Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

　- I saw the future.

"Without it, I can't even swing my sword. You thief!!"

"Now, look. I have won again."

"Both Subaru and Sister Emilia must be tired. I'm sorry. And yet, even I've become a burden. I'm sorry. I've always wanted to express my gratitude to you…"

　--Each time she comes into contact with the colorful light, it shows Emilia a different future.

"It's a terrible nightmare that the person I wanted to kill so badly turned out to be a kind person."

"There are feelings that should not be spoken. Are you satisfied with the result of revealing them?"

"You think you've fulfilled your promise? If so... if so, then I should have died wrapped up in that pit back then! I should have ended it before I'd see such a dawn! Damn it, damn it!"

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry I'm weak. I'm sorry I couldn't kill you. Now you'll be alone forever. I'm sorry I'm weak..."

　--Wails, shouts, demise, rebirth, farewells, and encounters are all presented in various forms.

『Um, um... my proud grandson... has grown into a good child...』

"I absolutely will not be killed by something as incomprehensible as a curse!"

"I just realized... that I haven't been walking alone all these days."

"Why... doesn't it have a soul?!"

　--Is there nothing in the future but despair? Is there nothing but sadness and suffering?

『As promised, I'll kill you! Ah!? Natsuki Subaruuuuu!!』

"Am I that greedy? Am I being too extravagant? No one dies, no one cries... What's so difficult about that?"

"In the end, we must shed every drop of blood to atone for our sins."

"Good and evil, likes and dislikes, good and bad, it's all nonsense. You just stand there and wait. I... we, whether it's a witch or a dragon, if they get in our way, we'll crush them."

　--So, is this path wrong? Is wishing wrong?

"--I think it's arrogant to pray in order to ask for something. Praying is when you want to get forgiveness."

　--That was what the girl who I had never seen awake and speak in the last world of light had said.

　I wanted to have a proper conversation with her.

　That feeling alone was enough for me to refuse to deny everything.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

　When her vision cleared, Emilia found herself in a wind-swept grassland.

　A white table on a small hill. My body was also on a white chair. I couldn't remember what had happened a few moments before I blinked. However, I knew I was still in a dream world.

"Echidna?"

　If anyone was to greet her at the end of the Trial, it could only be Echidna, her supervisor. Emilia looked around, searching for her.

　However, even though the endless grassland is visible all the way to the horizon, there is no sign of a human being or any obstruction to be found. If you leave this place and start walking, it seems that you will never be able to find the white table again.

"..."

　Even though her body was definitely here, she had a strange feeling that she might fall beyond the horizon. Emilia took a deep breath to calm herself down, and decided that since there was no one around, it was time to move.

　Maybe there is an exit somewhere. I'll find it and get out of here. There's nothing to be gained by wasting my time here.

　and,

"It's been that way since long ago, haa. I wonder why in a situation like this, haa. I wonder if the baton has always fallen to me, haa. What do you think about that, haa?"

"...ah"

　Emilia stopped moving when she saw the ball of fur suddenly appear on the other side of the table.

　As he was about to stand up, he stared in shock at the thing before him.

　I couldn't help but gasp.

"Yeah... an easy to understand reaction, haa. That's probably the correct reaction, haa. That boy was just a bit insensitive, haa."

"――――"

　A person who lets out a gloomy sigh with every word he forms.

　She was a listless woman with an enormous amount of long reddish purple hair and a black robe that she had never worn before. Her words were not harsh and she appeared completely natural.

　--And yet, Emilia felt pressured, as if someone was gripping her throat.

　If the other person makes a single fuss, the head and above will instantly disappear.

　Having regained her past, Emilia was now able to control an immense amount of mana that could not be contained in one body. Even to Emilia, whose abilities as a single fighting force had improved dramatically beyond comparison to before, she could not even converse with the person before her.

　Emilia would be killed as easily as a fly—that much he understood.

"That's right, there's no need to be on guard, huh. I have no intention of harming you, nor having anyone harm me, huh. That sort of thing is troublesome, huh. And yet, that Echidna girl insisted on not meeting me no matter what, huh. So that's why she came, huh."

"Is that so..."

　Emilia timidly tilts her chin back at the woman's words.

　Even now, the overwhelming presence surrounding the woman has not disappeared. It remains the same that she is an entity that can easily destroy him. But if there is no change in the fact that she can be killed if she so desires, it makes no difference whether she is scared or not.

