Ah yes, Elior forest! — a beautiful everlasting winter wonderland, where the trees are adorned with a thick blanket of snow. But to be honest this forest is not your ordinary forest —Indeed it have many wired and dangerous and suspicious things that could happen and already happened In it, but nonetheless It's still a place where solitude reigns supreme, for there are no bustling crowds or chatty humans to be found.
It's just you, the serene silence, and the occasional chirping of birds. No pollution, no noise, just pure tranquility.
So, if you're seeking a peaceful escape from the noisy towns and kingdoms, Elior forest is the perfect sanctuary for you.
Yes, this is always the case here. It was silence, reassurance in the right place, and comfort from noises of people.
Or at least that was the case, until...
"GRAAAAAAAAR!"
Out of nowhere, a colossal white horned creature like yeti emerged from the depths of the dense snowy forest roaring, its sheer size rivaling that of a towering five-story apartment building.
And as it thundered through the snowy ground, it left a trail of destruction in its rampage, toppling every tree unfortunate enough to stand in its path.
However, upon a closer look at this spectacle, the giant horned yeti's deafening roars were not of rampage Instead it was ——scared, as it seemed to be engaging in a peculiar dance, as if trying swat something annoying at the back of it's neck .
And that thing is...
"Wooohooo! Hahaha, let's go, yeti! Is that the best you can do?"
A boy, he had a sleek, black hair cascading down his back, pulled back into a neat ponytail. He was dressed in a striking black kimono embellished with vibrant orange patterns resembling a Chinese dragon all over it.
A long katana sword with a black sheath was securely fastened to his waist, adding to his traditional but neat appearance.
And that boy was none other than Subaru, as apparently was having the fun of his life while showcasing his impressive skills as he joyfully rodeod a massive horned yeti, that is also Is the most feared demon beast in this snowy lands.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAHH!"
In a seemingly direct response to Subaru's words, the massive Yeti suddenly sprang into the air, soaring high above before forcefully landing on his back. As the creature began to roll and tumble, the impact caused a series of trees to be mercilessly crushed beneath its weight.
It was obvious that the Yeti's intention was to shake off Subaru, who clung onto its neck.
And when the yeti finished his furious also desperate death roll on the ground, he stood up then instinctively reached up to sense his neck, desperately hoping that he had finally managed to shake off the annoyance.
But alas.
"You thought you could get rid of me, but guess what, I'm still here, big guy!"
With a smirk, Subaru appeared, floating upside down in front of the yeti's face, sending shivers down its spine.
"RAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
Fueled by an overwhelming sense of terror, the colossal beast relentlessly attempted to strike Subaru with its massive fist, aiming to send him hurtling through the air. However, just as the monstrous blow was on the verge of making contact, Subaru vanished into thin air, leaving the creature bewildered and frustrated.
And then...
"Alright, tough guy, looks like you've had your fill for the day. Time to pack it in and call it quits...and so it done".
"RAAAHK–!"
The monster's ears perked up as the voice of the annoyance again echoed in his ears once more, causing him to let out a deafening roar in frustration.
However, before he could finish his roar, a burning sensation crept up deep in the back of his neck.
Folowing that sensation, a wave of icy coldness washed over the yeti, followed by a strange and horrifying sense of calmness that spread throughout his entire body.
"Rar!?"
The yeti's muscles tensed up, and he collapsed to the ground, landing face-first with a loud thud. Unable to move, he lay there completely paralyzed, at the mercy of subaru.
...
"Wowza, that was an absolute blast! I totally should've done that more often, like seriously, why didn't I?"
Subaru exclaimed letting out a gleeful laugh as he spreads his arms towards the cloudy blue sky, a wide grin plastered across his face.
" but ". Suddenly, as if a memory had resurfaced, Subaru's laughter came to an abrupt halt. His gaze shifted towards the surrounding area, where numerous trees lay broken and crushed.
With a serious expression, he remarked, " Ram would be furious if she saw this mess. And on top of that, I still have one more yeti to captu—!
" hmph!, for starters I think you should look behind you".
——Speak of the devil.
Just as Subaru was about to feel a wave of fear wash over him upon hearing Ram's snarky voice, he quickly pushed aside any feelings.
