Lone in the streets were found a figure that stood still, having just only left the convenience store. Surrounding structures were only lit by streetlights with a buzzing noise that became its ambient noise. A sudden feeling of fatigue swept over him as he looked both sides of the road to see if any vehicles were to pass as he then rubbed his eyes for its exhaustion.
"I guess anyone's eyes would be tired after staying up all day in their room." Voice spoken with fatigue with signs of sleep depravity found on its eyes that had shad of black below it, whilst carrying a plastic containing what he bought from the store that he recently just came out of.
Shut his eyes as blinding light flashed, adjusting his eyes for the surrounding to become clear revealed an odd sight, legs stood motionlessly as confusion arise seeing details of comparable to a medieval-like setting that came out of nowhere. Carriages that ran carried by an unfamiliar animal, whilst its wheels making noise that became the sound of the busy street, he's in. Another fact was then found to see another odd sight was the existence of demi-humans known for their animal characteristics yet humanoid standing on their two legs.
Looking out of place, was he then found to be outfitted with a tracksuit with streaks of orange and black as its pattern while an "N" was sewn over it becoming its icon. His clothes that became foreign to those nearby bystanders wearing what you would expect in a medieval setting. This alienated him but those people had their attention on him for awhile before continued on with their business.
"Huh?" He was confused as this situation put on front of him was very sudden. Slowly becoming excited as information is slowly being realized, but still couldn't help but doubt if whether this was a dream. He then raised his hands to face, fingers reaching out just to pinch his own cheek to check
"Ow! These things are obviously not fake so it must only mean one thing." Whined as he did pinch himself to see that this wasn't just a delusion of his, yet none happened and the noise that surrounded him still continued or anything that indicated that it was a dream didn't seem to appear.
Hyped himself as he stared up to nowhere inhaling air to his lungs to shout.
"So, does this mean… I've been summoned into a parallel world?!" as he shouted making innocent bystanders just avoid him by walking a bit farther.
"Oh" realizing what he just did in the middle of daylight made him abit ashamed then went on to explore this brand-new world, as he now stopped at a random stall that sells something resembling of an apple. His eyes met the sign which composes of a language he can't read, then was prompted by stall attendee as it asked.
"Those are some weird clothes. Are you travelling?" asked the green-haired man as it noticed the absurdity of which a foreigner was wearing. For someone like him, a NEET to be experience such a great situation that involved him getting transported to another world thrilled to what may his experience with the feeling similar of a child getting sweets.
"Hmm, what are these?" He questioned as it stands interested to the stall.
"It's called an appa, kid." The man answered back but the foreigner still wondering why the name change.
"Isn't it called an apple?" Pondering to the same question since it really resembles like an apple.
"I don't know where you came from but it's called appa, around here." Insisting the green-haired man's answer was enough to satisfy his curiosity that this world has a different system for writing and some diverging names of simple fruits to imply that it is a parallel world, so to speak.
This was now the start of his misadventures of overcoming obstacles, repetition will become usual. But for right now, he could only feel amazement oblivious to the upcoming hardships he'll experience sooner or later.
The sun has yet to still hit its peak in the day meanwhile he was still walking aimlessly fascinated by the medieval sight that were fed onto his eyes, eager to explore this brand-new world as he wandered, and wandered. Yet fate had other plans as he ended up a secluded alley as people behind him were less but he still ventured with a smug-grin in each step he made.
"This place looks amazing! They even had people that are demi-humans like from the games I played." Nearing almost a dead-end as he turned left not knowing there was a path that included stairs, being an idiot as he didn't notice.
"Ha—AHHHHHHHHH" Loud scream came as a thud of repeated sounds were heard by no one which of the cause was he absentmindedly turned direction, falling to his blunders literally as he fell down the stairs.
As the time came finally as he was in a position of fours after falling from a flight of stairs, but the pain now decided to envelop as he sat up.
"Oh, come on, falling from stairs after I have been just got to this world." Whined as he put his palm onto his forehead to ease the pain after hilariously unfortunate luck that dealt with him into this situation.
But another peculiar thing happened that was a sound of shuffling was heard by him as the racks that were on originally placed on the side as it tumbles down, abit startled as he turned around to see what it was.
The figure of a petite child stood still as a silhouette whilst she wore a robe of white with bunny-like ears, though taking another glance deemed that it wasn't some sort of accessory, but that really confused him as it just stands there with no signs of moving.
"What are you doing in here you cute little rabbit?" The man asked the child with gentleness that was just staring at him but as soon he finished speaking, he was then shot a hostile look emanating from such a little rabbit. Distanced himself from the child as he sees that it has no motive to come any closer than they are right now, but still doesn't change the fact that it didn't answer his question as the silence brimmed.
"The silent-type eh?" He just sighed, after falling the flight of stairs was then a loli that was ignoring him but still odd that this child was being hostile to which he never met before.
He didn't really mind it as he knows that some people don't really like talking for someone like him even more so with his sharp-shaped eyes. Scaring away a child could be his biggest mistake yet as he went ahead to check his belongings, an unfortunate now presented itself. Due to his blunder, the before-was cherished flip phone of his is now seen as junk after getting crushed by the very weight of his.
