Re: Life in a fantasy world

by ReviewR524

In a world where magic flourished, in a place where all sorts of races can be seen, there existed a fantasy world. This world gave birth to Natsuki Subaru, a man who's destined to eradicate the world of its sins, a man who knows no bounds, a man who's destined to die and die again until his role is fulfilled. A story in which Subaru was born in the world of re-zero...

13. Arc 2: Chapter 7

Uploading date: 9/15/2018 [M/D/Y]

Re: Life in a fantasy world ~ Arc 2: An Everlasting Week

Chapter 7: Dance with the demons (and more)

---

Crash

I dropped a plate and it cracked, the sound reverberated through the dining hall, I was panicking too much and thus I was unable to make a stop through my shadowy locale. I blinked my eyes twice and realized that I'm back, and I let out an "Ahh…" Looking around, I was indeed in the dining hall, with Beatrice, she was looking at me rather skeptical.

"Something wrong, I suppose? People don't usually drop plates normally"
"Oh, sorry about that, just had a sudden headache…"

I say while pretending to be in pain. I crouched down and picked up the broken pieces, sweeping up the smaller pieces, "Beatrice, how long has it been since I came to the mansion again?" "How forgetful of you, I suppose. According to Betty, it should be the third day, I suppose" With this being the third day, that means tomorrow night is the night I, or Emilia, gets cursed. It seems we're both being targeted for some reason, and it is most definitely an assassin from how I died last time.

"Okay... Beatrice, after dinner, can you teach me how to detect and remove curses?"
"I can do that, I suppose… but why would you need that?"
"I suddenly feel a whole surge of paranoia…"

After throwing the plate in the nearby bin, I proceeded to place the jug and drinking glasses on the table, "I'm going to go call Emilia and Roswaal now, don't run off anywhere okay?" I said jokingly. She sighed and dismissed me with a wave, and so I opened up the door and called the two to the table. Surprisingly, I was able to find Roswaal this time, how strange.

Ram and Rem then came in with the meal, ready and they all, dinner started, or was it lunch? I had already lost track of time. After everyone was finished, we took the plates back and washed the glasses, then, Rem asked me, "Subaru-kun, what would you like to have?" Now that I'm no longer wary of her, I had no problem answering, but I was busy, "No it's okay, I have things I need to do with Beatrice, you two can eat ahead, I'll whip myself something later…"

And with that, I left the kitchen abruptly. Walking around for a bit, I find Beatrice by the side of my door, "We're doing it in my room I'm guessing?" She nods while replying, "Betty needs a change of scenery, I suppose…" Opening the door, both of us enter in, with Beatrice taking a seat on my bed.

"So, what kind of curse are you trying to dispel, I suppose?"
"The kind that drains your mana very quickly"
"Hmph, well that's easy enough…"

Walking over to my table, she grabs a piece of paper and some ink along with a quill. "Those types of curses tie a knot around your gate, and if left unchecked, these knots grow tighter, the earlier you dispel it, the easier it is to break the knot" She illustrates this on the piece of paper for my convenience. "It is easy for Betty to detect this because I am able to directly sense the gates of anyone in my proximity, it has something to do with being a spirit, I suppose. For you, it's a little different. You'd have to manually check the gate yourself"

"Hmm, manually checking would be…"
"Connecting your gate with the victims, I suppose"
"Ah, yeah I can do that. Now how about dispeling them?"

"That requires a bit of practice, but anyone oriented in Yin should be able to dispel curses rather easily, now listen closely, I suppose…" She shows me the sheet of paper and points at the knot, "All you have to do to dispel a curse is to untie the knot surrounding the gate, the difficulty would depend on how long you've been cursed and how many times. The longer you've been cursed, the tighter the knots get, the more you're cursed, the more knots there are to untie, understand, I wonder?"

"I more or less get it… so it's as simple as untying a knot?"
"It may be simple, but I never said it was easy, I suppose, let's give it a go"

She put her hand onto my chest, I didn't feel anything different with my body, "Now check your gate, I suppose…" The act of checking one's gate is simple, you just have to expel mana outside and an outline should be imprinted on your mind. That's what I did and indeed, I saw a knot, "Okay, I see the knot, so what do I do?"

"Untie it, I suppose, what else?"
"I can't really use my hand to touch my gate…"
"Manipulate the mana, you idiot"
"Ouch, my feelings…"

Manipulating mana isn't an easy feat, but I am able to do it rather easily, since I'm adept at making traps and tracking enemies which both require precise mana manipulation. Since you're only able to expel mana from your gate, it's quite hard to dispel a curse on yourself, but it should be easier to dispel someone else's.

15 minutes later

"Finally did it!" I say triumphantly, learning a new skill always gets me fired up, "You took too long, I suppose, the curse was fresh and it was an easy knot, was it a real one, you'd have died then and there, I suppose…" That was true, once the curse activated, it only took a few seconds for it to affect me, well, practice makes perfect is what they say.

"Hit me with round 2 then! And make it harder this time"
"Fine, but try not to break your gate in the process"

"W-Wait, that can happen!?"

.

After going at it for about two hours, I had managed to remove six curses, with each attempt being quicker than the rest, my quickest being a few minutes. "Good, now I won't have to worry about curses anymore!" I'll have to return to work sadly so I won't be able to practice anymore, but all I need to know is how to detect them, hopefully, I could rely on Beatrice for the actual dispelling.

"Then, I'll be going now, I suppose"
"Thanks again!"

Beatrice leaves my room after a while and I get going back to my duties, apparently, I had skipped dinner, but that was the least of my worries now, there's a murderer on the loose, I can't worry about my empty stomach, though, I do need the energy when I fight them. "Nee-san! I'll go rake up the leaves on the lawn if that's alright with you?"

"I'm right here Barusu, no need to shout" Indeed she was right there, it seems she was waiting for me, "Is your business with Beatrice-sama done?" She asks with a straight face, is she not at all curious about what we talked about?"Yeah, all cleared up, what do you need me to do?"

"Rem has already gone to rake up the lawn, I shall be attending Roswaal-sama's needs, you should go and see if anything is wrong and clean it up, also standby if Emilia-sama may need you"

"So basically there's nothing else to do right?"
"More or less…"

"Right then" she waved me off and I got going, the only thing I can think of doing is patrolling around the mansion's outskirts, if I followed last loops route, Emilia should be outside where Rem is. With that in mind, I set foot outside the mansion "Our assassin was definitely near the mansion that time, they're probably scouting around the area, there must be a reason they didn't attack us then and there, but why…"

It's either their too afraid to come near the mansion when Roswaal's still home, or that it's more convenient to do it in the village, either way, they seem to attack when Roswaal isn't around. "So if they're scared of the old clown, they shouldn't be too strong… then again, the Margrave is as strong as a whole army so yeah…"

I turn around the corner and I see what I expected, Emilia conversing with her spirits while Rem accompanies her, I wave to her and she waves back, "Haah, good to be in friendly terms with her… now, time check if the assassin would like to come out early" I decide to head to the village to see if I can drag out the assassin, unlike last time, I'm prepared for anything, though, Ram would probably give me hell if she finds out that I skipped out, and Rem would probably be able to tell when I'm gone, might as well consult with her before any more suspicion grows.

