Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

――Only the violent heat in his stomach invaded his mind.

Subaru: "Ghhgg! Hot!"

His face aching from the hard surface of the ground, Subaru knew he had fallen flat on his face. But his limbs couldn't lift him to his feet and remained motionless. It was as if he were no longer himself, as if his body had been stolen.

And yet, the fire was still burning Subaru. So nothing about the situation was false.

――Hot, hot hot, hothothothothothothot.

He opened his mouth, and instead of a scream, streams of blood flowed out. In pain and suffering, almost drowning in his own blood as he was subjected to the height of agony.

――What the hell had he done?

He pleaded escape as a way to escape the suffering, the whining complaint repeating itself in his head.

What the hell had he done?

He knew his life wasn't worthy of unqualified praise. But this statement didn't apply only to Subaru. No one could live a life so pure that they could boast about it before all of humanity. People felt guilt, people felt remorse, people feigned ignorance, and people compromised.

So why did he alone have to suffer from this?

Why did the fate that everyone else could ignore impose itself on him alone?

Subaru: "Ahh, damn…"

The whisper escaped a stream of blood.

He carried his remorse, his disgust for his impotence, his hatred of fate――

――and his exasperation with himself.

Subaru: "――――"

Even with all these injuries, even with all this agony, even with all this mortal suffering. Even if the fire burned him, even if the pain broke him, even if it threatened his life.

The young girl anchored in her mind would face, smiling, the inexorable repetitions of unhappy death. Thus,

Subaru: "I'm going to…"

Once again, he expressed his resolve. He expressed his resolve. He expressed his pain and regret. All the while, seeking a future that, despite countless attempts, countless efforts, and countless wishes, he would never achieve.

The pain, the heat, and absolutely everything was fading away, and like the whiny dog he was, he howled.

Subaru: "Whatever happens――"

The glare of a blade fell mercilessly on his last glimmer of hope. But even that blade didn't enter his field of vision. He had already made up his mind.

――Save you.

The moment he renewed this wish, Natsuki Subaru lost his life.

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――Witnessing this familiar scene, Subaru felt strangely relieved and exhausted.

Subaru: "You came back safe and sound, there's no reason to be afraid, I guess."

While observing the traffic of the Royal Capital, Subaru drew multiple marks representing "||||" on the ground with a stick. He continued to do this until he was satisfied, then erased them with his foot and sighed.

Natsuki Subaru was from the Third Planet from the Sun, Earth. His station was that of a regular third-year truant.

If someone were to look at his casual attire (tracksuit, sneakers) and the plastic bag he was holding in his hand, they would have no doubt.

However, this principle only applied to those who came from regions familiar with concepts such as "tracksuits," "sneakers," and "convenience stores."

So, to get to what he was really trying to say――

Subaru: "――This 'summoning to a parallel world' thing is harder than I thought."

A cart pulled by a horse-sized lizard kicked up dust as it passed Subaru.

Such a spectacle was, of course, impossible in the world Subaru knew. It was therefore possible to suggest that it was a horse made up with special cosmetics, like a character in an amusement park. But Subaru disagreed.

Because there were more than one lizards—the city streets were teeming with them—and because the people who led these lizards also represented a massive population of special cosmetics. Anthropomorphic animals—people bearing the attributes of so-called beastmen or demihumans. Perhaps twenty or thirty of them were present in Subaru's field of vision. Naturally, there were also many others who shared Subaru's appearance, but the chaos inflicted on the "individual" half of "individual appearance" drowned them out and generally prevented them from attracting Subaru's attention.

But he couldn't stay here trying to escape reality forever.

Neither the beastmen nor the lizardmen were part of a film set or production. This scene was ordinary in this place, and the alien here wasn't them, it was Subaru.

――After the ten days Subaru had spent living this experience, he had understood this fact painfully.

Subaru: "…It's time to go."

Having finished his useless contemplations, Subaru patted his behind and stood up.

He kept the staff in his right hand as he walked down the street—not the main street where he would disappear into the crowd, but into the alleys.

Unlike the bustling main street, the back streets were sparsely populated as they were squeezed between tall buildings. The place could rightly be called an alley, simply a single lane isolated from the outside world by its silence.

