When Zenos arrived, the slums were in utter chaos.
Countless buildings had collapsed, and fires were erupting everywhere. The screams and shrieks of people fleeing in terror echoed through the night, mingling together.
And there, beyond the billowing smoke, it stood.
“So that’s… the golem…”
A giant figure, towering so high it filled his vision, loomed before him.
The golem swung its sturdy limbs, made of mud and stone, smashing houses aside as it moved slowly. Its black, cavernous eyes were utterly vacant, and a deep groan of “Oooooooh” vibrated heavily against his eardrums.
“How mysterious.”
“Whoa, you startled me!”
Turning around, he saw Camilla floating leisurely, arms crossed.
“What, you came too?”
“Of course, I was curious. I wondered why an ancient relic would appear in the modern age.”
“Where’s Lily?”
“Still sleeping. It’s better that way, since she’d probably have nightmares if she saw a monster like this.”
“Sensei!”
Running from the other side of the street were the demi-human leaders.
“You’re all safe!”
Zofia and the others came to Zenos’s side, breathing heavily.
“Thank goodness, we were about to go get you, Sensei. We’re okay, but…”
“Many of Ringa’s men are unable to move.”
“About half of the orcs are seriously injured, too. What in the world is that monster?”
Zenos explained that it seemed to be a golem, an artificial life form from ancient times.
“What on earth happened here?”
“We don’t have a clue, either.”
“It was the middle of the night, and Ringa was asleep. There was a loud noise, and when he woke up, that thing was there.”
“According to my subordinate’s words, it seems it came from the back of the slums”
“The back of the slums…?”
Zenos put his hand to his forehead, thinking.
Could the Underground Guild be involved? If so–.
But Zenos shook his head, stopping his train of thought. With so many injured, there was no time for slow contemplation.
“Zofia, Ringa, Reve. I need you all to work together and gather the injured in one place!”
Who was controlling the giant pseudo-life form from behind the scenes? He couldn’t be sure with the information he had.
Even so, there was one thing he could say for certain.
Zenos looked up at the golem.
“You’ll pay a high price for this. Remember that.”
The heart of the slums, where the golem was wreaking havoc. On a small hill some distance away, there was a figure wearing a gray robe pulled over their head.
“The power is as expected, but the speed is slower than I thought. Unfortunately, it still needs a lot of improvement.”
The person who called themselves “The Guide” said this while looking through a special magic tool for long-distance viewing. The screams carried on the wind were pleasant to their ears.
“Still, I should be able to fulfill this request sufficiently.”
The request from a man named Aston was to bring down the hammer on a former party member named Zenos and his hangers-on.
The reason was that he had been treated poorly by Zenos, who had picked him up from the slums. He couldn’t forgive Zenos, who had gained so much while he himself had lost so much.
It was appallingly selfish, a complete case of taking out his frustrations on someone else, but such twisted desires were interesting in their own way. That’s why he didn’t take any money.
What do people feel and how do they act when placed in certain situations? For “The Guide,” curiosity was paramount.
“In that regard, your request is quite intriguing, Aston.”
“The Guide” muttered to the client, who was watching the situation unfold from another location.
Because it was the middle of the night, help from the Royal Guard and the Royal Healing Institute would be slow in coming. Considering the location was the slums, there was even a possibility that no help would be offered at all.
In other words, no outside help could be expected for the time being. He had heard that the man named Zenos was a healer, so if there were many injuries, he would be forced to come out.
“When placed in a situation where those who admire him are dying one after another…”
Will he be tormented by feelings of helplessness and loss, falling to his knees in despair? Or will he look forward, trying to resist even a little?
That was the “first act” of the scenario he had prepared.
“The Guide” raised the corner of their mouth while looking through the long-distance viewing magic tool.
“Now, how will you act, Zenos? Please, entertain me to your heart’s content.”
“This way, bring them in quickly!”
“Werewolves are the fastest. Hurry up!”
“Don’t fall behind the Lizardmen and Werewolves. You can carry five at a time, show them the strength of the Orcs!”
Amidst the shouts of the leaders, the demi-humans who were still able to move were gathering the injured in an empty lot.
Those with broken bones. Those covered in blood. Those screaming in pain. Those already at death’s door.
The scene was a veritable pandemonium.
Keeping an eye on the golem’s movements in his field of vision, Zenos turned back to the injured.
“Camilla, stay back. <Wide-Range Healing: High Heal>!”
White light swirled around Zenos and rained down on the injured. The pained expressions of those gathered gradually began to soften.
However, this was only a temporary measure.
To truly heal them, he needed to assess each injury individually. That’s why he had them gather the injured within his range of sight.
Zenos held out both hands and began to heal the injured one after another.
“Those who are healed, evacuate immediately!”
Fortunately, the golem’s movements weren’t very fast. If they ran at full speed, they should be able to escape.
The line of injured people showed no sign of letting up. Still, each and every one of them was completely healed by Zenos’s hands.
“Oh, for crying out loud…”
“Why are you so irritated, Zenos?”
Zenos, still facing forward, spoke to Camilla behind him.
“Of course, I’m irritated. Being dragged out in the middle of the night to heal hundreds of people. I don’t even know if it’s worth it anymore, and I’m worried about Lily, who I left at home. I won’t forgive the culprit.”
Camilla crossed her arms and gazed at Zenos’s back.
The aim of the mastermind who unleashed the golem was unclear, but one of their goals was likely to inflict major damage on the residents of the slums.
“…They probably don’t realize that their plans are being undermined while they’re being complained about, do they?”