I nearly spilled my drink.
Hurriedly setting the bottle upright, I stared at Samuel with wide eyes. The truth revealed so abruptly felt unreal despite its clarity.
Hadn't he just given an entire speech yesterday about how faithful the prophets were as God's servants? I remembered him praising them as the first roots directly crafted by God, calling them wise souls and whatnot.
Blinking in a daze, I cautiously summarized his words.
"......You're saying that as many as twelve prophets betrayed the Creator?"
"Yes."
"But the Temple venerates thirty-two prophets as saints."
They even included words of gratitude for the prophets' wisdom in the prayers!
"The Temple officially venerates the prophets as saints, but not all thirty-two are worshipped."
Come to think of it, the official prayers did use rather vague language. Even the oracles were full of ambiguous expressions, so I hadn't found it particularly strange at the time.
"As I mentioned, the punishment God inflicted upon them was oblivion. Their very sins were erased from the world for the unbelievers."
I thought I understood why the existence of the twelve sinners had been erased. If it became known that twelve out of thirty-two humans created by God had betrayed Him, someone would surely doubt His divinity.
Even I couldn't help but think—how incompetent must God have been for twelve of His children to turn their backs on Him?
......Thank goodness Samuel can't read my thoughts.
"God sent prophets to benefit this world, but twelve of them fell into arrogance and sought to stand in God's place. They abandoned the blessed land God had designated for them and sought to become gods themselves in the wilderness. The first act of disbelief symbolizing their arrogance shattered God's altar and formed it into a round table."
Samuel took a light sip of alcohol and continued matter-of-factly.
"They built a castle on barren land and sowed life there. They created their own domain while avoiding God's gaze. Records say they initially established themselves quite successfully."
"Where did they settle?"
"Not far from here. Tradition holds that the sinners' castle lies near Belladia Valley, deep within the Trebi Mountain Range."
The Trebi Mountain Range was a massive mountain chain that straddled the Empire's borders.
Famous for its abundance of monsters, it was such treacherous terrain that no one could reach its depths.
It was so dangerous that even the Imperial Army only guarded the foothills.
"There's also a theory that the foolish descendants of that region who worshipped the sinners as gods incurred God's wrath and became monsters."
"I've never heard of a castle in Belladia Valley."
"That's because no one has been able to confirm it. Who would willingly risk their life to enter a mountain range filled with monsters? The Temple hasn't disclosed any information about that place either, so unless someone who has actually been there appears, it will remain an eternal mystery."
"Right. With so many monsters, no human would easily think to go there."
Murmuring as if entranced, Samuel suddenly fell silent. His ash-gray eyes darkened as he gazed at me. Startled by his suspicious stare, I quickly picked up my glass.
Clearing my head with the sweet liquor, I faced him composedly.
"So, what happened to those who settled so successfully that they ended up being punished?"
"......A traitor emerged among them."
"A traitor?"
They betrayed God and left, then betrayed each other too?
I had no idea the history of betrayal was this extensive.
"One prophet who missed God's embrace finally came to his senses. He personally executed one of the sinners to prove his faith to God. God graciously accepted his devotion, granted his wish, and punished the remaining ten sinners."
"That punishment was...... beheading and burial?"
"Correct."
"Where are the heads?"
"......The records say they are weighed down by their sins."
Once again, a vague answer returned. I glared at Samuel wondering if he was hiding information, but he received my scrutiny without wavering.
Weighed down by their sins—would it hurt to record something more specific?
With a sour feeling, I emptied my glass, then had no choice but to ask another question.
"If ten were punished, what happened to the remaining two?"
"The sinner executed by the traitor had his soul destroyed, forever unable to return to God's embrace."
"And the traitor?"
"His whereabouts are unclear. However, since God accepted his wish, I presume his soul at least was saved."
So let me get this right—he sacrificed one ally's soul and ten others' heads, then got saved alone?
"He's completely evil, isn't he?"
"......He was a foolish one who understood God's teachings a bit late."
"If they ran away together, shouldn't they die together?"
"It's not that simple a matter."
What do you mean it's not simple? He's irredeemable trash. Because of that bastard, my Dullahans are wandering around headless......
My train of thought suddenly hit a brake. I hadn't found proof that the Dullahans were sinners, yet I had unconsciously concluded it. This won't do.
