Samuel and Zenon both testified that the carpet wasn't glowing. Beside me, the ghost explained that only I could see the traces of divine power because I was the goddess's proxy.
"But both Zenon and Samuel detected the traces left on the statue?"
[Magical power and divine power are forces that split from the authority of creation. This is the result of the Goddess of Night taking them when she formed the world's laws and distributing them to all creations.]
"Ah..."
Having unintentionally learned the origin of magical power and divine power, I wondered whether I should tell Samuel and Zenon about this. The two factions already had a long history of conflict, so even if I told them, they probably wouldn't believe me.
If I said there were originally two gods and the current temples only knew half of history, there would be chaos.
"Lady Anelli, are you speaking with the ghost?"
"Ah, yes. Do you want to see the ghost?"
"No!" Zenon shook his head in distaste. Samuel looked at Zenon as if he were pathetic, then lifted the carpet.
"Do we need to find something here?"
"No, it seems I'll have to check this myself."
Anyway, I needed to get rid of this ghost quickly and search the monastery more comfortably. Since the light was only visible to my eyes, I should be able to handle it somehow.
I examined the carpet here and there, then lightly touched the glowing embroidery with my fingertips. The faint glow grew brighter.
《...Time shall... flow, therefore... fulfill your duty...》
"Huh?"
Following the voice ringing clearly in my ears, the light gradually intensified. Startled, I tried to pull my hand away, but for some reason, I couldn't move. An inexplicable wind began to swirl wildly.
"Lady Anelli!"
Zenon reached out to me in surprise. However, his hand, which seemed like it would grab my arm immediately, passed through helplessly.
Samuel, frozen in shock, also tried to grab me but merely swept through empty air.
My body was becoming translucent.
"What is this!"
《Time, having stopped, shall flow by the threads of fate, for the purpose of fulfilling unfinished duty.》
My vision filled with light. Zenon, horrified, tried to catch me, but it was useless.
《This was recorded with the tears of the betrayer, for he fulfilled the covenant of repentance.》
Beyond my fluttering hair, I happened to meet Samuel's eyes. He was completely rigid with shock.
《May you find rest at the end of your journey.》
Finally, a massive light exploded, and I squeezed my eyes shut.
I knew this feeling. The humming sound, the vibration of the air, my body swaying, and nausea rising.
With a feeling of disbelief, I slowly opened my eyes. A dusty space that seemed long abandoned came into view.
While a musty smell stung my nose, cool air wrapped around my skin. Crude stone walls and windows firmly fixed with wooden shutters were visible.
This wasn't the basement where I had been just moments ago.
"Wait, you said it was a trace of divine power..."
This was just a warp gate. And one only I could use.
Feeling absurd, I stood there blankly before snapping to attention and looking down at my wrist. Fortunately, the spatial bracelet containing the Durahans was twinkling as usual.
Feeling relieved that I wasn't alone, I considered summoning all the Durahans immediately but decided to first figure out where this place was.
For now, where I stood felt like an ordinary storage room. There was no glowing divine power anywhere.
If I came here, shouldn't I be able to go back the other way?
Dissatisfied, I looked around, then suddenly realized there was commotion outside.
"Where exactly am I?"
I wanted to look out the window, but the wooden shutters were nailed shut, making them difficult to remove.
Looking around, I discovered stairs leading downward. Going down the stairs, I became certain this building was abandoned.
As I went further down, the noise grew louder. Finally reaching the first floor, I involuntarily stopped.
The wooden door, presumably the entrance, was cracked and broken, lying scattered about.
Thanks to this, the outside noise and light poured in freely. Urgent shouts and unidentified booming sounds echoed continuously from outside.
Hiding my body as much as possible to avoid detection, I cautiously observed outside.
'The Imperial Knights?'
I almost screamed, barely holding it back by biting my tongue. Covering my mouth and careful not to let any sound escape, I urgently looked around.
Not only knights but mages were present. They were surrounding something, and in the center, a particularly large black figure was thrashing about while bound with ropes.
[Foolish puppets of a god! You cannot subdue me!]
Despite the rugged and resounding shout, its appearance was in complete disarray.
"Hold on a little longer! The magic preparation will be complete soon! We must completely annihilate it!"
Hearing those words, I couldn't delay any longer. Removing my appearance-changing magical tool and putting it in my pocket, I strode out the door.
"Stop this instant!"
