Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Vol. 8 Read online

  Copyright

  Re:ZERO Vol. 8

  TAPPEI NAGATSUKI

  Translation by Jeremiah Bourque

  Cover art by Shinichirou Otsuka

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Re:ZERO KARA HAJIMERU ISEKAI SEIKATSU Vol. 8

  © Tappei Nagatsuki 2016

  First published in Japan in 2016 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo.

  English translation rights reserved by YEN PRESS, LLC under the license from KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo, through Tuttle-Mori Agency, Inc., Tokyo.

  English translation © 2018 by Yen Press, LLC

  Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture.

  The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

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  Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

  Names: Nagatsuki, Tappei, 1987– author. | Otsuka, Shinichirou, illustrator. | ZephyrRz, translator. | Bourque, Jeremiah, translator.

  Title: Re:ZERO starting life in another world / Tappei Nagatsuki ; illustration by Shinichirou Otsuka ; translation by ZephyrRz ; translation by Bourque, Jeremiah

  Other titles: Re:ZERO kara hajimeru isekai seikatsu. English

  Description: First Yen On edition. | New York, NY : Yen On, 2016– | Audience: Ages 13 & up.

  Identifiers: LCCN 2016031562 | ISBN 9780316315302 (v. 1 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398374 (v. 2 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398404 (v. 3 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398428 (v. 4 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398459 (v. 5 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398473 (v. 6 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398497 (v. 7 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975301934 (v. 8 : pbk.)

  Subjects: CYAC: Science fiction. | Time travel—Fiction.

  Classification: LCC PZ7.1.N34 Re 2016 | DDC [Fic]—dc23

  LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2016031562

  ISBNs: 978-1-9753-0193-4 (paperback)

  978-1-9753-8314-5 (ebook)

  E3-20180920-JV-PC

  Contents

  Cover

  Insert

  Title Page

  Copyright

  Chapter 1: A Beeline Toward Sloth

  Chapter 2: —Fight

  Chapter 3: The Meaning of Having Returned

  Chapter 4: A Crafty Sloth

  Chapter 5: A Pact Fulfilled

  Afterword

  Yen Newsletter

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  CHAPTER 1

  A BEELINE TOWARD SLOTH

  1

  Subaru Natsuki began the strategy meeting he’d dubbed Witch Cult Hunting Made Simple.

  It was before dawn on the Liphas plains. A group of about fifty warriors and mercenaries had gathered together. Standing at the center of attention of so many accomplished people was a little rough on Subaru’s nerves.

  These people were older, veteran soldiers or rough-and-tumble beast people mercenaries. From Subaru’s perspective, they were from a different world. Barring very specific circumstances, Subaru would never have had the opportunity to cross paths with them. And now these residents of a world unconnected to his own were sitting in a circle with Subaru at the center.

  That his meandering path had put him in command of such people sent a gale of anxiety and weakness through Subaru’s heart. But his passion and will to fight were every bit as intense.

  “Figures…”

  The scene before Subaru’s eyes was what he had yearned for every time he experienced Return by Death, something that had seemed almost impossible to reach. Subaru’s piddling readiness and self-respect gave rise to an urge so great that it was almost painful; he didn’t want to fail the innumerable people who had guided him so far ever again. He criticized himself for this more harshly than anyone else could have.

  “—”

  “What is it, Subaru? You went quiet all of a sudden.”

  When Subaru put his fist to his chest in self-admonishment, someone watching him from the side called out to him. It was the other man who stood out even among their current company, a gorgeous man wearing the uniform of a Knight of the Royal Guard—Julius Juukulius.

  “I hardly think you’re getting cold feet, but…time is of the essence. You said yourself there’s not a moment to spare, no?”

  “Yeah, yeah, I know. You don’t need to snap at me every time. The first thing you say at times like these is important, so I was just thinking about how to put it best.”

  “Such concern is unnecessary. Everyone here already knows your conduct before large numbers of people is problematic. Pay it no concern and simply be yourself.”

  “Gah-ha-ha-ha! Ya sure said it, Julius! Hey, bro, he really got ya there!”

  “Grrr…!”

  A vein bulged on Subaru’s forehead as his darkest moment was dragged out into the open. Ricardo, commander of the beast-man mercenary band called the Iron Fangs, broke into laughter as sympathetic expressions spread among the knights of the expeditionary force. Apparently, news of Subaru’s humiliation at the royal palace had traveled further than he’d thought.

  “That’s so humiliating…!”

  “Yes, yes, now that’s enough feeling ashamed of yourself! Subawu, it’s your duty to work hard to clean the slate so you can live without shame, right? And Julius, I understand your urge to needle him, but think about how you say things!”

  “It seems you misunderstand, Ferris. I had no such intention. Certainly, it would be a happy day if he has become a better speaker for it.”

