Chapter Text
Watching Amnesiabaru patch together his life in another world.
*******
???: [I am not going to save you.]
Those were the cold words that echoed through the seemingly infinite white space.
Words meant to condemn a monster, someone so consumed by their own desire to be happy, that they would strip others of their memories and identities to accomplish it.
A monster with such a voracious appetite that it could never be satisfied. Her gluttony would never allow it. Every life she had eaten had an imperfection, something that left her wanting more. She would continue eating, consuming more and more memories, more and more people, just trying to find someone whose life was capable of making her truly happy.
And in a cruel twist of irony, the gluttonous monster had found a person who was capable of making her happy, but was forever traumatized by what she had attempted to consume.
She saw someone who could die and restart life again, seemingly the perfect cheat code to a happy life.
That’s why she had wanted his life so desperately, if she could just die and be able to retry she could easily have whatever she wanted.
But in reality, that ability was a horror unlike anything she had ever seen before. Feeling yourself die, it was not something people were meant to experience multiple times. Neither was seeing your friends and loved ones die again and again. Yet the man who held that ability was able to experience all that and more, and still continue standing.
What she had seen was someone not human.
She could not understand it at all. How could someone experience such levels of pain and suffering and still continue to fight for those that he cared about?
She did not understand.
She could not understand.
So she cowered in fear at the anomaly in front of her.
The monster looked up to face the speaker, her eyes wide with nothing but terror.
???:[I won’t save you and I won’t feel bad about it either.]
The monster could only let out a small cry of fear as her fate was sealed by the man standing before her. She couldn’t bear to look at him, every fiber of her being was telling her to get away from him, even if he understood exactly what she was going through, she could only reject him. Afterall, he was the cause of her terror.
Louis:[I-It’s…it’s too much!!]
She stammered. Unable to find her wording underneath all of the panic.
Louis:[...This is…]
Through the tremble of her voice, it was absolutely clear,
The sin archbishop of gluttony, Louis Arneb, was terrified of Natsuki Subaru.
Subaru felt his vision warp and his body sway, he was being forcibly ejected from the corridor of memories by Louis.
Louis:[We don’t want to be in the same space as you for any longer! We physically can’t bear it! Our essence can’t bear it! Our fate can’t bear it! So disappear! Dear brother and brother dearest will eat you! Whichever one wants you! We won’t have any part in it though!]
Though it was a coward's way out, forcing him out of the corridor was the only thing Louis could do to calm herself down. She knew Subaru wouldn’t be able to do anything to combat it.
Subaru:[If you don’t like me…you can take me on and fight me yourself…]
Louis:[We won’t be tricked! You can’t get us to try to kill you! You will just come back through death and take it out on us! We won’t let you! Our brothers will devour you! That’s how we’ll win!]
Louis attempted to glare intimidatingly at Subaru, only for him to return the look with his piercing black eyes.
Louis[Eep!]
The black haired boy sighed at this pathetic display.
Subaru:[If your brothers are your last resort, then fine. I’ll crush that hope and then make you pay. Prepare yourself, Louis Arneb.]
He raised up his hand, pointing directly at the terrified blond girl.
Subaru:[All the things you don’t like, all the pain, you’re going to carry it yourself. Don’t run away from your memories]
Subaru began reflecting on all of the memories that had led him up to this point, all the pain and suffering that shaped him. All of those negative feelings were fuel that had made him into a better person.
If Natsuki Subaru was so incredible, it was because of all the embarrassment and regret he had caused himself time and time again.
Subaru:[That said, I don’t want to go through that embarrassment again.]
He laughed softly to himself, his vision growing white as his existence was expelled from the corridor.
*****
Subaru slowly opened his eyes, expecting to find himself on the cold hard floor of the taygeta archive surrounded by his own books of the dead.
Instead he had woken up laying in a dimly lit room, blinking rapidly, he noted his eyes were having a hard time adjusting to the darkness. It made sense, just a few moments prior he had been in a space made entirely of white.
He turned his head, pushing past whatever grogginess he felt, pausing once he realized there was a soft warmth emanating beneath him.
???:[Oh? Are you finally awake?]
Subaru recognized the voice, but he couldn’t exactly pin who it was at the present moment, considering his head felt like it was beaten over with a bat. But his thoughts immediately wandered to a certain silver haired half elf.
Subaru: Huh? Did Emilia-tan find me passed out? Now she’s giving me a lap pillow? She’s such a kind angel!
He smiled, resisting the urge to nuzzle his face closer to this immense warmth and bliss. Though, after a few moments his eyes shot open in a panic.
Subaru: Wait! Isn’t she supposed to be fighting the other gluttony right now?!
Subaru:[AHHHH!!!]
Subaru, so engrossed in the warmth of the lap pillow had forgotten that most of his closest friends were in immediate danger. He jumped up onto his feet only to be startled by the screams of the voice that had greeted him.
???:[AHHHH!!!]
Subaru:[AHHHHH!!!!!]
???:[AHHHH!!!]
Subaru:[AHHHH!!!...wait…Otto?!]
The voice had belonged to none other than the gray haired merchant Otto Suwen.
Otto:[Y-Yes Natsuki-san? Do you remember me?]
Subaru:[Yes of course! I got my memories back!]
Though the merchant was happy to hear the news, he couldn’t help but feel unsettled at a new developing pattern.
Otto: he got his memories back too?...This is really strange.
Otto: The others had told me he had lost part of his memories in the tower. If the effects of gluttony were reversed on him and the others when they were brought here. Then that means…
Otto had no idea about the things Subaru had gone through at the tower to restore his memories, so naturally he had assumed that this place had some special property that had restored it for him.
