Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

　--What on earth am I witnessing right now?

『――――』

　Emilia screamed and cried out for Subaru's name.

　Subaru, leaning against the bed and lying face down, had no strength in his body, and his wide-open eyes had long since lost all life.

　Of course. There's no way someone could survive with their throat slashed by a dagger and losing so much blood.

　It was a rare experience to look down on my own corpse and the manner of my death.

　It is as if a ghost has emerged from a dead body and is showing us a scene from the afterlife.

　And even if most of that feeling is wrong, the essential parts are not.

　--What Subaru was being shown was, without a doubt, the scene of his aftermath.

『――――』

　The interior of the room, the faces there, and the image of my own horrible death.

　Putting these things together, Subaru realized what scene he was being shown.

　This was the result of Subaru's shortsighted actions after defeating the Archbishop of Sin, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, and saving Emilia, and then learning of Rem's loss.

　Subaru rejoiced at having defeated the White Whale, defeated Sloth, and saved Emilia and the village of Arlam, but he was immediately thrown into the depths of despair upon learning of the loss of Rem.

　Afterwards, Subaru traveled by dragon carriage to the royal capital - where he found Crusch Karsten's villa, where he came face to face with the sleeping Rem. Immediately after making sure that she was unconscious and that no one had any memories of her, Subaru stabbed himself in the throat with a knife and committed suicide.

　It was just a spontaneous act, not something that was done with any deep thought.

　But to deny the scene before his eyes, to take back what he had lost, he clung to "Return by Death" and tried to redo the past.

　--But that reckless act did not bear fruit, and after taking his own life, Subaru was transported back to the moment he was reunited with the sleeping Rem, just before stabbing her in the throat.

　Updated save points for Return by Death.

　This cruel act robbed Subaru of the means to get Rem back, and plunged him once again into the depths of despair and disappointment.

　After that, he made up his mind to get Rem back, and vowed to make a comeback, but now he's somehow managing to get back on his feet.

"I don't know. I've never seen a scene like this. I don't know... There's no way I could know!"

　It's a sight I've never seen before.

　Of course, because in this world, Subaru is already dead.

　Even though Subaru had the means to return to the world after losing his life, he did not know what happened to the world after he died. No, he could not know.

　But still, I had never noticed it before.

　For Subaru, who had avoided a world where he was stuck by dying, returning to the world, and walking through a different time, the world he died in was merely a passing point, where he could not carry over any information other than "why he died."

　Having judged this to be a checkpoint on the way to ultimately reaching the future he desired, and having decided to utilize "Return by Death," even this world at this moment was merely a passing point on Subaru's path.

　And then... it collapses.

"Stop it. Stop it stop it stop it stop it stop it stop!"

　Unable to accept the scene before his eyes, Subaru screamed voicelessly.

　However, no voice could come from his throatless body, his eyeless face could not turn away, and his earless head could not be closed, and the world engraved its results on Subaru, who only had consciousness.

　ーーPunishment for Subaru's reckless actions.

"Lady Emilia, this is――!"

　Hearing Emilia's crying voice, someone else stepped into the scene of devastation.

　An old man with a well-trained body wrapped in a brand new butler uniform, walking without showing any sign of being affected by his injuries - it was Wilhelm.

　The old man slipped into the room with slippery steps and was left speechless by the sight before him.

　――Even the Sword Demon Wilhelm had an expression of shock like this.

　Subaru, who was looking straight at Wilhelm's face, had this inappropriate impression.

　That was how Wilhelm's expression as he looked down at Subaru's corpse was different from normal, and he couldn't hide his agitation.

"What on earth is happening... no, now... Subaru-dono!"

　However, Wilhelm's confusion only lasted for a moment.

　He shook his head, instantly calming the confusion in his mind, and ran over to the collapsed Subaru. Emilia, clinging to his powerless body, did not notice Wilhelm rushing over to her.

"Subaru… Subaru… Just kidding… I said we'd be together…"

"Emilia-sama, I'm so sorry――!"

　Wilhelm shoves Emilia aside, removing her from in front of the corpse as she curses him for his betrayal. Emilia loses the strength to support herself and falls to the floor, but Wilhelm returns his consciousness, which he had only been directing towards Emilia for a moment, to Subaru, and begins to revive Subaru, covered in a great deal of fresh blood.

"――――"

　With a grim expression, Wilhelm took off his jacket and wrapped the fabric around Subaru's throat, before he hesitantly removed the dagger that was about to be thrust into him. For a moment, spurting blood stained Wilhelm's murderous face in spots, but Wilhelm closed the wound without even blinking.

　She stopped the bleeding and struck Subaru's chest, whose heart had stopped beating, to give him energy.