"Hello Rem, Emilia-san" I say while approaching the two ladies, Emilia greeted me with a smile, while Rem just replied with her own, hello, but she did scold me, "Subaru-kun, Rem understands if you don't feel like it, but during working hours, you must always refer your superior with respect…"

"Aha… sorry, slip of the tongue there…"
"So, Subaru, do you need anything?"
"Hmm, actually, Rem, could I ask for a favor?"

Looking at me rather curiously, she nods, "You see, Nee-san said that there's no more chores left for me to do, so…" A sharp stare, my mouth stops, it's a brutal rejection, "Working hours are still working hours, Subaru-kun, no slacking off until the clock strikes nine…" Rem is as serious with work as ever, if only Ram was as hardworking as her, I'd have no need to really do anything.

"Oh come on, it's not like Nee-san is doing anything, she's probably just sitting down getting headpats from Ros-chi or something"
"Subaru-kun, I won't accept any sort of disgraceful thoughts towards Nee-sama or Roswaal-sama, please take that back"
"Eh? But isn't it like a servant's go to thing? Getting head pats from your master? Or were the books I read just someone's fetishes..."

"Though Roswaal's head pats may be a bliss to Nee-sama, Rem doesn't see the need for such things. It would hinder my performance and wear down on my resolve to work seriously. Rem works to work, not to receive a head pat, please refrain from assuming things about Rem in the future…"

"Hmm… yeah, I guess that was we- Wait! Ros-chi actually gives Nee-san headpats!" What a surprise that was, and she enjoys them? Oho, looks like I've found a weapon against Nee-san now don't I. But still, I didn't know Roswaal was the kind to give headpats, well, we're talking about a guy dressed as a jester, there are probably more things that clowns hiding.

"A-Anyway… moving away from that topic. If it's okay with you, I'd like to visit th-"
"Absolutely not, it's still working hours, Subaru-kun"

Flat out rejection once again, Rem really takes her work seriously now doesn't she, her resolve is impressive. "Hehe, you two get along quite well don't you?" Emilia, who has been pretty silent this entire time inserted herself in between us. "Co-workers should always get together, it's the essence of teamwork, right Rem?" She lightly nods, didn't think she would comply so easily.

"Ah, that reminds me, your aiming to be King right Emilia-san?"
"Mhm, I'll try my hardest to get along with you all too! This will only work if I work together with you all"
"That's right, we'll be supporting you then, our next King"

With enthusiasm, she left to go back to her studies, being King doesn't just take power, you need knowledge, and lots of it. "So… Rem?" Glancing by my colleague, I was met with yet another refusal, she shook her head slowly and went back to her racking. If this keeps up, I'll probably die of boredom, but suddenly, a thought struck me!

"Rem, I'd like you to show me to the evacuation shack, please…"

"..."
"..."

She gave me a rather emotionless look, I wonder what it meant, it's probably her saying 'You don't give up, don't you?' She breathes out a long sigh and drops what she's doing, "Very well then" Wait, we're going? Was that all I needed, "Alright then!" she heads back into the mansion, and I follow her gladly, gotta thank give myself a pat on the back for not going with Ram last time.

"You might want to bring your weapons with you, Subaru-kun, this won't be a pleasant trip…"
"Huh? Really now, is it that dangerous going through the forest?"
"Yes, Mabeast are always around, especially at night…"

Traveling through a forest at night, with mabeast surrounding us? Doesn't sound like a bad idea whatsoever. "Right then…"

---

"No chirp chirping of the crickets… no hooting of hooty owls… man, this side of the forest is really quiet isn't it Rem?"
"So it is… don't let it trick you into a false sense of safety, Subaru-kun, we might very well be watched by something right now…"
"Heh, I don't need you telling me that, I've got plenty of experience with things like this…"

We were making our way through the forest rather quickly, and as I said, it was eerily calm, silent, dead you can say. Though she was right, something is definitely watching us, Rem probably knows as well, she has her incredible sense of smell to thank.

"Hey, Rem…"
"Yes, Subaru-kun?"

"You wanna have a competition?" I say with a snicker, my hands start to grip onto the sheaths of my daggers, her eyes narrow and we both halt, she glances over to me "It doesn't sound like a bad idea... Subaru-kun. Shall we place our bets?" I hear the sound of chains dragging on the grassy floor, then a large thump on the ground, Rem's weapon has been deployed. The both of us faced each other.

"Loser does one thing the winner wants?"
"Fine with me then…"

With her eyes turning hostile, she lifts up her heavy weapon, rather easily, I do the same, "Then… let the massacre start…" In an instant, we both launched our weapons at each other, though they missed by quite a lot, they still hit something, a whimper, and squeal and two bodies lay dead on the ground.

"One above me!"

I flip up and locked my legs onto something in the air, twisting my body, I skillfully slammed it onto the ground. Right after, I used timelapse to retrieve my thrown dagger and I stabbed my enemy in the neck, piercing straight through their throat, another dead.

"AAARH!"

As I twist my head back, Rem somersaults into the air, and swings her chained spike ball of death around, the chains wrapping around two more. With a yang, she brought them in closer, planting her foot on both of them. With tremendous force, she broke their bones as they impacted the ground.

"Three to the right…"

I turn over again and see three more rushing at me, I cast Murak on the corpse and kicked it over to them, knocking one of them into the ground. The other two still came onto me fast, but with a single chant, "El-Lahm!" They were pinned to the ground, it kinda cracked the ground as well, blood spurting out of their squished bodies.

"That makes four dead, oh, the other ones coming" I flung over two daggers at it and stabbed both its eye, easily blinding it. I felt something bite into my arm, one managed to sneak up on me. I punched it with my free hand and ripped it's mouth of my arm, slamming my foot onto its mouth to keep it shut.

"That really hurt you know? Timelapse"

With my arm fixed, my daggers reappeared in my hands, I looked over to Rem, her eyes glowing a demonic red, demon's really are strong aren't they. I can see dead bodies piling up on her end, but I'm not about to lose to a maid. "I'm only getting started…"

.

"Haaah! That took forever!"
"Subaru-kun, you fought better than Rem thought you'd fight…"
"Heh? What's this? Did you underestimate me? Well, that's what you get, looks like I won thirty to twenty-eight!"