Subaru:[Where are we?! What about the others? Are they safe?!]
Otto:[By others do you mean the members of the pleadies expedition? Yes they are here and they are all well.]
Subaru:[Really? Man, that's a huge relief!]
The black haired boy let out a huge sigh of relief. His panicked expression relaxing into its usual mean eyed self.
Subaru:[Well that still leaves the question on where we are.]
Subaru looked around, there wasn't much to look at if he was being honest, there were just rows and rows of leather seats, all uniformly in the direction of a white sheet at the very front of the room.
Subaru: weird…the tower didn't have any rooms like these…it looks almost like a movie theater from my world.
Otto:[Well…that's the thing…None of us know exactly where we are, or why we are here. Julius-san and the others said that they were trying to defeat a threat at the tower, when all of a sudden, they were just brought here. As for myself, I was talking to Garfiel, when in the literal blink of my eye, I found myself in this seat.]
Subaru:[Wait wait wait! You all were just teleported here without explanation? Is there anyone else here besides the group?]
Otto:[Yes, aside from me, the ‘great sage’ was somehow roped into this mess.]
Otto curled his fingers into quotations at the title of great sage, with that it was clear to Subaru that Otto was well aware that Shaula was not all she was chalked up to be.
Subaru: Shaula was brought here too? If we are outside of the tower, why hasn't she transformed?
Subaru:[That's really weird! Hang on…Why would this place have brought you here?! You didn't contribute anything to the actual expedition!]
Otto:[Hey! I didn't want to be magically brought here against my will! I would've much rather preferred staying in bed recovering!]
He pointed defensively at Subaru, wincing at the sharp pain that came with the sudden motion.
Subaru:[I assume the others left you and me behind to try to find a way out of this place?]
Otto:[Yes, although Beatrice-sama and the rest were hesitant to leave you here. I reassured them that I would call out to them in case of trouble.]
Subaru:[So…if the others are out looking for a way to leave…then who's lap was I resting on?]
Otto nervously looks away as Subaru’s eyes widen in horror.
Subaru:[Ew! Gross man! Why'd you make me rest in your lap?!]
Otto frantically tried to defend himself.
Otto:[I didn't make that happen! You were seated upright next to me but you kept tossing and turning until you fell onto me! No matter how much I tried shaking you, you wouldn't wake up! And I couldn't move you on account of my shins being in a lot of pain!]
The black haired boy waved his hand dismissively, much to the annoyance of Otto.
Subaru:[Yeah, yeah. Just say you're a weirdo. Either way, both number one and number two spots are already taken in my heart!]
Otto: this whole thing spiel again?
During their whole year of friendship, it was not uncommon for Subaru to suddenly go into a long and obviously rehearsed speech about how Emilia and sleeping girl were both deeply important to him. More often than not these speeches would go on for minutes on end only stopping when it would annoy Otto to the degree of punching Subaru in the gut.
Subaru:[Speaking of which, is Rem with Ram? It doesn't look like your crutches were brought here with you, so that makes me worried about Rem and her wheelchair…]
Otto’s eyes widened, his throat tightened till it forced a gulp.
Otto:[Natsuki-san, you might want to sit down for this.]
Something about the way the merchant phrased it didn’t sit right with Subaru, his stomach sank and a bead of sweat formed on his forehead.
Subaru:[Otto, you're scaring me man.]
Subaru looked at Otto, his eyes filled with worry. After a few moments he obliged and took the seat next to him.
Otto:[Please remain calm, and don't make a scene, I was told by the others that you have been through a lot and need rest...]
Subaru:[Just…spit it out already…]
Otto took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself for Subaru to immediately go against his warnings.
Otto:[Rem-san is awak–]
Subaru:[Rem is awake?!]
Subaru, just as Otto had predicted, jumped up from his seat, eyes sparkling and hardly being able to contain himself.
Subaru:[Where is she?! Does she remember me?! How did this happen?!]
Subaru: Aw man why couldn't I have been the first one to greet her?
Subaru internally cursed the world, while also thanking it a million times over. Despite it being entirely selfish of him, he had wanted to be the one to greet Rem when she woke up.
Otto:[I told you to stay calm!]
Subaru:[How can I stay calm when I know Rem is awake?! I'll go look for her! Don’t worry! I'll be right bac–Ow!]
Subaru tried to turn to leave, but was met with a hard punch to his leg which caused him to tumble to the floor.
Subaru:[What was that for?!]
Otto:[I can't let you go off by yourself! We still have no idea if this place is even safe! I can't access my divine protection or anything!]
Otto’s voice flared on the line between anger and anxiety.
Subaru:[huh?]
Otto:[This place has something very off about it! None of us can access our magic or divine protections! On top of that, all of the effects of gluttony have been reversed for the people in the group. Rem-san is awake, Julius-san’s name has returned, and whatever was happening with Anastasia-sama was undone. This is all very suspicious, so we must remain on high alert and not be by ourselves!]
Subaru: Rem…Julius…Anastasia, all of it was undone?
Subaru:[That's…understandable…but was it really that good of an idea to leave a sleeping guy in the care of someone who can't even stand up?]
The merchant's anger nearly entirely dissolved, replaced with the awkwardness of knowing the person you’re arguing against has made an excellent point.
Otto:[...Well…You should still not go wandering off…]
The black haired boy grumbled, rubbing the spot where Otto had punched him to dissipate the pain.
Subaru:[Yeah you sure talk a big game.]
Subaru: If nobody’s powers work does that mean my SubaNavi won’t work either?
He closed his eyes and tried to focus to see their positions, but to no avail. It was like his own personal GPS had reached an area with spotty service and lost signal.
