Nesi turned his head away as if he didn't even consider his opponent worth acknowledging. Honestly, Jigor hopping about in front of such a wolf looked pitifully insignificant.
This was even more so because a small piece of the magical cloth received from Xenon earlier had been cut and wrapped around his neck. Jigor, having become an ordinary bapsae, surely couldn't make anyone tremble with fear.
If anything, he might induce a heart attack in his opponent with that cuteness instead.
"Nadab."
Nadab, who had been unable to look directly at his companion since their first meeting, was only now after several hours managing to barely glance at that bapsae.
For him, knowing Jigor's true form made it even harder to bear.
It didn't seem like he was struggling because he found it cute like I did. Rather, he seemed to be shuddering at some sense of dissonance.
I glanced at the horse's large eyes filled with distress and let out a hollow sigh.
"My coming back to life doesn't seem like such a big deal."
At my insensitive mumbling, Nadab snorted.
"Lately I've been contemplating the mysteries of the flesh while watching you all."
In a world where Dullahans become bapsae, what's so remarkable about a head falling off and being reattached?
"Dinner is ready!"
[Oh, the male's cooking speed is getting faster and faster.]
Nesi wagged his tail and approached Xenon. Jigor, who had been facing off against Nesi, puffed up his feathers and lamented.
[Food for the first time in ages! Not having a head is so unjust!]
[Jigor, even with heads, we don't need human food. Of course, that holds true even now in transformed state.]
Jigor, who had been trying to peck at the food with twinkling eyes, looked back at Nadab.
[But couldn't we at least taste it?]
[Jigor...]
Is this what they call a total disaster?
Those seeking temporary help and then parting ways would be fine, but these Dullahans are my companions. And now I have to keep seeing scenes like this? I've only taken in two so far—will the remaining eight all be like this?
Despite feeling hungry from the smell of Xenon's cooking, my appetite didn't come. Instead, my head throbbed.
I was sitting idly with my hand on my forehead when Xenon approached me slowly.
"Lady Aneli, won't you have your meal?"
I wanted to appreciate his effort in stubbornly waiting for me in this forest despite the danger, but my headache was worse than my hunger.
"...I don't want to create an animal farm."
"The only animal I'm tending to is Nesi. The rest are all your animals, Lady Aneli."
I know. That's exactly the problem.
I wiped my face dry with my hands and mumbled.
"At this rate, I'll end up traveling with ten animals."
Good heavens. Now I'm worried about what animal the next Dullahan will transform into. I'm in a position where I have to keep running away—what am I supposed to do if animals keep increasing like this?
Like this, no matter how diligently I use appearance-altering magic, these animals will still draw attention. And I can't exactly travel with them in their Dullahan forms either!
"So, are you going to tell me what you've brought this time?"
Xenon, who had been watching Jigor running around and cursing at the crows that had once threatened him, asked obliquely.
This time as well, he seemed to have sensed something from Jigor—he had already brought out the magical cloth and handed it over before I even asked.
He then said that since magical tools weren't unlimited, other measures were needed.
Other measures.
"You said you sent Nesi to subspace too."
"Yes, I did. There are times when I can't openly keep Nesi with me depending on the situation."
Even Nesi, an ordinary animal, is sometimes rejected in cities and towns—how am I supposed to travel with ten animals?
I'm not looking for a place to settle down, and looking back at my escape methods so far, simply taking in Dullahans was useless.
If push comes to shove, I might have to use Dullahans against search parties, but my primary goal remains escape.
"Wouldn't it be possible for them too?"
"...By 'them,' are you referring to that black horse and that bapsae?"
"Yes."
Xenon's gaze turned toward Nadab and Jigor. Jigor, who had been shouting triumphantly at the crows about meeting their 'leader' and how they should prepare for 'bloody revenge,' had finally calmed down thanks to Nadab's intervention.
Now he was envying Nadab's imposing appearance.
I'm probably the only one who can understand their conversation, so to Xenon's ears, it must just sound like a bapsae chirping incessantly.
"Surely you're not planning to add more... animals here?"
"About eight more."
Xenon, who had been watching the animals, slowly turned his gaze to me.
"Is there perhaps a divine revelation to build an animal farm..."
"No."
Despite my immediate denial, the suspicion in Xenon's eyes didn't disappear.
"What exactly do you plan to do by gathering these... animals? Are you trying to conquer the world or something?"
