“—Listen up, Subaru. From now on, you need to understand that you’re always teetering on the brink of death.”

“Hey, hey, that’s not a funny joke coming from this little girl over here.”

“I’m not a little girl, and it’s not a joke! Listen seriously!”

With that, Beatrice blushed, and Subaru nodded, saying, “Got it, got it.”

Sitting in seiza on the beautiful carpet, he was in the middle of a lecture from Teacher Beatrice, but the conversation wasn’t exactly flying.

It was largely thanks to Subaru butting in with his comments every now and then—

“It’s all Beako’s fault for being so cute…”

“What do you mean, after making a serious face, you come out with that! …Well, it’s well-known that Betty is cute, so it can’t really be helped…”

“Man, you sure turn on the charm right after events, huh?”

“That’s really the most absurd backstabbing ever!”

Beatrice stomped her foot, visibly angry. This may have looked like her usual attitude, but Subaru’s feelings had changed a lot.

Before, he found her to be like a neighborhood kitten that was hard to approach, but the current Beatrice was—

“Like a treasured beloved cat I just want to bury my face in her belly…”

“Listen seriously! I said, **Listen**!”

“Zenkokkyuu!”

Subaru, who murmured wistfully, was blown away by Beatrice’s shockwave of magic, crashing into the wall and slumping down. She shrugged her shoulders, letting out a sigh.

“Don’t make me repeat myself. This is an important discussion. If you miss it, it really is something dangerous—it’s about your gate.”

“…The gate, huh?”

Rising and sitting cross-legged, Subaru touched his chest gently. He thought of the inner organ—something he couldn’t see or touch.

The gate was a crucial organ that existed inside living beings to use magic in this world, which differed from Subaru’s common sense. The performance of this organ apparently related to one’s aptitude as a mage, and it was said that Subaru didn’t have a very good gate.

The past tense hinted that this gate had already been lost.

“Technically, it’s not that I lost it, but rather destroyed it.”

“I was told not to use it recklessly, and just like that, I overused it. When I next meet Ferris, it’s going to be more than a scolding. I ruined the treatment.”

“That’s quite some optimistic worry… There’s no guarantee there will be a next time.”

The gate, worn out from excessive use, was put in that condition despite Ferris’s warnings. Subaru huddled in on himself at the thought of Ferris shouting at him in that cute voice and face, but Beatrice’s gaze became even more serious.

“Because the gate was broken, you can no longer discharge mana properly. However, if you’re alive, mana will be generated or absorbed and accumulated inside you. But you have no way to release it…”

“Don’t tell me I’m going to swell up and burst or something?!”

“—”

“Wait, Beatrice?! When you go silent, it frightens me!”

Subaru raised his voice at Beatrice’s sudden silence, and her turning gaze signaled him to confirm, “You understand?”

“No joke, your recognition is correct for this. If this continues, the gradually accumulating mana will disrupt your health and eventually lead to a burst of murky mana.”

“That’s terrifying! Is there no way to fix it?!”

“And that’s where Betty comes in. Luckily, Betty has formed a contract with you… with Subaru, linking your souls. As I mentioned, Betty has a need to draw mana from others, hence…”

“—So you can do something about the mana piling up in me!”

Hearing Beatrice’s grand comeback idea, Subaru excitedly lifted her tiny body.

“Kyah!?” Beatrice squealed as Subaru spun around, proclaiming,

“You’re amazing, Beako! I can’t thank you enough! Now, we’re bound forever, you and I!”

“W-wait, that isn’t the end of it! From now on, every time you upset Betty’s mood, you’ll remember that your life could be in serious danger. If you don’t want to die, you’d better keep Betty in a good mood!”

“Huh, so that means I have to pamper you with all my might! That’s more on how much you can shine, doesn’t it? It’s a huge responsibility, Beako.”

“Why is it Betty who has to say such things?! It’s not fair!”

Subaru twirled around while listening to Beatrice, who was blushing and yelling as she was lifted up.

