Previously: Alfred’s disappearance might be connected to the explosion incident caused by Goldran 15 years ago. Meanwhile, carrying the injured Zonde, the demi-humans were heading towards Zenos.
“So, what do you intend to do?”
Inside Goldrun’s mansion.
In a room where the sleeping Bonds was snoring loudly, Camilla questioned Zenos.
The explosion incident from fifteen years ago.
Goldrun, who encountered the scene, used the life force of the other victims to save Lord Fennel and climb to his current position.
The missing Alfred was likely involved in the incident and hid himself after learning the truth.
As Zenos pictured the outline of the incident in his mind, he answered.
“…Nothing really changes. I’ll pass the information I got at the dinner party to Becker.”
“Hoh, is that alright?”
“I don’t have any proof in my hands, and condemnation isn’t my job. I’m a healer, after all.”
“Oh, that’s right.”
Camilla smiled slightly.
“Thanks, Camilla.”
“…Eh?”
“You came all this way because you were worried, didn’t you? I understood a lot thanks to you.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just came to tease you because it looked interesting.”
Camilla turned her face away and floated towards the ceiling with a hyuru hyuru sound.
“Well, since I came all this way, I have to take back a souvenir, don’t I?”
“Where are you going?”
“This place probably has a lot of good sake. I’ll borrow two or three bottles and go home, I suppose.”
Zenos saw Camilla off with a wry smile as she disappeared upstairs. He opened the door of the room to head to the dining hall.
Then, he frowned slightly.
“…Hmm?”
The dining hall seemed noisy.
He rushed over and saw the participants and servers gathered on the balcony of the hall.
They seemed to be looking in the direction of the mansion’s gate.
“What’s going on?”
Cresson and Lily were also on the balcony.
When Zenos called out, they turned around.
“Oh, Aniki. It looks like something’s happening outside.”
“Hey, isn’t that Umin?”
“Huh?”
Standing next to the two of them, Zenos saw that guards were gathering near the gate at the end of the garden.
A girl with glasses was standing in the center.
“S-So, I just want to see someone named Zeno-san for a bit.”
“No one without an invitation is allowed to enter.”
“Then, could you call him? It’s a bit urgent.”
“Professor Goldrun is hosting a party. Do it later.”
For some reason, Umin and the guards were arguing back and forth.
When he strained his eyes to see what was happening…
“Excuse me!”
A large shadow appeared from behind Umin, and said in a voice that shook the windows.
It was a large woman, carrying something on her back.
“Eh, Reve-san?”
“…Reve? What’s she doing?”
Zenos and Lily exclaimed in surprise.
Then, two more shadows appeared from behind the person who seemed to be Reve.
“Dumbass, Reve. What are you doing, shouting from the front like that!”
“It couldn’t be helped.”
“It couldn’t be helped? You’re going to cause trouble for Sensei. First, Umin would call Sensei out. If that wasn’t possible, I was going to sneak into the mansion and secretly take Sensei out!”
“No, Ringa thinks Reve is right. There’s not much time to take it easy.”
Judging from the tone of voice and the vaguely visible silhouette, it was probably Zofia and Ringa.
“Hey, everyone’s there…?”
“Looks like it…”
Zenos and Lily exchanged glances.
“Are those demi-humans?”
It was Goldrun who spoke in a low voice, having just come out onto the balcony.
“Why are such lowly creatures like demi-humans in my mansion? This auspicious day is being defiled! Throw them out immediately!”
At the house owner’s words, the guards all pounced on the demi-humans.
But with a single swing of Reve’s arm and a single strike of Ringa’s hatchet, they were quickly knocked to the ground.
“Ah, please don’t cause trouble. It’ll make things worse for Sensei…”
Zofia, looking flustered, Reve and Ringa answered calmly.
“I didn’t kill them. I just brushed them off.”
“Ringa too. Trust me a little. I only hit them with the flat of the blade.”
Reve’s gaze turned to Zenos on the balcony.
“Oh, you were there, Zenos. Sorry, it’s an emergency.”
All eyes in the place turned to Zenos.
“Zeno…s…?”
“That guy’s a special trainee, right?”
“I heard he was a candidate to be the ace of the faction…”
“Could it be that he’s acquainted with demi-humans?”
As the surroundings began to buzz, Zenos said to Reve.
“What happened?”
“Zonde suffered a severe injury. I went to the Royal Healing Institute’s dorm, but Zenos wasn’t there. While I was troubled, a girl with glasses happened to pass by and told me the location.”
“Ah, yes.”
Umin, who had been checking on the fallen guards, straightened up.