In short, something could happen here, and the screams wouldn't reach the main road.

So if a blatant outsider like Subaru were to venture here, bandits targeting him would naturally appear.

???: "Hey, buddy. Come play with us for a second."

Subaru turned towards the voice, to find three figures blocking the alleyway.

They appeared as three figures, one large, one medium, and one small, and Subaru could sense their analytical abilities. He had no idea what they were examining, though.

Subaru: "――――"

Subaru tilted his head to look at the path in front of the three. The alleyway dead-ended behind Subaru, so the only way out of this alleyway was for the trio to let him pass.

And if we were to ask whether or not the trio intended to let Subaru return to Main Street――

???: "Why do you look so distracted?"

???: "He doesn't understand what's going on. Let's just say we're showing him."

Subaru's careless behavior prompted the three to grin obscenely, ideas of how to mistreat him forming in their heads. From their perspective, Subaru was an obvious beginner.

It was impossible to blame anyone for licking their lips at such easy loot.

But they were absolutely and totally wrong.

It was true that Subaru had no real combat experience, and he had no secret history of learning martial arts. As a beginner, that was the part of their estimation where they weren't wrong.

But in terms of fighting those three people in particular, Subaru was already a veteran.

??? : "--Eh ?"

Towards the inattentive giant――Ton of the TonChinKan trio――Subaru stretched out his arm.

In Subaru's hands was the stick he had picked up earlier, and although it lacked a sharp point, it sank into a soft spot in Ton's throat and, with minor resistance, embedded itself in his neck.

Tone: "What?"

Ton's eyes opened instantly, while Chin and Kan remained frozen.

Ton couldn't fight anymore. While the others were still petrified, Subaru's free hand shot out toward the middle child—Chin. He grabbed him by the hair and ear, and spun him around. Subaru allowed no resistance. Taking advantage of the momentum, he slammed Chin's head against the wall.

Something solid crashed, cracked, and Chin traced a trail of blood along the wall as it collapsed.

At the same time, Subaru kneed the impaled Ton, who opened his eyes as he fell. The direction he was falling was wrong. He was falling forward, and the staff dug even deeper into him.

Now two of them could no longer fight. Only one remained――

Kan: "Eep."

The little one, Kan, paled as he watched the instant defeat of his two allies.

If he abandoned the others and sprinted through the streets, it would turn into a contest of strength between his legs and Subaru's, and he might have a chance of surviving.

Instead, he gazed at the fallen duo and hesitated to flee. Unaware that it was already too late for them, he wasted the only second of time he had.

Idiot. Imbecile. He'll get what he deserves for this stupid decision.

Kan: "Ghau, ghhg…"

Subaru closed his hands around Kan's thin neck, pressing Kan's back against the wall. Kan struggled as he was lifted against the wall, the force on his neck increasing as Subaru choked him.

He was lifted until he was level with Subaru. Kan's eyes bulged as he was choked, his mouth opening and closing in search of oxygen. But his windpipe had been forcibly blocked, and Kan wouldn't be saved.

Subaru: "Now do you realize how many times I've met you in total?"

Kan: "Khhg, hgh…"

Subaru: "Eighty-eight times. Good for you, your participation keeps increasing. You're designed to make people laugh."

Subaru said this while staring at Kan's increasingly bloody face, dripping with spit and tears. Kan had no room to say anything, of course. In fact, forget about room to say anything—having lost all ability to resist, his body went limp, and Subaru threw him to the ground.

After looking down at the defeated trio, Subaru began stomping on their necks, just in case. Once he felt the crunch of something breaking beneath the heel of his sneaker, he was able to relax.

Ton had such a thick neck that it took five good blows to do it. Subaru couldn't figure out the best way for this guy. Although every now and then, luck smiled on him and he managed to do it all in one go.

Subaru: "It wasn't smart to strangle him. …That's disgusting too, I won't do it again."

After this moment of reflection, Subaru stole two knives from Chin. Then he dragged their corpses to the end of the alley, left them there, and walked out of the alleys as if nothing had happened.

Entering the alley and meeting TonChinKan had gone by rather quickly. Dealing with the trio had taken a little time, but ultimately less than a minute.