Subaru: Damn, I just got this upgrade too! Now it's worthless? Just my luck.
His shoulders slumped in disappointment.
Subaru:[Do you know when the others might get back? I really want to see everyone.]
Otto:[They left quite a while ago. So they should be back soon. But if you want to see Rem-san, please approach her gently. She was very upset when she heard from the others that you had lost most of your memories.]
Subaru: Ah right, the others still think I have partial amnesia.
Subaru:[I will, don't worry about it]
With that they both began theorizing about what this place could be and why had been brought here. Subaru, being from earth, was able to give more insight on the type of place they were in while avoiding questions about how exactly he knew. After a while of waiting the both heard faint voices approaching.
???:[Oh man! I can’t wait to see Master again! When he wakes up I’ll make sure the first thing he sees will be me!]
???:[Please refrain from startling Subaru when he awakes, according to Beatrice-sama he was in a lot of distress after reading Reid’s book.]
???:[Nee-sama, Rem doesn’t like how that woman is speaking about Subaru-kun]
???:[Tch, even after all this time Barusu still has you under his spell.]
???:[The scorpion girl is wrong in fact, the first face Betty’s contractor will see is Betty’s lovely face I suppose!]
???:[Does it even matter who nii-san sees? We don’t even know if nii-san will wake up.]
???:[Now Now Meili, we can’t think so negatively! Subaru will be fine, I’m sure of it!]
???:[Ugh…What’s a girl gotta give just to make everyone use their indoor voices? I just woke up for cryin out loud. Natsuki-kun will be fine, he’s tough as nails.]
Subaru and Otto looked at each other, from everyone’s manner of speaking they were easily able to tell that everyone had returned safely.
Subaru:[That only leaves Patrasche and Joeseph…]
Otto:[Both ground dragons are in another room right now, they didn’t seem to calm down until they got out of here. I couldn’t ask them what was wrong on account of my divine protection not working. Patrasche tried to take you with her, but calmed down when she realized I would stay with you.]
Otto: They most likely sensed something off about this place. It feels so strange not being able to understand animals anymore.
Subaru:[So everyone accounted for…]
Subaru relaxed into his chair, all the pent up anxiety that came from the events of the tower slowly melted away.
Subaru: Does that mean everything is resolved? We are safe, the effects of gluttony were undone, but what about the victims of lust? We never got any informa–
???:[Master!!!]
His thoughts were interrupted by the tackle and subsequent smothering of a loudmouthed scorpion girl.
Subaru:[Gah!! Shaula! Get off me! You’re hurting me! Ow! Ow! OW!]
Shaula:[But Masterrrr! I missed you!]
Subaru tried to pry her off with his one free hand, but that only made Shula squeeze him tighter in return.
Subaru:[Ow! You’re cracking my ribs! This actually hurts a lot! Otto help me out!]
Subaru frantically tried to wave over Otto, but the gray haired merchant scratched his cheek in response.
Otto:[I mean I would, but you know, with my leg and everything. I would only be a liability, sorry Natsuki-san!]
Subaru:[Damn you Otto! I won’t forget this! AH! I heard something pop!]
At this point Subaru had trouble breathing and slowly felt himself get weaker and weaker.
Subaru: Am I going to pass out?
???:[Shaula, that’s enough!]
With his fading strength, he turned himself over to get a look at his saviour.
Subaru:[Please…Help me…]
Emilia stood over him, pouting. If he weren’t in mortal danger, then he would absolutley be fanboying over how adorable she looked.
Emilia:[Now Subaru, you can’t just let Shaula crawl all over you like that, with her strength you can seriously be hurt!]
Subaru:[Sorry, but can we skip the lecture please? I can feel my soul actively leaving my body.]
He wheezed and coughed, his lungs screamed for air.
Emilia:[Hmph! I guess you don’t need my help then.]
Subaru:[Wait!...Please! Someone! Help…]
Shaula:[Yay! Master gets to be with me!]
Being squeezed tighter and tighter Subaru felt his eyes grow heavier and heavier and it wasn’t long before his consciousness faded.
Natsuki Subaru had died.
.
.
.
Or at least he would have if Otto hadn’t noticed the joke had turned serious and dove in to save him from the scorpion girl's grasp.
Otto:[Natsuki-san!!]
***
After about an hour or so of being unconscious, Subaru slowly began to regain his senses. He felt very sore, Shaula had really done a number on him.
Subaru: Ah man, my shoulder is killing me.
He attempted to roll around his shoulder to alleviate the pain, bumping his arm on something in the process.
Subaru: Hm? Is someone under me?
???:[Subaru? Are you awake? I’m reaaaaally sorry about what happened with Shaula.]
Subaru: Is my dear Emilia-tan giving me a lap pillow as an apology?! She really is such a kind angel!
This time the black haired boy was unable to resist his urges and ever so slightly nuzzled his head. Fully enjoying himself, a soft smile appeared on his face.
Otto:[Er…Natsuki-san?]
Subaru: Eh?
Subaru:[AHHH!!!]
Subaru, having sensed the universe was playing a cruel prank on him, shot up from his resting place. He opened his eyes, he prayed that his suspicion was false. But when he turned his head, his fragile hope was shattered.
Otto:[Are you alrig–]
Subaru:[How can I be alright when the first thing I see when I wake up is your face?! Why is my head on your lap again?! You really are a weirdo!]
Otto:[Hey! Is that what you say to a friend who saved your life?! That girl could’ve crushed you to death! Do you realize how painful it was to wrestle you out of her arms while my legs are like this?!]
Otto sighed and tried to further explain the embarrassing situation they were both in.
