The scent of grass rose thickly.
Fressian and his subordinates easily entered the forest. Though they had entered somewhat later than their target, fortunately, the target had moved carelessly, leaving traces behind.
What the target intended to do here, Fressian had little interest in.
"They moved this way."
As they followed the traces, they ventured deeper into the forest.
The warm sunlight, which had been pouring down, was blocked by the densely lush leaves, unable to reach the ground. The trees were so thick that even at midday, the surroundings were dim.
Perhaps because the sunlight did not reach it, the forest air was cool and damp.
Fressian took a deep breath to shake off the inexplicable tension pressing on his chest. He had long since removed the stifling helmet.
"The footprints are quite fresh."
Just then, a subordinate made a welcome report. Glancing at the footprints formed by crushed leaves and soil, Fressian nodded.
"Approach quietly."
They were men skilled in concealing their presence. Among them, Fressian was especially so.
He crossed the forest with light, swift movements that did not even rustle the leaves, then suddenly halted. His subordinates also stopped in place, lowering their bodies.
A clearing appeared in the forest, which had been shaded throughout by the dense trees. With nothing to block the sky, the sunlight bathed the entire clearing in a circular glow.
Their target stood at the center of that clearing, having seemingly dispelled the appearance-altering magic they had been using.
The first thing that caught the eye was the silver hair, shimmering in the sunlight and cascading like a waterfall.
"……!"
From a distance, hair that might have looked like expensive silk swayed and rippled with every movement.
The pale skin, brightly revealed under the sunlight, also seemed somewhat unreal. The profile of the slightly tilted face revealed a straight nose bridge and firmly closed lips that asserted their presence.
Following the slowly blinking eyelids, purple eyes appeared and disappeared as if toying with one's heart.
Fressian, who had almost lost himself in a daze, fortunately regained his senses quickly.
'It just looks more striking in the sunlight.'
Perhaps it was also because the target wore a plain, dark-colored cloak, making the pale face stand out even more in contrast.
Fressian steeled his heart. Objectively, the target's appearance was indeed splendid, but he already knew the substance was not.
The target was the wicked woman who had tried to buy from him the poison that would kill the woman he loved.
With his cool composure restored, Fressian signaled his subordinates with his fingers. Surrounding the target standing alone in the center of the clearing was very easy.
Even as they completed the encirclement, the target remained completely unaware of their presence.
Unconsciously, a cruel smirk formed at the corner of Fressian's mouth.
'How shall I deal with you?'
Fressian, who had intended to end things cleanly, quietly, and quickly, changed his mind. He wanted to see the face of the target, who looked so peaceful and unaware of her situation, contort into an ugly expression.
Fressian openly revealed himself. With his step, a twig rolling on the ground snapped with a *tock* sound.
Even though it was a very small twig, the sound echoed unusually loudly.
That was when he realized it. The eerily silent state of the forest.
"Who are you?"
The sense of incongruity felt in that instant quickly vanished. As he met the purple eyes staring directly at him, the cruel impulse he had temporarily suppressed began to boil within.
"I have come from the imperial palace."
Following Fressian's appearance, his subordinates lazily revealed themselves, forming a semicircle.
The target slowly looked around at the strangers encircling and slowly approaching her. No tension or fear showed on her face.
Seeing her serene face, Fressian's brow slightly furrowed. But he soon parted his lips with a friendly smile.
"His Majesty the Emperor is deeply disappointed in the Resurrected One and has ordered that this fraud be found and executed immediately."
"His Majesty has?"
"Yes."
Though he had no intention of letting the target go anyway, there was no need to reveal their true identities.
It was a fact that the Emperor was angry with the Resurrected One and suspected the Resurrected One of being a fraud, so it was best to set them against each other.
Since this woman had already been beheaded once, wouldn't she despair if she thought an order for her execution had come from the Emperor's lips once more?
Fressian looked at the target with anticipation.
"His Majesty ordered my execution……."
Muttering softly, she tilted her head. The shimmering silver hair gently cascaded with the movement of her head.
Simultaneously, Fressian's pupils shook.
"I see."
The woman with a pale, white face was smiling sweetly at Fressian.
Not a speck of despair could be seen in her finely folded eyes. Rather, she seemed...
Pleased.
'...What.'
The casual observation instead sent a chill down his spine, and Fressian reflexively took a step back. The other party watched Fressian's reaction as if observing him.
