Looking back on it, his encounters with Fake
The first and third times followed the same pattern—both occurred within close range of this main avenue (he'd heard the turban-wearing shopkeeper call it Commerce Street). That was the only common thread.
If only he'd had the habit of checking the time. Then again, deliberately recording the exact moments he ran into Fake Satella would be borderline stalker behavior, and that was something he hadn't stooped to.
Which meant the quickest approach was to mentally replay the pattern from the third time.
"Back then, how long was I slumped next to that greengrocer, feeling sorry for myself?"
He couldn't tell whether he'd been dizzy on the ground hugging his knees for just a few minutes or closer to an hour. Either way, the only honest answer he could give was "I have no idea."
"Well, guess I'll just wander around and search for Commerce Street… putting my faith in the Beautiful Girl Radar."
Or, if you preferred, the Silver-Haired Beautiful Girl Sensor.
It was a skill that could never activate in his original world, but in this one it had to be useful.
He held both hands up in front of his forehead, fingers extended, and muttered "myon myon" while attracting bewildered stares from passersby. Something about it felt vaguely promising, so he let himself be drawn onward.
Gradually, the surroundings began to take on a familiar atmosphere, and he thought, "Wait, maybe my sensor's sensitivity isn't completely hopeless!?"—only to suddenly realize that at some point he had drifted off the main street and into a narrow alley.
"This is where I first ran into Fake Satella and the others… isn't it?"
The alleys all looked similar, so he wasn't entirely sure.
The passages through the Slums weren't atmospherically that different, and as for this particular encounter alley—since the first loop, he'd never had the chance to visit a second time.
The second loop had clearly taken a different route, and now that he thought about it, the third had been a different dead end entirely. Even if Fake Satella having the Emblem stolen by
The first and second loops might have been the same, but the third had diverged slightly in that area because Subaru himself had gotten involved.
It was only after reaching that point that Subaru suddenly recognized how shallow his thinking was.
Sure, entering a familiar alley might lead to an encounter with Fake Satella or Felt.
But that also, in a sense, meant a different kind of reunion. In short— "I'm sick and tired of seeing your faces. Give it a rest, Ton Chin Kan."
Frustrated, Subaru turned around. Blocking the mouth of the alley stood the usual trio.
Same faces, same clothes, same features. If their objective hadn't changed, then presumably their equipment hadn't either. No progress whatsoever. Not surprising, really, since they'd been treading water in the same spot the whole time.
"And here I can't even manage to run into Fake Satella or Felt."
His inability to find Fake Satella or Felt probably came down to the fact that their movements were heavily influenced by random factors other than Subaru.
Conversely, the reason Ton Chin Kan kept stumbling into him every single time was that they had targeted Subaru from the very beginning.
So no matter which alley he turned into, no matter where he tried to position himself, he'd run into them.
"Even if this half-baked deduction turns out to be correct, what exactly are you hoping to accomplish, you three?"
"What's he muttering about over there?" said one.
"Probably doesn't even understand the situation. Why don't we clue him in?" said another.
Ton and Chin's exchange followed the usual template, further dragging down Subaru's mood. But alongside the exasperation, a sober part of him insisted he couldn't afford to underestimate them.
Encountering Ton Chin Kan was technically a loose clear condition—easy to stumble into. That didn't mean he could escape one hundred percent of the time, though. After all, they were what had killed him in the third loop.
He figured he could probably get past them the way he had in the first loop (with Fake Satella's help) or the second (with a surprise attack of his own), but neither approach was foolproof.
The second time had gone improbably smoothly, but there was no guarantee this run would follow suit. A major event almost certainly awaited him up ahead, and getting wounded was something he wanted to avoid at all costs.
"That said, hand over the negotiable goods and run—that's no good either."
理想 was to slip through without losing anything, like he had in the second loop.
Ideally, he'd also avoid the time-skip that had happened in the first.
He crossed his arms and racked his brain for a way around the three.
Meanwhile, perhaps reading Subaru's dismissive posture as contempt, Ton Chin Kan—who should have held the upper hand—grew increasingly sour-faced.
Before the knives came out, he needed to settle into a stance.
Cursing Ton Chin Kan's threadbare patience, Subaru was just about to conclude that a surprise attack was his best option after all—when he suddenly recalled a flash from the moment of his third death.
In that situation, on the verge of death, he had kept picking up audio cues.
What had Ton Chin Kan been saying at the very end? His dying brain hadn't processed it at the time, but he could piece it together now.
