"So you're going to give up? Is there no other way to save him?!"

"His head must be hurting, I suppose....that's not surprising.....That's all, I suppose. You can do with him as you like."

"I swear.....i'll save you."

~Morning, Arlam Village~

The light from the sun was shining through a window as it landed on the face of a black haired boy. Just as the light got onto his eyes, Subaru was slowly opening them as he found himself staring at an unfamiliar ceiling again. The moment he tried to move, he felt a large amount of pain coursing through his body. When he rolled up his sleeves, he saw scars from where the mabeasts bit him.

"So they barely managed to save my life and these are the scars......"

When he looked to check his surroundings, Subaru noticed one person in the same room as him. The beautiful half-elf was asleep in a chair near the bed he was resting in. Soon a pitiful smile was forming on Subaru's face as he was trying to piece things together.

"Emilia....I guess I owe another debt to her."

"I wouldn't say that exactly. This time you produced results equal to the amount of effort you invested in. So I doubt Lia will think of this as a debt."

"Puck. Of course you'd be here too. You say this is the result of the effort I invested in, but I don't remember anything after I was nommed on."

"That's a cute way of saying it. It was more like:munch, gobble, snarf, chew, chomp, snap crunch!!!"

"With all those sound effects, I should definitely be dead. I think i'm five or six arms short for that."

After Subaru said this, he began to listen to Puck to learn what happened after he was out of commission. Apparently, Rem had carried him all the way back to the village. Despite her taking majority of the damage, her wounds healed quickly thanks to her transformation. Not only that, Akira had killed the mabeasts that were still left over and went back to the manor to get both Puck and Beatrice to undo the curses placed on the kids.

"Speaking of, what happened with Akira after that, Puck?"

"Well, the surprising thing was this. He actually stayed here during the night until he was sure you were still alive. The moment he got his answer, we haven't seen him since."

"I see. I don't know him that well, hell I probably will never truly get that guy. But......he's far more emotional than I thought."

~With Akira~
"How is she?"

"Thanks to your friend, all Petra has to do is just rest in bed. But really, I must thank you. Thank you.......thank you for saving my little girl!"

"The ones who saved her were Rem with her healing magic. Along with Beatrice undoing her curse. If you want to thank anyone, thank them."

As he was inside of a house in Arlam Village, Akira was seen sitting beside Petra's bed as he was holding the little girl's hand. While doing so, he could hear the mother crying as she gave him her gratitude. Just as Akira was about to leave, he felt a light squeeze on his right hand. When he looked downwards, he saw Petra slowly opening her eyes.

"Akira......th-"

"You just focus on resting, Petra. If you really want to thank me. You can do it once you open your shop. Don't you remember? We promised that i'd be your first customer."

Having said this, Akira simply walked out of the home. He didn't know why, but seeing Petra was well, along with seeing how her mother reacted, made him feel off. He was happy that the girl was safe, yet seeing the mother crying over her daughter and thanking him for bringing her back and helping to better her condition.....it felt foreign to him, but he didn't hate it.

"Is that how a normal family acts?"

"I've finally found you. This should save me some time, I suppose."

As Akira turned towards the origin of the voice he heard, he saw Beatrice looking at him with a serious expression on her face. While the guardian of the library began to walk, she motioned for Akira to follow her. Truth be told, he remembers their conversation from last night. He told her how Subaru was cursed again when he saved Rem, but he was too concerned about the black haired boy's condition to listen properly. He could only assume she wants to continue the conversation.

"Let me guess, the curse can't be undone this time."

"You would be correct, I suppose. The first time, it was just a singular curse. Removing it was as simple as untying a knot. There are too many curses placed this time, causing a web of knots that is too tangled to be undone. I'd say that boy has about half a day to live. After half a day, mabeasts activate their spells to replenish mana since the curse they use drains their prey of mana, I suppose."

