[This fanfic has been created considering Subaru Natsuki's innate weakness when it comes to hand-to-hand combat or offensive counterattacking abilities to his enemies during the original story.

The content of the world of Re:Zero, both the characters and their encounters will remain intact.

The only difference is that this Subaru Natsuki will consciously use his only ability.]

The coin kept spinning in the air every time I flicked it with my thumb. No matter how much I contemplated it, I couldn't find a logical or plausible explanation for what I was currently experiencing.

"I don't think approaching this logically is the most suitable method right now. If I can truly smell the scents in the air, from the iron in that blacksmith's shop to the onions at that food stall, denying that this is my new reality would be unnecessary foolishness."

The issue wasn't exactly my acceptance of reality. The issue was the reality I had to come to terms with.

In short, I had been summoned to another world.

In what manner? Why me? For what purpose? The answers continued to elude me.

Before delving further into the absurdity of it all, I believe it would be best for you to know my name. Not only would it facilitate this entire process, but it would also signify my goodwill.

I'm Subaru Natsuki, and right now, I'm hesitant to say "just another teenager," even though it's the truth. All you need to know about me is that I'm willing to assist others as long as it doesn't endanger my life and the situation isn't extreme. As you can understand, my life holds great value to me, and death is something I do not desire.

However, now that I find myself summoned to another world, I suspect that last part will hinder me.

This wasn't a dream, for the simple reason that I had tried pinching, hitting, and cutting myself. I felt the pain and tasted the blood on the tip of my tongue. I was more alive than ever before.

I currently found myself in an alleyway near the main street where I had appeared. In other words, I wasn't summoned to a palace, nor did I receive the hand of a princess for saving the kingdom from demons, let alone receive financial aid to support my journey through these foreign lands. I assumed I might have witnessed some of those things the moment I absorbed the architectural and cultural aesthetics of this place.

First and foremost, it felt like I had been transported to a medieval era. So far, I hadn't come across anything mechanical or electrical. The roads were paved, and the houses had glass, indicating that this civilization possessed some level of intelligence. Naturally, the coin in my hand held no value in this world. I checked it whenever I needed to converse with a native. Fortunately, I encountered no issues with communication. Thus, bargaining with a muscular, bald man for an apple was a piece of cake, although my attire made me appear like a foreigner and the treatment I received wasn't the most polite.

By the way, currency in this world was based on three denominations, from most valuable to least: gold, silver, and copper.

As for why I approached my situation with levity, the truth was that I didn't. Internally, I continued to search for a logical explanation for all of this. However, I knew that displaying my confusion could attract unwanted attention and truly ruin my day.

"Still, not even a sword..."

My complaint held weight. My equipment was useless, and I didn't even have a knife for self-defense. I had my cellphone with me, but the battery would last only a few minutes, an empty wallet from which I purchased the ramen in my right hand, and a nylon bag containing a can of soda. Oh, and my favorite workout outfit.

The last thing I remember before arriving here was being at the convenience store, buying these items.

I tried to suppress my hunger and resist the temptation to open the ramen or quench my thirst with the soda for the time being.

A truly desperate person would invent illogical scenarios, such as the idea that all of this was nothing more than a very expensive and elaborate television show. However, I found confirmation of my reality in the sight of huge green lizards pulling carriages and the contemptuous looks directed towards me.

On the other hand, it seems that both giant and demi-human lizards are commonplace. People pay more attention to me than to them. The people here are strange; they have very colorful hair and wear old-fashioned costumes. But among all of them, what truly convinces me that this is another world are the demihumans.

There are people with cat and dog ears, some with lizard-like features, and others with bull heads. These are the few that I remember due to the instinctive fear they instill in me. Likewise, there are human beings like me.

"If I lay all the information I've gathered so far on the table, the situation doesn't look promising. If we consider that time in this world is similar globally, the typical savagery of the Middle Ages should prevail. That means wars are common and lives are valued as little as a piece of stale bread. As for the flora and fauna, I must assume that there are living beings vastly different from those on Earth. While I don't sense a difference in gravity or air composition, that doesn't necessarily mean that this world operates under all the physical laws of my planet. I could even argue that I'm in another universe, but without proof, I won't make much progress. So, for now, I'll believe what I can see."

After speaking all this aloud to myself, I let out a long sigh of acceptance. If the summoning theory I know from anime, manga, and novels can be applied to my situation, then I should be able to utilize my knowledge of the modern era and use it to my advantage, gaining a head start in this world.

However, there is a small problem. The issue is that I am a teenager with little desire to attend classes. Or well, I had little desire. The point is, I am neither a genius nor a prodigy. I never studied economics to become an economist, I don't know history well enough to understand battle strategies, I haven't read politics to establish and rule a kingdom, and I lack knowledge of religion to form a religious group that would consider me its god. What I want to say is that I am just like you, but I was summoned.

"Now, why me, among so many others with greater potential? I haven't undergone any rituals, stepped through a mirror, or sunk into a puddle of water that turned out to be a portal. I really don't want to sound repetitive, but it's necessary to emphasize that I'm nothing special to be summoned to another world. So, why me?"

Ah, but I won't achieve anything by sitting here and complaining either. If I can't muster the will to move forward, remaining trapped in this pit of uncertainty won't help. Also, unlike those anime protagonists who are either reincarnated or summoned, I actually have something worth coming back to.

I have a family. I have friends and a life to live. I don't want to be entangled with villains and heroes, I don't want my name to leave a lasting legacy. I don't seek power or control over a nation or the creation of a harem of beautiful elves and demihumans. All I want is to return to my monotonous and simple life, waking up every morning to the aroma of my mom's cooking and asking her what she'll prepare for me while I change for school.

I never aspired to be anyone other than myself, Subaru Natsuki.

And just like that, I found the motivation I needed to move forward. An objective. And that goal was to return to my world.

As I was about to walk toward the main street, I accidentally bumped my shoulder into someone and stumbled like a drunk.

"Uh, sorry about that. I was lost in my own thoughts..." Naturally, I gave a brief apology by bowing my head, but...

"Stop." A large hand grasped my shoulder, pulling me back into the darkness of the alley.

Strangely, at eye level, I didn't meet another pair of eyes. Instead, two pecs protruded through a cotton shirt, outlining the man's physique. When I raised my head to locate the person who had pulled me back, I was faced with a muscular man.

Behind this hulking mass of muscle stood another man, and before I knew it, a third man appeared behind me. The three of them positioned themselves strategically to prevent me from escaping.

「I didn't even notice when they arrived, let alone when they took their positions. That means they are not oblivious to this situation. They have done this more than once.」

"It is true that I am in no position to make requests, but... Could you satisfy my curiosity and let me know what you want from me?"

The moment the question left my lips, it felt as if I had unleashed something. A blow to my stomach knocked the air out of my lungs, and I collapsed to the ground, pleading for help.

"How I despise those who act clever. You'll give us what you've got, unless you want another blow to your face," one of them taunted.

"Is there no room for negotiation? Ugh!" This time, a kick landed on my chin, snapping my head back and causing me to bleed. "W-Why so aggressive, big guy? Doesn't it make your blood boil? Heh."

The three men's gazes were filled with disgust and disdain. They truly resembled young delinquents, in their late teens or twenties. However, the wickedness and filth were evident on their faces. They didn't appear to be demihumans, and though they weren't saints either, to some extent, I could understand them.

If only I could have kept my mouth shut, I could have avoided this pain. It was something I wasn't good at but certainly could manage. However, when a man has a goal in mind, especially one that involves his family, not even the gates of heaven can stand in his way.

I had resolved to pursue the fastest possible route to return to my world.

To die.