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Chapter 4: Fear

Notes:

Do you know that Re: Zero also have tarot card? Subaru is represented by the Fool card. He can also be seen in the Empress, the Hierophant, the Tower, and the Star cards.

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter Text

The thought kept swirling around Subaru's head until the faraway chime of the cathedral bells woke him out of his stupor.

"No use thinking about it now." Subaru remarked to himself before standing up

He went to the clothing rack and was about to take the police uniform, but stopped himself.

"Wait…I'm not going to the station. I will just buy some ingredients for my luck enhancement ritual…" He trailed off suddenly, a thought forming on his head "Although I wonder….how would I feel wearing this?

Although he had Heinkel's memories, the details seemed to always slip out of the drunken man's mind. Subaru clicked his tongue, as he felt a compulsive, if not slightly childish desire to wear the outfit.

It would look cool…

"Screw it. I will try this out!"

After a moment, Subaru looked at himself in the mirror. He wore a black long-sleeved shirt with a similarly black vest. There are many pockets on the outfit, likely for tactical purposes, and an insignia on his shoulder with the image of a two-faced lion, likely reflecting his rank as deputy captain. His pant, similarly, has numerous pockets. The outfit overall had a durable and professional feeling.

Subaru tried to fix the patrol cap on his head. The cap has an insignia of a front-facing roaring lion, which in Subaru's opinion is a solid aesthetic choice, although it likely carried cultural meanings, too.

"I looked…kinda badass, actually." Subaru came to the conclusion after looking at the man in the mirror. He captured that rugged and tired look of a veteran policeman. Despite his rigid expression, Subaru willed himself to smile, showing his teeth. However, this expression looked out of place for Heinkel.

"This outfit reminded me of those in the Victorian Era…I would have thought that this was that past…if not for the fact that I didn't recognize any of those 'orthodox' gods."

Subaru promptly took off his outfit, switching to a brownish faded coat after that. A similarly brown fedora was adorned on his head.

With his outfit done, Subaru made his way to his bed and felt under the pillow for the ornate dagger. He was surprised to feel something smooth under there, too.

"Oh…this is the money Heinkel was saving up…"

He quickly stuffed the dagger into his right pocket and then moved on to search the bed more thoroughly. When he retracted his hand, there were about eight notes with dark green colors on them.

"I wondered how much of these were spent on alcohol…no, Heinkel is not that stupid. I must give him some credit." Subaru reminded himself…this man was pushed to a state like this solely because of his unfortunate circumstances, after all. It didn't make Heinkel a saint, but he at least deserved sympathy.

Subaru looked at the money in his hand again. This is, sadly, all they have for the moment. Two of them were five-soli notes and the remaining were one-soli notes.

In the Loen Kingdom's currency system, soli was ranked second. It originated from ancient silver coins. One soli was equivalent to twelve copper pence. They had denominations of one and five soli.

At the top of the currency system was the gold pound. They were also paper-based but were guaranteed by gold and pegged directly. A gold pound was equivalent to twenty soli. They had denominations of one, five, and ten gold pounds.

Subaru sniffed the note a bit…a unique smell of ink was present.

This will run out in a few days…Subaru suddenly felt contemplative.

"Don't think about it. Let's just focus on my current objective."

Subaru inspected the design on the note. The youthful face of Queen Capella was on it with her eyes closed. He didn't know if it was intentional, but the slight curl of her lips made her appear cute and innocent.

Perhaps this is the strategy of the queen? Make the common mass fall in love with her cuteness? Not sure how a starving person would care, though.

"A one-soli note should be enough. No, let's take two just in case!" Subaru then rolled up the remaining notes and stuffed them back under the pillow, but tried to make them less inconspicuous this time. "Since Heinkel is a policeman, perhaps thieves won't steal from him. However, being careful never hurts."

Subaru folded the two notes he had taken out and placed them in his left pocket. With everything all done, he placed a key into his right pocket, brought a paper bag along with him, and walked toward the door.

It wasn't until he placed his hand on the doorknob did he had a startling thought.

"With the strangeness around this guy's death…it does make me feel uneasy to go out like this." Subaru felt the dagger in his pocket, providing himself some courage

Heinkel knew how to fight at least. He thought of himself as inadequate not necessarily because his talent was lacking, but his parents were simply too excellent. The key point was that Heinkel definitely knew how to defend himself. Although his instinct might have dulled from the alcohol and Subaru currently inhabiting his body, he won't be taken down easily.

"Remember to stay with the crowd…and I will be fine," Subaru reassured himself.

Subaru thought about Reinhard. He wouldn't want to encounter him on the way. It would make things hard to explain.

He pressed down on his hat with his right hand and opened the door before leaving.

The corridor during the day remained dim as there was only one window at the end of the corridor. Reinhard made his way down the stairs and left the apartment before taking in the brilliance and warmth of the sun.

"Father..."

His usually drunk father with an irritable temperament, was gentle this morning. A feeling of warmth filled his heart as he recalled how his father ruffled his head.

I remember his kind voice...

"Leave the worrying to me, okay kiddo?"

