Curses in this world weren't much to worry about. In the blink of an eye, black smoke rose from Petra and the others, then was burned away to nothing.
"The curse really was lifted?" Rem gasped, looking at Shichen with eyes full of wonder.
What kind of magic was that?
So strong!
"I told you I'm amazing, didn't I?" Shichen recalled the flame, grinning at Rem.
"Mm!" Rem couldn't help smiling back at his smile.
For the first time, a radiant smile blossomed on her face.
"B-big brother…"
Just then, the cursed children began to wake. Petra forced her eyes open, calling weakly to Shichen.
"Petra, you're awake. How do you feel?" Shichen propped her up, gently rubbing her head in reassurance.
"It's alright now—don't worry. Say goodbye to the pain. Don't be afraid—my maid friend and I are here. We're very strong."
"Mm… b-but… someone… deeper in…"
"What did you say?" Rem cried out.
"S-someone else… inside…" Petra didn't finish. She fainted again. She was just a child—how could she withstand such torment?
But her meaning was obvious. Rem looked over the children and realized something.
"That braided girl—she isn't here. Petra must mean her, right?"
The braided girl was the one who'd been holding the puppy. She was so close to that mabeast—she might be the most vulnerable.
Rem couldn't help worrying—a feeling that wasn't supposed to belong to her.
"What do you want to do?" Shichen asked quietly.
"I… If the child was taken by a mabeast, then she's probably…"
"We don't know that yet. Say what you really want," Shichen encouraged.
"What I really want…"
Rem murmured, gazing at Petra sleeping in Shichen's arms. The moment she'd woken, her first words had been about someone being taken. Even after such pain, she was worried about a friend—this frail, young girl cared more for her friend than herself.
"…I want to be the hero you talked about, Shichen. I'll take Petra's courage and go save that little girl."
"Rem wants that, huh?" Shichen smiled, genuinely pleased.
"This is your fault—you've made this maid stop putting her station first when she thinks," Rem said, smiling as she "blamed" him.
"My fault—I'll take responsibility."
"Mm. Then you take Petra and the others back first. I'll go—"
"Hold it. What nonsense is that?" Shichen cut her plan off, annoyed.
"Of course I'm going with you. I can't leave you to go alone."
"But Petra and the others are—"
"Relax. I'll send them back right now."
He stood, snapped his fingers, and the air around the children rippled. In the next instant, they vanished into thin air.
"What was that?" Rem stared at the empty patch of grass, wide-eyed.
"Don't worry. They're back in the village."
"How… how did you do that?"
"Magic," Shichen said lightly.
"Magic…"
Rem hesitated. It was the first time she'd seen a magic like that.
"I am very strong. All you need to do is keep believing in me."
"Keep… believing in you… Alright. Let's go save that little girl," Rem said, her confidence soaring. She'd never followed her own will like this—but it felt good, like she was breaking free and finding herself.
"Good."
Rem took the lead, and the two headed deeper into the forest. Shichen hadn't bothered to sense the girl's presence; there was no need. He'd nudged Rem along because he wanted her to do what she wanted.
Following her, watching the petite maid swinging an iron ball in one hand—the contrast was huge, and oddly adorable.
Suddenly, Rem stopped. The air around them shifted, something out of place.
"Mabeasts," she murmured without looking back.
"Mm."
Shichen smelled it too—the reek of an animal, rank and musky, riding the air and smothering the scent of earth and grass.
"Shichen…!" Rem whispered, excited.
Shichen leaned in; peering past her shoulder through the brush, he saw their quarry. In a thinned patch of trees lay a fallen trunk, knocked over by wind and rot. Beside it, a pair of small, pale calves—white feet above tattered clothes, brown braids splayed out gave her away.
"It's her," he said softly at Rem's ear.
"Mm… Let's go," Rem said, shrinking her neck from the heat of his breath as she moved toward the girl.
Shichen followed, a touch helpless. They weren't even being cautious, and the child was sprawled motionless—clearly not right. There were no mabeasts in sight either.
Maybe Rem trusted her own strength. She wasn't weak.
"Rrraugh!"
Just as they neared the girl, the brush shook—and a four-legged beast stepped out. Its fur was short and black, Doberman-like, but twice the size. Its toes ended in hooked claws; even with its mouth shut, its fangs showed, drool trailing from one corner as it glared at them with bloodshot eyes and a low growl.
"A mabeast…" Rem showed no fear. She hefted her iron ball and stepped to meet it.
"Shichen, go get her. Leave the mabeast to me."
"That confident?"
"I'm very strong," Rem said with a smile—throwing his earlier words back at him.
"Alright. Show me."
"Leave it to me!"
She charged, the heavy iron ball whirling as if it were a toy. The mabeast crouched and sprang for her.
Shichen didn't go to the girl—he stood and admired Rem's form.
In the blink of an eye they met. The mabeast wasn't her match. As they crossed, Rem's iron ball crashed down on its head—it burst like a melon. The body dropped headless to the ground, a splash of red spreading across the earth.
Blood streaked Rem's face; it didn't mar her beauty—if anything it lent her a savage allure. She looked almost ecstatic.
"Careful, Rem," Shichen called at the right moment.
As he spoke, countless red eyes glowed to life in the dark woods—too many to count—tearing the darkness like shards of light.
"Perfect," Rem snarled, a mad glint in her eye. She didn't notice that all those eyes were fixed not on her—but on the girl—as if watching over her.
"Come on then!"
The chain sang as she swung, the brutal weapon spinning at speed, ready to destroy anything it touched. Wherever she moved, trees snapped and fell, and beasts beneath crushed trunks died outright. The others bared their fangs and leapt with fury—but none could get close. The flail struck—bodies caved in or skulls shattered.
This small maid wielded a savage iron ball; blood bloomed like flowers in the forest, and she stood unfazed, grinning wildly. When any beast did slip through, her free hand smashed it aside with a punch.
Her black-and-white maid dress was mostly red now.
"Rem! That was awesome!" Shichen called from afar, clapping.
"That's no compliment for a lady," Rem shot back, exhilarated.
"Just telling the truth."
"Aren't you going to the girl?" Rem finally noticed he was still standing there.
"Oh—got a little carried away." Shichen trotted over to the child.
"…" Rem faltered a beat at his behavior.
"Rrraugh!"
Seeing Shichen move toward the girl, another mabeast pivoted and lunged at him.
"Look out!"
Rem sprang, flail whipping down on the beast mid-leap.
Boom—!
Blood sprayed, the earth thudded, soil flew.
Shichen, unfazed, lifted the girl and strolled back to Rem with a cheeky grin. "Incredible. I'm falling harder and harder for you, Rem."
"…," Rem couldn't stop herself rolling her eyes at him.
~~~
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