[User] Given how interested Rom seemed to be in the mitia, Subaru mused to himself that gadgets were something men were fond of, no matter what world you were in.

[Assistant] “Whether it be your clothes or this, you’ve really got a lot of strange stuff on you, don’t you? I mean, these things here are delicious!”

[User] “I know, right? Hey, wait! I thought you said a bite! Those are my corn chips! That’s the last food I had on me!”

[Assistant] “Oh don’t be so stingy. If you keep something as tasty as this all to yourself, you’re gonna fall straight to hell, I tell ya.”

[User] “Oh and you won’t, for eating all them yourself?! Blaming others while you’re doing the same yourself is a really bad habit of you baby boomers… I said, stop eating those!” Subaru thought he was just being kind by sharing some of his snacks, but after seeing them all get eaten like this, he sure did regret it. As he put his empty snack bags back in his convenience store bag, he was close to tears. By the time they both heard a knock on the door, it was already quite close to sunset. It was just as Subaru was starting to doze off, and when he looked up, he saw Rom move his giant body lightly toward the door. After quietly putting one ear against it, Rom whispered.

[Assistant] “To the giant rats…?”

[User] “We give poison.”

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

[User] “We lend a fishing hook.”

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

[User] “We say, ‘Burn in hell!’” To each of Rom’s short questions came a curt answer. Along with the special knock, those had to be passwords. Satisfied with the answers, Rom unlocked the door.

[Assistant] “Sorry I took so long, Old Man Rom. I had someone really persistent on my tail, and it took me a long time to lose ’em.” With a friendly tone in her voice, a young girl slipped past Rom, bragging of her exploits.


[User] The girl’s blond hair was semi-long, and her eyes were red like a rabbit’s. From the side of her mouth peeked a mischievous canine tooth. The clothes she was wearing looked easy to move in, but they were in tatters. Subaru stood up without thinking, causing a clatter.

[Assistant] The girl immediately looked his way and wiped the smile from her face. "Who’s this? Hey, Rom. I told you I was going to bring something big, so I didn’t want anyone to be here, didn’t I?”

[User] “I understand how you feel, but that uh…kiddo there has some business with you, Felt, and it’s not completely unrelated to that ‘big thing’ you said you were bringing in.”

[Assistant] Rom’s answer only made Felt more suspicious. By the way she was unconsciously drawing her hand close to her chest, it appeared that that’s where she was holding the badge. Felt continued to be on her guard as she looked at Subaru. “What’s with that guy? You didn’t sell me out, did you, Rom?”

[User] “Just how long do you think we’ve been working together? I’d never do anything like that. The only reason he’s here is because I think that he’s got an offer for you that ain’t too bad.” Rom winked at Subaru. “Right?”


[User] While feeling disgusted at being winked at by an old man, Subaru cleared his throat to help dispel his nervousness and, ignoring Rom’s continued gaze, turned to face Felt. "You don’t have to be so nervous. Why don’t you just sit down and have a glass of milk first?"

[Assistant] "Stop it with that stupid face of yours. I can tell you don’t know what you’re doing… Look, I don’t know what you’re scheming, but I’m not interested in anything you have to say, unless I’m sure it means more money for me. So go ahead and get straight to the point." Felt’s reaction was cold.

[User] Subaru’s shoulders fell at how bad his first impression went by, but… "I begged this old man here to give me some time to talk to you, but…my business is actually with that jeweled badge you have hidden away in your pocket there."

[Assistant] The girl raised her eyebrows along with the level of her caution.

[User] But Subaru raised both of his hands in front of her, trying to calm her down. “I’m not planning on doing anything. I’ve only come here to talk. That is, to negotiate." Subaru then, with his two hands still in the air, pointed down at a small table near the counter. "Let’s aim for a result where both of us come out on top. In other words, a win-win situation.”


[Assistant] After a short pause, Felt nodded, and both sat down on either side of the small table.

[User] Rom then poured two glasses of milk and set both in front of them. “I’ll give you the place and this milk, but you’re on your own when it comes to negotiating.”

[Assistant] “Don’t worry, I’ve come here prepared to have everything taken from me. Just watch me as I lose it all,” said Subaru, punching his fist into his other hand as if he was bragging, about to enter a fight, though saying nothing to be proud of.

[User] Rom snorted

[Assistant] Felt, who had already begun to drink her milk, twisted her face. “Hey, Rom. You haven’t watered this milk down, have you? It tastes terrible!”

[User] “Why does everybody have to insult the drinks?! I’m showing you some kindness here…!” said Rom before taking his giant hand and rustling Felt’s hair.

[Assistant] Subaru thought it looked as though Rom was going to tear Felt’s head off, but it was clear from Rom’s face that he meant no harm and was just patting her head like any old man would his grandchild. Plus, Felt looked used to it. "You two look closer than I thought you would be. I’m getting lonely over here all by myself."

[User] “Don’t say something wimpy like that when you’ve got a face that looks just as awful as this old man’s.”

[Assistant] “I’ve had my face insulted before, but really? As bad as this guy?!


[User] "Come on!” Subaru yelled, shocked as he looked back up at Rom’s bald head and was stricken with horror.

[Assistant] “…You’re right. Sorry about that, I went too far."

[User] "Here’s where I’d want to say that, to make it up to me, I’d like you to call me ‘big brother’ in a cute voice for the rest of the discussion, but I’ll go ahead and forgive you for now. You’ve got to be careful so you don’t say anything too hurtful, or… Rom, what’s wrong?”

[Assistant] “I’m really beginning to think you two have teamed up together just to come in here and make me angry…” Rom was smiling, but a vein was popping out of his forehead.

[User] Subaru and Felt looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders.

[Assistant] Rom let out a deep sigh. “Just when I thought Felt had made a new acquaintance around her age, you turn out to be just as twisted as the others.”

[User] “…Rom, please. I know you think you’re helping, but I’m going to ask you to stop saying such embarrassing things.”

[Assistant] “Plus, ‘around her age’…? Although I suppose from your perspective everyone else looks like they’re in the same age group.”

[User] Subaru took another look at Felt, but even taking into account the fact that she was probably thinner than she should have been, she looked about twelve or thirteen.

[Assistant] “What do you think is going to happen to you if you keep up this ‘lone wolf’ attitude of yours? Sooner or later, I’m going to get too old to be able to take care of you anymore. Do you really think you can make it on your own?”

[User] “Just how many times have you told me this already? Isn’t it a mark of senility to say the same thing over and over again? But other than that, it’ll be a long time before you’re too old for anything, and before that happens I’ll…”

[Assistant] “…You’ll do what?” Subaru said, jumping in, as Felt’s sentence trailed off.

[User] Felt suddenly looked up, irritated.

[Assistant] Given that he seemed to have asked a question he shouldn’t have and was in danger of wrecking the mood, Subaru cleared his throat. They had gotten very sidetracked, and it was time to return to the main point.

[User] “Anyway, let’s go ahead and start our negotiations. So, uh…Felt."


[User] "You’ve got that badge, right?”

[Assistant] “…Yeah, I do.” Felt answered honestly. Reaching into her breast pocket, Felt took out something and set it silently on the table.

[User] What first stood out to Subaru was a design on it that was in the shape of a dragon. The badge itself was about the size where it would fit easily in the palm of your hand. While Subaru couldn’t exactly tell what material it was made out of, the design of the winged dragon was intricate, and in the dragon’s open mouth was a red jewel that made it look very unique. Subconsciously, Subaru was drawn to the sparkle of the jewel in the badge’s center.

[Assistant] “So…” Felt’s voice caught Subaru’s attention and brought him back to where he was. She then slid the badge over to the edge of the table, as if to remind him that it still wasn’t his yet. "Now it’s your turn to show me what you’ve got. As you can see, this is no ordinary badge, and I went through a lot of trouble to get it. If you can show me something that will match both the badge and my efforts, we can both be happy, right?”

[User] “While I see you’re trying to test me with that evil-looking smile of yours, I’m sorry. I’ve only got one card to play. After all, you would have to look far and wide to find one as destitute as me!” Subaru proudly threw out his chest.

[Assistant] The moment I say “poor,” everyone makes that face at me, don’t they? thought Subaru. But Subaru’s feelings aside, he went ahead and played his only card. Subaru slapped his cell phone on the table.

[User] Felt looked confused.

[Assistant] However, that reaction was just the kind he was looking for. Subaru started up the cell phone’s camera and… "Take this! Nine-frames-per-second continuous shooting!”

[User] “Wah! Wha—?! What are you—?! Hey, what’s with that noise, and why is it so bright? !" A white light flashed and a mechanical-like shutter sound went off several times at a rapid pace. Felt seemed like she had something to say about Subaru’s terrible breach of manners, but before she could open her mouth, Subaru held the cell phone’s screen in front of her face.

[Assistant] “That’s…” Upon seeing her own self on the screen, she opened her eyes wide.

[User] “That’s right! I made a copy of you! This mitia cuts out a slice of someone’s time and stores it away! I want to trade you this mitia for that badge you’ve got.” Having played his best card right away, Subaru was able to push the negotiations in his favor. It was an established negotiation tactic, and depending on the situation, could be used to force a conclusion to be made right away.


[User] “I see. That’s pretty amazing. Rom, how much do you think this mitia would go for?” Felt looked at the screen and nodded a few times.

[Assistant] Subaru thought that her reaction was incredibly indifferent. "So this fascination with high-tech stuff is only limited to men in this world, too?! Somehow that makes me feel really sad and lonely!”

[User] “Oh, shut up. What’s there to make a big deal about? If this so-called mitia can sell for more than this badge, then I couldn’t be happier. For that, I trust Rom to give me a proper appraisal.”

[Assistant] “Well, I can’t say exactly how much I think it would go for. To be honest, I don’t think the two objects can be compared. I think that badge could go for a lot of money…but not as much as this mitia. In other words, I think you have a lot to gain by making this trade, Felt. That’s what I think.”

[User] “I see, I see. If that’s the case, then why not?” Felt seemed pleased when the trade got Rom’s seal of approval.

[Assistant] Subaru couldn’t be any happier about that.

[User] “Wait. Our cards have been played, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try to sweeten the deal.”

[Assistant] “…I’m not sure how I feel about you saying that so plain and clear, but no matter what you say or do, I don’t have anything else. Like I said before, I am peerlessly and infinitely broke.”

[User] “I’m not that cruel, and after all, Rom said so himself. Your mitia is worth more than this badge. However, I doubt that you don’t have any more cards to play.” Felt stood up and looked down at Subaru, sizing him up.

