At Dasha's startled reaction and stern expression, even the other Dullahans who had been idling stopped what they were doing and looked this way in surprise.
Dasha, seemingly oblivious to the other Dullahans' gazes, spewed even thicker black smoke than before and spoke.
[Then we cannot know what will become of the Captain, can we?]
Well... that was true, but I had no idea how Dasha knew that.
I hesitated for a moment, then decided to first calm Dasha, who appeared somewhat agitated, rather than asking how she knew.
"......But Dasha, this is something you want too."
[I do not want it.]
Dasha answered firmly without a moment's hesitation.
[I do not wish for the Captain to be sacrificed by the Goddess's machinations any longer.]
Soana's words suddenly came to mind. Dasha was a knight who had resented the gods.
The Dasha before me now perfectly matched that description.
[If the Goddess's equal love for her creations requires the Captain's sacrifice, how can that be called the Goddess's mercy? What difference is there between birth and death?]
Dasha's rapidly flowing words were laced with deep distrust.
[This world does not honor the Captain's sacrifice. There are only those who do not know the value of their own freedom. All stories of this land were completed through the gods' games and deception. Why must we free the gods' toys?]
She didn't just resent the gods—she resented their fair love, they said. She had vented her fury at all earthly creatures who received that love yet knew no gratitude.
I couldn't say I didn't understand Dasha's feelings. But understanding and agreeing were distinctly different things.
I would exercise the final authority. Because completing that authority and gaining freedom was for these pitiful Dullahans.
They were poor souls who had endured for ages, bearing loyalty from a past life I couldn't even remember.
I looked steadily at Dasha and slowly parted my lips.
"I died once. My head was cut off. What revived me was death itself."
Now that I said it, the phrasing was rather amusing. Death revived me.
More accurately... perhaps it would be more correct to say that death took death away from me.
I had never thought about it before, but perhaps that could be true. In all that time, I had never been injured or endangered enough to feel a threat to my life.
So I couldn't even confirm whether I was truly capable of dying. But one thing was certain—I was no ordinary human.
If a severed head could reattach, perhaps death itself was not mine to control?
If so, the conclusion was clear: even for my own sake, I had to complete that authority.
"What my resurrection signifies is clear."
At my calm words, Dasha fell silent. After seeming lost in quiet thought, Dasha murmured in a low voice.
[If you break everything, there will be no creatures left to yearn for the Captain's freedom either.]
What?
Before I could even react, Dasha leaped onto her horse.
[Dasha!]
[Grab her, grab her!]
Tristan, who had been quietly watching, quickly lunged in front of Dasha. Bark and Palides also transformed into Dullahans and grabbed hold of Dasha, who was thrashing about, dragging her down from beneath her horse.
Seeing this, the skeletons threw themselves forward to help Dasha, clinging to Bark, Palides, and Tristan.
"......Mori, I think you need to help too."
[Y-yes!]
"I should summon Minte and Ganic too..."
While Minte was one thing, summoning Ganic would also bring the baby Lizardman, which I preferred to avoid if possible.
But seeing this chaotic scene, it was clear those three wouldn't be enough to suppress it.
I glanced at Mori creeping out of my pocket and extended my bracelet to summon Ganic and Minte. Both quickly assessed the situation upon seeing the noisy surroundings.
I looked at the even more chaotic scene ahead, now joined by the two Dullahans and the baby Lizardman that seemed to have grown a bit more during its time in subspace, then quietly pulled out a magic tool.
'Water would be better than fire... I suppose.'
Moments later, a massive pillar of water shot up from the dead land. It was huge enough to be visible from far away.
* * *
[Kyuuu!]
The baby Lizardman rolled around in the waterlogged puddle. Beside it, Ganic fidgeted anxiously and lectured on.
[I told you not to go in, the water is dirty. There's poisonous energy everywhere!]
[Kyuu kyuu kyuu!]
[I'm a sea turtle, not a freshwater turtle. So I won't be going in. More importantly, you're still young, so you shouldn't stay in water mixed with poison for too long.]
[Kyu!]
I could say with certainty that the baby Lizardman wasn't listening to a single word Ganic said.
I watched Ganic diligently delivering pointless lectures, then quietly turned my gaze away.
I had underestimated its power because it was an illegal magic tool, but the spell was stronger than expected, turning the entire area into a sea of water.
The fragile skeletons had been shattered and scattered everywhere by the water pillar.
Looking at the two skeletons' desperate figures fighting over a single leg to repair their broken bodies, I felt an inexplicable sense of guilt.
I hadn't intended to kill them from the start and had attacked moderately, but seeing this now, they looked even more pitiful.
