The feeling of coldness surrounded Subaru's body, everything was dark for a moment but soon after the natural sense of sight gradually returned to Subaru.
"What's the matter with you kid? It looks like you've seen a ghost."
The voice of a man had asked Subaru, with the natural sense of sight Subaru could tell that the man had green hair and was holding an apple.
"What?"
Subaru's natural sense of hearing had not fully returned to him.
"I told you these were Appas, so are you interested in buying them or not?"
Kadomon had grown irritated by Subaru's confusion.
"What?"
Subaru's sense of hearing had still not returned.
"Stop screwing around kid, do you even have any money?"
Kadomon's patience had ran out.
"Why are you asking me this again?"
Subaru having gained back his sense of hearing could now understand Kadomon, what now made him confused was why they were back to talking with each other.
"I'm asking again because you've definitely got an old man's sense of hearing, that's why kid."
Subaru remained baffled, did this merchant not get the memo?
"That's not what I was asking about, I mean why are we talking to each other again?"
Now Kadomon had a face of confusion.
Kadomon: "You've clearly got a scrambled head too, we've never talked to each other before."
Subaru sunk into thoughts from Kadomon's response.
Subaru: "Never talked to each other before? Is he a dolt? We clearly had a conversation before where he called me a freeloader and treated me like a dick."
"Quit wasting my time and get out of here already, a guy like you is clearly broke and I've got other customers to care about!"
Subaru's thinking was cut short as Kadomon's anger forced Subaru away from his shop. Subaru was too deep in thinking to be angry at Kadomons decision. Subaru looked around at his surroundings and remained baffled at the sight.
"What the hell is going on…it was nighttime just a few minutes ago."
Subaru looked to his stomach in search of the lethal wound he had received shortly ago.
"My stomach wound too…it's gone."
Flashes of memories go through Subaru's head.
"Right! That half-breed, Emilia, I have to–"
Before Subaru could finish his outer dialogue he began to realize the circumstances of himself.
"I was lying in that loot house dying and the next second I'm back at a merchant's stand, did that half-breed heal me and I just woke up there or did something…more unexplainable….happen"
The thoughts overwhelmed Subaru's mind.
"I wanted some petty revenge on that thief girl and then I got…'that' but now I'm here, but what about that half-breed? Did she die?"
He did not understand his position nor did he want to find out at this current moment as there was a danger still lingering in his mind.
"What am I waiting for, I need to get back there and find out what the hell happened!"
Subaru had begun rushing down the streets of the capital, heading directly for the loot house. He had taken the route he remembered which meant he needed to get through 'the alleyway'. The three thugs naturally appeared again.
"Why are you in such a hurry?"
"If you don't wanna get hurt then cough up whatever you've got."
"Oh, it's you three losers again! Listen, I don't really give a shit about what you want from me. Just leave me alone alright, there's something I need to see!"
The gaywad grew irritated at the choice of wording Subaru spoke.
"Don't mouth off to us prick!"
The gaywad pulled out his knives in an attempt to intimidate Subaru. Subaru noticed this had a hint of fear in his face but getting to the loot house was far more important to him than this.
"I told you guys, I don't have ~time."
Putting a mocking pause between each of his words, Subaru had begun to triumphantly walk towards the trio, intending to bypass them without a care.
"You've really got a death wish don't you."
As Subaru was almost full way towards bypassing the trio a sudden kick from the midget threw Subaru off balance. Subaru had become enraged with the trio.
"Oi! I'll say it again, midget. I don't have tiiiime!"
Subaru threw his leg at the midget causing Camberley to fly into the wall. Rachins noticed the poorly positioned Subaru and saw an opening at an instant.
"Hey bastard, hope you like this!"
Rachins lunged his knife at the distracted Subaru, plunging his knife deep into Subaru's liver.
Subaru: "Aghkk~"
The blood had started to accumulate, this was an early death, a pointless death, a stupid death for Subaru. In the darkness of an alleyway Subaru collapsed onto the ground.
