Well, another time a decent length chapter spirals out of control, and before I realize it, I'm finishing an 8k beast for my standards. Thank you all for the warm welcome.
Question for you guys, would you prefer I answer the reviews on private DMs, or to do it on the author notes?
Well, cut to the chase before I start rambling.
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"Hot, hot, hot, it burns, it burns, MY ARM!"
"- Sir Knight?" -The grocer asked worriedly to the visually still in shock man.
"Blood, so much blood, burnt flesh, I'm dead, it hurts so much, I'm dead, I'm dead…." -The young man repeated his insane mantra over and over, stuck in a mental loop. Without a word he started walking without any destination leaving behind the very confused and worried appa man.
A minute later a familiar voice filled his mind, "-ir, Sir, CREATOR HEAR ME PLEASE!" -Yelled Vega managing to snap Subaru out of it.
"Ve-, Vega?"- Quivered his voice, his body still shaking out of the horrifying experience, "We died, how…." he trailed off looking at his right arm and touching his stomach.
After finally managing to stabilize Subaru's mental state he went into analysis mode, "I remember" -He took a pause, thinking about the events and thought a way for this to be even possible, "I have a theory but it will take some risk to prove it"He waited until Subaru made a slight confirmation noise and continued "Turn back a little and go into that alleyway"
Following his instructions, he mindlessly followed the directions while he calmed himself. Arriving at the middle of it, he heard some recognizable voices behind him, turning around he saw the three familiar thieves getting closer to him to try and steal from him again.
"What the hell?" -Subaru thought looking at the intact hand of Chin, "How does he still….Wait, that means we-" -He arrived at the conclusion just as Vega informed him, "Yes, my theory was that we saw the futur-, no, we came back after dying that's the only way it would explain this"
"Return by death" -Subaru softly whispered to himself, "So if we die, we start at the beginning? A checkpoint? Like a game?" -He tried to guess his power conditions. Vega reluctantly agreed with his game analogy but didn't like the implications of it, "If we have this, most probably will be because we will need it"-The Spirit kept to himself his thoughts not wanting to distract him from the threat.
"That doesn't mean we can let our guard down, we have three hostile targets right in front of us" -He informed to the still distracted Subaru.
Hearing him, Natsuki focused on the real world again and realized that his attackers were very close to him and really annoyed at being ignored. Latching on his helmet while backpedaling he prepared for a second round.
"Oh, so he can hear us, stop trying to stall for time and give us everything you have" -Chin said waving one of his blades menacingly while his two partners in crime flanked him.
Annoyed at having to repeat an already surpassed encounter, Subaru dashed forward taking them by surprise and landed a solid right hook on the armed thief, sending him flying backwards.
"Ton!, grab him" -The smallest of the bunch ordered to the biggest with haste.
Quickly facing the big man, he saw him already mid-grab, time slowed down slightly giving him enough time to quickstep out of the way.
"What was that?" -The moment of confusion costed him when he felt a sharp pain on the left side of his abdomen, switching around targets he saw how the knife-wielding thief had already kinda recovered with a his left cheek quickly swelling up, and pierced the space between armor plates, not enough to gravely injure, but still enough to bleed and bring out flashbacks from when the assassin cut open his stomach.
In his paralyzed status, he didn't react when Ton got closer to him and punched with all his might to Subaru's upper torso sending him flying away from the group.
"Light stabbing and bleeding on left abdomen!, hairline fractures on the thorax and collarbone!, turning on passive healing" -Vega started listing all injuries and patching them up as soon as possible while searching for an escape plan.
Subaru painfully landing on his back, noticed the smallest of the three jumping at him with a dagger aimed at his neck, thinking quickly he shifted his stance and using the momentum quick-drawed his handgun while kicking the small bastard in the head, who landed with a sickening crunch. Not having time to wonder if that may have killed the thief, he takes aim at Ton but just as he was going to pull the trigger a voice bellowed from the entrance interrupting them all.
"That's enough" -Said a fiery-haired figure with a dignified tone, all of them where stunned just by his presence and ceased at once. Taking a good look at whoever just interrupted this would be disaster, Subaru could only think one thing.
"He totally looks like a main protagonist what the hell!"- Just by his attire, posture and looks of horror of the thieves, he arrived at the conclusion that he was someone of great importance.
"Just his presence has changed the mana composition in the area, this man is dangerous"-Said Vega in half-awe and half-fear.
"Regardless of the circumstances, I will not permit any further violence. You've gone far enough." -He said as he calmly walked to them with majestic grace.
"N-No way…" -Said the terrified voice of Chin, who was backing away from the man, "Blazing red hair, and pure blue eyes… And that sword's sheath with a dragon's craw engraved in it"-His fear was clear every passing moment, gulping he finished, "Reinhard… The Sword Saint Reinhard?!"
"That's totally an end-game protagonist title"-Subaru still in awe just by the man's presence.
"Seems like introductions are unneeded…..The title is a bit much for me, though" -He humbly said.
