Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

　--Seeing Subaru emerge alone from the tomb, Garfiel's hostility grew to the point that it pierced his skin.

　The coldness inside and outside the tomb is definitely different.

　Compared to the tomb, which had some insulation, the freezing cold of the Sanctuary was slowly draining away all body heat and stamina in matter of seconds.

　The blizzard never stopped, and the white curtain that continued to block his vision. Every breath he exhaled felt as if it would freeze right away, and Subaru couldn't contain the shivering that erupted from his very core.

　Garfiel glared at the trembling Subaru, holding his own shoulders.

　Garfiel bared his fangs and turned his attention to Subaru's back, but,

"Looks like you're not gonna stick your head out from behind me, hey."

"Ah, she won't come out. Emilia is asleep inside right now."

"Are you asleep?"

"I'm exhausted. For the past two days, I've been waking up and going through a 'trial' over and over again. My mind and body are pretty worn out. I haven't even had anything to eat. The girl is pushing herself too hard."

　When I think of Emilia's feelings, having continued to stubbornly challenge the Trials, but still not been able to pass them, I can imagine her frustration and disappointment in herself.

　That was certainly the case, and was the same feeling of powerlessness that Subaru had experienced countless times.

"――――"

　Deep inside the tomb, in the chamber of "Trials," Emilia is sleeping with a happy look on her face.

　Remembering Emilia's warmth as she whispered her blind love to him and continued to embrace him with her warm body, Subaru was overcome with a love so strong that it made his blood boil, and regret so strong that he wanted to die.

　He could remember Emilia, cheeks flushed, voice trembling with passion, telling him all the words Subaru wanted to hear, drowning him in all her emotions.

　Subaru had thought so much about how he wished he could just drown in soft decadence and sink together with Emilia. No one could possibly understand that.

　Having cut off the temptations of Emilia, who could even tempt the gods, Subaru came outside.

　Subaru had no intention of letting Emilia, who was asleep inside, know what was going on outside. And Subaru had no intention of letting Garfiel's ill will reach Emilia.

　Contrary to Subaru's quiet determination, Garfiel's flames of rage show no sign of abating.

　Kicking the snow away from his feet, Garfiel continued to rattle his white fangs.

"The half-demon hasn't come out yet. The snow shows no signs of stopping. You came back with no gift and a gloomy face, so how are you going to settle this, huh?"

"--Emilia says she likes me."

"... Huh?"

　Subaru's remark, interrupting their momentum, was probably completely out of place. For a moment, Garfiel looked confused as to what had been said. However, he soon concluded that he had been mocked, and his expression grew even grimmer.

"You don't see the situation, it seems it's not just the half-demon inside who's seeing it, you too! How dare you brag about your silly business in a situation like this, hey! hey! hey! Huh!?"

　His rage is filled with heat, and the snow that touches Garfiel's body turns to a white mist and evaporates. Garfiel's body appears to have grown in size, but this is not an optical illusion; it is because he has begun to cede his physical state from that of a human to that of a great tiger.

　Despite witnessing this, Subaru's expression remains unwavering.

　He looks at Garfiel with dry eyes, still with the same expression he had when he uttered the words that were declared to be bragging.

　Subaru repeated in front of the angry Garfiel.

"Emilia said that she loved me, and that as long as I was there, everything was fine."

"--You bastard."

"With that cute face, that sweet voice, those gestures that made me tremble, so close I felt like I was melting, touching me so much that I could feel his breath on me... he said that to me."

"But what of it?! It was obvious from the moment we entered here that that half-demon was completely attached to you. If you want to share our feelings and be blessed by him, then I'll break it down for you in an easy-to-understand way――"

　The yells began to mix with growls, Garfiel's hostility causing his body to mutate. And Garfiel's words, as if he were about to pounce at any moment, pierced Subaru.

　--I had reached my limit.

"...There's no reason."

"Huh? I can't hear you, speak more clearly..."

"--There's no way Emilia would say she likes me!!"

"----!"

　Subaru raised his head and shouted.