"Shit! Rachins, let's get the hell out of here!"
Rachins, realizing the severity of Subaru's wound, listens to Gaston's words and hastily helps Camberley get back on his feet.
"This got a bit out of hand but teaches idiots like you!"
The trio run off from the crime scene whilst Subaru bleeds out.
"Someone….please…"
Subaru begs that someone walks into this alleyway and helps him escape this miserable fate. To the joy of his heart, the sudden visage of a girl appears.
"You…please…help."
Mustering up his strength to speak, he pleads to the girl to help, to not leave him dead in a ditch.
"Oof….this is a really, really grim thing to run into…."
But Subaru realized this would not be a kind encounter when the golden haired and red eyed girl gawked at the sight of Subaru.
"So sorry bro….but I've got to run. Live strong…okay?"
Felt, giving her statement of abandonment as if it was a heartfelt apology, dashed away from the scene with the insignia in her hands.
"That…thieving…bitch….why."
The pool of blood from Subaru's body grew larger beneath himself. Subaru, having been betrayed by what seemed to be his only hope for survival, knew that he would now die in this stupid alleyway.
"What was I doing again?"
The blood exiting his body more and more had left Subaru in a state of confusion. Questioning what Subaru was doing in this alleyway, lying on the floor dying. Why was he here again?
"I needed to be at the loot house?"
Subaru remembered about the loot house, he had needed to go there in search of answers on what happened after he and Emilia visited. Why had they been stricken down in the dead of night? Why did Subaru come back to a merchant's apple stand? Was he dreaming? Did Emilia die? Did he already die? Was this even real? Subaru's questions had come to a stop when he heard a gasp from a woman's voice
"Who…who did this?"
The faint noise of a woman's voice was present in Subaru's ear, his vision was already darkening. Subaru was not long for this world.
"Puck! Help me heal him now!"
The half-breed desperately tried to keep Subaru's life from being snuffed out. It was too late though.
"Lia…I'm sorry but he's already–"
Dead. The voices Subaru heard had completely vanished. His vision had gone black and coldness surrounded his body.
At that moment, Subaru Natsuki had lost his life.
"What's the matter boy, you look like you've seen a ghost."
Regaining all five of his senses at one quick moment, Subaru turned his head up to the first person in front of him, the merchant.
"Just tell me 'appa guy', are you fucking with me or what?"
Said with a hoarse voice, Subaru looked at the man with a tinge of disdain.
"Kid, out of the goodness of my heart I asked if you were alright and you responded with that? I don't need your rudeness scaring away my customers so just get out."
Whilst pointing his finger away from the shop the merchant spoke to Subaru with newfound hostility. Subaru briskly left the stand after the alteration of the merchant's mood, still at a loss of the recent events that had transpired.
"I'm being screwed with…I'm just being screwed with."
Subaru's thoughts spun around in denial. A cruel joke must be playing on him, that was the only viable explanation he could muster up. Subaru checked his chest just to be sure his wounds were healed again.
"Again there's no wound, who's helping me?"
That's when Subaru remembered who was responsible for his stabbing.
"Those wicked shits."
The three thugs in the alley, Subaru had gotten sick of them.
"Pouncing on me on my first day for my valuables and nearly killing me, then right after I get dragged back to some random place I had visited once before they fucking stabbed me!"
Clenching his fists and grimacing his teeth Subaru was filled with hatred at the thought of those three.
"So this parallel world, I guess it's trying to set me up for a revenge plot right?"
His thoughts flashing back to the memories of his home, Subaru had watched many shows where the protagonist was driven by revenge, a need to kill. At the light of the recent events Subaru roughly got the sudden idea that this would be his destiny, being one of those protagonists.
"Well I'd love to play the part, they all get their revenge in the end. They all do."
Flashing a grin whilst muttering to himself Subaru walked into the familiar alleyway.
