7: Chapter 6: A Deathrattle Ability?
7: Chapter 6: A Deathrattle Ability?
Chapter 6: A Deathrattle Ability?
Meanwhile, having witnessed the entire episode, the appa vendor was staring at Subaru with a mix of confusion and pity.
Anyone watching someone suddenly clutch their heart and wail in agony would feel a bit curious.
They might even feel a little sympathetic.
The appa vendor fell into the latter camp.
He reached out, grabbed a few appas, and handed them to Subaru.
“Forget it, forget it.
Kid, I don’t know what just happened to you, but seeing how much pain you were in, just take a few more appas.
On the house.” “Though if you want to work for me, there still won’t be any pay.” Subaru was overjoyed, thanking him profusely over and over.
By now, he had also composed himself, accepting the reality that he could not speak of 『Return by Death』 aloud.
It didn’t matter anyway.
If he couldn’t say it, then he wouldn’t.
Big Bro Diavolo already understood what he meant, and that was enough.
“Hold it right there, stop thanking me, and don’t say another word.
I don’t want to get mixed up in some stranger’s trouble, so please don’t talk to me.” The vendor turned his back on Subaru, his tone icy.
Even so, Subaru knew that he was a good man at heart.
“What’s this?
Old man, you’re the tsundere type, aren’t you?” With that, Subaru didn’t linger.
He munched on an appa as he strolled down the street.
Then, he spoke up: “Big Bro Diavolo, this counts as our first official meeting, doesn’t it?
Shouldn’t we introduce ourselves?” “Big Bro Diavolo?” Seeing that Diavolo wasn’t responding, Subaru continued on his own: “Then I’ll go first.” Subaru flicked his bangs back with a flourish and pointed his index finger straight at the sky, striking a pose he thought looked incredibly cool.
“My name is—Natsuki Subaru!” “Hailing from a far-off world, bearing an unknown fate and mission!” “Though I’m currently just a nobody, one day—” “I will make this name resound throughout the entire world!” He paused, breaking into a brilliant smile.
“Well, that’s the gist of it!
Please treat me well!” …
…
This sudden display made the pedestrians on the street all turn to look at him.
Their glances were identical—as if looking at a total lunatic.
Noticing their stares, Subaru quickly lowered his head and jogged away.
“Hey, hey, Big Bro Diavolo, why aren’t you answering me?
Don’t tell me you’ve already…
No, don’t let that happen, sob…” Subaru instantly recalled what had happened earlier—that intense, agonizing pain and Diavolo’s reaction.
It wasn’t hard to guess that the surreal attack had gone straight after Diavolo.
Even though Diavolo had said he was fine, that didn’t mean he was truly unharmed.
“Diavolo, Big Bro Diavolo!” Subaru began calling out frantically.
It wasn’t that Diavolo wanted to ignore him; he was simply in too much pain after being battered by the black-mist-shrouded girl, and he had no desire to speak.
In the end, however, he spoke up slowly, unable to hide his annoyance.
“Enough!
You’re noisy as hell!” “Ah, thank goodness, you’re still here.” Diavolo probably didn’t realize that the person Subaru trusted most right now was him.
Perhaps Subaru suffered from a sort of baby chick syndrome, blindly trusting the very first person who showed him goodwill.
And Diavolo certainly fit the bill.
“Natsuki Subaru, I am Diavolo.
Though I don’t know what you’ve been through, you may call me…
Boss.” With his previous deductions and experiences in mind, Diavolo no longer harbored any desire to completely seize control of the body.
Not to mention the presence of that black-mist girl who kept murmuring ‘I love you.’ Diavolo was far from stupid.
Clearly, this was intimately connected to Subaru’s Authority of 『Return by Death』.
“Boss, huh…?
Was that your title before you transmigrated?
That’s awesome, big Boss!” Subaru was ecstatic.
“Besides, I’ve seen you fight!
How did you pull off that invisible attack?
That was way too cool!” The two carried on chatting back and forth.
Subaru did most of the talking, while Diavolo only chimed in occasionally.
Although Diavolo was inside Subaru’s body, he didn’t retain the memories of the previous two deaths.