　Even Garfiel was speechless at the torrent of emotions. Glaring at the frightened Garfiel, Subaru's heart explodes with anguish on his face.

　He throws away the words they exchanged in the tomb, the warmth of their touch, and the love they confirmed.

　It was a pity. Of course it was a pity. And yet, it was so hard to let go that it didn't shine in the truest sense of the word to Subaru.

　How I wish I had been foolish enough to continue to be fooled by that false brilliance.

　The unfortunate thing about Natsuki Subaru was that he couldn't become that foolish.

Subaru: "There's no way he'd say that Emilia likes me… that she's spoiled me, that she's entrusted everything to me, that as long as she has me she doesn't need anything else… absolutely not."

"Wh, what are you talking about, hey?"

"There's no way she'd depend on me like that, and say that her feelings for me are everything to her. --If Puck was there, there's no way she'd be so completely immersed in me like that..."

　You can't tell me how much I wished to be Emilia's number one.

　However, at this stage, Subaru does not think highly of himself, nor does he underestimate Emilia to the point of being conceited about being Emilia's number one.

　It was Puck who Emilia placed her greatest trust in, and who she clung to in the last moment.

　Now, since Puck hadn't appeared before her, she had simply chosen Subaru as the next person she could rely on.

　I don't want to believe that the confession of love, the hot fingertips, the trembling breath, it was all a lie.

　I don't want to believe it, but... it's not real.

　Subaru raised his head and glared at Garfiel.

　While Garfiel's face had somewhat subsided from the waves of rage he had seen earlier, it was Subaru who was now baring his fangs,

Subaru: "Who pushed that girl to the point where she had to cling to a helpless guy like me? Like that, her heart was broken over and over again…But even so, she can't stop, who could make her worry like that?"

"That was necessary! It was your own choice! And you're saying that it's the fault of me and the other people at 『Sanctuary』, huh?!"

　Garfiel hits back at Subaru's momentum.

　Subaru slowly shook his head in response to Garfiel's barked reply.

　Who was it that cornered Emilia?

　I know the answer to that question without even having to ask.

"It's clear who's to blame... it's my fault."

"--Huh!?"

"It's my fault. It's definitely my fault that Emilia was pushed into such a corner. It's my fault, your fault, all of you."

"...Don't be ridiculous. If you can't withstand the pressure and you collapse, then isn't that what you're made of? With such a weak attitude, you have the nerve to set such lofty goals. Don't you deserve to be ridiculed?"

"That's right. It's as you say. Emilia is too kind to accept pressure head-on. So she ends up collapsing, unable to confide in anyone what she's carrying. ――In truth, it was me who should have done it."

　As he faced Garfiel's rage, Subaru felt his heart grow cold, as if it had merged with the white scenery around him.

　I feel like what I need to do has been clearly defined.

"That's right. It was something I had to do. That's why I'm here... I was the one who told you that, so I wonder what I was doing..."

"What are you so selfishly convinced of, hey? ... No, that's enough. That's enough. Going along with your nonsense won't get us anywhere. 'Moldova's thirst cannot be quenched.' If you can't do it then..."

"You're going to enter the tomb and take Emilia out...? Can you do that?"

"...So, what does that mean?"

　A low, threatening voice. Garfiel's words were spoken with the intent of intimidating the other, but they only made Subaru speak his baseless speculations.

"Garfiel, I already know that you are the 'Apostle of Greed'. I know that you are the only one with the right to command Lewes' clones."

"――――"

「What we can only assume is that, as the 『Apostle of Greed』, you have entered the Tomb before… No, it would be more accurate to say that you have undergone the 『Trial』」

"--You."

"You challenged the Trial, didn't you? I don't know why you are so adamant about hiding it, though. Is it because it's a rule that residents of the Sanctuary aren't allowed to enter the Tomb, or if not... is it because Lewes entered the Tomb to help you, who entered the Tomb?"

"----!"

　Garfiel's face changes color.

　After all, family is a place of pain for him. Seeing his face turn pale with grief, Subaru speaks his speculation, forming it into the present tense.

