Though an assassin had suddenly changed our schedule, I hadn't thought I would end up separated from Soana.
Durahans could sense each other's presence to some degree, so I assumed Soana would likewise detect her comrades.
That was why I was somewhat taken aback when Soana, after wandering for quite a while, finally found me with the guidance of sparrows.
"……You couldn't sense the presence?"
[Yes.]
Soana smiled awkwardly, as if embarrassed.
[I was originally a clergy member who served Birth. The Captain granted me freedom, but the price of betrayal was mine to bear.]
The phrase "price of betrayal" sounded quite bitter to my ears.
"Then you should have told me before we departed."
[I naturally assumed you would be waiting in the village.]
"Ah…."
I soothed Soana by acknowledging her hardship. She lowered her head without any sign of resistance.
Rather, it was the other Durahans who were surprised by the fact that Soana had almost failed to join them. I could see the Durahans sidling up to Soana and making various remarks.
[Soana, thank goodness you found us!]
[From now on, Soana, you mustn't stray far from us!]
Soana was listening to the Durahans' words with a gentle and alluring smile.
Palidis, who had been watching from near the driver's seat, approached me quietly and asked.
"Shall we depart again now?"
"Rest a bit more. Everyone seems startled."
When I told Palidis to rest as well, she also went to Soana and chattered away.
I found a spot nearby and sat down, watching the Durahans absently.
'Knowledgeable and kind, a teacher like a mother.'
I could feel that not only Mori and Jigor but all the Durahans relied on Soana. It was different in nature from the blind devotion the Durahans felt toward their Captain.
It was more like… a familial feeling?
'Familial.'
The expression that came to mind unbidden felt amusing. I didn't even know what familial felt like, yet I attached such a word to it.
"That subordinate has a different feel from the other subordinates."
Zenon, who had gone to wash his face to drive away drowsiness during the rest, plopped down beside me and opened the conversation.
"You see it that way too?"
"Yes."
Saying it was exactly like a mother and her children, Zenon let out an exclamation of wonder.
Listening to his words, I recalled what Palidis had said.
Once, she had said she was glad I paid more attention to her, and spoke about the past Captain.
「In the past, we couldn't even dare to cry in front of the Captain….」
Ah, the past Captain was busy caring for all things in the world and didn't specially look after the Twelve Knights.
It was Soana who had looked after the Twelve Knights instead of the past Captain.
That was what "mother-like" meant.
'So that's why.'
So that's why they have such an unreserved feeling.
Those guys who tried so hard to please me were like that in front of Soana.
I nodded as I came to understand the Durahans' attitude, then suddenly stopped. Because of a question that popped into my head.
'With someone so calm and proper, why….'
In the first place, why did Soana return to her original Durahan form in front of Cheche? She didn't seem thoughtless enough not to know what could happen from such an act.
To say it was simply to escape the trap… it seemed like she could have thought of other methods without having to transform into her true form.
I, who had been watching the Durahans blankly, slowly parted my lips.
"Mori."
Mori, who had been with the other Durahans, turned around sharply at the call. Noticing that I had called her, Mori wriggled her small body and approached.
I placed tiny Mori on my palm and stood up. When Zenon asked where I was going, I made the excuse that I was also going to wash my face, and I saw Soana glance this way slightly.
However, without any particular words, she focused on conversing with the Durahans again with a smile.
I arrived at the stream where Zenon had washed his face and set Mori down.
At my sudden action, Mori's bewilderment was evident. I could clearly see her rolling her black eyes here and there, gauging the situation. She seemed to be wondering inside if she had done something wrong.
"Mori."
[Yes, yes?]
"I have something I'm curious about."
[Yes!]
Mori nodded visibly relieved that this wasn't a place for interrogation.
I gazed at such Mori absently, then glanced back. I could see the Durahans chattering noisily a little distance away.
Soana, surrounded by them, too.
"How did Soana die?"
[What?]
"In the past, how was Soana killed?"
Perhaps it was an unexpected question, Mori couldn't easily open her mouth.
[Well….]
"You said you remember everything."
[Yes, yes.]
"But your memory would only be until the moment you were alive."
[Yees….]
"Did you see Soana die?"
Confusion filled Mori's eyes.
That answer was sufficient. I extended my palm to Mori again. Taking Mori, who climbed onto my palm even while flustered, I returned to the group.
Seeing me return, Soana urged the Durahans. Listening roughly, it was a suggestion that they should depart now.
"Captain, shall we depart now?"