Otto:[Once you had passed out we decided it would be best not to move you on account of healing magic being inaccessible here. So that’s why you were in my lap!]
Subaru:[Tch…Werido…But thanks I guess…Let me help you up.]
The black haired boy grabbed Otto’s arm, pulling him up to one of the many seats.
Otto:[Thank you]
Subaru:[Shut up.]
Subaru turned to sit, but came face to face with a purple haired knight instead.
Julius:[Im glad to see you’re doing alright Subaru. I apologize for not stepping in earlier.]
Subaru:[...Don’t worry about it…It wasn’t like I was crying out for help or anything.]
Julius:[...]
Subaru:[Relax, it’s water under the bridge alright?]
The knight's expression darkened, it was clear to Subaru he was taking this too seriously.
Julius:[Yes but allowing someone without most of his memories to be trampled like that…]
Subaru glanced at Otto in confusion, the gray haired merchant leaned over to whisper to him.
Otto:[I figured it would be best for you to tell everyone about your memories.]
Subaru:[Ah ok, thanks Otto.]
Flashing a secret thumbs up, Subaru stepped closer to Julius.
Subaru:[It’s alright, truly. Now, where's everyone else? I want them to see them.]
Julius:[Ah yes, they are right over there, Emilia-sama has been feeling rather guilty as well over the whole ordeal.]
Subaru: Aww Emilia-tan has been worried about me?
Subaru ran over to the group, being immediately greeted by Beatrice and Emilia.
Emilia:[I'm so sorry Subaru! I thought you and Shaula were just goofing off! Are you alright? Are you hurt anywhere?]
Subaru smiles brightly. Sticking his hand up, he strikes his iconic pose.
Subaru:[Aside from feeling like my ribs have fractured into tiny bits, and my head feeling like it was used as a punching bag I feel A-Okay!]
Emilia:[Thank goodness I was reaaaally worried…Wait a second you don’t sound ‘okay’ at all!]
Beatrice:[Foolish contractor! How dare you make Betty so worried! Betty’s adorable face is going to get wrinkles at this point I suppose!]
Subaru:[Sorry sorry! It won’t happen again! Promise!]
He clasps his hands together, trying to beg for forgiveness. Though he feels like it isn’t going to get him very far.
???:[Barusu’s promises aren’t worth much. So I doubt their worries are quelled.]
Subaru:[Come on Ram, cut me some slack alright? I’ve gone through quite a lot since I woke up here…]
Subaru:[Speaking of which…Where is Shaula?]
Emilia:[She’s in time out in the other room. We had Meili supervise her.]
Ram:[Tch, typical Barusu. Isn’t there someone else you should be worried about rather than that loud mouth?]
Emilia:[Please be a little more gentle with Subaru, Ram-san, he…might not remember her. I know both of you have been very worried about it. Especially her…]
???:[It’s alright Emilia-sama, Rem believes she is ready to see Subaru-kun.]
Stepping out from behind Anastasia, the blue haired maid who loved Subaru so dearly appeared. At the sight of her, Subaru’s breath was nearly taken away, she really was awake, his Rem, the one that saved him from the depths of despair multiple times.
Anastasia:[Are ya sure Rem-san? You might be settin’ yourself up for a real heartbreak.]
Rem:[Yes Anastasia-sama, Rem believes she will be fine.]
Subaru: Rem…
The blue haired maid hesitantly approached her hero, each step slow and riddled with anxiety. What would she do if what everyone was saying was true, and he didn’t remember her at all? When she had woken up and found out that Subaru had lost most of his memories at the watchtower, her stomach sank. She didn’t want to believe it. Everyone else forgetting her after her name got eaten was heartbreaking, but tolerable. But she didn’t know how she would react if Subaru didn’t remember her anymore.
According to her sister, Subaru had been the only one to remember her in the year that she had been asleep. She heard stories from Emilia and Beatrice of how Subaru fought to keep her safe during the events of the sanctuary, how he reintroduced Rem to Ram and promised to wake her up one day. She heard how Subaru would always talk to her about his day even when she was in her comatose state, how he would take time to polish her morning star, how he traveled all the way to the fabled watchtower with the main purpose of waking her up. All this just made her fall more in love with the man that had saved her.
She had been so close to her heartwarming reunion with him, but it was taken away by whatever force had caused Subaru to lose his memories of everything that had transpired since that first day at the capital.
Now she stood in front of him, nervously trying to find the correct words.
Rem:[Subaru-kun…Do you remember Rem? Your Rem?]
She closed her eyes, awaiting the response that was surely to break her heart. But that negative response never came, instead she found herself in the tight embrace of the black haired boy.
Rem:[Subaru-kun!?]
Subaru:[Rem! Rem! It’s really you! You’re awake! I'm so glad! Yes I remember you! I was so stupid to have forgotten…I remember you…I remember everyone!…I remember everything that happened!]
Wiping away the tears from his eyes, Subaru looked up at everyone with a smile. They all looked overjoyed at the news, as well as looking slightly awkward witnessing this touching reunion.
Anastasia: Feels like I shouldn’t be watchin’ such a private moment…
At the announcement, a great spirit in the form of a blond girl ran up to Subaru. She hugged Subaru tightly, well as tight as she could, to Subaru it felt more like being wrapped with a loose blanket.
Beatrice:[Does that mean you remember Betty too I wonder? How you took Betty’s hand saved her from that library?]
Subaru:[Yes of course I remember Beako! It’s hard for such a good memory to stay buried for long. You cried so much that day.]
Beatrice’s tender expression morphed into that of pure annoyance.
Beatrice:[Betty was not crying I suppose! It was you who came into that burning library babbling like a madman! Urghhh! What a troublesome contractor you are!]
