Such a cute expression paired with this angle, even if a saint came, he wouldn't be able to hold back!
Thinking this, Natsuki Subaru frantically sat up with his hands, his voice an octave higher:
"W-Wait a minute! Emilia, I'm not mentally prepared yet!"
However, Emilia had circled behind him.
With a rustling sound, she took out an exquisite wooden comb from her pocket.
"Eh?"
Before Natsuki Subaru could react, a gentle touch came from the top of his head.
Emilia's slender fingers gently stroked his somewhat messy black hair, a few strands of silver slipping from her shoulder, brushing against Natsuki Subaru's neck, bringing a tingling, electric sensation.
"Emilia...?" Natsuki Subaru blinked in confusion, feeling the gentle touch in his hair.
"As a reward, I'll comb Subaru's hair for him." Emilia's voice came from behind, laced with a gentle smile, "After all, Subaru's hair is always so messy."
"Huh? So this is the reward..." Natsuki Subaru instantly deflated like a punctured ball, muttering under his breath, "I thought..."
"What did Subaru think it was?"
Emilia suddenly peeked out from the side, her silver hair cascading like a waterfall, her purple eyes filled with innocent curiosity.
"Ah, n-nothing..."
Natsuki Subaru shook his head, smiling awkwardly.
"Liar..."
Emilia didn't press further, just focused on gently combing the ends of his hair with the comb.
Natsuki Subaru immediately straightened his back, sitting upright like an obedient student, feeling the sensation of those gentle hands moving through his hair.
The room was filled only with the subtle sound of the comb rubbing against strands of hair, and their gradually synchronizing breaths.
At such close proximity.
Natsuki Subaru could clearly feel Emilia's breath, and her faint, delicate fragrance.
This made his heart involuntarily accelerate.
Seriously, I can barely handle this.
To hide his inner turmoil, Natsuki Subaru started a conversation, his voice half a tone higher than usual:
"Emilia-chan's hair-combing technique is really good, isn't it?"
"Mm, I've always practiced grooming."
Emilia replied with an innocent face.
"Um... Emilia-chan, you should say 'combing hair,' right?" Natsuki Subaru corrected somewhat helplessly, "Saying 'grooming' sounds like you're taking care of a small animal."
"Subaru has a point..." Emilia held up the small comb in her hand, explaining innocently, "But this is the comb I usually use to groom Puck."
"Err..."
The corner of Natsuki Subaru's mouth twitched unnaturally, and he was momentarily speechless.
It's actually Puck's comb, damn it.
She really is treating me like a spirit...
"What's wrong? Subaru?" Emilia stopped her movements, tilting her head in concern as she asked.
"Ah, nothing..." Natsuki Subaru hurriedly changed the subject, "I just think Emilia-chan's hair looks particularly glossy today."
Moonlight streamed through the window, plating Emilia's silver hair with a soft silver sheen, even the ends of her hair shimmered with a dreamlike halo.
"Does it?" Emilia gently fiddled with her hair.
"Of course, it's simply... like an angel's halo..." Natsuki Subaru clasped his hands together, teasing, "Emilia-chan is like an angel descended to earth."
"Honestly, Subaru, you're saying such embarrassing things again..."
A faint blush appeared on Emilia's cheeks, and she unconsciously lowered her head.
"Because Emilia-chan is really too cute."
Natsuki Subaru said with a teasing smile.
"Honestly, Subaru, don't always joke around with me," Emilia said, puffing her cheeks in embarrassment.
"I'm serious, I—"
Natsuki Subaru was about to say something.
Just then, the room door was suddenly pushed open.
"Excuse me." Rem stood quietly at the door, her blue eyes shifting between the two, "Subaru and Lady Emilia, it seems Rem has come at an inopportune time..."
What's with this inexplicable feeling of guilt?
It's almost like being caught in the act...
Realizing this, Natsuki Subaru immediately sat upright and said:
"No, Rem, you've come at just the right time."
"I-I was just helping Subaru tidy his hair..."
Seeing Rem appear, Emilia, as if waking from a dream, put away the comb, her ears turning completely red.