The whole event took fifteen minutes, they just rushed at us like mad dogs, well, they are Ulrgam so what can you expect? "Hehe, so, it looks like you're going to have to do one thing I want huh?" I said while glancing at her, an evil grin plastered on my face. "How disgusting… Rem can already feel the lewd gazes you are giving me…"

"Hey now, I haven't said anything yet, it's not nice to jump into conclusions, and even if that was my wish, Nee-san would kill me in an instant… ah, now that I think about it, I don't think you can give me a day off now can you? Ram is the head maid, and persuading her isn't going to be easy, even for you, and I'd feel bad if I just left the whole mansion to you two"

"Just so you know, we've been doing perfectly fine without you, in fact, I think you've been slowing Nee-sama down…"

"Don't you mean you've been perfectly fine on your own? I mean, Nee-san barely does anything! She's just bombarding me with all her jobs lately, don't you think?"

"Nee-sama… has things she can do…" Making a rather hard face, Rem picks up her morning star, and stores it somewhere, that's magic for you. "Well then, tell me one thing she can do better than anyone else?" No matter how you see it, Rem is superior to everyone in almost every aspect of housework and the like, Ram, on the other hand, may even be below average, heck, even I excel on some things better than her.

"Nee-sama can… she can… ah, she can make the best-steamed yams!"
"I'll believe it when I see it…"

Leaving Rem rather peeved, I make my way further into the forest, "Just you wait, Subaru-kun… once you try Nee-sama's steamed yams, you'll truly understand!" You can only go so far when idolizing someone, she's got some intense inferiority complex right there, not something I can bother helping with.

"Oh yeah, I wanted to know Rem… why didn't you summon your horn back then? And please don't tell me you thought you could beat me without it, I'll be really pissed if you say that…"

"My… horn? How do you know about that, may I ask?"

"Aw come on, in order to truly be connected as colleagues, one must know about their colleagues and vice-versa! And so I asked Roswaal about it, he told me you two were demons so I assumed you have a horn, I know Ram doesn't"

"What makes you think that?"

"It's not rocket science, even an idiot can figure it out. I've been working with Nee-sama so I've noticed a few things about her, she gets tired easily, and she really likes touching her forehead for some reason. I later found out that she had a scar there, I'm can how a scar was formed. Nee-san's was formed by something breaking of her forehead, it wasn't the kind that a stab or a cut would form…"

"That… is correct…"
"So, my question?"

"Rem's horn… Rem only summons it in emergency situations, since Rem loses control of herself most of the time, letting instincts and emotions fully control my actions… Rem was never as skilled as Nee-sama was with her horn, she easily surpassed Rem in everything, Rem was just a shadow of her… but then she lost her horn, and it was my fault…"

"Don't say that…"
"Subaru-kun… you don't understand, it truly was my faul-"

"I was talking about the 'I was her shadow' part…" I bluntly stated, making her stop in her tracks, I feel like this is a very repetitive thing in the books I read, "I've already acknowledged you as a different person to Ram, so don't go calling yourself a Ram rip-off, that's just saying 'Rem' doesn't exist, that she's not your sister" I feel like I've been lecturing everyone on things, these past few loops, really ticks me off now.

"Also, isn't this a bad thing to show for your kouhai? Isn't the senpai supposed to be encouraging and whatnot?"
"Hm… You are right, Subaru-kun, please forget everything I've said tonight"
"No can do, it's a bargaining chip for next time!"

"Hmph, you really are a devil of a man…"
"Heh, your one to talk!"

The night continued with the two of us making it to wherever that evacuation shack was, and it was far away. It took almost an hour or two just to get there, I was going to be late for bedtime were it not for Rem. I told her to fling me over to the mansion with her super strength, I made myself lighter with Murak of course, but damn was she strong. The one and a half hours spent on walking was easily covered in a single throw, of course, I might have broken a bone or two when I landed.

"Your healing ability is really useful, isn't it, Subaru-kun…" Rem comments as she lands nearby, I sigh in pain, "It's less of a healing ability, and more of time manipulation ability, though it's not exactly time manipulation? But at the same time, it is, nevermind, these kinds of things are pretty confusing anyway…"

"So you two have returned? And might I add covered in blood and late..."
"Nee-sama! Yes we have returned safely"

"Safely? Hey, I broke a leg just a second ago and your clothes are bloody, it's not very convincing if we take those things into account… still, couldn't there have been another way to the evacuation shack?"

"There was, a tunnel is present under Roswaal-sama's study that we can use in case of an emergency, that would be the proper way to head to the evacuation center, Barusu"

"Wait, then why did we take the forest route?!"
"Do you really intend on bothering Roswaal-sama, Barusu?"

"Heh, you're just afraid you might not get your headpats from your dear master if we were to barge in all of a sudden, huh, Nee-san?" And with that sudden poke, she froze, I sneak a chuckle in as she turns her head over to Rem, who was looking away for obvious reasons. Well, it seems I'll end the night here.

---

"Hwwaaah… morning again..."

A crazy night it was last night, but no sign of the assassin, weird, I was sure they'd come and rush for me. Well, whatever happened, today's the day they come, definitely. Roswaal's also going to leave, more reason for them to come, but I'd like to finish this before they make it to the mansion.

"Mhh… well, guess I'll ask Rossy for a day off, he's still indebted to me after all…"

Getting off my bed, I walk over to the closet and take out my slightly torn clothes from the other night, those Ulrgams did a number on it, can't say the same for me though, heh. After clipping everything one, I left outside, it seems I've woken up a little later than usual, which is understandable.

"Now, I wonder where Roswaal would be? Guess I'll ask his right-hand maid for that"

Rem wakes up Ram, so in order to find her, I'll have to ask Rem, then I can ask Ram where Roswaal is, then I'll be able to ask Roswaal for the day off, but there's a much easier way. "Beatrice? Mind helping me out for a bit?" I say with my hands cupped. There was silence for a few moments, then the door beside me opens up, the little spirit peeked out.

"Good morning, what do you need, I suppose?"
"Do you think you could tell me where Roswaal is, something urgent came up"
"Hmm… he just entered his study, alone, I suppose"

"Okay, makes things much simpler, listen, I'll be going out later, might not be coming back until tonight or maybe even tomorrow, alright?"

"Seems troubling, well, you better come back to give Betty an answer, you've been keeping me anxious all day, for the past two days, I suppose..." She says with a rather annoyed look on her face, though, that was my fault. "Sorry, I'll be sure to get back as soon as I can" Bowing down in an apology I thank her as he makes his way to Roswaal's study.

Waving away to the little spirit, I make my way up the stairs and over to a door, larger than the others in the hallway, and I knock, "Hey Roswaal, you in there?" Another few moments of silence and I hear an 'ahem', seems he's over there, "Come in Subaru-kun…"

"Pardon the intrusion" I opened up the door and walked inside, the room was dark, and the Roswaal was sitting crossed on his chair, looking at me with his split, blue and yellow eyes, they glowed too, looks cool if I do say so myself. "So~ What can I do for you, Subaru-kun…"

"Ah, that voice will never get old now would it? I can hardly take you seriously like this..."
"Even I~ can get hurt by words too, you know~?"