"Ferris! Felix! Come quickly! This is urgent! Hurry!"

　Shouting angrily outside the room, Wilhelm pressed down on Subaru's wounds and continued to resuscitate him. However, there was too much blood flowing out. His limbs and face were pale, and it was clear to everyone that the soul of Natsuki Subaru no longer remained there.

　Even so, Wilhelm did not stop resuscitating the child.

"Grandpa Vil, what are you shouting for…?"

"Felix, hurry! He's holding a knife to his throat! We need to act fast!"

"----!"

　Ferris came running when called, nodded immediately at Wilhelm's instruction, and wrapped blue waves around his palms, sending healing magic into the collapsed body of Subaru.

　Subaru looked down at Ferris, who always maintained an easy-going demeanor, and saw that there was an unprecedented seriousness in his face, as he looked down at himself, now a shell of a soul.

"Stop it already... It's useless. It's useless. There's no hope for him..."

　Whatever you do, it's useless.

　Subaru has no memory of being saved after attempting to kill himself.

　Natsuki Subaru had stabbed himself in the throat with a dagger in an impulse in an attempt to deny reality, leaving an indelible scar on the hearts of many, and then vanished without even feeling any remorse for having done so.

　That is the truth. That is the unattainable end of their devotion.

"I won't let you go! I will never let you go! If I lose my benefactor in this way, I will be so ashamed that I cannot live...!"

"Why would you do something so stupid at a time like this...?"

　Wilhelm, holding his wound, shouted his determination, while Ferris spat out words of frustration while simultaneously using the most gentle magic in the world.

　Subaru's heart continues to be shocked by the scene and the ripples of emotion between the two.

　However, despite their hard work...

"――――"

"Felix! Why? Why did you stop the treatment? If this continues..."

"It's all over, Old Vil. There's no soul left anywhere."

　Pushing away Wilhelm who was closing in on him with his palm, Ferris removed the jacket that the Sword Demon had been holding down and wiped the wound with a handkerchief he pulled from his pocket. The wound had healed neatly, and it was hard to believe that Subaru had been fatally wounded; he had regained the healthy Subaru he was just a few minutes ago.

　However, the large amount of blood that had spilled and the soul that had fallen out were no longer there.

　Wiping his wounds, Wilhelm looked down at Subaru, who was pale and had a deathly expression on his face, and shook his head.

"Why... why! Why, why so easily... Subaru-dono, you...!"

　The floor explodes with a hard thud as the fist slams into it.

　The blood mixed with the broken pieces of the floor was because Wilhelm's fist had broken as well. With blood dripping from his knuckles, Wilhelm bit his lip in frustration.

　With Wilhelm in full rage in front of him, Ferris looked down at Subaru with a frustrated expression. His own animal ears drooping, he gazed upon Subaru's deathly features, which could hardly be called peaceful,

"...You're a coward. You won't leave everyone you care about behind. You're forcing all your pain and suffering onto everyone else...and then you're satisfied with that?"

　It's too harsh to be sarcasm, and too merciful to be condemnation.

　Subaru's frozen thoughts meant that he was unable to comprehend the complex emotions hidden in Ferris's voice.

　However, it was clear from Wilhelm and Ferris' attitudes.

　--Subaru had done something irreparable to the two of them.

"――――"

　My thinking has completely stopped.

　What am I being shown right now?

　I know. I already know what I was shown.

　We are being shown our sins.

"--Lady Emilia?"

　Suddenly, Wilhelm, who was looking down, called out his name.

　The reason why there was a suspicious tone in his voice was because Emilia's sobbing voice had stopped, and her body, lying on her side, had even stopped trembling.

　Sensing this change, a pained expression crossed Wilhelm's face. He too had only just experienced a sense of loss, and his expression was one of consideration for the shock that Emilia, who was even closer to him than he was, must have felt.

　The old man closed his eyes tightly once and then stood up.

　Then, he walked over to Emilia, who was still lying on the ground, and reached out his hand to help her up.

"I'm sorry about earlier, Lady Emilia. However, if you continue like this, it will harm your health. Please take care of yourself…"

"--That's what I said."

"Lady Emilia?"

"You told me you loved me..."

　Lying on her side, Emilia hugged her knees and curled up into a small ball, crying.

　No one there could scold her for being childish. Wilhelm frowned as if enduring the pain, and even Ferris turned his face away, unable to bear to see Emilia's heartbroken state.

　and--,

"picture?"

　Stunned, Ferris opened his eyes and mouth and let out a silly noise.

　As if drawn in by the voice, Wilhelm followed Ferris's gaze and was astonished.

