—This is really going to be a problem.
After stepping out of the convenience store, Natsuki subaru blinked once. And the next moment was something different.
"Is it... another world?"
No money, no clue what to do. Subaru ran the thought over and over. Well… not completely no money. His wallet had all the cash he owned—barely enough for a tiny shopping spree under normal circumstances. But in this world, that cash was useless.
"Yeah, but the currency system here is completely different, isn't it…" He flicked a rare ten-yen coin in the air and sighed.
He looked… ordinary. Short black hair, average height, a bit muscular, wearing his gray tracksuit. Small irises made his eyes look a little odd, but otherwise he'd vanish in a crowd.
Except this crowd wasn't normal. Not a single person had black hair or tracksuits. They had blond, red, brown, even green or blue hair. Armor, black robes, dancer-like costumes—everyone looked bizarre.
Subaru crossed his arms. "This has got to be one of those… 'summoned to another world' deals, right?" He nodded at a lizard-pulled oxcart trundling past.
Natsuki Subaru. Ordinary boy. Third-year high school student in Japan. Truant. Average life. That summed him up. Except now… summoned to another world.
—Great. High school dropout and lost in a fantasy world.
He pinched his cheeks, smacked his head. Still a dream? No. The medieval-like streets, the lizard carts, the people—all real.
Luckily, he could communicate. Currency? Gold, silver, copper. Merchants weren't friendly, but… understandable. Subaru's knowledge of games and anime helped him quickly grasp the rules of this new world.
Still… survival wasn't easy. His belongings? Cell phone (dying), wallet (membership cards only), cup of instant ramen, a bag of crispy snacks, gray tracksuit, worn sneakers. That was it.
"I don't even get a sword or anything? What am I supposed to do in this getup?"
Hunger hit. Half the snack bag was gone. Reality wasn't a game, and no elaborate TV-show summoning was coming to save him. The lizard carts and colorful crowd proved that.
Half-humans wandered past—cat ears, dog ears, even lizardmen.
—So this is a world with half-humans… probably adventures, wars, maybe monsters too.
Subaru let out a long breath. No clue what to do next. How or why he was summoned… unknown. No beautiful summoner in sight.
—Plot hole, seriously. Single-use disposable summoning guy, that's me.
Turning back toward the main road, he almost collided with someone.
"Oh. Sorry 'bout that."
"Hold up!"
A firm hand grabbed his shoulder. Three men blocked the alley exit. Subaru had a bad feeling.
"May I ask what you three plan on doing with me?"
"One smart one here! Nothing to worry about. Just give us everything you've got, and no one gets hurt."
—Great. Compulsory event triggered.
Subaru forced a smile. Stories of summoned heroes usually came with powers, right? Maybe he had one too. Feeling lighter somehow, he tried confidence.
"I can do this! I'm going to mow you all down! First chapter of my glorious future!"
"What the hell is he on about?"
"I dunno, but kill him!"
Subaru lunged, fist aimed at the big man. Nose smashed, hand cut on a tooth.
—I hit someone for the first time in my life! Ow!
He kicked the next guy into the wall. Almost felt invincible. Until…
The last man had a knife.
Immediately, Subaru dropped to his knees, pressed his forehead to the ground.
"I'm sorry! Please, forgive me! Spare my life!"
The two men he thought were down got back up.
—Wait, my one-hit knockout didn't work?!
They stomped, kicked, beat him. Pain radiated. Real life had no mercy.
—This hurts. I could die… like, seriously.
Then—"Hey! Out of the way! Out of the way! I'm talking to you! Move!"
A girl dashed into the alley. Blond hair, red eyes, one canine tooth poking out. Cheeky, mischievous, but Subaru felt… relief.
She ran right past the attackers. No saving him.
—Hope… shattered.
The girl raised her hand in a quick, apologetic wave and didn't slow down. She ran past the men, reached a dead-end wall, kicked off a plank, grabbed the top, and vaulted onto a rooftop, disappearing from sight.
The alley fell silent, as if a hurricane had just passed. Subaru and the thugs were frozen. But that didn't mean his situation had improved.
"Doesn't that make you want to, I don't know, rethink your life choices?!"
