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Rating:
Teen And Up Audiences
Archive Warning:
Graphic Depictions Of Violence
Category:
F/M
Fandoms:
BlazBlue Series (Video Games)Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活 | Re:Zero Starting Life in Another World (Anime)
Relationships:
Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue) & Natsuki SubaruNatsuki Subaru/RemEmilia/Natsuki Subaru
Characters:
Ragna the Bloodedge (BlazBlue)Natsuki SubaruEmilia (Re:Zero)Elsa GranhiertWilhelm van AstreaCrusch KarstenPriscilla BarielleFelt (Re:Zero)Anastasia HoshinMimi PearlbatonRem (Re:Zero)Ram (Re:Zero)Roswaal L MathersMeili PortrouteCapella Emerada LugnicaOtto Suwen
Additional Tags:
Game: BlazBlue: Central FictionPost-Game(s)Alternate UniverseCross-Posted on FanFiction.NetIsekai and TransmigrationCrossoverCanon-Typical Violence
Language:
English
Stats:
Published:2025-05-08Updated:2026-07-29Words:159,533Chapters:34/?Comments:308Kudos:523Bookmarks:111Hits:32,887
Re:Azure
Genthar
Chapter 4: Soul Eater
Notes:
Here it is, arc 1's finale.
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
The Ragna–Subaru duo neared their destination, Rom's loot house tucked deep within the slums.
"Hey," Ragna said, glancing at Subaru. "Why are you so dead set on helping that elf girl?"
"Half-elf, actually," Subaru corrected, his tone light but insistent. "And I already told you, it's because she helped me. I was a total stranger, and she still stopped to lend a hand, even though she was in a rush to find her insignia."
"Technically," Ragna pointed out, voice flat, "she didn't help you this time. Not in this loop. You don't owe her anything."
"...You're not wrong," Subaru admitted after a pause. "But if I know someone's going to die soon, and I have the power to stop it, how could I just sit back and do nothing? That wouldn't be right."
"That so?" Ragna muttered. "You're reckless as hell."
"I guess I am," Subaru said with a sheepish grin. "You don't have to come with me, Ragna. I know I'm dragging you into something I started. I'll find a way to save them myself, somehow."
"Pass," Ragna replied with a shrug. "I'm here to make sure you don't get yourself killed and force another reset. Repeating the same day's a pain in the ass."
Subaru blinked. "But Ragna-"
Ragna cut him off, motioning for him to stop talking. "Besides, why shoulder this all alone? Playing the lone hero won't make you look cool. It won't earn any gratitude from me. And if you're worried about putting me in danger, don't be. This doesn't even crack my top ten most dangerous situations."
His mind drifted briefly to the friends and allies who had stood beside him through hell, against Terumi, against the Imperator. He isn't ashamed to admit that he would have a hard time defeating them alone.
"But let's get something straight," he added, voice turning hard. "I'm doing this for my own reasons. That woman, Elsa, she sickens me."
Subaru was quiet for a beat, then smiled. "So in addition to being brooding and aloof... you're kind of a tsundere too, huh?"
Ragna shot him a withering glare. "Say that again and I'll leave you to deal with her solo."
Subaru chuckled. "Alright, alright. Seriously though, thanks, man."
They waited outside Rom's loot house, sitting on the creaky wooden porch as the slum's shadows stretched long. Eventually, the sound of quick footsteps echoed down the narrow street. Sure enough, there she was, short, blonde, sharp-eyed, her red scarf trailing behind her like a banner of confidence. She walked like she owned the place.
Subaru stood up, nervous but trying to seem friendly. "Hey! You Felt?"
Felt stopped in her tracks, eyes narrowing. One hand twitched toward her dagger's sheath on her belt. She looked him over suspiciously, especially the tall man in the red coat beside him, whose massive sword was anything but subtle.
"What's it to you?" she asked, her tone edged with caution. She was expecting a debt collector or something worse.
"I've got something to trade," Subaru said quickly, raising his hands in a harmless gesture. "Something rare. Thought you might be looking for a little extra coin today."
Felt arched a brow. "Yeah? What've you got, bro?"
"This!" He pulled out his phone and held it out. Predictably, Felt just stared at it, unimpressed and confused.
"I don't know what that is."
"Okay, yeah, I figured that'd be your reaction. Let's just talk to Rom, he'll get it."
"Fair enough," Felt replied, stepping past him. She knocked on the heavy wooden door and began reciting the password exchange from the last loop.
"For a rat?" a voice grumbled from within.
"Poison," Felt answered smoothly.
"For the white whale?"
"A harpoon."
"To the noble dragonlords, we are..."
Before she could answer, Subaru cut in without thinking. "Shitbags."
