Chapter 410: The jinx is back?
The surrounding beastmen gasped in shock. What? She’s the female of that exiled bringer of misfortune? That jinx is back? Has he come for revenge?
Milt’s eyes narrowed coldly, and the expressions of the elders shifted uneasily.
She’s Idir’s female? Idir is actually back?
Weena froze. She is Idir’s female? Her mind raced with mixed emotions. Did Idir really return?
A faint smirk played on Tair’s lips. Slipping away unnoticed, he hurried toward Nina’s residence. Once there, he addressed the Dire Wolf guarding the entrance. "I have urgent business with Idir. Could you please call him out?"
The Dire Wolf cast a brief glance at Tair. "Wait here."
Idir emerged shortly after. "What do you want?"
Tair wore an anxious look. "Someone found out you’re back! While your female was negotiating with the City Lord, they exposed her identity and let everyone know to whom she belonged. They’re even saying..." He trailed off, hesitating.
"Saying what?" Idir pressed. Who could have discovered his return and chosen this exact moment to expose it?
Tair sighed deeply. "They’re claiming she brought you back, and that your presence as a jinx is the reason the city’s beastmen fell ill. The crowd is furious. You know how some of the elders feel about you... I was worried they might hurt your female, so I rushed over to warn you."
He looked at Idir intently. "Idir, maybe you should just leave right now. The elders know you’re back; they won’t let you off easy this time."
A flash of worry crossed Idir’s eyes. "Thank you for letting me know. I’ll handle this myself."
"Alright then. I need to head back to the witch doctor. We’re friends, so I’ll do what I can to help your female." With that, Tair departed.
As he turned the corner, Tair slipped into the shadows to watch the courtyard. He knew Idir wouldn’t be able to stay away.
Inside the house, Idir turned to Sal and the others. "Sal, the beastmen in the city found out I’m back. They’re using my identity to attack Nina. I need to go over there." He bit his lip, guilt gnawing at him. He had brought trouble to Nina after all.
Sal thought for a moment. "Let’s go together. If things get ugly, they might not let us stay in the city anyway."
Idir hesitated for a second before nodding. "Alright."
Following Nina’s previous instructions, Sal and the others packed their belongings efficiently. Within moments, they were ready and rushing toward her location.
Back at the gathering, Milt asked in a chilled tone, "Are you truly Idir’s female?"
"Yes, I am," Nina replied, her composure unshakeable.
"And you brought him back?" Milt pressed.
"I did," she said.
Several elders looked deeply unnerved. That jinx is back. He must be here for revenge. Others looked on with complicated expressions. He actually dared to return.
The surrounding crowd grew rowdy.
"The jinx is really back? Did he return to Serpent City for vengeance?"
"Could it really be him who brought this disaster upon us again?"
"Otherwise, why would we all suddenly fall ill?"
"But didn’t the Lord of Barbarian City say it was poisoning?"
"She’s that jinx’s female! How can we believe a word she says?"
Doubt spread like wildfire through the crowd. Yet, alongside their suspicion, curiosity bloomed. How did this female dare to mate with Idir? Did she not know he was a cursed beastman?
Milt voiced the question on everyone’s mind. "Do you know about his past? Do you know he carries a curse?"
"I do," Nina said simply.
"Then do you know what the curse of our Serpent Clan entails?" Milt warned. "Once our clan’s curse erupts, the beastman completely loses control. They lose all reason and slaughter anyone in sight. A cursed beastman is inherently ominous and brings ruin to those around them."
He tried to persuade her: "Lord of Barbarian City, I assume you were kept in the dark and that he deceived you. Let me offer a piece of advice—sever Idir’s beast crest as soon as possible and stay far away from him, lest he bring disaster upon you too."
The surrounding beastmen chimed in with their agreement.
"Yes! Cursed beastmen are terrifying!"
"You’re better off leaving him!"
They all assumed Nina had been tricked. Why else would a female willingly accept a cursed male? Many females in the city used to admire Idir, but the moment they discovered his curse, they had all abandoned the thought.
Nina’s expression darkened, and she raised her voice, letting it ring out clearly. "He never deceived me. I know everything you’ve just mentioned."
She swept her sharp gaze across the crowd, her tone fierce and commanding. "Listen to me, all of you. Idir is not a jinx. Your misfortunes have absolutely nothing to do with him, and he will never bring disaster to anyone. What you’ve heard are nothing but rumors spread by envious beastmen."
She continued, "He is a good beastman. Even when his curse flared up, he never harmed a single soul. Furthermore, the curse isn’t as terrifying as you imagine. It isn’t entirely uncontrollable, and I will find a way to break it for him in the future."
On this point, she wasn’t just shielding him; when his curse acted up, his worst offense was simply becoming incredibly clingy toward her.
The beastmen of Serpent City wavered, torn between skepticism and belief. Could she be telling the truth? It seemed unfathomable that this female knew everything, still chose Idir, and even claimed she could break the curse.
Milt and the elders were equally stunned. They hadn’t expected her to be fully aware of the situation, let alone defend Idir so fiercely.
Hearing her words, Penny felt a sharp, bitter pang in her heart. This female knew everything, yet she treats him so well... She had intended to use the curse as a weapon, but now... she finally began to understand why Idir had chosen her.
Weena, on the other hand, felt a wave of relief. Idir has found himself a wonderful female.
Tair, who had just slipped back into the crowd, narrowed his eyes as jealousy flared within him. Why is Idir always the lucky one?
Just arriving at the edge of the street, Idir caught her words clear as a bell. A profound warmth flooded his chest. Meeting Nina was, without a doubt, the greatest blessing of his life.
He strode quickly to Nina’s side and took her hand in his.
Nina turned to him in surprise. "Why are you here?"
Catching a pointed look from someone in the crowd, Bafar immediately pointed a finger at the masked Idir and shouted, "Idir! You actually dare to show your face here!"
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