Palidis asked in a lively voice. I answered by nodding my head.
Soana said she would fly and follow the carriage and flapped her wings. Some Durahans went into my bracelet, and others boarded the carriage.
Minte went to Palidis, who found sitting alone in the driver's seat boring.
"Lord Anelli, weren't you going to wash your face?"
Zenon, who had brushed off and stood up, approached quietly and spoke in a low voice.
When I looked at him without speaking, he hesitated for a moment then continued.
"There's no moisture on you at all. Is something the matter?"
A faint worry was evident in Zenon's voice as he asked. I shook my head and replied calmly.
"Nothing."
I looked up absently at Soana who had flown into the sky, then turned my body toward the carriage.
* * *
The Lizardman habitat was drawing near.
Soana, flying high, couldn't miss it. Because everything was visible in her field of view.
It had always been that way. She had seen many things and strived to understand them.
'That's the place.'
A wetland with water plants growing sharply out of the dull gray water was visible in the distance.
This was the place they had come to release the baby Lizardman Ganik was caring for, wasn't it?
Soana glanced at the carriage visible as a dot.
The road extending to the wetland looked flat. Perhaps they could take the carriage quite close to the water's edge.
Palidis was driving the carriage. Palidis was a proud knight, but now she was in the appearance of a coachman clumsily learning the work. While listening to Minte's advice beside her.
That Nadav wasn't chosen as the horse to pull the carriage—should I call that fortunate?
'Everyone has truly become quite an absurd sight.'
Soana suppressed the sigh that habitually rose and flapped her wings largely.
Looking briefly beyond the mound, further than the wetland, she then casually circled through the sky.
Then she descended at a not-too-fast speed. Though it was above the running carriage, she landed relatively easily.
[We'll arrive at the wetland soon.]
When Soana spoke gently, Palidis opened the window attached to the back of the driver's seat.
"Captain! We'll arrive at the wetland soon!"
[We'll get to see Ganik cry!]
Jigor's cheerful voice came from inside the carriage. Soana's eyes softened.
Jigor was truly cute, whether in the past or now. Mori was the same. Despite having such monstrous appearances, the two knights still looked like babies in Soana's eyes.
Was it only Jigor and Mori? Palidis, Minte, Nadav, Bak, Tristan, Ganik—all were the same.
All were precious knights. Precious Knights of the Round Table.
Knights who dreamed of freedom and longed for rest, and for that end, served the Captain with all their hearts more than anyone.
"Huh? Stop?"
Soana, who had been lost in old memories for a moment, snapped to attention. Because Palidis had suddenly pulled the reins hard and stopped the carriage.
"Captain, what's the matter?"
Palidis immediately examined the inside of the carriage with a serious voice. Minte also stuck her head out and examined the inside of the carriage through the window.
It was obvious that the Durahans inside the carriage would also be in an uproar. Whatever the matter, their Captain seemed to have ordered the carriage stopped with their destination right before them.
Soana waited calmly, sitting on top of the carriage.
After a while, the sound of the carriage door opening was followed by their Captain appearing.
Soana's gaze also naturally turned toward the Captain.
From the reunion at the rock mountain, Soana had thought the Captain's gaze was quite cold and dry.
While the past Captain was someone who caressed all creation with warm eyes, the current Captain observed all creation with indifference.
She could know that without needing to look long. When Soana shook off the baby falcons, the former Captain would never have shown such a reaction.
「More clear-cut in personality than I thought.」
The back of the Captain, who passed by after saying just that one phrase in a calm voice, was certainly different from the Captain in her memories.
But was it unfamiliar? Actually, no.
Their Captain was the same person, whether in the past or now. Most sadly so.
[Captain, what is the matter?]
Soana asked the Captain, shaking off her thoughts. The Captain, as if not hearing Soana's question, was suddenly sending Minte and Palidis into subspace.
Was she planning to abandon the carriage and approach on foot? Even so, why send all the Durahans away?
Though she felt puzzled, Soana didn't ask. Instead, she also prepared to enter subspace.
However, for some reason, after sending even Palidis into subspace, the Captain said nothing to Soana.
[Captain?]
The Captain, who had been fondling the glittering bracelet with one hand, glanced up and looked at Soana.
It was a gaze that saw everything at the same temperature. Like in the old days….
No, now it wasn't like the old days. The past Captain never looked at her this directly. Not just her, the Captain never looked at any of the knights like this.
"Soana."
[Yes, Captain.]
"Do you hate me?"