"Haaahh…" one more sigh was added to the ever-increasing tally of his idiocy, losing his phone doesn't make any difference as he's in another world but its sentimental value given by his parents in his birthday to use it contact any person though still yearned to be like his father with his charisma that became a reason to easily get emails of girls though that sounded a bit scummy but that's beside the point. That thought alone made him have a lingering slight regret. Though the only silver lining he got was somehow the safety of his packed chips that was bought in a convenience store. How funny this situation was, he thought.
"I thought, I was gonna get something sort of an Excalibur or any starting items!" He shouted but for that sudden action he did, startling the little rabbit making her eyes even more narrow.
"Stop judging me!" He then made some sort of weird pose that involves covering himself as the child just stared to this oddity, but then sounds of hasty footsteps were heard behind the motionless rabbit as another loli appeared with its details of a blond hair and a skimpy outfit as it ran towards them.
"Ohhhh! The one that summoned me has finally appeared!" He said with a bit less eagerness than last time as this confused the blonde making her stop looking a confused glance at him.
"I don't know what 'summoning' you're talking about but Live Strong." As she now started to run and jumped at quite a height very unfamiliar to a normal human then ran off in the roofs leaving his sight.
"Oh, come on!" Teared up some as he's now really confused to what his situation was but after sometime, silence was again took over. It's strangely calm but what can he do about it. He just sat on the side of the pavement as the rabbit child hesitantly did as well right beside him with some distance.
The current tranquil situation was then disturbed as other figures of three stood as their details blinded becoming silhouettes at the entrance of this alley.
"Oi you there!" The man in the middle spoke targeted towards him, confused he never really done anything yet for someone to call out to him so he asked.
"Huh, me?" making a wide-shocked face as he points a finger at himself as if he was the interloper making a weird look at the three silhouettes.
"Yes you! Give me your valuables unless you don't wanna live and that child right beside you." They demanded as instinctively he made his hands towards the rabbit to hide behind him, the child strangely accepted his offer of protection but he didn't mind that.
"Can we uh- talk about it?" He pleaded as he doesn't really make a ruckus in front of a child.
"Are you making fun of us!" As one of them shouted but now with hostility as they rushed forward to attack him. Little did they know that was he had some strength compared to other shut-ins he known.
"Damn, it's a compulsory event." Hyped himself as clenched his fists to direct a punch towards the person with a lanky detail and closed his eyes as he charged expecting that he had some hidden superhuman powers to beat enemies.
"Take this you lumps of EXP!" He anticipated the sensation of hitting flesh on his fist as he launched his arms towards them, but oddly that none came as he opened his eyes to see the reason why.
He missed.
The moments after that were the severe beatdowns he got from the three thugs.
But then another interloper appeared, a silhouette with glittering silver hair caught the attention of both the thugs and the poor man that was getting a beating. He could only look in awe aside from the fact all the pain experienced throughout his body.
"That's enough" Voice that chimed making everyone present now directed all of their attention to this woman as she stood.
"Who the hell are you?!" Spouted as he thought this was arrogancy of her to order.
"Stop this, and I'll let you go." This in turn angered abit of the thugs as they went to prepare themselves.
"So can you just give back you stole." Sudden revelation that even confused the thugs as they should know that they have only started mugging the poor man and no one else yet.
"What we stole?" Now that statement of hers even confused them.
"We don't know anything, we just got here." One of the thugs that had a height of a midget answered as they pathetically ignored him still eating the ground.
"Hmm," She scanned the situation right now and noticed that there was a child that was involved standing on the back seemingly as a man can be found on the floor indicating of him getting beaten up.
"But I can't let this slide either." As she now pointed her hands harnessing what seems to be mana forming green-shined crystals targeted towards the thugs.
"Oi, don't get cocky. This is a three on one." The largest out of one them stated as they readied themselves for a fight as the unfortunate waste of a being just chuckled deprecatingly as they already forgotten about him that they didn't even bother adding to that count.
Another sudden chimed voice that gets heard by all of them present yet no one can be found as they looked around to see who it was.
"Well, if I'm here, wouldn't it be a three on two then?" Shiny lights manifested to show who the mysterious voice was to a reveal a cat that floated as leering those people that threatened.
"It's a spirit-arts user! It's not worth it, run!" This was the tipping point for the thugs as they realized that this woman was special or powerful of some kind that this scared them off as they ran out of the alley.
Seeing as they ran left only three people currently in the now silent alley, consisting of an elf with its floating supposed spirit then a man that intended to protect the child, well tried to. But either way, the precarious situation was solved by this woman.
"I uh, thank you for that. I don't have anything to pay you back though." Awkwardly said as he's saying the truth with confusion, stood up with difficulty as he swayed towards the wall trying his best not to pass out from the pain, he just endured recent.
"It's fine, I just couldn't leave a child see such a thing." She stated.