His gaze pierced through all of them, everyone stood still paralyzed waiting for his judgment.
"You three, I'll leave it at that if you leave. But if you wish to use force, I shall be your opponent" -The fiery warrior declared while placing his hand on the handle of his sword, just as he was going to continue he was rudely interrupted.
"Screw this, I choose life, Ton, grab Kan and run" -They quickly scrambled in panic grabbing their falling comrade and leaving in a hurry unimpeded.
"Ton-Chin-Kan? That's way too in the nose for being pure chance" -Our protagonist wondered with Vega vaguely agreeing.
[TN: Tonchinkan = Foolish, irrelevant]
After watching the men leave, the swordsman turned around and steeled his gaze on Subaru.
"Now, who are you?" -He said coldly with a dangerous sub-tone to it.
"Out of the frying pan, into the fire" -Vega unnecessarily commented, not helping at all the pure fear that Subaru felt in that moment.
### An explanation later ###
"Oh, I see, I apologize Natsuki Subaru, Impersonating a Royal Knight is a serious offense, and I got overzealous. Now I see you had no choice in the matter, nor knowledge of it" -The Sword Saint apologized to Natsuki.
Taking a breath of pure relief Subaru finally relaxed, but confused with something questioned, "I don't want to push my luck here, but you are awfully trusting of me"
Smiling he answered his doubts, "I have a really good intuition" -He said with a knowing smile. Taking a brief pause he continued, "Now with the formalities out of the way. You've unusual hair, and your armor is clearly knightly, I don't recognize it's design….Where are you from? For what purpose have you come to the capital of Lugunica" -He questioned out of curiosity
Taking the safest bet, Subaru tried to be as non-specific as possible, "I am from a small island from the east"
"East of Lugunica… Surely you don't mean beyond the Grand Cascade, some kind of joke perhaps?" -Reinhard answer took him by surprise.
"Grand Cascade?" -He parroted back, unfamiliar with the term.
He was completely clueless to this world geography. He could barely guess the size of the capital he was in.
Reinhard took a long look at his eyes and after a brief pause said, "It doesn't look like you are trying to trick me,…..Wait, that would mean that you are from beyond the waterfall" -He looked surprised at the revelation.
Deciding to be truthful to the sword saint he answered honestly, "I really don't know, I arrived today and have no idea how I got here in the first place, I was walking to my home, and suddenly was on the middle of that street"
"That matches with similar cases we have reported through time, I recommend you keep that information to yourself, there are some people who would seek to manipulate you for your knowledge" -He warned.
"That would be undesirable" -The spirit commented.
"Indeed it would be" -Reinhard answered with a smile, not giving them time to react he finished, "I observed a bit of your fight with them and saw potential, if you want, I can give you a recommendation on the guard station just ask for me, if you pass, at least it will give you a job and a place to stay"
He had already noted the strange weapons he carried and their magical nature, with some discipline and training Subaru could be a fine spirit knight, the man thought privately.
Subaru thought about it, for some time and answered, "I would like to, but before that I have something to do"
"Wait, Sir do you plan to come back there!?" -Vega worriedly asked
Reinhard startled at the worry of that last comment went for him to elaborate but Subaru went and interrupted him, "I have a favor to ask though, if you find a silver-haired elf in a white robe accompanied by a floating cat, tell her to not go to the loot house in the slums alone, I will take care of it and give it back to her" -The armored man went to exit the alleyway when Reinhard grabbed him harshly by the arm
"Explain" -The Sword Saint flatly said
Subaru confused with the change of demeanor explained, "She was stolen of something important for her, I know where is going to be, but it will be potentially dangerous, just tell her to wait with Puck rested just in case"
Reinhard hesitated, he wanted for Subaru to explain better the situation and how he knew of it, but the security of Lady Emilia took priority. Looking at Subaru's eyes he saw how he was determined so he took a risk, "Go, I will warn her, but you will explain later understood?"
Subaru could only nod, and went his way with his self-imposed mission set.
"Sir, reconsider. We barely lasted a minute last time, we shouldn't get involved for your safety" -Vega pleaded.
"Dammit Vega, if we don't do anything Satella is going to die, I can't let it happen when I could stop it, we were brought here for a reason, I refuse to continue living passively letting everything walk me over me. With your help I can make a difference…...please." -Subaru begged
"…..I am not going to convince you right? Let's do it…..We are so going to die here" -The spirit relented resigned to his fate.
"Don't be such a downer, surely we can plan a way to get through this, we already killed her once" -He said with bravado unknowing that they really didn't managed to kill her.
….
….
"You know that she told us a fake name right, she isn't named Satella"
"GOD FUC-"
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"I really owe you one" - A covered figure commented aloud
"Is not needed Sir, part of my job" -The voice in his head answered.
Subaru quickly realized that he spent all his first journey speaking with Puck and the Elf girl and didn't pay attention to the route they took, had not been for Vega he would have been almost as lost as the first time.
