"It seems we've been starving the little one."
Xenon muttered in a resigned voice. Thanks to the baby lizardman swallowing meat whole without even chewing, their generously stocked ingredients were running dangerously low.
"It's too thin. For it to properly gain flesh, we'll need to feed it well for several days."
Ganic sighed from where he stood watching from a distance. Ever since seeing the baby lizardman's frightening display, he hadn't been able to approach it directly.
Yet he couldn't seem to tear himself away, prompting Palides to click his tongue and murmur.
"Looks like Ganic will be raising it from now on."
"Can't even bring himself to touch it, so what's there to raise?"
At Zigore's words, Tristan shrugged in agreement. Regardless of what the Dullahans said, Ganic offered his opinion in all seriousness.
"If we release it at the Lizardmen's habitat, its chances of survival will increase."
The Lizardmen's habitat. I complained in response.
"We can't even find the Lizardmen's habitat, let alone guarantee when we can depart from here."
Just in case, I tried activating the spatial magic tool again, but there was still no response.
While I could somehow hide my appearance with a hood, there was no way to drag around four massive Dullahans...
Lost in troubled thoughts, Samuel approached while checking a map.
"Have you decided on your next destination?"
"Why do you ask?"
"There's an old monastery nearby. If you need to kill time, that place would be better than here."
"A monastery?"
"It's abandoned and no longer in use. Returning to the city is out of the question, and camping has its limitations, so it would be better to rest properly there and reorganize."
Of course, a proper building would be more comfortable than this crude cave, but I couldn't readily accept his suggestion.
"...Are you sure it's abandoned?"
At my suspicious look, Samuel nodded calmly.
"Yes. It's not being used. Also, if you're interested in the Twelve Sinners, going there would be helpful."
"Why?"
"The altar the Twelve Sinners destroyed belonged to this Febryn Monastery."
He must be referring to that very altar that became material for the Round Table. Surprised by this unexpected information, my eyes widened as he continued with a faint smile.
"You might find the information you're looking for at Febryn. I'll guide you there."
"Why would you guide me? You don't even know my purpose, yet you're being so cooperative?"
"You need to keep finding me useful, otherwise you might run away, wouldn't you?"
At this matter-of-fact response, not only I but even Xenon, who had been preparing food for the baby lizardman, looked at Samuel in disbelief.
I tried to understand this unusual train of thought but eventually gave up. The conclusion was that he couldn't let me see him running away three times.
I had already said I would take him along, but I didn't know he would still have that problem in mind.
"You're still worried I might run away?"
"Yes. I thought that since I've told you about the Twelve Sinners, you would no longer see the necessity of our companionship."
...How did he know?
A corner of my mind flinched, but I maintained a composed expression. Since I had no intention of keeping Samuel as a companion forever, I had considered ways to shake him off beforehand.
It was true I had prepared various measures with the possibility of Xenon's mana seal being released in mind, but that didn't mean I was planning to run away immediately.
I was planning to move in earnest once the magic tool started working properly.
"What I told you was just a general overview. I'll add detailed information as I remember while we travel together."
"Even without you saying that, I wasn't particularly planning to run away."
Having told a bald-faced lie, I averted my gaze. Yet my mind remained complicated. Febryn Monastery.
"So where is this monastery?"
"Just cross the valley on the opposite side."
We stood at the cave entrance. In the direction Samuel pointed, there were only dense trees and what looked like a steep ridge.
"The path is hidden so strangers cannot find it."
"Why is it hidden?"
"Because naturally, that's where the first sin began."
They hid the monastery's very existence just because their altar was raided?
The more I heard, the more the gods seemed incredibly petty. If they wanted to establish their authority so badly, they should have done it another way. Did it make sense to hide and erase everything bad?
Somehow, I found myself sympathizing more with the Twelve Sinners whose faces I didn't even know.
"Is it really alright for you to tell me about such a place?"
"As I mentioned before."
Perhaps it was his blunt tone, but his words felt particularly solid. If voices had shapes, Samuel would probably be speaking in square letters.
"It's for me to remain by your side."
Samuel's voice was resolute.
"...."
I gazed at him steadily.
If square words piled up one by one, his unfathomable emotions would take shape. What shape did his selfishness he wanted to show me take?
"By my side..."
