Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

"It's not that I don't get along with you, but in this state there's probably no one who I'd get along with!"

　Seeing the girl completely restrained, Subaru made a heartfelt remark.

　The Witch of Gluttonyーーthat was the introduction of the person who appeared before him.

　The girl lying in the tilted coffin was around 150cm tall. She had gray shoulder-length hair tied up in two braids. She was pale and delicate, with a small chest - or rather, she looked like a child around 13 or 14 years old.

"Not only is he tightly restrained, but both his eyes are sealed shut… and considering his age I don't think that's possible…"

　When you're a young girl, everyone dreams of things like "supernatural powers that ordinary people don't have" or "the potential to suppress one's own will and be seen as a threat by others."

　Thinking back to his middle school days, Subaru was influenced by the manga he was reading at the time and aspired to become a wielder of hidden weapons, so much so that he would hide sewing needles all over his school uniform.

"Well, in the end, when I fell, needles pierced my whole body and I had to quit crying."

　As Subaru reflects on his dark past, when he had no one to show it off to, he is unsure of how to react to the witch before him.

　In the first place, up until now the witches had always launched an extremely strong first attack before Subaru had even made a move.

"――――"

　In front of me, the witch in the coffin remained silent and showed no reaction.

　The beginning is crucial, and Subaru is silent as he is undecided about his first move when meeting someone for the first time. If he could at least know whether the other person is friendly or unfriendly, he could choose to approach them in a friendly manner or to provoke them.

"..."

　Silence continued to dominate the tea ceremony on the hill as each party waited to see what the other would do.

　Even in that state, Subaru was being eaten away by the overwhelming pressure of the witch before him. Her entire body was sealed and her eyes were sealed so that she couldn't even look at him, yet the intimidating presence that emanated from the petite girl was something you'd expect from a witch.

　Even though he had been so casual about getting her involved with the three Witches of Pride, Wrath, and Sloth, Echidna was hesitant to let them meet.

　Daphne, the witch from Gluttony, is fundamentally different from all the witches that have come before.

"...yeah"

"---!?"

　The tension made sweat trickle down Subaru's forehead, and the moment he wiped it away with the back of his hand to keep it from getting into his eyes, there was a sudden movement in Daphne's direction, causing Subaru to shiver.

　Inside the coffin, the girl wrapped in restraints twisted her neck slightly, and her breathing reached him. Sure enough, Subaru's whole body became alert, wondering what action would come from there.

　and,

"...Shh, squishy."

"--Are you asleep?!"

"--Funyaa?!"

　The moment he heard what sounded like breathing, Subaru stepped forward and charged forward.

　As the soles of her feet make a satisfying crunch on the green of the hill, the witch, startled by the voice and sound, jumps in her coffin and lets out a cry of surprise.

　With both her eyes covered and unable to see, she shook her head from side to side,

"Wha, what is it? Someone was fast asleep after all..."

　The words sounded like a complaint, and were spoken in an abnormally simmering tone.

　It was unclear whether she was speaking softly because she had just woken up, or if it was just a habit of hers, but at the very least, the overwhelming pressure she had felt until just a moment ago had disappeared.

　Subaru couldn't hide his sense of weakness, thinking that it had been his own assumption.

"Oh, sorry. I got a bit heated up too. I didn't mean to yell."

"Well, Daphne would be troubled if you surprised her like that."

"Ugh... I'm sorry. So cheer me up. Don't get mad."

"Betsunii, I'm not angry. If I got angry, I'd get hungrier. Anyway, who are you?"

　Daphne apologizes, but it is rejected, and she then begins asking questions at her own pace.

　Though they had only exchanged a few words, the rhythm of the conversation had already become disrupted. And somehow Subaru understood what Echidna had said.

　--This witch is the type whose conversational pace is completely at odds with Subaru's.

　Sighing at the uncertain start to the journey, Subaru shook his head slightly, erasing the unpleasant expression on his face, and gave her an extremely friendly smile,

"My name is Natsuki Subaru. For some reason, Echidna invited me to the witch's tea party… Ah, well, we're tea-drinking buddies. Yeah, that's about it."

"Wow, so you had a friend named DonaDona. Subaru, don't you think it's best to choose your friends carefully? If your real friends and family heard that you were friends with a witch, they might dislike you, you know...?"

　After receiving Subaru's self-introduction, Daphne becomes overly meddling. The reason why her speech becomes choppy towards the end is because she somehow loses breath while talking.

　Subaru called out to her, as she shook her shoulders in the coffin, clearly exhausted.