Remembering how much unwanted attention he got last loop, He quickly improvised with some rags an attempt of disguise, It probably would not pass intense scrutiny, but it will do it's job. On top of that, because of the pitiful look he had at a glance, he managed to ask for directions to the populace whenever Vega drew a blank.
Not paying attention taking a sharp corner, he almost crashed into someone, just barely managing to get out of the way.
"Oh, do excuse me. Are you alright?" -A sultry feminine voice spoke to him
"I'm fine, just scared meEEEE!" -Subaru tried to play it off until he saw the face of the one he almost crashed into.
"Oh fuck"-The Artificial Spirit softly dropped seeing who it was.
Hearing the high-pitched tone at the end of his sentence, the black-haired woman giggled and told him, "Are you really alright? I am really that beautiful to steal your words away?" with a voice tone that made him very glad he already surpassed the hell that was puberty.
"-You don't have to be so afraid, I'm not going to do anything to you." -She continued after a pause. While sniffing the air?
The temperature dropped a few degrees snapping Subaru of his surprise, trying to play it off he started rambling, "Af-Afraid? Who said that I am afraid? I-Is a completely normal reaction for a young man like me to react like this, I'm freaking out though, BUT is because a beautiful maiden like you shouldn't walk around dressed like that, you could cause an accident you know?"
Vega was trying really hard to get an escape route but he drew a blank everywhere, last time she was way too fast and resilient, their only choice was hoping that Subaru's bluff check passed.
"Ah, very nice, hiding your hostility with nonsense" -She whispered next to him while licking her lips, she continued her weird subtle sniffing, "Fear. Anger. Metal? You are interesting, but it's fine. It wouldn't do to cause a fuss right now"
Placing her finger in his forehead, she lightly pushed him back playfully and started walking away, "I'll be taking my leave, I get the feeling we will see each other again"
Subaru stood paralyzed until she disappeared into the darkness of the streets, and then heavily shivered both from the fear he was holding and the cold.
"I can't believe we are still alive. This is exactly what I was trying to avoid Sir"-Vega said in his, I told you, tone.
"Well, we survived that random encounter. She is stalking the area, we need to hurry" -After shivering again he complained while proceeding to the loot house, "Now, what's with this sudden cold!?"
"Oh, my apologies, I turned the temperature down to shock you out of the scare, fixing it now" -The spirit apologized after forgetting to turn it up again.
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"W-We died here, right?" -Subaru said looking at an empty space on the side of the loot house, finally his death sinking in, evading the trauma was impossible when looking where his gutless-burned corpse should be.
"…..Yes, it was here" -He mournfully answered, "I'm sorry" -He finished quietly.
Taking a deep breath, Subaru teared out his gaze from the spot just as he was going for the entrance a voice called him out from the back.
"Hey, why are you snooping around here? -Said a little girl's voice on his blind spot.
Turning around Subaru took a sigh of relief seeing it was the yellow-haired thief that he was searching, he noticed that her dirty clothes were a lot dirtier this time, he supposed that without the thieves and him in the way, Not-Satella would have been given a harder chase.
"Looks like we arrived right on time, get the insignia and let's bail" -Vega recommended
"What's with that increasingly pitying expression? You looking down on me just 'cause I'm a girl and a little bit filthy?" -She said seeing his look
Natsuki kept remembering the last time he saw her, seeing her walking around after the memories of her dismembered body made him realize that she was going to die too if he didn't do anything.
"Is not because of that…..I'm just glad we could meet" -He said with a small smile
"Stop acting like a creep, I suppose you are a customer, since you traveled all the way here" -She showed her perception seeing right through his disguise, "Good try, but you went overboard with the rags"
Taking offense at being called a creep he went into the defensive, when he remembered he didn't have time to lose, "I am a customer, I want to purchase the insignia you stole, here and now"
"Must I remember that we are poorer than dirt right now?" -The spirit wondered what was his plan here.
Ignoring Vega, Subaru kept his eyes on the thief, he hoped that being direct would shorten up the negotiations, and he had a few things to trade for it, his phone, and the bag of groceries, which he wondered how the hell he still had it after all the chaos.
It felt like the world forgot he had it, and gave it back when it was needed. [Oops]
The girl went into the defensive, "How do you know I have stolen an insignia? Is not the type of thing you hear on the street by chance"
"Smooth"
Seeing his, I'm mentally beating myself, face she went on, "You can't negotiate if you show your cards so early. You crumbled at the slightest bit of pressure" -She said leaving her defensive stance.
"So?, can we negotiate?" -Subaru hoped he had not screwed up already the deal.
"You are not the woman who made the request, who are you a business rival?" Seeing him nod, she sighed and picked up the insignia from where she had hidden it. Subaru noted how the jewel in the middle was glowing a bright red, "I will sell it to the highest bidder, but I can't scrap her request, is bad for business, follow me" -The small thief went on and knocked on the door.
"To the rats?"
"Poison"
"To the skeletons"
"Pitfalls"
They went on for a few more before the door opened, Felt went in, but the moment Subaru a giant man, very healthy for his apparent age, who he recognized from his body last loop, stopped him.