[Assistant] A cold sweat ran down Subaru’s back.

[User] “I said not to worry, didn’t I? I don’t plan on trying to take any more from you.


[User] “I’ll be happy enough if I know I can just turn this thing here into money.” Felt lightly clapped her hands together and smiled, appearing pleased at the look of anxiety on Subaru’s face.

[Assistant] Subaru gulped upon seeing Felt’s reaction and, taking a few deep breaths, looked away in hopes that he could hide just how shaken he felt. "So then, if that’s the case, what do you mean when you say you still want to ‘sweeten the deal’?”

[User] “Hmm? Oh, that? It’s simple. It just means that you’re not the only person I’m negotiating with.” Subaru looked confused, but Felt stuck out her pointer finger and explained. "The reason I stole the badge in the first place is because someone asked me to…in exchange for ten blessed gold coins.”

[Assistant] “So you’ve already got a price settled with the person you stole it for?! Ten gold coins, huh… I don’t really understand how much that is, but…” Subaru glanced at Rom, who took the hint and nodded back.

[User] “If it were me, I might be able to sell this badge for four, at best five gold coins. There’s also the possibility that I would get talked down to three.”

[Assistant] “So that means that they’re already paying twice its worth?”

[User] “Didn’t you hear her? She said blessed gold coins. They’re made of blessed gold, which is much rarer, so ten blessed gold coins is closer to twenty gold coins in worth.”

[Assistant] “So they’re paying four times as much? !”

[User] “Why are you acting so surprised? With that mitia of yours, even in the worst case you could easily get twenty blessed gold coins. Besides, there are probably collectors out there who would pay even more. You can’t even compare the two.”

[Assistant] Subaru really didn’t understand the general cost of goods in this world, but he had thought that gold coins were the most valuable currency. The thought that his cell phone’s worth was measured in a currency even greater than that, and not just one or two but twenty coins, was enough to take him by surprise. “If this mitia really does fetch a higher price, then I have no intention of honoring a prior agreement with someone else, and I don’t have a problem telling them that.”

[User] “Then why are you saying you’ll ‘sweeten the deal’? !”

[Assistant] Felt’s mischievous grin twisted into an even more villainous smile. “If I tell them you’ve made such a ridiculous counteroffer, if they still want the badge, don’t you think they’ll try to offer me something more?”

[User] “In other words… Is that what you’re saying? If the other side turns around and offers more than twenty blessed golden coins…then if you don’t show me all the rest of your cards, you won’t have a chance.”

[Assistant] Felt’s villainous smile had become so villainous it had reached a breaking point and become more like something refreshingly triumphant as she said those last words.


[User] With this ominous turn of events, Subaru’s expression started to cloud over. "So when are you planning on meeting with this person who commissioned you to steal the badge? I assume you’ll let me sit in on the negotiations, right?"

[Assistant] "Of course, if I put you at too much of a disadvantage, I might end up losing some of the money there is to be made. But don’t worry about the location, we’re meeting here." Felt said, tapping the edge of the table with her finger, before leaning against the back of her chair and looking up at Rom. "As long as Old Man Rom’s around, most people will forget about using violence as an option. Just the thought of having to fight this scary old man sends shivers down your spine, don’t you think?"

[User] Felt looked to Subaru for agreement.

[Assistant] After one quick glance at Rom, Subaru nodded several times.

[User] "You really can’t do anything without me, can you, Felt? I worry about you. Would you like another glass of milk? I also have some other things that are a little sweeter." Rom had started to look like the grandfather who spoils his granddaughter like she was a cute kitten. Rom looked thrilled as he poured another glass of milk for Felt.

[Assistant] Subaru looked at the two of them, and let out an exasperated sigh. "Really, if you had already called that person here in the first place, were you planning on trying to negotiate the price with them even if I didn’t show up?"

[User] "Of course I was! Just how much do you think I had to go through to steal this thing? What if poor little me had to meet with them all on my own and got talked down on the reward? Wouldn’t that be sad?"

[Assistant] "'Poor little me,’ huh…"

[User] Thinking back to when Felt had run away after having stolen the badge, she had left Subaru for dead as he was being assaulted by those thugs. Remembering that episode left Subaru a bit angry, so he couldn’t help but bring it up. "Speaking of which, don’t you remember me at all?"

[Assistant] "Huh? Did we meet somewhere before? I mean, unless it was some really sort of shocking encounter, I don’t think I’d remember you. I’m quite busy, and to be honest you look pretty plain. Only your hair and clothes stand out." Felt cackled.


[User] There was also the fact that he had just had the plainness of his overall appearance insulted, so it was enough to put him into a minor state of shock. It was starting to seem like there really was no such thing as common human decency in this world. Not if anyone could so easily forget passing by the scene of an attempted murder and robbery. But then again, there were people like Satella, who had saved Subaru even though there was nothing in it for her, and this old man who, despite being a bit of a villain, you just couldn’t bring yourself to hate. Even in this different world it wasn’t as though everyone was the same. It wouldn’t be right just to judge everyone based on the actions of a few bad eggs.

[Assistant] “Anyway, that’s enough about your terrible memory, Felt. When is that other person supposed to be coming?”

[User] “I’m not sure I like your attitude… But I said I’d finish the job by sunset, so we agreed to meet here after sunset… Since the sun’s already set they should be here any minute now—I think?”


[Assistant] That conversation might have triggered an event flag, because just then came a sharp knock on the door. All three people at the table looked at one another.

[User] “Did you tell ’em about the special knock?”

[Assistant] “Ah… No, I didn’t. It’s probably for me, so I’ll go check.” Felt stuck her tongue out at Rom and she leapt from her chair and went over to the door. The way she acted, you’d think she owned the place.

[User] “You really okay with letting her get away with that?” Subaru said as he turned to Rom.

[Assistant] “Well, it’s not like I just met her. We’ve known each other for a long time… I suppose I can let her depend on me every now and then.” Subaru thought Rom actually looked very happy to be depended on, as the old man went into the back of the cellar and returned with a large club. The club was about the length of a bamboo kendo sword, and it seemed to be made of wood. At the tip and sticking out in various places were sharp points, and it looked like a clean hit would easily leave a fatal wound. The closest thing to compare it to would be a bat with nails in it, but even in this world it looks like clubs are pretty standard equipment… Wielding a club like that seemed to suit the six-foot-tall, musclebound old man. Subaru thought that if his clothes were a bit more torn and he was wearing a loincloth it would be an even more perfect fit.

[User] “Upon seeing your uncivilized figure in all its glory, even I can’t help myself but wince and smile at the same time.”

[Assistant] “You sure like to run your mouth, don’t you? Just who do you think you have to thank for getting this far?"


[User] "Woe is me." Rom added, shaking his head.

[Assistant] Subaru looked back at Rom for a few moments. "Well, to be honest, I’ve very thankful for your help. It’s not like everything’s over yet, but I’m almost there, and the only reason things have been going so well for me is because of your help, so…thanks."

[User] "…If you suddenly start being honest with me like that, I’m not going to know what to do." Rom said in response to Subaru’s thanks, scratching at his bald head before letting out a deep sigh. "You have more to thank yourself for in finding this place and making use of what you had on ya. I haven’t done anything deserving of your thanks."

[Assistant] "You know that’s not true. After all, Rom, you knew that Felt was planning on discussing the price of what she stole here with someone, right? Then, as soon as you heard what I had to say, you had all the reason to just throw me out."

[Assistant] "You’re the one who gave me a chance to even talk to Felt. Of course, it was my efforts—my efforts!—that took it from there!" It was important so Subaru had to say it twice. As Subaru proudly pointed his thumb at himself, Rom’s expression grew complicated and he was silent. Thinking that Rom had finally grown tired of his antics, Subaru started to regret his eagerness to praise himself.

[User] "I wouldn’t call the way I feel about it ‘thanks,’ but…if either of us is to thank the other, it should be me, rather than you." Rom muttered, softly, just as Subaru’s feeling of regret was starting to show on his face. The old man’s wrinkles deepened as he put on a smile. "There’s the fact that you have a mitia and then there’s your clothes and the look about you… You come from a pretty well-off family, don’t you?"

[Assistant] "Well, I wouldn’t exactly say that…"

[User] "You don’t have to hide it. I bet that you can’t make public the fact that Felt stole that badge. If for nothing else, I’m very grateful of the fact that you’re trying to settle this in a peaceful way." It seemed that Rom had formed his own conclusions about Subaru’s mysterious background, and that inside his head, Subaru was something of a very thoughtful gentleman. "Felt and I…we’ve been together about as long as she can remember, since when she was a little girl."

[Assistant] "I remember you saying something like that a little while ago…Have you two been here that whole time?" Subaru nodded his head in the direction of the surrounding slum area.

[User] Rom nodded. "In a place like this, everyone’s just struggling to survive."


[User] "In that kind of environment, the young ones tend to gangs from others like them, but…Felt really isn’t suited to that.”

[Assistant] “If the way she’s been acting is the way she acts to everyone, I’m not that surprised.”

[User] Felt’s attitude so far seemed resolute and bold, but while that sounded good, there was no question that all of that resolution was geared toward her own ends. If you act like that, Subaru thought, anybody who wants a mutually beneficial relationship with you isn’t going to be too thrilled. “But isn’t there also a problem in how she approaches you, Rom? I don’t mean to be rude or anything, but I think that part of the reason her selfishness has gotten so bad is because you’re always there for her.”

[Assistant] “…I don’t have anything I can say to that. After all, it’s true that I tend to spoil her.” Rom said softly as he ran his hand over his bald head.

[User] The way the old man looked when he said that made it clear to Subaru that Rom felt as though Felt was family to him. They probably weren’t related by blood, but at least from Rom’s side, there was a clear bond between them. “Well, I hope it’s not a one-sided sort of thing.” Subaru muttered, without being clear on who the subject was.

[Assistant] “I don’t mind, even if that’s the way it is. …Actually, it’d be best if it were that way.”


[User] “What are you two doing, muttering to yourselves? It’s creepy, so cut it out.” Said Felt, annoyed, as she returned.

[Assistant] Behind Felt, who was doing a terrible job of putting on a fake smile, was one other person. “I was right, it was for me. We’re over here, would you care to take a seat?” Felt motioned, pushing Subaru aside, and turned back to the person behind her while attempting to be courteous.