"Why are you so exhausted? Does that coffin have some kind of effect of sucking the life out of the person inside just by being in it?"

"No, nothing. It's just that Daphne gets tired easily, and she's so hungry she can't put any energy into it... there's nothing to eat, you see... haa haa."

"Just talking makes you short of breath, it seems like you must have a weak constitution... Speaking of food, there's only Donna tea and some cookies on the table."

　In reality, the tea snack is a mysterious cookie-like snack. Considering that tea is Echidna's bodily fluids, this could also potentially be made from Echidna's somatic cells.

　Unlike tea, the cookies were not something that could be eaten in an instant, so Subaru hadn't touched them, but when Daphne heard "Cookies?" her reaction was clear and cheerful.

"Th-th-th-that's fine. It's fine, so please, Daphne, put it in your mouth. Hurry up, please, hurry up..."

"If we only look at this scene, it might be misunderstood, so could you please refrain from saying it? Well, I'm not so sadistic that I would withhold it from someone who wants it so badly."

　Taking a plate of snacks, Subaru approaches Daphne's coffin, intending to bring a cookie to her mouth as she is unable to move. However, just before he can do so,

"Ah, but, Subaru, could you wait a moment?"

"Hmm? What is it? Just to let you know, there's probably only one flavor. I don't see any chocolate in it, so it's probably the plain type. If you say you don't like it, then all I can say is that I won't allow you to leave any."

"No, it's not that... I'm talking about when you feed me, but I'd like you to not get too close to Daphne."

"That's a tough request when you're trying to feed him, isn't it!?"

　Rejected from getting any closer, Subaru stands at a loss, holding the plate of cookies.

　As Subaru spoke, she sat up a little in the coffin.

"Please don't misunderstand, it's not like I dislike Subaru or that I can't stand him or anything like that."

"That reminder has actually lowered my credibility! Why? Please tell me why!"

"Subaru's smell is so bad, I wonder if it's poisonous if he gets too close to Daphne."

"Body odor is considered toxic?!"

　Subaru was shocked at the remark, and quickly picked up his arm and sniffed. There was no particular stench that hit his nose, but humans are quite insensitive to their own smell.

　Subaru ran his eyes up and down his body,

"Do you stink? Do you stink? I've been taking baths ever since I came to the Sanctuary, you know? I won't have anything like soap until I get back to the mansion, but I think I should at least prepare myself to the bare minimum considering I'll be interacting with Emilia… No, in the first place, this is a spiritual world, so why is it that I'm still carrying around the effects of the harsh environment outside?"

"No, it's not like that. Look, you know what I mean, Subaru."

"I don't get it! Don't talk like I'm being mean! Make it easier to understand, Sei!"

　Subaru, growing impatient, called out and beckoned. Daphne, receiving it, slowly shook her head from side to side, creaking the coffin as she continued speaking in a unique rhythm, "How should I put it..."

"If I smell Subaru and want to eat her more than the cookies, that'll be a problem."

"...Eh? Sorry, I don't know what you're talking about."

"Daphne, you know, I like meat more than vegetables, I like hard meat more than soft meat, that's how it is."

　Suddenly, Subaru felt a chill run up his spine.

　He held his breath and gazed upon Daphne. Her appearance had not changed even once from the beginning. Still stuffed in the coffin, still sealed in restraints that prevented her from moving, her eyes locked in darkness, never once looking at Subaru.

　If that's not fashion bondage, then what is it?

"From the smell, Subaru is full of muscle and has tough meat and bones that are thick, really, really thick... I have a feeling he's Daphne's favorite food. So, if he gets close, he smells so good I want to eat him."

"Eat me... in a sexual sense?"

"In a physical sense..."

　Subaru gasped as the mispronounced words were spoken.

　Then, with a quick movement, he took a large distance away from her, and from a short distance away, picked up a cookie from the plate,

"I'm going to throw it at you from here, but I'm sorry if it doesn't land in your mouth."

"That's fine, Subaru. Just throw it vaguely so that it hits the coffin. I'll go and get it myself."

"It sounds too ominous though... ah, whatever!"

　Swinging, Subaru lightly overthrows and throws the cookie.

　The cookie, the size of a five-hundred yen coin, drew a parabola and flew neatly into Daphne's mouth with greater accuracy than she had imagined. The utmost concentration gave Subaru unprecedented control.

　With pin-point control, the cookie shot into Daphne's mouth. Daphne took the cookie, which landed on her tongue, into her mouth in one gulp,

"Squish squish... mmm, delicious. It tastes like Dona Dona."

