Chapter 535: The Real One and the Impostor (3)

Tauro and his party decided to split up and gather information on fake Tauro and his group in Borda.

They first went through several inns commonly used by adventurers, checking them one by one, but found nothing.

However, just to be sure, Tauro and Aeris asked the adventurers staying at those inns and were told that the group might be lodging at the most expensive inn in town.

“The most expensive inn here would be the Bottark Inn, near the town mayor’s residence. If we’re talking about someone of Honorary Viscount Giro Sugar’s standing, that’s where he’d stay.”

The adventurer answered from beneath a hood pulled low over his eyes, then returned to his room.

“So they’re staying at a luxury inn with my money, huh… ──Aeris, let’s regroup with everyone and head to the Bottark Inn.”

Nodding to Aeris, Tauro headed back to the guild to regroup with Ragune and the others, who were searching different inns.

“…That’s probably the real Tauro Giro Sugar…!”

The adventurer who had told Tauro about the Bottark Inn hurried up to the second floor of the inn and burst into one of the rooms.

“This is bad! There’s a team of adventurers looking for us—and it’s probably the real Black-Gold Wings!”

He informed another man inside the room, who was sitting in deep thought with a map spread out.

“What are you talking about? The real ones have been missing for over a year, haven’t they?”

“The guy who was searching for us looked just like that kid we fought during the Saint Abduction Operation in Duke Barriera’s territory over a year ago. I’m one of the few survivors from that fight—I remember his face.”

The hooded adventurer pulled back his hood, revealing the scar across his forehead as panic showed on his face.

“…Pack up. We’re leaving. ──Where’s Tauro right now?”

The man studying the map asked where fake Tauro was—the key figure who possessed [Charm].

“He’s out with the other three right now…”

Just as the man with the scar on his forehead answered, they heard fake Tauro’s voice coming from downstairs.

“Let’s work together again on the next quest.”

Fake Tauro cheerfully chatted with an adventurer team he passed by near the staircase.

“Tauro, something urgent’s come up. Get up to the room right now.”

The scarred man called down from the second floor.

“…What’s going on?”

It wasn’t fake Tauro but one of the hooded men accompanying him who sensed the tension in the scarred man’s voice. He dashed up the stairs and asked in a low voice so no one else could hear.

“…The real one has appeared. Alpha says we need to leave immediately.”

“! ──Understood. Tauro, we’re pulling out.”

“Eh? Why? I’m tired—I want to rest a bit!”

Fake Tauro replied nonchalantly, but the other five returned to their adjoining rooms and packed to leave within minutes.

Fake Tauro, apparently possessing [Magic Storage], stowed his belongings instantly when hurried.

“Alpha, what do we do now? Maybe we should cross the border back north and wait for reports from our agents.”

“…We’ll send Tauro back north, but we’ll stay here and continue gathering intelligence. If the real one shows up, we can eliminate him ourselves.”

“…You know he’s the one who took down our former captain, right?”

The scarred man questioned Alpha about the difficulty of that plan.

“I’ve heard that. But they were probably on the brink of death too, weren’t they? In that case, now that we have their information, there’s no way we can lose.”

Alpha wore a fearless smile.

“…I understand. I’ve wanted to avenge our fallen comrades from back then anyway. ──Let’s escort Tauro to the border.”

The man with the scar on his forehead agreed with Alpha, and the group left the inn together.

“…So that adventurer really was lying.”

From atop a tower overlooking the entrance of the inn they had just visited, Tauro watched with [True Eye].

During his training in the Dragon’s Den, part of [True Eye] had awakened and begun functioning like a “Hawk’s Eye,” allowing him to see far into the distance.

“The impostor’s definitely nearby. Just like you predicted,” Aeris said, whether she could see or simply sense him was unclear.

“How about Ragune and the others?”

“They’ve already passed through the city gate and are heading toward the border checkpoint.”

“Good. Then let’s go too.”

Tauro replied, and then he got off the tower and ran after Fake Tauro and his group, who were running towards the northern city gates.

On the road just before the border checkpoint.

“…Alpha, the three people ahead are members of Black-Gold Wings.”

The scarred man, capable of long-distance vision, warned Alpha, who was walking in the lead.

“…I see, you’ve read our moves. …Let’s turn back for now. If we cause trouble near the checkpoint, we might not be able to leave anytime soon. We’ll have to avoid this one and exit through another border checkpoint.”

Alpha made a quick decision, grabbed Fake Tauro by the arm, and turned left off the road.

“I think you’re a little too late for that.”

A voice sounded next to Alpha and fake Tauro.

“!?”

Alpha let go of fake Tauro’s arm and leapt back.

The other members did the same, jumping back as well.

“──Impostor secured.”

At those words, Tauro and Aeris appeared on the spot.

It was like a scene from a movie in Tauro’s previous life where a cloaked alien suddenly appeared.

Of course, this was Tauro’s magic—he could now make himself and one other person disappear together.

Tauro’s hand was gripping fake Tauro’s arm.

“W-who are you!? I’m Honorary Viscount Giro Sugar! Let go of me at once!”

Fake Tauro shouted at the boy and the beautiful young woman who had suddenly appeared and seized him.

“What a coincidence. Nice to meet you, Honorary Viscount. Actually, my name is Tauro Giro Sugar too—pleased to meet you.”

Tauro replied with a bright smile, then cast a wary glance at the other members of the impostor group, who appeared considerably more skilled.