The moment he recognized the word ‘Captain,’ the throbbing headache violently pierced his mind.
Dasha trembled and let out a bizarre cry. Startled by the black energy that dyed the surroundings pitch black, people flinched away from Dasha.
However, one person, the Captain, remained standing in the same spot, staring intently at him.
“Lady Anelli!”
“It’s dangerous!”
He saw some men approaching the Captain. Without a second thought, Dasha attacked the men.
As the men counterattacked in response to Dasha’s sudden reaction, this time, some armed individuals took advantage of the gap in the black smoke to target the Captain.
This time, even the Captain seemed startled, hastily retreating to evade their attack. Had Dasha not immediately shifted the trajectory of his attack to target those bastards, she might have been injured somewhere.
Yet, they did not give up even though their attack had failed. Dasha could clearly tell that their target was the Captain.
“Who the hell are those bastards attacking!”
Shouts and curses erupted from all directions.
‘No.’
This place was dangerous. Wasn’t everything threatening the Captain?
Dasha’s judgment was swift.
“Lady Anelli!”
The Captain was extremely light; Dasha could lift her with just one arm.
“That crazy Dullahan! Hey!”
“Lady Anelli!”
Dasha immediately turned the reins. Thanks to the Captain, who had been struggling in surprise but quickly regained her composure, Dasha was able to steadily leave the spot and escape.
For the first time since opening his eyes, Dasha, who had been filled with nothing but rage, despair, resentment, and hatred, felt a positive, radiant emotion.
Though it was difficult to clearly define what it was, one thing was certain.
This time, he must protect the Captain.
Thus, Dasha safely rescued the Captain.
* * *
I had been kidnapped by Dasha.
Leaning against the hard Dullahan armor, I surveyed my surroundings with somewhat troubled eyes.
Ah, I really had been kidnapped. Right in front of people, this time for real.
Gathering my bewildered feelings from this unexpected situation, I tried to think as rationally as possible.
“……Dasha.”
When I called Dasha calmly, the horse that had been diligently walking somewhere faltered for a moment. I could also feel the Dullahan’s body flinch against my back.
I thought he might not be in a state to converse, having abruptly kidnapped me, but that didn’t seem to be the case. At the very least, he was definitely reacting to my voice.
“Dasha. Are you in a state where you can talk?”
[Captain.]
Finally, Dasha answered my question.
Dasha, who had come to a complete stop, dismounted first, then carefully helped me down by holding my waist.
His demeanor was so docile it was hard to believe this was the same Dullahan who, just moments ago, had been rampaging—destroying city gates, demolishing buildings, and throwing people around.
[Do not worry.]
Your very existence is my greatest worry right now.
Before I could even respond like that, Dasha spoke in a serious voice.
[This place is safe.]
His chest puffed out, he even seemed a bit proud.
[No one will be able to come here.]
Listening to Dasha’s words, I slowly looked around and let out a hollow laugh.
“……I suppose so.”
This is the Land of the Dead, after all. That land so full of miasma that ordinary people cannot enter. And it’s not just miasma either.
“With this many Skeletons, who would dare come?”
What on earth are those piles of bones… I never heard there were things like this in the Land of the Dead…
As I looked at the skeletons huddled together and staring at me with incredulous eyes, they whispered among themselves and glanced at me.
If you wonder how I could tell their gazes without them having eyeballs…
It was impossible not to notice because every time they moved their heads to sneak a peek at me, a clattering sound rang out.
One of the skeletons, which had been whispering among themselves, cautiously stepped forward as if representing the group.
[Shall we build a prison, Captain?]
“Captain?”
[Gasp, it understands our speech!]
The skeleton recoiled in shock, stepping back hesitantly. Perhaps because it moved suddenly, a grating, clattering sound came from its joints.
Just from the sound, it seemed so flimsily connected that one might worry a part would break off.
After glancing at its scrawny leg bones, I turned my gaze to Dasha.
“……Are you the ‘Captain’ here?”
[My, my apologies! You are the only Captain!]
I hadn’t asked to receive an apology, but Dasha bowed repeatedly to me, sweating profusely. Then, he suddenly raised his voice toward the skeletons.
[You wretches! How dare you not bow to the Captain? This is my Captain!]
At Dasha’s shout, the skeletons flinched and prostrated themselves flat on the ground.
[Gasp.]