Round and round, round and round…

Suddenly, that spinning sensation faded, and consciousness began to awaken.

The suffocating pain from moments before vanished in an instant, replaced instead by discomfort from disrupted breathing and the feeling of solid earth beneath his back.

“—Gah, cough!”

As he rubbed his throat and sat up, Subaru replayed what had just happened.

Looking down, he saw that the arrow he thought had pierced his chest was nowhere to be found. Other than that, the scratches as if from brushing against the trees had also disappeared.

That made sense. After all, he had just been shot through the chest by that terrifying blow.

“I… died?”

Chilled by the uncertainty in his lower body, Subaru felt his blood turn cold.

What had just happened was that he had been consumed by a black shadow at the Pleiades Watchtower, then blasted away less than ten minutes later—just that and Subaru had lost his life.

Realizing once again how precarious his situation was, he stood up, steadied his wavering body, and looked around.

And then—

“Crap, this is the worst…”

Confirming he was in the middle of a vast green grassland, noticing the absence of the figures he wished were there, he cursed his misfortune.

This was definitely the grassland that Subaru and the others had been blasted into from the tower.

The problem was the conspicuous absence of both Rem and Lui, meaning that the time Subaru had “returned by death” was—

“After getting choked by Rem and dropped…!”

After getting choked out by a bewildered Rem, that was his restart point.

It was good news in a way that Rem hadn’t woken up and that the final loop at the Pleiades Watchtower hadn’t been erased.

Or rather, if he could return to the final loop at the tower, perhaps he could exchange words with her once more.

But of course—

“What an idiot I am. No, I really am an idiot.”

If he were this attached to her, he should’ve made time to talk, to touch, to understand her feelings when he had the chance.

He had no right to lament like this after not having done so.

For now, anyway—

“—I need to find Rem.”

He needed to chase down the fleeing Rem and resolve her misunderstanding.

If the reason Rem had run was because of the lingering scent of the witch surrounding Subaru, then perhaps now that he had “returned by death,” that scent had only grown stronger.

Chances were even higher now that she wouldn’t hear him out. But for Subaru, his year wasn’t light enough for him to give up on her for that reason.

“Besides, there’s someone who wants me dead… There’s no way that arrow was Rem’s attack.”

While it was possible that Rem would attack him, he didn’t think she could gather the tools for that in such a short span.

Certainly, a bow and arrow wasn’t something you could whip up easily.

“The arrow that stuck in me had fletching and a tip… I didn’t feel much pain because it pierced my heart, but…”

Even Rem wouldn’t stand a chance against that strong bow if struck.

With her legs not working, escaping would be difficult. He had to save her before she fell into the clutches of that arrow’s poison.

Even if the Rem without memories wouldn’t view him as an ally.

“Let’s go, Natsuki Subaru. —Show me what you can do.”

With a firmed jaw, he momentarily forgot the shock of “death” and the sorrow of having made the important girl dislike him. He wasn’t sure if he’d be able to reunite with her once he found her, but he first needed to locate her.

Lamenting and raging—all was blessed by life.

He took a deep breath, then, just like before, he followed Rem’s footsteps from the traces left in the grass, diving into the forest.

However, whether he should shout loudly to search for Rem was a decision he struggled with.

The earlier ambush with arrows was likely a result of the enemy having noticed an unguarded Subaru.

The identity and aim of the enemy were unknown, but having come to kill him with a single blow, it was difficult to think of them as friendly. What awaited him if he were found was death; they should be regarded as an enemy.

“Though since they’re using arrows as their weapon, it probably means it’s a person, not a beast.”

If the opponent was human, there was a chance they might avoid a deadly confrontation through negotiation. That said, it was uncertain whether that enemy would even sit at the negotiating table with him.

Generally, regarding the rate of human versus beast being responsible for Subaru’s “returns by death,” they came out more or less equal, slightly leaning toward humans.

Just because the opponent could communicate did not mean they would form friendly relations.

