Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

"There's a concept called parallel worlds. It's the idea that there are other worlds that follow a similar path to the one we're living in right now."

　He forced himself to speak in a voice that sounded as flat as possible.

　His lecture-like speech was accompanied at regular intervals by the rhythm of small, rhythmic tapping of fingertips on the table.

"Very, huh. Complicated, huh. I can hear you."

"It's not such a difficult concept. In fact, you can think of parallel worlds as being created endlessly by simply making a different choice. For example, there is a fork in the road on your way home. Either way you can reach your home, and there are two people who take the right and the other who take the left - that possibility can already be considered a parallel world on an extremely small scale."

"What's that? If you start talking like that, then you won't be able to count how many worlds there are. That kind of thinking is stupid."

　In response to the exhausted voice, the assertive voice continued in a short manner.

　The lecturing voice gave a wry smile and pointed a finger at the person who was giving the impatient answer,

"I'm not making fun of you like that. It's true that in the example I gave earlier, the range of variation was too small to convey the difference, but... this can be applied to bigger situations too."

"Larger... Like what?"

"For example, let's say you were able to abandon the lonely Elf suicide squad on the Boroid Plains."

"――――"

"...Hmm. If I had predicted it, I would have thought that you would get angry at this point."

"The reason why I don't get angry is simple. Even if that scene were to be repeated dozens, hundreds, or thousands of times, I would definitely go and punch that place. --There's no way that parallel world you speak of could ever come into existence!"

　After making this powerful statement, the owner of the voice slammed his raised leg down on the table. The person lecturing chuckled at the confident voice that literally leaned back. Seeing this, the owner of the confident voice raised his well-shaped eyebrows sternly,

"What's so funny?"

"Well, you're acting like a man, but your underwear is showing, Minerva."

"Ah, stop! What, you idiot! I can't believe it anymore! Idiot! Idiot! Idiot! You're so stupid! Idiot! Seriously, stupid! Stupid, and, um, stupid!"

　Shouting insults that revealed her limited vocabulary, the blonde girl - Minerva, the ``Witch of Wrath'' - lowered her legs with teary eyes, and inserted her hands between the legs of her short skirt to close them.

　With anger in his eyes, he glared at the white-haired witch standing in front of him. But,

"Haa. Regardless of the right or wrong of the argument, haa. As for underwear, haa. It's not the shameless self-destruction of Minerva, haa. Holding a grudge is shameful, haa."

"You're the last person I want to hear call me indecent, Sekhmet. You're a die-hard fan of wearing the same robe all the time...how long has it been since you last changed those robes?"

　Minerva turned her stern gaze to the side, towards Sekhmet, the ``Witch of Sloth,'' who had completely thrown herself onto the table and buried her face in her long, reddish-purple hair.

　Sekhmet turned her head in the sea of ​​hair and looked at Minerva through the gaps in her hair.

"It only has to be put over your head, heh. It's the most comfortable outfit, heh. I let Typhon wipe my body, heh. It's not that dirty, heh."

"You have the habit of finding fault with other people's appearances, yet you yourself are like that... Just, just, just... what is this!? Am I in the wrong? Is it my fault? Do you want me to beat you clean!?"

　Minerva raised her fist in anger, but Sekhmet did not respond and simply turned her face away.

　Minerva's forehead bulged with blue veins at her attitude, which showed she had lost all desire to converse, but the witch, accustomed to her indignation, completely gave up the intention of even touching her.

　Now that the Witch of Sloth had exhausted all her energy, the one who began clapping her hands was the witch who had been conversing with Minerva first - Echidna, the Witch of Greed.

"I understand your anger, and I find it pleasing. But I'd like to continue our conversation."

"I told you so. It wasn't Echidna who provoked me, using some parallel world thing as an excuse. I'm angry. I'm indignant. I'm furious."

"Okay, okay. Anyway, let's continue with the story about parallel worlds. If the previous analogy doesn't hold up… well, that's right. What do you think would have happened if Flugel hadn't been able to make a pact with Volcanica?"

