Before I could even understand his question, I instinctively shook my head.
"That's not it."
"It's not?"
"No."
Though these Dullahans were noisy, immature, and troublemakers, they had become somewhat familiar companions to me. I couldn't just let them be misunderstood and get eliminated by Samuel over some strange misunderstanding.
Even if that misunderstanding wasn't actually a misunderstanding.
"That woman has no neck."
"First time seeing a neckless woman?"
Perhaps Samuel didn't expect me to respond so brazenly, for he hesitated, missing his timing to answer.
"She's a monster. You recognized that yourself."
"A neckless woman monster?"
"Correct."
"I've never heard of such a thing."
"Your experience is narrow from being cooped up in the Temple. You should learn to think more broadly and flexibly from now on."
I smiled with feigned generosity, then abruptly turned my head.
Pallides was hugging the blanket, remaining silent. Throughout our conversation, she seemed to be quietly glaring at Samuel, occasionally tilting her head in confusion. Then she lowered her voice and whispered to me.
"Why is he so unlucky, Captain?"
As if on cue, Zigore and Tristan chimed in agreement with her words.
[Captain, can't we just make him leave?]
[Captain, just give the order!]
It was the first time I'd seen them detest and avoid someone this much. As expected of my subordinates, we were of one mind even without speaking.
However, since there was a possibility of obtaining information about the 'Twelve Knights of the Round Table' from Samuel, I couldn't just drive him away blindly.
If the information the Temple was hiding was what I had been searching for, I had no choice but to hear it from someone involved.
"Just bear with it for now."
When I stroked the crumpled helmet, Pallides bowed her head obediently. Zigore and Tristan whined, wanting to be petted too.
Samuel, watching me deal with the Dullahans' antics, casually asked.
"Then, are you permitting me to stay by your side to broaden my experience?"
"Why is it being interpreted that way?"
"You seem curious about the twelve sinners. We can broaden each other's experience through traveling together."
He acted as if he only knew swords and divinity, but he was more calculating than I thought.
I glared annoyedly at Samuel, who was offering the story of the twelve sinners as a bargaining card, then took a deep breath.
'He might not actually know the information I want.'
Reason cried out from a corner of my mind.
Even so, I wanted to hear it.
Actually, from the moment I heard the words 'twelve sinners,' my heart had been pounding as if it would burst. Like someone who had found traces they'd been searching for a long time.
"Can't you just tell me?"
"You've finally found something you want from me. I can't miss this opportunity."
"...I didn't know the Temple taught negotiation skills."
"The Temple teaches various methods to serve God's will."
Samuel, watching me struggle to open my lips, added quietly.
"Please think about it and let me know."
I watched Samuel's back as he rose and left the room, then turned away with a frown.
Samuel said to think about it, but...
"...."
The decision was already made.
I needed to hear that story. Not just because that story might be about the Dullahans.
I had a feeling it might somehow be related to my resurrection.
* * *
How did it come to this?
"Eek! Look at this, Captain!"
Pallides stomped her feet with a cry mixed with a scream. Looking at the dress in her hands, I sighed automatically.
Pallides, Pallides. Have you forgotten that the man next to you is someone you were trying to kill with your sword just a day ago?
"This knight is unlucky and unpleasant, but he has excellent taste!"
[Zigore thinks Pallides's heart is light as a feather.]
I nodded involuntarily at Zigore's whisper.
Yes. I thought she was glass, but she was a feather made of glass.
Originally, our outing wasn't supposed to go like this. To explain the beginning...
I actually had no intention of going out.
I wanted to hear more about the twelve sinners Samuel mentioned.
But Samuel refused to tell me anything for free, and our standoff continued endlessly.
During that time, Pallides, who had fully recovered, belatedly noticed her crumpled helmet.
「Eek! My head! My headpiece is all dented!」
Since I planned to buy armor for her anyway, I thought I should quickly buy it and calm her down.
So I tried to go out, but suddenly everyone insisted on coming along.
They all had valid reasons.
The Dullahans claimed it was to protect me, Samuel asserted he couldn't just let Pallides go as she might go berserk, and Zenon tagged along worried I might cause another incident outside. Naturally, Nessi ended up coming too.
Though it became an unexpectedly large group, I decided to endure it. Wrestling to separate them one by one seemed more difficult.
