Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

Subaru ran hurriedly down the hallway; the footsteps of his shoes echoed loudly on the floor as he descended the stairs two at a time. As he reached the landing, he lost his balance slightly; his shoes slipped slightly as he braked hard in the entrance hall. He lifted his face and, without a second thought, shouted.

"REM! RAM! I have to talk to you!" he exclaimed in desperation.

Ram appeared almost instantly in response to Subaru's loud shout. Apparently, she was working nearby. The young woman watched him closely, noting how his breathing was uneven and his face showed a mixture of urgency and determination.

"What's the matter, Barusu? Your haste is rather unpleasant," Ram commented in her usual critical tone.

Subaru lifted his head, not pausing to catch his breath. "Sorry, I'm heading to the village. You can't stop me; I'll leave even if you try."

Ram frowned, clearly irritated and puzzled. "The village...why would you do such an absurd thing? No, more importantly, do you intend to disobey Master Roswaal's instructions? Tonight, Rem and I are in charge of this mansion. Don't you understand what that means?"

Subaru clenched his fists but did not back down. "Time is short, so I'll get straight to the point. There's a curse user in Arlam Village. I know who it is, and I have to go right now."

Ram narrowed her eyes. "...You're asking me to accept what sounds like a child's made-up excuse?"

"I can't help it. There's no other way to explain it here. Talk to Beako if you want; she can confirm what I say. But we don't have time," Subaru replied in a pleading voice.

As Subaru insisted, the large doors to the foyer opened wide behind him. Rem appeared silently, as if the urgency of the moment had drawn her in. She looked at the two of them carefully, noting the tension in the conversation.

"Nee-sama," Rem said, addressing Ram as she advanced towards them calmly.

When Rem saw the two of them talking with such intensity, she moved to her sister's side as if it were a natural reflex. Her gaze shifted to Subaru, waiting for answers.

"Nee-sama, what's going on?" asked Rem with a tone of curiosity and concern.

Ram replied coolly, pointing at Subaru. "He says he's heading to town to rid us of an evil curse user."

Meanwhile, Kaoru, who had hurried back after bidding farewell to Beatrice, was descending down the hall. He had been silently pondering as he returned.

"That dog... Is it a mabeast?" he wondered inwardly. He remembered that peculiar puppy in the village. Though it didn't seem like it at the time, now everything pointed to it being responsible for the mana-draining curses that drained mana to death.

"Surely Subaru went to the village in previous loops with one of the twins. Clearly he wouldn't have suspected a mere puppy, would he? Looks like he was mistaken. "

Kaoru sighed in frustration. I feel like an idiot for thinking it was some kind of shaman. Theorizing about who was behind this... and in the end, it turns out to be a simple mabeast. Nothing is ever that simple, is it? More so when everything around me lately is so complicated it's just giving me headaches. 

Tired of his own internal complaints, Kaoru focused on the present. "There's no time for regrets. Roswaal, Raigor, the Witch, the mabeast... All that's left is to move on. "

Kaoru used the flow method to jump from the second floor of the lobby to the main lower floor. His landing was firm, though he felt a slight pain in his legs upon impact. It was better than having injured himself by not using the technique correctly in time.

"Subaru must have already told them about the situation, right?" asked Kaoru as he walked towards the group, eyes fixed on the twins.

"Yes, I told them that we must go to the village before it's too late. The children are in danger," Subaru said, clenching his fists tightly.

Kaoru nodded. "I assure you that what Subaru said is true. If you have any doubts, you can ask Beatrice. But we have no time to waste. It is better to act before a tragedy occurs."

"Nee-sama, Nee-sama. Kaoru's joke is not very funny," Rem commented, with a tone that mixed doubt and seriousness.

"Rem, Rem. Barusu thinks he has a future in comedy," Ram replied, letting out a slight sigh.

Subaru moistened his lips, his gaze hardening as he pointed a finger at the twins. "I'm going to the village. If they think it's suspicious, fine, they can come. But I'm not leaving Emilia alone, so only one of you can accompany me."

"You can't just go on your own Besides, my Nee-sama and I have no reason to accompany you. Our priority is to maintain command of Roswaal," Rem replied.

Kaoru interjected, his tone direct. "Is that the only order Roswaal gave you?" He knew well that the twins had a duty to keep an eye on them, something that had become clear from information gained in previous loops.