"Lady Emilia needn't explain."
Rem curtsied slightly, "Subaru has been studying very hard lately, it's only natural for Lady Emilia to be concerned about Subaru."
"Um... Since Rem is here to tutor Subaru, I won't disturb you then." Emilia stood up, her long silver hair tracing a graceful arc in the air, "Subaru, you must study hard."
Emilia's departing footsteps gradually faded, and the room fell into a subtle silence for a moment.
To ease the awkward atmosphere, Natsuki Subaru blinked and said to Rem:
"By the way, Rem, I've recently learned a new skill. I can read and write at the same time."
"Although it's as useless as Subaru's previous teaching skills..." Rem tilted her head thoughtfully, "but it's really impressive."
"The praise in the latter half doesn't make up for the blow in the first half at all!"
Natsuki Subaru clutched his chest exaggeratedly, feigning injury.
"However, Subaru has been really diligent lately." Rem gazed at Natsuki Subaru, speaking softly, "Studying late every day."
"After all—" Natsuki Subaru suddenly straightened his back, proudly giving a thumbs-up with his right hand, his eyes sparkling with confidence,
"I'm a man with demonic assistance! If it weren't for you and Ram teaching me so patiently and meticulously during this time, I probably wouldn't even recognize the simplest characters by now."
"Subaru is too modest." Rem covered her mouth and chuckled, the corners of her blue eyes curving slightly, "It's mainly thanks to sister's excellent teaching. But Subaru is indeed a fast learner. You got all thirty new characters right in today's dictation, the ones I taught you yesterday."
"Isn't that because Rem taught me well?" Natsuki Subaru paused, then continued, "Speaking of which, the method you taught me is really useful, turning those complicated characters into interesting stories."
"As long as it's helpful to Subaru." Rem nodded seriously, "However, Subaru still needs to hold the pen correctly when writing. I just saw your wrist was too tense again."
"Ahaha, you noticed." Natsuki Subaru scratched his head in embarrassment, "I always unconsciously use all my strength, but Rem, you're really observant."
"Because..." Rem's voice softened, gentle ripples appearing in her blue eyes,
"Rem will always be by Subaru's side, so these small things must be kept in mind."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the gentle and considerate blue-haired girl before him, momentarily speechless.
And so.
In this warm atmosphere, Rem continued to patiently guide Natsuki Subaru in learning the characters of the other world.
Time slipped by quietly as knowledge was imparted, and the night outside unknowingly reached its end.
When the last bit was learned, Natsuki Subaru let out a long sigh:
"Ah—It's finally done! I learned so many new characters today, my head feels like it's about to explode."
"Let Rem massage Subaru's shoulders. You've worked hard studying today."
Rem gracefully moved behind Natsuki Subaru, her slender fingers lightly resting on his shoulders,
"Rem's shoulders are stiff too."
"Wow~!" Natsuki Subaru turned around in surprise, his face full of emotion, "Rem is actually offering to do this. But really, thank you so much, you don't have to take care of me like this..."
"Because..." Rem's voice was soft as water, like a wind chime tinkling in a corner in the night breeze, her slender fingers gently pressing on Natsuki Subaru's tense shoulders and neck,
"Being able to take care of Subaru like this makes Rem very happy. Every time I see Subaru working hard and seriously, Rem's heart fills with boundless strength."
"Err... Thank you, Rem."
Natsuki Subaru felt the gentle touch on his shoulders and unconsciously closed his eyes.
Rem's fingertips seemed to carry magic, soothing away all his fatigue bit by bit.
In this quiet moment, two equally beautiful figures appeared in his mind.
The gentle and kind Emilia, and the blue-haired girl before him, taking care of him meticulously.
"If... if one day I had to choose between them?"
The moment this thought emerged, Natsuki Subaru felt hesitant.
This was simply a final choice even harder than a strategic victory!
"Subaru?" Rem keenly sensed Natsuki Subaru's abnormality, her hand movements pausing, "Did Rem press too hard?"
"Ah, no, no!"