—Yes. That was it.
"GUUUARDS!!!"
The scream, launched without any preamble, caught Ton Chin Kan off guard and sent them stumbling.
It was a scream loud enough to shatter the alley's tense silence and cut unmistakably into the roar of the main street. Years of making a fool of himself doing kendo had long since stripped Subaru of any embarrassment about yelling at the top of his lungs.
Crying out for help hurt his pride not one bit.
"Somebody! Get a man over heeeeere!!"
"You little— Are you serious!? Who just screams like that out of nowhere!?"
"Normally when you're in a position to get beaten up, you do what the guys holding the knife say! Nobody ignores the demand and just starts screaming like this!"
"Shut up! What do you mean 'normally'? Out of the ordinary, off the beaten path, heretical, unorthodox, and all paths lead straight ahead! You think I've got time to deal with you guys? I'm throwing everything I've got into chasing pretty girls and having fun!"
He stamped the ground and roared down at the flaring Ton Chin Kan from above, putting on a show of brazen defiance. Beneath the surface, though, his composure was nothing but a façade—the urgency was piling up fast. The idea of screaming for help rested on a shaky memory from the last moments of the third loop.
Just before consciousness sank into darkness, one of the Ton Chin Kan trio had uttered the words "guard" and "run." That tenuous hook was all this pathetic plan was built on.
His shout had surely reached the main street, but no help materialized. He hadn't expected much to begin with.
Besides, in the second loop, when he'd driven off Ton Chin Kan, the people on the avenue had pretty much watched him get mugged without lifting a finger.
"So it really was a bust…"
"Scared me for a second there, didn't you. Just a tiny bit, though."
"Only a tiny bit!"
"Only a teeny-tiny bit!"
Their perfectly synchronized denial of their own cowardice was itself an act of supreme cowardice.
Trying to regain the momentum Subaru's opening gambit had stolen, the men took a deep breath to steady themselves, then each gripped their weapon.
A knife. A rusty cleaver. And— "Why's one of you empty-handed? Too broke to buy a weapon?"
"Shut your mouth! I'm stronger without a weapon! Keep talking trash and I'll beat you to death for real, you little shit!"
"If only you could watch a replay of the second loop. That gorgeous throw I pulled off—you'd be swooning."
Recalling his own textbook reverse throw, Subaru was genuinely impressed by his past self. At the same time, he kept mentally repeating "this is really bad" enough times to make it a mantra.
Since the weapons were already drawn, breaking through had become enormously difficult.
Forget making it out unscathed—he wasn't even sure he'd keep all his limbs.
"Come on, give me a break. …I really don't want to feel pain."
Having died three times, he knew this for a fact: no matter how many times it happened, dying never got easier.
Especially since every death he'd experienced so far had involved searing agony from a bladed weapon. Sharp pain was always fresh, and the sensation of nerves being peeled away like sandpaper at the finish was always sensational.
He never wanted to die like that again, and above all— "Just because I've been able to use Return by Death doesn't mean I can do it this time…"
He could only say that if there was no limit on uses.
There was no visible countdown carved anywhere on his body, but even the Buddha only grants three chances. If the latter rule applied, Subaru's continue count was already spent. If he died here like a dog, his isekai life would reach a BAD END.
"…So that means breaking through even if I take a wound is the right call."
The knife was obviously the most lethal—reliable and battle-tested. The cleaver had surprising rust; if he used a plastic bag as a shield, it might only leave a bruise. And Suego was, as always, a complete non-threat.
Watching Ton Chin Kan close in, Subaru made his decision on the spot.
Focus all caution on Chin only, then slip through the gap. He started the mental countdown.
—Three, two… actually, wait. Three, two…
"That's enough."
The voice arrived without warning—yet perfectly, it cleaved through the alley's suffocating tension.
Its timbre was crisp and utterly free of hesitation, leaving no room for mercy. It merely imposed an overwhelming presence upon the listener, hammering its will home. That kind of authority was pure instinct.
Subaru looked up. Ton Chin Kan spun around. Standing at the far end of the alley was a single young man.
The first thing that seized the eye was hair the color of blazing flame—a vivid, burning red.
Beneath it shone twin blue eyes, straight and shining with a courage beyond mere metaphor. His almost unnaturally refined features reinforced that dignified air, and a single glance at him told you this was someone exceptional.
Wrapped in well-tailored black garments, slender and tall, he wore a simple ornament at his waist—though the knight's sword hanging from it radiated an intimidation that was anything but ordinary.
