NOVEL WEB Chapter 19: Familiar Stink
*POV SUBARU*
The days at the mansion passed with a routine that, though deceptive, allowed me to continue growing. My training in the dojo, now with Danger Sense in operation, felt different.
It was as if my body, in addition to my eyes, could now "see" the movements. I anticipated the punching bags' blows a split second in advance, dodging or adjusting my stance with an ease I had previously been unable to. Ram, though still with his cutting remarks, would occasionally offer a technical correction that showed he was actually paying attention.
"Barusu, your guard's down," he blurted out one morning, just as a blow from my fist swerved. I instinctively corrected my stance. "Hmph. Pathetic, but you learn."
[Charisma Obstacle Overcome: Progress Despite Criticism.]
[Reward: 10 EXP.]
My Luck continued to play tricks on me as well. I found unexpected shortcuts in the hallways, the tastiest dishes appeared on the table in front of me, and once, a bee flying straight for my face swerved at the last moment, just in time to avoid a pesky sting.
It was a constant reminder that something invisible was giving me a slight advantage in the day-to-day. One afternoon, while I was recovering in my room, Rem appeared with a message.
"Subaru-kun, Mr. Roswaal is expecting you in his study. It seems he has an important matter to discuss with you," Rem said, with her usual formality. Her gaze, however, betrayed subtle curiosity.
A "gut feeling" told me this wouldn't be about my personal training. I headed to the study, feeling Roswaal's familiar twinge.
As I entered, Roswaal was standing by his desk, staring at a large map of Lugunica spread out on the surface. His clownish grin was as fixed as ever, but the air in the room was unusually grave.
"Ah, young Subaru. Just in time," Roswaal said, turning. "I have a matter that requires your... peculiar talent."
"What is it, Lord Roswaal?" I asked, my Danger Sense vibrating slightly. It wasn't a direct threat, but a risky situation nonetheless.
Roswaal pointed to a spot on the map, near the border with the Gusteko Kingdom. "We've received disturbing reports. An outpost near the border has been attacked. A brutal attack. And the few survivors speak of... shadowy creatures and an overpowering stench."
My eyes widened. "Shadowy creatures... and a stench?" The description struck me. It was the scent I'd sensed in the original loop, the stench that accompanied the Witch Cult.
"Exactly," Roswaal continued, his voice lowering a pitch. "A very particular stench. One that, according to my... research, is associated with the Witch Cult. And you, young Subaru, have a very keen 'feel' for these things."
I felt a chill. Roswaal didn't say it directly, but I knew he was referring to the "witch stench" I emanated. He was testing me, or worse, using me.
"The question is, Subaru-kun," Roswaal leaned over the map, his smile wider. "Would you be willing to join a small expedition to investigate this incident? Rem and Ram would, of course, accompany you. It would be a chance to put your 'intuition' and 'luck' to use on a larger scale."
The proposal was a trap, but also an opportunity. If the Witch Cult was active, I needed to know where and how they operated. And if I could thwart their plans, that would give me more EXP and SP.
"Lord Roswaal, if I can be of assistance, of course I will go," I replied, assuming my most resolute stance. "Any threat from the Witch Cult must be eradicated."
Roswaal laughed, a peculiar sound. "Magnificent! I always knew you had an... adventurous spirit. We'll leave at dawn. Prepare yourselves."
That night, Danger Sense wouldn't leave me alone. A constant vibration at the back of my neck, more intense than usual. It wasn't an imminent lethal threat, but it was a warning that something wasn't right. I decided to take a walk in the gardens to clear my mind.
As I walked along a moonlit path, Danger Sense sharply intensified. I turned my head, my gaze fixed on a rose hedge. And there, hidden in the shadows, I saw it.
A dog, but not a normal dog. It was large, its fur was dark, and its eyes glowed with a sickly reddish hue. It didn't resemble the Chief Demon Dog I had defeated in the village, but the stench was the same.
It was a lesser Demon Dog, but its presence here in the mansion gardens was a clear sign.
The Vision of Return hadn't warned me of this. This wasn't a threat to my save point; it was an infiltrator.
The demon dog had spotted me. Its eyes fixed on me, and a low growl escaped its throat. It wasn't the war cry of an enraged beast, but a sound of... recognition. The witch's stench I emitted must have attracted it.
"So you're here," I whispered, my hand instinctively moving to my side, even though I didn't have a weapon. My stats had risen, but I wasn't a stand-up fighter against such a monster. My Danger Sense screamed at me not to confront it head-on.
The demon dog took a step forward, its growl growing louder. It was a creature of darkness, and its presence here could only mean one thing: the Witch Cult was closer than Roswaal knew, or cared to admit.
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I tried to give it a new point of view, I hope you like it and if so, comment which character you would like a POV with.