Re:Zero - Starting from Zero (Natsuki Subaru)

Roswaal gave Subaru a brief explanation of the current situation in the country.

When the king died, even members of his royal family did not escape death.

The country is in a state of slight chaos, and a royal selection is underway.

At this very moment, in this somewhat turbulent country, a person of unknown origin appeared.

Subaru Natsuki.

Mysterious foreigners have appeared in this country.

Natsuki Subaru realized a terrifying truth.

"I'm super suspicious!!!"

"And then there's her proximity to me, the Earl, and Lady Emilia..."

Natsuki Subaru tilted his head in confusion: "Why would a count like you call Emilia 'Lady'?"

Subaru Natsuki's eyes widened.

He seemed to realize something.

Emilia spoke somewhat shyly, "I am currently one of the candidates for the 42nd royal selection of this country..."

"Rosswaal is my backer."

Natsuki Subaru was genuinely startled.

Natsuki Subaru never imagined that the silver-haired girl who had unexpectedly saved him would actually be one of the candidates for the throne of this country.

Isn't this coincidence a bit too outrageous?

Emilia took out the stolen badge.

Natsuki Subaru then realized that this badge represented the identity of a candidate for the Royal Selection, and only those with this badge were qualified to participate in the Royal Selection.

This badge is more important than I thought.

If this badge is really lost, then Emilia's eligibility for the royal selection might be invalidated.

After all, a country will not easily hand over its sovereignty to someone who cannot even protect a small badge.

Subaru Natsuki truly made a great contribution.

To express his gratitude, Roswald offered to grant Subaru Natsuki's wish.

Natsuki Subaru stood up from his seat.

"I only have one wish!"

"Let me work in this mansion!!!"

After the meal.

The maid sisters Ram and Rem then took Subaru Natsuki to change his clothes.

After all, if you want to work at the mansion, you have to wear a proper outfit. You can't keep wearing Natsuki Subaru's strange clothes here.

However, none of the work clothes here are suitable for Subaru Natsuki.

Natsuki Subaru is like a child who has stolen and put on adult clothes.

Emilia, preparing for the royal selection, left ahead of time.

The task of preparing clothes for Subaru Natsuki was entirely left to the Ram and Rem sisters.

Rem took Subaru's measurements and prepared to have a set of clothes made to fit him perfectly.

After taking the measurements, Subaru Natsuki was led by Ram to visit every room in the mansion.

Just now.

Subaru Natsuki accidentally opened a door, and inside was Beatrice hugging Puck, with Beatrice constantly rubbing against Puck's fluffy fur.

"That's amazing, brother! This fur is absolutely the best!"

Beatrice felt herself being watched, and her expression froze instantly.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone..."

Natsuki Subaru wore a knowing expression.

In a fit of embarrassment and anger, Subaru Natsuki was kicked out by Beatrice.

Natsuki Subaru stood up defiantly and opened the door again, only to find that the scene inside was completely different from before.

Ram explained from the side that this was Beatrice's ability.

It is called "Gate of Opportunity".

It's likely that opening any door in the mansion could lead to the library where Beatrice is located.

Subaru's intuition was spot on. He looked at the closed door in front of him and opened it. Sure enough, Beatrice was inside.

Subaru Natsuki only found out this time.

Beatrice is the librarian of the forbidden library.

Roswaal is a great mage and has many books that cannot be exposed to outsiders, so Beatrice is needed to act as the librarian of the forbidden library.

Beatrice kicked Subaru Natsuki out once again.

……

After finishing her role as a guide to help Subaru Natsuki familiarize himself with the mansion, Ram began to help him with his daily routines.

Natsuki Subaru's eye twitched slightly; there was so much daily work to do at this mansion...

Until evening.

Natsuki Subaru finally had time to lie down and rest in bed for a while.

At that moment, Rem knocked on Subaru's door to indicate that the clothes had been altered.

Subaru Natsuki tried it on and felt that the size was just right!

Rem has altered the top, but the pants haven't been changed yet.