　Taking a deep breath, holding it, and exhaling, Emilia forced herself to calm down.

"So, as a replacement for Echidna... does that mean you're a witch too?"

"---I see, haa. You're more composed than I thought, haa. You're not easily intimidated in the most pressing situations, haa. Maybe you take after your mother, haa."

"Do you know about my mother?"

"I can't tell you, but I know, ha."

　Emilia gasped at the unexpected connection, but the woman spoke firmly, looking exhausted. Even if she pursued the matter, she probably wouldn't be able to draw it out.

　Although she felt that she would eventually do so, Emilia put the issue of her mother aside for the time being. Looking at the past, and at the impossible present, the brilliance of Fortuna and Juice was now in her heart.

　For now, that's enough.

"What should I call you in place of Echidna?"

"I like kids who don't throw tantrums, ha. I'd like Typhon to learn from that, ha. My name is Sekhmet, ha. As you can guess, I'm the Witch of Sloth, ha."

　Sekhmet leaned her body against the table and raised her head, smiling faintly.

　Although she had dark circles under her eyes and an unhealthy complexion, she was a beautiful woman with well-formed features. Still, the word "witch" and the demonic aura she exuded made it clear that she was an extraordinary person.

"In today's world, huh. I wonder how our witch names are being spread, huh. I'm not interested, so it doesn't really matter, huh. I just want to quickly finish the task I'm asked to do and go back to a lazy sleep, huh. I just want to settle down, huh."

"Um, if it's that much of a hassle... wouldn't someone else have been okay? If you don't like Echidna, it doesn't have to be her... but aren't there other witches out there?"

"With the other guys, haha. I can't have a conversation, haha. At times like this, Minerva, who seems like she could have a proper conversation with, haha. I don't think I can face you, haha."

"Minerva..."

　Sekhmet's words have a slow tempo because she sighs between each sentence. However, even she is said to be more talkative than the other witches, so it's scary to imagine what the other witches' personalities are like.

　However, that impression was overwritten by the deep emotions I felt when I heard the word Minerva.

"Minerva..."

　Emilia muttered this once more to herself, tilting her head at the sound.

　For some reason, it seemed to stir up some very fond memories, and yet I could not recall ever having heard it before, either in my past memories or in any of the memories that had just been brought back to me.

　But it was a strange name, one that reminded me so horribly of someone I was close to.

"Well, there's no point in talking about people who aren't here, haha. Anyway, I'm just going to deliver Echidna's message, haha. After hearing it, I'll leave it to you to decide whether or not to complete the Trial, haha. It's not easy being used, haha."

"Um, good job...?"

"I'll just accept your kind words, haa. Well then, take that to heart, haa."

　Calling back Emilia, who had been deep in thought, Sekhmet tilted her head upside down on the table, then looked at Emilia with a fixed gaze, sighed and placed her right hand on the table.

"At the third Trial, haa. You must have seen the future, haa. That future was, once you crossed this tomb, haa. A future of possibilities that could happen, haa."

"The future of possibilities"

"There's a chance that I'll see everything, haa. On the other hand, there's also the possibility that I won't see anything, haa. But, the future that I saw was not a good one, haa. Even I can tell that there's no doubt about that given Echidna's personality, haa."

　As for what the other witches think of Echidna, Sekhmet at least seems to think that she has a mean personality. Emilia doesn't have much to say.

　In reality, Sekhmet had a more negative opinion of Echidna than Emilia had imagined, but it was difficult to ask Emilia, who had already judged Echidna to be a ``wicked witch,'' to give an even worse opinion than that.

Subaru: "The future branches out infinitely, and possibilities derive, haa. Still, the future you just saw is the seed of a tragedy that has a strong possibility of coming true, haa. It will sprout, form buds, and bloom into a magnificent flower... haa. Are you prepared to willingly walk down a path that will bloom into a poisonous flower that may bring misfortune to everyone... haa."

"――――"

　Emilia remained silent and looked at Sekhmet with serious eyes.

　Sekhmet looked tired from speaking at length, but when she noticed Emilia's gaze she frowned.

"...I thought I'd already asked the question, ha."

"Eh, what? Was that a question? If I answer that, will the Trial be over?"