As we were about to leave, Pallides asked:
「Aren't you going to wear the festival costume from yesterday?」
Then Samuel casually remarked:
「Yesterday's attire didn't suit you very well.」
Pallides, who had personally picked out the festival costume, was furious, but Samuel stubbornly stood by his opinion.
He said those clothes looked too unsophisticated for my current altered appearance, or something.
Pallides, arguing that she had chosen the dress considering my original appearance, finally marched to the dress shop. She wanted to see just how remarkable Samuel's pretentious taste really was.
To put it simply, the trip was originally meant to buy armor and a helmet.
Not my clothes.
"We can't go around wearing dresses."
Zenon, who at least had normal judgment among them, raised an objection. But he couldn't suppress Pallides's spirit.
"We need to keep at least one beautiful dress in the wardrobe! Our Captain might need to attend some prestigious event!"
That won't happen, Pallides.
As if reading my mind, Zenon sighed deeply and hugged the bag.
"This bag is a luggage bag, not a wardrobe."
"Are you really making a fuss over putting in a few clothes?"
At Pallides's pointed question, Samuel chimed in lazily.
"As expected, cooking is the only thing this magician knows how to do."
"What does that have to do with this situation? And why does a Holy Knight know how to pick out dresses?"
That surprised me too.
There were a lot of clothes in this ready-to-wear dress shop we entered, yet Samuel picked out the most beautiful one among all those dresses at a glance.
I had passed by without noticing it, but he made his selection instantly just by seeing the hem sticking out.
And the dress he chose was undoubtedly the finest garment in this shop. The delicately sewn frills and well-combined colors proved it.
"Since we must offer the most beautiful things on earth to God, the aesthetic sense of clergy is superior to anyone's."
"Must be convenient when God solves everything."
Though sarcastic, Zenon looked back and forth between the dress and me.
...Don't tell me you're swayed too?
"I think it would suit you well."
The last remaining normal person had lost their rational judgment.
I couldn't hold back anymore.
"Why exactly are we picking out dresses here?"
"Our Captain would look perfect in anything!"
"Excuse me?"
"But this frill is a bit... Wouldn't a ribbon be better instead?"
"As expected of a magician, you have no aesthetic sense."
"Don't make such comments when you're a Holy Knight yourself. It's unpleasant."
...Now they're not even listening to me.
"It's a shame it's not tailored, but it can't be helped."
I watched the three of them having a full-blown discussion around the dress, then turned away.
Zigore, hanging on my shoulder, sighed in relief as soon as we left the shop.
Even Zigore, usually a chatterbox, was so fed up that he kept his mouth shut! I realized anew how ridiculous the debate inside that dress shop was.
Nadav and Tristan were waiting in the narrow alley beside the shop. It was a shaded corner where they wouldn't be easily seen by passersby.
When I approached, the bored duo brightened up.
[Are we going to the armor shop now?]
[I've checked the location of the shopping district! I'll guide you by the fastest route, Captain.]
My pleasure at Tristan's mention of checking the shortcut was brief. I glanced tiredly toward the dress shop.
I'd rather just leave them all behind and go ourselves, but the problem was that Pallides was the one who would be wearing the armor.
Right now, Pallides was the most energetically settled in the dress shop.
[Pallides found a dress she likes.]
At Zigore's words, Tristan and Nadav sighed simultaneously.
[Then it'll be a while before she comes out.]
[Want to bet on when she'll come out? I say thirty minutes.]
Eventually Tristan proposed a bet. At this, Nadav expressed doubt with an uncertain voice.
[Would it really take that long when she's not buying her own clothes?]
[It's the Captain's dress, so she might sit there even longer choosing! I bet an hour!]
[Oh, then I bet two hours.]
Persuaded by Zigore's words, Nadav chimed in on the bet with a snort.
Listening to their conversation, I suddenly became curious.
A bet?
"...What are you betting on?"
The Dullahans' gazes simultaneously fixed on me. Tristan was the first to break the silence. Looking at Nadav and Zigore, he asked sternly:
[Will you give me honey?]
[If so, I want feathers!]
[Feathers? What would you do with my feathers?]
[And Tristan, how much honey do you even collect? You probably can't even taste it?]
Zigore and Tristan began bickering. Watching them, Nadav murmured in resignation.
[...Let's just drop it.]
I'm truly grateful at least one of them can think properly.
While they shared their trivial conversation, the dress shop door finally opened. Pallides was the first to appear.
Just from her satisfied stride, I could tell. She had finally gotten her way.
"...Done?"