It felt as if he had turned back time, to when his grandma was still there, and his mom still smiled and greeted him home every day. To when his grandfather looked at him proudly instead, and his father wasn't pushed to such limits.

His father's changes in attitude were surprising, but Reinhard didn't mind it all. Even if it was temporary, Reinhard was glad to find that his father still cared for him.

Reinhard knew that his father was working himself ragged so they would have something to eat. He knew he was a burden, and he shouldn't ask for more, yet he couldn't help himself.

"I must finish my task..."

Reinhard mumbled to himself before taking in the sun. It was warm and bright. Although it was almost July, in Tingen it was still considered the middle of summer. Reinhard had studied in school and found out the reason was that Tingen was situated north of the Loen Kingdom, so it had unique climate characteristics. The weather was kinda cold in the morning, but Reinhard has gotten used to it.

He glanced around the trash-ridden street, and Reinhard had to slow down his step so the filthy water didn't splash on his clothes. It was nothing strange anymore. Despite his own circumstances, Reinhard acknowledged that there were many people like them trying to survive.

"Come and try our delicious roasted fish!"

"Fresh fish from the port for just five pence a piece!"

"Muffins and eel soup make the perfect combination!"

"Vegetables freshly plucked from the farms outside the city. Cheap and fresh!"

…

The mobile hawkers flaunted their ware and shouted along the streets, beckoning the rushing pedestrians to their stalls. There are vegetables, fruits, hot food, and even some local delicacies…although they are quite expensive. The aroma was tantalizing, although Reinhard pursed his lips at the occasional noxious smell of fumes.

In populated areas like this, there were bound to be thieves. Desperate people, ranging from adults who had just lost their jobs and children who were starving, were not rare to see. Reinhard thought of himself as mildly fortunate, since his situations hadn't hit rock-bottom like them.

That was a very depressing thought…

Luckily, Reinhard had been in this place countless times, so he knew the way around. He carried himself in a way so as not to attract attention, and avoided shadowed alleyways and shady peoples. There was even a hood on his head to hide his distinct red hair.

He proceeded forward until he reached a point where the crowdedness waned. He saw a petite lady with brown skin waving at him. Her hair was tied in two tails, and her similarly colored eyes winked at him. Despite her cheerful expression, the faded skirt she wore was dirty, and there was a slight dullness to her skin.

"Heya there, Rein! Coming to hear my music?" She flashed him a grin

"Thank you, Ms. Liliana, but I'm afraid I had to run an errand."

"For that deadbeat dad of yours?" She raised her brows "Someday, I will write a song just to shame that man!"

"…please don't."

"I merely jest, little Rein. Come on, run along!"

Reinhard bowed at her, before going on his way and finally stopped at Suwen Bakery.

The owner of the bakery was an old granny named Elise Suwen. Her hair was a grayish-white, and a gentle smile adorned her wrinkled face. She had been selling bread and pastries even before Reinhard had been born.

Reinhard gulped as the fragrance of the bakery filled his nostrils. Ms. Elise was exceptional at baking, her Tingen biscuits and lemon cakes were especially delicious. His mother used to let him buy these treats here occasionally before…

Reinhard shook his head at the memories.

"Ms. Elise, eight pounds of rye bread, please?"

"Oh. It's you, dear Reinhard! Ah…wait a second!" With the clacking of something in the bakery, she came out and gave him a package "Here you go."

"Thanks." Reinhard counted the money in his hand and gave it to the old woman

"Oh? Why did you bring so much money?"

"Ah, my father told me to buy some meat and peas, too."

"He told him that? Heinkel? For whatever reason?" Ms. Elise raised her brows, seemingly quite skeptical

"My final exam is coming, so he said he was going to make me stew." Because Ms. Elise was a familiar and trustworthy person, Reinhard didn't mind telling her that.

Suddenly, her expression turned sullen, something akin to pity in her eyes.

"Is that so?" She muttered, then whispered to Reinhard "Did he get promoted at his job, then?"

"I don't think so…" Reinhard trailed off, clearly uncomfortable "But he said I shouldn't worry and focus on my exam."

"I see." She pursed her lips "Come to think of it, buy some extra meat for your meal. This one is on the house, kid."

Ms. Elise said before giving him back his money

"What?! I can't take this!"

"Don't worry about it, kid. Just think of it as a bonus for being my loyal customer!"

"But…"

"Besides, many people had been protesting on the streets for the repeal of the Grain Act. The price had been going down for a while, so I didn't lose that much, actually."

Reinhard had heard about the Grain Act. It was created to protect the prices of domestic agricultural products. Once the prices rose to a certain level, grain imports from Southern nations like Feynapotter, Masin, and Lenburg were stopped. His teacher had some ideas about the reason why, but Reinhard just didn't think it was convincing.

"If you say so…thank you, Ms. Elise!" Reinhard bowed his head

"It's nothing, kid. Just be well, ok?" Ms. Elise said, a glint of something in her eyes as she waved him goodbyes. Reinhard waved back before closing the door behind him.

However, he didn't go away but hid behind the wall near there.

"Oh, dear Framir, that poor boy. You heard that, right?"

