"…huh"
The words that escaped his mouth were the only things that he could utter, for the situation he found himself in was impossible to accept. Following that, the only logical explanation would be a dream. A place where laws are constantly broken by one's will. To confirm this theory-
"Ouch… is this actually real?"
After pinching himself in an attempt to wake himself up, he truly felt the pain. His tracksuit and bag were perfectly touchable. This wasn't a situation he wasn't familiar with, at least when it comes to fiction, but it actually happening was way too incredible.
"I've been summoned to a fantasy world…!"
Shouting out with excitement the people passing beside him looked at him with either confusion or annoyance which caused his cheeks to turn red.
He fled the scene in both embarrassment and excitement, he wanted to explore this new fantasy world, dammit!
"The best way to find info in these kinds of situations would be a guild, I guess I'll have to ask for directions"
Making his decision, he walked deeper into the streets of the medieval capital, admiring both the different buildings and stalls he passed by. The carriages being powered by what seemed to be overgrown lizards looked so cool! Not to mention the diverse types of citizens going through their day, specifically the ones with animalistic characteristics.
"Demihuman's, huh? This world seems a bit generic, but hey! Generic is good! I wonder what type of power I'll have, maybe something cool like time manipulation or teleportation or maybe I'll be extremely good at magic and become a mage!"
Optimistic thoughts filled his mind, his imagination was running wild just imagining all the possibilities this new world would bring for him. Though, when he looked at the signs of stalls in the bustling streets, he realized a bit of a problem.
'I can't read any of this, a new language it seems, wait, can people even understand me?!'
Panicking a bit, he decided to talk to someone to both make sure he could even communicate and to ask for directions, and so, he found the perfect guy, a middle aged apple salesman with green hair.
"He's jacked! He must be some kind of ex adventurer, best ask him for help then"
Making his way in front of the stall the salesman looked at him for a second, as if confirming that he was real, before recognition came to his face.
"…kid? You're alive?" The man blinked repeatedly, incredulous, believing that his vision failed him.
"What? Of course I am, why wouldn't I be?" Confused, Subaru tilted his head at the weird sudden question.
"News of your death were announced months ago! Something about you dying in a fight against an Archbishop, was it some type of cover up?" The man responded in confusion himself, it wasn't weird for a country to have their secrets and cover ups, but to announce the hero's death was way too out there.
'So, we can understand each other, that's good, but what's with this guy? Is he trying to scam me somehow or does he have a screw lose? What the hell even is an archbishop?'
"Uh, I think you have the wrong guy, I'm new around here, I just wanted to know if you had directions to an adventurer's guild or something" Wanting the conversation to speed up, Subaru went straight to the point.
" 'New around here'? 'Adventurer's guild'? The hell are you talking about? Ah, it's one of your jokes, I get it I get it, you want some appa's no?" The salesman laughed at him, as if he told a good joke, the guy's familiarity with him made him feel nervous.
'I better leave, this guy is probably nuts'
"Sorry man, I'm kinda broke right now and I gotta go, Cath you later!"
He said as he sprinted away, leaving Kadomon confused. Wanting some time to get his bearings, so he found an alleyway where he wouldn't be bothered. The alley had a few flowers at the side, seemingly looking like a memorial. Ignoring that, Subaru sat down and started talking to himself.
"Man, first guy I talk to and he's a nut job…" Lamenting his rather lame first interaction in the new world, he put his arms in his head and sighed. He stayed in that position for a while, analyzing what his next move should be.
"Perhaps I don't have to become an adventurer right now, I can wait for a bit before I start doing quests and stuff, at least until I activate my power or learn magic, for now I could sell my phone and use my knowledge of the modern world to live it up! Yeah!"
Regaining his spirits with a shout, he sat up with a smile as a new goal was formed, he was about to make his way out the alley before-
"Well well well, lookie we got here?" A purple haired tall man spoke out to him in a sarcastic manner.
"An easy prey it seems to me, cough up all you got, and you won't get hurt" A shorter guy with green hair threatened him with a laugh.
These two thugs in disheveled clothing eyed him dangerously, they looked very generic and forgettable. However even if they were the basic baddy, the one on the right had a dagger.
"Can't you guy's just let me go for today? Pretty please?" Subaru begged slightly.