"What are you smiling about?"
Boasting with a cocky tone, the midget showed himself to Subaru.
"If you don't wanna get hurt then cough up whatever you've got."
The next thug making his appearance, Subaru's eyes gleamed with joy. They all walked up to him as they naturally would as they always wanted to hurt Subaru.
"Third time guys! You really hate me don't you?"
Subaru clapped his hands together at the sight and gave a chuckle of his own that overpowered the one the three thugs had of their own.
"The hell are you talking about?"
"I think he's a bit loose in the head."
Subaru sighed at the response he got, this joke was starting to get him very irritated.
"He'll be alright, just give us everything you've got and we'll let you off the hook."
Subaru's smirk got a bit wider at the words he just heard, they think he'll trust their vile lies after what they've done to him.
"You want my valuables right? Fine."
Subaru slowly walked up to the three thugs with his hands inside his pockets. The three thugs had let their guard down when they were assured by the lowly boy he'd give up.
"Not sure how they expect me to just forgive them, maybe the customs of this forsaken country has a weird thing for that. I won't be making the same mistake though, these shits will get what's coming to them."
Once he stood near the three thugs Subaru immediately poured all his strength into his arm and threw his fist at the gaywad causing him to be knocked out. The midget and fattie were surprised at the sudden shift in aggressiveness of the lowly boy and hurriedly tried to prepare their weapons.
However Subaru wasn't having it anymore with these playboys, he threw his left leg at the midget causing the lowlife to be thrown into the wall. The fattie had enough time to pull out his knife and pointed it at Subaru.
"The hell is wrong with you?"
Subaru slowly backed away from the fattie to open up the distance between himself and the knife.
"More like what the fuck is wrong with you! Why the hell do you have the need to target me on three separate occasions, do you hate me or something!?"
The fatties guard dropped up slightly as he tried to process the words Subaru said. Just what in the world was the lowly boy talking about, he really was loose in the head.
Subaru took this moment to his full advantage, quickly jumping off his feet with his newfound adrenaline he threw his fist at the fattie causing the thug to get knocked down. Attempting to get back up the fattie was continuously met with Subaru's kicks until he had passed out from the bruises.
Subaru calmed his shoulders once all three thugs had been knocked out, he truly had conquered these shits in a battle, Subaru deeply breathed in relief. Now was the time for revenge.
"So you wanted to kill me right?"
He asked as he slowly walked to the unconscious Rachins.
"You thought you could just fuck with me?"
Giving a smile that could mistake him for a madman, Subaru prepared his strength into his legs.
"You thought you could get away with it?"
Subaru threw his leg at Rachin's head.
"I didn't forget it though."
Subaru threw his leg at Rachin's head.
"Why did you think I'd walk it off?"
Subaru threw his leg at Rachin's head.
"You stabbed me."
Subaru threw his leg at Rachin's head.
"And I won't ever forget that."
Subaru threw his leg at Rachin's head.
"So I'll make sure you don't forget it as well."
Subaru threw his leg at full force but a simple unintended change of direction landed the hit directly on Rachin's neck, causing an audible snap. Subaru's eyes widened immediately with a mix of shock and disgust as he realized the implications of that sound. Blood slowly poured out from Rachin's mouth, his eyes gouged wide open by his demise, the gaywad was dead.
"Did I just…"
Slowly backing away from Rachin's corpse, Subaru's breathing began to increase. Sure he wanted to leave some lasting injuries but not this. This was too much for Subaru, he felt his gastric juice begin to rise up at the sight of the blood pouring from his victim's mouth but made sure to hold it back vigorously. Subaru knew he couldn't stay here much longer but he stood still.
The sound of the busy streets had dissolved into nothing more but crickets at night to his ears. His eyes were fully fixated on one thing. Stood and stared blankly, like a deer meeting the headlights of a car, Subaru continued to stare at Rachins lose his color, his vitality, his soul. Deep within Subaru's heart a twisted feeling ignited, a feeling he could only be ashamed of, joy. Staring had turned into gazing.
