Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (WN)

Chapter 7 9: The Path of the Empire

The threat of twitching and corrosion of the whole body, the pain like blood turning into a magma, tears off the existence of Natsuki Subaru one by one, almost stripping off the decorative self.

An extension of such a brutal battle to strip the unhealed scabbard pig and put a living wound on the cold air.--The soul touches a reality that cannot be protected.

Is it pain, mourning or sorrow that you visit?

Subaru doesn't even know if it's something completely different.

If there is one thing to know, if there is a salvation, there is only one.

This desperate feeling breaks before you get to the answer, and it feels like a lie and openness.

"--yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh"

"I'm sorry."

Released from the immediate suffering, the mouth that was supposed to spray blood bubbles is wide open.

The empty body, like a hole in the lungs, sought oxygen, and when it tried to taste it tastelessly and odorless, something forced it into its mouth.

Upon an unexpected shock, Subaru coughs and shouts.

But I don't know what happened.I don't see it exactly. The tightening you feel on your face is a sign of something being wrapped around your eyes.His face is tied.

--No, it's not just your face that's tied up.The limbs were similarly restrained.

In that state, someone stuck something in my mouth.

"Whoa, whoa! Nh, why are you tied up... ahh!?"

"Damn, what are you defying?Don't you understand your position? "

"Ah, guku..."

Shortly after he spit out what was in his mouth, the violent opponent kicked him in the dove's tail.The impact clogs his breath, and the opponent spits on Subaru, lying down.

The humiliation of being spit on doesn't bother you in front of the pain that penetrates your chest.However, Subaru's head was swallowed by a sea of confusion as his closed vision blinked red with pain.

--Events just over a dozen seconds ago are scratching Subaru's head.

――――

A large forest was wrapped in fire outside the tent where Todd woke him up and took him out.Shortly after I learned that it happened because of Subaru's inaction, I fell down with an arrow on my back.The girl who threw the arrow looked young, and as she saw it, her body relaxed and she had a convulsion.

Suffering while spraying blood bubbles, listening to the voice of Lem who rushed over me, trying to connect the awareness that was about to break -

"Here..."

"Oh? How long are you kidding me...?"

"--Well, calm down! I don't know anything!I can't help it!Let's take the blindfold off! "

"A-ah"

Thoughts swallowed by the vortex of chaos are pulled back to reality in conversations exchanged overhead.

What I heard was a conversation between two men.One is a rough man's voice embodied in roughness and brutality, while the other is a soft voice with a favorable impression of the person who makes it up.

--naturally appeared on Subaru's head to both faces of the Lord of the Voice.

"Chi."

A man with a tongue and footsteps kicks Subaru away.Soon afterwards, I heard a sigh mixed with "oh, my God" and stupidity and bitterness.

"Suddenly I'm sorry. I don't know what you're feeling, but let's take off the blindfold for now.I can't take off the rope on my hands and feet. Come on. "

――――

With that, the walking man takes off the blindfold wrapped around Subaru's head.

A sense of openness that comes with slight pain, before enjoying it, Subaru takes a deep breath, repeats it once and again, and finally lightly stops breathing.

Then I opened my eyelids, waiting for my vision to return slowly.

And then...

"... I knew it."

As the blurred vision gradually became clearer, it was the tents and fires that were spreading in front of Subaru, as well as the busy Imperial soldiers.

Not so familiar as it is, it is a land of rental living where the known Empire camp, Subaru, ran east and west for miscellaneous use.

――――

There is nothing strange about the sight itself.

This is the position where Subaru fell from an arrow wound in the first place.What wonder would it be if you were treated for unconsciousness and woke up here?

However, in order to be convinced, the first shock - the fact that the shoes were stuck in the mouth and the fact that the hands and feet were still restrained - cannot be explained.

No matter how much Subaru neglects the imperial style, if the common sense of tying and restraining the subject's limbs every time he or she is treated passes, I hope that such a country will be destroyed.

I mean, it doesn't mean...

"Dead?"

― ― It is the most natural situation to think that I have returned to death.

And ironically, I came up with a way to find out.Just twist your neck and let the green forest beyond your position into view.

Subaru lost his voice and, as a result, forgave the imperial soldiers' outrage and burned the dense forest.

And there were the woods that were burnt in the Fire, and raised up black smoke.To the right, to the left, there will be dense green forests that fill the horizon.

――――

After confirming it, it clearly pops up behind Subaru's head.

The voice of Lem, who fell to an arrow wound and crawled under a blood-spraying Subaru, calling for desperation and death, prayed for his presence.

But Subaru betrayed it.She died in front of her.