[User] When Subaru looked up, preparing himself to face the next person he was going to have to negotiate between, he was a little bit surprised. Felt had invited in an incredibly beautiful woman. She was very tall for a woman, about the same height as Subaru, and she looked as though she were in her early twenties. The beautiful woman had eyes that angled down toward their edges and she had a certain calmness about her. One thing that stood out about her in the darkness of the loot cellar was the almost sickly whiteness of her skin. She was wearing a black coat, but the front was open and you could see that her clothes underneath were also black and were tightly fit against her skin. While she was fairly thin, she definitely had curves where they should be, and a very nice body overall. Like Subaru, the woman also had black hair, which seemed to be very rare in this world.


[User] Her hair was tied in a braid that reached all the way to her hips, the tip of which she was twirling around in her fingers. In short, she was a bewitchingly beautiful older woman. For Subaru, who had no real experience being around women even in his own world, seeing a woman like this was so new to him that he could not help but feel extremely nervous. Having already lost his cool, Subaru followed Felt’s directions and gave up his chair without any complaint.

[Assistant] Felt took that seat, and Rom took the seat to the left of her.

[User] Subaru just stood to Felt’s right, unable to hide his nervousness.

[Assistant] “I get the feeling that there are a lot of unrelated people here.” The woman didn’t seem upset, but she did look puzzled.

[User] “I can’t just let myself be in a position to be talked down on price, you know? It’s the wisdom of the weak. Anyway, Subaru, go fetch us some drinks.” Felt motioned to Subaru with her hand, like she was ordering a servant around.

[Assistant] Subaru couldn’t bring himself to talk back, and so went behind the counter and picked out some relatively clean glasses, filled them with milk, and came back to the table to set them down.

[User] “Thank you.” The woman said to Subaru before looking him up and down. "I understand that old man being here, but who is this?” The woman must have been able to tell by Subaru’s demeanor that he was not very used to the place. Rather than being wary of him, she had posed a simple question.

[Assistant] “This guy here is your rival. He’s come to negotiate as well." She declared, and her process of “sweetening the deal” began.

[User] “I see. I understand what’s going on now.” Said the woman before taking a sip from her glass and licking off the milk left on her lips. The woman, who went by the name Elsa, gave off an air of eroticism in every move she made. While Felt was explaining the current situation to Elsa, she turned her glance several times toward Subaru, which made him so flustered he could hardly handle it.


[Assistant] “That’s the way it is, so now we’ll start the bidding. I don’t really care who walks away with this badge, so it’ll go to the one who can offer me the best deal.”

[User] “That’s a nice attitude you have there. I can’t say I dislike it. …So, how much did that boy over there say he would pay for it?”

[Assistant] Thinking that it would be better to not take a “wait and see” approach, he took out his cell phone for the third time and demonstrated its use. Elsa originally said that she would pay ten blessed gold coins. If Subaru was going to compete with her offer, she must have thought that he had offered more money.


[User] A flash lit up the inside of the cellar and Elsa’s image was captured by the device. Subaru raised his eyebrows in response to Subaru’s sudden actions, but Subaru immediately showed her the screen. "What I have to offer is this mitia. It’s a rare item, and it’s probably the only one in the entire world. According to this muscular man, it should sell for over twenty blessed gold coins.”

[Assistant] “A mitia…” Elsa said, staring at herself on the screen and slowly nodding.

[User] Elsa took a small leather bag out of her pocket and placed it on the table. In the bag was probably the payment she had prepared for the badge—Subaru could hear the sound of heavy metal objects clanging together as she set it down.


[User] Felt fixed on the bag with her eyes like a curious cat, as Rom wordlessly reprimanded her.

[Assistant] Elsa placed her white fingers on top of the bag she had placed on the table. "The truth is, I was given a little extra by my employer, in case you happened to have second thoughts about the price, so I do have a little more to offer."

[User] "Your employer…? So you’re just following someone’s directions to pick up the badge?"

[Assistant] "That’s correct. The one who wants the badge is not me, but my employer. …Are you by chance involved in the same sort of work as I am?"

[User] "If that were the case, then that would mean you’d have to be unemployed!"

[Assistant] "So, this unemployed kid over here is saying he’ll pay a much higher price than you offered. Just how much is your master willing to pay?" Felt asked, challenging Elsa.

[User] Elsa silently opened the mouth of the bag, and turned it over. What came tumbling out were several shining blessed gold coins.

[Assistant] Felt’s eyes sparkled as she saw the coins layer on top of one another, and even Rom made a sound in his throat.

[User] "Twenty coins, exactly."

[Assistant] "This is all that my employer has given to me. This is what they decided would be enough to pay for the badge, but…am I correct in thinking their estimates may have been a little off?" Elsa asked, directing her question at Rom, rather than Felt.

[User] After counting the coins, Rom gazed down at a nervous-looking Subaru, and then smiled. "There’s no reason for you to act like such a baby. You should be embarrassed. Aren’t you a man? …It’s true that twenty blessed gold coins is an outrageous amount. However, I remember saying that in the worst case, your mitia should sell for twenty gold coins. In other words, it’s worth more than that."

[Assistant] Rom took his giant callused hand and roughly patted Subaru on the head. "The way I see it, the negotiations lean in favor of the kid. No offense to your employer, but it looks like you’re going to have to bring them their money back," Rom said, shoving the coins back toward Elsa.

[User] Subaru let out a cry of excitement.

[Assistant] Felt threw her hands up in the air to signal that she didn’t have a problem with the decision, and Elsa shrugged but did not look all that displeased herself.

[User] Subaru followed up with a triumphant pose, but that exaggerated action just made him stand out from the crowd. "W-what? I’m happy, all right? Let me be! This is the first time I’ve actually accomplished something here! What’s wrong with a little celebration? !" Subaru said, embarrassed.

[Assistant] "I didn’t say anything. If you want to celebrate, then celebrate. As long as I get my money, I’m happy," Felt said.


[User] “My employer doesn’t actually need that badge, so I don’t have any reason to beg you to reconsider.”

[Assistant] Elsa seemed uninterested in Subaru’s antics.

[User] "Well, I’m sorry, Elsa. I imagine your employer’s going to be angry at you.”

[Assistant] “There’s no helping it. It would be different if I failed because I was the one who made a mistake, but in this case, it’s my employer’s fault for thinking that they would be able to get away with paying so little for the badge.”

[User] “But when you plan for as much as twenty blessed gold coins and that turns out to be not enough, that’s got to be tough.”

[Assistant] “Well, I guess it just means that my luck is in full swing! Does this mean that my era of greatness has finally come?” Felt laughed, oblivious to the mood, in contrast to the two males who were showing sympathy for Elsa.

[User] Without having to fall back on a plan B, it looked as though there was a glimmer of hope that he would be able to pay Satella back. Normally, it would be best to report to Satella that Felt and Elsa were the ones responsible for the theft, but Subaru didn’t have it in him to do anything that might result in either of them getting locked up. It had been simple opportunism.

[Assistant] “Well, as the negotiations did not go in my favor, I think I’ll take my leave now.” Elsa stood up and gulped down the last of her milk. Again, she used her tongue in an erotic way to lick up the last few drops of milk, before looking at Subaru. As she stared at him, it felt as though her eyes were binding him in place.

[User] “By the way, what is it that you were planning on doing with that badge?” Elsa asked in a somewhat deep, frozen sort of voice. The sweet ring of her voice threatened Subaru’s eardrums and made him feel, by some delusion, as though he couldn’t lie.

[Assistant] “…Oh, I was planning on returning it to its owner.” As soon as he said it he knew he had made a terrible mistake. He had just declared, in front of both the girl who had stolen it and the woman who had ordered the theft, that he was going to return the stolen item to its owner.

[User] “I see. So you’re with them.” Subaru’s words were enough to set Elsa’s cold murderous intent into motion.

[Assistant] “Wha—? !” Subaru felt a sudden impact from his side. The impact was enough to force him to the side, and unable to catch himself, he tumbled to the ground.


[User] From Subaru’s perspective there was first pain and shock, his vision spinning as he hit the ground. When he looked up he saw that Felt was clinging to his side.

[Assistant] "What do you—" "Are you an idiot? Pay attention and get out of the way! You want to die?!"

[User] "—think you are doing?!" The last part of Subaru’s shout was drowned out by Felt’s. Subaru was in shock. From his low vantage point he saw Elsa facing toward him.

[Assistant] "Oh, it looks like you managed to dodge that one." She said, her head tilted in surprise. Elsa held in her hand a weapon that glimmered with a dull light.

[User] Fear, late in coming, made Subaru’s hands and feet shake, and he felt nauseated. However, the situation wasn’t going to stop just for him.

[Assistant] "Rrrragh!" Old Man Rom let out a roar as he rushed toward Elsa, swinging the club that had never left his grasp since the negotiations had begun.

[User] As the club sprang off the floor it felt as though the entire building had shook. Several stolen articles flew from the shock of the impacts, which continued as Rom and Elsa traded blows in front of Subaru.

[Assistant] "This is my first time in mortal combat with a giant."

[User] "Go ahead and keep talking, little girl. I’ll turn you into mincemeat and feed you to the giant rats!" As Rom threw his insults he swung his club even faster.

[Assistant] Before the power of that swing, any untrained attempt to block would be no more effective than a sheet of paper. Inside the cellar, there was very little room to move around, and allowing the swings of that club to corner you could easily be a fatal mistake. However, Elsa’s skill was of such a high level it could only be called freakish.


[User] While still wielding her kukri, dangling from one hand, Elsa, herself like a black shadow, was able to slip around each of Rom’s surely fatal swings. Her movements were precarious, walking a thin line, just barely away from life-threatening danger, and still it was she who was in control of the fight, not Rom.

[Assistant] This can’t be good, thought Subaru instinctively. Something in his head was setting off an alarm. "This is bad…" muttered Subaru, his lips shaking.

[User] "Don’t worry. There’s no way Old Man Rom can lose! Ever since I can remember, I’ve never seen Rom lose a fight!" Felt yelled back, putting her trust for Rom in words as if to dispel her own doubts.

[Assistant] Despite Felt’s confidence, Subaru was preparing for the worst. But he couldn’t figure out why.

[User] "Take that!" Rom yelled and kicked over the table, the same small wooden table they had been negotiating around. The table split and splintered from the force of the kick, and for an instant Elsa, who was up against a wall, was hidden behind its fragments, her line of sight cut off. Rom swung his club down with all his might. If the hit landed, it was sure to be an instant kill. However…

[Assistant] "Rom!" Felt’s distraught scream shook the air inside the loot cellar.