Natsuki Subaru hurriedly shook his head, gently looking at the blue-haired girl beside him and explaining, "I was just... just thinking, it's so wonderful to have met Rem."
"...Rem too."
Rem's fingers paused slightly, then continued to massage even more gently, her voice laced with unconcealed joy.
Natsuki Subaru tilted his head slightly, and Rem's focused profile came into view. Moonlight streamed through the window, sprinkling silvery specks on her blue hair. Her long eyelashes cast faint shadows on her cheeks, and a subtle smile played on her lips.
A firmer thought rose in Natsuki Subaru's heart:
Only children make choices, adults want them all!
"I must become stronger!" Natsuki Subaru unconsciously clenched his fists, a fiery flame igniting in his eyes, its light seemingly capable of illuminating the entire night sky,
"Strong enough to protect everyone's smiles, to give these cherished girls a warm and happy home!"
Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!
Kasaka's Toxic Fang Short Sword cut through the air, its sound rising and falling in the dim forest.
Natsuki Subaru's figure moved like a phantom among the Mabeast pack, every flash accompanied by a cold glint.
This was a pack of Mabeasts called Girtirama.
After this period of study, Natsuki Subaru had gained a considerable understanding of the various Mabeasts in this other world.
Girtirama had lion-like heads, the bodies of horses or goats, snake-like tails, and colossal sizes comparable to an entire forest path.
"I have to say, the number of Mabeasts in this forest is truly astonishing."
Natsuki Subaru fought while recalling knowledge about these Mabeasts.
In folklore, people attributed Mabeasts to the creations of the Witch of Envy, Satella, believing she created them to destroy humanity.
But the truth was, they originated from the goodwill of the most ancient witch, Daphne, artificial life created to eliminate hunger in the world.
Born from the witch's goodwill, their existence only consumed Mana, not occupying existing nutrients, habitats, ecological niches, or any existing resources in the world, placing zero burden on the environment.
And their unusually large size was due to the design concept: the larger they grew, the more meat they contained, and the more meat there was, the fewer people would go hungry.
Theoretically, the emergence of artificially created animals would be a breakthrough for a world craving artificial life, as they not only had no need for survival resources but also had larger populations, thus producing more meat.
However, it was precisely because of these two characteristics that Mabeasts themselves eventually became a plague in this world, violating the purpose for which they were originally created, and exacerbating the threat of hunger they were meant to eliminate.
Not to mention, Mabeasts tasted disgusting, meaning that unless someone was on the verge of starvation, they would not try to eat them; generally, no one would.
Furthermore, there was an important point: ordinary humans were simply no match for Mabeasts.
These Mabeasts were not only much larger than ordinary wild animals but also more aggressive, and some individuals even possessed magical abilities.
Usually, even experienced mercenary groups or regular armies were unwilling to easily provoke these troublesome creatures, as hunting Mabeasts was both dangerous and offered little practical benefit.
Someone like Natsuki Subaru, who proactively ventured deep into the forest to hunt Mabeasts, was an anomaly.
You know, in this other world, most humans facing Mabeast threats would choose the safest approach: setting up barriers and constructing defense lines to isolate Mabeasts from safe areas.
But Natsuki Subaru was different.
He needed experience points, urgently needed to level up!
Ever since that time in the dungeon instance where he leveled up ten times in a row, he had been obsessed with this rapid method of becoming stronger.
Unfortunately, the dungeon key was now used up, so he could only turn his attention to this perilous forest.
This forest, regarded as a forbidden land of death by the villagers of Arlam, was a perfect leveling ground for the current Natsuki Subaru.
You know, at level 18, all his attributes far surpassed those of ordinary people, and the threat level of Mabeasts had long been greatly reduced in his eyes.
Those Girtirama Mabeasts, which made ordinary people pale at the mention, were nothing more than mobile experience packs to him.
"Roar—"
A deafening beastly roar suddenly erupted, and a Girtirama burst out from the bushes in an attack.
This Mabeast, its size comparable to a small mountain, displayed astonishing agility, its sharp claws tearing through the air, bringing with them the aura of death as it pounced.