Rem hesitated, searching for an answer she couldn't find. It was Ram who broke the silence with a sigh.

"Understood, Barusu, Kaoru. We will accept your independent actions. However, as you said, we cannot allow them to go it alone. Letting them act on their own would be disobeying Master Roswaal's orders."

Kaoru nodded, remaining calm. "I figured as much. So what's the compromise?"

"As much as it pains me to admit it, we have no choice but to follow your suggestion. Rem will go with you," Ram replied. Then he turned to his sister. "Rem, it shall be so. I will confirm matters with Lady Beatrice and protect Lady Emilia here. I will watch you from the mansion."

"Nee-sama, you shouldn't use that eye too often," Rem warned.

"This is no time to worry about that. I'll use it if I have to. The same applies to you, Rem," Ram replied.

Rem looked at Subaru and Kaoru with determination. "I want to hear the details."

"I'll tell you on the way. But things could have gotten pretty bad," Subaru said.

Just then, a voice interrupted them.

"Subaru, Kaoru, where are you going?" asked Emilia as she came down the stairs, her voice soft but tinged with concern.

Subaru and Kaoru turned automatically at hearing her, looking up. There stood Emilia, her silver hair swaying delicately as she descended, her violet eyes focusing on them curiously.

Judging by her slightly quickened breathing, it seemed she had heard Subaru's earlier shout and had come to find out what was going on.

"I thought I'd come down because I heard a loud voice earlier. Did something happen?" asked Emilia, stopping halfway down the stairs.

"Something... something might have happened. But you don't have to worry. Ah, well, I'll be happy if you worry a little," he said with a smile, trying to deflect the conversation with his casual tone.

Although Subaru was trying to act nonchalant, Emilia stared at him, her eyes assessing him carefully. It didn't take her long to realize that something wasn't right.

"Your face says you're going to do something dangerous again," Emilia pointed out, her voice firm with slight concern. It was clear she saw through his facade.

Kaoru interjected calmly, aware that Subaru couldn't hide the truth for long.

"I'm afraid so. The village could face a serious problem that would have dire consequences if we don't act right now," he explained.

Emilia nodded slowly, processing Kaoru's words. "That's what they were discussing just now, right? They seem to have it all figured out now, so..." she said, letting the sentence hang in the air as she turned her gaze back to Subaru.

"There's no point in trying to stop you, is there?" asked Emilia, her tone resigned but with a faint hope that perhaps he would give her another answer.

Subaru shook his head, smiling with a mixture of sadness and determination. "No, not really. And if you succeeded, it would probably only make things worse..." he admitted truthfully.

Emilia sighed softly, accepting reality. "Yes, yes, I understand. I'm not going to stop you," she finally said, with a warmth that contrasted with the concern evident on her face.

He finished walking down the stairs, coming closer until he was standing in front of Subaru. With a firm but gentle gesture, she placed her hands on her hips, looking him straight in the eyes.

Subaru couldn't look away from Emilia's bright violet eyes. There was a moment of silence between the two, as if time stood still.

Then, Emilia reached out and gently touched Subaru's chest. "Even if I tell you not to be reckless or careless, you'll probably do it anyway, right?" She murmured, her voice soft but laden with concern.

Subaru swallowed saliva, feeling the warmth of her hand on his chest. Emilia was still touching him as she continued, her tone almost like a prayer, "May the grace of the spirits be with you."

"What was that?" asked Subaru, clearly puzzled.

Emilia smiled broadly, a warm expression lighting up her face. "They're words you say when you send someone away. They mean 'come back safe and sound,'" she explained softly.

Subaru blinked, surprised by the meaning. Then, with a mischievous grin, he replied,

"Ahh, I see. I got it, Emilia-tan. So, when I come back safe and sound, you'll hold me gently against your chest like a baby, won't you?"

Emilia let out a small laugh, her tone carefree but affectionate. "Yes, yes," she replied with a smile that gave no hint as to whether she would actually agree to Subaru's request.

With that last exchange, Emilia diverted her attention to Kaoru. She took a step towards him, taking his hands gently between her own and clasping them together as if she were making a prayer. Her violet eyes stared at him.

"Please, Kaoru, don't let Subaru do anything rash," she asked him with a tone full of confidence and hope.

Kaoru smiled slightly, aware that controlling Subaru would be a challenge. "I don't think that would be a simple thing to do," he replied sincerely, but his tone was warm.