[User] Subaru then saw the result that scream had sought to prevent. Something was flying, spinning in the air. It was Rom’s right arm, still tightly gripping his club. The arm, which had been severed at the shoulder, flew through the air, spraying blood everywhere before it landed against the wall. The whole room had been showered with blood.

[Assistant] Felt screamed again.

[User] "If I’m going down, I’m taking you with me!" Having lost his right arm, Rom was spraying blood out of his shoulder like a hose. Without even trying to stop the flow of blood, Rom leapt forward toward Elsa, to attack her with his one remaining arm.

[Assistant] As the splintered wooden table fell to the ground, Elsa stood behind it, still holding the position of the follow-through of her swing. Before Elsa could flip the kukri back around, Rom’s giant body would crush her. But in that fleeting moment of Rom’s last stand… "I forgot to tell you before, but thank you for the milk." …he was cut short. With her other hand Elsa struck with a broken shard from the very glass she had been drinking from. On the sharp tip of the shard were droplets of blood—blood that had come from Rom’s slit throat.


[User] His arm severed and his throat cut, blood frothed from the old man’s mouth, and as the light from his eyes vanished, he collapsed on the ground. Though his body convulsed there was no strength left in it, as Rom’s life was dragged away even as it clung to his body. Elsa bowed once gracefully toward the body, as if paying her respects. While Rom’s body continued to twitch, Elsa gently placed the remains of the glass down by his feet. "I’ll give this back. I don’t need it anymore." she said coldly, before twirling her kukri around in her hand and pointing its red-stained tip toward Subaru and Felt.

[Assistant] Subaru, still collapsed the floor, was unable to say anything. All of Subaru’s thought processes had been arrested by the slaughter that had taken place before his eyes. Someone that he had been talking to just a few minutes ago was now dead. Dead not by sickness or an accent, but killed by the actions of another, plain and simple.

[User] "Ah, I see that you’re the one with the courage." Elsa said, impressed, and Subaru, still unable to move, looked up.

[Assistant] While Subaru was still in a state of shock, Felt had stood up and was slapping her legs to keep her knees from shaking. She then pushed back her blood-soaked hair. "How… How dare you…" Subaru was behind Felt, so he could not see her expression. However, it was clear from her voice that she was not choking back tears.

[User] "If you put up too much of a struggle, you will only end up hurting more."

[Assistant] "I bet you’d still plan on killing us even if we didn’t fight back, you psycho…!"

[User] "If you move too much I won’t be able to make a clean cut. …I’m not all that skilled with a blade." As Elsa said this, she twirled the kukri around and pretended as if she were practicing the proper cuts to butcher Felt. But Felt was empty-handed. There was no way that she could win. In his mind, Subaru had reached the conclusion that he should cry out. He needed to distract Elsa, even if only a little bit, to allow time for Felt to escape. If he could just give her time to call for help, or even just escape on her own… But even though Subaru had made his decision, he couldn’t stop his body from shaking.

[Assistant] "...I’m sorry for getting you wrapped up in all of this." Felt said to Subaru in an apology little above a whisper.

[User] "I-I…" In response, Subaru’s face jolted up toward Felt, and forgetting the words he should have said to her, he could only manage a choked mutter as though pleading for her forgiveness. But Felt left Subaru’s sentiments forever behind her as she dashed forward. There was a loud sound as she kicked off from the ground, and it was as though a gale had suddenly blown through the cellar.


[User] Just when Subaru thought that Felt had vanished from his sight, he saw Elsa’s body twist.

[Assistant] Felt clicked her tongue from Elsa’s side. In Felt’s hand was a small knife, and with Elsa’s overwhelmingly fast reaction she was able to dodge Felt’s attack. Felt leapt back, riding the gust of air she made as she flew. With Felt’s irregular movements, even the walls of the cellar became like ground to her.

[User] “So you have the protection of the wind. Oh, how wonderful. The world must adore you…I envy that.” Elsa’s ecstatic smile suddenly turned, and her eyes were filled with hatred as her arm bent back.

[Assistant] “Wha—” Felt was cut down in midair by a slice that extended across from her shoulder, and unable to catch herself, she hit the ground and entered a roll. Ending her roll faceup, with every beat of her heart Felt spewed blood like a fountain, and it was clear that she had already lost consciousness from the pain and shock of the cut. She didn’t move an inch. In just a few seconds the flow of her blood lost its pressure, silently signaling the end of her life.

[User] Subaru could not move. He wanted to go to Felt’s side and try to stop the bleeding. If it was too late for that, then he at least wanted to close her eyelids. But Subaru’s arms and legs rejected his plea, and he could do nothing but shiver, shamelessly.

[Assistant] “The old man and the girl are both down, but you won’t move. Have you already given up?” Elsa said in a tone as though she pitied him, with eyes that looked bored. All she had to do was walk a little closer and strike a single time with her knife. That much was obvious to her, hence her bored look. In Elsa’s movements was not even the slightest hint of hesitation. It even seemed as though she was trying to hold back a yawn.

[User] Subaru felt an uncontrollable anger welling up inside him. Furthermore, he could not forgive himself. He had just watched as both of them were slaughtered by this vile woman.

[Assistant] So you’ve finally gotten to your feet. It certainly took you a while.


[User] "I doubt you’ll entertain me much, but it could be worse."

[Assistant] The anger welling up inside Subaru, though far too late, finally gave him the power to move his arms and legs. His limbs still shaking, Subaru slowly pushed against the ground and was somehow able to stand up, though his movements were almost animalistic. Was his shaking due to fear, or anger? Or was it both? Subaru didn’t care. Facing Elsa and her kukri blade held at the ready, Subaru charged forward with all his strength and spirit, teeth bared. He would fly at her and beat her down, pushing his own strength past its limits. But that mad rush of Subaru’s was…

[User] "Pathetic."

[Assistant] …brought to a swift end as Elsa elbowed him directly in the face. As she spun around, using the least amount of movement necessary, she had stuck Subaru with her elbow, and as he was reeling, Elsa, still in her spin, traced an arc with one of her long legs and landed a kick. Subaru was thrown back into a shelf filled with porcelain and came crashing to the ground. In one single round of attack, Subaru had both his nose and front teeth broken. His side, which took the brunt of Elsa’s kick, was in terrible pain, and he could feel that a number of his ribs had broken. But still, Subaru shoved his fist against the ground and immediately stood back up. Subaru’s brain had already started excreting endorphins and was rejecting the pain, which was greater than any Subaru had felt before. In this aroused state, his breathing abnormal, Subaru launched another mindless attack…but he was again struck back. Subaru’s flailing arms could not reach Elsa, and with her flowing limbs she struck Subaru with the blunt side of her blade, breaking his left shoulder. Then, as if she was annoyed by having to listen to his screams of pain, she threw in a kick straight up into his jaw, which immediately shut him up. It also succeeded in knocking out the rest of Subaru’s broken front teeth. Elsa looked down at Subaru as he tumbled to the ground.

[User] "You’re no good at all. You’re just as inexperienced as you look, and your movements are all over the place. You don’t have any divine protection, or any special skills. I thought you might use your head and have some trick up your sleeve, but I see you have nothing. Just how did you ever think you could stand a chance against me?"

[Assistant] "Shuddup… It’s called being stubborn… You dink I’ll just dake dis lying down?" Subaru’s nose was broken, so he couldn’t even make a proper comeback. Thanks to the last counterattack, Subaru couldn’t use his arm anymore. Everything from his left shoulder down was dangling limply. He couldn’t feel any pain, but the ringing in his ears was getting unbearable. He was intensely nauseated, and it felt as though his anger was seeping away out of his mouth. Subaru was beaten.


[User] "Well, I’ll admit that you’ve got at least an unusually high amount of determination. If you had gotten yourself up a little earlier, there might have been a different outcome for these two." With the tip of her knife, Elsa pointed to the two bodies lying abandoned on the floor.

[Assistant] As Subaru followed Elsa’s motion and looked at the corpses he suddenly felt a strange feeling come over him. Why? Why did he feel that he had seen this all before? The loot cellar, with its floor a sea of blood… The giant corpse with its missing arm… The dull glint of a reddish blade… In the back of his mind, a thought shot through him like lightning.

[User] "Let’s put an end to all of this. I’ll send you off to go meet the angels." Elsa licked her red lips, and with a sensual smile vanished into the darkness.

[Assistant] Subaru looked left and right, unable to find Elsa. "Wh-where are you? !" Subaru began to panic, looking this way and that, listening as hard as he could for any sound. He looked like the prey of a ferocious predator just waiting to be devoured.

[User] From Elsa’s perspective, nothing could make her less excited, but that just made her want to get it over with even more quickly, so in a brilliantly direct slice…

[Assistant] "Wha—? !" As soon as Subaru realized that the attack was coming for his abdomen, he managed to get clear, with not a hairbreadth to spare. Subaru jumped back, pulling his stomach in, so that the horizontal slash only just grazed him. The skin of his abdomen was sliced open, but Subaru gritted his teeth and bore the sharp pain. "Ughraaah! !" Then with all of his might, Subaru was able to strike Elsa’s upper body from the side with a spinning kick. As Subaru twisted himself and landed his critical hit, he was able to confirm that he had been able to retaliate at least once.

[User] "Ah… That one was very satisfying," Elsa said as, with a second kukri she had drawn from her waist, she sliced about 70 percent of the way through Subaru’s abdomen with her other hand, spilling out his blood and guts.

[Assistant] "Huh…?" Subaru took one step, two steps back, and as his shoulder brushed up against the wall, he slid down against it and fell to the floor. As Subaru looked down he could see the blood flowing out of his abdomen and staining the floor bright red. With a shaking arm he tried uselessly to return the blood, but the bloody clumps of tissue spilling out of his stomach pushed his hand away. "Are you surprised? I opened up your stomach as you rushed me.


[User] Elsa approached Subaru, who was unable to say anything but gurgle out cries of pain, and stared at his bloody, blackish innards with a look of ecstasy on her face.

[Assistant] “Ah…just as I hoped. Your intestines have such a beautiful color to them.”

[User] With shaking fingertips, he weakly touched Elsa’s foot. “Uu…ugh…”

[Assistant] With his hand still grabbing at her ankle, Elsa knelt down beside Subaru and looked him in the eyes. “Are you in pain? Does it hurt? Are you sad? Do you want to die?” Elsa’s eyes were filled with ecstasy. She had absolutely no qualms about taking another human life. Instead…she seemed to be incredibly happy, filled with bliss.

