1 month since the last death; 5 total deaths
The air in the dimly lit tavern was thick with the stench of sweat and cheap ale, but none of it registered to Natsuki Subaru. He sat hunched over in the corner, his body low, his hands shaking as they gripped the edge of the table. His throat was dry, and his chest felt tight, as if something was slowly squeezing the life out of him. The half-empty mug of ale in front of him might as well have been poison—every sip only added to the sick feeling in his stomach.
He closed his eyes, but the darkness behind his eyes brought no peace. There, in the black void, the faces of the dead greeted him—Felt, Old Man Rom, Emilia. Their eyes were lifeless, their bodies broken, blood staining the ground around them. He couldn't escape it. He couldn't escape the nightmare that had followed him through each waking moment since that day.
He could still hear Felt's voice—young, fierce, and full of life. She had been so full of fire, always ready to stand her ground, even in the face of danger. But in the end, none of it had mattered. He had watched her die, her small frame crumpling under the weight of her wounds. Her defiant eyes had widened with fear as her life slipped away, leaving her body cold and motionless.
Her blood had soaked the ground, the vibrant red spilling from her like a cruel reminder of his failure. He could still see it pooling around her, creeping toward him, as if accusing him—blaming him for not being able to save her.
His stomach twisted violently, and he gagged, but nothing came up. The bile that rose in his throat was a constant reminder of his helplessness. Felt had trusted him, had seen something in him, but in the end, all he had done was fail her.
And then there was Old Man Rom. The giant of a man who had tried to protect them, to keep them safe. His gruff demeanor had hidden a heart that cared more than he let on, but it hadn't been enough. Rom had fallen, his massive body crashing to the floor with a sickening thud, the sound of his skull splitting against the stone echoing in Subaru's mind like a death knell.
He had tried to reach him, to help him, but it had been too late. Rom's life had bled out before his eyes, his last breath rattling in his throat as he lay motionless. The look on his face—the frozen grimace of pain—was burned into Subaru's memory. He couldn't forget it. No matter how hard he tried, that moment would always be with him.
Subaru clenched his fists, his nails digging into the rough wood of the table. His breathing was ragged, his chest heaving with the weight of his guilt. He had failed them both—Felt and Rom. But that wasn't all. No, there was someone else. Someone who had meant even more to him.
Emilia.
Or Satella, as she had first called herself. He didn't even know her real name then. He had thought he could save her, thought he could be the one to protect her. But all he had done was watch her die. Again. And again. And again.
The first time, he had been in shock—frozen in place as her silver hair, once so radiant, had become stained with her own blood. He had screamed, lunged toward her, but it had been too late. Her body had already crumpled, lifeless, her amethyst eyes dimming as the life left her.
He had held her in his arms, her body cold and limp, as the blood soaked into his clothes. The scent of iron had filled the air, suffocating him. He had begged for it to be different, had pleaded with whatever gods existed in this world to take him instead, but no one had answered his cries. Emilia had died in his arms, her fragile form slipping away from him like sand through his fingers.
And then it had happened again. And again. And again…
Each time, he thought he could change it—thought that maybe, this time, he would succeed. But no matter what he did, the end was always the same. Emilia, lying in a pool of her own blood, her life slipping away while he stood there, helpless.
It was a sick joke, a cruel game, and he was the puppet being forced to dance to the whims of fate.
Subaru's breath hitched, and he slammed his fist against the table, his vision blurring with unshed tears. "Why?" he whispered, his voice trembling with rage and despair. "Why did it keep happening?"
He had thought he could be the hero, thought that he could save her, but he had been wrong. He wasn't a hero. He was nothing. Just a failure, doomed to watch the people he cared about die over and over again.
His hand trembled as he brought it to his face, wiping at his eyes, but the tears continued to stain his vision. The pain in his chest felt like a knife twisting deeper with each breath, and the guilt that weighed on him was suffocating.
And then there was Elsa. The Bowel Hunter.