In an unknown land, a man who knew himself, though he hated it, died, and imagining how much anxiety and fear the memory lost lem had felt ripped open his chest.

And I thought at the same time. --I definitely don't want her to feel that way anymore.

"I just went to fetch some water and found it.I'm sorry, but you're our prisoner. "

Yes, a man crouched in front of Subaru with a strong feeling in his chest.

I know the person who smiled softly and lowered his eyes. - It's Todd.

The only person in this Imperial position who was friendly to Subaru and Lem.

He was a man who was so impatient with the ignorant Subaru about the Empire that he was lucky to have been picked up first as a Subaru.

Until he pushes the choice to burn down the woods because of Subaru's words.

――――

Physical feelings have not gone far enough, but his spine froze on his untied report.

The Empire soldiers mercilessly burned down the woods as soon as they decided it would be difficult to enter the woods because of the "people of Shdrak", the purpose of the troops dispatched.And I greatly praised Subaru's contribution by giving out the information that made the decision to make that choice.

In the Holy Volachian Empire, the strong are honored, and the weak are oppressed.

A great power that symbolizes a wolf penetrated by a sword and teaches that only the "sword wolf" deserves to live.Mentality like Todd may not be uncommon in the Empire.

When I heard there was a Magic Beast, I nodded that a plan to set fire to the forest had been decided.

But of course Subaru will not be compatible with anyone in the Kingdom of Lugunica.At best, is it Roswar, a mass of rationalism?

In any case, this time you must not burn the forest to the ground.

――――

Slowly, swallowing his spit, Subaru sees the last event as a failure.

It's true that Subaru was killed, but even if the Imperial soldiers were to take security measures, burning down the woods would be too much.

Without Subaru's silence, Todd and the 'people of Shdrak' could have peacefully created a forum for discussion and brought the negotiations to a conclusion without bloodshed.

Stealing that possibility and putting people in the woods at risk - no, let's not escape responsibility.It's impossible that there were no victims in that fire.

Natsuki Subaru took the lives of the people who lived in the woods because of his inaction.

Even if 'Return to Death' prevents you from interfering with events on that world line, you cannot escape that fact.--Because Subaru will never forget that.

――――

Therefore, Subaru decides not to tread on the two sides.

"Death" is heavy, and neither one's own nor another's things must be repeated.With that in mind, it's unfortunate to be able to meet Todd and Jamal again here for the first time.

The Restart of the "Return to Death" was changed and Lem fainted in the grasslands, then fled the forest hunter and beast onslaught and returned immediately after being picked up by Empire positions.

From here, we will establish friendly relations with Todd and, if possible, Jamal, and bring them to the negotiations in a way that will not divide them from the 'people of Shdrak' in the forest.

To that end...

"Are you listening?They suddenly called me a prisoner, and I know I'm confused.... "

"--No, that's right. I'm confused.I'm confused, but.... "

Crouching in front of the silent Subaru, Todd looks at our mood.While accepting his attitude, Subaru thought about choosing the next word.

Last time, my relationship with Todd was good.While maintaining that relationship, we should continue our route to Subaru and Lem for their convenience.

On top of that, we must carefully select the information in order to curb his extreme behavior.

"I'm surprised, but I know you're a prisoner.I remember jumping into the river.If you helped me from there, you saved my life. "

Wait a minute.

Huh?

Subaru tries to examine the situation and create an uncomfortable attitude as a person pulled out of the river.

But Todd stuck a palm in our face to stop Subaru from saying that.

The sight was blocked by the spread of the five fingers and palms, and Subaru breathed quickly.

And then...

"--Why did you just look at me like that?"

Shortly after hearing Todd's cold and stiff voice, a sharp sensation enters Subaru's right shoulder.

Subaru, whose vision was blocked and his reaction to the other person's movement was delayed, looked at the discomfort on his right shoulder and understood what had happened.

--A sharp tip of the knife was pointing out on Subaru's right shoulder.

△▼△▼△▼△

"--hh!?"

The moment I saw what was happening, I raised Subaru's throat.

A tremendous burning sensation explodes around the right shoulder, and Subaru's body is numb and stretches with sharp pain.If you do not stretch your body properly and distribute the pain that occurs throughout your body, you may have a brain that can't handle the unacceptable amount of misfortune.

The impact of unintended stab wounds was enormous.

"Ghhhhhhhh!!"

Later than a voiceless voice, a scream is raised that is clearly drawn into pain after a few seconds.

I want to twist myself, rub or hold my shoulders, or take some action to hold down the pain anyway.However, Subaru's limbs are restrained and he can't even take action to pull out a knife that has been pushed up.Pain, pain, pain, pain.