[User] “Slowly, slowly, slowly, ever so slowly your body will lose its heat and you will go cold.” Subaru could feel Elsa’s voice vibrating his eardrums, torturing him, savoring him, pitying him, affectionate for him, loving him.


[User] "Hey, man, don’t just stare off into space like that. You want an abble?" As soon as Subaru's consciousness had returned to him, there was a ripe red fruit in front of his face.

[Assistant] Subaru slowly drifted from the vague edge of his consciousness back toward reality, and when he was back, he suddenly raised his head. He looked this way and that, his heart beating ferociously and his breathing ragged.

[User] "I just don’t get it…" He muttered, and then overcome with dizziness and nausea, he collapsed on the spot.


[Assistant] Subaru looked at the empty water jug the fruit shop owner had brought Subaru.

[User] Subaru sat on the earthen floor, he wiped away the water from his bangs and clenched his teeth.

[Assistant] "Hhgh…" The back of Subaru’s throat twitched and as he sat hugging his knees, he couldn’t keep his entire body from shaking.

[User] The less Subaru wanted to think about it, the more clearly his memories came back to him.


[User] Overcome by anguish, Subaru raised his face up to scream, but just as he was about to let everything out…

[Assistant] “Huh…?” The voice that had risen up inside Subaru dribbled out full of doubt, and he just stared, dumbfounded. In Subaru’s range of vision, with his eyes open wide, he could see a tall figure with skin like a reptile…a beast-like humanoid that was only as tall as his waist…a young dancer with pink hair…a swordsman with six swords at his waist… …and a young girl in a white robe with silver hair that swayed as she walked. Those violet eyes of hers took one glance at Subaru as she walked by, but she looked away as though uninterested and walked on. Those amethyst eyes, full of determination, just looked straight forward as she stared down the road. In that gallant stance, that delicate beauty, in that girl that Subaru had been searching for, there was no change. Unable to call out immediately, with rasping breath Subaru struggled to his feet and chased after her.

[User] “Wai—! W-wait! Wait up! Please, wait…”

[Assistant] For an instant, the girl reacted to his voice and looked back at Subaru with a cold gaze, as if she was looking at a stranger. Subaru felt his heart gouged by the chill in her sharp gaze. He had not done what she had asked of him. He had hurt her. He hadn’t apologized yet. There was no way that he could be forgiven, but even so Subaru chased after her. He didn’t know how she felt. At the very least he had to know what she was thinking. If he was going to let what he imagined her to be thinking hurt him, he would rather be hurt by the real her, here in this reality where he could feel pain.

[User] “Wait, please! Satella!” He wasn’t sure of what he wanted to say to her if he could catch her, but when the answer to that question became clear in his mind, Subaru called out Satella’s name as if he had just remembered it. Finally it seemed as if his voice had reached her, because just as she was starting to get away from him the girl stopped immediately in her tracks. Subaru weaved through the crowd to catch up to her, and put his hand on her thin shoulder.

[Assistant] “Don’t…ignore me. It’s my fault that I went away and it’s my fault for not listening to you, but I’ve been desperate. After what happened I went to the loot cellar, but I wasn’t able to meet you there and…” As Subaru grabbed her shoulder, Satella looked at him in surprise. As she turned around and Subaru opened his mouth, what came out was a sort of self-defense that sounded full of excuses. What made him realize that was Satella’s clear eyes. Her stare was emotionless, and as Subaru faced it, he still felt a sense of ease.


[User] “I’m sorry for going on about myself… I’m so glad to see you’re okay.” The fact that they were able to meet again made Subaru feel simple happiness. There were so many things they had to talk about, but before all of that Subaru felt as if nothing he had done was in vain. He was finally and profoundly relieved…

[Assistant] “…What do you think you’re doing?” Satella was incredibly angry. Her white cheeks had reddened, as she twisted her body to get Subaru’s hand off her shoulder. After taking a step back and putting some space between her and Subaru, Satella’s eyes were filled with hostility.

[User] Subaru unconsciously gulped. Still, this reaction made sense. From Satella’s perspective, she should be shocked that Subaru would even show his face in front of her. There was no insult too great for her to lob at Subaru and—

[Assistant] “I don’t know who you are, but what the hell are you thinking, calling someone the same name as that Witch of Jealousy? !”

[User] Faced with those unexpected words, Subaru felt as if time had stopped. The sound of the crowd disappeared. All that Subaru could hear was the violent beating of his heart, and the rough breathing of the silver-haired girl in front of him, tense and defensive. He felt as if all of the other sounds had disappeared…but that was no illusion.

[Assistant] “…What?” As Subaru looked around he realized that everyone, everyone all around this crowded shopping district, all the pedestrians on the road were staring at them. Everyone looked shaken, and no one would move a single muscle, stock-still and quiet. It was as if the conversation between Satella and Subaru had taken control of the entire area.

[User] With her severe stare, Satella was waiting for Subaru’s answer. "I’ll ask you one more time. Why are you calling me by the Witch of Jealousy’s name?”

[Assistant] “What do you mean? That’s what I was told to call you…”

[User] “…I don’t know who told you that, but whoever it was, that’s in incredibly poor taste. Even if you’re not the one who thought of it, it’s bad enough that you agreed. This is the Witch of Jealousy we’re talking about, the embodiment of all things taboo. Most people would hesitate to even utter such a name, and you’re using it to name me?” With her anger displayed for all to see, Satella…the silver-haired girl threw Subaru into a storm of confusion.


[User] Everyone else around seemed to be nodding, agreeing with her, and that, more than anything else, proved that she was right.

[Assistant] Subaru had absolutely no idea what was going on. He couldn’t understand what she was saying. Subaru had only just called her by her name.

[User] But Satella had rebuked him, and everyone around agreed that she was in the right. "If that’s all you wanted to say, then I’ll be on my way. I don’t have time to deal with you.”


[User] The girl looked on as Subaru simply stood where he was, hanging his head. She then turned and walked off, with her hair dancing behind her, having nothing more to do with him.

[Assistant] Subaru thought to call after her, and started to shout her name, but it got caught in his throat as if it had frozen shut. If Subaru called her name again, he would simply be making the same mistake twice. But then, what should he call her? He hesitated, unable to decide what to do.

[User] “!” Subaru gasped.

[Assistant] On the canvas top of a cart on the side of the street, from a position just a head taller than Subaru, something leaped. A small body was pulled by gravity toward the ground, and as soon as it landed it took off on the wind. That little gust of wind, with dirty clothes and blond hair trailing behind it, wove through the crowd with a godlike dexterity, and from it an outstretched arm slipped into a certain girl’s hawk-embroidered white robe. The two only touched for an instant, but to that little gust of wind, that moment was enough. As the wind made the robe fly up and the girl with the robe twisted around, the wind took off flying again.

[User] “It can’t be!” The silver-haired girl raised her voice in shock and stuck her hand into her robe. She couldn’t find what she was looking for, and with eyes opened wide, she looked in the direction of the quickly fleeing wind.

[Assistant] Seeing the dragon-adorned badge in that wind’s hand as it passed quickly by, Subaru yelled, “Felt? !”

[User] With Subaru’s call, the wind waved for a moment in hesitation, but without slowing down it quickly flew down a narrow alley. Everything happened so incredibly fast that Subaru could only see for an instant what happened, but that had to be—

[Assistant] “I’ve been had! Is that why you stopped me? Are you two working together? !” The girl moaned as she looked at Subaru standing still. The girl quickly turned her palm toward Subaru, but apparently changing her mind, she ran off in the direction the wind had gone down the alley.

[User] “Hey, wait! This is a misunderstanding! I…” Subaru took off after them down the alley, hoping to sort things out. As he ran, his mind was filled with questions and doubts. There was too much information to process, and his panicked mind couldn’t deal with it. Even without that, he had just gone through death twice, and everything in his mind was muddled.

[Assistant] “There’s got to be someone out there who’ll be nice to me! Why the hell was I even summoned here? !” Subaru yelled, having had enough with nothing making sense, as he kept running with unsure footing down the dark alley. Subaru wasn’t sure of his stamina, but at a short distance, he didn’t think he would lose to those two girls. However…

[User] “Damn! A wall? !” Subaru spat.


[User] Right in front of him was a dead end. Neither of the two girls was there. Felt probably could easily climb over a wall like that, and he thought that Satella would have been able to do something about it with her magic. I could try to climb over to the other side, but I don’t think I’d be able to catch up to them. Subaru couldn’t afford to waste time here. He had no idea how to get around the capital, so if he lost them here, it would be impossible for him to catch up to them.

[Assistant] "Then should I head to the loot cellar? If Satella and Felt are alive, then Rom must be…" Even as Subaru said this, he felt that several things were wrong and contradicting themselves. Felt had been cut down. Rom’s neck was slit. Satella fell in a pool of blood. Subaru had his abdomen cut open—twice. How was it that everyone was alive…?

[User] "No. Now’s not the time. I can’t waste time thinking. Right now I’ve got to…" Subaru would go on ahead and quickly meet up with Rom. That was what Subaru had to do. He could think later. The best thing for him to do right now was to leave this alley and head to the slums. Subaru turned around.

[Assistant] "…You’ve got to be kidding me!" Right in front of him, blocking the entrance to the alley, were three shadows, three people, with dirty clothes and a rough and barbaric appearance. Three thugs who used these alleys as their hunting grounds. It was Subaru’s third time encountering them that day.

[User] "Give it a rest already! Just what is it going to take for you punks to learn? !" Tired of seeing those three thugs again, Subaru furiously stomped on the ground. This was the third time they had met. Every time was in a back alley, three against one. Given how their first and second efforts were fruitless, Subaru was stunned that they were so determined to catch him that they’d try a third time.

[Assistant] "I don’t have the time or the patience to deal with you fools. Out of my way, now!" The current situation had really put Subaru out of sorts, but there was also the fact that, given what happened last time, he thought he should be able to scare them if he shouted. At least that’s what he thought.

[User] "'Get out of my way,’ he says. Ha! I don’t like your attitude. You don’t get it, do you? You’re not in a position to be ordering us around."

[Assistant] "It was three-on-one last time and you guys still lost like you were nothing! You think you can talk big like that? Even sore losers would show more shame when they wail!" However, the thugs didn’t seem to fear Subaru at all, and kept up their taunting. Subaru bit his lip at their unexpected reactions. Even small-time villains like this had a sense of pride, he thought.


[User] “Fine. Have it your way. I’ll give you everything I’ve got. That’s what you want from me, right?” Subaru held back his irritation and raised both of his hands in the air, showing that he was giving up.