Having been reminded of that moment, Subaru’s eyes lit up. He swept Beatrice off the floor and held her proudly up to Rem.
Subaru:[Oh right! Look! I managed to make a contract with the adorable great spirit of the forbidden library! Isn’t your hero just the coolest?]
Beatrice:[Wahh! Put me down! Betty isn’t just some trophy to be paraded around I suppose!]
Ram:[Put Beatrice-sama down already you dunce, my dear sister already knows about most of the tomfoolery you have participated in the past year.]
Subaru:[Eh?! Noooooo! I wanted to be the one to tell Rem all of my cool hero stories! Why must the world be so cruel?]
Subaru had not been able to catch a break at all since arriving at the theater, having woken up twice in a man's lap, nearly gotten killed by a hug, and experienced two great disappointments.
Subaru: Well, at the very least Rem is awake, that is all that really matters in the end.
Rem:[Don’t worry Subaru-kun! Your Rem was amazed by all the stories Nee-sama had shared. She painted you in a very good light.]
Subaru glanced at Ram, who had a faint patch of pink on her cheeks.
Ram:[Rem is exaggerating, I would never say anything positive about Barusu.]
Subaru: Strange, she’s acting softer than usual. Is that because she remembers Rem?...This situation just keeps getting weirder and weirder.
Subaru:[Ah right! Does anyone actually know where we are?]
The group shook their heads simultaneously.
Emilia:[Not really, has Otto-san already told you our predicament?]
Subaru:[Yeah, that we all were brought here in pretty much a blink of an eye right? And that nobody knows where we are or why we are here?]
Julius:[Yes, that sums it up rather nicely.]
Anastasia:[We tried findin’ an exit, but it seems like there are only two rooms in this here building.]
Subaru:[This room, and the one Patrasche is in?]
Ram:[Yes, and any attempt we had at trying to go down the other hallways have always just led us back to the start.]
Subaru:[Like Beako’s looping room trick?]
Beatrice:[Not quite, it seems like this was done without magic I suppose. There seems to be no mana in the air. We don’t have access to our divine protections either.]
Subaru:[Isn’t that really bad for Anastasia? On account of her gate. Speaking of which, where is your fox spirit?]
Anastasia's eyes darkened slightly, her hand raised to touch where her scarf would normally be.
Anastasia:[I don’t know where she is, I can only assume she returned to her original body when we were taken here. But I feel fine so far, It doesn’t seem like it’s affectin’ me at all.]
Subaru: So this place doesn’t have mana at all? Where could we possibly be?
Subaru:[Have we tried breaking out?]
Julius:[Regretably, I was brought here without my sword, and the walls here seem to be made out of a rather tough material, so there isn’t much I can do I'm afraid.]
Emilia:[Yeah, I couldn’t use my ice magic to create something to help us either. Sorry.]
Subaru:[Aw, it’s alright Emilia-tan! Don’t be so down on yourself!]
The silver haired half elf seemed to cheer up at the sound of her nickname.
Emilia: It feels nice to hear him call me that again.
Subaru: Now that just leaves Shaula and Otto
Subaru:[...Why is Otto here?]
Otto:[Do you have to be so blunt about it, Natsuki-san?!]
Subaru:[No…But you’re Otto so it’s understandable.]
Otto:[I already said it before! Nobody knows why I was brought along with you all!]
Subaru:[Oh right…Then does anyone have any idea on why Shaula hasn’t transformed? This place doesn’t look anything like the watchtower, so wouldn’t a rule have been violated?]
Subaru: That, and gluttony has surely caused damage to the tower by now.
Shaula:[Did master call me?! Master!!!]
Subaru:[Eh?]
Subaru:[Gahh!]
The scorpion girl rushed into the room as soon as she heard her name, she attempted to tackle Subaru just like she did before, Subaru braced himself for another brush with death. However both Emilia and Rem stepped in to block her, causing Shaula to crash and fall flat on her face.
Shaula:[Owchie!]
Following that, Meili walks into the room lazily.
Meili:[Sorry about that, she sureeee is a handful. It doesn’t seem like she listens to a word I say anymore, oh well, not my problem.]
Shaula:[Brat number two was really easy to escape from! All it took was for her to look the other way and wooosh! I ran all the way to my dear master!]
Rem:[Rem will not allow you to lay a hand on Subaru-kun!]
Emilia:[Y-Yeah! Subaru needs rest!]
Emilia: Why do I feel slightly upset at all the attention Subaru is getting?
Shaula:[But he’s my master! You have to allow me to see him! He loves Shaula so much! We are going to get hitched one day just you wait!]
Subaru:[Not happening.]
Shaula:[So cruel! But that’s one of your most attractive parts! Master is such a tsundere!]
Subaru:[How do you even know what that word means?...Hang on, that's besides the point! Emilia and Rem already hold number one and number two in my heart! There is no room for you!]
Shaula:[Can I be your third woman then?]
Subaru holds up a big ‘x’ with his arms and makes a buzzer sound.
Subaru:[Already taken.]
Shaula:[...Fourth?]
Subaru:[...that spot would probably go to Patrasche.]
Shaula clutches her chest and shakes her whole body.
Shaula:[No way! NTR’d by a ground dragon!?]
Subaru:[Again how do you know these words!?]
Subaru: Just what the hell was Flugel teaching her?
Shaula:[Don’t worry Master, I won’t lose heart! One of these days Shaula will become your one and only woman! Even if it takes another 400 years!]
Subaru:[...good luck with that. Anyway, I need to ask you something!]
Shaula:[Is it something naughty? You know I won’t say no!]
Subaru:[That’s not it! I want to ask why you haven’t transformed yet! We aren’t in the watchtower so surely we must’ve broken a rule no?]
