Author's Note: I do not own Re: Zero. This fan fiction is a non-profitable work. I make no money out of it. I am just writing this for fun.
And Subaru won't have Return by Death in fanfic.
Hope you guys enjoy it.
"Dialogues are shown like this" and 'thoughts like this'.
Chapter-8
Subaru is bewildered by this situation. Then he 'understood' what is going on. He took a look at the thug trio and then he concentrated his gaze on Emilia. 'Haaa, you can never judge a book based on its cover. I thought she is an angel, but I was mistaken. These thugs are trying to rob me. But when I repelled them back, then comes a person who is 'coincidentally' searching for a thief and blames me for stealing without even giving me a chance to explain. With one look one can easily see who is at wrong between me and those three thugs. Forget about their looks, Ton is even pointing the dagger at me at this very instant. No doubt, these thugs and this girl are in cahoots. This is clearly a very elaborate scam.' Thinking up to here, Subaru got upset. He fell for such a cheap scam. His pride won't let him take it lying down.
He immediately kicked his silver skin into full drive and charged towards the silver-haired elf. Emilia was shocked for a moment and launched projectiles at him on instinct. 'Oh no, he is going to die.' Emilia got frightened thinking that she was going to kill that boy. But what happened next shook her. He didn't even pay any attention to icicles and bulldozed right through them. Before anyone can even react, Subaru's right hand gripped her neck and lifted her into the air. Before he can make her confess, he felt his surrounding rapidly drop in temperature and an immense bloodlust directed at him.
"Unhand her right now or else you will regret even being born." Said an androgynous voice.
He turned around to see a small, gray-furred cat floating in the air looking at him with a terrifying expression. 'This cat is serious trouble. I don't think I can take it at my current level.' Looking at the cat's face filled with killing intent Subaru almost let go of Emilia, keyword 'almost'. Subaru looked at the cat in the eye and said "What is the guarantee that if I let go of her you wouldn't kill me? After all you people tried to scam me. How can I believe you?"
It seems that the cat has an idea about what Subaru is talking.
"I know that those thugs are lying. Even if you didn't attack Lia, I would have stopped her. But you didn't give any time for explanations." Said the cat as it relaxed its stance.
Subaru looked at the girl he lifted in the air, looking at her eyes which are looking at him with apprehension, he thought 'Did I jump to conclusions?' but he again steeled his heart and asked the cat "How do I believe that you won't attack me if I let this girl go?" asked Subaru skeptically. After all, even if this girl is innocent, he can't say anything about this cat. It may try to kill him the moment he lets this girl go. He can't risk his life.
"If I wanted to attack you I would have already done so. Because, even though you took Lia hostage, you have no intention to harm her. Hence I will let this slide if you let her go right now." Said the gray cat.
Emilia was shocked to hear this. Yes, it is true that she isn't feeling any pain when he held her neck. She thought it was due to her strength, but it seems that he was not trying to harm her in the first place. The one that was even more shocked was Subaru himself. 'How did this cat know my intentions?'
As if reading his mind, the floating cat said "I can read superficial thoughts of people. That is how I know those thugs are lying. I was about to tell that to Lia. But before even giving me a chance to speak, you attacked her. I know this is all a misunderstanding and the one at the fault is those three. You just acted way too fast without trying to clear this misunderstanding."
Subaru was shocked listening to this and he immediately felt embarrassed for attacking that girl. He let go of her and took a few steps back to give her breathing space. He also deactivated his silver skin to show that he means no harm and doesn't want to continue fighting.
Subaru then bowed towards her and said "I am really sorry. I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions and tried to harm you. Please forgive me."
After a few minutes of silence, he thought she was still angry and looked towards her only to find her standing there with an incredulous expression.
Emilia's POV:
I don't know what to do when I saw the young man before me bowing and apologizing to me. For as long as I can remember, I was always hated for the things I didn't do. I was hated by everyone without a reason. Some people even tried to kill me without remorse.
