There was no rest here that he desired.
The moment he realized that, Nadav simply stood still and waited.
His Captain had assured him that he would obtain the rest he sought, and Nadav believed her. Therefore, if he waited, a path would undoubtedly open for him.
He could not know precisely what kind of place this space, where one awaited rest, was. But to hazard a vague guess, it was likely the crossroads between life and death.
On that precarious boundary line, Nadav waited quietly, forgetting the flow of time.
He was accustomed to continuing a solitary wait with no promise of an end. Having already waited for his Captain for a long time, there was no great need for sorrow even if it were delayed a little longer.
When he thought of the outcome he would surely reach at the end of this, he could endure with a joyful heart instead.
And finally, behind Nadav, the fourth path he had so longed for opened.
The path opened by their Captain, the path back to the Captain.
Through that path, Nadav returned to Anelli. Though he had regained his head, having rejected both rebirth and death, he had to live on in the body of a Dullahan, but that was fine.
When he opened his eyes again, he did not possess abnormal power as before. He had simply become a Monster, no different from any other ordinary Dullahan.
At least the ability to transform into a horse was a distinctive trait, but that was all. Nadav accepted that his remaining life would be that of a Monster.
After all, Anelli planned to live in Veladia Castle, and Veladia Castle was a paradise for Monsters, so perhaps it was better to have become this way.
He thought so, but still, Nadav sometimes felt a little regretful.
There was no need for it to be a horse, of all things.
[Tristan, you're a nuisance.]
[Hahaha! Nadav has become even duller!]
[Nadav, you're supposed to use your tail! Don't horses chase away flies with their tails? You can't even swat a single bumblebee, what a disappointment!]
If only... it hadn't been a horse, but something swifter and more threatening. Preferably a higher-level predator than a titmouse or a bumblebee.
"Tristan, Zigore. If you keep flying around so frantically and crash into something and get hurt, I'll leave you behind."
A voice came from atop Nadav's back, calming Tristan and Zigore.
Nadav, who had been briefly troubled about how to catch and discipline those two childish Dullahans, regained his peace of mind.
Yes, no matter what, the Captain couldn't just ride any horse. There was no horse in the world more trustworthy than himself.
[…….]
Nadav, now bearing the Captain, regained his noble bearing. Holding his head high, Nadav looked ahead.
The Captain, who had subdued Tristan and Zigore with a single word, had shifted her attention to the black sea turtle before them.
"What about you, Ganik? If you're worried about the little Lizardman, it's fine for you to stay at the castle."
[Huh? No, I also... Wait, we're talking right noooow...!]
[Ahahahaha!]
The black sea turtle was cut off mid-reply, dragged into the moat entangled in the Lizardman's tail. Ganik's pitiful scream grew fainter and fainter.
Anelli, who had been silently gazing at the moat where only rippling water remained after Ganik disappeared, murmured in a calm tone.
"...It seems to be a touching father-child reunion. I shouldn't interfere."
Touching it was indeed.
Especially the little Lizardman, who clung to the returned Ganik as if suffering from separation anxiety.
It clung to Ganik, transformed into a turtle, all day long and wouldn't let go, to the point where even Anelli had to come out to the moat to speak with Ganik.
Moreover, during their brief separation, the little Lizardman had grown quite a bit and seemed to have entered a rather rebellious phase. Its behavior was becoming increasingly free-spirited.
At least it was fortunate that Ganik, now a sea turtle, could swim in freshwater after being resurrected.
At this point, one wonders if calling it a sea turtle is even correct...
Nadav, who had been silently watching the occasional splash and spray of water leaping up in the distance, quietly averted his gaze and looked away.
As the saying goes, disciplining children is difficult regardless of species. But Ganik was the father, so surely he would manage somehow.
Raising a child is best left to the parents, so one must absolutely not interfere.
And so, ultimately, four Dullahans, excluding Ganik, were to accompany Anelli on her journey to the capital.
* * *
The warp gate connected to the capital was installed in a small village named 'Timan' at the foot of the Trevi Mountains.
Rather than building something ostentatious, they had purchased a building and installed it inside. The invitation Heinri sent was also received and kept here in Timan.
Generally, warp gates are large, but the one connected to the capital was small enough to be installed inside a house. It seemed it was deliberately made small to condense the magical power due to the long distance it connected.
"The world has truly become a better place."
To be precise, it was largely thanks to Xenon that convenience had increased so much, but anyway.
I marveled as I stepped onto the warp gate. The circular glowing magic circle began to shine brighter as magical power was infused into it.
As I was idly looking down at the magic circle, I suddenly looked up.
"But exactly where in the capital does it connect to?"
"The connection point? Didn't I mention it?"
Xenon asked back, his eyes wide.
"No."
