Heartless Yet Nice
Suzune Natsuki walked through the forest, the light filtering through the canopy of leaves above casting eerie shadows on the path. The air was thick with the scent of earth and pine, mingled with the distant aroma of wood smoke rising from the nearby village. She wore her usual white-black-orange tracksuit, the familiar colors blending in a strange, almost unsettling way with the natural hues of the woods. Her hands were buried deep in her pockets, her fingers fidgeting with the fabric as she tried to keep her nerves in check.
Beside her, Rem moved with a quiet grace, her blue hair shimmering in the fading light. There was a tension between them that Suzune could almost taste, a palpable unease that had been growing ever since they had set out together. Rem's eyes, sharp and calculating, flicked toward Suzune every now and then, filled with suspicion, but the blue-haired maid said nothing, her lips pressed into a thin, unreadable line.
Finally, unable to stand the silence any longer, Suzune turned her head slightly, catching Rem's gaze with a forced smile. "What's with the looks?" she asked, her tone light, trying to inject some warmth into her voice.
Rem's response was cool, almost detached. "Nothing much, Suzune-sama. I was just wondering… why did you choose to come with me to this village?" The words were polite, but there was an edge to them, a hint of something darker lurking beneath the surface.
Suzune's first instinct was to snap back, to tell her it was none of her business. But she caught herself just in time, biting down hard on her lower lip until she tasted blood. 'Don't lose your temper,' she reminded herself. She took a deep breath, forcing her voice into a more measured, controlled tone. "I want to meet the people whose king Emilia-tan will become," she said, her smile 'widening'.
"Hmm," Rem tilted her head slightly, her expression unreadable. "Today is your day off, after all."
Suzune shrugged, stuffing her hands deeper into her pockets as they continued down the path. "I'll be on my own, Rem-rin. I don't need you to follow me or interrupt. Got it?"
Rem's frown deepened at the nickname, but she simply nodded, a slight narrowing of her eyes the only indication of her displeasure. The silence that followed was thick, almost suffocating, as they approached the outskirts of the village.
The village itself was small and unassuming, nestled in a valley surrounded by dense woods. Smoke curled lazily from the chimneys of the simple wooden houses, and the sound of children's laughter echoed through the trees, mingling with the rustling of leaves and the distant calls of birds. It would have been peaceful, even idyllic, if not for the growing sense of dread gnawing at the edges of Suzune's mind.
As they walked through the village, Suzune spotted a group of children playing in a small clearing, their carefree laughter a stark contrast to the tension building inside her. A flicker of something almost like hope stirred within her chest. She remembered the previous loops, how easily she had won their trust, how simple it had been to befriend them. But this time, something felt different. Something felt off.
With a deep breath, Suzune approached the children, her steps measured, her heart pounding in her chest. She tried to force a smile, but it felt awkward, almost painful. "Hello," she called out, her voice strained, teetering on the edge of breaking.
The children stopped their play and turned to look at her, their eyes wide and curious. But there was something else in their gazes too—something wary, something that made Suzune's skin prickle with unease. She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the cold knot forming in her stomach.
"Are you not going to ask my name?" she asked, attempting to sound friendly, but the words came out stilted, almost demanding. There was a pause, the children staring at her with blank expressions, before they exchanged nervous glances. And then, without a word, they turned and ran, their laughter replaced by the sound of their feet pounding against the earth as they fled from her.
"No, wait!" Suzune called after them, panic flaring in her chest, but it was no use. They were gone, their small forms disappearing into the safety of the village, leaving behind only one—a little girl with soft brown hair, who stood rooted to the spot, her wide eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Suzune recognized her—Petra, one of the village children she had met before, in a different loop, under different circumstances. She could see the fear in the girl's eyes, the way her small body trembled as she clutched something close to her chest. Suzune's gaze dropped to the bundle in the girl's arms—a small, bald puppy.
A wave of anger surged through Suzune, hot and sudden, as she realized what the puppy really was. But she forced it down, keeping her expression neutral, even as her hands curled into fists inside her pockets. "You," she called out, her voice softer now, more controlled. "Stay there."
Petra flinched, her wide eyes locking onto Suzune's with a mix of terror and confusion. "P-please don't eat me!" she whimpered, her small voice trembling.
Suzune raised an eyebrow, a flicker of irritation crossing her face. "That puppy," she said, pointing at the creature in the girl's arms. "Give it to me."
Petra's eyes darted down to the puppy, her small hands tightening around it protectively. The puppy looked up at Suzune with beady, unsettling eyes, letting out a low, almost menacing bark. Suzune's heart skipped a beat, her pulse quickening. She knew what it was—what it really was—and she couldn't let it stay here.
"Did you not hear me?" Suzune's voice dropped to a cold, dangerous whisper as she took a step closer. "Give. It. To. Me."
