Aston and Gail arrived in the slums that very day.
“Damn it, I didn’t want to come to such a filthy place.”
Gail, who was next to Aston as he cursed, looked around curiously.
“But, doesn’t the atmosphere feel different?”
“…”
Indeed, the gloomy air and oppressive tension that had dominated the city had subsided, and bright, lively voices could be heard from all over.
Had something happened in this city?
As they were looking around with puzzled expressions, Gail said,
“But Aston, isn’t Zenos supposed to be dead by now?”
“Well, that’s the problem.”
Initially, he’d rather Zenos died in the streets, as it would be troublesome if he went around bragging about having been in [Iron Phoenix]. However, things had changed slightly.
If he was already gone from this world, their plan to revive the party would be immediately thwarted.
But…
“There’s a possibility he’s alive. I gave him gold coins as severance pay.”
“Oh, that’s right. Then he might be able to survive a bit longer.”
“I’m so moved by my own benevolence that it brings tears to my eyes.”
After laughing for a while, Gail looked around.
“But even if you say it’s the slums, it’s a large area. How are we going to find him? Even if we ask someone, they wouldn’t know anything about Zenos.”
“Probably not. But I have an idea about that.”
Aston smugly lifted the corner of his mouth.
“An idea?”
“You know that the three major demi-human factions are fighting for territory in the slums, right?”
“I’ve heard of it. I think it was the Lizardmen, Werewolves, and Orcs, right?”
“We can ask their leaders to help us find Zenos. Those guys have information gathered from all over the city, so it’ll be much faster than us searching individually.”
“I see. As expected of you, Aston.”
“Well, of course.”
He had always been good at using others.
And you’re one of them, Gail, Aston added in his mind.
Aston and his companion called out to a Lizardman walking down the street.
“Can you take us to your leader? We have a job request.”
“Who are you guys?”
“I’m the leader of a Gold-class adventurer party. I’m not suspicious.”
The Lizardman man looked at Aston’s adventurer’s license for a while, then said, “Follow me,” and started walking ahead.
After passing through several streets, they came to a place like a covered square.
“Boss. This human wants to make a job request.”
“A job? I’m busy because I’m going to see Sensei soon.”
A woman sitting cross-legged on the sofa in the back answered languidly.
She was a mixed-blood of Lizardman and human, with black hair and sharp black eyes.
As expected of someone who leads one of the three major factions, she had a commanding presence that was immediately apparent.
And she was a beautiful woman.
When he became a nobleman, he might add her to his harem.
Aston approached with a serious face.
“Are you the boss here? I’m Aston, the leader of the Gold-class adventurer party [Iron Phoenix].”
“Your self-introduction is too long; the sun will set. Just get to the point.”
“I want to request a search for someone.”
“Who are you looking for?”
“A guy named Zenos. He should have arrived in the slums about a month ago. He’s human, with black hair…”
But before Aston could finish, the female leader burst into laughter.
“Ahahaha, so, so. You’re the rumored idiot party that expelled Sensei. You certainly have stupid-looking faces.”
“Wh-what did you say!”
He instinctively reached for the sword at his waist, and the Lizardmen standing around rose up all at once.
The female leader, who raised one hand to restrain her subordinates, waved her hand as if shooing away a dog.
“Go home. The person you’re looking for doesn’t have time to deal with the likes of you.”
“…Wh-what…?”
Aston said, stunned, his hand still on the hilt.
“Y-you know Zenos? What exactly is…”
“Just get out of here. Any more than this, and my subordinates won’t stay silent.”
“…Tch.”
Bathed in the killing intent from all around, Aston had no choice but to turn back.
As he was leaving, a word was thrown at his back.
“Oh, that’s right. If you try anything funny with Sensei, you won’t get away with it. Remember that.”
“…”
Aston and Gail left the place in silence.
The moment they returned to the main street, Gail raised his voice.
“Hey, wh-what’s going on, Aston?”
“How would I know? Damn it, what the hell is going on?”
The slum’s leader seemed to know about Zenos.
Moreover, it felt like more than just knowing him; there was even a sense of reverence…
No, it must be some kind of mistake.
“Wh-what do we do…?”
To Gail, who looked bewildered, Aston replied in a forced, calm voice.
“…Don’t worry. There are still two of the three major factions left. We’re going to the Werewolves.”
“Hmph, so you’re the idiot party that expelled Zenos-dono. Ringa thinks you should die once and be reborn as a toilet bug.”
At the Werewolf’s hideout, which they visited next.
The one who spat out venomous words with a well-featured face was the female leader, who twitched the beast ears that protruded from her gray hair.
“Y-you know Zenos too…!”
“Zenos-dono has no use for toilet bugs. You should go home for your own good.”
“Wh-what did you say!”
“You wanna fight?”
“…”
Exposed to the cold gazes of the Werewolves surrounding them, Aston and his companion had no choice but to turn back.
A sharp word pierced their backs.
“If you do anything strange to Zenos-dono, the Werewolves won’t forgive you. Engrave that in your stupid brains.”
“…”
Aston and Gail left the place without saying anything.
“Wh-what the hell is going on?!”
“I-I don’t know!”
The two, who had returned to the main street, simultaneously held their heads.
They had no idea what was going on. Apparently, two of the leaders of the three major demi-human factions seemed to adore Zenos.
Were they dreaming?
“…A-anyway, we have to meet Zenos once and re-establish our power relationship.”
Aston forced himself to catch his breath and said,
“We’re going to see the last faction, the Orcs.”
“Hoh. So you’re the garbage party that expelled Zenos. What business do you have now?”
In the cave of the rocky mountain where the Orc tribe’s residential area was located.
The beautiful female leader with chestnut hair and fiery red eyes said so.
“…”
He no longer had the energy to even ask anything.
Surrounded by a large number of Orcs, Aston and Gail decided to turn back silently.
“Hey. If you mess with Zenos, the Orc tribe won’t stay silent.”
“…”
The two, who had returned to the main street, stood in silence for a while.
“Aston…”
“…Don’t say anything, Gail.”
Aston bit his fingernail sharply.
It was unbelievable, but was that Zenos really adored by all three of the major factions in the slums?
But there’s no way that could happen.
“…I see, I get it! It’s a different person. There was just a really amazing guy with the same name.”
“I see! …No, but even the story about being expelled from the party matched.”
“Even including that, it’s the only explanation I have it’s a Zenos with a similar situation by coincidence. The demi-humans were talking about some amazing ‘Zenos-san’ who was mistakenly expelled by some idiot. The Zenos we’re looking for is the party’s slave, Zenos.”
“Certainly, that makes sense.”
“Anyway, we have to find that guy, Gail.”
If they could just meet him, he would surely wag his tail and want to return to the party.
But they didn’t know where he was.
Did they have to search for him one by one?
Imagining the enormous effort, he felt dizzy, but then Gail opened his eyes wide and pointed to the end of the street.
“H-hey… Aston.”
“…?”
When he slowly turned around, a man in a jet-black cloak was about to cross the street.
Aston gasped and whispered his name.
“Zenos…”
A/N: Reunion…!