Soon enough, the voice of another woman responded.

"Yeah…that poor boy. Is Heinkel going to…you know?" The voice was uncertain

Reinhard realized that was Ms. Framir, Ms. Elise's daughter speaking.

"I think so…their family had been struggling for a while. And Louanna…that was really unfortunate."

Reinhard's breath hitched, an unsettling premonition wormed its way into his heart

"So…about these ingredients?"

"Perhaps Heinkel felt guilty…it could be his way of saying goodbye, you know?"

Reinhard is a smart boy. He knew what the old woman implied, and he felt as if a bucket of cold water was poured directly over his head.

It all made sense. How his father was so gentle with him this morning, how he told him not to worry.

I'm going to be sold.

"…it's a shame. A few more years and that boy could have become someone exceptional."

"May Evernight protect him."

Reinhard's body trembled violently. He ran toward his home as fast as he could.

"Please…"

Heinkel was physically capable, which was unsurprising. As Subaru ran all the way to the market, he barely felt tired at all.

"Still...I'd better make this quick."

After buying his ingredients, Subaru noticed many tents were erected at the intersection of Iron Cross Street and Daffodil Street, on a municipal square. There were also clowns dressed in odd and funny attires while distributing fliers. A woman with blond hair was sitting on the sidelines, painting her face in a rush.

"A circus performance?" Subaru glanced at the fliers in their hand as he tried to make out its content "Tomorrow night, huh?"

Will Reinhard like it? Subaru couldn't help thinking about it.

How much is the entrance fee?

With that thought in mind, Subaru went closer.

Just as he was about to ask a clown with a red and yellow painted face, the woman, now with a painted face, called out to him.

"Would you like to try a divination?"

Subaru turned back and saw the woman hastily putting a pointed hat on. She wore a long black dress, pointing at a short tent near there. Her face was smeared with colorful paint, and her golden eyes bore into him. The paint glisten on her face unsurprsingly, given her hasty demeanor.

"No." Subaru responded coldly. He didn't want to waste the money on things such as divination.

"Hah…try it, please? My tarot divination is very accurate." She seemed flustered at his response, yet she kept begging him

"Huh…" Subaru was dumbfounded. Could this tarot…be the same as that on Earth?

Subaru searched his memories, and found that tarot divination didn't originate from the seven orthodox gods nor was it an ancient legacy. Instead, it was created by the Intis Republic's Consul of that era, Flugel, more than 170 years ago.

This Flugel invented the steam engine, improved the sailing boat, overthrew the Intis Kingdom's imperial rule, and was recognized by the God of Craftmanship. He also became the first Consul of the Intis Republic.

Later, he invaded other nations and placed Lenburg and other nations under his protection. He made the Loen Kingdom, Feynapotter, Feysac Empire, and other powerful Nothern Continent nations bow down to the Intis Republic. Following that, the Republic was then changed to an Empire, but strangely Flugel didn't assume the title of Emperor, but instead gave it to his apprentice, Shaula, who became the self-proclaimed 'Emperor Caesar'. Flugel held an advisory role in the emperor's court, and was referred to as 'The Sage of Seven Stars'.

It was during Flugel's rise to power that the Church of Craftmanship received its first public holy revelations since the Fifth Epoch. Ever since the God of Craftmanship was changed to the God of Steam and Machinery.

Flugel was the one to invent tarot divination. He established the contemporary system of paper-based cards and their playstyles. Subaru's eyes twitched at the familiar styles such as Upgrade, Fighting the Landlord, Texas Poker, and Quint…

In addition, the marine fleets he sent out discovered a sea route that led to the Southern Continent through the stormy and turbulent seas. This also began the era of colonialism.

Unfortunately, Flugel seemed to have disappeared into thin air when his apprentice and the king were betrayed. In the year 1198 of the Fifth Epoch, Shaula was assassinated by the combined forces of the Church of the Eternal Blazing Sun, the former Intis royal family-the Sauron family, and other aristocrats. Strangely enough, the Pleiades, the tower Flugel built near the palace seemed to have disappeared as well, although there were arguments about whether the Tower existed or not.

Seven Star…Pleiades…what a coincidence.

Subaru suddenly felt an urge to facepalm at the recalled knowledge.

Could this Flugel guy be a transmigrator as well?

With this in mind, Subaru was intrigued to see what the tarot cards looked like. He sighed and nodded at the woman in a pointy hat. "I will give it a try…should the price be reasonable."

"Hah…don't you worry about that. Since you, my good sir, are the first one here today, it's on the house!" She winked at him while twirling her blond hair in her hand

Chapter 5: Ritual

Chapter Text

"Free, huh? No hidden fees?"

"Of course not, sir! I'm not that shameless!" The woman with the pointed hat responded, raising her hand up defensively

Good…because I won't be purchasing any additional services, whatever they are. Subaru mumbled to himself

With that in mind, he followed the woman who quickly made her way inside the tent. He noted that Heinkel was quite tall, as he had to bend his back quite a bit to enter.

And about this tarot divination? Subaru didn't count on the result at all.