With more help, Subaru could increase his chances of finding Rem—

“—Cor Leonis.”

Closing his eyes, he dispelled any distractions and activated his inner ability.

The new power that had rampaged through the Pleiades Watchtower, “Cor Leonis,” was a search technique that pinpointed the positions of Subaru’s allies, the “Small Kings” surrounding him.

He desperately hoped to locate Rem with this.

However—

“…Nothing. No response. Either she’s gone far away, or Rem doesn’t think of me as an ally.”

Although the reach of “Cor Leonis” was uncertain, there was no faint glimmer indicating an ally within its effect range.

The reasons he couldn’t find the other identified factors had to do with distance and relationships.

Though he had once been able to sense Emilia and the others, he now felt absolutely nothing.

Even with familiar faces, he couldn’t discern the whereabouts of Raid or the Archbishop of Gluttony inside the tower.

He could certainly confirm the activation of “Cor Leonis.”

In other words, the ally radar was on, but no responses registered. The reasons for this were likely because Emilia and the others were beyond the effective range, or that Rem, who should have been within range, no longer considered Subaru to be among her allies.

—Undoubtedly, the same was true for Lui, who was accompanying Rem.

“There’s no way I would, by any chance, be classified as an ally by her. That’s why it wouldn’t pick me up on my radar, despite my one-sided feelings for Rem.”

Here, Subaru regretted the poor communication that had kept him from reaching out to Rem.

Given he was clad in the witch’s lingering scent, he had no idea what words to choose that would earn Rem’s trust. Regardless, even if it was a deception, back then he couldn’t have brought himself to say anything like protecting or taking Lui along.

“Damn it, why?! I finally got Rem to wake up, and now I have to…”

Engage in this chase.

He had hoped for the day when she could rise and move freely by herself, but here he was lamenting now that she had started to do just that.

When it came to whom he should blame for this, only anger against the Archbishop of Gluttony and the others stirred within him.

“—”

With dizzying thoughts in his head, Subaru carefully advanced through the forest.

He ducked low, taking a cautious approach to avoid reencountering that enemy—whom for convenience, he referred to as the “Hunter,” who had killed him once before.

He thought he should cover his face with mud or camouflage his clothes with leaves and apply some kind of disguise, but he couldn’t afford to waste time on that.

If only he could pinpoint the length of time since he’d lost Rem, his search might progress.

“Think, think… My clever little head should work on things like this. Rem has lost her memories, but her ability to pin me down or sense the witch’s lingering scent remains intact. That means she has lost her episodic memory.”

The term “memory loss,” often seen in manga and games, usually refers to the absence of episodic memory.

Now, that was the same condition Subaru had encountered after his earlier run-in with the Archbishop of Gluttony—no, since that time he had managed to lose memory of just a portion of his experiences since arriving in this world, so it wasn’t an identical state, but it was close.

In other words, the names of objects and the conditioned reflexes in his body remained, but he had lost his knowledge of names of himself and others, losing out mostly on memories.

The fact that Rem referred to herself with “I” and instinctively distrusted Subaru due to his scent was proof of that.

“Rem must be confused. She can’t run forever. If she could distance herself a little from me, she’d have time to settle down and reflect. If Lui is with her, it’s even more important.”

It was silly to pray for such things, but he hoped that Lui would be considerably dragging down Rem’s escape.

If she pouted, tossed a tantrum, or even occasionally refused to walk, just enough to trouble Rem, it might give Subaru a chance to catch up with her.

And if Rem happened to see Lui as a burden…

Poor, sweet Lui could hardly keep up, possibly prompting Rem to abandon her.

“…I can’t say for certain.”

Whether Rem would abandon Lui, who appeared powerless like a little child, was uncertain.

Having lost her episodic memory, Rem had lost her sense of identity, overshadowed either by the admiration or inferiority she derived from her relationship with Ram.

