Shichen didn't waste time explaining; he simply took Rem's hand and headed straight back to Arlam Village.
As expected, when they returned, Petra and the other kids were nowhere to be seen. The villagers hadn't realized anything was wrong yet, and Shichen didn't want to alarm them, so he just asked where the children had gone. Once he got the answer, he pulled Rem along in pursuit.
"Shichen, what's going on?" Rem asked as he led her along. She tried to pull free, but couldn't.
"Long story short: there's a malevolent magic-user hiding in the village—a cursist. They're here to disrupt the royal selection. If we don't deal with them, this whole village is done."
"Truly?" Rem's face blanched.
"I wouldn't lie to you," Shichen said, turning back to meet her eyes seriously.
"How… do you know?" Rem lowered her gaze. For some reason she didn't dare meet his eyes, a strange unease rising inside.
He wouldn't lie to her…
"Remember that puppy? That thing's a mabeast. The cursist uses it to get close to targets and lay the curse."
To lay a curse, a cursist must make prior contact with the target. For an assassination, that condition is risky. But people still take that risk because curses are certain—when they take hold, they work.
"That puppy was a mabeast? How—then when you stopped it from biting me just now, were you…?" Rem looked at him, stunned.
"Exactly. Didn't I say? You're mine. How could I let you be cursed?" Shichen smiled at her.
He could have allowed the mark to land and then purified it—his Sanctified Flame could cleanse curses completely, and it would've been an easy way to score points. But that felt cheap. He didn't want to play those games. He'd break through Rem's defenses the right way, one step at a time.
"…" Meeting his smile, Rem felt something stir within her—her heart trembled slightly. He wasn't lying; he sounded utterly sincere. Which meant—she was wanted. Someone liked her—more than they liked her sister.
The children weren't in the village anymore, which meant there was only one place left: the far end, by the wall that bordered the forest.
Shichen led Rem straight toward the trees. High wooden palisades encircled the village; they crossed where the fence met the forest and pushed deeper between the trunks.
Rem frowned, tilting her head up. "What is it?" Shichen asked.
"The barrier's down…"
"A barrier, huh…"
Shichen hadn't sensed anything at first, but now he noticed the crystal nodes set into the surrounding trees were dim. In this world, many magics used mana crystals as conduits; those stones were the anchors of the forest barrier.
"This is bad…" Rem's expression shaded over.
"Because the barrier's down?" he asked.
"Mm. When the barrier fails, mabeasts cross the boundary and attack humans. The forest is their habitat."
Mabeasts were humanity's mana-wielding natural enemies in this world—rumored to have been created by the Witch.
"Let's keep moving," Shichen said.
"Wait! The forest is mabeast territory. It's dangerous," Rem said, grabbing his sleeve.
"Worried about me?" Shichen asked with a smile over his shoulder.
"Now's not the time…"
"Don't worry. I'm very strong," he said calmly.
"No matter how strong you are—"
"Trust me. I really am," he said, cutting her off, his smile unchanged.
"…"
Something in his tone—absolute confidence—made Rem want to believe him. And he'd said he wouldn't lie to her.
"Truly safe?"
"Just trust me. The broken barrier means the cursist is nearby—we can't let him escape. And Petra and the others are in there."
"W-we can't be sure…"
"Then we need to go find them."
"Why? You've only just met them. Why risk yourself? This has nothing to do with you," Rem said, unable to help herself.
"How could it have nothing to do with me?" Shichen laughed softly.
"What?"
"The cursist is clearly targeting this village, trying to sabotage Emilia's candidacy. I won't let that pass."
"Because of Emilia-sama?"
"Not only that—Petra and the others are so cute. How could I not rescue them? Most importantly, I wanted to look cool in front of you."
"Look… cool?" Rem stared, taken aback.
"Sure. Saving the village, defeating an evil cursist—doesn't that sound like a hero?"
"A… hero…"
"Of course, I'm not acting recklessly—this is all premised on my confidence in my own power."
"Your confidence…"
Rem closed her eyes, then opened them, gaze firm. "I understand. I believe you."
"That's better~ I'll protect you. With me here, no one can hurt you," Shichen said, reaching out to pat her head.
"We don't know who will be protecting whom," she murmured.
"Mm?"
Shichen noticed the corners of her mouth lift slightly—no longer the poker face. Something lively showed through.
"Since you stand equal to Roswaal-sama, I must protect you," she said.
"Protect me, huh… I'll leave it to you then~"
"Mm. Leave it to me."
Rem seemed to perk up—and then a chain appeared in her hand, ending in an iron ball. The crisp jingle of links rang in Shichen's ears. He knew Rem's weapon was a flail, but seeing it in person made the image oddly surreal: a cute maid wielding a morning star?
"Rem, that is…?"
"For self-defense," she said, moving to his side.
"Self-defense? Wait—do you mean—?"
"That's what it's for. Let's go," Rem said, suddenly resolute as she took the lead into the forest.
Shichen watched her small back—one hand holding the iron ball—her whole posture radiating vigilance. He shook his head with a smile and followed.
Even in the afternoon, the dense forest was dark. There was no path. Shichen could sense Petra and the others faintly, but Rem clearly wanted to lead. She was heading the right way, so he let her.
Soon, Rem stopped, sniffing lightly as she scanned their surroundings. Her sense of smell was sharp; that was how she searched the woods.
"Anything?" Shichen whispered by her ear.
Rem's shoulders flinched, but she stayed alert. "Nearby… there's a living scent."
"That way?" Shichen looked left where she was gazing.
"Yes." She secretly breathed easier; the warmth of his breath on her ear had been… distracting.
"Is it Petra and the others?" he asked, and breathed again near her pale ear.
"…I don't know. But it isn't a beast's scent," Rem said, trying to sound calm.
"Let's have a look," Shichen said, taking her free hand and heading left.
Rem's focus was still on her ear; she didn't notice their hands. She let him lead.
They pushed through the trees—and the view opened on a low hill. At the base, the children lay sprawled on the green ground, unconscious.
"It really is Petra and the others!"
They hurried over; Rem checked their condition at once. The children were unconscious, but warm and breathing.
"They seem alright, but…"
Rem looked up solemnly. "They're breathing, but they're incredibly weak. If this continues…"
"Likely a weakness curse," Shichen said.
"Weakness… curse…"
Looking at their pale faces, strained breathing, and sweat-beaded foreheads—like nightmares pressed on their sleeping faces—Rem was convinced Shichen was right.
"What do we do? I can't dispel curses. I only know healing magic, but it doesn't help…"
"That's why I'm here."
Shichen patted her shoulder, crouched, turned his hand, and cast Sanctified Flame over the children.
"Shichen, that's…?!" Rem flinched as flame wrapped around the kids.
"Just trust me."
"…," Rem did—she had come to trust Shichen. And she saw that the fire didn't burn them. Their complexions were even starting to improve.
Fire… that didn't harm—and could heal?