"I guess that's how it is, huh. …Indeed, if I think about your goal, the Trial itself was practically over at the point where you got this far, ha."

　Emilia gave a wry smile as Sekhmet gave off the air of a dead end.

　He had no ill intentions. He was just surprised at how unexpected the question was. After all, it was obvious how Emilia would respond to that question.

"A world where everything ends in tragedy. I'm not prepared to see that."

　It brings back memories that felt like my chest was being torn apart, my heart was being ripped apart.

　In a world of darkness, surrounded by colorful light, Emilia had heard the wail of emotion countless times.

"A future in which everyone may meet a sad ending. In the dark world before this, I saw a lot of that. People were crying, suffering, and angry. I don't know the details of what happened, but I don't want to see a future like that."

"...But, if you choose to continue on this path, huh. I can give you the stamp of approval that there's a high possibility that this will happen, haa. If you don't like it, should you run away? Huh."

"No. I don't like it, so I'm going to stand up for it."

　Shaking her head, Emilia puffed out her chest at Sekhmet, who narrowed her eyes.

　Even as she was nearly engulfed by the overwhelming demonic aura, Emilia's spirit remained unwavering.

　Whenever I feel like giving up and looking down, the memories of my mother and father support me. And whenever I feel like giving up and looking down, there is someone there to encourage me.

"If you see a sad future, run away and avoid it. If that doesn't work, gather momentum and jump over it. If you see someone who has fallen, do your best to pull them up. If you keep doing that, I'm sure you'll be able to wipe away all the tears from earlier."

"You talk recklessly and with a lot of confidence, haa. You're just saying nice things and then you give up as soon as something goes wrong, haa. I hope that's not how you'll end up, haa."

"If it had been just one person, that might have happened."

　Emilia responded fearlessly to Sekhmet's mocking words.

　In a sense, it was a dependent attitude, relying on others. However, for Emilia, this was the most difficult option, and one she had never been able to choose for herself until now.

"――――"

　Hearing this, Sekhmet looked dumbfounded for a moment.

　Then she quickly lowered her face, hiding her expression with the table and her hair,

"Pu, kufu... hah, hahahaha! Ah, that's right! That's right! Right, right, I'm sure you would answer that way now! Ah, that's strange!"

"Was that such an interesting answer?"

"For me, it's satisfying, hah. Can I get it? Fuu. Echidna, you see, hah. Taking on this "Trial", the person who takes on the challenge is alone, troubled and tormented by the past, present and future, hau. She finds enjoyment in seeing what answer they'll come up with, hau. Even after death, she was an intolerable pervert, fuu. And the day her plan fell apart, in this way... hah. It's not satisfying, fuu."

　Sekhmet laughed loudly, breathing heavily but in high spirits. She raised her head, sat up, and leaned back in her chair, but looked directly at Emilia.

　With a nostalgic light in her eyes, Sekhmet smiled.

"A Trial that is meant to be taken alone, haa. So your answer is not to take on it alone, huh. --If Echidna heard that, she'd be making sour grapes with a straight face, haa."

"Really. You were able to give me that kind of answer....Yeah, I really want to see that face too."

"She's a sore loser, so you probably won't get to see that face, huh. But that's a privilege reserved for us dreamers, ha."

"That's unfair."

　When Emilia pursed her lips, Sekhmet's face became even more amused.

　From an outsider's perspective, it may have looked like a peaceful and joyful exchange between two old friends who had known each other for ten years.

"However, in return, I will give you the results of the Trial at my discretion, haa. Of course, far from complaining, I'll give you a perfect pass, fuu."

"Is it really that easy?"

"Did you want a confusing answer or some grandiose production? Ha. In that case, I'm sorry, but you were expecting the wrong thing from me, ha. In any case, I'm the current supervisor, so my answer is the answer, ha. ... The Trial has ended safely, ha."

　Taking a long breath, Sekhmet snapped her fingers lightly. It didn't ring cleanly the first time, so she tried again and again until she finally got a decent sound, and then a wind blew from behind Emilia.

　Emilia, her silver hair swaying, turns around and sees a door appear at the bottom of the hill. The door, which didn't seem to lead anywhere, Emilia intuitively knew that it led outside the dream world.

"If I go outside that door, the 'trial' is over... right?"