"With them? Do you think I could conquer the world with that bapsae at the vanguard?"
Xenon's expression distorted strangely. He was probably imagining the bapsae at the vanguard. Right, even you don't think that's it?
"I'm just going to leave. Taking them in is just... a bonus on my journey, like a kindness."
It's funny saying something like "kindness" myself, but I couldn't think of another suitable expression.
Strictly speaking, since I'm not trying to find the Dullahans' heads out of some noble heart following divine will, it might be closer to ill intent than kindness.
But I can't exactly say outright that I'm taking them in to use them as shields because of my ill intent, can I?
Xenon looked back and forth between me and the animals with eyes that said he couldn't understand at all.
But soon he closed his mouth with a resigned expression. He seemed to have understood through repeated experience that there was no point in asking. Instead, he changed his question.
"What do you plan to do after leaving?"
"Nothing."
The forest's darkness was very deep. Even though Xenon had lit a campfire blazing away, it barely illuminated its surroundings.
Probably all sorts of beasts were prowling threateningly beyond that pitch darkness. Perhaps waiting for this campfire to go out, watching for an opening.
Since it was already dark, rather than forcing our way down to a village, it would be better to camp and rest.
With Nesi and Nadab here, I didn't need to fear wild animal attacks. That's why I didn't think too deeply and just settled in like this.
I won't move unnecessarily. I know it's dangerous and I don't want to push myself, and I don't see what meaning there would be in doing so anyway.
"I'm not going to do anything."
I turned my gaze that had been idly fixed on the distance to look back at Xenon, and our eyes met. Had he not understood my answer?
"I'm just going to eat snacks and watch the world end."
"...The oracle I heard wasn't like that."
"Did you think I was traveling according to the oracle?"
As if at a loss for words, Xenon closed his mouth. I didn't think he was harboring such a ridiculous misunderstanding, but hearing me confirm it with my own words must have felt different.
"Are you also going to urge me to fulfill the oracle?"
"Honestly, I'm not that interested in the oracle, I just picked it up and mentioned it."
The contents of the oracle would have been made known throughout the realm, so he could have questions. That evil would run rampant and send forth the resurrected. To stand strong against it.
Everyone going crazy over just that one line looks ridiculous in my eyes. When did they ever stop going on about the wicked witch, saying that without beheading she would block the glory of the empire even in death?
And the god who waited unnecessarily until my head fell off to perform such an absurd miracle—how ridiculous is that too.
"If the world ends, even the god will regret choosing me."
And then finally I'll close my eyes too.
"...Do you want to die?"
Xenon asked as if reading my thoughts. Want to die? I'm already dead—can I not die twice? But it was a bit different from just wanting to die.
"Do I really need to make an effort to die?"
How should I put this. It's closer to being too lazy to even make the effort to die. Everything feels troublesome.
"I don't care if tomorrow doesn't come."
If I fall asleep today and don't wake up tomorrow morning, I'd have no regrets.
Whether he properly understood my answer or not, Xenon's expression was somewhat stiff.
I gave him a calm smile. This should have satisfied his curiosity to some extent.
"Well, I've kindly answered your questions for once, so you need to repay me too."
He, who had been in a daze, snapped to attention at the word 'repay' as if waking from sleep.
"...Repay?"
"Yes. A way to travel with them. When I asked if you could send them to subspace like Nesi, you didn't deny it."
Even though he's usually the type to clearly say no when something isn't possible regarding magic.
That means there must be a way to travel without having to herd all the animals around.
"No, that's..."
"Why, is it a secret?"
"It's not so much a secret, but it's too complicated and..."
"So it is possible."
"Excuse me. You need to listen to what people say until the end."
"Is it a matter of production cost?"
"...If money were the only problem, it would be easier. To put living creatures inside, you need to consume an entire empty subspace and modify it into a special environment. It's not simply a matter of money—there are few people with the skill to handle this."
"But someone must have created the subspace Nesi goes into, right?"
So there are few people with the skill, but they do exist.
"Do you know where they live? Or is it too far?"
"That's not it. I'm not on good terms with them."
What, that's not a problem at all.
"That's fine. I'll do the coaxing."
As if that's some big problem. When I offered a solution so casually, Xenon opened his eyes wide. Somehow, a sense of hurt showed in his eyes again.
What's the problem this time?