After meeting that fortune teller before his transmigration, Subaru no longer discredited the effect of divination. However, he believed that this one was simply a fluke. That old woman he met before had a creepy and enigmatic way of speaking and this one is just…too cheerful. No insult to her style, of course, but it didn't exactly inspire confidence.

Accurate, huh? Try divining that I transmigrated here, then! He sneered inside his mind

The tent's interior was dark, only illuminated by a single candle and several beams of light that came from the tattered holes in the tent. The woman with pointed hat was sitting behind a table covered with paper cards, which he could assume were tarot cards, and waved him over.

"How did you go over there so quickly?"

"I jumped." The woman responded flatly, before gathering all the cards on the table methodically "Take a seat, good sir."

Subaru shrugged before settling down. The woman shoved the freshly stacked tarot cards onto him.

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me! Shuffle it, then cut the deck." Seeing his questioning gaze, she sighed "Everyone's destiny can only be unraveled by themselves. I only serve as a reader of it."

"Nice schtick, I suppose." He commented, to which she only rolled her eyes "No additional fees?"

"What a tight-fisted fellow…" She grumbled, before responding in a muted tone "And yes, no additional fees."

Subaru calmly reached out his hands to shuffle and cut the deck. After a moment, he gave it back to the woman.

"It's done-" He was interrupted as she snatched it out of his hand

"Ok, I got it…hm, what did you want to ask about again?"

"Past, present, and future." This was the type of tarot card interpretation Subaru was familiar with the most, so he gave the answer almost immediately.

"Really?" Her lips curled up a bit "Then I'm afraid you have to reshuffle the deck. You can only truly get the cards you want if you know what you would like to ask about."

"No, thanks. I already thought about it when I shuffled the card."

"Truly?"

Ah, so that's how she wanted to play it…

He didn't answer and just looked at her. The blond woman froze and averted her gaze, seemingly afraid. She had the look of a person about to be brutally beaten up. Subaru just kept boring his eyes into hers, and she finally relented.

"Okay, fine. I will put my trust in my customers. But don't blame me if the cards turn out to be inaccurate, since it was you not respecting the rules!" She grumbled, before picking a card from the top of the deck "This one symbolizes your past."

"This, your present."

"And finally…the future."

"Aight, which one would you like to see first?" She resumed her stances, smiling as she looked at him. Her golden eyes gazed deeply at Subaru, so much that he was almost taken aback.

Don't you think that pretending to be professional is a little late now?

"Let's see my 'present'." Subaru finally said after some thinking

"Okay!" The woman chirped as she flipped over the card in the middle.

A character dressed in colorful attire was depicted on the card, along with a ragged headgear, and a stick over his shoulder. A bindle was hanging from the stick, and there was a grayish-white puppy following behind him. It was the number '0'.

"The Fool…interesting." The woman read the card and commented on it playfully "A new beginning, huh?"

The Fool card, the '0' card of tarot, promises a fresh beginning with all kinds of possibilities. Subaru managed to remember a morsel of information from before his transmigration.

Isn't this basically my situation right now? Subaru was taken aback

"You see, the Fool card symbolizes-"

"What are you doing here?!" A woman with white hair interrupted her verdict. She was standing at the tent entrance, hand crossed and her expression was twisted with anger "Are you impersonating me? Again?! I will let you know that this is a violation of my rights!"

Subaru looked at the white hair woman. She was a lot taller than the blond woman, and her features were similarly covered with paint. White must be her natural hair color, or she had dyed it, because of how young she looked.

"Yeah yeah, the 'violating my right' schtick again." The blond woman rolled her eyes in response

"Return to your post immediately, you infuriating bard!"

A bard, huh? So he had a musician foretold his fate? It was quite poetic, indeed.

"Teehee!" The blond woman responded, seeming to thrive off the other woman's fury.

"Alrighty then. Looks like my work was once again interrupted prematurely." She leaned close to him, voice faking a whisper "Just between you and me, I'm much better than her at divination. Alas, talents often beget jealousy."

"You-" Subaru swore he could see the white-haired woman's face turning red, despite the coat of paint "Come here, you little-"

"It's fine, really. I just entertained this woman a bit, no harm done."

"Perhaps you think so, but this-" She grabbed the blond woman's ear "This cheeky bard is provoking me on purpose! What she said is absolutely not true! Unlike her, I'm a professional! She was tarnishing my reputation!"

"Hey! I will let you know that my music makes so much more than you!"

"You'd been a recruit for a few days, and you dare talk about revenue?!"

"Uh…can I leave now? Because I had something going on, and…"

"Fine! I had no mood for any more divinations anyway." The white-haired woman said before stomping off

"Always such a dramatic…" The blond woman sighed

Subaru just shrugged and turned to leave. It was then that the blond woman decided to grab the hem of his shirt. It was quick, but the hat he wore was knocked askew, revealing his red hair.

"Such a distinctive color." She commented "And the attire checked, too. You must be Reinhard's father."

Subaru froze. His expression hardened as she acknowledged the woman. She knew Reinhard and was with unclear intentions. Subaru tightened his grasp on the dagger in his pocket.