"N-no!" Petra cried out, her voice cracking as she took a shaky step back, her fear palpable.
Suzune let out a slow, exasperated sigh, her patience wearing thin. She glanced around, her mind racing as she tried to think of a way to get the puppy without causing more of a scene. Her eyes landed on a distant hill, and an idea struck her. "Look, kid," she said, pointing in the direction of the hill. "There's a dragon over there."
"Huh?! Where?" Petra's head snapped around, her eyes wide with a mix of fear and curiosity. But before she could realize it was a trick, Suzune moved, faster than a breath, faster than a heartbeat.
In a blur, she was in front of Petra, her hand darting out to snatch the puppy from the girl's arms. Petra gasped, her small hands reaching out instinctively, but Suzune was too quick. Her fingers closed around the puppy's neck, her grip firm, unyielding.
"Hey?!" Petra's voice was high-pitched, panicked, but Suzune ignored her, her focus entirely on the creature in her grasp.
Without hesitation, Suzune twisted her wrist, snapping the puppy's neck with a sickening crack that echoed through the clearing. For a moment, everything went still. The world seemed to hold its breath, the air thick with the scent of death and the fading warmth of the setting sun.
Petra's eyes widened in shock, her small body trembling as the reality of what had just happened began to sink in. But before she could scream, before she could fully process the horror of the situation, the puppy's lifeless body started to twitch. The movements were small at first, just a slight tremor running through its limbs. But then they grew more violent, more unnatural.
The creature's eyes snapped open, glowing with a sickly, unnatural light. Its body began to convulse, its limbs jerking and twisting in ways that should have been impossible. And then, with a guttural snarl, it lunged, sinking its sharp teeth deep into Suzune's hand.
Suzune gasped, more in surprise than pain, and reflexively dropped the creature. It hit the ground with a dull thud, but even as it lay there, its transformation continued. Petra, tears streaming down her face, reached out, her small hands trembling as she tried to pick up the creature she still thought of as her pet.
But Suzune stepped in front of her, blocking her path, her eyes fixed on the writhing form at their feet. "Don't," she said, her voice cold, commanding. Her heart pounded in her chest, but her expression remained calm, almost detached.
Petra didn't need to ask why. She could see it now—the way the puppy's body was changing, growing in ways that were grotesque, impossible. Its fur was falling away in clumps, revealing twisted, sinewy flesh beneath. Its bones cracked and reshaped themselves, elongating, stretching, becoming something monstrous, something that should not exist in this world.
The air around them grew thick with an oppressive energy, a dark, malevolent force that seemed to pulse in time with the creature's unnatural transformation. The thing that had once been a puppy let out a low, guttural growl, its eyes glowing with a sickly, malevolent light.
Suzune watched, her heart pounding in her chest, her mind racing. She had seen this before—this twisted, nightmarish transformation—but it never failed to send a chill down her spine. This wasn't just a MaBeast; this was something far worse, something ancient and evil.
The air hung heavy with an unnatural stillness as the grotesque MaBeast lunged at Suzune, its eyes glowing with a malevolent, sickly light. The creature was no longer the small, innocent puppy it had once appeared to be. Its body had twisted into a horrifying form, a mass of sinewy flesh, jagged teeth, and claws that seemed to thirst for blood. Its growls were guttural, echoing through the trees like the rumble of distant thunder, and with each breath it took, a foul stench permeated the air.
Suzune's heart pounded in her chest, but outwardly, she remained calm, her expression cold and calculating. She knew she was faster, stronger, more capable than this abomination. The MaBeast was a creature of dark magic, a twisted weapon designed to slaughter, but Suzune had faced worse—far worse.
The creature snarled, its jaws snapping as it lunged forward, moving with a speed that would have been impossible for any normal beast. But Suzune was quicker. She moved with a grace and precision that seemed almost inhuman, her body a blur of motion as she effortlessly dodged the creature's attacks. Each time the MaBeast struck, Suzune was already a step ahead, her movements fluid, almost dance-like as she twisted and turned, narrowly avoiding the beast's razor-sharp claws and fangs.
The ground beneath them trembled with the force of the creature's rage, its monstrous form tearing through the earth and debris as it tried in vain to catch her. Suzune's eyes were sharp, focused, every muscle in her body finely tuned to the rhythm of the battle. The MaBeast lunged again, its jaws wide, revealing rows of jagged, bloodstained teeth. But Suzune was already moving, ducking low, her body flowing like water as she slipped past the creature's strike, her heart racing but her mind eerily calm.
And then, in one swift, decisive motion, she struck.
Suzune's hand shot out, faster than the creature could react, her fingers curling around the MaBeast's jaw. There was a sickening crunch as her grip tightened, her strength far surpassing that of the twisted monster. The MaBeast let out a shriek, a sound so full of pain and rage that it made the air vibrate. But Suzune didn't flinch. Her expression was cold, unyielding, as she began to pull, her muscles tensing as she exerted her full strength.