Felt turned to stare at him, deadpan. Rom, who had just cracked the door open, stared too.
Ragna sighed behind them, arms crossed. Subaru really had a talent for drawing unnecessary attention to himself.
"Lucky guess," Subaru muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. "I mean, come on. Those assholes treat us like dirt anyway." He doesn't even know what a dragonlord is, he's just pretending to know.
Felt snorted a laugh. "Well, you're not wrong."
Rom's gruff voice followed. "You're a weird one, kid. Get in here before someone hears you." He waved them inside, shutting the door behind them.
Inside the dimly lit room, Rom eyed Subaru and Ragna with suspicion as he scratched his chin. "These your clients?"
"Potential buyers," Felt replied, arms crossed, glancing back at them. "They've got something weird to trade for the trinket."
Rom's gaze shifted to the man in red. "What about him?"
"Insurance," Ragna answered bluntly. "Last time this guy went into a shady place alone, he got stabbed."
"Not fun, I'll have you know," Subaru added with a sheepish smile, he motioned to Ragna. "He's not much of a talker, but he's great in a fight. He's just here to make sure things go smooth."
"Alright then. Let's see this 'weird' thing." Rom said with a grunt, taking a seat on the stool behind the bar counter.
Subaru stepped forward, pulling out his phone like a magician revealing his final trick. "One of those metia," he announced. "It captures moments in time for viewing later."
Rom squinted at the sleek device. "Never seen a metia like that before..."
"Watch this." Subaru raised the phone, and quickly snapped a picture of Rom and Felt, both shielded their eyes from the flash, Subaru then turned the screen around to show them the result.
Rom leaned in, letting out a low whistle. "Well I'll be..."
Felt blinked, eyes wide with curiosity. "That's us. From like, two seconds ago!"
Rom scratched his head. "Could probably fetch twenty holy coins, maybe more depending on the buyer."
Subaru pumped his fist like he'd just won a bet. "Yes!" he exclaimed, though part of it was an act. He already knew Felt wouldn't hand over the insignia just yet, she'd want to wait for her real client. Still, something about repeating this moment gave him a weird sense of comfort. Call it sentimental, but he liked the bond they had built last time, and part of him wanted to retrace that path.
Ragna noticed Subaru's subtle shift in expression but said nothing. He just shrugged inwardly. Sticking to a familiar script was easier than winging it.
"Sorry, bro," Felt said with a casual shrug. "But I still gotta wait for my original buyer. She's offering ten holy coins. Now that you're here to compete with something fancy, I might be able to squeeze more out of her."
Subaru wanted so badly to tell her the truth, that her buyer only had twenty coins total and couldn't go any higher. But there was no way he could explain how he knew that without raising suspicion. Better to play it cool for now and stick to the plan.
"Alright, I get it," Subaru said with a small nod. "Can't fault you for holding out. Cold hard cash doesn't lie."
Felt raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Whoa, you're pretty reasonable, bro. I was expecting you to start yelling, maybe beg me to hand it over."
Ragna snorted from the corner.
"Hey! I'm not that pathetic!" Subaru shot back, pretending to be offended.
They shared a light laugh. The tension eased, and for a while, they just bantered like old friends. The conversation flowed naturally. Subaru asked about Felt and Rom's relationship, and Rom explained gruffly that he'd found Felt as a baby and raised her himself. Despite his rough exterior, there was clear affection in his voice.
As they talked, Ragna remained silent, leaning against the wall with arms crossed, lost in his own thoughts. He was reminded of the nun who had raised him and his siblings in a quiet little church far from the chaos of the world. She'd been gentle, kind, and full of love, much like Rom was with Felt.
They had been happy, once. Just like Felt was now, he and his siblings had known peace... until that bastard Terumi took everything away. Ragna had made sure that snake paid for murdering the woman who'd given them that peace.
And now, Elsa was threatening to do the same here, to steal away another peaceful life. He wasn't a hero, and he didn't pretend to be. But maybe... just this once, he could lend a hand to protect something that mattered.
Ragna stood near the wall, arms still crossed, silent but watching everything. He wasn't tense, but his eyes were always moving, tracking corners, noting the creak of every loose board.
Just waiting.
And then it came.
Knock knock knock.
Everyone turned toward the door. Subaru's face tightened into a grimace. Ragna's eyes narrowed, hand resting on the hilt of Aramasa, his stance subtly shifting into readiness.
"Must be your buyer," Rom muttered, glancing toward Felt. "She know the password?"
"Ah... I haven't told her yet," Felt admitted sheepishly. "I'll go get it." She walked toward the door without much urgency.
Sure enough, when Felt pulled it open, there stood Elsa, smiling pleasantly, too pleasantly.