"To be honest, you seemed…tamer than the rumor suggested." The woman commented off-handedly

"Get to the point." He answered warily

"I was just getting to that…" She sighed, twirling her hair like a habit "I can be considered a good friend of Reinhard, you know? I had known that boy for about two years, now. Before the…unfortunate accident in your family."

She glanced at him, seemingly gauging his reaction, while Subaru remained expressionless.

Perhaps if he was Heinkel, his emotions would be bubbling right now.

But he couldn't feel it. Memories and impressions were all he had.

"Huh…I thought that would get a reaction out of you." She seemed surprised, but regained her composure quickly "You must have heard about the recent rumor about you…and it didn't paint a pretty picture for you."

"What rumor?"

The woman froze at his word, then an ugly expression twisted her young face.

"How could you not know?!" The woman gritted her teeth "You are his father, aren't you? So tell me, what's the cause of the bruises in his body?!"

Subaru's breath hitched at the revelation. The uncertainty gripped his body like a vice, and perhaps some of it bled through his façade.

"…" A simple 'I don't know' was at the tip of his tongue, but somehow Subaru couldn't bring himself to say it.

Subaru expression turned grim at the implication.

I don't know. I don't have anything to do with it! That was what he wanted to say.

"Why are you acting as if you didn't know…?" The woman's words kept coming, and Subaru just wanted her to stop "What kind of father are you?"

What kind? What has Reinhard got to do with him? He was just the son of an already dead man, a man whose body he was currently in. It didn't make him his father. What did she expect him to do?

"If you have anything to do with this, I will find out, you hear?" She grabbed the collar of his shirt, and there was a fire in her golden eyes "As a bard, I had countless ways to make your life hell, okay? Forget about your job, you won't even have a morsel to eat when I'm done with you! And I don't care if you are a policeman or whatever, that boy is a kind soul…I won't just stand by when push comes to shove, you got it?!"

Subaru, for the life of him, couldn't understand why he was getting so irritated. Perhaps Heinkel's memory was truly affecting him, after all.

"You won't have to worry about it." Subaru intoned with more emotions than intended, and the blond woman was taken aback "He is my son, after all. I will take care of him."

A lie.

Why did he say it, when all he wanted was to come back to his family and leave this child behind?

Subaru didn't know. He just didn't want to be acknowledged as-

"Hmph…you are really shameless…" The woman sneered

Subaru took a deep breath, recalling the memories of Heinkel. To get out of this situation, he had to impose some weight.

"As you had good intentions, I will let the act of assaulting a police officer slide. But if you do it again." He pried off her hand on his collar, with more force than intended, then took a step toward her. He crouched down and looked straight at her in the eyes, and she gulped at his intense gaze "Got it?"

All her former bravado seemed to have disappeared, as she fell onto the ground with a thud.

Subaru just turned and walked away.

He didn't know it, but a nasty scowl was present on his face.

Subaru quickly ran home, being careful so the hat hid his red hair. He made his way upstairs and was relieved to find the door still locked.

"Good…I must do this before the kid returns."

Subaru decided to carry out the luck enhancement ritual anyway. He had brought the ingredients, after all. As much as the thought of leaving Reinhard behind pained him…

He had to see it through.

His parents…he just can't leave them like that.

Subaru started to translate the luck ritual incantation into ancient Hermes language. In this world, this language is regularly used for ritual, after all. Heinkel did quite well in studying this language, so he managed to translate it seamlessly, although he took a while to recall all of the words.

After getting everything ready, Subaru took out the cheap staple foods he bought, which were just some brown rice,e and placed it around his room.

With a deep breath, he came to the center of the room. Solemnly, he took a step forward and went in a counter-clockwise direction in the shape of a square.

When he took the first step, he chanted in a low whisper,

"Blessings Stem From the Ageless Sage of Heaven and Earth"

"Blessings Stem From the Ageless Sage of Heaven and Earth"

"Blessings Stem From the Towering Sage of Heaven and Earth"

"Blessings Stem From the Exalted Ruler of Heaven and Earth"

"Blessings Stem From the Favored Chosen of Heaven and Earth" 

The anticipation grew with every step Subaru took. When he returned to his original spot, Subaru closed his eyes as he waited for a sign.

Would I manage to go home?

What if I couldn't?

What if this brings about some negative effect, and I die immediately?

Countless thoughts vied for their places inside Subaru's mind, and he was becoming uneasy by the moment.

It was then that he felt the air surrounding stopped and melted, the thick and honeyed feeling once again wrapped around his body.

Immediately after, a low whisper could be heard beside his ears. He couldn't figure out if it was real or imaginary. The voice seemed alluring, and emotional, yet at times crazed and irrational.

He couldn't make out what the murmuring was about at all. He strained his eyes, curious at the meaning it wanted to convey.

What responded was an immediate pain in his head. As if he was being hit in the head with a dull rock again and again. Soon, his head was as if split open, and the rock kept digging into the inner of his brain. Pain muddled his thoughts as he tried to gasp for breath.

No…something is wrong…

He tried to move, to do anything, but his body refused to respond. He felt as if he was embraced by countless hands, each trying to rip his body into smithereens.

