She reached the edge of a new clearing—and there he was.
Surrounded by a pack of feral hellhounds, Guts fought with brutal precision.
He had a clear goal now: kill the leader of the pack.
He charged, sword raised—but as he went to strike, a powerful shockwave sent him flying.
The small puppy had transformed.
Its skin tore apart like fabric. Its bones cracked, reshaped. The innocent puppy now stood as a beast from the darkest pit. three meters tall.
But Guts didn't flinch.
He had faced worse.
Much worse.
The beast closed in.
It struck him hard, claws crashing against sword and prosthetic with enough force to send him crashing to the ground.
Flat on his back, Guts had few options left.
But he hadn't used his trump card yet.
The demonic hound opened its jaws wide, ready to finish him off.
And Guts… was smiling.
Guts: "Don't think you've won, mutt!"
He raised his mechanical arm—
—and fired.
A cannonball shot straight into the monster's mouth, detonating on impact.
The clearing exploded in a cloud of smoke and flame.
Silence.
Then, Guts stood again.
And with one final slash, he cut the beast clean in half.
Blood sprayed.
The body collapsed.
Rem had just arrived in time to witness the impossible.
To her, everything had happened in the blink of an eye.
No ordinary man could've survived such a battle.
But Guts wasn't ordinary.
And it wasn't over yet.
Rem: "Guts-kun! I'm here!"
He was still slicing through the last of the beasts that lunged toward him.
The worst had passed, but the danger remained.
Rem rushed in, morningstar in hand, and smashed through the snarling hellhounds still driven by hatred—
Hatred, fury… or something deeper.
Memories.
Pain.
A face.
Her sister.
These monsters were tied to the witch—
The one who had stolen everything from her family.
Rem's rage surged.
Her horn appeared, glowing crimson in the night.
Two warriors—
Or perhaps just a maid and a monster hunter—
Stood side by side.
And together, they slaughtered the rest of the pack.
When the last beast fell, Guts collapsed, breathing heavily.
Rem stood still, the red light of her horn fading.
She approached him, her expression unreadable.
Rem: "Guts-kun… may I?"
Guts: "Huh?"
She didn't wait for permission.
She simply lay down beside him, her hand resting gently on his chest.
Rem: "I was so scared..."
Guts (smirking): "That was nothing. I'm not the kind of guy who dies that easily."
He glanced sideways at her.
Rem: "If my sister had been here… none of this would've been necessary.
She would've ended it in an instant."
Guts: "Maybe.
But I know one thing for sure:
You did great.
I wouldn't have made it out in one piece without you."
Rem blushed.
Guts: "Did you see it?"
Rem: "See what?"
Guts: "The one watching us since the start."
Rem sat up quickly, her cheeks turning red again.
Roswaal: "Impressive. You've got a sharp eye for a warrior, dear Guts."
Guts: "Didn't have time to chat.
You could've helped, you know."
Rem: "Master Roswaal?! You've been here all along?"
Roswaal: "I saw my dear servants handling things just fine.
Observing was… far more entertaining. You're an anomaly, Guts. I wanted to see what kind of creature you truly are.
Wouldn't you agree, Guts-kun?"
Guts: "Another noble playing games with people's lives. Typical."
Roswaal: "Now, now, don't be like that.
Had you been in real danger, I would've stepped in.
And you did wonderfully, might I add.
Which brings me to a proposal… one we'll discuss back at the mansion."
Guts: "Stop calling me that."
The night had grown deep.
And at last, the three of them began their return to the mansion.
As they walked back under the pale moonlight… no one said it, but they all knew: something had changed.