There was no time to waste as he obediently followed the instructions, turning around.
There was...
"RAAAAAAAAAAAR!"
"Oh, sneaking aren't we...?"
Much to his surprise, there stood the second yeti, just as colossal as the one before, its massive fist hurtling towards him.
However, at this, Subaru merely let out a chuckle, devoid of any trace of fear in his gaze.
"But it's useless".
And with that same fearless look in his black eyes, Subaru swiftly assumed a lunging stance, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, poised to strike.
Then, In a blink of an eye, he propelled himself towards the towering yeti, his movements as swift as lightning.
"RAHK!"
And with unparalleled agility, Subaru soared through the air, his leg connecting with the yeti's grotesque face in a devastating kick that reverberated with power, leaving the creature stunned and reeling from the impact.
Seizing that as a perfect moment to commence, Subaru jumped on the yeti's bleeding face, utilizing it as a foothold to traverse it's big head.
With each swift step, he maintained his momentum until he reached the neck region, where he abruptly halted. Swiftly unsheathing his orange shining blade, Subaru's eyes flickered with a vibrant shade of orange for a second then back to it's blackness.
A smile graced his face as he aimed the tip of his blade directly at a specific point of the yeti's neck, ready to strike with unwavering precision.
"It's useless because I have the best sidekick I can ask for".
With that said, Subaru thrust his sword deep into the yeti's neck, only to swiftly withdraw it in the blink of an eye.
And then...
"Raa!?"
Just like the one before it, this yeti creature unleashed a tiny whimper before crashing headfirst into the icy ground with a deafening thud. The impact sent a shockwave through the snow-covered landscape, causing nearby trees to tremble and snowflakes to scatter in all directions.
"Well, would you look at that! Another task completed with absolute finesse!" exclaimed Subaru, his face beaming with triumph —With a swift motion, he raised his vibrant orange blade high above his head, striking a victorious pose that exuded confidence—Grinning from ear to ear, he couldn't help but revel in the sheer ease of the job, feeling a surge of satisfaction coursing through his veins.
——Easy Indeed.
Hunting not just one, but two demon beasts that were renowned for their cruelty and strength in Elior Forest, was it really an easy task? Well, this statement can only be made by someone like Subaru, who possesses an immense amount of power that could potentially obliterate an entire world if he desired to do so.
——Indeed subaru really makes it looks easy.
However, as it stands underestimating those creatures would be a grave mistake——by normal people of course.
Because typically, a whole battalion of courageous individuals would be assembled to kill just one of these formidable beasts.
But what Subaru doing will have a profound impact on the warriors who will or already did engaged in the battle against the yeti's —Depending on their individual personalities of course, they will either experience a range of emotions towards him.
And so some will harbor hate towards Subaru for bow it's easy for him, while others will feel a strong sense of envy or even admiration towards him.
And this is because Subaru possesses enough power that allow him to strategically just cuts their spinal cords, rendering them paralyzed Instead of killing them and that while still holding back alot even.
He probably have a reason for why his doing that.
"I've told you countless times to stop calling me a sidekick, it's really getting on my nerves!" Ram expressed her frustration, holding her hands firmly in front of her chest, as she gazed up at Subaru who was standing tall on the yeti's head
Subaru simply shook his head at her words, a small smile playing on his lips.
"Nope, sorry, not gonna happen! You see, my dear Ram, you are my trusty sidekick, and I'm the fearless hero leading the way, Oh, and let's not forget that there was a time when you were showering me with praises, calling me your hero remember that?"
With a burst of excitement, he exclaimed, causing Ram to huff in response. However, she couldn't hide her smug smile as she retorted, "Don't think I've forgotten, Ram still considers Subaru her hero. That's something she will never cease to do, hmph.".
"Really? Because If my memory could serve me right It's been a solid two years since you last referred to me as your hero," he said, raising an eyebrow in a playful manner. "I'm genuinely curious, care to enlighten me on why you suddenly stopped? Did I lose my touch or maybe just maybe did someone else catch your attenti—!
Subaru's sentence was abruptly cut off as a massive wind blade hurtled towards him at an incredible speed. In a split second, Subaru drew his sword, and the clash between the wind blade and his orange blade caused time to seemingly slow down, creating a surreal moment where everything moved in slow motion.