Damn it...what's happening…

Everything hurts. His mind felt too sensitive to the undulated pain.

Will I die for real this time?

When his mind was about to fracture, the murmuring voice ceased and an eerie quiet took its place. The feeling of oppression seemed to disappear, and an erratic sensation filled his body.

Subaru hastily opened his eyes, this time his body listened, and he saw a black miasma covering his vision. It gave off a vague and endless feeling.

"Uh…what happened?" Subaru looked around him and then lowered his head. His body was floating at the edge of the miasma.

The miasma, although had an inky and murky feeling to it, he could see there were countless crimson stars below, of various sizes. There are some deep behind the miasma, but there were also rare ones floating over the surfaces.

Subaru reached out in his hand, confusion still marring his mind, and touched the crimson 'star' floating right near him.

When his hand touched the star, something behind him burst forward, and the star seemingly ignited, as if it was burning.

With curiosity, Subaru touched another crimson star and saw it burst into splendid light as well.

Then suddenly, an empty feeling filled his mind and his spirit dissipated.

In the Loen Kingdom's capital, Blacklund. A girl with green hair can be seen by the window of a luxurious-looking villa in the royal district.

Crusch Karsten was currently sitting in front of a dresser. There was a cracked bronze mirror lying on the dresser, reflecting her fair appearance.

"Mirror, mirror, awaken…"

"I implore you, to come to life in the name of the Karsten family!"

…

Crusch sighed as she had been trying for more than 10 minutes, switching between different sayings, yet the mirror remained unresponsive.

She grunted and clicked her tongue. "It seemed that I was too naïve to trust the word of Father."

That old fox…He always tells me that this mirror was the possession of a sage, and possessed latent power…

Her thought was cut off abruptly as the bronze mirror suddenly glowed with crimson light and enshrouded her entire being…

In the Sonia Sea, a merchant vessel of humble appearance was navigating through a storm.

Otto Suwen was trying to maintain balance before the storm. He gritted his teeth in frustration.

"What rotten luck…"

He wore a green tabard, with small chains adorning the simple pieces of clothing. He turned to look at the bottle in his hand, which was in an unusual shape. Countless weather phenomena appeared within the glass surface.

"That bastard…he'd better give me the rest of the ingredients…" Otto murmured spitefully.

At that moment, the glass bottle in his palm pulsed. Immediately, crimson burst out and enveloped his frame.

In the black miasma, Crusch Karsten regained her sight. To say she was startled was an understatement. Her hand moved to the hilt of her sword as she scanned her surroundings. There he saw the blurry image of a man opposite her doing the same.

Immediately after, the both of them discovered another mysterious person standing not far from them. But this person was different, as miasma was condensed as if liquid, dropping off his form. She couldn't make out his face, as if it melded with the darkness.

This 'mysterious person' was Natsuki Subaru, of course. Although similarly dumbfounded, he did his best to not let that show on his face.

Heinkel was really excellent at this skill.

But he didn't know that his effort was unneeded, as his face was completely hidden.

"Can you tell me what this place is…sir?" Despite being startled at first, Crusch decided to pose the question. "What are you planning on doing?"

Otto just stayed silent, although unease started to creep up on him.

Chapter 6: Beyonder

Notes:

(See the end of the chapter for notes.)

Chapter Text

Subaru noted that both of them speak the same Loen language…the woman had a tense vibe, while the same was present in the man but much more muted.

Hah…how am I supposed to answer that? I know as much as you… was what Subaru would like to say, but he acknowledged that it was a bad idea.

He must have stayed silent for a while since the man finally decided to speak…

"That's what I like to know as well." He said with wariness in his voice

Neither the words nor the meanings displayed by the couple were something special, but what caught Subaru's attention was their display of something akin to…reverence. There were surprise, panic, vigilance, too…but Subaru assumed these were just the reaction of a normal person.

To them, I must have been perceived as someone 'powerful'. The thought instantly clicked inside Subaru's head. I brought them here, after all…

With an unknown method, he managed to drag two people into this world surrounded by black miasma! Subaru, who was the initiator, was feeling quite dumbfounded, let alone those who were dragged here against their will.

Subaru thought of two paths he could proceed from then on. One was to feign ignorance in order to become a part of the group and possibly gain their trust.

There was a problem with this, however. He didn't know what he looked like in this dark world. While the couple was covered with miasma, masking their defining features, Subaru was almost sure that what applied to him was something worse to invoke such emotions in their voices. After all, they didn't have such strong feelings when looking at each other.

So, as an avid reader of novels, Subaru concluded that he must look like something quite distasteful.

If that is the case, why not take advantage of it? With Heinkel's experience, which Subaru was positive he could emulate, he could try to maintain his mysterious identity in the eyes of the couple. That way, he would have much more control over the situation, and he could still glean valuable information.

Without ample time to deliberate the situation, Subaru decided that this was the most optimal solution. To exploit the psychological state of others to influence them…any policeman worth their salt will know how to do this!

After a few seconds of synchronizing with Heinkel's memories, Subaru let out a chuckle. He spoke with a relaxed tone, as if he was replying to the polite greetings from the visitors "An attempt."

