After joining up with Zenon and Samuel, the journey proceeded smoothly.
Samuel no longer pestered me with talk of giving me the Temple's treasures, and thankfully, the Durahans, having regained the traitor's memories, did not run wild.
"I will cast a temporary appearance alteration spell on you, but unlike a magical artifact, it isn't perfectly stable. However, it should hold sufficiently until we leave the territory."
Since Zenon seemed apologetic about the unstable magic, I patted his shoulder to convey that it was fine.
Not only I, but Zenon and Samuel as well had shown their faces to the outside world as much as I had.
Since he had to cast appearance alteration magic on three people simultaneously, it wasn't something I could blame Zenon's skill for.
Instead, I hurried even more to leave Montel Territory. Once we exited the territory, we could enter the foothills of the Trebi Mountain Range immediately, and then there would be no people around.
"Huh?"
And it was just as we were leaving Montel Territory that I sensed something strange about the bracelet.
"Why is it acting like that?"
Zenon's gaze was fixed on my wrist. Only after his pointing it out did I notice that the bracelet was glowing.
Even normally, when Durahans were inside the jewel, it would shimmer. But differently from that, right now it was shining more brightly.
To my eyes, it was just that the light had grown slightly stronger, but Zenon seemed to feel something different.
"I think you should take that off for a moment."
Eventually, Zenon advised me to remove the bracelet.
"Here? Now?"
It was daylight and we could still travel further. Now that all the Durahans were gathered, I needed to reach the destination as soon as possible and part ways with Samuel.
As someone who wanted to arrive even a day earlier, I didn't want to delay even for a moment.
However, Zenon not only stopped his horse completely but actually dismounted.
"The magical energy is unusual. Please give it to me for a moment. I'll examine it."
When he put it that way, it seemed there was indeed some problem.
"What's wrong?"
"The magic circle hasn't been erased, but."
Zenon, who had been examining the magic circle inscribed in a very fine size inside the bracelet, murmured in a puzzled voice.
Samuel, who had been watching Zenon's actions, tossed out a remark.
"Does that magical artifact also have a lifespan?"
"That couldn't be. This is a top-grade magical artifact that could arguably be called permanent."
"There are spatial magical artifacts among the Temple's treasures as well. If you need one, I'll prepare it for you."
Seeing Samuel seizing the opportunity to push the Temple's treasures at me made me let out a hollow laugh.
Ignoring Samuel's words completely, Zenon, who had been examining the bracelet with narrowed eyes, ultimately failed to find any major issue and returned it to me.
"I'll ask Dekin separately later."
"Alright. Not now, but when we make camp later. I want to leave this place quickly right now."
We hadn't entered the mountain range foothills yet. I didn't think my frightened Frisian sister would send people after me, but with Lillia, there was no telling what she might do.
Lillia had targeted me even in front of everyone watching.
I don't know if it was stupidity or a complete lack of even the most basic rational judgment to assess her surroundings, but one thing was certain—she wouldn't back down like this.
With the Durahans potentially becoming unstable at any moment and attackers possibly getting involved, I didn't want to cause unnecessary commotion.
Perhaps my impatience showed on my face, as Samuel tentatively spoke to me.
"Is there a need to hurry?"
"There's no reason not to hurry."
"Do you know what will happen to you when you arrive there?"
Samuel's words were an unnecessary observation. A topic I didn't particularly want to bring up. Especially in front of Zenon.
Sure enough, Zenon, who had been about to mount his horse, looked back at me with round eyes.
I looked at Samuel with an annoyed expression and reluctantly parted my lips.
"You speak as if you know, Sir."
"Since you're trying to finish what you couldn't end in the past, I can guess."
Zenon, sensing the unusual atmosphere, asked cautiously.
"……What does that mean, Lady Aneli?"
"It's nothing. I don't know why we're having this conversation when the destination is right before us. I want to depart quickly."
I replied curtly and grabbed Nadav's reins. Zenon looked unconvinced, but seeing me in a hurry, he seemed inclined to follow my wishes for now.
However, Samuel's loose lips didn't stop.
"I am predicting the possibility of death."
Zenon, who had been about to mount his horse, faltered.
"Sir Samuel."
Even at my warning tone, Samuel persisted stubbornly.
"Don't you think so as well?"
Zenon's face, which had been blankly looking back and forth between me and Samuel, turned pale.
"Death? Whose?"
"Sir Samuel!"
Samuel didn't react to my sharp call. He just continued speaking resolutely toward Zenon.
