I admit that my first attempt at subjugation was reckless and lacking in caution. However, the second will be different.
I now know how treacherous the terrain and ecosystem around the wetlands are, and I know what kind of Monster lies beyond. Naturally, the second attempt should yield better results, shouldn't it?
Maxel suppressed his displeasure and asked.
"Why would it fail?"
His sharp question made Lilia flinch. She wore an awkward expression and subtly averted her gaze.
"That is..."
Seeing her hesitate to speak, Maxel narrowed his eyes.
"Don't tell me you don't know?"
"My foresight doesn't show me such detailed futures."
In other words, she didn't know the reason for the subjugation's failure.
How could she be so sure of failure without even knowing the cause?
"Lilia, are you certain I will fail?"
"Are you doubting me?"
Lilia immediately showed a hurt expression.
The usual Maxel might have tried to soothe her hurt feelings with some pleasant words. But not now.
"Your foresight has been a bit... unreliable, to put blind faith in it."
He wasn't trying to completely deny Lilia's foresight.
Her foresight was certainly accurate at times. Even if not always concerning Maxel's own affairs. Just look at the young lady of Baron Ruejak; didn't she put blind faith in Lilia's words?
That Lilia's ability was genuine could be seen by looking at the people who had formed connections with her over time.
However, if asked whether that foresight was always accurate... Maxel couldn't be sure. One need only look at recent examples.
"You came here believing in my foresight. If not for me, Your Highness wouldn't have even thought of subjugating the Monster. Are you now turning a blind eye to my contribution?"
Lilia raised her voice at Maxel, who was showing distrust in her ability.
Maxel, already displeased by her suggestion to abandon the subjugation, openly frowned.
"Do I look like a man who can do nothing without your advice?"
"...You know that's not what I meant."
She looked extremely frustrated. Of course, Maxel was just as frustrated.
"You may not know this, but any battle can change drastically depending on the situation on the ground."
Maxel deliberately adopted a magnanimous tone to placate Lilia. Then, she pursed her lips before speaking with difficulty.
"The Dullahan... it's a Monster controlled by my elder sister."
Maxel let out an involuntary scoff.
"Do you still want to believe Anelli is undead?"
"Your Highness."
"Don't worry. If she really is undead, I'll subjugate her for you."
Maxel recalled past memories.
When Lilia stayed at the Roam residence, she suffered considerable harassment from Anelli.
'...To such a Lilia, a resurrected Anelli must look no different from a Monster.'
Maxel thought he must strive even harder in the Monster subjugation, if only for the sake of his timid lover.
And watching such a Maxel, Lilia realized.
All this time, Maxel hadn't listened to her foresight because he trusted it, but because it was what he wanted to hear.
* * *
Samuel's method of sensing Anelli's location wasn't particularly logical or clear.
It was closer to relying on sensation, instinctively detecting her. And now his instinct was telling him that Anelli was still in the Lizardman habitat.
Releasing the baby Lizardmen and leaving wasn't a matter that could be completed in just a few days.
"Has a problem arisen?"
Samuel, who had been gazing distantly in the direction where Anelli was, turned his head at the sound of someone calling him.
A paladin who had taken custody of the criminals was approaching Samuel.
"Greetings, Sir Samuel."
"Sir Hesse."
"I'd appreciate a moment of your time. I just need to confirm a few things."
Samuel looked over the documents Sir Hesse had brought.
"It says these criminals transferred to this prison assaulted you, Sir Samuel. They're not talking, but do you happen to know their motive?"
Samuel narrowed his eyes. He answered calmly without deep contemplation.
"They are unbelievers."
"Unbelievers?"
"I don't know if you've heard. Unbelievers have appeared, roaming about under the name of Monster hunters."
Sir Hesse, who had been proceeding with the formalities somewhat boredly, widened his eyes in surprise. It was as if he had caught a petty thief only to learn they were a pawn of a massive criminal organization.
"With visible divine miracles appearing, heretics are running rampant."
As Samuel added this explanation, Sir Hesse's face paled as he parted his lips.
"Heretics!"
"Yes. Those who do not believe in the Resurrected One distort and arbitrarily interpret divine oracles to justify their activities. I believe you may have heard of them, Sir Hesse. There's a hunter in Halli who goes around claiming to have been chosen as God's apostle."
Cheche had visited the Temple several times to assert her claims. So Hesse would know.
As Samuel guessed, Hesse immediately nodded, pretending to know.
"Ah, yes. You mean that hunter who claims to have been chosen as God's apostle and insists the Temple should support her."
"It seems to be along the same lines. It appears the Church needs to keep an eye on them at an organizational level."
