I could not answer. Because I knew how foolish and absurd it would sound to say I was worried about the monsters that were to be exterminated.
In the first place, I wasn't even sure if I was truly worried about the monsters to be exterminated. Why should I worry about monsters?
—Anelli, I know you keep certain monsters particularly close. But that is an extremely special case, and I still believe most monsters are dangerous. I have no intention of exposing the Empire's citizens to danger.
Interpreting my silence in his own way, Heinri spoke in a somewhat concerned tone.
Licking my lips, I calmly replied, first to correct his misunderstanding.
"I wasn't asking you to spare the monsters' lives."
—I am personally overseeing Maxel's military forces. It will soon be publicly announced to all that the deposed Crown Prince harbors treasonous intent and has raised a blade to the Emperor's throat.
After that, followed a few more topics I needed to know but had no interest in, such as the Empress's movements and the recent mood of high society.
Even after my communication with Heinri ended, Xenon and Samuel did not return.
To settle my troubled mind, I looked out the carriage window at the quiet street. Then, I murmured in an indifferent voice.
"Would Dasha be near the Veladia Valley?"
[Perhaps so?]
Minte, sitting beside me, answered calmly.
Perhaps... In the past, I might have agreed with Minte.
Until now, I hadn't faced great difficulty in meeting the Dullahans. It was as if fate guided them, for they appeared before me.
So, I had unconsciously come to think I could easily meet all the Dullahans.
Even with Sona... Although Samuel and Xenon had looked into it, the eyewitness accounts had spread first, so I thought this too could have been fate.
But now, with only the last Dullahan remaining, I felt an inexplicable unease.
"What kind of knight was Dasha?"
[What do you mean, what kind of knight...?]
"Just, her personality or things like that."
At my question, Minte fell into brief contemplation. Then, she answered in a careful voice.
[She was a bit... foolish.]
"...Like Bark?"
Bark was constantly scolded by Minte. Called foolish and stupid.
To be honest, I privately agreed with that assessment.
[Bark is foolish but obedient, but Dasha...]
Minte trailed off. Her voice, fading ambiguously, hinted at it.
The fact that the last Dullahan would also be no easy character.
* * *
The monsters Maxel exterminated were a few goblins that had strayed from their pack.
It was a chance discovery, an unplanned fight. But in the end, it yielded an extremely useful result.
Through the goblin corpses, Maxel gained temporary favor with the local residents of the territory where he was currently staying. It was Lilia who suggested spreading that favor throughout the entire Empire.
「If the vanished Resurrected One hears this news, she will react. She won't want her own achievements stolen.」
She would be currying favor with the Empire's citizens out of Anelli's sight, so they must find her whereabouts and somehow block her exploits.
With such words, she persuaded Maxel. Of course, Lilia's reason for wanting to find Anelli was not solely because of that.
Right before the incident at the Roam residence, she had tried to send assassins after Anelli.
'Could she have noticed the assassins and fled?'
Lilia paced before the fireplace. In her hand was a letter she had just received, sent by Fressian's subordinates.
'I hope it says they've found evidence that Fressian's death was Anelli's doing.'
Even as she opened the letter envelope, Lilia's mind was filled with thoughts of Anelli.
She did not believe the rumor that Anelli had been kidnapped.
Although her dreams did not show Anelli's whereabouts, so she couldn't find out anything, she had a vague conviction. A conviction that she had left the Roam family without anyone knowing.
The fact that Anelli had deliberately left the Roam residence was, in truth, a choice Lilia couldn't understand.
No matter what scheme she was plotting, shouldn't she do it in a comfortable and stable environment?
Regardless of Lilia's efforts to push Sayri as Roam's successor, Anelli had lived quite freely in the Roam residence. It was unlikely she left because she suddenly felt uncomfortable.
Would Anelli even feel something like discomfort in the first place? She was a woman who would change any place to suit her tastes.
Yes, being so willful, she might think it doesn't matter where she seeks refuge.
Lilia recalled that Anelli had secretly contacted a holy knight. Perhaps she might be taking refuge with the Temple.
'The Resurrected One chosen by the goddess.'
With an oracle and even the Magic Tower's guarantee, it was undeniable that Anelli was an agent of the goddess.
However, Lilia still couldn't let go of her suspicion that Anelli had some connection with monsters.
And that suspicion turned into conviction after reading the letter.
"A Dullahan?"
Lilia's gaze, scanning the letter, stopped at the word 'Dullahan.'
Fressian's subordinates had investigated the place where Fressian was killed and shared the results with Lilia. That content was this very letter.
The letter stated that Fressian and his subordinates were definitely killed by a monster, and it was presumed that monster was likely a Dullahan.
