Chapter III:
Dancing with the Devil
It came as a shock to Subaru when he found himself standing before Kadomon. The fruit salesman was staring him down with his familiar annoyed expression. Stunned, Subaru looked at him blankly as the man droned on about how he needed to buy something or move along.
It's like I just woke from a dream, Subaru noted. All the pain and fatigue he'd just died from were gone—and he had died.
Wordlessly, Subaru walked away from Kadomon without so much as a reply. Staggering through the street, he felt his neck, half-expecting to find it still sliced open or at least bearing a scar, but there was nothing. It was as though nothing had happened.
"Am I going crazy?" he asked himself. I'm in an alternate reality where I just died to some evil witch-looking motherfucker, he reminded himself. "Yeah, I'm definitely going crazy."
Walking down the same alley where he'd met Satella, Subaru scratched his head as he looked around. "What is going on?"
"Hey, you!"
Turning around, Subaru saw the three thugs from earlier approaching him again.
"Dear Lord," Subaru cursed. "Didn't I teach you clowns before not to mess with me? I'm not in the mood."
"Huh? What're you talking about?" the middle one asked.
"You must be nuts," the short one added.
Drawing his blade, Subaru took a step toward them. "I'm not kidding—leave me alone, or someone's going to get hurt!" he warned, growing more impatient with each passing second.
"Uh, I think this guy might be more trouble than he's worth, Chin," the tall one said with a hint of fear in his voice, leaning down to his partner.
"You might be right, Ton. This guy seems a little crazy," Chin said nervously, eyeing Subaru's blade as he took a step back. "Come on, Kan, this guy's trouble."
Nodding, the little one named Kan turned on his heels, and the three thugs fled the alleyway, merging back into the main road.
With a sigh, Subaru sheathed his blade once the trio had gone. Thinking for a moment, he stepped out of the alleyway. "This is the second time I've died now," he said to himself in a hushed tone. "This is either the world's longest fever dream, or I've come back to life twice already. Which could mean several things. This world has some form of magic—I learned as much from Satella yesterday. No, judging by how those thugs and Kadomon reacted, it's the same day I met her—or will meet her?" The thought made his head spin.
It occurred to him that he had traveled back in time, though the horrible thought that he might have simply shifted to an alternate reality before his death also crossed his mind. He chose to believe it was some magical power acting on time itself rather than the grim idea that he and Satella were dead in another timeline. The implication made his skin crawl.
Thinking about how best to proceed with the information from his previous life, Subaru considered trying to find Satella, but he decided against it for the moment. I know where this Felt girl is going to end up, and that crazy woman who killed me. Subaru felt odd thinking about his death. If I find Satella now, it will only put her in the path of that insane assassin, so it's best if I go alone for now. Decided, Subaru headed for the slums.
The sun was still high in the sky when he arrived at Rom's Loot House. The building was just as dilapidated as before. Subaru felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand up as he recalled the pain he'd felt dying inside its walls. Taking a deep breath, he approached the large wooden double doors of the shop and gave them three firm knocks.
There was a pause before the door cracked open, and Subaru spotted a large figure standing in the shadows. "What's the password?" the booming voice demanded.
"Password?" Subaru repeated. "I don't know any password, but I'm looking for a girl named Felt. I was told I might find her here."
"Felt?" the man said, his tone shifting. "What do you want with Felt?"
"I believe she possesses an insignia I'm looking to acquire," Subaru replied.
"Hmm," the man mused. "Very well, you can come in then."
A moment later, the large wooden door swung open to reveal the giant bronze-skinned man behind it. He stood at least nine feet tall, appearing old and slightly hunched over. Thick, bushy white eyebrows hung down so long he'd braided them with beads. Aside from his impressive brows, he was bald, but what he lacked in hair on his head, he more than made up for on his chest, which was covered in a thick coat of white hair. Subaru also noted the scars on his shoulders and the distinct red tattoos that adorned his arms and head, making Subaru think he might have been an ancient warrior. The sight of him was impressive, though the image of this beast of a man brought back disturbing memories of his lifeless body from before.
Following the man inside, Subaru scanned the shop, noting its impressive inventory. It seemed wise to take note of his surroundings now that the interior was well-lit. "You must be Rom, the owner, I assume."
"I am," the giant confirmed. "And you are?"
"Subaru."
"Come, have a seat then, Subaru," Rom said, motioning to a stool at the bar. He took his place behind the counter and filled a flagon with ale. "Drink?" he offered.
"No thanks. I don't drink while I'm working," Subaru declined, recalling the woman who had killed him and thinking how foolish it would be to lower his guard with alcohol.
"Working? What do you do for work?" the man asked.
"I am—" Subaru began, then hesitated, considering his circumstances. "I mean, I was a soldier. Currently, I'm just a traveler, but I suppose you could say I'm on business."
"A soldier? You don't look like any soldier I've seen before," Rom remarked.
"No, I suppose not, though I served in an army far from here," Subaru confessed. "Regardless, that's not why I'm here. I've come to retrieve an item that a girl named Felt stole from my... let's call her my client for this transaction."
