Dasha did not betray the Captain of the past.
However, it seems she viewed Samuel's betrayal with a certain degree of pleasure.
After learning that the Captain of the past had to be sacrificed to realize the final authority, Dasha is said to have unleashed her rage upon all living beings on the surface, who would remain entirely unaware of that sacrifice.
The reason Dasha did not resist Samuel's attack was because it was the moment the final authority had failed.
Since it had failed anyway, she chose to offer up her own life, as if to freely express her resentment towards the goddess.
[Dasha resented the god who had birthed her as a puppet, resented the goddess who sought to sacrifice the Captain's soul, and resented all the peace in the world, ignorant of that arduous journey.]
Therefore, it was said that if she were to awaken in the present world after such a long time, she would be enraged by everything on the surface overflowing with life.
"If a Dullahan were rampaging with a burning desire for revenge, it certainly wouldn't be this quiet."
Dullahans rank high among monsters, so if one were determined to rampage, it would inevitably cause a commotion.
Shaking my head, I pressed my index finger firmly against my brow to calm my troubled mind.
Right. Unlike the other knights who eagerly awaited their reunion with the Captain, if she died consumed by resentment, it makes sense that she alone would awaken late.
The goddess must have been uneasy too—could she have even dared to awaken her? She even blamed the goddess who had sought to sacrifice the Captain of the past.
If she resented the gods, then resenting this world filled with their creations was a natural progression.
"If she hasn't awakened yet, where might she be slumbering?"
[……Dasha did not like places overflowing with life force.]
Soana's answer was too vague and broad to be of much use. If she disliked places teeming with life force, does that mean we should look for sparsely populated or barren lands?
Unfortunately, the Empire's lands are fertile. Everywhere is a place overflowing with life force. Where there are no humans, there are beasts; where there are no beasts, there are monsters.
Cities are definitely out, but should we also exclude forests with many beasts or monster habitats?
"Are there any barren lands?"
Xenon perceptively unfolded a map on his lap. The vast map was densely filled with various symbols, leaving no empty spaces.
"Are you looking for barren lands?"
"Yes. I've heard my next subordinate might be there."
At my answer, Xenon stroked his chin and fell into thought.
As Xenon and I put our heads together to examine the map, Samuel, who had been watching from a slight distance, spoke up.
"It's in the Montel territory."
"What?"
"In the Montel territory, there is an area called the 'Dead Land.' It's a barren, lifeless area within a certain radius due to the toxic miasma released from rotting monster corpses."
"How do you know that, Captain?"
"……As I mentioned earlier, I pursued criminals in that vicinity. The Dead Land is too barren for crops to grow or for people to live, so it's largely uninhabited. It was also an area where criminals often hid."
I said, unable to hide my surprise.
"I never knew your diligent past would be so helpful."
At my words, a faint smile appeared at the corner of Samuel's mouth. Simultaneously, his gaze flickered toward Xenon. Xenon, seemingly conscious of that look, pursed his lips.
It was clear, without even asking, that this was an extension of the earlier tension. Truly, a childish battle of stares.
I deliberately avoided inserting myself between them and instead focused on the map.
The Montel territory...
'Would it be better to go through the swamp and then enter the Montel territory?'
After I was officially announced as missing, no formal search party was assembled to look for me.
Unofficially... the Temple knows Samuel is moving with me, so they likely see no need to form a separate search party.
The imperial palace probably hasn't formed a search party either, and Roam likely has no mind to form one at all.
It seems I won't have to be as sensitive as before, constantly changing identification. I can probably deceive people adequately enough.
If I change my appearance with a transformation spell, briefly visit only the necessary parts of the Montel territory, and leave, there shouldn't be any significant complications.
The only thing that might bother me is the unpleasant feeling it evokes.
Montel is the territory of the Ruejak family, and the young lady of the Ruejak family was once my close friend.
'It seems no matter what, I cannot avoid being entangled.'
Perhaps it's impossible to completely escape the threads of fate woven by my birth. I suppose that's to be expected, given I'm supposedly a god.
I steadied my subtle emotions and looked away from the map.
The carriage was speeding along. Our destination was the Lizardman habitat.
* * *
「You will die young. Alone and forlorn.」
The black shadow sobbed. Then it soon transformed into a voice filled with malice and sneered.
「You will end up alone, abandoned by everyone, and fall ill in solitude.」
*Kyarurur*, the sound of laughter burst forth, sharply piercing my ears. A throbbing pain was felt in my head, and soon the world spun dizzily.
Immediately, the ground beneath my feet gave way, and I felt myself falling.
"Gasp."
I jolted awake with a start.
Even with my eyes open, my surroundings were pitch black. Lying there, I spent a dazed amount of time before finally realizing, after a long while, that we were currently camping.