"Frederica told me that you entered the tomb. I also know that Lewes-san went inside."

"Ah, that... talkative woman...! It wasn't enough that she just left here, she's still sucking up to the people outside..."

"Is there someone who would be in trouble if they found out? And in the first place, with whom did the inhabitants of 『Sanctuary』 make a contract? The one who created 『Sanctuary』 was the Witch Echidna. In that case, are the inhabitants of 『Sanctuary』 still keeping their contract with the dead?"

"That's it, anything more――!"

　Garfiel kicks the ground and turns into wind, leaping at Subaru.

　Its sharp claws, sharp enough to pierce even steel plates, aimed for Subaru's face in the shortest distance――,

"The one making this snow fall is Roswaal."

"――――"

　As Subaru touches the core of the matter, Garfiel's claws stop just before they reach it.

　Subaru nodded to Garfiel, who had a stunned look on his face.

"It wasn't Emilia. Puck isn't here either, Emilia can't do it. Even if, by some chance, Emilia was the one causing this, there's no way she could talk to me without even letting a hint of it come out."

"That's just your own convenient imagination..."

"That's right, I just believe that. Even if she becomes desperate, she's not the type of girl who will throw a tantrum and ruin everything around her... that's just what I believe."

　If it's a process of elimination, it may be unbearable for the person to be treated as the culprit.

　But it was by no means an unfounded rumor.

"It's Roswaal who is binding you to the Sanctuary."

"Did you hear that from Frederica too?"

"Not at all... After sorting out the circumstantial evidence and information, he decided that even if it was a false accusation based on preconceived notions and bad impressions, he wouldn't mind. --It seems he was right."

"――――"

　As Garfiel went silent, Subaru let out a pale sigh.

　--It was an indescribable feeling of weakness when the person he thought was the mastermind turned out to be the mastermind himself. It was clear that Roswaal was up to something, but why was he maintaining the contract that forced the residents of the Sanctuary into this place, and for what purpose was he making them suffer in the snow? No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn't come up with a proper answer.

　Then,

"I guess I'll just have to go and hit him directly in the side."

　Subaru muttered with determination, and Garfiel lowered his arms.

　He could tell that his face was also brimming with strong emotions, just like Subaru's.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

"---It seems like he's been really angry for a long time."

　Roswaal greeted Subaru and Garfiel as he lay on his bed in the room assigned to him, smiling joyfully and still wearing his usual clown makeup.

「That's right. So far, it's been pretty intense. Regardless of me, you can see that I'm about to pounce on you at any moment, right? Please be considerate with what you say.」

　Subaru stood blocking the entrance, arms outstretched, and nodded his chin to the person next to him. He pointed in the direction of Garfiel, who was letting out a low growl.

　The sound of the beast's breathing was proof that he was using his last bit of sanity to maintain his human form. Though they were indoors, the cold temperature could be felt through the stone. Subaru and Roswaal were both breathing out white breath, but Garfiel's breath was so hot it was almost turning red.

"That's an interesting combination. I thought Garfiel was boasting that when Subaru-kun returns, he'll rip him apart lengthwise."

"The circumstances may have changed a little. We can't know who to mince until we find out whether they really have changed or not."

"Don't make such a scary conversation. Roswaal, don't take such ridiculous statements for granted."

　Subaru's exchange with Garfiel when he left the Sanctuary and headed for the mansion was so terrible that it left him feeling self-loathing. Garfiel, who would surely have never forgotten that humiliation, is not hard to imagine the abuse he hurled at Roswaal and Emilia.

　Subaru frowned, and Roswaal shook his head, "No, no," and closed one eye, gazing at Subaru and Garfiel with only his yellow eyes,

"If that's how it is, then that's how it is, Subaru-kun."

"You really disliked me. It makes me sad, Roz. You don't seem to mind if Garfiel eats me to pieces?"

"Oh my, my, that's just being weak-hearted. If Subaru and Garfiel were to clash, it's not like Garfiel is bound to win, right?"

"You think I can win? Even you would be scared if you heard my track record."