"I know, so please... take good care of yourself, Kaoru-sama," Emilia insisted, her voice soft but firm.

"I will, Emilia," Kaoru promised. Then, in a reassuring gesture, he raised a hand and stroked her head gently. Emilia closed her eyes for a moment, appreciating the gesture, while Subaru watched them with a mixture of jealousy and discomfort. Although he knew better than to overdo it, he couldn't help but feel that the gesture held some hidden meaning.

"Well, we're leaving now," Subaru declared, interrupting the moment as he took a step toward the door.

Emilia's voice, full of warmth, echoed behind them. "Come back soon," she said, her tone charged with equal parts hope and concern.

Subaru pushed open the large front doors and stepped outside, breaking into a run toward the village with Kaoru and Rem following close behind. Meanwhile, Emilia and Ram watched them from the mansion.

--[Time Skip]--

When they reached the village, the bonfires were burning brightly, illuminating the darkness of the night with an unusual glow. Normally, there would be no reason to light so many fires at that hour, which made it obvious that something out of the ordinary was going on.

Kaoru watched the scene intently, his eyes roaming over the chaos in the village. Worry flickered across her face as she clenched her fists.

"It looks like they're looking for the children.... Just as I feared. Something must have happened to them," he muttered, his tone grave.

A young man from the village, recognizing them, ran towards them with obvious urgency.

"You're the ones from the mansion? What are you doing here at this hour?"

Before he could continue, Rem interrupted him in a firm voice. "We seem to have arrived at just the right time; what happened?"

The young man nodded quickly, as if trying to organize his thoughts. "Yes, actually... A group of children from the village is missing. We knew they were playing before it got dark, but... Well, now everyone's looking for them."

Kaoru took a step forward, his expression tensing even more. "The missing kids are Lucas, Mild, Petra... and the others?" She asked with concern.

"Yes, them. Do you have any idea where they might be?" The young man replied, hoping for an answer that might help.

Kaoru narrowed his eyes, connecting the pieces quickly. "I might have an idea..." he said before breaking into a run towards the fences separating the town from the forest.

The group quickly followed him, reaching the fences that demarcated the safety of the village. Kaoru scanned the area intently, his gaze stopping on a magical crystal attached to a nearby tree. While the other crystals glowed with a faint protective light, this one was dull and clearly broken.

Rem, noticing the same, stopped next to the broken crystal. "The crystal... it's shattered," she said quietly, her tone laden with concern.

"What happens when they break?" asked Subaru, his curiosity mixed with a bad feeling.

Rem looked at him seriously. "Mabeasts can cross the border," she answered bluntly.

"Mabeasts?" asked Subaru, frowning.

Rem, aware of the gravity of the situation, calmly explained, "They are creatures created by the witch. They inhabit the forests and are natural enemies of humans. In addition, they possess magical powers."

Subaru let out a sigh, frustrated. "More of the witch's stuff... Even here, geez," he muttered, holding a hand to his forehead.

Kaoru, who had been watching the broken glass, confirmed his suspicions. His theory had been validated. It was a mabeast that caused the trouble with the curse. That puppy with the bald head was no ordinary dog. It was a mabeast that managed to enter the village because of this broken barrier. That creature was the one Subaru cursed. in the previous loops."

"We should go into the forest and look for them," Subaru said with determination before jumping over the fence.

"Subaru, what are you doing!" exclaimed Rem, surprised by his impulsive action. Her voice rose, trying to stop him.

Subaru, however, had already made his decision. "The children are in there. I have to save them," he said firmly, heading towards the forest.

Before the group could react, Subaru turned to the young man from the village.

"Tell everyone what's going on!" he ordered. The young man nodded quickly and hurried back to the village.

Rem tried to reason once more, her tone stern.

"Do you have hard proof of what you say? We need Master Roswaal's permission before we cross the barrier..."

Subaru cut her off, raising his left hand forcefully. "The scar on my hand is the proof!" he exclaimed. On the back of his hand, the mark of an animal bite was clearly visible.

"This scar was left by the damn dog that bit me this afternoon when the children surrounded me while they were playing. Beatrice pointed to this wound and told me it was the source of my curse. That means..." Subaru paused, looking at Rem intently.

"The children had a 'cute puppy' with them. It looked like a dog... But what if it wasn't? What if it was a mabeast that curses whoever it bites?" said Subaru, his voice full of conviction.