"No matter what the circumstances, further aggression toward him will not be tolerated. That is final."
As he spoke, the young man strolled past Ton Chin Kan and planted himself between them and Subaru. His sheer audacity left both Subaru and the thugs speechless.
But the reasons for their silence were apparently different.
Subaru had shut his mouth out of astonishment and the thrill of watching an unprecedented development unfold. Ton Chin Kan, whose faces were already draining of color, had gone quiet for a far more visceral reason.
"I-Impossible…"
Chin pointed a trembling, purple-tinged finger at the young man.
"Burning red hair and sky-blue eyes… plus a knight's sword with a dragon-claw engraving on the scabbard…"
As if confirming each detail by pointing at it, he finally gulped and— "Reinhard… Reinhard the Sword Saint!?"
"No introduction seems necessary. …Though even that title feels far too heavy for me."
The young man called Reinhard murmured with a self-deprecating smile, but his gaze never softened.
The men pinned by that gaze took an involuntary step backward, exchanging glances as they calculated their escape window. But— "If you choose to flee, I will let this pass. You may go straight to the avenue. But if you resort to force, I will respond in kind."
He rested a hand on the hilt of the sword at his waist, then jerked his chin toward Subaru behind him.
"In that case, it will be three against two. Numerically, the advantage is yours. I'm not sure how much my meager help can be to him, but as a knight, I will resist."
"You— You've got to be joking! That doesn't even come close to being fair!"
At Reinhard's composed words, Ton Chin Kan panicked, forgot all pretense of hiding their quarry, and scattered like spiders fleeing a disturbed web toward the main street.
They couldn't even manage the parting quip they'd left behind in the first loop—that alone told you everything about how far beyond the norm this young man standing before Subaru was.
"I'm glad we're both uninjured. Are you hurt?"
Once the men had vanished completely, the young man turned back with a warm smile.
In that instant, the oppressive aura that had filled the alley dissipated. The fact that the young man had been producing it deliberately only registered after the fact, leaving Subaru utterly speechless. And beyond that— "Acting all that cool and then being this refreshingly nice… that's way beyond just 'handsome.'"
His face, his voice, his bearing, his actions—so far everything had cleared an impossibly high bar for the "handsome" label. If his personality and family background were also stellar, it would be the kind of perfection that could only be balanced out by some hidden vice behind the scenes.
Setting aside the jealousy that was practically radiating off him, the fact remained that the man had saved his life.
Subaru dropped to one knee, bowed low, and put on his most earnest face.
"For saving my life, I offer my deepest gratitude. If this humble
"You really don't need to be so formal. They backed off once the numbers evened out and they lost their advantage. If I'd been alone, it wouldn't have gone like that."
"Honestly, the way they were trembling, even a three-on-one or ten-on-one wouldn't have stopped them from running. …But seriously, who is this guy? Is he genuinely handsome in mind and body? My route flags are going up!"
A scenario like this called for a handkerchief.
Spouting those jokes, Subaru took the opportunity to study Reinhard more carefully.
The more he looked, the more the man seemed like a being sculpted by the gods—yet from his outfit, he didn't exactly scream "guard." He actually looked a lot like the ordinary people Subaru had seen on the main street, setting aside the sheer quality of his raw materials.
"Uh, Reinhard, right? Is that what I call you?"
"You can call me however you like, Subaru."
"Don't just casually close the distance like that… Anyway, thanks again, Reinhard. You were the only one who actually came when I screamed. Seriously, that was lonely."
With all those people around, it was hard to believe he'd been the only one who'd heard. Subaru grumbled about the state of public spirit, and Reinhard's eyes softened just slightly.
"I'd rather not say this, but there's an unavoidable aspect to it. For most people, antagonizing a gang like that carries enormous risk. On that front, your decision to call for a guard was the right one."
"By that logic, are you a guard? You don't really look like one."
"I hear that a lot. Well, today's my day off, so I'm not in uniform—that's probably part of it."
As Reinhard spread his hands with a rueful smile, Subaru silently disagreed.
The biggest reason he didn't look like a guard was the aura around him—nothing like the grubby image that came to mind. If there was anything else contributing to the impression— "I feel like someone called you the 'Sword Saint' earlier…"
"My family is a little unusual. The weight of the expectations placed on me is crushing, day after day."
He shrugged with such casual ease that humor clearly came naturally to him.
At this point, there was no doubt left—the man was handsome in mind, body, and spirit. Subaru couldn't hide his awe at this walking ideal of a human being, and Reinhard looked down at him steadily.