　After all, ever since he was summoned to this other world, Subaru had been constantly bruised and injured, yet he had barely any experience winning a single-handed "battle".

　All he had done was beat up Tonchinkan in an alley, barely defeated Juggernaut, and delivered the final blow to the dying Petelgeuse.

"I feel like I'm doing better than I thought, but if I went up against a lively Garfiel I'd be reduced to a lump of meat in two seconds. That's how good I am at self-analysis."

"I guess so. Surprisingly, if we can create the right conditions, I think it could be a good fight."

　Roswaal narrows his eyes, looking Subaru up and down as he speaks. Even after carefully examining his words, unfortunately there is nothing he agrees with.

　Subaru shrugged, cutting off Roswaal's words, and at almost the same time Garfiel stomped his foot on the floor next to him.

"That's not important right now! There's something else I need to talk about right now, huh? Are you both asleep?"

　Making a crater in the center of the room with his heel, Garfiel bared his teeth and yelled abuse at Subaru and Roswaal.

　It seemed the light warning before getting to the main topic had not pleased the impulsive boy. However, even Subaru was not used to this kind of underhanded tactic, and it didn't suit him.

　Following Garfiel's advice, Subaru nodded once, then,

"You're the one making it snow outside, Roswaal."

　He got straight to the point.

"――――"

　Roswaal remained silent in response to Subaru's question.

　Subaru also shuts his mouth, waiting for Roswaal's answer. Silence falls on the room, and the only sounds are the freezing wind blowing against the window from outside, and the rhythmic clicking of Garfiel's fangs, like the ticking of a clock.

"Subaru-kun."

"ah"

"--Did you hear that from me?"

"――――"

　That was a meaningless question.

　Subaru ran several simulations in his head about what kind of reply Roswaal might give.

　There were the patterns where they laughed fearlessly and said, "Well done for figuring it out," and the patterns where they were clearly shaken and said, "Wh, what a stupid thing to say... do you have any evidence!?" The most likely pattern was to evade the question with, "I don't really know what you're talking about."

　The answer that Roswaal gave was different to any of their expectations.

"How could I even have that conversation while I'm talking to you right now? Did I say something wrong?"

"Hmm, hmm... I see. I see. I see... That's a pity."

　Unable to process the meaning of his words, Subaru shows his incomprehension towards Roswaal. Roswaal lowers his eyes at what Subaru has said and mutters with a weak sigh.

　His usually pale face looked somehow even weaker, and Subaru saw that this had nothing to do with Roswaal's physical condition, but rather with the state of his mind.

"--That's right. You slipped up, you slipped up. You said something strange."

　When he looked up, Roswaal quickly retracted what he had just said and smiled faintly.

　The smile drawn by her crimson lips seemed to Subaru to be different from her usual one.

　However, Garfiel takes a step forward without paying any attention to this slight change in Roswaal.

"Aren't you going to deny it, hey?"

Subaru: "When you're the one being suspected, don't you think it would look like a lie to string these shameful words around? I'm already confident that I haven't earned your trust based on my usual words and actions."

「You understand, don't you? In that case, you can probably imagine how I'm going to act from now on...right?!」

　With a sharp exhale, Garfiel's body reduces the distance by several steps to zero.

　Walking over to the bed, Garfiel stretched out his arm and went to grab Roswaal by the throat. It was such an instantaneous movement that Subaru couldn't even react in time to stop him.

　However,

"--You."

"I will not tolerate your disrespect towards Lord Roswaal, Garf."

　Ram jumped out from the next room and caught Garfiel's outstretched arm with her whole body.

　His outstretched right arm was grabbed in front of his chest, and Garfiel glared at Ram, his throat trembling.

　Subaru was surprised by Ram's appearance, as he had not been aware that she was in the house, but he breathed a sigh of relief, knowing that at least thanks to her he had managed to avert immediate bloodshed.

　that's why--,

"Ram, you really are a good servant."

"Yes, Lord Roswaal--"

　When Subaru heard their conversation, he didn't think it was strange at all.