"Did you not hear me correctly you fuck? Give us your shit now or you die" Annoyed, the purple haired thug stepped closer to him, preparing to stab him if necessary.
Subaru wasn't risking his life for some convenience store snacks. And so, swallowing his pride, he laid down his bag while cursing his naivete for entering the alley in the first place. The snickers of his robbers filled the alley as they began ransacking Subaru's plastic bag.
"I ask that you leave that citizen alone this instant"
From behind the thugs another voice joined. One that was sounded robotic and without cheer. Once the thugs looked back their faces were frozen in fear.
"Re-Reinhard Van Astrea?!"
"The sword saint?! What is he doing here!?" Scared, his assailants screamed out in terror.
The thugs were blocking his vision, so he could not see who his savior was, regardless Subaru felt quite thankful.
Reinhard sighed "Just leave, do not desecrate this place any longer" he warned. Nodding quickly, the two men bolted past Reinhard and out the alley.
"Are you alright sir?" The red haired knight asked without looking even looking at him, he had a couple roses in his hands. His eyes seemed blank and while his outfit and face were beautiful, his existence just screamed emptiness, a feeling he was quite familiar with.
"Ah, yeah, Reinhard, right? Thanks a lot for saving me" He wanted to make the knight smile, and so, he pointed to the sky making his signature Natsuki pose.
"My name is Subaru Natsuki! I'm completely clueless and broke beyond com…pa…re" Subaru's introduction ended his introduction roughly when he looked at Reinhard's face.
The Knight's entire body went completely motionless, as if someone paused time, however Reinhard's arm touched Subaru's shoulder, delicately, as if he was afraid that he would break at the slightest touch.
"How… can this be? Are you an… illusion? A… punishment for my sins?" Reinhard sounded as if he was on the verge of breaking down in tears.
"I, uh, am definitely real, are you alr-"
Not even allowing him to finish his sentence, the knight's tears broke out, Reinhard hugged Subaru, throwing his roses to the ground, he increased the strength of the hug, fearing he would lose him once more if he let go, and let the sobs flow.
"I'm sorry I didn't help you! I'm sorry I was such a monster that I left you behind! I'm sorry I forgot about you! I'm sorry that even though I knew you weren't lying when you pleaded for my help, and I did nothing to assist you and left you to rot! I- I-"
Subaru could not comprehend what Reinhard was saying, the poor guy was having a breakdown in the middle of an alley. However, while he could not understand his words, he decided to comfort Reinhard.
"Hey, it's okay, let it all out, I'm sure it wasn't your fault" Subaru spoke softly, wanting the knight to vent his emotions. While the situation was beyond him, he thought that was the best thing to do in this kind of situation, and so he let the knight cry his heart out.
After all his tears dried up, the sword saint regained his bearings and looked at Subaru with astonishment, admiring him, still not believing his eyes.
"Do you feel better?" Patting Reinhard's back, Subaru asked expressing his worry.
"I- I do, but how is it possible?" The knight could only speak with an incredulous tone at the absurd situation he found himself in.
"How is what possible?" Questioning Reinhard, Subaru's eyes narrowed a bit, trying to understand exactly what was being asked.
"You being here… alive" Reinhard didn't want to mention his death, even after all this time, it still broke him to know his dear friend had perished because of his slothfulness, the fact that he was speaking with him again hadn't caught up to him yet.
"Are you completely sure you aren't confusing me with some other guy? This is my first day here, so I don't think it's possible for us to have met each other nor for me to die" The black haired boy was getting unsettled at the amount of people talking as if he wasn't supposed to be among the living.
At this Reinhard felt hurt, 'Could it be he has amnesia? No, that's impossible, I saw his corpse… I saw him get buried myself… So then how is this even possible?" Inspecting Subaru closely he found some things that did not add up.
Subaru himself looked younger, not by much mind you, but noticeable enough to alert Reinhard, his appearance was also the same as when they first met two years ago, he did not have any visible scars or injuries either from battle or from… his previous sessions. Not to mention the fact he seems unfamiliar with the territory and Reinhard himself.
"Subaru, by any chance do you know someone named Emilia?" The knight asked, trying to confirm his suspicions.
"Emilia? Can't say I know anyone with that name sorry, it does sound cute though" Subaru laughed a bit and rubbed his head.