Kaoru, who had been watching silently, jumped the fence with agility. Upon landing, he pulled out two daggers hidden on his back under his servant/butler uniform, spinning them in a swift, fluid maneuver.

"This gets worse as time goes on," Kaoru commented, his voice steady. "We don't know if the children are already cursed, but we can't risk it. We must get them to the mansion and purify them as soon as possible."

Rem frowned, unable to hide her concern. "Wait. You can't just decide that on your own. First of all, this situation is too suspicious," she said, gesturing toward the village. "For such a problem to occur while Master Roswaal is absent? Are you sure this isn't a distraction for an attack on the mansion?"

Subaru, frustrated, turned to her with a defiant look. "So what would you do, abandon the troubled children right at this moment, go back to the mansion, and lock yourself behind the gates? I mean, yes, we can do that... if you're okay with everyone in town being dead by morning," he said with a sarcastic tone.

"Why are you so determined... what connection do you people have to the village...?" Muttered Rem, his voice was soft but laden with doubt.

Kaoru clenched his fists, looking out into the dark forest that loomed in front of them. "Maybe I barely know those brats.... But each of them, each of them, has their own dreams. I won't let them die. None of them," he replied firmly. His gaze did not leave the horizon as he spoke.

He paused, his tone lowered slightly, "They are not strangers to me. I'll have nightmares if I ever see the corpse of one of them," he muttered, almost as if talking to himself.

The momentary silence was broken by Subaru, who decided to intervene, his voice mixing determination and warmth.

"Petra said she wants to make clothes in the capital when she grows up," Subaru began, conjuring up the children's faces in his mind.

"Lucas wants to become the best lumberjack in town, like his father."

"Mild wants to make a wreath for his mother because he says he promised her."

"Dyne and Cain...those two knuckleheads are always fighting over who will marry Petra," he added, letting out a small nostalgic laugh, but with a shadow of concern.

Subaru continued, his voice firmer now. "I know their names, their faces, and what they want to do in the future. Besides, I promised them we'd do aerobics again."

Subaru looked up at Rem, his eyes shining with a mixture of defiance and honesty. "So I'll be heading that way, Rem," he stated firmly.

Rem looked up at him. Her eyes showed an inner conflict, a battle between logic and what she felt inside. She hesitated, and in that moment, for an instant, she looked weak. He looked helpless, as if she were about to collapse in tears. That expression was something Subaru noticed instantly, and while it pained him to see her like that, it also strengthened his own resolve.

"It's my fault, " Subaru thought, feeling resentful towards himself. "It's my weakness that puts her in this position. I'm always a coward, always depending on others to protect me. And now, here I am, pushing her to make this decision. "

But Subaru wasn't going to stop. If his cowardice could be used as a tool to save others, then he would use it. He would fight with any means at his disposal, even if it meant carrying his own weakness as a weapon.

"I keep my promises," Subaru said, his tone firm but charged with emotion. "And I expect the others to keep theirs. I'll do aerobics with those brats again; you'll see. That's why I'm on my way." His gaze remained fixed on Rem as he spoke, waiting for her response.

Rem closed her eyes for a moment, letting Subaru's and Kaoru's words echo in her mind. When he opened them again, her expression was different: softer, but determined.

"Then I can't avoid it," Rem said quietly, in a tone that almost sounded like a whisper. "After all, I've been assigned to keep an eye on them, Subaru. I can't fulfill that duty if I let you go alone, can I?"

Subaru sketched a smile, relieved by her answer. "In that case, keep a good eye on me while we save the children," he said with a defiant smile, trying to ease the tension.

Rem looked directly at him and nodded his head. "Then let's go," she said, her tone soft but firm.

Subaru nodded, turning to where Kaoru stood. "You heard him, Kaoru! We've got her with us!" he stopped abruptly, looking around with a mixture of confusion and surprise.

"...Kaoru?"

Kaoru was no longer there. He had disappeared without Subaru or Rem noticing. The two exchanged glances, puzzled.

---

Meanwhile, Kaoru was already making his way through the trees of the forest, his footsteps quick and silent as he ran with a concentrated expression. He had made the decision to leave long before Subaru finished convincing Rem.

"Time is gold," Kaoru thought, neither pausing nor hesitating. "And I can't stand by while they get sentimental."

With a slight, sarcastic smile, he let out a mutter to himself as he dodged a low branch.