"Who the hell are you?" -The imposing man questioned
"Ah, sorry old man, he is with me" -The girl quickly explained while climbing at the counter and sitting at it like she owned the place, she took a glass of he assumed milk and seeing that he was looking at her snapped, "What?, is mine I am not going to give it to you" -She said with a hmph
"Hey old man, you have something to heat this up" -Subaru noticed that chronologically speaking he hasn't eaten since morning and while waiting he could eat his ramen.
"This is not a food market, get lost" -the giant answered him harshly
"Oh, come on old man, just some water and a fire"
"You have no shame boy, I refuse to give you anything" -The old man answered irritated.
"There is really no guest hospitality in this world" -He complained dramatically.
"Creator, to the point we have to be as fast as possible" -Vega interrupted a little peeved at how easy his creator is distracted.
Realizing that he kinda was losing time, he picked up his phone and showed it to the girl saying, "Getting to the point, this is what I exchange for the insignia"
The giant man looked at it curiously, "What is it?"
"Is a device that allows to pick instant pictures of the real world and save them permanently in it's memory, it is from where I am from, so is one of a kind here in Lugunica. Be gentle it can break easily" -He added the last part when the giant man took the object from his bare hands and watched at the screen.
After explaining how it worked and what to do, the old man took a photo of the distracted thief.
Both of them got surprised by the flash, the small girl got close to see what it was about.
"The quality of the painting is perfect, this meteor should cost around fifteen, no, twenty holy coins at least Felt" -He appraised quickly
"Are you sure Rom? I think I look better than this, but I will believe you" -Felt said with a raised eyebrow.
Subaru interjected, "Well, that's my bet, I'm in?" -He asked hoping it was enough.
"The woman offered 10 holy coins, so unless she raises higher you are in, still we should wait for her" -The girl said
"Every moment we take is a higher risk, we should leave Sir, is not worth it" -Vega said with rising panic
"Calm, she won't take us by surprise again, you keep watch and warn me of anything strange" -Honestly with every passing moment Subaru was tenser, he knew he was running out of time, but at this point his only hope was getting the insignia and search for an excuse for everyone to leave the building.
"Still I want to know, why do you even want this insignia?" -Felt questioned
He took a sharp breath, and immediately realized his mistake.
She continued, "You are the shadiest here, trying to buy an already stolen good by contract, never have I ever seen something like this"
"I want to give it back to it's owner, that's all" -He said at the confusion of everyone present.
"What? You could have brought guards here, I don't believe you" -She said tensely waiting for anything to happen.
"Someone is at the door"
A few seconds later, a knock sounded from the door, "Who's there?" -Rom questioned
"It's probably the client, she is early though" -Felt said walking to the door
Vega prepared for the worst and subtly extended the armor the best he could excluding Subaru's head.
The door opened, showing a silver-haired girl with a determined look.
"Thank goodness you are here. You will not evade capture this time" -The elf firmly said while walking into the building.
While both of them were in their stalemate, Subaru wondered, "How is she here? She should be arriving at night?"
"Could be a lot of factors Creator, right now I recommend trying to defuse the situation, she is aiming to all of us" -Vega was correct, when he looked at Not-Satella again, He saw six icicles in the air, two for every target. The temperature dropped, probably because of the use of ice magic, but he was mostly unaffected.
At least the icicles ends where rounded on the end, so in the worst case scenario he could probably take a few of them.
"Old man" -Felt called out Rom for help.
"That's not a good idea, this is a big problem Felt" -The giant answered, he had a giant club in his hand, from where he got it, Subaru had no idea. The man continued, "Young lady, are you an elf?"
The question made her close her eyes and sigh, "Not quite, I'm actually Half-Elf" -She informed with a pained tone.
Felt suddenly paled and took a few steps back, "Silver Hair?, Half-elf?, Don't tell me you are – " -She chocked in fear.
"It's an accidental resemblance!" -She quickly fired back
The small thief turned and pierced Subaru with her gaze, "So, this was the trap? Lower our guards and take us by surprise" -She said with a harsh tone
"What?" -Subaru told confused, until he pieced together, "I totally look suspicious to both of them! Both of them think I work for the other!" -He thought in a panic
"Huh?" -Vega made a confused noise but Subaru didn't have time to question him
"I thought it was weird you wanted to buy the insignia back, but now I realize it was all a trap, I've been had" -Felt said with a bitter laugh.
"Wait, buy back? Are you the one he told me abou-" -She looked in realization but just as she was finishing Subaru's mind was filled with Vega's voice, "PUCK, BEHIND HER!"
Hearing the Spirit yell, he saw a shadow approaching her from behind which leaped at the Half-Elf, he reflexively yelled a warning too for everyone, while tearing his rags out, showing the heavily armored body under it and drawing out for the first time his repeater, hoping that at least volume of fire will compensate his poor aim.
The blade crashed harmlessly against a magic circle in the back of the silver haired woman, creating a sound of smashing glass.