The MaBeast struggled, its massive claws flailing wildly as it tried to break free, but it was no match for Suzune. Slowly, agonizingly, she began to tear the creature's jaw open. The sound was horrendous—a wet, tearing noise that echoed through the clearing, accompanied by the grotesque sight of flesh and sinew ripping apart. Blood, thick and dark, gushed from the creature's maw, splattering the ground and Suzune's hands as she ripped the monster apart with a terrifying, methodical precision.
The MaBeast's screams filled the air, a cacophony of pain and terror that sent chills down the spine. Its body convulsed violently, its limbs flailing as it tried desperately to escape the excruciating pain. But Suzune was relentless. With one final, brutal pull, she tore the creature's jaw completely apart, its head splitting open with a nauseating crack.
The beast's body collapsed to the ground, its grotesque form twitching in its final death throes before finally going still. The air was thick with the scent of blood and death, and for a moment, the world seemed to stand still, the only sound the ragged breaths of Suzune and the soft rustle of the wind through the trees.
Petra stood frozen, her small body trembling violently as she watched the horrifying scene unfold before her. Her eyes were wide with shock, her face pale, as if all the blood had drained from her cheeks. She stared at the mangled remains of the creature, her mind struggling to comprehend the sheer brutality of what she had just witnessed.
And then, with a choking sound, she doubled over and vomited, her small hands clutching her stomach as tears streamed down her face. She sobbed uncontrollably, her body shaking with the force of her hysteria, her mind unable to process the horror that had just occurred.
Suzune, breathing heavily, wiped the blood from her hands, her expression softening slightly as she looked at Petra. She knelt down beside the girl, her voice gentle but firm. "Are you okay?"
Petra looked up at her, her eyes red and swollen from crying. "Y-you… you cursed him!" she sobbed, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. "You made him into a monster! It was you! You cursed my puppy!"
Suzune's face tightened for a moment, the accusation cutting deeper than she had expected. But she forced herself to stay calm, to push down the guilt that was gnawing at her insides. She couldn't let her emotions get the better of her now. "Listen, kid," she said, her voice firmer now. "You need to use your brain more often, not just your heart. That thing was never a puppy. It was a MaBeast in disguise, sent here to kill you—to kill all of you."
Petra's sobs quieted a little, but her expression remained one of hurt and confusion. "But… why? Why would anyone want to do that?"
Suzune sighed, running a hand through her hair as she struggled to find the right words. "Because whoever sent that thing doesn't want Emilia-tan to become the king," she explained, her tone blunt but not unkind.
Petra looked at her with wide, tear-filled eyes, her voice barely more than a whisper. "Why? Why won't they let her become the king?"
"Because Emilia-tan is a good person," Suzune replied, her voice softening. "And there are people out there who don't want good people to have power. They'll do anything to stop it, even if it means hurting innocent kids like you."
Petra sniffled, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand. Suzune placed a hand on her shoulder, her grip gentle but reassuring. "You've got to be strong, kid. You can't let them win. Don't let fear control you. Understand?"
Petra nodded slowly, her tears beginning to subside, though her face was still pale and drawn. Suzune gave her a small, encouraging smile. "Good. Now, what's your name?"
"Petra," the little girl whispered.
"Suzune," she replied, her tone warm as she extended her hand to the girl. "Nice to meet you, Petra."
Before Petra could respond, the sound of hurried footsteps and worried voices echoed through the clearing. The villagers had arrived, drawn by the sounds of battle and the terrifying roar of the MaBeast. Rem was among them, her eyes wide with shock as she took in the sight before her—the bloodied, torn-apart body of the MaBeast lying in the dirt, and Suzune standing tall beside it, her expression calm, almost indifferent.
The villagers stared in stunned silence, their eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe. They had never seen anything like this—such raw, terrifying power, such a brutal display of strength. They murmured among themselves, unsure of how to react, their voices tinged with both gratitude and fear.
Suzune let out a small sigh, running a hand through her hair as she straightened up. This was going to be troublesome. She was going to have to explain everything, and she wasn't looking forward to it.
But before she could speak, a small voice broke through the murmurs of the crowd. "Big Sister Suzune?"
Suzune turned back, her eyes widening slightly in surprise as she saw Petra looking up at her, her expression one of timid affection. The girl's eyes were still red and puffy, but there was a warmth there now, a gratitude that hadn't been there before.
"Thank you for saving us," Petra said softly, her voice trembling with emotion.
For a moment, Suzune was at a loss for words. She hadn't expected this—this sudden outpouring of affection. It caught her off guard, stirring something deep within her, something she hadn't felt in a long time.
She turned away, hiding the small, almost imperceptible smile that tugged at the corners of her lips. Inwardly, she was happy—happier than she'd ever admit.
TBC