What's this?
I figured you'd never seen one before.
It's a gold coin,
the kind of reward a poor joker like you would normally never see in his whole life.
Aston, what is this all abou—
Zenos.
You haven't done a damn thing lately.
Frankly, we don't need you anymore.
I've been doing plenty,
and I thought you said we were friends.
You're as dumb as you were when you were a kid!
Anybody would've been fine, as long as they were disposable.
Saves a whole lot of heartache if they end up dying as human shields, y'know?
And you poor are basically livestock, anyway.
Imagine that, a beast of burden thinking he's part of the gang just because we fed him.
Talk about hilarious.
We've gotten strong!
We're one of the most famous parties around!
Because I was there to—
Don't try to take credit for it with your shady, self-taught healing magic.
We've gotta make our party look good to the aristocracy and royalty from now on.
You can guess how they'd react with some pissant from the slums in our crew.
Consider that your severance pay.
It should be enough to get you wherever you wanna go.
And you'd better keep your impoverished mouth shut
about ever having been a member of the Golden Phoenix.
It's hush money, then.
Fine.
No! Let go!
Don't! Stop it!
No! Stop it!
You know how rare elves are. Make sure to hold her tight.
Better not think you can get away, little elf girlie.
Damn it!
Let me go, you little runt!
What am I gonna do now?
Stupid brat!
What are you doing stabbing our merchandise, you idiot?
I'm sorry, but she...
Whoa, did you just stab a kid?
Excuse me? She belongs to us.
This is none of your business.
I'll buy her from you, then.
Sounds like a deal. She's yours.
Let's get moving.
If she's dying anyway, better that we get paid something.
Oh, yeah! Nice one, boss!
Hey. You still there?
Am I... gonna die?
Don't worry. I can fix this kind of damage.
It's too late... I can't even feel the pain anymore...
I already healed you, so you can talk normally now.
Huh? It doesn't hurt, and the wound's gone.
I thought for sure I'd die!
Why am I back to normal?
Well, I'm a healer.
All I had to do was take the arrow out, fix the damage, and seal up the wounds.
Thank you... Thank you, mister!
Um, so... What's your name?
Lily.
Um, about your money...
You mean the gold coin I paid them?
Don't worry about it.
I wasn't thrilled about holding on to my severance pay from Aston, anyway.
So, who are you? A famous healer?
My name's Zenos.
I don't have a healing license, and I'm self-taught.
Anyway, where do you live?
I don't... have a home.
I guess we'll start by getting you some clothes and something to eat, Lily.
O-Okay.
So good!
Aren't you gonna eat, Zenos?
I'm... full already.
Okay!
The truth is, I'm broke.
But I'll deal with that later.
What do I do with her?
Maybe an orphanage in the slums...
No. Just thinking about the way she'd be treated is enough to depress me.
Where do you work out of, Zenos?
I was actually just kicked out of my old adventuring party.
So I've got nowhere to go.
Just like me, then.
For now, I guess I'd better look for a job.
Sorry, but... c-can I get some water?
That arm...
A bullet hole and a large burn. You were shot with a magic gun.
Yeah, I got careless, and they made me pay for it.
I just wish it didn't hurt so bad...
You're overreacting.
It's worse than a scratch, but it should heal in no time.
Buddy, what the hell are you on?
That said, it is pretty deep.
Including an incantation will probably be safer.
Heal.
What did you just do?
Who the hell are you?
Zenos is an amazing healer!
Zenos... I've never heard of such an awesome healer.
I appreciate it, man.
See ya around! I'm gonna remember you!
Why are you so quiet, Zenos?
You pay a restaurant for the food you get from it...
So does that mean healers can be paid for their services, too?
That sounds normal to me.
Right... Of course.
Thank you!
Remember how you said "thank you" when I healed you, Lily?
I think thanking someone when they help you is normal, too.
That settles it, then. I'm going to open up a healing clinic.
A clinic?
What you said really made me happy.
I'd never been thanked like that before.
But since I'm from the slums, I can't get a license,
and running a legit business will probably be tough...
In that case, I'd have to work in the shadows...
I'd be an underground healer.
An underground healer! That's cool!
You're so cool, Zenos!
I wanna help with your clinic!
Running a clinic without a license would be illegal.
Should I drag an innocent kid into something like that?
You already bought me, Zenos!
That makes you my master!
So I'm going to follow you!
I was just trying to help you...
So you paid for me when you were gonna just throw me out after?
I don't mean anything to you, huh?
Don't say stuff that could be misinterpreted.
Fine, but only until we find somewhere safe for you to live, okay?
Really?! That's great!