"I don't know if that means they were handmade by Echidna, or if she's doing some kind of dark magic and putting parts of her body into the cookies… but let's keep going."

"Yes, I can't wait. More... hey, more..."

"Just be quiet for a second or you'll miss your aim!"

　Subaru slams Daphne's pleas, which stir up sexual thoughts, and throws cookies one after another. It's a scene that might get him in trouble for playing with food, but Subaru's seriousness as he throws them is not one that warrants such a scolding.

　Daphne had to move her head slightly, but every single cookie ended up in her mouth. And just as she relaxed in relief, hoping to clear the plate of cookies,

"--a"

　When a strong gust of wind blew over the hill, the light cookie was hit and its parabola was disrupted. It missed its target by a large margin, crossed the table and headed down the side of the hill. It fell and almost became food for the ants - just when I thought that.

"Oh no... what a waste."

　Daphne, with her extraordinary sense of smell, realized that the cookie had missed its target. She followed the parabolic trajectory of the cookie with her unseen gaze, and in the next moment, Subaru saw it.

"---!?"

　With a loud noise, the sharp claws dug into the soil of the hill, creating destruction.

　The mud and sand was blown up, and the sound of the wind spread the damage, reaching under the cookies that had missed the wind and were about to fall.

"Ah, mm."

　Daphne stretches her neck and places a cookie between her red lips, then with a happy look on her face, puts it into her mouth. She chews so quietly that no sound can be heard, and after she puts the cookie in her mouth, her pink tongue slowly licks her lips, moistening them, and lets out a sensual "hmm" sigh.

　Subaru was silent after witnessing it all.

　Noticing Subaru's silence, Daphne gave a small snort and said,

"Subaru… there are still two left, you know? Don't be so mean…"

　The sight of the girl with her cheeks flushed and her lips trembling like a little bird was adorable.

　But then, with both his eyes covered, his whole body bound in restraints, he was in a black coffin.

"...No, it's impossible not to be upset about this."

　Unless it was in the absurdity of crab-like legs growing out of the coffin and carrying the host's body.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

"Well, is it okay if I ask something?"

　Still unable to recover from the initial shock, Subaru threw the remaining two cookies as requested. His fingertips were trembling, causing the two to miss their target, but the coffin's quick footwork meant that they landed effortlessly in Daphne's mouth.

　Daphne, who had thoroughly enjoyed the sweetness, groaned with a happy look on her face, but then noticed the question Subaru had somehow managed to squeeze out,

"What does that mean? Daphne can't see so she doesn't know."

"That's... an incredible, mobile coffin with a beautiful design. From my limited and shallow knowledge, coffins don't have legs, and they don't move at high speeds like insects."

　With a creaking sound, the coffin slowly returned to its original position with Daphne still inside. The bottom of the coffin dropped with a thud onto the grass, and the crab's legs disappeared back into the coffin as if they were being sucked in. It was similar to the way a turtle hides its arms, legs and head inside its shell.

　Daphne seemed to understand what Subaru was thinking and laughed, "Ah, I see."

"Are you talking about the centipede coffin? This child was made for Daphne because she was unable to move and was in a difficult position. She's usually quiet and a good girl."

"Even if you create it, is it a living thing?"

　Although it has biological movements and organs, I am not convinced that it falls into the category of a living thing, although it is certainly not mechanical.

"Although I don't eat or drink, the Centipede Coffin does absorb mana to survive, you know? I'm jealous that you don't get hungry."

"It consumes mana... No, let's just forget about that. Anyway, did you say you made it? Can you create living things?"

"Well, I should say it's a living thing, but more like a magical beast. It seems like it was born out of Daphne's will, her mood, and all that sort of fluffy stuff."

　Daphne writhes in the coffin, but no words come out of her mouth that give the impression of anything concrete. But even from that vague atmosphere, you can sense that something outrageous is happening.

　--Creating living things is truly the work of God.

　In the original world, humans would dabble in forbidden sciences such as selective breeding and cloning, but creating something from nothing is the work of a god.

　It's up to each individual to decide whether they consider it a desecration of life or an attainment of mysticism.

"Could it be... Daphne's negative legacy... is it really the fact that she gave birth to magical beasts?"

"Hmmmm?"

"The White Whale, the Black Snake, the Great Rabbit...are you saying that you created all of these, like that Coffin Crab...?"