"Just in time!"
Natsuki Subaru advanced instead of retreating, his legs suddenly exerting force.
In the instant the Mabeast's claws were about to reach his face, his figure suddenly blurred, becoming an afterimage as he shifted several feet to the side.
Pfft!
Kasaka's Toxic Fang Short Sword flashed with cold light, accurately piercing the most vulnerable part of the Mabeast's throat.
Accompanied by a mournful cry, the system prompt arrived as expected:
[Notification: +56 experience points.]
[Notification: Level up...]
[Notification: Obtained skill Sprint]
"Sure enough, the higher my own level, the less experience I get..."
Natsuki Subaru flicked the bloodstains off his short sword, pouting slightly in dissatisfaction,
"But, after these few days of effort, I've at least leveled up once."
Five or six days had passed since Ferris and Wilhelm visited the mansion.
Before setting off for the Royal Capital, every bit of strength improvement was precious.
Therefore, after completing the system tasks every day, Natsuki Subaru would punctually come to this forest to farm monsters.
This was both an excellent opportunity to improve his own strength and to eliminate potential threats for Arlam Village.
Although Roswaal had set up a protective barrier at the edge of the forest, Natsuki Subaru knew very well that magical barriers were not foolproof.
Once a loophole appeared in the barrier, these ferocious Mabeasts could threaten the lives of the villagers at any time.
As his strength continuously improved, Natsuki Subaru's mentality also underwent subtle changes.
The anxiety and unease he once felt about future powerful enemies were gradually fading, replaced by increasingly firm confidence.
Every precise swing of his sword, every system upgrade prompt, brought Natsuki Subaru one step closer to his goal of protecting those important to him.
"Let's see the newly acquired skill..."
With a thought, Natsuki Subaru called up the details of the acquired skill.
[Sprint Lv1: Movement speed increased by 50%, lasts for 30 seconds.]
Cooldown: 3 minutes
Mana Cost: 50 points
Details: Skill effect enhances with user's level.]
"Interesting, this is the first skill that requires mana consumption."
Natsuki Subaru thoughtfully stroked his chin, thinking to himself, "It seems mana points are finally going to be useful."
Although it was just a simple speed-up skill, as the first active skill, its strategic value could not be underestimated.
In the ever-changing battlefield, even a 0.1-second speed advantage could determine life and death.
What was even more exciting was that the effect of this skill would continuously enhance with level increases.
"But, speaking of which, I'm now level 19, and I'll soon break through the level 20 mark."
A gleam of excitement flashed in Natsuki Subaru's eyes,
"At that time, I'll be able to unlock the system shop and buy recovery potions and powerful equipment."
"My strength will also see further improvement."
Feeling the surging power within his body, Natsuki Subaru clearly realized that the gap between himself and those top-tier powerhouses was rapidly shrinking.
This growth rate was something ordinary people could never achieve through conventional training.
"If Sword Saint Reinhard is considered a cheat-like existence..."
A confident arc formed on Natsuki Subaru's lips, "then am I, with the system, not another form of cheat?"
Admittedly, Reinhard possessed hundreds of divine protections, and it was no exaggeration to call him the favored son of this world.
However, in terms of pure physical strength, he, who had undergone all-around attribute enhancement, actually had the upper hand.
More importantly—he possessed infinite growth potential.
"I can level up alone, the advantage is ultimately mine."
As his voice fell, Natsuki Subaru's figure had already disappeared from the spot.
Deep in the forest, there were more experience packs waiting for him to harvest.
___
Greetings! ✨ Walnut here!
🔥 AN INCREDIBLE OFFER IS ON THE TABLE! 🔥
We're only 13 members away from our 65-member goal! 🎯
The second we hit it, 10 BONUS CHAPTERS for ALL STORIES will be released to everyone. No exceptions!
🪦 Your membership is the key. Let's make it happen!
100 powerstones = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone! 5 reviews = +1 Bonus Chapter for everyone!
Secure your early access before it's too late!
👻 patreon.com/Walnutchan