Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Natsuki Subaru suddenly burst into laughter.

Petra, standing beside her, blinked in confusion.

Is this a joke?

"Dude, this kind of weird joke is so boring that even a child would find it boring."

The children looked at Subaru Natsuki with disdain.

Except for Merry, everyone else left Subaru Natsuki and returned to Rem's side.

Rem instinctively covered her mouth; of course, she wasn't laughing because of Subaru's 'joke'.

What he was really laughing at was the way Natsuki Subaru tried to please the child, only to be abandoned by him instead.

This scene made Subaru Natsuki sigh.

The children ran away one after another...like leaves falling in the wind.

But thankfully, at least the little girl with dark blue hair was still in front of him.

At least his jokes have one loyal audience!

This prevented Subaru Natsuki from being too grief-stricken.

Looking at Mary now, it's not that she doesn't want to leave.

Instead, it felt like a cold hand was pressing down on the back of my neck, and I didn't dare to move at all!

The man in front of me knew.

He must know.

Feet are better at hiding than hands.

Isn't this talking about her?

She hid among the children.

The dog is hidden in its cute appearance.

This man is terrifying; not only did he dodge the first attack, but he also deliberately asked such a question.

This is a warning.

This must be a warning.

Mary felt her throat was dry and her hands began to tremble involuntarily.

She herself is not good at fighting.

She is a Beastmaster.

With enough magical beasts around her, she could make many adults die a horrible death.

But if someone gets close and grabs her, she's not much different from any other little girl.

Subaru Natsuki was still smiling.

Laughing heartily.

It's as if they genuinely believe this joke is the most unique in the world.

But Mary felt that the laughter was like a death knell.

She instinctively looked towards the bushes.

She herself was unaware of it.

At that moment, she wasn't looking for companions.

Instead, they are looking for someone they can rely on.

Just like when a child is scared, they instinctively look for their mother—not the leader who likes others to call her "Mom," but...

Elsa is hiding there.

The grass remained still.

But Melly knew that Elsa must have seen it.

Natsuki Subaru glanced in the direction of her gaze, then turned back.

"Little sister, why aren't you smiling?"

Isn't this joke funny?

Mary managed a weak smile.

"It's funny."

Subaru Natsuki shook his head.

"Your smile looks so fake."

"Alright, I'll help you."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand, as if to gently lift the corner of Mary's mouth upwards with two fingers.

Mary's pupils suddenly contracted.

He's about to make his move.

He was about to make his move!

At that very instant, a very faint rustling sound came from the bushes nearby.

A pair of curved blades emerged from the shadows.

The blade was not aimed at the throat, nor at the heart.

Instead, they precisely cut into Subaru Natsuki's abdomen.

That's the angle at which the intestines are cut open.

The sound of something cutting through the air...

Subaru Natsuki, who had returned from death countless times, was all too familiar with it, so much so that it was almost an instinctive reaction for him.

His hand, which was reaching for Mary, suddenly stopped.

He then leaned back and took two steps back.

The blade grazed his clothes, tracing a perfect arc through the air before flying back into the thrower's hand.

That was close; it was just a hair's breadth away from hitting flesh.

Natsuki Subaru looked down at the torn corner of his clothes.

Then he raised his head.

A woman with black hair slowly emerged from behind the bushes.

She held two blades in her hands, her smile both soft and dangerous.

"That's very perceptive."

"Even though my attention was on the child just now, I still avoided it."

"General Natsuki Subaru, your intestines are definitely something to look forward to."

"Who goes there!"

Rem's expression changed in that instant.

She almost immediately stepped in front of the children, a meteor hammer appearing in her hand at some unknown time!

"Is that little girl over there a demon? How wonderful! This time we can see what a demon's intestines look like. Are they warm too?"

A sickly smile appeared on Elsa's face.

While Rem and Subaru were focused on Elsa, Merry quietly slipped back among the children.

If anything happens to Elsa, she can use these children as hostages!

Natsuki Subaru did not pay attention to Merry's actions.

He only stared at Elsa for a few seconds.

First came surprise.

Then, as if finally remembering something, she exclaimed with delight:

"Isn't that the heroine!"

Elsa paused for a moment, then her smile deepened.

"hero?"

"Ah."

Subaru Natsuki nodded earnestly.

"It's been a while since we parted ways at the stolen goods warehouse, I never expected to meet you here again today."

"Did you come here to have a drink with me?"

Elsa didn't react yet, but Rem's expression froze for a moment.

She didn't put down the meteor hammer; instead, she took a half-step behind Subaru Natsuki and said in a low voice:

"Does Lord Subaru know Elsa?"

Such a dangerous guy.

This undisguised murderous intent.

And that tone just now, as if they were old acquaintances.

A terrible thought inevitably arose in Rem's mind.

She suspected that this might be Subaru Natsuki's accomplice, and whether they were plotting against the mansion.

"Know each other? I guess you could say we know each other."

Subaru Natsuki nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at Rem, then at Elsa, and quickly waved his hand.

"Wait, don't do anything yet, let me explain!"

"This is Rem, the noble maid of the Roswaal family!"

Rem remained unmoved, watching Subaru and Erza warily.

Elsa's serene smile froze for a moment: "Of noble status? A maid?"

Natsuki Subaru had already turned to Rem, and then solemnly pointed to Erza, introducing her as follows:

"And this is...?"

He suddenly stopped speaking.

Elsa raised an eyebrow and looked at him with interest.

Natsuki Subaru was silent for a moment.

There was another moment of silence.

Finally, he raised his hand and sincerely clasped his hands in a fist salute to Elsa.

"I'm sorry."

"I really can't remember your name."

Chapter 37: 037. Rem's Hesitation

After Natsuki Subaru finished speaking, the village entrance was quiet for a moment.

"I'm sorry."

"I really can't remember your name."

Elsa blinked.

Then, as if she had heard something very interesting, her shoulders trembled slightly.

"You clearly can't remember my name, but you still remember to call me a hero?"

"A name is just a label; a hero is a person of character."