Chapter 37. Re: Starting a Life of Oboreru from Zero - Part 2
[[ "Looks like you haven't slept again."
Subaru walked over and lay down on Emilia's lap.
Subaru then had a good sleep, and the screen darkened. ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Why did the screen turn back to color just now?"
Otto was puzzled.
Unlike the previous segment, this one was back in color.
"Hmm~ Beatrice's place was in color... Emilia-sama's place was in color... So~ that means. Maybe only those Subaru trusts~ have color?"
Roswaal offered a guess.
"Hmm... That might be it. And I can probably guess why I acted like that..."
Puck murmured to himself.
Puck was guessing why he handed Emilia over to Subaru.
Because he couldn't leave Lia with Roswaal in that crippled state.
Since that was the case, it was best to entrust her care to Subaru, who had the title of "King" and posed no threat to Emilia.
"So... I'm here to comfort Subaru?"
Emilia tried to understand her role in this world.
If it made Subaru feel at ease, she was certainly willing to do it, but if it was this kind of situation...
She was... the emotional comfort for a tyrant...
A wave of guilt washed over her.
"Imprisoned in a cage... becoming a tool doll for emotional comfort..."
On the other side, Julius clenched his teeth.
He couldn't accept Subaru's actions.
Then, the screen turned black again.
... ...
[[ "Deciding the fate of others with pure luck... Does he think he's a god?"
When it lit up again, Frederica on the screen was wearing a collar around her neck and said with disgust.
Then she held the handle of a serving cart and knocked on the door.
"Master, excuse me." ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Big sister is alive! But what's on her neck is..."
Garfiel felt relieved.
"Huh? I'm not dead? Then is Master not either..."
Frederica was surprised and touched her neck.
"No. The me in that world is already~ dead. As for who Frederica's master is, that naturally~ is..."
[[ "Come in." The voice confirmed Roswaal's guess. It was Subaru's voice.
"Master, are the books on the floor still the same as before?"
"...Hmm. Ah, please. If anyone can understand them, let them read them."
It seemed to be Subaru's office, looking very simple and messy.
A big reason for the mess was that books were scattered everywhere.
Frederica opened the lid of the serving cart... revealing a seemingly large amount of food. ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"This world's Subaru-sama... spared me and even took me in as a servant..."
Frederica murmured.
"This... is not the amount of food my dear eats."
On the other side, Natsuki Rem said. She knew her husband's appetite very clearly, and the food on the screen was clearly more than her husband's usual meal.
[[ "Frederica, have your meal. You take a bite first."
It seemed the answer was revealed, it was a taste test for poison.
After the test, Frederica intended to leave.
"Master, it's done. Then, I will withdraw for now, Please call me anytime."
"Okay."
Just as she was about to leave... ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Boss... that Purge King tossed a coin. Big sister!"
Yes, Subaru tossed a coin at this moment.
Garfiel no longer recognized this world's Subaru as "Boss," but called him by his name directly.
This was clearly to decide Frederica's life or death... No, perhaps worse. Some viewers thought so.
[[ "Heads. Ah—it's heads. Frederica, your brother and grandmother are safe. Get out. Don't come in until I say you can."
"—uhm"
Frederica nodded mechanically and left...
"wū ... wūwū wūwūwū!" Then she walked away crying. ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Waaah! Big sister went this far to protect me and Grandma, I'm so touched!"
Garfiel couldn't help but give Frederica a big hug.
"Ga... Garfiel, for you and Grandma, this is what she and I should both do."
Frederica was startled by Garfiel's hug, then gently stroked Garfiel's head.
[[ "I sincerely thank you for meeting today."
The screen turned again, and a gray-haired young man said to Subaru.
This was a familiar face— ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Huh? Is it me again?"
Otto looked at the gray-haired young man, who was himself, in surprise.
"What's with being a 'Merchant of Death' and a merchant meeting the Purge King? Why do these things only happen in these kinds of worlds? When can I appear in a world that belongs to us, the correct one?"
Otto was helpless.
"Ha! Could it be that Boss also has some kind of 'salvation' for you, otherwise you'll become a very bad guy like in those worlds?"
Garfiel teased Otto.
"...Your way of saying that sounds a bit disgusting, and the me in this world hasn't appeared in any situation that looks so 'bad' yet!"
I haven't shown anything yet, and you're already assuming I'm a 'bad' guy; that's too little trust in me.
[[ "—You have a really big heart. Even though you're about the same as me."
Subaru, on the screen, was surprised by Otto's composure.
"Thank you for the compliment, I am humbled."
Otto responded with a smile.
"Speaking of which, you are..."
"Actually, recently, a certain esteemed person wants to do business in various fields. So I wanted to visit the organization first to say hello, and by the way, present a small token of appreciation. The item is here—I heard you need this."
Then, Otto opened the gift—
A full box of high-quality, high-purity magic ore. ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"Oh, he's quite composed. Not bad, Suwen."
Anastasia watched Otto with appreciation.
"Ahaha, thank you for the compliment. But if I were suddenly to face this Natsuki-san who kills people at the drop of a hat, I don't think I could be so calm... I'm a bit scared."
"But... why does Subaru need so much magic ore?"
Beatrice was curious.
"It's not impossible that he's developed a hobby of collecting magic ore."
Puck said.
[[ "Is that so? This is really good. I have received your token of appreciation. Then you are..."
On the screen, Subaru was very satisfied with this box of magic ore.
"This one is an envoy from the Russell Fellow."
"Hmm, I see. That, Russell Fellow's. I've noted it down. If you encounter any trouble..."
Subaru was speaking, but was suddenly interrupted by Otto.
"Please wait a moment. Actually, the gift is not just these."
"Hmm—interesting." ]]
.....
~Inside, the Theater~
"I didn't expect you to be quite cool, Otto!"
Garfiel, outside the screen, slapped Otto's back.
"Hey, cough, cough. That hurts."
"But Suwen became Fellow's envoy..."
Anastasia narrowed her eyes, wondering what she was thinking.
"—Eh, I don't remember such a bold person? Never mind, I won't think about it. But this doesn't seem like a story with me as the protagonist. Why does it look like Boss is the protagonist? That's strange, right?"
Cecilus searched his memories, but he didn't like to think too much, and immediately gave up when he didn't think of it the first time.
At the same time, he was a bit dissatisfied. Cecilus was looking forward to a major theatrical play with him as the protagonist.
"If I don't show off again, it will be boring."
[[ Just as Cecilus was expressing his dissatisfaction, Otto on the screen nodded and continued to explain the gift—
"—The Kingdom of Lugnica, in response to the Purge King's tyrannical actions, offers the following return gift."
Then, a bright white light shone, and a figure flickered...
Although the screen was black and white, everyone could see who it was—
The Sword Saint, Reinhard van Astrea. ]]