Having already faced a threat to my life once, I suspected this might be a new approach by assassins.
But surprisingly, it wasn't. These people genuinely just wanted to offer me something.
Each time, Samuel stepped forward as my spokesperson. Just like now, when he had swapped places with Soana and was dealing with people through the open window on my behalf.
"Grateful for the offer, but I must refuse. There is an urgent matter to attend to, so we cannot delay."
From what I could gather of Samuel's explanation, he seemed experienced enough in dealing with priests and believers that he could respond smoothly even in situations like this.
'Well, even when I was at the imperial palace, he went around handling priests' messes.'
Moreover, everyone knew why I was wandering through the city and villages like this. There was no need for lengthy explanations—simply saying I was busy encompassed everything, which was truly convenient.
Generally, when Samuel stepped forward, people would reasonably accept and move on.
"Of course you must be busy, but surely you need to eat."
Not clinging like this, that is.
"As I said, we cannot delay."
"We won't hold you up for long."
Unlike others who had invited us to meals, the people standing outside now were quite persistent. They claimed to be sorry with words but showed no intention of backing down, making me wonder if assassins had finally approached.
Perhaps thinking the same as me, Samuel revealed wariness on his face and glared at the people.
"Whatever your intentions, they will not succeed."
When a naturally stern-looking paladin warned them with a hardened expression, the people flinched and instinctively stepped back.
Judging by appearances alone, we looked like we were unfairly pressuring those innocent residents.
"It's not intentions, but, um..."
The man standing at the very front, trying to show he was some kind of representative, stammered while glancing behind him.
His face clearly showing hesitation, his lips twitching, he finally seemed to make up his mind and took a step toward the carriage, lowering his voice.
"Is there anything inconvenient about your travels? Our lord is quite worried."
"...The lord?"
The lord's castle was located some distance from here.
This man was now indirectly conveying that the lord was coming here to meet me, or had already come.
The lord of the Montel Territory was Border Count Luejak. There was no way Border Count Luejak didn't know about the relationship between me and Lady Luejak...
The easily guessed situation made me laugh involuntarily. I changed my mind about leaving it to Samuel and staying quiet.
For something like this, shooting them down directly would be more effective than having Samuel do it.
"For a lord's invitation, there's not a single letter to be found, so anyone would think I'm being escorted as a prisoner. The upright Luejak has become a thing of the past. Coming here like this is no different from a rat."
When I asked in a voice mixed with mockery, the man started and opened his eyes wide.
I couldn't tell whether what surprised him was my insolent tone or the brazen content of my words.
"Well, I can't say I don't understand such petty behavior."
I rested my chin on my hand and smiled at the man.
"If you invited me officially and were officially rejected, rumors would spread throughout the country. How would you bear that shame?"
The man broke out in cold sweat, repeatedly wiping his forehead and neck with a handkerchief. However, despite his diligent efforts, his bangs ended up soaked with sweat.
If this man had any fault, it was simply meeting the wrong master, but that alone was no reason to treat him well.
I gazed at the man with cold eyes.
"You knew I wouldn't come if you revealed your name to invite me, so you pretended this was pure goodwill."
When I stated this, the man who had been frozen with a foolish expression finally came to his senses and waved his hands.
"We are truly grateful to the Resurrected One! This is sincere!"
He shouted, looking truly wronged. Of course, I believed that was probably true.
Simply because many villages had improved atmospheres just because I had passed through. The Resurrected One's reputation was such that I didn't even need to try to verify it.
The imperial citizens feared monsters. Among them, they were extremely afraid of Dullahan, which the Temple had specifically named as a rampant evil.
'So the Resurrected One who can stand against the rampant evil must seem like a god in their eyes.'
At least in the Montel Territory, I could guarantee that anyone who openly opposed me would be stoned in the marketplace.
Border Count Luejak couldn't be unaware of this atmosphere in his territory. For his part, conscious of the territory residents' gaze, he had to at least pretend to treat me well.
Regardless of whatever unfortunate past was entangled.
'Of course, I have no need to accommodate those circumstances.'
Whatever Border Count Luejak's situation was, it was none of my concern.
"Very well. Then go back and continue being grateful."
"But..."
"Surely the lord of this place isn't so petty that he can't bear a minor rejection of an invitation, when he lacks even the strength to protect his own territory's people?"
The man's face had turned red—not so much from anger as from looking guilty for hearing words he shouldn't have heard.
The man eventually mumbled and retreated. Watching him walk away with slumped shoulders, I pressed my temples firmly and leaned back against the backrest.