Subaru stiffened instinctively. Ragna, on the other hand, took a calming breath and moved his hand away from Aramasa. He couldn't afford to show hostility this early, not yet.
"I'm Elsa," she said smoothly, stepping inside with the grace of a noblewoman. "Here on behalf of my client." Her gaze shifted, landing on the two young men. "Oh? You two again."
Subaru forced a casual tone. "F-fancy meeting you here. I'm Natsuki Subaru."
Elsa tilted her head, seemingly amused. "Didn't you say you were from the slums? And yet, here you are, bidding on high-end merchandise? That's quite the turn."
Her words sounded friendly on the surface, but Ragna picked up the razor edge beneath them, coated in silk but sharp all the same.
"You guys knew each other?" Felt asked.
"We passed each other earlier. This dumbass got caught staring." Ragna motioned to Subaru.
"Ha! A virgin, I bet." Rom laughed heartily.
Meanwhile, Subaru scrambled for a believable answer for Elsa's question. "We're, uh... just like you. Here for someone else. They're the one interested in the item."
Ragna gave a curt nod beside him. Subaru's answer was close enough to the truth, it didn't reveal too much, and it gave Elsa no reason to pry deeper. Not yet.
"Is that so?" Elsa smiled, eyes glinting. "And how much does your 'client' offer?"
Rather than answer, Subaru pulled out his phone and raised it. A soft click and flash. He turned the screen toward her, revealing her own image captured just seconds ago.
"This is you," he said, keeping his tone steady. "This metia can trap moments in time. Rom figured it's worth about twenty holy coins."
Ragna noticed it, the slight twitch of Elsa's fingers when the flash went off. Just for a second, something primal flared in her. Probably imagining what she'd do if that light had been something more dangerous, like a spell. Almost as if she was itching for violence.
Elsa's gaze lingered on the screen, then she gave an approving nod. "Impressive," she never saw anything like that before.
"This is all I got from my client," she reached into her pouch and handed it over to Rom, who counted the contents aloud.
"Twenty holy coins. Exactly."
Just like last time.
Ragna's eyes narrowed, hand ready to grab Aramasa at any time. 'Almost go time,' he thought.
Rom and Felt stepped aside, quietly discussing between themselves. After a few hushed exchanges, they reached a decision.
"As I see it," Rom said, stroking his chin, "the kid's metia is worth more. It's a rare item, might fetch more than twenty holy coins from the right collector."
Elsa sighed softly. "What a shame. I suppose it's my client's fault for not offering enough."
Subaru stayed silent, his jaw clenched. He wasn't in the mood to play along like he had during the last loop.
"Before I go," Elsa said, her tone casual but eyes sharp, "may I ask, who is your client?"
"Sorry, lady," Ragna cut in flatly before Subaru could open his mouth. "Can't say. You didn't share yours either."
Subaru remained frozen, nervous. He remembered how easily he'd botched things before. Best to let Ragna handle it.
Elsa's eyes narrowed, her pleasant mask beginning to crack. "So... you're with them, then."
Subaru took a step back. 'Crap! It come to this after all?!'
And just like that, the room snapped into motion.
Before anyone else could react, Ragna lunged forward and grabbed Elsa by the throat, hoisting her effortlessly off the ground with one hand. She barely managed to slip a dagger from her cloak.
"What the hell are you doing?!" Rom shouted, eyes wide.
Ragna didn't answer. With his free hand, he unsheathed Aramasa and leveled the tip at her gut.
"This'll sting!"
He drove the blade into her stomach. Blood burst forth in thick rivulets, splattering the floor and soaking into her cloak.
"What the fuck?!" Felt screamed, stumbling backward in shock.
"Felt! It's okay! It's okay!" Subaru said, grabbing her shoulders and trying to steady her. "She was going to kill us, she's a serial killer! You ever heard of Elsa Granhiert?"
"The... the Bowel Hunter?!" Rom's face went pale.
"That's her," Ragna muttered, yanking his blade free as Elsa slumped, still gasping, her hand trembling around the blood-slick dagger.
"I... I didn't know..." Felt whispered, her eyes wide and hollow. "I'm sorry, old man Rom. I brought her here..."
"Don't worry about it, kiddo," Rom said gently, placing a comforting hand on her head. "Just make sure we all make it out of this."
"Don't get too close! She's got a nasty habit of tossing those blades around!" Subaru warned, motioning for Felt and Rom to stay back.
Rom nodded and quickly pulled a decorative shield off the wall, holding it in front of him. Felt stayed behind him, her hand instinctively reaching for the dagger at her waist. "There's no way someone that infamous can be killed so easily. Don't let your guard down." Rom advised. Making sure your opponent is truly dead is one of the basic of combat.
