Chapter 8 - Curse

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"Talking"
'Thoughts'
*Time/Location*

*Timeskip - A few hours later*

Subaru began to work closely with the maids, while Y/N remained to serve as a mansion guard. Y/N mostly kept watch by sitting in one of the garden's pagodas. He would then witness Subaru and Rem leave out of the entryway of the mansion.

Y/N then approaches them with Yoru on his back.

Y/N: "Where are you two going?"

Subaru: "Well, Rem-rin is going to go shopping for supplies in the village near the mansion, and I'm just going to tour the outside of the mansion in search of a perfect place for a date."

Y/N places his hand on his chin before saying.

Y/N:  "Alright, I also want to go along with you two."

Rem appears unfazed by Y/N's statement, unlike Subaru who was a little surprised.

Subaru: "Huh? Really?"

Y/N: "I am pretty free and it doesn't harm to see those who are near to the mansion. The village is a part of the Roswaal's territory, isn't that right maid?

Rem: "That is right, Y/N-sama."

Subaru: "Well then. Let's go!"

--

*Timeskip*

Subaru and the party had traveled across Roswaal's area, seeking the greatest sights and locations, until they arrive at Arlam Village. The kids flocked around Subaru and Y/N with enthusiasm.

The kids seeing the large black blade on the back of Y/N was amazed.

*A/N: In case you guys forgot who is who, 
Petra is the girl with a ribbon on her head. You may already know her.

Lucas is the kid on top of Subaru in the image.  
Mildo is the chubby kid in the left.
Dyne is the kid with spiky hair.
Cain is the kid in the left back besides Mildo.
and Meina is the girl on the right.

Dyne: "Woah! What a cool looking sword!"

Lucas: "Are you perhaps a knight sir?" 

Cain: "And what is that big sword on your back?"

Y/N, who has little experience dealing with kids, is struggling to manage them. Y/N was about to take a step back when Subaru came to cover him.

Subaru: "Now now, Sir Y/N is not feeling well. How about we play some games instead?"

Lucas: "Really?!"

Subaru starts to play with the children as Y/N departs from the group. He then uses his ken haki to scan the area around the village. He observes that the village's outside is surrounded by some sort of glowing stones. Rem, who was done shopping, approaches Y/N on his side while looking at Y/N, who appears to be peering intensely at the forest.

Rem: "Are you perhaps curious what is outside the village, Y/N-sama?"

Y/N then turns to Rem to ask some questions.

Y/N: "Yes. I can see that there are some kind of glowing stones around this village. What are those?"

Rem: "Oh, they are magic stones. They are placed around the village to form a barrier."

Y/N: "What for?"

Rem: "This village is beside a forest full of Demonic beasts, namely Wolgarms. The barrier is formed to protect the village from them."

Y/N: "Wolgarms..."

Y/N is very intrigued by the subject of demonic beasts. He then continued to expand his field of vision into the trees. He can make out a group of Wolgarms in the woods. They had hound-like features, including spikes, red eyes, and wolf-like behavior.

Within the heightened senses of Y/N, they appear to exude the same energy as mana. They appear to be surrounded by an evil aura as well. He suddenly notices the same aura at Subaru's location, though.

Y/N swiftly shifted his gaze to Subaru. He notices a young person there with blue hair carrying what appears to be a small dog. Then it suddenly bit Subaru.

Y/N then questions Rem.

Y/N: "Hey, maid. Does something happen when you get bitten by a demonic beast."

Rem: "Well. Based on my knowledge it will leave you a deadly curse. But that's all I know, I'm not an expert at curses."

Y/N sweats slightly from that information. 

Y/N: 'If that small pup bit me, I would probably die without knowing anything.'

Y/N: "Is there someone who knows about curses like that?"

Rem: "Well, Beatrice-sama is very knowledgeable in curses and she can dispel curses too."

Y/N: "I see. I will keep that in mind."

Rem was quite puzzled why Y/N would ask such questions.

Rem: "Why? Is there something wrong?"

Y/N: "Nothing. I just have a suspicion. But don't mind it."

Rem's face turned quite serious after hearing Y/N's response. But then Subaru then approached them as he said his goodbyes to the kids. Rem sees Subaru's bloodied hand.

Rem: "Are you alright?"

Subaru: "I'm fine, I'm fine. All done shopping Rem-rin?"

Rem: "Yes, it went quite smoothly."