Subaru's entire body tensed at the memory of her—a predator wrapped in the skin of a woman. Her black hair had shimmered in the dim light, and her cold, cruel smile had haunted him long after her knife had done its work. She had taken pleasure in it—in watching him suffer, in feeling his life drain away. He could still feel the sting of her blade cutting into him, still remember the way his skin had torn, the warm blood spilling out of him as she gutted him with precision.
He had felt the cold grip of death wrap around him, his vision blurring as his life slipped away. And then… he had woken up, only to start all over again.
Over and over, he had felt the pain, the agony of her knife slicing through his flesh, the unbearable sensation of his organs being torn apart. He had screamed, he had begged for it to stop, but each time she had only laughed. He had died over and over in that room at the Loot House, his blood pooling on the floor, his body broken and twisted.
Subaru's hand clenched into a fist, the knuckles white as the memories flooded back in vivid detail. He could still hear Elsa's voice, the soft, seductive tone she had used as she tortured him, her amusement at his suffering.
"Doesn't it hurt?" she had whispered in his ear, her breath warm against his skin. "You should scream more. I like it when you scream."
His body shuddered at the memory, a deep sense of revulsion crawling through him.
He had been powerless then—just as he had been powerless to save Felt, Rom, and Emilia.
And now… now he was here. Alone. Broken.
Subaru slumped forward, burying his face in his hands. His chest ached with the weight of his failure, his breath shallow as he tried to keep himself from falling apart completely.
"What's the point?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's the point of trying if this is all that happens?"
He had tried so hard, had given everything he had, but it hadn't mattered. No matter what he did, no matter how many times he fought, the world always tore it away. Every time he thought he had a chance, it was ripped from his grasp, leaving him with nothing but pain and death.
The tavern around him shifted into a blur, the noise fading into the background as Subaru sank deeper into his despair. He had no strength left. No fight. Just the haunting memories of the people he had failed.
And the suffocating guilt that reminded him it was all his fault.
Giving up had been hard—unbearably so. But in a way, it was easier now, not knowing what had happened to Emilia, Felt, or Old Man Rom. The uncertainty was a kind of twisted mercy, sparing him from the endless torment of watching them die over and over again in his mind.
"I'm sure Reinhard figured it out on his own…" Subaru muttered quietly, as if apologizing to the people he'd left behind, trusting in the strength of the Sword Saint to do what he couldn't.
Subaru continued to sit hunched, his hand resting lightly on an object in his pocket—the only relic he had left from his world. His phone. It was a piece of home, a connection to something familiar in this foreign nightmare. But it was more than that. It was a reminder of everything he had lost, everything he could never get back.
It was the catalyst for everything.
He had thought about selling it once. After all, it wasn't like it had much use here. There were no cell towers, no chargers, no way to reach anyone from his old life. And yet, it was worth something here—twenty holy coins, at least according to Old Man Rom. Enough to survive perhaps in luxury for a while; at least far more than required to keep going without worrying about food or shelter. But every time he thought about selling it, his chest tightened. He couldn't bring himself to let it go. It was more than just a device. It was the last connection he had to his past, to the person he used to be.
But the phone was more than just a relic of his old world. It had been there, at the start of everything. The negotiations between Felt and Elsa, the tension that had mounted as they haggled over the price—it had all centered around the phone. A piece of technology that shouldn't have existed in this world had become the very thing that sparked the chaos and bloodshed that followed.
Subaru could still remember the way Elsa's eyes gleamed with amusement when she had seen it, the way Felt's excitement had turned into something darker as the negotiations took a dangerous turn. The phone had been the driver, the thing that set everything in motion—the deaths, the terror, the pain.
With a heavy sigh, Subaru leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the ceiling. The weight of everything pressed down on him—the guilt, the pain, the endless cycle of failure. He felt trapped, stuck in a world that didn't want him, in a life that seemed to offer nothing but suffering.
