Chapter 52: You Think I'm Still a Noob?
After running into the forest in the direction Petra pointed to, Subaru Natsuki saw the figure of a little girl next to a rotting log.
Just as he hurried over happily, preparing to take the girl away, he suddenly heard the heavy breathing of a beast from behind him, along with a low growl full of aggressive intent.
Subaru clenched his fists, stood up, and turned to face the beast making the noise.
Rem had already warned that this might be a trap, so he was mentally prepared.
However, he felt anxious that he couldn't take the girl away quickly to get her treatment.
The beast looked roughly like a dog but was clearly much bigger.
However, to Subaru's eyes, such a trivial matter couldn't scare him at all.
After all, he had fought against a bunch of inhuman beings before, so he wasn't going to be afraid of some beast that looked completely lacking in intelligence.
"Seriously, hiding and sneaking around is so annoying. I'm in a hurry right now and don't have time to waste with you, damn it!" Subaru said.
It was as if Subaru's attitude provoked the beast; it moved quickly on all fours to approach him.
Midway, the beast leapt at Subaru.
Its mouth, filled with sharp teeth, opened wide—looking like it could easily bite through Subaru's neck.
"So it really is a beast," Subaru said mockingly.
Bending down, Subaru charged straight at the beast.
His fists were already charged and ready in a short moment.
"If you want to kill me, come at me with a few more of these!" he roared angrily.
Swinging his fist, Subaru ran under the airborne beast in a flash.
What the beast felt next was the pain of bones breaking and his consciousness gradually fading.
The beast that took Subaru's heavy punch was immediately sent flying.
Subaru watched as it fell to the ground, struggled briefly, then stopped moving.
He couldn't help but sigh at how much stronger he had become compared to when he was participating in the game.
With his previous strength, he wouldn't have been able to kill a beast like this with one punch.
Turning to run toward the child, Subaru was about to take her away when the atmosphere around him suddenly changed.
When he looked back, he saw pairs of blood-red eyes emerging from the bushes.
Taking a rough glance, Subaru's expression stiffened.
There were ten beasts in total.
Such a number was not something an unarmed Subaru could handle.
But now, he simply couldn't take the girl and run away immediately.
Running faster on two legs than on four was not impossible, but that kind of speed was beyond Subaru's current ability.
"Ah... I really shouldn't have talked big," Subaru muttered.
Saying that, he turned once again to face the beasts, who were ready to attack. His gaze hardened.
"Come on! Let's finish this quickly!"
Before the beasts could attack, Subaru charged at them. This wasn't reckless, but a strategy to prevent the beasts from harming the little girl who couldn't move at all.
When Subaru moved, the ten beasts also moved. They surrounded him and began launching attacks one after another.
Sharp claws left shallow scratches on Subaru's body. Sharp teeth pierced the muscles in his arms but couldn't get any closer.
Blood flowed freely from the wounds.
Subaru kept moving and swinging his fists, hitting the attacking beasts one after another.
Half of the ten beasts were soon killed or injured.
However, Subaru's injuries were severe; blood poured from wounds like it was flowing without cost.
His clothes were torn and ragged, making him look like a bloody mess.
But his spirit showed no sign of weakening.
"Come on, you bastards! If you want to take my life, be prepared to all stay here!"
Though he knew the beasts couldn't understand him, Subaru still shouted these words.
Among the four beasts under him, three simultaneously leapt at Subaru from different directions, while the last one ran like a runaway dog toward the little girl lying on the side.
Seeing this, Subaru's eyes grew even fiercer. He reached out and grabbed one beast by the neck, allowing the remaining two to bite his shoulder and waist.
"Bastard! Your opponent is me!"
With great force, he threw the beast in his hand at the beast running toward the little girl. The two collided and flew apart with mournful cries.
At this moment, the beast biting Subaru's waist tore off a chunk of flesh from him.
The intense pain and nearness of death surged adrenaline in Subaru even higher.
Between life and death, Subaru's fist struck the head of the beast clinging to his shoulder. With a crisp sound, the beast fell from Subaru's body.
The remaining beast swallowed the torn flesh in front of Subaru, its glowing red eyes looking at him like he was a piece of meat ready to be eaten.
It launched an attack, but Subaru, with a bloodied face, smiled brightly and took a step forward with his left leg, punching directly into the beast's mouth.
The sharp teeth were crushed by the heavy fist and penetrated deep into the beast's throat.
"You seemed to enjoy eating just now, huh?"
Feeling the strong threat of death, the beast wildly swung its front paws, tearing more holes in Subaru's tattered clothes and leaving more claw marks.
Subaru ignored the attacks, slammed his right hand heavily onto the ground, then pulled it out covered in slime and blood.
He punched the beast's head again and again.
After a while, Subaru stopped and looked at the beast's head, now turned into mush.
His breathing grew heavy. He glanced around.
"We need to leave quickly. I really can't hold out if a few more come..."
Staggering, Subaru approached the little girl.
"Next time, don't break our promise..."
Saying this, Subaru picked up the little girl and started walking toward Rem's direction.
He moved slowly—not because he didn't want to speed up, but because he physically couldn't.
Only through willpower did Subaru manage not to collapse immediately.
After taking a few steps, he saw Rem rushing toward them.
Subaru smiled but his legs suddenly went weak, and he knelt on one knee.
"You..." Rem looked at Subaru's condition and was at a loss for words.
The thought that he belonged to the Witch's Cult had been largely dismissed moments ago. Now, he looked so pitiful, yet the girl in his arms bore no wounds.
This kind of behavior was definitely not something a Witch's Cult member could do.
After all, those lunatics didn't care about their own lives, let alone protecting others.
"Subaru, are you okay?"
"Ah, I'm fine. What about the kids?"
"They've already been taken back by the villagers. I also asked them to inform Lady Emilia and the others."
"I see. Then now all that's left is to take this child away. Sorry to disappoint you, I didn't die out there..."
Rem was speechless.
She didn't know what to say. She no longer doubted him.
Thinking about how she treated Subaru before, even wanting to kill him that night, what could she possibly say to him now?
Silent, Rem was about to take the girl from Subaru, but he stood up and said,
"No need, I'll carry her. I have no fighting ability left now; only you can fight. It's not good to fight while carrying a child. Don't look at me like that—it feels weird.
Don't worry, I'm a cockroach that won't die easily. Carrying a child is still okay. Let's go..."
Saying this, Subaru passed by Rem, gradually disappearing from her complicated gaze. Looking at his staggering figure, full of wounds and blood, Rem hurried forward silently and supported Subaru's arm.
"Subaru... I'm sorry..."
"You don't need to apologize to me..." Subaru sighed while looking at Rem's expression and said,
"Rem-senpai, I forgive you. So hold your head up. We're not safe yet. I'm counting on you for my safety, Rem-senpai."
"Mm!"