"Oh yeah, The child." He forgot to ask whether why did she was angry at him for some reason, then turned around to face the rabbit as she still retained the narrowing look directed at him.
"Do you know this cute little one?" Soft-spoken as she knelt down to the same height as her, then starts patting her head. The rabbit then lost its hostility as it started rubbing its head to deepen the pat the elf was giving.
"Eh?" Confused as to the child that was acting hostile is now acting like a cat to the woman that saved both of them.
"No, I do not. I found her when I was just normally walking over here that nothing that is not normal happened before we met those thugs." For short, that was a very terrible lie. Such a bad lie even made the spirit that was accompanying the elf started giggling at him.
"What kind of lie was that! I didn't even need to use my power to read if it was the truth." Laughing as the spirit did as the elf could only look at him with an indifferent look.
"Ah, you have that. But the point was I don't know this child yet she was looking at me with those eyes!" He retorted as started to try and defend himself.
"I don't mean to be rude but people will actually, look at you strangely with that outlandish outfit and eccentric attitude of yours."
The rabbit could only with disdain as she just stared at him exaggeratingly crying out for such a remark that he can't talkback with such comeback since it's true.
Was this really the person she was suppose to hate? Perhaps mistaken as this pathetic man could even acquire lengths to have take revenge on, but that didn't dwindle her resolve as she can definitely still smell that odor emanating from him.
"So can I ask for the name of the beautiful lady that saved us?" He smoothly asked making the girl stammer as she wasn't expecting for someone to make that statement other than her spirit.
"I uhm…" She took quite a while as if she was thinking of something.
"It's… Satella." She answered making the spirit that was with her had a look of shock as if it didn't expect for her to say that.
"Cute…" He whispered, loud enough for her to hear his intentional flirt surprised even more and looked at him as if he said something strange as he now then started doing some sort of pose consisting of his fingers pointing at the sky as the legs stretched out.
"And I'm Puck! Nice to meet you." Smiled widely as it starts doing loops with its ability to float.
"I guess it's now my cue, my name is Natsuki Subaru. Not only am I clueless, but I'm also broke beyond compare!" Shouted with pride as the statement had deprecation as if he was proud of it, the light coming from the gaps in the alley make the scene for some reason much more poetic. Well, really this turn of events was really unexpected of such meeting.
"If that's all you say, you really do sound hopeless." The cat-spirit retorted as it just looked at him that hinted concern.
"Well now, how about you Rabbit-chan?" Subaru looked at the child that was silent the entire time every mishap that occurred yet she didn't say anything still for some reason.
It just stared at him and then looked at Satella with a feeling of hesitation as it shaken her head to indicate none.
"You don't know who you are?" Subaru now had the turn to be confused as he looked at the spirit that could apparently know if someone's saying the truth to ask.
"Sorry Subaru, it seems like she's telling the truth." Puck answered as it understood what was that look for.
"Huh? Lost child and that doesn't even know its name?" He's now really confused as for the situation of this rabbit, still pondered about his situation as well thinking why was he here with no one to guide him. But for some reason after saying that, the rabbit loli then started pouting as if it were angry at him for mocking her.
"Well then, what were you two were doing before this incident?" Subaru asked as he remembered they were looking for something before.
"Ah, right! The insignia! We should be leaving by now." Satella seems to forgotten then just suddenly realized as they motioned to leave hastily.
"I can help you to repay the favor while I bring along this lost child since we're pretty similar in status as of right now." He sheepishly chuckled and scooted closer to the loli to imply if she wanted to come as well.
Subaru looked at the rabbit loli with a confident look and raised his hand to reach for hers, she then had another look of hesitation by closing her eyes to think until finally accepting his hand. It was soft he thought then gently firming his hold as he now looked at Satella.
"Well, she's kind of warming up to me now at least." Relieved to now the rabbit has ceased its hostility for the time being yet he can't help but stare at the beauty of an elf well that's what he though off because of her elven details, and her glittering silver hair. That moment was then broken as now the rabbit child is now making noises and another face of pouting that made Subaru realize what he was doing and made his face redden, but that didn't go unnoticed by a certain spirit.
"Well, if you want to come along then the more people like you between my daughter is always welcome!" Puck cheerfully remarked as he now came closer to Subaru still floating.
"Puck!" Satella objected to the spirit as it just looked at her with a cheery face as she herself pouted joining the count.
"Hey! What do you mean people like me… wait, daughter?" Subaru was confused but for some reason, it ignored his question then floated around to now inches close to the rabbit.
"I don't sense any malice in them Lia, well except this child but not targeted towards you but this man over here." Judging what her intentions were, but it just remained still retaining no emotions expressed on her face as it just had its eyes locked to the cat spirit.
"Me?" Subaru looked at her but still retaining that look but a glint of resentment was still found but he didn't mind that as it's not the right time for now.
"Well how about this? We help you find what you're looking for as repayment and resolve the issue with this loli right here." He offered to solve two problems at once and in that as well he gets to hang out with this beautiful woman.