Subaru hurried down the main street in pursuit of his destination.

Subaru: "――――"

After looking down the street, he put his hand to his chest in relief. I arrived just in time.

It was a main street called Rue Comerçante, chaotic and bustling with ordinary people, tasked with demonstrating the health and prosperity of the capital.

All you had to do was stand on that street and do nothing for your ears to be flooded with cacophonous noise.

But a change occurred in this lively scene.

???: "――Wait! Ah! Please, wait!!"

It was the enchanting voice of a silver bell that tore through the din of the market.

Though tinged with despair, the voice could not conceal the kindness of its owner, its recipient being a small figure darting out of the crowd.

???: "Hehehe."

The blonde girl laughed as she weaved through the crowd, her smile like a cat's. In her hand, she clutched something sparkling, and her demeanor clearly attested that she had accomplished her task. Aiming at the girl, a shimmering blue light—a spear of ice—shot out into the street.

??? : "――!!"

Surprised by this unexpected attack, the girl jumped and leaped to avoid the stalactite.

This magical attack was launched on a crowded street. The sudden event caused chaos, and the capital's residents instantly cleared a path, raising their arms to show they did not want to get involved in the fight.

That was the prevailing reaction. Getting caught in fights was an everyday occurrence in the Capital—that would be a hell of a statement, but perhaps it wasn't too far from the truth.

Regardless, sprinting down the path cleared by the crowd was the person Subaru was looking for.

Subaru: "――――"

The moment he laid eyes on her, Subaru felt as if the whole world had frozen.

The wind, the voices of people, even time disappeared from his perception, because all his attention was directed towards her.

Her long silver hair flowed behind her, and her amethyst eyes shone with a strong will. Her slender, pale arms and legs were clad in a white outfit so mythical it could have been designed for a fairy—

In this timeless world, she was the only one allowed to move, and she completely missed Subaru.

His target was the blonde girl who had just run past, Felt.

Felt had stolen something from her, and now she was sprinting across the capital trying to get it back. Which would lead her down a path to almost inevitable death.

But Subaru wouldn't let that happen.

He would never let a dire fate take hold of her.

Subaru: "I will, no matter what, save you."

As he watched her walk away, Subaru said his oath for the eighty-eighth time. Having broken it so many times, he wasn't sure it would be as convincing.

Not very convincing. But if he kept going without giving up, if he kept fighting, if he kept wanting to save her――

Subaru: "Wait for me. ――Satella."

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Reversible Death. The power to reverse time after death.

Subaru had used this power to remake the world eighty-eight times now.

He was already close to surpassing one hundred attempts, and all of it had been spent saving the silver-haired girl, Satella, from the dead end of fate.

Subaru: "I think I did some trial and error on this one… but it's not going to work out like it did with TonChinKan."

This was Subaru's conclusion regarding his greatest adversary in this destiny: Elsa Granhiert.

The person who had tasked Felt with stealing Satella's badge was that shadowy woman named Elsa. She was a danger who had driven Satella to her death countless times.

Subaru had tried many times over the past eighty-seven attempts to eliminate Elsa and ensure Satella's safety, but he had always lost to Elsa's transcendent fighting prowess, and had died with his stomach cut open more than fifty times.

This sadist who enjoyed disemboweling people wasn't someone Subaru could beat in a fight. When the opponent was someone like TonChinKan, Subaru could detect a certain pattern in their movements and formulate plans for absolute victory. But when they were as strong as Elsa, it was pretty reasonable that Subaru's head would be cut off the second he tried to do something.

And even if it wasn't his head, he really had been instantly disemboweled several times.

Subaru couldn't fight her and win. Nor could Felt, or Rom, or Satella. Having reached this conclusion, Subaru's chosen strategy was――

Elsa: "Wonderful! Magnificent! Although I would be happier if you let me have more fun!"

??? : "GhhhaaaaAAH!!"

Every time the blades cut through the air, blood spurted out.

Too many fallen bodies littered the streets to count on one hand, while Elsa, covered in blood, transcended ecstasy, seeming to revel in steady doses of pleasure.

Although in such a dreadful situation, Elsa's sensuality only increased the more she bathed in blood.