"Your client sent a former soldier to retrieve their stolen goods?" The man narrowed his eyes.
"I'm not looking for trouble, if that's what you're asking," Subaru assured him. Recalling how this place operated, he continued, "I'm aware that Felt is looking for payment for the item, regardless of who the rightful owner is."
"Hmm," the man mused, taking a long gulp from his drink. "Very well. Whether you can afford whatever this insignia is remains to be seen."
"There is the matter that my client didn't provide me with any money to make this transaction," Subaru admitted. "But I do have some items I could trade."
"Trade?" The man raised an eyebrow. "Well, they'd have to be worth more than the item itself. Coin is always preferable to bartering, you know."
"I'm willing to accept that. I assume you're able to appraise an item's value?" Subaru asked.
"Indeed," Rom confirmed. "I doubt Felt will be back until later, so until then, why don't you wait outside? I have some work to get done in here and would rather not have you snooping around."
Agreeing, Subaru stood up and walked out the door. Sitting under the porch, he observed the dirt road and the poor children playing with an old, cracked, and muddy leather ball. The game reminded him a bit of soccer, as the children ran back and forth, taking turns passing the ball to one another. Subaru thought about joining them. He recalled playing with a few kids in a village outside his base back on Earth. Despite his best efforts, he'd always been outmatched by the village kids. It was a fun way of forgetting about the war.
But he'd stopped playing with them after one of the kids he'd become familiar with was killed by a car bomb. Part of him wished he'd learned the boy's name so he could remember him; already, his face was a blur, just a haunting memory.
"Hey."
Snapping back to reality, Subaru was surprised to realize he had been lost in thought for so long that it was nearly dusk. Looking up, he saw a small girl standing in front of him.
"What're you doing there? You're in my way," she said bluntly.
One look at her red scarf and bright yellow hair was all it took for Subaru to identify her as the thief of Satella's insignia.
"Felt?" he asked.
"Do I know you?" she replied, her ruby-red eyes narrowing as she tried to recall if she'd seen him before.
"Not exactly, but I've been looking for you," Subaru explained, pushing himself to his feet.
"What for?"
"I wanted to negotiate for that insignia you came across."
Felt thought for a moment, a sly smirk forming on her face. "That so? Alright, I'll hear you out."
They stepped up to the door of Rom's Loot House. Felt knocked twice before Rom's booming voice sounded from inside.
"For the rat..."
"Poison," she answered.
"For a white whale..."
"A harpoon."
"To the noble dragon lord, we are..."
"Shitbags."
At that last response, Subaru had to hold himself back from laughing as the door swung open and Rom ushered them inside.
Taking a seat beside Felt, Subaru watched as the elder giant poured the girl a glass of milk, which she eagerly gulped down. Eyeing the empty cup, she looked up with disappointment.
"Hey, Old Man Rom, did you water down this milk? It's nasty!"
"I give you something out of the goodness of my heart, and you call it gross?" Rom retorted, reaching out to pat Felt's golden hair with his massive hand. Subaru judged that the giant's arm was nearly as long as the girl was tall.
"I'm rather eager to get down to business," Subaru interjected, leaning back on his stool.
"Sounds good to me, bro," Felt grinned. "So, how much are you gonna pay for it?"
"Do you mind if I confirm you have the insignia first?" Subaru asked.
"Of course not." Felt reached inside her vest and retrieved a small, black, triangular insignia adorned with a gold design and a red gem at its center. "See?" She handed it to Rom, who scrutinized the item with narrowed eyes. "I had to work pretty hard to get it, so if you can pay enough to match my efforts, we'll both leave happy."
"I don't have any coins to offer, but I've discussed making a trade of goods with Rom already." Subaru reached into a pouch on his vest and placed his flashlight and windproof lighter on the counter. "These are the most valuable items I have in my possession."
"What are they?" Felt asked skeptically, eyeing the unfamiliar objects.
"This," Subaru said, picking up the flashlight and clicking it on, "is a flashlight. It's a tactical device that can emit up to one thousand three hundred lumens for around forty-five minutes." He demonstrated the beam before switching it off and handing it to Rom.
"Hmm," Rom murmured, holding it close to examine. "Interesting. This must be one of those 'metia' I've heard about."
"Metia?" Felt echoed, looking between the two.
"It's the term for devices that allow people whose gates aren't open to use magic-like abilities," Rom explained.
"And that?" Felt pointed to the lighter on the counter.
Flicking open the lid, Subaru ignited the wick with a smooth motion, a small flame springing to life. "It's a lighter," he explained.
"Hmm, interesting," Rom mused, leaning in for a closer look. "I don't think I've seen anything like that either, though it's not nearly as impressive as your metia." He gestured toward the flashlight. "For the metia, I might judge it to be worth at least twenty holy coins. This 'lighter,' as you call it, isn't worth nearly as much."
Closing the lid to extinguish the flame, Subaru pocketed the lighter and nodded. "I suppose we can come to an agreement in this exchange then, given the value you've placed on my metia."