"I don't know about this loli word you're using, but I can't afford to trouble other people for my mistake. So, we'll be taking our leave now. Let's go Puck." She rejected his offer yet the looks that came from her seem to really say that she was considering it but refused, now walking towards the entrance of the alley.
"Sorry about her. She's so insincere, don't think badly of her." Puck apologized for her, yet Subaru still felt a bit sentimental but knowing they had to leave and it's already a bother for her to save him that might hinder her objective but still reached out to help him.
Both people had now left the alley, leaving only two in it. Subaru did a stretch to ease the remaining pain that resulted from him just getting beaten up, now tasked to ask himself what to do now. Being known as the stubborn person he is, Subaru will still try and put effort into helping her in some way without her knowing.
'Satella might be surprised to see that we already got the thing she was looking for, its probably related to that blonde loli that passed by a while ago before. We have a chance if we're early.' He smirked already thinking of another delusion and outcomes of her being proud, while the rabbit that was left alone still looking at him.
"Alright! Seeing that you're probably lost and I am as well, want to come with me?" Subaru asked still internally hoping that she wouldn't refuse, as he'll not able to sleep knowing that he had been rejected two times within a day, no less than an hour. The rabbit child just stared at him as if something odd came out of his mouth, but ultimately still nodded to say yes.
"Off we go!" Subaru hyping himself up by starting walking now back to the exit of the alley but heard a strange sound behind him and looked behind to see her swaying then finally hitting the walls with its right arm. Instinctually, Subaru grabbed gently her soft hands to support her to avoid swaying that might ending up hit someone, startling her but still accepted his offer by firmly holding his hand.
The time seems to indicate its now noon as the sun has finally reached its peak, as could be seen two figures wandering about, one was a young man and the other was a little child that had details of a rabbit. Walking back and finally now in front of a familiar stall still could be seen the same stall owner, managing his goods.
"I'm now back." He declared getting the attention of the green-haired man now looking at him.
"Bold of you to come back, tell me that you can buy something now?" Snickered as the stall owner remembered not a while ago was him it being broke.
"Nope, I'm still broke…" Laughed with bitter tone as the truth still hurts, but still he was here for a reason.
"Though, I just wanted to ask. Has there been any pickpocketing incident that happened just recently?" Subaru looked around to see if there's anything out of the ordinary and directed his attention once again to the stall owner.
"How nice of you, asking questions while not even buying anything. Well, if you asked me about anything strange, it would've been that place over there, some magic-user chucked some crystals to someone, then left quickly after that." He sighed as pointed his fingers towards the seemingly damaged walls that were recently hit by projectiles implying an incident, being as a clue. The stall owner then had its sight towards the young man's hand which held a child that had rabbit ears.
"Don't tell me you're now taking away children just to buy something from me, I would gladly refuse." Added a remark that became a retort for not buying anything yet still had the audacity to still ask.
"Gah, I was just looking for someone that can take care of her since she's quite lost." Subaru quickly blurted out to defend himself from the accusation.
"Hm, I suggest you find a knight usually around these parts. If you find a knight's barracks then they will gladly take care of her." Laughed as he finished answering to see the panicked face of this foreigner.
"Ugh. Well then, we're off. I'll be making sure to buy one of your appas when I come back." He waved away as they start walking towards somewhere, still in his hand were the rabbit that came along.
"You should!" Added a remark by the stall-owner before finally leaving his sight.
They're now in the middle of the busy street as they walked in the pavements, thinking what will be the next objective after acquiring information.
"If I remember correctly, she was wearing some revealing outfit and noticeably skinny. Since this is a medieval setting there should be some sort of slums but I don't know where, then should I go somewhere high to scout... Hm?" Feeling on his tracksuit was a nudge or the better term was pinched to get his attention. Subaru looked towards her to see signs of struggling to stand up as its legs shaking, he deemed that it was because she was tired after all that walking.
"Ku?" She was confused to see him suddenly stopping then turned around facing her away to squat, low enough for her to hop on to his back.
"Alright come to my back if your tiny feet felt numb." Subaru had his arms directed behind him as his hands doing signs for her to come. It took quite a while until pressure was found as a sign to properly arrange her to become comfortable on his shoulders.
"Yosh. Here we go!" Adjusting his shoulders for her to seat on as he stood up with ease in the balance of the added weight of a person but that weight was almost nothing as it's a child on his back. If he already struggled with that, he would kiss goodbye to his once pride of being decently strong despite being a NEET.
Started walking towards somewhere elevated was now their goal, but the sight of seeing a young man and a child on its back was definitely such a cute sight to see as bystanders that were nearby can't help to look and smile. The rabbit looked around the people that were looking at them and decided to mirror their expressions, trying her best yet still succeeded into forming a slight smile on her face which unfortunately Subaru can't see.
"Now that I think about it, you don't have something to be called by. Hmm…" He thought finding the right name that suits her best.
"How about Ru? I took it from the word Rui which fits since cuteness is your main charm and I'll be enthusiastic to shower you with head pats." He declared and feels a tug on his shoulders then guessed that she accepted it.
