The pretext for summoning Maxel and Lilia was to encourage the fief's people.
Since all the areas near the Dead Lands had been destroyed, it was a move to console and encourage the fief's people who had suffered great damage.
Of course, whether the fief's people would be pleased that he was encouraging them… was unknown. But that wasn't my concern.
"Ah."
A little distance away, I saw a black cat staring intently in this direction.
Confirming Minte, who was waiting while wagging her tail, I turned my body toward Nadav.
From now on, speed is crucial, so it would be best to abandon the carriage. Most of the luggage was already stored in magical artifacts anyway.
"Then we shall be on our way."
As I spoke, holding the reins after mounting Nadav, the Captain cautiously inquired.
"Will you be all right? We haven't yet uncovered the mastermind behind this……."
"At this very moment, a Dullahan might appear; how could I hide away just to protect my own life?"
The Captain and the temple knights let out sighs with moved expressions. Xenon, who was hurriedly preparing to leave, glanced at them with pitying eyes and clicked his tongue softly.
Of course, they paid no heed to Xenon's reaction whatsoever.
Especially the temple knights, who repeatedly urged Samuel to take good care of me.
Samuel, listening to the temple knights' anxious nagging with a subtle expression, quietly turned away from them.
It seems that at this moment, Xenon and Samuel are thinking the same thing…….
"Then I shall take my leave."
Be that as it may, I smiled brightly and bid farewell to the guards and temple knights.
If I'm going to look like a cult leader anyway, I might as well go all in.
* * *
Baron Ruejak had asked Maxel to soothe the anxieties of the fief's people, but in truth, Maxel had other schemes.
'The last sighting of the Dullahan wasn't far from here…….'
He was determined to capture the Dullahan this time. For that purpose, he had deliberately brought a large force.
Of course, outwardly, these were not an extermination squad but his personal guards. However, under the pretext that the atmosphere in the fief was dangerous, he had greatly reinforced his forces. Not satisfied with that, Lilia had even summoned additional mercenaries.
"Your Highness, please don't go too far ahead. It's dangerous."
"Lilia, you must not stray from the guards. I have trained with the sword, but you are merely a delicate young lady."
At Maxel's unusually reliable words, Lilia blushed and lowered her gaze.
Maxel gave her a triumphant smile, then waved his hand exaggeratedly toward the fief's people.
Soothing the anxieties of the fief's people amounted to nothing more than showing his face like this and occasionally offering a word or two of comfort.
Commoners generally believed that matters were half-resolved simply by the appearance of a person of high status at the scene.
"Shall we rest in this city for a while? Baron Ruejak has prepared accommodations."
Maxel's aide discreetly spoke up. Maxel, who had been exchanging reliable smiles and eye contact with the fief's people, replied in a low voice.
"We shall pass through without stopping."
"Pardon? But beyond this city, only small villages lie ahead. Moreover, it will bring us too close to the affected area."
That was precisely what Maxel wanted. Getting closer to the affected area!
"I will not change my mind. We advance as planned."
"Your Highness, it could be dangerous. The young lady of Roam is also with us……."
"Can you not see the guards surrounding us? Moreover, we have hired additional mercenaries. Do you think this many people cannot handle a single Dullahan?"
When he led the extermination squad, yes. At that time, Maxel was clearly defeated. But then, the number of Dullahans was too great, and the Lizardmen intervened, leading to a chaotic battle.
However, the Dullahan said to be on a rampage now was merely one.
"Besides, Baron Ruejak would not have plotted a route through a dangerous area."
Faced with Maxel's stubborn insistence, the aide retreated with a troubled expression.
Of course, one might think that Baron Ruejak, unless he were mad, would not deliberately push the Crown Prince into danger. Yet, upon quietly examining the itinerary, there was an uneasy feeling.
"Don't worry. Those mercenaries are exceptionally skilled. They will attack mercilessly whatever appears."
Lilia, who had overheard the conversation nearby, spoke as if to console the aide. With her speaking so firmly, there was nothing more the aide could say to stop them, so he reluctantly withdrew.
Even so, the aide glanced at the mercenaries with distrustful eyes.
"How does the young lady come to know such rough-looking mercenaries?"
They led lives too far removed for a noble young lady to associate with.
The aide's doubt was plainly written on his face. Seeing his expression, Lilia laughed and shook her head.
"Know them? That couldn't be. I merely received an introduction, that's all? It's fortunate that it has been of help to His Highness."
"Sometimes it seems Lilia does all the work of my aide."
Maxel interjected with a tone of mock reproach. The aide stiffened his expression awkwardly and stepped back.
