I hurriedly spoke the activation word into the bracelet. The black horse Nadav and the armored Palides appeared before me.
Just from seeing my expression, the two of them grasped the situation.
"Can you sense anything related to Zigor and Tristan?"
[I don't particularly... How about you, Palides?]
"Sorry, Captain. I don't sense anything either."
"Can't you trace their energy backwards?"
"I'm a bit dull when it comes to things like that..."
[If we get close, we should be able to sense them. But I don't know about tracing backwards.]
Nadav and Palides weren't certain. Come to think of it, Zigor was the one who most敏锐地 detected Durahan energy. The other Durahans didn't seem to be that sensitive.
Seeing my expression darken, Samuel proposed again.
"Will you go to check together?"
I nodded.
"Let's go quickly."
* * *
At the guard station, after verifying Samuel's identity, they actively cooperated. Thanks to that, we could easily obtain information.
As Samuel expected, we were able to confirm several places where monster sightings had been reported.
Among them, only one place had suddenly cancelled their report. It was a village called Lidi, located at a distance that would take at most one or two hours by horse. Even the road there wasn't complicated.
I left the city along that road, and Xenon and Samuel naturally followed me.
"It'll be fine. They're not ordinary subordinates."
Perhaps I looked anxious enough that Xenon gently tried to soothe me. Samuel also chimed in stiffly.
"You're probably the only person in the world worried about monsters' safety."
"Normally in cases like this, worrying about villagers' safety is standard."
Xenon's muttering irritated me for no reason. The kids went out to travel a mere one or two hours' distance and still haven't returned, so what am I supposed to worry about?
"My subordinates didn't go to harm anyone, so why would I worry about people whose faces I don't even know?"
"No, generally speaking. Usually when there are monsters and people, one worries about the people... No. I understand. Let's move quickly!"
Xenon mumbled his words, unable to withstand my glare. I wanted to scold him, but as he said, I wanted to move quickly so I didn't continue the conversation.
According to what we additionally learned at the guard station earlier, there had been no reports of Durahan appearances yet.
Durahans weren't commonly seen compared to other monsters, so if they had transformed into their true forms, rumors would surely have spread...
At least it was fortunate that the two didn't seem to be in great danger.
Or not. Couldn't it be that they're in danger but didn't transform to avoid causing trouble?
"The village is visible over there."
While I was thinking this and that, the destination finally came into view. Beyond the sparse farmland, several buildings could be seen.
Lidi was a smaller village than expected. Standing at the village entrance, the sea was visible across from it, so one could guess how small its scale was.
"We'll be able to look around quickly."
Samuel, who had glanced around while mounted on his horse, muttered calmly. Xenon took out Nessie from subspace and released it outside.
"Nessie might remember the baepsae's scent."
At Xenon's confident words, my eyes lit up. Come to think of it, Nessie had a track record of finding me even in a bustling city—an owner of an excellent sense of smell!
"Nessie, do you remember the baepsae you used to fight with?"
[That insignificant baepsae, you mean?]
"Yes!"
[Of course I remember.]
"They might be somewhere in this village. Can you find them by scent?"
[Hmm... I'll try.]
Nessie sniffed and took the lead. I dismounted from Nadav and summoned Palides, whom I had temporarily stored in subspace.
I intended to be fully prepared in case a combat situation arose.
Xenon, who had been looking around, murmured quietly.
"No matter how I look, there don't seem to be any threats..."
The village was quiet. Most of the houses seemed empty, and the smell of fish drying in the front yards was strong.
Occasionally, villagers carrying baskets passed by, glancing at us with curious eyes.
Contrary to my worry that the strong fish smell might interfere, Nessie moved forward without hesitation.
Just when it seemed like Nessie was crossing through the village and almost reaching the dock, it changed direction.
After passing by large and small buildings lined up along the coastline, a small path appeared.
It wasn't an artificially maintained road but a dirt path naturally formed by people's foot traffic.
The path seemed to lead toward the seaside. It would be difficult to travel by horse.
"Ah, from here I think I can guide us. Captain."
Palides spoke welcome words at just the right moment. I quickly sent Nadav to subspace and looked back at Xenon and Samuel.
"Palides and I will go, so you two stay here."
"Excuse me?"
"What do you mean?"
"Someone needs to stay and watch the horses, don't they?"
The horse Xenon rode and the horse Samuel rode. There were two horses in total, and I couldn't just leave them anywhere.