Felt considered for a moment, a sly grin forming on her face. "Not quite. While my client did only offer ten holy coins for the insignia, I'd like to see if they're willing to pay me more now that you have competition."
Subaru felt a surge of urgency to finalize the deal and leave. The image of the assassin loomed in his mind, and he contemplated playing hardball—demanding they sell now, or he'd walk away. But before he could speak, a light knock echoed at the door.
"Oh, that's probably for me," Felt said eagerly, hopping off her stool and casually walking toward the entrance.
"You two seem rather well acquainted," Subaru remarked, attempting to make small talk while suppressing his growing anxiety.
"We're not total strangers," Rom replied. "I've known Felt for a long time, so I help her out now and then." He walked over to a rack of weapons and picked up a massive wooden club, placing it on the bartop with a thud.
"That's impressive," Subaru noted, eyeing the oversized weapon.
"It's a rough place here," Rom said with a shrug. "Everyone's desperate just to survive. I do my part to look out for Felt."
The creaking sound of the door closing drew Subaru's attention. As he turned to see his rival in this bidding war, his blood ran cold. Standing there was the same woman who had killed Satella and him. Subaru felt his heartbeat quicken, his nerves screaming at him. His fight-or-flight instincts surged into overdrive.
"Oh, you seem rather jumpy," the sadistic woman said with a smile, her dark eyes gleaming as they locked onto Subaru. He realized his hand was already resting on his blade and, with deliberate slowness, he withdrew it slightly.
"Who are these outsiders?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock curiosity.
"Well, I'd have been in trouble if you bilked me," Felt replied in a casual, almost bored tone. "We weaklings have our own brand of smarts."
"I recognize this older fellow," Elsa said, gesturing at Rom, "but who's the young man?"
"This guy's your rival," Felt explained. "He's the other person negotiating with me."
"And what might your name be?" Elsa asked, her lips curving into a sinister smile.
Subaru hesitated for a moment before deciding there was little harm in giving a false name. "Subaru. Natsuki Subaru. And you are?"
"Elsa Granhiert," the woman replied, her smile deepening. "Very well. I suppose it was to be expected that someone else would be after this item."
With a graceful motion, Elsa took a seat at a table below the bar, her movements unsettlingly fluid. "If I could trouble you for a drink, a glass of milk perhaps?"
Not taking his eyes off his killer, Subaru sat across from her, his hand hovering near his blade. He watched her every movement, especially toward the twin daggers she had used to strike him down before. Moments later, Rom emerged from behind the bar, placing a glass of milk before Elsa.
She drank with an unnerving calm, licking the last remnants of milk off her lips. The sight made Subaru shiver as it brought back memories of her lapping blood from his knife.
Felt plopped down beside Subaru, grinning as if she were enjoying every second of the tense exchange. "So, this means you'll be bidding against each other. Naturally, I'll be selling to the highest bidder."
"I think I like that personality of yours," Elsa said to Felt, her tone almost admiring. She turned her attention back to Subaru. "How much has this young man bid?"
"I've put up a metia Rom's valued at least twenty holy coins," Subaru said, his voice steady despite the growing tension, his hand never straying far from his knife.
"Luckily for me," Elsa said, reaching into her cloak, "my client sent me with some extra funds."
She withdrew a small sack, pouring its contents onto the table with a deliberate clink. Golden coins spilled out, gleaming under the dim light. "Twenty holy coins," Elsa declared, her eyes glinting with confidence.
Felt seemed shocked by the sheer amount of money on the table, though Subaru, unfamiliar with the value of a single holy coin, could only imagine it was a significant sum.
Rom reached over and began counting the coins one by one, inspecting each for authenticity. "It's all here," he confirmed. "It's up to you, Felt, though I will say the young man's metia is worth at least twenty coins. I'd reckon it could fetch even more with the right buyer."
Pondering her options, Felt glanced between Subaru and Elsa. After a moment of deliberation, she spoke. "Sorry, Elsa, but I'm going to have to go with the metia."
"It can't be helped, I suppose," Elsa said, rising from the table with an unsettling grace. "I will be taking my leave now, though I'm curious—what is your interest in this item, Subaru?"
"I have a client of my own," Subaru replied curtly, taking the insignia from Rom and slipping it into his pocket.
"A client, you say. And who might that be?" Elsa pressed, her tone light but her eyes sharp.
"I don't feel at liberty to say," Subaru said coldly.
"I must insist," Elsa said, her voice firm though her smile remained.
"And so must I," Subaru shot back, his tone resolute.
For a moment, the room was tense, silence hanging heavy as Elsa studied Subaru. Then her expression shifted, her eyes growing dark. "So... you must be with them, then."
The hairs on Subaru's neck stood on end. In a blur of motion, he drew his knife just in time to block Elsa's blade as it slashed toward his gut. Sparks flew from the clash, and Subaru gritted his teeth, struggling against the surprising strength behind her attack. Despite her slight frame, Elsa pressed him hard, a wicked smirk on her face.
