Dasha did not betray the former captain.
However, it seemed she took some pleasure in Samuel's betrayal.
Dasha said that after learning the former captain had to be sacrificed to realize the final authority, she erupted in rage toward all living beings on earth who knew nothing of that sacrifice.
Dasha did not resist Samuel's attack because the final authority had already failed.
Since it had failed anyway, she wanted to freely express her resentment toward the goddess, effectively surrendering her own life.
[Dasha resented the god who created her as a puppet, resented the goddess who sought to sacrifice the captain's soul, and resented all the peace in the world that knew nothing of that fierce journey.]
So if she had awakened in the present world after such a long time, she would have been enraged at everything on earth overflowing with life.
"If Dullahan had rampaged burning with vengeance, it certainly wouldn't be this quiet."
Dullahan ranked among the high-tier monsters, so if it went on a rampage with determination, chaos would surely ensue.
I nodded my head and pressed my index finger firmly between my brows to calm my troubled mind.
Right. Unlike the other knights who waited eagerly counting the days to meet the captain, if she died burning with resentment, it made sense that she alone awakened late.
Would the goddess dare to wake her, being anxious herself? When Dasha had even blamed the goddess who tried to sacrifice the former captain.
If she resented the gods, then resenting this world filled with the gods' creations was a natural course.
"If she hasn't awakened, where could she be sleeping?"
[......Dasha did not like places overflowing with life force.]
Soana's answer was too vague and broad to be useful. If she disliked places overflowing with life force, did that mean we needed to find sparsely populated or barren lands?
Unfortunately, the Empire's land was fertile. Everywhere was a place where life force overflowed. Where there were no humans, beasts lived; where there were no beasts, monsters lived.
Cities were definitely out, and should we also exclude forests where many beasts lived or monster habitats?
"Is there any barren land?"
Xenon thoughtfully spread a map on his knees. The large map was filled with various symbols leaving no empty space.
"Are you looking for barren land?"
"Yes. I'm told my next subordinate might be there."
At my answer, Xenon rubbed his lower jaw and fell into thought.
While Xenon and I put our heads together examining the map, Samuel, who had been watching from a slight distance, spoke up.
"It exists in the Montel territory."
"What?"
"There is an area called the 'Dead Land' in the Montel territory. It's a place where a certain radius has become barren and dead due to the toxic fumes from rotting monster corpses."
"How do you know that?"
"......As I mentioned earlier, I tracked criminals in that vicinity. The Dead Land can neither grow crops nor support human life, so it has no people. That's why it was an area where criminals often hid."
I spoke without hiding my surprise.
"I didn't expect your diligent past to be this helpful."
At my words, a faint smile appeared at Samuel's lips. At the same time, his gaze flicked toward Xenon. Xenon also pursed his lips as if conscious of that look.
I could tell without asking that this was an extension of the earlier confrontation. Truly an incredibly childish staring contest.
I didn't bother getting between them and instead examined the map.
Montel territory......
'Should I stop by the swamplands first, then head to Montel territory?'
After my disappearance was officially announced, no official search party was organized to find me.
Unofficially...... the Temple knew Samuel was moving with me, so there was no need to organize a separate search party.
The Imperial Palace probably didn't organize a search party either thanks to Heinrich, and Roam would be in no state of mind to organize one at all.
Like before, I wouldn't need to be overly sensitive about periodically changing my identity. I could deceive people moderately well.
If I changed my appearance with alteration magic and just briefly visited the necessary places in Montel territory, no particular complications would arise.
The only catch was that it felt unpleasant.
Montel was the territory of the Luejak family, and the young lady of the Luejak family was once my friend.
'It seems I can't avoid getting entangled no matter what.'
I couldn't completely escape the thread of fate that my birth had entangled me in. Perhaps because I was nominally a god.
I gathered my subtle feelings and removed my gaze from the map.
The carriage was moving at high speed. The destination was the Lizardman habitat.
* * *
「You will have a short life. Alone and lonely.」
The black shadow sobbed. Then soon transformed into a voice full of malice and mocked.
「You will eventually be alone, abandoned by everyone, and fall ill in loneliness.」
Kyahl-ahl, the sound of laughter burst out sharply piercing my ears. I felt a stinging pain inside my head, and soon the world spun.
Then the ground beneath my feet gave way and I felt myself falling.
"Hah."
I startled awake with a gasp.
Even after opening my eyes, everything around me was pitch black. I lay there blankly for a while before realizing after some time that I was currently camping.
"......Hah."
