[User] "Does this mean I’ve completely run out of options…?”

[Assistant] "However, the most recent commotion wasn’t the usual fare. Someone was using magic and shot off two or three blasts of it. Just look." The shop owner leaned forward and pointed to a stall about four spaces to the left.

[User] Subaru followed with his gaze. "Oh, wow.”

[Assistant] "There were some icicle-shaped things that were used like arrows, and one of them stuck inside that wall. It disappeared immediately afterward, though.”

[User] Each of the four holes was a little bigger than a quarter. Since they were able to make a hole like that in a stone wall, Subaru shivered to think what would happen if they hit a person. “This magic looks like it’s on a different scale from the first time I saw it… I wonder if Not-Satella’s a little more upset than usual this time…” Subaru felt a cold sweat form on his brow. “But if that’s the case then I was too late this time as well.”

[Assistant] "I need to try to meet up with Felt. If possible, I need to try to catch her before she enters the loot cellar, and then exchange my cell phone for the badge, but…” Subaru wanted to avoid the loot cellar as much as he could. “If I go too late, then it’ll be what happened the first time all over again. However, if I go and meet up with Rom and wait for Felt, then I’ll end up repeating what happened the second time around…” What was most important was Felt’s location. Right now, Felt was probably being chased around the capital by Not-Satella. If he could, Subaru wanted to meet up with her before she arrived at the loot cellar.

[User] “Maybe I could just rely on my Return by Death and use this time just to gather information…?” While that seemed like a viable option, Subaru shook his head and quickly rejected that plan. This was something he realized after experiencing death three times, but every time it was incredibly painful. He didn’t want to experience something like that ever again. Subaru was anxious about relying on his Return by Death power when he didn’t know how or why it worked.


[User] Say Subaru decided to throw away this fourth time around by watching things unfold with the intention of dying afterward so he could reset everything. What if when he did that, his Return by Death didn’t activate because he had run out of the number of times he could use it? No one would be laughing at that end. "In the end, I’ve really got to cling to life as long as I can. Well, I suppose that goes without saying, though." After making his decision, Subaru twisted around to stretch his body.

[Assistant] The shop owner didn’t seem too pleased as Subaru did his radio exercises in front of his store, but as Subaru finished and was jogging in place he waved back at him. "I don’t know why you suddenly decided to help me, but thanks, old man."

[User] "It’s no big deal. Just a little while ago, another penniless person like yourself helped my little girl out, you see."

[Assistant] As he listened to the shop owner’s reply, Subaru first was surprised and then burst out laughing. Oh, the power of fate. No matter how troubled this shop owner’s little girl was, someone was going to save her. Just knowing that made Subaru feel that it was worth coming here. "All right! I’m really going to get going now. Next time I’ll buy one of your abbles for sure!"

[User] "Well, if you do you’ll be a customer, and I’ll welcome ya. Work hard, Mr. Penniless," the shop owner said in a monotone.

[Assistant] "Gotcha. I really am praying that the next time I come back here will be with money in my hands, I tell you," said Subaru as he left running.


[User] Subaru’s destination was the slums, but this time, in a different direction from the loot cellar. If he headed toward the loot cellar, he was sure to raise a couple of bad flags, so this time he was going to try a different route.

[Assistant] "You’re looking for where Felt lives? If you just take that road over there until it turns into another street, you should be able to find it."

[User] "Thanks, you really helped me out, brother."

[Assistant] "No problem, brother. You uh…live strong and take care of yourself out there, okay?" The middle-aged man Subaru was talking to smiled at him weakly as he disappeared behind a creaking door.

[User] Throughout their entire conversation, the look of pity on the man’s face never once disappeared from his awkward smile. Subaru tightened his fist, happy that his plan was working. "It was a strategy I formed after my experiences from the first and second times in the slums, but…I never imagined it would work this well," Subaru said, shaking the sleeve of his tracksuit, which was caked in dried mud. In order to help him track down Felt, the brilliant plan he’d thought of after arriving at the slums was to make himself look as down and out and destitute as possible.


[User] "Well, I did step in the poop of who knows what kind of animal, after all. Anyway, I think I’ve pinned down where Felt sleeps, but…the problem is whether she’ll come back here or not before she goes to the loot cellar.”

[Assistant] “Well, sitting around and worrying about it won’t help me at all, so let’s stop worrying. Okay!”

[User] As he continued to scrape off more caked mud from his clothes, Subaru dashed off deeper into the slums.

[Assistant] Subaru was able to turn just in time and hit his back against the wall of the alley, giving off a grunt as he lost his breath.

[User] “Oh, I’m sorry about that. Are you all right?”

[Assistant] “Don’t worry. Don’t worry. I’m actually a pretty sturdy fell…ow…? !” As he was trying to play himself off as tough, Subaru looked up.

[User] “What a funny guy. Are you sure you’re all right?” she said, lifting her hair back behind her ear.

[Assistant] “You don’t have to act so scared. I won’t do anything to you.”

[User] “I-I’m not sc-scared, okay? W-why would you think that…. ?”

[Assistant] “You smell…” replied Elsa, seeing past Subaru’s empty attempts to seem tough as she slowly narrowed her eyes as part of a beautiful smile.

[User] “Smell?” thought Subaru, confused. But Elsa just breathed in through her beautifully formed nose.


[User] "When people are afraid, they smell afraid. Right now you are afraid…and also angry, it seems…at me." Elsa seemed to be having fun revealing what Subaru was thinking, as she looked up at him.

[Assistant] Subaru answered with silence and a false smile, taking deep breaths and doing his best to control the quickening pace of his heart.

[User] Elsa narrowed her eyes like a snake. While Subaru felt pinned down by her stare, at the very least he would not be so weak as to look away. Elsa licked her lips in response to Subaru’s empty display of strength. "...I can’t say I’m not curious, but fine. I can’t risk causing a fuss right now.”

[Assistant] “Th-that doesn’t sound very nice. If you scare people too much your beauty’s going to be put to waste, you know?”

[User] “Well, don’t you have a way with words. …If you could better hide the animosity you have for me, I might have been impressed.” Elsa took her finger and gently pushed on his forehead, and Subaru’s frozen body loosened up.

[Assistant] As Subaru gasped and heaved, trying to get his breath back, Elsa put her finger to her lips. “Well then, I’ll be going now. I have a feeling we’ll meet again.”

[User] “If the next time we meet is in a bright place with lots of people around I’ll be able to relax, too,” Subaru said cynically, but it was all he could do just to get that out.

[Assistant] Elsa gave a longing smile as if she didn’t want to leave Subaru just yet, but turned back around, with her black robe fluttering as she melted back into the darkness.


[User] “…I think.” Subaru is unsure if there were traces of blood. He can't discern any smell of blood because of the rotten garbage, and it's too dark to see. But he hopes it's okay. About five minutes after his encounter with Elsa, Subaru reached a dilapidated shack.

[Assistant] “With the information I was given, I think this is it, but…does this really count as a living space?” Subaru is confused as he stood in front of the wooden plank that was serving as a door to the shack.

[User] “Well, I suppose if it’s just a place to sleep, then it fits the description…” However, the thought that such a small girl was living in a place like this made Subaru feel pity for her. He supposed he could forgive her for being so obsessed with money. “So she’s living out her life here, huddling her already small body into an even smaller space. I guess it’s no surprise she’d turn out as twisted as she is. Ah… How pitiable, how pitiable is she.”

[Assistant] “Oh come on! It’s not that bad. Just who do you think you are, kid, belittling my place?” Just as Subaru was entering his pitying mode, he heard a voice behind him and turned around. There in front of him, glaring at him, was the little blond figure of…Felt.

[User] “What’s with you, looking at me like that with those pitying eyes?! You underestimating me just because I’m a girl and just a little bit filthy?”

[Assistant] “I think you’re reading the wrong emotion there, but…I’m just glad I’ve found you.” Subaru subconsciously relaxed his shoulders in a sense of relief. Subaru was genuinely happy to meet up with her again. He was worried about what might have happened after his near-miss incident with Elsa, but in the end, things seemed to be looking for the better, rather than the worse.

[User] “Oh, so you’re a customer.” She breathed out her nose, pleased with herself. “The fact that you came here means you’ve got business with me, right? From the way you look, it’s clear that you’re not from around here.”

[Assistant] “Oh. You’re quick to see that I’m not really one of you.


[User] "You’ve got good eyes there."

[Assistant] "The people around here would at least take a little bit more care about the way they look. You’re trying way too hard. Plus, the way you’re trying to fool us with that dirty trick of yours, you look like you’re even worse a person than I am.”

[User] As always, this girl really knows how to be insulting, doesn’t she? Subaru thought, quickly wanting to take back everything he’d said about pitying her. “So, what do you want? If you want something stolen, I’ll need the money first. Depending on who the target is I may ask for more later, though.”

[Assistant] “‘If I want something stolen,’ huh… This is quite a business you’re running here. Are you really that proud of your thievery?”

[User] "It’s called making a living. If I don’t do this, I’d have to sell my body. Anyway, so what’s it going to be? Or do you have some other business for me? Depending on your answer…” Said Felt, quickly moving her fingers as if showing off her dexterity. In her hand was a small knife that appeared as suddenly as if it had been summoned by magic. It was clear that she meant to show that she could defend herself.

[Assistant] Subaru lifted up his pointer finger and shook it left and right while clicking his tongue, as Felt continued to be on guard. “I only have one item of business to discuss with you. I would like to buy from you that badge you stole.”

[User] Having come this far, Subaru thought that being indirect or trying to dodge the topic would just worsen Felt’s impression of him. There was also the fact that Elsa was still wandering around the area, so Subaru wanted to dive right into negotiations.

[Assistant] Felt put her hand over her chest where it was likely she was holding the badge. “How do you know that I stole a badge? The only person who should know that is the one who hired me, and I only stole it just a little while ago. This is way too quick a response for you to have just heard about it on the street.”

[User] “When you put it that way… Yeah? That’s a good point. That was too careless, even for me, right?”

[Assistant] “…You really need to do a better job of hiding your intent, kid. A little taunt like that and you’re already spilling the beans?”

[User] As Subaru held his head in his hands at his mistake, Felt looked as though she had lost the heart to keep up her hostility.

[Assistant] Felt dropped to her knees so that she was eye level with Subaru. “So you want to buy this badge off me, huh? What are you trying to do?


[User] "You can’t be on the same side as that woman, right? Is she your rival or something?”

[Assistant] “More like my archenemy, maybe? Like how you’d feel if she killed your parents. Or rather, if she killed you.”