"That was too close for comfort" -Said Puck spawning from the back of the almost-gutted woman, While she was maneuvering getting space from the assassin, Puck looked at the armored man and with a gesture similar to a thumbs up told, "Right in the nick of time, I thank you both"
Subaru could only nod in response, both hands occupied holding the automatic gun at the black-haired assassin.
"Wonderful, I've never killed a spirit before, can't wait to see how your entrails look" -The murderer said with a sadistic smile and enjoying it way too much.
"What the hell is this!?" -Suddenly blurted out Felt, "Your job was to purchase the insignia Elsa. Killing anybody was not part of the deal!"
"Negotiating is not possible with the owner present right? So I've changed plans" -The woman informed with an ever increasing insane grin, "I will collect the insignia from your cold bowels, that's the price for your failure, you are no longer useful" -She finished filling everyone with fear.
Looking at Felt's face, Subaru could only guess that struck a cord in her, just as he was going to pull the trigger he noticed something out of the corner of his eye that made him smile.
"Quit screwing around you damn bitch!" -Subaru suddenly screamed out
"What are you DOING?!" -Vega was taken completely by surprise by his outburst, turning himself into the target.
Everyone turned at him in complete surprise, "That's no way to talk to a la-" -Elsa said after a brief pause before she was interrupted by him again.
"You ain't no lady you damned bowel-loving sadist! Having fun picking on a little girl? Have you got no shame!? Even then your sudden appearance, were you camping out there waiting for your dramatic entrance or what? Do you really think I want to repeat this boss fight? I beat it already on the first try but the save game screwed me over, I demand to talk with an admin for compensation!" -Subaru rambled on and on
"…..What nonsense are you saying?" -The murderer said after trying to understand what he was trying to tell.
"….Oh, I see" -Vega finally understood smiling to himself.
"I DON'T EVEN KNOW, I've been deflecting all of my trauma the entire day! Do you even fathom how hard that is!? So I've been having a pretty shitty day considering I've been stabbed once just this round. And I know I am rambling but please all of you stay tuned, all of this will make sense in a moment" -Subaru bullshitted nonsensically
Elsa let out a sound of exasperation unusual for her, tired of the ramblings she went to attack him, when she was interrupted again.
"That was a natural twenty in stalling. Get her Puck!" -He abruptly exclaimed
"That was magnificent nonsense, hope I live up to your expectations" -Said a voice right above Elsa, causing her to slowly glance up, making her realize she was completely surrounded by sharp icicles.
"Does this work exactly like in the -" -Subaru thought to Vega who didn't let him finish.
"Yes, safety off, full auto selected. Light her up!" -Vega almost laughed at how he managed to stall her for so long.
"Seems I haven't even introduced myself, I am Puck. Remember that name in the afterlife" -He boasted before throwing his hands down, sending the icicles straight to her.
Timing the pull of the trigger with the hand motion of Puck, Subaru let out an intense burst of high-speed bolts of white energy straight into the form of the assassin.
The icicles pierced the position without mercy, covering the room in a white cold mist, obscuring the target in the process. And the high-speed bolts of lights filled the entire door horizontally and it was not slowing down for a few seconds.
"50% capacity, Sir I know is fun but calm down" -The spirit said irritated at the fact that Subaru was wasting precious energy.
"There is no kill, like overkill"-He thought back with an unseen pleased smile after finally relaxing.
…
…
"Is she dead?" -Said the giant man hesitant to check.
"Why do you do say that, that's a red flag old man!" -Fired back Subaru tensing up again.
He finally was convinced that the universe hated him when everyone heard a voice from the mist, "Luckily I was prepared, the weight is annoying, but it was a good decision to wear it"
The assassin cut through the white smoke, dashing at them without her cape, one handing the dagger with her left arm, her right arm burned and hanging lifelessly at the side, she didn't escape the attack unscathed.
"Is this the part when the boss gets a second health bar and becomes harder?" -Said Subaru aloud mostly to himself
Done with the mad rambling of the armored man, the woman ignored him and told, "My cloak had a spell woven into the fabric allowing it to negate magic once, saved my life but I didn't expect for you to keep attacking madly"
Vega decided to ignore the smug satisfaction he was sensing from his Creator.
Dodging flawlessly more bolts fired by the armored man, she used the Half-elf as cover forcing him to stop, while slashing at her stomach, which was stopped by another magic shield. Back-flipping away dodging ice attacks from Puck, who was waving his hands like he was conducting an orchestra.
"That's what makes spirit users so dangerous. Both fighters in perfect coordination, defending and attacking seamlessly" -Muttered Rom to both Subaru and Felt.
The armored man heard that while trying to take a good shot and could only think that maybe in the future him and Vega could fight like that.
He kept trying to conserve energy and keep a good aim, but without the cloak she was way too fast, the only reason they were still alive was because Puck was incessant with his attacks, giving her no room to breathe.
After several moments watching the attacks keep on relentlessly and Elsa almost physics-defying dodging, he wondered aloud, "Wait, at this rate aren't they going to run out of mana and lose?"