Now climbing the stairs then finally the highest peak, the two stood tall to admire the view as they see while the sun shone highlighting its details. Subaru remembering what they were here for, seeing as there were blatant divisions indicate that of a medieval hierarchy that was still present.
'If that were the case, then surely there now must be a slums region.' He thought as it glanced around the view if there was anything that resembles what he was looking for.
"Ah! Right there!" Pointed his fingers towards the outskirts of the city, deeming it gloomy enough to be what they were looking for.
"I guess, we found where we're supposed to go… Let's now go over there, shall we— Huh?" Subaru was curious enough to angle his head abit then was surprised to find the rabbit child resting on his head.
"Seems like you're tired as well. No matter, I'll probably find a way for us to rest easy somewhere after this then find someone to care for you… Isn't that right Ru-chan?" He sighed as his right ear continually hears breathing that implies signs that she was asleep. Saddened to realize that this moment wouldn't last forever as he still needs to resolve the issue of hers by being lost.
He was feeling tired but the thought of a child on his shoulders make it worth the effort. Now arriving into the slums, none was to come near them but still stared at them for being out of place since this was the outskirts of the city, with poverty-ridden and the poor in every corner made him feel pity.
A familiar sight was now present as the three stands before him, coincidentally that it was the same thugs that beaten the hell out of him before. This was an unfortunate turn of events with no Satella to call for help.
"Why does it have to be you guys againnnn!" He ran quickly in the opposite direction they faced while still attempting not to shake the loli that was sleeping on his back. Hearing distant noises of shout that were telling them to come back for their own misfortunes earlier until a voice was then heard nearby.
"If you're running away, make sure to turn into places you're not expected to." Subaru was confused to suddenly hear such advice then turned his attention to see that there was a fork a road.
"Take the right and follow me." The person that said this was fast but slow enough for them to follow but given seeing to reveal that it was also the same blonde loli that just jumped into the roofs.
The noises of shouting had died down, and is now in front of the poorly made shack that had a rugged couch in it.
"I think we lost them, now seeing you here again. Mind telling me why?" She questioned as to why they were here having only seen them in the alley, with only rememberable parts were the taller person being weird.
"Eh? Oh, I was just looking for an item that was stolen from someone I know." He answered truthfully as getting information around was top priority considering it was now in the afternoon.
"If you had something stolen, it would probably end up in Old Man Rom's loot house." She said while now looking at the rabbit child that was on his shoulder.
"Hey, wasn't that the child in the alley with you? Is she your daughter or something?" Questioning at the sight of the somehow still asleep rabbit but that last remark made Subaru flustered.
"I just tagged her along, and she has no relations to me whatsoever! I'm too young to have a daughter, what are you saying!" He said screaming while she smirked thinking that he's easy to tease as they started walking now in the direction of the loot house.
"What do you mean, you're too young? You look old enough to be an adult, besides myself is already one." She retorted, still smug to see his face in red.
"I'm not even an adult yet… but I'll be eighteen soon, and also what do you mean yourself an adult, you look more of a child to me." Stating as he then took another glance at her figure that was comparable to the one on his back.
"I am fifteen, so I'm already an adult. So, I don't get what are you talking about." Her smugness cleared off her face as frustration replaced for him not believing that fact, whilst Subaru was thinking that she's currently in the phase of teenagers acting like adults, he went through that same way as well so Subaru kind of understood.
"If someone made up that logic for such a child, I would gladly complain to their faces." Resolving if he ever gets the chance to, then he'll be surely to take that opportunity but again, this was a medieval setting. None were the modern way running of laws and this world had its own very primitive.
"I don't get what's the big deal with you." Arriving finally to another shack that seemed old due to the sturdiness of it is not present, as if it were a twig that'll get blown off, were someone to emit high amounts of mana.
"I just realized that I never got to ask for your name." Subaru asked while trying to now wake up the rabbit to finally come down from his shoulder.
"It's Felt, why'd you ask?" She knocked on the door as a hoarse voice was heard afterward.
"Not much, think it's courtesy to ask really. Alright, come down now, Ru-chan." Subaru bringing his arms for her to land safely to the ground, stumbling a bit but gaining back her balance at the end, and now both were anticipating Felt to answer with some sort of code.
"For a rat…"
"Poison."
"For a white whale…"
"A harpoon."
"To the noble dragon, we are…"
"Shitbags."
Opening the old wooden door found a giant behind it after finishing the password of some kind for both, then noticing the people that were with her.
"Friend of yours?" He asked while Subaru and the rabbit had now finished coming inside following Felt, carrying the child to reach the tall chair earning a soft laugh from the old man.
"They were looking for something that got stolen while I, myself got a successful snatch." Snickering with her smile reaching the edges of her face.
"Now what was the thing you were looking for now?" She asked bringing out a tiny object that looks comparable to a pin, with its shape with triangle and some sort of red ruby in the middle which was held in the thumb and index of Felt showing it off to the giant.
"Oh right! I was so busy finding where it is, I didn't even get a chance to know what it was!" Subaru realizes his blunder that got added to the tally for today. Felt just looked at him with disappointment then took a glance at the child seating beside him which just got a free milk, drinking it, she shot a look to the eyes of the child to ask if he was actually serious about forgetting. Earning only a shrug while continue drinking it.