"Subaru is good with words. He'll convince Rem sooner or later, I'm sure. But while the lovebirds are getting sentimental and sharing their promises, someone has to do the work."

Kaoru adjusted the daggers in his hands, twirling them slightly in one fluid motion as he continued to move forward.

Kaoru ran in a straight line through the forest, dodging trees, branches, and any obstacles that got in his way. His movements were quick and precise, though not perfect. As he moved forward, he continued to practice the Flow method, consciously and carefully controlling the flow of mana within his body. However, he had not yet managed to control it completely, so he kept the flow fairly slow so as not to exhaust himself.

Suddenly, he began to hear low, steady grunts in the distance, accompanied by the sound of footsteps crunching through the dry leaves. The mabeasts were close by. Kaoru slowed slowly, his senses on alert. "Running blindly through here would be stupid, " he thought, as he slowed to a near standstill.

With calculated movements, Kaoru began to walk crouched down, slipping through the bushes, his eyes scanning the area as he tried not to make a sound. Then, up ahead, in a small circular area of the forest where the trees seemed to have opened up, he saw something. A creature.

It was a mabeast.

Kaoru watched closely, standing still. "Impressive..." he muttered, intrigued. It was the first time he had ever seen one. The wolf-like creature had brown and black fur, glowing red eyes that looked demonic, and large fangs protruding from its snout. A row of horns ran down its back, and a larger, longer horn protruded from its snout. It was approximately 1.2 to 1.5 meters in length and appeared to weigh between 40 and 50 kilograms. "A Wolgarm," Kaoru recalled. The mansion's grimoire had given him a brief description of these creatures.

Before he could analyze further, crack! The sound of a twig snapping under his heel echoed like thunder in the silence of the forest.

Kaoru froze. "This has to be a joke... " he thought in frustration.

The Wolgarm turned its head towards him immediately, its red eyes flashing as it growled hungrily.

"Shit," Kaoru muttered, clenching the daggers in his hands. The creature clawed the ground hard and lunged towards him with terrifying speed, its gaping snout ready to tear his face apart.

"Hah?!" exclaimed Kaoru as the creature lunged at him like a rabid animal.

In a fit of nerves, Kaoru dodged to the side, rolling across the ground with a sideways somersault.

Thud!

The creature landed where he had been a second before, kicking up leaves and dirt.

Kaoru stood up quickly, barely having time to react as the Wolgarm spun sharply and charged towards him again, its fangs glinting in the moonlight.

"Don't fuck with me!" Kaoru shouted as the creature leapt again, this time directly towards his face.

Instinct took over. Kaoru raised one of his daggers and, with all the strength he could muster, thrust it right under the Wolgarm's jaw.

Shunk!

The blade sliced through flesh, slamming the monster's snout shut as its hot blood splattered Kaoru's face. He threw his head back to avoid the creature's fangs closing near his nose.

They both fell to the ground with a boom!, the weight of the Wolgarm momentarily crushing him. Kaoru cried out in effort as the creature writhed on top of him, its forelegs clawing desperately. Sharp claws tore at the sleeves of his uniform, leaving shallow gashes on his arms.

"Die at once, stupid dog!"

Kaoru growled angrily. With the dagger in his other hand, he plunged it hard into the Wolgarm's neck.

Squish!

The blade pierced the flesh, and Kaoru began to exert pressure, pushing with all his strength to open its throat. The blade cut deep, and from inside the Wolgarm's snout, the tip of the dagger could be seen poking out.

The creature roared in pain, a guttural, terrifying sound that echoed through the forest. Its blood gushed out, staining Kaoru's hands and uniform. Despite his efforts to resist, the Wolgarm was beginning to weaken. Its movements slowed until, finally, it let out a final grunt before collapsing with a thud! on Kaoru, motionless.

Kaoru gasped heavily, pushing the Wolgarm's corpse aside with effort. He sat on the ground, breathing heavily as he quickly checked his arms. He had several rips in the sleeves of his uniform and a few bleeding cuts on his arms, but none seemed serious. "It could have been worse," he muttered to himself.

He turned his gaze to the dead Wolgarm in front of him, noting the large horn protruding from its snout. An idea crossed his mind.

"Perhaps... " Kaoru leaned forward, drawing one of his daggers. With a swift motion, he slashed the horn.

Crack!