Samuel's face was so composed as he spoke of heretics and unbelievers that Hesse showed no sign of suspecting the proud knight of the High Priest was lying at all.
"I would personally like to escort these unbelievers, but it's not feasible. I must carry out the revelation bestowed by God."
The news that God had bestowed a revelation upon Samuel was also quietly known within the Church.
Because the High Priest had issued a stern warning throughout the Temple not to obstruct Samuel's path of practice. Several high-ranking priests, led by Morico, were also supporting Samuel's journey.
Hesse harbored not a shred of doubt about Samuel's words.
"I will immediately report the appearance of heretics to the main Temple!"
"Your swift judgment is commendable."
"Please don't worry, Sir Samuel, and carry out your sacred duty with the Resurrected One."
Listening to Hesse's voice, Samuel recalled the times in the imperial palace when Anelli would occasionally invoke God out of nowhere to evade situations.
It was both fascinating and absurd that she, who used to scoff at oracles and such, was now playing the role of such a devout Resurrected One, but now he saw there was a reason for it all.
'How convenient it is.'
Though it was a rather irreverent sentiment for a devout paladin to feel.
"Then I shall entrust this to you, Sir Hesse, and be on my way."
"Yes, I pray your holy pilgrimage is filled with blessings, Sir Samuel."
Leaving Hesse's prayers behind, Samuel mounted his horse.
If only those Monster hunters Anelli found bothersome would be cowed by this, it would be good.
And if the Temple were to officially label them as heretics or unbelievers, that would be the most perfect outcome.
'If that happens, might she acknowledge my usefulness, even just a little?'
Samuel had already played a significant role in the Dullahan's transformation into cursed creatures. He didn't want to make such a mistake again.
So this time, he intended to properly and thoroughly eliminate anything obstructing Anelli's path.
Her former fiancé and younger brother, like filth, were bothering her, but Anelli would overcome all adversity and complete her divine authority.
Once the final authority is completed...
And after granting peace to the Dullahan, he would have somewhat atoned for the sins of his past life committed against them.
'After atoning for my sins.'
After that, perhaps he could stand by Anelli's side a little more uprightly.
And perhaps even dare to ask for her forgiveness.
Samuel's gaze grew strangely profound.
* * *
I had anticipated the subjugation force would return, but seeing it with my own eyes brought a fresh wave of emotion.
"They've even brought mages along."
He wouldn't have been able to mobilize imperial mages...
Among nobles who raise private soldiers, the families who employ mages as combat forces are few enough to count on one hand.
Narrowing my eyes, I examined the mages visible among the soldiers when Xenon, maintaining an invisibility spell beside me, whispered.
"It's fine. I'm stronger."
"Of course you are."
Xenon is the Tower Master's successor, but they are ordinary mages serving noble families.
Generally, such individuals are often those who failed to become imperial mages and found positions with noble families. In short, their skill level is so low that even an outsider like me can tell.
Perhaps because I readily acknowledged his strength, Xenon beamed and squared his shoulders. He seemed eager to demonstrate his prowess to them right then and there.
Finding that cute, I was about to watch Xenon for a moment when a clamorous sound came from the subjugation force's direction.
Maxel had stepped forward and was shouting something to boost the soldiers' morale.
Although it was I who fed the scouts false information so he could be this confident, seeing Maxel accept it so readily made me sigh involuntarily.
"He would have had a better chance of success if he had sought the Temple's cooperation."
Rather than bringing along mages of such mediocre skill, it would have been much easier to bring paladins or priests with divine power.
Didn't he have any subordinates to offer such advice?
Clicking my tongue unconsciously, I muttered, and Xenon asked in a puzzled voice.
"Didn't that trash already fall out with the Temple?"
"Probably so. Well, even if not, given Maxel's personality, he wouldn't want to join hands with the Temple."
Maxel has a subtly emotional temperament. Since he thinks Heinri joined hands with the Temple, his pride alone would make him avoid turning to them.
"The force is larger than before. Several more families have joined."
Just then, a breeze caused the flags held by the standard-bearers to flutter slightly. The fluttering flags bore the crests symbolizing their families.
They were all families I knew. Does Heinri also know which families are participating in this subjugation force?
I briefly considered contacting him through the communication orb to inform him, but decided against it. Instead, I took out a video orb capable of recording.
"Are you really going to crush them all with the Dullahan?"
"Yes."
"If the subjugation force suffers too miserably at the hands of the Dullahan, won't it instead garner sympathy?"
Xenon, who had been watching my expression, paused.
"You think people will find it pitiful to see a force assembled to hunt Monsters instead get miserably defeated?"
No, they'll look incompetent.