As the wind blade approached dangerously close to Subaru, he unleashed a light-speed vertical slash with unmatched precision.
The orange blade sliced through the wind blade effortlessly, splitting it in half with a single swift motion, causing the wind blade to vanish.
"How dare you even think about referring to Ram as a traitor!? It's one thing to call ram a silly names, but to go as far as labeling her a traitor to her own hero is absolutely outrageous and completely unforgivable!"
——oops I think I've gone too far.
Subaru's regret over his choice of words intensified for what seemed like the hundredth time, as Ram's fury became palpable her pink horn was out of course, with Her piercing gaze, fueled by anger, was accompanied by her long pink hair standing on end, as if charged with electricity.
The sheer force of her rage caused the wind to whip around her like a raging tornado, swirling the snow in a chaotic dance.
——Such power, never ceased to amaze me.
But despite that, Subaru couldn't help but maintain a smile, for he witnessed firsthand the incredible strength that Ram possessed and how strong she became and it filled him with a sense of pride.
But that also gave him an idea.
"Well, well, well, look what you've done, Ram! My trusty Beowulf is already out, and it seems like your beautiful horn is also raring to go ——How about we spice things up with a friendly duel right here and now, just like the good old days? It's been ages since we last faught and I'm itching to see just how much stronger you've become. So, what do you say, my dear sidekick?"
As he uttered the final word of his sentence, with intent, Ram unleashed another wind blade towards Subaru. And In a swift motion, he effortlessly sliced through the incoming attack with his sword, just like he had done before.
With a grin on his face, Subaru couldn't help but chuckle at that response.
"I will take that as a yes then"
And so With the intensity of a ferocious dragon, Subaru pounced on Ram, his grip on his orange sword tight and his excitment is at full scale. Like a predator closing in on its prey, he lunged forward, his eyes fixed on ram, ready to strike with all his might.
However...
"Don't look at Ram like that, Ram has become stronger than you think!". Ram's gaze hardened as she witnessed the predatory look directed towards her.
So With a determined expression, she swiftly retreated, harnessing the might of the wind to propel herself away from Subaru's strike range.
"Heh who said I was looking down on you?" subaru countered.
And indeed as he said, The ground trembled beneath her as his sword sliced through the very spot she had occupied just moments ago leaving a huge burning mark—At that a surge of adrenaline coursed through her veins as she caught a glimpse of the immense power Subaru just used in his blow, leaving her a little shaken, but nevertheless.
She was also happy, finally he was taking her seriously.
"Hahahahaha come on ram running? I expected more from you!" He taunted
And then wasting no time in initiating his charge, he swiftly moved forward as he trailed behind the retreating ram. His sword was raised high, gleaming in a vibrant shade of orange as he prepared for a clash.
"Hmph! Facing you physically is fool's errand and ram is not a fool, besides who said am running?"
"Hm!"
Because as it stands, the retreating ram was not simply retreating - she suddenly unleashed a barrage of wind blades, each larger than the last. As Subaru witnessed this expected display of power, his eyes widened in surprise before narrowing —Confusion clouded his mind as he debated whether to dodge the incoming attacks or confront them head-on—— The intensity of the situation only fueled Subaru's resolve, pushing him to make a split-second decision that could determine whether he will get his well designed kimono shredder or not.
——Oh well it can't be helped, I can just do both.
So he made his choice.
Suddenly the environment surrounding Subaru seemed to come to a standstill in an instant, as if time itself had slowed down. The birds in the sky, Ram's expression locked in a grin, and the massive wind blades hurtling towards him all appeared to move in slow motion, not due to any external force, but solely because of Subaru's unique perception of the world around him.
As Subaru accelerated, pushing his limits, the world seemed to bend to his will, now The once overwhelming wind blades now seemed like mere obstacles to be effortlessly avoided.
——But he won't do simply that.
"Alright Subaru, make this look as cool.as possible"
Subaru said to himself, his eyes brimming with a vibrant orange energy that was flowing out like smoke. With a sense of elegance, he swiftly dashed towards the whirling blades of wind , his sword poised to slice through them one by one.