I'm going to take such good care of you, Master!
Seriously, mind the phrasing.
You really want to run your clinic here?
I don't see any sign of people.
That's because this part of town is abandoned.
Why pick it, then?
If I'm running an underground operation, I can't exactly do it openly, can I?
That makes sense! You're smart, Zenos!
And there are a lot of intact houses around here.
This one seems in decent condition.
Let's take a look inside, then.
S-Sure...
What's wrong? You scared?
It's just... I know about how monsters tend to be born in scary places like this.
What if we run into a wraith? We'll be done for!
A wraith?
They're the strongest undead monsters!
They look just like people, but they can kill you and turn you into a ghost
that has to obey them, just by touching you!
Zenos, hang on.
Holy lamplight that brightens the night,
become a dazzling shine that chases away the darkness,
and show me the way! Illuminate!
You can use magic?
Yep. Just simple stuff, though.
Wow, this place...
Yeah, it's not bad.
You really think so?
Yeah. I mean, it's got a roof.
Well, yeah, it does, but...
When I was in a party, I spent most of my nights outdoors alone.
The support beams are in great shape.
It just needs a bit of work to be livable.
You're really optimistic, Zenos.
I've already lost everything I had.
No sense in being negative now.
The aroma of life.
Give it to me.
Zenos, it's a wraith! We actually ran into one!
I guess this place was occupied.
This is probably the best property around here, after all.
Zenos, how are you so calm?
Heal.
I get it. So these are wraiths.
I've taken down a hundred or so of them.
When something was bugging Aston,
he'd send me into an underground labyrinth to cheer himself up,
and I ran into a lot of them there.
Which is how I know undead monsters are weak to healing magic.
I've heard even encountering a wraith means you die,
yet you fought a hundred?
Sorry, but this building really does look like the only option around here.
We'll stay out of your way, so do you mind if we move in?
What are you saying, you wretch?
Hurry up and surrender...
your life!
Heal.
Oh, sorry. You were trying to attack me, so...
I didn't mean anything by it.
Unacceptable.
No mortal has ever enraged Carmilla, queen of the specters, like this before.
Gather before me, my servants!
Slaughter these ignorant humans!
Zenos!
I was hoping to do this the peaceful way, but...
High Heal.
Wh-What is this?!
What in the world are you?!
Nobody important. Just an underground healer.
And I really am sorry.
We're okay with just a room to do our healing and one bedroom.
U-Use the first floor as you'd like!
But the second floor belongs to me!
You've got it. I really appreciate it.
We've got our clinic, Lily.
I really don't know if I should be happy or sad right now.
So bored...
Nothing wrong with that.
It gives us plenty of time to clean.
This place is actually starting to look like a real clinic now.
Even if we are sharing the building with a wraith...
I know, but...
Maybe I should go outside and advertise a little?
We went to the trouble of making this nurse outfit, after all.
But if we make ourselves too visible,
the royal hospital could find out about us.
But we won't get any patients at this rate.
Don't worry. They should be showing up any time now.
Really?
Is this Zenos's clinic?
Wow, he was right.
Good afternoon!
Wait... Huh? I've seen him before.
I figured you'd show.
You knew I'd come?
Someone with a magic gunshot burn isn't your average guy.
And people like that tend to have reasons for not wanting to visit a normal hospital.
My name's Zonde.
I was hoping you'd take a look at my sister today.
I hear you're supposed to be a real impressive healer, Doc.
You up for it?
I don't know about "real impressive,"
but I can examine you, sure.
My arm's been acting funny ever since I got shot.
It must've been a magic gun with a special poison effect.
The bullet's still in your arm and causing the flesh around it to decay.
You got all that just from looking at it?
I was almost made into a test subject for one once.
There must be some real psychos out there...
Definitely. Now that I think about it, I'm gonna need to get some payback one day.
So, can you fix me up?
Your arm is almost fully dead.
It'd be better to amputate before the poison can spread.
It is what it is, I guess.
How much do I owe you?
It'll be a million wen.
Say what?! You want a million wen for lopping an arm off?!
Easy there, Zonde.
Gotta say, you really play hardball, Doc.
You giving me that price knowing I'm Zophia the Tornado?
You're Zophia the Tornado?
I had no idea my first patient was such a big deal.
One of the three bosses who run the slums, leader of the lizardmen...
Hero to the downtrodden,
who steals from crooked merchants and returns a portion of it to the poor.
Asking a million wen for chopping an arm off.
How're you gonna justify that to me?
Because if you can't...
First of all, who said cutting off your arm was all I'd do?
No point in doing that if I don't generate a new one.
