"Shall we send a search party?"
"No."
Just because Samuel was in Immon, mobilizing a search party was too much of a burden. She couldn't help but be mindful of the Imperial Family and the Temple.
So she had to move unofficially.
"Lilia happens to be planning to go to the sea..."
The place Lilia was heading to wasn't Immon, but since a warp gate was installed there, she would have to pass through it.
Frizian unfolded her crossed arms and tapped the report with her fingers.
"She's famously known as a sister who cherishes her younger sibling dearly, so it wouldn't seem strange if she worried about the journey and tagged along."
Muttering to herself, Frizian checked her schedule.
"Tell Lilia I'll be accompanying her as well."
"Yes, understood."
The aide left the office, and Frizian stood blankly by the window, lost in thought.
In her lower drawer, there was another document that the aide had handed over along with the report on Samuel's movements earlier. It was about Lilia.
As soon as she learned of the mine registered under Lilia's name, she immediately ordered a background investigation, and the results had finally arrived.
Even just skimming through the first few pages, there was quite a lot of unexpected content. Like Lilia's surprising connections, for instance.
"Freshia..."
Freshia was the head of a criminal organization well-known even in the underworld. The organization he led had a wide range of operations, and Roam had conducted transactions with them occasionally.
And as far as Frizian knew, Aneli had also commissioned his organization once.
She probably did so with the intention of doing something about Lilia.
But far from succeeding, she almost got caught by the Imperial Family instead, and Frizian had to scramble quite a bit to erase those traces.
It was an incident that played a part in tilting her heart toward choosing Lilia instead of Aneli.
If Freshia had a friendship with Lilia, then the moment Aneli commissioned him, it was already a failure.
Frizian had discarded all of Aneli's commissions at the time without even checking what they were. If she had known the contents back then, would they have been a hint now?
Frizian, looking out the window with her hands clasped behind her back, narrowed her eyes. She could see Lilia walking past with her arm linked through the Duchess's.
The Duchess, her mother, still held expectations for Lilia. She believed that Lilia's precognitive abilities would return.
Ever since Lilia's precognition saved the life of the youngest, Seiri, she seemed to trust her completely.
Of course, it wasn't just because of that incident. According to what Frizian had looked into, there were records of her bridging connections with some figures in high society.
It was strange. Lilia, who had only been in central high society for a few years, had managed to become close with only the key figures.
Knowing exactly what they liked and what would happen to them.
Being able to see the future of only certain people. She didn't know precognition was so selective.
"Though it seems even that is no longer visible now."
People found Lilia's eccentric behavior fascinating and felt favorable toward her for a while, but gradually they grew accustomed to her quirkiness.
She succeeded in drawing attention, so she should have used the opportunity she gained to grow at her own discretion. But Lilia simply wouldn't progress beyond that.
It was only natural, since Lilia herself was acting relying on precognition.
"Aneli..."
Did that child notice all this strangeness long ago?
Frizian was curious about that. Whether she knew everything. Whether that's why she alone hated Lilia when everyone else welcomed her.
Whether she knew that Lilia had prophesied that "Aneli would bring about the downfall of the Roam family."
Whether her stubborn refusal to go down to the territory even after receiving a terminal diagnosis was perhaps to protect Roam from Lilia.
"That couldn't be."
Frizian let out a hollow laugh. Aneli was different from her. Unlike Frizian, who valued the Roam family more than her own life, Aneli was a child who treated the Imperial Palace more like her home than Roam.
It would be more reasonable to think she made efforts not to lose Maxell. Whatever the motive, it seems true that she accepted Lilia differently from others.
"Sigh..."
Frizian rubbed her temples and turned around. Since she hadn't met the resurrected Aneli even once, she couldn't be certain about anything she imagined.
She couldn't even be sure if the resurrected Aneli was really the child she knew.
Frizian slumped into her chair and glanced sideways. The brooch that Aneli had left as collateral was sitting at the corner of her desk.
At first, anger surged every time she saw that brooch, but as time passed, she felt frustrated instead. Frizian picked up the brooch.
The meaning of having the brooch returned was clear. Neither her parents nor Frizian said it out loud, but they must have all had the same thought upon seeing the brooch.
'Does she really intend to sever ties with the family?'
She thought it was naturally impossible. However, as the search period grew longer, the belief she had taken for granted was wavering.
The only thing she could find relief in was the fact that neither the Temple nor the Imperial Family had captured Aneli.
Frizian, rubbing the Roam crest clearly engraved in the center with her thumb, narrowed her eyes.
"I truly hope we can meet in Immon."