"――――"

　--Before the two of them, Subaru, who should have been completely decayed, stood upright.

『---!?』

　Subaru, who was only conscious, was also astonished at the sight that was beyond his comprehension.

　The body rose to its feet, stretching its limbs with awkward movements like a clockwork doll, and with its head tilted at a 90 degree angle, its eyes slowly opened.

　His unfocused, lightless eyes glared around the room.

"Feri..."

"That's impossible! His body was definitely dead! The resurrection failed!"

　Wilhelm tried to call out to Ferris, clinging to a faint hope, but halfway through, Ferris understood what he meant and shouted out his own opinion.

　Hearing this, Wilhelm also immediately decided on his own course of action.

　In other wordsーー,

"Subaru-dono, I'm sorry--!"

　Even when he is not carrying a sword, the sharpness of the Sword Demon's skills is not diminished in the slightest.

　Wilhelm bent down to pick up his jacket that had been discarded on the floor, twisted it, damp with Subaru's blood, and with the movement of his whole body shot it out like a spear.

　Gaining speed, adding weight from blood, and twisting its tip, it pierced the air like a spear made of cloth. With a technique that could be called cloth spearmanship, it struck the preemptive blow at Subaru, who rose to his feet.

　Without missing his target, the tip of the jacket was sucked into Subaru's face and pierced it――,

"--Nu."

　A waterfall of shadow welled up from beneath his feet, drank up the cloth, and annihilated Wilhelm's strike.

　Seeing this without any preparatory movement, Wilhelm quickly pulled his arm back, but he was unable to avoid the damage. Three fingers on his right hand were torn off at the first joint along with the cloth.

　Wilhelm, dripping with blood, jumped back and clicked his tongue, putting some distance between him and the still-standing Subaru,

"Felix! Take Lady Emilia and leave immediately! I'll hold her back here!"

"I don't even have a sword... I only have a dagger!"

　Rolling to the corner of the room, Ferris threw the dagger he had at his waist at Wilhelm. Wilhelm caught it with his left hand and, turning his wrist, drew it from its sheath. He muttered, "Short prey feels different," and

"Let's get out of the mansion and give orders to Crusch-sama――No, now's not the time. Felix, it's up to you to decide. Bring the Knights along."

"Is it too tough for old man Vil to be there alone?"

"Something equivalent to a white whale, or perhaps... Subaru-dono, what have you been keeping inside of you?"

　Assessing the enemy's strength, Wilhelm gulped and broke out into a cold sweat.

　In front of the Sword Demon, who was clearly on guard, Subaru hung his arms limply, his gaze wandering aimlessly as he looked at nothing, and his upper body swaying unsteadily from side to side.

　There is no rationality, and perhaps even limited consciousness.

　The question is, even in such a situation, do they still have the sense of self-defense?

　Wilhelm continued to glare at Subaru, who had slowly turned into an enigmatic presence.

　Meanwhile, Subaru's mind was filled with a storm of question marks as he looked down on the situation.

　The wind has clearly changed direction since earlier.

　Having been shown his sin, and his heart broken, Subaru was now being shown the even more incomprehensible afterlife.

　What on earth is this scene?

　Did it really happen? If not, what is the meaning of this scene? Why is my consciousness here now?

　I don't understand anything. I don't understand anything, but...

"Felix! Lady Emilia――!"

「I know that! Lady Emilia, over here…?!」

　Ferris responded to Wilhelm's urging, and as he crossed the room he roughly picked up the fallen Emilia. However, a moment later, a look of shock ran across Ferris' face.

　The reason is,

"--You made Lia cry."

　A small shadow descends in the center of the room, creating a white atmosphere.

　It has grey fur, a tail as long as its body, and is small enough to fit in the palm of your hand, yet the pressure it emits is such that you could mistake it for coming into contact with a ferocious beast that you have to look up at.

　A small great spirit that Subaru hadn't seen in a long time was floating in the center of the room, looking down at him. There was an incomprehensible fierceness in its expression, and hatred in the words it muttered.

"Considering the barbaric acts of the owner of that body, you deserve to die a thousand deaths - witch."

　A cold murderous intent spread throughout the small room, and Wilhelm's expression hardened as he watched Puck turn his murderous intent into an icy sharp point, breathing out white breath.

"Spirit... Lady Emilia, that can't be."

"Leah is unconscious right now. Based on the contract, I will act according to my own judgment. I will not forgive the witch. I will protect Leah. --I will not forgive the man who made Leah cry either."

"Right now! If we fight here, there will be harm――"

"The promise has been broken, and my Lia's heart has frozen. --This is the end."

　Puck's cold murderous intent only intensified as he ignored Wilhelm's pleas.