Shaula:[We for sure aren’t in the tower, I can confirm that much, but as to why I haven’t transformed I have no idea. Besides, doesn’t master find this form much sexier than my killer scorpion one?]
Subaru:[No comment.]
Rem:[Subaru-kun…]
Subaru felt the room temperature drop several degrees. He turned around slowly, only to be met by a very annoyed Rem who was very close to him.
Subaru: I was too distracted joking around with Shaula! Did I make Rem jealous?
He glanced over at Emilia, who was pouting as well.
Subaru: I made both of them upset? Great going Subaru!
Rem:[Subaru-kun, you haven’t been messing around with other women while I was asleep have you?]
The blue haired maids face darkened into an expression he had never seen before, immediately sending chills down his spine.
Subaru:[No I haven’t! I swear up and down! You and Emilia are the only two for me!]
Rem:[Good! Then everything is resolved.]
Julius:[While this exchange has been…amusing, we still have yet to find out what type of place we are in exactly. Otto-san said Subaru might have had an idea?]
Subaru: Nice save Julius!
Subaru:[Yeah! This place reminds me of a movie theater. With the leather seats and the white sheet at the front of the room I can say without a doubt that it is just like a movie theater from my homeland!]
Emilia:[A ‘moovie theater’?]
Subaru:[Yup! Think of it as an alternative way to watch plays. With plays you have to have actors act it out on stage every time right? With movies, the actors can complete a play once and then with a little movie magic the play can be viewed at any time! Or at least, with streaming movies…At a theater they still show them at specific times, but they are able to have multiple viewings a day on account of not having to have the actors there…]
Anastasia listened very closely, she could already smell that money would come from having this type of thing in Lugunica.
Anastasia:[Yes yes, tell me more Natsuki-san]
Anastasia: Sounds like an Idea I could practically print money off of!
Before Subaru can answer, Otto poses a question, completely blocking Anastasia from learning more about these movie theaters. Anastasia nearly pops a blood vessel in frustration.
Otto:[What purpose do you think bringing us to a theater would have?]
Subaru:[No clue, maybe they want to show us something?]
As soon as he spoke those words, a bright flash emanated from the front of the room. Subaru turned to look, the movie screen was now on, it displayed text and a countdown.
Please be seated for the viewing beginning in 00:30, 00:29, 00:28
Subaru’s eyes lit up with excitement.
Subaru:[Oh! I think it’s going to show us a real movie! Come on Beako! Let’s take a seat!]
Subaru picked up the great spirit and whisked her away to a seat close to the front of the theater.
Beatrice:[You don’t have to be so impatient I suppose!]
Subaru:[Of course I do! I haven’t seen one of these in ages! Who knows maybe it might show us an anime instead? Mannnn I would give anything to watch dog of flanders again!]
Emilia:[Umm Subaru how do you know it’s going to show us something?]
Ram:[The words on the glowing sheet read ‘please be seated for the viewing’, it is written in Barusu’s made up language.]
Subaru:[It isn’t made up! And it’s called japanese for your information!]
Rem:[Nee-sama, how did you learn to read it?]
Ram:[I saw Barusu writing in it during his tutoring sessions and naturally I picked it up, intelligent as I am. Ha!]
She raised up a hand, completely basking in her own self glory.
Subaru:[No need to toot your own horn nee-sama…Anyway! All of you should sit down! Maybe whatever shows will give us some clues on why we are here? You never know!]
Shaula:[Okay! I call sitting next to maste–]
Rem & Emilia:[Absoluelty not.]
Subaru: So cute!
Shaula:[Aw man!]
Subaru laughs as everyone takes their seats.
Subaru, Emilia, Beatrice and Rem in the first row.
Shaula, Meili, Otto and Ram in the second.
Anastasia and Julius in the third.
The black haired boy can hardly contain himself as the countdown gets closer to zero.
00:03
00:02
00:01
Subaru:[Ohhhh Beako! It's starting! It’s starting!]
Beatrice:[Alright! Alright! Why are you whispering I wonder?]
Subaru:[It’s bad manners to speak loudly during a movie! Everyone knows that!]
Emilia:[Then it would be best for us to stop talking and direct our attention to the ‘moovie’ wouldn’t it?]
Subaru:[You’re right! Sorry Emilia-tan!]
Subaru turns his attention to the screen, a big smile plastered across his face.
The faint thud of a heartbeat comes from the black screen. It lasts for a few seconds before the thudding ceases.
Subaru:[Um, kinda ominous huh?]
Otto:[Natsuki-san, do most of these ‘moovies’ start like this?]
Subaru:[Not really…maybe if you were watching a horror flick…]
Otto: horror flick?
The screen shows a shot of the outside of a bright building, the many colors are in stark contrast to the dark of the night surrounding it.
A man walked past, having not paid the colorful building any mind.
Shaula:[Woah! So many bright colors!]
Julius: [Indeed, I have never seen a building so…cheery before.]
Meili:[While the building is great and all, I'm much more interested in the guy, he doesn’t seem to care at alllll.]
While the others were talking about the bright colors of the building, Subaru began to feel a growing sense of unease. The building seemed oddly familiar to him.
Subaru: Weird…Why is it showing a real location from the real world? From Japan too? I can’t help but feel like I’ve been there before. I couldn’t be the same store I was isekai’d from right? Why would the person who brought us here want us to see this?
Rem notices Subaru’s mood has soured and asks him about it.
Rem:[Subaru-kun, are you alright? Is the glowing sheet showing something strange?]
Subaru:[Yeah, I'm fine Rem-rin, It’s just that convenience store looks a little too familiar.]