Although Subaru possessed the ability to evade these blades effortlessly, a sudden realization struck him when he accelerated —— If he allowed the wind blades to pass through him, the yeti he had just captured would undoubtedly die.
And that would be a problem since those creatures are difficult to find.
And now with the last wind blade being sliced, Subaru turned his gaze to ram.
The world was still frozen in slow motion and she was still smiling, and Subaru was still accelerating, Subaru smiled back "let's see what you gonna do next" with that said Subaru as if he was deep in water he dashed, leaving orange ripples behind him.
...
"Damn it!"
Ram let out a frustrated curse as she watched in awe one of her hero, many abilities "his nightmarish speed". She had unleashed a barrage of wind blades towards him, hoping to strike him down, but to her dismay, they vanished into thin air along with Subaru, who had vanished from her sight in an instant.
But still.
——I can still feel him around.
With a defensive stance, she positioned herself, her horn brilliantly shining ready. Every fiber of her being was on high alert, sensing the subtle disturbances in the air. The ripples, almost tangible, hinted at Subaru's proximity.
No in fact...
He was cunningly encircling her, remaining invisible to her eyes. Yet, the ripples that danced around her originated from all directions, as if he was teasing her, provoking her to make a move.
——yeah he was definitely provoking, ram knows that.
However...
——I have a better idea.
Ram smirked mischievously as she contemplated her next move, opting to rely on a different skill set this time around. Instead of her usual wind magic, she decided to employ a more strategic approach, because If she can't rely on her eyes to see then she could use...his.
Ram then shut her eyes tightly, and within a split second, her surroundings shifted as her perception of time slowed down drastically. She observed herself standing while she was spinning on herself——she was right, while watching as everything around her moved at a snail's pace. "So this is what Subaru experiences when he accelerates... incredible," she mused to herself, all the while keeping her link with Subaru's vision intact.
——I got an Idea.
Feeling a surge of daring, she made a bold decision.
She lowered her guard, dispelling the wind shield.
And then...
"Big mistake ram!"
Then, in an instant Subaru's voice rang out, ram could see herself from Subaru's prospective she was...NO he was coming at her from...
"UP!"
Without hesitation, in a split second, ram swiftly cut off the link between herself and subaru, channeling every ounce of her energy into creating a protective barrier upwored.
And then...
"Hk!"
A deafening clash echoed through the air, confirming that Subaru's blade had met her shield head-on— but its wasn't easy, Rem Gasped painfully, as she was overwhelmed by the sheer force emanating from his attack even under the protection of her wind shield.
The weight of it attack was so immense that she could feel her legs and back straining under the pressure, as if they were on the verge of snapping from the sheer intensity of his blow.
"Ah? How the hell did you do that ra—
"AM NOT DONE YET!"
"Eh!"
Subaru's attempt to convey his shock was abruptly interrupted by Ram's loud outburst, her words slicing through his sentence ——then In a split second, Ram summoned a tornado, enveloping both herself and Subaru within its swirling winds.
——Hk! You can do it ram com on.
Despite the pain she was feeling In her back and arm's and legs from Subaru's blow earlier, Ram seemed to Ignore It, as she focused on the task at hand ——Then the shield she created to shield herself suddenly exploded, sending Subaru flying up into the air.
The hurricane that was now spinning around them intensified, propelling Subaru even higher into the sky. The force of the wind was so strong that it seemed to defy gravity, pushing him further and further upwards as Ram stood at the center of the chaos, her powers unleashed in full force, looking at her ascending and restrained hero with, sheer focus.
"——this gonna be my win"
Ram muterd With determination, as she summoned a petite wind blade into existence, channeling all her mana to it.
However...
Unlike the countless wind blades she had unleashed ever in her short life, this one held a distinct significance.——as It was crafted solely for him, As the blade shimmered with an ethereal pink glow, it symbolized the power that she was ready to fire at the person she admired the most.
——She smiled with utter determination as she looked up at him her eyes glowing.
"Get ready because this one is gonna hurt!" She exclaimed.
...