  “You really have a roundabout way of doing things…”

  Ferris sighed, looking thoroughly annoyed at Julius’s sardonic reply. Seeing his reaction, Subaru finally understood the purpose behind Julius’s words and deeds. That only gave him the same feelings as Ferris, though.

  “A little banter is fine. That said, I believe we should finally address the subject at hand. Our priority should be countermeasures against the Witch Cult.”

  It was the sharp-looking Wilhelm who dragged the conversation back from the tangent.

  Of all his companions, Subaru expected the most out of the Sword Devil, both mentally and in terms of combat. Subaru had cooperated with him in slaying the White Whale, the elderly warrior’s mortal foe of many years. In return, he unreservedly lent Subaru his strength.

  Joining Subaru and Wilhelm’s force were the survivors of the White Whale expeditionary force as well as the Iron Fangs’ reinforcements. These fifty-odd individuals formed the Anti-Witch Alliance, which would challenge the Witch Cult.

  “Wel
l, since Wilhelm asked and because time’s a-wasting, I’ll get to the point. The topic of discussion today is Witch Cult Hunting Made Simple… The actual contents are pretty simple. Like with anything, simpler methods give more intense results.”

  “Logical. What is your plan, then?”

  “How about we kick their asses—go in for a preemptive strike to take the enemy commander’s head and victory along with it.”

  “………”

  Subaru’s conclusion sent a faint whiff of surprise through those present. His words were the very definition of audacity. That “commander’s head” belonged to one of the Archbishops of the Seven Deadly Sins commanding the Witch Cult.

  “Well, that’s definitely simple. Assuming we pull it off, it’d be a huge blow to the Cult.”

  Amid the group’s unease, which was beginning to border on unrest, Ricardo was the first to speak up in admiration. The huge dog-man showed off his fangs as he smiled, touching those sharp canine teeth with a finger as he spoke again.

  “That’s if we can pull it off, though. Anyone can talk big. Can’t go countin’ our chickens before they hatch.”

  Ricardo was the first to show he understood Subaru’s aim, but he also made sure to call for caution. Subaru thumped his own chest in response and immediately followed up.

  “Of course I have a plan. I proved I’m not reckless enough to hunt a whale without a fishhook, didn’t I?”

  “Man, I already believe you. That’s why I wanna hear your reasoning, get it?”

  While Subaru was brimming with confidence, Ricardo prompted him to get on with it as he ground his fangs together. Subaru realized his other comrades shared the dog-man’s feelings when he saw how they drew closer, eagerly awaiting the details of his proposal.

  “Okay, I’ll lay this out one part at a time. First, the Witch Cult is targeting the Mathers domain, where Emilia is. This is due to all sorts of background information. We’ll leave it at that for now, okay?”

  “So those are the starting conditions? Very well. In truth, we anticipated that it was likely an incident related to the Witch Cult would occur in the Mathers domain. The appearance of the White Whale at the same time cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence.”

  “So what…the Witch Cult used the White Whale to seal the highway with its mist and isolate the Mathers domain, meow? Looks like the Cult is getting serious. Well, considering their dogma, that almost goes without saying.”

  When Subaru began going over the situation, Julius and Ferris both added their thoughts. Apparently, though the Witch Cult was still unfathomable in many respects, the fanatics’ obscure activities were underpinned by a pervading hostility toward half-elves. Given that, the current attack on the Mathers lands was no doubt due to the announcement that Emilia was participating in the royal selection.

  That indiscriminate cruelty would eventually result in a massacre of the villagers. Subaru genuinely believed the cultists were beyond redemption.

  “The Witch Cult is after Emilia’s life. But that doesn’t mean they’ll ignore the humans near her. They don’t discriminate—they’ll kill women and children without mercy.”

  “There is no room for doubt on that point, however repugnant it may be.”

  Seeing Subaru’s anger, Julius nodded. His eyes held no surprise in them—only furious indignation. The Witch Cult’s capacity for evil was common knowledge in this world, after all.

  “I want to save Emilia, the people at the mansion, and of course all the villagers. Now, I thought about getting everyone in the area to the mansion and holing up there, but…”

  “Against the Witch Cult, whose members can appear anywhere without the slightest warning, sheltering in place seems a poor plan.”

  “Yeah, we’re gonna pass that one up.”

  The point of holing up was to maintain one’s forces and hold out for some kind of impending victory. Subaru’s force couldn’t count on reinforcements, so it wasn’t much of an option.

  Besides, wasting the fighting strength currently in Subaru’s hands on a defensive battle would foolishly squander the one clear advantage he possessed. The information he’d gleaned from Return by Death would be worthless the instant events greatly diverged. If an armed group paraded into the mansion, even Petelgeuse would probably revise his plans. He might change the method of attack, or even call off the attack altogether.

  Furthermore, if Subaru was to maximize the value of what he’d obtained through Return by Death—

  “—We need to go after the Witch Cult lurking in the forest before they figure out what we’re up to. While they’re prepped to strike first, we’ve gotta strike even before that, and crush ’em.”