Disengaging with a sharp move, Subaru jumped back. Before Elsa could press her advantage, the massive Rom snatched up his oversized club and charged, his footsteps thundering like an oncoming storm. With a powerful swing, he smashed the table Elsa had stood on into splinters.
But Elsa had already leapt effortlessly onto another table, her movements as fluid as a dancer's. Rom, undeterred, swung again, obliterating the second table into shards. Subaru watched in awe as the giant displayed raw, unrelenting strength, while Elsa dodged his strikes with almost supernatural ease. Her agility was unnerving, as though the chaos of the fight only served to amuse her.
Subaru's grip tightened on his knife. She's toying with us, he thought grimly.
Coming to rest on the bar top, Elsa appeared as calm as ever, her wicked smile betraying a hint of glee as she eyed the raging giant. "This is my first battle to the death with a giant!" she declared with unsettling excitement.
"Quiet, little girl!" Rom boomed, his voice shaking the room. "I'll grind you up and feed you to the rats!" he roared, bringing his massive club down with a heavy strike that splintered his own bar top.
Pursuing his elusive foe, Rom attacked with relentless ferocity. The room echoed with the sound of crashing wood and Rom's thunderous footsteps. Meanwhile, Elsa danced around his strikes with an eerie grace, effortlessly avoiding each blow.
Subaru, scanning the room, spotted a rapier mounted on the wall—the same one he had noticed when he first entered. Sheathing his knife, he sprinted toward it, pulling the blade from its mount. Turning back, he saw Rom continuing his rampage as Elsa dodged each attack with ease, her movements almost mocking.
"This is bad," Subaru muttered under his breath.
"Don't worry," Felt said confidently from her perch. "There's no way Old Man Rom can lose!"
Subaru grimaced, recalling his own lifeless body and the brutal efficiency with which Elsa had killed him. "I doubt that."
As he rejoined the fight, Subaru saw Rom overextend himself on a wild swing, leaving his forearm exposed. Elsa's blade flashed toward the opening, and Subaru reacted instinctively, stepping in to block the strike with his newly acquired rapier. Steel clashed as sparks flew, and Elsa's head snapped toward him, her smirk widening.
"Oh, you want to play too?" Elsa asked, her tone dripping with condescension, as though indulging a child who wanted a turn at a game.
Grimacing, Subaru pushed her back with his blade and took a dueling stance. "Oh, you at least know your way around a blade," Elsa remarked with mock approval.
"I was captain of the fencing club once upon a time," Subaru said offhandedly, trying to keep his voice steady. "Though, I'd take a long rifle over this any day."
"A long rifle?" Elsa repeated, curiosity flashing in her eyes before vanishing as she rushed at him in a blur of speed. "Never heard of that before."
Subaru barely managed to fend off her rapid strikes. Her attacks were unnervingly precise, far beyond anything he had ever encountered. Every move felt like it was calculated to end him in an instant. If it weren't for Rom's timely assistance, keeping her attention divided, Subaru knew he would already be lying in a pool of his own blood.
In an instant, Subaru saw Elsa blur out of sight. He barely registered her movement before catching a glimpse of her blade racing toward his neck from the corner of his eye. When did she move? The thought froze him in place, fear gripping his throat.
Just as her blade was about to strike, a burst of wind swept through the room, and Felt appeared mid-air. Her long, curved knife intercepted the attack meant to finish him.
"A Divine Protection of Wind," Elsa remarked, her voice tinged with amusement. "How lovely. I can see you are loved by this world. I envy you."
Her eyes flashed with the same dark intensity Subaru remembered from before she had killed him. Acting on instinct, Subaru reached out and grabbed the collar of Felt's coat, yanking her back just in time. He brought his rapier up to block Elsa's follow-up strike. The impact jarred him to his core, rattling his bones and leaving his arm numb from the force.
Jumping back, Subaru shoved Felt behind him, gritting his teeth against the pain. I don't know if this power to come back has a limit, but I don't want to test it. Glancing over his shoulder, he tightened his grip on the sword.
"Felt," Subaru said, his voice firm as he stared at Elsa with fire in his eyes. "Get out of here and go get help. We're no match for her."
"What about you and Rom?!" Felt protested, her voice filled with alarm.
"Do as he says, Felt!" Rom bellowed, his booming voice leaving no room for argument.
"We'll keep her distracted as long as possible. Besides, I have the insignia—and that's what she's after, right?"
"Oh? You think you can escape me that easily?" Elsa sneered, flashing a toothy grin. "How adorable."
"Go now!" Subaru shouted as he rushed forward, swinging his sword at Elsa. She dodged effortlessly, moving with an elegance that made her seem untouchable.
It was clear they were no match for Elsa's speed and skill, but they managed to create enough of a nuisance for Felt to dart out of the shop, disappearing into the night. Left alone with the crazed monster, Subaru felt a grim certainty settle in his chest. We're going to die, but at least Felt might escape.
Rom followed up with a mighty swing of his club, obliterating a bookcase as their chaotic battle raged on. Subaru and Rom moved in tandem, striking and retreating in a desperate attempt to land a blow. But it was obvious Elsa was still toying with them, her smirk never wavering, her movements almost playful.