As he became closer and closer to despair, the door to the tavern creaked open, the sound barely registering in Subaru's mind. He didn't care who came and went. The world outside felt distant, disconnected from the quiet agony that swirled inside him.
A figure slumped into the seat across from him, letting out a long, defeated sigh. Subaru blinked, lifting his head to see a young man with disheveled gray hair and tired eyes staring down at the table. His clothes, though once finely made, were wrinkled and stained, as if he had been through hell and hadn't cared to fix himself up afterward.
Subaru's eyes narrowed slightly. He didn't know this man, but something about the way he carried himself—the way he sat there, hunched and broken—felt eerily familiar.
The man let out another sigh, rubbing his temples with a look of utter frustration. "Why do I even bother…" he muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with despair.
Subaru hesitated for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. "Rough day?" he asked, though he wasn't sure why he was bothering to make conversation.
The man glanced up, his eyes meeting Subaru's for the first time. There was a moment of silence between them before the man let out a bitter chuckle. "You could say that." He slumped back in his seat, running a hand through his messy hair. "More like a rough life, at this point."
Subaru knew the feeling all too well.
The man ordered a drink– a strong looking one and took a sip.
His face flushed and voice slightly quieter now, he continued "I made a bad investment," he admitted, his gaze dropping back to the table. "Oil. Seemed like a good idea at the time. Everyone was talking about how it was going to be the next big thing. Thought I could make a name for myself, maybe even get ahead." He paused, a dark expression crossing his face. "But now… now I'm in debt. Russell Fellow isn't exactly known for his generosity when it comes to repaying loans."
Subaru frowned. The name "Russell Fellow" was vaguely familiar—he had heard it mentioned before, usually in the same breath as merchants and debt. But more than that, the man's story struck a chord in him. He knew what it was like to gamble everything and lose. To be stuck in a situation where there seemed to be no way out.
"I'm Otto, by the way," the man said, forcing a weak smile as he extended a hand. "Otto Suwen of the Suwen Trading Company. A merchant– well, a former merchant. Now just a walking debt, I guess."
Subaru stared at Otto's hand for a moment before reaching out to shake it. "Subaru," he said simply, the weight of his own name feeling heavier than usual. "Natsuki Subaru."
There was a moment of silence as they both sat there, their shared despair hanging in the air between them.
Otto let out a humorless laugh, shaking his head. "It's funny, really. I used to be good at this—trading, making deals, finding ways to get ahead. But one mistake, one bad investment, and now…" He trailed off, his voice filled with bitterness.
Subaru understood. He understood all too well. He had made mistake after mistake, and each one had cost him something precious. He had gambled everything on the idea that he could save the people he cared about, only to lose them over and over again.
For a moment, the two of them sat in silence, neither of them knowing what to say. The weight of their shared hopelessness pressed down on them, suffocating any attempt at conversation.
But then, something clicked in Subaru's mind. Otto had said he was a merchant—a former merchant, maybe, but still someone who understood trade, value, and the art of making deals. And Subaru… Subaru had something valuable. Something that didn't belong in this world, something that could change everything.
He hesitated for a moment, his fingers brushing against the phone in his pocket. It felt like a lifeline, like the last piece of his old world that he couldn't bear to let go of. But maybe… maybe it could be something more.
Subaru took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest as he slowly pulled the phone from his pocket and placed it on the table between them.
Otto's eyes widened slightly, his gaze flicking between Subaru and the strange device. "What… what is that?"
Subaru swallowed hard, his voice low and cautious. "It's from where I'm from. It's called a cellphone."
Otto frowned slightly, his interest briefly dimming. "A metia, then?" he asked, brushing off the foreign term Subaru used.
Subaru shook his head slightly, but the effort to explain that it wasn't a metia wasn't worth it. Not now, at least. "A cell phone," he mumbled instead, knowing that Otto wouldn't understand its real significance. Otto probably wouldn't even believe him if he explained that it came from another world. The more Subaru thought about it, the more it felt pointless.
"Well, what does it do?"