Though it puzzled Subaru just how embracing Ram’s strength could continue to yield no change, how it would play out for Rem remained a mystery.

Not as sisters, but rather without pride or inferiority as part of the demon race, Rem would think nothing of Natsuki Subaru.

“—”

Just imagining that sent a searing sensation to Subaru’s chest, prompting him to take a strong step forward.

The branch, crushed in a fit of anger, screamed as it cracked, and while almost slipping on the muddy ground, he leaned forward, dodging the tall grass ahead.

“—Huh?”

Suddenly, the forest opened up, and once again Subaru found himself stepping onto the grassland.

Could it be he had gone in circles and ended up back in the same spot? He felt the blood drain from his face, but looking more closely, it became clear it was not the case.

Though it resembled the original grassland, the height of the grass beneath him differed.

Compared to the initial grassland, this one had grass slightly taller. Furthermore, that one had the woods surrounding it completely, while here, there was only the forest that Subaru had burst out from.

In front of Subaru, the horizon beyond the seam in the grassland stretched far. The sky appeared distant and high, creating a strange sense of being pulled into it.

However, what truly caught his eye wasn’t just the high distant sky.

In that small space opened amid the grass, there were traces of camping gear—essentially, signs that someone had been there.

“—”

In an instant, wariness surged through Subaru, narrowing his field of vision.

Fortunately, there were no figures at the primitive campsite, only traces that there had been a camp set up, making traps unlikely.

The question remained: who had set up this camp?

“The most likely possibility is that the one who killed me… is the one who did.”

The hunter who had taken Subaru down—had likely established this campsite as a base for hunting in the forest.

In which case, Subaru should immediately vacate the area to secure his safety.

Regardless of being in a forest or a grassland, the hunter was undoubtedly a dangerous enemy.

There were stories of hunters mistaking deer for humans in the mountains and shooting at the wrong target, but mistaking someone who was calling out loudly while searching for acquaintances as a deer was totally out of the question for someone of that skill.

The hunter was a dangerous foe, and that was his conclusion.

However—

“If I could just snag a knife or something…”

With a density of trees thick enough to warrant calling it a jungle, he desired the aid of tools to advance through it. Regrettably, Subaru’s only possession was his trusty whip—the Guilty Whip made from materials gathered from powerful foes.

While it admittedly worked reasonably well for trekking through this kind of terrain, having even a small knife for slicing through the branches would make a world of difference.

Hence, if he could score a tool from the campsite…

With that thought, Subaru swiftly considered his options and moved towards the campsite.

He could always turn back immediately and re-enter the forest, but considering his objectives, he didn’t want to return empty-handed.

Remaining cautious of his surroundings as he approached the campsite, he noted, “There’s evidence of a fire, and while it’s shabby… is that a sleeping place?”

The central area of the campsite had traces of a fire, alongside what appeared to be a makeshift sleeping area made from cut grass. There was no doubt that someone had spent time here.

While the rest was empty, there seemed to be nothing else…

“If I could at least find a knife or something…”

“—Oh, you want a blade? You’ve arrived at quite the opportune moment.”

Just as Subaru began to inspect the campsite simply with that thought, he stopped upon hearing a voice from behind and felt something cold press against his neck.

Holding his breath, he slowly cast his gaze downward, revealing a beautifully polished blade that was a saber or rapier pressed against the right side of his neck.

“—”

Breath caught, he understood he had surrendered control of his life to the individual behind him.

Yet simultaneously, he was confused by the voice that had come from behind. He was on high alert. Under such a deadly situation, he didn’t think it reasonable to hesitate.

Of course, he knew that among the superhumans inhabiting this world, some could move at speeds surpassing his eyes and could even achieve instantaneous teleportation.

However—

“Is this really where I’m going to draw one of the few exceptions? …Just how unlucky am I?”

“Fool. Who said you could speak? Be mindful and choose your words with care. Don’t forget that your life is in my hands right now.”

As Subaru cursed his misfortune, the assailant’s voice held no mercy.