"Hmmmm... Yes, all the names bring back fond memories. That's right. The whale, the snake, and the rabbit are all creatures made by Daphne."

"why!!"

　Baring his fangs at the affirmative, Subaru stepped forward to close the gap and spat.

　Subaru's face turned red with rage as he pointed his finger at Daphne,

"Why did you create such monsters?! They continued to wreak havoc in the outside world for four hundred years after you died! Do you know how much they rampaged?! How many people, dozens, hundreds of people suffered terrible experiences...!"

　What comes to mind is the fierce battle on Leafous Highway where they collided with the White Whale.

　The screams and obsession of Wilhelm after his wife was killed, and the grief and anger of the knights who took part in the battle - all of this was a tragedy that began with the White Whale and was born from the witch who gave birth to it.

　As for the large rabbit that was attacking Sanctuary, if Subaru's future actions did not bear fruit, Emilia and all the other inhabitants of Sanctuary would be devoured.

　The Great Rabbit has been repeating such natural disasters for a long time, especially if the cause is the witch in front of him.

"For what purpose?! Tell me! Why did you create this monster to cause so many people so much suffering?!"

"... Aren't larger creatures more worth eating?"

"--Ah, uh, ah?"

　Daphne responded with a confused look on her face to Subaru's excited statement.

　Her words brought him to an unexpected halt, and Subaru's tongue was unable to keep up with the speed at which he moved, and he could only let out a groan.

　Daphne gave Subaru a strange look,

"The white whale was big, wasn't it? Don't you think that if a lot of people ate that thing, they'd get their fill?"

"what..."

"The rabbits can multiply as much as they want. So, with that child around, they'll multiply even if we leave them alone, so I don't think we'll ever have to worry about food."

"Increased... Huh?"

　Daphne's words reached his ears, but their meaning didn't quite register in his brain.

　If this trembling stream of words really meant what it was, then I had no idea what the witch in front of me was saying.

　Seriously, from the bottom of his heart, what was he saying, what did he mean?

"So, uh... what is it? You think you created magical beasts to solve food problems? You think you created the White Whale and the Great Rabbit to help people suffering from starvation? And thanks to your kindness, many people have been killed and eaten by them!"

"...? You're trying to eat someone, but you don't consider the possibility that you might get eaten. Isn't that a bit selfish?"

"..."

"Besides, I think there are just too many humans and demi-humans in this world. If those girls could help reduce and organize it even a little, I think that would be fine."

"Huh? The White Whale can spit out a mist that erases existence, and the Great Rabbit can devour villages at will...?"

"Daphne doesn't even know how to hunt. How those kids grow, how much they eat, where they get eaten... Even if she knew, it wouldn't satisfy Daphne's hunger."

　Seeing Daphne smile as she spoke, Subaru realised something far too late.

　I finally understood what Echidna had said.

　She said that Subaru and Daphne were a terrible match.

　Subaru had concluded that this was because she was too laid back and his own impatient nature did not mesh well, but what an optimistic and misguided idea that was.

　--Subaru and Daphne don't share the same values.

　No, this isn't just limited to Subaru. There is no one whose values ​​​​match hers.

　She sees things from a different perspective than humans and demi-humans, and she doesn't even side with the magical beasts she created.

　Survival of the fittest--that was the only thought she had, and all thoughts other than acknowledging the existence of things to eat, increasing their numbers, and consuming them were treated as trivial.

　I can't find the words. My mental makeup is completely different.

　Subaru had been mistaken because up until this point, each of the witches he had encountered had been someone he could hold a conversation with, despite their issues.

　She is a witch. They are witches. There are only seven real witches in the world.

"The same goes for Subaru, but… aren't you all underestimating 『Gluttony』?"

"..."

"In the first place, appetite is the most important desire in life, isn't it? After all, if that desire isn't satisfied, you can't live."

"..."

Subaru: "Even if there is no peace, even if you are not loved, even if you cannot express your feelings, even if you cannot maintain your sense of self, even if you cannot get what you want, even if you have no desires, people will not die. But…"

"..."

"If people can't eat, they'll die."

　Of the seven deadly sins, only "gluttony" directly affects life.

　The proper meaning of "gluttony" is to pursue appetite more than necessary, but in this case Daphne's true meaning is referring to the appetite necessary for survival.

　And Subaru cannot deny it. What she said certainly points to one aspect of the truth about life. However, it would be a mistake to think that that is all there is to it.

"What you're saying is partially correct... but that kind of thinking..."