"More like it pissed me off even more!" one of the men snarled. They kept their feet planted on Subaru, holding him down. The glint of the knife in front of him was sharp, real, and deadly.
—No way… I can't die this easily, can I?
Tears pricked Subaru's eyes—not fear, exactly, but despair. All the energy, all the plans, everything felt like it was slipping away.
Then—
"Hold it right there, you evildoers!"
The voice cut through the noise, the shouts, the alley itself.
Time seemed to freeze.
A girl stood at the alley entrance. Silver hair braided to her hips, violet eyes sharp and intelligent, soft features tempered with a noble grace. She was around five-foot-three, dressed simply in white, but the embroidered cloak with a bird of prey made her presence impossible to ignore.
"I will not stand by and watch your wrongdoing. Enough."
Her voice rang like silver bells. Subaru forgot his fear for a moment, completely undone. Even the thugs hesitated.
"Wha… who are you?"
"If you stop now, I won't punish you. Return what you stole," she said.
"What?! She's nobility? Wait… what we stole?"
Subaru noticed the girl pleading, but her aura carried an inexplicable pressure. The men stammered, pointing at Subaru.
"You didn't come for this guy?!"
"…Those are some weird clothes. Never seen him before," she said flatly.
—Looks like I'm the pawn again.
The girl nodded toward Subaru, then turned back to chase the real culprit across the rooftops. The thugs, relieved, relaxed. Subaru, abandoned, felt a wave of shock wash over him.
"Still… I can't ignore this." She turned, hand raised, and a cluster of ice shot from her palm, hitting the men and throwing them backward. A chunk of ice fell beside Subaru, evaporating instantly.
"…Magic," Subaru muttered.
Not flashy, not like in the stories. Just… effective. The two surviving thugs got back up, rage in their eyes, ready to attack.
"You think you can fight two-on-one?!" yelled the man with the knife.
The girl squinted, calm. "Maybe… two-on-two would be fairer."
A voice piped up, higher-pitched and genderless. Subaru and the thugs looked around, but no one was visible—except for the small, upright gray cat perched on her palm.
"…Spirit mage?!" the man stammered.
"That's right. Decide quickly. I'm in a hurry."
The men fled, pale as death. Subaru finally tried to rise, but the girl's caution was evident:
"Don't move."
—Even when she's scary, she's… cute.
"See? If he had no intentions, he wouldn't look away," the cat said.
The girl asked her some questions.
"I don't know the girl who stole your badge," Subaru admitted.
The girl flustered, cheeks red, turned to the cat.
"What now? Was this all a waste of my time?"
"It's still in progress. She's fast. Be careful."
The cat reminded her—and Subaru smiled weakly.
"Don't worry about me. Thanks to your help, I'll be fine. You're in a hurry, right? Go."
Subaru tried a hero-style flourish in his mind, but… dizziness hit. He toppled face-first, landing hard.
"…So, what now?" Subaru heard the girl and cat discussing him faintly in the distance of his fading consciousness.
—Otherworldly fantasy. Everyone's empathy is warped.
Before he fully passed out, Subaru glimpsed the silver-haired girl, flushed and shouting:
"There's no way I'm going to save him, okay?!"
—Man… even when angry, she's cute.
Then darkness took him.
Sunlight hit Subaru's eyes. He blinked, waking like someone surfacing from water.
"Oh, you're awake?" a soft voice said. He felt his head on something soft—like a pillow.
"You shouldn't move. You hit your head."
—Wait… is this a girl's lap?
He rubbed his cheek, enjoying the fluffiness of soft hair, blissfully ignoring the oddity of the situation.
"Wow… this is amazing. Now I get why people love cats so much."
"Well, if you're happy, then it was worth super-sizing," the cat winked. Subaru's gaze drifted to the silver-haired girl, still calm at the alley entrance.
"Umm… sorry about all this. Looks like you stayed with me until I woke up, and—"
"Don't get any ideas about this. The only reason I stayed is because I still have some questions to ask you. If it weren't for that, I would have left you behind. I mean it. So don't get any ideas."
Pressing the point, the girl emphasized her words with unshakable resolve. This was a level of girl power that Subaru, who had no resistance against beautiful girls, simply could not withstand. It was so strong that all he could do was nod absentmindedly, ignoring the content of whatever she was saying.