[User] “What are you talking about? Well, whatever, I don’t really care about that.” As Subaru was trying to figure out how he was going to talk his way out of this one

[Assistant] Felt just laughed. She then took the dragon-adorned badge out from her breast pocket and waved it in front of Subaru. “I’ll sell this to whoever can offer me a higher price. Even if there’s a chance that woman’ll be angry if I break off our deal.”

[User] “Yeah, there’s definitely a possibility she’ll just snap, but… Anyway, I’m just talking to myself, you can ignore me.” Subaru cleared his throat, and put on a serious face. “So does this mean you’ll hear me out?”

[Assistant] “Only if it looks like there’s money in it for me. That’s obvious, right?”

[User] “Sounds good to me. …I’ve prepared an item that is worth more than twenty blessed gold coins, and I would like to buy your badge with it.”

[Assistant] Felt’s ears perked up, and her red eyes narrowed like a cat’s. It looked as though she was trying not to appear shaken, but if she had a tail it would be twitching back and forth, so Subaru could not help but smile. “Huh, I see. That’s quite a price. It looks like my hard work’s finally gonna pay off. …But unfortunately for you, your rival has already offered me the same amount, you know?”

[User] “Cut the crap! The deal was for ten blessed gold coins, right? You get too greedy and you’ll die! No, like, seriously.”

[Assistant] After staring wide-eyed at him for a few moments, Felt lightly scratched the side of her head. “What, you know that much, too? …Yeah, okay? The deal was for ten blessed gold coins. But you know, if I tell the person who hired me that another offer was made, she might counteroffer with more, you know?”

[User] “That one’s not a lie, you know?”

[Assistant] Felt, the thirteen-or fourteen-year-old, added, curling the edges of her mouth. “You really are sly, aren’t you? I’d like to say just give it up and take the deal, but I don’t suppose you’d listen to me, huh?”

[User] “Of course not! Plus, I’m not sure I can trust you. My ears didn’t miss a word you said. You didn’t say you brought twenty blessed gold coins, but only something worth that much."


[User] "Isn’t this a little unfair, with me knowing nothing about what you’ve got up your sleeves, but you knowing all about me?"

[Assistant] "I think it’s more of a matter of how much you can prepare that really matters in negotiations…but it is true that without showing you this first, we’re not going to get anywhere."

[User] Subaru wanted to avoid having Felt sulk too much and wasting time, so he took his key item for the negotiations, his cell phone, out of his breast pocket.

[Assistant] Upon seeing the small device, Felt raised her eyebrows a little bit.

[User] "Twenty blessed gold coins for this thing? It only looks like a hand mirror to me…"

[Assistant] "This is one of those immensely popular mitia. It can take a slice of time and freeze it, saving it away." Subaru turned on the continuous shooting mode. A light and mechanical sound went off several times. The bright light flashed through the alley and showered Felt with light.

[User] "Whoah!" she said, in a rare show of girliness as she reacted.

[Assistant] Felt looked as though she was about to complain, but Subaru quickly showed her the cell phone’s screen. "This is the power of this mitia. Using it you can leave behind a clear image. Another thing to add is that this is a very rare item. This is the only one like it in the entire world. How about that?"

[User] Subaru had gotten used to explaining the cell phone’s function at this point, and when he finished, Felt went, “Hmm…” and looked carefully at the cell phone in Subaru’s hands, before nodding in agreement. "...It doesn’t seem like you’re lying. But this is me? You said a clear image, but I think I’m quite a bit better looking than this."

[Assistant] "If you weren’t in such a terrible environment and eating better, and—while it may contribute to what you might think of as shrewd business sense—if you could rid yourself of that sly, dirty personality of yours, I’d say there’s hope for you! It’s really just a matter of how you’re dressed up."

[User] "If we’re talking about choosing the right words to say, you have no talent when it comes to holding a conversation, do you? Geez."

[Assistant] While Subaru might have scored himself a bit of irritation from that last statement, things were going well overall.

[User] "I’ll accept that this thing you have is rare, but I’m still not sure I believe you when you say it’s worth twenty blessed gold coins. I’m not such an airhead that I’ll just take you at your word."

[Assistant] "Well…that’s to be expected. I don’t mind personally that you’ve got a spongy brain, but you’re right.


[User] "We need a third party’s opinion."

[Assistant] It would have been great if Subaru could have pushed the negotiations through then and there, but he expected that that wasn’t going to work. The problem was who to use as a third party…

[User] "Deep in the slums, there’s this place called the loot cellar. It’s just as the name suggests, but I think that the quickest way will be to ask the weird old man that’s there. He’s fair when it comes to appraisals. He’s very experienced, so I think he won’t have a problem, even with this mitia."

[Assistant] "I thought this would happen…" Subaru had expected Felt to suggest Rom. It was also her meet-up point with Elsa, as well as a place where she’d have a bodyguard if things went south. Given that an appraising eye was necessary for Subaru’s mitia card, there really was no other choice. However, Subaru really wanted to have everything settled before they ended up at the loot cellar. "I have no problem with having the old man look at it, but…"

[User] "Are you really going to call him ‘old man’ without even having met him yet? You may regret it, you know? He’s pretty rough with people who don’t know how to show respect."

[Assistant] "Despite that, he seems to be quite doting on a certain foul-mouthed young girl, always giving her milk and all…" Subaru thought about the bald old man who always looked at Felt with calm eyes. From Rom’s perspective, it must be like taking care of a granddaughter. But Subaru had no problem with him; it was the place that was the issue.

[User] "I don’t know what you seem to have a problem with, but if you’re in such a hurry, we should go ahead and get going to the loot cellar. To be honest, there was something else that I was planning on doing, but…"

[Assistant] "Planning on doing?"

[User] "Well you see, the person I stole this badge from is a lot more persistent than I thought, so I thought I’d try to sabotage her a bit. After all, you give the guys hanging around a little money and they’ll do anything for you."

[Assistant] "All right, let’s get going, immediately. Right now. Let’s go go go!" Subaru pushed on Felt’s back as she started walking and hurried her along toward the loot cellar.

[User] "What’s with you?" complained Felt, puffing up her cheeks, but Subaru was proud of himself for being able to avoid as many casualties as he could. A little cash was way too low a price to offer for anyone to stand in Not-Satella’s way when she was in a hurry. If the alternative was getting hit with a block of ice and squirming on the ground, Subara was sure they’d rather clutch their hungry stomachs instead.

[Assistant] "My only condition is that we have the old man take a look, settle the deal quickly, and then get straight out of there."

[User] "Why are you in such a hurry, kid?"


[User] "You’re all sweaty, you know. Live strong and take care of yourself.” “Everyone seems to say that, but is that like the slogan of the slums? !" Subaru had the feeling they should change it from “live strong” to “live rough." As Subaru put that thought behind him, he made his way with Felt to the loot cellar for the third time in total this fourth time around. He would leave immediately. He would dash right out of there, even if he had to leave everyone else behind. Having made his decision, Subaru pushed harder on the back of Felt in front of him.

[Assistant] "That hurts!" Action/Narration Felt kicks Subaru.

[User] "Ow! !" Action/Narration After meeting up with Felt at her shack, Subaru and Felt made their way through the slums toward the loot cellar. The space between buildings was very narrow, and it was difficult for sunlight to make it through into the winding alleys. This additional darkness from the shade of the buildings only made the slums seem even drearier. “…” Subaru could feel a dampness underfoot. There were broken bottles of alcoholic drinks and scraps of paper all over the place, and every now and then there was a strong unpleasant stench that struck the inside of his nose. Whether it was with Felt or Not-Satella, this was not the kind of place to be walking alone together with a young girl. "Now this would just be so much better if we were holding hands and in a more beautiful and colorful place."

[Assistant] "Cut it out with that disgusting talk. Don’t tell me that you’re into little girls."

[User] "I’m more into older women. You don’t have to be so cautious, come on over here." Action/Narration Perhaps because Felt had sensed danger from what Subaru had said, she started to pull away, but Subaru called her back. Reluctantly, Felt edged closer.

[Assistant] "No funny business, okay? You’re the one who’s going to be more in trouble if this deal goes south. We clear?"

[User] "Why can’t you just see that I’m doing my best to get this wary little kitten I’m dealing with here to relax so we can be friends? If you’re so against me being friendly, why don’t you stop messing around and actually take me to the loot cellar?"

[Assistant] “…How did you…?"

[User] "How did I figure it out? Oh, come on, I’m not that stupid. I mean, I’m not incredibly familiar with this area, but I’m confident in my sense of direction. The way we’ve been zig-zagging around like this, even I’m going to start to get suspicious." Action/Narration Said Subaru, looking down at Felt, who went silent, and shrugging. With Subaru being right on the mark, Felt couldn’t help but look away, but Subaru himself was extremely nervous, his heart racing. After all, everything Subaru had just said was mostly a bluff.


[User] “I know it’s asking too much for you not to doubt me, and from your perspective, what I have to offer probably sounds too good to be true, so I can’t blame you for wanting extra time to look me over.”

[Assistant] “You’ve figured all that out, and you’re not angry?”

[User] “Well I understand that it makes sense for you to doubt me, and I am being unreasonable. However, I will not compromise on time. Please, take me straight to the loot cellar. I’m begging you, please.” Subaru raises his hands, pleading.

[Assistant] Felt was startled, her eyes opened wide as she hesitated for a moment, not sure how to react, but she then took her hand and roughed up her blond hair. “Well damn, I just don’t get you. I don’t get you but…I feel like I’ve got to pay you back for not getting angry at me just now. Fine, I’ll take you straight there. I’ll just leave the rest of my doubts in Rom’s hands.”

[User] “I don’t dislike that attitude of feeling totally free to rely on others, but…well…I, uh…nevermind.” Just as Subaru was about to lecture Felt, he realized what he was about to say and muddied his words.


[User] As Subaru kept after Felt as she trotted on ahead, he thought again about the course of events that would happen once they got to their destination. It was already Subaru’s fourth time doing this. He wanted to go the best route he possibly could. As Subaru continued to walk, lost in thought, he saw that Felt had stopped, and was glaring at him.

[Assistant] “Stop looking down as you walk! You’ll get infected by the gloominess around here, you know?”

[User] “Well, I’d love to keep my head up, but it’s not exactly clean and organized down around my feet, so it’s dangerous if I don’t pay attention.


[User] “…What do you mean ‘infected by the gloominess’?”

[Assistant] “You know exactly what I mean. I’m talking about the attitude of all the losers who live here.” Felt nodded her head to show she was talking about the surrounding area, the slums. The way she spit out her words showed clear animosity and hatred for the place.

[User] “Losers…? Don’t you think that’s a bit harsh?” Subaru opened his eyes wide.

[Assistant] “How’s it harsh? I’m talking about people who languish in this alleyway life and lose the will to even try to get out of here or better themselves someway. I hate losers like that.”