There were stories about women who bathed in virgin blood to preserve their youth and were called vampires, and Elsa currently looked exactly like one of those vampires.

Subaru: "…Another failure, huh."

Sighing, Subaru narrowed his eyes as he observed the gruesome scene from a rooftop.

He found himself in a particularly dilapidated and abandoned slum area. The scene of the conflict was a space that could perhaps be called a square, where the massacre escalated unilaterally. Those exchanging blades with Elsa, and who were constantly being cut down by her knives, were the Capital's guards.

Information from a righteous townsman had led them to detect the dangerous Elsa Granhiert, and following their attempts to stop her, their lives had been scattered and slaughtered――given that he was the righteous townsman, the sight pained Subaru's heart.

Subaru: "I didn't think there would be such a power gap between the normal guards and Elsa…"

It was just a way to present Elsa with lambs to slaughter with joy.

Subaru expected that, since they were guards protecting the Capital, they would first equip themselves with some kind of magic and then fight on par with Elsa. But it seemed his hopes were too high.

So yes. Elsa was incredibly powerful, even by this world's standards.

Subaru's resentment toward Elsa intensified. But no matter how furious he was, Subaru would never be strong enough to stop this evil woman.

He didn't think for a moment that the guards would have a chance of defeating her.

Subaru: "No need to keep watching."

He felt bad for the sacrificed guards, but Subaru was going to end this experiment here.

He had no intention of stopping, but if Subaru ultimately failed and lost his life, those who died here would be resurrected in the reset world.

For now, Subaru would swallow his tears and leave the sacrificed as dead. Next time, he wouldn't expect a thing from them, so they could return to preserving the harmony of the Capital without worry.

Having reached this conclusion, Subaru was about to leave the premises when――

Elsa: "――Oh my."

Frozen, her kukri raised high, Elsa licked her bloody lips.

The mad pleasure and bloodlust that overflowed from her proved that Elsa, having grown tired of massacring guards, had found a new prey. The identity of this unfortunate victim was――

???: "――That's enough."

A pillar of fire stands there , Subaru hallucinated.

Subaru: "――――"

Swallowing his breath, stretching his eyes, looking closer, Subaru finally realized that it wasn't flames but a person standing there.

A young man with fiery red hair and eyes as blue as the pristine sky.

He might have looked thin, but his build was muscular and lithe beneath his white suit. At his waist was a sword that was probably larger than usual.

A hundred people out of a hundred would turn to look at him if he passed by, and his appearance was so alluring that this work of god would charm any observer. Chaos resulting from a beauty transcending gender—it was not what he produced, perhaps because of his calm.

One look was enough to inform Subaru's soul: this man was different from the usual rabble.

Guard: "Reinhard-sama!"

Reinhard: "Everyone, please step aside. This woman is the Entrail Hunter. There are already far too many sacrifices. I don't want that number to increase."

Reinhard said this, his eyes lowered, in response to the trembling voice of a surviving guard.

He seemed to feel sorry for the lives that had been slaughtered like rats, and resent the murderer, Elsa, who had done it.

Even Subaru, who was watching from afar, could perceive the nature of this young man, Reinhard. His reasoning was correct, his concepts were correct, his mentality was correct, therefore he was angry.

Mourning death, hating murder, lamenting failure, crushing his remorse with conviction. This was the way of this man—this Knight—Reinhard.

Elsa: "Reinhard van Astrea. From the line of Master Swordsmen. Marvelous, excellent!"

Reinhard: "I often feel overwhelmed by expectations. Are you the Entrail Hunter?"

Elsa: "Yes, it's me. Oh my God. What should I do? I need to do my job, but now I'm face to face with you."

With a feverish, passionate breath, Elsa watched Reinhard ardently.

But Reinhard's expression was the definition of seriousness, his eyes were filled with duty, not an ounce of frivolity in him.

Both faced each other with opposing positions, but their hearts led them to the same answer.

They had to kill each other and achieve their goal.

Reinhard: "Basically speaking, this is where I would advise you to go, but…"

Elsa: "You're facing this massacre, and you're telling me this? That's very kind of you. So kind that it's cruel to both me and them."