"Oh, hey! What's with the screams?"

Anguished by pain, Subaru screams many times.It was Jamal, the man with the rough appearance of his eyeballs, who rushed in in a hurry to hear the giddy voice.

Just before he kicked Subaru, Jamal, who was waving violence, opened his eyes to Subaru, who kept screaming like blood on his right shoulder with a knife.

And then...

"Todd, you're talking differently!You had a noble knife, so you would have told them not to do anything! "

"Oh, I meant it before I knew who they were.Anyway, I know you're mad at me for talking differently. Failure, failure. "

"... you know who this guy is?"

Jamal, with his voice roughed up, listens to Todd's answer and regains his calm.But when Jamal asked, Todd said, "Come on?"and leaned his neck.

With Todd lying down, Todd rested his feet on Subaru's body, squealing.

"I don't know who it is because I didn't ask.However, it is highly likely that they are our enemies.So it's a pre-emptive strike. "

"Gh, gaaaaaaaaa!"

"Oh, that looks painful. I can't help it, but you're tough on pain.What kind of self-assessment is that? "

Todd weighs his feet on Subaru's body and asks flatly.

However, when Subaru fell to the ground and Todd was weighed, his shoulder knife was pushed deeply into the wound and he couldn't afford to answer for an unbearable recurrence of pain.

Your vision flashes, your throat burns, and you scream like blood again and again.

No matter how many times you repeat it, there is no sign of relief.Without being lost, it became fresh despair and continued to strike Subaru like a return wave.

"I won't answer. You're rebellious. I knew it was the enemy."

"... if you roll it like that, you won't be able to answer anything."

"Hmm? Really? Shit.If you're dull in pain, you can't help it. Failure. Failure. "

With that, Todd finally leaves Subaru's body.

The added pain disappeared, but the intermittent pain continued to sting Subaru, and blood was spilling out of the mouth, biting into the unbearable pain.

Tears and tears flowed from the bottle, and they could not be wiped miserably.

"You... now you can pay attention to my bad behavior..."

"-? It's disturbing that you beat up prisoners and your men, right?Don't joke about being classy.I'm just doing what I need to. "

Meanwhile, ignoring the scandal of Subaru, the men continued the conversation overhead.

There was an unexpected sight of Jamal forgiving Todd after cutting a blade on Subaru.

What the hell is going on here?

Though resources are being allocated to endure the pain, the thinking is too cluttered.

Todd, who was so good to the Subaru, why did he do this?

"So why did you stab me?"

Oddly enough, Jamal throws Todd's doubts at Subaru.

Asked, Todd glanced at Subaru in agony.

"When you took off your blindfold and looked at me, you had eyes to manipulate me.I can understand anxiety and tension. You can be scared or cry.--But it would be strange to try to manipulate it. "

Manipulate, man.

"What kind of eyes are you looking at when someone unconscious kicks you up, takes your blindfold off, and uses the face you first saw?Some of them may be like that, but they're too scared to handle it.You better kill him now. "

Todd only expresses his thoughts in an orderly manner against thoughtful Jamal.

I stabbed Subaru because Todd decided it was dangerous.And as the best way to deal with a dangerous opponent, he tried to disable it.

Because Todd stabbed Subaru in the right shoulder.--Because I know that my left hand is broken and cannot be used.

The right shoulder was stabbed and the fingers of the left hand were broken, and Subaru's arm function was greatly reduced.

To ensure his own safety, Todd made and executed the decision immediately.

- It's not too much.

"I don't know if you thought of that as soon as you woke up.Maybe I woke up while they were transporting me, and I've been listening to this story forever.... "

"No, that's not true. I've been watching you pretend to be asleep.That's the kind of physiological reaction he would have had if he had regained consciousness somewhere.If I'd overlooked pretending to be asleep.... "

What if?

"You lied to me pretending to be asleep, but you tried to manipulate me systematically.I'm more afraid this way.I knew it was the right thing to do. "

While listening to the story, Subaru breathed into the battle as he fought the pain.

While listening to Todd's explanation, Jamal gradually faded.At first there should have been surprise and anger at the fact that I stabbed Subaru, but the passion was gradually dismantled.

Todd's voice and way of speaking contained magic that softened his mood.

Observe from a third-party standing position and it can finally be understood.

Todd approaches the opponent, demonstrates understanding, and offers attractive suggestions that are also beneficial to the opponent.Killed in the first momentum, the soft-headed opponent reviews the offer and wants to taste it.

That's exactly what's happening to Jamal right now.

And it happened to Subaru just before he went back to death.