Anastsia:[Convinence store?]
Subaru:[It’s like an entire market condensed down into one shop. And they have many of those sprinkled all across town, open at almost any hour of the day, everyday. Making it ‘convenient’ for the consumer.]
Anastasia: How would that work? The logistics to pull off that type of store would be insane…Wherever Natsuki-kun grew up must’ve had some very rich merchants if they were able to do anything remotely close to what he’s describin’.
Emilia:[Is this place similar to the place you grew up? It doesn’t look like Lugunica, or any of the great nations for that matter.]
Subaru: [Hang on…I have to see something…]
The screen cut again, this time to the inside of the store, where a familiar blackhaired boy with nasty eyes was flipping through the pages of a book.
Subaru’s pupils shrank, he couldn’t believe what he was seeing.
Subaru:[What the…]
Why was the screen showing him? More importantly, how? He didn’t remember many people being present at the store that day, afterall It was late at night.
Subaru: Maybe it’s an altered version of my memories? To be seen in the 3rd person perspective? That would make more sense than someone recording me secretly. But still, the person who made this must have some sick sense of humor.
Subaru’s mind immediately went to the monster he had met in the white corridor.
Subaru: Louis Arneb…
His hand clenched into a tight fist, the knuckles on his ungloved hand turned white from the strain.
Subaru: Yes, it has to be her! nobody else could have known what happened that day. But still what is the purpose? What exactly is it going to show?
Subaru already had a bad feeling about this, but he couldn’t pin down why.
Subaru: …There is no way it would show that.
Ram:[Barusu is that you on the glowing sheet? I can unfortunately recognize that lecherous gaze anywhere.]
Beatrice:[Betty’s Subaru’s eyes are not lecherous at all! Though he may have the eyes of a killer, there is a distinct charm to them I suppose!]
Rem:[Rem agrees with Beatrice-sama, Subaru-kun’s eyes are easy to get lost in.]
Otto:[Natsuki-san, do you know why you are on the sheet? Did you act in one of these plays?]
Subaru:[...I have no idea why I am on there. This isn’t a typical movie, I really was there that night.]
Music could be heard playing faintly in the background, Subaru could be seen reading a book. A book with more pictures than there were words. He flipped through the pages with disinterest.
Subaru:[I see where this is going. It’s how they suck you in.]
Subaru looked through a window out onto the street. There were two teens in uniforms walking by the store, it was obvious that they were a couple. Subaru continued to watch them, his dull expression reflected on the window.
Ram:[Pervert.]
Subaru:[Is everything you're going to say an insult?]
Ram:[Obviously not, I won’t waste all of my breath on an insect such as yourself, Barusu.]
Subaru’s shoulders slumped, it seems he can never win against Ram.
Anastasia:[You said you were there that night at this convenience store right Natsuki-kun? Where exactly is ‘there’? As Emilia said, it doesn’t seem to look anything like any of the four great nations. where exactly are you from?]
Anastasia: No one from my information network knew where this kid came from, the earliest mention of him anywhere was on that day in the capital where he saved two royal candidates from the bowl hunter. But from his deep understandin’ of kararagi customs and culture I always assumed he was from there, could I have been wrong?
Subaru:[...It’s a small island nation to the east.]
Anastasia:[But there isn’t anythin’ east of Lugunica?]
Subaru:[That’s because I'm from beyond the great waterfall. What you’re seeing now, that’s where I am from, that’s Japan.]
Julius:[You are from beyond the great waterfall? How did you end up in lugunica?]
Subaru:[You believe me?]
Julius:[It doesn’t seem all too far-fetched, there have been a decent amount of rumors of people who claimed to have been from beyond the great waterfall.]
Subaru:[Well, If my gut feeling is right, then we are about to see exactly how I was brought there.]
Subaru: I'm curious too, from my perspective I blinked and I was teleported to the busy street of the capital. I wonder how it looked to anyone passing by?
Subaru set down the book, he sighed as he turned around to browse whatever ramen they had.
He grabbed a cup of ramen, hesitating for a moment, before putting it down and picking a different one.
Subaru:[Nah maybe this one instead.]
He stepped towards the register, making sure to snag a bag of chips on the way.
Cashier:[That’s 363 yen.]
Subaru pulled out his wallet.
Subaru:[Oh, a jagged edge ten.]
He put the coin back where he had found it and exchanged it for some others to pay for his items.
Emilia:[You seem quite bored on the glowing sheet Subaru. Were you alright?]
Subaru:[Yeah, there just wasn’t that much going on. Not every bit of my life can be interesting you know?]
Emilia:[Oh right.]
Beatrice:[Well Betty is finding it quite hard to keep up I suppose, there are too many things Betty doesn’t recognize. What were the items you grabbed before speaking with the merchant I wonder?]
Subaru:[Oh just a few snacks, they are very tasty. I wish I could’ve given you all some, but I think I gave most of them away during the snow festival.]
Scratching the back of his head, he laughs nervously.
Rem:[About the coin, why did you put it back?]
Subaru:[That was a jagged edge ten, it was quite a rare coin, that type of coin was only produced for a few years before they went back with a smooth edge design.]
Shaula:[Wow you get excited over the strangest things master.]
The doors of the convenience store played a small melody as Subaru exited. His posture was poor, it was very easy to tell he was both tired and withdrawn.
He walked towards the street, where he watched a car pass by.
Otto:[What is that? It was moving terribly fast!]
Subaru:[It’s a car, it’s used as transportation. The easiest way to describe it would be like a carriage without the ground dragon.]
Otto:[How would that work?]
Anastasia:[Yes, how would that work Natsuki-kun?]
