First Quest!
Subaru leaned back on the wooden bench, her sky-blue eyes scanning the bustling street. This wasn't going according to plan. Adventurer's Guilds were supposed to be an isekai staple—every protagonist's go-to starting point. And yet, after asking vendors, passersby, and even a guard standing stiffly at a street corner, the answer was always the same:
"A guild? Sorry, my lady, I've never heard of such a place."
Or the less polite but equally dismissive, "You sure you're in the right city, miss?"
Subaru groaned, letting her head tilt back. The sun peeked through the gaps between the roofs of the tightly packed buildings, mocking her with its cheerful glow.
"Of course there's no guild," she muttered to herself. "Why would things be that easy?"
Her stomach growled loudly, interrupting her self-pity. She glanced down at her abdomen, the armour fitting snugly against her surprisingly lean frame. Her waist was noticeably wider than she was used to, and her thighs were definitely thicker. Her tongue felt weird and her teeth were neat; but she had to admit this body wasn't half bad. If it was some kind of buffed protagonist body, maybe she'd be able to pull off some crazy feats once she figured out her skills.
But first, she needed food.
She patted down her armour, searching for any sign of a coin pouch. Nothing.
"Of course I'm broke," she grumbled. "Why would things be easy for me?"
The dagger strapped to her waist caught her eye. It was sleek, with an ornate hilt that gleamed faintly even in the shadowed alley. For a brief moment, she considered selling it, but the thought made her stomach churn.
"What kind of hero sells their weapon on day one?" she muttered, shaking her head. "Not happening."
Her eyes wandered to a nearby stall where a burly man with wild green hair was hawking his wares. The sign above the stall read "Appa Seller" in bold letters— she didn't know the language, that's what a father told his son; and the fruits on display looked suspiciously like apples—round, shiny, and red, with just a hint of a golden sheqen.
Subaru sighed. She wasn't proud, but her gaze kept darting toward the appas, her stomach growling louder with every passing second.
The vendor noticed.
"You alright there, my lady?" the man called out, his voice a deep rumble.
Subaru froze, her cheeks heating up.
"Oh, uh… yeah, I'm fine!" she said quickly, looking away.
The man chuckled, reaching for one of the appas.
"You've been eyeing these for a while now," he said. "Go on, take one."
Subaru blinked, her sky-blue eyes wide.
"Huh?"
"You look tired," the vendor said, holding out the fruit. "Here, have an appa. On the house."
Subaru hesitated, her hand halfway to the fruit.
"But I don't have any money," she admitted, feeling the weight of her situation sink in. "I mean… I forgot my purse."
The vendor waved her off with a grin.
"No problem, ma'am. Thank you for your work!"
Subaru's heart skipped a beat.
"Work?" she repeated, confused.
The vendor nodded toward her armour.
"You're clearly a knight or some kind of protector," he said. "You saved that boy earlier, didn't you? The whole street's been talking about it."
Subaru stared at him, her mouth slightly open. She wasn't used to this kind of treatment, and it felt… strange.
"Oh… yeah, that," she said awkwardly, finally accepting the fruit.
The appa felt cool and firm in her hand, its faintly sweet scent wafting up to her nose. She stared at it for a moment before looking back at the vendor.
"Thanks," she said, her voice softer.
The man waved her off with a smile.
"Just doing what I can," he said. "Enjoy!"
Subaru took a bite, the sweet, tangy flavour exploding in her mouth. It was unlike any apple she'd ever had, and for a brief moment, she forgot all about her lack of money, her unfamiliar body, and her complete and utter confusion about this world.
"This is amazing," she mumbled through a mouthful of fruit.
The vendor laughed heartily.
"Glad you like it, my lady!"
Subaru gave him a small, grateful nod before turning back to her bench. The appa might not solve her problems, but it was a start.
As she finished the fruit, her mind began to churn with plans. She didn't have money, a guild to fall back on, or any idea what she was supposed to do in this world. But she did have a body that could move faster than anyone she'd ever seen, an armour that made people mistake her for a hero, and, apparently, a reputation starting to build itself.
"Alright," she muttered to herself, tossing the core into a nearby bin. "Time to figure out what's next."
Whatever this world had in store for her, she wasn't going to sit around waiting for answers.
Ö~Ö
Subaru wandered the streets, keeping her eyes peeled for anything that resembled a lead. The town bustled around her, its cobblestone paths alive with vendors hawking goods, children darting about, and the occasional stern-faced guard patrolling the area. Though her primary mission remained elusive, Subaru found herself stopping to help people along the way.
