The path was quiet, Filo hummed to herself as she pulled the cart behind her. Subaru was guiding them to the best of his abilities while on Patrasche's back. Naofumi simply glanced from side to side.

It had been hours since they had departed from the ship.

Hours since they crossed paths with them.

Several hours Ago

Subaru huffed as their baggage was hauled off the ship and left on the docks for them. A silent thanks given to Wiz for going all out on the payment for their ride. Filo was already back in her Filolia form as Naofumi attached her to the cart left for them.

Patrasche gave him a light nudge forward, not giving him a second to slip into his thoughts. He pat her snout and nodded; "No time to think about the past huh." he muttered. He didn't want to show it, but part of him was still afraid. Months, if not years, of torture played out in the back of his mind as he walked along the docks.

The rest of the group was also on edge, and Subaru couldn't blame them. He spend most of the voyage telling them about the various dangers in this world. It was only natural that they would approach with caution.

Still, he caught a glance at a series of wanted posters, and saw his own. They didn't consider how injured he was, how badly they had scarred him. On it was his smiling face, both eyes still present, and not a scar on it. His hand unconsciously went to the Star Gazer before running it down his face. Still trapped in an unreal feeling as the rough scars were free for the world to see rather than covered in makeup like they had been before.

"Oi come on, we can sight see later." It was Naofumi who got his attention. Subaru turned to him, not speaking but rather gesturing to the board with all the wanted papers. Naofumi took a glance, his eyes widening for a brief second, before he turned back to him and shook his head.

Subaru got on Patrasche's back as more guests started to file out of the ship. It was then he saw them, a familiar hat on one, and a head of blue hair on the other. He froze at the sight of it, Patrasche glancing up as she felt him freeze.

It was Otto and Rem.

A feeling of joy took him over as he saw Rem back to normal.

That was all it took for her to make eye contact with him.

His worst mistake.

She quickly looked across him, before her eyes widened as she saw Patrasche. Naofumi caught on and snapped the reins on the cart. Filo took charge and burst off, Patrasche squawked for a moment before rushing after them. Rem grabbed Otto, saying something he couldn't hear, before she rushed after them.

She pushed past the numerous other guests, leaving a shocked Otto behind her. Her face grew determined as his eyes lit with great fire. Subaru still had a smile on his face, Rem gained a frown.

Naofumi acted quickly and directed Filo off the main road, Patrasche following after them. Rem cut herself a path using her morning star, her pace growing faster as her forehead began to glow. "Oh no," was all Subaru could mutter before Rem's Oni horn fully manifested. "Get back here Theives." She roared out while swinging her flail wildly.

"Raphtalia, Rifana." Naofumi said quickly. The aforementioned Demi humans nodded before moving to the back of the cart. "You stole the one key to Rem's Hero!!!!" She shouted in a homicidal rage. Subaru put himself and Patrasche between Rem and the cart. "She's only after me, just go, we'll catch up." he shouted to them.

"But-" "No buts, just go." Subaru shouted before he directed Patrache down a fork in their path. Rem giving chase after him, forgoing the cart. The others just watched as he dissapeared through the trees with a mad Oni on his tail.

Subaru turned back for a second, seeing the others disappear behind the trees. Rem continued her chase as he activated Invisible Providence. "I knew it, you're... You're.." Rem trailed off, her face growing confused. An invisible arm quickly smacked her horn, dispelling the magic in an instant. "Its me Rem, it's good to see you again." Subaru said in a calm manner as her consciousness faded.

Present

Subaru sighed as he felt Rem's unconscious form on his back. Naofumi had suggested just leaving her on the side of the road, something he quickly vetoed.

He could the feel the continuous glared of disapproval from behind him, but he ignored it. A plan was forming, and Rem was going to play a big part in it.

If he can convince her that he's really himself.

Rimuru ran a hand through his hair as he looked at the scene in front of him.

On a bed Kaori and Shizuku were hard at work nursing a young woman. Hajime was pinching the bridge of his nose while Ainz tapprd his fingers impatiently.

"Ok, pleaer run it by me again so I can get a good picture of the situation?" Rimuru asked tiredly. "A Wave of Calamity had formed a couple kilometers away from here so I went to get some readings and test some equipment. Then I saw Aiko here falling from the sky alongside them. Tio and Kaori managed to grab her before she could be harmed, but whatever happened to her before she fell left her in near critical conditon." Hajime explained. "I had already healed her worst injuries, but she is yet to regain consciousness." Ainz cut in.

"And Aiko was your class teacher who had been isekaied alongside the rest of you?" Rimuru asked. Hajime nodded in response as Myu ran up to him. "Will she be ok?" she asked. "She will be, just give her time." Ainz answered her.

"So she arrived the same way you saw Kazuma arrived, but with intent to kill rather than travel." Rimuru said. "Intent to kill?" Kaori asked. "It makes sense, someone tried to kill her by throwing her too a storm full of ravenous monsters. But who, the Demons, or the Church?" Hajime estimated. "The king would never let Aiko close to the front lines, but why would?..." Shizuku trailed off.

"Maybe Ehit had soemthing to do with this. Wouldn't be surprised if that bastard tried something with her." Hajime said. "Wait, if they tried to kill your teacher, what about the rest of the class?" Rimuru asked. Shizuku paled at the implications while Kaori and Hajime's eyes narrowed.

"Seems we may be forced to interfere out East sooner than expected." Ainz said. "But, what could we spare with everyone already occupied with the original plan?" Rimuru asked. "I can do so, the tomb may not look like much, but it was designed to content against whole guilds." Ainz said. "We should wait for her to recover before we make a move." Kaori said.

