Chapter VIII:
Bad Dog
"Cursed?" Subaru blinked. "What kind of curse?"
"The deadly kind, I suppose," Beatrice said, eyeing his hand.
"You mean… whatever gave me this, cursed me?!" Subaru glanced at his hand, a wave of nausea washing over him.
"I can remove the curse, I suppose," Beatrice said flatly.
"I mean… yeah, please!" He thrust his hand toward her like it was burning.
With a brief glow from her fingertips, Beatrice reached out, touched his hand, and then immediately pulled away. "Done," she said, already turning back to her book.
"That's it? Well… that was simple, I suppose."
"Simple, you suppose?" Beatrice scoffed.
Then it hit him. Ram must have been the one cursed last time… Wait… the kids!
Subaru bolted to his feet. "Beatrice! I know what gave me this. There was a puppy—some kind of witchbeast. All of the kids in the village were playing with it," he said, feeling a chill crawl up his spine. "We need to make sure everyone's okay."
"No." Beatrice turned on her heel and sat back down, already flipping a page.
"No?! What do you mean no?!" Subaru's voice rose in disbelief.
"I am the guardian of this library, not the guardian of a village, I suppose."
"How can you just sit in here and do nothing?!" Subaru clenched his fists.
"I don't have any obligation to them, I suppose." Beatrice didn't even look up.
"What does obligation have to do with it? There are kids in danger—if we can help, we have a moral duty!" Subaru snapped.
"I have watched so many people come and go, I suppose," Beatrice said idly, flipping another page without sparing him a glance.
Subaru wanted to keep arguing, but he didn't have time to waste debating with a spirit over the value of life. Cursing under his breath, he shoved open the library doors and stepped into the hallway, letting the Forbidden Library vanish behind him.
He sprinted down the corridor, heart pounding until he reached Rom's door. Pushing it open, he found the giant fast asleep, his heavy snores filling the room. Subaru rushed to his bedside and shook him with all the strength he could muster. "Get up, old man!"
Rom groaned, cracking one eye open. "What is it, son?"
"There's trouble in the village. I was bitten by a witchbeast disguised as a puppy and cursed," Subaru said in a rush. "Beatrice removed it, but most of the kids in the village were playing with the damn thing!"
Rom sat up with a deep frown. "Not good… What exactly do you want to do about it?"
"Roswaal is gone, and Beatrice is—well, not helpful at all," Subaru gritted his teeth. "We have to go to Emilia."
"What do you expect that girl to do?"
"She outranks Roswaal, so it stands to reason she's in charge. Plus, she might be able to do something about the curses," Subaru reasoned.
Rom exhaled heavily. "What do you need me for?"
"You're big and strong. Best case, we just kill a simple little mutt and move on. Worst case…"
"I get it." Rom pushed himself out of bed, the floor creaking under his weight. He rolled his shoulders before giving Subaru a nod. "Lead on, son."
The pair made their way to Emilia's room, moving swiftly through the manor's dimly lit halls. When they reached the half-elf's door, Subaru hesitated. Barging into a woman's bedroom unannounced, noble or not, seemed like a bad idea. Instead, he knocked firmly, calling out for her.
A long minute passed before the door creaked open, revealing Emilia rubbing her eyes. Her usually pristine silver hair was a tousled mess, and her drowsy expression made it clear she had just woken up. She yawned, blinking between Subaru and Rom, still half-asleep.
"Subaru? Rom? What is it?" Her voice was thick with grogginess.
"There's a problem in the village," Subaru said, urgency sharpening his tone.
Emilia straightened, the sleepiness in her eyes vanishing. "A problem? What sort of problem?"
"A Witchbeast bit me," he held up his hand, showing the faint mark left behind. "Beatrice caught it in time and removed the curse, but the kids in the village were playing with the same mutt. If it bit me, it probably bit them too."
Emilia's breath hitched. "That's not good. W-what do we do?"
"You're the one in charge here," Subaru reminded her, watching her expression shift as the weight of responsibility settled on her shoulders.