"I don't know the girls, but they're simple and easy to deal with.Let's get rid of the lesions before we get in trouble. "

"Well, I don't mind...."

"Or do you do it?I stopped being angry when a girl with blue hair hit my men, and I would need someone to disturb me. "

― That's true too.

Jamal smiled inferiorly at Todd's plain suggestion.

Jamal walks through Todd's side and approaches us with a fist bone.Todd's remarks shook Subaru even more than the signs of violence that accompanied Jamal.

Even though Todd offered Subaru a distraction for Jamal, Todd is willing to find another way to get rid of Subaru here.

Lem and Louis are used for this.

But no matter what they ask, they can't answer.No matter how severely tortured he is, there is nothing Lem can reveal.

I mean...

"─ ─"

He bites his back teeth hard and hard, and Subaru uses the taste of blood in his mouth as a detonator to find a way not to let Lem taste it.

In a few seconds, Jamal's violence will resume, and Subaru will be killed or half-dead by a barbaric attack that has been made useless.Even if Jamal had a conscience, Todd wouldn't let Subaru live.

Todd, who can set fire to the woods, won't mind killing Subaru.

One or two steps closer to Jamal.

In the meantime, Subaru heated up his thoughts to the limit and sought answers within himself.A miracle that needs to be picked up, possibly, in order to solve this situation.

"At best, shout with a nice voice as my distraction, you son of a bitch.Even for a woman, a woman doesn't pay her ass with her body. "

"- 'The people of Shdrak'"

――――

The word was spinning on Subaru's lips as Jamal attempted to beat Subaru with violence as he uttered a rough word.

Suddenly Jamal stopped moving and Todd's expression behind him changed.

Jamal had a clear surprise, and Todd raised one eyebrow.

Heh.

And that's how he laughed.

"'The People of Shdrak'... did you cut the tag here?You seem to know how to bet. "

"Todd, what does this kid have to say..."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa, Jamal.You can punch, kick, or whatever you want.But it's hard to hear the voice of someone with a crushed tongue and throat.This is the best place to ask. "

"Shit!"

There is no place for anger, and Jamal kicks the nearby wooden fence violently.

Faced with the literal distress, Todd turned back towards Subaru.The smile on his face is terribly the same as what Subaru knows.

Just as he treated Subaru's fingers, invited Subaru to a meal, and praised Subaru's contribution to burning the woods, Todd laughed at Subaru on the brink of life and death.

"So I named the 'People of Shdrak'.Can I expect you to tell me something pleasant for me? "

"... oh, I know where the 'People of Shdrak' are in the woods."

"-! Oh, that's good!"

With a smile of joy, Todd clapped his hands in front of his chest.

Seeing his reaction, Subaru is convinced that the 'miracle' he pulled out of himself helped to keep the looming dilemma away.

However, at the same time, this is a double-edged sword for Subaru.

After all, Subaru does not know the whereabouts of the 'People of Shdrak'.

The masked man who gave us the knife and the hunter who uses the bow and arrow against Subaru - perhaps either or both of these are related to the 'People of Shdrak' - but we have no idea how to contact them or where they are.

In other words, this was a big fight for Subaru's life.

"Why do you know where the 'People of Shdrak' are?"

"... because I am one of the 'People of Shdrak'"

"I see, I see. Regardless of the color of the skin, it's dark hair, right?That's why I thought so.It's a famous story that Shdrak has black hair. "

――――

Subaru, who was helped by luck, was greatly relieved when he was released with information he had no idea.

Sweat all over the body, and Subaru adds cold sweat to the tension of the discussion.Shoulder pain is still increasing, and the left hand finger is also complaining of pain.

Besides, the flesh has not recovered from the disturbances at the Preades tower and the burden of subsequent distress with lemons in the forest and escape to the river.

You must continue to come to the question and answer of death by connecting your flabby consciousness with the spirit that is about to break.--Everything to survive and rescue Lem.

To return to Emilia and Beatrice and reunite Ram and Lem.

"In that case, your position is reproach.The clothes and the knife were prepared to blend in. "

"-. The knife took the traveller's hand.The clothes are the same. And.... "

"I tried to find out about my affair.Quite a bold operation. It seemed true that I was drowning, and even though I might not have been noticed by the knife... "

"But it's more authentic, isn't it?"

Subaru laughed impatiently when it was pointed out that it was an idle plan.

Distort the edges of your mouth and show your teeth to make bad eye contact worse.By doing so, you are prepared to persuade yourself to speak.

In fact, Todd narrowed his eyes and examined the veracity of his remarks.

――――

The silence is heavy, and Subaru's life is tightened in cotton.