"The reason I healed your wounds, and the reason I had Puck serve as a pillow until you woke up—all of that was for me. So I'm going to have you make it up to me, okay?"
"I know you're trying to build this up, but if you just have something to ask, go right ahead," Subaru said.
She looked sternly at him and shook her head.
"I'm not asking. I'm commanding. You know something about my stolen badge, don't you?" Her tone dropped slightly, sharper this time.
Subaru tilted his head in confusion. They had gone through this before, right before he'd passed out.
She keeps calling it a "badge." Is it like the ones police or detectives carry? I haven't seen anything like that…
"You didn't hit your head real hard while I was out, did you?" he asked.
"You were out for about ten minutes. Nothing like that happened. Answer the question."
"Well…if that's the case, I really don't know. Ha-ha…"
You can't answer what you don't know. Subaru's answer didn't change anything—but the girl didn't look disappointed. She simply nodded.
"Well, if you don't know, you don't know. But the fact that you know absolutely nothing is information in itself, and enough for me to justify healing you," she said, using twisted logic that would baffle even the most cunning swindler.
Subaru stared, dumbfounded, as she clapped her hands together.
"Well, I'm in a hurry, so I'll be going now. Your wounds should be healed, and I threatened those other guys so much I doubt they'll come near you again. But it's still dangerous to enter an alley like this alone. Oh, and I'm not saying this because I'm worried about you; consider it a warning: if I see you in a similar situation again, there won't be any merit to me saving you. Don't expect it," she said, words spilling out at a machine-gun pace. She took his silence as affirmation, nodded to herself, and turned to leave.
Her long silver hair swayed and sparkled fantastically in the dim alley light.
"I'm sorry about that. She's not really honest with herself. Don't think too strangely of her, okay?" said the cat, now back to its original size, leaping onto her shoulder.
She patted its back, and it disappeared into the curtain of her hair.
Without looking back, she continued walking. Subaru watched her go, pondering the cat's words. She wasn't honest with herself. Her actions—saving him, healing him—were all for her own ends. She had something stolen, and even in her rush to retrieve it, she saved him. Then, after he passed out, she healed him—and used twisted reasoning to justify it.
"She's not really honest with herself" barely scratched the surface. Her efforts seemed negative in every way, and it was hard to watch. She had every right to blame him for getting in her way, yet she hadn't complained or asked for an apology. The only reason she saved him was for herself.
"If you live like that, you'll just keep losing until there's nothing left," Subaru muttered as he got up, dusting off his dirt-streaked tracksuit.
Despite his battered state, most of his pain was gone. Subaru felt again the otherworldly power of magic—and the generosity of a girl who, despite claiming he owed her, had taken nothing in return.
"Hey, wait!" Subaru called just as she reached the alley entrance, hesitating at the main road.
She touched her silver hair, looking troubled. "What is it? I only have a bit more time to deal with you."
"So a little's fine, then? Anyway, what you lost is important, right? Let me help you look for it."
"But you said you don't know anything…"
"I don't know her name or where she's from, but I know what she looks like! Blond hair, sort of like a kitten, a noticeable canine tooth, shorter than you, chest pretty flat—maybe two or three years younger. How about that?!"
He rambled, flustered, speaking faster than his brain could process. The silence that followed was heavy. Cold sweat, heart palpitations, dizziness, stuffy nose—it all hit him at once.
"…You're strange," she said, hand to her mouth, tilting her head as if inspecting a rare creature.
"I should say up front, I can't offer anything in return. No copper coins here," she added.
"Don't worry. That makes two of us," Subaru said.
"Three of us, if you count me… Pretty terrible for us as a group," Puck added jokingly, but Subaru ignored it and pounded his chest.
"I don't need anything in return. I'm the one who should thank you. That's why I want to help."
"I've already gotten something from healing you," she said, refusing to let him win.
She just wouldn't give up. Subaru smiled weakly at her stubbornness.
"If that's the case, I'll help you for my own sake. My 'one good deed a day' project!" he declared.
"One good deed a day?"