As they’d said, if he made a wrong move, his head would roll immediately. Feeling a palpable sense of intimidation, Subaru desperately thought of a way to turn this around.

Judging from the voice, it was a man.

His voice sounded relatively youthful, probably around Subaru’s age or a bit older. The way he chose his words was somewhat unique, but oddly enough, he felt no sense of dissonance.

And most importantly—

“You seem to be thinking while keeping your mouth shut. Yet you aren’t attempting to strike back with your life on the line… Hmm.”

The individual showed an awareness to Subaru’s atmosphere as he refused to speak.

The man released a thoughtful sigh as he seemed to ponder Subaru’s silhouette behind him.

“That outfit is unusual for this area. It doesn’t seem suitable for the climate of Budheim. Your limbs are also quite pale… You’re not from around here.”

“I’m—whoa!”

“Silence. Who said you could speak? If you cross me again, I’ll see how well you can speak after I sever your head from your body.”

Realizing he wouldn’t be able to bond with this person should he keep talking, Subaru winced when lightly cut across the neck.

A prick of pain and the warm trickle of blood washed down, but the probing into Subaru’s identity continued unhindered.

“Your whip is singularly unsuitable for use in a forest. Your arms and legs may be somewhat trained, but they still wouldn’t hold against a pack of wolves… You don’t appear to be following me to hunt, do you?”

“—”

“What are you silent for? Will you die here without offering an explanation?”

“Eh?! Isn’t it fine this time?! That’s totally unreasonable!”

Subaru protested against the man’s unreasonable behavior, but the fierce gaze penetrating the back of his head intensified.

Having said something unnecessary, Subaru braced himself, but with the pressure on his neck easing, he gradually relaxed.

Except for—

“—Turn around slowly. If you attempt any funny business…”

“You’re going to chop off my head?”

“No, I’m going to sever your limbs, tear out your heart, and incinerate it before your very eyes.”

“That’s a wicked threat!”

As the man’s overwhelming menace blurred into the threatening atmosphere, Subaru raised his hands to show he had no intention of retaliating, slowly turning around.

And when he finally glanced over his shoulder to meet the masked man’s gaze—

“…Seriously?”

—he stared straight at a very odd-looking man.

This man was slightly taller than Subaru, appearing rather thin and almost wiry. His slim figure loomed, and in his hand, he carried a slender blade akin to a saber or rapier that had made a shallow gash on Subaru’s neck.

His outfit seemed rather finely tailored, more reminiscent of an aristocrat than to fit in here. Upon closer inspection, the crude wrapping covering his face was likely once a cloak.

It wasn’t clear if he had gotten injured on his face or simply did not wish to reveal it—

“What? What a foolish face you have.”

“Whether it’s a foolish face or not, I was born with it; that’s just an insult… But given your appearance, it’s understandable I’d look like this.”

“What a presumptuous assumption. I’m only reconsidering whether you’re an assassin based on your face.”

“Your eyes don’t dictate someone’s profession! Honestly, my role is the exact opposite of an assassin. I’m not here to attack; I’m more of a protector.”

While remaining on guard, the man—no, the Masked Man held his sword towards Subaru.

In response to the suspicion in his voice, Subaru inspected the man’s gear and his bag placed behind him, raising an eyebrow.

Although his getup didn’t seem suitable for camping or forest activities, the backpack the Masked Man had appeared as if it had suddenly materialized in that location.

Plus, there was something else concerning the Masked Man’s gear—an absence of a bow or arrows.

“…Looks like you’re not a hunter at all.”

“Hunter?”

“That’s for my own peace of mind. Just a quick question, but… can you teleport or become invisible or something?”

“—”

As soon as that question escaped Subaru’s lips, the dark eyes visible from beneath the mask narrowed.

However, rather than anger or dismissal, the Masked Man seemed genuinely interested in Subaru.

In fact, he let out a small “Hoh” as he began to speak.

“Why is it you’ve come to such a conclusion? State your reasoning.”