"Anyway, jokes aside, I'd like a day off today, a full day, if that's no problem with you?" He looks at me for a while and closes his eyes. He nods, and then opens up his eyes again, with a smile, "Of course, there's no problem at all~ I'm sure Rem and Ram can handle the mansion on their own for just a day" He closed up his blue eyes, leaving the yellow one to gaze at me, it's rather creepy, it's probably another thing of his, might as well ignore it.

"Then guess I'll see you tomorrow…"
"Hm, going~ somewhere?"

"Well, a little later, but I don't think I'll be coming for breakfast, so technically I won't be able to see you until tomorrow?"

"Ah~ Well then I wish you a safe return, don't get mauled by the forest beasts while your out, you~ hear?" Letting out a chuckle, I walk my way out the door, giving Roswaal a small wave before leaving his study. "Might as well tell the twins I'm taking it off today, Ram gonna be salty about that for sure…"

I make my way down the corridor and turn to the employee's lounge, Ram should be there waiting for me like usual, "Morning, Ram Nee-san!" I greet loudly as I barge in, Ram was asit on the couch, with Rem, they were sipping some tea, without me?

"Your as noisy as ever Barusu, might I add your late, and you stink"

"Hey, this noisy, late, and stinky young man has a heart too you know! Even if your words are just words, they hurt!" I retort back at Ram, she just continues to sip on her tea, like a babysitter would when irresponsibly dealing with a toddler in a fit, it makes me feel rather deprecated.

"Enough of the bickering, we have a long day ahead of us"
"Ah, yeah, Nee-san about that, I'm taking a day off today"

"What?"

"I'm… taking the day off?" I repeated. Ram looks at me, with utter disappointment, and pain. Did that statement hurt you that much!? "N-Nee-san?" Suddenly, she falls to the floor, slowly, and rather depressed, "Just when Ram thought you'd be worth something... you come here saying you quit? Go die!"

"Nee-san, isn't that a little too much?! I said I'm taking a day off not quitting?"
"Those two mean the same thing, Subaru-kun"
"What?! No, they don't!"

"It does to Nee-sama, have some shame Subaru-kun. Nee-sama had expected something from you and you had betrayed her expectations" Giving me a look of disdain, Rem pats her older sisters on the back, as if consoling her, is it really that serious?! "To think that Barusu would dare dump all of his workload on me… he truly is a useless Barusu!"

"I don't want to hear that from the head maid who's been dumping all her work on me these past days!"

.

After a little more argument and insult tossing, we finally settled down. Ram really doesn't like working, well, no one does, unless it's Rem of course. She'd take any kind of work, unless it's mine, she won't take my jobs for some reason, I feel like there's some favoritism at play here.

"Well then, looks like I'll have to try out being a hikikomori, like the characters in those novels dad used to give me, though, I'll just be sewing patches on my Kara-lug clothes… man that sounds really cool, makes for a really nice brand name, too bad I have no intention of starting a clothing company, maybe if mom were still here, I might…"

Walking over to my room, I open the door slowly and entered, the morning sunlight was just brushing on my curtains so everything was really still kinda dark, "Time to start repairs…" From the table drawer, I take out the sewing kit I was provided with and started sewing up my clothes.

I was rather engrossed in the repairs, I didn't give a thought about time, but I know it was at least noon, my room was pretty bright after all. "Better finish this up quickly… going to have to scan over the area for the-" I hear a grumbling sound, and I stopped with my hand work. Lowering my head down I found the source of it, my stomach.

"Hungry, I suppose?"
"Woa- Owch!"

With the sudden scare I banged my knee on the table and fell down the ground, that hurt a lot! "Ow Ow! Darn, is that table made of steel or something! And what are you doing sneaking up on me like that!" I look over to the owner of the voice, Beatrice, who was standing beside the table with a plate in her hands.

"You were so concentrated that you didn't notice Betty enter, you know"

"Ah, guess that was me being me… so what do you need?"
"I've already asked, hungry, I suppose? Though I already know the answer"

Looking down on me from her standing point, she gives a slight nod and presents to me a plate with sweets on it, "Your pretty nice doing this, but you're going to eat some too aren't you?" Looking like she's been exposed, she tilts her head away, "Don't think you're the only one hungry, I suppose"

"Heh, figured as much, alright then, have a seat, I'll sit on my bed…"

I bring myself up to my feet and took the plate from her hand, placing it down by my bedside. "So, it's rare to get a personal visit from a great spirit, what's the deal?"

"Is it wrong for Betty to have a snack with a friend, I suppose?"
"Hoho, so you've acknowledged me as an equal now? Hmm, having a little girl see me as an equal is a bit..."
"One more 'little girl' out of your mouth and I'll make you permanently short, I suppose…"

"Hah, so we're even on the level where we can throw around threats nonchalantly, we've progressed our friendship meter faster than I've noticed!" With me taking her threats lightly, she grumbles annoyingly. We continue with our banter as we chowed down on the sweets, finishing them in an instant.

"Your rather skilled at sewing, I suppose…"

"Yep, my mom taught me how to sew whenever she was free, she was always so enthusiastic about clothes, it almost feels a little overwhelming, but she was mom so I had to put up with it" Reminiscing on old memories, oh how I love doing that, it makes my eye glint red a little, a glint of bloodlust you can say.

"Seeing that you're fixing up your clothes, I'm taking that your meeting someone?"
"Meeting someone… guess you can put it that way…"

I take my fixed up jacket and put it on, it's time to settle finally settle this, "That smile on your face looks a little creepy, you know?" I chuckle out a little before walking past Beatrice, "Ah, that's nothing, I've just been really eager to meet this person that I can't hold myself back now…"

"Well then… you'd better keep your promise, I suppose… If you break a promise, you'd have to swallow a thousand needles, or so they say"
"Heh? A thousand needles… that's sure going to do a number on my throat, but I like to keep my promises"

I open up my door and wave to Beatrice a final time, "See you later tonight then"

---

I sneak out of the mansion at noon, it seems Roswaal is leaving soon, I'll keep low until he's gone. The assassins most likely going to act then so I'll prepare in advance. "I'll be counting on the twins and Beatrice if they manage to sneak past me… though I doubt that'd happen, I am a target after all, hehe"

The forest was rather dense, not that it would interfere with me or anything, but it does give the assassin an advantage since they've been in the area before me, might as well use this time to get familiar with my surroundings, and so I did. I walk a bit until I find a rather good and open spot, taking out a knife, I cut myself in my arm, dapping the blood with my finger.