"Yep. One good thing a day, and after you die, you get a one-way ticket to heaven! If I can do it, then a life of just eating and sleeping awaits me. So I'll help you for my own sake."
Subaru knew he was rambling nonsense, but at least he'd made his point.
The girl hesitated, thinking, while her cat poked her cheek with a paw.
"I don't sense any evil intentions from him. It's not a bad idea. With how big the capital is, it's better than nothing."
"But if I involve him…"
"You're cute when stubborn, but foolish if you let stubbornness cloud your judgment. I'd rather not think my master is a fool," Puck added seriously.
The girl's resolve wavered, then she finally conceded.
"I really can't give you anything in return, okay?"
After Subaru's first real friendly interaction in this strange world—a heartwarming hour had passed.
But their investigation had stalled.
Subaru scratched his face, trying to think of a way forward.
Even with all my experience, I never thought it would be this difficult…
"You seem to have a high opinion of yourself, but I haven't seen anything to prove it. No matter how you slice it, things aren't going well!"
"Nobody says 'no matter how you slice it' anymore…"
Pointing that out only made her glare sharper. Subaru shrank back.
After nearly an hour, they found themselves back in the same alley. There were several reasons:
Subaru didn't know his way around the city, having just been summoned. The girl was unfamiliar with the area as well, and ten minutes were wasted as they assumed the other knew the way. Signs and symbols were illegible to Subaru, further slowing them down.
"This world isn't kind at all," Subaru muttered.
While despairing, he noticed the girl standing by the wall, eyes closed, lips moving.
"Wonder what she's doing…"
"Oh, that? She's communicating with lesser spirits."
The gray cat floated in front of him.
"Still a bit of time before I have to go. Unlike the minor spirits she's talking to, I take my job seriously."
"Lesser spirits?" Subaru asked.
"They're beings developing knowledge, on their way to becoming full spirits like me," Puck explained.
The silver-haired girl was surrounded by faint glowing lights, like fireflies—holy ground only for the sanctified.
"Wow! Are all these glowing things spirits?" Subaru blurted, intruding on the scene.
The girl cried out, tears sparkling. The lesser spirits panicked, scattering into the air.
"…Umm…"
"Just look at what you did! They're gone! What are you going to do about this?!"
"Ah…sorry! First time seeing spirits like that, I got excited."
"It was only safe because I had them under control. If an inexperienced mage tried that…BAM."
"'Bam?'" Subaru blinked.
"I may look cute, but two seconds, and I could turn you to dust," Puck said calmly.
"Damn, spirits are scary!" Subaru shivered.
The girl, failing to regain control of the lesser spirits, shook her head in defeat.
"From your face, it looks like you've thought of something…?" Subaru's newfound determination made her hesitate.
"Ah, we haven't introduced ourselves yet," the cat interjected.
"Oh, right. Well, I'll go first! I'm Natsuki Subaru! Ignorant and penniless forever! Nice to meet you!"
"Well, that doesn't inspire confidence. I'm Puck. Nice to meet you too."
Puck leapt into Subaru's hand for a handshake. The girl blinked in surprise.
"Black hair and dark eyes…where did you come from?"
"Ah, I come from a small country to the east! Zipang!"
"No country to the east here. We're at the ends of the east," the girl replied.
Subaru's lack of money, illiteracy, and helplessness worried her.
"Taking another look…you're actually in pretty good shape. Uh…Subaru?"
"Huh? Yep, Subaru." He flexed his biceps. "Strength training daily. Got to stay in shape cooped up in my room."
"You're from a high-ranking family, right? Learned martial arts?"
"Ordinary middle-class, but…how do you figure I'm high-class?"
"Well, a curious air, your hands, your skin, your hair…not common. Muscles don't look like hard labor," she said, inspecting him.
Subaru blushed, impressed by her perceptiveness.
"Black hair, dark eyes…common in southern refugees, but being here in Lugunica means you live in luxury. And these clothes—magnificent craftsmanship. Right?"
Subaru hesitated.
"If you're asking if you're wrong or right…you're wrong. How can I say it without hurting you?"
"If I'm wrong, just say it. Don't hide it. It's more embarrassing."
The girl blushed. Subaru sighed, wondering how to explain he was summoned from another world.