  “I appreciate the enthusiasm, meow, but how do we find the Witch Cult in the forest? No one’s managed to grab their tail in four hundred years. We need something to go on.”

  “Yeah, about that… Long story short, it’s like fishing for the White Whale.”

  “Meow…?”

  Subaru’s suddenly cryptic explanation made Ferris’s big, round eyes bulge even bigger.

  “I used my scent to lure the whale in, right? I can do the same thing with the Witch Cult, too.”

  “…”

  “Yeah, this condition I have is scary stuff. It’s a real pain in the butt, ha-ha.”

  “…”

  “Ha-ha-ha…”

  Subaru’s dry laugh was the only sound in the silent atmosphere; when it trailed off, an unsettled air hung over the plains. He looked at the faces of those around him, wondering how they would respond to his long-awaited, long-delayed plan. Subaru himself could not explain it any better; he had no reasoning for why he could lure demon beasts and Witch cultists save his physical makeup. All he could do was recognize the fact and say, That’s how it is.

  Someday the truth behind that would become clear, but even if there was some terrible reason it was so, the best thing he could do right now was rely on it. Hence—

  “I figured in advance my story wasn’t gonna sound very persuasive.”

  Subaru surveyed the silent knights and beast people, speaking the truth in the most honest way he could think of.

  “I think calling it crazy talk, unbelievable stuff, is the natural reaction to have. But still…”

  “Sir Subaru.”

  “…Please believe me. I’ve said a lot of stupid things in my life, but I meant everything I just told you. That’s how I decided to be, and that’s why I want your help.”

  Up to that point, those around Subaru had reached out to him time after time, only for him to reject them and trample on their feelings. He only realized this now that he was facing his first true challenge.

  Subaru was powerless and ignorant before the task that loomed before him. On his own, it would be impossible. He needed help from others—from everyone.

  “I only have one head, so it’s the only thing I can ask you with. But if this single head won’t do, I’ll bow it as many times as you like, so please, lend me your strength.”

  “…”

  Subaru pleaded with them, lowering his head for all to see.

  Those around Subaru were silent; the only sound was that of the wind crossing the plains. After several moments, the first to speak was a small beast man, a lieutenant of the Iron Fangs called TB.

  With an adorable face, he adjusted the position of his monocle and stared straight at Subaru. “I understand what you are trying to say. However, if you ask us to believe you without any basis for…gah?!”

  “What are you worrying about, TB?”

  In the middle of his lecture to Subaru, TB was interrupted by a single blow from his older sister Mimi, who stood nearby. She smacked his back, and as her younger brother groaned, she laughed innocently.

  “Mister here worked reaaaally hard to take down that big fish, you know! No one who worked that hard would try to trick us, so it’s okay!”

  “S-Sis, could you please be quiet?! This is a very important conver—”

  “You’
re always trying to be crofty… Wait, huh? Cro? Cru? Crufty…?”

  “Crafty?”

  “That’s the one! You won’t grow big if you’re doing that all the time!”

  Mimi bluntly scolded her teary-eyed younger brother. Then, turning from the wilting TB, she pointed at Subaru.

  “You didn’t fight that big fish earlier, TB! So if you can’t trust Mister here, just trust in your big sis!”

  “—”

  “Big Sis believes in Mister, so since you believe in Big Sis, you can trust Mister, right, TB? Besides, Mimi will protect TB no matter what happens!”

  Mimi puffed her chest out as she spoke, brimming with confidence. Though her words surprised TB, they immediately wore him down. The hostility he’d displayed earlier drained from his face. The sight of the siblings made the others unwittingly break into broad smiles.

  Amid the unexpected outpouring of laughter, Mimi tilted her head with a curious look and asked, “What?”

  “Nahhh, don’t sweat it. That was perfect. You said it great.”

  His eyes softening, Ricardo patted Mimi’s head so hard that his huge palm almost looked like it would pop her head right off.

  “There’s still things that bug me, but havin’ come this far, we’re not gonna doubt bro now. We crossed that bridge a long while ago.”

  “—” Subaru’s eyes widened at the unexpected words.

  Then, in apparent agreement with Ricardo, Wilhelm stepped forward. “Sir Subaru, a man should not lower his head lightly. Indeed, to avoid meeting a person’s eyes when you ask something of them is unacceptable—had you looked, you would surely have noticed it yourself by now.”

  The Sword Devil’s solemn words urged Subaru to lift his chin and look around. As he examined the faces of those surrounding him, Subaru realized that their feelings had not changed. Not a single thing about them was different since the discussion began—

  “You know, meow, it puts us in a bind if you go quiet all on your own like that. It’s not as if anyone thinks your story is a lie, Subawu.”

  With a subdued look, Ferris passed a finger through his own fur as he spoke. The absence of objections proved that everyone present agreed. Under Subaru’s gaze, Julius maintained his usual elegant handsomeness as he stood straight.