Hearing him say that much, I felt slightly reassured. At the very least, animals did not lie. Especially if that wolf, overflowing with righteousness, considered him worth defending.
It left a bad taste in my mouth, but I decided to let it go. Honestly, his cooking had won me over too much to part ways over a single communication tool.
Animals were all well and good, but they couldn't cook for me.
At least for now, until I reached a city where I could find proper lodging and accommodation, I needed the man.
"So that's the famous sacred mark."
Bored, I removed my cloak, and the man spoke to me again. He must have seen my fully exposed nape.
"Sacred mark, my foot. This is just a trace from when I was beheaded."
"May I take a quick look?"
"No."
At my flat refusal, the man's expression turned awkward. He coughed awkwardly a few times before launching into a long explanation, as if making excuses.
"Honestly, when I heard about a beheaded person coming back to life, I laughed it off. Because without necromancy, the dead cannot be revived. And those raised through necromancy are...."
"Undead. Monsters."
"Yes. So when I first found you, I was half in doubt."
"Seems the Magic Tower doesn't believe in my existence at all."
"If you are truly a 'resurrected person,' I did think that perhaps some tremendous unknown magic had manifested."
So in the end, his point was the same as before.
"You want to confirm that?"
"Even with my magic power sealed, it doesn't mean I can't detect magic. Whether necromancy or anything else, if there are traces, I can tell."
"Still no."
I didn't care if my resurrection wasn't truly a god's blessing but some unidentified magic or necromancy. I had no interest. I didn't want to know how I was resurrected—principles, intentions, anything at all.
My voice dropped even lower than before.
"If you have unnecessary curiosity, say so now. We'll part ways."
I'd heard mages had extraordinary scholarly passion. Perhaps this man was the type to accept problems for the sake of unnecessary academic curiosity?
If so, I thought I should separate from the man quickly, even if it meant giving up the slight convenience I'd enjoy.
As I glared at him with a guarded expression again, he sighed and shook his head.
"I've certainly understood that at least your personality is terrible. Necromancy isn't my field of interest anyway, so let it go."
[This male avoids competition. That is why I, the leader, protect him. He will not fight with you either.]
Listening to the wolf's growl, I nodded. Perhaps surprised by how quickly I let my guard down, the man's eyes went round.
Then, fidgeting, he blurted out something embarrassing.
"I didn't think you'd believe me so readily."
What was he saying?
"I don't trust you. I trust the wolf."
"......So I can't even earn trust from a wolf?"
"Yes."
Compare what needs comparing. At my firm answer, the man looked back at the wolf with a sour expression.
But perhaps even to his own eyes, the wolf looked more trustworthy than himself, for he offered no rebuttal.
"So then, what should I call you?"
At my prompting, the man answered in a resigned voice.
"You can call me Zenon. And that wolf is Neshi. But you keep speaking informally to me?"
"I'm your employer. What grounds do you have to overturn that and receive my formal speech?"
"......None. Just do as you please. As if I'd want to receive formal speech from the Resurrected One and end up suffering divine punishment."
The discontented words tacked on at the end were nearly a mutter. But because they reached my ears clearly, I couldn't ignore them.
So this is the inconvenience of having developed hearing.
"Not that."
"Pardon?"
"Don't use such a terrible title."
Realizing I was pointing out 'Resurrected One,' Zenon wore a puzzled expression. Looking at me in bewilderment, he tilted his head.
"Then, Lady?"
To think that was the alternative he offered. My brows furrowed automatically. Was he determined to get under my skin right now?
"Are you joking?"
"What do you want me to say?"
"Annelie."
In the past, those who could call my name were limited. Family, lover, friends. Family was blood relations, so that was natural, but friends and lovers were all people I had carefully granted permission to use my name.
And now, all those who called my name had betrayed me.
"Just call me by my name instead."
So this name no longer held any value in being selective about who to show it to. I'd rather have everyone in the world call me Annelie. Because nothing else remained.
"Because I am neither a resurrected one nor the daughter of Roam."
* * *
The people of the Roam family each had one thing they obsessed over.
For my father, it was my mother. For my mother, it was the daughter who would become empress. For my sister, it was the position of family head. For my younger sibling, it was our mother. And I....