　Echidna asked Minerva with a mischievous smile, her finger on her lips. Minerva gasped in response and narrowed her blue eyes,

"Without the pact between Volcanica and Flugel, Reid alone wouldn't be enough to stop her... The world would be consumed."

"I wonder what will happen if she is swallowed up. Will the world continue to revolve around only one person, the Jealous Witch? Or perhaps this world exists somewhere as a parallel world. If so, wouldn't that be interesting?"

"Echidna, you really do have a displeased look when you talk about that girl. —I'm not that angry about her. I don't want to share your anger."

"That's one answer. Your rage is pleasant. And that is why, out of all witches, you are the most worthy of being loved."

　Minerva snorted softly in front of Echidna as she spoke in the past tense. She then crossed her arms and leaned her back, pushing out her ample breasts.

"I don't wish to be loved. What I wish for is for conflict to disappear from this world, for the voices of suffering, sorrow, crying, and pain to be eradicated with my fists. Nothing else is needed on the path I am running. My anger, my rage, the healing power of these fists――they are everything to me."

　Minerva declares that there is not a single cloud of impurity in her way of life.

　A conviction that is completely free of any hesitation, uncertainty, worry, or any of the elements that could lead you astray.

　It was truly "Wrath" - her never-ending anger towards the world that supported, created, and constructed her very existence.

　but,

"Well, even if you say that. When you're praised, you get happy and end up grinning, which is what's cute about Neruneru."

　Yes, that characteristically lazy voice with drawn-out endings interrupted the conversation.

　The voice came from opposite Sekhmet, that is, from Minerva's left.

"Neruneru's stubbornness is so strong that it's on a witch level. Daphne, I love Neruneru so much that I want to eat her."

"Shut up, Daphne. You were asleep up until now, why are you suddenly awake?"

"I've been awake ever since Nerunel started making all that noise and showing off her underwear. Even though she's wearing a short skirt that would be visible if she moved around a little too much, she's still wearing cute underwear, Nerunel."

"You, you! Even though you're younger, you're picking out something way too risky! What's that? It's not underwear, it's a string! Idiot! Idiot! Because you're an idiot! Seriously, you're a hopeless idiot! Idiot! Idiot!"

　Minerva yelled, her face red and her eyes filling with tears of excitement, while Daphne, the Witch of Gluttony, listened to her with amusement.

　Her whole body was bound tightly in a straitjacket, her eyes were covered with an eye patch that crossed her face diagonally, and her small body was placed inside a black coffin, a bizarre sight. She was joining the group of people around the table as if it was the most natural thing in the world, so the tea ceremony from afar looked extremely surreal.

　Minerva, having run out of insults to yell at Daphne (which were just stupid repetitions), slumped in her seat, buried her face in her hands and slumped against the table.

"What on earth, what on earth, what on earth. It's not like I'm, I'm in the wrong. I'm not doing it to be praised, but of course I'd be happy if I was praised. If someone says thank you, what's wrong with thinking I'm glad I did it? Am I in the wrong? Is it my fault? I want to heal everyone and be healed too..."

"I think your ability to not give up in a panic is one of your great strengths. Now then."

　Echidna ignored Minerva, who had dropped out of the conversation, immersed in a sea of ​​self-questioning, and turned her gaze to Daphne, who had butted in on the conversation.

　Daphne had both her eyes covered and couldn't feel the echidna's gaze, but she sniffed her little nose cutely.

"Dona Dona, why are you staring at Daphne? Unlike Neruneru and Metomet, Daphne can't patiently listen to your stories. In fact... haa haa... I'm almost out of calories."

"I thought I had learned enough in my lifetime that it is foolish to expect witches to cooperate with one another… but with things not progressing this far, I'm actually proud of you guys."

　As she spoke, Echidna flicked the fingertips of her raised right hand.

　Suddenly, a steaming cup and a plate of cookies appeared in front of Daphne. Her sealed eyes widened as she saw the food, and Daphne suddenly became excited.

"Of course, I don't intend to keep you waiting, so let's eat first..."

