I'll ask you one more time.
Why did you call me by the name of the Witch of Envy?
Because I was told to.
I don't know who told you that,
but they have terrible taste!
The Witch of Envy is the epitome of taboo,
and you call me by her name, which most dare not even say!
That's right!
You went too far, man!
If you have nothing to say, I'm leaving.
I have things to do.
Felt!
Were you stalling me?
Are you working with her!?
N-No!
Hey... W-Wait a minute!
It's not like that! I'm...
Damn it!
Would it kill someone to be nice to me?
Why was I even...
summoned to this world?
What are you rambling about?
If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!
Buzz off already!
No one is this damn persistent!
You think you can mouth off to us!?
Just go away! I have somewhere else I need to be!
Man, now you've done it.
You seriously stabbed him?
You've gotta be kidding me...
Ow... It hurts...
N-No! He just walked into my blade!
What are you doing?
I-It's already done!
Just take anything worth selling!
Huh?
Now's not the time! The guards will be here any second!
But Old Man Rom ate those.
How?
C-Could... this be...
Run! We're in trouble!
Well, bud? You want this appa?
Hey, mister...
Huh?
How many times have you seen me now?
What do you mean? I've never seen you before.
Come on, bud. Are you buying it or not?
Sorry, but I'm broke beyond compare!
Get the hell outta here!
Wallet, cell phone, corn potage snack, cup noodles.
My tracksuit and sneakers are intact too.
And naturally...
Thank god. A wound to the back is a warrior's greatest shame.
Well, with so much circumstantial evidence, there's no denying it.
It's kinda hard to believe, but it has to be that.
A time leap.
And each time, I return to my initial state.
I'll call it
"Return by Death."
I actually get a time-leap ability, and it only activates when I die.
That pathetic precondition suits me perfectly.
If I've gone back in time, Satella hasn't saved me in this fourth life.
Meaning the debt I owed her for that is gone.
In that case, I should forget everything, sell this,
save some funds, and use my knowledge of the modern world to live in luxury!
A dream is unfolding before my very eyes!
Right, mister?
Wh-Why are you asking me?
I have no idea what you're talking about.
Aw, that's cold...
I don't wanna get caught up in other people's problems.
Don't talk to me.
Well, I guess "Let sleeping dogs lie" goes in any world.
But still, there are always softies
who help others, even when they really can't afford to...
She'd just had something precious stolen.
She didn't have time for me.
Yet she saved some useless stranger,
and even healed him.
Then she played along with that useless stranger's self-satisfaction.
Even if Satella doesn't know me,
Felt still stole her insignia. And Elsa will...
No matter how many times I repeat this, that won't change.
They say history repeats itself, right?
Yeah.
If I'm aware that people I used to know are going to be killed,
I can't just ignore it!
Hey, mister...
What do you want, broke kid?
There's something I want to ask you...
Have there been any pickpocketing incidents around here?
Asking questions without buying anything? You really do have guts.
Incidents like that aren't uncommon at all.
Though, that last one was unusual...
They threw some magic around in the street a few times.
Things that looked like icicles flew around and lodged in the wall.
They didn't last too long, though.
I'm too late?
I thought if I could keep the insignia from being stolen, then maybe...
Maybe what?
Oh, just talking to myself, but...
Thanks, mister.
You told me even though I didn't buy anything.
It's no big deal.
Someone just as broke as you helped my daughter after she got lost earlier.
Fate has a funny way of doing things...
What are you smiling about?
Nothing.
I'll buy an appa next time!
Sure. Buy one, and you'll be a customer.
Get to work, broke kid!
Right!
There's only one thing to do now!
Before Elsa comes to the loot house,
I have to buy the insignia from Felt, and return it to Satella!
Wait...
Satella was just an alias, wasn't it?
Then I've gotta get her to tell me her real name this time—
What are you rambling about?
If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you've got!
I'm getting sick of seeing your faces, Larry, Moe, and Curly.
After doing this four times, I've learned my lesson!
Guards!
What the hell, you bastard!?
My memory from before was right.
This world does have some kind of police force!
Someone! P-Please, I need a man!
Damn it, shut up!
No, don't touch me! Stop!