"Hmm, making magic circles with blood… should I call it blood magic? Nah, it's just normal magic algorithms…"

I drew a magic circle with my blood onto a nearby tree, then immediately fixed my arm with timelapse. I pressed both my hands on the tree and shot a gush of mana through, the spell has activated. "Field scanning… thanks to the library I've learned a new skill…" During my stay in the library, I read on a bunch of books, one of which was on magic algorithms. It's like math but with magic instead, it allows for complex or large-scale spells, but you need to draw a magic circle for that.

The one I just used scanned the whole area for mana, I know the position of anything and everything with mana at that exact moment, and there's two things with mana high enough to be people, they're right beside each other, "Ram and Rem? Maybe… they're probably a little suspicious of me, though, with Ram there, I doubt they'd do anything rash, I'll wait a little longer…"

I walk away from the tree and over to a cliff that showed the mansion in full view, "So much for leaving the mansion in your hands huh?" Wielding both my daggers in my hands, I stand on guard and activate the spell once more.

"What?"

A sudden feeling came over me, extreme and imminent bloodlust. "One of them is coming my way… and fast!" I make it over to the edge of the cliff my daggers pointing across to the forest. "This amount of bloodlust, is not from an animal, it's definitely from a person… but… it's definitely Rem"

Rustling bushes, I heard that and that made me react instantly, but still, it was a little slow. A spiked metal ball scraped the edge of my face, and I slipped off the cliff with the momentum. "Not today!" Before I could plummet down, I grabbed the chains connected to the morning star and gave it a strong jerk, from the bushes, a shadow with a glint on their head was heading straight for me, I twisted my body kicked it in the abdomen, downwards.

It fell straight down and slammed into the ground with an immense force, my kick was that strong.

"So it was you…" I fell down and cast Murak on myself, landing slowly on my feet. The figure in front of me got up slowly picking up their chained death weapon, "That really hurt my face you know, though I'll forgive you since you're not really yourself… Rem…" I used timelapse on my injuries and they were back to normal, then I faced my opponent, Rem, on her forehead something glowing, her horn it seems.

"So, you were following me around and suddenly something happened and you summoned your horn, and since I'm the thing closest to an enemy to your instincts, you came to me. You owe me one for not killing you…"

"Hrrrrgg…"

She growled, unbefitting of her cute look. She whipped her morningstar into the air and kicked it my way at an insane speed, though, not as fast as last time. I throw my body to the side, letting her weapon scratch at my sides just a bit. "Don't think you can win just because you've got a power boost now.

I flung one of my daggers at her, she flips back and dodges with ease, she dragged her morningstar back and I rushed forward. Using the opening, I tried slicing at her but she her quick speed allowed her to dodge those close quarters attacks as well, she then knocked my hand away and grabbed me by the throat, so she's familiar with martial arts huh?

"Still, I'm not losing to a maid"

Before she could crush my neck, I grabbed her hand and drained all the mana in her arm in one go, making it go numb. Her grip weakened but it wasn't enough, so I kicked her in the leg, making her fall down. "My life might be on the line so don't mind if I play dirty" Before she could get up, I placed my feet onto her head, grabbing her hands and pinned her to the ground.

"Rrrhhh… die… die!"
"Calm down now Rem…"
"Die!"

Before long, she flings her body back up with her legs, slamming me onto a tree. I fell to the ground and bring up my arms to block a kick from Rem, though I underestimated her and got thrown to the side rather harshly. She was about to slam her fist straight into my head but I activated timelapse just in the nick of time.

"Your movements are quick, but predicting them is no problem for me"

She tries to turn back for another kick but misses me, instead, destroying the tree beside me, one serious hit and I'm gonna have a hard time getting up, "Murak" I leap into the air to create some distance, though she didn't allow it. With her inhuman strength, she jumped up after me. "It's in your best interest to snap out of it already, Rem!"

Before her hands were able to reach me, I planted my foot on the side of her leg and launched her away. "Since your acting on instinct, magic won't be a thing I have to worry about right? Or are you finally gonna start using it?" She gets up and glares at me. Raising her hands, she chants out, "El… Huma!"

Ice bolts materialized into the air, six to seven of them, and they shot out for me fast, "Kardese" I simply waved my hands and a thin purple barrier easily dispels her ice bolts, but she didn't stop. "El-Huma! El-Huma!" She relentlessly launches more at me and in quick succession.

"I don't want to act like that cliche kind of opponent, but you should just give up, you can't beat me when it comes to magic…"

"DIE!"

Giving up with magic, she hurls herself to me once more and destroys the barrier herself, though, that left her exposed to an attack. "You fell for that taunt like a greedy merchant to money, heh" I kicked her gut once more and she curled in pain, and to finish everything off I landed a solid punch at where her horn was.

"Gah!"

Her horn disappeared as she collapsed to the ground, unconscious. "Well, Ram's gonna give me a beating for this, but demon's heal quick, she'll be good as ever when I drag her back-" Sudden tingled inside of me, danger, death, run away, my body was screaming at me, and then.

"Hehe"

Giggling, I heard giggling behind me, it was a woman's giggle, it seems I've let my guard down once again. Somethings headed for me right now, a blade? The assassin herself? Whatever it is, I'll die if I waste time, turning around takes too much time, and my daggers are on the ground, picking them up is too risky. Blocking it with my hands? Possible, she's most likely going to aim for my neck like she did last time, but my arms are already hurt from Rem's kick, even with timelapse, it'll be hard to fight like that.

"Lahm!"

I slam my hands on the ground and chanted. The grass suddenly shriveled and flattened down, and a large thump can be heard behind me, along with a grunt from the assassin. Lahm, a spell with the opposite effect of Murak, is quite useful.

Grabbing Rem, I created some distance between me and her, "Sneaking on me twice isn't going to work" I turn back and face the assassin, cloaked in black cloth, the typical murder attire you can say. "Ah~ I knew you wouldn't fall for that trick, but I just had to try it out," The lewd voice said, now I know why it sounds so familiar.

"I know you said you'd be back, but isn't this a little too early?!"

This woman, she was undoubtedly Elsa Greinhart, the bowel hunter from the Capital, her voice, her way of attacking, man, I should've connected the dots much quicker, now I just feel dumb, "It's a little hard talking like this, no?" She said with her face still planted on the ground from my spell.

"Shut it you masochist, I'm not about to let a killer loose… well, not yet, I've got to get my colleague back to her sister before we do any dancing, but thanks to you, I can push the blame on her injuries away, until then, stay still. I'll come back to cut your head off or something, so don't worry about not having fun"

"My, what a bold man you are, you really do know how to tug my heartstrings"

Not wanting to hear any more of her delusional words, I make a break for it. Running through the trees in the direction of the mansion, I make large leaps with the help of Murak, fortunately, Rem is as light as a feather, it's a little weird taking into account that she kicked a whole tree down.

I land beside a tree and I was able to see the gate, "Ram! Get your ass out here!" I scream at the top of my voice as I rushed for the door. Once I reached, Ram was out there with a rather aggravated look "So you decide to run back now Baru- Rem?!" I gave Rem to her and shoved her through the mansion doors.