Subaru paused for a moment, an idea forming in his mind. He had been through this before. Feeling words weren't enough to explain, he decided it was faster to just show Otto. He turned the phone in his hand, quickly navigating to the camera. "Hold still for a second."
Otto raised an eyebrow, confused. "What are you doing?"
Subaru didn't respond, instead snapping a quick picture of Otto. The shutter sound made Otto flinch slightly. Without a word, Subaru turned the phone around and showed Otto the image of himself on the screen.
Otto's eyes widened, his expression shifting from curiosity to disbelief. "What… is that? Is that me?" His voice faltered, his hand reaching out as if to touch the image.
But as Otto's astonishment grew, Subaru's stomach twisted. He remembered doing this before—taking a picture of Felt, her confused look frozen in time, just hours before everything went horribly wrong again and again. That same simple act, one of connection and shared novelty, had been the last glimpse of innocence before the nightmare began. Now, whenever he remembered her photo, it wasn't joy he remembered—it was her blood and his screams, the feeling of utter failure.
Subaru sighed slightly. "Yeah, that's you. This is one of the things it can do—capture moments like this."
Otto stared at the phone, amazement flickering across his face. "You can… keep this? A likeness of me, just like that?"
Subaru nodded, watching the intrigue deepen in Otto's expression. "Yeah, it can store pictures, images. And that's just the start."
Otto leaned back, shaking his head in disbelief, his mind clearly whirring with possibilities. "I've never seen anything like it."
For a moment, they both sat there in silence, the phone lying between them as though it carried the promise of something far beyond either of them. Subaru's fingers tapped lightly on the table, unsure if he should go further.
But then, a thought crossed his mind—a glimmer of what could be. Maybe, just maybe, this phone could be more than a relic of his past. It could be a tool, a way to build something new. And with Otto here, a man who understood trade and the world's inner workings, perhaps this wasn't as impossible as it felt.
Subaru hesitated, then reached into his pocket again, this time pulling out a crumpled piece of paper. He unfolded it slowly, smoothing out the creases before laying it on the table next to the phone.
Otto glanced at it, his eyes narrowing. "What's that?"
"Designs," Subaru replied quietly. "Sketches of things that don't exist here. I… I've been thinking about this for a while now. Ideas for inventions. Nothing fancy, just simple things like a lighter, or maybe something that could help make everyday tasks easier."
Otto leaned in closer, his curiosity piqued. His eyes scanned the crude drawings, eyebrows furrowing slightly as he processed what he was looking at. "A lighter?"
Subaru nodded. "Yeah. It's a device that makes fire with a flick of your finger. No need for kindling or flint, it's quick and easy. Back where I'm from, it's common, but here…" He trailed off, gesturing vaguely around them.
Otto's eyes lit up, the spark of an idea clearly forming in his mind. "And you think you could make this?"
"With the right materials, yeah. And if we sell the phone, we could get enough capital to start sourcing what we need," Subaru explained, his voice gaining a little confidence. "I know it sounds crazy, but… I think it could work. We could start small. You'd be out of debt, and… maybe I'd find a little more purpose in all of this."
Otto was quiet for a moment, leaning back in his chair, staring down at the phone and the designs as though they held the key to something much bigger. He rubbed his chin thoughtfully, glancing between Subaru and the paper. "You're really serious about this, aren't you?"
Subaru nodded, swallowing hard. "Yeah. I don't know what else to do right now. But I think… this might be a way forward. For both of us."
Otto's face softened, a small, almost relieved smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Well, I can't say no to an opportunity like this. You might be crazy, but… we're both desperate, and maybe that's just what we need right now."
Subaru let out a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding. For the first time in what felt like forever, he wasn't alone in his thoughts. Otto's agreement wasn't just about the phone or the designs—it was about something bigger. Maybe it was a second chance. Maybe it was hope.
The two of them sat there in silence once more, the weight of their shared understanding settling between them. For Subaru, the path forward was still uncertain, but now, it didn't seem quite as impossible as it had before.
