News from the imperial palace was something I could not hear unless I asked Heinry directly.
Though I kept in touch with Heinry from time to time, unless I asked first or it was something I needed to know, Heinry did not bother to bring up such topics on his own.
Because of that, I did not know specifically how things were going at the imperial palace these days.
The rumors circulating in the village, of unknown origin, were difficult to verify as true or false, so I did not bother to listen to them.
More important than that was the last Dullahan I would soon meet. The last knight, Dasha, who was expected to be sleeping in the dead lands of Montel territory.
Before moving to find Dasha, we stopped briefly at a small village. It was to meet up with Samuel.
Fortunately, Samuel appeared before a day had passed.
"I thought I'd be back quickly, but it took longer than expected."
Samuel, who opened the door and entered the lodgings, was no different from when we had parted.
Since he was later than expected, I wondered if he had encountered bandits on the way, but that didn't seem to be the case.
"On my way here, I received a message from the High Priest, so I was delayed for a moment."
He said that and set down his own bag. It was definitely something that hadn't been there when we left.
"What is that?"
"Seeing that you've come this way, I figured you're planning to move to the dead lands now."
What Samuel took out was a choker.
"Holy Knights receive training to resist the poison of monsters. But since you might not be prepared, I brought something that could help."
Come to think of it, I had heard that the reason the 'dead lands' became dead lands was because of the poison gas from monster corpses.
I obediently accepted the choker from him. The leather wrapping around the neck was white. As I quietly gazed at it, I calmly parted my lips.
"Sir Samuel, I've stolen treasures from the Grand Temple before, so I know a thing or two."
"Stolen... what?"
"This looks like a temple treasure, am I right?"
Temple treasures were magical tools. The reason the temple, which had a bad relationship with the Magic Tower, kept magical tools as treasures was because these were excavated from the temple.
In other words, this was not made at the Magic Tower but was an item created long ago by someone from the temple and passed down.
"...."
This was why the temple claimed that magic was also the power of god. Since such magical tools were excavated from the temple, they claimed that magical power was also a power bestowed by god.
The Magic Tower mocked that claim, arguing that it was proof that god did not exist, but still.
Anyway, as far as I could see, this was indeed a temple treasure. And temple treasures were different in quality from magical tools typically in circulation.
But the most important thing was that most treasures were one-time use magical tools.
"It's a reliable item."
"No, this is a temple treasure."
"I received it while handing over the sinners, as an added bonus."
"So I'm saying it's a temple treasure."
"There is nothing more certain than a temple treasure for blocking monster poison gas."
"But you won't be able to use it again after one use."
The High Priest knows about this, right?
Even if I was someone who had stolen temple treasures and run away in the past, still. I didn't want to steal a second time.
When I looked at Samuel with skeptical eyes, he opened his mouth as if making an excuse.
"Actually, the temple offered it gladly. Since they know who I'm on an unofficial pilgrimage with, they would rather want the temple treasure to be actively used."
When he said that much, what could I do?
Just as I nodded and was about to put the choker around my neck, Xenon, who had briefly stepped away, saw this scene and came running over.
"What is this?"
"Ah, Xenon. Did you check the carriage?"
Xenon had been moving busily, saying he needed to inspect the entire carriage that had been hidden deep in the bushes for several days.
He answered my question perfunctorily, then narrowed his eyes and glared at the choker in my hand.
"This is not a magical tool certified by the Magic Tower."
"This is a temple treasure."
Samuel answered directly with an unpleasant expression. At those words, Xenon frowned even more.
"A temple treasure?"
"The dead lands are filled with poison gas, so they say a magical tool is needed. By the way, is there no magical tool for Xenon?"
Samuel was a Holy Knight full of divine power, so that was fine, but what about Xenon?
At my question, Samuel glanced at Xenon with a sullen look. Then reluctantly opened his mouth.
"If he's a skilled magician, that level of poison gas shouldn't be a problem."
Did that mean if one struggled with poison gas, one had no skill?
Perhaps thinking the same as me, Xenon looked at Samuel with annoyed eyes.
"If it's poison gas that thing can withstand, I can withstand it too. But Holy Knight."
Xenon's gaze turned to the choker again.
"Why are you giving Lady Anelli an item with location tracking on it?"
"All temple treasures have location tracking on them."
Ah, then the appearance-changing magical tool I stole from the Grand Temple before must have had location tracking magic on it too.