"So the idiot became mabeast food. However, the spell can only activate if the caster is still alive. If we cut off the cause, then the effect won't occur. Given the fact I don't see that blue-haired maid anywhere along with her behavior yesterday, plus the info you gave me, it's easy to guess what she's doing."

The way Rem acted when Subaru was getting bitten by the mabeasts, along with her behavior while he was recovering, Akira could see it. The look of guilt plastered on the girl's face. Rem probably felt that Subaru's condition was all her fault, or maybe there was some past trauma that fueled that feeling even more. Knowing this, Akira began to walk off.

"By using my ability, i'll manipulate the sound in a way that it can be used as a sonar and map the surrounding area. If she's doing what I think she's doing, she's an even bigger idiot than I thought."

"Where are you going?!"

Akira stopped in his tracks the moment he heard Subaru's voice. When he turned around, he saw the boy breathing heavily as he also had Ram standing beside him. Seeing this, Akira merely turned around and kept walking.

"It's possible that Rem is out there trying to kill off as many Ulgram as she can by herself to save a certain someone from dying due to the new curses placed on him."

The moment Akira said this, Subaru began to remember the conversation that he heard last night before he was completely unconscious. Truth be told, he was eavesdropping a bit on Beatrice and Akira's conversation since Puck mentioned to him that Beatrice wanted to tell him about something important. Combined with what Akira just said, even Subaru can piece together what was happening. However, before he could speak, Subaru saw Ram walking forward as she had a look of extreme worry on her face.

"Is that true?!"

"I get that you're worried about your sister, but the longer you keep me here, the more likely both her AND Subaru might end up dying today. I already have an idea of where she might be, so get your asses moving."

"Okay, lead the way, Kira Kira!"

As Subaru said this, both himself and Ram began to follow Akira's lead. In order to help with navigation, Ram used her clairvoyance. This allowed her to see what animals and insects on her wavelength could see. While this happened, Akira could be seen frowning as he was thinking to himself.

"Seriously, if you want to save someone, go ahead. But at least think about the people left behind if rescuing someone means you have a high chance of dying!"

~With Rem~
Her breath grew heavier and heavier as she walked alone. Her face covered in blood as the horn on her head shined brightly. The morningstar in her possession stained with the blood of any mabeast that crossed her path. This was something she needed to do.

"I need to do this alone."

The sound of mabeasts growling along with the screams of a boy that was being chewed upon was still loud and clear in her mind. She still remembers the expression on his face just moments before it happened. If she had just reached out her hand to him, he wouldn't be in the life threatening situation he is in now.

"No one else needs to be hurt because of me!"

The image of her sister without her horn was forever burned into her mind. She was the reason that Ram lost something extremely important. She was the reason why her sister wasn't in her best condition. This time, she couldn't allow another person to suffer because of her.

~With Akira~
"We're getting closer to her location. So be prepared everyone."

Ram, Subaru, and Akira were now on their way to Rem's location. While they were heading to her, they had some time to prepare themselves. In order to thank Subaru, the villagers gave him the sharpest sword that they owned. In addition, Ram was told to bring Rem back so they could thank her properly as well. As for Akira, he didn't take anything since he doubt it would actually benefit him. Now that they were on their way to Rem, Akira decided to break the silence.

"Alright, Ram, I say it's time you come clean. There might be a chance that we may even have to fight Rem in the worst case scenario, so we need all the information we can get. Starting with what you are. It's quite clear you two aren't human, so fess up."

"Oi, oi, can't you be a little more tactful when asking, Akira? It might be a sensitive top-"

"You're correct, Akira, Rem and I are both Oni. Originally, members of the Oni race are born with two horns. In the case of twins, they are born with one horn each. That's why twins are detested and are to be disposed of immediately. However, Rem and I were spared. An oni's horn allows it to awaken its demonic instinct, allowing it to devour mana and heighten combat ability. If one is reckless, it will leave them battered. I got into a bit of trouble and lost my horn, so I relied on Rem ever since."