[Assistant] The thugs all looked at one another after Subaru changed his attitude, and then all burst into laughter.

[User] “What’s that?! If you were that scared, you should have just said so!”

[Assistant] “Ha! Look at this guy! Don’t talk all big if you’re just gonna bend over!”

[User] “Whatever. If he’s going to do as we say, that just makes it easier on us, right? But what a coward, huh?”

[Assistant] Subaru was irritated, but he just laughed it off, deciding to name the group of thugs “dumb, dumber, and dumbest” to make himself feel better, and muttered under his breath, so they wouldn’t hear. “Once I meet back up with Satella, I’m going to borrow Puck and make them…pay?”

[User] “Huh…?” Just as Subaru was about to lay out all that he owned in front of him, he froze. Out of everything that had happened since Subaru had arrived in this new world, this was the most unsettling. “Why…?” At Subaru’s fingertips, inside his plastic convenience store bag, was a bag of crispy snacks. Corn-soup flavored, they were one of his favorites, and he had grabbed them on a whim at the store to eat in place of his dinner.

[Assistant] “I shouldn’t have these anymore… Rom ate them all, and I complained and…there weren’t any left. I’m sure of it.” Why were the snacks back in the bag? There was no trace that it had been opened. It wasn’t possible. Subaru felt his thoughts blocked on all sides.

[User] However, in that locked state, Subaru still came to a conclusion about what was happening. Even though he had come to a conclusion, it wasn’t doing him any good. As soon as it occurred to him, he rejected it as impossible. His sense of reason denied the possibility.

[Assistant] “Hey, what are you doing? !” Dumbest walked over and put his hand on Subaru’s shoulder.

[User] “…What?” Subaru suddenly heard a voice right next to him. Cut from his train of thought, that was the only way he could react.

[Assistant] Subaru twisted and pushed his hand away. “Out of my way…”

[User] “What’d you say?


[User] "In every sense of the word, I’ve run out of time to deal with you guys. I’ve got to…check something."

[Assistant] "Are you kidding me?" Subaru pushed Dumbest aside and moved to exit the alley, the other two stood angrily in his way.

[User] "Get out of my way! I’ve got somewhere to be!" He had to rule out this unbelievably stupid, unthinkable theory…

[Assistant] Faced with Subaru’s yell, the men hesitated a bit. If he could break through and get out onto the main street, he would probably be out of harm’s way. After deciding that, Subaru stepped down to kick firmly off the ground.

[User] "...Wha?" Just as Subaru put his foot down it twisted. The strength drained from his legs, and he fell to his knees. He put out his hands to catch his fall, and cursed his idiocy for stumbling at such a critical moment.

[Assistant] "Huh… That’s strange…" Just as Subaru tried to push against the ground so he could stand back up again, his arms started shaking. He didn’t think he could stand back up again. He didn’t think he could even lift his body.

[User] "Well, I’ve done it now, haven’t I…?" Subaru looked back as he heard that voice tinged with anxiety, and then he realized what had happened. A knife was sticking out of his back.

[Assistant] "Gah… Ah…" As soon as Subaru was conscious of it, an unbearable pain swept through him. He choked. It was a natural reaction to the searing agony. …I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! I’ve been stabbed! Dumber, the one with the knife, had struck first. Subaru didn’t notice as he drew his weapon, and just as Subaru was trying to push past him, he was stabbed in the back. This pain was the same kind of torture that he had experienced in the past few hours, but no matter how many times he experienced it, he didn’t think it was possible to ever get used to it.

[User] "What? You really stabbed him? !"

[Assistant] "I didn’t have no choice! What do you think would have happened if he had escaped out into the street? Just think of what we’d have to deal with if he did."

[User] "Wait! Don’t do that, you idiot! ….Ugh. Yeah, this is bad. His guts are damaged. He’s gonna die." The giant, Dumb, turned Subaru’s body over, and as he did, the knife was pushed deeper into his back.

[Assistant] "Ughh…." Still greater suffering was piled on top of Subaru’s existing pain and even Subaru’s death throes were kept from leaving his throat. Subaru couldn’t call for help or scream out in anger. There was nothing left for him to do. He just repeated his irregular breaths, feeling as though he was going to drown in his own blood as it filled his throat.


[User] The feeling in Subaru’s hands and feet started to leave him, and his consciousness was flickering weakly like a light about to go out. Again, his vision went dark. This was the end, just like last time. What do you mean, “last time”…? Subaru thought to himself. The fact that he was now clinging to an idea that he had disregarded as stupid before just made him feel even more pitiful. But if he was going to cling to it, he might as well go all the way. Turn your thoughts away from dying. Before you die, figure out what’s happening around you. Your eyes are dead. Your arms and legs are gone, too. What you have left is your nose and your ears. Then you’d better use them both to death. It doesn’t matter what lingering scent I smell. It doesn’t matter if all I hear are insults. I smell the mud of the road. I smell the iron-like smell from the blood pouring from me. Now my nose is dead. It’s dead. I doubt my ears will last much longer, either.

[Assistant] “…at…take the…valuables…”

[User] “…ere! The guards! They…”

[Assistant] “…un! No! If we…caught, I’ll…”

[User] All I was able to pick up were those bits of conversation. That’s great and all, but the part of my brain I need to figure out what that means is already dead. I’m dying so I just listened. I don’t know if I’ll remember. …What does it mean to remember? Why do I want to remember? What does it mean to want? Why…what? As Subaru’s brain died, his other functions followed soon after. At the very end, with a faint sound of something being pulled from him, something scraping…Subaru lost his life a third time.


[Assistant] When Subaru’s consciousness awakened, he was in darkness. But realizing that it was a darkness of his own creation, he opened his closed eyelids. The bright sunlight burned his eyes. Subaru groaned a bit and put his hand over his eyes.

[User] "So, kiddo. How’s about that abble?" It was a question that Subaru had grown used to hearing, in a voice he had grown familiar with, that was lobbed at him. His ears were in perfect working order. The hustle and bustle of the main street was loud, and completely different from the silence that was around him just before the end. That was the way things were, despite the fact that, distance-wise, the silence was in an alley just one turn off the main street. Pretty pathetic that I couldn’t even get more than one street away. The shop owner frowned at not getting an answer to his question. As Subaru saw the white scar being stretched across his face, he thought it made him look even more villainous. But Subaru knew that he was actually a really kind and thoughtful person who was obsessed with his kid. Of course, he probably didn’t remember what Subaru did.


[User] Thinking of that, he turned once more to the scarred shop owner. "How many times have you seen my face so far?"

[Assistant] "What do you mean, 'how many times'? I haven’t seen you before in my life. The way you stand out, I don’t think I’d forget you and that awful expression you’ve got if I’d seen you before."

[User] "I didn’t need to hear that last part about my expression, you know? Anyway, what’s the date today?"

[Assistant] "It’s Tammuz the 14th. At this point, according to the calendar it’s halfway through the year."

[User] "Huh. I see. Tammuz, huh." Subaru had no idea what that date was supposed to mean. To begin with, he had no idea how they fixed the calendar in this world. It was probably too much to expect that they went by a solar calendar, but he couldn’t be sure.

[Assistant] "So anyway, kiddo. How’s about that abble?" The shop owner was patient as Subaru went silent, but for him to have to deal with someone this long to just buy a single apple… He seemed to be reaching his limit. His face was starting to twitch. Now this was a guy who didn’t look all that great wearing a smile in the first place. When he was trying his best to smile, it probably had more of an effect of scaring customers away, and Subaru felt that whatever god put this man in this occupation was a cruel god indeed.

[User] As for Subaru’s answer to the shop owner’s question, he put his hand on his hip and proudly put out his chest. "I’m sorry, but I’m as broke as the sky is blue!"

[Assistant] "Then get the hell out of here!" The shop owner’s yell was enough to throw Subaru back, and he scrambled out of there in a hurry.

[User] I really can’t go back to that shop for a while, Subaru thought, with both meanings in mind.


[User] "Wallet…check. Cell phone…check. My corn soup chips and cup ramen are also here. My tracksuit and sneakers are at zero damage, and of course…" Subaru lifted up the hem of his tracksuit top and twisted around this way and that to look at his back.

[Assistant] There were no scars or any other traces of a wound on his back, around by his hips, or around the front of his abdomen.

[User] There wasn’t a knife sticking out of him, or anything else unusual.

[Assistant] “Phew. Good. There’s no greater embarrassment for a swordsman than getting stabbed in the back. As someone who did kendo in middle school, even if I take a wrong turn off the road when it comes to life, I can’t let myself lose the way of the swordsman.” The sun was high in the sky and a gentle breeze brushed up against Subaru’s skin. People bustled about, back and forth on the main street, and yet again that same lizard cart passed by.

[User] “Well, with this much circumstantial evidence, I’ve got no choice but to accept this, do I? It’s a little bit hard to believe, but…” All of the wounds on Subaru’s body had disappeared; the rips and bloodstains on his tracksuit were gone as well.

[Assistant] In Subaru’s hands, inside that plastic convenience store back were his unopened chips, waiting for Subaru to eat them.

[User] “So, it’s one of those things, huh…” He put his hand that had been up against his jaw out in front of him, and then snapped his fingers so that everyone on the street could see him.

[Assistant] “Whenever I die, I start back at square one in my initial state. At least, that’s the way it seems.” Subaru had thought that his theory was stupid before, but he finally decided to accept it.


[User] “I guess I’ll call it ‘Return by Death’… The fact that it’s a power that assumes you’re going to lose really makes it fitting for me, doesn’t it?” It was a power that activated once the user had lost their life.

[Assistant] If the heroic thing was to come back from the brink of death and win the day, then getting a chance to do things over after you’ve lost felt more like something a cheat would do.

[User] “More seriously, though…would you call this sort of thing time travel?” A loop phenomenon that only activated under certain conditions.

[Assistant] If you were to think of it as a game, you could say it was like Subaru was being brought back to an auto-save point, one he had no control over, whenever he died.


[User] "So a loop or a time slip, huh… I mean, I’m used to this sort of thing happening in manga, but I saw somewhere that realistically it was really hard to explain time travel to the past…like, that it would be easier to remake the world from scratch rather than slip back in time." With what Subaru knew from the Internet, where knowledge was vast but shallow, going back in time was about as unrealistic as you could get. However, given that he had already been summoned to another world, he wasn’t really in a position to be debating degrees of unrealism. "But if you consider that this Return by Death thing is really happening, then everything so far starts to make sense."