Subaru's lips gently began to curve up, smiling at the sight. To his mind the revenge he sought for had been subsequently fulfilled by that violent action. He knew he shouldn't be smiling about this, he knew this was very wrong, he had taken a life, he had become a murderer. But he could only feel happiness knowing he had gotten revenge on the person who was responsible for hurting him, for taking away his joy.
As Subaru walked away from the alleyway he turned back his head to glare at the unconscious midget and fattie. They had been spared by Subaru. They had hurt him but stabbed him they did not. Maybe when they wake up and see Rachins they will reconsider their actions, their lifestyle. Subaru believes that through this sacrifice of one lowly life, two others will sprout into betterment.
"Let this serve as a reminder to what I do to shits who wrong me."
Subaru vanished out of the eerily silent alleyway. The sounds of a capital city at full swing gradually rose back up to him as well as his awareness, however Subaru's mind was still fixated at the incident.
"I actually did it."
Subaru eyed the palm of his hand with a scornful look of unease.
"I really am capable of murder then, I'm a sick person."
Subaru put his hands in his pocket, and solemnly thought to himself. Would his parents love him anymore? Would they accept this sicko? He had already known what his classmates thought of him, he was always called weird by them, they saw through his facade.
Subaru had a long history of not being able to live up to his father and though he tried to think less of it, choosing not to let opinions of others break who he is as a person. He at this moment realized he couldn't live up to the Natsuki family name.
"I'm a failure of a son."
Subaru let out a tear as he admitted something he, for most of his teenage life, feared was true. His escape from reality had already gone so wrong to the point of being moribund. He couldn't protect a person, he couldn't do what he needed to be capable of doing, he was always short on that list and now he has already fallen to the vices and sickly took enjoyment in that.
Subaru looked up to the sky, maybe he should run away from all of this. He knew he couldn't do anything right but a second thought came into Subaru's head.
"That's cowardice."
The thoughts clicked, he could not give up. Even if he was some dumb kid who loved to run away from the troubles his own inability caused, his school life, his duty. He needed to get to that loothouse, he needed to see the aftermath.
"That thug wasn't the only one who wronged me."
The blond thief named Felt, she had left him behind when he needed her help the most. The mysterious woman who gutted him, she had caused harm to the half-breed as well.
"Loot house it is, Subaru…"
Walking in the direction he last remembered the loothouse would be, Subaru gave a sigh.
"I hate this world."
Arriving at the loot house the day had turned into dusk. Subaru carefully approached the loot house not knowing whether the owner was still alive or not.
With a knock on the door Subaru yelled for someone to open up.
"For a rat."
Subaru's ears perked up by the voice coming from the otherside, the owner should still be alive then was the conclusion Subaru came to.
"Hey, could you open up?"
Silence fell between the two for a couple of seconds. Rom was annoyed by the clueless boy.
"For a whale."
"Come on, this is important!"
"For the noble dragonlord."
"For the love of God, I don't know your stupid code!"
Rom opened the door with irritation and stared down at the boy.
"If you don't know how my shop works then why the hell are you here!?"
Subaru's eyes narrowed at the sight of Rom.
"Giant ape."
Subaru sighed, he knew the stereotypes of the black man, how they acted, how insufferable they were. He always thought he was really lucky that his home country didn't have any of them, though the sudden encounter with a black tourist was an unpleasant experience he had to deal with a few times.
"You're the guy who houses Felt right?"
Rom's eyes tensed up at that question.
"Yeah I do, what business have you got asking that question for?"
"Well she's responsible for stealing a jewel from one of my 'acquaintances' and I'm gonna need that to be returned."
Rom chuckled at Subaru, a real fool that boy was.
"Come on, stop laughing. From the looks of it Felt is a pain in the ass.