[User] Subaru had spent a good amount of time talking with the people who lived here in the slums. It wasn’t as though they had fallen so far that words wouldn’t reach them, but like Felt said, he couldn’t deny that they seemed to be content with life here, or rather, they seemed to have given up on getting anywhere else. It would be easy to say that that kind of attitude couldn’t be helped, but Felt wouldn’t accept that answer.

[Assistant] In the dim light of the alley, the light from Felt’s crimson eyes would not fade one bit. "I have no intention of living out my whole life here in these slums. If a chance comes my way I’ll cling to it and make it mine. The same goes for this deal now.”

[User] “So that’s why, huh…” The second time around, Felt had done everything she could to find weaknesses in and get more out of Elsa and Subaru. It was easy to explain those actions simply by saying she was greedy, but knowing what he did now, Subaru thought he could understand why Felt was so persistent. Felt wanted to leave the slums, to break out of the circumstances of her orphaned childhood. At the root of all her actions was a desire for something more.

[Assistant] “So, with twenty blessed gold coins, will that dream of yours come true?”

[User] “…It’ll definitely be closer to coming true, and if I were going alone it might just be enough, but I don’t know,” Felt muttered.

[Assistant] “If you were going alone?” Subaru’s sharp ears wouldn’t let that one slip, and he raised his eyebrows in response.

[User] Felt realized her mistake, clicked her tongue, and looked away. “It’s nothing. We’re not so friendly that I’m going to talk about… Why am I being so talkative today in the first place?” said Felt, clearly regretting the slip of her tongue.

[Assistant] “Maybe you’re loosening up a little because your goal’s in sight?” Subaru felt himself grinning. Felt said if she were “going alone,” she might be able to make it. This meant that she had someone else in the slums she couldn’t leave behind. For Felt, who held such a feeling of animosity toward the people of the slums, there could only be one person she could feel that way about.


[User] Thinking about who that was, Subaru couldn’t help but grin.

[Assistant] “What’s your problem? That smirk of yours is starting to tick me off.”

[User] “It’s no big deal. I just realized that I was worrying too much about something I didn’t need to be worrying about. Of course that’s how it is. Of course. I don’t know why I was worrying so much,” said Subaru, showing his teeth as he smiled.

[Assistant] “Let’s hurry up. We’ve already lost too much time.”

[User] “I still don’t understand why you’re—Hey, wait. I said stop that!”

[Assistant] As Subaru started off and walked past Felt, he put his hand on her head and roughed up her blond hair.

[User] “I’ve really got to make this work, don’t I? …I’m the only one who can do this!”

[Assistant] “Stop saying all these weird things and getting obsessed with yourself! I’m gonna bite you!”

[User] “I said, cut it out! !” Felt said, before biting Subaru.

[Assistant] “To the giant rats…?”

[User] “Where might I find me some boric acid–laced dango? Now that’s some poison.”

[Assistant] “To the great white whale…?”

[User] “You know, the first guy who comes to mind when I think of the word ‘captain’ is that good ol’ Captain Ahab. Bet he has some fishing hooks.”

[Assistant] “…To our most honorable great dragon…?”

[User] “Since this is a fantasy world, I bet they really exist, but man, if I ran into one of those I can guarantee you I wouldn’t be able to do anything. But you know, they are really cool, so I do kind of want to see one, but what a contradiction, huh? Those mixed-up feelings of mine can burn in hell!”

[Assistant] “Can’t you just say the passwords without having to throw in all that nonsense?! Can you be more irritating? !” The door to the cellar slammed opened so hard it looked as though it was going to come off its hinges, but Subaru, who expected this, had stepped back and was dealt no damage.


[User] Growling in frustration, too tall for the entrance, was the bald giant Rom, whom Subaru had grown used to seeing at this point. His face was red, his blood pressure probably high.

[Assistant] "If you get all angry like that, you’ll pop a blood vessel. Even if we had modern medicine, I’d say your situation looks pretty bad."

[User] "If you think it’s so bad for me, then don’t make me angry! Just who are you anyway?! I’m not supposed to let anyone in today, so scram!"

[Assistant] Who had been hiding behind Subaru’s back and just peeked out from behind him. "Uh… Sorry about that. This guy is actually my customer, so could you please let him in?"

[User] Rom slowly relaxed his shoulders.

[Assistant] As Felt looked between a disappointed Rom and a whistling Subaru, she let out a sigh. "You really have a terrible personality, kid. Without being too mean, it’s simply the worst. Anyway, we’re coming in, Rom." As Felt slipped past Rom, still looking down, she entered the loot cellar as if it were her own place.

[User] Rom first looked at Felt for further explanation but was ignored, so he turned his annoyed face toward Subaru.

[Assistant] "She really marches to the beat of her own drummer, huh? Us normal guys just get left behind, am I right?"

[User] "I’d like to start back at square one, where I was first teaching her what different words meant… Anyway, get inside." With the tone of a man who had given up and washed his hands of everything, before shrinking his giant body back away into the cellar.

[Assistant] Subaru followed after Rom into the dusty air of the loot cellar. He tossed a few cautious glances this way and that, but fortunately there was no sign that Elsa or Not-Satella were hiding somewhere inside.


[User] Was casually sitting at the bar counter, drinking a glass of milk as if it were her own. "What? This is the only cold one left. I’m not letting you have it."

[Assistant] "I can’t believe you’re not the least bit bothered by how shameless you’re acting… Hey, old man, I’ll just have some alcohol, whatever you’ve got. Thanks."

[User] "You’re one to talk! I’m not sharing with you! You’re not getting any, you hear? !" Rom shouted as he ran across the room and rushed behind the counter, creaking the floorboards as he went, trying to hide what looked like his stash.

[Assistant] Rom’s overreaction was enough to inspire pity, and Subaru just said, "I’m joking," with a chuckle. "Well then, old man. We’ve already wasted a lot of time, so before we get sidetracked, I’d like to get straight to the point."

[User] "I get the feeling we’ve already gone way off track, but…what’s up?"

[Assistant] "Basically, I want you to appraise something."


[User] "I would like you to put a price on this mitia I have here, and guarantee its worth to Felt."

[Assistant] Rom realized that the conversation was turning to business, his gray eyes turned serious.

[User] Old Man Rom looked at Felt, who nodded in confirmation, before turning to look back at Subaru. Realizing that Rom was wordlessly asking to see the item, Subaru took his cell phone out of his pocket and handed it to Rom.

[Assistant] It seemed that the metallic look of the phone was what first caught Rom’s eye, and while he ran his fingers over it it looked like a tiny toy in his oversized hands. "So this is a mitia. Even for someone like me, this is my first time seeing one of these…"

[User] "I’m pretty sure this is the only one of its kind in the whole world. Also, it’s rather delicate so please be careful with it. If you break it I really have to kill myself, and I’m not joking about that…of course, meaning so I can start over."

[Assistant] Rom spent a while carefully looking over its outward appearance, but then slowly opened the folding phone. Rom had his first surprise as the phone started up and let out a sound, and he got his second surprise when he saw the phone’s wallpaper. "This picture…"

[User] "I thought that this would be a good time to use that one. In order to show you the device’s abilities, I put a scene from Felt’s day as the wallpaper."

[Assistant] The wallpaper was one of the pictures that Subaru had taken of Felt when he met her in the alley. He picked the one he thought looked the cutest, and given the image quality he thought it was quite nice overall.

[User] Rom looked from the image over at Felt, who was sipping her milk. "Well, you’ve certainly surprised me. I don’t think there’s anything else out there that could draw such a perfect picture."

[Assistant] "This is a mitia that takes out a slice of time and stores it away. It doesn’t even compare with a picture someone has drawn, does it? If you’d like I can take one of you as well."

[User] "I’m interested, but it seems kind of dangerous. It doesn’t take any of your life away, does it?"

[Assistant] "No matter what age and no matter what world, it looks like that superstition about photographs persists, huh…?" Subaru gave a weak smile in return to Rom’s reaction, something that seemed like it should be out of the Taisho period, or before. "Even if I take your picture, you’ll easily live until you’re eighty or so."

[User] Felt’s reaction as she was listening to the conversation was also cute, and so after getting his permission, Subaru took a picture of Rom and showed it to him.

[Assistant] "Hmm…" Rom nodded. "This is certainly something."


[User] "If I were to take care of it, in terms of blessed gold coins maybe fifteen…no, I could absolutely get more than twenty for this. I believe it’s worth that much.” Rom’s business sense sparked; his eyes were shining as he made his appraisal.

[Assistant] While Subaru thought he was unsure how proud he could be to get the seal of approval from someone in the business of selling stolen goods, it certainly did put him at ease. His nostrils flaring with confidence, Subaru turned to Felt.

[User] “Well, there you have it. This is the card I have to play. Like I said, it’s worth more than twenty blessed gold coins. So now, I’d like to trade you this for that badge you’ve got.”

[Assistant] “I see you seem to make that face a lot, but it really is annoying.” Apparently unimpressed that everything looked as though it was going according to Subaru’s plan, Felt made a face.

[User] “Well, to be honest, I’m happy that I’ve got a guarantee that I can turn this mitia into cash. It looks like I don’t have to doubt you anymore about it being worth twenty blessed gold coins, either. I accept the card you have to play.”

[Assistant] “Right?! So anyway, it looks like our negotiations have gone well. It’ll be your job to sell it, but I wish you the best of luck! Now that’s wrapped up, how about we go off somewhere and have a drink to celebrate our success?” Subaru quickly walked over to Felt and put out his hand to take the badge, but Felt slowly pushed it back.

[User] “Wait a minute. Why are you in such of a hurry?”

[Assistant] “Life has its limits. You’ve got to treat every second of it as precious, and it’s a shame to waste any—”

[User] “Right, right, enough of that,” Felt said, narrowing her red eyes, and with a calm attitude stuck at the heart of her doubts. “Why do you want this badge in the first place?”

[Assistant] Subaru paused, holding his breath, and as both Rom and Felt saw that, Subaru realized he had made a mistake. What he should have done was say a bunch of nonsense, just like he had before. However, nothing would come out. As Subaru kept his silence Felt’s mouth loosened up into a smile.

[User] “The older lady who asked me to steal it in the first place didn’t want to talk about it either, and it looks like you’re the same?”

[Assistant] “…Well, stealing is pretty bad itself, so with theft involved, I’m sure everyone has some ulterior motives they wouldn’t like to talk about…”

[User] “But in your case, you stand out more than one usually would.


[User] “If I slow down and think about it, you’re trying to steal this away from whoever wanted me to steal it in the first place.” Felt’s attitude was like one of a cat torturing its prey. “Just what is this badge anyway? It’s worth more than it looks, isn’t it? That’s why everyone wants it. In other words, it’s worth more than even this mitia.”