She meant it. Frizian wanted to see Aneli more desperately than ever. Because there was so much she wanted to ask if they met.
* * *
They decided to have dinner at a restaurant for a change. Instead of the bustling harbor area, they chose a restaurant in front of a short beach on the outskirts. The reason was that since it wasn't a busy area, there would be fewer crowds.
Sitting at an outdoor table overlooking the sea, dishes made with seafood were served. They all tasted fine, but strangely, I got full quickly.
"Coastal cities are better to visit during the Bountiful Catch Festival."
"Then you should stay here until the Bountiful Catch Festival is held."
"This year's Bountiful Catch Festival ended long ago."
"Right, that means you should live here until next year."
"What are you saying, you holy knight?"
Even before finishing their plates, the two who had started bickering were arguing about something.
Ignoring them, I quickly finished my portion and stood up, and the two who were busy arguing turned to look at me at the same time.
"Where are you going?"
"Where are you going?"
I, pulling my hood lower, replied nonchalantly.
"The beach. I won't go far, just over there where you can see, so call me when you finish eating."
Several guests who had finished their meals were walking along the beach. It wasn't a large sandy beach to begin with, and the distance from the restaurant wasn't far, so it was a place where moving alone wouldn't be a problem.
I told the two people who were trying to stand up as well to just finish their plates, then turned toward the sea. Just like the darkening sky, the seawater was also changing to a deep color.
Only the sound of waves was heard occasionally in the stillness.
I thought my digestion wasn't working well, so I thought getting some sea breeze might help, but that wasn't particularly the case. I frowned and stopped walking.
Soon the sky would turn completely black and it would be full night.
And yet Digor and Tristan still hadn't returned this late.
"They must be a bit far, that's all."
I muttered out loud on purpose, but my uncomfortable feeling didn't improve at all. Rather, it felt like I was visually confirming the anxiety I had been trying to ignore.
They said it was nearby. They said they'd be back quickly.
Come to think of it, I hadn't even heard the name of that remote village. If I had known this would happen, I should have told them to find out more about that village before going.
I regretted allowing them to go, thinking that since they were small flying creatures, it wouldn't take long.
Moreover, they made such a fuss about promising not to cause any trouble, which made me more concerned.
What if something happens and they maintain their transformed state to avoid causing a commotion?
Digor and Tristan, without returning to their true forms, are just a small, cute babblin and a bumblebee.
"...No. Come to think of it, they're stronger than me."
What a pointless worry. I was standing there poking at the sand with my toes when I felt a familiar presence behind me.
"Is something wrong?"
It was Zenon. Of course, Samuel was also approaching beside him. I glanced at the two briefly, then shifted my gaze indifferently and replied nonchalantly.
"Nothing."
They're small creatures, so the travel time might just take a bit longer.
They'll probably be back before morning.
Comforting myself like that, I turned around calmly. Even after returning to the accommodation, I couldn't sleep for a long time and eventually fell asleep from exhaustion.
When I opened my eyes late in the morning, Digor and Tristan still hadn't returned.
Nadab and Palides suggested positive words that they were probably on their way. I decided to wait one more day. They might be on their way.
"......"
And Digor and Tristan didn't return that day either, even as late night fell.
* * *
Seeing me leave the accommodation right after waking up, saying I needed to find some fishing village, Zenon and Samuel were surprised and blocked my way.
"A remote fishing village?"
"Yes."
"...If it's something like that around here, there would probably be quite a lot."
For once, Samuel and Zenon's opinions aligned. Of course, I think so too. There would be quite a lot.
"It's a fishing village that worships a guardian deity."
"I think I heard that every coastal village has its own guardian deity."
"The guardian deity defeated a monster."
Zenon tilted his head with a subtle expression.
"...Well, is it something like a legend?"
"It's not a legend, it's a place where such a thing happened recently."
At my words, Zenon and Samuel frowned simultaneously. They had expressions saying they couldn't understand at all.
I was just as frustrated. If only I knew the village name, I wouldn't be this frustrated.
"Anyway, I need to find that fishing village."
"So the only clue is that it's a remote fishing village where a monster appeared?"
"A sea monster and a scary monster."
"...Yes. A remote fishing village where a sea monster and a scary monster appeared."
Samuel, who had been listening to the conversation between Zenon and me, fell into deep thought. Then suddenly he spoke.
"If a monster appeared, there might have been reports to the local temple or guard station. Let's check."
"I'll come along."
"Wouldn't it be better to travel by horse?"
Only after Zenon's pointed remark did I realize I hadn't even summoned Nadab and Palides.