The scenery of the inner castle differed slightly from the outer castle.
First thing that caught the eye was a rather spacious open area. Unlike the outer castle with its various facilities and buildings, the inner castle showed more generous empty spaces, and the intervals between buildings were wider.
Also, compared to the outer castle, there appeared to be almost no damage. So just by looking at the general appearance, one could guess what kind of building it was and what purpose the space served.
But the biggest difference was that it was so narrow one could see the entire interior just by turning one's head slightly.
With just one step forward, it felt like the next Dullahan would greet me, having found their head.
Bark seemed to have similar sentiments, as he was unable to stay still.
[M-Minte! Don't walk ahead!]
However, despite Bark's urgent cry, Minte walked through the inner castle without hesitation.
[Captain, this way seems to be the stairs leading up to the wall.]
Perhaps because we got the hint about 'wall' from Tristan earlier, Minte looked for the stairs ascending the wall first.
She seemed to want to find her head quickly. Rather than meeting rest like a sudden disaster, it appeared to be a determination to go out and find it herself.
Minte, who informed me of the stairs' location, hopped up without giving anyone time to stop her.
[Minte!]
Bark quickly jumped to follow Minte, but Bark, transformed into a bear, was too large to climb the stairs.
Bark, who kept poking his head in and pulling it out, looked up with all his might. Minte, who had quickly reached the top, looked down.
[Minte, are you okay?]
[Minte, did you find your head?]
Bark and Jigor shouted toward Minte. Minte, in the form of a cat, stretched her head out to look down, then disappeared again with a swoosh.
If she had found her head, she wouldn't be in such an animal form, so Minte probably hadn't died up there.
"There's another staircase connecting to the wall over there too."
While waiting for Minte to come back down, Samuel pointed somewhere and spoke.
I could see another staircase on the opposite side from where Minte had gone up. Beside it was also a watchtower connected to the wall.
For a moment, I thought that if Minte had been in charge of the wall, she might have been guarding that watchtower. At that height, one could see outside the wall at a glance.
[Captain, there was nothing special over there.]
Minte, who had just come down the stairs, reported quickly. Looking around, she soon determined a new destination.
[Minte! Don't go around alone so much. What if something happens?]
[What could happen here? It would just be finding my head, that's all.]
Minte replied gruffly and passed Bark who was blocking her way without difficulty.
She didn't forget to add an explanation for me.
[I sense my head is here.]
Minte started walking quickly again. This time it was in the direction Samuel had pointed. Bark followed behind Minte, busy calling her name repeatedly.
[Minte, don't be so hasty, Minte? Minte! Min……!]
Just as Minte was running quickly, paying no attention to the calls from behind, and was about to climb the stairs.
[Ugh!]
Bark, who was hurriedly chasing after Minte, let out a single groan.
The giant black bear wrapped his head with his front paws and curled his body into a ball.
[……Bark?]
[Krrgh…….]
[What's wrong, why are you like that?]
The flustered Minte hovered around Bark.
Standing a little apart and watching them, I looked down at the silk pouch containing Mori.
Ever since Tristan reached rest earlier, Mori had gone completely inside the pouch and wasn't showing itself.
From the slightly open mouth of the pouch, faint sobbing could be heard.
I, who was about to call Mori, just closed my mouth. Even without asking Mori, I could now understand why Bark was acting like that.
[Bark!]
Now the situation had reversed, and Minte shouted Bark's name. Bark was thrashing about, emitting black smoke.
I couldn't bring myself to approach. It wasn't just because Bark in bear form looked threatening.
More than that…… this rest, connecting to another Dullahan without even time to collect one's thoughts, was starting to become overwhelming.
Clutching my throbbing head and letting out a long sigh, I sensed someone approaching close.
[Can't you grant rest as quickly as possible?]
A suppressed voice came from beside me. It was Soana.
Unconcealable sadness was evident in Soana's eyes as she looked at Bark.
[We're all going to enter the path of rest anyway, so if you make it a little faster and more comfortable, everyone will praise the Captain's mercy.]
"You're saying I shouldn't even listen to what might be their last words after finding their heads?"
[Look, Captain.]
Soana said in a sinking voice.
[After recovering their memories, everyone suffers like that.]
She was genuinely lamenting.
[Does the Captain intend to face each and every one of those knights' pains?]
Well, I…… didn't want to see that. Isn't that obvious?
But I don't know if not wanting to see it meant I wouldn't have to see it.