"R-right," she caught herself, nodding quickly. "I'll get dressed."
"Alright. In the meantime, I'll wake up Ram and Rem," Subaru said. He wasn't thrilled about involving the maids, but dragging Emilia into town without informing them would be asking for trouble.
Rushing to the maids' quarters, Subaru pounded on their doors without hesitation. There was no time for subtlety, no time to deal with Ram's usual condescension or Rem's lingering suspicion.
Rem's narrowed eyes told him she still didn't fully trust him, but Ram, in contrast, seemed to grasp the weight of the situation immediately. When the pink-haired maid agreed to follow them without argument, Subaru felt a measure of relief. Between all of them, no Witchbeast short of the White Whale itself should be a serious threat.
Once the manor was fully roused, everyone gathered in the foyer. Subaru turned to Emilia, who was pacing back and forth, clearly trying to gather her thoughts.
"Seems everyone is awake," Subaru said, crossing his arms. "So, how should we handle this, Emilia?"
"Oh, umm…" Emilia hesitated, caught off guard. "Well… we need to make sure everyone in the village is alright first."
"Simple enough," Subaru agreed.
"Well, it would help if we could figure out how the Witchbeast got into the village," Rom interjected. "From what I know, these woods are notorious for Wolgarms. I'd be shocked if Arlam wasn't protected against them."
"There is a barrier created by the Mathers family many years ago to ward off most forms of Witchbeasts," Ram stated matter-of-factly. "It should be quite impossible for one to cross if the barrier is functioning properly."
"Right, so that means there must be an issue with the barrier, right?" Subaru reasoned.
"That is one possibility, yes," Ram nodded.
"We should investigate as soon as possible," Emilia said, her voice firm with determination.
"If the barrier is down, can you repair it?" Rom asked.
"I should be able to," Emilia replied, confidence growing in her tone.
"I will remain here," Ram announced.
"Sister, wouldn't it be best if you went with us?" Rem asked, frowning slightly.
"Someone must watch over the manor," Ram replied curtly.
"Beatrice didn't seem too interested in leaving. Can't she watch the place?" Subaru asked, a bit frustrated.
"While Lady Beatrice may be the guardian of the library, she has little interest in the protection of the manor as a whole," Ram explained.
No wonder she refused to help, Subaru thought bitterly. She barely cares about this house, let alone a village outside of it.
"We need to move, the four of us should be more than enough to deal with a handful of Wolgarms," Subaru nodded.
With everyone in agreement, Emilia hesitantly led the group out of the manor and toward the village. If they were lucky, none of the children would be cursed, and their task would be as simple as checking for afflictions and repairing any damage to the barrier.
Their pace was swift, urgency pressing down on them as they neared the outskirts. Even from a distance, Subaru could see the flickering of torches scattered throughout the village, illuminating frantic villagers searching the darkened streets.
As they entered the village proper, Subaru spotted a man calling out names, his voice raw with desperation. Upon noticing the approaching group, the man quickly turned, casting the glow of his torch over them. His expression darkened when his gaze landed on Emilia, and she shifted uneasily under his scrutiny.
"You're all from the Mathers place," he noted, eyes narrowing further when he fully took in Emilia.
"What's happened?" Subaru asked, ignoring the tension in the air.
"Most of the children have gone missing," the man explained, his voice tight with worry. "The whole village is out searching for them. Have you any news?"
Subaru opened his mouth, about to mention the curse, but before he could speak, Emilia stepped forward.
"Our friend Subaru here was cursed by a witchbeast," she said, her tone measured. "He believes it may have been the puppy he saw the children playing with earlier."
The man's gaze hardened further. "You're that half-elf girl that's been seen up at the manor."
"She's in charge while Lord Roswaal is away," Subaru interjected firmly, sensing the shift in the man's demeanor. He knew all too well the deep-seated suspicion people held for half-elves, and Emilia's silver hair didn't help matters. "We're here to help."
