The Roaring Reunion

All the Oni men entered the forest, along with Ram. Setanta, the village chief, came too. With things having come this far, and Ram in particular going into battle herself, there was no point in him objecting anymore.

Of course, they did not march in as a great throng. From the start, Subaru had worried that the Witch Cult might be using some means to watch the village's every move. Being too conspicuous would only alert the enemy and hand them the initiative.

The Oni spread out in the formations they had agreed on beforehand and slipped silently into the dense forest. If they found any trace of the Witch Cult, they were to cast magic into the sky as a signal.

"Ram glared at me for a long time... Is it really okay for you to come with me, Rem?"

Subaru and Rem had been assigned to the same group. Rem had suggested it herself, and Subaru had not objected. He figured it was better to keep the little girl where he could see her than leave her in the village. It would be terrible if the enemy attacked while they were away.

That said, Rem had already awakened her Oni horn, and her strength was roughly on par with Subaru's, even with his Lesser Spirit.

"This is the best decision. As long as Rem is by Subaru's side, she has nothing to fear."

"But I'm really afraid you'll get hurt, Rem. Why did trouble have to come knocking all of a sudden..."

"As long as Rem is with Subaru, no hardship can defeat her. As long as it leads to a future together with Subaru, Rem will try very, very hard."

"...Damn it. What a mess."

Moved by her wholehearted reliance on him, Subaru felt a slight sting in his nose and tried not to let an embarrassingly obvious expression show on his face.

"But, now that Rem thinks about it, Subaru really is amazing. You even figured out that the Witch Cult was going to attack the village. If Rem had known, she should have come along when Subaru went into the forest earlier."

Rem suddenly spoke in a tone tinged with dissatisfaction and full of admiration.

"No, no, no. I'd like you to be a little more rational about how you do things, Rem."

"But Subaru is so cruel. When Rem heard that Subaru was almost discovered by the Witch Cult, she nearly went mad."

"...That's a little alarming. But let's stay on guard for now, Rem. We're not out on a picnic."

"Sorry. Rem suddenly started feeling so happy."

"What is there to be happy about in a situation like this?" Subaru looked helpless.

"Did Subaru know? That unpleasant smell on Subaru has gotten stronger."

"The smell got stronger? Haven't you always hated it?"

"But it's Subaru's smell. Rem has come to like it now."

Rem shook her head earnestly, then raised a hand and pointed at the deep, dense forest ahead.

"And over there. Rem doesn't know why, but the forest smells the same as Subaru, too. It feels like there are lots of Subarus, so Rem is very happy..."

Subaru frowned. That did not sound like a good thing.

Before he had time to think any further, a rustling came from deep in the forest. Subaru immediately raised his gun and went on guard. Rem's blissful expression vanished too, and her small body tensed as she moved to Subaru's side.

It really is these guys.

The black-robed figures emerged from the shadows of the trees once again. They froze for a moment when they saw Subaru, and then their gazes fell on Rem beside him. In that instant, their killing intent erupted without the slightest restraint.

Short swords and scimitars emerged from beneath their black robes, their cold gleam flickering in the shadows of the forest.

"Why are you with our target?"

A Witch Cultist asked.

"Do I know you?"

The Witch Cultist froze, his voice full of confusion.

"Are you... not 'one of those in the seats'?"

"Bang!"

A magic bullet was his answer. It pierced his heart, tearing through black robes and flesh. Before he could even scream, the Witch Cultist fell on his back, completely lifeless.

The next moment, every trace of respect vanished from the remaining black-robed figures' postures. Raising their weapons high, they charged at Subaru and Rem.

"Anta! Fire!"

Antares formed a dazzling ball of Mana and sent it streaking into the sky with a long fiery tail. It burst above the treetops in a blinding red flash!

The signal that they had found the Witch Cult had been sent, and reinforcements would arrive soon. Subaru aimed his gun at the enemy, and the horn on Rem's head lit up at the same instant.

Subaru's second clash with the Witch Cult had officially begun!