"That's right, haha. Congratulations, haha. For four hundred years, haha. Ever since the Tomb was made and Echidna's Trials began functioning, it's a Trial that no one has been able to complete, haha. Well, there were hardly any challengers to begin with, haha."

"...That's true. Not many people enter the 'Sanctuary', and the conditions for those who do enter and are locked up there are surprisingly strict."

"That's one thing... Ah, well, never mind, huh. Either way, it's over, haha."

　Sekhmet's slightly evasive words made Emilia curious, but she didn't pursue the matter. Her excitement at hearing that the Trials were over outweighed anything else.

　To be honest, I haven't felt any sense of accomplishment yet. It doesn't really sink in. In the first past "Trial," I stumbled so much that at one point I even gave up, thinking it was impossible.

　I thought I had made up my mind to not lose, but even so...

"You look like you're not convinced, huh."

"Um, just a little bit. I was wondering if you might be interested."

"No matter what, Echidna won't give us any problems that she can't solve, haa. It's not exactly the same as saying that, but that's about it, huh."

　If a witch, a fellow witch, says so, then that must be how it is.

　Emilia reluctantly tucked her chin in acceptance. Sekhmet glanced at her, then shook her right hand slightly, extending it over the table.

"Through the door behind me, ha. Once I go outside, it's time to say goodbye to the castle of dreams, ha. That means the end of the Trial, ha. It also means I've gained the qualifications to look through the door at the back of the room where I just took the Trial at the tomb, ha."

"The door in the small room. Yes, there it is. I can go in there... What's in there?"

"There is a mechanism that maintains the functioning of the tomb, ha. Only when that mechanism is stopped, ha. The 『Sanctuary』 will have completed its role, ha. You'll understand how to stop it once you enter, ha."

"The tomb's functions will cease, and its role as a 'Sanctuary' will end. The barrier will disappear."

　Once the barrier was gone, not only Emilia, but the residents of the Sanctuary would be able to leave the forest.

　It's unclear how many people will venture out into the world when the barrier is lifted, or whether living outside would be in their best interest in any real sense.

　But I can't stay cooped up anymore.

　Just as Subaru had persuaded Garfiel, Emilia must also tell them: the time to remain holed up in a place where time has stopped has come to an end.

　How can we create a place for ourselves to live in this time?

　If possible, I want us to search together for the answer that Emilia has yet to find.

　Even if it's difficult to hold their hand or push them from behind, you can walk beside them.

　Although it is an unreliable, unfounded way of presenting a royal road that has only just begun.

"That's fine."

　Sekhmet spoke as if she could see through Emilia's thoughts.

　There was no trace of her typical tired sigh in those words. Emilia gasped softly as Sekhmet spoke while looking straight at her.

　Then he smiles.

"Yes, thank you. I would like to do the same."

　In response, Emilia stood up in front of Sekhmet.

　He brushed his silver hair back and bowed to Sekhmet, who was ready to see him off.

　I'm not sure why I did that.

　But for some reason, I felt that just saying goodbye wasn't enough. I wondered why I felt gratitude there. Sekhmet probably wouldn't tell me.

　Returning the chair to the table, Emilia heads down the hill to the door.

　The door, standing alone in the grassland, looked somehow ephemeral, and Emilia found herself feeling a little lonely at having to leave this castle of dreams.

　A white table, a cool breeze, warm sunshine, and the perfect weather.

　It would surely have been fun to have a tea party around that table.

"Sekhmet, could you please convey this to Echidna?"

"... I'll try and say it, ha."

"If we ever meet again, let's have a tea party. Even if you appear in my dreams as an apparition, I'll be sure to welcome you."

"--Ah, that's good. Yes, I'll let him know."

　Sekhmet laughed at Emilia's words as she put her hand on the doorknob and turned her head.

　Emilia smiled back and opened the door.

　Darkness spreads beyond the door.

　But for some reason, there is no hesitation or doubt in taking that step. Emilia already knows exactly where it leads.

　It is a door that transcends the past, chooses the present, and leads to the future.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

　--Feeling short of breath, Emilia raised her body up on the hard ground.

　Resurrecting from the loss of consciousness during the Trial is different from waking up from sleep.

　Rather than the body going to sleep, it was more like the consciousness was being led from the body to another place. Since the body and soul are in different places, it is natural that the soul is not asleep and therefore the state of mind is different from sleep.