Reinhard: "――No, I agree with you. It's impious for their deaths if I'm lenient with you. I can't ask you to surrender."

Elsa playfully kicked one of the fallen corpses as Reinhard slowly shook his head. He reached out to the guard at his side and quickly said, "A sword, please."

Guard: "Please accept it."

The guard presented a sword, which Reinhard took. He confirmed its touch in his hands while Elsa frowned, seeming to have reservations about it.

Elsa: "Don't you use the sword at your hip? I wanted to feel the cut of the legendary Dragon Sword."

Reinhard: "Unfortunately, this sword determines which opponents it should be drawn against. It's a rather troublesome trait, and it doesn't seem like you've earned its favor. Instead, I'll counter you with this."

Elsa: "Hmph."

Elsa sighed at the sight of Reinhard, who had prepared not the sword he had chosen, but the one he had accepted. But Elsa's displeasure lasted only a moment. She immediately changed her tune and, sensing premonitions of battle and bloodshed, licked her lips.

Elsa: "Elsa Granhiert, Entrail Hunter."

Reinhard: "Reinhard van Astrea of the lineage of Master Swordsmen."

They presented themselves, both becoming one with the wind as they charged the other. The fight ended with this single assault.

A completely ordinary gash gave birth to a maelstrom of light, whose shock waves destroyed this section of the slums.

The blow of the man called Master Swordsman was the exact definition of the word power.

Natsuki Subaru stared at this scene with wide eyes.

A tear on my cheek, my knees trembling, without knowing why.

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Things had turned out differently than Subaru had planned, but it was safe to say that the main objective, defeating Elsa, had been achieved.

He hadn't expected Reinhard to participate, but since it had granted his wish, he was more than satisfied.

Now the problem of Satella's badge would be safely resolved. And until Felt and Rom found their sponsor, Elsa, they shouldn't have to ask for the impossible to keep Satella's badge. Subaru doubted Satella would succumb to rage and kill them.

This story about the Fence's House would be completed using the bare minimum of characters.

It was a desirable outcome for Subaru as well. And so――

Elsa: "――Why would you help me?"

Subaru: "You don't need to trust me. If you don't mind being surrounded by guards and losing any chance of revenge, just kill me and run away."

Elsa: "――――"

Subaru spat this out while leaning against a wall, speaking to a crouching Elsa.

She was covered in blood, her black outfit torn in places, and her white skin exposed. That said, her flesh was covered in horrific wounds that left Subaru no room to feel embarrassed. Furthermore, Subaru had no sexual interest in Elsa.

He simply thought she might be useful and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity.

Subaru: "The guards' eyes are bloodshot and looking for you. I've diverted them elsewhere, so it'll be a while before they notice us. How are your injuries?"

Elsa: "I'm in a lot of pain. Very, very bad, I could die. Huhu, it's wonderful."

Subaru: "There's a feeling I don't understand. It'll be a problem if you die on me, I'm trying to do something here."

Subaru had done everything possible, risking danger to divert them so that Elsa could live.

If he were shot here, or if he were involved in the guards' search for Elsa, this spontaneous route where Satella had survived would crumble to dust.

But if that happened, it would simply mean that the dice would have to be rolled again for those events to unfold again.

Elsa: "Can you create a path to the southeast section of the slums? I can reach my younger sister if you do. She will treat my injuries and prepare an escape route."

Subaru: "A sister! Hah, you have a sister, that's both relevant and completely tragic."

She probably didn't trust him, and if she did, it was still disgusting, but either way, Elsa's information allowed Subaru to calculate ways to overcome this difficult situation.

Their escape had already taken them far enough south. It shouldn't take them too long to get to the place Elsa was talking about.

Using the sacred gold coins in Elsa's possession, Subaru would bribe the slum dwellers to interfere with the guards' search and lead them down the wrong path. No problem.

Elsa: "What I don't understand is your goal in all this."

Subaru: "I just wanted to put you in my charge. It might be useful to have you around someday."

Elsa: "A debt. That's strange. ――When you're so eager to kill me."

That was what Subaru must have heard as he lent his shoulder to Elsa and helped her escape. Elsa's dark eyes looked at Subaru, trying to fathom his emotions.

