The whereabouts of the Resurrected One, who had been missing, had been discovered. It was in the Montel territory.
To be precise, it was said she had suddenly appeared there to hunt a Dullahan that had emerged in that area.
Lilia, who had falsely reported the appearance of a Dullahan that hadn't even shown up in order to find out Anelli's location, wanted to send an assassin to Anelli immediately.
However, the situation wasn't very favorable. First of all, Maxel's condition, after his failed subjugation, was not good.
"A Dullahan has appeared right at our doorstep! If I capture it, I could finally overturn all my past mistakes!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, I implore you to judge this matter rationally."
Baron Ruejak had subtly changed his attitude since his eldest son's accident. He still bowed his head to the Crown Prince, but the previous hospitality was gone.
Rather, these days, he seemed to regard them almost like military provisions. Maxel, his mind captivated by the sudden news of the Dullahan, seemed not to notice, but Lilia could tell clearly.
Moreover, for some reason, the news that had been coming from the imperial palace had ceased.
'Has something happened to Baron Hason?'
Beside the Emperor, Baron Hason, left behind by Fressian, had been solidifying his position. Lilia had barely managed to join hands with Baron Hason by invoking her connection with Fressian.
It helped that Baron Hason had become quite enraged after learning it was Anelli who killed Fressian.
Having a common enemy was a very good thing.
But now, there had been no contact from that very Baron Hason for several days. It was the same with Roam.
Somehow, it seemed Baron Ruejak had noticed something, but he stubbornly refused to say anything to Maxel or Lilia.
"Baron, how can you not even consider the hardships your own people are suffering!"
"The Resurrected One has arrived in the territory. Confronting the rampant evil is the duty bestowed upon her by the goddess."
"While the Baron spouts such frustrating words, innocent people of the territory are being slaughtered by the Dullahan!"
"Slaughtered? Haven't they already been slaughtered once before?"
"What?"
"Have you forgotten the state you returned in after leading the expedition to subjugate the Lizardmen?"
At Baron Ruejak's words, Maxel's face flushed red.
Lately, he often became emotional like this. Lilia found it utterly frustrating.
During the time when everything was leisurely and going well, she hadn't known. That he was such an emotional and short-sighted person.
'……Could it be because he hasn't properly faced adversity?'
Lilia knew that Maxel would become Crown Prince anyway. That's why she helped him.
She didn't want to take the difficult path she knew, consuming time and waiting. It wasn't just Maxel who would suffer; Lilia, who would stand by his side, would suffer too.
That was why. She created an easy victory for Maxel.
But seeing things come to this, doubts arose. Could it be that the easy victory, seized without even needing to fight properly, had actually hindered Maxel's growth?
"Baron Ruejak, refrain from reckless remarks!"
"Your Highness the Crown Prince, it is time for me to go check on my son's condition."
Baron Ruejak drew a rather cold line.
Maxel seemed to want to get angry at Baron Ruejak, but he didn't show it, as he still needed the Margrave's power to assemble a subjugation force.
If troops were scarce, he couldn't afford to fall out with Baron Ruejak. Since Maxel couldn't possibly not know what Lilia knew, he ultimately gritted his teeth and retreated.
On the way back to the guest room, Maxel, walking with long strides, asked in an irritated voice.
"Lilia, what about the foresight?"
"What I told you before is all there is."
"Not the failures, something hopeful! Before, you said I would lead the subjugation force to victory!"
"……The victory of the subjugation force I foresaw before is not achieved in the Montel territory. You must go to the Trevi Mountains."
"Are you telling me to enter a mountain range teeming with monsters alone, without any troops?"
Maxel, his face twisted fiercely, glared at Lilia.
Lilia was equally irritated. She, who had foreseen failure for the first time in her life, was also in a state of heightened nerves. Of course, wouldn't anyone be?
"I want the foresight more than anyone."
Lilia retorted in a stiff voice and took a deep breath.
"Alternatively, Your Highness, what do you think about mobilizing unofficial personnel?"
"Unofficial?"
"I told you I raised a merchant group for Your Highness, didn't I?"
She hadn't intended to use the merchant group in this way. But what choice did she have?
Lilia recalled the merchant group head's message: 'Perhaps because of the name "Monster Hunters," we are receiving subtle looks from the Temple.'
It just so happened that the pretext was plausible: the Crown Prince, having come down to the Montel territory, was so concerned for the safety of the Empire's people that he spent his own funds to even hire mercenaries.
"There are mercenaries managed by the merchant group. Externally, they are just a small, active group."
They were people who would have moved for Maxel's sake to some extent anyway.
It seemed the quick-witted Temple, fearing their rice bowl of monster hunting might be taken, moved swiftly, but what could they do when a member of the imperial family is worried about his people?
"They are called Monster Hunters by the public. They've gained a bit of a name by rescuing people in danger."
"Monster Hunters?"
"Of course, they likely don't have the power to face a Dullahan. But if you hire mercenaries and strive to protect the Empire's people, wouldn't those impressed by Your Highness's compassion voluntarily take up their swords and gather?"
