A cool sensation spread across my forehead.
As I slowly opened my eyes, still furrowing my brows with them closed, I met Xenon's gaze as he looked down at me from nearby.
"Are you awake?"
"What happened?"
Why am I lying down?
Startled, I tried to sit up abruptly, but Xenon held my shoulders and stopped me from rising.
"You collapsed."
That was something I hadn't expected. I looked around blankly, trying to recall my memories.
After entering a relatively intact building, the Dullahans had all rushed out saying they would look around the area.
Thinking they would have many thoughts after losing two comrades in an instant, I sent them out. I had intended to hear from Samuel about the structure of this castle.
Additionally, I planned to hear from the other Dullahans where they would each recover their heads and keep that in mind...
But my memories ended abruptly after that.
Glancing at the window, I saw it was dark outside, and the steady sound of falling rain reached my ears. It seemed I had been lying here for quite a long time.
"I guess my tension eased a bit."
"That's not it. It's because you used power without resting."
Xenon didn't believe my words that I was fine at all. Since I collapsed right in front of his eyes, it was probably natural for him not to believe me.
And honestly, perhaps because I hadn't been awake for long, my head did seem to throb slightly.
"I don't know how urgent it is, but for now, you must not use your power. Do it again tomorrow when day breaks."
Looking at Xenon with a sour expression, I reluctantly nodded.
We had finally arrived at Belladia Castle, and surely all the Dullahans would recover their heads here.
There was no one chasing us this far, and we had confirmed twice that Dullahans wouldn't go berserk even after recovering their memories, so there was no need to rush about things.
Confirming that I had no intention of moving hastily, Xenon rose saying he would prepare dinner since it was late.
"Where are the Dullahans?"
"In the building next door. This place is too small to accommodate all the animals."
Samuel, who had been keeping watch like a sentry near the door, answered curtly.
Animals? Even though this was a place where they could finally be comfortable, it seemed none of them had transformed back to their true forms.
"If you're going outside, use this at least. It's waterproof cloth."
Samuel offered his own large cloak. It was so huge that when I pulled it over my head, my entire body was covered.
Pushing aside the wooden plank that could barely be called a door, the gloomy scenery outside came into view.
The already ruin-like landscape, combined with the dark evening rain, made the atmosphere even more desolate.
"Huh? Captain?"
A shadow suddenly popped out from the dark scenery.
"Pallides."
The one who appeared in a posture that would have made Xenon jump and fall over backward was Pallides in armor.
She had been caught in quite a lot of rain, as water was dripping steadily from Pallides' armor.
"It's raining heavily, Captain! Please go inside!"
"What about you? Why are you out in the rain?"
"Well, I... actually like being in the rain."
Pallides scratched the back of her head as if embarrassed.
"I like water."
Come to think of it, she was particularly obsessed with boat rides. I nodded and stepped completely outside.
"But Captain, you collapsed. Is it okay for you to move around like this?"
"Yeah, I'm fine."
My head hurt, so I actually wanted to feel the cold wind a bit. It would have been better if it wasn't raining, but the current moment with the strong smell of earth rising from the rain wasn't bad either.
"Everyone says their animal form is more comfortable? They could stay in their Dullahan forms comfortably here."
I spoke as I approached the adjacent building, but Pallides didn't answer.
Glancing sideways, I saw Pallides standing still with her shoulders drooped.
"Pallides?"
"Captain, about that... rest."
Pallides, who had been hesitating, carefully began to speak.
"Since the last authority is more important, couldn't we realize that first, and then find our heads after?"
The last authority first?
"I think the order is wrong. Don't we need to find your heads first to realize the last authority?"
When I asked with a puzzled voice, Pallides trembled slightly and lowered her head. The rain-soaked helmet rattled and poured out water with a splashing sound.
"Ah... I suppose that's right."
"You said you hated the Dullahan form because it was creepy."
Pallides was the knight who hated her headless state the most among the Dullahans.
While other Dullahans transformed into animals for convenience, Pallides wanted to remain in human form because she hated her Dullahan appearance.
Even that wasn't possible without a head, so she had always lamented it.
"Of course I hate it!"
As expected, Pallides immediately affirmed with a strong tone. But then she returned to her sullen state.
"I just... didn't know that after finding my head, I would gain rest so immediately."
The falling rain flowed down the curve of the helmet. The dripping droplets looked like tears.
