The journey took longer than expected.
Having lost all the conveniences I had grown accustomed to from traveling with many companions, walking alone felt like learning to walk all over again.
But it wasn't bad. Slower than before, but more skilled. Even when breathless, there was no urgency.
The world's people still held great interest in the resurrected one, but they no longer pursued me by force as in the past. That alone gave my heart sufficient peace.
"But I honestly can't tell what's different."
They made such a fuss about divine authority and whatnot, but how can the world have changed so little?
At the very least, there should have been changes like two suns appearing or the sky turning pink. Then, as someone who executed the final authority, I might have felt a bit proud.
The only change I could perceive was the sensation that I had become extremely ordinary.
As I shook my head while blankly gazing at the sky, the black horse carrying me snorted.
[I am now guarding your side like this, aren't I, Captain?]
"That's exactly why I'm saying this, Nadav. Because you're by my side, it feels even more that way. I honestly have no idea what has changed."
[I certainly know.]
"Really?"
As I looked down at Nadav with surprise, he spoke while making light hoofbeats.
[Before, there were hardly any opponents who could defeat me, but now when I think about receiving a dangerous attack, I definitely feel like I would die.]
"...That's certainly an enormous change."
So he's just an ordinary Dullahan now. A Dullahan who has the special talent of transforming into animals, but isn't particularly overwhelmingly terrifyingly strong.
"I guess we absolutely can't get caught by the Holy Knights."
Hearing Holy Knights reminded me of Samuel. My last memory was of being consumed with anger, cutting off his arm and taking his divine power.
Samuel lost a lot of blood, but he wouldn't have died. Zenon was also there, so he probably stopped the bleeding and had him treated.
While resting at an inn, I once heard a rumor in passing that the High Priest's promising Holy Knight was badly injured.
Hearing that, I guessed Samuel had returned to the temple.
His life after that... he'll manage on his own.
"Anyway, Nadav, I'm glad I at least met you. I was so worried because I couldn't meet a single person on the way here."
My attempt to inquire about Minte and Bark's news through a rat in the capital ended in spectacular failure.
I succeeded in reestablishing contact with the palace crows I had once formed connections with, but they couldn't find Bark within the palace.
Minte wasn't in the capital either. I had thought she would definitely be there, so I was quite disheartened, but there was nothing else I could do.
I couldn't keep wandering the capital forever, so I decided to find Nadav first.
If Nadav hadn't been there either, I would have truly despaired, but fortunately, I had just managed to recover my black horse like this.
The relief and joy I felt when we reunited was overwhelming even to think about again.
[If you've opened your eyes, everyone is probably moving to meet you, Captain.]
"Yes, everyone will do that."
Because we promised to meet again.
I tightly gripped Nadav's reins. The peaceful life that Minte and Bark wanted is life itself, so they must be somewhere. The other Dullahans too, those I said I'd see again must be somewhere.
I decided not to think too anxiously.
I should move slowly but calmly. Because nothing bothers me now.
* * *
...I thought nothing would bother me.
I stared ahead with a wry expression.
I just wanted to have a meal in this small village.
No matter how much camping experience I had, I still couldn't cook with my own hands, so I needed to settle for a meal even at a shabby restaurant.
But then, taking out a gold coin because I didn't have small change was the root of the problem, if there was one.
I paid as quietly as possible, saying I didn't need change, and came out, but it seems I couldn't completely hide the gold coin.
"Where are you going in such a hurry?"
"Seeing someone with that much money traveling without any guards, they must be a wanted criminal!"
The men blocking my path exchanged dialogue that was so clichéd it was almost familiar.
"That horse looks quite expensive."
"If someone can afford to lead around a horse like that, they must have some money."
This damned world, it really should have just been destroyed.
I should have just ignored everything, the final authority and all, and just watched it fall apart.
Regretting too late and sighing, I patted Nadav's neck to calm him down.
[If anything happens, I'll stomp them with my front hooves.]
Right, even to my eyes, these men looked like they'd all be knocked down by Nadav's front hooves, so they weren't threatening.
Rather, I was just bewildered by this familiar situation I'd been in before.
How is it that bad guys all say the same things?
"If I said my circumstances aren't something you need to worry about... you'd say you can't let someone with a moneybag go, right?"
"Oh, you know your situation well!"
"By the way, the voice is quite pretty, must be a young lady?"
The men laughed lewdly.
Looking around briefly, this was a small village, and being in the countryside, there didn't seem to be a stationed guard unit.
That meant there was no one to immediately stop men like these from flea-biting passing travelers' purses.
Knowing that, they blocked my path in broad daylight.
This probably wasn't their first time committing robbery like this.
"No matter how I look, rampant evil isn't human, right, Nadav?"
"Huh? Who are you talking to?"
"You're not included, so don't worry."
