Prologue 2 (1/2)
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Translator: TranslationChicken
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Editor: TranslationChicken
(Thank you Kizarat, Abhahl, Nero, Roanz, Aaron, Rodolfo, Chris, Zazorok, HX for helping me with proofreading on the Live Draft! <>
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ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO TAPPEI NAGATSUKI, THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF RE:ZERO, THIS IS A TRANSLATION OF THE FREE j.a.pANESE WEB NOVEL INTO ENGLISH
j.a.pANESE WEB NOVEL SOURCE:
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Not understanding Subaru's words, Garfiel's eyes wavered with confusion.
Naturally, he couldn't have known what his ”Sloppiness” was referring to. After all, it was a mistake he hadn't yet made.
[Subaru: ……Guess there's no point even if we keep talking]
Watching the silenced Garfiel, Subaru decided to end the conversation here.
He had raised Garfiel's caution to its utmost limit, and after this bluff, there was already no way he could disarm him in this loop.
Although Subaru never had much hope of success in this loop, seeing it completely fall apart like this was still somewhat hard to bear.
[Subaru: But…]
――But he must endure it nonetheless.
Since he had resolved to wager his life, this wouldn’t be the last time where he'd have to bear this sense of loss.
He would probably never get used to, or manage to forget that pain.
Surely, if he ever got used to the endless cycle of ”Deaths”, only to find that he could no longer truly desire the future ahead of him, Subaru's heart would be swallowed by darkness, never to return. Somehow, he just knew this.
[Subaru: You still want to stop me, don't you, Garfiel?]
[Garfiel: …………]
[Subaru: If you do, that'll only draw things out longer. So it'd help if you didn't]
Even if Garfiel killed him now, Subaru would just be returned to the Tomb, a few hours ago.
Everything after that would feel like a throwaway match, and if Garfiel pulled him aside again, he should be fine if he just chose some safer responses.
Though of course, it'd be better if he could avoid Returning by Death altogether.
Garfiel didn’t respond to Subaru's prodding.
Seeing this, Subaru turned his back, and began walking out of the forest towards the Sanctuary. He would need to begin planning tomorrow's actions, and organize all the things that must be confirmed.
Although he has as many chances as his strength of will would allow, that didn't mean he should waste them.
[Garfiel: You……]
Watching Subaru walk further and further away, Garfiel called to him with a voice of stifled emotion.
Subaru stopped, but did not turn around. Staring at his back, Garfiel muttered,
[Garfiel: Just what…… are y'tryin' to do in th'Sanctuary? What do y'plan t'do with us, ah? Oy]
[Subaru: I've already told you. I intend to save Emilia. I don't plan to do any harm to the Sanctuary……or to you, for that matter]
He knew of the disaster that was going to befall the Sanctuary, and intended to rescue its residents from their fate. Naturally, Garfiel would be counted among them.
But that would only be the final result,
[Subaru: I'm sure I'll make you despise me many times over before we get there. I'll apologize for that in advance. ……Sorry]
[Garfiel: ……I’ve got no idea what yer sayin’. Everythin' y'said……yer soundin' exactly like 'em]
Garfiel spoke as if he was speaking to something frightening and incomprehensible, and Subaru could only resign to the fact that it was inevitable.
As much as he wanted to be understood, he knew that Garfiel couldn't possibly understand.
[Subaru: I don't want to fight you. From tomorrow onwards, just act normal…… it's alright if you can't, but don't get in my way. Go back to a warm bed and get some early sleep for tonight. Oversleep, s.h.i.+rk your duties, or wake and go right back to bed for all I care――]
Tossing out these last words before leaving, Subaru suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
Just now, he had noticed something in what he just said.
And from there, an idea had taken shape in his mind――
[Subaru: Might be worth trying]
[Garfiel: ……Hah?]
[Subaru: Anyways, that's it for tonight, Garfiel. Whatever your worries and concerns are, I'll take care of everything. So just be patient and wait until then]
[Garfiel: ――! You……!]
Listening to Subaru speak in future tense from beginning to end, Garfiel's head shot up.
His face flushed with anger, he bared his teeth, spitting,
[Garfiel: Don't give me that condescending bulls.h.i.+t…..! Who, who th'f.u.c.k asked ya t'take care'of anything? Don't go meddlin' in what's none'of yer business! Granny, th'others…… anything! Y'don't f.u.c.kin' know anything……!]
[Subaru: I don't know, so I have to find out. That's why I have to do this]
[Garfiel: Yer only seein' th'f.u.c.kin' surface, how can y'possibly understand!? Smirkin' like an idiot, prattlin' outta dreams, muddlin' things with f.u.c.kin' pretty words y'f.u.c.kin' con-artist piece'of s.h.i.+t!]
[Subaru: ――――]
[Garfiel: Y'don't know pain, don’t know what sufferin' feels like, so don't f.u.c.kin' talk like y'know everything――!!]
Garfiel screamed back, raving at Subaru's arrogant facade.
The shouts dissolved into the night's forest sky, and faded into nothing.
Condescending, speaking like he knew everything, meddling in what was none of his business despite not understanding a thing.
――Indeed, all this was true, and there was not the slightest ground to dispute it.