Chapter 98: Game Time from Zero

"Damn it, has the situation already gotten this bad—the boss has actually started thinking about going to his death willingly!"

Garfiel pounded the armrest of his chair and spoke in a furious rage.

Otto let out a sigh.

"Looks like the next loop is about to begin again. This time, too, we couldn't make any progress."

["All I have to do is close my eyes and take one step forward, and everything will be over!"

Natsuki Subaru's throat bobbed, and he closed his eyes.

"But after I die this time, what will become of me? A new loop, or the end right here?"

Thinking aimlessly like this, he trembled and lifted his leg several times, trying to take that step, only to fail every time.

In the end Natsuki Subaru slumped down before the cliff, tears spilling from his eyes.

"Damn it, it's just one last little step! And even this I can't…"]

"I see—so from the husband's point of view, he doesn't know whether he'll be able to return again each time after he dies, which is why such immense fear arose in him?"

Priscilla murmured.

"No, it's even more extreme than that. In fact, it wasn't only at the manor—back in the Royal Capital, when Subaru and I first met, Subaru, fresh to this world, died four times in order to help me reclaim my insignia and to save me."

Emilia clenched her fists and briefly recounted to the others what she had seen and heard during the previous viewing.

"So in Subaru's eyes, the update of the Return by Death save point at the manor meant he had at most four chances to die—that's the only experience he has to go on."

"As for whether there would still be a chance to start over after the fifth death, that only the heavens know."

Emilia said dejectedly.

"The story of how Mr. Natsuki and Miss Emilia met is as romantic as the storybook tales I saw when I was a child."

Otto murmured, his eyes going wide as he listened.

"If the husband's Return by Death at the manor was only for the sake of self-preservation, then back at the Royal Capital I simply cannot understand it at all."

Priscilla sighed after listening earnestly to Emilia's words.

"You woman—I really can't tell what sort of charm you possess that's worth the husband dying so many times to save."

At these words, everyone silently sighed with feeling. Indeed, perhaps there really was some reason that drove Natsuki Subaru to act this way.

[In the blink of an eye, Natsuki Subaru fell backward and lay sprawled at the edge of the cliff. In that self-abandoning state he gazed at the vast sky and the layer upon layer of distant mountain peaks, slowly emptying his mind bit by bit.

Gradually, he closed his eyes, and wearily fell asleep there…"]

"Wh-wh-what, Subaru just fell asleep like that?!"

Felt opened her mouth wide in astonishment and pointed at the screen with her finger.

"By the looks of it, Ram is bound to catch up with the husband next. It's just that once he's left the manor he no longer has Betty's protection, does he?"

"Hmph, don't go underestimating Betty, kashira! Because of the contract, anywhere Betty can sense—even in the forest—she'll keep Subaru safe!"

Betty planted her hands on her hips smugly. Though that was simply her nature.

But seeing herself, at this moment, so unwaveringly protecting Subaru, really did put one in a delightful mood, kashira~

On the other side, Ram—who was likewise one of the people directly involved—said nothing at all.

She only stared fixedly at the screen, as though waiting for something.

Up until now the development of the story had matched her memory down to the last detail, so what came next…

However, with a faint "click," the picture on the screen froze right then.

Then, completely beyond Ram's expectation, the entire screen went utterly dark—this sudden situation was just like how things had been when they first arrived in this mysterious space.

On top of that, because of the viewing, the surrounding lights had been very dim to begin with, and this abrupt change threw everyone into a flurry of panic.

"It's over? What's going on?"

Some people were at a loss, even standing up and glancing around in every direction, trying to find the source of the problem.

"Is it like last time… about to play out a world of other possibilities? But for some reason, I feel a faint unease in my heart…"

Some people fell into thought, associating it with the change at the previous viewing that was similar to the present one, yet their mood didn't relax in the slightest.

This time, it seemed something was different.

Amid the apprehension and uncertainty of the crowd in the viewing area, lines of small text lit up on the screen without any warning.

[Now multiple roads leading to different endings lie before Natsuki Subaru. Just how will he choose in the future?]

[Next time: Wrath if-line, Part One]

At the same time, before the crowd in the viewing area could even react, they heard a loud and familiar voice come through the darkness.

"Barusu, so you've finally gotten the notion to seek death?"

The tone was detached, mingled with a barely audible sigh. Everyone realized this was Ram's voice.

What did "Wrath if" mean? But at least they now knew that the story to come had a great deal to do with Ram.

Unfortunately, the screen seemed unwilling to waste too much time here. It couldn't even be bothered to show a single frame of footage, merely playing that one line of Ram's voice in a perfunctory way before lines of text continued to surface:

[And before the truth is revealed, let's have a little "interlude."]

The few words placed in quotation marks were deliberately enlarged and made to wobble, as if giving some kind of hint.

The next second, all the text vanished in an instant as though wiped away, leaving only that newly appeared line of text.

[Re: Mini-Game Time Starting From Zero!]

[Up to now, how could Natsuki Subaru—the protagonist of the viewing—have no sense of participation at all?]

[So next, the protagonist Natsuki Subaru will be invited to take part in a "mini-game," and all of you will have the chance to enter it and offer him your help.]

[But please note… in this game, he will have one life and one life only!]

[Ensure Natsuki Subaru's survival! Do not trust anyone!]

"Mini-game time… what is this? It's never appeared before."

Emilia's puzzled voice came from behind.

"It sounds more like some sort of nasty little amusement of this mysterious space."

Beside her, Priscilla spoke up coldly.

Listening to the two of them, Otto came back to himself and began to analyze as well:

"Something's off—everyone be careful! If it were just a simple mini-game, it wouldn't emphasize these things. After Mr. Natsuki arrives here, there may be a monster attack!"

Otto shouted out to warn the people around him, and right after that he noticed the screen before them light up once more, displaying a new picture.

This time, however, it was different from before. It no longer showed Natsuki Subaru's figure first thing, unfolding the story with him at the center.

What first met Otto's eyes on the screen was Natsuki Subaru's first-person perspective.

At this moment Natsuki Subaru, having just woken from unconsciousness, slowly opened his eyes.

"Sss!"

A sudden wave of headache struck and made him clutch his head, feeling as though his skull were about to split open.

After a while, only once the pain had eased a little did he get the chance to think.

"Where is this? How did I end up here?"

…

Author's Note: Next up I'm opening a new dungeon—a game I once came across on Bilibili, "Find the Impostor." Natsuki Subaru is the owner of Roswaal Manor, and these viewing folks come as lodgers knocking on the door to stay the night.

The original idea was to use this dungeon to write Emilia, Betty, and Ram, who carry memories of the Greed if-line, all in a withdrawn, shut-in state—which feels rather interesting.

Then the previously-viewing Priscilla, Crusch, and the others will also make their entrance. With memories of the Color-Jade if-line, they'll be formally meeting Natsuki Subaru for the first time, too. It's basically wrapping the characters' everyday lives in a dungeon shell. Last time during the viewing this bunch was bickering; this time, with Natsuki Subaru present, the underhanded sniping gets even fiercer. I hope I can write out the interesting parts.

____

👻🔥Whant more?: Walnut-chan🔥👻

🔥 New history: Naruto: Is it reasonable to beat up an Otsutsuki with Hamon, right?

Let's reach these milestones together:

🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 free chapter for all readers