Realizing the shadow that had mocked me was a dream, I let out a long sigh and sat up.
After sitting for another while, I felt a damp and sticky sensation behind my back. I must have sweated profusely from cold sweat.
Since my resurrection, I've had all sorts of nightmares, so today's dream was nothing new.
It was just that the nightmare from the Rusalka and past events had mixed together to create an even more unpleasant afterimage.
"Tch."
I rubbed my forearms which had gone cold, then finally emerged completely from under the blanket.
During my stay at the Imperial Palace and Roam, I couldn't sleep for long stretches. Not just because of nightmares, but fundamentally because I couldn't sleep deeply.
The reason I couldn't sleep soundly despite having such soft and comfortable bedding was probably due to the discomfort of the location.
I thought I'd be able to sleep comfortably now that I'd left those places, but it seemed my mind wouldn't ease so quickly.
'I should cool my head before sleeping.'
When I came out of the tent, the first thing I saw was a campfire nearly extinguished. Even though it was a very faint flame, the surrounding area looked even darker because of the light.
Not far away, there was a rock I could sit on. I sat straddling it and tilted my head back.
"......"
The starlight filling the night sky twinkled as if about to pour down over my head. This was something I couldn't see well from the Imperial Palace or Roam.
As I stared blankly up at it, the sound of an owl reached my ears.
Occasionally, sounds of grass insects or beasts I couldn't identify—perhaps wolves—could be heard in the distance.
To others, they would sound like animals crying, but to me, all of those were voices.
Sounds calling to each other, conversing, singing.
Even at night, the world was this noisy.
「You will eventually be alone, abandoned by everyone, and fall ill in loneliness.」
To be alone, this world was filled with so many lives.
I realized anew what utter nonsense the Rusalka had spouted. Damn Rusalka. They really were all wiped out, right?
'If I find more elsewhere, I'll eliminate them on sight.'
No matter how much I disliked subjugating monsters, Rusalka were an exception.
While I was suppressing the old grudge that hadn't resolved even after killing all the ringleaders, I suddenly felt a heavy weight on my shoulder.
"It's cold, what are you doing without even a coat on?"
Startled, I turned around to find Xenon standing there.
My senses were several times more acute than ordinary people, so how did I not notice Xenon coming out of the tent?
Whether he knew I was flustered or not, Xenon draped what appeared to be his own large cloak over my shoulder and sat down slightly beside me.
"There are many stars."
Xenon said this, looking half-asleep.
I stared at him exclaiming over the sky with a voice still heavy with drowsiness, then pulled the cloak on my shoulder tighter around me.
"I'll use the cloak well, so you go back inside now."
"......I just came out."
"If you lie down, you'll fall asleep right away."
"No. I'm awake."
"That's the voice of someone sleepy to death."
The one who was awake was me. Xenon was still half-asleep, looking like he'd fall into deep sleep the moment he lay down.
I had suspected this since doing the ordeal training with Nesi that others didn't do—he was a man who could sleep anywhere he could lie down. The breathing and everything else was all an act.
"I came out because I couldn't sleep and thought I'd get some help from Anelli-nim."
I looked at Xenon making such stubborn claims with disbelief, then simply withdrew my gaze.
I didn't know why he wanted to be awake when sunrise was still far off. Was he planning to sleep in the carriage since we're traveling by carriage anyway?
"So what nightmare is it today?"
"Do you think I only have nightmares every day?"
"Wasn't it?"
......Actually, yes.
It was true, but I didn't want to admit it, so I snorted softly. Xenon didn't say anything in particular at my reaction.
Fiddling with the front of the cloak I was clutching, I rolled my eyes and glanced to the side. Just then, Xenon turned his gaze toward me and parted his lips.
"Have you found all your subordinates?"
"Just one more and it's done."
"What happens after you find them?"
Now that I thought about it, I had only told Xenon that I was going to Beladia Valley.
The stories about my past life or the Twelve Knights were too long and endless, so I couldn't even bring myself to start.
Among this group, Xenon was the one who knew the least about the current journey. It must have been quite frustrating, yet he never demanded explanations from me.
Realizing this, I felt a bit sorry toward Xenon. I decided to convey the key points as briefly as possible.
"I'm going to find heads for my Dullahans."
At my words, Xenon's half-closed eyes opened round. He blinked and looked at me steadily, then lowered his voice with a serious and solemn face.
"......If the Dullahans get their heads back, will the world end?"
I was left speechless.
Hey, I'm technically a resurrected being of a god. To immediately assume destruction without a shred of doubt......