Re:Zero - Starting from Zero (Natsuki Subaru)

After finishing his work, Natsuki Subaru lay on the lawn in the courtyard of the mansion.

"So tired!"

Puck floated above Subaru Natsuki, looking up at him from above.

"That must have been really tough."

Parker said with a smile.

"It's not over yet."

Natsuki Subaru finished explaining the next part of the work very quickly.

Parker clapped his hands with a smile, as if applauding: "So diligent on your first day of work, great job!"

"Of course, after all, this involves many important things."

Natsuki Subaru smiled helplessly, then turned over and looked sideways at Emilia, who was practicing magic under the pavilion.

Subaru Natsuki couldn't help but smile.

As if struck by a sudden thought, Natsuki Subaru asked Puck, "What type of mage is Emilia?"

Parker explained that Emilia was not actually a magician, but an elf.

Parker then began explaining the difference between the two to Emilia.

"A mage uses the magic power within their own body to unleash magic."

"On the contrary, spirit users rely on the magic in the atmosphere to cast spells."

Natsuki Subaru raised his hand, like a student asking a question.

"What's the difference, teacher?"

Simply put, it's about whether or not you know how to use the Gate of Life.

"Gain magic through the Gate of Life, and then release it!"

Parker gave a vivid and engaging performance from the sidelines.

Subaru Natsuki understood.

So it was just a faucet that controls magic.

Puck suddenly mentioned that Subaru Natsuki is also likely capable of using magic.

Natsuki Subaru looked delighted.

Does that mean I can do it too?

Puck tested Subaru Natsuki's magic attributes.

While Subaru was speculating about what kind of magical power he would gain, Puck revealed it.

"Yin attribute!"

Emilia came over upon hearing the sound: "That's rare, you actually have the Yin attribute."

The two began to discuss as soon as they met.

Parker suddenly said, "Then let's give it a try!"

Parker didn't give Subaru Natsuki a chance to react at all.

"Cover up!!"

Natsuki Subaru instantly felt himself in an endless darkness, unable to speak, unable to breathe, and unable to feel anything.

Natsuki Subaru recalled a familiar feeling.

"How was it? That was the curtain just now!" Parker asked.

Emilia looked at Subaru Natsuki with concern: "Are you alright?"

Natsuki Subaru swallowed hard, scratched his head to reassure Emilia, and replied with a smile, "It's nothing, it's nothing!"

After that, Puck used the veil for the first time with Subaru Natsuki.

"...Simply put, this is how you do it. Try to imagine a part of the magic in your body coming out of the Gate of Life."

Natsuki Subaru smiled confidently.

Natsuki Subaru pressed his finger to his forehead: "Meow meow meow meow..."

Natsuki Subaru made a meow-like sound as he imagined it.

Parker's expression suddenly turned somewhat awkward: "Uh? It seems..."

The next second, a massive curtain burst forth centered on Subaru Natsuki, almost covering Roswaal's entire courtyard!

……

I don't know how much time passed.

Parker started to be wise after the event.

"In short... Subaru's life gate is very unstable, so it's best not to force it..."

Natsuki Subaru lay helplessly on a bench in the pavilion.

"Weren't you the one who said it was nothing...?"

Parker smiled and brushed it off.

Natsuki Subaru now finds it difficult to even get up.

Emilia stopped Subaru Natsuki from getting up: "You can't push yourself. You've used up all your magic power. You probably won't be able to finish your work today..."

Upon hearing this, Natsuki Subaru could no longer remain calm lying down and used almost all his strength to stand up.

"That won't do!! Even if it's forced, we have to persevere!"

Natsuki Subaru knew all too well what would happen if he continued like this.

You must gain the trust of everyone in the mansion while being wary of the sorcerer who might attack at any moment.

Now is not the time to lie here.

If I just lie there like this, everything will only...!!!

Seeing that she couldn't stop Subaru Natsuki, Emilia smiled helplessly and stuffed a fruit into Subaru's mouth.

"Come on, take a bite, and then swallow it."

"What is this?"

"Listen to me."

After swallowing the fruit, Subaru Natsuki felt like he had come back to life!

"What was that just now?!"

Emilia explained with a smile, "This is a fruit called Pok. Eating it will activate the magic in your body, thereby restoring the power of the Gate of Life."

Although Subaru Natsuki didn't understand the value of this fruit, judging from its powerful effects, it must be quite precious.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you."

Emilia closed her eyes with some dissatisfaction.

"Subaru, you really are..."

"Saying thank you once is more satisfying than saying sorry several times."

"I didn't want you to apologize; I did it because I wanted to help you, you understand?"

Emilia smiled gently.

Natsuki Subaru felt that he had fallen for her once again.

That night, Roswaal asked Ram about Subaru Natsuki.

Ram admitted that he did lack some abilities, but was too clever in some aspects, and needed to be observed for a while longer.

Roswaal reminded Ram to keep a close eye on Rem and not let Rem act too impulsively.

……

The first day of work is over.

Subaru Natsuki lay in bed analyzing the situation.

"I must have gained a lot of trust from Ram and Rem today, right? The problem really is with the sorcerer."

"Sorcerer, sorcerer..."

Subaru Natsuki, wanting to learn more about sorcerers, sought out Beatrice.

"Want to understand curses?"

"Yes, how can we prevent the curse?"

Although Beatrice was annoyed with the man in front of her, she still patiently explained.

"There's no way to undo it; once a curse is cast, it cannot be cast off."

Just as Subaru Natsuki was starting to feel a bit awkward, Beatrice continued.

Beatrice continued.

An unactivated spell is no different from a regular spell, and Beatrice is fully capable of dispelling it.

As soon as she finished speaking, Beatrice sniffed lightly.

"The scent of a witch."

Subaru Natsuki realized that the person was talking about him. Come to think of it, Rem had said the same thing before.

"Speaking of which, what's with this witch's scent? Is she an accomplice of sorcerers?"

Subaru Natsuki wanted to get the answer from Beatrice.

"There is only one witch in this world who can represent a witch: Satella, the witch of jealousy."

Beatrice told Subaru about the Witch of Envy's misdeeds and the rumors surrounding her.

In short, no matter how you look at it, she is a major villain that everyone avoids.

Some say she is a silver-haired half-elf.

As Beatrice spoke, Subaru Natsuki's pupils contracted slightly.

Natsuki Subaru instantly recalled the pseudonym Emilia had given him when they first met.

Satella.

At the time, Subaru Natsuki did not know that this was the name of the terrifying Witch of Envy.

Now that he knows all this, Subaru Natsuki is still puzzled as to what circumstances would lead someone to impersonate the Witch of Envy.

"No, it should be said that it's using the name of the Witch of Envy."

Beatrice continued to look down at her book.

"I don't know, but no matter what, it's a suicidal act."

Emilia... why did that back then?

"I bet ten people would want to stay away from someone who has something wrong with their head."

Natsuki Subaru smiled slightly, having already made up his mind.

"Did you deliberately mention that dangerous name just to keep me away from her, away from danger, and away from the conflicts surrounding the royal selection?"

Because of the royal selection and the special status of a half-elf, getting close to Emilia was destined to be fraught with danger.

Natsuki Subaru now understands this, but he doesn't want to leave Emilia.

Staying away from you means staying away from happiness; getting closer to you means getting closer to danger.

Even so...