"Yeah. She can also regenerates," Ragna added grimly, watching as the wound in Elsa's abdomen began to knit itself back together. It was as if she hadn't been run through at all.
"What the hell... what the hell is she?!" Felt yelled, pointing at the older woman.
Not wanting to give her a chance to recover, Ragna moved in swiftly. He aimed for her head, but Elsa was already on the move. His blade cleaved clean through her left arm instead, severing it near the shoulder. A sharp, guttural scream ripped from her throat.
Subaru and Felt both winced at the sickening sound of flesh and bone separating.
Elsa gritted her teeth, trying to endure the pain. With her remaining hand, she hurled a dagger at Ragna. He deflected it with a swift motion, and in that brief opening, she darted backward, retreating to a safer distance, blood spraying as she stumbled back.
"S-So this is what a real fight looks like..." Subaru muttered, gulping. The gore was already more than he could handle.
Rom nodded grimly. "You do what you gotta do to stay alive," the old man said, his voice tinged with weary experience.
Despite blood pouring out of the gaping wound at her shoulder, Elsa's smile never faded. Her stance was shaky, her cloak soaked in blood, but her eyes were locked onto them with wild, delighted intensity.
"You two know an awful lot about me," she said, her voice airy and almost amused. "I'm flattered, really. But don't you think that's a little unfair? I don't know anything about you."
Even as she spoke, the severed arm began to reform, flesh and bone stitching together before their eyes. She flexed her newly regrown fingers as she finished her sentence, as if nothing had happened at all.
"That's insane! Is she immortal?!" Felt shouted, eyes wide with fear. The realization that an unkillable serial killer is now gunning for them terrified her.
"Well? I'd love to know about you before I gut you," she sweetly said, licking her lips.
'You know what?' Ragna thought, jaw tightening. 'I'm not telling her a damn thing. If she survives, or worse, if someone comes to avenge her. It'll just make things messier.'
"He's Ragna the Bloodedge," Subaru blurted out, striking a pose that was more confident than wise. "And he's here to kick your ass, you damn black widow!"
Ragna let out an audible groan. "That idiot..."
Elsa's expression shifted, her smile widening with dangerous delight. "Bloodedge, is it?" she purred, withdrawing another dagger from beneath her cloak. "How lovely. I hope your guts is just as lovely."
Ragna narrowed his eyes, watching the wound finish closing. He refused to believe her regeneration made her truly immortal.
"There's gotta be a limit to it," he muttered under his breath.
Before anyone could make another move, a knock echoed from the door.
Rom turned. "You expecting another buyer, Felt?"
"N-no," Felt stammered. "Just that psycho bitch."
"Maybe someone heard the commotion and came to check," Subaru guessed, worry tightening in his chest. The last thing they needed was innocent bystanders getting caught in the crossfire.
The door creaked open slowly.
Then came a voice. Polite, melodic, and all too familiar. She was clearly trying to sound intimidating, but the tone didn't quite land.
"Return my insignia at once, villains!"
There she stood: the silver-haired half-elf, her amethyst eyes sharp with determination as she pointed directly at Felt.
"It's... her!" Felt gasped, recognizing the girl from earlier that morning. "Damn! She's persistent!"
Elsa clicked her tongue in annoyance and immediately lunged toward the silver-haired girl.
"Ragna! Protect her!" Subaru shouted.
Without a word, Ragna stepped in, intercepting Elsa mid-charge. Steel clashed against steel with a burst of sparks.
"Where do you think you're going? We're not done yet," Ragna growled, pressing forward.
Elsa's brow twitched in irritation, but she forced a smile. "I suppose... we're not."
The silver-haired girl blinked, confused. "Wh-what's going on here?"
"That woman in black is the one who hired the thief to steal your insignia!" Subaru shouted. "Now she's here to kill you!"
Elsa nimbly dodged another strike from Ragna, dancing around his blade with unsettling grace. She managed to land a shallow cut across his cheek, drawing a thin line of blood. Delighted, she twirled back with a mocking smile.
"You talked a big game," she taunted, eyes gleaming as she turned her gaze toward Felt, "but in the end, you led the original owner straight to me. I guess street rats really are worthless."
Before Felt could snap back, Subaru stepped in.
"Shut up!" he barked. "Felt's doing her best! She's lived her life to the fullest, even with the rotten hand she's been dealt. Who the hell are you to judge her worth?!"
"Big bro..."
A sudden burst of cold whistled through the room, shards of ice flew toward Elsa, forcing her to flip back to avoid them.
The silver-haired half-elf stood firm, a small gray cat floating at her side. Her eyes were narrowed, voice calm but steely. "I don't reeeeally understand what's going on... but she's the one behind all of this, isn't she?" she asked, looking to Subaru for confirmation.