[W-we apologize!]
The sight of the skeletons lying flat like frogs on the pitch-black, parched ground where not a single blade of grass could be found… was frankly grotesque. It felt like looking at a plundered cemetery.
It wasn’t pleasing either. There’s no way being revered by skeletons could feel good.
Feeling somehow complicated, I stared intently at the skeletons and took a deep breath.
First, yes. Let’s assess the situation.
“What on earth have you been doing here to be called ‘Captain’?”
He was said to have gone berserk. So I really thought he was rampaging blindly.
I was about to suggest letting the other Dullahans beat some sense into him if he had lost his reason.
I had no idea he was living here so soundly, commanding skeletons as his subordinates!
The more I thought about it, the more unfair I felt. Had I known he was in such a sound state as to build his own forces, I would have come straight here and waited.
No, if only I had known in advance that Dasha had made the Land of the Dead his base!
Frowning, I stared straight at Dasha. Completely oblivious to my mood, Dasha boldly declared his aspirations in a vigorous tone.
[I have been preparing for your revenge, Captain. Those skeletons will fulfill their roles sufficiently as soldiers, so do not worry!]
No, I’m telling you, you are the biggest worry right now!
[I will take the vanguard. You need only lead them and bring this world to ruin!]
A sigh escaped me without my realizing.
Good heavens, the rampant evil was right here.
* * *
The reason Xenon did not immediately pursue Anelli was because she had subtly signaled for him to stay put for now.
From the very beginning, they had already agreed to act separately if they encountered the Dullahan.
Although that method wasn’t as… extreme as the current situation.
“The Resurrected One has been kidnapped!”
More than a few people saw Anelli being taken by the Dullahan. If they didn’t stay behind to manage this chaotic situation, those who knew nothing might sincerely organize a large-scale rescue party to save the Resurrected One.
Rescue… Perhaps they really should go to rescue her?
“Just before the Resurrected One was kidnapped, they attacked her.”
“That’s not true! We were targeting the Dullahan…!”
“Had it not been for their attack, the Resurrected One would not have been given the opportunity to be kidnapped.”
Xenon glanced at Samuel, who continued speaking with a face that seemed to be suppressing a great deal of anger, and inwardly admired him.
Samuel was quite skilled at inciting others. It was because the listeners fundamentally trusted him and listened attentively to his words.
Probably due to his status as a holy knight. And not just any holy knight, but the holy knight the High Priest was proud of.
The High Priest should know that his proud holy knight was now leading the charge at the forefront of this charade.
‘He’s handling the cleanup here well enough on his own, so can’t I just go to Lady Anelli?’
He wanted to dump all the aftermath on Samuel right away, but Xenon held back for now.
Even if he did absolutely nothing, he had to be present here. Because Anelli did not trust Samuel.
「I will relocate with Dasha. Even if he’s berserk, he should listen to me. Because I now have… at least a little bit of authority.」
Saying so, Anelli specifically instructed only Xenon.
「You handle the aftermath with Samuel. If you don’t manage it, Maxel and Lilia will try to spread strange rumors again.」
「Huh? Do we both have to do that?」
「Yes. It must be done by both. Samuel is better at appealing to the public, but he is obsessed with me, so he might impulsively take rash action.」
「Rash action?」
「He put that Temple treasure with the tracking spell around my neck, didn’t he?」
I thought she didn’t mind much since she wore the choker obediently, but it seemed Anelli was still uneasy about it.
「Moreover, his duty will end soon.」
Xenon remembered the expression on Anelli’s face as she quietly stared at Samuel from afar.
What appeared on her face was clearly wariness.
「Xenon, do you think Sir Samuel will leave me obediently?」
When he heard her question, Xenon felt as if he had been struck on the back of the head. Did she think that holy knight bastard would leave obediently?
Of course he didn’t think so!
Xenon realized why Anelli could not fully trust Samuel. He also understood what she was worried about, which was why she left Xenon by Samuel’s side.
‘Right, she told me not to follow for a reason.’
He truly hadn’t expected the Dullahan to abruptly kidnap Anelli.
So Xenon almost forgot their prior conversation and chased after the Dullahan.
But if the situation had been truly dangerous for Anelli at that moment, her other Dullahans wouldn’t have stayed idle either.
From the start, Anelli was not alone now. So Xenon decided to trust her.
Just as she trusted him and left him here.