"So, you have come to carry out His Majesty's command?"
"...That is correct."
"Then, if I send your heads to His Majesty, would I be wanted for treason instead?"
"Having been beheaded and revived, it seems there is something wrong with your head."
At Fressian's words, she—no, the target—burst into laughter. The laughter echoing in the silence sounded quite innocent.
"My head is perfectly fine. It's just that my nature is inherently savage. Don't you already know? I recall placing several requests with you to procure medicine and buy people."
Fressian, who had been feigning composure, could no longer hide his expression this time.
His face turned cold and sunken as he twisted his lips.
"Seeing you laugh like that while knowing who I am, you truly are not in your right mind."
Now he had obtained the perfect reason not to let the target leave the forest.
It was just as well. Fressian decided to think so.
How much had his beloved Lilia suffered because of that woman?
Fressian had vowed to protect Lilia from behind for the rest of his life, but he lamented his inability to step forward each time the target received pardons due to being the second daughter of a ducal family.
Now that such an opportunity had arisen, he could simply do what he did best.
Just as Fressian, having resolved himself, was about to grip his sword—
"What!"
The thicket behind the target shook violently. Fressian and his subordinates reflexively assumed attacking stances.
They hadn't sensed any presence—could she have hidden people behind her? But how could she have known about their ambush and prepared people in advance?
Moreover, this area was currently controlled as a restricted entry zone, making it difficult for a large group to approach without special disguises like Fressian and his subordinates.
With sharply focused eyes, Fressian glared at the area behind the target.
The thicket, which had shaken a couple of times, seemed to calm down, and soon something abruptly revealed itself.
It was... a cat. A black cat.
The cat, wagging its tail, revealed itself and approached near the target's legs, stretching its body in a yawn.
"Hah, a cat."
One of the highly tense subordinates let out a hollow laugh and muttered irritably. At that moment, the thicket shook again.
"...What's that?"
A turtle was seen crawling out slowly. Behind it, a small black bird flew up. An invisible black dot also flew about, maddeningly.
Frowning at the utterly absurd sight, Fressian saw a large black shadow push through the thicket and leap out.
It was a large black bear.
Fressian tightened his grip on the sword hilt he had been holding loosely. A black bear!
The bear's appearance was unexpected. But perhaps it was for the best. Being torn apart by a bear's forepaws would be a more natural end than if they laid hands on her themselves.
Fressian moved his subordinates back to get out of the bear's attack range. Seeing their reaction, the target looked behind her.
He expected blood to spatter any moment. But the scene he imagined did not occur.
"How...?"
One of the subordinates muttered in a dazed voice.
Fressian felt the same as that subordinate. He couldn't understand at all what was happening now.
The bear, crawling on all fours to the target's side, was lowering its head like a tame puppy. It had looked as if it would swing its massive forepaw at the person right in front of it at any moment.
Fressian grew increasingly uneasy. The target showed no sign of surprise at seeing the bear and instead accepted its docile reaction as a matter of course.
*Rustle.*
"What is it this time?"
When another sound came from the thicket, one subordinate spoke sharply in a nervous voice.
Was it another animal this time? A fierce beast?
'Could it be that the Resurrected One knows how to command animals?'
Swallowing dryly, Fressian took another step back. Fortunately or unfortunately, this time it was not an animal.
What revealed itself this time was a person. A knight clad in heavy armor. Having surveilled the target for days, Fressian recognized at a glance that this knight was the target's guard.
'Clearly, there was no guard earlier...'
The guard had not accompanied her when she left the mansion initially. So, had she sent this guard knight ahead into this forest?
Growing more confused by the situation, Fressian gritted his teeth and widened his eyes.
"Did you grow arrogant, trusting in that one guard?"
The animal—the black bear was threatening, but Fressian had several types of poison. His subordinates also typically used swords coated with poison, so no matter how fierce the beast, there was no reason they couldn't handle it.
Then the problematic one was that guard. He seemed skilled, but they outnumbered him significantly.
And usually, in such situations, the side with someone to protect is at a disadvantage.
Fressian laughed triumphantly. It had become more troublesome than expected, but that was all. The outcome would not change.
Just as Fressian, having regained his composure, was about to part his lips again, the target smiled brightly and asked gently in return.
"Who said there was only one?"
The target raised one hand and lightly waved it.
And, the forest turned black.