　If this resulted in an awakening that was no different from sleep, it would take a long time for Emilia, who has a weak ability to wake up, to recover. Previously, Puck would wake her up, but now that she can't rely on him, it would take a very, very long time.

　From now on, I'll need to be able to deal with those kinds of situations on my own.

"--Ah, that's not good."

　At this point, Emilia was vaguely thinking as if she was half asleep.

　Shaking his head, he stood up, touching the wall with his hands. There was nothing particularly wrong with his physical condition. It was the same with the feeling that he had overcome the "Trial".

　However, if what Sekhmet told me in the Castle of Dreams was true――

"That door at the back of the room should open."

　When I looked further inside, I saw a stone door on the opposite side of the small room.

　Previously the door hadn't budge no matter how much she pushed or pulled it, but to Emilia it now seemed to be tinged with a faint light, just like the faintly glowing walls of the tomb.

　I guess it means something like unlocking.

　Emilia's footsteps made their way to the door, and when she stood in front of it she held her breath.

　On the other side of this lies something that will liberate the 'Sanctuary'.

　Sekhmet said that she would know what to do if she looked, but to be honest, she was a little worried about what would happen if she didn't know. Emilia didn't have much confidence in her own intelligence.

　I wonder if it would be no good if I brought someone with me. Not only are there very few people who can enter this far, but I feel like the door wouldn't even open if there was someone other than me.

　Perhaps because things were progressing smoothly, Emilia was still suspicious of the problem at hand.

　The suspicion that she was being carried was proof that she was more cautious than before, but this was also a cautiousness that was exclusive to Echidna. Emilia was being cautious precisely because she understood the personality of the person who had set up the trap.

"Anyway, we need to go inside the room. Okay, let's go."

　I clenched my fist and prepared myself, and tried to put my hand on the door. Should I push or pull? I wondered, and just as my fingertips were about to reach the door,

　--With a sound, the stone door slid open to the side, making way for Emilia.

"...Ah, I feel like Echidna is laughing with a mischievous look on her face."

　Emilia, whose intentions had been thwarted, pouted in dissatisfaction.

　Somehow, Emilia had the feeling that the gimmick of this door was a subtle way for Echidna to annoy her, and her tension eased just a little.

　I let out a sigh and stepped into the room with a renewed sense of refreshment.

　The room behind the door was at least one size smaller than the Trial Room.

　It was even smaller than the small room, and with the two large beds from Roswaal Mansion placed side by side, there was absolutely no room to move.

　Her eyes widened as she was greeted by a room that was smaller than she had expected, and then when she saw what was further inside the room, Emilia put her hand over her mouth in shock.

　--At the back of the room there is something like a transparent coffin, with a woman lying inside.

　The woman was so beautiful that it seemed as if she was asleep, frozen in time.

　The coffin seemed to have been made from processed magic ore, and when Emilia touched it with her fingertips, the purity was so high that it surprised her; a crystal of this density even surpassed the one that had served as Puck's vessel.

　A woman was sealed inside a magic stone capable of more than sealing away a great spirit like Puck. Naturally, she was not breathing. There was no sign of life force, she was already a lifeless shell.

　Long, lustrous, snow-white hair. Her cheeks, neck, and every inch of her skin were as beautiful as virgin snow, and her beauty made her breath tremble.

　Her beautiful body was enveloped in a jet black garment without any unnecessary coloring; like a dress, it maintained a miraculous harmony that had been tailor-made for her.

　A beautiful woman who can be expressed in just two colors: black and white.

　When you stand before this black and white beauty, you will feel a sense of awe at the fact that true beauty requires absolutely no unnecessary decoration.

"A beautiful person..."

　A sigh of admiration escaped Emilia's lips without her realizing it.

　Looking in the mirror, she too was a person of peerless beauty, but Emilia was moved to tears by this, without a trace of it.

　It is a pure emotion of a single sense, intoxicated by the beauty of what is before one's eyes.

　Beautiful woman in black and white.

　It was the ``Witch of Greed'' whom he met in the Castle of Dreams and exchanged words with many times.

　At the very depths of the tomb, after overcoming the trials of the "Witch of Greed",

"She looks like Echidna, but who could it be?"

　Though her appearance suggested the epitome of thirst for knowledge, she was a woman Emilia had never seen before.