The dry sound echoed as he separated it from the corpse. Weighing it in his hand, he noted that it was sturdier than it looked. Maybe this can be used for something... a weapon, or even armor. "He put the horn away and put it in his hand.

He put the horn away and stood up, wiping the blood from his daggers with the Wolgarm's uniform. With a last glance at the corpse, Kaoru muttered, "First time seeing a mabeast... and we're already at this level. This is going to be fun. "

---

Kaoru continued to move forward cautiously, his steps light but steady as he moved through the trees without making a sound. He took advantage of a moment of calm to use his low-level healing magic. He placed a hand on his injured arms, and a faint white glow emanated from his water mana, covering the superficial wounds. "I can't afford to be in bad shape," he thought as he felt the relief of the skin closing.

The forest was infested with Wolgarms. He could feel them and hear them all around him: low growls, rustling branches, and the sound of paws advancing through the leaves. It was clear that these mabeasts had driven other creatures out of the area, dominating a large part of the territory. 

Concentrating, he continued to move forward until his eyes made out something different on the horizon: a treeless hill, an anomaly in the middle of the dense forest. He strained his eyes, squinting, and then he saw them. The children!

Kaoru felt his heart racing. Without hesitation, he started running up the hill, his boots kicking up leaves and dirt as he hurried over the uneven terrain. When he reached the top and got a closer look at them, his stomach tightened.

The children were lying on the ground, arranged in a strange circle. Kaoru became alarmed and quickly knelt down beside Lucas, taking his pulse with steady but trembling hands.

"You're still alive... " he thought with relief when he felt the faint throbbing in the boy's wrist. His breathing was ragged, but it was better than nothing. Kaoru surveyed the others: they were all unconscious, with pale faces and weakened bodies. Their small arms and legs were scarred with bites from the puppy, the same ones she had seen before.

"That damn curse... " Kaoru clicked his tongue in frustration, his teeth clenched as he stared at the marks. "That stupid dog is draining them of their mana... it's slowly killing them" He stood up abruptly, running his gaze quickly over the group. Then he noticed: someone was missing.

Meili... " he muttered, feeling a knot in his chest. "She's not here... shit, this is much worse than I thought. "

Kaoru took a deep breath, forcing herself to remain calm. "There's no time to waste, " she thought, and knelt down beside Petra. He placed a hand on her forehead and began to channel his healing magic again. The soft white glow illuminated the girl's face, lessening the effects of the curse and stabilizing her condition.

Slowly, Petra opened her eyes. Her gaze was weak, with fever evident in her flushed cheeks and tears gathering in her cyan eyes. "Kaoru...? " she murmured in a barely audible voice.

Kaoru paused for a moment, watching her. His face was splattered with blood, as was his servant's uniform. His hair was in disarray, and his dark eyes looked even more intimidating in the dim moonlight. He knew his appearance must be frightening, but he tried to soften his expression.

"Are you awake, Petra? Good. You're a strong girl," Kaoru said in a soft voice, stroking the little girl's hair gently.

"Kaoru... Meili is still... in the-" Petra tried to say, her voice shaky.

"I know," Kaoru replied quickly, interrupting her. "Don't worry, I'm here. I'll save her too. For now, rest." His tone was firm but reassuring, as if he was promising that everything would be all right.

Petra looked at him with teary eyes, filled with a mixture of relief and admiration. To her, Kaoru looked like a hero, someone who had come to save them from the nightmare they were living. That look made something stir inside Kaoru.

Kaoru wasn't a hero by any stretch of the imagination; he was a lecher, a bastard, a cynic, a Lolicon, but what really characterized Kaoru was that he was someone pragmatic and intelligent who, when situations turned impossible, brought out the best part of him to the fore.

He sighed, letting out a self-deprecating smile.

"Petra...don't ever fall in love with someone like me, please."

He murmured as he gently caressed the girl's feverish face.

Petra couldn't hear completely; her body was too weak. She closed her eyes again, letting out a sigh as she let herself go from exhaustion.

Kaoru continued his work, moving among the children to appease the debilitating effects of the curse with his healing magic. Although it was low level, it was enough to stabilize them temporarily. As he worked, his mind kept thinking of Meili.

"Where is she? Why isn't she here with the others? This doesn't make sense... "

Then, as he looked up, he saw something in the distance. Two figures were running towards him, moving quickly through the trees. He immediately recognized Subaru and Rem.