　Roswaal was simply praising Ram for putting her life on the line to protect her master. There was nothing strange about that. Ram had certainly done her job.

　What could the problem be? Subaru looked up and furrowed his brow in thought.

　Subaru stood in front of the bedroom entrance. In front of him was Garfiel's back, with small Ram standing across from Garfiel's petite body. Behind them was a bed, where Roswaal was lying down under the pretext of recuperating.

　--When did Roswaal stand up?

"――――"

　It felt like it was just for a moment.

　In the blink of an eye, Roswaal rose from his bed and walked over to where Ram and Garfiel were, sparks flying nearby.

　and,

"――――"

　What is that?

　It feels like there is something human-like sticking out from Garfiel's back.

　Extending from the front of his chest, through the middle of his back, and equipped with five wriggling fingers, it looked to Subaru like a human right arm.

"G, fu..."

　Right in front of me, Garfiel's body trembles violently.

　Slowly, the back of his jacket began to turn crimson red, and he could feel his knees sagging. Unable to support himself, Garfiel dropped to his knees, and his arms disappeared from around his back.

　Instantly, a huge amount of blood began to gush out from the hole that had nothing to plug.

"--picture?"

　Garfiel collapses. Ram and Roswaal look down on him.

　And looking down at Ram's chest,

"Rosu..."

"You were truly a good servant."

　Ram tried to call out his name in a weak voice, but Roswaal interrupted her, speaking gently.

　His left hand gently stroked Ram's pink hair, and Ram, her cheeks flushed red, accepted it with an ecstatic look on her face.

　--Fresh blood slowly spills from the corner of his smiling mouth.

　Of course.

　His chest was being pierced from behind.

　The arm is removed.

　Ram's small body was unable to withstand the light impact and fell forward.

　The one who received it was Garfiel, who was bleeding profusely from his own body.

　He picked up Ram who had fallen into his arms,

「Gah… Roz… Ram, Ram, Ram, Ram Ram Ram Ram Ram!」

　For an instant, the hatred that had taken over his heart was wiped away by the sight of his beloved before him.

　Garfiel repeatedly called out the name of the girl in his arms, letting out a blood-curdling roar as a pale blue light emanated from both his arms.

　Subaru knew that this vivid glow was what brought about the effects of healing magic.

　Although Garfiel prefaces this by saying that it's not his forte, he is nonetheless able to handle it.

　Even now, Garfiel was devoting all his energy to treating Ram in his arms, despite the fact that he himself had received a fatal wound piercing his chest.

　His body ripples and changes in time with the beating of his heart.

　His exposed skin was covered with hair, his fangs began to grow, and his pupils narrowed. His body's muscle mass increased dramatically, and his clothes began to tear as they could no longer withstand his larger body.

　He has transformed into a beast, a tiger that has lost all sense of reason. The animal's instinct to protect his injured body and the human rationality of wanting to sustain the life of his loved one in front of him clash violently.

　but,

"――――"

"Being transformed into a beast is troublesome."

　Roswaal said this while tilting his head slightly and slashed his leg towards Garfiel.

　The long legs swung sideways, turning into wind and hitting Garfiel directly on the side of his head - there was a faint sound like an egg cracking, and Garfiel's head exploded into a bright red flash as if it were a joke.

　Garfiel's body was missing from the head up. Blood spurted out like a fountain from the cut surface of his severed neck, and the stench of blood filled the room as his corpse collapsed on top of Ram.

　Ram, who was pinned underneath it, didn't move a muscle, a faint smile on her face.

　Garfiel's healing magic hadn't even kicked in. Ram's heart had stopped beating the moment she left Roswaal's hands.

　Garfiel was simply exerting himself without realizing it.

"As expected, even for me, it's difficult to use other magic when using magic that interferes with the weather. --That's a shame for a royal court magician."

　Roswaal roughly wiped his bloodstained feet with a nearby sheet, having killed both Ram and Garfiel barehanded, and turned to look at Subaru, who was motionless.

　Then, in his usual manner and tone, Roswaal spoke.

"Well then――let's talk. Natsuki Subaru-kun."