When I said I wanted to look around the forest alone for a moment, Nesi expressed more concern than Xenon.
[There are many dangerous things in the forest. Make sure to scream. You are a temporary member of my pack, so as the leader, I will protect you.]
That steady voice naturally put my mind at ease.
I had given up on the resolution to definitely win him over, but it was still a shame. Ah, Nesi. This wolf with his fatal charm.
"Will you really be alright?"
"I've memorized the map."
I also bought several smoke beads that Xenon had. I packed a dagger I didn't even know how to use. My developed five senses would also help in detecting danger in advance.
"Memorizing the map doesn't mean you won't get lost."
"They said Nesi's sense of smell is excellent. Even if I get lost, Nesi will find me."
At my nonchalant reply, Xenon burst into a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.
"I envy Nesi for receiving such infinite trust."
"Nothing to envy. I trust your cooking skills too."
"......I definitely warned you."
Whether he sensed he couldn't stop me, he readily stepped back. It was fortunate he didn't make things troublesome.
If it had been Samuel instead of Xenon, the situation would have been very different.
Come to think of it, what is that man doing now? He's probably looking for me, right?
"I'll take care of my business as quickly as possible. I want to leave far away as soon as possible too."
It would be nice if I could obtain some fortuitous encounter and gain a dragon's cooperation.
With such futile thoughts, I plodded along. Walking while focusing on the sound of stepping on leaves, I suddenly looked up to see dense trees all around.
The presence behind me had disappeared, and before I knew it, I had entered the forest alone.
* * *
I ventured deeper into the forest, experiencing the chattering of mountain birds and the curiosity of rabbits and foxes.
I had received warnings that monsters might appear, but no such signs were visible yet. Originally, if there had been monsters, these small and weak animals probably wouldn't have been able to exist here.
Still, just in case, I periodically asked the animals I met about the identity of animals inhabiting the area.
[My mom told me not to go to the center of the forest!]
[My father said there's something terrible beyond the forest!]
I walked while listening to the mountain birds chirping and chattering away. Even that gradually disappeared as I went further.
The foxes and rabbits that had been following me with curious eyes also disappeared at some point. As the trees grew thicker, sunlight didn't penetrate, and the air became chilly.
It felt like something might pop out, but with nothing clearly visible, it was frustrating. Should I have tried to lure that fox or rabbit that was following me earlier?
After seeing Nesi, I must have developed a desire to find a magnificent animal like him. Animals like Nesi probably weren't common.
Stopping my aimless walk, I let out a long sigh. Considering the way back, I had to stop here. Going further didn't seem like there would be any animals.
The small animals said the center of the forest was dangerous, but they didn't seem to know exactly what was there. There was no need to jump into an unknown danger for no reason.
"Let's not be impatient."
It was when I was soothing myself and turning my body. At that moment, a strong cold energy wafted from behind.
Feeling goosebumps rise on the back of my neck, I slowly turned around, and a black horse that I didn't know how long it had been standing there came into view.
"......"
Someone was sitting on the black horse. Well-built, he was dressed entirely in black, and he had no head.
Wait, what?
"Head......"
I could see something like black smoke rising from the cut surface of the neck. Uh, I did want a fortuitous encounter, but...... I didn't expect a Dullahan to suddenly pop out.
Standing frozen with my mouth shut, a heavy voice resonated in my ear.
[You have finally appeared, Captain.]
Captain, me?
With the thought that it couldn't be, I hurriedly looked around. But there was not a single ant visible that could be called Captain by a Dullahan.
[I have waited a long time.]
Did I just become a Dullahan's captain because my head fell off and reattached?
"I think you've mistaken me for someone else."
I'm not sure if using the expression "see" to a headless Dullahan was correct, but......
Swallowing dry saliva, I answered cautiously, and the Dullahan gave an absurd answer.
[I have waited for rest.]
"Rest?"
[Yes. You will restore our rest, Captain.]
The resonating voice echoed not in my ears but in my head. The large Dullahan lightly jumped down from the black horse and approached me, kneeling.
[Ninth Knight wandering in search of his lost head, Nadab, pays his respects.]
Wandering in search of his lost head.
Only after hearing his introduction could I recall the commonly known information about Dullahan.
Usually, Dullahans were said to carry their heads under their armpits. But this Dullahan kneeling before me wasn't carrying anything. He looked somewhat threatening, but no killing intent was felt.