"How is Dasha's condition?"
[Not good.]
Dasha, beaten by her own comrades, had briefly lost consciousness. Once their leader Dasha fell, the skeletons promptly surrendered as if they had been waiting for it.
Perhaps it was only natural, since it seemed they only attacked because of Dasha in the first place.
Minte went around among the skeletons, who had curled up after surrendering, maintaining discipline. From what I overheard, she was threatening to cremate them if they resisted again.
"Has the rampage not stopped yet?"
[Probably.]
Palides, who had experience losing her reason, sighed as she examined Dasha.
[Dasha is emotional, but losing her reason enough to defy the Captain is a different matter. This idiot.]
[Palides, you did that too last time.]
Tristan, crouching beside Palides, clicked his tongue and pointed out. At that, Palides retorted with an indignant voice.
[I did that to protect the Captain!]
[Dasha is the same.]
The Dullahans seemed to be consumed by the thought that they must protect their captain. Emotions learned from past events?
"Once she retrieves her head, will all these impulsive behaviors settle down?"
[At least she won't be as unstable as she is now.]
"Then will Dasha stay calm until she retrieves her head?"
[......]
I looked at Palides, who couldn't answer, and pressed my forehead. I was trying to endure a throbbing headache when Bark, who had been watching, chimed in enthusiastically.
[Still, it's fortunate that all the knights up to the last one have gathered!]
Perhaps because all the knights had gathered, Bark seemed quite excited. It wasn't just Bark—other Dullahans also showed subtle signs of excitement.
Mori, who had returned to snake form and was in the pocket, poked his head out and spoke.
[N-now Zigor and Soana and brother will come too, right?]
"Yes, if there are no major problems on that side, probably..."
I answered absentmindedly and then stopped.
Come to think of it. Now really all the knights had gathered.
Including Samuel, the traitor.
"Bark, by any chance, have your memories returned a bit?"
[Memories? I don't feel any major changes yet, but if all the other knights come, perhaps something will change?]
[I'm happy that we can finally show you our complete forms, Captain!]
After Bark answered as if it were nothing special, Palides followed with anticipation.
But worry came first for me. Because I couldn't even guess how they would react when they regained their memories and learned Samuel was a traitor.
Just Palides alone had already experienced a rampage upon seeing Samuel.
Back then I didn't know why, but looking back now, it must have been because she unconsciously recognized the traitor.
'Is this really going to be okay?'
My mouth felt unnecessarily dry. The best option would be to separate from Samuel before all memories returned.
"For now, it's better to send Dasha into subspace. Bark, you take Dasha and go in."
If Soana had been here, I would have entrusted Dasha to her.
Realizing anew the necessity of Soana, I found myself admiring the past captain's wisdom. There was a reason for taking Soana in. Good thing I didn't drive her away.
"Tristan, Palides, and Minte too."
At my words, Tristan asked back in surprise.
[Excuse me? All of us go in?]
"Yes."
[But I'm the Captain's guard knight!]
Palides, who had transformed into human form, said urgently, but I shook my head.
Palides was precisely the first knight who needed to go into subspace right now.
In case the memories returned.
"Mori will guard me."
[M-me?]
"Yes."
Because Mori was the knight who remembered everything.
Which meant he had known for a long time that Samuel was a traitor, so there was no danger of him being newly shocked and running amok.
At my firm words, Palides stood frozen as if struck by shock, and Minte spoke worriedly in her place.
[I can move more freely than Mori.]
[It's definitely because of portability that he chose Mori. I knew it from the moment he insisted on staying in that pocket.]
[If portability is the issue, Tristan is small too.]
[If I go into a pocket like that, my wings will tear!]
While Minte and Tristan conversed, Palides, who had composed her gloomy feelings, approached the bracelet obediently.
She didn't forget to give earnest advice in a serious voice.
[In an emergency, just throw Mori and the pocket at the enemy, Captain.]
I hadn't known that entrusting my safety to Mori was such a tremendous matter. Even Ganic gave Mori earnest instructions before entering subspace.
"......They really don't trust you much."
[I-I didn't have much talent for combat compared to the other knights.]
"Don't worry. I won't make you fight. I don't think a fight will break out right away anyway, and if it gets urgent, I can just resummon anyone."
Despite my words, Mori looked around with anxious eyes. Fortunately, before entering subspace, Minte had firmly established discipline, and the skeletons watched us docilely.
Rather, seeing Dasha enter my bracelet, they looked even more frightened.
[Great Captain! If there is anything you wish us to do, please command us!]
......Judging by the title, they certainly had no hostility.