Chapter 534: The Real One and the Impostor (2)

Tauro and his party headed toward Bordertown  while gathering information on Tauro (the fake) and his group along the way.

According to what they learned, the impostor group consisted of six members.

Among them were people from the Empire. That alone should have raised suspicions, yet their leader—the fake Tauro—claimed to be an honorary viscount personally ennobled by the king, a first-rate adventurer, and someone granted permission to freely enter facilities directly under the royal family’s control. By hinting at these things, the group somehow avoided suspicion and was able to do as they pleased in the northern region.

Despite that, their reputation remained good—most likely because Charm made it difficult for people to harbor negative feelings toward them.

To put it in terms once upon a previous life, it was like having protagonist-level plot armor.

“Charm, huh… I kind of wish I’d had a bit of that kind of popularity boost in my life,” Tauro joked to Ankh as they traveled along the highway.

“Yeah, if you were popular, life would probably be a lot more fun,” Ankh played along.

“Stop saying stupid things. Even if you use Charm to be popular, it’s meaningless if it isn’t true love. It’s hard enough just to get the person you like to notice you —why would you be happy about other people being attracted to you?”

Aeris sighed as she scolded the men, then cast a slightly resentful, lingering glance at Tauro.

““Is that why don’t use the ability “Charm” even though you learned it, Aeris? That single-minded devotion of yours is really admirable!”

Hearing her words, Tauro praised her sincerely.

“Y-you idiot…! mumbledy-mumble (…Even if I used it, it wouldn’t work on someone with Status Ailment Resistance anyway…)”

Aeris blushed at the compliment and muttered her complaints too quietly for Tauro to hear.

“? ──By the way, are the impostor group actually strong? It seems like they’ve cleared some high-level quests, at least.”

Tauro asked, wondering why Aerith’s face was red.

“According to the receptionist, fake Tauro would consult with one of his companions, giving instructions to those around him, and coordinate several teams of hired adventurers to clear quests. The teams that worked with them spoke very highly of the group. Apparently, the other members also performed at a level befitting first-rate adventurers.”

Zion relayed what she had happened to hear at the Adventurers’ Guild.

“In other words, they’re genuinely capable, then. Not just some amateur impostors. ‘Charm’ itself is said to be a legendary-class ability, so maybe they also have the strength to match. …If that’s the case, then they must be connected to the Empire after all?”

Tauro pondered on Zion’s words for a moment, considering the worst-case scenario.

“…The Empire, huh. That’s definitely possible. They seem to have been active in recent years, so it’s quite possible.”

Ragune agreed with Tauro’s assessment.

“I can see a town ahead. That should be Bordertown. I can see a fortress on the nearby mountain too, so I’m sure of it.”

Aeris pointed to the town that came into view at the top of the hill.

“If the impostors are in that town, this’ll be nice and easy,” Ankh said nonchalantly.

“Based on what we heard in the villages along the way, it’s very possible,” Zion noted.

“There’s also the chance we just missed them. Let’s stay alert from here on.”

Ragune spoke with clear hostility toward the fake Tauro.

Hearing that, Tauro and the others began to view every group they passed with suspicion.

In fact, they occasionally spotted groups of people with their hoods pulled down over their eyes, which made Tauro and the others stare at them.

When Tauro and his party arrived in Bordertown , they headed straight for the Adventurers’ Guild.

It was their best source of information.

As they entered the Bordertown  Branch, they heard a loud voice coming from a room in the back.

“Why can’t I withdraw it!? It was fine two days ago!”

A young man was heard complaining.

It sounded like a staff member was responding, but their voice was hard to make out.

Then the door to the back room flew open, and the voices became clear.

The man with the loud voice had thrown it open himself.

“──I’m sorry. Please have it rechecked in a larger city. We don’t have access to detailed information here…”

The receptionist looked genuinely apologetic.

“──Forget it!”

It seemed the man had finally given up after going back and forth for so long. With a sulky expression, he stormed out of the branch.

“what a nasty guy…” Tauro remarked with a wry smile.

The receptionist who was assisting Tauro’s group reacted immediately.

“Not at all! He’s a very good person! He’s just having trouble because he can’t withdraw his money today!”

“Ah… I see.”

Tauro was taken aback by her unexpectedly strong reaction.

“Ah, sorry. In any case, Tauro-sama isn’t a bad person…”

The receptionist continued in a lowered voice, defending the young man.

“Oh, so his name is Tauro too—”

Tauro started to reply casually, but in the next instant—

 “““““……Huh?”””””

They all exclaimed in unison.

　And not only Tauro, but Aeris and the others also looked at each other in surprise.

“──Could that person possibly be claiming to be the leader of the team Black-Golden Wings!?”

Tauro hurriedly asked the receptionist to confirm.

“Eh? …Yes, that’s right?”

At that answer, Ankh and Zion immediately spun on their heels and sprinted toward the exit with impressive speed, chasing after the fake Tauro.

Tauro, Aeris, and Ragune followed them outside.

Ankh and Zion split off to each side, running for several dozen meters while scanning the surroundings, but after losing him in the crowd, they returned.

“He’s not over here.”

“Sorry, not on this side either.”

Both Ankh and Zion reported back with bitter expressions.

“I didn’t expect to run into him right away… ──Everyone, did you get a good look at his face?”

Just to be sure, Tauro asked them all.

““““Got it!””””

Having burned the target’s face into their memories, Aeris and the others were fired up, eager to capture him next time.