Soana, though worried about the eaglets, readily accepted the fact that we had to leave immediately.
In other words, she was a knight who possessed the same compassion as Mori, yet could make rational judgments.
[I've told you everything I can. The rest is up to you.]
Soana resolutely pushed away the eaglets who, unable to endure a single night, had followed her down to the surface.
The eaglets, whining from the early dawn, woke up Nana, Xenon, and even Samuel before returning. Thanks to them, we ended up preparing to depart early.
I was somewhat on edge due to insufficient sleep. Seeing the dark circles under Xenon's eyes, he too seemed quite tired.
However, waking up early wasn't all bad.
"Did you catch the Dullahan?"
It was because Cheche, her eyes bloodshot, had stubbornly shown up with the morning breeze.
Having woken early and already sent the Dullahans into a pocket dimension, I secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
I first stroked the mane of Nadav, who was pretending to be an ordinary horse, and ignored Cheche.
I cautiously observed, wondering if Cheche might have a way to identify Dullahans, but it seemed she hadn't recognized Nadav's true identity.
'Well, it would be absurd for an ordinary person to recognize a Dullahan transformed into an animal.'
Soana's transformation was seen out of necessity, but she likely wouldn't be able to identify other ordinary Dullahans.
Certain that Cheche knew nothing, I decided to divert her attention and focus on preparing to leave.
"We didn't come to catch a Dullahan, only to investigate the area."
Xenon and I treated Cheche as if she were invisible. Naturally, dealing with her fell to Samuel.
At Samuel's words, Cheche bit her lip and raised her voice.
"The Temple said they never sent any investigators!"
Huh?
"Are you really from the Temple?"
"I am indeed a Temple knight. I already showed you my identification."
Despite Samuel's clearly displeased tone, Cheche did not back down easily.
"That's a lie! I went and checked at the Temple yesterday!"
No wonder she had obediently followed Samuel's lead to return—it seemed she hadn't gone home but instead went to the Temple.
I could easily guess the rest without hearing more. No doubt the Temple said they hadn't sent any investigators.
I don't know the details, but generally, Temple investigators first secure cooperation from the local temple for smooth operations.
If a formal investigator had been dispatched, this local temple would have known. I'm not sure if there are exceptional cases.
"I am from the Grand Temple. A small town temple like this doesn't keep track of all the duties of Grand Temple knights."
"Hmph, I won't be fooled this time! Even if I'm just a country hunter, I know what's what! You're actually monster hunters, aren't you? You came to steal the Dullahan I found?"
The term 'monster hunter' came from Cheche's lips once again.
That seems to be a newly emerged profession these days...
"I know you have the Yusgel Merchant Group behind you! You think you can just slip away like this, but you have no idea how fearsome the Halli Merchant Union is...!"
I, who had been listening to their conversation with my back turned, paused.
"What's the connection between monster hunters and the Yusgel Merchant Group?"
I abruptly cut in, interrupting Cheche who was raising her voice with vigor.
Cheche flinched at my sudden interjection and stiffened her expression. It seemed she remembered the moment I grabbed her collar and shoved her.
She seemed to shrink back for a moment, but perhaps resentful that she had momentarily lost her momentum to me, her face turned fiercer as she spoke.
"What connection? A monetary one, of course! But other merchant groups' guards could handle monsters too if they put their minds to it! You might be riding high for now, but how long do you think that will last? Do you think we'll just stand by while you run rampant in someone else's trade territory?"
"The Yusgel Merchant Group is raising mercenaries who hunt monsters?"
"D-don't pretend you don't know...!"
"Just answer the question."
I took a step toward Cheche, and she reflexively stepped back. I stared at her with a cold expression and asked again.
"I asked if the Yusgel Merchant Group is raising mercenaries."
"E-everyone who's in the know is aware that monster hunters belong to the Yusgel Merchant Group."
I frowned, staring at Cheche whose voice had lost its earlier vigor.
The head of the Yusgel Merchant Group was Lilia's ally. The man who, alongside Lilia, discovered the gold vein and rapidly grew his group into one of the most prominent.
One of the men I had rumored to be Lilia's secret lover.
'The Yusgel Merchant Group is raising hunters who catch monsters?'
Naturally, that would be a result of Lilia's involvement. And the reason for raising monster hunters was probably...
My heart sank coldly.
* * *
Having confirmed that the eaglets were still wandering the rocky mountain, Cheche seemed to decide to believe that we hadn't caught the Dullahan.