But, in this case, he has the perfect reason to be angry at me. I was the one in the wrong for falling to those despicable people's lies. I should be the one to apologize. But still, he is feeling responsible for things he didn't start. I looked at Puck. It seems that he is also as shocked as I am. After all, we are connected telepathically and I can understand his feelings. Even after that boy released me, Puck is annoyed at him, and if Puck tried to do anything to that boy, I would be the first one to stop him. Since we are at the fault in this case. But after seeing the boy apologizing to me, it seems that he changed his mind.
'Lia, I feel no ill intentions from him. In fact, I think he holds quite a few positive feelings towards you. Rather than seeing you as Satella, he sees you as nothing more than a normal girl.' Puck informed me through our telepathic link.
I truly felt happy hearing this. All my life I have been living in the shadows of the witch. I have been carrying the burden of sins she did. So it is a refreshing feeling to see someone who just sees me as a normal girl. It seems that my silence made him uncomfortable. He turned his head slightly upwards towards me, still in a bowing posture.
"I-i-I should be the one to apologize. After all, I was the one at the fault. I am reaaaaaaally sorry." Saying this I also bowed. But I forgot that we aren't that far away and he is also bowing. This resulted in my head colliding with his.
"Ouch" x2
We both said at the same time.
He then looked at me and started laughing. "You are a clumsy one, aren't you?"
"*pout* You are being rude now." I tried to sound angry. But then I also started laughing. It seems that laughter is truly contagious.
General POV:
Well, the mood had to ruined by Puck who came in between them and said "Well Lia, shouldn't be you be searching for insignia?"
Only now Emilia remember. She turned to Subaru and asked "Have you seen an insignia this big?" saying this she drew a shape in the air with her fingers and described the appearance of Felt. Subaru identified the thief as the one who had just run by.
"I have seen that thief run by just now. But I have no clue who is she. But I know someone who may know about that." Replied Subaru.
Hearing this Emilia beamed happily and said "Reaaaally. It would be a great help if you know where to find her."
Subaru simply smiled and pointed at the now fainted Ton-Chin-Kan trio. Emilia looking at them asked worriedly "What happened to them? Do they need healing?"
"Not really, they just fainted when your pet cat released killing intent. Poor souls. But I guess they might know something." Said Subaru sympathetically, but he is anything but sympathetic right now.
"Hey! Who are you calling a pet cat? I am a Great Spirit and I have a cute name. You can call me Puck."
"Ohhh. So long-awaited introductions are in the row." Subaru seemed to be extra excited when it came to introductions. He struck his classic pose (which Emilia found to be somewhat cute) and said "My name is Natsuki Subaru. When I was lost on the path of life, I was carried here by the river of fate. Nice to meet you."
Saying this he looked at Emilia. Seeing that Puck and Subaru introduced themselves, Emilia turned to Subaru and said "My name is Emilia. Just Emilia. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Subaru."
"Well, now introductions are done, let us get to work. Subaru, you said they might know something right? Why don't you wake them up and ask them?" Puck landed on Emilia's shoulder and urged Subaru to get to work.
Subaru just went near the fainted Ton-Chin-Kan and kicked them awake.
"WHAT HAPPENED?"
"WHERE ARE WE?"
"ARE WE DEAD?"
Seeing the panicking trio, Puck released some of his ice magic and said "You are not dead yet, but if you don't answer our questions, you will be."
They immediately calmed down and nodded their heads fearfully.
"Well Subaru, they are all yours."
Subaru now stepped before them. Seeing this Ton-Chin-Kan are confused. Aren't they at each other's throats just now? When did they become friends? Did they miss something when they fainted? Ton-Chin-Kan are truly confused. But unfortunately, they are not the ones asking questions here.
"So question 1. Are you commissioned to delay this lady over here so that the thief gets more time to escape? You better tell the truth because the cat right here can read minds and can tell whether you are saying the truth or not."Subaru pointed to Puck when said this.
Puck licked his paw and said cutely "I am gonna skewer you with ice spikes if you lie." But the contents are anything but cute.
The trio became quite afraid. But they can't risk lying in front of these monsters.
Ton looked at Chin and Kan. Seeing them nodding, he knows that even they are urging him to tell truth so they can get the hell out of here.