"Your hair and clothes are unusual, and your name struck me as well… Where are you from, Subaru? What brought you to the
"That's a tough question to answer. Saying 'a small country to the east' got shot down last time… What about 'even further east' or something?"
He recognized his own answer was painfully lazy. But Reinhard's reaction was unexpectedly strong.
"East of Lugnica… You're not joking about the other side of the Great Waterfall, are you?"
"The Great Waterfall?"
Subaru tilted his head at the unfamiliar term.
Waterfall—that meant a waterfall, presumably, but his knowledge of the local geography was patchy at best. He hadn't even grasped the full extent of the Royal Capital yet. For Subaru, this city of Lugnica encompassed exactly three zones: Commerce Street, the alleyways, and the Slums.
No different from how his old world had consisted of home, his room, and the convenience store.
"If I think about it, I'm holing up in the same spots even in another world. This is basically my nature at this point… I've got it, don't I?"
"You don't seem to be trying to dodge the question, so I'll let that slide. In any case, it's clear you're not from the capital. There must be some reason you came here? The current state of Lugnica is more complicated than peacetime. If you'd like, I can help."
"No, no, you're on your day off. You shouldn't give that up just to help me. That last thing was more than enough… though, while we're at it, there is something I wanted to ask."
Subaru shook his head at the offer, then suddenly raised a finger as if remembering something. Reinhard nodded amiably, indicating Subaru should ask anything.
"I don't follow current events closely, so I may not be able to answer, but—"
"No, it's about finding a person, so it should be fine. So, have you seen a girl with silver hair wearing a white robe around here?"
Based on his observations from the main street, Fake Satella's outfit was extremely conspicuous. Silver hair was as rare as Subaru's black hair, and the hawk-embroidered robe was equally distinctive. Come to think of it, the white robe looked like it had been made of fairly expensive material. The fact that she'd been carrying a gem-studded Emblem suggested her background was similarly elevated.
"White robe, silver hair…"
"And to top it off, an absolute goddess-level beauty. Also, a cat—though I'm not just showing off. That's the description as far as information goes. Any ideas?"
If he could also add "accompanied by a cat-shaped Spirit," there'd be no mistaking Fake Satella, but that was probably expecting too much since the cat would be hidden in her silver hair.
Adding "beautiful girl" to the description, he couldn't help but imagine Reinhard—a super-handsome guy—standing next to her. What a picture that would make. He was irritated to find jealousy sprouting unbidden.
"…What will you do when you find her?"
"She dropped something—or rather, something was taken. I just want to return it to her."
Of course, it wasn't in his possession yet, and for all he knew, it hadn't even been stolen this time.
Reinhard narrowed his sky-blue eyes at the answer, thought for a moment, then— "No, I'm sorry. I can't say I've noticed anyone like that. If you'd like, I can help you look."
"I can't let you go to that much trouble. Don't worry, I'll find a way from here on out."
Subaru held up a hand to decline the offer, then decided his next move was to circle back to the main street. With any luck, he'd spot Fake Satella there, the way he had in the third loop.
He could even—while the theft was happening—catch Felt and prevent the Emblem from being taken in the first place.
The more he thought about it, the more efficient that approach seemed, and his impatience grew.
"The real question is how to catch Felt in the act… Like, block the alley with lateral jumps—zone defense, you know?"
"That's an unusual movement. What's the purpose?"
"It's a defensive action meant to pressure the opponent while stealing the ball. Don't let the appearance fool you—I actually have a solid reputation when it comes to defense. Also, the ability to participate in a play at a position where I don't interfere with ball circulation, that kind of thing."
When it came to dodgeball, Subaru was the type who stood on the boundary line, participating in a way that left everyone unsure whether he was infield or outfield. Games ending without him ever being hit by the ball were not uncommon.
"But anyway, first priority is Commerce Street."
"You're heading there?"
"Yeah. Reinhard, I owe you one. I'll repay the favor someday. …Would I find you at a guard post or something?"
"That's right, give them my name and they should know. Or on days off like today, I'll be wandering around the capital."
"I don't exactly have a hobby of scouting out guys while roaming the streets… This isn't a dating sim."
He responded with a light quip and gave a sharp salute. Reinhard, ever composed, saw him off with a final "Take care."
Pushed along by those words, Subaru made his escape from the alley completely unscathed and with zero losses.
—He failed to notice those same blue eyes watching his retreating back with an appraising gaze.