*BAM!* *BAM!* *BAM!*
The sword cleaved through the air with such force that even the wind pressure sent Alderp's guards flying before they crashed to the ground, unable to get up!
And this was only the beginning—the sword strike that could split the earth now aimed straight for Alderp's legs!
If it hit, without high-tier healing magic, Alderp would be reduced to a rolling lump of meat for the rest of his life!
But—
*BOOM!*
Where Alderp once stood, there was now a terrifying gash in the ground—yet not a single drop of blood was spilled.
Because Alderp himself had vanished like a shadow.
"So, he ran away, huh?" Ethan smirked, as if expecting this, activating his Eagle Eye and Enemy Search skills to track down the fleeing Alderp.
"Ethan! An opponent capable of such high-level illusions likely means Alderp has a powerful demon aiding him. I'm coming with you!" Eris gripped her ornate staff, her holy aura radiating like a goddess, mesmerizing all the adventurers—men and women alike!
"And me too! How dare they use such underhanded tricks against my friend! I, Yunyun, won't let this slide!" Yunyun declared angrily.
"I'm coming too!" Iris added, equally furious.
This made Ethan smile in satisfaction.