At least for now, he didn't seem to have any intention of harming me. But would that continue in the future?
"Nadab? Why exactly am I your captain?"
[Because you are the Captain.]
For a moment, it became difficult to manage my expression.
Goodness, communication wasn't working.
"......Alright. If you're the ninth knight, there must be other Dullahans too?"
[Knights seated at the round table are twelve, two among them have sunk into eternal darkness, and the remaining ten will wander without seeing the rest before their eyes; the one who will illuminate chaos is the Captain.]
What kind of nonsense is that? It's even harder than an oracle.
Mulling over Nadab's words with a sour expression, I folded my fingers and organized it systematically.
"So out of twelve, two seem to have died, and ten Dullahans are wandering, and one of them is you?"
[The others would have sensed the Captain's existence and awakened as well. However, please forgive them for not being able to come directly as they have no heads.]
Could this be related to my resurrection? Otherwise, there was no reason for this Dullahan to detect me.
"What do I have to do to give you rest?"
[By serving the Captain, the knights will regain light and finally find the right path to reach rest.]
"......Don't beat around the bush, let's summarize it simply."
Licking my dry lips, I asked, desperately hoping it wasn't what I thought.
"Are you asking me to find your head right now?"
[That is correct.]
......So I was resurrected to find the heads of ten Dullahahan?
I was so dumbfounded I couldn't speak. No, oh God. You said evil is running rampant. But I resurrected and these guys woke up.
"Do you obey my words?"
[Of course, Captain.]
"Then shall we destroy the temple to commemorate our meeting?"
[......Pardon?]
Talking like a resurrected one. I don't need any of this. I'm going to be a non-believer.
Nadab was unexpectedly a Dullahan who strictly respected religion. He very politely and earnestly dissuaded me, saying the temple was a sacred altar for serving the gods and shouldn't be destroyed.
I was genuinely disappointed. A monster, yet so well-mannered. Now not only animals but even monsters are better than people?
He, who had been wandering in darkness, declared that having met me, he would now follow me.
I couldn't bring myself to shatter his firm belief that he would find his head if he stayed with me, so I awkwardly created an escape route by saying there was no promise.
Since there was no way to shake off the Dullahan who wanted to follow me, in reality, I had no choice.
"So, is there a way to hide?"
[I cannot hide completely. But I can transform.]
"Transform?"
......And so, after a while, I returned with Nadab.
"Anelli?"
"Yeah."
"You brought an animal I haven't seen before?"
"Yeah, I met it in the forest."
"That wild horse?"
"Yeah."
I glanced calmly at Nadab, who had transformed into a black horse. Nadab, who seemed to have merged with the black horse he had been riding, approached silently by my side.
I wondered if Nesi would notice something strange, but he didn't seem particularly wary.
[I'm glad you returned safely.]
"For a wild horse, it's quite...... gloomy."
It seemed he couldn't hide it from Xenon's senses either. Suspicion and distrust were evident in his gaze fixed on Nadab.
He said even with his magical power sealed, he could still sense things.
"Do you feel something?"
"Yes."
"Strongly?"
"It's not strong, but it's an energy that someone of that level of skill would be able to feel."
Does that mean most mages we encounter would notice? That's a bit troublesome.
"Then how should I hide it?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm asking how to make this energy look like an ordinary horse."
At my serious question, Xenon frowned subtly. Maintaining an appropriate distance from Nadab while revealing his wariness, he answered in an displeased tone.
"I'm sorry, but could you first tell me what exactly you brought here?"
If I said I brought a Dullahan here, wouldn't Xenon immediately contact the Magic Tower with his communication device? That the true identity of the resurrected one was actually a witch who commanded monsters.
"......My subordinate."
Unable to find an appropriate expression, I hesitated for a moment, then recalled what Nadab had said earlier and answered quickly.
At that, Nadab, who had been standing obediently beside me, stomped and rolled his front legs.
[You acknowledge me. Thank you, Captain!]
Pretending not to hear Nadab's excited cry, I glared at Xenon.
No matter how much of a mage he was, he probably hadn't heard of a Dullahan who could transform into a horse.
So he wouldn't be able to recognize Nadab's true identity at a glance.
It seemed some dark energy could be felt, but I was confident that if I hid that well, I could keep the Dullahan who transformed into a horse without issue.
"So hurry up and tell me. A way for my subordinate to look like an ordinary horse."