"What about your age? Have you ever been employed? Are you familiar with 'the witch cult?" Reinhard knew he was asking a lot of questions at once, but he wanted, no, he needed to know.
"Woah, a lot of questions, feels like I'm being interrogated, though I guess I must look a bit weird to the people here" Subaru chuckled "I'm 17 years old! I'm a 3rd year High School student and have never been employed, and uh, I've never heard of any 'witch cult'"
'No lies have been detected by my divine protection, so that means that this truly is Subaru! But why is he younger? Not only that, but how is he alive? If even Felix's power was not enough then how could… Does it even matter? He's back! Who cares about the how's and why's? This was a new chance for me to atone for my disgusting sins'
"Subaru, do you have any place to stay at the moment?"
'If he truly is Subaru from our first day then…' Requiring one final confirmation, the knight asked hastily.
"Nope! As I said, I just got here, and I don't have any money, hell I can't even read" Subaru responded with frustration.
"Then, why don't you come and stay with me in the Astrea Mansion?" The knight's tone was hopeful, as if happiness was returning to him.
"You have a mansion?! I mean, I appreciate the thought, but I don't want to be a bother…"
"No, No, No! Don't worry about that, I insist!" Placing his arms on Subaru's shoulders he yelled panicked, he can't allow Subaru out of his sight again, he'll be damned if he gets hurt again.
"Well, if you're so eager then sure! Thanks a lot Rein, please lead the way!" The black haired boy responded with a smile and an exaggerated bow. Something which made Reinhard's face glow, how he missed Subaru's antics, he even called him Rein!
Walking out of the alley with Subaru in toe, Reinhard got a dragon carriage and started the trip back to his home, his lady did not… take Subaru's death well, to her, it was if she lost an important family member, and even though her camp has a huge lead in the selection, she did not feel cheer, if anything, what happened to Subaru amplified her hatred for the country. So, Reinhard was sure that she would be as ecstatic as he was to see him again!
Unaware of Reinhard's thoughts, Subaru was just excited at the prospect of being inside a carriage and looking at the scenery pass him by, it felt like the beginning to a grand adventure, he was even going to stay in the mansion of a knight! The only thing that could make this situation better would be finding out what his power was, but that could wait for now.
If one thing was odd though, it would be how weird Reinhard acted with him in the alley, perhaps there was some kind of prophesy about his arrival and Reinhard was just excited? The appa guy also seemed to know him, maybe he truly was summoned here to be a hero! Smiling to himself Subaru relaxed himself in his seat and started some small talk with the excited sword saint.
Arriving at what would be his new home, Subaru's jaw dropped when he saw the size of the mansion, he knew mansions were big, but this was on a whole another level! There were so many windows and room's he couldn't even see the entire building from a far. The gate and land itself were beautiful too, bright green grass with various colorful flowers sprayed out around the yard, with a finishing touch of a fountain in the middle.
Reinhard got out of the carriage and indicated his chauffer to park, he then put his arm around Subaru's back with a bright smile.
"Please make yourself at home Subaru, I hope it is up to your standards"
" 'Up to my standards'?! Your home is massive! Truly thank you Rein!" Grinning Subaru gave the sword saint a thumbs up.
"It is no problem my friend, before I show you your room however, I have someone I want you to meet, if it's not a bother of course!" Reinhard responded with hurry, as if scared to annoy Subaru in any way.
"That's fine really! If you want me to meet someone, then it's the least I can do for all your doing for me!" Making exaggerated motions with his arms, the boy expressed his willingness to accept Reinhard's request.
Reinhard smiled softly at his response and told Subaru to follow him, which he did with a grin. However, in the knight's mind, he was making a vow, one he will maintain even if it kills him.
'I will absolutely and under no circumstances allow any harm to befall you again, Subaru, no matter what it takes'
Heya!
Hope you enjoyed the first chapter! It's quite short, but honestly this feels better to write compared to the large chapters of my other fic. I won't have a schedule for these things, I know I can't stick to schedule's.
So, uh, if you haven't guessed, a new Subaru has been sent to Lugunica, around a year after the original Subaru's torture and death. There's technically two Subaru's now, but y'know, one's a rotting corpse under the ground so... yeah.
Don't know what else to say, so, please leave your criticism/praise in the comments and have a wonderful day!