Rem, standing at Emilia's side, gave a curt nod. "Yes, she is an extension of our master in his absence."
The man hesitated, clearly weighing his options, but the distant shouts of villagers calling out for the missing children seemed to spur him into action. "Understood. Best we head to the village center. We can coordinate our efforts there."
"I remember where we were when the pup bit me," Subaru said. "It'd be best to investigate that area first."
"I'll go with you," Rem stepped forward, her sharp gaze scrutinizing him. Whether she still suspected him or not, Subaru didn't have the time or patience to care.
"Fine," Subaru exhaled, glancing toward Emilia. "Does that work for you?"
Emilia blinked, seeming a little surprised to be consulted so directly. "What? Oh—yes, that should be good."
Heading for the wooden fencing where Subaru had last seen the puppy, Rem close behind, Subaru scanned the treeline. Along the woodline, several trees bore green crystals fixed to metal sconces, their glow illuminating the darkness—except for one, just beyond the fencing.
"There," Subaru pointed, vaulting over the fence and moving toward the treeline. His eyes darted around, searching for any signs of witchbeasts. "Is this the barrier line?"
Rem nodded. "It is. But it should be glowing like the others."
Subaru frowned. "So the barrier is down. Great." He exhaled sharply, rubbing his temples. "Alright, let's report back to Emilia."
Turning on his heel, Subaru led the way back to the village square, where nearly the entire town had gathered. A chaotic chorus of shouts and cries filled the air, villagers arguing, pointing fingers, and panicking.
At the center of the commotion, Emilia stood surrounded, her frantic attempts to reason with the crowd barely making an impact. Rom, meanwhile, positioned himself protectively in front of her, keeping a few of the more aggressive men at bay.
"Hey!" Subaru shouted, shoving his way to the middle of the mob. "Hey! Shut it and listen up!"
It took several shouts—and an elbow to the chin—but by the time he reached Emilia's side, the villagers had quieted. Rubbing his jaw, Subaru took a breath and addressed the crowd.
"The barrier's broken at the fence where that dog the kids were playing with was. I'm sure that thing cursed all the kids like it did me."
Gasps rippled through the gathering, a wave of panic setting in.
"My boys are out there!"
"There are Wolgrams in those woods!"
"It must have been her!" someone accused.
Subaru's temper flared. "Shut your traps!" he barked, his voice cutting through the noise like a blade. "We're here to help! Any insinuation otherwise is pure crap, got it?!"
A squeeze on his arm made him pause. Glancing over, he saw Emilia giving him a pointed look. She wanted to speak. Begrudgingly, Subaru stepped back, letting her take the lead.
"As I was saying," Emilia said, her voice calm but firm, "we can find the children. I'll repair any damage to the barrier while the others search for them. Once I'm finished, I'll join in the search myself. I promise with all my heart that we will bring them home."
The panicked murmuring softened, uncertainty lingering until a path formed through the villagers. An elderly woman stepped forward, someone Subaru recognized as the village elder from his first visit.
"You lot seem to be the best bet we have," she said, looking them over with a measured gaze. After a pause, she gave a slow nod. "Please, bring the little ones home."
Emilia returned the nod, sharper this time. "We will. I swear it."
Turning back to Subaru and the others, she took a deep breath. "Let's move."
"Before we go, someone, get me a blade," Subaru said firmly.
The search through the forest was frantic. The borrowed sword at his hip provided a small sense of security, though it wasn't the dagger he was accustomed to. Still, the longer reach was something he could appreciate.
The woods were unnervingly quiet, the torchlight casting long, flickering shadows against the trees. Subaru kept his senses sharp, scanning for any signs of the missing children. It would have been easier if the entire village had joined the search, but the threat of Wolgrams picking off unarmed villagers was too great.
So they searched, and searched, until—
"I see something!" Rom pointed toward a clearing.
Without hesitation, the three of them rushed forward, breaking onto a grassy hillside. There, the missing children lay sprawled on their backs, motionless, their faces pale and glistening with sweat.