"You don't have to think so hard. If you can't talk about it, I won't question you."
Seeing her concession, Subaru grimaced at his own uselessness.
"But…really, this isn't looking very good," she muttered.
"…What am I, an idiot? Yeah, I am. What have I been doing all this time…"
In front of him stood the girl who saved his life. He had offered to help repay her—how could he do so with nothing to offer?
"Subaru?" she asked, tilting her head.
He focused on the moment when the thief ran through the alley. I need something, anything to use…
"I have a few things to check with you, is that okay?"
"Um…okay. Go right ahead."
"Thanks. So, the capital city, right? Big place, king's castle…correct?"
The girl nodded.
"So there's a girl stealing things, clearly not well off. There must be a place where people like that live—maybe a slum, crime-ridden area?"
"…Really?"
"She'd need connections to sell stolen goods, so a slum or shady area is likely."
The girl nodded again.
"Then we aim for that, rather than searching blindly. Let's head to the main road and ask around."
"We're already behind schedule. Let's hurry."
They nodded and stepped out of the alley. Subaru paused, remembering something before beginning the search.
"I was just thinking… I know your cat's name now, but I don't think you ever told me your name, ha-ha."
Subaru hesitated. Bringing this up now might not have been the best timing.
The girl's eyes widened slightly at his words. Then, after a brief pause, she closed them and whispered,
"…Satella."
"Oh?"
Subaru had been bracing for a reaction, thinking he'd made a mistake by asking. He was a little slow to respond to her quiet reply.
Satella turned away and continued, her voice flat and almost distant.
"I don't have a last name, so you can just call me Satella."
There was no emotion in her tone. Though she gave her name, it was as if she was refusing to allow him to use it. Through her actions, she put a distance between them more firmly than ever before.
Subaru, who had hoped for a surname to make things easier, realized he couldn't bring himself to use her name just yet. For now, he decided to rely on pronouns instead.
From his vantage point, Puck muttered under his breath before slipping beneath Satella's silver hair.
"…That's in really bad taste, you know."
The voice never reached Satella or Subaru.
Using the bustle of the crowd as their guide, Subaru and Satella walked through the alley and emerged onto the main road about ten minutes later.
Subaru's gaze darted around, scanning for who they should question first—when Satella tugged at his sleeve.
"Hey, Subaru…"
He looked back and saw her gaze fixed on the opposite side of the street. Following her line of sight, Subaru immediately recognized what she had spotted.
I have a bad feeling about this, he thought.
Her expression was serious.
"…Do you think that kid is lost?"
Of all the possible complications, this was the one Subaru feared most.
"…Well, uh…"
He knew Satella well enough to recognize that, though she might never admit it, she was incorrigibly kind. Somehow, whether due to a curse or some other reason, she would never admit it herself.
Subaru sighed. "Let's just calm down for a minute."
"What are we going to do if she wanders off while we're hesitating?! We have to talk to her right away!"
"You know, that kindness of yours is admirable—and I myself have been saved by it—but do you even understand the situation we're in right now?"
Across the street stood a little girl, probably around ten, with shoulder-length brown hair. Her face could easily make anyone smile… but now her eyes were wide with fear, rimmed with tears.
Subaru was almost certain Satella was right. There was an 80–90% chance the girl was lost.
And it's partially my fault too, he thought. The thief who had taken Satella's badge was already disappearing into the crowd. Any delay would make it impossible to recover the stolen item.
"You're probably right… but…"
Satella's gaze lingered on the little girl. She looked ready to run to her despite the risks.
"But don't you see, Subaru? Look at her. She's crying."
"…."
"If you don't want to stick around, that's fine. Thanks for everything, Subaru. I'll figure it out after I help her."
Subaru had no words. Satella had already made up her mind. She wasn't dismissing him—she felt guilty for forcing him to go along with her unreasonable kindness.
With her silver hair dancing behind her, she trotted across the street toward the girl. The girl looked up, hope flickering in her tearful eyes.
"I'm sorry I'm not who you're looking for," Satella said as she knelt.
The girl's eyes widened—not with relief, but with fear. Her heart had shrunk from the stranger.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you, but where are your parents? Aren't they with you?"
