Subaru was tweaking again like an insane person, but this time, he fell to his knees, clutching his left eye as he gritted his teeth.
The pain from his memories was driving him mad.
His whole body felt like it was being pricked by thorns. After a few seconds, he finally regained his senses.
Everyone who saw it was staring at him weirdly.
He slowly got up, still reeling from the psychological pain he had just experienced.
He was breathing heavily.
Sweat poured down his face.
But he refused to accept defeat, he had made a bet with the being. That was also why he hadn't asked for Reinhard's help. This was the consequence of his wager.
- Flasback -
A humanoid being with no distinct features only a glowing white form sat resting its elbow on the table. Across from it floated a soul in the shape of a fiery blue orb.
"Since you truly believe you can do better... Fine. I'll send you there. But you cannot ask for anyone's help unless they come to you on their own."
"Bet."
"Prove to me that you can do better than Natsuki Subaru."
"Aight, I'll show you how great I am."
"If you survive this, I'll give you any reward you desire even my life."
- End -
Subaru had just gotten his sword back. He fastened it to the side of his hip with the sword holder and headed straight toward the slum.
'I know I'm gonna die, but I will keep trying,' Subaru thought to himself. He slapped his face to steel his nerves.
Taking a deep breath, he muttered, "I have to be like Encrid."
When he arrived at the house, he waited nearby, anticipating her's arrival.
But after a while, he failed to notice someone creeping up behind him. That person then whispered in his ear, "Ara~ What are you doing?"
Before he could react, she plunged a dagger into his heart.
Subaru gasped in shock, blood gushing from his mouth. She yanked the dagger out, then turned his body around.
With a crazed smile, she licked the blood off her blade before gutting him open.
Subaru watched it all happen before his vision faded to black.
The world began resetting...
Subaru stood in the middle of the road as the memory of his death flooded back.
Clutching his chest, the pain was unbearable, the phantom piercing sensation sent him collapsing to the ground.
Then, he felt it; his skin splitting across his chest and stomach, his insides being stabbed over and over.
Bystanders grew worried. A lizardman nudged Subaru. "Are you okay?" He looked around and called out, "Medic! Is there a doctor here?"
From the crowd, a human doctor rushed forward.
"Help me carry him to my clinic," the doctor said.
. . . .
Subaru finally opened his eyes to see that he was in some kind of building.
"You finally woke up," the doctor said.
"What happened?" Subaru asked.
"You fell unconscious after experiencing intense phantom pain," the doctor replied.
Subaru thought about it and sighed. He tried to get up from the bed.
"Stay down. You're still recovering," the doctor said.
"I have to leave," Subaru insisted.
"I know it's important, but it's already late. Stay here for now and rest," the doctor advised.
Subaru looked out the window, it was already dark outside.
"Am I gonna die?" Subaru muttered.
He had failed the bet with the being.
The doctor grabbed a tray with food and water and placed it on the table near the bed.
"Here's your food and water. Make sure to finish it. You're still recovering," the doctor said before leaving Subaru alone.
Subaru stared at the dark sky and chuckled bitterly. It seemed he had indeed lost the bet.
"I'm gonna get my existence erased, aren't I?" He lay back on the bed.
Tears streamed from his eyes as he realized he would soon be erased from existence.
"Haha, I guess I should eat my final meal," Subaru said, forcing himself up to eat.
He cried as he ate.
"Who would've thought that in another world, medieval food would taste this good?"
When he drank the water, he cried even harder, knowing he'd never taste it again.
After finishing his meal, he pulled a chair to the window and gazed at the beautiful night sky.
"Why did I have to be so stubborn? Why did I make a stand?" Subaru muttered. "I'm such a dumbass. I should've stayed quiet and let him transport me to a normal world without my memories."
A few minutes later, he yawned, feeling sleep overtake him. He lay back down and stared at the ceiling.
'I guess I should be content with being erased.'
As he fell asleep, he suddenly felt as though he was standing. When he opened his eyes, he was back in the endless white room, the same place where he had met the being.
"I guess I should be content with being erased," the being mocked, laughing at him. "Haha, you fucking loser!"
Subaru clung to his anger.
"What are you really holding onto your anger for? Even if you're mad, there's nothing you can do, I mean nothing. You already failed the bet, yet you were so confident."
The being pointed at him.
"Now look at you crying while eating a meal and drinking water. You're pathetic."
It began circling him.
"You're right, though. You should've stayed quiet and let me decide your fate. You insignificant ant!" The being leaned in close, shouting directly into Subaru's ear.
Subaru clenched his fists in rage.
"What, you gonna punch me? You know I can just remove your hands. You're my slave now, my friend, act like one. Kneel before me."
The being grinned.
"Maybe I should take your sister—"
"Don't you dare!" Subaru roared.
"What? You have no power over me. I can do anything I want to her," the being taunted. "Maybe I could make her bet with me just like you did and make her experience more suffering."
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER!" Subaru tried to lunge forward, but his body refused to move the moment he even thought of it.
"But you don't want that, right? So, let's proceed with the erasure, shall we?" the being said.
Subaru scrambled for a way out, then smirked. "Let's bet one more time. You have nothing to lose."
"What kind of bet?" the being asked, getting interested seeing the mortal making a bet again, knowing he is at a disadvantage.
"Let me try again as Natsuki Subaru."
"Haha! You're really trying to make me laugh. Sure, I'll let you. From now on, I won't even interfere or watch over you. But the moment you become a husk or a mindless puppet, it means I've won," the being said, reveling in his suffering. "Oh, and if you lose… your sister will be mine."
"Alright. See you again in the near future, cunt," Subaru spat, fury burning in his eyes.
"You too, my little slave doll," the being cackled.