“……Haa.”
Realizing the shadow that had mocked me was a dream, I let out a long sigh and sat up.
After sitting for another while, I felt a damp, sticky sensation on my back. It seems I must have sweated profusely.
Since my resurrection, I've had all sorts of nightmares, so today's dream was nothing new.
It's just that, mixed with the nightmare inflicted by the Rusalka and events from the past, it left a more unpleasant aftertaste.
"Tsk."
Rubbing my cool, clammy forearm, I finally got completely out of the bedding.
During my stay at the imperial palace and Roam, I couldn't sleep for long stretches. Even aside from the nightmares, I simply couldn't sleep deeply in the first place.
Despite having such plush and soft bedding, my inability to sleep soundly was likely due to the discomfort of the place itself.
Now that I've left those places, I thought I might be able to sleep comfortably, but it seems my mind hasn't eased all at once.
'I should cool my head a bit before trying to sleep again.'
Stepping out of the tent, the first thing I saw was a campfire that had nearly burned out. Even though the flames were very faint, perhaps because there was still some light, the surroundings appeared even darker.
Not far away, there was a rock suitable for sitting. I perched on it and leaned my head back.
“…….”
The star-filled night sky glittered as if it might pour down upon my head at any moment. This was something rarely seen at the imperial palace or Roam.
As I stared blankly up at it, the hoot of an owl reached my ears.
Occasionally, the sounds of insects or the cries of beasts—whether wolves or something else—came from afar.
To others, they might just sound like animal cries, but to me, they were all speech.
Sounds of calling to each other, conversing, singing.
Even at night, the world was this noisy.
「You will end up alone, abandoned by everyone, and fall ill in solitude.」
For someone destined to be alone, this world is filled with so many lives.
I felt anew just how nonsensical the Rusalka's drivel had been. Damn Rusalka. I really did eliminate them all, right?
'If I find any elsewhere, I'll eradicate them on sight.'
No matter how much I dislike monster subjugation, Rusalka are an exception.
While inwardly stewing over unresolved resentment even after killing the culprits, I suddenly felt a heavy weight on my shoulder.
"What are you doing out here without even a coat in this cold?"
Startled, I turned to find Xenon standing there.
My senses are several times sharper than ordinary people's, so how did I not notice Xenon leaving the tent?
Whether he knew of my bewilderment or not, Xenon draped what I presumed was his own large cloak over my shoulders and then perched lightly beside me.
"There are so many stars," he said.
Xenon looked half-asleep as he spoke.
I stared blankly at him as he gazed at the sky with admiration in his sleep-slurred voice, then pulled the cloak draped over my shoulders tighter around me.
"I'll make good use of the cloak, so you should go back in now."
“……I just came out, though?"
"You look like you'd fall asleep the moment you lie down."
"No, I'm awake."
"Your voice sounds like you're about to die of sleepiness."
*I* was the one who woke up. Xenon was still half-submerged in sleep, looking like he'd fall into a deep slumber as soon as he lay down.
I had guessed from our training with Nessi—something others don't even attempt—that he was a man who could sleep anywhere as long as there was a place to lie down. All that about breathing sounds and such was just an act.
"I came out hoping to get Lady Anelli's help or something since I couldn't sleep."
I looked at Xenon, who was stubbornly insisting, with an expression of disbelief, then simply averted my gaze.
Dawn was still far off, so I don't know why he wants to wake up so badly. Maybe he plans to sleep in the carriage since we'll be traveling by it anyway?
"So, what was today's nightmare about?"
"Do you think I have nightmares every day?"
"Don't you?"
……Actually, yes.
It's true, but I didn't want to admit it, so I snorted softly. Xenon, seeing my reaction, said nothing more.
Fiddling with the front of the gathered cloak, I rolled my eyes and glanced sideways. Coincidentally, Xenon also shifted his gaze to me and parted his lips.
"Have you found all your subordinates?"
"Just one more, and it's done."
"What happens after you find them?"
Come to think of it, I only told Xenon that I plan to go to the Veladia Valley, didn't I?
The stories about my past life and the twelve knights are too long and endless; I haven't even mustered the courage to broach the subject.
Right now, Xenon is the person in this group who knows the least about the current journey. It must be quite frustrating, yet he hasn't demanded an explanation from me.
Realizing this, I felt a bit sorry for Xenon. I decided to convey the essence to him as concisely as possible.
"I'm going to find heads for my Dullahans."
At my words, Xenon's half-closed eyes flew wide open. Blinking, he stared intently at me, then lowered his voice to a serious, earnest whisper.
“……When the Dullahans retrieve their heads, will the world end?"
I was left utterly speechless.
Hey, I'm supposed to be the Resurrected One of a god, you know. To suggest 'the end of the world' without a shred of doubt...