It was a resurrection I had never desired in the first place.
Having abandoned all will to live upon the executioner's block, I did not dream of an ambitious future simply because I had been revived anew.
Even now, with Xenon in my heart, that had not changed. I was still weary, and I believed that at the end of all this, I would obtain what I desired in some form.
「……Just as in the past, it seems you would not refuse death even now.」
Samuel had seen me accurately.
I do not consciously yearn for death, but if death were offered to me, I would not refuse it either.
I do not know what Xenon saw in my brief answer. However, he still appeared angry and made no effort to hide it from me.
“Is that ‘repose’ something you absolutely must obtain?”
He asked, clenching his teeth and suppressing his voice forcefully.
I could clearly feel him striving not to become agitated.
“I tried my best not to ask, but now I must know. What on earth is it, the thing Lady Anelli intends to do?”
His gaze fixed upon me was so intense that I could no longer bear to meet it.
I lowered my eyes again. In the brief moment I averted my gaze, I saw something struggling, caught in a spiderweb.
It was a white butterfly.
A spider I hadn't known was there moved swiftly toward its prey.
“A task of granting repose to those who could not die.”
“……Those who could not die?”
Xenon seemed to think of the Dullahans in an instant.
“Yes, granting all living beings free birth and death. It was a duty my past self was originally meant to complete, but things became tangled. My resurrection was also for that purpose.”
The spider quickly drew in its thread. The butterfly struggled even more violently, as if resisting it. Yet, the more it moved, the more the web ensnared it.
The sight seemed pitiful, but I felt no inclination to intervene and save it.
“You said you would watch the world end while eating sweets.”
“That was the plan.”
Without taking my eyes off the spider and the butterfly, I nodded slowly.
Perhaps sensing anger at my calm demeanor, Xenon’s voice grew even rougher.
“But why did you suddenly change your mind? Is it because you learned of your past life?”
So now, he’s criticizing me for not standing idly by as the world ends?
Xenon’s words were so far off the mark that I couldn't help but let out a laugh.
That absurd reaction seemed endearing to me; it seems I truly do treat Xenon differently.
‘Just as Sir Samuel said.’
Regardless of my dislike for Samuel, I thought he understood me well.
Or perhaps I am simply an easy person to figure out.
Even if it wasn't Samuel, given that others had often noticed I cherished Xenon, there must have been something I unconsciously revealed.
I must cherish Xenon far more than I think I do. Even more than I treat Maxel.
「Do you believe he will acquiesce to your death?」
As Samuel surmised, Xenon is expressing an anger I did not anticipate. However, Samuel’s words were not entirely accurate.
「You cherish him, so you will be swayed by his words.」
Because even if Xenon tries to stop it due to the possibility of my death, I have no intention of halting this task.
It wasn't solely a desire to escape this tiresome world and rest.
“Do you remember, Xenon?”
As Samuel said, I had no attachment to this world.
The world I was revived into and met again was still full of contemptible things. I only gained a disgust greater than before my death.
Yet, amidst it all, from some point on, the Dullahans, some animals, and Monsters began to occupy my thoughts.
And to have met even a single person who cherishes me amidst those dreadful humans.
I, who had been blinking slowly, raised my eyes.
‘……A single person.’
It’s strange, and… a little regrettable, that I only found someone I had never met in my entire life not long after my resurrection.
No, if I had met Xenon in the past, I would not have felt the same emotions as I do now.
It is because we met now that we could become like this.
“I do not wish to harm your tomorrow.”
Xenon’s eyes widened as if he had been struck by something.
“Lady Anelli.”
“So, whatever lies at the end, it is fine.”
At my declaration, which left no room for compromise, Xenon’s pupils trembled slightly. His lips moved, but in the end, he closed them without saying a word.
The conversation was over. He quietly bowed his head, and I turned mine with an indifferent expression.
My gaze fell upon the spiderweb I had seen earlier.
At that very moment, a strong wind coincidentally shook the entire thicket.
The precarious spiderweb could not withstand the wind and snapped. The butterfly, which had been struggling incessantly, seized the opportunity and finally managed to escape.
‘Ah.’
The spider, having lost its prey, quickly hid its body beneath a blade of grass. Beneath the moonlight, only the empty, tattered web remained.
Was that the effort of a butterfly that did not abandon life, the mistake of a spider that spun its web carelessly, or merely a coincidence brought about by a timely, strong wind?
How likely was it for those three possibilities to converge?