Subaru dropped to his knees beside Petra, pressing the back of his hand against her forehead.
"She's burning up," he muttered before glancing at Rem. "Can you do anything?"
Rem knelt beside him, placing a hand over the girl's head as a faint glow of healing magic spread over her. "I can ease their symptoms, but removing a curse like this is beyond my ability."
Subaru grimaced, watching as Petra's eyes fluttered open slightly.
"W-where am I?" she mumbled weakly.
Subaru gently squeezed her hand. "It's okay. We're here to help. Just rest, alright?"
Petra's brows furrowed as she looked around, searching for something. "Where's Meili?"
Subaru immediately scanned the clearing. The other children were all there, but the blue-haired girl who had been holding the cursed puppy earlier was nowhere to be seen. His stomach twisted.
"Petra, is everyone else here?" he asked carefully.
She gave a weak nod.
Subaru forced a smile. "Don't worry about Meili. We're going to find her, so just rest for now, okay?"
Petra, too exhausted to fight off sleep any longer, closed her eyes and drifted off.
Subaru stood and turned to Rom, casting his torchlight over the resting children. "Old man, can you get these kids back to the village on your own?"
Rom grunted, rolling his shoulders as he surveyed the group. "Should only take me one trip."
Subaru nodded before turning to Rem. "We should split up—we'll cover more ground that way."
Rem's expression remained impassive. "If the witchbeasts took this girl, she's likely already dead."
Subaru's grip on the hilt of his sword tightened. "I'm not leaving until I know for certain. If there's even a chance she's alive, I have to try."
Rem opened her mouth as if to protest, but something in his expression made her hesitate. She exhaled quietly before giving a small nod. "I'll stabilize the children here, then assist in the search."
"Good." Without wasting another second, Subaru turned and sprinted into the woods, torchlight flickering as he began his search.
Subaru scoured the forest, his ears straining for any sound beyond the rustling of leaves and the distant hoots of nocturnal birds. Alone in the dark, every shifting shadow put him on edge. He was confident he could handle himself against one or two Wolgrams, but from what he knew, they rarely hunted alone.
Still, his chief concern was finding Meili.
It was nearly twenty minutes of searching before he stumbled through the brush into a small clearing. His breath caught as he spotted a small figure with dark blue hair lying motionless on the forest floor. Letting out a slow exhale, he scanned the area for any signs of movement before rushing to the girl's side. Kneeling, he placed a hand on her forehead—she was burning up.
Frowning, Subaru moved to scoop her up when a rustling from behind sent his instincts into overdrive. His hand flew to the sword at his hip, drawing it in one swift motion. He whirled around blade at the ready, only to halt just in time as a flash of silver hair met his gaze.
"By the Dragon, you scared the shit out of me," Subaru groaned, exhaling sharply.
"You certainly gave me a fright too, Subaru," Emilia chuckled nervously, stepping forward as he lowered his blade.
"Rom told me one of the children was still missing, so I came to help," she added, her violet eyes filled with concern.
Subaru nodded toward Meili. "Can you stabilize her?"
"Of course." Emilia knelt beside the girl, placing her hands gently over her chest as a soft, bluish-white glow spread from her palms.
As she worked, Subaru scanned the tree line, still on high alert. "Any sign of Rem?"
Before Emilia could answer, a familiar massive figure emerged from the undergrowth. Rom lumbered into the clearing, carrying what looked like an entire tree trunk over his shoulder—repurposed into a makeshift club.
"No," Emilia shook her head.
"She ran off after you once she finished with the other kids," Rom added.
"I haven't seen or heard any—" Subaru started, but his words were cut short by a chilling sound.
A distant howl split the night, its eerie resonance sending a shiver down his spine. Almost instantly, more howls answered from all around them, their overlapping voices forming a menacing chorus in the dark.
Subaru's grip tightened on his sword. "That's not good."
Emilia finished her spell, her eyes darting around the trees. "We should be able to move her now."