"Barusu, what's the meaning of this!?"

"Don't let anyone in, don't let anyone out, a killer on the loose, there might be more but I can't for sure. Tell Beatrice to stay on guard, and keep Emilia on lockdown or something, this is going to be a rough night"

"Barusu wait, wha-"
"No time, gotta go!"

I slammed the door shut and turned back, running straight back to the forest, "Okay then, so round three it is?" Elsa has an advantage right now, while the trees limit my area of movement, it gives her a perfect environment to fight around, she is a great acrobat after all, so it'll be hard for me to keep my eyes on her.

"Even so, I'm not planning on dying again, I've already done enough of that"

I run over to the cliff where I fell from and peek down, she's gone. "It seems she forced herself up with sheer strength, part of her cloak is here, does that mean I missed her?" I jumped and floated down slowly. Looking around, there's not much to go by, my daggers were on the ground and so was Rem's morning star.

I walk over to pick up my daggers, then the morning star, but it faded away the moment I touched it, "Woah… must be one of those soul-bound weapons I heard of… Argh, getting off track, I'll track her down with Field scanning. Murak!" I leap back up on the cliff and headed for the tree with the blood marked magic circle. I pushed through mana through it, much more than last time, it gave me a much bigger range, but the results were not good.

"Five signatures are in the mansion, Emilia, Rem, Ram, Beatrice and… Puck, great, Elsa hasn't gone towards the mansion. Nothing in the forest but… the village seems to be scattered around in panic, don't tell me, she actually went there!?"

Fearing the worst, I made a mad dash for the village. "If I'm right, she's gonna slaughter a few and cause a panic, and battle me there? I don't know, argh, there's also the curse, she might have cursed everyone there, I'll have to kill her quick or there might not be a village to run to anymore!"

Though this might as well be a distraction, it makes Emilia open to attacks, but she probably doesn't know about Beatrice, I can trust her strength, Ram's there too but I doubt she'd be too much help, and Emilia's got some fighting sense in her too.

"Ohno…"

I reached the village and I was met with something I didn't really want to see, Ulgrams, and several of them, "Help! Someone help me!" A woman backed up on the corner, screaming for her life, no one can help her, they were all busy trying to fend off the other Ulgram.

"Graaaah!"

"Close that mouth of yours!" I drop down beside the Ulgram and sealed its mouth with my hands. It struggled to get them opened, but I slammed it's snout to the ground. It whimpered in pain but got back up to fight, though, I had already stabbed through its skull before it could launch another attack. It dropped dead on the ground.

"Hey, you okay?"
"H-Ha Thank you!"
"No prob, go run inside"

Leaving the woman on her own for now, I rush to the village square where the situation was a little dreadful. "She's tampered with the barrier stones huh?" I threw my dagger over to one Ulgram and kicked its rear, the others who were defending suddenly turned to me. "You guys, get everyone inside, I'll deal with all of them!"

They didn't question me, not at all, they were terrified of the situation so they didn't have time to question me, it was the smart thing to do, "Hey, I'm gonna need some help…" I took a deep breath and time suddenly slowed down, the world darkened, and reality itself started distorting, in front of me, a woman cloaked in shadows appeared, black fumes expelling out of her figure, she nods and everything turns back to normal.

"Smell me you bastards!"

The next moment, all the Ulgram turned their attention to me, their eyes flaring up in hunger, I thought mabeast hated the miasma, "Come on, your main course is right here!" They leaped to me one by one. I slid to the side and slashed at one, grabbing it by the collar and snapping its neck with my legs.

I jumped into the air and kicked two more that were on my way, I used timelapse to retrieve my daggers. "El-Lahm!" I cast a spell on one of the Ulgram and they got slammed down onto the ground, blood spurting out everywhere. With the spell still in effect, I lifted the body and slammed it on the other Ulgram, getting them caught in the spell as well.

"Shamak!" A blast of smoke to my side and I've immobilized a few more. In quick succession, I split their throats out and finished the rest with a kick to the snout, village, successfully protected.

"Haah… tiring, really tiring, still a killer on the loose though…"

I walk over to one of the villagers who seemed at least a little calm and asked him, "Does anyone have any major injuries?" He thanked me for saving them all before replying to question, "No one has major injuries, just small ones, but please, two the village children have gone missing, the others told us they went into the forest but we were suddenly attacked when we tried to enter…"

Missing children, it seems I've let another one slip, "Tell me, which one of them went in?" "Petra, a girl with a red ribbon on her head, and one more girl, I'm not sure, but she has cyan hair, the rest are fine, please, help us find them!" The man begged, things just get harder and harder, it seems I'm going to need to review a few things.

Elsa is somewhere in the forest, I know that. Ulgram are on the loose, and two kids from the village are missing. It looks like my suspicion for that little dog with them may be correct, "They might as well be dead with how long I took, but you never know… Hey you!" I pull back the man before he could go anywhere, "Y-Yes!"

"Make a dash to Roswaal's mansion really quick, tell them the situation and ask for replacement barrier stones, these guys aren't gonna stop coming like mad dogs unless you do something about the barrier around the village"

"Yes, sir!"

He scurried around and grabbed a torch, making his way over to the mansion, let's hope Rem or Ram can handle the situation over here, I, on the other hand, have other things to do. "Alright, either this dog they have is like the alpha of the pack, or Elsa is a mabeast user, or maybe she's working with one… this can only go downhill so might as well go all out!"

Casting Murak on myself, I lifted off the ground and into the trees, a rather quick way of traversing through open spaces. "The kids are probably cursed, I can't detect curses without touching people yet… but I can use Field scanning, I'll discern whether they're cursed or not from their mana signatures. "Right…"

I cut my arm once more and drew the magic circle quickly, "Let's go" I heal my arm quickly and activated the spell once more, getting a good glimpse of where everything is, "Three people confirmed, hundreds of mabeast, and one is cursed… can't tell for sure how long but she's definitely cursed, I have a bad feeling about this…" Only one of them is cursed, I have a bad feeling that the other one is working with Elsa or something.

"Gah, can this day get any worse?"
"Now, now, please keep that promise would you?"

"Kardese" Erecting a barrier behind me, I run over to where the cursed child is, leaving Elsa behind, "Prioritizing the rescue first, see ya, Elsa!" I lose her in the forest, and make my way through the shrubbery. Mabeast appearing left and right, though one by one rushing towards me gives me the advantage of a one on one.

"She's just over there"

I rush over to a steep cliff and without thinking twice I leap off and straight into a big fall, "Surprise!" As I descend down I get to see the surroundings rather clearly, a dozen and a half Ulgrams surrounding an unconscious girl, that was Petra, the red ribbon told me that. There was one more girl, the other one I that went missing, but it seems my suspicions were right. None of the mabeast are showing any hostility to her, and moreover, it seems she's controlling those mabeast.