An attempt…an attempt? Crusch Karsten looked at the mysterious guy dripping dark liquid from his body, and she thought that this situation was simply absurd and horrifying.

I shouldn't do anything rashly… Crusch started to loosen her grip on the sword. She was at the dressing table inside her bedroom for only moments, yet she was snatched up to this dark world in just a moment! That man…is definitely not someone I can defy!

Crusch took a breath, and smiled courteously, a skill she couldn't imagine would come in handy one day, and bowed her head "Sir, is the attempt over? Might you permit our return?"

Otto Suwen also had the intention to probe Subaru but refrained from doing so. His rich experience suggested to him that taking on the role of a silent onlooker was probably the best course of action.

Subaru looked at the questioner. He glinted through the miasma to see a silhouette of a tall girl with long green hair. He didn't answer impulsively, but instead turned to look at the man. He had messy grey hair that fell under his chin, as well as a medium build. However, he noticed that the exact countenance of the two couldn't be seen clearly.

Perhaps when he became stronger or gained a deeper understanding of the shadowy world, he could see through the miasma and discern their appearance.

He noticed that both of them, however, looked considerably incorporeal. They looked like a hologram with a slight red sheen, projected by the two crimson 'stars' beyond the shadowy ocean.

The connection between him and the crimson red must be the reason for this projection. This intangible connection, as he understood, was something only he could grasp hold of. If the connection was cut, the projection with disappear, and only then would they return.

Let's not waste time, then.

Subaru nodded at the green-haired girl, chuckling lightly "Of course, if it's what you request, I can send you back right this moment."

While not excellent at noble etiquettes, Crusch had a talent for deciphering lies, which gave her some advantages in the political world. Right now, she didn't identify any ill intention from the tone. This man likely wasn't hostile to her or didn't consider her worthy of his hostility. Crusch was inclined to believe the latter.

It could be that he possessed incredible acting skill, but Crusch dismissed that thought immediately.

Crusch was confident that if the gap between them was unsurmountable as she thought, there would be no reason for him to go against his words. With that in mind, a kind of anticipation was building up inside her.

"This is…a surreal experience. Although I have always been hoping for something like this to happen…I couldn't help but be baffled when it actually did." She took a deep breath to compose herself. She then turned to Subaru, eyes filled with determination "Sir, what can I do to become a Beyonder?"

Crusch was afraid, yes, but she was also excited. Her Father, who with his countless tales that she used to dismiss as mere fantasies, it was then that she realized they had the potential to become true! With that mere stimulant, all of her previous fears and hesitation seemed to have disappeared.

Huh…that's what I'd like to know as well… Subaru sighed inwardly

Subaru was in a dilemma as to how to maintain his unfathomable image if he was this ignorant.

Suddenly, he felt it was unbecoming of him to talk while standing. After all, it wouldn't be a bad idea if he and his guests were provided somewhere to sit, especially when having a conversation like this. Shouldn't he in a long table, on a mysterious high-back chair filled with ancient symbols while silently observing his visitors?

As soon as this thought of him materialized, the shadow around them started to ripple and swirl, startling both Crusch and Otto.

In an instant, they saw the shadow melded together, finally giving shapes to various stone pillars around them. Above them was a massive dome that encapsulated them.

The entire structure gave them a grandiose and lofty feeling, not unlike being in a legendary palace made for witches.

Directly under the dome, the shadow converged and a long bronze table appeared, with ten high-back chairs on both sides arranged in a symmetrical manner. The back of each chair dazzled and shone faintly with crimson red, drawing the outlines of weird constellations that differed from reality.

Crusch and Otto were sitting at the Seat of Honor, looking directly at each other.

The girl once again looked around with wide-eyed amazement, and she couldn't help but exclaim "Incredible…"

That, I can agree with you… Subaru thought as he reached out his hand to touch the edge of the bronze table. Could I create anything with just my thoughts in this darkness? I think I should be able to…

Nevertheless, I will have all the time to experiment later…

Otto in the meanwhile inspected the surroundings. After a few moments of silence, he decided to answer Crusch's question instead.

"Miss…are you a Loen?" He inquired, to which Crusch nodded "If you want to become a Beyonder, the easiest way would be to join the Churches of either the Evernight Goddess, the Lord of Storms, or the God of Steam and Machinery. As long as you pass their challenge, they will welcome you as one of their recruits. With enough merits, you can eventually apply to become a Beyonder."

"But will it be that easy? I thought the numbers of Beyonder are few and far between."

"A reasonable assumption, but ultimately an incorrect one. While you may think Beyonders are limited in numbers, since ordinary people are not likely to meet a Beyonder in their entire lives, I can assure you that this is not the case. Beyonders still exist in courts, tribunals, and execution agencies. While the number has diminished since beginning of the Iron Age, they are still a prominent force fighting against the lurking dangers. The Churches are just one of the well-known sources of Beyonder." Otto stopped abruptly "I apologize if my conjecture bored you. Researching about the Beyonder world is a hobby of mine."