Thereafter, as the aide no longer voiced his opinions, Maxel smoothly crossed through the city.
And it was just as he was finally nearing the city gate.
*Boom!*
From the direction of the city gate, a loud noise was heard, and hazy smoke began to rise.
"What is it, what's happening?"
The guards quickly protected Maxel and Lilia and formed ranks.
Simultaneously, urgent shouts were heard from afar.
"It's a Dullahan! A Dullahan has appeared!"
"Kyaaak!"
"Uwaaak!"
The fief's people, who had gathered to see the Crown Prince and his prospective Crown Princess visiting the city, screamed and scattered.
"Your Highness, you must take cover immediately!"
"Draw your swords! We must defeat that vile Monster at once!"
"Your Highness!"
The aide and the guard knights clamored noisily, but their shouts did not reach Maxel's ears.
His mind was filled entirely with the Dullahan. Capturing the Dullahan, standing atop its body, and raising his sword in victory.
"What are you doing! Draw your swords at once!"
Maxel's eyes widened. This time, he would kill the Dullahan and become a hero. That was his destiny.
* * *
The puppets of Birth possess a unique presence.
They were smooth and clean, like well-crafted dolls. It was less like seeing a living creature and more like seeing a finely made porcelain figurine.
Was that why? In the past, puppets were easily broken. Breaking them was not difficult. One merely had to cut the strings.
When the threads of fate woven by Birth were severed, they deviated from their path and tumbled down.
The unfortunate thing was that the only one who could do that was …… . Dasha did not possess such power.
'But …… who was it?'
Even as he shattered and destroyed fresh life, his memories scarcely returned.
All the more, Dasha raged with even greater ferocity. Detestable Birth, the goddess of dawn has conquered this world. He, with neither memory nor body intact, had been cast aside like this.
Thus lamenting, he pursued the puppets of Birth. Since Dasha lacked the power to sever the threads of fate, he had to utterly crush and shatter them whole.
'Ah…….'
The puppet that had momentarily distanced itself reappeared. Dasha resolved that this time he would catch and destroy it.
While others enjoyed innocent and ignorant life, that one was bound tightly, to a dreadful degree, by the threads of fate.
They were so tangled that they could not be cut; it was obvious that even if …… came, nothing could be done.
Dasha roared. Though he had no mouth, his entire body trembled as he emitted a bizarre cry. Each time, black smoke gushed and overflowed from his severed neck.
"Seize it! Kill it!"
Sharp swords and pointed arrows poured down upon Dasha. Some bounced off his armor, while others managed to pierce through the gaps.
Without even pulling out the arrows piercing his body, Dasha swung his massive sword.
"Uwaaak!"
Dasha did not even check whose scream that was. He merely advanced.
Whenever he heard the sound of a beating heart nearby, he swung his sword. That heartbeat—living things were the works of Birth.
Beyond the land of death where he had awakened, everything was teeming with living things.
"Seize it! Use magical artifacts!"
"Where is the net?"
"It's coming this way!"
The surroundings were too noisy. Without a head, why did he feel a headache?
Dasha felt an impulse to clutch his forehead. But as he raised his arm, magic flew toward him fiercely, as if to sever it.
Instinctively twisting his body to evade, Dasha swung his sword as if swatting a fly.
He would destroy them all. This entire wretched world…….
"Resurrected One!"
The sharp onslaught of attacks momentarily ceased.
Dasha, who had been momentarily staggered while blocking the attacks, seized the opportunity and advanced. His target was close.
Though he had no eyes, he could see. The puppet of Birth, tightly bound by the threads of fate. A living skein.
And the moment he saw it, Dasha realized. That it was Birth's proxy.
In the past, Birth used divine statues as skeins to weave the threads of fate throughout the world. But the one who shattered those divine statues was …… .
So this time, she was weaving the threads of fate using such a proxy as a skein.
Ah, then he must destroy that skein.
"Your Highness, you must step back!"
"I've got that bastard!"
"Your Highness!"
Look, even now, those puppets entangled in the threads of fate are thrashing about like that.
He only needs to destroy the skein. Then all those puppets, who lack the strength to stand on their own, will tumble to the ground.
Dasha raised his sword high. A dark energy began to cling thickly to the blade.
Just as he was about to swing it.
"Stop."
Into his mind, blazing fiercely with rage and hatred, a clear voice echoed.
"Lower your sword."
The flat, calm voice was not loud at all. It was rather faint, barely audible to Dasha.
Yet, upon hearing that voice, Dasha forgot his actions of a moment ago and turned his body to seek its owner.
The owner of the voice took one step toward Dasha.
"Dasha."
……Blind one.
Ah, Captain.