Chapter 2 : Questions oh questions
Patching together, patching together, patching together, What the hell is this red head's deal?
Subaru tries turning around to face the red head who is speaking to him but he's held in place by the hand on his shoulder.
The red head tries to peer into his mind to find out his possible intentions through his feelings by using his divine protection of empathy, but he is instantly overwhelmed as instead of peering into a single mind it's as if he's trying to do over 100 at once. He takes his hand off Subaru's shoulder and holds the side of his head with it as he is swept away by a piercing headache he stumbles a couple steps has been so long since he felt such pain, while he struggles to withstand it and stay on guard he thinks of a betraying thought 'it feels quite rejuvenating' as it takes him back to a simpler time. A time before he acquired the sword saint title, a time where he was allowed to fall down, be in pain and have others come to help him.
As he lost his grip, Subaru tries to turn around once more and this time he is successful, he takes a few seconds trying to partially focus atleast one of his dead grey eyes on the pained man before him.
Subaru : "I'm sorry I didn't quite hear what you were saying can you repeat that?"
He looks down and sees it's that 'built different' knight guy, he gets his act together, preparing himself to meet him as if for the first time .
Reinhardt : "I've got some questions for you. Lots." With the headache dissipating he gets his hand off his head.
Subaru : "Ok then ask away." He responds as he finally got his right eye to start working again.
Reinhardt : "Nice of you to comply, very well then i will start with standard procedure : Who are you, are you a foreigner, if so, where are you from? For what purpose have you come to the capital of Lugunica?"
G Reinhardt : 'If I remember correctly you said that you were a neet from beyond the great cascade to the east of Lugunica, just repeat that again for me.'
Subaru : "My name is 'Subaru Natsuki' and yeah it's like you guessed, i'm not from around here. I actually came from beyond the waterfalls to the east.. Although unwillingly."
He says the last part as he tries to remember the flash of a life he once had before he appeared that cursed sandy tower.
Reinhardt : "Your name is a lie.."
Subaru stiffens at the accusing tone.
G Ram : 'Hah, of course it is, his name is Barusu.'
Reinhardt : "However the rest isn't..Somehow.."
Barusu : "Soo we good?"
Reinhardt : "Nah i got way more, So what do you intend to do here 'Mr Natsuki'?"
G Priscilla : "Do Mineself a small favor and do tell him the truth, that you're here to commit mass murder. Pay your debts to Mineself and right your wrongs by getting cut down right here and now so Mineself will never have the chance of laying mine eyes upon your filth." She says as she's still extremely salty she got sacrificed while hardly remembering 'Natsuki Barusu'.
Barusu : "Well you see i'm here on a mission of self-discovery while getting some memories and save people!"
He says with an energetic tone and pose he practiced and copied from 'his' friend's memories
Priscilla screeches 'BULLSHIT!' at the top of her non-existent imaginary lungs.
G Schult : 'Yeah, what she said!'
Reinhardt : "Ugh, this is utter insanity.." he whispers as he thinks the Od Laguna has to be trolling him into thinking everything he's saying is true. He stares into Barusu's dead grey eyes and notices they aren't even looking at the same thing 'Maybe he's utterly insane and it's not me.'
The fake Emilia suddenly pops into view infront of Barusu obstructing the real Reinhardt while bending over with her arms folded behind her back.
? : 'Sooo i've been looking at the two of you and noticed something that might be reeeally important.' The silver bell of a voice echos and chimes in his head.
After tens of thousands of tries Barusu learned how to project his thoughts to the voices in his head so he doesn't have to talk to himself like a madman, espically useful for silent consultings.
Barusu : 'Yeah Mili, what is it?'
G Emilia : 'I'ts just that the cloths you're both wearing are the exact same as the day you saved me.'
G Felt : 'You're right big sis! that stupid workaholic never wears that outfit!'
G Rom : 'So you're saying we'll probably need saving again in a couple of hours?'
? : 'Ara ara, let's see if i can get a hold of those bowels of yours this time.'
G Rom : 'I will reiterate. Ahem.. Please save us! This crazy bitch is gonna make us all dead again in a couple hours!'
G Crazy bitch : 'I wasn't talking about yours, old giant.'
He comes to the conclusion that today, 'his' first day is also the day 'he' saved Emilia. Truly impeccable that 'Natsuki Barusu', being the greatest hero since day 1.
Barusu : "Yo, are ya off duty today?"
Reinhardt narrows his eyes at the white haired person in front of him once more, that information should kept secret by the order of royal knights as foreign countries may try to make moves during his delayed response time during his rare off duty days. A random person having that info is quite suspicious.
Reinhard : "Now just how do you know tha-"
Barusus : "Your outfit." he makes a smug face with a crap eating grin.
Reinhardt : "..Ah, you're right, indeed i am." Reinhardt internally face-palms at his over-reaction, he doesn't know why he's so on edge with this stranger.
Barusu : "weell then, too bad! I need a big favor."
Reinhardt : "What kind of favor if i may ask?" but Reinhardt already knows, he has heard this type of tone from so many nobles and knights alike seeking to use him as a weapon against someone else. He can even tell just by the beggar's tone that he is accustomed to making such requests and does so very frequently.
Barusu : "Nothing much, just follow me around for the rest of the day and apprehend a certain famous wanted criminal when you see her."²
Reinhardt : "Now what makes you so sure that you'll be meeting such people i wonder?"