"I set two coordinates. The usual default setting is the mansion I own in the capital, but I changed the coordinate just now. I thought this one would be more convenient."
"Where is the second coordinate?"
At my question, Xenon hesitated. He seemed to ponder for a moment, rolling his eyes, then shrugged his shoulders.
"You'll know when you see it."
"...Can't you just tell me?"
"You'll find out soon anyway."
Somehow, I feel very uneasy.
Just as I narrowed my eyes and was about to say something, the light from the magic circle shone brilliantly, filling the room. The light surged up, perfectly enveloping me, Xenon, and even the Dullahans.
My stomach churned, and I felt a shaking sensation as if the ground were vibrating. As it was leaping over a great distance at once, the feeling was even more unstable.
As I gritted my teeth and tried to endure the nausea, I felt the wind that had been whipping against my cheeks gradually subside.
A solid floor was felt beneath my feet, which had felt weightless. The moment I realized that and slowly opened my eyes...
"This way!"
"Fetch the Chief Mage!"
"This time we'll settle it, future Tower Master!"
Amidst the noisy shouts, I saw a group of people rushing over, out of breath.
As I stared blankly at these people running over with furious expressions, I looked around with a 'surely not' expression. Towering buildings, pointed towers rising between them, a well-manicured, expansive flower garden...
While I was examining each feature of the surrounding scenery, Xenon also seemed to have taken in the commotion, clicking his tongue softly.
"My, they seem to have nothing better to do."
Xenon, arms crossed, looked at the people running from afar with a pitying gaze.
And I, after checking the familiar surroundings several times, accepted reality.
Namely, that I had now become a criminal.
"...If you want to become a habitual unauthorized intruder of the imperial palace, do it alone."
"It's already too late. You're an accomplice now, Lady Anelli."
I stared silently at Xenon, who spoke with a beaming smile, and first calmly dispelled my appearance-altering magic. Then I looked back at the guards trying to surround us.
I could see the guards, who were about to draw their swords immediately, startle upon seeing me. It seemed everyone knew my face, even though I hadn't shown myself for a while.
I gave the guards a slight smile.
"I have come to deliver the words of the goddess. Escort me to the Crown Prince."
I don't want to go to prison, so I'll press down with my status.
* * *
"How many times have I told you to use the main gate... Anelli?"
Heinri, who had been sighing and scolding without even looking up, stopped upon seeing me. He froze for a moment, seemingly surprised, then approached with a bright smile.
"If you had told me in advance, I would have prepared to welcome you!"
He acted as if he would hug me immediately, then hesitated and politely offered a handshake instead. It felt strange, as he seemed to have matured a bit since I last saw him.
He too had been through a lot after I left. When I just heard about it, I thought 'I see' and moved on, but facing him, I could feel his change viscerally.
Clearly, Heinri seemed to have been diligently preparing to ascend the throne during this time.
"How come you came without any notice?"
"Excuse me, I'm here too."
"We shouldn't talk standing like this, please sit!"
Instead of letting go after the handshake, Heinri pulled me along. I compliantly followed his naturally escorting pull, and a grumble sprang out from beside us.
"Hello?"
"I must give orders to postpone my schedule immediately. Please wait a moment."
"Hmph, really."
Skillfully ignoring Xenon, Heinri personally led me to the sofa. Xenon, who had been about to offer a friendly greeting, let out a disbelieving laugh, but Heinri didn't even glance at him.
"I have some business to wrap up. I'll finish that and be right back."
Perhaps because it was a long-awaited meeting, Heinri seemed genuinely pleased. As I watched his retreating back, his face flushed as he hurried out of the reception room, I looked back at Xenon.
Xenon, who had taken a seat beside me on his own, was sitting with his arms crossed, pouting.
"I heard you became close with Lord Heinri."
"Doesn't it look like we're close?"
Well, it does look close enough to omit even the minimum courtesy.
Xenon showed his hurt feelings at Heinri's attitude of not even looking at him, but from my perspective watching from the side, I first thought, 'No wonder he's like that.'
Because I had heard how the two had become close during my absence.
Xenon had spoken as if it were nothing that Heinri had procured rare flower seeds for him, but there was no way it was nothing for the Crown Prince of the Empire to use his connections to obtain rare flower seeds.
Moreover, the process of coming and going to the imperial palace... just seeing the reaction of the guards earlier or Heinri's reaction gave a rough idea. If the words 'settle it' came from the guards' mouths, that said it all.
"By the way, I told them to change the imperial palace snacks. Who eats this stuff?"
Xenon picked up a cookie from the table without permission.
I shook my head and accepted one of the cookies Xenon offered.
Still, he is the future Tower Master after all. Rather than submitting to power unnecessarily, it's better to be treated with such brazenness.
I had been worried that Xenon, being so sensitive, might get pushed around here and there, but seeing that he had been doing well, I felt relieved.