Chapter 17: First Boss Fight (2)

Chapter 17: First Boss Fight (2)

~Third POV~

Rushing down to Arlam Village as fast as they both could go Rem asked Mash in a serious tone with her weapon Morningstar in hand, "There is a shaman in the village?"

Mash nodded his head agreeing with Rem of his explanation of a Shaman living within the Arlam Village, "Yeah, there had to be if you were placed a curse. If things don't go well, I don't know if the village will be spared from destruction."

Rem's eyes widen realizing the issue at hand in disbelief of the possibility, "Are you… serious?"

Reaching Arlam Village Mash replied expressing his concern seeing villagers with torches in the distance replying in worry, "If I am mistaken about this, that would be great. But I don't think we're that lucky."

The two continued to hurry till they found the villagers searching around with torches as Rem tried to talk to one in a concerned tone, "Did something happen?"

One of the villagers noticed their appearance and quickly went to answer Rem's question about the situation, "Y… Yeah. To put it straight, several children of the village have disappeared. So, the adults are looking around for them as we speak."

Moving forward towards the villager Mash asked in a serious tone clenching his weapon handle, "Are Luka, Petra, and Mild the children who are missing?"

The villager a bit surprised answered confused what Mash meant, "Y… Yeah. That's right but – "

Quickly moving past the villagers, he went to inform them where to look his eyes glazed towards the forest, "They won't show up even if you look around the village. Please tell everyone who's searching for them – the children are in the forest!!"

Rem quickly follows Mash as she questions his certainty where the children are in a confused tone, "Bastion-san why do you think they're in the forest…? Wouldn't the children have already been eaten?"

Mash merely grinned which didn't go unnoticed by Rem as he explained his certainty in his voice about the children's fate explaining his reasonings, "Demon Beast fed on mana. Something you told me in our study lessons. They will drain them dry before moving onto their flesh. While the curse is indeed lethal, I do not believe the demon has activated it yet. I do not even believe it has used the same curse as you Rem. No, the beast has some intelligence, or the master wants them alive. Regardless they want all the children, and alive if possible. If it only wanted to feed itself, it would not have taken the children. I'm confident it has a pack to feed, somewhere inside the forest."

Before Rem could respond her eyes widened seeing the barrier placed around the village had been broken, "The barrier… has been broken. Beyond here is the forest territory of the Mad Beast."

Seeing the forest Mash steeled his nerves taking the first step forward causing Rem to react at his actions, "! What are you doing Bastion-kun?!"

Mash stopped turning around expressing a determined look responding to Rem's question in a serious tone, "The kids are on the other side, so I must go and save them. The dog – no Demon Beast which the kids were playing with is beyond there and places a curse on everyone it bites. I won't turn my back on them."

Rem tries to dissuade Mash as he turns his back taking a step forward and trying to reason with him not giving up his life, "Please hold on, this situation is too suspicious. For a problem like this to arise, as if taking advantage of Rosewaal-sama's absence… can you be sure that this is not a mere diversion, and the mansion instead is the true target."

Stopping briefly exhaling his breath Mash began to explain himself in a determined tone turning his face at Rem, "Then what should we do? Return to the mansion to fortify our defenses? If it doesn't matter to you even if everyone in the village is dead by tomorrow, that's probably an option. But I would rather not think of such an option… Rem let's go we have no choice but to do something by ourselves."

Rem expressing her worry and confusion as to why Mash would risk so much for people he met baffles her, "Why would you go that far… how deep of a relationship do you have with this village Bastion-kun?"

Mash stopped turning around with an infectious grin expression of determination responding in a serious tone, "None at all. But each of those kids wants to do something in the future. Petra wants to be a future clothes designer. Luka a future best lumberjack. Mild a mama's boy who wants to make a crown for his mother. I indeed have no relation to them. I know their faces, names, and what they want to do in the future. But I made a promise to them, and I keep my promises. So… I'm going in."

Walking forward into Demon Beast territory Rem thought to herself in a hesitant tone watching him march forward into enemy territory, 'I never knew courage was such a terrifying thing.'

Rem could only sigh causing Mash to stop as she followed him listening to her words, "Sigh… I guess I have no choice. Since my orders were to watch over you, I wouldn't be able to carry them out if I let you proceed onward while alone, right? So shall we get going?"

Mash could only grin nodding thanking Rem for joining the forest in a thankful tone, "Thanks."

/////

To the heart of the Demon Beast-infested Forest, Mash tries to locate the children using his [Observe] skill, 'Where are they…!! Quickly we must find them and rescue the children quickly or else…'

Soon his question was answered as Rem notified Mash smelling the children thanks to her senses, "I smell creatures one which are not beasts… it's nearby. It's this way!"