[Assistant] “Wait, Felt. That line of thought is really dangerous. I pretty much already know what you’re planning on saying right now, even if I’m just drawing on my experience from playing games, but…really, you need to stop.” As Subaru watched Felt’s miserly gauge rise, he broke out in a sweat as he tried to stop her. If negotiations dragged on any longer than this, the bad end that was just waiting for them was going to be a reality. “This deal is for more than twenty blessed gold coins! Just take it! Don’t be any greedier than that! El—The one who commissioned you can only pay twenty blessed gold coins herself. She won’t pay any more than that.”

[User] “How do you know that?”

[Assistant] “Well…”

[User] “The more you talk the more you’re giving away. You’re in league with her, aren’t you?”

[Assistant] Subaru wished he could just tell her that he knew because of his Return by Death ability, but of course he couldn’t. Even if he did explain it that way, there was no guarantee she would believe it. As Felt’s eyes filled with even more doubt, Subaru knew that whatever he said, she wouldn’t believe him anymore. At this point, he might have to wrestle the badge away from her. But if I did that I’d have to deal with this muscular geezer…

[User] “Well, she’s got you dancing in the palm of her hand, doesn’t she, kiddo? Must be embarrassing given that she’s younger than you.”

[Assistant] “It’s all your fault for giving her free rein. She’s so tough I feel like I’m about to cry.” If Subaru tried to be violent, all that would happen would be his getting beat to the ground by Rom. Even if he was able to grab it away from Felt, he didn’t think he could outrun her. Subaru had seen how she could run like the wind. There was no way he could escape. “Felt, please…”

[User] “Don’t think begging is going to get you anywhere. Look, I accept your deal as an option, but it’s not fair to make a deal without hearing what my original client has to say about it all. If you would tell me how much this badge is really worth and are able to prepare what it’s really worth in payment, then I may reconsider, though.” In Felt’s eyes was not even the slightest amount of compassion or mercy. Her two eyes were desperately trying to draw out the truth from Subaru’s attitude. However, Subaru’s reasons for wanting the badge were not the same as Elsa’s.


[User] He only wanted to return it to its owner. But while Felt didn’t know Subaru’s intentions, he knew hers. Subaru knew why Felt was so desperate to negotiate the best deal possible. He knew who she was trying so desperately for. So after a pause, he told the truth. "All I want is to return that badge to its rightful owner."

[Assistant] "...What?"

[User] Telling the truth was the most sincere thing he thought he could do. So while Felt’s eyes opened wide, Subaru just repeated what he said before. “I want to return that badge to its rightful owner. That’s why I want it. That’s all.” Felt’s red eyes glinted full of animosity, but Subaru stayed silent. He didn’t have it in him to joke around at this point, so he just bowed his head.

[Assistant] “…Felt, I don’t think he’s lying.”

[User] “Don’t you be tricked by him! This has got to be a joke! Return it to its rightful owner? By paying all of this money to buy it back from the person who stole it? How stupid can you get? If that’s what he wanted to do, he should have brought a guard with him to round us up!”

[Assistant] Of course Subaru couldn’t do that. Not-Satella didn’t want to get the guards involved. That’s why Subaru had refused Reinhard’s offer. Subaru couldn’t go against Not-Satella’s wishes. It was the least that Subaru could do, and it was his answer to the one who had saved his life.

[User] “If you’re going to lie, do a better job of it! Even if you act like you’re serious, I won’t be tricked! If I don’t… That’s right. I won’t be tricked…” Felt said, as if shaking some thoughts from her head, ending in a feeble-sounding voice.

[Assistant] “Felt…” Rom said in a caring tone with a painful expression, probably knowing what was going on inside Felt. Either way, it didn’t look as though Felt was going to change her mind. In other words, negotiations had failed.

[User] “…Who is it?” Suddenly, Rom’s expression changed and he looked toward the entrance. Subaru, still in a state of shock from the negotiations breaking down, was too late to react to Rom’s voice.

[Assistant] “It could be my client. It does seem a little early, though.”

[User] Felt went over to the door, with her angry expression still on her face, and reached to open it.

[Assistant] Subaru suddenly identified the impatient feelings welling up inside him. The loot cellar, a knock at the door, Felt’s client—all of those signals could only lead to one thing. “Don’t open the door! We’ll all be killed! !”

[User] It was earlier than Subaru had expected. From the windows he could see the sun still high in the sky. It was too bright to be past sunset. The first and second times around, despair had come knocking after sunset. Subaru hadn’t let his guard down about their limited time, but still, this was way too early.


[User] Upon seeing the girl, Not-Satella, walk in through the door, Felt wordlessly stepped back. Felt looked mortified and her mouth twisted in frustration.

[Assistant] "You really are a persistent woman, aren’t you… Why couldn’t you just give up already?" Felt, sounding as though she was on the verge of grinding her teeth together.

[User] "Unfortunately, this is not something I can give up on. …If you’ll be a good girl and hand it over I won’t hurt you." Not-Satella replied, the tone of her voice incredibly cold.

[Assistant] As Subaru felt the tension of the atmosphere in the cellar rise, he couldn’t help but shiver.

[User] “…Which must mean that without me, she would have found this place a lot faster…”

[Assistant] Even as he drowned in his empty feelings, the situation advanced without him.

[User] As Felt continued to step back, she had already crossed from the center of the room to the back, and Not-Satella, while continuing to block the exit, changed her stance and pointed her palm forward. With the faint sound of shattering air, Satella activated her magic.

[Assistant] "I only have one demand of you: Return my badge. It is very precious to me." There were six icicles floating in the air.

[User] Of course, Subaru himself was counted among the possible targets, and so he tried his best not to incite Not-Satella, just wordlessly looking on.

[Assistant] “…Rom,” Felt called, a little over a whisper.

[User] "I can’t make a move. It’s your fault for bringing in such a troublesome thing along with such a troublesome opponent, Felt." Rom replied, his giant body tensed as he shook his head. Rom had at some point grabbed his club and still held it in his hand, but his arm was slack and he didn’t look ready to swing it.

[Assistant] "You’re going to give up before the fight’s even started?" Felt said, challenging Rom.


[User] "If this were an ordinary magic user I wouldn’t be complaining, but…this one’s a problem." Rom replied, with a hint of admonishment in his voice, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Not-Satella.

[Assistant] In Rom’s stare as he looked down at her was both an extreme sense of caution and an element of awe. "You’re an elf…aren’t you, miss?" Rom said, his lips shaking.

[User] Subaru looked up reflexively.

[Assistant] Rom guessed that she was an elf, but that would make him only half right.

[User] Subaru knew from what Not-Satella had told him about herself the first time around.

[Assistant] Upon hearing Rom’s question, Not-Satella closed her eyes for a few moments, and then after a small sigh, she responded. "Technically, you’re mistaken. Only half of what I am is an elf." She said in a tone as if she was making a painful confession.

[User] Subaru furrowed his brow.

[Assistant] However, Felt had a much more exaggerated reaction, and with a shudder she continued to step back and said, "A half-elf…and with silver hair?! You…you can’t be…"

[User] "I’m not her! We only look the same! It’s… It’s a problem for me, too."

[Assistant] Subaru didn’t know what was going on, but he could tell that this was a conversation that Not-Satella didn’t want to be having.

[User] However, Not-Satella’s denial didn’t seem to calm Felt down; rather, it put her even more on edge, and she turned her red eyes full of animosity toward Subaru, who was still standing silently on the sidelines. "You… You set me up, didn’t you?"

[Assistant] "What?"

[User] "I thought it was fishy when you said you wanted to return this thing to its owner. The fact that you kept me from hiring people to block her way was also part of the plan, wasn’t it? You two are in this together, aren’t you?!" As Felt said those words, gushing full of hatred, Subaru realized a few things. One, that Felt was having another misunderstanding, but secondly, why Not-Satella was able to find this place in such a short time. Normally, it really would be impossible for her to reach the loot cellar in this short amount of time. Normally, Felt would have hired people from the slums to get in Not-Satella’s way, delaying her arrival. Because Subaru had rushed Felt and stopped her from doing that, Not-Satella had been able to come straight here. While Felt’s doubts were untrue, they weren’t very far off. It was true that the current situation was moving in Subaru’s favor. Subaru did want to get the badge and return it to Not-Satella himself so he could receive her praise, but as long as she got it back, he wouldn’t complain. If things kept going at this rate, it would work as a nice backup plan.

[Assistant] "Huh…? What do you mean? You two aren’t together?" Not-Satella seemed puzzled as to why Felt was turning on Subaru.

[User] "Ha! Cut the act!" Felt just laughed.


[User] “I’m the one who’s backed in a corner here. So go ahead and take this badge from me and laugh at my stupidity, why don’t you?”

[Assistant] “Oh, come on. Just because you’re at a slight disadvantage doesn’t mean you have to cave so easily.”

[User] “That’s all you have to say after bringing this girl here? Damn it, I’ve been had!” Felt roughly scratches at her blond hair and clicks her tongue.

[Assistant] Satella seemed to frown at Felt’s far-from-ladylike attitude.

[User] Subaru gulped at the dangerous state of circumstances and misunderstandings, not knowing where to fix his gaze. As Subaru looked around he realized that there was a red flower decoration pinned to the left breast of Not-Satella’s cloak. “Haa…” Subaru sighed, and then smiled. All of his hesitation up to this point just seemed so stupid now. Seeing Not-Satella’s stern expression and attitude had reminded Subaru of the way she had rejected him in his last loop, and had caused him to be unable to do anything. However, he knew that no matter how many times he looped back, Not-Satella, at her core, wouldn’t change. The fact that she had saved that little lost girl this time as well was proof of that. “The more we all talk about this, the more confusing it’s going to get, so, Felt, why don’t you just go ahead and give that badge back. Now, Ste—I mean, you should take it and get out of here, so you don’t get it stolen from you again.”

[Assistant] “Why are you acting like you know me all of a sudden? I really don’t get what’s going on here…”

[User] “I don’t get what’s going on either. Just who do you think you are?” Felt is looking at Subaru.

[Assistant] Subaru had tried to get things moving again and change the mood, but Subaru only got turned on by both girls, and failed to get anywhere. Subaru looked to Rom for help.

[User] “It’s a magic user we’re dealing with. I can’t really make any moves. Don’t be so hasty.”

[Assistant] Ugh, this old man’s useless, thought Subaru, just barely holding himself back from clicking his tongue in irritation, then trying to figure out how he was going to respond to both girls’ stares. But just then…a black shadow silently seemed to slide in and creep up behind the girl with the silver hair.

[User] “Puck! Block! !”