Ton said "It was Felt. She was the one who commissioned us to stop the lady chasing her. So we came to this alley on receiving the signal. But we saw you here and thought you were an easy catch. So we tried to rob you. Now please let us go." Pleaded Ton, now his voice devoid of arrogance he had at the starting.
"I will let you go if you tell us where we can find this Felt."
Ton hurriedly sold out the location of the loot house where they can find Old man Rom and Felt. They even told them the password without even being asked.
Subaru turned toward Puck. Seeing Puck nodding towards him, he knows that these people are not lying. "Okay, you can go. But remember, If I find you again doing these kinds of things, next time I won't be this merciful" warned Subaru.
Ton-Chin-Kan immediately scurried out the scene thinking to never fall in the sight of this boy.
Subaru then turned towards Emilia, smiled radiantly, and said "So, now our target is loot house."
Emilia seemed to be confused by his wording and said "'Our', but Subaru this is not your problem. There is no need for you to get involved in this."
"No, no. I delayed you by involving you with a fight that was never meant to be fought. "
"But Subaru, I was the one who started it. Yo-"
Before she can continue, he stopped her by waving his finger and said, "It doesn't matter who started it, the only thing that matters is we are all involved in this somehow. And it seems that it is not a simple robbery. It is specifically targeted towards you. So if you go alone, your life may be at risk." Subaru is sincerely concerned about this naïve girl's safety. And he also wants to spend some time with her.
Hearing this Puck also added, "What he is saying is true, Lia. This may not be as simple as it seems. I also don't want you to spend your time with boys, but it is better if we take Subaru along. I don't sense any malicious intentions from him. He has good intentions when he says he wants to help you." Said Puck. The thing he cares about most is Emilia's safety. And Subaru has a powerful defense from what he has seen. So it won't hurt to bring him along.
"But Puck, we can't involve him with our problems." She said sternly to Puck. She then turned towards Subaru and said "Subaru, even if you help us, I won't be able to give you anything in return."
'So this is what she is thinking' thought Subaru. He then looked straight into her eyes and said "Emilia, the person who taught me, once said 'You need a reason to harm someone, but you don't need a reason to help someone.' I am helping you out of my own will. I don't need anything in return."
Listening to this Emilia's eyes welled with tears, but she didn't let them out. She forced out the words of her mouth " I am a half-elf you know?.."
Subaru simply replied, "I see."
Not expecting this reaction, she repeated "I am a half-elf, a silver-haired half-elf."
Listening to this Subaru said, "I heard you loud and clear. No wonder I thought you are so beautiful. So you are a half-elf huh."
She expected to hear insults, but instead, what she received is a compliment. This was the first for Emilia. She immediately turned around and crouched down to hide the happy tears flowing out of her eyes.
As Subaru was concerned about what happened to her, Puck punched him on the cheek. It is not like those furry paws could do any damage. Subaru confusedly asks "What is that for?"
"I should do something about this tingling feeling inside me. But is not with any bad intentions tho"
"I would forgive this act of insolence if you let me pet you." Saying this Subaru took Puck in his hand and started rubbing his belly.
"Hahahaha, stop that! Hahaha, you can't do it that suddenly, it is cheating" said Puck while laughing due to the tickling he is receiving.
After wiping her tears, Emilia stood up, turned towards them and said "Subaru, Puck. You dunderheads."
"Who even says dunderhead in this day and age."
"That is Lia for you."
Emilia pouted and started walking out of the alley. But one could see a happy smile on her face.
Subaru and Puck looked at each other and followed behind her.
"Wait Lia, it is Subaru who did it."
"Hey! Don't push the fault onto me. Take some responsibility, will you?"
Those three made their way towards loot house while bickering all the way, not knowing what awaited them there.
That's it for this chapter. I didn't make up the fact that it was Felt who commissioned Ton-Chin-Kan. Even though it is omitted from anime, it is indeed what happened in the web novel and Subaru was the one who guessed it! Man, Subaru can really do it if he puts his heart into it.
And one more thing, Puck tried to freeze Subaru's hand when he gripped Emilia's neck. But it didn't work because Subaru has very high cold resistance due to silver skin.