Rom shook his head and answered, "A Spirits user will not run out of mana in the middle of battle, they use the mana from around them, unless the entire area runs out, they can keep going"
Confused at that Subaru asked Vega, "Vega, you are a spirit, why we have an energy bar?"
"I am no normal spirit, I have to refine the mana before we can use it" -Vega fired back a little dejected, doing the best he could. No, we wasn't envious of Puck's capacity to keep the insane consume of mana without taking a break…..Okay, maybe a little.
Noticing the tone in his voice, Subaru deduced this was a sore spot for his first friend and wisely cut the train of thought.
"Though, usually there is a time limit of how much time a spirit can remain corporeal, once the time is up, we are in our own"
"Well, that's bad, is almost five already" -The armored spirit commented, no sooner had he said that Puck said aloud.
"I am a little drowsy. Oh, I was fighting on my sleep right now"
"Puck keep it together!" -The man tried to encourage the only thing keeping them alive.
He suddenly moved erratically, "I'm up! I'm awake! I definitely wasn't taking a nap!"
Elsa clearly heard the conversation prepared to take a leap to capitalize on the weakness.
Without realizing she fell right on his trap, "How about we end this? I am tired and have no more time to give to you" -Puck said at the still figure of Elsa, who realized too late that the spirit managed to freeze her right foot on the floor.
Taking advantage of her limited mobility Subaru started firing at her. Even with her limited mobility, the assassin managed to turn and twist her body dodging expertly most of the bolts, but even then Subaru got a few good hits around her body.
"What the hell is she made of!?" -Subaru was very confused at the insane resilience of the woman, he was pretty sure he got a few vital zones with that concentrated fire.
Before she could try to counterattack, an immense beam of pure energy was fired from Puck to the immobilized woman, freezing everything in it's path blowing up the entire entrance of the loot house.
"This must be a bad joke" -The armored man told mostly to himself but was heard by all.
The woman was still standing, half of her right leg and her entire right arm gone, with small deep burns scattered through her body, "I am getting really annoyed with that weapon of yours" -She said looking directly at Subaru who could only gulp.
Suddenly she smoothed the ice beneath her, and slammed her bleeding stump into it, stopping the bleeding with the intense cold.
"That must be horribly painful, that woman is insane"
"Puck, can you continue?" -Said the Half-Elf to her spirit.
"Sorry, I underestimated her and used too much mana"
"I'll handle this, I am not alone you have done enough" -Finished the silver-haired woman with tenderness in her voice.
"Should anything happen to you, I'll act in accordance with our contract, If needed use your Od to draw me out" -He said just before disappearing.
"Ah, there goes my fun" -Elsa said saddened while somehow advancing towards them.
Responding, Not-Satella formed icicles too, not as many as Puck though.
Subaru calculated that they probably still had an advantage given the limited mobility of the assassin, but still was wary of the amount of damage she could take.
Rom took a step forward while saying, "We can't just keep watching Felt, even the weird kid is doing his part on the fight" Subaru took offense on that but considered it wasn't worth losing time.
"I know, even if we run away, she will chase us down, we have no choice" -Felt said as she stood next to the giant, but before doing anything she turned to the armored man, "Hey, about earlier you saved me...Just a little, mind you. Also never call me kid again, I'm fifteen, almost the same as you"
Subaru corrected her, "This year I'm eighteen. If I wanted I could drive and get married"
Felt was slightly surprised trying to remember his face before that weird helmet covered it up, "You didn't look like it! For being so ready for trouble, it looks like you lived a life without trouble"
Well, she was kinda correct, he never lived a life full of excitement and trouble, but it looked like life was trying to catch up. Harshly.
"Nice all that chit-chat and all, but I think the missus needs some help ASAP" -Vega bless his soul, wondered how people managed to have so much time to chat in the middle of a combat zone, but was half-glad of the pause in combat, giving him time to refill the mana tanks.
Looking at Not-Satella he saw Elsa already was in engaging range, with the Half-Elf on the defensive. Giving some time for the giant to engage, he shot a few short bursts which predictably missed or were inhumanly dodged.
Rom tried to blindside her with his massive club, but she simply ducked under it, only catching a few hairs in the process. Changing the swing to a thrust, Rom was understandably confused when he only felt air, until he focused and noticed Elsa perfectly balanced on the point of the club.
Just before she tried to do something to Rom, she was forced to twist evading more bolts of light, "I am so going to murder you slowly and painfu-" -She was interrupted again when a small blade pierced her hand, falling down and tearing out the dagger with her teeth she looked at the little rascal who hit her.
Felt immediately paralyzed on the spot because of the intense bloodlust directed solely at her, the assassin was beyond annoyed at this point, and pounced directly at her slashing at her stomach.
Until that prize was stolen from her hands too when the armored figure grabbed the little girl in a burst of speed and dived out of her way.
Subaru had no idea how he managed to do that, he just saw in perfect slow-mo the assassin dashing at the terrified girl and he just reacted dropping his repeater and tackling her out of the way, a horrible sound of metal against metal reverberated into his ears just as he hit the ground.