Even so, he had already grasped a great deal about their situation, which brought him a measure of peace.
With Subaru’s Return by Death, he no longer had to fear dying.
He had once thought he couldn’t wait to die, but after actually escaping the infinite death of Requiem, he found himself treasuring his life even more.
*I thought this brat’s ability might be related to Requiem, but it seems there’s little connection.* *That woman is likely tied to the Return by Death ability.
She clearly doesn’t want anyone other than Subaru to know about it, as if it were a little secret between the two of them.* *Still, this brat definitely needs to grow.
He’s far too naive.
But with me around, nothing major should go wrong.* Diavolo sank into deep thought.
Regrettably, it was impossible for him to take absolute control of this body.
As long as Subaru refused, he could never succeed.
He couldn’t even summon King Crimson into the outside world on his own, which left Diavolo feeling deeply insecure.
Thus, he spoke up: “Brat, if you encounter danger you can’t handle, switch out and let me take over.” Subaru, who was mid-bite into his appa, paused in his tracks.
“Yeah, there are definitely times when I’ll need you to step in, Boss.
And it must be super boring being trapped inside my body all the time, right?
I know how that feels—like watching a movie without being able to hold the controller.” “Still, I really hope you won’t go around killing people recklessly, Boss.
That’s just not right.” Subaru suddenly recalled the image of the white-haired beauty whose chest had been pierced through.
Diavolo remained silent for a moment before ultimately agreeing to the request.
Perhaps everything that was about to unfold would be a trial.
A trial from the future, meant for Subaru, and meant for Diavolo as well.
And human growth…
meant overcoming one’s immature past…
That applied to Subaru.
And now, it applied to Diavolo as well.
Before long, after wandering the streets for a good while, Subaru found himself back at that familiar alley.
Unsurprisingly, he ran into the three thugs once again.
Subaru’s reason for coming here was simple.
A wound on the back was a knight’s shame.
He had died in this alley during both previous timelines; this time, he was going to wash away his past disgrace.
Because Subaru had a clear objective and hadn’t lingered on the main street, the timing of his arrival at the alley differed from before.
*As I thought, these three guys specifically stake out this secluded alley,* Subaru mused to himself.
*Allow me to give you a proper beatdown.* “Hey, brat, do you need my help?” Diavolo spoke up slowly, but as if realizing something was amiss, he added a line: “I won’t kill them.” “No, I want to teach them a lesson myself.
Besides, you taught me a few tricks earlier, Boss.” Since he put it that way, Diavolo said no more, settling back to silently observe Subaru’s upcoming fight.
“Oh?
Just one guy?” Seeing Subaru approach, the big brute among the three was the first to speak.
“Oho!
Finally found someone who looks totally ordinary.
That yellow-haired kid earlier looked way too tough to handle.” The dwarf stood up as well, eyeing Subaru with greed.
This guy dressed in weird clothes couldn’t possibly do wall-running acrobatics, right?
“Heh, of course it’s just me.” Subaru replied as he walked toward the trio, and then…
*Bam!* The old trick.
Subaru delivered a swift kick that sent the punk, who was just trying to stand up, flying backward.
He then followed up with a punch that flattened the big brute, and a kick that sent the dwarf sprawling.
Immediately after, he pounced on the punk and snatched the dagger from behind his waist.
“Is this the future you saw?” Diavolo remarked casually.
“Yep, but he’s not the only one.” After confiscating the punk’s knife, Subaru didn’t pause.
He got up and strode over to the dwarf.
“Hey, h-hey, wait a second, pal.” The dwarf had taken a nasty kick.
By the time he recovered, both his comrades were already down on the ground.
Looking up, he saw Subaru holding two short daggers in his hands.
*Is he gonna stab me to death?!* “Don’t move, or you know what happens next.” In no time, Subaru frisked a small curved knife off the dwarf’s person.
He then checked the big brute, only relaxing once he was certain they were disarmed.
Just as Subaru was about to brag and ask for praise, a lively voice called out from behind him.
“Um…
excuse me, sorry to interrupt?” —