Goldrun and Cresson grabbed Zenos’s shoulders.
“Hey, what’s going on? What kind of relationship do you have with demi-humans, you bastard?”
“A-Aniki, you’re lying, right…?”
Zenos ignored the two and opened his mouth without looking back.
“Reve. Is that Zonde you’re carrying?”
“Ah, that’s right. His breath is quite faint.”
“Sensei, I’m sorry!”
It was Zofia who raised her voice next to Reve.
She knelt on the ground, lowered her head, and gripped the trimmed lawn tightly with both hands.
“I’m sorry! I didn’t intend to interfere with Sensei! But, Zonde can’t hold on any longer! I’ll make up for it later, so please–”
Zofia’s face twisted, and she squeezed out the words.
“…Help him.”
“Lily, let’s go.”
“Okay!”
Zenos shook off the hands grabbing his shoulders, jumped over the balcony, and landed on the lawn.
“Wait! Are you in your right mind?”
Goldrun’s roar flew from behind.
Zenos moved his feet forward and answered with his back to them.
“Yeah, I’m perfectly sane.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! Think about your status! Most of the demi-humans are poor people! Are you, a glorious member of my faction, going to lend a hand to poor people? If you go, you’ll be excommunicated!”
“Do as you like.”
After all, most of the work is already done.
Zenos could hear Goldrun grinding his teeth.
“You can’t even calculate profit and loss! You don’t understand what it means to throw away your elite position in the faction!”
“I’m not an elite in the faction.”
Zenos stopped and turned to look back at Goldrun.
“I’m just a healer. Now and always.”
“Wh-What did you say…?”
“Aren’t you?”
“…You.”
Next to Goldrun, who had a demonic expression, a face that looked like it was about to cry could be seen.
“Well then, take care. Cresson.”
“Aniki, you’re lying… tell me it’s a lie…”
Zenos left through the gate, leading Lily, Umin, and the demi-humans.
Left behind, Cresson clenched his fists and stared at the open gate.
“Why, Aniki… we were going to work together…”
He let out a sigh as if gasping for breath.
Goldrun said to Cresson in a voice filled with murderous intent.
“You’re not a big idiot like that guy, are you?”
“…I’m…”
“He repaid the favor I did for him with malice. His path to success is over. I’ll make sure he can’t work in this industry.”
“Yes, that’s right. Aniki is an idiot. After all this time–”
Cresson clenched his hands even more tightly.
“I’ve done everything for the sake of getting promoted, living in a nice house, and having beautiful women all around me.”
For that reason, he had even ingratiated himself with the special trainee.
“I’ve curried favor, taken care of dogs, all for the sake of getting promoted, but…”
That man was different.
He didn’t curry favor. He didn’t fawn. And he didn’t choose.
Whether the patient was a dog or the daughter of a noble family, he provided the necessary treatment and left without demanding gratitude.
Surely that figure was…
“I’m… disliked, greedy, and told I’m cunning, but even so…”
Cresson said to Goldrun with a face covered in tears.
“I’m… a healer too.”
“Huh?”
Cresson crossed the balcony and landed on the lawn.
“Cresson Wembley. I am resigning from the faction due to personal reasons!”
“What did you say?!”
“Anikiiiiiii! Wait for meeeeee! I’ll help with the treatment toooooo!”
Cresson ran.
Raising his knees high. Flailing his arms.
Out of breath. Just desperately.
He passed through the gate of the mansion and ran through the night plain.
And–
“Thanks for the help, Zenos. I’ll definitely repay this debt.”
“Well, it’s fine as long as you pay as usual.”
When Cresson arrived at the plaza where Zenos and the others were, the treatment of the injured person was already over.
“Eeeeeeeeeeeeh!”
Cresson, screaming, collapsed weakly on the spot.
“N-No way… What did I do it all for…”
“You’re still an idiot, as always.”
“S-Shut up!”
Cresson snapped at Umin, who was sighing.
Seeing her fellow trainee on the verge of tears, Umin smiled brightly.
“But, I heard you. You’re definitely an idiot, but you were the coolest I’ve ever seen.”
“…!”
Cresson blinked a few times, his face reddened slightly, and he sniffled.
“S-Shut up. It’s all your fault this happened, so you’re going to take responsibility.”
“Ah, he’s still a nasty guy after all.”
“Kukuku, that’s right, I’m a nasty guy.”
“Sensei, who is this guy?”
To Zofia’s question, Zenos scratched his cheek and laughed, “Hmm, what should I say…”
“Well, he’s like a troublesome younger brother.”