To be honest, it is painful and stressful not to consider whether your statement is persuasive, whether you have a face or a way of speaking that simply drives that persuasion.

At the next moment, I feel like I'm making a funny excuse that doesn't surprise me if I get my head ripped off by a stupid, sniveling phrase.

Todd's inability to weigh his stance was also driving his sense of urgency.

And after a while...

"--Are you selling tribes to beg for your life?"

Asked by Todd with one eye closed, Subaru swallowed his spit.

I pulled out the words I wanted to draw.All that remains is the answer.

Sell tribes for their lives.

Subaru sells the 'People of Shdrak' after saying that he is the 'People of Shdrak'.

Don't let them realize that this is a bluff.On top of that, make the face and voice you need.

--The face and voice of a miserable and lowly man who sells his tribe and begs for his life.

"... ah, oh, yeah. Sell your family."

――――

"Please, I'll do anything. You can lure them out if you want.Anything! "

Subaru begs for his life as he wrinkles his cheeks and sweats cold.

Insist on your own life, despise the life of others, and turn it into your own self centered existence that will never be accepted favourably by the other person.

Oh, my God.

I've seen these models of humanity many times in the days I've spent in this world.

I didn't expect that the day would come when we would model both the worst bishops of humanity.

"He looked down on me. I don't like your eyes."

After hearing the Subaru beg for his life, Jamal threw up his contempt and anger from the bottom of his heart.

At the very least, it seems that Subaru's words and deeds have turned the rudder in a bad direction against Jamal.But I'm sorry, but I can't afford to keep up with Jamal.

It is Todd who now has the right to decide what to do with Subaru.

Actual positions and positions are meaningless in this context.Imperial currents in which the mighty oppress the weak - indeed, they follow the rules of that imperial currents.

"--That desperation, I don't think I'm lying."

And Todd finally said that to Subaru, who maintains his humble expression through his efforts.

Listening to that, Subaru gets the feeling that the skin of his neck is connected while fearing unexpected joy.At the same time, it was Jamal who reacted uncomfortably.

"Hey, Todd! You gonna believe this guy?Such a scum to sell tribes for myself..... "

"Wait, wait, what are you talking about, Jamal?What do you mean, you're a coward enough to sell tribes for yourself?It's already showing us the profits desperately.Otherwise, I can't pick up my precious life. "

~ ~

An intense Jamal seals off the words that follow Todd's.

That's exactly what Subaru would have liked Todd to have done.A man who would sell his people's lives if he wanted to save himself.Subaru's reputation needed to be minimized in order to convince him of the value of the information he would bring.

In that regard, it would have worked positively if I had been stabbed in the shoulder and screamed in an unusual way.

I felt that this pain was too great a price to comfort myself.

"I don't know what to do!"

After all, as Subaru's prospects suggest, Jamal is persuaded to do so by Todd.

With that embarrassment, Todd tapped him on the shoulder saying, "Believe it."

"I'm sure you're obsessed with life.- I don't care if it's mine. "

And he looked down at Subaru and said.

△▼△▼△▼△

"Whoa! Wait! What are you going to do with him!?"

So Lem, who grabbed the lattice of the iron cage, was angry with his eyes and yelled.

The place was where Todd and Jamal, who had heard Subaru's cowardly appeal, the Imperial soldier's camp, were taking Subaru with them and leaving the camp.

At that time, when he was imprisoned, he had to pass by the cage that had trapped the raging lem, and the anger of the first lem rose.

――――

Subaru, stared at by Lem, was already worn out.

The clothes that were pulled out of the river and dried in half were heavy, and even the stabbed wounds on the right shoulder were given only a simple first aid.The broken fingers of the left hand did not want to be cared for, and although the shackles were removed, the shackles remained deprived of Subaru's freedom.

Natsuki Subaru is taken out of the camp in exactly the same way as a slave.

I wonder if Lem's mood and confusion and surprise were enough.Of course, Subaru can't explain the situation to her.

"Back to Death" resets the relationship that Subaru and Lem expected to walk slightly, and everything is redone.

Rem is hostile to Subaru because of the remnants of the witch, and Subaru has not been given the time or opportunity to solve the misunderstanding, and besides -

"Ahh!? The smell is worse than before... what is this?"

Each time I stacked "Return to Death", I sniffed a dark smell and the alert level of Lem was raised one step further.

From her point of view, Natsuki Subaru is the son of evil.

And no action can be taken here to solve any misunderstandings unless the significance of correcting that perception is found to hurt Subaru's heart.

"... it's such a complicated relationship, isn't it?She was supposed to be with you, but she's doing fine. "

"That girl... no, the two of us were together."

"Where are you two?"