I can't hear you! Say it like you mean it!
Help me, officer!
Huh?
Don't scare me like that.
I might have freaked out, just a little.
Just a little bit.
Just a tiny, little bit.
Running won't save you now.
That's enough.
Red hair.
And a knight's sword marked by scratches from dragon claws.
Seriously?
Reinhard?
The Sword Saint, Reinhard?
Seems I needn't introduce myself.
Although that nickname is a bit much.
I don't know how much my modest strength could aid him.
But if you wish to resort to extreme measures,
as a knight, I would have to retaliate.
Screw this! It's not worth it!
I'm glad we're both safe. Are you unhurt?
A-Allow me to thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving my life!
I, Natsuki Subaru, deeply admire your selflessness!
No need for such formality.
They only lost their advantage because it was two on three.
It wouldn't have gone so well if I'd been alone.
H-His nice-guy index is off the charts.
Uh... Reinhard-san, right?
You may just call me Reinhard, Subaru.
He closed our distance like it was nothing...
Well, thanks again, Reinhard.
You're the only one who paid any attention to my cries for help.
Talk about depressing.
It's too risky for most people to oppose people like them.
As far as it goes, you were right to call for the guards.
Are you a guard?
You don't look like one...
I'm off duty today, so I'm not in uniform.
And I realize that I don't appear particularly intimidating.
Come to think of it, didn't they call you the Sword Saint?
My family is fairly unique.
Every day, I feel I'll be crushed by their expectations.
Anyway, Subaru...
You have quite the unusual hair, apparel, and name.
What nation are you from?
At the moment, Lugunica is a bit more restless than in peacetime.
If you have a problem, I'd be glad to help you.
Would you come to the loot house?
The loot house?
N-Never mind... Forget it.
I can't trouble you with that...
I'll handle the rest on my own somehow.
But...
I'd appreciate it if you could deliver a message.
Of course. I'd be glad to.
To whom? And what?
Well, I don't know her name, but...
Have you seen a girl with white robes and silver hair nearby?
White robes and silver hair?
She's also extremely gorgeous!
No, I haven't.
Then, if you do see her,
tell her not to go near the loot house, no matter what.
I'll find what she's looking for and bring it to her myself.
Very well. If I see her, I shall relay your message.
Thanks.
I'll repay you one day!
All right.
Take care.
Felt's den?
Yeah, just go two streets down that way.
Thanks, I appreciate it, bro.
Don't mention it, bro. Live strong.
The real question is if she'll return there.
I'd rather catch her before she goes to the loot house,
and trade her the cell phone for the insignia—
Whoa!
Oh, dear!
I'm terribly sorry. Are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
I don't look it, but toughness is one thing I... have...
What's wrong?
You don't have to be so scared. I won't do anything to you.
I... I'm not scared...
What gave you that idea?
Your scent.
When people are scared, I can smell their fear.
Right now, you're frightened.
You're also angry, aren't you?
At me.
It's fine.
I'm a little curious, but now isn't the time to start a commotion.
That's not a very nice thing to say...
If you're too scary, that beauty will go to waste—
Oh, very good.
Conceal your hostility, and you'll be even better.
Well, I'll be going now.
Something tells me we'll meet again.
Wow, someone actually lives here?
Elsa hasn't already come by and trashed the place, right?
I-It's fine, I'm sure.
I don't smell blood.
But it does smell like garbage.
What do you think you're doing riffling around in someone else's house?
Sorry to disappoint you, but there's nothing worth stealing in there.
Beat it!
No, wait! I'm not a thief.
Shut up! Don't argue!
Whoa, stop...
Calm down! This is no time to fight!
Before it gets dark—
Before it gets dark, you'd better be gone.
I told you I'm not a thief...
You don't give up, do you?
I told you to get out of here!
Just listen to me!
P-Please! Just hear me out, Felt!
I came to see you on important business!
How do you know my name?
You want me to steal something for you?
You should have said that first!
You attacked me before I could get a word in!
You know, this is a greedy business you're running!
Do you pride yourself on sticky fingers?
You can't be picky if you wanna stay alive.
It's either this or selling my body.
So what's your business with me?
Spit it out.
There's one thing I want.