"Gah gah. Fluff fluff. Squish squish squish."

"That goes without saying. I'd appreciate it if you'd observe some table manners, if possible."

　In front of Echidna, who shrugged her shoulders, was Daphne, who had her whole body thrust into the table and was eating and drinking with her whole body. --Daphne's meals were literally done with her "whole body".

　Although she was making chewing sounds, she was not actually taking in the tea and snacks through her mouth, but directly through her skin. The offered tea and snacks were taken into Daphne's body along with the tea utensils, and were instantly used as food for Gluttony.

"Ah, it's delicious, it's sweet... Sorry, I got carried away and even took a bite of the table."

"I wouldn't say I don't mind… but I was half prepared for this to happen the moment I invited you. I don't expect anything more than for you to exercise restraint."

"Dona Dona, do you tell birds not to fly and fish not to swim?"

　Echidna sighed as Daphne indirectly indicated she absolutely refused. Daphne shook her whole body after finishing off the tea and sweets and continued, "So..."

"Now that I've got something to eat, I'll join in on that Dona Dona story from earlier. Was it something about parallel worlds or something?"

"Yes, I agree. What do you think about that, Daphne?"

"I don't really think anything of it though. I don't get full from thinking about what would have happened if I had done this or that. Ah, but if you consider that it would have branched out depending on whether you had meat or fish for dinner, maybe it's not such a stupid idea after all."

"In Daphne's case, her level of understanding is impeccable... but honestly, I don't think she's interested enough to debate. That was obvious, too."

　Among the witches, Daphne is one of the more gentle and approachable.

　The problem was that her very existence was a nuisance to other living things, and her gentle personality and ferocious nature made her hopelessly unsuited to coexisting with "others."

"In the end, you see. Haa. Even if you think about parallel worlds, haa. It's pointless to even think about it, haa. I guess not, haa."

　And so, the one who joined the conversation, which was not going anywhere, was the Witch of Sloth, leaning her whole body against the chipped table. Wrapped in her own long hair, she looked at Echidna, who was looking at her, and Daphne, who was sniffing at her,

"There are worlds that branch off from these ideas, ha. You can think about them, but you can't actually know or experience them, ha. So their existence is an untouchable bubble of possibility, ha. It will pop and disappear the moment you touch it, ha."

"Certainly, from a realistic perspective, that is probably true. We can be aware of the existence of parallel worlds, but we cannot observe them. The word "parallel" is a good one. Two lines that never intersect - that is what you could call parallel worlds, separate worlds existing side by side."

"--But the second Trial isn't like that."

　As Echidna summarises Sekhmet's words, Minerva interrupts her with a sharp remark at the conclusion. Her lovely face turns crimson red with anger.

Subaru: "If Echidna is going out of her way to tell you that story, then she must be being spiteful. Right? That's right. She's hit the nail on the head, isn't she? If you don't want people to know what's going on inside you, then you shouldn't try and hide something that hurts!"

"I didn't say anything so it's troublesome for you to get angry… Well, there's no denying it. After all, that's certainly how the second 'Trial' works."

　In front of Minerva, who slammed her fist into the table, causing it to cave in, Echidna raised her hand and a black-bound book appeared in it.

　It was a forbidden book, possessed only by Echidna, containing all knowledge of the "past," "future," and "present" of this world - "Memory of the World."

　Echidna is the embodiment of knowledge and is in a position to learn about all the information, knowledge, and history in the world if she so desires. However, due to her own temperament, she seems to even hate using the power of the forbidden book.

"The second 'Trial' reads the challenger's mind, locating a fork in the path they have walked - or a point of regret, for that matter - and the world's memory recreates an 'impossible present' if they had made a different choice. Due to its nature, it is somewhat easier to overcome than the first 'Trial', which introduces you to symbols of past mistakes, or the third 'Trial' that awaits once you have overcome this one."

What do you mean, "It's easy to break through?"

"In the end, it's a matter of compromise, just like Daphne did. As Sekhmet also said, parallel worlds are ultimately just a dividing line that can never touch each other. Even if you have regrets or lingering attachments, it's a line that you can never reach."