"Y-yeah!" he replied quickly, glad he doesn't have to explain anything.
Ragna kept his eyes locked on Elsa, studying her every movement. He spared a brief glance around the room: Rom, Felt, and Subaru were gathered on one side, while the silver-haired girl stood near the entrance, separated, vulnerable. It would be so much easier if the half elf decided to flee, but Ragna doubt that would happen.
He could keep hacking Elsa's limbs away, until her regeneration can't keep up anymore, but that would take too long. He needed to end this fast.
He couldn't be in two places at once, and Elsa was the kind of monster who wouldn't hesitate to throw daggers in both directions. If she did, he'd be forced to choose who to save.
He'd choose Subaru. Because if Subaru died, the world would reset.
But if the girl died... Subaru would break. He could already see it, riddled with guilt, blaming himself, possibly even throwing his life away just to trigger another loop and save her.
Ragna clenched his jaw. He didn't know how strong that silver-haired girl was. She might be able to defend herself, she had used ice magic earlier, so maybe she could conjure a wall or a shield in time.
But that was a gamble he wasn't willing to take.
"Tch... guess it's come to this."
He didn't want to use it. But...
"Oi, kid!" he barked, eyes still on Elsa.
Subaru looked up, startled. "Huh?"
"I'm about to pull something risky. If things go south after I do it, run. Don't look back!"
Ragna flexed his fingers. He could already feel it stirring beneath the surface.
Would the seithr spread?
He was about to find out.
Suddenly, the air turned heavy, thick with pressure and dread. Everyone in the room felt it immediately... everyone except Subaru. He wasn't attuned to the magical energy swirling in the air.
A dark aura gathered around Ragna's right arm, the one gripping Aramasa in a reverse hold. Without warning, he surged forward, evading Elsa's strikes with sharp, fluid movements.
"Dead Spike!" he shouted.
He swung his sword upward, dragging it along the ground. A surge of dark energy erupted from the blade, coalescing into the form of a monstrous, dragon-like head, the unmistakable visage of the Black Beast.
Elsa's eyes widened, and she leapt backward to evade the attack.
But Ragna wasn't done.
Using the opening, he dashed in, slashing at her relentlessly. She raised her blades to defend, but left herself open, unable to defend against the shadowy beast, it caught up with her, its spectral jaws snapping down on her right arm. A sickening crunch echoed through the room.
Elsa hissed in pain, yanking her arm free as she retreated. For once, her expression faltered.
She expected her usual regeneration to kick in, but it didn't. Instead... a red, glowing orb drifted from her wounded arm and floated toward Ragna. The moment it touched him, the cut on his cheek vanished.
"What the hell was that?! Was that... a mabeast?!" Felt asked, eyes wide with confusion. People from this world knew nothing of the Black Beast or its manifestations.
"That wasn't any elemental spell..." the silver-haired girl muttered, her gaze fixed on Ragna. She turned to the spirit hovering beside her. "Do you know what that was, Puck?"
"No..." Puck replied, frowning. "And I've been around for centuries. I've never seen anything like that."
Subaru stared at Ragna, eyes fixed on the fading wound. "Dude! Did you just... drain her life or something?!" His voice trembled with disbelief. He recognized the mechanic, he'd seen it before in video games. But seeing it happen in real life was something else entirely.
"Life... drain..." Elsa muttered, panting as she clutched her mangled arm. "Is that your Divine Protection?" she asked, her voice strained but curious.
Ragna didn't bother answering. He moved in to finish her off, but before he could strike, the windows suddenly shattered with a deafening crash.
A swarm of one-horned, bat-like creatures poured through the broken glass. Their razor-sharp wings spun like boomerangs as they swooped and spiraled around the room.
"Razorwings?!" Rom shouted in alarm. "What the hell is a swarm of small mabeasts doing here?"
Standing at the shattered window was a small girl, probably no older than twelve, with braided blue hair, green eyes, and a black dress beneath a flowing cloak.
"Elsa! We need to retreat, now!" the little girl barked, her tone urgent.
She raised her hand, and the Razorwings immediately obeyed, scattering through the room in a chaotic flurry. Their coordinated attacks forced everyone to defend themselves, providing the perfect distraction.
Elsa hesitated for a moment, still staring at her wounded, unhealed arm, but she understood that she's in no position to continue fighting. With a quiet curse, she turned toward Ragna.
"Take care of your guts for me," she said with a twisted smile. "I'll be back for them next time, Bloodedge," then, glancing down at her mangled arm, she added, "For now... I'll cherish this little parting gift you gave me."
With that, she vanished into the chaos, slipping away beside the mysterious girl as the swarm covered their retreat.
Ragna and the others still need to deal with the pest problem.