"--I bought them both as props to get in touch with you."

For a moment, while wondering how to respond, Subaru said so under the guise of cruelty.

Now Subaru is a cold-blooded man who sells his friends to the cuteness of his life.Of course, we need to be 100 percent cute about Lem and Louis, who have no affection.

We have to prevent them from taking Lem hostage anyway.

"That's why they don't know anything.It's no use asking... you seem to have imagined most of it. "

"Well, didn't it look like an act?The little lady must be really crazy, and she's not lying either.That's why I'm so upset. "

"Chi."

Todd, who drew his cheeks with a bitter smile, and Jamal, who slapped his tongue in disgust.

Led by the two of them, it was about twenty Imperial soldiers who left the camp with Subaru.From now on, Subaru will take them to the settlement of the "People of Shdrak" in the forest.

Tell Todd where he is and contribute to the victory of the Empire.And as a reward, it is a myth that you will save your life and put into practice what you do to the world of hated children.

Approximately, it's the perfect success story for a lowlife man.

If you close your eyes to the impossible, but...

"Isn't it wise to throw it away?I bought it. If you don't want it, I'll take it back after work.... "

"What, you're too quick, you.It's good to be positive, but don't forget that it's up to you to do your job.I'm more worried about myself than how they treat me. "

"Hehe, that's right.When you're finished, your greed comes out. "

If he finds out that he is obsessed with Lem, Subaru will immediately change his policy.

I can't rub my hands because of the shackles, but I respond to Todd emotionally in such an atmosphere.Fortunately, Todd did not eat any more, and waved his hand to the lem in the cage.

"Be quiet, miss.For now, if there's nothing I can do, I won't do anything. "

"Do you think such words are persuasive?"

"I don't know if it's persuasive, but it's your problem to believe it or not."

That's what Todd said, and Lem shouts in remorse.

While regretting not being able to shoot back and not being able to have any more conversations, Subaru burns the appearance and voice of Lem, making it a fuel to burn his heart.

--We must manage to get Lem out of the Empire's position and escape.

Subaru no longer had the idea of building a friendly relationship with Todd and protecting himself and Lem.--They are dangerous, both enemies and allies.

You can't control it even if you're on your side, and it goes without saying the danger if you become an enemy.

In the first place, we should avoid becoming more familiar with the people of the Volachian Empire than is necessary.

Subaru's position is very complicated, because it has the potential to go beyond personal problems if they succeed.

"All right, here we go.Everybody stay calm. "

"I'm the one giving the signal!"

Todd calls out to his allies with Subaru to tighten his consciousness.

Jamal was shouting angrily as the Imperial soldiers answered.

△▼△▼△▼△

― ― After that, the Subaru group leads the way into the Badheim dense forest.

The purpose is to identify the location of the "Shdrak people" who live in the forest.― ― However, the Navigator Subaru is bluffing and does not know the location of the settlement.

On the contrary, even the identity of the "people of Shdrak" was a blurred beating.

――――

As he walks through the gloomy forest, Subaru sees a gap that somehow escapes.

The opponent has a large number of people, but even light armor does not move lighter than Subaru.If we manage to escape, we may be able to get back to our position and take Lem with us before they do.I mean, as it stands, I only have plans like that.

Fortunately, Lem's cage can be easily unlocked from the outside.

It is important that Subaru get his rights and believe in the caged Subaru and Lem will follow him.And then there's Louis.

"If you leave me alone, Lem will never follow me..."

Even so, it was Subaru, who reduced the reliability of Lem with the addition of "Return to Death."

Lem will not welcome Subaru's decision to leave Louis, even if Subaru desperately returns in that state.On the contrary, it is even possible to crush Subaru on the spot, recapture Louis himself, and leave Subaru alone in Imperial positions.

"... I wonder how many lemons that is.I can't get my feet free. "

I just can't do it because my feet are bad, and I think I can do it if my body is perfect.I think it's a big problem for me to do that.

So if we're gonna get him out, we're gonna have to get Louis out with us.There was always the difficulty of not discarding the negative factor that should be called this shackle.

And then...

"So, how long does it take to get to the settlement?"

"... about two or three hours."

"Two or three hours! That's a lot faster.If that's all I can do, I'm sorry.It was supposed to be years from here. "

Get answers to your questions and loosen your cheeks when Todd is drooling.

In Todd's words, equipped with light armor and hung with a hatchet on his hips, Subaru remembered that he had left his fiancée on the mission.

Of course, his background doesn't change dramatically when he tries to make a decision that hurts Subaru.

As an Imperial soldier, Todd was sent to the jungle and forced to leave his fiancée.

