"Looks like there are even more. What do we do—can you handle all of them?" Shichen asked Rem with a smile, treating the danger before them as nothing at all.
"No. We're outnumbered—Rem can't deal with that many mabeasts," Rem said, shaking her head as she stared solemnly at the pack already circling them.
"Then do we run? Punch a hole in one direction and head back toward the village."
"That would lead the mabeasts straight there… and I can't repair the barrier."
"Then there's a simpler option. Remember how I just sent Petra and the others back to the village?"
"You mean… we can do that even now?" Rem looked at him, unsure.
"Sure. Anytime."
"But these mabeasts…"
"Then there's only one way: kill every last one."
"Rem can't handle that many."
"But I can. I'm very strong—much stronger than you," he said lightly.
"That's very reassuring," Rem said with a sudden smile. With blood on her face, it looked almost wicked.
Shichen reached out and wiped the blood from her cheek.
"What are you doing?" Rem asked, puzzled.
"Wiping the blood… Alright, fine—I just couldn't resist touching your face," he admitted honestly.
"At a time like this…?" Rem sighed helplessly.
"Especially at a time like this. Don't tense up, don't be afraid. The two of us can handle these mabeasts just fine," Shichen said with an easy grin.
"Rem suddenly has less confidence. You still haven't shown your own strength… and those tricks earlier didn't look like the sort of thing that can deal with this many," she said.
"Then I'll show you—and you can worship me more than your sister afterward."
"Impossible. Sister is the one Rem admires most."
"Sigh, you really do love your sister. But that's just a shackle."
"You…" Rem looked into his eyes, words faltering. It was as though he knew her situation inside and out.
"Not now. Let's put these mabeasts down first. Go ahead—let it all out."
"Fine! But Rem has no 'pressure' to release," she said.
Back to back, they faced the ring of mabeasts—snarling fangs, crimson eyes glinting with a hint of wariness. Shichen knew what they feared; Rem didn't, assuming it was just the intimidation she'd shown earlier. Either way, their hesitation only made her feel more exhilarated; without noticing, a feral smile spread across her face.
"Go!"
Shichen drew EA from his Treasury and charged first.
"That's…" Rem glanced back. One look at that strange, three-stepped blade made her heart skip. That was not a weapon she could contend with. Another "meteor" (magic tool)?
"Will that child be alright?" she couldn't help worrying.
"Relax—you have no idea how powerful the 'little-sister-in-arms' buff is."
Cradling the girl in one arm, Shichen swung the Deviant Sword with the other, cutting the pack like weeds. Mabeasts were as light as feathers—no chance to resist—arterial spray and flying bodies in his wake. Using EA on mabeasts was overkill, but he hadn't found another weapon he felt like using. If you have the best, why use anything less?
Est and Betty were back at the mansion, happily catching up. After the initial euphoria of being reunited with Shichen, Betty had fallen in with Est again; well, what could you do when his head was full of Emilia and Rem? As a woman, she couldn't even beat Est—thankfully, she wasn't the type to mind.
Watching Shichen cut a path like no one else was there, Rem tightened her grip on the chain and plunged in. No more holding back—she was going to let herself fly.
The clatter of links behind him made Shichen glance back. To him, these mabeasts were trivial—if he wanted, he could erase them all in an instant. But Rem needed them—to vent the pressure inside.
Her maid dress flared, blue hair flying in wild strands. She didn't care about the blood misting the air; she bathed in it, iron ball whirling, grin unrestrained. In that moment—even in her madness—Shichen found her vivid, alive. Usually, with that poker face, she was like a doll—like she didn't have a heart. She had, after all, cast herself as her sister's stand-in.
"Hm?"
Keeping half an eye on her, Shichen suddenly felt the shift at the core of things. A dry whisper of wind swelled to a roar; two rolling earth-and-stone cyclones came screaming in. The gale ripped up soil, sand, and mud; trees yanked from the ground—this slice of forest reshaped at once. The violent rush barreled straight for Shichen and Rem—and somehow missed every other mabeast.
Shichen casually unfolded two barriers, one for himself and one for Rem, and looked to the source: a small mabeast wrapped in yellow phosphorescence—mana crackling.
Mabeasts were mana-bearing enemies of humankind—not cursers, but wielders of magic themselves.
"What's that?" Rem stared at the transparent barrier shimmering before her, then at Shichen. It was protecting her—who else could have cast it?
"You alright?" Shichen stepped to her side.
"I'm fine…" Rem said, then looked at the magic-casting mabeast. "Isn't that the puppy?"
"It should be the leader," Shichen nodded.
"Then take it out and we're done—"
"Can't get close," he said.
"Leave it to me," Rem said, expression hardening.
"Oh? So you haven't been serious yet?" Shichen teased.
"No."
She smiled back at him. "But it might frighten you~"
"Impossible. I'll probably just fall for you even harder."
"Is that so? Then—watch me."
Rem's grin turned savage; she stepped forward—and in that instant, the world itself seemed to freeze. The little caster mabeast, the larger pack re-forming around it—everything stopped.
A suffocating stillness seeped out from Rem. Mana howled off her; the blood on her maid dress visibly steamed, unraveling into red vapor. From behind, Shichen saw the reason in her eyes blink out; the vague smile on her face twisted. Then—the Oni appeared.
Under the headband she'd long since lost, a white horn sprouted from her fair forehead.
"Ha… hahahaha—!"
Rem laughed, a chilling cackle, and rode the wind into the pack. The mabeasts never had a chance—she stamped one underfoot and its body burst; skulls shattered. She ignored the spray; the iron ball rose again. Blood flowers bloomed in masses; mabeast corpses piled high.
"Mabeasts! Mabeasts! MABEASTS—!"
Rem howled, swinging the iron ball, butchering all around. Blood spattered, skulls cracked, guts and brain-matter carpeted the ground. She'd lost reason to killing intent; only slaughter remained in her head.
Just like her appearance now—an Oni.
Watching from behind, Shichen realized she couldn't control that power—not well. She wasn't attacking friend and foe without distinction, but she didn't recognize him, either. When she turned and met his eyes, for a heartbeat it was like she didn't know him. In this state, she probably only recognized her sister.
He'd have to work harder; he didn't plan to outrank Ram in Rem's heart—being on par would be enough. He remembered: a blow to that beautiful white horn would bring her back. No rush, though—there was no real danger yet. Let her purge a little more.
Despite Rem's rampage, the mabeasts weren't thinning—they were gathering. Time to handle the root: the small caster hiding behind the pack—and the little girl in his arms, for that matter.
He was about to handle both when he sensed a familiar aura. It came quickly, revealing itself.
"Ram?" Shichen said, surprised.
"Shichen… what happened here?" Ram called from a distance, eyes locked on the deranged Rem, face tight.
"There's a cursist in the village, cursing people. The barrier's down. If the mabeasts breach the village…"
Shichen didn't need to finish. Ram understood at once. This touched Emilia's and Roswaal's reputations. The village was part of Roswaal's domain; if the villagers were harmed, Roswaal would be held responsible—and by extension, so would Emilia, whom he backed. It could even affect the royal selection.