But she already understood everything, and there was no need to scrutinize. The answer Elsa got from Subaru's dark eyes was exactly what she had said.

Subaru would like to kill Elsa now if possible. But he wouldn't be able to defeat Elsa, even if she were dying, if he didn't consider the possible consequences, and besides, it was a hasty idea.

Subaru felt like he'd been placed on a hideously unbalanced side of the chessboard.

It was a battle that required him to consider all possible methods, to experiment, and to make the best moves.

A bit like shogi, where it wasn't enough to move the pieces randomly to win.

If possible, one should exchange enemies and allies. If the opportunity arose, one should not hesitate to change one's situation.

To do this, he had to use even those he hated and would rather kill.

Subaru: "I really want to kill you. And I will kill you one day. But not now."

Elsa: "I see."

There was no point in hiding it. Subaru revealed his true feelings to Elsa.

If Elsa were more cautious, she would kill Subaru right here to ease his future worries. But Subaru was convinced she wouldn't.

It was a blood-soaked trust, one Subaru had earned after being killed over eighty times by Elsa.

Elsa: "Wonderful. You and I are bound by dislike. One day, yes. You will prove yourself right. And it is very, very charming."

Subaru: "――――"

Elsa's bloodied lips relaxed, smiling like a girl with a crush.

With her smile right next to him, from the bottom of his heart, Subaru thought: disgusting.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Subaru: "Let's meet up, okay?"

???: "Goodbye, onii-san. Thank you for helping Elsa."

The blue-haired girl they had joined took charge of Elsa, and Subaru breathed a sigh of relief. The girl waiting in the slum Elsa mentioned was very young, around ten years old. Although her age initially shocked Subaru, she practically tended to Elsa's injuries, quickly made arrangements for them to flee the capital, and quickly liberated the shack.

He only just managed to find a way to contact Elsa, which served as payment. Although it's unclear if the payment truly compensated for the danger he faced.

Subaru: "I guess what happens from now on depends on how I act."

Subaru took off his bloodstained tracksuit, tied it around his waist, and began walking. His route led him away from the slums and toward the Fence's House. Elsa hadn't managed to reach the location, but had Satella managed to safely retrieve her badge? This question tormented him.

Subaru: "――――"

After a while, Subaru reached the Fence's House. His eyes widened at what he saw.

Subaru: "I didn't expect that."

What lay before him was a frozen Fence's House.

Or rather, "sealed in ice" was a more accurate description than "frozen." But what had happened here? Subaru quickly questioned a local resident, and,

Resident: "The old boss of the Fence House and his granddaughter were arrested by the guards. They've apparently gotten on the wrong side of a scary magician… I don't want to get involved in that."

Subaru: "Are the old man and his granddaughter safe? The magician?"

Resident: "They say no one is hurt, but I didn't get a good look. Listen, that's enough, okay?"

Perhaps taken aback by Subaru's strange intensity, the man pushed Subaru's arms away and quickly fled into the darkness of an alleyway.

Subaru mulled over the man's words as he watched him leave, then placed his hand on his chest in relief.

He didn't know if the man's statements were accurate, but at least his account couldn't be confused with a hypothetical situation where people had died.

The guards' arrest of Felt and Rom was inevitable, given what they did for a living. They should enjoy the prison for a while and reflect on their activities.

And now that Subaru knew Satella was safe, as he had hoped――

Subaru: "Good. What should I do now?"

Subaru scratched his head, realizing he had completely exhausted himself of objectives.

He had been summoned to a parallel world, given Reversible Death, used it, and saved a lovely silver-haired half-elf girl.

Although it took eighty-seven deaths to achieve this.

Subaru: "Ah, shit. Maybe I should have died, reset, and asked Elsa to tell me why she was trying to steal Satella's badge…?"

He really should have asked that question while carrying the injured Elsa, but he'd slacked off.

However, if Subaru asked questions deeply related to Elsa's affairs, and it led him to discover that Subaru was emotionally on Satella's side, he would have no idea how Elsa would react.

As it turns out, both Subaru and Satella were alive now. We're going to assume that's the right solution.

Subaru: "Although really, I would like to know more about Satella if I could…"

Where had Satella come from? Where was she going? Would he see her again? He didn't know. Although he could always repeat things until he found out.