Satella's tone softened, kinder than Subaru had ever heard from her. But it wasn't enough—the girl shivered, lost and scared.
"Umm… Uh… Please don't cry. I won't hurt you, okay?"
Still, the girl only shook her head. Subaru, spotting the opportunity, leapt in.
"Now feast your eyes on this magnificent notched ten-yen coin!"
"Huh?" Satella froze.
Subaru smiled at her reaction, then turned to the girl. He held out his right hand.
"See this coin? I'm going to squeeze it tight—like this… squeeze squeeze squeeze…"
"Wait, Subaru… what are you—?"
"And would you look at that!"
He opened his fist, and the coin was gone.
The girl's eyes widened, scanning his hand in confusion. Subaru gently brushed her hair with his left hand, revealing the coin between his fingers.
"Here it is! A little gift, so take good care of it, okay?"
The girl's face lit up. Satella, unable to understand the trick, blinked in astonishment.
Subaru then knelt and asked her a few simple questions. She answered clearly, allowing them to safely lead her back to her mother.
Once reunited, the mother thanked them repeatedly. Subaru and Satella waved off her gratitude, smiling. Subaru nudged Satella jokingly.
"Now, I get the feeling we wasted a lot of time, but what do you say, big sister? You'll call this a means to an end, right?"
Satella smiled, refreshed. "Even if we got the badge back, I'd regret not helping her. Better to do both."
Subaru blinked. She really believed it. He had underestimated her, again.
"Thanks to you, we avoided the embarrassing 'we got the badge but abandoned a crying child' scenario."
Satella frowned at him. "Why did you help? I thought you didn't want to help her."
"I wanted to show off my magic trick! …Which is a lie. I'm helping you get your badge so I can earn my good deed for the day."
Satella shook her head. "With a personality like that, you'll lose everything someday."
"You're the last person I want to hear that from!" Subaru shot back. Satella tilted her head, confused.
"You're really a nice boy, aren't you?" she said.
"Don't treat me like I'm younger than you. We're probably close in age, right?"
Satella's violet eyes narrowed. "However old you think I am, I don't think you're very close… I'm a half-elf."
"…Huh?"
Subaru finally understood. Satella's expectations had completely missed their mark.
"Take that!"
"Ow! What the hell?!"
Puck, the gray cat, had punched Subaru in the face.
"I felt overwhelmed and couldn't keep it inside," Puck explained.
Subaru rubbed his cheek. "It was soft… I forgive you."
Satella returned, twisting her silver hair and glaring at Subaru.
"Subaru, you… nincompoop."
"Nobody says 'nincompoop' anymore. What did I do?"
"Don't understand? Not my problem. Let's continue searching."
Subaru's irritation evaporated as Satella's mood shifted back to friendly.
"The town's huge," Subaru observed. "We can't afford to get lost again."
"The capital of Lugunica has about 300,000 residents, plus travelers and merchants," Satella said, pride in her voice.
Subaru scanned the streets. Humans, half-humans, and beast-people—like a melting pot. Getting lost here was understandable.
"We have no more room for error. Let's plan our next move carefully."
Subaru nodded. "Right. First, let's retrace the theft. Maybe someone saw what happened."
"Yes… it was this way."
Subaru followed her through the crowd, realizing this street corner was the same one where he had earlier met the thugs.
Lucky coincidence, he thought. He had someone in mind to question.
"Leave it to me!" he said, pointing at a nearby fruit shop.
The muscular, scarred shop owner glared at him.
"…It's you again? I was hoping for a customer, Mr. Broke."
"Oh, come on. Aren't I different this time?" Subaru said, revealing Satella standing behind him.
"What's that?" the shop owner asked, clearly unsure how to react as Subaru struck a triumphant pose, nostrils flaring.
Subaru stepped aside, spreading both arms. Behind him stood Satella.
"Look at that! I brought someone with me! You may have chased me off when you realized I was penniless, but what do you think now? I've brought in someone who very well might become a new frequent customer of yours!"
"Um… Subaru? I hate to break it to you, but I don't have any money on me."
"Huh? Really? You're telling me we've been wandering the capital without a single coin between us?!"
The shop owner sighed, glancing at the two destitute figures in his store.