"If I told you that Lady Aneli might die at the end of this journey, would you help with that?"
"What?"
"Will you just stand by and watch her walk into an uncertain future?"
Zenon didn't answer. However, I could tell without hearing it from his mouth. It was an obvious answer anyway.
He had feelings for me, and therefore, naturally, he wouldn't want my death.
If, after exercising the final authority at Belladia Castle, I might die……
Would Zenon, like Samuel in the past, try to stop the completion of the authority? I wasn't sure.
But one thing was certain—Samuel had deliberately brought this up now.
Samuel…… seemed to have concluded that my death would exist at this end.
He probably had his own clear grounds for reaching that conclusion.
"Haah……."
I rubbed my throbbing forehead and let out a long sigh.
In the end, the smooth journey came to a halt right before the destination.
* * *
The sensation that had allowed Samuel to know where Aneli was grew fainter and fainter, and by the time they nearly reached the Trebi Mountain Range, it had completely disappeared.
If Aneli were to learn this fact, she would separate herself from him without hesitation and hide her tracks. Samuel guessed this without difficulty.
So he didn't reveal it. Instead, he wondered why this phenomenon was occurring.
After a brief contemplation, he reached a conclusion.
'Because there's no longer a need to detect the resurrected one's presence.'
In a way, it was a simple but most certain and clear reason. The necessity had disappeared.
The duty given to Samuel was to guide her to the designated place.
After that, there was no need for Samuel to detect her presence.
But was that all?
Exercising the final authority and granting true rest to all created beings meant that the resurrected one's duty also ended.
'If the resurrected one's duty ends.'
After it ends, would the goddess allow her life? Would the life force of the body that died by beheading be maintained after everything was finished?
Perhaps because she would no longer exist on this land, that was why he could no longer detect her either.
'Rest is fair to all.'
Like the Durahans, Aneli would obtain rest. If so, what exactly was the rest she desired?
Samuel remembered Count Ruejak who had fawned over Aneli, Heinri and Lillia with their envious expressions.
Looking at this world full of people who only sought to use her until the very end, how would Aneli complete the final authority?
"Sir, have you gone mad?"
Samuel gazed with composed eyes at Aneli standing before him. She, who normally wouldn't bat an eye at most things, wasn't bothering to hide her anger now.
Aneli was this angry because of Zenon. Because of that ignorant man who knew nothing and was helping Aneli.
Samuel had watched all these reactions up close all this time. So how could he not know?
"Why are you saying such things suddenly? Sir, your duty is to guide me to Belladia Castle. Have you forgotten?"
"I know."
"Knowing that, you still do this? Are you trying to repeat the past life's events now?"
Though her voice wasn't loud, it was sufficient to express her anger. Samuel fell silent for a moment, then slowly spoke.
"I merely spoke of a possibility."
"Ha, a possibility? You're trying to drag Zenon in to achieve your purpose."
"That is also correct."
"What?"
Samuel, who had been gazing at the dumbfounded Aneli, lowered his eyes.
One corner of his chest sank heavily.
"Because you wouldn't listen even if I said anything anyway. But that man……."
Zenon was currently away for a moment. Having overheard what he said to Aneli, it seemed he had gone to think alone for a while.
Though Samuel had always been at odds with Zenon, he understood the emotions he must be feeling now. Because they were probably the same emotions Samuel himself had felt in the past.
Samuel glanced at Zenon's horse tied there, then lowered his gaze back to the ground.
"You cherish him, so you'll be swayed by his words."
Aneli had never asked Samuel for favors. She didn't make requests without price or unreasonable, emotional pleas.
But there was clearly a difference when she dealt with Zenon. She felt comfortable with Zenon, and perhaps she even cherished him.
Or perhaps, even deeper feelings.
"Why are you going this far?"
"……Like in the past, because it seems you won't refuse death now either."
However, were Aneli's feelings for Zenon truly strong enough to overcome death?
To resolve to live in this world relying on her regard for Zenon—didn't Aneli loathe this world far too much for that?
Hearing Samuel's answer, Aneli looked as if she had heard something unexpected.
Standing there speechless, Aneli suddenly asked a question.
"Sir, have you regained all your memories?"
"Yes."
Not wanting to hide it, Samuel nodded calmly. At the same time, he looked at the bracelet on Aneli's wrist.
More precisely, at the jewel of the bracelet.
"And so once again, it seems I'll make a different choice from them."
Minute cracks were forming in the jewel that comprised the bracelet.