The Razorwings swarmed the room like a living storm, their high-pitched screeches cutting through the air as they spun wildly, sharp wings flashing like blades.
"Damn pests!" Rom growled, slamming his club into a cluster of them. One creature splattered against the wall with a sickening crunch, but three more took its place. "They just keep comin'!"
Felt ducked beneath a swooping bat, slashing upward with her dagger. "Tch! filthy little shits! I didn't sign up for this!" She spun, slicing one clean in half, but her face was tight with worry. "There's too many!"
"If you're not up for it, hide under a table!" Ragna barked, cleaving through several with a sweeping arc of Aramasa. The sword hissed through the air, its edge leaving a trail of bat corpses as it cut down about a dozen Razorwings in a single swing.
Subaru swung a wall-mounted sword he grabbed clumsily, missing his target and nearly falling over. "Gah! This thing is heavier than it looked."
"Stop flailing around like a dumbass!" Rom shouted as he crushed another bat against the floor. "You're gonna hurt someone if you keep swingin' like that!"
"I'm trying, old man!" Subaru grunted, adjusting his grip and managing to strike one of the creatures squarely, sending it tumbling across the room in a twitching heap. "Yes! I got one!"
From the corner near the entrance, the silver-haired girl stood calmly, raising a hand as magic shimmered around her fingertips. "I'll clear a path." With a flick of her wrist, a flurry of icicles shot from her palm like arrows. Several Razorwings were pierced by the icicles, immediately killing them.
"Nice shot!" Subaru called out, ducking under a stray bat.
Soon, the last of the Razorwings were either cut down or scattered, screeching as they fled through the broken windows. A tense silence settled over the room, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing and fluttering wings in the distance.
Once the danger had passed, Ragna slammed his hand against the nearest wall with a loud thud. "Goddammit! I let that bitch get away."
"Hey, relax, man. We all made it out alive," Subaru said, trying to calm him down.
"Yeah! You were awesome, big bro!" Felt added with a grin, wiping sweat from her brow.
Ragna didn't respond right away. His eyes narrowed as he scanned the room, then he sniffed the air cautiously.
"...Do any of you smell something weird?" he asked, his tone low and serious.
Everyone paused and looked around, confused.
Ragna wasn't just being paranoid. He was checking for something specific, seithr, the ominous energy created by the Azure Grimoire. If it lingered and began to spread in this world, it could bring unimaginable consequences. He had to be absolutely sure it hadn't tainted the air.
"Huh? What are you talking about?" Rom asked, frowning. "Only thing I smell is blood and bat guts.
"I don't smell anything either," Felt said with a shrug.
"Puck?" the silver-haired half-elf asked.
The small spirit hovered close and sniffed the air. "Nope. Nothing out of the ordinary," he replied.
Ragna exhaled slowly, relaxing just a fraction. "Good. Just needed to make sure the air wasn't contaminated by my attack."
"Wait, contaminated?" Subaru blinked. "You mean it could do that?"
"I'm making sure it can't," Ragna said firmly. "That's why I asked."
Subaru gulped. "Right... okay. That's comforting. Kind of."
"What even was that beast you summoned, big bro?" Felt asked, still shaken but can't help her curiosity.
"Is it some kind of curse?" Rom added, eyeing Ragna warily.
The silver-haired girl didn't speak, but both she and her floating spirit were clearly listening intently.
"A curse, huh?" Ragna muttered. "Sure. Let's go with that. It brings nothing but trouble anyway."
"Aww, come on, man! We need more info!" Subaru groaned. "Don't tell me I have to wait like five volumes just to figure out your ability!"
Ragna let out a tired sigh. "Look, I'm not in the mood for a full breakdown. Let's just say I summoned the fragment of an ancient beast and leave it at that. You saw what it does, it damages the enemy and heals me a little."
"So that was a Spirit? Like Puck?" the silver-haired girl asked, curious.
"Not sure what that is, but hell no," Ragna said, frowning. "That thing's not my partner or pet. It's not even close."
"What is it then?" Subaru is still curious.
Ragna crossed his arms. "Enough Q&A. Let's just move on with our lives."
"Well, it's already past my time. I need to rest up," Puck said to his contractor with a yawn.
"Thank you for your help, Puck," the silver-haired half elf replied with a gentle smile.
Puck gave a small nod, then turned to Subaru and Ragna. "I appreciate you two for helping her, but don't do anything weird to her, you hear? I'll haunt you and your descendants if you do," with that ominous warning, he vanished into thin air.
"Y-yes sir!" Subaru said, saluting.
"Duly noted," Ragna said flatly. Having a talking, bipedal cat as a master back home, he knew better than to underestimate fluffy creatures.
"Pardon me, I'm here to check on things," a gentle, chivalrous voice called out suddenly.