[Assistant] Looking back, Subaru had already died three times in this world. The first time was when he and Satella had visited the loot cellar together. The second time was when he, Rom, and Felt had all been cut down by Elsa’s blade. Then the third time, which to Subaru just felt like it happened a few minutes ago, he’d died a dog’s death. Unlike the first and second times, the third death was the worst, and he couldn’t make any excuses about it. He didn’t think that he could mess up so badly as to be killed by weak mob characters while he was still in the prologue. "Still, dying three times in only half a day is just way too high of a rate."

[User] Given that normally people only had one life to live, dying three times in half a day was just absurd. Sure, Subaru had lived the previous seventeen years of his life peacefully, but depending on how you looked at it, if you multiplied 17 years by 365 days, and three resets, Subaru had lived through quite a few days on which he could have died. "Or…if you looked at it another way, I just suck at living."

[Assistant] The difference between the difficulties of staying alive in his previous world and this one was far too great. There were tons of places here that threatened Subaru’s life. There were dangerous places wherever he turned. "Given the similarities between the first and second time…Elsa was probably the culprit the first time as well."

[User] The first time, the one who was hiding in the shadows of the loot cellar was probably Elsa. The giant corpse was Rom, and he and Satella had arrived after Felt and Elsa had had their negotiations. "I can’t be sure, but Felt probably asked for too much, and after negotiations broke down…that’s what happened."

[Assistant] After Elsa had finished making sure no one was left alive to tell what happened, Subaru and Satella had been unlucky enough to walk right in. "The second time is simple.


[User] I was already with Rom and Felt when negotiations broke down… To be killed twice by the same person… Is Elsa the kind of character that when you run into them it means certain death?” Subaru tried to pass the idea off as a joke so that he could lie to himself about how scared he was of her. It was obviously foolish to even think of any options he might have if he ran into her. The only place where Subaru had a chance of encountering Elsa was the loot cellar, and the only reason that Subaru needed to go to the loot cellar was to take back Satella’s stolen badge, and the reason he wanted to take back Satella’s stolen badge was because he wanted to return the favor to Satella for saving him. However, because Return by Death had sent him back in time, his duty to return the favor to Satella was left behind in the world of his first run-through. When Subaru met Satella on his third run-through, her cold reaction to him was proof of that. Satella didn’t know Subaru anymore. The favor that he was supposed to return got lost along the way as he was reset. If so, it would be best for Subaru to forget about Satella and focus on avoiding the threat of Elsa. Subaru didn’t know why had been thrown into this Return by Death scenario, but because of it, he was fortunate enough to know the future. He knew what mines to avoid. Avoiding them was the right thing to do.

[Assistant] “Well, it’s about time I got moving. Fortunately, I know that I can turn my cell phone into cash, so I’ll just amass some funds, and live a good life using my modern knowledge. It’ll be full of dreams! Don’t you think, old man?”

[User] “Just when I thought you were muttering some nonsense to yourself, you’re asking my opinion? I don’t know what you’re talking about, and I don’t care.” As Subaru looked back to the man in the shop from before, seeking affirmation, the man gave his retort with an annoyed look on his face. With that cold response of his Subaru felt a little hurt inside. No matter what world you’re in, the way people interact with strangers isn’t all that different.

[Assistant] “But you see, there are some people out there who, even if it puts them in a tight spot, can’t help but help other people out.” Even after something precious had been stolen from her, and even as she was in the middle of chasing after the person who’d stolen it, Satella had helped a completely and utterly useless stranger, took the time to heal his wounds, and tried to walk off without accepting any thanks. She accepted that useless person’s selfishness and for her trouble met a horrible end. “When you do the same thing three times, there are a couple of things that you begin to understand.


[User] "Well, more like after three times you’d have to be incredibly stupid not to understand those things. I may be a little stupid, but not that stupid.”

[Assistant] “Just what nonsense are you talking about?”

[User] “There’s probably a pattern here. Some kind of inevitability. No matter how many times you do something over, at least a few things will never change. Or at least there’s some sort of strong force that tries to keep things that way. For example…” All three times, Satella had her badge stolen by Felt. The first and second times, Elsa caused a bloodbath. Even the third time around, it had probably happened as well, unrelated to Subaru’s death. “I don’t know if I can win against Elsa. I still don’t know. But there is one thing I do know.” If on the fourth time around Subaru didn’t do something, Felt and Rom would be killed by Elsa. It was also unavoidable for Elsa and Satella to fight as well.

[Assistant] So what if those two died? Subaru thought. One’s a bit of a villain who deals in stolen goods, and the other one is a bold girl who tries to overcharge for those stolen goods without any sense of shame or regret. Both of them were criminals, so wouldn’t it be better off if they were gone? But still… “Well…I guess I really am a product of the modern age. Even though I always used to make fun of people like this when I sat in front of a computer screen…” Subaru used to act as if he thought pity and compassion were stupid. It wasn’t that he thought of it as an act, however. He just thought of himself as someone who didn’t really care all that much. That way, no matter what situation he found himself in, he was able to keep himself from getting too emotional about it. It didn’t matter to him if a few people he knew died. At least, that’s how he used to think.

[User] “But you know, I hate it. It feels terrible. I know those two are far from being saints, but knowing that someone you know is going to be killed…that’s just impossible to ignore.” In the past, when he acted uncaring, it really must have been nothing more than an act. It was the product of his interactions happening in a virtual world. Now that he had to deal with these heavy issues in real life, there was a whole different level of weight to them. But at the same time, Subaru thought he was shallow for changing one of his core beliefs about life, just as soon as things got hard.

[Assistant] “And of course there’s also Satella—I mean, that girl. I just can’t just abandon her like that.” After calling her by that name and seeing her reaction, Subaru realized that “Satella” was a fake name.


[User] When he thought back to the first time around, she didn’t seem to be too fond of being called by that name. Then with the third time, it was painfully clear. In other words, that meant that she didn’t trust him enough when she’d told him that name. Subaru hadn’t built up enough relationship points with her, so at one of the scenario forks he failed the test for getting her real name.

[Assistant] "In that case, I guess I’ll just have to work hard enough for her to actually give me her real name this time." Subaru stretched and twisted his body around, popping several joints as he got himself pumped up.

[User] The storeowner looked on at Subaru’s strange actions with a surprised look on his face.

[Assistant] Subaru, in response, suddenly lifted up his hand and said, “There’s just some times where a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do! Right, old man?”

[User] “Yeah, yeah. That’s exactly the way it is. Totally agree. So go on and get outta here.”

[Assistant] Subaru thought that he had struck a good pose and said that line pretty well, but given the storeowner’s terribly monotonic reaction, he could feel his face starting to twitch. Once the annoyed storeowner finally pushed him out of the store, he hurried along.


[User] After running about two hundred meters down the crowded street, he stopped and stood for a moment. "Now, then…" Subaru lifted up his short bangs with his hand and then in exaggerated motions looked this way and that. Then he put his hand out to a nearby wall and leaned against it. "Where do I need to go if I want to meet Not-Satella…?" he said. It wasn’t a phrase that inspired confidence about his actions, but he wasn’t going to just sit around and wait.

[Assistant] Now that Subaru thought of it, most of the circumstances surrounding his and Satella’s meeting were coincidence. Both the first time and the third time Subaru had run into Satella in a place not far from this main street, but that was about the only thing in common. At the very least, it would help if Subaru knew when the theft would be taking place… "Just how long was I sitting glumly there in front of that fruit shop?" Subaru felt like it could have been a few minutes, but at the same time it could easily have been almost an hour. "Should I just wander about and leave everything to chance? Hope that the red string of fate between me and her will bring us together?" Subaru had lifted both of his pinkie fingers in front of his face, twisting them around as if they were dowsing rods while spectators watched on with curious glances.

[User] As Subaru continued searching he realized that he was in a place that he remembered seeing before. "I guess my ties to fate are working pretty well after all!" Subaru said, full of himself, before realizing just where he was.


[User] "Isn’t this the place where I first met Satella…?" He felt that it was similar, but he couldn’t be sure. "After all, the dead end I was at when I was killed the third time was in a completely different place…"

[Assistant] "I really am tired of looking at your faces, Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest." Subaru said wearily as he turned around, and saw the same three thugs blocking his path out of the alley.

[User] "Why these guys when I have so much trouble finding Not-Satella and Puck…"

[Assistant] "Even if I’ve come up with a splendid theory as to why all of this is happening, it doesn’t make me any happier. So what do you want with me, guys?"

[User] "Just what is this fool mumbling about?"

[Assistant] "He’s probably just too clueless to understand what’s going on. How about we show him."

[User] As he was thinking about that, Subaru’s thoughts drifted to what happened the last time, just as he was dying.


[User] As he lay dying, he was able to pick up some of the sounds of what was happening. Subaru tried to remember the final conversation that Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest were having. What were they afraid of? There was a word that they said. Subaru thought he should be able to remember it…and it was…

[Assistant] "Guards! !"

[User] Hearing Subaru’s sudden and unexpected SOS, Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest jumped. The silence of the alley was broken and the volume of Subaru’s yell was sure to have reached the main street. With all of Subaru’s training in kendo, his sense of shame about suddenly yelling out was long gone. Additionally, Subaru, who realized at this point in his life what a loser he was, wasn’t one to let his pride be hurt by suddenly calling for help.

[Assistant] "Someone! Someone please call some men over here!"

[User] "Wha… What, are you kidding me?! You’re really going to start calling for help?! Who does that? !"

[Assistant] "In this sort of situation you’re supposed to listen to us if you want to avoid getting hurt! You’re just going to ignore us and call for help?! That’s not normal!"

[User] "What?! Don’t give me ‘That’s not normal’! In what world is this not normal?! Oh! It can’t be! You’re not saying that you’re trying to do something where it’d be trouble if I called out, are you? Oh my God!"

[Assistant] "Shut up! You know what we mean!"

[User] "I’m not listening! I can’t hear you through that thick wall of insincerity! Police! !" Subaru continued to yell and keep the thugs on their toes, but on the inside he was breaking out into a cold sweat. As Subaru had been breathing his last during his third time around, just as his consciousness was leaving him, Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest had said the words “guards” and “run.” In other words, in this world, there was an organization that functioned like a police force. That information led Subaru to the new option, “Call for Help.” Even he thought it was a pretty lame tactic. But unfortunately, Subaru didn’t seem to get a very encouraging reaction from the crowd out on the main street.

[Assistant] "Well, looks like that didn’t work…"

[User] "Threatening us like that…I almost got a little bit scared there, man."