I want to buy the insignia you stole here and now!
You aren't associated with my client.
Are you a business rival?
Call her a rival, or the person who killed my parents.
You could even call her the person who killed me.
You make no sense.
Well, I'm only interested in selling it to the highest bidder.
If you've got an offer that'll net me some good money, I'll listen.
Very shrewd...
I have something worth more than twenty holy coins.
I want to buy your insignia with it.
It's what everyone wants these days, a metia.
This is the power of a metia!
It's a one-of-a-kind item that can capture a moment and freeze it in time.
So how about it?
You don't seem to be lying.
But that's supposed to be me?
I'm way prettier.
If you look this good without makeup, you're doing fine...
Don't complain.
Well, it is unusual. I'll give you that.
But twenty holy coins? Not likely.
I'm not so stupid as to believe everything a prospective buyer says without question.
Well, of course not.
At the far edge of the slums is a loot house.
The fair thing is to have the codger who lives there, Old Man Rom, appraise it.
So it still comes to that...
Okay, got it. Let's go.
Right now. Let's move!
On the double!
We'll have him take a look, and get right out of there!
Hey, slow down!
What's your problem?
Why are you in such a hurry?
You're soaked with sweat.
Live strong.
Everyone in the slums says that.
Is it some kind of slogan?
Don't lump me in with those guys!
They're all talk. They aren't strong at all.
They're just a bunch of stingy losers at life.
That's a bit harsh...
I'm not like the people here.
I have no intention of living out my life in these back alleys!
And you think twenty holy coins will make your dream come true?
It's true that it'd be a huge leap toward my goal.
Even if I were alone, it isn't as if I couldn't get by with effort.
If you were alone?
Never mind.
What are you smirking about?
You really piss me off!
Don't worry about it.
H-Hey, what're you doing? Stop!
Hey!
Just gotta make it work, huh?
I said, "Stop!"
And only I can do that.
Stop spewing sentimental nonsense!
I'll bite you!
I'm not only doing it for her.
I'll change the fate that's waiting for me.
And to do that, I'll...
I told you to cut it out!
So this is a metia...
Even I've never seen one before.
It's fairly delicate, so handle it with care.
Think along the lines of, "If you break it, you'll die."
No do-overs.
Yeah, I'm definitely impressed.
If I were to sell this, I'd take no less than fifteen—
No, twenty holy coins.
It's worth at least that.
All right! Negotiations complete!
Now, if we're done talking, let's go for drinks to celebrate a completed sale!
Hold it!
Why are you in such a hurry?
Life doesn't last forever.
Make every second count. Don't waste any—
Yeah, yeah! I don't care about all that.
Why do you even want the insignia anyway?
This insignia is actually worth a lot more than it looks, right?
That's why everyone wants it.
In other words, I can get more off this than your metia—
Hang on, Felt! That's a dangerous way to think!
He appraised it at over twenty holy coins.
Just sell it for that! Don't ask for more!
El— The woman who asked you for it can't go higher than twenty either.
She won't pay more than that!
How do you know that?
You just admitted that you're with them.
I don't have time... Please, Felt!
Begging won't help.
I acknowledge you as a negotiating party.
But not hearing what my client says wouldn't be fair.
The reason I want that insignia
is so I can return it to its owner.
Huh?
I want to return it to its owner!
That's why I want the insignia!
That's all! So please!
Felt, it doesn't look to me like the boy's lying.
Don't get taken in by him.
He's obviously joking around.
Return it to the owner? Ridiculous!
If you're gonna lie, make it believable!
I won't be fooled!
Felt...
Who's that?
It might be for me.
It's a little early, though.
Don't open it!
W-We'll be killed!
Kill you? I wouldn't do something so terrifying.
Reunion with the Witch
Ton here!
Chin here!
Kan here!
Together, we're called...
the Jet Black Lightning!
No, no one calls you that!
And why are you doing a preview?!
Who's this even for?!
Who?
Of course that would be...
Of course what? Huh?!
Uh... Maybe we should stop...
Are you trying to be clever?!
Next time: Starting Life from Zero in Another World
Hey, weren't you gonna stop?!
Why are you doing as you please?!
Live strong!