A hunched old granny struggled to load sacks of grain onto her cart, her frail arms trembling with effort. Subaru stepped in without hesitation, easily lifting the heavy sacks and arranging them securely. The old woman clasped her hands together in gratitude, her wrinkled face lighting up with a smile.
"Thank you, kind knight," the granny said.
"Knight?" Subaru muttered, scratching her cheek. "Well, sure. Let's go with that."
Further down the street, a young boy stood beneath a tree, his tear-streaked face tilted upward as he called out to a fluffy white cat perched precariously on a branch.
"Hold on, kid," Subaru said, striding over. "Your knight in shiny—er, slightly scuffed—armour is here!"
With a graceful leap, she grabbed the branch and swung herself up. Her newfound strength made the task almost laughably easy, and within moments, she descended with the feline in her arms.
"Here ya go!" she said, handing the cat to the boy, who beamed up at her.
By the time she reached a vendor's stall with a broken door hanging off its hinges, Subaru was starting to realise just how strong her new body really was. Fixing the door took barely any effort; she lifted the heavy wooden frame back into place as if it weighed nothing.
"This body's kinda awesome," she mused, flexing her arm beneath the armour. "Maybe I really am a protagonist."
As she dusted off her hands and prepared to continue her search, a flash of silver caught her eye.
Subaru turned, her sky-blue gaze locking onto a figure moving through the crowd. The girl stood out starkly against the earthy tones of the market—a slender form with flowing silver hair, eyes that sparkled like amethysts, and a white frilly dress that billowed as she moved. But what really grabbed Subaru's attention were the pointed ears peeking out from her hair.
"An elf?" Subaru whispered, excitement bubbling up inside her. "It has to be!"
Without thinking, she jogged after the girl, weaving through the bustling crowd until she caught up.
"Hello there!" Subaru called out, plastering on her most disarming smile.
The girl turned, her amethyst eyes blinking in surprise.
"Hello," she said softly, her voice lilting and melodic.
Subaru cleared her throat. "Are you, uh, from around here?"
The girl hesitated, her gaze darting to the side. "I… I am, but… excuse me, I'm in a hurry."
She turned and began walking away, her steps quick and purposeful.
Subaru frowned. Her protagonist instincts tingled. This girl had to be important. Maybe helping her was the first task in her heroic journey.
"Wait!" Subaru called, catching up to her again. "What's wrong? Maybe I can help?"
The girl paused, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight as she turned slightly toward Subaru.
"I… It's personal," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
Subaru's shoulders slumped, disappointment flickering across her face. "Oh. Well, alright, if you don't want to—"
"Wait!" the girl called, stopping Subaru in her tracks.
Subaru spun around, her sky-blue eyes alight with curiosity.
The elf stepped closer, her expression tinged with both hope and hesitation. "Are you… a knight?"
"Um, kinda?" Subaru replied, scratching the back of her head. "It's a long story."
"Great!" The girl clasped her hands together. "Do you know a short blonde girl? A thief?"
Subaru tilted her head. "Hmm, nope. But let me guess—she stole something from you?"
The elf nodded, her amethyst eyes glimmering with frustration. "Yes."
Subaru crossed her arms, grinning confidently. "Alright then! As the hero—eh, or protagonist—I'll help you find your… uh, what was stolen again?"
The girl hesitated, her cheeks tinged pink. "It's, um… a trinket."
Subaru blinked. "A trinket? Wait, what?"
"It's fine if you don't want to help!" the elf said quickly, waving her hands as if to dismiss the whole conversation.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down!" Subaru interjected, raising a hand. "It's fine! Helping people is kinda my thing. By the way, what's your name?"
The girl hesitated for a moment before answering, "Emilia."
"Emilia!" Subaru repeated, a grin spreading across her face. "What a great name. Behold, I am the great hero, Natsuki Subaru!"
Emilia blinked, clearly taken aback by Subaru's dramatic proclamation.
Subaru held out a hand, her grin softening into something more reassuring. "Don't worry, Emilia. We'll find that thief and get your trinket back. Leave it to me!"
With that, the two of them set off, weaving through the busy streets in search of the elusive blonde thief. Subaru's heart raced with a mix of excitement and determination. This was it—the start of her journey. And if she played her cards right, she'd make sure it was one for the ages.
Subaru and Emilia wandered through the busy streets, stopping at every corner to ask passersby if they had seen a short blonde girl—a thief, specifically. But no one seemed to have any useful information. Each inquiry was met with shrugs or polite apologies. Frustration bubbled beneath Subaru's surface, though she kept a smile for Emilia's sake.