[Assistant] A sensual smile melted into the shadows and raced forward, and a silver glint seemed to squirm as it lunged toward Not-Satella’s white neck. In that instant with Subaru’s eyes opened wide, the girl’s head went flying—at least it would have. There was a loud clash, not the sound of steel cutting through bone but of steel shattering glass. As Not-Satella was thrown slightly forward there was a bluish white magic circle activated behind her head.


[User] The light of the magic circle took the tip of the blade and had just barely kept the silver-haired girl alive.

[Assistant] Not-Satella then leapt forward and turned around, her silver hair waving, and behind that curtain of hair Subaru could see a gray-colored furry animal standing.  Puck lifted up its nose, proud of its save before looking toward Subaru.  “That was just in the nick of time there. You saved us.”

[User] “Nice going there, Puck. Really, I’m the one who’s saved. Thanks.” Subaru says, giving the cat a thumbs-up, even as he was still shaken.

[Assistant] Lifting her dangerous weapon in front of her face, the woman’s expression was one of ecstasy. “A spirit, a spirit, huh? Ah…ha-ha… That’s wonderful. I haven’t ever opened the stomach of a spirit before.”

[User] “Hey! What’s the meaning of this? !” Felt yelled, stepping forward with her voice raised in anger.

[Assistant] Felt pointed a finger at Elsa and then took the badge out of her pocket with her other hand. “All you’re supposed to do is buy this badge from me. Turning this place into a bloodbath was not part of our agreement!”

[User] “Buying the stolen badge from you is certainly what I came here to do, but it’s hard to hold any negotiations if its owner had already come and taken it away. So, I decided on a change of plans.”

[Assistant] Felt’s face was red with anger, but upon seeing Elsa’s eyes fixed on her, wet with murderous intent, she gulped.

[User] Elsa looked on, with an almost loving gaze, at Felt’s fear. “I’ll just kill everyone here, and then I’ll pick that badge up from the sea of blood afterward.” Elsa said, all while holding the expression of an affectionate mother on her face.

[Assistant] She then tilted her head and continued on cruelly, “You weren’t able to do your job. Do you really expect me not to throw away something that’s useless to me?”

[User] Felt’s face twisted as if in pain, but the emotion behind it was not of fear, but something else.

[Assistant] “Don’t give me that, you bitch! !” Subaru shout's out in anger at Elsa.


[User] He couldn’t understand himself, just why he was so angry. In part because he could not understand it as this emotion rose up inside him, he spit all of it out. “Is it really that fun for you to pick on such a little kid, you intestine-obsessed sadist?! Just because things aren’t going exactly the way you planned, you’re going to wreck everything and throw a tantrum?! What are you, five?! How about you treasure life for once?! Do you know how much it hurts to have your stomach ripped open?! I know! !”

[Assistant] “…What are you trying to say?”

[User] “I’m just taking this moment to let the unforeseen sense of justice inside me rant about the injustice of this damn world, and right now, to me, the injustice of this world is you, and this situation, so right now I’m channeling all of my anger about everything on to you!” As Subaru’s shouting continued to make no sense to her, Elsa let out a rare exasperated sigh. But while Subaru was kind of hurt by her nonserious reaction, with spit flying, he shouted one more time. “All right! That’s enough buying for time. Get her, Puck! !”

[Assistant] “That was such an amazingly lame tirade there, I want to write it down and leave it for future generations. …Guess I’ll have to respond to your expectations, huh?” Compared with Subaru’s shouting and stomping, Puck’s voice was aloof and detached.

[User] Elsa immediately looked up, but all around her, from all sides, were sharpened icicles, more than twenty in all.

[Assistant] “It seems I haven’t introduced myself, little lady. My name is Puck. I’d like it if you at least remembered my name, as you say farewell to this world.” Immediately afterward, the icicles flew at Elsa.

[User] “…!” The crisscrossing icicles whipped up a white mist and Elsa’s black coat was lost in the low-temperature storm. The speed of the icicles was far greater than what Subaru had seen in the alley, and he could just barely follow them with his eyes. Subaru thought the sharp-tipped icicles would easily cut through Elsa’s body, the tips of the clear bullets stained red with blood. There were twenty of them. If any of them hit their mark it should be a lethal. However…

[Assistant] “Did we get her? !”

[User] “Now why did you have go and to say that? !” Subaru yelled back. Even though Rom had been quiet all this time, he had said the worst possible thing at the worst possible moment.

[Assistant] “It pays to be prepared… I don’t like wearing it because it is heavy, but it looks like I was right to wear it this time.” Cutting through the white smoke, Elsa leapt out, with her black hair dancing behind her. She had her kukri held high in her hand, and in her light steps it appeared she had no injuries.


[User] Other than the fact that she had thrown off her black coat and was now only wearing her black skintight outfit, she looked no different from before.

[Assistant] "You're not going to tell me that because that coat is so heavy that just by shedding it you're suddenly a lot faster, are you?!"

[User] "That would be interesting, but the truth is simple. That coat has a formula woven into it that can ward off magic a single time. It looks like it saved my life." Elsa politely answered Subaru’s question before kneeling down and striking upward with the tip of her knife. The target was Not-Satella, and the strike was aimed to drive the knife into her chest.

[Assistant] Subaru instinctively started to cry out, but…

[User] "I'd like it if you didn't underestimate spirit mages. We're pretty frightening if you make enemies of us." Not-Satella clapped her hands together in front of her chest, forming a multilayered ice shield that was easily pierced by Elsa's blade, but it took the knife and stopped her attack.

[Assistant] Elsa immediately leapt back to retreat as a few smaller icicles were hurtled her way.

[User] The counterattack was due to Puck, who was standing on Not-Satella's shoulder by her silver hair, sweeping his arms this way and that like a battle commander.

[Assistant] "One manages defense and the other attack… In reality, it's two against one." Subaru said, impressed.

[User] "That's the tricky thing about spirit mages. One'll attack, and the other defends. Depending on the situation, one might use simple magic, buying for time, as the other prepares a special attack… That's why we on the battlefield say, 'When you meet a spirit mage, lay down your weapons and wallet and run.'" Rom muttered, still gripping his club.

[Assistant] Subaru nodded. It didn’t look as though the pairing between a spirit mage and their spirit could be easily beat.

[User] "By the way, old man, what is it you're planning on doing?"

[Assistant] "I'm looking for an opening so I can help out that elf girl. Of the two, she seems the one more willing to listen to us."

[User] "Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! No! You'll only get in their way! If you go out there the only thing that's going to happen is you're going to lose your right arm and have your throat slit. Stay right where you are!"

[Assistant] "Don't say that! The way you put it makes it sound like I've already been cut down!"

[User] Rom put his hands on his arm and neck, feeling the pain of those different dimensions. While Subaru was able to talk Rom out of it, the truth was that the fight between Elsa and Not-Satella was so intense, it didn’t look like there was anywhere anyone could cut in. Countless ice shards had been created and were flying all over the room.


[User] "She really looks used to fighting, despite her being a woman." Puck muttered, impressed with Elsa’s godlike skills and fighting sense.

[Assistant] "Well, it’s been a very long time since someone called me a girl."

[User] "From my perspective, most people I deal with are like babies to me. But even so, you’re so strong I almost feel like I should pity you."

[Assistant] "To be complimented by a spirit such as yourself, I must say I’m honored."

[User] As Elsa gladly took Puck’s praise, she fended off another shard of ice with her knife.

[Assistant] “I think if they keep this up, Elsa will tire out before they do…but I’m still anxious,”

[User] “That woman in black’s movements really are incredible, but I don’t think they can lose if they continue to hold the advantage in numbers…but it’s not like that spirit will be able to keep itself here forever. As soon as that spirit’s out, the balance of power will shift,”

[Assistant] “Damn, you’re right. How soon is it to five o’clock? !”

[User] "Just when things were starting to get fun… It pains me to see that something else is distracting you from paying attention to me." Elsa muttered as she twisted her body to dodge an icicle attack, confirming Subaru’s fears.

[Assistant] "As a popular male, it really is tough on me. I can never put the girls to sleep. However, you know if you stay up too late it’s bad for your skin," Puck replied in a light tone, but he didn’t deny what she was saying.

[User] Puck winked his black eyes at Elsa. "Don’t you think it’s about time we draw the curtain on this performance?


[User] “When we keep repeating the same act it begins to get boring.”

[Assistant] “My foot…” As soon as Elsa tried to take a step, she fell forward, catching herself with her hands on the ground. Elsa’s right foot had been frozen to the floor. The fragments of the ice shards Elsa had broken had piled up on the ground, and some had served as a way to bind Elsa’s feet.

[User] “You didn’t really think I was scattering all of these things around for no reason, did you?”

[Assistant] “…I guess this means you’ve got me.”

[User] “Just blame it on the gap in our ages. You have plenty of reason to congratulate yourself for getting this far. Now, good night.” Throwing its chest out, Puck’s body, still standing on Not-Satella’s shoulder, started to oscillate at a high frequency. Puck was posed as if he was about to release his ultimate move, with both paws out in front, focusing more magic than ever before, and Subaru watched as that magic was shot off like an arrow. The magic did not take the shape of ice, but was simply a load of destructive energy. Along the path of the bluish white light everything froze, and in one fell swoop the loot cellar was filled with white. The energy passed through Elsa and broke into the door that formed the entrance to the cellar, blowing it off its hinges, and residual freezing energy from the attack even reached outside. As the brilliant light from the attack passed, everything was frozen, from the counter to the stolen items, to even the ground they lay on. Of course, if directly hit, even a human being would quickly turn into an ice statue, but…

[Assistant] “It can’t be…”

[User] “Of course it can. Ah, that was wonderful. I really thought I was going to die there.” …this was all assuming the attack would hit.

[Assistant] “…With you being a girl, I can’t say I approve.” While Puck’s attack was dodged, Puck didn’t seem any angrier than what his words conveyed. He simply wasn’t happy with what Elsa had done. Subaru saw blood dripping, and a bit of steam was rising from the frozen ground. The blood was coming from Elsa’s right foot. She was standing barefoot just out of the line of fire from Puck’s attack, and bleeding profusely from her right foot, and it wasn’t hard to see why. After all, she had sliced off the sole of her foot.

[User] “I was afraid I might lop the whole foot off, seeing as how I hurried. That was a close one.”

[Assistant] “Even if you only cut that much, it must hurt a lot.”

[User] “Well yes, you’re right. But it’s wonderful. It makes me feel alive, and in addition to that…” In response to Puck’s worried sounding words, Elsa nodded with a look of ecstasy in her eyes, and without hesitation pushed her bleeding foot against a piece of ice.