"Partners?" Subaru asked, holding out his hand.
Otto grinned, shaking his hand firmly. "Partners."
But even as they solidified their bond, Subaru's mind spun. There was still so much uncertainty, so much risk involved. Selling the phone might give them capital, but would it be enough? What if no one was willing to pay what it was worth? The nagging doubt crept in, but Subaru pushed it down. For now, he needed this. They both did.
Otto, as if sensing Subaru's hesitation, leaned back with a sigh. "You're thinking about the risks, aren't you? It's all over your face."
Subaru smirked, though the weight of the doubt still pressed on him. "Can't help it. It's not exactly an easy sell. How do we explain what this thing can do without looking like we're conning someone?"
Otto chuckled lightly, tapping the table with his fingers. "It'll be tricky. But people in this world—especially those with money—are always looking for the next best thing. We just have to pitch it right." He paused, glancing at Subaru. "And we both know desperation sells."
Subaru raised an eyebrow, his smirk fading slightly. "Yeah, I guess it does."
Silence settled between them again, but it wasn't the awkward kind. It was the silence of shared purpose—of two people who had nothing left to lose. Subaru leaned back in his chair, staring at the ceiling for a moment. He hadn't felt this kind of potential in a long time. Even with the weight of everything hanging over him—the deaths, the failures—this was a small sliver of hope.
Subaru cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "So, what's the first step? Who's going to be crazy enough to buy something like this?"
Otto tilted his head slightly, considering the question. "We'll need someone with deep pockets and a taste for the unusual. Someone willing to take a gamble." He paused, thinking back to his time in this world, remembering the faces he had encountered. "I've got a few ideas."
Subaru's eyes gleamed with a newfound energy. "Good. Then let's get to work."
He leaned forward, a conspiratorial look crossing his face. "Before we dive into everything, though, I've got a question for you. You know of the Hoshin Trading Company, of course. Right?"
Subaru blinked, caught off guard by the question. "Hoshin Trading Company? Can't say I have."
Otto looked confused and lowered his voice slightly as though sharing a secret. "You might want to pay attention, because Hoshin is one of the biggest names in trade across not just the kingdom but the entire world. If we're going to get this off the ground, we'll need connections. And I happen to know that the Hoshin Trading Company is always looking for the next big opportunity."
Subaru frowned, the name sticking out to him. "Hoshin… Wait, that's a Japanese name. How does a company here have a name like that?"
Otto raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by Subaru's reaction. "Japanese, huh? I've never heard that word before, but yeah, 'Hoshin' is what they call themselves. Apparently, they named themselves after Hoshin of the Wilderness… The company's leader, Anastasia Hoshin, is from Kararagi, one of the merchant cities. She and her company are known for their blinding wealth and power. Of course, Anastasia leads at the helm."
Subaru's curiosity deepened. "Anastasia Hoshin… So she's the one running the show?"
"More than just running the show," Otto added, a glint in his eyes. "She's also one of the royal candidates. You've definitely heard about the royal selection going on right now, I hope...?"
Subaru's eyes trembled slightly. "Royal candidate… Yeah… I know about the selection. So, she's not just a merchant?"
Otto chuckled. "Not by a long shot. Anastasia's got her hands in just about every major trade deal happening in the kingdom. If we can get her attention, we might be able to move forward quicker than you think."
Subaru leaned back, the name "Hoshin" circling in his mind. A Japanese-sounding name in this world… and tied to someone powerful like Anastasia. The whole thing felt strange, almost unsettling. But if Otto was right, and they could use this connection to launch their venture, it might be worth pursuing.
"Anastasia Hoshin…" Subaru repeated quietly, the weight of the name settling on him. There was something more to this—something bigger than just the phone or the designs.
Otto's smirk widened as he saw the gears turning in Subaru's mind. "I think we're onto something, partner. Let's see where this takes us."
Subaru nodded, his excitement tempered with a hint of wariness. "Yeah… let's see."