So did Jamal, a soldier other than Todd.They have their own circumstances, and this is how they work for each reason.

In that sense, there is no reason to fight between Subaru and Todd.

It was just bad luck. Unfortunately, it overlapped.The wind direction was not good. That's what happens when you associate words with each other.

It's just...

"... I don't think that's what I'm saying, but aren't you careless?This number is going to "Shdrak's Settlement."

Subaru speaks to Todd right behind him as he leads.

There are about twenty members of the Imperial party, but even with guidance, it is not enough people to search this vast forest.

Todd shrugged his shoulders in response to Subaru's question.

"It's a good source of information, but I'm not expecting that much from you.We'll make sure it's worth the information for the first time. And.... "

Besides?

"This is your trap, and I can let my team know that if we don't go home, it's dangerous to go into the woods.Long live Volakia. "

"Long live Volakia!"

The Imperial soldiers sang to Todd in a cheerful mood that had to be sacrificed for victory.

Viva Volakia and the woody atmosphere were testimony to how intoxicated their Imperial soldiers were in this mighty country.

Either way...

"What are we worried about, huh?When this is over, there's no guarantee that your neck and torso are connected.At best, get us in a mood. "

"Mr. Jamal...."

"You bastard traitor, don't call me by my name.I'll chop it up and throw it away, and the girls will... I'll give it to my favorite Second General Zuckle.I'm sure you'll be delighted. "

"Jamal... don't be so stupid. I'm tired."

You don't like Subaru so much, the gaze and voice from Jamal are just terrible.

With that, he had a bad relationship with Lem, so if Jamal had a casting boat in the situation, it could settle down for Subaru.

It was Todd who forgave Jamal and said, "Calm down."

"Instead, let's not forget that we have to get him in a good mood.He will give us information that will help us save our lives.Instead, we save lives.Otherwise, we'll all be attacked by Shdrak as soon as we get to the settlement. "

"Excellent. If you do that, we'll kill them all...."

"- Really? I can't ride in a battle I can't win.You don't want to make your pre-marriage sister a widow either.Isn't that right, Brother Jamal? "

"Gh...."

That's how Todd talks about Jamal, who has a lot of thoughtless behavior.

The relationship between two people that Subaru didn't know seemed to have grown somewhat, but there was no resentment or emotion for it.Subaru is already 'ready' for Todd and the others.

― ― We met, but the wind direction was bad luck.

"- But I care more about Lem."

That's why Subaru decided to harm Todd and the others.

――

Ah, one of the Imperial soldiers shouted his throat small behind a formation of searchers.He twists his neck as if he had noticed something, looking for the cause in his sight.

A slight discomfort, but you can't ignore it, wandering around in the woods, and...

"A-ah?"

In the darkness of the dense forest, the red light spot and the "eyes" that rose with me met.

"It's a magic beast!!"

"─!?"

Immediately after the eyes met, the Imperial soldiers who found it immediately alerted their allies.

The reaction has been perfect, and the Imperial soldiers have not suffered.Following that call, so did our immediate comrades.

However, at the same time as I pulled out my sword, I immediately slashed it against the beast.

--This was clearly a courageous move.

"Uh-oh!!"

An Imperial soldier with a sword ran through the woods, barking against a giant snake - a beast of snakes about ten metres long covered in green scales.

The same kind of beast that Subaru encountered in the woods brought the blue thunderbolt to the Imperial soldiers who didn't know there was a beast in the woods.

But I was right to try to deal with the beast danger immediately, but I was wrong.--Because the Magic Beast wasn't after the Imperial soldiers.

The beast's aim was nothing else, even though it was Natsuki Subaru with a large amount of nervousness.

"─ ─!!"

The sword was fired on a scale, and the serpent barked and blew up the Imperial Soldiers at the tail of the giant.The red eyes glowed fiercely, and an incredible roar struck the line.

A year in the magic beast trap, professional Subaru knows the way.

Most of the time, Magic Beasts actively target Subaru, who is surrounded by fear, but not when they harm themselves.It doesn't change whether it's a white whale or a big snake.

The white whale aimed at his carving wilhelm, and the serpent turned to the hunter who had shot himself through.

The law still lives here.The serpent's aim changed from Subaru to the Imperial soldiers who were wearing their full equipment and were hostile to themselves.

"------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ I didn't hear you!!"

Against a barking serpent, Jamal shook his voice in anger and pulled out his sword.Unexpectedly, the courageous and courageous jumping into the beast is light and reveals a high level of strength.

However, we cannot support Jamal's unexpected struggle.

Subaru aimed at this and walked through the woods with Todd for hours.