"So… what exactly did you want to say now that one beggar has become two?"
"Well, actually, we're looking for something, and I wanted to ask if you could at least hear us out."
"That's just my way of saying I don't have the time to deal with you people! Take a hint!" the shop owner yelled.
Subaru felt his eardrums nearly explode.
"Th-this wasn't a good idea after all, was it?" Satella muttered, tugging at Subaru's sleeve as she shrank back.
It was selfish to ask for help without offering money—but they had none to offer.
Just as Subaru was about to give up, a voice called out.
"Hmm? Are you…the two from before?"
They turned. A woman with long brown hair stood before them, holding a little girl who looked thrilled to see them.
"We are, but…why are you here? The only other person here is this heartless, scary-faced man."
"Ha-ha… This is my husband's shop, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello."
"Your husband's shop?"
Subaru and Satella exchanged glances before focusing on the scar-faced man, arms folded.
"Pops… you didn't kill this woman's husband and take over their shop, did you?"
"What are you talking about? This is my shop, and that is my wife!"
Subaru stared, shocked. The woman smiled nervously, a gentle, beautiful presence juxtaposed against the stern shop owner.
He couldn't be threatening her, right? Subaru's mind raced—but before he could speculate further, the little girl darted past him. The shop owner scooped her up.
"Oh, look at you! Aren't you excited? Do you know these two destitute beggars?"
"Beggars? Dear, don't call them that!" the woman scolded.
The mother gently berated her husband, explaining how they had met Subaru and Satella.
"I'm sorry about that. That was no way to speak to the people who saved my daughter. Please forgive me," he said, setting his daughter down.
"Oh, don't worry. We don't have money, yes, but…"
"That's right, old man! You should really think long and hard about your actions… s… Um… your cute face looks scary right now," Satella interjected with a glance, shutting Subaru up.
The little girl handed Satella a small red flower ornament. Satella hesitated, looking at it and the girl several times, troubled yet touched.
"Please, take it," said the mother, guiding her daughter. "She wants to thank you in her own way."
Satella nodded, pinned the flower on her white cloak, and knelt so the girl could see.
"Thank you. I like it very much."
Subaru watched Satella's radiant smile, unable to look away. The little girl blushed, averting her gaze, and the shop owner cleared his throat.
"You saved my daughter. Ask me anything you want."
With a firm nod, the stern-faced shop owner smiled. Satella's smile, though triumphant, held a hint of mischief.
"See? I told you. Things work out in the end!" she said, as if orchestrating fate herself.
The street to the slums was just off the main road, yet it was draped in gloom. Silent, still, with no sign of life.
Subaru peered down the street, hesitant. "The slums are supposed to have stolen goods, but the air, the people… it's probably terrible. Are you sure you want to go?"
"You suggested my badge might be there. The shop owner confirmed it," Satella replied.
"But he also said we should probably give up," Subaru reminded her, frowning.
Half an hour after reuniting with the girl and her mother, Subaru and Satella stood at the edge of the slums. Thanks to their good deed, the shop owner had given them information—but they hesitated.
"Shouldn't we ask the guards for help?" Subaru suggested.
"We can't," Satella rejected immediately, firm enough to surprise him.
"I… I can't explain why. I also doubt the guards would help over such a small theft."
Subaru raised his hands. "So, we go in as a two-person team?" he said, trying to keep spirits up.
"Don't forget me!" Puck reappeared on Satella's shoulder, wiping his face with his paw.
"But we don't have time. I've only got an hour left before it's over," Puck warned, gazing at the orange sky.
"So decide quickly," Puck finished.
"I'm going," Satella said. "The people here are tough, so be careful. If you're scared, you can wait for me."
"Wait? What, you think I'm a chicken? I'm coming! I'll stick to you like a ghost haunting you!" Subaru shouted.
Satella sighed, resigned to his antics.
Subaru thought about Satella's rare smiles. Even when she looked troubled, she was endearing. He hoped to see her smile again in a brighter moment.
The slums were rough, but Subaru's battered appearance made locals unusually kind. Satella's pristine clothes, by contrast, made her stand out… badly.
"Can I ask something?" a resident muttered.
