Chapter 51: One Was Missing
Visibility in the forest at night was extremely low.
Even though the moon's bright light was fairly strong, the trees blocked most of the moonlight, making the path not very clear.
Fortunately, Natsuki Subaru could still see the small footprints of the children.
Following these prints, he should be able to find their location.
That said, the darkness of the night forest stirred a slight fear in Subaru's heart, and he also worried whether the forest beasts might attack him.
All sorts of thoughts ran through Subaru's mind, such as whether the children would be attacked by the beasts or not.
These thoughts caused his pace to quicken.
The bushes around made Subaru somewhat disheveled, and several red scratches appeared on his cheek.
Continuing to follow the footprints, Subaru soon emerged from the forest and saw a grassy clearing.
Without trees blocking the way, Subaru could clearly see several figures lying in the middle of the grass.
Feeling a tightness in his chest, Subaru hurriedly sped up and rushed over.
When he reached the figures, he saw the children's faces showing signs of pain.
"Hey, are you alright? Wake up! Didn't we agree you'd behave well?" Subaru anxiously looked at the children's condition, checking each of their foreheads and finding they all had high fevers.
On their arms or calves, he saw bite marks.
Seeing these bite marks, Subaru instantly understood these children must have been cursed. Realizing the situation couldn't be delayed any longer, Subaru wanted to take the children away immediately—but he simply could not carry all six at once.
Though villagers might come soon, judging by the children's condition, they likely wouldn't last until then.
The best immediate solution was to take the children away in two trips—but doing so felt like abandoning the ones left behind.
Subaru could not accept such a situation.
"Ahhh, this is so annoying! You stinky brats, hang on! If you pass out like this, how am I supposed to punish you for breaking our promise?" Subaru muttered.
He took off his butler jacket and wrapped two children inside it, tied a knot, and slung them onto his back.
He then tied up the sleeves with his teeth to secure the bundle.
Just as Subaru prepared to carry the remaining four children at once, footsteps came from the side, making him turn his head.
There stood someone who shouldn't be here: Rem, with her blue short hair, dressed in a maid outfit and carrying a brutal weapon.
"Witch's Cultist, what exactly are you trying to do? Why are you telling the villagers a command Lord Roswaal never gave? And what do you plan to do with these children?" Rem shouted.
Subaru stared blankly at Rem, full of murderous intent, but instead of fear, he smiled.
No matter what, her arrival—even if to kill him—meant she still cared about these children, giving him hope to successfully bring them back.
"Witch's Cultist? I don't know how you got here, but you really helped a lot.
Rem, this is not the time to worry about me. These children are cursed; we need to quickly bring them to the mansion so Beatrice can lift the curse."
Rem paused, observing the children beside Subaru.
She did notice their breathing was abnormal.
"You damn Witch's Cultist! What are you planning?" she snarled.
"Ahhh! You stubborn maid! Is now the time to ask that? Hurry and help me! How I deal with you after saving these kids is up to me!" Subaru said, stepping in front of Rem.
Rem tensed up, muscles ready to rescue the children, but Subaru set the children from his back down and handed them to her.
Rem was stunned by this action, but Subaru ignored her reaction, returning to the four remaining children.
He carried one on his back and held two with his arms, glaring at the still-standing Rem.
"Stupid maid! What are you just standing there for? Don't you know what should be prioritized?" Subaru shouted again, anxious.
Rem looked at Subaru with doubt, then crouched to check the children's condition, saying, "It's too late. The curse has taken effect. There's no stopping it now."
Subaru froze, stepping closer with fierce eyes, yelling, "What did you say?!"
"I'm saying these children can't be saved. Unless the person who cast the curse is dealt with, it can't be lifted," Rem replied.
She looked up at Subaru, stating the children were beyond saving.
Subaru silently squatted, put down the child on him, and grabbed Rem's collar.
"Do you know what you're saying?! Damn it! They're still alive, still breathing, and you're declaring their death sentence?! If there's a way to fix this, go handle the ones who cursed them! Don't just give up on their lives here!" Subaru shouted.
Rem didn't try to break free.
"Why are you trying to save them, Witch's Cultist…" she asked quietly.
"I'm not a Witch's Cultist. My name is Natsuki Subaru! Don't make me repeat myself. No matter what it takes, they must live! Please… don't give up on them so easily," Subaru pleaded.
Seeing Rem's lack of response, he gritted his teeth and loosened her collar.
"If you won't save them, then I'll do it myself. If you can't, I'll go ask Beatrice. I won't give up on their lives."
Rem watched Subaru's movements and slowly said:
"A curse that's been activated can't be stopped. The curse on them was cast by the forest beast Ulgram. If you kill the Ulgram that cursed them, they can be saved—but there are many Ulgrams in the forest."
Subaru stopped moving and looked at Rem.
She didn't look at him but raised her hand, which glowed with a cold light.
"Bring that child over there. I'll infuse them with mana."
"Oh…" Subaru hurried over and brought the remaining children to Rem's side.
Rem continued:
"Ulgram's curse drains mana from the one cursed. Once all mana is absorbed, it causes death. Ulgram usually feeds at night. If they survive tonight, the feeding will stop."
A light sparked in Subaru's eyes. Just as he was about to speak, Rem added:
"I can only delay it for a while. I can't hold out all night. My magic can't support the feeding of six Ulgrams.
And it's possible Ulgram will attack here, but villagers behind us should come soon.
Then we can go to the mansion for help and hopefully survive the night."
"So… if we survive tonight, the curse won't activate tomorrow? We need to find and kill the Ulgram who cast the curse in the forest, right?" Subaru asked.
"No… if it hasn't taken effect by tomorrow morning, the curse can be lifted.
Lady Emilia, her great spirit Puck, and Lady Beatrice in the mansion can all remove it."
Subaru sighed in relief, no longer so tense. Seeing Rem's serious expression, he smiled faintly:
"I thought you wouldn't help me… Thanks, Rem."
"I'm not helping you. I'm saving these children. I still don't trust you."
"Whether you trust me or not doesn't matter. Just save the children," Subaru said.
Rem said nothing and focused on infusing mana into the children.
Perhaps because Rem's mana replaced the Ulgram's feeding, one child woke up.
"Petra, thank goodness you're alright. Your big brother is so mad!" Subaru said.
"Sorry, Subaru… there's still one more…" the child said.
Subaru froze, recounting the children and realizing one purple-haired little girl was missing.
"Rem, I'll leave this to you. I'm going to find her."
"Wait! Don't you think this might be a trap?"
"So what?"
"You could die."
"If I die, wouldn't that please you? After all, you think I'm some Witch's Cultist. Anyway, I'm leaving this to you," Subaru said and ran into the forest, leaving Rem with a complex, puzzled look.