Barusu : "Jeez can you just get the broom out of your ass and help a guy out! It's not like i'm a criminal myself!" which is technically true since in this timeline he just got here and hasn't committed any crimes.. yet.
G Purple prick : 'Now, Now, is that any way to ask for assistance?"
G Catgirl : 'Ferri-chan agrees! How you said that was truly disgraceful even by your low standards.'
The two other members of the royal knight trio chime in to defend their friend : G Julius and Felix.
Reinhardt : "Fine i'll fulfill your favor but one last question. What was that aura i felt earlier? It was quite similar to a concentration of the miasma at the Augria sand dunes.
Barusu's thoughts go racing 'Shit, Satella what do i say? I can't tell him that the Witch of Envy is yeeting my soul across time, space and alternate realities for fun.'
G Satella : 'Respond simply that are not sure thyself however tis not owned by you.' she gives a truthful but vague option to answer with.
Barusu : "Dunno man, it's not mine." he takes the witch's suggestion but words it badly.
Reinhardt : "Ugh, Very well. So where are we heading to fight crime, my new companion?" 'Might as well keep an eye on this psycho' he thought
Barusu : "The slums!" he answers with an energetic yell.
Reinhardt : "Of course how did i not suspect this! That there are criminals in the slums!" he loudly states his sarcasm.
The Moronic duo set off on their adventure. To that poor people place!
*Felt's POV*
Felt has accepted a high paying fetch quest from a shady milf to steal a dragon crested insignia from one of those stupid nobles. While standing on top of a building in the commerce district she spots her target, she sees a small bulge in their pocket so it's probably in there, she prepares to jump down, grab it and run off but hears a sudden yell making her stop midway.
? : "brRR, I AM SPEED! WEEYRRR! I'M FAST AF BOOOoooii!"
The yell came from a lightning fast red and white blur speeding through the street while making a strong gusty wind passing by, tactfully evading each and every person. This blur can be identified the sword saint, Reinhardt Van Astrea.
Street rumors and gossip has it that he takes after his father, becoming a drunkard due to family problems, however such claims have never been proven. Quite the opposite actually, as he has the divine protection of poison immunity : foreign substances shouldn't be able to do anything or affect him.
As he passed, the other people in the street freeze to stare at the direction he zoomed past, including her target. Felt breaks out of her stagnation a little early.
She swoops down and makes a mad dash using her divine protection to increase her swiftness, after she successfully reaches into her target's pocket and grabs it she turns her head around to stick out her tongue.
? : "Stop! Give it back!"
Felt : "How 'bout no!"
The target conjures chunks of ice magic and launches it at the loli but they all miss as she jumps on another building rooftop. Her target desperately chases the blondi loli for hours across the entire capital almost until sundown, their sheer persistence puts lolicons to shame. Felt thinks 'holy hell, don't nobles get to skip leg day?'
She finally makes it back to the loot house in a sour mood as the job was a lot tougher than expected.
*Knock knock*
? : "For a rat." A voice can be heard from inside the house
Felt : "Four turtles."
? : "For a White whale."
Felt : "A big-ass tree."
? : "To the noble dragon lord we are..."
Felt : "Meatbags." she had the wrong dragon in mind
The door opens to show an old bald giant.
Rom : "You've got all 3 wrong but eh welcome back, Felt. Glad you're ok."
Felt : "Yeah sorry for taking so long and worrying ya, gramps, this one was quite determined to get it back." she says as she walks inside, passing the giant who closes the door behind her.
She sits down on a barstool at the counter so the old man pours her a drink, she drinks it like a shot glass and slams it on the table.
Felt : "Blegh, DISGUSTANG."
Rom : "I offer you some milky slum tap water out of the kindness of my heart and that's what you have to say?! Are you trying to give me heart failure?"
Felt : "Sorry about your heart failure old man but anyways the client should be here any second now, so don't serve that crap or she might kill you with the cup."
5 minutes pass
Rom : "Any second you say?"
Felt : "Weell maybe she just got a lil lost,i mean anyone who isn't a local can have trouble finding their way around."
30 minutes pass
Rom : "Veeery lost indeed."
Felt : "Shut it old man."
2 hours pass
Rom : "*Yawn* Look felt, it's night time now, i got to close up shop so i can wake up early for morning booze tomorrow."
The old giant rests his oversized hand on felts shoulder "This is beyond late, i don't think she's coming."
Felt : "No! She has to be! This took too much effort to get to just be a waste!"
The giant crouches pulls his blondi loli into a hug while trying to calm her down.
Rom : "I'm sorry little one but don't you think 10 holy dragon coins for a piece of jewelry was too good to be true? This might've just been a prank."
Her eyes start to moisten as she can see her dream of using the money to escape the slums go up in flames.
*Knock knock*
Felt : "About fucking time!" she suddenly yells in the old giant's ear which makes him stop hugging and take a step back while putting his hands to his ears.
She gets up to open the door with a pout, instantly replacing all other emotions with anger.
Felt : "Well call me a librarian 'cause i want some frickin late fees for all the stress you've caused meEEE!" She says as she opens the door to the person who knocked.
But the person at the door wasn't her client but rather her target.
Don't worry the barusu joke ends next chapter
And sorry for the cliffhanger