Besides, there were no villagers in sight to ask to watch the horses temporarily.
"Then this knight can stay."
"I'm a mage who's no help at all. I should be told to at least watch the horses."
"Fine, I'll accept both your opinions, so both of you stay."
Even I thought it was a very reasonable and wise conclusion. At my words, Xenon and Samuel frowned at each other.
"These are monsters with a history of going berserk. It's difficult to entrust your safety to them."
"Palides went berserk because of Gyeong, and promised not to do that anymore. And I have offensive magic tools and defensive magic tools."
Samuel looked at me with a displeased expression. Xenon, seeming to realize he couldn't stop me, had an expression of resignation from earlier.
I turned my gaze to Nessie, who was looking up at me from beside Xenon.
"Nessie, take good care of your group. Thank you for guiding us here."
[The scent comes from not far away. Go carefully.]
The words "not far" were somewhat comforting.
"Does it smell like blood?"
[There's no smell of blood.]
They don't seem to be injured. Reassured, I turned around.
"Ah, Captain."
Palides, who took the lead instead of Nessie, opened her mouth as if realizing something.
"There are three of us."
The path led beneath the coastal cliff.
Below the cliff was a cave, and Palides said she could feel the knights' energy from inside.
"If there are three, the remaining one must be Ganic, right?"
"Yes! For half the knights to already gather, you really are the one guiding us, Captain!"
Palides seemed excited at the thought of meeting comrades. And her words put me in a somewhat subtle mood.
It was because a problem I had momentarily forgotten while worrying about Zigor and Tristan came to mind.
Twelve sinners, the rampant evil, the existence of the unfathomable "Captain"...
"Let's think about that after we find them first."
"Pardon?"
"No, it's nothing."
We hurriedly approached the cave entrance. However, we soon faced an unexpected problem. The inside of the cave was too dark.
After my resurrection, my eyesight had improved considerably, but in a space with absolutely no light like this, I couldn't distinguish objects, which put me in a difficult position.
"If only there was a little light..."
I glanced down at my wrist. If I first deployed a shield and then cast a fire spell to burn something...
"That won't work."
Xenon's warning not to even think about doing such nonsensical actions came to mind. He must have fussed about safety training and whatnot back then because he knew this would happen.
Smacking my lips and giving up on the bracelet's magic, I checked my necklace this time. The appearance-altering magic tool was decent, and the remaining one was...
"This..."
The red jewel necklace I had forgotten I was wearing remained. It was a one-way communication necklace Heinrich had given me before leaving.
Normally, communication magic tools emit light when activated. This is because magical power constantly circulates within the tool while communication is connected.
Top-grade communication tools can even project a person's appearance.
This necklace-type magic tool might not be capable of that, but it would probably emit at least some light during communication.
Of course, Heinrich didn't give this necklace to be used as a lighting tool, but isn't utilization all about how you use things?
I immediately activated the necklace. Faint light began to emanate from the red jewel, then it blinked. Then it lit up completely bright.
―Isn't this too frequent contact? Even I've been busy lately...
"Heinrich-nim?"
―...Anelli?
"Oh, it works properly."
―Anelli, is it really you?
"Yes, that's correct."
―For you to contact me!
"I know you're happy, but I'm not in a situation to exchange communication right now."
―What does that mean? Did something happen? Is it a situation where my help is needed?
Heinrich's voice turned serious. I also responded in a serious tone.
"Yes, I need help."
―Say whatever you need. I'll do my best to help.
"Thank you. Then could you maintain this communication?"
―Hmm?
"I'm trying to enter a dark place and need some light. You just need to keep the communication connected so the light from this communication stone doesn't go out."
―So... you needed lighting...?
Fortunately, Prince Heinrich understood my words correctly. The jewel during communication glowed quite brightly, enough that I thought I could probably proceed with this.
"That's right. Palides, let's go."
―Maintaining communication isn't difficult, but I'll be hearing your situation, is that alright?
"There's nothing particularly to hide."
Palides and I illuminated the way forward with the necklace and slowly entered. The floor was already uneven stone, but it was also wet, making it impossible to speed up even if we wanted to.
"Palides, this way... ah!"
The moment my foot slipped, Palides quickly caught me. Thanks to that, I didn't tumble over the rocks. As I patted my chest in relief, Heinrich asked in a startled voice.
―Anelli! Are you alright?