I gazed at Bark. The knights of the Round Table who threw themselves for their captain, and waited for their captain in Dullahan bodies for a long time.
Wouldn't it be proper etiquette for me to lend an ear to even a few words from them after they regained their complete form?
* * *
The name that came from Tristan's mouth was definitely his own. So why did Bark find his head?
Minte looked with confused eyes at the one standing before her.
Bark, who had a physique about twice that of an average adult male, was crouched and gasping.
His large, boldly defined features were severely contorted, showing his pain. Bark, who was hurting so much he was shedding tears, barely raised his gaze.
Finding Minte in cat form, Bark stopped his eyes abruptly.
[……Bark.]
With an expression that was impossible to tell what he was thinking, Bark gazed at Minte for a long while. Then he raised his heavy body.
[Bark?]
Whether he couldn't hear or was pretending not to hear, I couldn't know. Minte urgently hit Bark's leg with her front paw, but Bark paid no attention and approached Anelli.
"Captain."
A thick, low voice flowed from Bark's mouth. Minte thought Bark would introduce himself like the other knights had done.
But Bark observed no such formalities.
Minte noticed that Bark was extremely angry right now.
When Anelli nodded, Bark spoke in a suppressed tone.
"Before receiving rest, I have one request."
"A request?"
"Just one leg of that traitor, no……. Or an arm……. No. Just allow me to at least beat him."
Bark's thick fist was clenched tight. Dark veins stood out on the back of his hand, and it was trembling slightly.
Minte, who hadn't found her head yet, couldn't empathize with Bark's anger. However, remembering that fellow Samuel wasn't easy to deal with even ordinarily, she unconsciously approached Bark's side.
[Bark, what's wrong with you? What did that guy do to you?]
Bark still didn't look back at Minte.
After a moment of silence, Anelli glanced at Samuel. Then she answered calmly.
"I won't stop your anger, Bark."
Once Anelli's permission was given, Bark strode toward Samuel. His bloodshot eyes were filled with surging indignation. Samuel frowned and opened his lips.
"Bark, wait……ugh!"
Thud!
A large fist struck Samuel's jaw. It was hit so hard that Samuel's body swayed.
Bark without pause raised his fist again. Without any particular technique, he just swung with strong force aiming at the lower jaw.
Crack!
With a terrible impact sound, this time Samuel's body completely fell. With just two punches, Samuel's jaw swelled red and blood pooled between his lips.
Bark grabbed the fallen Samuel by the collar and began beating him in earnest. His momentum was so ferocious that those watching couldn't even breathe.
Even Minte was frozen by Bark's savage momentum and couldn't move.
"You, bastard!"
Wham!
"Cough!"
Finally Samuel coughed up blood. Pain was evident on his scowling face. Just as Samuel, breathing roughly, was about to push Bark away in desperation.
[Bark.]
Soana, who couldn't watch anymore, stopped Bark first. It was an action taken out of concern that there might be problems in exercising his power.
Bark understood the intent in Soana's call without needing long explanation.
Bark, who had raised his bloodied fist, ground his teeth and spat out curses viciously.
"Damn it, damn it!"
Thud!
The last fist drove into the ground beside Samuel's head. It was strong enough to dig into the earth.
[Bark, your hand!]
Minte, who had been frozen solid, discovered the torn fist and ran over in shock. Bark, who released Samuel's collar, gasped and rose.
Bark's hand was stained with blood that could be either his or Samuel's. As he staggered back two steps, drops of blood fell.
After catching his breath and falling silent for a moment, Bark looked at Minte who had approached his feet.
He seemed to have something he wanted to say, but in the end, he said nothing. Instead, he staggered to Anelli's front and knelt.
"I am the executioner who brings down the iron mace upon all who defy you. I am deeply moved to greet you thus."
In his weary voice, there was no trace of joy at finding his original form. Rather, he looked tormented.
Anelli also gazed at Bark with exhausted eyes.
"I thought Minte would find her head first."
Minte also agreed with Anelli's words. Tristan had definitely said so. That Minte would soon come out to support from the wall.
"Did you die saving Minte?"
Anelli asked calmly. Minte looked at Bark with unconsciously tension-filled eyes.
After a brief silence, Bark shook his head.
"Saving anyone here was not possible."
Saying that counting the order of death in this small inner castle was truly meaningless, Bark smiled bitterly.
"However, it is true that I died before Minte."
Even feeling Minte's gaze, Bark didn't look back at her.