As they approached the central square, Subaru's eyes caught a lone figure sitting on the stone steps of a fountain. A young boy with green hair sat there, his face buried in his small hands as he sobbed quietly. The bustling crowd seemed to ignore him, passing by without a second glance.
Subaru pointed toward the boy. "Hey, Emilia, what do you think? Should we check on him?"
Emilia hesitated, glancing from the boy to Subaru. "Well, um… sure, I suppose. He does look upset."
The two approached the boy, Subaru taking the lead but gesturing for Emilia to speak first.
Emilia knelt slightly to meet the boy's eye level, her voice soft and kind. "Hello there. Are you alright? What's wrong?"
The boy lifted his tear-streaked face and looked at Emilia, his lip trembling, but no words came out. He hiccuped and wiped at his eyes, his crying only growing louder, leaving Emilia looking flustered.
"Oh, um, it's okay! You can tell us. Don't be afraid…" she said, though her voice wavered slightly.
Subaru stepped in, quick to think. "Alright, kiddo, how about this?"
With a dramatic flourish, she reached behind her back and pulled her hand forward, palm outstretched. Then, with an exaggerated twist of her fingers, she seemed to pluck a small berry out of thin air. It was a sleight-of-hand trick her dad had taught her as a kid.
"Ta-da!" Subaru said, holding the berry up like it was a priceless treasure.
The boy's crying stopped almost immediately, his wide, teary eyes staring at the berry in astonishment. "W-Wow… how did you do that?"
Subaru grinned, flipping the berry in her hand before offering it to the boy. "Magic. Pretty cool, huh? Here, you can have it."
The boy hesitated but then accepted the berry, his small hands clutching it tightly. "Thank you… I-I was lost."
"Lost, huh?" Subaru said, crouching down to his level. "Well, don't worry, kiddo. You've got the great hero Natsuki Subaru and her trusty partner, Emilia, on your side. We'll get you home!"
Emilia blinked at Subaru's confidence but quickly nodded in agreement. "Yes, of course. Don't worry, we'll find your parents."
To emphasise her determination—and maybe to show off just a little—Subaru scooped the boy up in her arms with ease. "Hang tight, kid. Let's find your folks!"
The boy clung to her armour, his earlier tears now replaced with a small smile.
It didn't take long before Subaru spotted a familiar face in the crowd. The broad green-haired man selling appas—the same one who had kindly given Subaru a fruit earlier—was searching the area frantically, his booming voice calling out a name.
"Oi! Appa guy!" Subaru called, waving an arm.
The vendor's eyes widened as he spotted them, relief flooding his face as he ran toward them. "My boy! You found my boy!"
Subaru handed the child over to his father, who embraced the boy tightly. "Thank you, Sir Knight! Thank you so much!"
"Knight, huh?" Subaru muttered, scratching the back of her head but choosing not to correct him.
Emilia watched the interaction with quiet amazement, her amethyst eyes lingering on Subaru.
Subaru crossed her arms, grinning. "No problem, but hey, I need a favour. We're looking for someone—a short blonde girl who's, uh… not the most honest person around."
The vendor straightened, his brows furrowing in thought. "Ah, you must mean Felt."
"Felt, huh?" Subaru said, committing the name to memory.
"She's a thief, lives in the slums," the vendor continued. "You'll find her at Old Man Rom's Loot House. Not the safest place, but if you're looking for her, that's where she'll be."
Subaru's grin widened. "Awesome! Thanks, Appa guy!"
The vendor chuckled. "Be careful, Knight. The slums are no place for a lady."
Subaru waved dismissively. "A lady? Pfft. I'm a protagonist, remember? Nothing can stop me!"
With that, Subaru and Emilia headed off toward the slums, their goal now clear. The bustling market faded behind them, replaced by narrow, shadowy alleys and the faint smell of decay. The air grew heavier, the laughter of children replaced by hushed whispers and furtive glances.
Subaru's confidence didn't waver, though she glanced at Emilia with a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Emilia. We've got this. Just stick with me!"
Emilia nodded, her earlier nervousness giving way to quiet determination. Together, they ventured deeper into the slums, ready to face whatever awaited them.
Ö~Ö
Author Note: This will be a lighthearted story, the Re:Zero tension will be here though, just not too much.
As I said earlier, Subaru is stronger than a normal person and there is a certain twist here. Well, you see, Subaru is actually [...].
Thanks for reading this chapter. The next chapter will be released depending on your responses.
Drop your thoughts in the review section. Your words motivate me to write better, larger and with more depth.
Till next time!