"That was WAY too close! Had the spinal armor been nicked a few millimeters more and you wouldn't be walking it off" -The spirit was mentally tearing his non-existent hair out in frustration of how reckless his Creator was.
Quickly turning around at the angered Elsa, he fumbled with his holster trying to get his handgun out but Elsa was already swinging at him, which was quickly blocked by a small wall of ice that appeared in front of him.
"Thanks for the cover!" -Yelled Subaru quickly trying to gain space.
"I am not very good at forming it where I want to, almost ended up making an ice sculpture there" -Not-Satella told with a small amount of panic in her voice.
"You mean her, not me right!?" -He didn't got his answer.
"You insects are becoming an annoyance" -Elsa was at the very end of her patience
"Subaru, we need an alternate plan, right now!" -The spirit suddenly yelled at him
"Why we are doing more or less okay?" -Subaru honestly though they had the fight in the bag, it was very doubtful she had a fourth health bar.
"SHE IS HEALING! She is playing with all of us! Is a matter of time before she gets bored" -He yelled hoping it pierced through his thick skull.
Taking a glance at the body of Elsa he could only voice out a, "Oh crap, that's cheating" aloud at confirming the fact that most of the wounds he caused her, were slowly healing, and her lost extremities were already usable again.
"I am done playing, and you will be the first to go" -The assassin maniacally said looking straight at him, he only blinked and she was already on him mid-swing at his abdomen.
"That's enough" -Said a familiar voice just before the roof was brought down by an immense force, forcing everyone to move out of the way.
"Y-You are…" -Elsa trailed off losing her composure.
Brushing his red hair he confidently walked forward and said, "Glad I arrived on time"
"Reinhard?" -Subaru questioned unnecessarily, but glad they got backup.
"Yes, is me Subaru. Sorry for arriving so late, I'm not familiar with the slums" -He said with an apologetic smile.
The moment his eyes landed on Elsa they narrowed, "Black hair, black clothes, a black blade from the north. No mistaking it, you are Elsa the Bowel Hunter"
"That's gruesomely accurate" -Both man and spirit thought at the same time.
"Reinhard. The knight among knights. I'll have to thank my employer for such a fight!" -Spoke to herself the psychotic woman.
"I recommend all of you to step back to a safe distance" -Reinhard informed to all of them
"You need all the help you can get Reinhard, she is a monster" -Subaru told the red-haired swordsman worried for him.
"Relax Subaru. Fortunately for us, hunting monsters is my specialty" -He said confidently without even bothering to reach for his sword, just going barehanded.
"Is he insane!?"
Elsa changed posture instantly and dashed inhumanly fast at him, gone all playfulness, she was going straight for the kill.
"I tend to prefer not being too rough with female opponents, but" -He said softly, "Excuse me" -And proceed to kick her in the chest with enough force to crack the ground and create a shockwave, sending Elsa flying in the opposite direction.
Everyone's jaws dropped at such a show of power, the only one who managed to drop a word was Subaru, "Vega, is my helmet malfunctioning, or did we just witnesses Reinhard going full shonen protagonist?"
Vega could only make a barely understandable sound of affirmation, but a part of him was glad that they finally got out of real danger, Reinhard moves showed that he was completely outclassing Elsa.
They were both talking between them about something but he could barely process what they were saying too much in awe.
He saw Elsa throwing him a barrage of daggers at once, and attacking him from another angle, and then as the daggers got close to him, they simply changed direction and crashed harmlessly into the wall.
"The divine protection of arrow avoidance. I was granted it from birth, please don't think is unfair" -The living hack said
"That's completely unfair!" -Mentally screamed Subaru's
"Well, you are not going to surrender, and I can't risk the safety of the people behind me, so…" -He took for the first time a combat stance, "Let me show you the swordplay of the Astrea family"
Suddenly Subaru felt the entire room warp in Reinhard direction, like he was an object so massive that it affected the space around it.
"Mana in atmosphere is zero? Going into energy saving mode!" -Vega went into automatic mode, his readings too unreal to be true.
He saw how Felt, Rom and specially the Half-Elf were heavily affected by what was happening, but before he could do anything.
Reinhard swung his sword once.
And all hell broke loose. The entire building was filled with a bright light, and it was like reality itself was confused about what was happening.
"Armor Lock activated!" -Subaru felt his limbs completely stuck without even being capable to move, but was very glad of it when a heavy piece of debris dropped on his head, just denting the helmet and crashing his paralyzed form into the ground like a statue.
When everything faded, he recovered the control of his body and landed with dull thud, quickly standing up, he yelled at Reinhard, "What the hell do you mean with hunting monsters your specialty you living HACK!? You're quite the monster yourself goddammit man!"
"Subaru, even I get hurt with words like that" -He said with a faint smile.
"I want to talk with this world admins, the balance is out of whack" -He finished his complain watching how the sword he was holding simply disappeared into dust
Checking around, he confirmed everyone was more or less fine, the only worse for the wear was Rom, who looked like an entire glass of milk dropped on top of him looking half-dazed. He retracted his helmet after realizing Elsa was nowhere to be found, probably vaporized.