As Subaru listened attentively to Otto's words, he silently process the information while maintaining a expression of clearly faked disinterest.

Relying on Heinkel's fragmented memories once again, Subaru noted that the "Iron Age" referred to the current epoch, which was the Fifth Epoch that began 1349 years ago.

"No, no, it's actually very interesting. I had heard bits and pieces about the world beyond before, but I couldn't imagine it would be…so vibrant." She spoke again after some thought "However, all the choices you listed seemed incredibly restricting…"

"I suppose the Nighthawks, the Mandated Punished, and the Machinery Hivemind could also be your choices…but it wouldn't provide you with any real freedom." Otto said before sighing "The point is, you can't become a Beyonder without sacrifices. If you don't want restriction, you can only seek the royal families and the few nobles with family histories of more than a thousand years. If you are desperate enough, you could seek for evil organizations-"

"That's out of the question." Crusch interrupted, clearly disgusted by the idea. "Are there no other solutions?"

Otto sank into silence. About half a minute later, he turned around to look at the 'mysterious man' who was watching them leisurely.

Realizing that Subaru had no plans to make any comment, he looked back at Crusch and said with reservation "I have two sets of Sequence 9 Potion formulas."

Sequence 9? Subaru muttered to himself

Otto leaned back slightly and replied in an even tone "As I'm sure you have known, humanity can only depend on potions to become real Beyonders, while the names of potions come from the 'Blasphemy Slate'. After constant translations into Jotun, Elvish, ancient and modern Hermes, and ancient Feysac, they have undergone changes to match the day and age of that era. The essence is not in their names, but whether they portray the 'core characteristics' of the potions."

"I have a Sequence 9 Potion named 'Prisoner'. It enhances your body and strength to an abnormal level. You also gained 'criminal knowledge' such as the ability to lock pick with wire, dig tunnels with soup spoons, and even make some seemingly harmless items possess lethality. You will also be able to use bombs and explosives effectively."

"That sounds…" Crusch trailed off

"Abhorrent…? Indeed. Both the names and the abilities must have sounded distasteful to you." Otto paused before continuing "The sequence 9 and above of this pathway is controlled by the Rose School of Thoughts, evil organizations, which can make subsequent advancements…difficult. Nevertheless, I assume you won't be interested in this potion."

Crusch gave a vigorous nod at that.

"Then, the second set of Sequence 9 Potions is much more tame. It's called 'Spectator', although like 'Prisoner', I am unsure of what it was called in the past. This set of potions enables you to have an exceptionally sharp mind with acute observational abilities. A noblewoman like you must have watched operas and plays, so I believe you understand what 'spectator' means. Just like an audience, spectators judge the 'actors' in the secular world, catching a glimpse of their real thoughts through their emotions conduct, and mantras."

"You must remember, however, that wherever you are at an extravagant banquet or a crowded street, spectators can only be spectators forever."

Crusch instantly felt the name and concept strike a cord in her heart. The method of discerning truths and lies was something she had been practicing, and this potion further enhanced that aspect. While she wouldn't mind something that gave her an edge in combat, she thought that this potion was indeed the best option for her.

It was no wonder that some emotions bled through her muted voice "This potion…how can I get its formula? What do you want in exchange for it?"

Otto, already prepared, said in an even tone "The heart of a werewolf, it must be intact."

Crusch nodded her head ever slightly "Very well, I will try within my capability to get you your items. However, how do I hand it to you?" She paused, seeming to weigh her words "How can you promise me that you can give the potion's formula to me in return for the werewolf heart, as well as the authenticity of the formula?"

Otto answered calmly "I will give you an address. About the formula, I can mail it to you, or tell you directly here, once I receive the heart of a werewolf."

"As for promises, I believe that you and I can rest assured under the witness of the mysterious sir."

As he said, he turned to look at Subaru who was sitting up straight at the Seat of Honor.

"Sir, the fact that we were brought here was a testament to your tremendous strength. With you as a witness, I believe none of us would dare to violate a promise."

"I believe so as well!" Crusch's eyes shone with unpalpable excitement. From her perspective, the mysterious gentleman who had unimaginable abilities was definitely an "authoritative" witness.

To trick him in any manner, would be to court death!

With that in mind, Crusch bowed her head ever slightly "Sir, please be the witness of our trade."

At that moment, she suddenly realized that she was all too hasty, having forgotten to ask a particular question. It's the core of noble conduct, yet she managed to forget so easily. Crusch could only blame her eagerness "Sir…how should we address you?"

Otto nodded along, and echoed the same question in a serious manner "Do you have a title you prefer us to invoke upon?"

Subaru was taken aback. He gently rapped his fingers on the bronze table. His first thought was to take the moniker of 'Pleiades', however, a certain someone has taken that and even named his tower after it.

The earlier divinations of an infuriating bard flashed through his mind suddenly. Perhaps it was not a coincidence he was born on that specific day.

Indeed...it suits me.

He leaned back, interlocking his finger together below his chin, and gave a faint smile to the duo.

"You can address me as…"

Subaru paused, a flair for dramatic he learned in class coming in handy. He spoke amiably and calmly "The Fool."