We Can Always Restart

Subaru opened her eyes, her heart pounding as the familiar scent of roasted meat hit her nose. Her vision focused on the sight of Team Kazuma, once again gathered around the roasted White Whale carcass, munching away like they hadn't eaten in weeks. Aqua was happily gnawing on a rib, her face smeared with grease. Kazuma was tearing into a piece with resigned acceptance, while Darkness chewed with unnerving enthusiasm. Megumin, her crimson cloak slightly singed, lay sprawled on the scorched ground, half-asleep but still clutching a chunk of meat in her hand.

Subaru blinked, then gasped. Wait a minute...I'm back! I'm actually back! A wild grin spread across her face as relief flooded her. Her fight against the White Whale hadn't reset! All the planning, the hard-fought victory, the triumph—it was still intact.

"Yes! Yes! Yes!" she cheered, clenching her fists triumphantly. The adrenaline was kicking in now, her determination flaring up like a wildfire. She slapped her cheeks, snapping herself out of her euphoria. "Alright, I can't screw this up. Time to fix everything!"

Subaru sprang to her feet, pointing dramatically at the sky as if the heavens themselves were listening. "Folks! I haaave been blessed with another vision!" she declared, her voice booming with newfound conviction.

Everyone froze, save for Aqua, who continued chewing loudly. A sneeze cut through the silence, courtesy of Ram, who casually wiped her nose with a gloved hand before returning to her blank expression.

"Uh, Lia," Puck said, floating near her shoulder with a skeptical look. "You never told me about this... Divine Protection of yours…"

"It's… new!" Subaru stammered, her grin faltering slightly before she recovered. "Yes, and, uh, I just got it! And it's telling me that the Witch Cult is going to attack the Mathers Domain!"

"What?!" The reaction was immediate. Rosewall's painted smile faltered, Ram's eyes narrowed with suspicion, and Team Kazuma paused mid-bite, food still in their mouths. Aqua gulped audibly, the first to drop her meal.

"When?" Rosewall asked, his voice calm but laced with intrigue as he folded his hands neatly on his lap.

"Now!" Subaru declared with a dramatic wave of her arm.

Ram crossed her arms, raising a brow. "Are you not being delusional, Emilia-sama?" Her tone was sharp, but there was a flicker of concern in her eyes.

Subaru's gaze hardened, her voice resolute. "Did I not predict the Whale's attack on us?"

"Like, half a minute earlier?" Kazuma quipped dryly, earning a glare from Subaru.

"Details!" Subaru shot back, waving her hand dismissively.

Megumin groaned from her spot on the ground, weakly raising her hand. "I need a nap... not another mission," she muttered, her voice muffled as she buried her face into the dirt.

But Subaru wasn't backing down. She turned to Rosewall, gesturing wildly. "We need to go now, or it'll be too late! You'll fund the expedition, right?"

"Riiiiiight~" Rosewall sang, his smirk returning. "After all, I would not want the Domain to fall into such disrepair, now would I?"

Hearing about money, Aqua's head snapped up, her eyes gleaming. "A Witch Cult, you say?" she said, clapping her hands together. "Witches and all their vile spawn are no match for the great Aqua-sama! They'll crumble before me!" She puffed out her chest, beaming with confidence.

Darkness shivered, her cheeks flushing as her imagination ran wild. "Enemies who could kill us in disgusting and unspeakable ways… Yes, this is the kind of battle I've been waiting for!" Her voice trembled with excitement, much to everyone else's discomfort.

Kazuma sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Great. Guess we're doing this, huh? Not like anyone asked for my opinion or anything."

Subaru turned to Megumin, who was now lying flat on her back. "Megumin! You in?"

The mage groaned, waving her hand weakly. "I'm too tired to argue. Just… carry me along."

Subaru grinned, her silver hair shimmering in the light as her resolve burned brighter than ever. "That's the spirit! We're all in this together!" She turned to Puck, who had been watching her closely. "Puck, let's get moving!"

With her usual flair for drama, Subaru separated one of the ground lizard dragons from the stables and climbed onto its back. The beast snorted, its scales gleaming under the sun as it shifted restlessly beneath her. Puck floated above her, his tiny paws crossed as he surveyed the group.

