Chapter 52: The Truth of the Reversal

The blazing sun beat down on Melro’s body, the waves of discomfort feeling as if they were tearing at her skin.

Egg yolks that had long since changed color dripped from her well-groomed hair — a symbol of her noble status — and clothes, emitting a foul, rotten stench.

Those she previously viewed as “lower-class adventurers,” who she thought should offer her praise and reverence, were not behaving as she had anticipated…

There were no flowers, no applause, and no intoxicating adoration.

There was only a nauseating stench and pairs of eyes burning with hatred.

Melro couldn’t even react for a moment.

She wiped the substance from her head in disbelief. Only when the slimy, disgusting texture reached her fingertips did she fully realize what had happened.

However, that egg was merely the beginning of the crowd’s hatred.

Over the next few dozen seconds, countless projectiles flew toward Melro.

Rotten tomatoes, moldy cheese, and butter. Someone even threw half a barrel of fresh beer directly onto her.

Instantly, this tall, beautiful Blood Clan young lady was submerged in ‘human food’ that she despised. Various revolting liquids covered her entire body.

After a moment of hesitation, a massive surge of shame washed over her.

As a high-ranking member of the Blood Clan, Melro had been a genuine noble since childhood.

Yet, she was now as wretched as a common beggar. Worse, she was doing so in front of everyone.

She was filthy and stinking, her body filled with the discomfort of being exposed to the sun.

That shame lasted for only half a second before turning into a towering rage.

It erupted along with all the negative emotions she had been suppressing for a long time.

Melro wanted to roar and stop the crowd, but as soon as she opened her mouth, their angry shouts drowned her out.

“Why didn’t you stay behind yourself?”

“Did you contribute even an ounce of strength when the Monster Hunter caught up to you?”

“Go back to your life as a pampered miss and stop tainting our Dungeon!”

The massive wave of sound surged over Melro, making her head ring.

‘These damned…’

The veins on her temples throbbed violently. Her entire body began to tremble slightly from the immense anger and shame.

The massive discrepancy between expecting flowers and applause from these commoners and being spat upon and insulted by the people she considered ants made Melro’s head spin.

Right now, she wanted nothing more than to manifest the Blood Whip Blade, rush into the crowd, and go on a slaughtering spree.

They were just a group of lowly humans, after all. It didn’t matter how many died.

However, reality was cruel.

In the vicinity of the crowd, many Adventurer’s Guild officials, including Guild Master Ow, the owl, were watching her quietly.

If she acted impulsively, she would not only be suppressed on the spot but would also ruin the reputation of the Blood Clan.

If that happened, it would be even more impossible for her family to accept her.

Thus, she could only swallow her pride and hide all her resentment behind her blood-red eyes.

‘Fine, they’re just lower-class people. They’re not worth my anger…’

Then, she settled for the next best thing. She habitually turned her head, wanting to tell Alet to use Water Magic to clean her body.

However, the moment she turned around, she suddenly remembered.

Alet had been left behind in the Dungeon forever.

Even the Mage Della and the Elf Flav were nowhere to be found.

Melro clenched her fists, digging deeper into the wounds on her palms. She felt as if she had been struck by a blow she couldn’t return.

‘They’re all useless…’

‘It doesn’t matter. I don’t need the respect of these low-borns!’

‘Gaining my family’s recognition is what’s most important.’

Thinking this, she endured the stench and the verbal abuse from the audience as she slowly walked toward the award stage where Guild Master Ow was waiting.

It was only then that she managed to force a hideous smile onto her face.

“Um… hello. I am Melro, the leader of the Crystal Thorn Adventurer Team.”

“In the Dragon Slaying Contest just now, I was the one who delivered the final blow to the Fire Dragon. I won this hunting competition.”

“So, could you please announce… and grant the title of Dragon Slayer and the related tokens to me… and the Crystal Thorn Adventurer Team?”

By now, Melro didn’t care about her image anymore.

As long as she could achieve her goal, nothing else mattered.

However, just as she looked at Ow with hope, wishing he would smile and conduct the award ceremony…

The response she received was a gloomy, ashen face.

His next words made Melro feel as if she had fallen into an ice cellar.

“I’m sorry, Miss Melro.”

“It is true that you delivered the final blow to the Fire Dragon. The entire process was livestreamed, and we all saw it clearly.”

“But.”

“As the leader of an adventurer team, you were unscrupulous for the sake of fame and rewards. You ordered an injured member to stay behind and provided no safety measures.”

“After the contest ended, you made no effort to organize a search and rescue.”

“It is clear that you never viewed that Heavy Knight as a comrade.”

At this moment, Ow’s expression was extremely grave.

He didn’t even use his usual verbal habit of ending sentences with a hoot.

“The fundamental purpose of hosting the Dragon Slaying Cup is to attract more newcomers to explore and adventure in the Dungeon.”

“Your actions go against our original intent. Furthermore, they have caused an extremely negative impact.”

With that, Ow slowly stood up and spread his wings.

“I, branch president of the Adventurer’s Guild, Ow, hereby announce —”

“The victory of Melro, leader of the Crystal Thorn Adventurer Team, is disqualified.”

“The title of Dragon Slayer shall be given to her two teammates and the Heavy Knight who sacrificed his life for this contest!”

“YEAH!!!!”

“Long live the Guild Master!!!”

The moment Ow announced the disqualification of Crystal Thorn, the audience erupted in a tidal wave of cheers.

Melro stood frozen in place, her eyes filled with disbelief.

For a moment, her hearing was drowned out by ringing, and her vision began to blur.

The sharp pain from losing Alet mixed with shame, anger, and resentment, reaching a crescendo.

Melro… was in agonizing pain.

“SHUT UP, ALL OF YOU!!!!!!!”

Finally, all her emotions gathered in her chest and exploded from her throat in a heart-wrenching scream.

“WHAT DO ANY OF YOU KNOW?!!!”

“Alet was just a homeless orphan! I’m the one who took him in and saved him!”

“I fed him, clothed him, and raised him myself until now! Do you know how many resources I poured into him?!”

“He served me voluntarily! Even if I ordered him to die immediately, that would be my right!”

“It was his honor to die for my goal!”

“He owed me!!!”

“What right do you outsiders have to point fingers at me?!”

Melro had completely broken down.

She was soaked through, her matted hair faintly veiling her blood-red eyes. She looked like a banshee from legend.

After those words left her mouth, the crowd fell silent for a brief moment.

Then, a low murmur of discussion broke out.

Perhaps Melro’s words had caused some people to reflect, making her actions seem slightly more reasonable.

If the discussion had lasted a bit longer, public opinion might have gradually shifted.

But unfortunately…

A figure appeared at that exact moment, interrupting everything.

“Oh? Really?”

“Alet owes you?”

Accompanied by a mocking question, the enchanting figure of the Witch Vivian emerged from the crowd.

And in her hand…

Was exactly The Dossier containing all the truth about Alet.