"Fine, but we may not have enough time before the rest of your class will be in danger." Rimuru said as Ainz opened a Gate behind him. Rimuru nodded and stepped through it. "Ragna, start spreading the news, we have another threat that has risen." he said as the Gate closed behind him.

'And that should be the last one.' Magic 1 said as the circle glowed with magic. "We got this done faster than expected." Kazuma commented. 'Well duh, we're the best of the best.' Magic 1 said. "perhaps, but how do you think the others are doing?" Kazuma asked as he lifted a bottle of booze in celebration.

'They're fine.' Magic 1 shot back. "Well, no point in moping around, still pretty amzing jow quickly nobles conceed when luxury is the choice of payment." Kazuma said. 'Now we report back to the big tittie Lich about our success.' Magic 1 said as she pulled out a crystal ball.

Kazuma activated the item and let Wiz approach it. "Kazuma somehing just came up, the Demon king is demanding your pressence." She said before he could even start. "Huh." was all he let out as the feed from the crystal ball cut off. 'Oh, that's really bad, isn't it?' Magic 1 asked. "If... if he asks about the business, I'm toast." Kazuma deadpanned. 'Want me to just-' "Yes, you already know how to get to the Ceimson Demon Village so you don't need my help there." Kazuma interrupted her as the spot began to glow with magic.

'I'll take care of your home if you die permanently.' Magic 1 said as they both left to their next task. The cart and supplies going with them.

"This is a horrible idea." Naofumi commented as he watched from the other side of their campsight. "I know that, but it might work." Subaru retorted. "Fine, just don't expect me to step in if she goes crazy." Naofumi said before turning his attention to the pot over top the fire.

"Will the ropes even hold?" Keel asked as she turned to him. "They don't need to, they just need to buy us a second." Subaru said. "Is she even loyal?" Rifana asked as she looked over the bound and unconscious form of Rem. "Yes, she recognized my own scent when I had to use Invisible Providence. Her hesitation showed that she recognized it." Subaru explained.

"Besides, if the worse comes you can knock out a raging Oni by touching their horn." He said. "Still, did you have to send Raphtalia and Filo after the other one?" Naofumi questioned. "If they don't intercept Otto, this may become one hell of an misunderstanding. I just came back and I have no interest in being accused of another false crime." Subaru said. "Still..." Naofumi trailed off.

"Otto wouldn't try something crazy, only someone like Garf would." Subaru said in reassurance. "Fine, so how long until she does wake up?" Naofumi asked. "Shouldn't be long now." Subaru answered. A moment of silence took hold, only the sound of the crackling fire could be heard.

"Any second now." Subaru said. "Eh, can't be helped." Naofumi muttered as he stirred the pot once again. Keel left to grab more firewood and Rifana just laid against a large enough tree. "So... Those Ma Beast, as you called them?" Naofumi asked. "So long as I don't abuse Invisible Providence and Cor Leonis I shouldn't have to worry about my levels of Miasma reaching a bad enough point to attract swarms of them. Though they will try to kill whatever they can get close to. You can tell that it's a Ma Beast by the singular horn on its head and their blank soulless eyes." Subaru summarized before everything became silent once again.

The trees rustled as the wind picked up, yet nothing else happened. Subaru grew concerned and checked Rem's neck for a pulse, breathing a sigh of relief as he felt the rhythmic beats on the side of her neck. Patrasche came close and nuzzled his side before resting her head on his lap and laying down. "I know girl, I know. I'm just more stressed out than you can imagine." he whispered the last part to her while running a hand only the back of her head.

Otto ran a hand through his hair before putting his hat back on. Rem had rushed off on the trail of Patrasche's supposed thieves and had yet to return. He was still on the trail, but she wasn't. If he returned to the camp in such a state there was no telling what they would do to him. He suppressed a shutter as images played by in his head. The berating and dressing down, the tear filled cries of Emilia, the probable beating Garf would give him, it all played out in his mind as he held the reins tightly.

The he heard something. He turned his head and looked behind his cart. Trees and bushes rustled behind him on the left side of the road. He hesitantly reached for the small weapon he had taken to hiding under the coach seat when he saw it.

It was a blur at first, before a massive bird stopped in front of his cart, a Demi human girl on it's back. This, was the same bird he had scene pulling the cart that had fled after Rem gave chase, so he knew it wasn't a Ma Beast. "Attention Sir, we wish to talk about the actions of your companion and something that may interest you." The Demi Human girl said from the bird's back.

"What would that be?" he hesitantly asked, feeling that Rem had just made the same mistake as Garfiel. "Your companion is currently at our camp, we have information on a certain person you have been following that may interest you." She said. He paused, thinking it over. "And what is the name of this individual?" he asked.

"Natsuki Subaru, we know where he is and how to bring you to him." She said. Otto froze for a second, then he began to connect several dots. A theory quickly forming in his head. "Fine, but if this is a lie, then you will be sorry." he said. "I understand, just follow us and we'll be there." She said before motioning to the restless bird.

The beast took off, Otto directing Frufoo to follow after it.

Subaru was pulled from his musing by the sound of Rem shifting within her bonds. He lean closer as her eyes began to open. 'Damn Thieves, could they have-" She started as her groggy mind took in its surroundings. "Hey Rem, it's been a while." he said calmly. Rem paused as she stared him down. Her eyes quickly shifting to fully awake as she ate in his details. Those eyes quickly lost their raging fire, replacing it with a waterfall of tears. "Su... Subaru." was all she said before breaking the ropes that had tied her as she barreled into him and enveloped him in a bone crushing hug.