Anastasia butts into the conversation, both Otto and Subaru can tell all she has is money on the mind.
Subaru:[I don’t know exactly, it’s too complicated for me to explain.]
Anastasia: Dammnit!
Anastasia:[With all these things I'm seeing, I have to wonder, just how advanced was this ‘jahpan’?]
Subaru:[Very advanced, It was one of the safest places you could live. Everything was very convenient; food, transportation, healthcare. Most people who lived there could expect to live on average 85 years before kicking the bucket.]
Anastasia:[While I don’t know what ‘kicking the bucket’ means, this all does sound very interestin’]
Subaru stood frozen for a moment. He turned his head around. Staring off into the distance.
In that moment the screen cut to a white void, a splash of purple could be seen pulsating at the center. The purple mass exploded, most of the screen being covered by a mix of black and green. From that dark mass, a black hand highlighted in purple appeared. It tried to reach for something before the scene abruptly transitioned back to Subaru. He slowly turned back to the street and started walking forward, not noticing that everything behind him had pulsated.
Otto:[Uh, did anyone else notice that? Or was it just me?]
Julius:[I believe we all did yes…]
Everyone present, barring Shaula and Meili, began to feel anxious. To everyone native to the kingdom of Lugunica, what they had just seen had been strikingly similar to the fairytale descriptions of the shadow hands that the witch of envy had used to devour half the world centuries ago.
Julius: It can’t be. I must be reading too much into it.
All the others had the same reaction, they all believed that it must’ve been a coincidence of some sort. Afterall, Subaru’s world appeared to have lacked any sort of magic.
Beatrice: Subaru’s gate was heavily underdeveloped when he met Betty I suppose. According to bubby it was like he had never used magic before. Now I see why.
Subaru however, had the exact opposite response.
Subaru: So it really was her…
He recognized the hands from his experiences with return by death. He knew for certain that this was Satella. The only question he had was how she did it. Nothing like this had ever happened in his world, how had she been able to pull it off?
Subaru: The isekai genre was pure fiction! It had nothing to back it up! Science said teleportation would be impossible for years to come!
Emilia:[Subaru? Did you notice anything off that day?]
Subaru:[Eh? Oh! Yes I did, but I had assumed it was nothing, I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me due to how tired I was.]
Subaru turned his head left and right. The following wideshot of the street shows that there was absolutely no one around him.
Subaru:[That’s what I get for holing up in my room all day gaming.]
Subaru:[I guess my eyes are tired.]
He rubbed his eyes, blinking rapidly to clear them.
Subaru:[mmm.]
Meili:[Nii-san both looks and sounds so dead. I’ve seen carcasses with more life behind their eyes than him.]
Subaru:[Can you not be so morbid?!]
Anastasia:[While that girl’s phrasing is a bit distasteful. I can’t help but agree with her Natsuki-kun. It looks like you ain’t got much goin’ for ya.]
Subaru:[I was just tired okay?! Gaming can be very intensive.]
Rem:[‘gameing’ Is that a sort of sport or exercise?]
Subaru:[...yes]
Subaru: Or well it can be anyway…
The perspective of the screen switches to Subaru’s, staring at the street in front of him. He blinked to focus his eyes. At that moment, a ghostly wail echoes through his ears.
Opening his eyes slowly, he finds it unexpectedly bright. He felt as if his entire body had shifted in a near instant leading to an unexpected wave of nausea.
Subaru:[Nghk!]
Taking a moment to regain his senses, he became aware that he was no longer standing up. He heard a faint voice calling out to him, but it was too muddled for him to understand what it was saying.
???:[Subaru! Hey Subaru! Are you okay?!]
When he opened his eyes he was shocked by the beautiful face in front of him. So much so that he fell off where he had been laying onto the ground, hitting his shoulder.
Subaru:[Ngh!]
???:[Wah! Are you alright Subaru? Why did you suddenly fall?]
Subaru:[It’s not like I wanted to fall over!]
Rubbing his shoulder, Subaru shook his head, and slowly stood up. He was confused.
Subaru: Huh?
Not only was the Subaru on screen confused, but so was the one seated inside the theater. His brow furrowed.
Subaru: This…Can’t be…
He was in a green room covered in overgown vines. He apparently had been in the very center of the room, sleeping on a bed of leaves before he had fallen off and made a fool of himself.
???:[It looks like you didn’t hurt yourself. Thank goodness. But we were reaaaaally concerned. Please don’t scare us like that!]
???:[Emilia, he won’t reflect on his actions properly if you say it that way. You have to be more strict or he won’t understand in fact!]
Subaru turned around to look at his friends, they all seemed confused but had all of their attention directed fully towards the screen.
Subaru: This is bad…
???:[See, even Beatrice is concerned. She was a mess when you went missing, she almost cried when we found you unconscious on the floor of the library]
???:[Couldn’t you keep some details to yourself I wonder?]
Subaru: This is really bad!
What seemed like a comedy sketch had unfolded right before Subaru’s eyes. Nodding his head in confusion, he looked around the room. He noticed something behind him.
?:[Krah?]
Subaru:[Ghk!]
Subaru: Shit!
He was startled for a brief moment, it looked like a big lizard. A lizard the size of a horse. For some reason, it leaned towards Subaru and cuddled up to him.
Subaru: It’s pretty friendly. Like a cat.
Subaru gently rubbed the top of its head.
Subaru:[I get it now.]
He slowly stood up.
??? & ???:[Subaru?]
Subaru: Shit! Shit! Shit!
Both girls said in unison.
Subaru opened his mouth wide and screamed.
Subaru:[I have been summoned across the universe into another world!!!]
Subaru: It’s showing them the first loop?!
.
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