"Finally... "

"Are the children alive?" asked Subaru as he ran relentlessly, falling to his knees on the ground as soon as he arrived. His chest was rising and falling hard as he tried to catch his breath, the worry evident on his face.

"Yes, the children are alive, though weak," Kaoru replied calmly.

Subaru looked up at Kaoru and, noticing him covered in blood, couldn't help but make a comment. "Hey, and why are you so bloodstained? Are you okay? You look like a B-movie killer."

"Oh, it's because I killed a Wolgarm," Kaoru explained matter-of-factly.

"A Wolgarm?" Subaru blinked, puzzled.

"Yeah, it's some kind of mabeast. It looks like a wolf or a demonic dog, but it's full of horns," Kaoru clarified.

"That's amazing!" exclaimed Subaru, somewhere between amazement and envy. "You're leaving me far behind. I feel jealous."

"It wasn't that great, really. That beast almost ripped my face off," Kaoru said, sighing.

As the two spoke, Rem knelt down in the middle of the circle of unconscious children. She raised her hands and began to channel her healing magic. A soft white glow covered the children, relieving their weakness and stabilizing them.

Rem's magic, effective and swift, made Kaoru's attempts at healing seem like a simple sideshow trick.

"The curse..." muttered Subaru, watching the children with a frown.

"Yes, that will be a big problem," Kaoru replied, folding his arms. "We must get the children to the people in the village quickly."

"But one girl is missing.

Meili. Petra told me," he added earnestly.

Subaru froze for a moment, and then his mind connected the pieces. Meili, he remembered the little girl with olive green eyes and dark blue hair in a braid. "Damn, that's right. The little girl with the braid isn't there," Subaru said as he stood up with a start.

"Wait," Rem said, trying to reason. "It's dangerous. If the mabeasts took her, ya-"

"I know," Subaru interrupted, his jaw clenched. "But Petra said they took another girl. She worried about her friend before she called for help." He clenched his fists and continued with determination, "I must respect her feelings."

"If anything is to be done, everything must be done," Subaru added, his eyes full of resolve.

Rem, without letting go of his healing magic, looked up at Subaru. "If you're that greedy, you'll end up carrying more than you can handle," she warned him.

Subaru smiled sideways, without losing his posture. "That's why you're here with me, isn't it?"

Rem blinked, confused. "What does that have to do with me?"

"Those children need you," Subaru explained. "When the village people arrive, leave them with them. But I... I need to go after Meili. Follow me later."

Kaoru, who had been silent for a moment, let out a sigh. "You almost made me shed a tear," she commented with a hint of sarcasm before adding, "I'll go with you too. I need to keep you in one piece because of the promise I made to Emilia."

"I don't plan to die here," Subaru declared in a voice full of determination as he prepared to leave.

Before he could take a step, Rem stopped him by grabbing him by the sleeve of his suit. Without stopping healing the children, she looked at him with concern. "We don't know what the enemy might do, or when the villagers will arrive. And if you leave, I may not be able to find you," she said with an uneasy tone.

Subaru looked into her eyes, his expression softening. "It's all right. You won't lose me. Even if no one else does, you can find me. You notice my scent, the scent of the witch, the stench that haunts me, don't you?"

"Subaru-kun..." Muttered Rem, surprised. "How much do you know about...?"

Subaru shook his head slightly. "No idea. There's a lot I still don't understand. No matter how much I start over, I can't find the answer I'm looking for."

Then, Subaru leaned over and raised his hand, intertwining his pinky with Rem's. A silent promise.

"I have a lot of things to ask you too," Subaru said. "So let's talk when we take care of this. Until we can't talk anymore. Promise."

Rem looked directly at him, her eyes wavering for a moment before filling with confidence. "I trust you, Subaru-kun. I promise you that now."

"All right. When the villagers come for the children, I'll come for you," Rem promised as she released him.

"I'm like a demon fanatic today," Subaru commented with a smile as he leaned towards Rem.

"Demonic?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"It's the demonic version of a religious fanatic," Subaru explained with a small laugh. "Lately that's my favorite phrase."

Kaoru, already tired of waiting, started running into the forest beyond the hill. "Let's go."

Subaru soon followed, with the same fire burning inside him.

"Be careful"

Rem muttered as she watched them walk away. Subaru gave a thumbs up backwards as he ran, not looking back, determined to save the day.