"Your 'trial' is to get as close as possible to that unreachable line!"

　Echidna shrugged slightly as Minerva raised the corners of her eyes in irritation.

　Echidna stroked her own white hair, trying to calm the enraged Minerva,

"The second Trial is fairly easy for an ordinary person to overcome. Unlike the first Trial, which requires you to overcome a past that you have actually gone too far in, the second Trial only touches on the possibilities that might have been. You are free to either deny or affirm the parallel world... but as long as you can affirm the current, original world, that's fine."

"The original world..."

"So, we come back to the issue of compromise. It's a simple compromise that Sekhmet or Daphne, or even you, can make. —If you can do that, you can overcome the 'Trials'."

　Minerva reluctantly tucked her chin in response to Echidna's reasoning.

　Certainly, if Echidna's words were any guide, the contents of the Trial didn't seem all that severe.

　If it was the witches here――or even if they weren't witches, anyone with a strong sense of self would be able to easily overcome the Trial.

"But then, why is Subaru having so much trouble? Subaru didn't seem like an independent kid at all."

"--In his case, huh?"

　Daphne was muttering for some reason as she recalled her memories of Subaru. Echidna ignored her behavior and closed her eyes, thinking only of her words.

"The second 'trial' is the observation of a parallel world. In a way, it is an act that allows you to see what lies beyond your past regrets. And as I said before, it is easy to either confirm or deny it. --Because in fact, you can brazenly admit that you did not go through that outcome."

　However, Echidna continued.

"That is not the case with him. Even I didn't expect that the second "Trial" would have such an impact on him. ーーReally, it was unexpected."

"Sniff sniff... Dona Dona, I can smell you laughing happily."

"You're probably glad that it was unexpected. You're a nasty pervert... there's no hope for you."

"Birds of a feather flock together. As my friends, you will not be exempt from this."

　Daphne was laughing and Minerva was pissed, showing her anger. Suddenly, she heard the faint sound of breathing coming from Sekhmet, who had remained silent. Echidna shook the back of her chair while keeping an eye on the reactions of each of the witches. Then,

"Donna, Typhon is hungry too."

　A girl jogged across from the grassland and jumped onto the table on top of the hill, calling out to Echidna.

　She has short green hair, brown skin, and a dazzling smile with white teeth; she is the "Arrogant Witch" Typhon.

　Echidna smiled at the girl, who was killing time in the fields, refusing to get involved in the complicated conversation.

"Sorry to have bored you. Typhon, I think tea should be...sweet. You can eat regular snacks with tea, right?"

"Nothing. Running around used up all my energy, so I'm going to have a drink and something to eat and relax."

　Saying this cheerfully, Typhon grabbed the empty seat next to Sekhmet and sat down. He then began playing with Sekhmet's long hair with one hand while eating the tea and sweets that Echidna had made appear with a snap of her fingers, making a mess on his face and the table.

　If you didn't know about Typhon's nature, it would be an amusing sight.

"I'm sure you're tired from taking care of Typhon, too."

"That's not true, you know? Typhon's a good kid, and her powers won't work on me... well, they won't work on me, you know? It's okay. I'm fine."

　Echidna looked up, and next to her was a person who had arrived at the tea ceremony after Typhon, who answered haltingly and gave a weak smile.

　She was a startlingly fragile girl with pale crimson hair that reached down to her waist. Her features were not particularly distinctive, but for some reason she naturally drew my attention to her.

　More than anything, his behavior and facial expressions were like those of a small animal, and left the impression of plucking the heartstrings of people.

"Sit down, Carmilla. I specifically called you here."

"Wh-what... shall we... start? Aren't you... scared?"

"It won't scare you or hurt you. I just need your help in moving the board."

　Taking the seat next to her as suggested, Carmilla - the "Witch of Lust" - looked timidly at Echidna. Echidna smiled at her, lightly spreading her arms,

"--I want you to try and rescue this lost lamb with your love."

　Echidna said this to the trembling witch, and held out her open arms.