--

*Timeskip - Dusk*

Subaru bids the kids farewell while Rem and Y/N follows. The sun was setting as they made their way to Roswaal's mansion. While Y/N remained silent, they spoke a lot about how Subaru is good with children and Rem's sister.

Subaru: "Why do you have such absolute faith in your sister? That's not normal. Your demonically inspired for real."

Rem: "Demonically inspired?"

Rem then suddenly stops in her steps.

Subaru: "It's the demon version of divine inspiration. Sounds kinda cool right?"

Rem: "Do you like demons?" 

This caught Y/N's attention. Meanwhile, Subaru ponders a bit.

Subaru: "Well, gods generally don't do anything, but demons will laugh along when you talk about your future plans. Especially for next year and stuff. They'll laugh their heads off."

Rem then smiles beautifully hearing his response. 

As Y/N noticed this, he felt somewhat conflicted. He typically has a distant attitude toward everyone and is unwilling to establish a closer relationship. The most terrifying power, as he deduced from a particular straw hat, is the ability to make others around you your allies. Within this reality, it would still be true even if this were not the sea. And now that I'm looking at Subaru, it appears that he has the same talent. And he already has evidence of that in front of him.

Y/N: 'Normally, I don't trust anyone, but Subaru has been able to win my trust. Certainly he is not as strong as that straw hat. Yet he has the ability to go back in time and start over.'

Y/N smirks. Although no one caught him but he quickly rid the smirk from his face. He then looks up in the skies. 

Y/N: 'Maybe finding peace within this world is not so bad. Not every day am I being pursued by marines and threatened by powerful pirates.'

Subaru: "Oi! Y/N-san! If you don't come, we'll leave you!"

Y/N looks back in-front as he was already being left behind by Subaru and Rem. He quickly caught up to them.

Subaru: "Why were you standing so long there?"

Y/N: "None of your business."

Subaru then shrugs.

Subaru: "Alright then."

--

*Timeskip - Night*

Y/N made the decision to pay Beatrice a visit at night. One of the doors is being enveloped by mana, he can sense it. When he got close to it, he opened it to discover a big library with a blonde Loli sitting down in the center, reading.

Beatrice was surprised.

Beatrice: "How did you-... Nevermind, I would think your also the same with that annoying brat. Anyways, what business do you have with betty, I suppose?"

Y/N: "I'm here to ask about curses. Specifically curses from a Wolgarm."

Beatrice: "It seems that you have seen those demonic beasts from the forest nearby, I suppose?"

Y/N: "Yes. Now tell me, what curse does it have."

Beatrice then stands up and goes to the nearby shelf. She then struggles to reach a book that is on the higher portion of the shelf.

Y/N then approached and helped her in reaching it because Y/N is much taller than she is. Y/N then handed the book to Betty, who seemed to have let out a sour "Hmph" sound as she took it from Y/N's hands.  She then flips open the book and flips through the pages until she reaches the page that has the information about Wolgarms.

Beatrice: "You see, a curse from a Wolgarm is deadly. The curse would instantly transfer all of the victim's mana to the Wolgarm regardless of the distance, instantly killing the victim and feeding the Wolgarm, I suppose."

Y/N widens his eyes as he then sweats a little.

Y/N: "So the magical energy is needed for a person to live huh?"

Beatrice: "What kind of question is that? Have you been living under a rock, I suppose?"

Y/N: "I am just asking questions." Y/N responds seriously.

Beatrice did a grumpy "Hmph" before responding.

Beatrice: "Yes, if a person is drained of all mana inside, he or she will die, I suppose."

Y/N: "How long will the curse activate?"

Beatrice: "At most in half a day, I suppose."

Y/N then came into a realization as he quickly opened the door to exit.

Beatrice: "Leaving, I suppose?"

Y/N ignored her remarks as he quickly ran through the halls then suddenly he hears screaming in the hallway. He quickly used Soru to travel faster through the long hallway. He sees that the floor was bloodied along with the surrounding walls. There Subaru screams as he rolls around in pain.

Y/N: "Subaru!"

Y/N: 'Damn it, he's bleeding too much. He won't make it.'

Subaru extends an arm at Y/N.

Subaru: "H-Help me... It hurts..."

Y/N regrets delaying the solution to this. believing that it would take days for the curse to work. While he watches Subaru violently bleed out in anguish until the world turned black.


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