As I touched the soft leather, thinking such thoughts, Samuel explained to me.
"Anyway, the temple's tracking technique cannot be performed by just anyone. Originally, unless it's registered as a stolen item, it won't be a problem."
That's right. If anyone could track it, they wouldn't have had such a hard time finding me when I ran away with the temple treasure.
But this would mean Samuel had the ability to track my location through this choker.
When I didn't put on the choker and just looked down at it, Samuel added.
"It's an item containing the power of purification. It's an item that immediately purifies impure air when the wearer is exposed to it. Each time it activates, the color will turn black, and when its power is completely exhausted, the leather will break."
Nodding at Samuel's words, I glanced back at Xenon. Xenon, who had been looking at the choker with disapproving eyes, said in a sour tone.
"It is a purification magic, that much is true."
"Then instead of using such a precious magical tool, can't Xenon just cast a spell on me?"
"Purification magic is... not something just anyone can do. That's somewhat, a matter of innate talent."
Seeing Xenon speak that way, it seemed like it really was a difficult matter.
The reason for going to the dead lands was to collect Dasha, who might be there.
So I absolutely had to enter that place, and if the poison gas was dangerous, I had no choice but to use even a temple treasure.
I finally put the choker around my neck obediently.
A soft touch wrapped around my neck. It was firm yet flexible, and I couldn't tell at all what kind of leather it was.
At the same time as a clicking sound rang in my ears from the back of my neck, I had the illusion that the surrounding air became pure.
"Oh."
It wasn't an illusion.
I glanced at the door outside where the smell of hay had been drifting in. I didn't expect to confirm the function this way, but it was really making the air pure.
Breathing out more comfortably, I fiddled with the leather with my fingertips.
"The effect is good."
Now that we could block the poison gas, the remaining task was to meet Dasha.
I spread out the map.
We should be able to arrive at the dead lands by the day after tomorrow at the latest.
I hoped Dasha would be there.
However, the next day, we couldn't depart as scheduled. It was because of ominous rumors that swept through the streets.
It was news that a rampaging Dullahan had appeared in Montel territory.
* * *
[...It's Dasha, right?]
[Probably.]
The Dullahans whispered in depressed voices. They had been like that ever since hearing the story about the rampaging Dullahan.
[That idiot. Just wait a little until we get there. Couldn't control his temper.]
Minte muttered with annoyance, but also with worry in his voice.
Soana, who was sitting across from him, was silent for a while before speaking to me in a stiff voice.
[I'll go check.]
"Where?"
[To Dasha. If he's rampaging alone and attacking humans, I need to go quickly and calm him down. If I move alone, I can fly and arrive quickly.]
It was indeed important to calm Dasha quickly, as Soana said.
The rumor currently spreading far and wide was that a rampaging Dullahan was indiscriminately attacking villages and farms.
The guards, knowing how strong a monster it was, didn't dare to confront it, and were said to be waiting for Holy Knights to be dispatched from the temple.
If Holy Knights were dispatched, Dasha would also suffer great damage. Divine power inflicts the most certain wounds on monsters.
"You said you can't sense the aura of other knights. It would be troublesome if you get left behind by moving separately. Besides, he moves elusively, right? Since we can't even pinpoint where he appears, I can't just send you out randomly."
After shaking my head firmly, I crossed my arms and sank into the chair.
How long had I been looking out the carriage window? I saw Samuel returning after briefly stepping away to communicate with the temple.
"How did it go?"
"I've stopped them from engaging the Dullahan in direct combat. They'll move with the evacuation of the empire's citizens as their top priority."
I, who had been worried that the temple might send dozens of Holy Knights to catch a single Dullahan, finally felt relieved at those words.
"The fact that you subdued a Dullahan alone at the imperial palace was a great help."
"Did you tell them I'm going?"
"I had no choice."
Samuel answered with an apologetic attitude.
I didn't particularly intend to reproach him. Now that it had become so publicly tumultuous, I too had to appear publicly.
"Anyway, I have to come forward for that guy's safety too."
Though they called the Holy Knights, people were probably waiting for the Resurrected One to come.
And my guess was exactly right. It had to be right.
Because Heinry leaked footage of the subjugation force being defeated by the Dullahan.
With footage spreading of soldiers, knights, and magicians all trembling with fear at the Dullahan, the empire's people started chattering that someone specially chosen was needed to deal with the rampaging Dullahan.
Someone specially chosen.
The Resurrected One resurrected by god himself.