I thought I was obsessed with Makxel. I didn't know burning and passionate love, or romantic and sweet love. I just vaguely thought the emotion I held for Makxel was love.
If this feeling wasn't love, then what on earth was love? That was how I defined it.
My love seemed to differ in nature from the love of typical young ladies. Because I loved, I strictly maintained proper boundaries. I didn't lean on him.
I showed consideration that met my standards, and I hoped he would do the same for me. I thought the woman standing beside him couldn't be weak or soft. Because he was the crown prince. Because he would become emperor.
Makxel might assert that the emotion I showed him wasn't love. But it was love. There was no other word to express it.
If it wasn't love, I wouldn't be chewing over memories of you like this from time to time. Makxel.
[You can sleep in peace. My senses will keenly detect danger. I have never once let that male fall into danger.]
I slowly opened my closed eyes. Turning my head slightly, I saw Neshi lying prone before the campfire with only embers remaining. Neshi had both front legs crossed and rested his head atop them.
On the other side of the fire, Zenon was sleeping peacefully, even snoring. When I looked earlier, he'd fallen asleep the moment his head touched the ground.
No matter that Neshi was guarding him, to sleep so comfortably in a forest like this. I thought his dull nerves were truly enviable.
I turned my head to face Neshi directly.
"How did you two end up traveling together?"
[My mate wished for it. That this male return safely was what my mate and their master desired.]
"Ah.... I see."
If he had a mate, then no matter how I tried to lure him, I couldn't take him. I sighed in regret.
"Seems everyone at the Magic Tower raises wolves."
Muttering to myself, I suddenly imagined having a magnificent animal at my side.
It would be nice if I could also find a sturdy wolf in these mountains. But if I went around with a wolf, would I even be able to enter cities?
Just today we couldn't find lodging because of Neshi. How did Zenon manage to travel with Neshi? Surely he didn't always camp like this?
"Neshi, can you enter cities?"
[That male puts a collar on me.]
Neshi answered firmly.
Surely he doesn't use an appearance-altering magic tool on Neshi? That precious thing? But if they had something like that, why didn't he use it earlier?
"We were just driven out earlier."
[I heard the collar cannot be used continuously.]
Ah, so like the temple's treasures, that too had limits on uses or something. Even so, to use a precious magic tool like this. As expected of someone from the Magic Tower, he seemed to have no hesitation about using magic tools.
If I too obtained a wolf and put an appearance-altering magic tool on it and traveled around....
A hollow laugh escaped at the absurd thought.
No matter how much money I had, that was too grand a wish. Appearance-altering magic tools weren't easy to obtain, and if I got one, I'd have to change my own appearance first.
"Neshi is a summoned creature."
Surprised by the sudden interjection, I half-rose without thinking. Zenon still had his eyes closed.
"It's not exactly a spirit in the conventional sense... Actually, it's closer to storage than summoning. Putting him in a dimensional space and taking him out. But this fellow is a real wolf, so he can't endure long in the dimensional space, so I keep him with me as much as possible."
His calm explanatory voice held no drowsiness.
Had he woken from my chatter? I hadn't said much, so it likely looked like I was talking to myself rather than conversing with Neshi.
Even so, to speak so defenselessly.
Reflecting on my own carelessness, I asked quietly.
"Is dimensional space used in that way?"
"Of course, this is a tremendous waste. I can't store any luggage in the dimensional space because I'm putting this guy in. But even if I have to abandon all other luggage, I absolutely have to bring Neshi."
Zenon slightly opened his eyes.
"Neshi's partner is anxiously waiting for him."
"...."
Perhaps he added that circumstance because he was worried I wouldn't let go of my attachment to Neshi.
I couldn't see Zenon's expression clearly as he glanced at me. I didn't give any particular answer and instead pulled the blanket up.
The stiff, rough blanket didn't block the cold air well. Perhaps because of that, my body shivered slightly.
No, this chill I felt wasn't entirely due to the night air. My body trembled because that very devotion, which even a mere beast knew, was unknown to me and everyone around me who thought themselves so superior.
No, perhaps I even thought they would never know, forever.