It had been a long time since I last used a transformation spell.
It had also been a long time since I lived a life where I would rent a room for a few days at most, pack my bags before I could even properly settle in, and then abruptly leave for another place.
Yet, it felt as familiar as if it were yesterday.
After leaving the mansion, I immediately departed the capital with Xenon and Samuel, who had prepared a carriage in advance.
The place we arrived at after traveling all night was the small city of Hali, located beyond the Lindea River. It was also the place where there had been a Dullahan witness.
"Please stay in the carriage, just in case. We will go and verify the information."
Xenon and Samuel left their seats for a moment to confirm the information they had uncovered.
And now, I was waiting for the two of them inside the carriage.
The passersby didn't seem particularly interested in the carriage. I was resting my chin on my hand, observing the scenery, which was modest to the point of being shabby compared to the capital, when Pallides, sitting across from me, spoke.
"Does this mean we don't have to go back to that mansion anymore?"
I nodded toward the excited Pallides. She seemed to have found life in the mansion extremely stifling, as she expressed her joy with her entire body.
It wasn't just Pallides. The other Dullahans were also pleased that they wouldn't have to see the humans who had been rude to me anymore.
Minte, whom Sayri had been particularly watchful of, seemed especially relieved.
[It's a good thing I got to see that bastard rolling on the ground like that in the end.]
I hadn't been informed, so I didn't know, but it seemed Sayri had tried to catch Minte behind my back several times.
Perhaps she wanted to get revenge on me for taking her baby animals?
Sayri said she had set traps, laid bait, and pursued quite earnestly. If Minte had been an ordinary cat, she might have been caught without a sound.
Running into Sayri on the night we set fire to Roam and left was a coincidence. To be precise, it would be more accurate to say that Sayri discovered us.
I don't know why she was awake in the middle of the night.
But the moment I spotted Sayri standing on the balcony, I thought this must be her fate as well.
[Hmph, who does she think she's trying to catch?]
Minte muttered coldly and haughtily raised her tail.
It was Minte who revealed her true form to threaten Sayri that night.
I thought Sayri might scream and cause a commotion, but perhaps she didn't have the nerve, as she simply fainted on the spot.
It was a welcome turn of events for me, as she didn't become a hindrance.
"By the way, they're later than I expected."
I recalled the information Xenon and Samuel had given me. Rumors of a monster that transforms into an animal. And a Dullahan.
This city wasn't so small that a Dullahan's appearance wouldn't cause a stir.
There should have been at least dozens of witnesses, but if they had to inquire this thoroughly, it likely meant the Dullahan hadn't appeared within the city itself.
"Zigore, do you sense anything?"
Zigore, who was more sensitive than the other Dullahans at detecting his comrades, sat on the open window frame.
[I don't sense anything specific here. Should Tristan and I go look around, Captain?]
"There probably isn't one inside the city anyway. It would be faster to move once the location is pinpointed."
Only two Dullahans remained.
This wasn't a situation where I could leisurely travel while searching for Dullahans as I had before. Because I had a clear destination I needed to reach.
"I can't let Maxel reach the Trevi Mountains with his army first..."
I had also transcribed the prophecies Lilia recorded every night.
Subdue the Veladia Valley and leverage that achievement. That was Lilia's prophecy. Which meant that was the flow of fate that Tanseong desired.
Why would it have to be Veladia? The Veladia Castle located there must be the target.
The goddess has a reason for wanting to erase that place.
'To block the final authority.'
...Perhaps the Dullahans' heads might be there.
Out of habit, I looked at my palm. After regaining the authority, perhaps because the green light was fascinating, my gaze kept drifting toward it.
I was pointlessly clenching and unclenching my fist, as if trying to grasp a power I couldn't even touch, when familiar voices came from outside the window.
I looked up and saw Xenon and Samuel, who had gone to meet the so-called witness.
As they approached, I could hear words like 'today' and 'immediately' in their conversation.
Keeping my eyes on Xenon and Samuel, I thought.
'It seems they were able to get a proper look.'
Curiosity bloomed within me about what kind of fellow the Dullahan I would soon meet might be.
* * *
In the drawing room of the Ruejak family mansion, Maxel, who had arrived after a long journey, was informed of the events in the capital without a moment's rest.
"This is someone's scheme!"
A roar erupted from Maxel's mouth.
The sudden collapse of the Crown Prince's palace was, of course, undoubtedly a fabricated incident.
Wasn't it? The palace collapsing the moment he left his seat—wasn't it normal to think someone had attacked it deliberately!
"It must be my brother's doing, of course! Why isn't Father investigating him!"
"W-well, the cause of the explosion hasn't been determined yet..."
"Whether it was magic or something else, he must have used some trick! How can they receive their salaries without even figuring that out!"
