“——That bastard, I finally found him.”
Aston caught Gail’s eye and broke into a run.
Zenos didn’t seem to have noticed them yet.
A dainty girl, likely an elf, was trotting beside him, her little legs moving quickly.
“Lily, this way.”
“Okay. Lily can’t seem to remember the way…”
“The slum’s roads are pretty complicated.”
“Zenos, you know it so well. Is it because you used to live here?”
“I lived further in, but I used to come around this area too. Weren’t you living on the streets in the slums too, Lily?”
“I, I was, but…”
“Hey, Zenos!”
Seeing that he still hadn’t noticed, Aston lost his patience and called out.
Zenos stopped in his tracks, narrowed his eyes, and then said with a slightly surprised expression:
“…Huh? Could it be… Aston… and Gail?”
“Heh heh heh, that’s right. You’ve been living stubbornly, haven’t you, Zenos?”
“Why are you here?”
“Kuhahaha, why do you think? Can you figure it out?”
“No. Well then, I’m busy.”
“Wai-wait a damn minute!”
Aston desperately called out to stop Zenos, who was about to cross the street.
“It’s you, you!”
“…Huh?”
“I was looking for you. I came all this way to see you personally, and you have the nerve to just walk away?”
“You were looking for me? …Why?”
Irritated by Zenos’s genuine question, Aston arrogantly folded his arms.
“Rejoice. I’m going to put you back in 【Iron Phoenix】.”
Zenos gave a blank look and replied with a single word.
“I refuse.”
“Hahaha, I thought so. Be grateful for my mercy. Don’t go crying from happiness… Whaaaaaaat!?”
Aston screamed and pressed Zenos.
“Did I mishear you? Did you just say you refuse?”
“I did.”
“Why… why?”
“Why, you ask? I was treated unfairly, there was no reward, zero merit for me. It’s normal to refuse, right?”
“Th-that’s not what I meant. I’m the one inviting you.”
Zenos scratched his head, looking annoyed.
“Well, if you really insist, I might consider going with you on a quest once in a while if I’m free, but you can pay me properly, right?”
“…Huh?”
“I’ve decided to stop working for free. Several tens of thousands of Wen per heal. One million Wen for serious injuries. If I use protective magic and ability enhancement, it’s triple. I’ll take whatever you offer.”
“Wh… what did you say!?”
Aston clenched his back teeth.
There’s no way they have that kind of money now.
“D-don’t get cocky just because you’re you. You probably don’t even have a place here, anyway.”
He had heard that there happened to be an amazing person with the same name in the slums who was quite popular with the demi-humans, but the man in front of him was different.
There was no way he could believe that this guy was a top-class healer who could heal wounds in an instant, and who also used different types of protective and ability-enhancing magic.
As he glared, several demi-humans passed by.
“Oh, Dr. Zenos, good afternoon!”
“Hey, how’s your leg?”
“It’s doing great, thanks to you. The wound healed up in no time with your treatment.”
“Don’t expect anything just because you’re flattering me. It’s fine to work until midnight, but don’t push yourself too hard.”
“Yes sir. Zenos-san, thank you for the treatment the other day. I got some high-quality meat, so I’ll bring some next time.”
“Thanks. The last one was delicious.”
“…Huh?”
Aston and Gail exchanged glances.
The demi-humans passing by were greeting Zenos one after another.
There seems to be an amazing Zenos-san in the slums who is popular with demi-humans.
But this guy in front of them…
“H-hey, Aston. Could it be, Zenos is, actually… this Zenos…?”
“…”
Aston couldn’t immediately respond to Gail’s words.
But the demi-humans had said their wounds had healed quickly and expressed their gratitude.
So… what?
Were all the words of this guy who said he was helping the party true? Was it all thanks to Zenos that 【Iron Phoenix】 had been an unwounded party?
Gail spoke up in a panicked voice.
“Hey, Aston. You were the one who said to exile Zenos, what are you going to do?”
“Sh-shut up! You guys happily agreed to it too!”
Aston and Gail started to grapple with each other.
“These uncles are kind of noisy, Zenos.”
“We’re not uncles!”
“That’s right. Well, let’s go, Lily.”
“Hey, don’t you just walk away too, Zenos!”
“What? Is there something else?”
Aston glared at Zenos, breathing heavily.
“Are you really not coming back…?”
“I told you already, I’m not. I’m having quite a good time here.”
“I’m the one asking you!”
“Sorry, Aston.”
——It’s too late.
Saying that, Zenos turned his back on Aston. The dainty elf girl walked beside him, and the demi-humans who admired Zenos surrounded him, chattering.
Aston, left alone, stared at the receding figure, his clenched fists trembling.
“Don’t… ignore me… Getting all high and mighty just because some low-life residents admire you. I’m a man who will become a noble someday…”
He slowly drew the sword at his waist and started to run.
“I won’t forgive you… I won’t forgive you, Zeno——”
BOOM!
“Gah-haaaak!”
Aston received a powerful impact to his side and rolled on the ground. He managed to raise his head and saw a beautiful woman with blonde hair and blue eyes, holding a magic gun and looking down at him coldly.
“To attack someone on a public road is quite bold. As the Imperial Guard, I can’t overlook this.”
“Im… Imperial Guard?”
It’s a large unit that single-handedly handles the security of the royal capital.
Zenos, who had been walking ahead, turned around.
“Oh, Krishna, why are you here?”
“I came to see you. I scraped my fingertip.”
“That’ll heal if you just lick it.”
“W-what’s wrong with that? I’ll pay the treatment fee.”
“I guess it’s fine, but I just happened to be here on a house call, my house isn’t around here.”
“Hmph, I got lost.”
“You never change.”
“But, I ended up meeting you in the end, so I should be grateful for my lack of direction.”
“You’re completely unapologetic.”
He had heard the name Krishna before. If he remembered correctly, she was the rumored prodigy who rose to the position of Vice-Commander of the Imperial Guard at the youngest age in history and had made significant achievements in a major incident involving nobles.
Such a person was talking familiarly with Zenos.
“…Zenos… just who the hell… who the hell are you…?”
He raised himself up, holding his side, and Krishna approached him.
“Well, since you were here, I’ll take you to the nearby guard station for attempted assault.”
Aston immediately pointed to Gail, who was behind him.
“It’s not me! I didn’t want to, he forced me to do it…”
“Huh? Aston, what are you…?”
The moment Krishna’s gaze turned to the surprised Gail, Aston ran from the spot. He jumped into an alley to avoid being shot in the back and ran desperately.
——I won’t forgive him, I won’t forgive him…
An indescribable emotion swirled in the pit of his stomach.
A/N: The man flees.