Maxel made a dubious expression but couldn't easily dismiss her words.
Lilia, observing Maxel's complexion, cautiously reached out and stroked his arm.
"Your Highness. You've experienced a Dullahan once, so you know. They are evil and cruel creatures. Do you think it's possible to face one alone? My elder sister is deceiving everyone right now."
In the past, Maxel would have immediately rebuked her, saying, 'How dare you make such unreasonable claims about the goddess's Resurrected One?'
But after experiencing the Dullahan firsthand and returning, he no longer spoke like that.
In fact, ever since Maxel returned from the subjugation in tatters, he had occasionally expressed doubts to Lilia. Wondering how on earth Anelli had managed to control that ferocious Dullahan.
Moreover, Anelli had even kept the Dullahan in the backyard of her assigned detached palace and lived with it.
Back then, he had let it pass, thinking it must be so, but after seeing the Dullahan run amok, he realized how abnormal Anelli's life in the imperial palace had been.
"You said my elder sister entered the Montel territory to catch the Dullahan? If she subdues that Dullahan this time as well, we won't be able to stop her anymore."
That was like a statement to herself. It was a problem that didn't even require foresight.
"If my elder sister resolves the Dullahan in the Montel territory, the whole world will worship the Resurrected One as a divine being."
It was the kind of thing one couldn't help but know would happen.
That's why it had to be prevented.
* * *
I had said publicly that I would stop Dasha, but I hadn't intended for it to be like this.
"Resurrected One!"
Hearing the impassioned cry, I swallowed a sigh that was rising. I roughly closed the curtain on the window and looked back at Soana, who was sitting with her wings folded before me.
"Dasha must have heard the news of the Resurrected One like you, right? Will she guess it's me?"
[She won't know without meeting you. That child…… is a bit simple-minded and short on thought.]
"……So you're saying me going around revealing my face like this will have no effect at all?"
At my despondent muttering, Xenon, sitting beside me, chimed in slyly.
"Not entirely. Thanks to that, didn't you stop the righteous paladins who were about to swarm in, saying they'd kill the Dullahan immediately? By openly moving about and laying down the law, telling them not to interfere and ruin things, it was fortunate; otherwise, those fellows would have been stirring things up everywhere long ago."
Xenon shrugged his shoulders and glanced at Samuel sitting across from me.
"You said you had the Temple well under control, but you're no help at all."
"The Temple cannot control activities based on an individual paladin's convictions."
Yes, that was precisely the problem. Activities based on convictions.
Fundamentally, paladins overflowing with faith and good hearts, despite the Temple's official guidelines, took up their swords to help the Resurrected One and stop the Dullahan.
The reason I ended up revealing my face so blatantly was entirely because of those darn paladins!
"Paladins, every single one of them……"
As I muttered unconsciously while holding my forehead, Samuel spoke, sounding somewhat wronged.
"You shouldn't judge the whole by some paladins. Not all of them are so rigid."
"You, of all people, shouldn't say such things."
"I don't insist on principles."
"Isn't that a dangerous statement in its own way?"
At my retort, Samuel paused. He seemed at a loss for words, pressing his lips tightly shut. I glanced at him and let out another sigh.
Zigore, sitting on my knee, cautiously looked around and chirped carefully.
[Shall we go back and check around here again?]
"Want to do that?"
I lifted the curtain and opened the carriage window. Zigore, in the form of a black starling, flapped his wings and flew out of the carriage.
Among the Dullahans, Zigore was the best at sensing the presence of his comrades, which is why he took the lead like this.
There weren't many ways to find a Dullahan that revealed itself randomly without any pattern, destroyed everything, and disappeared, so ultimately, Zigore was going around sensing the presence in the surroundings one by one.
'If it's not just my feeling, it seems like the Dullahan has been hiding more cunningly since I revealed myself.'
I hoped it was a misconception, but somehow it felt right, making my head throb.
At first, I visited the destroyed places, but it seemed like if I just chased from behind, I'd be following its tail forever.
Moreover, from what I could see, it never returned to the places it destroyed. If anything, it seemed to be moving farther away.
"We'll have to wait a bit."
Even before I gave the order, Pallides slowly stopped the carriage. He must have seen Zigore flying up into the sky.
As soon as the carriage stopped, someone cautiously knocked on the carriage door.
"Re, Resurrected One."
When I opened the window halfway, I saw several people standing there in simple but neat attire.
Probably the village chief of this area now. Or perhaps the official managing the town.
They must have been chasing after the carriage until it stopped, then rushed over as soon as it halted. I've lost count of how many times this has happened now.
"It is the Resurrected One!"
The person, seeing my silver hair and purple eyes, teared up and clasped their hands together.
Somehow, I had a feeling I knew what they were going to say next.
"Please allow us to at least offer you a meal!"
Yes, this exactly.
I don't understand why everyone is so desperate to put something in my mouth.