[User] A sound that sounded like air shattering came erotically from Elsa’s throat, and then immediately afterward she took her knife to the ice around her foot. With that, she had managed to stop the bleeding with the ice. "It’s a little hard to move, but this should be enough." Said Elsa with a laugh, clicking her ice shoe against the ground, looking as though she was having fun.

[Assistant] Subaru had no words to say in response to how Elsa’s addiction to fighting left her without any hesitation when it came to maiming herself, but right now it was her opponent, Not-Satella, who was in trouble.

[User] "Puck, do you think you can keep going?" Whispered Not-Satella.

[Assistant] "I’m sorry, but I’m really tired. I think I really underestimated her. At this rate I’m going to disappear from having run out of mana." Puck replied, for the first time without the confidence that had filled his voice before. As the cat stood on Not-Satella’s shoulder, its figure began to shine, and looked as though it would fade at any moment. They were out of time.

[User] "I’ll find a way to handle the rest on my own, so go ahead and rest. Thank you."

[Assistant] "If something happens, I’ll obey my contract. If need be, call me out, even if you have to use your od." Puck said with a warning, as his body disappeared in a wisp of mist.

[User] Subaru bit his lip, but he wasn’t the one most disappointed by Puck’s departure.

[Assistant] "Aw… You’re going away? That’s terribly unfortunate." Said Elsa, the one who had been fighting with Puck with her life on the line. She sounded truly disappointed. She readied her kukri again and with the high-pitched click of her icy shoe, began to head toward Satella. A number of icicles materialized around Not-Satella in response, but there were far fewer than when Puck was with her. Even though Elsa had her movement limited now, the match appeared even.


[User] "It looks like we can’t just sit around and watch this anymore, can we?" Said Rom, gripping his club and getting ready to move. "I don’t know who’s going to win this anymore, so if we just wait around we’re going to miss our chance. You understand, right, Felt?" Continued Rom.

[Assistant] "I know, I know. Whether we help or run, we’re going to have to make a move soon." Said Felt, talking for the first time since Elsa threatened her. Felt moved beside Rom and then turned to Subaru. "About what you said before… Thanks. It made me feel better."

[User] "Huh?"

[Assistant] "Only a little bit! Plus, don’t call me a little kid. I’m fifteen years old. You’re not much older than me, right?"

[User] “…Actually, I’ll be eighteen this year. I’ll be able to get a license to drive a car, and I can get married, too."

[Assistant] "You can’t be that old! Your face looks younger than mine! Age a little, why don’t you?


[User] “At least on your face!” Well, Subaru had lived his years lazily in the peaceful country of Japan, aiming to live every day as ordinarily as possible, so it couldn’t be helped. Subaru felt as though his lack of determination was being mocked, and so he looked down at the ground, feeling useless. The weakest one here was Subaru, and it was enough that he was completely lacking in the ability to fight, but also…

[Assistant] “My legs just can’t stop shaking… I guess this is what happens when you lack resolve.” Forget about being qualified to fight, Subaru was physically unable to. Rom had strength in his arms and Felt strength in her legs and Not-Satella had strength in her magic, and so all of them could manage to fight. However, Elsa’s abnormality trumped all of those abilities.

[User] “It looks like she’s starting to get pushed back.”

[Assistant] Not-Satella hadn’t stopped shooting projectiles at Elsa, but Elsa just slapped them away with her blade, rendering them useless. In response to Elsa’s dance of slicing attacks, Not-Satella would block the attacks with her ice shield, and freeze the ground in front of her feet to slide away, barely dodging Elsa’s continuing attacks. After Not-Satella gained some distance, she would continue her barrage, but you could not deny that her position was inferior to Elsa’s. To change the current situation, some kind of support was absolutely necessary.

[User] “All right, I’m going!” Rom yelled as he joined the fight. As Rom swung his club, it brought a gust of air along with it, and as Elsa ducked her hair was caught up a little in the blast.

[Assistant] “Oh, how rude of you to interrupt our dance."

[User] "If you want to dance that much then I’ll make you dance a fine dance, so give it your best shot!” As Rom swung his thorny pointed club at Elsa, he changed his line of attack. He thrust the club toward Elsa’s throat, but Rom froze at the result.

[Assistant] “What the hell is this? !”

[User] “I’m only able to do this because you’re so strong.” Elsa said from above as she stood on the tip of Rom’s club. That kind of technique could only be accomplished with a godlike sense of balance. Before that balance could be broken, Elsa swung her blade horizontally at Rom. The strike was level with Rom’s forehead. If it landed, the top of his head would be sent flying.

[Assistant] Shing! went the sound of Elsa’s sword as it collided with a knife thrown by Felt. The collision had altered the path of Elsa’s sword, but the side of it still collided full force into the side of Rom’s head. A dull sound rang out as Rom toppled over to the side.


[User] "What a naughty little girl." Elsa said as she landed lightly back on the ground and turned just her eyes toward Felt.

[Assistant] "You don’t have the determination or power to fight. You should have just cowered in the corner like a good little girl." The high-pitched click of Elsa’s step rang out as she instantly closed the distance between herself and Felt.

[User] Aaaaahhhh!! Subaru dove into Felt at about hip level, and while hugging her light body tumbled across the ground. Just before he hit the ground, he felt something metal scrape across the back of his head, which made all his hair stand on end. But, feeling the weight of the person in his arms, he did his absolute best to ignore it and kept rolling to put as much distance as possible from where they were before. When at last Subaru looked back, standing on his knees, Elsa was staring back at him in surprise. Feeling as though he had pulled one over on Elsa, Subaru couldn’t help but smile back, awkwardly but proudly. "Are you all right? !"

[Assistant] "I was desperate there, so if I accidentally touched somewhere I shouldn’t have, please forgive me, okay? !"

[User] "If you hadn’t said that I would have thanked you like normal! …But why?"

[Assistant] "I don’t know! My body moved on its own. If I had to give a reason…well, you don’t know about this, but with this now we’re totally even, okay? Remember that! We’re even now!" Subaru said, clenching his fist after he let Felt go.

[User] "Listen here, Felt. Right now I’m going to do the same sort of thing as Rom did before he was knocked out to help stall for time. When that happens I’ll be sure to open up a window for you, so I want you to use that opportunity to run out of here as fast as you can. You got it?"

[Assistant] "What?! No! Are you telling me to just turn tail and flee? !" Felt said, glaring up at Subaru with her red eyes.


[User] But Subaru just got closer and stared right back at her.

[Assistant] “Yes. That’s what I’m telling you to do. Turn tail and flee. To be honest, that’s exactly what I want to do right now. I don’t want to stay another second in this violent space,” Subaru said, patting Felt roughly on her head.

[User] “But…” Felt started to say.

[Assistant] “You’re fifteen and I’m seventeen. Out of all of us, you’re probably the youngest one here. So it’s the right thing to do to give you the highest possibility of getting out of here alive. It’s what’s only natural.” Subaru interrupted her and continued.

[User] “D-don’t give me that… You were just shaking yourself a minute ago!”

[Assistant] “That was then, this is now! I’m not shaking now, so it’s okay! Really, before I remember and start shaking I’ve got to do this now. Okay? So get ready to run!” Subaru put his hand on Felt’s forehead as she looked as though she was going to object again, and then pulled himself to his feet. Not far away on the ground was Rom’s club. It looked really heavy, but Subaru thought he would still be able to swing it. As Not-Satella continued to shoot barrages of ice at Elsa, there was not a sign of dullness in her movements as she danced to avoid the shots. In the first place, Subaru wasn’t really sure if he, faced with a superhuman like Elsa with absolutely no real fighting experience himself, could open up a window for Felt to run. All that he could do was wordlessly spring a surprise attack on her when she wasn’t paying attention to him. So right after Elsa had swung her knife and shattered a large icicle, and Subaru was completely in one of her blind spots, Subaru sprang forward at her, forgetting even to breathe, and swung the club down on her. Perhaps Subaru’s adrenaline had finally kicked in, because the speed of his swing was far faster than he had imagined it would be. It sliced through the air toward the back of her head, and…

[User] “You picked the right moment and angle to target me, but unfortunately I could have sensed your intent to kill a mile away.”

[Assistant] “Intent to kill?! I have no idea how I’m supposed to hide that!”

[User] In order to block the swing that came directly behind her, Elsa struck the club with the blunt edge of her blade, changing the course of the swing enough for it to miss its mark.

[Assistant] Subaru opened his mouth wide, with his teeth bared, and yelled, “Now, Felt! Run! !”

[User] “! !” Like a spring Felt launched her small body onto the wind and raced forward.


[User] She was going so fast that Subaru couldn’t keep track of her with his eyes, and the girl, now turned to wind, rushed to the exit.

[Assistant] "Do you really think I’d let you go?" Elsa took another knife out of her breast pocket and threw it toward Felt. As if it were a symbol of payback from what Felt did before, the simple undecorated knife flew straight at her back.

[User] "Too bad, but I wanna let her go!" Subaru kicked the round table that was beside him upward, which collided with the knife and sent it off course. "Man, I’m awesome! That was awesome! Wow, my toe hurts more than I thought it was going to! …Uwah? !" Maybe it was Subaru’s adrenaline again, or some power that had awakened in him that failed to activate the last three times, but as Elsa’s long leg came up and kicked him in the side of the head and sent him flying, his self-congratulations were cut short. He was hit so hard the world seemed to spin around, and together with the onset of pain and taste of blood in his mouth, Subaru threw up.

[Assistant] "That’s the first time in a long time someone’s made me actually a little bit angry."

[User] "Well, that’s something I’m happy to hear! Ha-ha! Serves you right! I let one of us get away! !" Subaru stood back up and pretended to be in better shape than he was, doing his best to continue drawing Elsa’s attention.

[Assistant] As if Elsa had read Subaru’s mind, she smiled at him, and forgot about Felt for the time being. "Fine, if that’s what you want, I’ll pay attention to you. Your dancing had better not bore me."

[User] "I’m going to go ahead and warn you, but if you’re going to dance with me, you’d better be careful. I haven’t learned a thing about dancing so I’ll be sure to step all over your feet." said Subaru, spitting out the blood that had risen in his mouth. He readjusted his grip on the club that was still in his hands. It wasn’t as though Subaru was going to have very many chances to land a hit, so he used everything he had to focus on striking Elsa as she rushed toward him.

[Assistant] "You’d better not forget about me!" Not-Satella said, along with a chunk of ice lobbed from behind.

[User] But without even looking back, Elsa swung her blade and broke the ice to pieces. With Elsa’s superhuman senses on full display, even Subaru wasn’t able to keep taunting her. "I’ve started to get tired of this little game… Are you sure you’ll be able to keep me entertained?" asked Elsa in a low voice, with her smile the color of blood.