"Take Meili back," Subaru instructed. "As much as I hate to say it, but if I had to guess…"
"That Rem girl must have caused that commotion," Rom finished grimly.
"I'll go with you," Emilia said firmly.
"No, Rom and I—" Subaru started, but the old giant cut him off.
"She's right, son. Besides, she's the boss, remember?" Rom reminded him, easily lifting the unconscious Meili into his arms.
Emilia crossed her arms, her tone leaving no room for argument. "We're going to find Rem—together. Understood?"
"Fine, don't get hurt now, old man," Subaru smirked.
"I could say the same to you both," Rom smirked back before lumbering off toward the village with Meili tucked securely in his massive arms.
Subaru and Emilia sprinted side by side, racing toward the source of the howling. It didn't take long for things to get dicey.
The first sign of trouble came as a glint of red eyes in the darkness. Subaru twisted, pulling mana into his limbs just as the first Wolgram burst from the underbrush. His sword flashed in the firelight, catching the beast's throat in a clean slash. A high-pitched whimper tore through the night as the creature crumpled, thrashing as its blood pooled into the dirt.
Emilia's gaze flickered around, and almost immediately, tiny glowing lights flared to life around her—her lesser spirits responding to her call. With a lift of her hand, several ice missiles materialized in the air before launching into the trees. The guttural cries that followed confirmed her mark had found its target.
"We have to keep moving," Subaru urged, his grip tightening on his sword as they pushed deeper into the woods.
Several ambushes later, they heard Rem's battle cries just up ahead. When she finally came into view, Subaru felt a curse rise to his lips.
Rem stood in the center of a sea of Wolgrams—hundreds of them, flinging themselves at her with reckless abandon. Her morning star was a whirlwind of death, smashing through their ranks with brutal efficiency, but even as she fought with terrifying ferocity, the sheer number of them was overwhelming. Blood trickled from various wounds across her body, scratches, and bite marks marring her otherwise flawless skin.
"We have to help her!" Subaru said firmly, ready to charge in, but Emilia grabbed his arm, holding him back.
"Wait, Subaru!" Her voice was urgent. "If Rem stays like this for too long, she'll lose herself. She might not be able to tell us apart from the Wolgrams."
Subaru hesitated, his eyes locking onto Rem's wild expression—her pupils dilated, her breathing ragged, and a twisted, almost euphoric grin stretched across her face. It was clear she wasn't registering pain, wasn't holding back. Right now, she was a demon in every sense of the word.
Subaru clenched his teeth. "Then we clear the Wolgrams first, and we deal with calming her down after."
Emilia nodded, her hands already glowing with mana. "I'll cover you, just like when we fought Elsa."
It was as good a plan as any. Subaru didn't waste another second.
Summoning his mana, he surged forward in a blur of movement, cutting through Wolgrams as fast as he could manage. They were quick, their reflexes sharp, but he relied on Emilia's support to cover his blind spots. Every time a beast lunged from his periphery, an ice missile cut it down before it could reach him.
Still, the fight was anything but easy. More than once, Subaru found himself rolling out of the way as Rem's morning star came crashing down, obliterating everything in its path. He barely dodged in time, the sheer force of her swings sending shockwaves through the ground.
She was fighting like a demon unleashed. And if they didn't end this soon, she might not be able to stop.
Subaru felt the creeping edges of fatigue settling in. His arms were growing heavier with each swing, his breath ragged, but he couldn't stop now. Just beyond the horde of Wolgrams, he caught sight of the familiar tiny, balding puppy—its teeth bared in what almost looked like a smug, snarling smirk.
That tiny bastard. Subaru had no doubt now—it was the pack's leader, despite its diminutive size.
Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Emilia perched atop an ice platform, raining down support fire. Smart. It kept her out of reach from the Wolgrams while giving her the perfect vantage point to assist him.
A blur of movement in his peripheral vision sent his instincts into overdrive. Subaru leapt just in time as Rem's morning star whistled past, obliterating several Wolgrams instead.