I was pressing my forehead, about to order Nadav to kick them roughly, when—
Whoosh!
Something large swiftly emerged and cut between the men.
[Threatening one person with many! You cowardly bastards!]
I involuntarily opened my eyes wide.
"What, what is that?"
[Do you have no heart to cherish your own kind!]
Startled by the appearance of the beast baring its teeth in threat, the men hesitated and looked at each other.
Their deliberation wasn't long. Without proper weapons, they wouldn't be able to defeat the wolf's fierce fangs.
The righteous wolf, who had been glaring with wary eyes at the men slinking away before quickly fleeing, finally turned to look at me.
"Don't be surprised! I look a bit fierce, but I won't bite."
[You weak male! A male who can't protect his own companion has no qualification to be a male! I didn't teach you to be like this!]
"Stop growling already. You're scaring her."
A gentle voice, the sight of struggling with the rampaging wolf. Everything was familiar.
"...I'm not scared. Thanks to that wolf, I avoided a dangerous situation."
The man who had been roughly petting the wolf's head hesitated.
He raised his head and belatedly noticed Nadav beside me. With a surprised face, he looked at Nadav, then turned his gaze to me.
"You..."
I had only wrapped my face tightly with a hood, without using an appearance-altering magical tool.
He stared piercingly into my eyes. Seeing him stare at me without blinking, I somehow wanted to laugh.
Words like how did you get here or what have you been doing didn't come out.
I just felt like laughing. Because I truly hadn't even imagined we'd reunite this absurdly.
The reunion I had imagined was a bit more romantic and plausible.
Not a reunion happened upon by chance on a roadside like this, covered in dust, but something more splendid.
A reunion set against a backdrop of magnificent magic or in a beautifully decorated castle.
'No, what's the use of all that.'
Ultimately, meeting again was more important.
"I was just looking for someone to cook for me."
"...Yes?"
"Do you cook well?"
Whether he caught the laughter contained in my question, the corners of his eyes twisted slightly.
It seemed vaguely like he was resenting me, or perhaps he was glad.
"Yes. I cook well."
Answering in a suppressed voice, he bit his lip and fell silent, then quickly added.
"I even took separate lessons from a palace chef."
"...A palace chef?"
"You won't find someone like me anywhere else you go."
Having spoken with deliberate nonchalance, he approached me with large strides. Coming close, he took a deep breath, then carefully pulled down the hood covering my face.
With the soft sound of fabric releasing, the silver hair I had hidden tightly spilled down like a cascade. Everything that had been tightly wrapping my face disappeared as well.
I could see Zenon's expression rapidly crumbling after confirming my face.
"...Ha."
Zenon exhaled a empty breath and finally distorted his face.
"Leaving that huge castle entirely to me, and you yourself like this..."
"I was on my way."
To soothe the resentment pouring out, I raised my hand and lightly cupped his cheek.
"I was on my way to you. On the way, I was collecting my Dullahans too."
Seeing up close, his lips trembling faintly was clearly visible. Facing the golden eyes moistened as if about to burst into tears at any moment, I was just happy.
I'm sorry for making him cry, but I was truly feeling so good right now.
"I didn't know you'd come out to greet me like this."
"When, where... No, never mind."
Zenon, who had been speaking incoherently, tightly closed his lips and stopped speaking. He seemed busy just trying to master his surging emotions.
Unable to show himself crying, he took a long time to steady his breathing and regained composure.
Only after that did he question me again with feigned nonchalance.
"Now what should I do? Are you leaving to destroy the world this time?"
I involuntarily burst out laughing.
"That doesn't sound bad, but how about I find my Dullahans first and consider it?"
"Alright. You know wizard labor is expensive, right?"
"Oh, I wasn't thinking of hiring a wizard."
As I slightly removed the hand cupping Zenon's cheek, he immediately grabbed my hand and guided it to cup his cheek again.
Then he spoke in a deliberately firm tone.
"Not just any wizard, but a wizard who took cooking lessons from a palace chef. Also the next Magic Tower Lord as a bonus, and the administrator of Beladia Castle."
I could put aside the preceding modifiers, but what's this about administrator of Beladia Castle?
Listening to his splendid self-introduction, my laughter wouldn't stop.
...No, actually, just facing each other like this made it so. Ah, what would have happened if I hadn't told Zenon to wait for me.
"Well, rather than those things..."
I paused slightly, then brought my head closer to him and whispered low.
"How about accompanying me as a versatile and cute lover?"
Close enough for our noses to touch, so not much was visible in my field of view. But one thing was certain—he was smiling.
"I really can't help but follow you."
Our lips met, and hot breath rushed in.
A very warm warmth that made me realize I was alive in this moment.
My journey began again. We, who reunited at its end, will spend a joyful lifetime at Beladia Castle.
It was the rest I had finally longed for.
Main Story Complete