"Well, look at that, ding dong the witch is dead!" -Subaru dropped a reference which clearly went unnoticed by everyone, looking at Reinhard he directly said to him, "Anyways, I haven't thanked you yet. You seriously saved us all right now my friend"
"Couldn't have helped anyone had you not told me where the problem would be, I managed to warn the lady, but she ran away asking for me not get involved, still your indications were enough for me to find it on my own, I just did my duty as a knight afterwards"
"A knight's duty? Does it include leveling old buildings? I may take your previous offer if that were the case" -Said Subaru teasing the knightly
Reinhard touched his heart like if what Subaru said had hurt him, but the smile on his face told otherwise, "Do you not think you are being rather hurtful, Subaru?"
Subaru just smiled and waved him off, turning back he went to talk at Not-Satella while Reinhard went with purpose at Felt who cleverly got out of the building before the impact, until the voice on his head yelled at him the last warning of this stressful day.
"SIR! BEHIND THE GIRL!" -Vega in his slightly developed paranoia had not let up searching for any signs of danger, it was his job after all.
Clutching her half-broken dagger, the murderer had not given up, and somehow survived the blow, dashing at the Half-Elf from behind hoping for at least a kill.
"SUBARU!" -Yelled the voice of Reinhard, who had no time to charge up a dash to get her on time.
Thinking quickly, the world slowed down again, this time with a massive headache with it, he was so going to ask Vega about this next time, and he had time to think a few things, his repeater was on the way near Not-Satella, the Half-Elf had barely time to just turn around, and with all his accumulated knowledge of the assassin he knew the probable point of intact, so he hastily proceed with his plan.
Running at fast as he could he transitioned into a roll, grabbing the repeater tightly in the process, finishing his roll in front of the girl he had tried to save, he pushed her off with his elbow and parried the horizontal blow at abdomen level with the strongest part of the weapon.
The impact still sent him flying though. But that was fine by him, he could take it.
"Cracked ribs, right forearm broken, mild fracture at the spine level, erratic brain waves stabilizing" -Vega reported with a, I am so done for today, tone of voice.
Maybe he couldn't really take it, but it was still fine by him anyways.
"This damn kid again!" -Said the assassin with pure anger in her voice, looking at the approaching Reinhard she finished, "Someday, I shall slice open the bellies of everyone in this room" and leaped away on top of the wreckage.
Reinhard chose not to pursue, thinking that she was desperate and probably would use human hostages in that case.
Waiting for her to fade in the distance, he ran at the most important person in the room to check on her.
"You alright? You should have asked for my assistance from the start" -He admonished
"I learned my lesson, is just losing my insignia, you know how dangerous it would be for me had that information became public" -The silver-haired woman answered him, which only caused him to nod, "Still, more importantly-" -She hastily stood up and walked into the half-collapsed body of Subaru who was bleeding mildly from the nose.
"Hey, are you alright? Do you need a doctor?" -She said worriedly
"C-can someone tell me the license plate of the truck that run me over!? -He said jokingly with a pained cough, seeing nobody laugh he continued, "Yeah, wrong world for that joke. No, I don't need a doctor, my spirit will heal me, thank you Vega" -He hazardously stood up quickly with a lot of pain filling his body, almost going straight to the ground again, had the Half-Elf not supported him.
While standing up, the woman he tried so hard to save asked him, "Sir Reinhard told me you were trying to save me from the start, how can ever repay you?" -She said following the traditions of the land, which Subaru had no way to know.
"A name" -He hastily said to her, seeing her face of confusion he expanded, "I would like to know your name" -He smiled.
She blinked a few times, and smiled telling him while giggling, "Emilia, just Emilia, thank you Sir Subaru, for saving me"
"For a moment I honestly thought you were going to request a kiss from her" -Vega commented slightly proud of him
…
…
"DAMMIT I DIDN'T THINK OF THAT!"-He repeatedly hit himself mentally
All the proud feelings of Vega were quickly substituted with deep shame at his Creator's antics.
"Still, the fact you are mostly unharmed from that attack is a miracle" -Reinhard commented while picking up the strange weapon Subaru used.
"Sir!?" -Vega suddenly was very worried.
"Yes Vega, what is it?" -Subaru confusedly questioned him
"Remember that doctor offer?, you should take it" -He finished blankly
"What do you mean by taking….it…." -He trailed off looking at the pained eyes of Reinhard, who had his repeater on his hands….His repeater which was perfectly split in two in his hands.
"Emilia….I take your doctor offer please" -He finished just as the abdomen part of the armor couldn't hold it anymore and left his blood flow freely.
"Damn you, lag spike" -He thought in his delirious state.
Just as his consciousness began to fade he saw the sorrowful face of Emilia.
"Even panicking she is cute, a true isekai world, hope I have enough extra lifes for third round" -He thought just as he fell unconscious.