Unfairly Fired From the Healer’s Guild After Five Years of Dedicated Service - CH 291

Episode 291 – A Terrible Premonition

“What!? Landaust was attacked by the Demon King’s Army?!” (Lewin)

“That’s right. We caught wind of it at a fairly early stage, so we were able to make a few preparations in advance, which allowed us to prevent a bit of damage at the very least. But because the monsters have surrounded the city, people haven’t been able to enter, which is why the number of tourists and peddlers has dropped dramatically.” (Juno)

“I was in the Dungeon, so I didn’t know that something so big had happened… It’s amazing that you were able to contain the damage to such an extent despite being attacked.” (Lewin)

“In order to get the word out, Tobias and I had to run all around the city. Thanks to our efforts, the Executive of the Demon King’s Army was defeated, but those few days were probably the toughest days of my life.” (Juno)

“I really appreciate all of your hard work… So, where is Tobias-san?” (Lewin)

When I asked her that, Juno cast her eyes downward with a somewhat depressed look on her face. Just as I had a bad feeling that perhaps Tobias had died in the attack, Juno spoke.

“Tobias is out giving his condolences to the friends, acquaintances, and family members of those who died in the attack.” (Juno)

“Eh…? Why is Tobias-san doing that?” (Lewin)

“As I said earlier, Tobias and I had realized at a fairly early stage that this attack was about to happen. We reached out to capable adventurer parties who weren’t down in the Dungeon and asked them to help stop the incoming attack.” (Juno)

“So he’s giving his condolences to those who died from those adventurer parties?” (Lewin)

“Yes. It seems that he reached out to adventurers based on their strength rather than their rank, but… Almost all of the adventurers he reached out to died.” (Juno)

The moment I heard those words, I felt a terrible premonition in the pit of my stomach. If he picked based on their true strength, then the [Azure Alliance] had surely been chosen.

A cold sweat dripped down my back, and my heart was pounding so fast that it hurt. Calm down. The [Azure Alliance] is usually in the Dungeon, more often than not. I haven’t confirmed it on the monitors, but they should still be down there clearing even now.

“E-Errr… Do you know the names of those adventurer parties?” (Lewin)

“Nope. It wasn’t me, but Tobias who reached out to them, so I don’t know who he spoke to exactly.” (Juno)

“I see. Thank you for the valuable information.” (Lewin)

“Eh? W-Wait, where are you going?!” (Juno)

As I thanked her, I pulled out several silver coins and put them on the table, then hurriedly rushed out of the coffee shop. The intense exhaustion was gone in an instant as I sprinted with all of my might through the deserted Landaust.

I didn’t have the slightest clue as to where the [Azure Alliance] and Tobias were, but for now, I went back the way I came, heading towards the Dungeon. If I took a look at the Dungeon monitors, I could get rid of the apprehension that I felt from the pit of my stomach. I ran with everything I had towards the monitors so that I could confirm their safety as soon as possible.

As soon as I arrived in front of the Dungeon monitors, I began to check all of them one by one, starting from the 1st layer. I had also recently made a name for myself among the Dungeon spectators, so there were people that were also in front of the Dungeon monitors calling out to me. However, I had no time to spare for them right now. Turning them away with cursory apologies, I continued to direct all of my attention towards checking the monitors.

Nothing on the 10th layer and counting…

Nothing on the 20th layer…

Still nothing… on the 30th layer…

As I scanned further down the layers, my body began to tremble violently, and my breathing was becoming increasingly short and labored. I had been clearing the Dungeon all so I could become strong enough to protect Ahmed and go adventuring with the [Azure Alliance].

I couldn’t afford to say goodbye to them when I hadn’t managed to accomplish a single thing. I prayed to God from the bottom of my heart as I finally checked all the way down to the 50th layer, but… I wasn’t able to find any trace of the [Azure Alliance].

Refusing to give up, I looked through the projections another two times just in case I had missed something. But no matter how many times I looked, I couldn’t find them, plunging me into a deep despair.

I couldn’t move from that spot as I held my head in my hands, when I suddenly remembered Juno’s words.

‘Almost everyone died.’

That meant that not all of the adventurers that Tobias had reached out to had died. Besides… I wasn’t sure if Tobias had reached out to the [Azure Alliance], and even if he had, it was unlikely that Ahmed would have accepted his request.

As I told myself that, I decided to go around the city and look for the [Azure Alliance]. I began to go around to the places that Ahmed, Dion, and Smash were likely to visit.

I went around, asking people at random if anyone knew anything, but… my faint hopes were in vain. Even though I found people who knew the three of them, I wasn’t able to get any information on their recent whereabouts.

When I returned from the Dungeon, the sun had still been in the sky, but now the sun had already set and the surroundings cast in darkness. Not wanting to think about anything else, I continued to search mindlessly, but I soon realized that it was pointless to continue searching when it was this dark out.

I desperately held back the tears that threatened to overflow at any second, thinking that if I finally let those tears fall, this likelihood would really become a reality. I eventually decided to return to Ponpokotei, thinking of resuming my search after the sun had risen and I had gotten some sleep.

“Lewin-san, welcome home. You’re quite late this time, aren’t you?” (Ruth’s Mother)

“…Sorry. We had some trouble in the Dungeon―” (Lewin)

I forced a smile onto my face and looked up, trying not to worry Ruth’s mother, who kindly greeted me upon my return. When I looked up, I saw not only Ruth’s mother, but also the people I had been looking for.

“It really took ya forever. We waited for ya for so long, but ye weren’t coming back.” (Smash)

“Smash-san. He just got back from the Dungeon, so don’t go troubling him with your complaints. It’s not like we planned to meet him here, we were just waiting here of our own accord.” (Dion)

“Dion-san… Smash-san…” (Lewin)

The tears that I had been holding back for so long began to flow unceasingly the moment I saw their faces.

Thank goodness… Really, thank goodness.

I fell to my knees, feeling joy and an even greater sense of relief.

“What’s wrong? Why’re you cryin’ all of a sudden?” (Smash)

“Maybe because you complained to him, Smash-san? You said such horrible things to him when he was so exhausted.” (Dion)

“Eh? Is it my fault? I was just joking though.” (Smash)

“T-That’s not it… Sorry… I heard some bad rumors, and I was just worried.” (Lewin)

I wiped away my tears and forced a smile to my face since crying would only cause them more unnecessary concern. It was a terrible expression straddled somewhere between crying and smiling, but it was much better than crying the whole time.

“Hm? A bad rumor?” (Dion)

“Yes. I heard that the Demon King’s Army had attacked and that there were adventurers who died. I thought that everyone in the [Azure Alliance] was dead… But I’m glad that I was just getting worried over nothing.” (Lewin)

I smiled through the tears and mopped my damp cheeks, but for some reason, their expressions turned dark.

….Why?

The expression on their faces was giving me a terrible feeling in my chest.

“C-Come to think of it, where is Ahmed-san? Is she waiting at the inn or something?” (Lewin)

“Ahmed-san… Ahmed-san… She’s dead. Smash and I came here to let you know, Lewin.” (Dion)

Hearing Dion’s devastating words, my mind instantly went blank.