"You don't belong here, young lady. Fancy clothes? Go on, move along," another brusquely turned her away.
Subaru suggested she remove her cloak, but Satella refused. She clutched the red flower pinned to her chest, seeking comfort. Subaru smiled, determined to make progress using his own "dirty" advantage.
"Don't worry. Leave this to me," he said, pumping himself up.
Satella rolled her eyes at his dramatics. Subaru ignored her, thinking how close they'd grown in just two hours.
Puck leaned against Satella's neck, fading. "I tried to stay longer, but I end up fading when my work is done."
"Leave it to me! I'll protect her!" Subaru vowed.
Satella took a glowing green crystal from her pocket. Puck hugged it before vanishing.
"Be careful. Don't push yourself," Subaru reminded.
Satella smiled, annoyed yet affectionate.
"All right! Leave it to me. My sixth sense will alert us to danger!" Subaru boasted.
Satella kept watch as Subaru led the way into the loot cellar.
The entrance was open, a sour smell drifting out. Subaru peered inside—dark, cluttered, and filled with stolen items. Wooden tags marked them all.
"If we rounded up these tags… the guards could arrest everyone," Subaru muttered.
As he ventured farther, something strange clung to the soles of his shoes. Sticky, almost alive…
He lifted his foot and touched the sole of his sneaker. Something wet clung to his fingers—thick, sticky, stretching like slime as he pulled away. The sensation sent a shiver down his spine.
"What is this…?"
He brought his hand close to his nose, but the rotten, stagnant air inside the building muddled the scent. He didn't dare taste it. Wiping the rest of the slime on the wall, he gripped the lagmite and pressed onward, unease prickling his skin.
Then he found the source.
"…Huh?"
His voice escaped before he could stop it. In the faint glow of his light, an arm lay limp on the floor. The fingers were still stretched toward something—yet everything past the elbow was gone.
Subaru followed the arm with his light…and saw a leg connected to a torso. The body was intact except for one missing arm—but the throat was slashed wide open. A large, old man. Completely dead.
"Eek!"
His mind went blank. His body froze. He couldn't think, couldn't speak, couldn't scream.
Then—
"…Well, you found it. That's too bad. Now I have no choice. Yes, no choice at all."
A woman's voice. Low, cold—yet disturbingly amused.
"Gwah!"
He didn't even turn. Something smashed into him with overwhelming force. His body flew backward, slammed into the wall, and the lagmite slipped from his hand, clattering away into darkness.
But Subaru didn't care about that. His world was now ruled by one sensation.
"Guh… it's… h-hot…"
Heat consumed him. Not warmth—an unbearable fire spreading through his entire body.
—This is really, really not good.
His cheek pressed against the cold floor. He was facedown. He couldn't move. He couldn't even feel his fingers. All he felt was burning heat.
He coughed, blood flooding his throat and spilling past his lips, bubbling at the corners. His vision blurred. The floor in front of him was dyed red.
—You've…got to be kidding me… All of this is mine?
His entire body felt empty, drained. His hand trembled as he reached down, trying to find the source of the heat ravaging him. His fingertips brushed something wet—then sank into flesh.
His stomach was cut open.
No wonder it was hot. His brain was confusing pain with warmth. The wound was clean, deep—almost splitting him in half. Only a few strands of skin held him together.
He had walked straight into checkmate.
His thoughts faded. Even the heat disappeared as his senses dulled. The slimy feeling of blood and organs slipped away. His body remained, but his soul was leaving.
A black boot stepped into view, splashing into the pool of his blood.
Someone was standing over him. Probably the one who killed him.
He didn't look. It didn't matter anymore.
—The only thing he wished for… was that she, at least, would be safe.
"—baru?"
A voice. Clear and delicate—like small bells ringing.
He heard it. He could still hear her voice. That alone was enough salvation to make him move.
"!"
A short scream. Someone collapsed into the blood beside him.
Her.
Subaru weakly reached out. Her white hand fell against the floor. He grasped it with his blood-soaked fingers.
She squeezed back.
"Just you wait…"
He dragged his fading consciousness back, forcing it to obey just a little longer.
"I'm going to…"
—find a way to save you.
In the next instant, Natsuki Subaru died.