Arc 1: A Parallel Paradise!
Chapter 5: The Flame of Ambition.
The investigation led them to the main road about ten minutes later.
Satella suddenly pulled on Subaru tracksuit sleeves.
"Hey, Subaru…"
Subaru looks at Satella in question as the girl's gaze was fixed on something on the other side of the street. She points toward the direction.
"Do you get the feeling that child is lost?"
Where Satella was looking toward the other side of the street, near the building, stood a lonely child. She looks to be about 10 years old, with shoulder-length green hair and wearing a pink dress. Her eyes were filled with anxiety, fear and she looked like she's about to cry at any moment judging by how she's pacing around the building.
"Uh, but what about our questioning?"
"That's also important, but if she's lost, we have to do something."
Subaru takes on a gulp of Saliva. The book didn't mention them saving a lost child, did it? So why is this one kind of different? Or is this child perhaps the mentioned "Maiden?"
"I'm in no place to talk after you saved me, but do you understand the position we're in?"
Subaru's plan of helping Satella and having an adventure with her around the city was about to be thrown in a wrench.
"But, she's crying! Is she not, Subaru?"
Subaru could only stand in shock, the girl is really kind, and that's a virtue that saved Subaru from the bandits in the alleyway.
"If you can't do this with me, that's fine. Thanks for all your help, Subaru. I'll handle it on my own from here, after I help that little girl."
With those words Satella quickly leaves Subaru's side and moves toward the crying girl. Leaving Subaru at a loss for words. The way she said it, it's as if she feels guilty for forcing Subaru to play along with her to help the little girl.
Her silver hair sways as she moves across the street to where the little girl was standing. The teary-eyed girl noticed someone approaching her. There was a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she thought that perhaps was someone that she knew was coming to get her. Only for it to be crushed as Satella appears before her. The look she gave Satella was one of fear.
"I'm sorry I'm not the one you're looking for. So, what's the matter? Aren't your mom and dad with you?"
Satella speaks with a kind voice, softer than Subaru ever heard her, however that wasn't enough as the girl began to cry.
"Um, uh… Don't cry… I won't do anything to you, all right?"
"What I have here is one grooved-edge ten-yen coin."
Both of them were surprised when the Subaru soft voice suddenly appeared beside them. Satella looks up to see Subaru in her gray and orange tracksuit.
Subaru smiles at Satella's reaction before she smiles at the little girl. Subaru then shows them her ten-yen coin.
"I will now clutch it tightly in my hand. Tight, tight, tight… like that! And now… imagine that!"
Subaru took her fist where she had been holding the ten-yen coin and opened it for the two to see. The coin that was in her hand has gone without a trace.
The little green hair girl looks at Subaru in shock, Subaru smiles warmly at her. Subaru, thrilled by the girl's reaction then nodded, and then reached out with her left hand and gently brushed her finger through the girl's hair.
"And this… is where the coin was hiding."
The girl was stunned after seeing the coin in Subaru's finger. Subaru then drops the grooved-edge ten-yen coin in the little girl's hand.
"You can have this. It's rare so take good care of it."
"Thank you!"
Subaru smiles as the little girl gazes at her coin gift affectionately.
Satella poked her in the side and looked suspiciously at Subaru.
"Hey, Subaru…"
"Don't give me that look. I'll admit what I said was a bit harsh but-"
"How did you do that? What kind of magic was that?"
"Oh you mean that? You didn't question my motive but the trick that I did?"
Subaru promised to explain the trick later to her, who looked very interested and suspicious of the trick. After all, unknown to Subaru, there wasn't any magic that could make things disappear just like that…
The three of them walk side by side through the bustling street of the city. The girl was walking between Subaru and Satella, her hand holding both of their hands, passing many stalls and demi humans around the sidewalk.
"I see. You got separate from your mom, huh? Hey, it'll be fine. Just leave it to me and this young lady here. We'll find them for you in no time."
"You really look like you used to this… Subaru, is your profession taming children?"
"When you take it out of the context like that, it sounds really, really bad! And no, I'm unemployed."
Satella can only look at Subaru in confusion. What's so bad about caring for children? And she was sure those in the orphanage had a caretaker among them. To her, Subaru is like a younger sister that knows how to take care of her younger sister.
As for Subaru, technically, Subaru herself had the status of a Japanese high-school student. However, given that she hasn't been to school lately, and now been summoned to a parallel world, in a different body, she didn't feel qualified to call herself a student anymore. Besides, the rules of this world might be different from her own world.