“…For the record, I was being careful to watch for those approaching before getting closer. Of course, I’m aware there are plenty of folks who can break through my cautions, but you’re clearly different.”

“Why?”

“Please don’t take offense, but I’ve ended up crossing paths with quite a lot of capable people, you know, superhumans and the like. Compared to those exceptional individuals, the vibe I get from you is… well, normal.”

If the opponent happened to be a top-level warrior, he might take offense at such a statement.

However, as Subaru faced the individual, he truly felt that. The man standing before him emanated the aura of someone who certainly understood how to wield a sword, but one who had trained to a reasonable degree, someone more on the average side.

In Subaru’s eyes, having known Reinhardt, Garfiel, Wilhelm, and Julius, the masked man simply fell short.

“In which case, the hypothesis that you came from nowhere disappears. You either appeared behind me via teleportation, or otherwise…”

“Used ‘invisibility’ to become unseen.”

“—What?!”

In the next moment, the man’s figure before Subaru vanished from view.

Subaru could hardly believe it, stunned by the peculiar turn of events.

But that wasn’t where the surprise ended.

“He’s gone… but right in front of me?”

“—Correct. ‘Invisibility’ cannot erase your presence.”

In response to Subaru’s query, the Masked Man reappeared in the exact same spot.

He hadn’t disappeared at all; he had merely masked his presence. And since he had returned at the moment he answered, it meant—

“You can’t be detected once someone’s aware… or if they make contact?”

“It’s a perfect tool for lurking and hiding.”

Saying this, the Masked Man lowered his sword directed towards Subaru and turned toward the edge of the campsite. That was where his bag sat.

“The sleeping area was a decoy. I was lurking a short distance away. I could tell from the start what you were up to. It was rather amusing.”

“Being cautious looks ridiculously foolish from the outside, you know… but that’s not the point! The moment you lowered your sword…!”

“You are not a pursuer. While I don’t know your intent or reasoning, you appear to be a lost traveler. Thus, I see no reason to denounce you vocally. No need for blades to handle this.”

The Masked Man sheathed the sword he had drawn, indicating he had no intention of fighting. Watching this, Subaru finally loosened the tension he had been carrying in his body.

As soon as that tension released, however, he remembered his original goal.

“W-wait, it’s not the time to relax. Um, I’m sorry for all the questions, but have you seen a girl with blue hair? I got separated from her around here.”

“Blue hair? No, I haven’t seen her. Rather, I first laid eyes on you after coming to this spot. So, what’s your plan here?”

“Nothing at all!? I can’t do anything about it!? Damn it, here too—ah man, can you help me look for her…?”

“—”

“Right…”

The lack of leads was disheartening, and for all intents, the hope he had at present was extinguished before his eyes.

The cold gaze of the Masked Man now felt razor-sharp casting upon Subaru, and he turned to leave, returning to the forest to make up lost time.

“Wait. If you got lost in this forest, it’s unlikely you’ll regroup quickly. Would it not be wise to prioritize your own survival?”

“—I can’t agree with you there. That girl’s more important to me than my own life. I have to find her, no matter what.”

“More important than your life? If I were to hear that from a bard, I’d think it empty words. And yet, your expression is interesting.”

Seeing Subaru’s unyielding determination, the Masked Man’s expression became scrutinizing as he pointed precisely at Subaru’s eyes. Subaru flinched back, bracing for a possible strike to his eyes.

“No lies in those eyes, are there? In truth, I don’t know whether you’d risk your life. Yet here, at least you have the air of someone not spreading lies.”

“In that case… what then? If what I say is true, then…”

“—Then I might be intrigued. Let me lend you my wit.”

Tapping lightly on his temple, the Masked Man offered his support.

Upon hearing that response, Subaru momentarily felt anger bubble up to yell, “Don’t joke with me!” but no words escaped his throat.

Strangely enough, neither did he have a sense of distrust. It was peculiar, but there was a disarming kind of persuasiveness about it.

