human
Subaru:  It was of the same species as the one Subaru had encountered earlier, and for the soldiers, who hadn’t known there were demon beasts in the jungle, it came as a complete surprise.
gpt
Subaru:  But attempting to immediately deal with the danger of the demon beast was both the correct judgment, and yet also a mistake.
human
Subaru:  Because it was not the imperial soldiers the demon beast was after.
gpt
Subaru:  Its goal was none other than Subaru Natsuki, who was standing in a massive cloud of miasma.
human
Subaru:  “Tsss!! !” The sword slash struck its scales, and the snake roared while sweeping the soldier aside with its tail.
gpt
Subaru:  Its yellow eyes gleamed ferociously as it hammered the procession with a tremendous roar.
human
Subaru:  Having spent a year being a decoy for demon beasts, Subaru was a pro at it.
gpt
Subaru:  In most cases, demon beasts would proactively target Subaru, with all his miasma, but only until someone threatened them.
human
Subaru:  It was the same for the giant snake as it had been for the White Whale.
gpt
Subaru:  The White Whale had targeted Wilhelm because he’d attacked it, and the snake had turned its fangs on the hunter who had shot it.
human
Subaru:  And Subaru had used that law to his advantage here.
gpt
Subaru:  The snake now turned its attention from Subaru to the soldiers in armor, who were directing their malice at the snake.
human
Jamal:  “Ngh! A demon beast?! No one mentioned anything about that!! !” Facing down the giant snake’s animosity, Jamal shouted these words while drawing a pair of swords.
gpt
Subaru:  And surprisingly, he displayed a genuinely high level of skill, boldly attacking the demon beast with swift and agile movements.
human
Subaru:  However, Subaru wouldn’t support Jamal’s unexpectedly difficult fighting.
gpt
Subaru:  Subaru had spent a few hours tromping through the jungle with the soldiers, aiming for this exact outcome.
human
Subaru:  The soldiers did not know there were demon beasts in the jungle.
gpt
Subaru:  Demon beasts that were drawn to Subaru by his miasma.
human
Subaru:  He’d used his body’s smell to control demon beasts like always, making him a skilled demon beast master, too.
gpt
Subaru:  When I meet up with Meili again, I should challenge her to the title of demon beast master by comparing our stats.
human
Subaru:  But I don’t have time to worry about that right now.
gpt
Subaru:  “I have to…”
human
Subaru:  …use this opportunity to get back to camp and free Rem.
gpt
Subaru:  Just as he was about to start running, he felt a terrifying chill at the nape of his neck.
human
Subaru:  Reacting immediately, he frantically ducked his head.
gpt
Subaru:  Just then, a hatchet swung right through where his head had been and landed in the trunk of the tree right next to him.
human
Subaru:  “Ngh!” Had he not ducked, Subaru would have died on the spot. Shuddering at that realization, Subaru turned around and looked at his attacker.
gpt
Todd:  Todd was glaring at him with a furious scowl.
human
Subaru:  “Ngh!” Not wanting to be pinned in place by that gaze, Subaru started sprinting through the jungle.
gpt
Subaru:  If he stopped, Todd would catch him.