"You… I don't know what to say but—" She was interrupted before she can finish what to say, as a sudden knock was heard in the door they just came through.
"That might be the client!" Cheerily hopping off the chair to open the door while Subaru just looked at the child asking for more milk, to which the giant inclined to give more.
The door opened to see another familiar figure indeed, too many coincidences had happened in just a day. 'This must be fate.' Subaru thought as he sees the same elf and spirit, he met at the alley earlier.
"Subaru? What are doing in here?" Surprised to see a familiar not just too long ago, in such a place as she becomes suspicious. Letting herself into the loot house while Felt could only stand in shock.
"Don't tell me you're actually working for that thief." She questioned whilst raising her hand to point at him then summoning multiple crystals as projectiles, Subaru now realizing the situation was just decided to be in front of the loli rabbit.
"No way, shouldn't it be the other way? You're not with him?" Felt then pointed her knife towards Subaru as well, questioning his motives.
"Ey, Ey! I was being stubborn so I tried to find what she was looking for earlier but I didn't know that you were the one that actually stole it from her!" Subaru now had his arms up in the air to try and defuse the situation. He looked another gaze towards the rabbit child to see minding her own business still drinking milk.
"Puck?" She questioned the spirit basically becoming as a lie-detector, it looked at Subaru shooting him a judging stare.
"He's telling the truth Lia." Confusing her even more as to why would he go such length to help her, not realizing the none-existing indifferent thoughts of Subaru because of her lineage as a half-elf, even having silver hair.
"So, you were with her this whole time?" Now irritated as her plans have been foiled as the owner of what she stole from is in the same room as them.
"I uh—" Subaru was cut off by his soon-to-be poor defense by having another unexpected person to come in but didn't come out until as of right now.
"Puck! Shield her!" He screamed as a blade was struck directed at the elf then quickly blocked off by magic in the nick of time.
"That was cutting it a bit closer than I expected. You saved us!" Puck, the spirit was using its paw to give a thumbs-up directed to Subaru. Out of all them have their attention fully to such an attempt to commit murder stealthily.
"My, My. Failure of someone like you, we can hardly continue with the transaction if the original owner is in here. I'll now slaughter everyone as witnesses in this room as a cost for your mistake." Seeing a woman that had its clothes very revealing, with fine edges defining its beauty whilst the gaps from the shack emanating light enveloping her details… disappointingly hitting Subaru's fetishes.
"Hey! Isn't that logic a bit unfair!" Subaru shouted while carrying the rabbit in his arms to go in the corner along with the other loli.
"For an insect such as you tucking in the corner, shouldn't you be avoiding giving attention to yourself?" The assassin wrapped such sharp words with hostility, that it gave him shivers and arousal(?).
'Damn… she's kinda mean.' He just gave up with his frontal pride and decided to just sit still.
"I've never cut open a spirit's stomach before, I'll make sure to savor the sight from your guts." Bloodlust was felt as the temperature of the room dropped, Subaru panicking as for what to do but that thought was cut short when the mysterious woman readied her blade indicating an incoming attack.
"Get her Puck!" Subaru shouted once again but was then smacked in the head by Felt.
"We haven't introduced ourselves, have we?" Multiple crystals were cast around the room by the spirit.
"My name's Puck. At least remember my name… after you die!" Shooting off the spawned projectiles towards the assassin strangely that stood still. Smoke was then that all they can see after the impact of the crystals that were shot at forming debris of ice.
"Did they get 'er?" Asked the giant making Subaru in disbelief while on the corner.
"Don't raise that flag, old ma— Stop hitting me!" Subaru whined while Felt was just staring at him in disappointment then making a shushing face at him.
"I guess it's a proper courtesy to introduce mine, Elsa Granhiert… Please to meet your bowels." Shattering the ice as it dissolved to nothing, revealing her that has a face of glee while having just licked its lips. Then angled herself to run towards Satella in haste.
"Don't underestimate a user of spirit arts!" Easily blocking her attack while Puck was shooting multiple crystals like bullets at the assassin.
"You're well accustomed to battle, for a girl." Puck praising Elsa whilst firing magic yet still she still managed to dodge every projectile acrobatically.
"My, it's been a while since I've been regarded simply as a girl." Continually dodging and hitting with some with her blade.
"What should we do…" Subaru whispered feeling useless at this point asked the one right beside him which was Felt.
"I don't know either unless you have a plan then make it quick." She pressured inadvertently Subaru into thinking as having just transported into another world and now already experiencing a predicament where he could die, he's starting to doubt the difficulty he assumed that this was gonna be the typical one where it should've been easy.
"I have an idea since in no way she's gonna let us go. We can only bet for one of us to run to call for help." He said in nervousness as his sweat streamed feeling only the chill of horror.
"What are you…" She knows what he was talking about but doesn't want to go on with it.