At the sound of it, Ragna immediately turned toward the source, drawing Aramasa without hesitation.
"I come in peace," said the man who stepped into view, holding his hand up. He is dressed in a pristine white uniform, with striking red hair and an ornate sword sheathed at his side.
"Shit, a knight," Felt muttered under her breath.
"That red hair and sword... are you the Sword Saint?" Rom asked, narrowing his eyes.
'Sounds like a fancy title.' Ragna noted the name.
"Yes. I am Reinhard van Astrea," the man confirmed with a polite bow. "I was alerted by one of my Divine Protections that a mabeast had appeared in this area. I came to ensure everything is under control."
Ragna scowled. He didn't like this Reinhard guy, the guy haven't even done anything wrong yet, but his voice grated on Ragna's nerves. It reminded him too much of that bastard, Terumi.
"Everything here is fine, Sir Reinhard," the silver-haired girl interjected calmly.
"You're... Emilia-sama!" Reinhard said, surprised and quickly stepping toward her.
"Emilia... so that's her name," Subaru muttered to himself, finally learning it. Can't believe he had to die multiple times for it.
"What are you doing here, Emilia-sama?" Reinhard asked.
"I came to retrieve my stolen insignia," Emilia replied, then turned to Felt. "Speaking of which, may I have it back?"
Felt looked away, shame flickering across her face. "Yeah... sure." She reached into her pocket and held out the insignia, As soon as the red gem touched her palm, it began to glow, drawing a surprised look from Reinhard.
He stepped forward immediately, his expression serious now. "What's your name?" He is suddenly far more interested in her. "How old are you? What's your family name?"
"F-Felt" She said, a bit afraid that she'd get into trouble with a knight for stealing the valuable item. "Last I checked, I'm 15. And last name? I don't have anything fancy like that."
Reinhard nodded. "I see..." He murmured, forming theories about Felt inside his head.
"Look, she's just a kid," Rom interjected, stepping in front of her protectively. "If someone needs to be punished, take me and leave her out of it."
"Wait, old man! Don't say stuff like that!" Felt protested, grabbing his arm.
Reinhard shook his head gently. "I'm sorry for scaring you. That wasn't my intention. I'm not here to arrest anyone. But there is something I can't explain just yet."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Subaru asked, narrowing his eyes.
"It's because the insignia glowed when she touched it," Ragna said bluntly. Having no idea why the others didn't notice it. It's not subtle at all.
"Huh?" Felt looked down at the gem in her hand, sure enough, it was glowing again.
"Let me try," Subaru said, taking the insignia. It didn't react at all. "Huh... you're right, Ragna."
"Lucky guess," Ragna muttered.
"Did it glow for you too when you held it, Emilia?" Subaru asked, handing the gem back to her.
"T-thank you..." She said nervously. She never met someone so curious about her before.
The moment Emilia took it, the insignia glowed brightly in her palm.
"Whoa... any idea what that means?" Subaru asked, looking between her and Reinhard. "Is she a chosen one or something?"
Reinhard stepped forward again, shaking his head. "I'm sorry, but I can't say anything yet. I'll need to confirm this with the proper authorities. For now, I'd like you to come with me," he said, looking at Felt. "You can bring your grandfather too," he added, nodding at Rom.
"An invitation from the Sword Saint? Now you got me interested." Rom said, not expecting this development at all.
Felt hesitated. "Well... if old man Rom can come along..."
"I promise you'll be treated with respect," Reinhard assured her.
"Fine. But if you're lying..." she pointed a finger at his face, "I'll bite your nose off."
Reinhard chuckled. "It won't come to that, I assure you."
"Great. Now, if we're done here, I'd like to leave," Ragna said. While the others were busy talking, he had been quietly making sure no traces of seithr had spread in the area.
"Yes, of course," Reinhard replied. "I'm not on duty today, so don't let me hold you back. But there are just a few things I'd like to ask. Who are you, and what exactly happened here?"
"I'd like to know as well," Emilia added, stepping closer. "Especially about that woman in black from earlier."
"The woman in black?" Reinhard asked, his brow furrowing.
"The Bowel Hunter," Ragna said flatly.
Reinhard's eyes widened. "The Bowel Hunter?! Was anyone injured? She's extremely dangerous!"
"No injuries. I crippled her. But she had backup and managed to escape," Ragna replied, crossing his arms.
"You did?" Reinhard looked genuinely impressed. "That's no small feat. You must be a highly skilled swordsman."
Ragna shrugged. "Probably not as great as you, Mr. Sword Saint." His tone insincere. He then extended a hand. "I'm Ragna. Just... Ragna."