　The white air fills the room, causing it to freeze and everything to die. In a world where even your breath can freeze, Subaru finds himself bathed in Puck's murderous intent.

　Subaru raised his head and saw Puck for the first time.

　His blank eyes stared at the floating pack, and suddenly his eyelids moved.

　and,

"――――"

　He laughed.

　Subaru's corpse distorted its cheek as it looked at Puck and laughed.

　With a distorted, mocking expression, full of evil.

『――――Stop.』

　Having witnessed this, Subaru's mind called for a halt before the catastrophe approached.

　But it doesn't reach.

　Puck raised his small hand and swung it down, creating a small glacier in the room, the absolute zero trying to devour Subaru's corpse. A shadow erupted from below, striking back, a torrent of mana raging through the small room, engulfing Wilhelm and Ferris in the middle of it all before it, before exploding―― screams and shrieks, freezing and cracking sounds chained together, and the white end mixed with black despair filled the room before Subaru's eyes.

『---!!』

　Suddenly, like a power outage, the world lost all its color.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

"---bu"

　Subaru's consciousness was awakened by the pain of his face being slammed into the ground.

　Subaru's chin hits the damp floor, tears welling up in his eyes from the sharp pain, and he shook his head.

　He immediately raised his head and quickly looked around. --There was nothing abnormal.

"I-Inside the tomb..."

　The cold air, the dark space, the damp floor and the stale smell make it unmistakably the inside of a tomb.

　Having confirmed this, Subaru next opened and closed his arms, confirming that there was nothing strange in his limbs. His rough breathing gradually began to calm down, and he forced himself back to composure by deeply emptying the contents of his lungs.

　But he just couldn't shake the feeling that his insides were shaking to the core.

"A daydream... there's no way that's convenient. But, that was..."

　What on earth was that?

　Presented with a scene he didn't want to see, Subaru reflected on the situation he had just found himself in.

　Without a doubt, the scene ahead was "the scene after Subaru dies."

　Emilia's screams upon witnessing Subaru's death, the devotion that Wilhelm and Ferris could not reach - and then, a final, nightmarish clash of powers.

　The scars that the first half had left on Subaru's heart, and the doubts that the second half had created in his mind, had hammered a sense of incomprehension and uncontrollability into his soul.

"naive--"

　The moment he remembered, Subaru's back was bent over in agony as if his organs were being squeezed, and he spilled the contents of his stomach onto the floor.

　Even so, I hadn't even had a proper dinner. All that came out was a little bit of water from the tea I had drunk an hour ago and some yellowish stomach juice.

　By repeatedly pretending to vomit it out loud, the stomach contracts and the person pretends to be responding to the demands of their body.

　And as he vomited again and again, Subaru realized he had an idea about the change in the situation he found himself in and its cause.

　If he hadn't been invited into the tomb, into Echidna's dream castle, then there was only one place he could have been summoned to after losing consciousness.

"Could it be that this is a 'Trial'... not the past one, but the second one...?!"

　It's possible that a second "trial" has begun, different from the first "trial," in which they were forced to face their past.

　Subaru was shocked when he realized this.

　It was certainly true that Subaru had overcome the first Trial a few days ago. However, that was only in terms of his soul; for his body, it had only happened a few hours ago in this world. In other words, he had not yet met the conditions to advance to the next stage of the Trial.

　If the Trial had begun despite that, then it could only be described as an irregular occurrence.

"You said that the 'trial' wasn't so painful that it would force you to face your past..."

　--If what Subaru had just seen was part of the Trial, then, even though he had only scratched the surface, it felt like this was about to unfold for the worst.

　For Subaru, that scene was the end of hell.

　If it was hell, Subaru had seen it many times. He was well aware of that.

　And he was prepared to go through that hell over and over again in order to grasp the best possible future.

　--But are you prepared to know about the world even deeper than hell, the world below hell?

"Look at the impossible present"

"――――What!?"

　As Subaru was wondering whether to stay or retreat in the face of this horrifying experience, he suddenly heard a whisper.

　Shocked by this, he stiffened his body, and the moment that happened, he lost consciousness.

　He puts his arms on the ground, but is unable to support himself and falls to the floor again on his shoulders.

　He tries desperately to keep his consciousness by lifting his head, but neither his eyelids nor his neck are able to resist the invisible force, and he is instantly pulled into the depths of the abyss.

　ーーThe ``Trial'', the depths of hell, welcomed Subaru once more.

『――――』

　When Subaru opened his eyes, he found himself lying dead in the middle of a grassy plain, his neck cleaved by Julius' blade - and he was once again made aware of his own sins.