Gritting his teeth, Subaru swung again, only for Elsa to evade with her usual grace. This time, however, her counterattack found its mark—Rom.
With a swift blur of her blade, Elsa slit the back of Rom's neck open. The giant let out a choked gasp as blood sprayed from the gaping wound. His massive body collapsed to the floor with a sickening thud.
"Rom!" Subaru cried out; his voice filled with desperation as he watched the pool of blood spread beneath the fallen giant.
"Don't look so angry," Elsa said, twirling her knife with a sadistic grin. "After all, it's your turn now."
"Come get me, bitch!" Subaru snarled, rushing forward with reckless determination.
The fight was doomed from the start. Frantic and untrained, Subaru parried and backpedaled, trying to stay ahead of Elsa's lethal blade. Her movements were fluid, almost mocking, as she slowly cut him down, one small slice at a time. Each wound felt like a deliberate taunt, her smile growing with every new cut.
By the time Subaru managed to disengage, his arms were riddled with slashes, and blood dripped steadily from a gash on his cheek. His breaths came in ragged gasps, the adrenaline in his veins barely dulling the sharp pain that wracked his body.
"You have some spirit," Elsa purred. "I'm sure your insides will be just as fascinating as the rest of you."
With a cruel laugh, she launched herself forward again, her blade flashing in the dim light. This is it, Subaru thought grimly, bracing himself for the end. If I'm going to die, I'll go down swinging.
But just as her blade was about to meet its mark, Elsa jumped back with surprising speed. A bolt of ice shot through the air, narrowly passing between them. Startled, Subaru turned toward the door—and his heart sank. Standing in the doorway was Satella, her silver hair catching the light as her violet eyes burned with resolve.
"No," Subaru whispered, his voice filled with dread. "Get away from here!"
"Oh?" Elsa cooed, her grin widening. "How many beautiful bellies will I get to open today, I wonder?"
"I don't know who you are or how you're involved in this," Satella said firmly, raising her hands, "but I won't stand idly by." With a flourish, five shimmering spikes of ice formed around her, crackling with energy.
"Hehe, so many dance partners, so little time," Elsa chuckled, her eyes gleaming with twisted glee.
Subaru forced himself to refocus, raising his sword as he tried to steady his trembling hands. He was keenly aware of the blood dripping from his wounds—deliberately inflicted to cause pain rather than fatal harm. She's toying with us. She really is a crazy bastard, he thought, gritting his teeth as he edged closer to Rom's motionless body.
"Cover me for a few moments," Subaru said urgently. "I need to try and help Old Man Rom."
Nodding, Satella launched another barrage of ice spikes at Elsa, forcing her to dodge with acrobatic precision. Taking advantage of the brief respite, Subaru rushed to Rom's side, pulling the IFAK from the back of his carrier. Digging into the pack, he worked quickly to dress the deep gash on Rom's neck.
Packing the wound with gauze, Subaru wrapped a bandage tightly around it to stem the bleeding. "This should at least stop the bleeding," Subaru said, unsure if the giant was conscious enough to hear him. "You'll need real medical help if we make it through this. Just hold tight."
Grabbing the rapier once more, Subaru turned his focus back to the fight. Satella and Elsa were locked in a fierce exchange, the room erupting with bursts of magic as Satella's Spirit, Puck, joined the fray. The tiny cat flew through the air, unleashing barrages of icy missiles that peppered Elsa, burying her under a thick glacier.
For a brief moment, Subaru thought they might have subdued her. But the ice shattered in an explosive burst of black energy, revealing Elsa holding her now-disintegrating black cape over her head. Whatever magical property had shielded her from Puck's assault was gone, burned out by the attack.
Elsa wasted no time, charging at Satella with ruthless speed. But her blade clashed harmlessly against a shimmering ice barrier that Satella conjured just in time to protect herself.
"Don't underestimate a user of spirit arts!" Satella warned, her hands glowing as she prepared another spell. Meanwhile, Puck unleashed another volley of ice missiles, relentless in his assault.
Puck seems to be giving her the most trouble, Subaru thought as he analyzed the chaotic battle. If I remember correctly, he's limited by mana, which ran out last time when dusk approached. That means he's probably running on fumes right now.
"I wonder how much longer you can keep this up," Elsa taunted, her voice almost dripping with disappointment. "I'm having so much fun. I'd hate to be left with just these two."
"You know," Puck retorted, his tone light but sharp, "staying up late is bad for your skin. So, let's wrap this up."
Elsa's smirk faltered as she suddenly found herself stuck mid-motion. She sliced two incoming ice spikes out of the air but glanced down to see her right foot frozen to the floor.
"I wasn't throwing those at random, you know," Puck said with a mischievous grin.
"I guess this means I've been had," Elsa chuckled, her grim smile unshaken, even in the face of her predicament.
"Goodnight!" Puck declared as Satella gathered what Subaru could only assume was a massive amount of magical power. With a commanding motion, she launched a wall of ice hurtling toward Elsa. For a moment, Subaru was certain the attack would land, but at the last second, Elsa evaded.