They don't know the beast exists, and the beast attracted by Subaru's obsession.Every time I use my body odor and Magic Beast, Subaru is also a fine 'Magic Beast Man'.

Once we meet, we should fight Merry for this title and all the merits.

But right now, I don't have time to hold on to it.

"Now..."

Multiply this gap to return to the Imperial position and unlock Lem.

Subaru felt scared behind his neck as he tried to run away for it.Then, in accordance with that fear, don't hesitate to pretend to lower your head.

Shortly afterwards, the axe pierced the tree by the side, clawing the position of Subaru's head.

― ―

If I hadn't lowered my head right now, I'd be dead.

While struggling with that, Subaru turned his eyes and looked at the bad guys.

――――

Todd and I were twitching our eyes sharply.

"─ ─"

Being trapped in that gaze, Subaru ran out of the woods with all his might.

Stop and Todd will catch you.If caught, Todd will surely take Subaru's life.Those eyes had such a strong will.There was a dark intention.

Both the Bishop of the Great Crimes, the Beast, and Raid Astralia felt a different kind of fear.

Those eyes are colored by persistent obsession.--It was a dark black intent to kill.

Gah!?

The back of the running Subaru is pierced by some hard shock.

The knife that hit the back of the irreversible Subaru and around the scapula was thrown - strangely, back to Subaru in a disgusting way.

With it hanging on his shoulders, Subaru exhaled a rough breath and ran desperately.

Behind the scenes, there are signs of continued fighting between the Beast and the Imperial Soldiers, but Subaru is desperate not to be pursued by Todd so that no other Beast gets involved.

Desperate, desperate, desperate, running, running.

Breathe out, exhale blood, roll over and over again, actually fall, keep running with your whole body covered in mud, and get desperate if you don't get back to the Empire position.

"Rem... rem... m, m... uu"

With children walking at a better rate, moaning in their dry throats, and running out of oxygen, physical strength, and mental strength, Subaru clings to his only obsession.

And he shall go down unto Lem, and take Lem out, and deliver Lem, and return unto them.

Emilia and Beatrice, Ram and Petra and Frederica, Garfield and Otto, and then back to Rosewall, and return the time gentle to Rem.

The time she should have spent, the time she loved, so...

"A-ah"

Subaru's feet scratched the universe, reaching out for such a dream.

The scaffolding is unexpectedly lost and the arms used to support the collapsed posture cannot be used, falling upright.

Falling upside down somewhere.I can't even scream. I can't open my throat.

It just falls.

Falling, falling, as pale as a bubble breaking your dreams.



The scattered voice leaked emptily, and Subaru's consciousness was interrupted there.

△▼△▼△▼△

"--How long are you going to be asleep, playing with something?"

"Cheeky!?"

Suddenly from the darkness of the abyss, the shock raised your consciousness.

The blow was to the side of the head, a feeling of being trampled on the side of the head - no, it wasn't like that, it was exactly that.

It seems that the right side of the head was on the floor, and the left side of the head that was stepped on and the right side of the head that was pressed against the ground were hurt simultaneously.Thanks to you, your awareness is triggered by sharp pain -

"... ah, come on? I'm... grumpy"

Feeling the taste of blood in the back of his throat, Subaru woke up stunned.

Suddenly you have severe pain all over your body, including your right shoulder and back, left hand and foot.

In great pain, his vision flashed bright red, and Subaru lay down again on the body he woke up, trembling like a fish lifted up on land.

A slightly negligible pain with adrenaline is the result of a loss of consciousness and a recurrence.But the pain everywhere in this way...

"... I'm not dead."

"Of course. The dead talk about things?It looked better than what you look like right now, or what you're doing in your life as a clown. I'll send you a compliment. "

Oh?

An arrogant remark was made to Subaru, who looked at himself bewildered and unexpectedly murmured.

As soon as understanding caught up, Subaru slowly woke up again, alert to the pain that would come again.

Surrounded, it appears that Subaru was sleeping on the soil ground, surrounded by thick branches - no, this is a lattice of wood.

The remembrance flashed back many times, and Subaru realized that he was trapped in a wooden cage.You notice, your head is confused.

I was anxious if Todd and the others caught him trying to escape.

"Don't hurry, your pursuers are not here.I can't deny that this is a difficult situation to reassure you. "

"You...."

"I didn't expect to worship your face again.― ― Natsuki Subaru

Yes, he called out the name of the watchful Subaru, and the opponent smiled at the edge of his mouth.

I can only say that I laughed because it is a mask that can only be seen around the eyes, but I laughed.

--Like Subaru, the man smiled arrogantly, trapped in a cage.