"Ah! Mama!"
The girl suddenly let go of their hand as her smiles got wider. Subaru and Satella turn to look in the direction where the girl runs off to, only to find the green-haired little girl hugging a dark-haired woman in violet dress. They both smile as they watch the scene.
"Looks like she found her." Subaru mutters and smiles softly at the heartwarming scene.
"Yep, I'm glad."
Currently, they were resting at a bridge on a lake, Subaru was leaning against the rail while Satella was sitting on the rail.
―Maybe the mentioned "Maiden" from the book was that little girl…
Subaru let out a weak smile as the previous memory rushed to her. The memory of the mother of the girl being thankful to them. It was a nice feeling, like she finally accomplished something, deep down, Subaru wants to save everyone, perhaps she is being a little greedy but that's the truth inside Subaru.
―If I saved that girl, then I wouldn't have to worry about anything… right?
Subaru let out a sigh as she dearly hopes there are no more dangerous thugs or criminal activities that will endanger the both of them.
"I think we took a pretty long way around, but what benefit will you insist that you get out of this?" Subaru mutters as she turns to look at the silver-haired girl.
Satella crosses her arms against her chest as she turns to look at Subaru.
"That's easy. Now we can continue our search with our mind at ease, right?"
Subaru could only stare in silence at the girl's answer. Indeed, the silver-haired girl is kind, perhaps too kind.
"Anyway, why did you help me? You were against this idea." Satella asked.
"I could say I just wanted to show off my magic trick, but that would be a lie. I told you, finding your insignia will be one good deed for the day!"
Subaru gives her a cheerful grin as if to make it a point toward the silver-haired girl. Subaru still remembers the amazed expression when the girl's found out that the supposed magic was nothing more than an eye trick.
"Then, since you help the little girl, isn't your one good deed over?"
"That comeback was too logical, come on, it doesn't hurt to do more than one nice thing a day, right? I just got tomorrow out of the way; my plan is to get a week's worth of good deeds taken care of early!"
Subaru had the feeling she was far away from the concept of good deed a day with that kind of response. Satella looked shocked at her response.
"Subaru, you're the type that basically wastes your whole life, aren't you?"
Subaru can only let out a sight. It's true that she wasted her whole life under her father's shadow but still, she has the feeling that with this once in a life chance, she could become her own person. But isn't Satella basically the same as her? Both of them are wasting their life.
"You're the last one I want saying that to me."
"You're not a bad girl, though." Satella replied, looking away from Subaru.
"Why are you treating me like I'm younger than you? I know a lot of people think East Asian are younger than they are, but we really can't be that different in age, can we?"
In Subaru's mind, Satella looks to be about seventeen or eighteen years old. In Subaru's old body "He" was seventeen, though her current body age is unknown to her, she could be the same age as her old body judging by her current appearance. Though it was also a possibility that she is far older than Satella, this is a fantasy world after all.
Despite not being an East Asian anymore, Subaru couldn't help but wonder how this body was able to achieve such a beautiful and unique look. In the end, she concludes it as the perk of being a denizen of this world.
Satella narrowed her eyes.
"I don't think making guesses on that will help you. I'm a half-elf."
There was a moment of silence as the tone that Satella used to refer to herself as a Half-elf was filled with a mixture of emotion before it settled into resignation and a hint of bitter self-hatred. Something that reminds Subaru of herself deep down.
Subaru let out a sigh before standing up straight, she put on a cheerful face as she turned toward Satella who's face had an emotion of defeat.
"Now I get it, no wonder I thought you were so cute! Elves are always beautiful right?"
"Huh?"
Satella blinks, her expression dumbfounded as she turns to look at the white-haired girl, as if she didn't expect Subaru to have that kind of reply.
"What?"
"What? Well, I mean… I'm a half-elf…" Satella points to herself, her voice clearly filled with confusion.
"Yeah, I heard you."
Satella quickly got down from the rail she was sitting on, before suddenly turning away and kneeling as if to hide her embarrassment by holding her silver-haired head in her hand.
Subaru didn't know what to say to this sudden development.
Suddenly, Puck appeared out of Satella silver hair before flying past her and delivered a playful harmless punch to Subaru cheek.
"What'd you do that for?"
"I just had to do something about this unbearable tingle I feel!"