"El-Shama!"

The moment my feet touched the ground, an explosion of black clouds surrounded the whole area. I grab the girl, holding her close, then I killed everything within my reach, my black cloud dissipating right after.

"Haah, I knew there was something fishy about your dog, otherwise it wouldn't have bitten me"
"Hmm? I don't think I've met you Onii-san? Have we met somewhere perhaps?"

"Nope, I'm just your average lone traveler, now reformed butler, I'm here to kill all your pets and discipline you since you've been a really bad girl," I say while giving an ominous grin towards her, she shivered while smiling nervously. Wielding my dagger in one hand and carrying the fainted girl in the other I prepare to strike.

"My, my, don't forget about me now..."

Reacting quickly, I roll to the side and narrowly dodged her slice. Picking myself back up I glanced at the two, "Not at all, you guys have any more buddies I need to be aware of? I'm getting kind of sick with these sneak attacks you know, there's been like, six or seven of them already" I look around and more Ulgram came into sight, but one was particularly eye-catching.

"Rrrrgh…"

"So the puppy really was the alpha, huh?" The small puppy that stood between Elsa and the other girl started morphing, changing its cute appearance into a terrifying beast, almost three times the size of the Ulgrams around me. "So now… how are you going to get out of this situation, I wonder?"

The two girls smile towards me while the alpha sneers, I let out a dry sigh, and pick up my dagger once more, "I've dealt with tougher situations, but fighting a pack of enemies single-handedly, all while carrying a weak little girl is a bit overwhelming if I'm going, to be honest…"

"Only a bit?"
"Just a bit, El-shamak!"

I cast the spell quickly, making sure all the Ulgram were engulfed in my smoke. Elsa managed to escape my range and came circling around, throwing her body straight at me. I moved my arm up and our blades clashed, she twisted her body up and was about to backheel my head "Kardese!" I protected myself with a barrier.

"Ul-Lahm!"

Casting another spell, Elsa suddenly felt her insides being crushed, even then, she didn't stop. She tried to throw her knife at me but an Ulgram was suddenly slammed straight into her. Ul-Lahm, a spell that increases the gravity of a certain object, using it skillfully essentially allows me to perform telekinesis.

"Rraaaagh!"

The ground-shattering roar made my shamak cloud scatter around, clearing the way for all the Ulgram. "Shit…" They all rushed at me, all at once. I dodge them one by one but they managed to scrape their claws into my skin, "El-Lahm!" I slammed all the ones nearby into the ground, crushing their heads into the earth.

"Murak!"

I flip backward, dodging another knife from Elsa. I then kick her square in the face, and she tumbled down, but she got back in no time. "You really are one dancer!" It looked like she was about to jump right back me but before I could look any further, and Ulgram lunged at me, biting deep into my free arm.

"Arggh!"

I tried to shake the beast off but it was futile, the bite was too deep, any movements only make it dig deeper. "Perfect!" As I was busy trying to pry off the Ulgram, Elsa took the chance and leaped in to take the kill. Seeing no other way to dodge, I slammed the Ulgram into her, a big chunk of me arm was ripped off from the immense force.

"Damn it all!"

Falling to the ground, I activated timelapse to restore my arm and I landed right at my back, "Let him have it!" "Rrghaaaa!" On the little girl's command, the alpha Ulgram slammed the ground with its feet and a fissure was sent straight my way, "Kardese!" I spawned in another barrier to protect myself from the attack but the force flung me into the air.

"No time to rest"

Elsa said and she stabbed me in the back as, "El-Lahm!" I slam her down the ground with immense pressure, enough to break her bones, then I dive down and impaled her right at in her heart. More Ulgram ran for me but I cast shamak on them and created some distance between us. "Haah… haah…"

This was tiring, I won't be able to last if I don't get either Elsa or the apha out of the picture, the other Ulgram are just annoying small fry, "Hkk-" I was rammed in the side by another Ulgram. Shifting my body, I shielded the unconscious girl in my arms from a direct hit, my back was slammed into a rocky wall, that cost a rib or two.

"I need mana…"

Two more Ulgram chased after me, I drop the girl in my arms and activate timelapse, appearing behind the two Ulgram, I grab their hind legs and drained them all dry. The whimpered as they impacted the ground, weak and shriveled. I turn around, only a handful of Ulgram was left, all that along with the alpha and Elsa, I might just make it if I push myself.

"Ul-Sham-"

I was about to cast another spell but my mouth was sealed Elsa threw another knife down my way, I tilt my head but it made a deep cut in my cheek. The knife gets spiked into the rocky wall, that's when I notice an Ulgram going for the girl I dropped, "Ul-Lahm!" It gets pinned to the wall and crushed to death.

Elsa was about to slice at me again, but I defended with another barrier, then I knocked her weapon off her hand and kicked her in the gut. Right after landing, I stabbed into an Ulgram that was about to bite me, then flipped away from another, "Just a little more!" I throw my dagger at the nearest Ulgram and got a straight bullseye, right at the center of its head.

"Grraaaah!"

The alpha stomped it's feet once more and another fissure was sent my way, I clasped my hands and chanted, "Kard-" I couldn't finish the incantation, I didn't have enough mana. I took the attack head on and my bloodied body was slammed into a tree, making it break a little in the middle.

Elsa then came up and tried to kick at me but I block with both my arms, "Lahm!" I locked her feet on the ground with a spell then I rushed stabbed at her stomach, she tries to punch me away, but I dodge her hit and she eats a headbutt from me.

I stumble back away from her and saw the alpha charging straight at me, "Murak!" with my last bit of mana, I launch off the ground and made it behind the alpha, wrapping my arms around its neck so I don't fall, "Rgahhh!" It tried to shake me off so I acted quickly, taking out another dagger, I stabbed right at its neck and it howled in pain.

"Die already would you!"

It flailed around, trying to get me off. It then slammed its foot on the ground and suddenly, spikes of earth shot out from the ground and impaled me, missing the Ulgram completely, "Time… lapse!" I reappeared on the ground, the holes in my body had disappeared. Just as I was about to turn around, Elsa tackles me to the ground while trying to stab me.

We roll around for a bit with me dodging her knife strikes. As she pinned me on the ground, I spat at her face and kicked her off, forcing myself back on my feet.

"Haah…"

My mind was slowly growing hazy, I have almost no more mana left, sadly, timelapse doesn't restore any mana so I have to resort to mana draining my opponents whenever I'm low, but these Ulgram are almost nothing and Elsa doesn't' have much herself.

"My, finally tired out now? Well, you've killed me four times already, that's a new record, you're now officially the best dancer I've ever danced with, hehe..."

"Should I be honored…? I don't know… but wouldn't Mr. Sword saint be your best dancer, since you know... he's the sword saint and all?"