Shaking off the futile thought, I slowly moved my lips.
“I believe I have conveyed my intent sufficiently. I shall take my leave first.”
Xenon, lost in thought, did not stop me. Though emotional, he is also someone who strives to understand others, so he must have understood my words.
The path back to the campsite felt peculiarly long and desolate. Perhaps because of that, the thoughts I had cast aside once again clouded my mind.
How much of an impact would it make if just one person did not abandon life?
* * *
The journey, which had paused briefly, resumed. It was because I urged us to hurry, saying we must go quickly.
It was unavoidable, as the magical energy leakage from the gem containing Dasha was gradually becoming clearer.
The only way was to reach the destination as soon as possible, bid farewell to Samuel, and realize the final authority before Dasha runs amok.
Of course, I did not think Samuel would simply leave obediently upon reaching the destination.
However, it was a great relief that he at least did not stubbornly refuse, saying he would no longer guide us.
It seemed that was because Xenon was following my will without much opposition.
Samuel, who likely expected Xenon to take some action, appeared quite surprised by his subdued demeanor.
“So you intend to complete the final authority after all.”
“Sir Samuel, if you plan to interfere, say so now. There are plenty of Dullahans who hold grudges against you.”
Was it because he thought even Xenon could not persuade me? Samuel’s determination to prevent my death also seemed to have diminished somewhat.
Since it was bound to end up this way anyway, I don’t know why he stirred up trouble needlessly.
“It seems we will reach the foothills of the mountain range by tomorrow. As for the interior of the range… we have no map, so we cannot know how treacherous it is. Nor do we know what Monsters we might encounter.”
Xenon, who had been leading the way while looking at the map, turned to me and spoke.
“Hmm, yes. We’re truly almost there.”
“We are not almost there. Your destination is Veladia Castle, is it not?”
“This is close enough.”
Samuel turned away from me with a complicated expression.
It seemed he sensed that even if he suddenly declared he would stop guiding us now, he could no longer hinder me.
“Let’s rest for a moment. I shall go check on the external situation briefly. I heard the Temple has begun a purge of heretics.”
Samuel spoke in a voice tinged with resignation. Xenon also moved to another spot, saying he had matters to confirm with the Magic Tower.
“…….”
Before entering the mountain range, I too had something to confirm. Stroking Nadav’s mane as he stood obediently, I activated the communication magical artifact.
The central magical power stone flickered, then soon shone brightly as someone’s voice flowed out.
―Anelli.
“Sir Heinri. It has been a while since I contacted you.”
Since I was active openly within the Montel territory, he must have heard news of me.
Along with news of Maxel and Lilia, who were causing trouble here.
When I was reunited with Dasha after being abducted, Samuel and Xenon said they had received a summons from the capital.
Though they were not arrested as they were the Crown Prince and the prospective Crown Princess, the atmosphere was said to be no different from escorting criminals.
“You must be busy, but I wished to inquire about the news.”
Before I could ask specifically, Heinri spoke as if he had been waiting.
―I don’t know if the news has reached you, but the Temple has publicly accused Roam of worshipping and spreading heresy.
“Ah, because of Lilia.”
I had already heard that Samuel had branded the merchant group cooperating with Lilia and the Monster hunters belonging to it as heretics.
Also, since there was a commotion during my abduction by Dasha, they might have obtained some clue about their relationship.
―Not only that, but the Temple confirmed a video capturing the scene of Roam abducting the Resurrected One who was residing in the imperial palace. Moreover, they additionally discovered circumstances suggesting recent attempts to pursue and harm the Resurrected One.
“Chasing me all the way to the dead lands became a problem as well.”
At that moment, I recalled the Phrygian sister who had pursued me all the way to the dead lands, claiming the abducted Resurrected One was her sister.
She likely hoped her actions would be seen as those of a devoted sister trying to save her abducted younger sister, but from a slightly different perspective, the opposite interpretation was possible.
For instance, the interpretation that she was a heretic who recklessly pursued at great risk to stage the Resurrected One’s death as if by a Monster.
―Duke Roam vehemently denied it, but his claims lost credibility when Lilia Roam fled.
I nodded, then paused.
“……Pardon?”
―Maxel and Lilia have fled.
I had not misheard. As I stared blankly at the communication device, Heinri spoke in a grave voice.
―Simultaneously, Baron Ruejak and his household have been arrested on charges of smuggling out those criminals.
Oh, this is rather surprising news.