"We shouldn't stay in this village today."
Zenon, who had been quietly watching the situation from beside me, spoke casually. Samuel, having confirmed the people lingering in the distance, also agreed with Zenon's words.
Of course, I agreed with their opinions as well.
The problem was that even if we left this village, the lord's interest wouldn't easily fade away.
* * *
In the dark evening, once again Zenon sat before the fire for dinner.
Whenever they passed through villages or cities, he regularly replenished ingredients, and now he had secured enough of what he needed.
'What should I feed Lady Anelli today?'
Zenon tapped his lower lip with his index finger, falling into thought.
Recently, too many territory residents had been gathering wanting to serve food to Anelli, so Zenon secretly felt threatened.
She was already accustomed to his cooking, but if some new chef who appeared like a comet from somewhere were to catch her eye...
Thinking that far, Zenon clicked his tongue briefly and shook his head.
Experiencing the first love of his life, he was learning things about himself he hadn't known day by day.
For instance, he recently discovered that he was more jealous than he had thought.
'To think I can't even yield something like this.'
But seeing Anelli enjoy food he made was a pleasure only Zenon could feel.
Anelli eating food made by another human and liking it? How could he watch such a sight with open eyes!
"Still, tonight's dinner should be a bit grand..."
Zenon, going through fresh vegetables and recalling menus Anelli had particularly enjoyed, suddenly stopped his actions.
Quietly closing the lid of the box storing ingredients, he rose to his feet.
Samuel, who had been busy driving stakes to secure the tent, also looked somewhere with his hammer in hand.
Zenon was the first to speak.
"An enemy?"
"They're approaching too overtly to be enemies."
Since Anelli's assassination attempt, both men's tension had risen.
Of course, since Anelli always kept Dullahahan transformed as animals by her side, there would be no danger even if assassins came again.
But whether the Dullahahans stood guard or not, Zenon and Samuel maintained their own wariness.
"They are..."
The uninvited guests who had been approaching without hesitation finally revealed themselves through the bushes.
Judging by their attire, they weren't ordinary travelers. Zenon surveyed the armament of those at the front.
"Greetings."
In the darkness, silver decorations on the other party's uniforms sparkled, announcing their presence. The sword sheaths at their waists were also quite ornate.
For a time when night had fully fallen, wandering in the mountains was a rather loud and stiff attire.
"We know you must be surprised by our sudden visit, but could you spare us a moment? We are not bad people."
If people who came suddenly while one was camping declared they weren't bad people, who would readily believe that?
The parties themselves seemed aware of this fact, coughing awkwardly with slightly embarrassed faces.
"We came at this late hour because we were trying to catch you before you left. I am Knight Chandler Carol, serving Count Luejak. Please call me Sir Chandler."
Count Luejak, Sir Chandler—what did it matter. Zenon continued to glare at the other party with a dissatisfied face, remaining silent.
Of course, Samuel also showed no particular reaction to the other party's words.
Despite revealing their identities, the unrelieved wariness made Chandler look bewildered.
However, he soon composed himself and continued speaking.
"I heard that this morning our people tried to invite the Resurrected One but only offended your mood instead."
At those words, Zenon crossed his arms and muttered gruffly.
"I don't understand why you followed like this when you already knew."
Samuel also added in a cold voice.
"Seeing them at the imperial palace before, the Empire's nobles were generally shameless."
At least in how to treat that knight, Zenon and Samuel's attitudes were in perfect agreement.
Perhaps because they had argued so much—when a common enemy appeared, the two could naturally take turns in conversation without needing to coordinate.
"My, those who should know better are even worse."
"At this point, perhaps shamelessness is a qualification for imperial nobles."
"Wow, never thought I'd agree with a paladin's opinion."
"It must be the difference between knowing and not knowing human decency."
In truth, Zenon sometimes looked at Samuel and thought he was 'a fellow who doesn't know human decency,' but he didn't bother ruining the atmosphere by pointing that out now.
Instead, he glanced at Chandler, who stood silently with a rigidly frozen face.
He had expected him to immediately draw his sword in rage at the insulting mockery thrown in his face, but surprisingly, he stood there suppressing his emotions.
There must be a reason he was enduring like that. However, despite that admirable effort, Zenon wanted to drive them out quickly.
Just as Zenon was about to mock them again.
"You just had to send your dogs."
At the newly interjected cynical voice, Zenon let out a small sigh.
Damn, I was trying to send them away before Anelli came.