Perhaps it was a natural charisma that he possessed.

“Speak plainly about what has happened. I’ll help you find a way to locate her.”

“…That girl and I were suddenly blasted here.”

Unaware of it, Subaru began to slowly divulge details to the Masked Man.

It wasn’t that he fully trusted him or believed in him. —He was just clinging to a faint hope. In times like these, even if the person he’d cling to was the last one to trust, he would still grab onto it.

That was likely just how the story unfolded.

“Looks like you messed up.”

The initial words from the Masked Man, after hearing all the details, were sharp.

Subaru was led by the masked man and spoke of the events with Rem—carefully skipping over the complicated surrounding circumstances.

He mentioned that Rem’s memory was in disarray, and that he had been knocked unconscious before she made her escape, ensuring to include that a dangerous little girl was with her.

“I know it’s not just my lack of common sense. But I suddenly woke up like this; tell me it’s not just going to end like this, right? Exposing my recent black history so you can ridicule me…?”

“Fool. I wouldn’t waste my valuable time mocking a fool like you. —That girl seems to have her head on straight.”

“Ah, well, I suppose so.”

Feeling overwhelmed by the Masked Man’s aura, Subaru nodded with honesty.

As an all-purpose maid, Rem had demonstrated proficiency in various daily scenarios that earned her such admiration.

It’s not enough to say she was merely good at housekeeping; she could allocate resources responsibly, plus even in battle, she read Subaru’s rhythm and intuitively coordinated with him.

Rem is certainly clever, even if her memories have faded.

“Then it’s very likely you were deceived.”

“I was deceived? Me? How…?”

“The lack of memory is insignificant here. What’s important is that she possesses the awareness of being pursued and the further capacity to consider any options available against her pursuers. For example—”

With that, he paused, scrutinizing Subaru from head to toe.

Under that gaze, Subaru felt as if he were being blamed for his own thoughtlessness and curled his shoulders defensively.

Noticing Subaru’s behavior, the Masked Man narrowed his eyes, continuing with his assessment.

“For instance, leaving traces in the grassland deliberately to mask the direction of escape.”

“—”

“After being knocked unconscious by someone and waking up, you must have felt panicked to search for them immediately. If you found footprints that were blatantly obvious, what happens next?”

You’d run out like a puppy, leaving drool and racing toward the very trail left in plain sight.

That was exactly what had transpired. The glint in the masked man’s eyes mocked as he watched.

Of course, he could argue that it was not true, but—

“—Yeah. I couldn’t find traces in the forest beyond the entrance. But since the path is bad, I thought that could be the reason…”

“You don’t turn your back on inconvenient truths.”

“I’ve known I’ve been stupid and foolish all along. Still, I have outstanding adaptability and determination, and that’s certainly a common sentiment with my doppelgänger.”

Even if no one would give credence to that, Subaru countered to the Masked Man.

He realized the Masked Man’s reasoning was sound. Reflecting back on it, the traces left in the grass had an overwhelmingly “obvious” feel to them.

Wild creatures like foxes and rabbits often left footprints on purpose and would jump into the thicket midway to gap predators.

If Rem had left behind obvious traces on the grass as a cunning trap to throw Subaru off…

“Is it possible she led me in another direction while making her escape?”

“In that case, the direction she chose would often be the opposite. It’s more sensible to choose the method that takes you farthest away from the presumed pursuer. —Understand?”

“…I hate to say it, but I concur. Damn! That Rem!”

Just as the Masked Man stated, if she purposely left traces visible as a decoy, there was a strong likelihood she had escaped in the opposite direction.

But assuming he could pinpoint where she might have escaped to would only turn that complicating factor against him.

Something about this made him feel rather villainous, but—

“Generally, I’ve become accustomed to first impressions being unfavorable regarding demeanor or scent. I will catch up for sure!”

“You’re brave, no doubt. —Take this.”

“Huh!?”