Later, when I heard the story from Soana, it turned out Soana had released the eaglets Cheche had caught.
Cheche seemed to think that Soana, being attached to the eaglets, would still be hiding in the rocky mountain.
As we left, she began setting up her dismantled traps again. Leaving her to her futile dreams, we decided to leave Halli as quickly as possible.
Returning to Halli to replenish supplies and prepare for a long-term camp, Xenon and Samuel each left briefly to purchase what they needed.
Waiting for them in the carriage, I exchanged a brief communication with Heinri. It was to hear about the atmosphere in the capital.
—The conflict between Kendal and Roam is becoming prominent.
The news Heinri conveyed was quite welcome.
—Duke Roam publicly criticized Baron Kendal. Most assume it's because they lured away Roam's heir, but to me, it didn't seem like that was the reason.
"You're probably right in your guess. It seems Sister Phrygian has made her move."
It was I who had handed over, under the guise of goodwill, some of the secret documents found in the Roam study to Sister Phrygian.
She recognized those documents at a glance. She probably knew their contents better than I did.
So she would also know how to use them.
—Shall I gradually release the footage of you being dragged away like a criminal from the imperial palace the other day?
"Well, that's not bad timing."
I don't know if Roam is looking for me since I disappeared, but between the conflict with Sister Phrygian and now starting to face suspicions of kidnapping the Resurrected One, they'll truly have no mental energy to spare for me.
And to break this situation... they will likely try to more actively support Maxel's reinstatement.
—Have you heard news of Maxel?
"Is there news from there as well?"
—Word just arrived that he subjugated a monster habitat. The rumor spread among the imperial citizens faster than the news reached the palace. Hadn't you heard?
That was unexpected news. After a moment of stunned silence, I slowly parted my lips.
"...Monster subjugation?"
—Yes. It seems he negotiated smoothly with Margrave Ruejak. His Majesty the Emperor finds it commendable that the Crown Prince personally took to the front lines to wash away the divine wrath.
I knew Lilia intended to use Maxel to subjugate monsters and earn military merit. It was something I could confirm from the prophecies Lilia had noted down.
But to my knowledge, her target was the Trevi Mountains. The territory of Margrave Ruejak should be far from the Trevi Mountains.
"Don't tell me he's already reached the Trevi Mountains?"
—No, the subjugated area is around Margrave Ruejak's territory.
"To my knowledge, there are no monsters around Margrave Ruejak's territory."
—Not that there aren't any, but perhaps they were hiding. I heard Maxel brought back monster corpses as trophies, and rumors spread instantly.
So he sought out and killed monsters that were hiding to avoid humans, and displayed them.
A frown naturally formed on my face from displeasure.
The Yusgel Merchant Group's monster hunters, Maxel's aggressive moves... it seems Lilia doesn't intend for Maxel's monster subjugation to remain just a game of war.
Perhaps they are seriously planning to hunt down all monsters. Even if it's not the Trevi Mountains, all monsters living within the Empire might become targets.
"Then you must persuade His Majesty quickly, Lord Heinri."
It's regrettable that my expectation—that Maxel would start subjugation after building up more troops and securing his own safety—was off, but it can't be helped.
However, just because it can't be helped doesn't mean we need to sit idle.
Is there any reason to leave Maxel alone to massacre monsters? If he's moving faster than expected, our response should also be swift.
But this time, Heinri and I disagreed.
—I intend to wait a little longer.
Hearing his answer, I automatically frowned.
"Why?"
—Maxel's forces are weak. With that level, he won't be able to uproot them all at once.
"But you said he has started monster subjugation."
—After tasting minor victories, he'll soon become intoxicated with the desire for more and increase his forces. Nobles seeking to ride on his shaky prestige will hastily join.
"And for that, you intend to turn a blind eye to his future successes in monster subjugation?"
—I don't wish to repeat foolish mistakes. I believe you too know there is an optimal moment.
Of course I knew.
To transform the monster subjugation force into an army of rebels, they first needed to be a threat.
Even with military aid from the Margrave, the soldiers Maxel currently leads are likely not at a level to worry about civil war.
To prove Maxel's rebellious intent, he needed to be more threatening. For instance, by showing Roam actively intervening.
I knew. I did know.
"But..."
—Do you dislike him receiving praise for successfully subjugating monsters?
"That's not it."
The praise of the imperial citizens is nothing but fickle noise.
As I firmly denied it, Heinri immediately changed his question.
—If not that, are you worried about the monsters being subjugated?