"Damn it, Rem!" Subaru cursed, but before he could react, she was already whipping her weapon back. He barely raised his sword in time to block.
The impact rattled his entire body, even through his mana-enforced limbs. He was launched backward, the force slamming into his core. Emilia's voice rang out in alarm, but Subaru had no time to focus on it—he twisted midair, bracing himself as he hit the ground and rolled.
Before he could fully recover, three Wolgrams pounced. He slashed the first through the throat, but the other two sank their teeth into him—one clamping onto his right arm, the other tearing into his leg.
Agony exploded through his body. A searing, burning pain crawled from the wounds, spreading like wildfire. The curse. He knew it instantly.
Subaru gritted his teeth, but before the beasts could do further damage, twin ice missiles impaled them, sending their lifeless bodies crumpling beside him.
Pushing through the pain, Subaru forced himself up, blood soaking into the fabric of his clothes. He locked eyes on the damned pup, rage fueling his battered body.
Surging forward, he cut his way through the pack, determined to take its leader's head. But the Wolgrams seemed to sense his intent. The majority of them turned, surging toward him in a relentless wave.
He was in trouble.
Then, with terrifying force, Rem launched herself into the fray, her morning star carving through Wolgrams like a whirlwind of death.
Subaru barely had time to react before he realized she wasn't just tearing through the beasts—she was swinging at anything that moved. Him included.
He was fighting on two fronts now. Witchbeasts and a berserk demon maid.
Subaru grimaced. He was a decent enough fighter, but this? This was beyond him. Fighting a couple of thugs in the slums was one thing, but an entire horde of witchbeasts and a rampaging Rem? Even with Emilia's support, it was too much.
He needed a way out—fast.
Pulling mana into his legs, Subaru pushed off the ground with all his strength, his right thigh screaming in protest where the Wolgram had bitten him. He launched himself into the air, using the trunk of a massive oak to propel forward, sword poised for the kill. His target—the smug little mutt orchestrating this nightmare.
But as his blade neared its mark, the tiny creature convulsed, its body twisting and stretching at an unnatural speed. In the blink of an eye, what had once been a small, unassuming pup transformed into a monstrous, two-story-tall Wolgram, its spiked tail lashing and sword-like teeth gleaming in the torchlight.
Subaru's blood ran cold.
No time to redirect. No way to stop. He was sailing straight into the gaping maw of the beast.
Shit.
"Minya."
A calm voice spoke, utterly unbothered by the chaos.
In an instant, a barrage of purple crystals rained down, striking the massive Wolgram's side. Wherever they landed, the beast's flesh crystallized, spreading rapidly like a creeping frost.
Regaining his composure midair, Subaru swung with everything he had. The borrowed sword rattled on impact, cracks spider-webbing along its edge, but it held long enough—his strike shattered the beast's crystallized neck.
The pack let out a collective wail of distress as their leader collapsed, bursting apart in a gruesome mixture of flesh and glittering shards. The surviving Wolgrams hesitated only a moment before instinct took over. They turned and fled, vanishing into the darkness of the woods.
Breathing heavily, Subaru turned just in time to hear Rem's guttural shout. Before he could react, black mist engulfed her, and in the next moment, she crumpled face-first into the forest floor.
"Rem!" Subaru staggered toward her, but then his eyes caught sight of someone standing over her.
Small, dressed in elaborate frilly robes, with an unreadable expression on her face.
"Beatrice?" Subaru exhaled, surprised.
"Who else were you expecting, I suppose?" she huffed, crossing her arms.
Blinking, Subaru sheathed his sword and limped toward Beatrice, his arm and leg now pulsing with pain. "I thought you had no interest in helping the villagers," he smirked, forcing some humor into his voice despite his exhaustion.
"I don't. I simply knew Lady Emilia would be here, and if anything happened to her, Bubby would be mad, I suppose," Beatrice huffed, turning her nose up.
"Betty, you're ridiculous," Subaru chuckled, shaking his head.