Her escape was not without cost. The skin on her frozen foot tore clean off as she ripped herself free from the ice's grip. Blood spattered the floor, but Elsa neither screamed nor flinched at the gruesome injury. Instead, she chuckled darkly. "I thought I was going to die."
"Puck, can you keep going?" Satella asked, her voice laced with urgency.
"Sorry… I'm really sleepy," Puck admitted, his small form drooping. "I underestimated her a bit. My mana's all gone, so I have to disappear."
"It's alright," Satella reassured him. "I'll handle things here. Rest well, and thank you."
"If it comes to it, call me back—even if you have to squeeze me out of my odo," Puck replied, before vanishing in a burst of light, retreating back to his gem.
Elsa sighed theatrically, her voice tinged with mock disappointment. "Too bad. I was looking forward to seeing what a spirit's insides looked like."
She reached down, grabbing a chunk of ice from the battlefield, and pressed it against her bleeding foot. The improvised bandage seemed to please her as she stood once more. "Well, that's terribly unfortunate," she said, her tone as casual as if she were discussing the weather.
Subaru readied himself, raising his rapier and resuming his stance. Already, Elsa had turned her attention back to Satella, her attacks a whirlwind of relentless speed and precision. The silver-haired girl did everything she could to block and deflect, using her ice magic to shield herself from Elsa's onslaught.
Seeing an opportunity, Subaru rushed forward, catching Elsa off guard. His blade grazed her shoulder as she barely managed to sidestep the thrust at the last moment.
Elsa turned to him with a wicked grin, her eyes gleaming with twisted delight. "Isn't it a bit boorish to cut in on a dance?" she asked, her voice dripping with mock reproach.
Before Subaru could respond, Elsa lunged at him with renewed vigor. Her strikes came fast and sharp, each one aimed with deadly precision. Subaru gritted his teeth, doing everything he could to parry and hold his ground.
Blocking frantically, Subaru found himself backpedaling as Elsa's black blade flashed in a blur of deadly motion. The strikes came faster and harder now—no longer playful cuts but vicious, deliberate attempts to take his life. Swipes aimed at his gut and throat forced him into a desperate retreat. Without Satella stepping in to block some of the attacks, Subaru was sure he'd already be dead.
Alone, he had no chance. Even with Satella's help, it felt like a losing battle. It's only a matter of time before one of us slips up and this monster guts us both, Subaru thought, his mind racing as he parried with everything he had. I need to change strategies.
Spotting a rare opening as Elsa dodged yet another ice bolt, Subaru gripped his sword tightly and swung with all his might. His clumsy but powerful strike managed to knock the blade from Elsa's grasp—but at the cost of losing his own weapon in the process. Both blades clattered to the ground as Elsa turned her piercing gaze on him, caught off guard for a split second.
Seizing the opportunity, Subaru closed the distance between them and grabbed Elsa's arm in a vice-like grip. With all the strength he could muster, he roughly threw her to the floor. As she hit the ground, Subaru wasted no time, pulling his knife and driving it toward her chest.
Elsa shifted at the last moment, and instead of striking her heart, Subaru's blade embedded itself deep in her shoulder. Her reaction was unnervingly calm. In one fluid motion, she broke free of his grasp, sweeping his legs out from under him. Subaru hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from his lungs, but he pushed himself back up almost immediately, grabbing his fallen sword as he rose.
No sooner was he on his feet than Elsa hurled his own blade at him. There was no time to dodge. The weapon buried itself in his right bicep, sending a searing pain up his arm. Letting out a scream, Subaru clutched his injured arm as blood seeped through his sleeve.
Elsa turned her attention back to Satella, engaging her in a relentless duel. This time, it was clear Elsa had stopped toying with them. Her strikes were brutal, her movements even faster and more precise. Before long, with a single devastating kick, Elsa sent Satella crashing into the shattered remains of Rom's liquor bottles. The silver-haired girl lay motionless amid the debris.
"For once, I felt a tiny bit annoyed just now," Elsa said, her voice low and menacing. She turned her cold, calculating eyes on Subaru. "I've grown quite tired of this game. I was hoping you might entertain me a bit longer, but it seems you've run out of usefulness to me."
"I'm sorry to disappoint you," Subaru spat through gritted teeth, his uninjured hand gripping his knife tightly.
Elsa smiled, her sadistic glee returning. "I suppose it can't be helped. You seem like a brave young man. I very much desire to see your insides now. I'm curious just how brave you really are."
Subaru's grip on his knife tightened, his mind searching for strength. Despite the terror coursing through him, he straightened his posture and recited aloud, "Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed." His voice was steady, the verse from the book of Joshua echoing through the ruined shop.
Elsa's smile faltered ever so slightly, her head tilting in curiosity at his defiance. "A prayer before death?" she mused.
Subaru met her gaze, unyielding. "Something like that."
"How lovely," Elsa purred before launching at Subaru once more. In the blink of an eye, she closed the gap, her blade aiming straight for his belly. Subaru could only watch helplessly as her weapon drew closer—until the roof exploded in a deafening burst of dust and debris.