Clearing my throat and composing myself, I organized what I'd heard so far in my mind.
There was no evidence the Dullahans were sinners, but circumstantially, the possibility seemed high.
Wait, then who exactly is the Dullahans' leader?
"Is that all?"
"Pardon?"
"Besides those twelve sinners, wasn't there anyone else involved? Someone important who was connected to them?"
"I'm not sure who you're looking for, but the recorded sinners number twelve."
If the Dullahans were sinners, shouldn't their so-called leader be on the sinner list too?
Something definitely felt strange.
Don't tell me this leader also ran off alone and got saved?
If that were the case, and later the Dullahans recovered all their memories and recognized me as the object of their resentment......
Just imagining it sent chills down my spine.
"Was this helpful?"
"Yeah, well. Somewhat."
I answered with a shrug.
While my resurrection remained a mystery, I had somewhat guessed the story behind the headless Dullahans.
As the Dullahans recovered more memories, I'd be able to verify how credible this information was too.
"I'm glad it was helpful. If you're curious about the Temple's history, feel free to ask anytime."
"Sure."
Nodding absently, I downed the remaining alcohol in one go. A thought occurred to me—perhaps God had manipulated the Dullahans into mistaking me for their leader.
If even now He was guiding me to find their heads to forgive and save the sinners......
Then we're back to square one. I have no intention of stopping the rampant evil.
Through our journey together, I'd fully realized how unstable the headless Dullahans were. If their going berserk was the 'rampant evil' mentioned in the oracle......
Then shouldn't I be scattering these Dullahans across the world and running away, not taking them in?
"Is your current journey one to find the sinners?"
"I told you, they're not sinners."
I replied curtly and slid the empty glass aside. Having discovered the possibility that I might need to abandon the Dullahans even now, my stomach began to churn.
"Let me correct myself. Are you traveling to find headless Dullahans?"
"Rather than seeking them out, I take them in when we happen to meet. They like me."
"How curious. Headless Dullahans following you."
"Indeed."
I didn't want to stop the rampant evil, but watching the Dullahans go berserk didn't sit right with me either. Were the Dullahans really the rampant evil?
Hiding my confusion, my expression naturally stiffened. I swept my bangs up to hide my complexion when Samuel changed the subject in a quiet voice.
"I have something I'd like to ask as well."
"Go ahead."
"By any chance, do you have strange dreams?"
"Dreams?"
Looking at Samuel questioningly, he slowly nodded.
"Yes. Dreams."
"......I have them occasionally."
At my answer, a glint appeared in Samuel's eyes. He asked in a somewhat urgent tone.
"May I ask what kind of dreams?"
"Are you expecting something like a divine revelation?"
I'd heard oracles sometimes came through dreams. Since I was a resurrected person, maybe he was hoping for something like that.
"Sorry, but the dreams I'm talking about are memories from before I died. Before being beheaded, so...... episodes with Maxwell, for instance."
At my answer, Samuel's face visibly twisted.
Wait, I'm not even a clergy member—is saying I can't receive oracles that upsetting?
"I heard all ties with the Empire have been severed. The Crown Prince's fiancée is another woman."
"That's true."
"Do you harbor any lingering attachment to your connection with that man?"
He seemed disappointed that my dreams weren't oracles, but now he appeared displeased that I was dreaming of Maxwell. Why on earth?
"It's not lingering attachment—it's just that so much happened."
"They say dreams are manifestations of unconscious desires."
I couldn't hide my bewilderment. For anyone else it might pass, but Samuel shouldn't be saying that!
"That's one of the research findings announced by the Magic Tower."
"Depending on the situation, the Temple also embraces various forms of knowledge."
Good heavens, Zenon should have been here.
I looked at Samuel with inward regret. It was absurd that he was using the Magic Tower's research to dismiss my dreams so matter-of-factly.
I didn't see what was so strange about past experiences resurfacing in dreams.
"Since I experienced those things, the memories must remain in my unconscious. It's not like I recorded them in writing—how could I possibly erase every single memory?"
"Doesn't that mean it was worth remembering?"
"Even without value, things can remain in memory if they were intense. Have you never had such an experience?"
"I......"
Samuel hesitated. See, he's had moments like that too.