And regeneration is exhausting.
I'm never working for free again, understand?
I don't care if you're a big shot in the slums or a king.
I want fair pay for my labor from now on.
What are you saying?
I've never heard of a healer who can grow an arm back.
Other healers can't do that?
Are you serious?
I never had proper training, so I don't know what the standards are.
Do you mind if we get started?
Sure... If you can actually do it.
Scalpel.
Wh-What is that?
It's a blade made from mana. Very sharp.
It's also sterile, and I can summon it or dispel it at will.
I've never heard of a healer who uses something like that, either!
Really? Then how do they make incisions?
Cast a spell that heals over time on the affected area to numb the pain, and then...
Okay, now comes the hard part.
Defensive magic to control the bleeding while casting multiple healing spells...
Amplify the regeneration of the wounded area many times over.
First, the bones.
Then the nerves.
Blood vessels, muscles, and then skin...
There, all done.
I'm exhausted.
A rush job would've been easier,
but a perfect restoration really takes it out of me.
Great job, Zenos!
You've blown my mind.
I've never seen a healer like you before!
What's that?
That's our housemate. She's a wraith.
You live with a wraith?!
I was hoping you'd fail and she'd die.
I am ever so starved for life.
She seems kinda bloodthirsty, man!
Don't mind her. Deep down, she's a real softie.
Pretty sure she's not!
You're amazing, Doc. And hilarious!
I like you. Hope you don't mind me sending my people your way.
And, of course, they'll be paying.
Zenos, I made some tea!
Thanks. You're pretty considerate, Lily.
Praise me more!
I'm curious why you made three, though.
For me, you, and Carmilla!
You think she'll drink any?
Indeed I will.
Okay, guess so.
Careful not to burn yourself.
That is a good idea.
A wraith worried about burning herself on tea doesn't seem very scary.
I heard that. Would you like me to chase you off?
Ever since Zophia came by, we've been getting a lot of patients, huh?
We sure have.
And none of them have died, which is quite tiresome for me.
Hot! Hot, hot, hot!
So, Zenos, why are the lizardmen always injured?
Probably a beef with one of the other factions.
There's a three-way demihuman standoff in the slums,
and the fighting is ongoing.
The lizardmen, the orcs, and...
What was that sound?!
I think we're about to meet the third group.
You must be Zenos, the underground healer.
I'm Lynga, the boss of the slum's werewolves!
She's said to run all the illegal gambling in the underground.
Lynga the tyrant.
I keep running into these underworld big shots...
We're technically closed, but if it's bad enough,
I can provide emergency service.
The emergency here is you, Zenos.
No matter how bad we beat Zophia's lizards, they keep popping back up.
I thought it was weird, and then I learned about you.
Zenos, you seem to be quite the healer!
I'm just an unremarkable underground healer.
I don't even have a license.
I think I'm gonna kill you!
Are you listening?
Then no one can heal Zophia's men!
Hello?
Then I can beat Zophia!
Why didn't your head come off?!
You're not listening at all.
Lily, this is gonna get rough, so wait in the back room.
R-Right!
My defense magic is self-taught, too... but seems effective enough.
Impossible! Not even a scratch from my axe?!
Get 'im!
Yes, boss!
Hey. Can we stop now?
N-No, we can't!
Fine, then! All of you, take the building down!
Yes, boss!
Uh, I really wouldn't if I were you.
If we can't kill you, we'll take your clinic away!
She seriously doesn't listen at all.
Whatever. I tried to warn you.
A wraith!
It's a wraith!
A wraith!
You dare damage my home?
Now, suffer!
We're doomed!
Mommy!
Hang on, Carmilla.
I understand how you feel.
I'm pretty pissed about the clinic being messed up after I finally had it looking nice.
I don't see the issue, then!
Let me take their lives!
The second floor is yours.
If they make their way up there, have at it.
But the first floor is the clinic, and that's for saving lives,
not taking them.
I realize that! You are so irritating.
I appreciate you getting mad, though.
I-It wasn't for your sake!
This is my house.
And it's become more comfortable as of late...
The wraith... listened to him?
Sir Zenos! F-Forgive us!
We didn't know you commanded a wraith!
I don't, actually.
We werewolves are nocturnal by nature!
We're instinctively afraid of higher existences, like wraiths and vampires!
You command one, and we were so rude to you!
I don't really command her, though.
All of you, bow down!
Show Sir Zenos how sincere we are!
Yes, boss!
I guess I forgot that she just doesn't listen.
You're Zenos the underground healer, right?
The head of the orcs, Lady Loewe, would like a word.
Is she a new patient?
Turf War
"Turf War."