[Assistant] "Just a little bit!"

[User] "Not even a little bit! Only a tiny bit!" In unison, Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest proceeded to deny how pathetic they were, in about the most pathetic way possible. As the men tried to regain control of the situation, after looking at each other and nodding, each of them took out their weapons. One took out a knife, one took out a rusty hand ax, and finally the last one…

[Assistant] "Why are you the only one without a weapon? What? Didn’t you have the money to buy something?" Subaru taunted.

[User] "Shut up! I’m stronger without a weapon!"


[User] Underneath it were sparkling blue eyes that could only be described as “daring.” His extraordinary good looks helped magnify his sense of gallantry… He was slender and tall and wore well-made black clothes, and around his waist he also wore a knight’s sword, which endued him with an inordinately intimidating air. "No matter what the circumstances are, I will not allow you to perpetrate any more violence against that young man. That is enough.” As the young man said this, he walked straight past Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest, and got between them and Subaru.

[Assistant] Subaru was at a loss for words at the young man’s bold attitude.

[User] With quivering lips they pointed at the young man. “That burning red hair and sky-blue eyes…plus that knight’s sword sheath engraved with the image of dragon’s claws… It can’t be…” The thugs stared on in disbelief.

[Assistant] “Reinhard… Are you the Master Swordsman Reinhard? !”

[User] “Well, I suppose I don’t have to waste time introducing myself. …Although I am not fond of that title everyone gives me. It’s still too heavy for me,” Reinhard muttered with a tinge of self-deprecation in his voice. But the light in his eyes was unwavering.

[Assistant] "If you’re planning on running away, I’ll let you off this time. Just head back out toward the main street. However, if you plan on being stubborn, you will have to deal with me.” Reinhard put his hand on the hilt of his sword and motioned to Subaru behind him with his chin. “We’re down three against two. They have the advantage on us in numbers. I’m not sure if the little help I can give will be enough to make a difference, but I will do the best I can, on my honor as a knight.”

[User] “Wha-what?! Are you kidding me? This isn’t even a contest!”


[User] More than anything else… “For you to do all of that and still keep so cool…it’s like you and I aren’t of the same species.” The level of human purity in his face, his voice, his stance and actions, were all way too high. If his personality and upbringing were also the same way, if he wasn’t doing something corrupt on the side, there was no way it all could balance out. Putting his jealousy aside, Subaru let out a flat-sounding laugh, and then prostrated himself on the ground. “You have saved my life, and I, Subaru Natsuki, am forever grateful. I must say that I am impressed with both your honorable intentions and bravery…”

[Assistant] “You’re giving me too much credit. It was because their advantage of three against one fell to three against two that they became unsure of themselves. It would have been different if it was only me against them.”

[User] “No… Given how scared they were of you, even if it were ten against one…or even a hundred against one, I still think they would have run away. But what’s with your gallantry stats?! You’re like a saint both in body and mind. You’re so brilliant I think I’m going to go blind!” To be honest, there was such a difference in their looks, Subaru really didn’t want to be standing next to him. Subaru examined Reinhard again, but the more he looked at him the more he thought that this beautiful young man had to have been chosen by God. However, he did not look like he was a guard. “Umm…I can just call you by your name, Mister, uh…Reinhard…right?”

[Assistant] “I don’t need the ‘Mister.’ You don’t have to be so formal, Subaru.”

[User] “Well, we’re pretty close all of sudden, huh? Anyway, thanks again, Reinhard. You’re the only one who came running when I called. I have to say, it makes me feel a bit lonely that no one else seemed to care.” Given how many people were out walking on the main street, it wasn’t possible that Reinhard was the only person who heard Subaru call out.

[Assistant] As Subaru complained, Reinhard lowered his eyes slightly. “I don’t really want to say this, but I think I can understand them. For the majority of people, the risk of interfering when thugs like those are involved is too great. You were right to call for guards.”

[User] “The way you’re saying that…are you a guard, Reinhard? You don’t look like one at all.”

[Assistant] “I get that a lot. I am off duty today so I’m not wearing my uniform, and even I know that the way I look, I’m lacking the sternness of an authority figure,” Reinhard said, spreading both his arms, but Subaru thought differently. The biggest reason that Reinhard didn’t look like a guard was that he appeared to be far from the lowly, rough sort of idea Subaru had of what a guard should look like.


[User] “Now that I think of it, didn’t they call you something like ‘master swordsman’…?”

[Assistant] “My family’s position is rather special, you see. So I’ve got a lot of heavy expectations placed on me. Every day’s a battle.” Reinhard smiled, shrugging his shoulders.

[User] Subaru was now completely sure that this guy was the perfect human being. Forget about lamenting to God about the unfairness of it all, at this point, Subaru was just impressed.

[Assistant] “By the way, I thought that your hair and clothes, and also your name are pretty unusual, but… Where are you from? Why did you come to the capital of Lugunika?” Reinhard asked, looking down at Subaru and his appearance.

[User] Given that Subaru’s background was unclear, it seemed to be a pretty natural response for someone who was a guard.

[Assistant] “It’s a little hard to answer that first question. Last time when I said, ‘a small country to the east,’ it didn’t work, so let me rephrase that. I’ve come from a place even farther east than here, a place no one has ever seen before—from the ends of the Earth.” Subaru finished with a glint in his smile.

[User] Subaru thought that it was a pretty safe answer, but Reinhard looked surprised. "Farther east than Lugunika…? You can’t mean beyond the Grand Cascade. Is that supposed to be a joke?”

[Assistant] “Grand Cascade?” Subaru tilted his head with the unfamiliar term. Cascade…like, a waterfall? Subaru, who wasn’t familiar with the geography of the surrounding area, had no idea what Reinhard was talking about. The only places Subaru really knew in this world were the main street, alleys, the slums, and the loot cellar.

[User] “It doesn’t seem like you’re trying to fool me or anything, but… Well, that’s fine. Anyway, it looks certain that you’re not from the capital, but you have a reason for being here, right? Right now, Lugunika is not as peaceful as it usually is. It’s falling into a state of unrest. Whatever you’re here for, I’d be glad to help.”

[Assistant] “Come on, it’s your day off, right? There’s no need for you to waste a day off just to help me out, you’ve really done more than enough already. …But, I would like to ask you a question, if I could.” Subaru shook his head in response to Reinhard’s offer, but then he raised up a finger as if he suddenly remembered something.

[User] “I’m all ears. I’m not a very informed individual, so I’m not sure I can help all that much, though.”

[Assistant] “Well, it’s less of a question and more me asking about a person, so no worries. So anyway, have you seen a silver-haired girl with a white robe walking around in this area?” Not-Satella’s appearance was one that stood out. Of all of the things about her, the color of her hair and that hawk-embroidered white robe in particular stood out the most.


[User] “A white robe and silver hair…”

[Assistant] “If I were to add anything, she’s extremely beautiful. Also, there’s this cat… Well, it’s not like she’s carrying it around in front of her, but she has one, if that’s helpful.”

[User] “…What do you plan on doing when you find her?”

[Assistant] “Something she lost…er…I guess something she’s looking for? Anyway, I want to give what she’s looking for back to her.”

[User] Reinhard narrowed his eyes at Subaru’s response, and then silently thought for a few moments before answering. “Unfortunately, I can’t say I’ve seen anyone like that. If you’d like, though, I don’t mind helping you find her.”

[Assistant] “I can’t ask that much of you. It’s all right, I’ll figure things out on my own.” Subaru lifted up his hand to refuse Reinhard’s request, and then turned to exit the alley and walk along the main street.

[User] “Loot cellar?”

[Assistant] “Oh, don’t worry about that. Forget I said anything. It’s just the name of a place an old man I know likes to hang out.” As Reinhard reacted to his statement Subaru tried to divert his attention and at the same time rejected the idea of getting guards involved.

[User] “Are you going?”

[Assistant] “Yeah, I am. Thanks again, Reinhard. I’ll have to return the favor one day. …Can I meet you again if I go to a guard station or something?”

[User] “I think so. If you just give my name, they’ll know where to find me.


[User] "I’d love to see you again, so stop by for any reason at all.”

[Assistant] “Have I really done anything, or said anything to raise our relationship score that much? …Anyway, if I ever get stuck or lost again I’ll be sure to stop by,” said Subaru jokingly, waving his hand good-bye.

[User] “Be careful,” said Reinhard, as cool and gallant as ever. Pushed on by those words, Subaru was able to exit the alley with absolutely zero damage, all the while not noticing just how much the young man with the blue eyes was sizing him up as he watched him leave.


[Assistant] Subaru made it safely back to the main street, he did his best to look for Not-Satella. However, all that he could really do was open his eyes wide and stare at the passing crowd. Using his memories from the third time around, Subaru positioned himself near the fruit store he had become familiar with. The face of the scarred store owner that Subaru could see out of the corner of his eye was very stern.

[User] “This time our meeting wasn’t exactly the best, was it… But, I know that you really are a kindhearted guy!” Subaru said, giving the villainous-looking shop owner a thumbs-up, to which the shop owner turned his face away from, annoyed.

[Assistant] Subaru drew his thumbs back feeling unloved, and then returned his gaze to the street. As always there were tons of people passing by, of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. It had been over ten minutes since Subaru had started his lookout, and it had already been nearly an hour since he had started his fourth run.

[User] “I’m not sure I can trust my sense of time, but it would be strange if the theft hasn’t happened yet…” said Subaru to himself, when an anxious thought crossed his mind.

[Assistant] “Hey, old man.”

[User] “What is it, Mr. Penniless?” When the shop owner came out in front of his store and looked at Subaru, he had already given up trying to hide how annoyed he was.

[Assistant] “Well, it’s true that I am penniless, so I won’t deny that, but… Old man, I’ve got something I’d like to ask you. Have you seen any sort of commotion happen around here lately?”

[User] “You’ve got guts asking me a question without buying anything.”

[Assistant] “Well I know that, but last time… Wait…” As Subaru was talking he realized why the shop owner was in such a bad mood. The first time around, when Subaru and Not-Satella had visited the fruit shop together they had met again with…the shop owner’s daughter. She hadn’t been saved yet this time around.

[User] “How could I have forgotten about that?! Don’t tell me that I have to go find her first?”

[Assistant] “What are you talking about? Oh, fine. Whatever. Look, kiddo. Those sort of ‘commotions’ you’re talking about aren’t exactly unusual around here.”

[User] “I’m glad you answered my question, but are you serious?