The force of the blast sent Subaru tumbling backward, pain flaring through him as the knife lodged in his arm was dislodged during the fall. Biting his lip to stifle a scream, he ignored the thick cloud of dust around him and reached into his carrier. Pulling out his tourniquet, Subaru quickly fixed it just above the gushing wound on his arm. Twisting it tightly, he felt his arm go numb as the blood flow was restricted.
Blinking through the settling dust, Subaru looked up to see a man standing amidst the destruction. He was clad in a fine white uniform trimmed with royal blue, the insignia on his chest gleaming in the dim light. At his hip hung a radiant golden blade that seemed to glow with an otherworldly light. His crimson red hair framed piercing ocean-blue eyes that locked onto Elsa with a calm intensity.
The room, once filled with dread, seemed to brighten in his presence.
"That's enough," the man declared, his voice steady and commanding. "It looks like it was a close call, but I'm glad I made it in time."
"Reinhard," Elsa said, her voice dripping with glee. "How wonderful."
"Shall we put an end to this?" Reinhard asked, his hand resting lightly on the hilt of his sword. "There's no mistaking who you are—the Bowel Hunter."
Subaru's head snapped toward Elsa at the name. "Bowel Hunter?" he repeated, incredulous. "That's a serial killer's nickname if I've ever heard one."
Reinhard glanced at him briefly, nodding. "And you are?"
"Subaru," he replied, still catching his breath.
"Well, you're not wrong, Subaru. She earned that name for her unique and horrifying killing style," Reinhard confirmed. "It's impressive you've held her off for this long. Her name is infamous in every capital as a dangerous assassin."
Elsa's grin widened, her eyes alight with excitement. "Reinhard," she said, savoring the name. "A knight among knights, born to the Master Swordsman's line, correct?"
Reinhard's expression remained calm, his focus unwavering. "Correct," he replied. "And I'm here to ensure your rampage ends tonight."
Elsa's laugh was soft but chilling, her grip on her blade tightening. "Oh, this will be delightful."
"There's a number of things I'd like to ask you," Reinhard said, his voice calm but cold. "To that end, I strongly suggest you surrender."
"Oh, where's the fun in that?" Elsa purred, her smirk widening. "You expect a starving predator like me to give up my juicy prey?"
Reinhard's eyes narrowed. "Subaru, if you could step back," he said without taking his gaze off Elsa. Glancing briefly at Satella, who was slowly getting to her feet, he added, "Why don't you and that girl help your giant friend?"
"Very well," Subaru said, staggering to his feet and clutching his injured arm. "Be careful, though. She's more monster than woman."
Reinhard allowed himself the faintest of smiles. "As it just so happens, hunting monsters is my specialty."
Subaru nodded grimly and stumbled over to Satella, who was already kneeling beside Rom. The giant's bandages were soaked through with blood, but he was still breathing. Subaru knelt beside her, grimacing at the sight of the old man's wounds.
Holding her hands together, Satella began to draw on her magic. A faint glow emanated from her palms as she prepared to heal. "Remove his bandages, please," she instructed. "I'm going to close that nasty wound."
Nodding, Subaru carefully peeled away the blood-soaked bandages and gauze. The sight of the gaping injury made his stomach churn, but he focused as Satella placed her glowing hands over the wound. To his astonishment, the flesh began stitching itself back together before his eyes.
"Why help him?" Subaru asked, glancing at her. "He was with that girl who stole your insignia."
"And you weren't?" she countered without missing a beat.
"No," Subaru said, shaking his head. "I was trying to buy it back so I could return it to its rightful owner."
Satella paused for a moment, surprised by his honesty. Then, she smiled faintly. "How kind of you," she said softly. "I'm healing him because I need information. A man wouldn't lie to the one who saved his life—especially not someone like him."
Subaru didn't reply, watching as the wound continued to mend under her magic. Despite the dire situation, he found himself impressed by her resolve.
When he turned back toward Reinhard and Elsa's battle, the scene before him was almost incomprehensible. Elsa moved so quickly that she was little more than a blur, her attacks so fast and precise that Subaru couldn't follow her movements. And yet, Reinhard—wielding what appeared to be a secondhand sword—effortlessly countered every strike.
It was like watching an entirely different level of combat, far beyond anything Subaru could comprehend. She could have killed me at any time, Subaru realized with a shiver. She was just toying with me.
The thought sent a chill through him, but Reinhard's steady and controlled presence brought a small sense of relief. For the first time since the fight began, Subaru felt like they might actually survive this.
"He's just playing defense," Subaru observed, noting Reinhard's calm yet restrained movements.
"That's because he's waiting for me to finish healing Rom," Satella explained, her focus unwavering as the last remnants of the giant's wound vanished beneath her magic. "If Reinhard were serious, he'd draw in all the mana in the atmosphere. Once I'm done, let him know so he can use his true power."
Subaru nodded, glancing between Satella's handiwork and the fierce battle raging before them. Finally, with one last flash of light, the wound closed completely. "I'm finished," she declared.