Faced with Maxel's indignant appearance, the aide who had reported the capital news broke into a cold sweat and averted his gaze.
The territory managed by the Ruejak family was on the border. It was close to the Veladia Mountains, but far from the capital.
Maxel, who wanted to lead his private soldiers and achieve merit as soon as possible, had focused diligently on moving quickly, so he only learned of the capital's troubles upon arriving at the territory.
"Her Majesty the Empress was awakened by the Resurrected One? Is that true?"
Lilia, who had been standing silently beside the panting Maxel, urgently interjected.
With an expression of utter disbelief, she asked for confirmation several times. And the aide's answer remained the same.
"Yes. His Majesty the Emperor and His Highness the First Prince were present together. Also, the Empress's palace maids witnessed it from close by."
"...That's impossible!"
The Empress's slumber was not due to medicine, nor was it due to magic. It was the work of a monster.
I don't know what kind of monster it was, but in the dream Lilia saw, there was no way to resolve the monster's attack. In the dream...
"Lilia, what on earth is going on?"
Seeing Lilia's confused appearance, Maxel frowned and asked.
Having left the capital reassured after hearing the prophecy she conveyed, he couldn't help but shift the blame onto her.
"Her Majesty was clearly..."
Though he couldn't finish his sentence, mindful of the surrounding eyes, Lilia couldn't possibly fail to understand what he meant to say.
Lilia looked back and forth between the aide and Maxel with a bewildered face, then seemed to remember something and her eyes lit up.
"It was a staged act from the beginning!"
"What?"
Lilia grabbed Maxel's frowning arm tightly.
"If that sister is an undead who can control monsters, everything makes sense! So the initial attack was staged by her! Since she caused it herself, she also knows how to resolve it!"
She was excited, as if she had found the answer.
Maxel looked at Lilia with a distorted face for a moment, then first dismissed his aide.
Only Maxel and Lilia remained in the drawing room.
"...If that's true, then why didn't you know about it?"
"Huh?"
"Your prophecy was wrong."
Before Maxel's cold words could finish, Lilia retorted with a serious expression.
"My prophecy is not wrong, Your Highness."
"If it were as you prophesied..."
"I told you Her Majesty would collapse. I did not give a definitive answer regarding what would happen afterward."
What Lilia saw were the futures of a few key individuals and the situations they would face. And she had informed Maxel of those futures.
The figures who held significant weight within them were predetermined, and her own mother, the Empress, rarely appeared.
Occasionally, she might trigger influential events by leveraging her undeniable status, but that was about it.
"Her awakening doesn't change much. Your Highness, I told you. You are the protagonist. The protagonist's story is not swayed by minor characters."
Lilia smiled. It was the kind, gentle smile she usually wore when comforting Maxel.
"Have you forgotten what His Majesty said? It's a perfect opportunity to establish the imperial family's authority. You must no longer be swayed by the Resurrected One."
The more Maxel was cornered in the short term due to Heinri, the more he relied on Lilia.
Regardless of how those around him changed their attitudes, Lilia consistently told him he would become a hero.
"Have you forgotten the Baron and Baroness Ruejak, who welcomed us so warmly?"
The anger he felt upon hearing the aide's report gradually subsided. Maxel slowly regained his composure.
"That's right, the palace can just be rebuilt."
After all, there was a previous incident where the roof was blown off by a Wyvern. He had been reluctant to use that palace since then, so perhaps it was better to build a new one on this occasion.
What does a mere palace matter? Only fools get caught up in visible phenomena and make a fuss.
"Once Your Highness subdues the monsters, their attitudes will change quickly. Perhaps they were so afraid of that, they plotted to call you back to the capital."
Maxel nodded. As he listened quietly, Lilia's speculation seemed quite plausible.
'That coward, who brings in external forces like the Temple or the Magic Tower and then hides behind them, is capable of such a thing.'
The Emperor accepted Maxel's bold declaration that he would take the lead in subjugating the monsters descending from the Trevi Mountains.
Could Heinri even undertake such a great and brave task? He was merely a loser who couldn't even hold his head high within the palace just a few months ago.
It wouldn't be surprising at all if Heinri, out of jealousy and wariness of Maxel, tried to hinder his progress with sinister rumors.
Maxel nodded.
Seeing his expression, Lilia's complexion brightened.
"This is all because the Empire is in chaos."
"That's right. It's because monsters dare to invade human lands. Your Highness must bring peace back to the Empire."
"I must quickly discuss the soldiers with Baron Ruejak."
Maxel gave Lilia a light kiss on the forehead.
"Lilia, your prophetic ability will bring me luck, so I will be victorious."
In response to Maxel's vow, Lilia answered with a smile. A shy yet trust-filled smile.