——Damnit!, how on earth did she manage to pull that off!? Completely oblivious to his surroundings and the fact that he was being pushed up, Subaru pondered to himself, still reeling from the shocking turn of events. Seriously, ——it's mind-boggling how she could halt me in my tracks with the speed I was coming at her. Unless...wait a minute, it suddenly dawned on him, but before he could fully grasp the revelation,
"Get ready because this one is gonna hurt!"
——Ram's voice abruptly broke his train of thought.
And then...
"Guh!"
Just as he was on the verge of peering downwards, a forceful blow landed square on his face. Unsurprisingly, the pain wasn't excruciating, ——but the sheer embarrassment of being sent spinning through the air like a propeller was utterly mortifying.
——that hit to my head isn't it?.
Subaru, in contrast, did not harbor any feelings of anger or resentment towards the situation ——instead, he felt really and genuinely happy for her.
He was pleased to discover that she still remembered a stupid bet they made 8 years ago, and he admired the dedication and hard work she had put in to achieve her goal.
While up in the air Subaru's heart swelled with joy, knowing that Ram had finally succeeded, and he couldn't have been more thrilled for her.
——She really did it, finally.
...
A decade ago, upon Subaru and Ram's return to the village, there was a fear lingering in his mind that the villagers would cast him out, believing him to be a monster. While Ram showed kindness towards him, she was just a young girl at the time. The thoughts of the adults in the village at that time weighed heavily on him, especially when he realized that because of his recklessness he unintentionally led to the destruction of a significant portion of the village's homes.
But to his surprise back then.
"Thank you so much for saving us, we owe you our lives".
The villagers expressed their gratitude to him, not just one or two, but every single one of them. Even the stubborn village chief, Sentanta, showed his appreciation. They all thanked him sincerely, bowing in respect as a gesture of their gratitude.
——And what subaru did in return.
"I...I don't know what to say, but... you welcome I guess?"
What he said.
Naturaly, He was at a loss for what to do at that time His words failed him, as he had never received any gratitude for his actions before, leaving him feeling uncertain and unsure of what do.
Because as it still stands, subaru was...
The monstrously strongest sup.
The most feared assassin.
And he was a lab rat.
——But never a hero.
When the villagers made the decision to throw a celebration for Subaru, he naturally joined in the festivities. However, once night fell and Subaru made his way back to his room, sleep eluded him. Instead, he found himself caught in a whirlwind of emotions, alternating between bouts of laughter and tears and so on, he just laughed and cried alone. ——but mind you, Those tears were not of sorrow, but rather tears of pure joy, while the laughter that escaped him was unlike anything he had ever experienced before.
——It was a laughter of freedom.
In that moment at that time, Subaru felt a sense of liberation wash over him, as if his heart had been unshackled from the burdensome obligations and orders that had long weighed him down.
No longer did he feel compelled to conform to expectations that clashed with his true desires. This newfound freedom allowed him to embrace the raw emotions that had been suppressed for so long, leading to a night of cathartic release.
——Subaru was finally free to be the hero that he always wanted to be, he was free to finally follow his heart.
Following that night, Subaru spent each day in the village peacefully living alongside Ram and Rem's family In their house.
However that peace didn't last.
A year later, the witch cult launched another attack. Naturally, Subaru hurried to defend the village, emerging victorious due to the support and gratitude of the villagers and ram and rem.
But alas.
For some reason, Subsequently the witch cult continued to target the village annually, prompting Subaru to confront them each time he was really getting tired of them.
Although the third and fourth year attakes, they posed a a hard challenge, because at that time it wasn't just the canonfoders.
——they sent leaders.
Specifically capella and a green crazy creep named petelgeuse, Subaru of course won but that was a close one since at that time he had to defend against a whole army of mut suicidal maniacs and two immortal monsters that kept coming back at full health every time he though he killed them, but Subaru won in the end.
——well capella still alive somewhere, but subaru is completely sure that the green creep is dead, he made sure of it.
Bit it turn out well as after the fourth attack, the witch cult finally ceased their relentless harassment towards both him and the village—— It was a remarkable turn of events as they strated to deliberately steered clear of the village, leaving Subaru with a profound sense of relief.
So finally at that time, he could breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that he could live peacefully ——ad to that he didn't had to dig graves for the dead cultists every damn year any longer, thank god for that.