"Now, Reinhard!" Subaru shouted.
Reinhard acknowledged the call with a slight nod, stepping into a stance that radiated quiet power. Subaru could almost see the glow of mana gathering around him, the atmosphere shifting as the knight's aura grew overwhelming. The battered blade in his hand began to shine like a star, radiant and brimming with energy.
"What are you going to show me?" Elsa asked, her grin widening as she readied herself.
"The swordplay of the Astrea family," Reinhard replied evenly.
"The Bowel Hunter, Elsa Granhiert," the assassin declared, raising her blade.
"Reinhard van Astrea of the Master Swordsman's line," the knight responded.
Then, in a burst of motion too fast for Subaru to follow, Reinhard swung his blade. The room was engulfed in a brilliant flash of blue light, like a collapsing star. A deafening explosion ripped through the Loot House, shaking the ground as a shockwave of energy tore through the building.
Subaru instinctively shielded Satella with his body, grimacing as his ears rang from the sheer force of the attack. Dust and debris filled the air, and for a moment, the world was nothing but chaos.
As the dust settled, Subaru blinked through the haze to see Reinhard standing alone in the center of the ruins. The knight's blade was lowered, still glowing faintly as the last traces of his attack dissipated. Remarkably, aside from the ringing in his ears, Subaru was unharmed. He assumed some form of magical protection had shielded them, but the sheer intensity of the experience left him shaken.
"I hope you at least managed to get her with that," Subaru coughed, scanning the wreckage. "I don't even see a body."
"Does that mean it's over now?" Satella asked cautiously.
"It sure looks that way, doesn't it?" Subaru sighed in relief, his shoulders slumping as the tension drained from his body. "I'm just glad I didn't get gutted by that lunatic."
Turning to Reinhard, Subaru offered a thumbs-up. "I appreciate you saving our asses, Reinhard! How did you even happen upon us anyway?"
"This girl was running through the streets in desperation and asked for my help," Reinhard explained, inclining his head toward Felt, who stood in the ruined doorway, arms crossed, her expression unreadable.
"Felt," Subaru said with a weak smile. "Well, good thing you made it out of this mess when you did."
"That's…" Satella began, her tone uneasy.
"If she hadn't stumbled upon Reinhard, we'd all be dead right now," Subaru said, cutting her off gently. "Besides, I have your insignia to return, right…?" He patted his pocket, but his expression darkened as he searched frantically. "Shit! Where is it!?"
Before anyone could respond, a pile of rubble erupted nearby. Elsa, bloody and beaten, burst forth with an expression of grim determination on her bloodied face. For the first time, her confidence seemed shaken, replaced by raw desperation.
Subaru reacted instinctively. Grabbing the broken rapier, he shoved Satella out of the way and intercepted Elsa's strike. The clash was brutal—Elsa's blade shattered the already fractured rapier, sending Subaru staggering back. A sharp, stinging sensation bloomed across his stomach. Looking down, he saw a thin red line of blood where her blade had sliced him. It hurt like hell, but he suspected it was only a surface wound.
"That's enough, Elsa," Reinhard said sharply, stepping between her and the others. His voice was calm but carried an unmistakable edge of finality.
Elsa's lips curled into a faint, bloodied smile. "Soon enough, I'll disembowel everyone here," she said, her voice sweet yet venomous. With a graceful leap, she landed on the ruined remains of the roof. "Take care of your bowels for me until then," she added mockingly before vanishing into the night.
Satella rushed to Subaru's side. "Are you alright? That was far too reckless!" she scolded, her violet eyes scanning his wound with concern.
"I won't say it doesn't hurt like hell," Subaru said with a weak chuckle, his hand pressed against his abdomen. "But I'll live. I'm just going to feel like shit in the morning."
"I suppose I owe you then," she said softly. "Subaru, was it?"
He nodded, the pain fading slightly as he looked at her. "And what's your name?" Subaru asked. Though he already knew it, he felt it would be rude not to ask, seeing as this felt like their first true meeting.
"My name?" she repeated, her expression softening as she paused. After a moment, she giggled lightly, her smile radiant. "Emilia," she said finally. "My name is Emilia. Just Emilia. Thank you, Subaru, for helping to save me."
Subaru's eyes widened in surprise. Satella was an alias… he realized. Watching her now, her radiant smile and calm demeanor, the truth dawned on him. "Emilia, huh?" he said with a smile. "What a lovely name."
"Subaru, you're injured," Reinhard interrupted, stepping closer. "We need to get you medical attention."
"You're probably… probably…" Subaru's voice faltered as his vision swam. The adrenaline drained from his body, replaced by a light-headedness he couldn't fight. "Oh my," he muttered before collapsing to the floor in a heap.
As consciousness slipped away, Subaru glimpsed Emilia kneeling over him, her expression filled with panic and concern. Well, this is a rather nice way to drift off to sleep, he thought with a faint smile. She's so cute when she's panicking.
Closing his eyes, Subaru drifted into unconsciousness, his mind lingering on the relief of having achieved his goal—albeit in a way far different than he'd expected.