[Assistant] As Subaru gazed at her smile, he felt a shiver run down his spine, and looked over at Not-Satella to make eye contact.


[User] "If you’ve got some kind of hidden true power available, I think that now would be a great time to use it."

[Assistant] “…I do have another trick up my sleeve, but if I use it, I’ll be the only one left alive.”

[User] “I would like it if you held back on that, then. No self-destructs, please. …Okay fine, I get it. Damn. Use it if you have to, but don’t be too hasty, all right?” Subaru intended that to be a joke, in order to help shake off some of his cowardice.

[Assistant] "I won’t use it. I can’t while you’re still trying your best. You can do this, so keep on struggling. Relying on the power of one’s parents is my absolute final option,” replied Not-Satella, her lips relaxed into an almost smile.

[User] In one way, Not-Satella looked as though she was just about ready to give up; at the same time she looked ready to accept the fact that Subaru was weak and wouldn’t help much. Because that was the way she was, Subaru had worked so hard to see her smile. Subaru had died several times and come this far in order to save her. He hadn’t come this far just to see her give up. “I didn’t see anything right now.”

[Assistant] “…What?”

[User] “This conversation we just had, it didn’t happen! I just remembered the reason I’m here. Just leave it to me, damn it! I’m going to make sure you never have to use that final option of yours! !” Subaru pointed at Not-Satella and then at Elsa, and made his declaration, spitting as he did, stomped on the ground, and let all of his emotions howl out from his soul. “I’m going to blow you away and we’re going to have ourselves a happy ending. You don’t belong here, so scram!”

[Assistant] “…Well, don’t you look overexcited,”

[User] “I’m just ready to give it my all. This time’s gonna be the climax. I’ve got a lot more energy than before!” As Elsa leaned forward, Subaru swung the club as if he was declaring he was going to hit a home run.


[Assistant] Elsa’s lips then curled into a smile and she melted away into the darkness. From such a low height that it looked as though she was crawling on the ground, Elsa slid toward Subaru.

[User] As he kept his eyes on the dull glint of her blade, Subaru swung the club with all his might. Subaru’s swing held nothing back; he was prepared to beat Elsa to death.


[User] But Elsa just ducked even farther, like it was nothing, and was so low it looked as though she was licking the ground.

[Assistant] “You spider-woman! !”

[User] “Well, I suppose it’s correct to say that you’re tangled in my web.”

[Assistant] As Subaru saw Elsa’s sword rising upward, Subaru quickly threw his body back.

[User] Fear raced up Subaru’s spine, and without thinking he kicked up his knee.

[Assistant] Even though he hadn’t meant to aim his knee anywhere, as Elsa was right in front of him, it landed straight in her stomach.

[User] The path of the blade shifted a little, and then right in that path came a bluish white light, followed by a high-pitched sound. “An ice shield! Nice cover!”

[Assistant] “I’m not good at making those at a distance. I could have accidentally frozen someone!”

[User] “Her, right?! You mean her, right? !” replies Subaru, with a mix of jest in his thanks.

[Assistant] Not-Satella continued to draw Elsa back with her barrage of ice.

[User] “I’ve started to grow tired of you little buzzing insect. …I think it’s about time I wrap this up.”

[Assistant] “Hey, don’t underestimate bugs, okay? It’s not my fault if you get stung and break out in hives!”

[User] “Well, don’t you sound all high and mighty when you’re out of my striking range?” replies Elsa as she focused on dodging Not-Satella’s attacks, while Subaru continued to try to draw her attention away.

[Assistant] While Subaru would have loved to try to aim for Elsa’s back as she continued to dodge, he didn’t want to run the risk of becoming victim to friendly fire, so he really couldn’t move.


[User] Subaru had cuts on his upper arms, on his calves, his underarms, and even a few slight cuts to his neck, and as those injuries increased, Subaru’s gray tracksuit began to be stained with blood. “Damn, it hurts! Argh!! How about this? !” Even though the pain was enough to bring him to tears, Subaru swung a kick, trying to do something new to catch Elsa off guard.

[Assistant] “I’ll just take that.”

[User] “…Damn.” Elsa had easily avoided Subaru’s kick and to top it all off, she had easily grabbed his leg. Elsa raised her kukri, aiming to lop off the whole leg. With the strength of Elsa’s swing, its speed, and the sharpness of the blade, Subaru knew what would happen next. His leg would be cut off at the thigh and he would die from shock as the loss of blood and pain overwhelmed him. Subaru could just see the words BAD END 4 rising up in front of his eyes. I shouldn’t have done that! Subaru’s thoughts screamed. He tried to raise the club to block, but with the handicap he was facing, with one leg held in the air, he wouldn’t make it in time. Not-Satella screamed. The cut would mercilessly reach his leg in moments. As Subaru thought of the pain and spilling of blood it would bring a scream rose in his throat, the blood he would vomit when…

[Assistant] A flame appeared, burning through the roof from the center of the loot cellar. "That’s enough." The flame was filled with a ghastly malice that swept through the room and stopped even Elsa in her tracks. Subaru’s leg released, he hopped back before falling down. Right before his eyes, in the middle of a rising pillar of smoke, he saw a red, burning, shining figure. "That was close. I’m glad I made it in time. Now…"

[User] “Y-you’re…” The flame wavered and stepped forward. Its very existence was enough to make Subaru, Not-Satella, and Elsa all freeze. Taking in the gazes from everyone present, without being shaken one bit, stood an absolute sense of will. With sky-blue eyes shining with a pure sense of justice, the young man smiled faintly.

[Assistant] “I think it’s time to draw the curtain on this performance!” the hero declared, brushing back his red hair.


[User] Against an opponent who could knock Rom out with a single blow, Felt didn’t have a chance. The same went for that silver-haired half-elf. Without support from her spirit, there was no way that she could win against that woman, either. Subaru was even worse off. It was clear that he had little experience fighting, and didn’t seem used to it at all. His clean hands and fingers were proof that he had never even tried to hold a weapon before, and his clean hair and skin was proof that he had never been wounded before. In other words, Subaru had lived a sheltered life, one in which it was not necessary to consider fighting. Given that he had such an expensive mitia on him, it all made sense. Felt should just accept that it served him right. Despite not knowing anything about the world, Subaru had let a notion of chivalry get the best of him and try something far beyond her means. Felt should simply laugh at his idiocy. Subaru went and tried to act cool and let her get away, so he would probably be happy to see her keep running. But…still…

[Assistant] "Someone! Anyone!" Though Felt knew in her mind that she should be winding down alleys, she had run straight toward the main street. Out of breath and with an expression of panic on her face, Felt looked this way and that. This was strange. Felt reached up and frantically rubbed her teary eyes. Even if she had reason to be sad about Rom, Subaru was someone that she’d just met. Why should she care if he died? But Subaru had gotten mad at Elsa for Felt’s sake, and he had just about thrown his life away so she could get away alive. Felt didn’t understand what she was feeling, but because those feelings were there in her heart, she kept running about. She had felt something in response to Subaru’s actions. Because of those feelings, her feverishness did not subside, and while she felt like she wanted to scream, Felt kept running. Then, finally after running down a few streets…

[User] "Please…help me."


[User] "Understood. I’ll help you." …she found a young man like red fire, and changed the fate of the world.

[Assistant] “…Reinhard?”

[User] “That is correct, Subaru. I suppose it hasn’t been too long since we’ve last met. I’m sorry I’m late.” The red-haired young man Reinhard turned to face Subaru, who was still toppled over on the ground, with a slight apologetic smile.

[Assistant] Even as Reinhard wiped the dust from his sleeve, every motion seemed trained and deliberate.

[User] Without letting his guard down for a moment, Reinhard looked ahead, and turned his eyes toward the black-clothed beauty who was now focusing her animosity toward him.

[Assistant] Reinhard’s blue eyes narrowed, as if he were remembering something. "Black hair and black clothes, and your weapon is the bent blade particular to the northern countries. With all of those characteristics aligned, there’s no mistaking it. You are the ‘Bowel Hunter,’ aren’t you?”

[User] “What’s with that super-violent-sounding alias…?”

[Assistant] “It’s an alias given to her based on the way she kills. She’s well-known in the capital to be a dangerous individual. However, from what I hear she appears to be more of a mercenary,” replied Reinhard faithfully in response to Subaru’s rhetorical question as he trained his clear eyes on Elsa.

[User] “Reinhard. Ah, yes. The knight among knights…and of the ‘Master Swordsman’ lineage. Well, that’s amazing. I never thought I’d meet such an enjoyable opponent. I’ll have to thank my employer now for giving this job, now won’t I?”

[Assistant] “There are many things I would like to ask you. I recommend you surrender, however…”

[User] “Would you say to a starving predator as it stands before its wounded prey, a perfect specimen and already dripping blood, to bear its hunger and move on?” Elsa licked her thin red lips erotically with a look of ecstasy in her case as she stared at Reinhard.

[Assistant] “I see.” Reinhard responded, scratching at the side of his cheek as though he wished there was another way.

[User] "Subaru, I’m going to have to ask you to get farther away, and please take that elderly man with you out of harm’s way. After that, if you could stay beside that other person there, it would help me a lot.”

[Assistant] “Understood. …That woman’s quite the monster, so don’t let your guard down, all right?”

[User] “Fortunately, you could say that fighting monsters is my specialty,” said Reinhard confidently, and walked forward without any sign that he was preparing himself for battle. Reinhard did not even reach for the sword at his waist, but continued on empty-handed. After a sharp intake of breath, the kukri in Elsa’s hand flew forward, in a flash, toward Reinhard’s neck.


[User] Action/Narration Unlike when Subaru was her opponent, there was no sign that Elsa was holding back as she made her silver strike, and it seemed to kill the very air as it raced toward Reinhard’s slender neck. Yet Reinhard was completely defenseless. Not only did he not make any move to defend himself, he didn’t even make a move to dodge the attack. Subaru could already picture Reinhard’s head flying off his body. However…

[Assistant] "I don’t really want to be violent against a woman, but…" Action/Narration starting off in a gentlemanly way, but Subaru thought that the tone of his voice had dropped.

[User] “…you’ll have to excuse me." Action/Narration Reinhard planted one foot down, the pressure behind it fracturing the ground beneath him, and with the other leg launched a kick so strong it created a shock wave as it collided with Elsa and sent her body flying. The back blast was strong enough for Subaru to feel it where he stood. He was speechless. All it was, was an ordinary forward kick, but the air pressure it caused was enough to create a wind that shook the entire building. Elsa, who took the hit head-on, was blown away like a leaf. However, she was able to reduce the damage taken by springing off the walls to kill the force of impact with her legs. Still, when she looked up, you could see the look of shock on her face.