"I can't accept being hit for a reason like that. Though I'll forgive you because it was squishy."
Subaru grinned as Puck backed away from her presence. Subaru would love to touch Puck, but for some reason she feels as if the cat is distancing himself from her, like there's impregnatable wall between her and Puck.
"I didn't hit you out of anger or anything. The opposite, in fact."
Satella turns to them as she pouts at their interaction. Subaru couldn't help but think Satella to be the cutest girl right then and there. She's even surpassing Subaru's current self. Well Satella had the advantage of having a Silver-hair, but Subaru's own self is no joke either, both of them are beautiful.
"Subaru, you're such a dunderhead!"
"Dunderhead? Who says that in this day and age? And why are you insulting me?"
"Hmph! Whatever!"
Satella turned away from Subaru before slowly standing up, as if what happened a moment ago didn't happen.
"More importantly, we have to get back to the search."
She turns to leaves, however before she could take a step forward, Subaru calls out to her.
"Hey, hang on! Running around without a plan will never end well. There's a basic rule of searches."
"A basic… rule of searches?" Satella slowly turns to face the white-haired woman.
Subaru grinned at the silver-haired girl's questions.
"Yep. You revisit the crime scene a hundred times. Where was your insignia stolen?"
Subaru smirks as she puts her thumb under her chin, as if to show off her brilliance to impress the silver-haired girl in front of her.
More importantly, the oppressive mood from before has gone, Satella seems to be more friendly now, and that's what's more important in Subaru's mind.
"Yes, I think… it's this way."
With that Subaru follows Satella down the street into the bustling crowd.
As Subaru gazes around the streets, her mind reel back to the moment she saw most of the city when she was resting at the top floor of the higher vantage point of a building, and now seeing how many people inside this city, she couldn't help but be curious and ask questions for Satella.
"Anyway, ever since we helped that little girl, it was painfully clear that this town is too big."
"Well, I told you, it's the capital city of Lugnica. This city is the largest city in this nation. If I remember correctly, there are about… three hundred thousand people who live here. And a lot of others such as merchants come and go."
"I see. That's quite a lot huh."
It appears Subaru had guessed correctly when she first saw the size of this city back when they were resting on the tall building. That number is quite large, of course that's only counting the people living in this city, so if she were to add the numbers of travelling merchants and adventures, that number of populations will undoubtedly double.
As Subaru watches the people passing by, all of them are varied in their race, half-human, half-beast, and regular human mixed together in a group. It was impressive in Subaru's eyes, like a melting pot of different races.
The fact that they gotten lost for almost an hour wasn't something to laugh at either, the area was so large, the road was so complicated, not to mention that Subaru couldn't read the sign, so it was a miracle for her to survive this long.
Overall, despite the fact she has been robbed by bandits in the alleyway, Subaru's first impression of the city hasn't changed. Subaru is still impressed with this city from a parallel world. And she couldn't wipe off the grin that no doubt appears on her face as she thinks about all the adventures she will experience in the future.
Sure, this city is no match for her city back home, but the fact that this world still manages to advance to this stage, not to mention magic, really made her quite thrilled for her future.
"Come! Let's go Subaru!"
Satella calls out to her, during her time of thinking about her future, Satella was already halfway away from her.
"W-wait up!"
With that Subaru takes off after her.
―This body is really weak.
Subaru panting heavily as she reaches Satella who looks concerned for her. Subaru assures Satella that she is okay.
―But I can't wait to level it up!
Subaru smiles as she walks side by side with Satella, she couldn't wait to step out of her father's shadow, and more importantly, she wants to carve out her name in this world history. If she couldn't become an Isekai fantasy hero, then she tries to contribute to magic, If she couldn't contribute to magic, then she makes this world science advance. Anything, to help the people in this world and to be like by them in return.
After all, deep down, Subaru is quite a greedy person.
The walk to the crime scene where her insignia was stolen has led them back to the place where Subaru's familiar with. The place where Satella had her insignia stolen was the same street corner where Subaru had been summoned. So, she led Satella to someone that might be of help to them.
"So, it seems the crime happened right around here." Subaru put a finger under her chin.
"So, I came back to this fruit stand after valiantly telling her to leave it to me. So that's the situation pop."
Subaru points at the owner of the fruit stand on the side of the marketplace. The fruit that lines up on the stall is fresh, which is enough to make Subaru's mouth water at the thought of tasting those "Appa" fruits.