Pallides, without a head, couldn't shed tears either.
"You all have waited a long time."
"That's right. You're right."
Through the dense sound of rain, Pallides' low murmur reached my ears.
"After waiting so long, to disappear so meaninglessly."
Was Pallides thinking of Dasha and Ganik right now?
Just as I was about to speak to her, a loud call came from the adjacent building.
[Captain! Pallides!]
I saw a horse's head sticking out through the open window, looking this way.
[Captain! Why are you out in the rain?]
Beside Nadav, Jigor also chirped, addressing me.
After confirming that side, I parted my lips to finish the conversation with Pallides first. But Pallides was faster.
"I want to stay in the rain a bit longer, so Captain, please go inside quickly!"
Pallides was a particularly emotional and sensitive Dullahan. Perhaps Dasha and Ganik's rest had affected her somehow.
I thought all the Dullahans were just eagerly waiting to gain rest, but that wasn't the case.
I looked at Pallides quietly, then turned away, leaving her behind.
She would need time to sort out her thoughts alone.
I judged that I should give her time, as she faced parting from her comrades.
...Several hours later, I would come to regret this, unaware that it had been an easy judgment to make.
* * *
The nine knights excluding Dasha and Deeris had met their deaths at Belladia Castle.
First, Ganik died while guarding Belladia's castle gate, and starting from that, the other knights lost their lives trying to stop Samuel and protect their captain.
Samuel at that time was very strong. He was the first knight to receive the captain's salvation, and as such, he had cultivated his power by her side for a long time.
The Round Table knights grew stronger the longer they stayed by their captain's side.
Samuel of the past was the first sword and the most powerful sword. Therefore, no one could surpass him.
Moreover, at the time of his betrayal, he had returned to being a puppet of the gods and had even accepted the power of creation, making him even stronger.
But now?
"Here..."
Samuel, who had stopped walking, quietly looked around.
The heavy rain had somewhat subsided, but since drizzle was still falling, the surroundings were damp.
He was getting rained on since he had given his cloak to Anelli. It was fortunate the rain had weakened; otherwise, it would have been quite uncomfortable.
"No one is here."
Samuel, who lightly shook his head to shake off the water droplets gathered at the tips of his hair, gazed at the one standing before him.
"Didn't Anelli say she was here?"
Samuel recalled the situation from a little while ago.
Yes, it was just before. Xenon, who had been stirring the soup continuously worried it might stick to the pot, had urged Samuel to quickly bring Anelli.
Of course, she would be with the Dullahans in the next building.
Thinking so, Samuel had stepped out of the building, and the one who blocked his path and led him here, claiming Anelli was at this place, was the person before his eyes.
"I don't see her in my eyes."
Samuel, feeling a subtle sense of déjà vu as he followed, searched his memories. And finally, upon reaching this place, he found the appropriate scene in his mind.
Perhaps the same was true for his opponent. Otherwise, why would they stop at this place?
The center of the ruined residential area.
In the middle of all the collapsed debris.
Right here, where he had killed yet another knight.
"You didn't really think that person was here and followed me, you bastard."
Even with the hostility contained in the fierce voice, Samuel did not waver. Instead, he calmly raised his hand and gripped the sword at his waist.
The opponent, who had been watching Samuel's actions blankly, also slowly raised his hand. Naturally, the opponent gripped his sword.
At the end of the sword stood Samuel.
"Guiding that person shamelessly?"
"I guide because I am me."
"You fucking son of a bitch."
Sharp curses echoed through the silent void. Yes, perhaps it was the same in the past.
Samuel, who had been advancing while destroying everything blocking his path, had stopped here. Back then too, his opponent had gritted his teeth and poured curses upon Samuel.
Samuel shook his head once more to shake off the moisture obscuring his vision.
"I'm going to kill you."
"You said the same thing before."
Samuel, who responded calmly, drew his sword.
"And I remember answering that I had something to do, so I couldn't die here."
He had been like that back then. His only goal was to preserve Anelli's soul completely.
He hadn't listened to any of that nonsense about the world's freedom or rest.
Furthermore, seeing the knights who led their precious captain to extinction, he might have been a little angry.
"Even now, my answer is the same, Sir Pallides."
At Samuel's answer, the eyes inside the helmet glaring at him grew cold.
Just like that day.