Team Kazuma reluctantly climbed onto the carriage, Aqua muttering about how she expected double the payment for this kind of emergency mission. Darkness, meanwhile, was practically vibrating with anticipation, while Kazuma just looked resigned.

Subaru tightened her grip on the reins, glancing back at the group. Her heart was pounding, but this time, it wasn't from fear. This was her chance to set things right. No mistakes. No hesitations.

"Hold on tight, everyone!" she called, her voice filled with determination. "We're saving the Domain!"

And with that, they set off, the ground lizard dragon surging forward as the carriage rattled behind them. The path ahead was uncertain, but Subaru's resolve was unwavering. She wouldn't let this chance slip away. Not again.

As they approached the Mathers Domain, tension hung thick in the air like an impending storm. The team was on edge, their eyes darting across the desolate path lined with skeletal trees and patches of eerie mist. Ram gripped her wand tightly, her expression stoic but alert. Rosewall floated gracefully above them, a smirk playing on his lips, though his eyes glinted with a rare sharpness. Aqua, for once, looked serious, her staff glowing faintly with divine energy. Even Team Kazuma had snapped out of their usual bickering, Kazuma nervously scanning the surroundings while Darkness seemed far too enthusiastic, gripping her sword with a trembling hand. Megumin, leaning against the carriage, yawned but managed to keep her gaze focused ahead.

Subaru, atop her ground lizard dragon, clenched the reins, her heart pounding. Every instinct screamed at her to stay sharp. She wouldn't let them down. Not this time. She was ready to face the Witch Cult head-on.

"Keep your eyes peeled," she warned, her voice steady despite the unease bubbling inside her. "We're getting close."

As they crested a hill, a group of cloaked figures emerged from the fog ahead, their dark robes fluttering ominously in the breeze. They were moving slowly, almost too calmly for people in such a hostile environment. Subaru's eyes narrowed. Were these the cultists? The air didn't feel malicious, but the eerie silence made her suspicious.

"There they are!" she shouted, pointing at the figures. Her determination flared, and without waiting for confirmation, she raised her hand. A swirl of frost and ice coalesced at her fingertips before erupting into a wave of freezing energy. It engulfed the cloaked figures in an instant, trapping them in jagged shards of ice.

She smirked. "Got 'em."

"Uh, Lia…" Puck floated closer, his ears twitching. "I think you might wanna look closer…"

The satisfaction on Subaru's face froze, much like the unfortunate victims of her spell. As she cautiously approached, the frost-covered figures began to come into clearer view. They weren't cultists. They were merchants, their faces frozen mid-expression, some still clutching their wares.

"Oh… no…" Subaru muttered, her face flushing crimson. She scrambled off the dragon and waved her hands frantically. "I-I'm so sorry! My bad! I thought you were, um… evil!"

One of the merchants, thawing out with a sputtering cough, glared at her. "Y-you call this hospitality?!"

Rosewall chuckled from above, clearly enjoying the spectacle. "My, my, Lia. Such quick reflexes you have. Though perhaps a little too quick, hmm?"

Kazuma groaned, burying his face in his hands. "We're off to a great start…"

Subaru awkwardly bowed, muttering apologies, before hastily ushering the group onward. "Let's go! We don't have time to waste!"

They pressed forward, the tension now tinged with a layer of awkwardness. The air grew heavier as they delved deeper into the Domain's outskirts, the once familiar landscape now twisted and unrecognisable. The trees seemed darker, the shadows deeper. And then, they saw it—a second group of cloaked figures.

This time, there was no mistaking it. These weren't merchants. Their movements were too precise, too calculated. The air around them felt oppressive, like an invisible hand pressing down on Subaru's chest. Her heart sank as she recognised the unsettling aura that radiated from them.

"They're here," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

The cloaked figures stopped, their heads turning in unison toward the group. One of them raised a hand, and Subaru could feel their eyes—piercing, malicious—boring into her.

"They've noticed us," Ram said, her voice tense. She raised her wand, the glow of magic building at its tip.