"What? I thought I had a customer, but it was just the broke kid."
The owner of the stall said with a glare which doesn't seem fit for someone who dealt with customers on a daily basis.
Upon closer look, the man actually wears a dark vest instead of the green vest that she had mistaken before, he was very muscular, and he wore dark bandana on his head green hair, to top it off, he had very intimidating white looking scars running across his face, probably left by a blade. No matter how Subaru looks at it, he doesn't seem to be a kind, law abiding citizen.
That's why it was a surprise for Subaru to see him running the stand after her run in with bandits.
"You really want to take that attitude? Haven't you noticed I'm not who I was before?"
"What?"
The owner looks unsure on how to react to Subaru's triumphant and confident look.
Subaru grin as she proudly points her finger toward the confused Satella standing behind her.
"Just look who I brought with me! I brought someone who might just be a regular!"
Subaru turns her face smugly toward the salesman, her expression is one of pride.
"Um Subaru." Satella calls out to her, taking their attention away from each other.
"You seem to have some weird expectations of me, but I don't have any money, either."
"Huh? seriously?"
The store owner could only let out a sigh as Subaru's smug attitude immediately faltered upon hearing the silver-haired girl's confession. This doesn't bode well for them. Satella could only chuckles nervously.
"So, what did you want to say to me now that I have two broke customers, miss?"
Subaru nervously looked at the intimidating man beside her.
"We're actually looking for someone, and we hoped we could ask you some questions…"
Upon hearing that, the green-haired man leans closer to Subaru, his face twisted in anger as he yells.
"That was a sarcastic way of telling you I don't have time for losers with no money! Get outta here!"
"I-I don't think this was a good idea…" Said Satella as she's shrinking away as she tugs Subaru's sleeve.
It's true this isn't a good idea. It might come off as selfish asking questions for help without buying anything, but that didn't change the fact that they have no money to buy anything to begin with.
The owner was about to kick them out when a sudden familiar high pitched voice belonging to a certain little girl calls out to her.
"Miss!"
All of them turn to look at the approaching figure of a green-haired little girl who looks happy to see them with her dark-haired mother holding her hand coming closer to them.
"Thank you for your help earlier." The woman bows to them in respect.
"What brings you back here?" Subaru questioned the woman.
"It's my husband's shop, so we were just stopping by."
The green-haired owner looked shocked at this development.
"Husband?" Subaru questioned.
Subaru and Satella look at each other and then their gaze settles on the intimidating man inside the shop who crossed his arm.
Subaru looks shocked at the woman. The woman was beautiful and had a gentle attitude compared to that man. This woman and that intimidating looking man? Does she make some kind of mistake? Perhaps her husband was killed by that man? There has to be some mistake here.
―He couldn't possibly threaten her, could he?
But despite Subaru's hypothesis, the girl that was holding her mother's hand dart passed Subaru to the shop owner who picked her up and hugged her which caused the man to lose his composure as he was overwhelmed by her cuteness.
"Hey there's my girl." The green-haired man said as he gently pats his daughter's hair. Totally unlike how he treats them.
"Wait, you know these broke losers?" The man points at them, no doubt his mind is filled with questions as he turns to look at his wife.
"She got lost, and they found her."
The green-haired man looks at the two girls beside him. The little girl, after leaving her father's side, turned to Satella and went to her while holding something in her hand.
"Here, lady."
The little girl extended her open palm to Satella, showing a beautiful ornament in the shape of a flower. Satella held her breath, looking at the little girl and the ornament in her hand back-to-back, looking unsure on how to react.
"Please accept it. She wants to thank you in her own way." The mother assures Satella with her gentle smiles as she watches her daughter.
Subaru looks at Satella and watches with a small smile as various emotions seem to be in the amethyst eyes before it settles into a smile as she takes the girl's gift.
"Thank you."
Satella quickly pins the ornament on her left breast of her white cloak, smiling brightly at the little girl, who smiles back at her in return.
The unfriendly atmosphere from before has vanished after their interaction. A sudden cough takes their attention back to the green-haired man who now has an apologetic expression in his face as he clears his throat.
"Sorry about that. You helped my daughter, and I want to thank you. You can ask me anything." With a strong nod, the green-haired man put up his best smiles as he looked at Subaru and Satella.
Satella was surprised but then turned and looked smugly at Subaru.
"There, you see? That came back around and worked in our favor!"
She said that triumphant.
