The familiar pull of Return by Death was brutal. One second he was standing, victorious over the Dog Demon Boss, with Rem and Ram at his side. The next, the ache in his healed belly returned, and the scent of early morning dew and earth enveloped him. He was back. Alone. At the entrance to Arlam Village. The save point.
"Damn it," Subaru muttered, frustration bitter in his mouth. He had done everything right. He had avoided the initial bites, he had defeated the boss.
But the loop had restarted, which meant only one thing: the Demon Dog Boss wasn't the root of the curse. He was just a symptom, a puppet. The true puppeteer was still at large, weaving his dark magic.
The Vision of Return throbbed in his chest with more urgency than ever. It wasn't just the imminent threat; it was a warning that the source of the misfortune was still active.
"Fine, system," he murmured, "if I can't cut the branch, I'll go for the root."
[Current Attributes (Level 5):
* Strength: 11
* Agility: 12
* Stamina: 9
* Intelligence: 11
* Charisma: 11
* Luck: 1
Available Attribute Points: 5]
He had gained a level and points. This time, the strategy would be different. He needed power to find the source and eliminate it.
'Distribute AP,' Subaru thought quickly.
* Intelligence: 11 -> 13 (2 AP)
* Strength: 11 -> 12 (1 AP)
* Agility: 12 -> 13 (1 AP)
* Stamina: 9 -> 10 (1 AP)
[Available Attribute Points: 0]
"System Shop," he said, searching for a new skill for combat.
* [Curse Detection (Basic)]: Allows one to detect the presence and general type of curses in a nearby area. Cost: 8 SP.
* [Fear Resistance (Minor)]: Reduces the impact of fear and terror effects. Cost: 5 SP.
"Curse Detection (Basic)," Subaru muttered, purchasing it without hesitation.
This was exactly what he needed to track down the source.
[Acquired Skill: Curse Detection (Basic).]
[Current SP: 3]
Now, how do I approach Rem and Ram? He couldn't just tell them he'd died and restarted. He had to justify his knowledge.
He headed back to the mansion. This time, his goal wasn't to prevent first contact, but to avoid the curse altogether. He remembered that the Witch Cult was the true culprit, and its members used demon animals to spread curses.
When he arrived at the mansion, Rem was already in the kitchen. Subaru approached with a plan.
"Rem, I just had a very clear vision," Subaru said, activating his Return Sight to lend a tinge of seriousness to his words.
"I feel a dark presence—not a single monster, but something larger—stalking the village. I think the curse is being... actively spread; it's not just an isolated case of demon dogs."
Rem looked at him worriedly. "Subaru-kun, what do you mean? A spreading curse?"
"Yes. I think there's someone, or something, intentionally planting the curse. Not just wild dogs," Subaru leaned on the table, his voice low and urgent. "It could be a sect. Or some kind of cult—the danger is far greater than we imagine."
The mention of a cult made Rem's eyes widen in alarm. She knew of the Witch Cult's existence.
"If that were the case... it would be very serious," Rem murmured, her mind processing the information. "We should inform Lord Roswaal."
"No," Subaru said firmly. "If we wait, it will be too late. The curse will spread, and the children will die. We have to go to the village right now, but this time, we have to find the source. We have to look for any signs of dark magic or suspicious people."
[Main Quest: Unravel the Root of the Curse.]
[Objective: Identify and neutralize the source of the curse in Arlam Village.]
[Reward: ??? EXP, ??? SP, Unique Skill: Authority Resistance (Medium).]
Roswaal was a danger. If Subaru could resolve this without his intervention, all the better. And the reward, Authority Resistance, sounded incredibly useful against the likes of Roswaal and the Sin Archbishops.
"Rem, we're not going to fight the dogs this time," Subaru explained. "We're going to look for something else. An object. A person. Anything that might be attracting or generating this curse."
Rem nodded, her resolve hardening. "I understand, Subaru-kun. If it's a threat like that, we can't wait. I'll go prepare our things. Should we alert Ram?"
"Yes," Subaru said. "We need all the help we can get. But he insists we're searching for the source, not just defending ourselves from the dogs. And that we must be quick and discreet."
With Rem now convinced, Subaru felt hopeful. The game was different this time; he wasn't alone, and he had the tools to play smarter.