Rom frowned at how Subaru described his daughter-figure.
"She could be mean to strangers but what's got you acting that way?"
"She saw me getting stabbed and just left me to fend for myself!"
Rom slightly opened his mouth in shock at what he'd heard.
"She doesn't like to get entangled in messy things…"
"She didn't even call for help."
Rom smacked his forehead with anger.
"I'm gonna need to teach that girl a lesson."
"Teach? So he's the one taking care of her? That explains her bullshit attitude alright."
"So you're okay now right? Hope Felt's actions didn't leave you with life lasting injuries."
"Yeah I'm alright, I got stabbed pretty badly but once I fell unconscious I woke up with all my wounds healed."
As Rom and Subaru both eased into the environment, Subaru walked into the loot house to take a seat with Rom. Subaru examined the interior of the loot house, everything was still in place but there were no more pools of blood drenching the ground. Subaru stared at Rom remembering how he had been brutally murdered last time he checked, maybe it was just a wound? This 'aftermath' he had been looking for was a bit underwhelming.
"Just a hunch, but did you happen to recently get mortally wounded? Last time I saw you looked like you were…well dead."
Rom became perplexed at what Subaru meant.
"Boy, I have no idea what you're talking about. It may be because I'm slightly drunk or something but I've never met ya before nor do I remember getting any 'mortal wounds' recently."
Both Subaru and Rom became bewildered by what their conversation devolved into.
"How could that be? When you were unconscious I remember coming in here with my friend and seeing your bloody body, then a mysterious woman attacked us both. After that I fell unconscious from blood loss and then woke up back in the capital in the merchant district."
Rom was at a loss even more after hearing Subaru's jumbled nonsense.
"I have no idea what the hell you're talking about, your blood loss must've jumbled up your brain or something."
Before Subaru could object to Rom a knock was heard on the door.
"For a rat."
"Poison."
"For a whale."
"A harpoon."
"For the noble dragonlord."
"We're bags of shit."
Rom got up from his seat and opened the door which revealed the source of the voice.
"It's that bitch."
"Sorry to keep you waiting old man, my target was more persistent than I thought. Then after that I came across something terrible in an alleyway so I'm a bit shaken up at the moment."
"Oh boy…"
Whispering to himself, that Felt girl really came across his mess didn't she?
"Just keep a calm face and she won't find out who's responsible."
As much as Subaru liked the looks of Felt she had proven herself to be dishonorable gutter trash. She's on the revenge list though Subaru would make sure he won't go too far like he did with the gaywad. Perhaps chaffering with Rom over giving Felt a punishment would be a viable way to satisfy Subaru's need for revenge.
"The main target…is that mysterious woman. She badly hurt me as well as that half-breed."
Subaru ignored the incessant blabbering between Felt and Rom as he remained deep in thought.
"She deserves death and only death…yes definitely, I can't let a gutting go scotch free like that."
"So old man mind explaining to me who this guy is?"
Subaru was caught off guard by the sudden mention of him
"Now then Felt, this guy had some things to say about you. Mind explaining why you left him for dead sometime earlier?"
Felt sweated at Rom's question
"What!? I have never met this guy before! He's talking out of his ass."
Felt waved her hands in defense of her name but Rom only narrowed his eyes at her more.
"Felt."
Rom spoke with an aggravated voice causing Felt to grow a bit scared.
"I'm telling you old man Rom, I've never met him before! He's lying!"
"It ain't nice to lie Felt."
Felt put her hands to her temple in frustration.
"Why the hell are you believing the words of some random guy over me!"
"What other reason would he be here? He said you're responsible for stealing a jewel, one of your jobs."
Subaru smiled as the thief girl was backed into a corner, joining in the fun he put his hands to his hip and spoke to her with sas.
"Yeah Felt, it's not nice to lie."
Felt stared daggers at Subaru to which he noticed that her face was growing increasingly red.