"Why don't you try starving yourself to the brink once, Subaru? Then... I'm sure you'll understand what Daphne is saying."

　It was a far too witch-like attitude and suggestion.

　Daphne rose from the coffin. There was a sound like tearing paper, and the cross belts of the restraints that were binding Daphne were easily released. Daphne awkwardly pushed the dull white restraints aside with her arms and stepped barefoot from the coffin onto the grass.

　Shaking her petite limbs, she checked the condition of her stiff body,

"It makes me hungry, so I don't like moving my legs, you know..."

　Just that warm-up left Daphne out of breath.

　But before her, Subaru cannot move even a step. Even his breathing is restricted.

　The small witch - the pressure emanating from her entire body gripped Subaru and wouldn't let go. It was as if his whole body was being tightly gripped by a gigantic palm.

"Well, I could just eat Subaru like this, but I'm afraid DonaDona and MetoMeto would get mad... Hmm, I guess just the left eye would be fine."

　As she spoke, Daphne placed her hand on the eyepatch covering her own eyes in front of Subaru.

　Don't untie her restraints, don't touch her body, don't look her in the eyes - all of these were the warnings Echidna had given Subaru before putting Daphne down.

　However, she removed the restraints on her own, and although she didn't seem to touch me, I was restrained by the pressure. And her final warning was,

"――――"

　Golden left eye.

　There was nothing special about them, just the round eyes of a young girl.

　Daphne lifts up the eyepatch over her left eye, showing us her eye.

　Subaru was immobilized as if pierced by her eyes. Eventually, she blinked her eyes several times, and then,

"That's enough."

　As she spoke, her movements were as tired as ever as she made her way towards the coffin. As she jumped in, collapsing, the coffin moved and gently caught her.

　Daphne shifted in the coffin, searching for the most comfortable position. Subaru, unable to move, watched her in silence, chewing on something in his mouth.

　Daphne yawns and puts the eyepatch back on, covering both of her eyes. Slowly, the skin on the inside of the coffin peels off, wrapping around her small body and wriggling, squeezing her.

　It was nothing, her restraints had been of her own volition.

"Just now, what on earth was that...or rather, why did you do that?"

"You still haven't noticed?"

　Subaru was about to ask why he was restraining himself, but Daphne interrupted him, shaking her body in the coffin as if to test how tightly she was restrained.

　Subaru frowned for a moment at her words and suddenly realized something.

"match...?"

　Pain. It was pain.

　Subaru bends over as a pain arises in his stomach, so intense it feels like a hole is about to open up.

　It was an overwhelming feeling of hunger, squeezing his stomach and making him thirsty and hungry. Groaning in unbearable pain, Subaru collapsed to his knees on the grass.

　Drooling from the corners of his mouth, he desperately tries to endure the pain. Hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, hungry, Hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry hungry.

"Ah, ah, ah... it's coming..."

　The intense feeling of hunger, so intense it almost makes you lose consciousness, disrupts your thinking and makes it difficult to grasp reality.

　Subaru gasped and writhed as he rolled around on the ground. Even that movement only made him feel hungry, and soon he was trembling like an insect on the grass.

　Hunger, maddening hunger. Starving. Life-threatening. A hole, a hole in your stomach. Death-threatening, death-threatening, if not satisfied immediately you will die. Die. Die.

"You still don't notice?"

　Looking down at Subaru, who was writhing in agony - though she could not actually see him, Daphne seemed to be able to grasp his condition by his voice and sense of smell.

　I don't understand what Daphne is saying. I don't even realize it, I'm feeling a hunger so strong it's driving me crazy. I understand that this is her doing, but my hunger is stronger than my hatred for it. I can't bear it unless I can satisfy this hunger somehow. The only reason I'm able to stay conscious right now is because of something I've been chewing in my mouth for a while now.

"――――"

　What is Subaru eating right now?

Subaru: "Did you notice? That is, 『Gluttony』."

　Hearing Daphne's words, Subaru noticed his right hand - his missing pinky and ring finger.

　Where did the missing finger go? There was no need to look for it. In my mouth, my molars had just crushed a piece of my pinky finger.

　Blood gushed out from the torn wound, staining the green of the grassland crimson red.

　Seeing the dripping drops, Subaru's mind was taken over by a blank space.

　And the void is filled with time. The feeling that comes to mind is,

　--Oh, what a waste of spilled blood.

　The only disappointment was from pure hunger to quench his thirst.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

<>

Jealousy > Gluttony >> Lust > Pride >>> Greed > Sloth >>>>>>>>>> Anger