She was leaving out sensitive details. Akira could tell that much, but didn't push further. First there was her reaction to the ogre story he told her. Now he learned that Ram was hornless and the importance of one's horn as an oni. Then there was Rem's behavior towards her sister, which was damn near close to blind worship. Now the blue haired twin was trying to cure Subaru by killing all the mabeast she can find to stop the spell from activating. Soon the white haired boy clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Guilt....."

"What is it, Akira-san?"

"Don't worry about it, Ram. It's not my business to say. However, if your sister is losing control like you theorize....i'll help smack some sense into her."

As Akira said this, the whole group stopped running to catch their breath. Soon Subaru had an idea. There was a way to find Rem quicker while staying as a group. It was risky, but with Akira here, their chances of surviving this was extremely high. Both Akira and Subaru share the witch's scent, but Subaru had an idea on how to use it to their advantage. The moment he looked towards Ram and Akira, he took a deep breath.

"Akira, Ram. I have an idea to bring Rem towards us instead. Since she's hunting mabeast, she'll come to us if a large group of them were gathered here. Just be prepared to fight once I start this plan."

"Just do it, Subaru."

"Thanks, Akira. Listen you two, I can Retu-"

The moment Subaru attempted to tell Ram and Akira about Return By Death, he felt the sharp pain in his heart as the wind became erratic. The scent of mabeasts heading towards their location entered Ram's nose as Akira's sonar could pick up several creatures heading their way. Soon a large pack of Ulgram were all seen emerging from deep in the woods.

"The Witch's scent.....somehow you enhanced that scent and used it to draw in the mabeasts. Not only that, Rem could pick up on the scent too. By using yourself as bait, you guaranteed she would know our location and follow the scent. I don't know whether to call you clever or downright crazy!"

"Both works in this case, Akira. But i'm afraid i'll have to leave the fighting to both of you."

"Heh, don't worry. I'll take these mutts to the pound."

~With Rem~
As she was standing still with her weapon in hand, the blue haired maid was seen covered in blood as the corpses of Ulgram littered the ground around her. Just as she turned around, she could smell it. The scent of the witch hit her nostrils and caused her to grip the weapon in her hand tightly. With a loud roar, the Oni dashed into the woods with amazing speed.

"Mabeast! Mabeast! Mabeast! Mabeast! Mabeast! WITCH!!!!!"

She ran faster and faster, the sound of fighting growing louder and louder in her ears. The sound of flesh tearing and bones cracking were clear. The scent grew stronger and stronger as she could tell she was getting close to the source of the scent she hated most.

"..."

The moment she walked out of the veil of trees, Rem could see it clearly. Several Ulgram were seen dead in various fashions. While some of them were seen sliced apart and their limbs were severed, others were seen hanging in the air by a spike made up of rocks. Others had their heads smashed in until it was nothing more than paste on the ground. When she looked upwards towards a cliff, she saw a puppy-like mabeast sitting and waiting. However, that wasn't what got her full attention at the moment.

"I don't know what happened to you in the past, and frankly I couldn't give a damn either."

The moment she heard this voice, Rem looked to her right side as she saw three people. Subaru was seen holding Ram in his arms as she overexerted herself using her magic and was no longer in fighting condition. By their side, stood the person who gathered the rampaging oni's attention.

"Given everything I know, I can piece things together. I know I promised Ram here to knock some sense into you, but it seems like I have to do more than that."

Suddenly Rem swung her morningstar at Akira with amazing speed. While Subaru was worried about Akira, he noticed how Rem's weapon didn't even hit the white haired boy as it was bounced off an invisible force and was instead redirected as it crashed near Rem's feet. When Akira walked forward, he had an annoyed look on his face as Rem roared at him with great animosity.

"AAAAAAGGGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!"

"Sorry, Blue Ogre. Your self-sacrificing attitude and your desire that's blinding you....just this once, i'll be the one to shatter those illusions of yours."