"Don't talk shit to me! Don't speak like you aren't a liar too! What the hell do you want from me, to see me cry!? I know your type and those eyes give it away. You've got the eyes of a crook, of a cheat, of a sicko."
The last word struck a chord in Subaru.
"I'm talking shit? I was bleeding, I was begging for help! And you looked at me and just told me to 'live strong'. Live strong? What type of bullshit motto is that! You left me for dead, you left me to suffer, you are utter fucking trash!"
Rom's eyes widened at the back and forth insults that Subaru and Felt spewed at each other but two words resonated to him, Live Strong. The boy must be telling the truth.
"That's enough."
Putting his arms between them and speaking with a booming voice Rom had broken up the fight. Rom turned his head to Felt with anger.
"Did you hear what he said, Felt? Live strong. You always say that, so I can only find the boy to be in the clear. You're lying."
Felt stared at Rom whilst trying to maintain a face of anger but was noticeably tearing up.
"But I didn't…"
"No but's."
Felt broke down into tears, she'd been betrayed.
"Why…why do you believe him old man…I hate you."
Rom became shocked at Felt's tearful backlash. He felt awful for making Felt cry, but the boy spoke the truth and he valued the truth over feelings.
Subaru stared attentively at Rom and Felt. He wanted to smile but made sure not to so they don't find him guilty.
"I caused their relationship to deteriorate didn't I? I made her cry, I got what I wanted."
With that Subaru's revenge on Felt was fulfilled. He could now feel better about himself.
"And the last one left on my revenge list is that mysterious woman, she'll definitely be the hardest."
All three stayed silent for the remaining duration of the time before Elsa could knock on the door, a heavy atmosphere was placed between them.
That's when the knock on the door came.
"That should be her…"
"No password?"
"I didn't mention it."
Felt got up from her seat and rushed to the door. Opening it revealed Elsa Granhiert.
Rom sighed at the sight of the assassin, she looked particularly dangerous to him so he grabbed a bat to his side just in case anything went wrong.
"It's you, good. Care to sit down?"
"There appears to be several outsiders here."
Subaru perked up at the voice he heard, a voice he wouldn't forget.
'No choice at all." the voice replaying in Subaru's head again and again, she sounded the same. It must be her. Subaru tensed up, and questioned whether he'd even make it out alive or not.
"I know this older fellow but I'm afraid I don't recognize this young man."
Subaru turned his head to Elsa to pay attention to her features, her mannerisms.
"No clue about what he wants, I guess he's just a piece of shit who came here to haunt me."
"Oh you poor lady."
Elsa stared deep into Subaru's eyes, she knew Subaru was scared of her.
"Does my visage scare you? It's okay, I won't bite~"
"She knows."
Subaru got up from his seat and attempted to walk away. He knew he couldn't beat her here.
"Why didn't I take those daggers with me, I am such an idiot!"
Subaru cursed himself. He knew he was weak, he knew he was ill witted, he knew he was a fool.
"Going away already?"
Elsa licked her lips, she knew that he knew of her true nature. He couldn't be left alive.
"May I put this deal on hold for a moment?"
Felt looked puzzled at the sudden question, what did she want with the boy?
"Yeah yeah, sure."
Elsa gave a brief smile to Felt before she turned around and headed out of the loothouse. Subaru had already made it a few meters outside before he was confronted by Elsa. It was now late evening and the streets were clear and silent.
"What's your name, young man?"
"Shit."
Subaru turned to face Elsa and stared at her with the feeling of raw fear.
"My name is Subaru Natsuki."
"Elsa Granhiert. You wouldn't happen to be familiar with my name would you?"
"No, mam."
Elsa blushed at the respect Subaru gave her, he'll be such an appetizing victim.
"Then I'm distracted by why you look at me with such…unease."
"Tell me, do you intend on killing everyone in that loothouse?"
Elsa's smile grew wider, he really does know.