"Only Bubby and Ros—hey!" Beatrice started, but before she could finish, Subaru scooped her up, lifting her into the air and spinning her around in an ecstatic burst of gratitude.
"You lovable librarian, you saved our asses!" Subaru couldn't help but laugh with relief. He was so happy, he could have kissed her.
"Let me down, I suppose!" Beatrice squealed, squirming in his grasp until Subaru finally set her back on the ground. She adjusted her dress, shooting him an indignant glare before turning away with an exaggerated huff.
Subaru didn't care. He felt a pang of guilt for having judged her so harshly before, but despite all her posturing, Beatrice had a heart—even if she refused to admit it.
"Subaru!" Emilia's voice rang out as she rushed over from her perch, her violet eyes filled with worry. "You're hurt."
"What? Oh, this?" Subaru glanced down at his blood-stained and ripped clothing, suddenly feeling the weight of his injuries now that the adrenaline was fading. "Yeah, it stings, but I'll live."
"Stop being silly. Sit down—I'll heal you," Emilia said firmly before turning to Beatrice with a warm smile. "Thank you, Beatrice. Without you, we could have been seriously hurt. I don't think we could have handled both Rem and those Wolgrams alone."
Beatrice sniffed, clearly unimpressed by the gratitude. "You are welcome," she muttered, though the hint of color dusting her cheeks betrayed her. Without another word, she turned to Rem, kneeling beside her unconscious form. "Betty will remove the curse on this one too, I suppose."
As Beatrice set to work, Emilia placed a gentle hand on Subaru's arm, channeling her healing magic into his wounds. The soothing warmth spread through his battered body, easing the pain. Subaru let out a deep sigh, allowing himself to relax for the first time that night.
By the time they arrived back in the village, Subaru felt exhaustion dragging at every fiber of his body. He had insisted on carrying Rem back, and while she wasn't heavy, his body had long since passed the point of wanting to collapse. Every step felt like trudging through thick mud, his limbs weighed down by fatigue and the dull ache of his injuries.
Upon their return, he learned that the villagers had already taken the children to their homes and put them to bed. From what he gathered, Beatrice had removed the curses from each of them before slipping away into the woods to come to their aid. Subaru made a mental note to thank her again properly later.
Their arrival was met with a flood of grateful villagers, parents, and elders alike swarming Emilia with words of thanks, relief, and more than a few apologies. Subaru noted the stunned look on her face, her violet eyes darting around as she struggled to process the sudden warmth being directed at her. She had spent so long being feared or distrusted that genuine gratitude seemed almost foreign to her.
Subaru smiled at the sight, feeling a sense of satisfaction settle in his chest. It was good to see her being acknowledged for being such a kindhearted person. But as much as he wanted to soak in the moment, his body had other plans.
Dragging Rem into a spare dwelling, he gently set her down on the bed, ensuring she was comfortable before stepping back. He lingered for a moment, giving her one last appraising glance. Her breathing was even, her expression peaceful in sleep—so different from the fierce, battle-hardened version of her he'd faced in the forest.
With a heavy sigh, Subaru slumped into a chair beside the bed. The second his body touched the seat, exhaustion crashed over him like a tidal wave, and before he could even think about moving, sleep claimed him.
A/N: Happy Valentine's Day! Lucky for you all, this is a double post weekend, you will still be getting the scheduled chapter on 2/16/24, so enjoy that little treat this weekend. Hope you all enjoy the weekend, whether alone or with a loved one. Onto reviews:
XxXxX
Anon: So far this is really good! I hope to see a stronger more stern Subaru
Why thank you!
Guest: why the hell is he in Emelia's camp? This is stupid
Mainly because the Felt Camp does not exist yet? Heck, even Felt doesn't know there is a Felt camp at this point. It's not like he's actively chosen to back Emilia over Felt, he's attached to her via Roswaal right now.
Roger That Silently: Fuck yeah! Beatrice is always a fun one to read
Betty will be heavily featured, if this chapter didn't give that away.
XxXxX
That's it for this chapter! See you all in a few days!