Reinhard took it, though a faint, uneasy smile crept onto his face. Several of his Divine Protections had sensed a flicker of hostility from the man earlier, brief but unmistakable. In that moment, he felt the Dragon Sword Reid stir at his side, as though acknowledging a worthy adversary. It only responded like this to warriors of the highest caliber, few had ever made it react, the Blue Lightning of Vollachia being one of them.
"Don't forget about me!" Subaru suddenly jumped in, striking a dramatic pose with one finger pointed toward the sky. "Name's Natsuki Subaru! Broke as hell and proud of it!"
"That's... an unusual name and pose," Emilia said innocently.
"Guh... my first impression with the heroine is already in shambles," Subaru groaned. It's not the kind of reception he imagined.
"Your own damn fault for using that stupid pose," Ragna muttered.
"Hey! I'll have you know that's the Natsuki family special! I'm totally passing it down one day!"
"I pity your children," Ragna replied, shaking his head.
Emilia giggled. "You two seem like good friends," she said, a hint of longing in her voice. As a silver-haired half elf, making friends is very difficult for her.
"Right? These two big bros are pretty cool," Felt chimed in.
"They saved my life, so they're good lads in my book," Rom added with a nod.
"Oh, right. Subaru," Emilia said, turning to him. "This morning, you said you weren't acquainted with Felt. So... why were you here?" She is genuinely curious.
"Ah, well... I'm-"
"An idiot. That's what," Ragna interrupted. "He ran all over town looking for Felt. When he finally found her, he was willing to trade a one-of-a-kind item from his homeland just to make things right. He wanted to apologize for being a dumbass this morning." Ragna said it plainly, making sure Subaru's effort didn't go unnoticed.
"I can confirm that," Felt added with a smirk. "Big bro here went out of his way to help a stranger. Kinda dumb if you ask me, but hey, it's his life." She jabbed a thumb toward Subaru and Ragna. "I'd be mincemeat if it weren't for these two, so I'm not gonna complain."
"You... did all of that for me?" Emilia looked genuinely surprised. People usually avoided her because of how she looked. This was different.
"Give him a reward or something, big sis," Felt nudged Emilia with a grin. "I know I'd want one if I were in his shoes. Almost dying to help someone sounds like a good enough reason."
"A reward...?" Emilia echoed, blinking in surprise.
"Nah, don't worry about it," Subaru said quickly, waving his hand. "I barely did anything. Ragna did all the hard work." He scratched the back of his head, clearly downplaying his role.
"The hell are you talking about?" Ragna cut in, clearly annoyed. "You were the one who begged me to come here in the first place."
He gestured to his sword. "You see this? This sword is one of a kind, just like your metia. Though I'd never trade it for anything. It got too much sentimental value. But you? You were ready to give up your treasured item just to fix your mistake. That's not nothing. That's selfless as hell."
"But, Ragna-"
"To hell with your 'I didn't do anything' mentality," Ragna snapped. "Own what you did, idiot."
"Emilia-sama," Reinhard chimed in gently, "if it helps, I haven't sensed a single lie in anything they've said so far."
"I see..." Emilia murmured, her expression softening.
"Huh? You can detect lies?" Subaru asked, surprised.
Reinhard looked a little sheepish. "Not quite. I can't detect lies directly. But I can sense intention and emotions to a degree."
Emilia took a breath, then smiled gently. "Then, Subaru... is there anything you want from me?"
"Well... I..." Subaru hesitated, scratching his cheek awkwardly. "How about you forgive me for being an idiot and calling you the wrong name this morning?"
Ragna smacked the back of Subaru's head without hesitation. "This idiot..."
"Ow! Hey, what was that for, man?!"
"How about this instead," Ragna said, turning to Emilia. "He's not from around here. In fact, he just arrived in Lugunica today. He's broke, homeless, and doesn't know a damn thing about this place. Letting him stay with you until he gets his bearings would be a huge help."
"That... sounds fair," Emilia replied, considering it.
"Really? Oh man, does that mean I get to see Emilia's cute face every day? Are you trying to be my wingman, Ragna, ol' buddy ol' pal?" Subaru beamed.
"Hell no," Ragna said flatly. "I'm just making sure you don't end up dead in a ditch somewhere."
Subaru laughed, rubbing his neck. "Still... thanks, man."
"Ain't that great, big bro?" Felt chimed in. You and me are movin' up in the world!"
"It sure is! Now come on! Let's pack up and get ready to go with her, Ragna!" Subaru said, already sounding excited.
"...Nah. I'm not coming," Ragna suddenly revealed.
"...Huh?" Subaru blinked, dumbfounded.
Notes:
If you haven't noticed it already, I enjoy writing dialogues.
With arc 1 done, this is starting to look like a proper Re:Zero fanfic.
I'll see you next time.
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