Kazuma gulped, gripping his sword tightly. "Alright, so what's the plan? We charge in or—?"

"Lia, wait for my signal," Rosewall called down, his tone unusually serious.

But Subaru was already moving. She didn't need a signal. This was her chance—her chance to stop them before they could cause any more harm. She urged the ground dragon forward, ice magic swirling in her palm, ready to strike.

"Lia!" Puck's voice rang out, sharp with urgency.

It was too late. Before she could process the warning, a sharp, searing pain erupted in her neck. Time seemed to slow as her vision blurred. She felt a sickening, wet warmth trickle down her collar. Her body went cold, her magic faltering.

What…?

Her head tilted down, and to her horror, she saw the glint of blood-stained steel—a thin, invisible blade slicing clean through her neck. The world tilted violently, and suddenly, she was falling.

No, not falling. Her body was falling. She was still—somehow—aware as her vision spiralled downward. The ground rushed up to meet her, and with a dull thud, her head hit the dirt, rolling slightly before coming to a stop.

From her new vantage point, she saw the others screaming. Kazuma's face was pale, his mouth agape in shock. Aqua dropped her staff, her eyes wide with terror. Darkness froze, her bravado shattered, while Megumin, still drained from before, weakly reached out as if trying to pull her back from the brink.

Ram shouted something, her wand raised, but Subaru couldn't hear it. The world was muffled, her senses dulling with every passing second.

"Damn," Subaru thought bitterly, her consciousness fading. "Something invisible, huh? Should've seen that coming…"

And just like that, the world went black again.

Û~Û

Subaru jolted awake with a violent gasp, her body lurching forward as if she'd been pulled from drowning. Her hands instinctively gripped the dirt beneath her, cold sweat trickling down her back. A sharp, acidic taste stung her throat, and before she could stop it, she doubled over and retched, emptying her stomach onto the ground. Each heave was accompanied by a searing memory—the blade, cold and unrelenting, slicing cleanly through her neck. The phantom pain lingered, vivid and cruel, like a ghost's mocking reminder of her failure.

Her trembling fingers clawed at the earth as she gulped down air, her vision blurred by unshed tears. It wasn't just the memory of the pain—it was the helplessness, the sheer brutality of how quickly it had ended. Her breath came in ragged gasps as the world around her slowly came into focus.

"Lia! Hey, hey, are you okay?!" Puck's voice was high-pitched, bordering on panicked, as his tiny form floated in front of her face. His soft, furred paws pressed against her cheek, his cool touch grounding her in the present. "Talk to me, Lia! You're scaring me."

Subaru's voice was hoarse as she croaked out, "I… I'm fine…" She winced at how weak she sounded, but even her body betrayed her. Her arms wobbled as she tried to push herself up, collapsing back onto her hands and knees. She shook her head, trying to rid herself of the overwhelming nausea. "Just… gimme a second."

Puck hovered closer, his sapphire eyes narrowing with worry. "You're pale as a ghost. Did you eat something bad? Or is this another one of those… weird Lia moments?"

"Sacred Heal!" Aqua's voice rang out, and Subaru felt a gentle warmth envelop her. The divine magic chased away the worst of her nausea, soothing her frayed nerves and steadying her trembling limbs.

For once, Aqua wasn't flaunting her abilities or basking in self-praise. Her usual smug grin was replaced with a furrowed brow, her blue eyes surprisingly focused. "Lia, what's going on with you? You've been acting super weird lately, and now you're puking your guts out. That's not normal."

Subaru wiped her mouth with the back of her hand, her lips pressing into a thin line. "It's nothing," she muttered, though her voice lacked conviction. She forced herself to sit back on her heels, her silver hair clinging to her sweat-drenched forehead. "Just… stress. Too much stress."

"Stress doesn't make you puke like that!" Aqua snapped, her hands on her hips. "Are you hiding something from us? I swear if you're cursed—"

"I'm not cursed!" Subaru barked, louder than she intended. Aqua flinched, her expression softening into something uncomfortably close to pity. Subaru sighed, dragging a shaky hand down her face. "Look, I'm fine now, okay? Thanks for the heal. Let's just focus on the task at hand."