"You're the one with hasty feet, and you're the only one that can do it as I'm pretty useless here. We'll buy you some time while you look for help." He pleaded to her as she looked at the giant hesitating but gave an agreeing nod.
"On my signal, you run." She nodded as well to his words while he standing up. He then looked another time that he hoped wasn't gonna be the last to the cute rabbit that he just met not too long ago but still can't help but feel familiar with her, tilted her head as to why he was looking at her like that.
"Alright let's do this old man." Holding up a dull sword he found, lying conveniently on the side where he can reach.
'Random bullshit at using swords, don't fail me now!' Laughed himself anxiously while holding up the sword.
"Heh, just for my little Felt." Rom answered while giving an assuring look to Felt.
Subaru glanced towards Puck to communicate what the plan is, while troubled that Puck might not understand then the cat sighed as it prepared itself.
"Alright, I'll now then finish this futile fight now. Goodnight!" Puck casting with all its might a giant mass of amounting to a crystal becoming a projectile towards the one that threatened, but the attempt to finish her off failed as it dodged, with the only injury was its right foot, bleeding.
"My, how lovely! I thought I was gonna die there." Standing tall with the menacing look over the roof at this point.
"Puck, can you keep going?" Satella asked as she was concerned having seen the final attempt of the spirit.
"Sorry… I'm starting to feel sleepy. I underestimated her a bit. My mana's gone, so I have to disappear." The cat stretching its paws in the air having just exhausted its mana at once, tiringly answered back at her.
"I'll take care of things from here, so you can rest. Thank you." Thanking the cat spirit while itself was slowly dissipating.
"If anything happens to you, I'll act accordingly to the contract. If it comes to it, don't fret to call me even if I have to squeeze out the remains of my Od." Said its final words as it vanished into thin air.
"You're going away? Well, that's terribly unfortunate." Spinning her blade professionally as she ran towards Satella, but before she can cast her magic was the assassin were met by a random debris of wood but still managed to dodge it.
"Oh? You're trying to fight back now? I thought you were just gonna sit there all the time until I slaughtered all of them." Directing her bloodlust this time to Subaru, filling him with adrenaline as he felt all of this.
"That's gonna be the final mistake you'll ever make." Dashing to him with speed as Subaru held the dull sword as it shakes in fear.
"Don't ever threaten my little Felt or it'll be your life I'll take!" Screaming as it held his club swinging it at her but missed while the assassin jumped above.
"Go!" Subaru screamed while he still positioned himself to be in front of the rabbit if anything goes wrong. Felt ran her feet as fast as she can towards the opened entrance of the shack.
"You think I'll let her go?" Elsa threw a dagger targeting her but in turn slow downed time for Subaru. He has now the decision, either to attempt blocking the incoming danger at Felt but that would cost his life and maybe even make the assassin target the rabbit behind him.
『 I'm so pathetic. 』
The rabbit child could only look in shock as she saw him jumping towards the knife and to try blocking it with his body. In all miracles that happened, he managed to block it with the cost of pain enveloping him. The giant, Rom stared at him seeing now that Felt has left the building only leaving the rabbit child vulnerable, setting himself now to protect her. But such sight of blood spilling from an ally was horrible, for someone that never experience the knockings of death was terrifying.
"Subaru!" Satella screamed in horror as she saw his body dropping down to the floor now bleeding from the knife stuck to its abdomen.
"Ah~, this is annoying but I'll just come after her later. It'll all be soon everyone one on this room ending up with the same fate as him anyways." She was staring at the sight of Subaru losing warmth from the blood that drowned the floor.
"I'll never forgive you!" She was angry at the assassin and to herself as bringing along to her selfish mistake of losing the insignia ended up someone about to lose their life. Creating a barrier of light-blue hue, and the same crystals she cast before now shot off in retaliation.
Hitting her attacks in brute-force to strike the elf until finally she finally found an opening.
"If you would only let me, take a look at your bowels, this would've been easier~." Raising her arms to strike her blade at the nape of the elf's neck. Another oddity was discovered, a clanging sound was heard as the supposed blade that should've impacted the elf to its death didn't reach as if it were blocked by something.
"Hmm?" Elsa was confused as to what just happened, entertaining the thought of someone else joining the onslaught from that brat running away earlier, but then was betrayed to see the same rabbit child that stayed silent the entire time was now standing in anger while emanating a glow of red.
"This dance of ours just became a bit interesting. For if you want your bowels to be seen already then so be it." She jumped towards the rabbit yet it stood still, but before she can land a strike was the sudden manifestation of claws forming in the rabbit's left hand as it welcomed itself to the dance striking the woman with its bare hand. This was the first time in Elsa's life to see such monstrosity of a child keeping up with her as frustrations of the rabbit dealing damage to her with its fist.
Satella was now very confused to see a child dealing more damage than her, but this was not a competition as she stayed around in the back to treat Subaru that was still bleeding. The old man mirroring the awe of hers but have the obligation to protect both of them as much as possible while Felt was out there looking for help.