"Come on now dear, he didn't even move a muscle during our dance, what's a dancer that doesn't move…" The only thing I can do now is stall until I can get more mana, I won't be able to fight properly. "I like you… your eyes are eyes that have experienced death countless times… just like me, ah, I really… really, want to just… cut you open… you know?"

She says that rather lovingly, and with a lewd gaze too, it disturbs me to no end, "If you think our dance is ending, oh you're in for one hell of a beating…" I say rather egotistically. She giggles, rather delighted, "Prey that struggle till the end… their bowels are always fresh when I cut them…"

"What did you say…"

A sudden feeling overcame me, "Hmm?" A maddening aura surrounded me, and my eyes glint red, "You know… if there's one thing that ticks me off… it's when I'm called prey!" A sudden surge of power came through my legs and I lunge for Elsa. Mustering all my strength, I smacked her forehead with all my might and she fell down. Then I choked her down with my hands, draining out all the mana in her body.

"Elsa!" The other girl called out, I look around and several more Ulgram appeared, it just can't get any better than this now, can't it. I let go of Elsa and dashed over to the girl I was supposed to protect, and fended off of the Ulgram, not letting anything get past me.

"I'll teach you all what death means…"

With each kill, I grow weaker, my bloodlust dying out until I can no longer keep it up. "Urgh…" I fall to my knees completely exhausted. I can barely even stand up now.

"So close… if that little one wasn't stopping you, it would've been your win…"

Elsa walked up to me once more, and points her dagger straight at me, "As sad as I am to finish this, a job is a job…" my vision starts to get hazy, and my mind goes numb, having no mana is a bad thing, especially for me who relies on it during battle. My end was imminent, even if I used up my od, running away from an assassin and a pack of Ulgram is not going to be an easy task, I'd just be putting the village in danger.

"Sorry, but I won't allow any more of this"

With the intrusion of another voice, I fling my head up and saw a dozen purple bolts pass by above me, the next moment, all the small fry were dead. "Oh my!" Elsa flipped back and dodged some bolts shot at her and sided with the alpha, "We made a promise, you know?" the owner of the voice said to me, I look to my side and see, "Beatrice… Heh, you don't know how happy I am to see you…"

"Spirits take promises very seriously, but I took this one extra seriously, you know?"
"Really now? I wonder why that's so…"
"Because if this one was broken, you'd have to swallow a thousand needles, I suppose. I'm here so that doesn't happen…"

That warmed me up quite a bit, she grabs my hand and invigorated my body once more with her mana, I can fight once more, "So, another dancer would like to join? I wonder how good the little one is…" Elsa says while twirling her blades around, almost mockingly, it ticked us off.

"Betty doesn't need to move a muscle to deal with you, I suppose…" And with that everything froze, Beatrice moves her arm slowly through the air and suddenly time moved once more. A sharp blade of invisible particles sliced straight through the alpha and, ripping its body into two thick slabs of meat.

"My, my, you're a rowdy child, aren't you!"

Beatrice summoned more purple bolts and shot them at Elsa, but she dodged them with ease, the ones she couldn't dodge, she just destroyed with her knives, "In my eyes, your the rowdy child you doesn't know when to die, I suppose. Ul-Lahm" Elsa was slammed to the ground, over and over again, and then to a tree, strong enough that that tree itself broke.

"Hmph, that ends that, I suppose…"

We looked around, there were no more threats anymore, the mabeast user had already fled the scene, the alpha was dead, and Elsa was too, probably anyway, "Still to think that you'd handle them all yourself all while holding onto a little girl, your skills could be compared to the first ever sword saint, I suppose" That was meant to be a compliment, though she couldn't help but drag in an insult as well, "Were it not for you weak build, you could he's actually stand against that man, though, he's dead now"

"Hey, these muscles are stronger than your average mercenary you know! Also, please stop flaunting all your four-hundred-years of knowledge, it makes me feel really stupid for some reason"

I grab my arms, which were sore from the endless fighting that occurred, I don't know how long I've been fighting, but it's already dark, very dark, I pick up my daggers and walk back to Beatrice, who was checking on the little girl, "She's not dead is she?" She shakes her head and glances over to me, "No, just unconscious, you did a good job protecting her"

"Ahh, don't think I want to do that aga-"

In the corner of my eye, I see Elsa's blade heading straight for Beatrice, I anticipated this so I reacted instantly, "Too slow" I deflect the blade with my own as I flipped through the air. Elsa leapt out of the scene, into the forest. Beatrice was about to pursue the killer, but I stopped her, "Leave it, she isn't gonna attack any time soon…"

She nods and we make it back to the village, with me carrying the unconscious girl. Once we reached the village however, I collapsed to the floor, exhausted…

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"I'm here again…?"

Shadows, shadows, and shadows, that's all I saw, I'm back in the place of shadows, but this doesn't feel real at all. I womanly figure sat in front of me, waving, as if greeting me. "Ugh, I totally messed the whole thing up, I got the killer wrong, I mixed up curse and poison, and I forgot about the dog, well, no one died in the end right?"

She nods to me happily, finally, the loops finally cleared, I can finally clear my mind out of things, finally...

---

A/N

Almost another month for the next chapter, sorry… some of my fingers got cut while I was trying out a new recipe, so my writing hand is now kinda slow. But hey, I broke my limits yet again, 12k words, wow... I'm getting good at increasing my word count now, aren't I?

Anyway, Subaru's timelapse ability, I'm changing it from 15 minutes to 3 minutes, this is important okay.

Other than that… Capella's official design got released. It looks a little loli-ish but it does a good job I guess, "A person with the delusions of a little child that wants attention all to herself" Pretty fitting if you think about it that way. But man, her dragon form is badass, you can't not agree with that!

Also, schools started two weeks ago and I'm already experiencing class allocation problems!

[This peice of text is just so I can bump the rest of the chapter to 12k words, please don't mind me and continue with your day, thanks!]

Jarsdel
Keep writing ya crazy bastard

Right back at ya! I need me my reviews! You hear me!?

Tales From Puck
No Guts no glory.
I'll admit it. I was under the assumption that in order for a curse to be transmitted by a Mabeast- that it should be done via a bite. but if Roy and Ley can do it by licking than what's the difference?
All of Daphne's creations give me conniptions.
Congrats on the new mile Stone! And I caught on to your foreshadowing.
I'll be waiting for the next dance.

Well, curses need physical contact so I went on that basis and if doggy did bite, it'd be too obvious for Subaru...

Wew
Good so for 9.3k

Thanks, I guess...

Stranger
Thanks for replying to my review. :)
Your story is wonderful so don't stop and continue as soon as you forward to it. :D

You've taken a bit of time to review my story, so it's the least I can do.
I won't stop anytime soon, that's for sure.
Ahh, but I am late again... I really am a lazy writer...