Subaru jumped up, resolute to act before he rushed out, but the masked man delved into his backpack and threw something.

In the split second, what he caught turned out to be a small knife sheathed in leather.

With his eyes widening in surprise, the masked man shrugged.

“This isn’t a forest where you can challenge opponents with a whip. Do use it well.”

“I appreciate this! But… is this really alright? I haven’t offered anything in return.”

“Not an issue. I merely want to do a good deed for once. Care to try robbing me of my belongings with that knife?”

The flippant remark served as encouragement, solidifying Subaru’s resolve.

The masked man’s skill appeared commendable, but he couldn’t claim there was no danger to Subaru in daring him.

In that regard, the possibility became more of a gamble.

Yet—

“—My name is Natsuki Subaru. This is unequivocally a debt to you. I will return whatever favor you grant me. No ingratitude from me.”

After firmly sheathing the knife at his waist, Subaru bowed deeply. Reacting to that, the masked man snorted.

“The path has already been laid out. Get moving. Use every means at your disposal to regain the trust of the girl who fled.”

“You’re absolutely right. I owe you! But speaking of that…”

“What is it?”

Pausing right before dashing into the forest, Subaru gestured as he took a breath of gratitude, then pointed at the woods, saying,

“I’m going to head back to the original grassland but you should avoid using this route too much. There’s a scary hunter inside. They’ll shoot at you from afar with a bow, and you’ll need more than one life to dodge that. If you go anywhere, it’s best to skirt around this forest.”

“—I see. Understood. I’ll heed your advice.”

“Ah, please do. —See you again!”

Having heard the masked man’s response, Subaru felt a sense of relief at preventing his benefactor from falling into the hunter’s trap.

Then he dashed into the woods with all his might, barreling back toward the original grassland.

“—Such sharpness!”

Fortunately, returning to the first grassland didn’t prove too challenging.

The knife’s keen edge passed through the branches and leaves in his path, proving to be an excellent assistant.

Normally, something of that size would risk becoming dull if overused, but he felt no sign of such inconvenience. Perhaps, it was an impressive weapon after all.

“What in the world was he? His gear looked quite expensive…”

Curious about this point, Subaru rushed back into the original grassland. Then, with purpose, he began to search the area surrounding where he’d been knocked over—

“—Found it. This should be the real clue.”

He discovered uneven grassland footprints stretching in the direction opposite the overt traces he had initially noticed. Rem had probably done her best to obscure her tracks, but it was likely that Lui’s were left behind.

Since she’d make efforts to hide her path, it was unlikely that this would be any further detour.

In short—

“Finally, I’ve got her trail, Rem…!”

As he spoke dramatically, thinking he had finally caught a lead, he scrambled after the newly marked trail. The traces followed all the way to the entrance of the forest, just like before, but breaking branches and muddy footprints couldn’t be forged.

“I found it! With this—”

He thought he could catch up to Rem, charging valiantly after the muddy tracks when—

“—What?!”

Right at his feet, a vine was severed. The branch that had been stabilizing the plant shot up with a great recoil, propelling itself sideways and delivering a forceful strike against Subaru’s side.

“Gah!”

Receiving a wide swing from the branch that was nearly the size of his arm, Subaru was sent flying. Rolling over the muddy ground, he let out a groan, finding himself unable to stand for a moment due to the shock.

His vision flickered, overwhelmed by the unexpected ambush, while his consciousness spun around like a police siren light flashing on and off.

“I-is that…?”

After a while, the pain began to ease up, and Subaru finally managed to stand again. It vibrated through his knees, and he realized the severe abuse he had just endured on the inside of his ribcage.

Yet even more than that was the shock that followed.

“—A trap?!”

Even as he was fleeing, it was clear that this would lead him to more trouble.

There was a girl who fought with every ounce of force within her—Rem, who had lost her memories.

Natsuki Subaru finally realized—

—This was the beginning of his second serious confrontation with Rem since arriving in this other world.