But assuming there is another method――

Subaru: "――So, could you teach me?"

Standing in front of the frozen Fence House, Subaru shoved his hands in his pockets and turned around. No one seemed to be there. But Subaru's eyes caught sight of several figures standing there.

Unremarkable-looking people, a mix of ages and sexes, a disjointed group. If there was anything consistent about these people, it was their eyes.

All their eyes were dead. Perfect for being imbued with madness, and pursuing mad ecstasy. And Subaru suspected that, if he looked in a mirror, his eyes would be the same.

Subaru: "――――"

His cheeks relaxed at the feeling. And he looked up at the sky.

An ominously bright moon looked down upon the frozen Fence's House and the madmen.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

It was almost two months later that Subaru learned more about Satella.

Subaru: "As part of the Royal Selection! A silver-haired half-elf! Supported by Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers! Not Satella, Emilia――!"

At the sudden influx of detailed information after a period of radio silence, Subaru clapped his hands in delight.

This unexpected acquisition of information resulted from an official announcement from the Royal Palace, giving news not only in the Capital but throughout the country about the competition for the throne.

When Subaru had first seen the posters plastered around town about it, he had laughed them off as if it were just a stupid campaign election—until his eyes opened.

The candidates were five women, and one of them was the girl he was looking for.

Subaru: "The Royal Selection, the Royal Selection… if she's a candidate for ruler, it means she has noble ancestry. Of course she does, think of how graceful she was when she walked around. Emilia, her name is Emiliaaa…"

Upon learning his real name, Subaru's heart felt light, as if it had grown wings.

He had long understood that Satella was a pseudonym. And he had also understood why Emilia had introduced herself to Subaru under a false name.

After all, if a silver-haired half-elf introduced herself as Satella――

Subaru: "People would think she was involved with us and stay away from her. It was a desperate measure to protect me from danger. Her face is so adorable, her thoughts are so adorable."

While speaking sadly about her half-elf status, and seeming afraid of being rejected, she had shown consideration for others and used her bloodline to try to keep them away from danger. What a noble and pitiful girl. So moving it made her chest ache.

When,

??? : "――Natsuki Subaru! Beloved of the disciples! Are you PRESENT?!"

Subaru: "――――"

A shrill voice like a strangled fowl echoed unpleasantly through the room, calling Subaru's name. Subaru grimaced, placed the report card he had swiped from the capital on his bed, reluctantly opened the door, and left his room.

He leaned against the closed door, waiting, when an unhealthily pale man appeared in the dimly lit hallway.

???: "I WAS LOOKING FOR YOU! Why, why, why were you there, WALLING IN LAZINESS?! When! We! Must! Follow the Witch's auspices, and respond to her love with diligently!!"

Subaru: "Stop with your false accusations, Petel-san. I'm only following the instructions of the Gospel. The Gospel tells me to spend my time here."

Petelgeuse: "What! Did the Gospel give you instructions? At that moment, on that occasion, in those circumstances, what thoughts must the Witch have, to order a disciple as devoted as you to idleness, the slightest conjecture is beyond! MY! FACULTIES!"

Not only were his screams loud, but his movements were also obnoxious.

Indeed, this Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti was a madman. You really had to make an effort not to sigh.

He was an unsympathetic lunatic, but he was a favorable character for Subaru.

After all, everyone in Subaru's affiliation group was a self-centered portrait of selfishness, and it was doubtful that normal disciples had any sense of self-awareness.

Subaru's arbitrary speculation was that the dull emotions of normal disciples might be due to something operating on their consciousness, so that their affiliations would not leak out while they went about their daily activities.

But who cared about assumptions. What mattered was what Petelgeuse, in a position of authority very different from that of normal disciples, was trying to achieve with this visit.

Subaru had been part of this group for two months now, and life was generally good. However, while life was good, communication and mental health were a nightmare.

Having frequent interactions with religious lunatics and fanatics was, given that Subaru's humanity could not leave the realm of mundaneness, sheer agony.

His home was a cave hidden in the mountains.

It was a surprisingly livable place, and hospitable enough that Subaru was able to designate a section as "his room," but things like it being far from civilization, with hard floors and cold walls were something Subaru's Gen Z had to endure.