——Oh right, with the accumulation of his achievements, Subaru's position in the village became greater and greater, to the point that they all joined forces to build a big house for him——Of course Subaru didn't mind the turn of events.
And of course He did not forget who was good to him first of all.
—He invited ram and rem and her family to live with him permanently.
So with witchcult assault on the village ceased, Subaru found himself pondering what to do next. Instead of idling away, he decided to start hunting deep in the forest mostly monsters and otherthings. he also took it upon himself to train Ram and Rem, recognizing their immense potential, particularly Ram.
Ram was happy about it to the extent, that made Subaru sure that if he hadn't suggested the idea, she would have suggested it, rem wasn't that excited but she showed her willingness to train.
And so the years passed without much happening, as Subaru occupied himself only with training the two girls, hunting, and most importantly——satisfying his desire to live with a family,——because as a lab rat Subaru's only family was stormfront but even she he didn't see much he was always tied, and only free when they need him to kill someone.
——Subaru likes it here, he feel loved, and he feel like he love, he is happy.
...
" you finally did it ram great job". Subaru as he descended slowly to the snowy ground, he gave a thumbs up to Ram, who huffed in response, unable to hide her smile and the way her cheeks turned red at his praise.
"hmph ram of course would win after all she worked hard to finall—.
"Hooray ram! The outcome is now one victory to 734 defeats for you." He cut her off.
"Guh!" And She was deflated
" It's okay ram " Subaru smiled teasingly "You may be trailing, but don't worry, you've got this, Ram! I have faith in you!"
"Y-youv been counting?". With trembling hands, Ram gestured towards him, expressing utter mortification at the abysmal results.
Subaru shook his head at her words as he looked at Ram, realizing that she may not have been aware of the true extent of what she just did. He knew that anyone else in his position would have surely perished from her attack, but he couldn't help but admire her clever use of clairvoyance.
"Listen, Ram," Subaru began, his voice filled with a mixture of concern and admiration, "what you did and the way you utilized your clairvoyance In conjunction with your magic, was truly remarkable. With my speed, but less resilience than mine, anyone else would have met their end from that same attack. The past results doesn't matter now, but what you have accomplished in this moment is what truly counts." Subaru's words were filled with encouragement, hoping to convey to Ram the significance of her actions
And so...
"Ha! if... if Ram's so-called hero actually utters those words, Ram would have no choice but to admit acknowledgement ," she chuckled mischievously before flashing a sly grin and adding, "And just like that, we're right back to square one, with one win to me and zero wins for you"
Subaru's eye twitched " Hey! That wasn't what I meant I–
"Nop, your words not mine you said only now matter's right?, then so be it" the she laughed.
——well at least she is happy subaru thought then he remembered something. He looked at ram wanting to ask.
"ram, how was your search for the black snake——did you find any trace of its existence in the forest?"
Composing herself ram shook her head in denial. "I'm sorry," she apologized "I searched high and low, but I couldn't find it anywhere."
"Oh..."Subaru's face contorted into a frown, disappointment evident in his expression.
However...
Ram's eyes suddenly lit up as she remembered something. "Wait," she exclaimed, a mischievous glint in her eyes, "I actually did stumble upon something else during my search. Something intriguing that I'm certain you would love to see!"
"Something I would love to see huh?, what is it" he asked interguied.
"Nope.." Ram vigorously shook her head, a mischievous smile playing on her lips. "No way, am not telling. You've got to witness it firsthand," she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with excitement. "Oh, and kindely don't forget to bring those demon beasts along with you. We're not heading to the village".
"Hey those are yeti's not demon beast!" He explaimed then he added concernd "Besides where are not going to the village? You could get cold if you stayed out for long you know."
"No need to worry subaru, the destination we're heading to has a beautifully maintained treehouse right next to it, complete with a cozy fireplace," Ram reassured before gesturing to follow. With that, she began making her way towards the forest, leading the way with confidence.
"whatever then" Subaru shrugged his shoulders and nonchalantly made his way towards the two immobilized yeti's.
And then...
"Graa!!"
With a swift motion, he seized their scalps and effortlessly started dragging them with him, one in each hand.
" though, I was really hoping to find the black snack..."
With that last whisper Subaru started following ram through the forest, curious to see what she discovered.