[Assistant] "No, no, no, no, no. There’s no way. You’re kidding me, right? ….Just what the hell was that?”

[User] Action/Narration Subaru had described certain things as being “on a totally different scale” several times before in his life, and it was at this very moment that he realized he had been mistaken. That phrase, “on a totally different scale,” existed solely for the purpose to describe this hero who stood in front of him. Before Reinhard’s existence, all of the extraordinary phenomena of this new world dulled in comparison.

[Assistant] "It’s just as they say…or rather, you’re more than what everyone says you are."

[User] "Well, I can only hope I’ll live up to your expectations.”

[Assistant] "Will you not use that sword of yours? I would like to have a taste of its legendary sharpness." Action/Narration Elsa pointed at Reinhard’s sword. She wanted to face Reinhard at full force, without him holding back.

[User] "This sword is made so that it can only be drawn when it should be drawn. The fact that the blade has not removed itself from its sheath means that now is not the proper time."

[Assistant] "I suppose I’ve been underestimated."

[User] "Personally, I would have preferred to take you up on your offer. So…" Action/Narration Reinhard suddenly turned his eyes away from Elsa, and looked about the inside of the loot cellar. Eyes eventually settled on an old-looking two-handed sword propped up against the wall. Reinhard used his foot to kick up on the hilt, sending the unsheathed sword spinning through the air.


[User] He easily grabbed it in his hand, and swung it once lightly as if testing it out. “…I’ll use this one to face you. Any complaints?”

[Assistant] “No… This is wonderful, wonderful! You had better show me a good time!”

[User] As Reinhard gripped his blade, Elsa made the first move, darting to the side.

[Assistant] In response, Reinhard readied a stance to swing his sword from below, straight upward.

[User] Reinhard’s strike was sublime, it was magical, it was perfectly trained. Reinhard’s sword technique captured every ounce of performance that could be extracted by the sword and he used it at will. Reinhard’s blade hit its mark, just where the blade of Elsa’s kukri met its handle.

[Assistant] Elsa had no words for the fate of the kukri she held in her hand. The blade had become just a handle, and as for the remainder…

[User] “Now that you have lost your weapon, I recommend you surrender.” …as Reinhard turned around, he held the blade of Elsa’s kukri in his free hand. With a flick of his wrist he threw it, and with a sharp sound it stuck, lodged in the wall.

[Assistant] Elsa gasped.

[User] “He really is not normal. I can’t even find the energy to joke about it.” Subaru just barely squeezed out what he thought, and hurried to put distance between himself and the battle taking place.


[Assistant] Along the way, Subaru went over to Rom, and somehow was able to drag his giant body to a spot along the wall. “Rom. Old Man Rom. Hey. Baldy. You alive?”

[User] “Who…you…callin’ baldy…”

[Assistant] “Who else? My only goals in life are to never go bald or get fat. You are, like, the best example for me of who I don’t want to end up like.”

[User] Even though Rom’s response was weak, after giving him a few more slaps on the cheek, Subaru let out a sigh of relief. Other than the fact that Rom had hit his head pretty hard, everything else looked all right. There was a chance that Rom’s memory might take a hit, but considering he was alive, it didn’t seem like much of a problem.

[Assistant] “Does it look like that person’s going to be all right?” asked Not-Satella as she came running up beside Subaru, her long silver hair trailing behind her.

[User] Checking the state of Rom’s injuries, she muttered, “He needs treatment,” and her hands began to glow with a faint blue light.


[User] “Hey now, I’m just saying, but this old man’s in league with the one who stole your badge. You know that?”

[Assistant] “That’s precisely why I’m doing it. Once I heal him I can use his gratitude to get information out of him. People don’t tend to lie to people who’ve saved their life. I’m only doing this for my own sake.”

[User] It was like she could not justify any of her actions unless she made a case for them being for her own sake. Subaru gave the ever-roundabout Not-Satella a weak smile, and looked back toward the battlefield. Elsa was on her knees but Subaru couldn’t see her face. All Subaru could think was that Reinhard had taken away her will to fight. With his old sword down by his side, Reinhard approached Elsa with his defenses down. Surely Reinhard had confidence in the difference in ability between himself and Elsa, but pride always leads to the worst possible outcome. An alarm rang inside Subaru’s head.

[Assistant] “Reinhard! She’s got another blade!”

[User] As Elsa’s second kukri was drawn from her waist, it took a bit of Reinhard’s bangs as he leaned back. With her surprise attack evaded, she turned her eyes toward Subaru.

[Assistant] “I’m surprised you knew.”

[User] “Well, I’ve already experienced it once before!” Subaru giving her the middle finger in a bragging tone—although it really couldn’t be called bragging.

[Assistant] Elsa apparently decided that what Subaru was saying was nonsense and ignored him. “However, you’d be wrong to think I have only two of these fangs. …Shall we start over?” she said to Reinhard.

[User] “Will you be satisfied if I destroy all of your weapons?”

[Assistant] “If I lose my fangs, I’ll fight with my nails. If I lose my nails, I’ll fight with my bones. If I lose my bones, I’ll fight with my life. That is how I, the Bowel Hunter, do things.”

[User] “In that case, I’ll just have to have you forsake your ideals.”

[Assistant] Elsa drew a third knife from her waist and held both at the ready. Worthy of the “spider-woman” insult that Subaru had lobbed at her before, Elsa seemed to fly about the room as though she were ignoring gravity, using all space on the ground and in the air available to her. As blade met blade and steel met steel, each violent collision sent sparks flying. Kicking off from the walls and from the ceiling, Elsa continued her fighting style of attack and retreat. Reinhard met her attacks as they came. As the battle seemed to go back and forth, Subaru gulped as he watched on.

[User] “It can’t be possible that even Reinhard lacks the ability to settle this, can it…?” Elsa’s abilities had stepped out of the realm of human possibility and it was hard for Subaru to even track her movements. However, Reinhard’s ability was, at its very core, legendary.


[User] Their battle was like two gods colliding with each other in the heavens, but Subaru could see that, in terms of pure ability, Reinhard was far ahead of Elsa. But then why was the battle still raging?

[Assistant] “…We’re holding him back.” Not-Satella muttered in response to Subaru’s doubts as she continued to heal Rom.

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] Not-Satella bit her lip, frustrated. “Because I’m using spirit magic, he can’t fight full force. At least not until I finish my healing.”

[User] “I have no idea what you’re trying to say.”

[Assistant] “If Reinhard decides to fight full force, all of the mana in the atmosphere around us will turn away from me. …I’m almost done. When I give the signal, call out to him.”

[User] “O-okay.” Subaru still didn’t understand her explanation, but while still a little unsure, he agreed. The blue light continued to heal the bump protruding from Rom’s head, and another wound that had been bleeding a little. Subaru looked on amazed as the traces of blood and the opening of the wound gradually disappeared, when Not-Satella took a deep breath and let it out.

[Assistant] “I’m done.”

[User] “Leave it to me. Hey, Reinhard! I don’t really understand, but get her!! !” Subaru delivered the message to Reinhard, who had continually been on the defensive, that Rom’s treatment was complete.

[Assistant] Reinhard glanced back. When his and Subaru’s eyes met, he gave a slight nod. “…What is it you’re going to show me?”

[User] “The House of Astrea’s sword,” Reinhard replied in short and with dignity as Elsa leaped at him.

[Assistant] Immediately afterward, Subaru felt all of the space in the cellar warp.

[User] “What?” Subaru saw the air in his line of sight twist, and he couldn’t be sure, but he thought that the room had lost some of its light. Apart from that, the room’s temperature, which had already been falling because of all of the ice magic, dropped even further. Subaru found himself shivering and hugging his shoulders.

[Assistant] “Wait? Huh? Why are you…”

[User] “I’m sorry, it’s just… Could you lend me your shoulder?” As Not-Satella started to lean on him, Subaru, while flustering about, rushed to support her. Her slender body was incredibly hot and Subaru could feel his heart racing from a completely different reason from before. But one look at Not-Satella’s face and any ideas Subaru may have gotten were blown away. Not-Satella was short of breath and looked as though she were in pain. It was as though she was running a high fever.

[Assistant] “What happened? Did you suddenly start to feel…?”

[User] “No, it’s the mana… You know, right?”

[Assistant] Subaru didn’t have a clue. He would have liked to fold his arms and declare so, in his usual humorous way, but now didn’t seem to be the time for that.


[User] It was not the weight on Subaru’s shoulders that made him decide to stay silent; it was how the entire room had changed its atmosphere, and what was happening at the source of that change.

[Assistant] In the center of the room, Reinhard held his sword ready with both hands in a low stance. But that wasn’t it. That stance itself had been something that Reinhard had been holding since the battle had begun. However, as Subaru looked on, it felt to him that only now, for the very first time, Reinhard was holding his sword at the ready.

[User] "Elsa ‘The Bowel Hunter’ Gramhilde." Elsa says, licking her lips.

[Assistant] "Reinhard van Astrea from the line of master swordsmen." Reinhard replies majestically with a nod. The presence of Reinhard’s sword overwhelmed the room, and the animosity between Reinhard and Elsa shook the air.

[User] In this place, turned mostly to ruins, a black-clothed murderer and a lightly armored hero faced each other, and what would clash would be the blood-soaked blade of a knife against a rusted old two-handed sword. But despite the faults of one side’s weapon, Subaru held his breath. After declaring their names, both were going to try to end the battle at once. Subaru felt that he was witness to a verse from an epic tale of heroism.

[Assistant] Someone screamed out. Subaru couldn’t tell if it was Elsa, or Reinhard, or even himself, but a brilliant light blew off the roof of the loot cellar and ripped right through it, cutting the entire space into two halves. Subaru couldn’t help but feel that the entire world had shifted as an immense light filled the room and whited everything out in an instant.

[User] As the light cleared, the world was subjected to another sudden shift, as the displaced space tried to return to where it had been before. Air was distorted as residual waves from the attack swept over the room and caused strong gusts to rush, spiraling back into the center of the room.

[Assistant] Along with those gusts, stolen items, furniture, and even materials from the building’s structure itself were pulled in. Subaru desperately tried to protect both Not-Satella and Rom from this storm of collateral damage.

[User] "Just what is… H-hey! Hey! !" Subaru couldn’t really explain how all of this was happening, but he knew who caused it. The “Master Swordsman” had, at full power, swung his sword. Once. Only once, and this was the result. Subaru kept yelling, trying to get through the pain and the wind, as finally, the storm lost its strength and the various items tumbling to the ground signaled its end, along with the chorus of dull creaking sounds from the building. Subaru tossed away the remains of a scroll-like object that had landed on his head and checked that both Rom and Not-Satella were still okay.