That said, he wasn't a good enough actor to successfully hide his connections to this group. As a compromise, he lived here, being productive by learning and storing information about this world.

Subaru: "So, you have business with my hermit person?"

Petelgeuse: "Aren't you AWARE? About the stupid event taking place in this country!"

Subaru: "The crazy event taking place in this country would be… you mean the Royal Selection?"

Petelgeuse: "Indeed! The Selection! However, that's not the problem! The Selection itself is of no importance, it's the one who participates in it! That is, the silver-haired half-witch!"

To lecture the ignorant Subaru, Petelgeuse held up the official Selection flyer—exactly the same as what Subaru had hung around the room—and pointed at it.

Naturally, on that leaflet was the face of a girl so cute that Subaru's gaze had burned through it. Petelgeuse's bony finger, as expected, pointed at her.

Petelgeuse: "BEAR WITNESS! This face! This lineage! Two blasphemies against the Witch! This being is not one to be neglected! The hour of the Ordeal HAS RINGED!"

Subaru: "Ordeal."

Petelgeuse: "EXACTLY!"

Screaming, Petelgeuse slammed the flyer against the cave wall before slamming his fist into Emilia's personal description, sending blood everywhere.

This self-destructive madman, intoxicated by pain and blood, had desecrated Emilia's paper portrait.

Petelgeuse: "If she's suitable, take her! If not, abandon her! If she proves to be the perfect vessel for the Witch, we will accept her into OUR FOLLOWING! The Ordeal must begin!"

Subaru: "And you're asking for my help?"

Petelgeuse: "Yes, EXACTLY! I've contacted others, but I doubt the infidels will respond! Anger alone may present a possibility, but it is currently distant from this nation… therefore! We are the only ones leaving!"

With duty in his heart and a torrent of tears streaming down his face, Petelgeuse shoved his bloody fist into his mouth, sucking at his wounds. The corners of his mouth tore as his teeth bit into his hand, bruising his skin and flesh in a ghastly and disgusting sight.

But Subaru ordered himself to resist this vision with an iron will and adopted a cold facade.

Subaru: "Do you mind if I accompany you, then? I don't know the exact details, Archbishop."

Petelgeuse: "So you're so kind as to come with me! Aaah! AaAaAa! How very, ...

Subaru: "You're getting way too excited when I just said I'm coming with you."

Subaru's smirk was legitimate.

After nodding her head so many times she could practically fall over, Petelgeuse put her legs back in place and turned around, her back to Subaru.

Petelgeuse: "We are leaving immediately! I have already given my phalanxes instructions throughout the journey here… we will meet up with them and travel to the Mathers Estate. Then we will follow the GOSPEL WAY!"

Subaru: "Roger that. …And also, what is the Ordeal?"

Petelgeuse: "A GOOD QUESTION. It is a test to verify the suitability of the Witch's vessel… namely, a test to determine whether the vessel possesses the strength, the quality, and above all, the qualifications to accommodate the WITCH'S SOUL!"

Subaru responded to the unhelpful explanation with a knowing nod.

He didn't know the details. But compared to the time he'd spent dying without knowing anything about Satella=Emilia, it was inestimably preferable.

And it seemed like that meant he was going to be able to get involved with Emilia again.

Although it also implies――

Petelgeuse: "――Come, come, come! Come, come, come! WE'RE GOING! WE'RE TESTING! If the vessel fits, then it's the RISE OF THE WITCH! How lucky after all these centuries that we can fill all our seats!"

Subaru: "If Witch Satella arrives here, will the vessel…?"

Petelgeuse: "AS A MARTYR! HOWEVER, it is VENERABLE! So venerable that I would take on that role if possible! If I were capable of matching Satella's spirit, I would endure all iterations of priceless suffering for my desire to SEE HER AGAIN!"

Subaru: "So she will disappear. That's the case."

Subaru muttered this as he followed Petelgeuse, who had started walking.

This low, silent murmur did not reach the ears of the chattering Petelgeuse, isolated in his own world――

Subaru: "Oh, is that so?"

――The madman also didn't notice Natsuki Subaru's dark smile.