They soon found the children from Arlam village all lying unconscious on the ground they checked the children's conditions relieved that their alive but noticed their debilitation concluding it was the work of a curse in effect.

Rem is using [Healing Magic] to palliate the effects as Mash tries to reassure the barely awakened Petra, "You've woken up? All right, you're a good child. A strong child but don't force yourself. Rest quietly for now…"

Petra pointed her finger into the deeper portion of the forest saying another person was there as Rem tried to dissuade Mash from going any deeper, "P… Please wait! It's too dangerous! Besides, if she has been dragged into the forest by the Demon Beasts, it's probably too late…"

Mash nodded understanding her concerns but knowing his meta knowledge he replied to Rem trying to be concerned for the girl ahead, "I what you want to say, Rem. But Petra was worried about her friend despite her condition. If we're going to bring them back, we should endeavor to bring them all back."

Rem scolds Mash for his greediness of trying to get everything his way shaking her head eyes closed, "You're getting too greedy. We should only bring back as many as we can safely carry. If you overdo it, we might lose some along the way."

To her surprise, however, Mash grinned cheerfully at Rem much to the Oni's confusion as he replied optimistically, "That's why you're here to prevent that from happening, right? Soon the youths from the village will probably follow us here. When that happens, it should be fine to leave these children in their hands and come after me."

Tugging on his wrist Rem tries to convince Mash to proceed any further while healing Luka in the process in a rational tone, "We have no idea how much of a threat the opponent is, and we also don't know when the villagers will join us… At worst there's a possibility I might not even be able to find you."

*Shiii*

At this, Mash revealed Natsuki Subaru's jacket from his [Sub-Space] out of her view alerting Rem's eyes as he explained himself to her in a confident tone, "It's alright. With this jacket with a witch scent, you can track me down. I usually use this to ensure that I won't get attacked by Demon Beast since they can't stand the witch's scent. Even if nobody else noticed it, you alone are aware of my stench, isn't that, right?"

Rem's eyes widen as he kneels to her holding her hand with their pinkies intertwining with each other in a disbelief tone, "Mash… just how much do you know…?"

Mash merely replied in a confident tone making a promise to Rem about his certainty in his actions, "There's plenty of things I know and things I don't. Always been perceptive to my surroundings and learned all that I could. I have many things which I want to ask you about as well so let's talk when all of this is settled. It's a promise."

Rem holds her hand where Mash holds his promise to her in a confused tone, "W… What did you just do…?"

Mash explained in a confident tone with a grin forming on his face trusting Rem with confidence, "I sealed the promise by linking our fingers. I trust you, Rem. So, I want to act in a way that I can be trusted by you. Therefore, I made you this promise because a man never goes back on his word."

Rem shook her head, but a small smile gently appeared as she began to talk to Mash in a serious tone trusting him, "You promised. There are many things I want to ask you but… I'll join up with you soon, so please don't do anything reckless, no matter what."

Mash's response was turning his back and marching forward giving Rem a thumbs up agreeing to her words and heading deeper into the Demon Beast territory.

/////

Upon reaching a small clearing a girl's legs were hidden from behind the log as Mash's eyes narrowed at the girl in question using his [Observe] skill to gather info on the enemy.

[Meili Portroute Lv.10 Demon Beast User]

Mash merely glared at the girl despite being 13 years old he hesitated about striking down a little girl. Keeping his moral ground he sighed to himself thinking in a defeated tone, 'Sigh… if there was any reason to strike her down it wouldn't be here nor now. And as much as I want to get rid of a future threat… I can't now. Not while Rem doesn't fully trust me.'

Making his way forward Mash managed to grab hold of the girl placing his hand over her neck and responding quietly enough for her to hear, "Sorry. But I need you out of commission. Tell Elsa I said hello."

*Wooosh*

*Whack*

Upon pronouncing her sister's name her eyes widen that her trick won't work. Trying to reach Mash did a simple karate chop to the neck knocking her out immediately.

[LEVEL UP!]

Defeating Meili Mash gains a level up putting him into Level 3. However, he hid his excitement as fear settled in when his eyes wandered to the darkness of the forest only for pairs of eyes shined in the night like stars.

Multiple Demon Beast as his eyes soon dart towards the uncontrolled Demon Beast eyes glowing in the forest surrounded by the darkness of the night as he mutters nervously, "Ooi, ooi! You've gotta be kidding me…"

But what didn't help was the one in charge with the bald head was in front of the pack growling at him.