Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

In the afternoon and evening, Natsuki Subaru would help Rem with the work at the mansion.

At first, Rem was just keeping watch.

She would deliberately assign simple tasks to Subaru Natsuki to see what he was planning to do.

But Subaru Natsuki actually did it.

Sweeping, wiping tables, moving things, and taking inventory.

He did it clumsily.

But I didn't slack off.

I didn't take the opportunity to pry into anything I shouldn't ask.

Sometimes, he would even work himself up until he was covered in sweat because he didn't want Rem to "personally suffer from the strain."

Rem's wariness slowly eased a little amidst this absurdly serious demeanor.

Of course, it's only a small part.

The afternoon of the third day.

Rem is going to the village to buy things needed for the mansion.

Upon hearing this, Natsuki Subaru immediately followed.

"Procurement is a major matter concerning the army's food and supplies."

"This should not be taken lightly."

Rem glanced at him.

"Lord Subaru just wants to go out, right?"

Natsuki Subaru was silent for a moment.

"That's part of the reason."

For some reason, Rem suddenly found this person surprisingly easy to understand.

The two walked along the road toward the village.

The sun is shining brightly.

The wind blows across the fields, bringing with it the scent of grass and earth.

Several children were playing at the entrance of the village.

They saw Rem and immediately surrounded her.

"Rem, my sister!"

Are you here to buy something again today?

Who is this person?

The children chattered and asked questions.

Subaru Natsuki stood beside Rem, his gaze sweeping over the group of children.

Among them, a little girl with blue hair stood a little further away, shy and quiet, not saying a word, holding an adorable little dog in her arms.

The puppy looked fluffy, with its tail wagging back and forth, as if it were very well-behaved.

Subaru Natsuki's eyes lit up slightly.

"Good dog."

He crouched down and reached out his hand to the puppy.

"Come, let the Great General of the Wei Chariots and Cavalry touch it."

Before I could finish speaking, the little dog suddenly raised its head. I said whether I had said it or not.

His once gentle eyes turned dark in an instant.

It opened its mouth and bit at Subaru's outstretched hand.

Chapter 35: 035. Meryl's Confession

By the third day of mingling with the children, Mary had almost memorized every road at the entrance of the village.

She came here at her mother's request.

The mission objective is a blue-haired or pink-haired maid, and a black-haired man with them.

As for who those people were, Mary didn't really care.

Whether it's royalty or nobility.

Maids are fine too.

Even a passerby by the roadside.

In her eyes, there was not much difference.

You will bleed if you are bitten by a monster.

Being afflicted by a curse is painful.

In the end, they will all die.

Adults sometimes care a lot about their status.

Family name, title, faction, master.

It seems that these things can make one person more important than another.

Mary didn't quite understand.

Because Warcraft doesn't bite less just because the other party is a noble.

They wouldn't bite the other person a few more times just because they think she's a maid.

She grew up with Warcraft.

Monsters get hungry, bite, tear open their prey's throat, and also quietly crouch at your feet when commanded.

The people are pretty much the same.

It can cry, it can run away, and it will reach out its hand when it is about to die, as if it can grab something.

Mary had seen this kind of scene many times.

After seeing so much, life no longer seems so special.

The person being killed may need a reason.

Those who can take action only need to give orders.

[Mom] asks her to do it, and she does it.

If I don't do it, Mom will be angry.

When Mom is angry, she turns people into very strange things.

Mary hates frogs the most.

That feeling was absolutely awful.

Its body turned into a wet, soft little thing, its hands and feet no longer resembled its own, and it could only make unpleasant noises. When it saw a fly in the sky, it would instinctively stick out its tongue...

But my mind was still clear.

She knows who she is.

Knowing that I wasn't always like this.

I also know that there's nothing I can do.

The feeling of having transformed into another species while having one's thoughts completely preserved is more intimidating than mere pain, making one want to scream.

So Mary doesn't want to become a frog again.

That's why she came to the village.

It's so simple that you don't even need to think about good or evil.

She arrived in the village a few days early, pretending to be a quiet little girl.

She's done this many times before and is very good at it.

Children are easier to approach than adults.

As long as she holds a well-behaved-looking puppy, keeps her head down, and occasionally shows a timid expression, people will soon come up to her and ask her name.

Petra, with her short orange hair, was the most enthusiastic of them all.

She would take Mary to play with the other children and tell her where the best fruits were in the village.

Mary doesn't dislike her.

I wouldn't say I like it.

I just think this child is a bit noisy.

Time passes slowly in the village.

The puppy in her arms would occasionally wag its tail and rub against her palm.

Judging from its appearance, it is indeed a very lovable puppy.

hairy.

Her eyes were round and bright.

It looks like something cute that children would hug and knead.

But that's just the surface.

This is a magical beast that Melly specially chose.

It is small in size and has a cute appearance, but its bite is more ferocious than that of ordinary wild animals.

Most importantly, once bitten by it, the curse will be planted into the wound.

Once the curse takes effect, the quest will be complete.

No need for a major undertaking.

There's no need to make too much of a fuss.

Just take a small bite.

It's like hiding a needle in soft cotton.

Mary originally thought this mission would be easy.

If the target is a maid, then let the dog rub against her while you're shopping.

If the target is a dark-haired man, then let the dog approach him while the children are playing.

Humans tend to lower their guard when they see puppies and children.

Especially those adults who think they're very capable.

They might even offer their hand.

How simple.

I wonder what the client added to make "Mom" take it this seriously?

She raised her eyes and glanced furtively at the bushes beside the village entrance.

Elsa was hiding there.

Ordinary people can't see her.

An ordinary child would never discover that a woman who could cut open a person's stomach at any time was hiding there.

This was specifically requested by [Mom].

Mary didn't quite understand why Elsa had to come along for a mission of this magnitude.

Does Mom think she can't do it well by herself?

Or is there something special about that black-haired man?