The beauty of the night wearing such revealing clothes that its figure could only be seen by the shining moonlight, while the sight of bleeding from slashes on its magnificent face present. Breathing in with fatigue as the toll of fighting for hours starting to appear. But then the air around her changed as the only she saw in the split second was white fur of a fist nearing her face as the body of hers got blasted through the countertops, completely obliterating everything in its path. Leaving the only same sight of smoke present earlier.
Only leaving that was still standing, the rabbit. Looking at her as the clothing she wore as a coat was now in pieces and tore apart, slouched as the whiteness of her robes stained with red blood, until finally collapsing to the floor. Satella and Rom could only look in shock as the giant carried over her unconscious body away from the wreckage nearing Subaru. Trying her best in healing them was Satella panicking, yet trouble wouldn't leave them alone as horrifying it was to still see Elsa barely standing as her silhouette illuminated by the moonlight.
"This is very troubling to say the least, as I was almost merely beaten by a child." Brandishing her anger in response was another miracle occurring.
"That's enough, I don't know if I arrived on time but there's no mistaking your description similar to be known as the bowel hunter, I'll suggest you give up." Another one was illuminated to see a man with red hair wearing a uniform of white.
"I didn't know that I was famous from somewhere, but I sure didn't expect to see the current Sword Saint to be patrolling around these parts." Elsa still trying her best to stand while gripping her blade hidden in her leg as she made a 'tsch'noise at the start of her sentence in the annoyance of people getting into her way.
"It's good to know that you me as well." Picking up the sword lying on the ground that was previously held by Subaru. Knowing the dragon sword didn't deem her worthy of unsheathing, but then a sound of air sliced through was heard seeing it as the last resort yet still missed him.
"I would gladly want to see the guts of the sword saint but I must retreat. Soon enough, I'll disembowel everyone here at the end. Take care of your bowels until then." Jumping off into the roofs to escape, then never was seen.
Felt now entering the room seeing as the noises had finally stopped and hope of the people that were with her earlier still alive, then seeing the old man giant filled her with joy as she ran then jumped into his neck hugging him tightly. Then taking a look at what became of the casualties were the unconscious bodies of the rabbit and the strange man both getting treated by the lady she stole from.
"Reinhard! You just came in the nick of time!" The elf thanked him sincerely but couldn't give a proper one as she was still busy healing Subaru.
"Well, I can't just leave someone on their own when they needed help." He shot a look in the direction of Felt still hugging the giant.
"But what happened to them?" Asked as he stepped near the two figures lying on the ground, of which was surprising was the rabbit holding the hands of the man beside it while unconscious.
"It was very odd to see them coincidentally here when I was just looking for my stolen insignia. He got hurt after saving the thief." She answered back now shooting a disbelief look at the blonde child, and her noticing it just laughed awkwardly as she jumped down then finally opening her hands off the ruby stoned insignia but another peculiar sight was once again seen as it started glowing red.
"I'm very sorry. I'm indebted to you since you saved my life, and I can't let a debt go unpaid. I'll return what I stole. If it's that important, then at least keep it hidden so no one can steal it again." Felt said while handing it over to the elf was then met a pressure on her arms coming from Reinhard noticing the glow.
"Ow! You're hurting me! Let go!" Struggling to grabbed her hands away from the grip by Reinhard as visibly shaken by the sudden reveal.
"What's your name?" Reinhard started asking questions then was met with the movement of the giant to let go of Felt. He compromised to let go of the arms off her.
"Hey, what's the big deal!" Rom asked with anger as he shielded her into hiding behind him.
"The Insignia had glowed red, meaning that she was chosen by the dragon to be the country's future leader." He answered the giant with seriousness.
"Huh? Someone like me to rule this shitty country?" She felt insulted by that statement of his.
"I don't really want to use force necessarily but I need you to come with me, no matter what." Reinhard resolved and deemed it as his final point that he'll stand.
"Old Man Rom?" Felt tapped the giant's back to question what she'll do as leaving him here wasn't an option.
"He'll keep bothering you if you don't come with him, though you don't have to worry. Whenever you go, I'll be there to support you." He answered her calmly as he knelt down to pat her head as he cherished her.
"Alright then, on one condition. Old Man Rom gets to come with me." She demanded to the red-haired knight.
"That'll be fine by me." He accepted her conditions as the blue-lit skies seeing once again the odd figures.
"What will you do now to them? I'd be glad to take them both as a guest." Offered the elf for the fate of both unconscious figures.
"No, I'll take them home with me. I'm indebted to both of them and I can't sit still not knowing what became of them." Answering to pay the debt of could be the saviors of her life. Satisfied with the answer, Reinhard then tasked the giant and the blonde to come with him as it's not safe knowing a crazed murderer was still out there.
The elf finally finished the treatment could only look in awe as weak they first appeared to yet become the reason, she was still alive. She couldn't as well in the words of Felt, let go a debt unpaid.
Ending Note: The name of our little rabbit-chan came originally from the Japanese word Rui having the symbol in katakana (ルイ) which Subaru named her Ru instead since the katakana symbol's stroke (ル) for the word resembles a feet, which is where he based it from since she hopped onto his back after getting too tired to walk.