Natsuki Subaru smiled slightly: "Leave this to me!"

Subaru Natsuki demonstrated his sewing skills.

"That's really surprising, her sewing skills are perfect."

Rem said calmly.

……

On the second day, Ram, Rem, and Subaru Natsuki began to take charge of the mansion's meals.

Natsuki Subaru discovered that besides his sewing skills, he really couldn't do anything else.

My fingers often get cut and bleed when I'm chopping vegetables or peeling fruit.

The cleaning was also done very slowly.

She often breaks dishes while washing them.

You can even slip and fall while cleaning the bathtub.

My hands are red and sore from washing clothes.

Trimming plants can also hurt your fingers.

……

night.

Roswaal's room.

"Has Subaru changed at all since then? He's been here for five days now; he should be able to figure things out by now, right?"

"Cooking, cleaning, laundry—I'm completely incapable of any of them."

Ram reported to Roswaal.

"That's really harsh... So what's the chance he's a spy?"

Roswaal's gaze became more serious.

Ram expressed his opinion: "While it cannot be completely ruled out, I think the possibility that he is a spy is very low."

"For better or worse, his behavior was too conspicuous..."

"It's too conspicuous, but that would be..."

Roswaal made a beheading gesture.

Roswaal and Ram looked out the window, and from there they could see Subaru and Emilia in the courtyard at night.

……

Subaru Natsuki quietly looked at Emilia.

"Subaru, you must have had a tough time at the mansion these past few days?"

"Yeah, it's so tiring! I really wish Emilia-tan's lap pillow could heal me..."

Natsuki Subaru even had the mind to joke.

"If you still have the energy to joke around, then you should be fine."

Emilia smiled helplessly.

Subaru Natsuki and Emilia looked up at the moonlight.

Emilia still can't understand why Subaru Natsuki only wanted that one thing.

Subaru Natsuki, who saved Emilia's life in the royal capital, only wanted to know Emilia's name.

Parker only wanted to pet his fur that time.

Roswaal simply wanted to stay at the mansion to work this time.

Emilia had never met anyone so kind that it seemed unreal.

"He's a man who wouldn't lie to himself."

"Everything I suggested was something I truly wanted at the time."

He arrived alone in a completely unfamiliar and inexplicable new world.

Emilia was the first person he met to show him kindness.

Natsuki Subaru should have felt very confused and helpless when he came into this world.

But with Emilia's appearance, Subaru Natsuki has a goal.

Or rather, because of Emilia's appearance, Subaru Natsuki can focus all his attention on saving Emilia.

Thus, he can forget about and stop thinking about those things that should have caused him immense distress, confusion, and pain.

……

Everyone was able to sense Subaru's emotions through his memories seen in the sky.

This has never happened before.

The crowd sensed Natsuki Subaru's thoughts and emotions, their expressions somewhat complicated.

That feeling is hard to describe in words.

"Hmph, I see. It seems this canopy is gradually evolving..."

Beatrice suppressed the complex emotions in her heart and thought that the sky might be gradually beginning to evolve.

Julius nodded in agreement: "Ah, yes, when the first act was played, we couldn't truly grasp Subaru's feelings like that."

Xia Wula lowered her gaze, seemingly deep in thought.

Ram, Anastasia, and everyone else present except Rem all considered a possibility.

With the evolution of the sky screen, will it be more than just playing back memories in the future?

Xia Wula was the first person to think of this problem.

"Could this canopy become an upgraded version of the Book of the Dead?"

In the end, will it allow everyone to experience the master's experiences and suffering?

Shaula wasn't unable to accept it, it's just...

Xia Wula knew that not everyone could accept this kind of thing.

Having only seen a small portion of her master's memories, Xia Wula realized that her master's journey was likely filled with mostly painful recollections.

Shaula was extremely worried. What if what lay behind the veil truly developed into an upgraded version of the "Book of the Dead," visible to everyone...?

Could this indirectly affect the physical and mental state of other people?