...Whatever it was, it didn't feel welcome. His emotions seemed complete regardless of my will or understanding.
I adjusted my hood and turned away. I wasn't particularly interested in what feelings Samuel harbored toward me. I didn't care what shape those angular letters would form either.
What I confirmed through our conversation just now was simply that the current Samuel was being cooperative with me.
"Then guide me."
And I had no intention of refusing that.
* * *
Freesian had brought subordinates skilled in tracking from the moment she arrived at Immon Port.
Thanks to that, while Maxel's subordinates searched chaotically, she could quickly find traces and move.
Naturally, she didn't bother correcting their futile efforts. She even took pains to lose them, worried they might follow her and steal the credit.
Freesian gazed at her search-focused subordinates, then looked at the valley visible in the distance.
According to what she learned in Immon, Samuel had been inquiring about small fishing villages, and the only area he showed interest in was Ridel.
And upon arriving at Ridel, she heard news of the Resurrected One. Was this coincidence?
'Is Anelli traveling with Sir Samuel?'
She guessed that following Samuel would lead her to Anelli, but she hadn't initially thought they might be together.
If the two were really together, had Anelli decided to entrust herself to the Temple?
But if that were the case...
'The Temple is too quiet.'
If Anelli had decided to entrust herself to the Temple, Roam's informants would have brought news long ago. Even if not, the High Priest would have joyfully announced the 'news of the Resurrected One' throughout the land.
The Temple remained only quiet. Since the Resurrected One hadn't shown any notable activity, their exaggerated claims had reached their limit.
The faithful who had proclaimed that all evil on this land would be immediately extinguished when the oracle first descended had returned to their usual routines.
"Young Duke, this way."
Freesian emerged from her thoughts at her subordinate's report.
"But Young Duke, the traces are strange."
"In what way?"
"Monster traces are mixed in."
"Dullahans?"
"That's not certain. But it seems to be more than one. We need to collect the remaining bodily fluids or fur for precise investigation to determine their exact identity."
"Then let's move on. Pursuing them is more important right now."
"If we continue like this, we might meet nightfall in the mountains."
The subordinate spoke worriedly. These traces led deeper into the mountains, and there was no telling how much further they needed to go.
With monster traces discovered, they also had to consider the possibility of combat.
Under normal circumstances, Freesian might have withdrawn at this point and dispatched search parties in all directions.
But at this very moment, she was seized by the intuition that turning back here might mean losing Anelli's trail completely.
"We continue the pursuit."
Freesian prepared her magic tools. Among the subordinates she brought was a mage. A mage was significant force, so she judged they wouldn't fall into the worst situation.
They moved quickly again. During that process, Freesian obtained more information.
First, Anelli's movement speed was slower than expected. Something seemed to be delaying the travel. Also, monsters were definitely accompanying the journey.
"Come to think of it, monsters have been involved time and again."
At the first sighting, a Wyvern, then Dullahans. And now, monsters of unknown identity.
"Monsters..."
Before her execution, Anelli had lived a life far removed from monsters. If so, was the current Anelli fighting against 'rampant evil' according to the oracle?
Freesian, who had lived without a shred of piety in her life, couldn't imagine Anelli moving according to divine will. Moreover, the Anelli she knew had as much piety as herself—which was none at all.
Or perhaps the resurrected Anelli had gained tremendous faith?
"She died and came back, so it's possible."
It wasn't just dying and reviving—if she was beheaded and then resurrected, even more so.
Freesian's questions returned to the origin.
'Is she really the Anelli I know?'
The answer to that would be resolved once she met Anelli.
* * *
When I heard the mountain birds' chatter, I was skeptical...
After hearing that strange humans were rapidly rummaging through the mountain, I was grateful I had hidden the Dullahans.
If anyone encountered four Dullahans who couldn't even transform, they would draw their sword first.
I thought of the Dullahans hidden nearby with Xenon, watching the situation, then glanced sideways.
Samuel standing beside me maintained his usual expressionlessness. But having observed him for several days, I could see the irritation he was suppressing.
Seeing that expression, I understood. Samuel hadn't conspired with the other party to create this situation.
"Sir Samuel, thanks to you, we've been spared some effort. Let me express my gratitude in advance."
Sister Freesian didn't hide the fact that she had tracked Samuel all the way here.