Puck didn't look convinced, but he floated back, giving her some space. "If you say so… but don't push yourself too hard, Lia. We're here for you."

Subaru's chest tightened at his words, guilt bubbling beneath the surface. She couldn't tell them the truth—not yet. Not about the deaths. Not about Return by Death. But the weight of the secret was suffocating. She forced herself to her feet, clapping her cheeks with both hands in a poor attempt to shake off the lingering dread. "Alright," she said, her voice steadier now. "Time for round two. I'm not screwing up this time."

She turned to the group, her silver hair catching the sunlight as she pointed dramatically toward the horizon. "Everyone, listen up! I've been blessed with the Divine Protection of Foresight!"

The declaration hung in the air like an awkward silence. Kazuma blinked at her, his expression a mix of disbelief and exhaustion. Darkness tilted her head, her usual smile faltering. Megumin, leaning heavily against the carriage, rubbed her eyes, muttering something about how "this nonsense better be worth it."

"Lia," Puck said slowly, his ears twitching, "you never mentioned anything about this Divine Protection before."

"It's… new!" Subaru said, her hands waving wildly as she tried to maintain her composure. "Super new! Like, I-just-got-it-yesterday new. Anyway, the point is, I know what's going to happen. The Witch Cult is going to attack the Mathers Domain!"

"What?" Rosewall's voice cut through the air, sharp and commanding. His usual smug tone was gone, replaced by something colder, more dangerous. His golden eyes locked onto Subaru, his gaze piercing. "Are you absolutely certain, Emilia-sama~?"

"Yes!" Subaru insisted, her fists clenched at her sides. "I saw it in my vision. If we don't stop them, they'll slaughter everyone—the villagers, the kids, everyone. We have to act now."

Ram's sceptical frown deepened as she clutched her wand. "Emilia-sama, with all due respect, are you certain this isn't just stress clouding your judgment? You've been—"

"I know what I'm talking about!" Subaru interrupted, her voice rising. "Do you think I'd joke about something like this? If we don't act, people will die. Do you want that on your conscience?"

The weight of her words settled heavily over the group. Even Kazuma, usually quick to dismiss her, looked troubled. Rosewall studied her for a long moment before nodding, his usual grin returning but lacking its usual warmth. "Very well. We'll proceed with caution. But if you're wrong, Lia…"

"I'm not," Subaru said firmly, her eyes blazing with determination. "I'll prove it to you."

Aqua's face lit up with newfound enthusiasm. "If it's the Witch Cult, that means they're evil, right? My holy power will wipe them out in no time! Naturally, I'll lead the charge!"

Darkness grinned, her hand resting on the hilt of her sword. "If it's a battle against evil, I'll gladly face whatever dangers lie ahead."

Kazuma groaned, rubbing his temples. "Yeah, yeah, we'll help, but don't blame me if Megumin faints halfway through. Again."

As the group prepared to move, Subaru turned to Rosewall. Her voice was quieter this time, but no less resolute. "I'm not taking any chances. You're taking me with you."

Rosewall arched an eyebrow, his grin widening. "Oh? And why is that, Lia?"

"Because I need to be there when it happens," Subaru said, meeting his gaze without flinching. "You're fast, and I can't risk being late. Just don't drop me."

Puck floated between them, his tiny arms crossed. "Don't try anything funny, Clown. I'm watching you."

Rosewall chuckled, extending a hand toward Subaru. "Of coooourse, Puck. I wouldn't dreaaam of it."

She hesitated for a moment before taking his hand, her grip firm despite the trembling in her fingers. As he lifted her into the air, the wind rushing past her face, she cast one last glance at the group below.

This time, she wouldn't fail. She couldn't.

Û~Û

Author's Note:

Konosuba... they are here for another chapter then gone. But should I mark it as a crossover or no?

I have about five stories in Google Docs as draft among which I have two Re:Zero fics where Subaru is a summoned as a girl in Lugicinia and another one is where he is summoned to a different verse as a certain MC . They are crossovers from famous fandoms. I'll publish them after I've done with at least one of my current Re:Zero fics. And by done, I mean completing Arc 5 or Arc 6.

Till next time!