Long silver hair fluttered behind me. The chief imperial mage, about to cast an attack spell, recognized me and wore an expression of shock. Several imperial knights also widened their eyes at my face.
But the most definitive reaction came from the thrashing black figure.
[...Captain?]
Durahan, dragged down from the black horse, tightly bound and kneeling on one knee, stopped its thrashing. In that gap, I saw one knight raise his sword.
"I said stop!"
At my fierce shout, the knight appeared flustered. I immediately ran to Durahan. Durahan knelt obediently as if it had never been thrashing.
[Is it really you, Captain? Captain... To meet you here...!]
"Untie the ropes."
"W-what is the meaning of this..."
"Do you not know who I am?"
"The Resurrected One..."
"Yes, if you recognize me, untie him immediately."
The mages and knights who had been about to attack to annihilate Durahan stepped back hesitantly. However, they still maintained a defensive stance, ready to attack at any moment.
"Is that really the Resurrected One?"
"Why did the Resurrected One come out from there?"
"Look, the monster calmed down. Is it because of the Resurrected One?"
Just as I was about to press the murmuring knights and mages further, someone approached through their midst.
"...Anelli?"
The moment I confirmed Marcel's and my father's faces, I reflexively looked around.
There were many imperial knights and imperial mages, so I hadn't noticed at first, but looking again carefully, the scenery was familiar.
Good heavens, this really can't be happening. Humanly speaking, this is too much. The suddenly activated warp gate was one thing, but...
"Anelli, how did you..."
Damn it, why did the destination have to be inside the Imperial Palace?
"Anelli!"
Marcel, frozen in surprise, approached me in an instant. Grabbing my wrist, he gazed at me with a strangely distorted face.
"Anelli, how did you come out of that tower? Why are you protecting this monster?"
Amidst the confusion, I felt displeased and tried to shake off his wrist, but Marcel only tightened his grip.
[Captain!]
Suddenly Durahan stirred, and the knights immediately raised their swords. Simultaneously, I shouted.
"God sent me!"
"...What?"
"I received a divine revelation and came to take the monster that would appear here and return it to where it belongs."
Perhaps due to the unexpected answer, Marcel's grip loosened. Not missing the opportunity, I shook off his hand, took a step back, and lifted my chin.
So that the scar remaining on my neck was clearly visible to everyone.
"Therefore, by God's will, this Durahan is under my jurisdiction."
I had no choice but to bluff and see what happened.
* * *
I could somewhat understand Samuel's feelings, mentioning God at every word. When I attached God's name to every answer, no one questioned the cause and effect.
Of course, it wasn't entirely convenient. Since I pushed all my inexplicable actions as God's will, I garnered strange misunderstandings. They said I saved the Empire's imperial family by God's command.
Having witnessed Durahan becoming docile with their own eyes, the knights and mages were moved by the existence of the Resurrected One and praised God's protection. Then they surrounded me instead of Durahan.
While courtiers held me back from taking Durahan out, the knights prepared a massive iron cage. The Emperor, who had fortuitously appeared in person, declared he would invite me to a banquet with gratitude before everyone's eyes.
In reality, my opinion was not reflected at all in this situation.
I hadn't even been able to have a proper conversation with Durahan. The only fortunate thing was that Durahan, who seemed to have understood my urgent signal, had suppressed his temper. I didn't know how long he would hold out, though.
'His personality didn't look easygoing.'
Durahan was locked in the iron cage, and the Captain of the Guard stated he would guard him strictly and release him when I left the palace.
Of course, I didn't believe those words at all. For whatever reason, leaving the palace would be delayed day by day, and I couldn't know how long my Durahan's safety would be guaranteed.
'Tomorrow the rumor will spread throughout the entire Empire.'
Swallowing curses I'd lost count of, I quietly lowered my gaze.
"..."
I felt the gaze of the Emperor seated on the throne. According to vassal etiquette, I should have knelt and offered greetings, but I only moved my head slightly, not observing etiquette at all.
From the corner of the audience chamber, Andrei, the Duke watching this scene with my father, coughed as if uncomfortable.
Well, let him.
Fortunately, the Emperor didn't seem to intend to force etiquette on me.
"It is moving to face you in such healthy condition, Duchess. That you remain thus is nothing but surprising. When news came that you were kidnapped immediately after becoming God's Resurrected One, the imperial family was greatly worried, but I am glad you returned without injury."
His attitude toward me was very benevolent. I think I heard such a voice in the distant past. When I was still Marcel's fiancée.