"I'd call you a poor boy for having stumbled upon my important business at the wrong time but I noticed something earlier."
"And what's that?"
"Those eyes of yours convey a certain emotion or rather…an action. Have you ever killed someone before, Subaru Natsuki?"
Subaru nearly jumped out of his shoes upon being asked that. How could she see through him so clearly? Subaru clenched his fists, not knowing whether to tell the truth or not so he decided to take a gamble.
"Are you going to kill me?"
Mustering up his last strength into his voice, Subaru asked her the question he badly wanted to know. Elsa simply nodded and spoke her law.
"Yes."
Subaru's heart dropped at the casual remark the deadly lady in black made. He knew he couldn't leave alive. A fool he truly was.
"Then I'll answer yours, yes I did kill someone. I killed someone today."
Elsa's eyes slightly tensed in a pleasure of surprise. Her insight on a person's eyes had been proven correct once again.
"How did you feel about it?"
If I'm gonna die then what's the worth in lying? Subaru would only tell her the truth, the sickening and awful truth he abhorred.
"I enjoyed it. I admit it. I enjoyed watching his face lose its life and meaning. I knew I shouldn't have but it felt amazing, like a rush of exhilaration and accomplishment. I'm a disgrace."
Elsa chuckled at the response and licked her lips.
"You ~know, when I first killed someone I felt something akin to that. So I'll admit that I like you. But why call yourself a disgrace? After all, there is no shame in reveling at the sight of bugs that had been squashed by your feet."
Subaru didn't know if he should be thankful or disgusted that Elsa thought that way.
"But it's truly unfortunate we met like this, if we had met at a different time…perhaps we could've been good friends."
Subaru knew he was given his death sentence and braced for impact. The noise of a blade being swung had rung throughout the slums. That's when he felt it, his stomach had begun to bleed.
Elsa took hold and carefully placed Subaru's body to the ground. Her hands had begun to dig into the spot where he'd been cut in and played around with his insides, filling Subaru's ears with the disgusting noise of squelching sounds. Elsa's eyes were sparkling as she defiled Subaru's bowels, which made her look like a lady who fell in love at first sight with some schoolboy.
"Your bowels are so very very warm…thank you."
Subaru's blood was practically gushing out onto the cold dirt ground staining the area with its strong iron scent. One at a time Subaru lost his senses, the numbness and soon the darkness began to set in. His head felt like it spun around in agony and successive thoughts raced. When would he die? When would he give up? Why would he give up? Run away? Who was he helping again? That girl? Revenge?
Subaru was a sinner, he proved himself to be a sinner. His actions would not be forgiven, not even by a murderer like himself. Where would he go after this? He knew. It'd be hell.
At that moment, Subaru Natsuki had lost his life.
Instantly regaining consciousness, Subaru needed to know what he was doing, where he was, and why.
Regaining his touch Subaru began laying his hands all over his face to make sure he was still alive.
Regaining his sight Subaru noticed who was in front of him, the merchant. Four times already he had met his visage.
Regaining his smell Subaru noticed there was no odor of strong iron invading his nostrils anymore.
Regaining his taste Subaru noticed there was no gross flavor of blood in his mouth anymore.
Regaining his hearing Subaru began to hear audible questions of concern from the merchant in front of him. Just what did he want?
"Kid, are you okay? Seriously, what's wrong? You look like you've seen a ghost."
You look like you've seen a ghost. Three times Subaru has already heard this, three times he had already died. Seen a ghost? Was he supposed to be the ghost? Why?
"Why aren't I in hell?"
Subaru's world was whirling. Screaming at him, telling him to pay, to die. Refusing to intake any more of this, his brain decided to once and for all shut down.
"Kid?"
Subaru collapsed to the ground, and gave his last thought before going unconscious.
"Maybe this world already was hell and I just hadn't noticed it until now."
Author's note: This is partially rewritten, and I plan to rewrite even more of it if needed. I want this story to be actually decent.