It was the result of combining the giant horse hoof prints left on the ground, abnormally large footprints, and faintly remaining traces of energy.
'That day, Fressian chased after Anelli.'
And was killed. Lilia's assumption that Anelli was involved in Fressian's death was utterly natural.
And in the midst of that, if the killer might be a Dullahan, didn't that mean Anelli might be connected to a Dullahan!
'Come to think of it, there was also a rumor that she was kidnapped by a Dullahan, wasn't there?'
Once before, Roam's pursuit squad almost caught Anelli but lost her when she was taken by a Dullahan.
In the imperial palace, Anelli subdued a Dullahan too.
Since the Temple defined Dullahans as evil to be eradicated, it seemed likely that Anelli, the goddess's agent, and the Dullahan, the rampant evil, were connected in some way.
'Did the oracle say that as evil rampages, the Resurrected One is sent down to stand strong against it?'
Lilia pondered the oracle anew. Since her prophecies and the Temple had no connection whatsoever, she hadn't really considered it much until now.
Frankly, she didn't think the oracle would have a great impact on the Empire. She accepted it as, at most, religious agitation.
But as long as Anelli was riding high on that oracle's back, she could no longer ignore it.
'The Resurrected One is one who stands against evil, but Anelli and the Dullahan...'
Lilia, who had been thinking that far, paused. She repeated the thought she had just casually had several times.
'Does the Resurrected One stand... against evil?'
Anelli subdued the Dullahan in the imperial palace but did not kill it in front of everyone. No one knows what Anelli did with the Dullahan.
'As evil rampages, the Resurrected One is sent down... As evil rampages, the Resurrected One?'
...What if, from the beginning, the Dullahan and the Resurrected One were on the same side?
She was trying to push the narrative that way, but the possibility, which she had never truly imagined could be real, flashed through her mind like lightning.
Unconsciously, Lilia's mouth fell open as she stared blankly at the letter.
Fressian chased Anelli into the forest and was killed by a Dullahan.
"This is why monsters must be exterminated."
The reason Maxel and Lilia must exterminate monsters as a way to overcome adversity.
Lilia felt her mind clearing. This was it. Ah, Anelli was the Resurrected One of evil, deceiving the public eye!
"Yes, just because the goddess resurrected her doesn't mean she must do good deeds."
Lilia turned around, her face glowing. Hastily taking out a sheet of paper, she grabbed a pen and quickly began writing.
The recipient was the head of the Yusgel Merchant Group.
* * *
We decided to head towards the Trevi Mountains for now.
However, instead of choosing a direct route, we chose a slightly detouring path. While examining the map, I had found a place we should visit.
Pallides sat in the coachman's seat. Fortunately, Pallides's skill at driving the carriage was excellent.
"I thought you had decided to raise it."
Xenon, sitting opposite and looking at the map, opened his mouth as if talking to himself.
Having been absentmindedly looking out the window, I glanced at him.
"Raise it? What would I use a raised Lizardman for?"
At my indifferent retort, Xenon nodded as if that was true. Yet, with a still uneasy expression, he glanced at the map.
Where his gaze fell, a large wetland was marked.
The place where I had decided to release the baby Lizardman.
"But is it really alright? A Lizardman habitat... It's a wetland, so if a fight breaks out, it would be troublesome."
Xenon seemed to be recalling the time they fought the Rusalka.
Certainly, if the Rusalka hadn't come ashore on their own back then, fighting would have been quite difficult.
But that's if a fight breaks out, and since we're not going to fight now, shouldn't it be fine?
"We don't need to go close to the habitat; if we release it nearby, it will find its own kind on its own."
Samuel, sitting with his arms crossed, interjected. I was thinking similarly.
"But don't Lizardmen claim territory even if the group is different?"
Well, who knows. But Xenon's question was quite reasonable.
It's a life I went to the trouble of saving; it would be a bit sad if it died right after being released.
"Ask your master."
"Ah, shall I?"
At Xenon's sudden action, I paused.
Remembering the help I received when dealing with the Rusalka, my words were half in jest, but Xenon took out a communication orb without hesitation.
No, I didn't mean for him to actually connect.
I tried to stop him, thinking he wouldn't get a good response for contacting them over this, but Xenon had already activated the communication orb.
The orb flickered, then soon shone brightly as the connection was established.
"Master! Do Lizardmen not claim territory among themselves?"
As soon as he confirmed the connection, Xenon blurted out his question first. It was quiet on the other side of the orb.
And after a moment, instead of the answer Xenon was waiting for, a stream of thick curses and complaints from an old voice began pouring out.
Just hearing the voice, I could picture the Tower Master swinging his staff in the air.
You only contact me when you need something, I knew you'd be like this...