The First Resonance
When Subaru opened his eyes, narrowly escaping death once again under
Satella's shadow, a faint shaft of light shimmered above his head.
He tried to push himself up from the cold stone ground; a dull numbness still clung to his body like frost biting into his bones.
His lungs were wrapped in a heavy silence—air refused to be drawn in, as if it still belonged to death.
His heart, however, had begun to beat again, slow and unsteady.
"I'm back…" he whispered.
Though his voice didn't echo, it was the clearest truth in the world at that moment.
He lifted his head and looked around.
A narrow, damp alleyway...
The air was thick with moisture, and droplets of water slid down the stone walls, tapping quietly against the ground.
Beneath his feet were dirt and scattered bits of broken stone.
Everything felt familiar—and uncomfortably real.
"This place… It's where I first arrived in this world," he thought.
A flicker of unease crossed his face.
"Not exactly my favorite memories here."
Just then, a familiar translucent screen appeared before his eyes. It opened with a soft chime, its glow briefly altering the mood of the dark alley.
Natsuki Subaru
Age: 17
Titles:• Visitor from Another World (active)• ???
Current Soul Coins: 00
Authorities:
Return by Death (Passive)
→ Upon dying, Subaru returns to his previous checkpoint; memories are retained.
Limitations:
• Losses from the previous checkpoint cannot be undone.
•Checkpoint cannot be manually changed.
• Subaru cannot speak about this authority; if he tries, the "Witch's Hand" will intervene directly with his heart.
Resonance by Death (Passive)
→Upon dying, Subaru copies a specific ability from the entity that caused his death.
Limitations:
• Dying to the same entity increases resonance percentage with the copied ability.
• Each ability has an upper limit; overuse or growth may lead to side effects.
• Some copied abilities may exceed Subaru's mental or physical capacity, leading to control difficulties.
Gate (Repaired by Flugel)
Primary Affinity: Yin (Dark element)
Soul Harmony: 80%
Current Weapon: None
Main Quest:--Reunite with Emilia and reclaim your place as her knight, just like before.
Reward: Choose one weapon from the shop
+Reward: +10 Soul Coins
Side Quests:
→ Activate Resonance by Death for the first time.
Reward: +5 Soul Coins
→ Establish contact with Flugel.
Reward: ???
Subaru let out a sigh.
"This really is starting to feel like one of those anime I used to watch…
And what the hell is a Soul coin, anyway?"
After a brief pause, he shrugged and stood up.
"Hmm, not worth overthinking.
Time to find Emilia-tan!" he said with his signature, lopsided grin.
As he moved through the narrow alleys, the memories of his first arrival here stirred in his mind.
"Hmm, I think I walked this way and then—"
As he stepped under a familiar stone bridge, he found himself face to face with three thugs.
For a moment, time seemed to freeze.
Subaru narrowed his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling upward.
"There you are," he muttered, as if meeting some old acquaintances.
The skinny one flinched slightly but regained his posture.
"Hand over all your money, and we'll let you live. Sounds like a fair deal, don't you think?"
[ DING! ]
A new quest notification appeared before Subaru's eyes:
[Quest: Repel the Thugs]
Reward: +5 Soul Coins
Subaru rolled his eyes.
He'd lived through this moment countless times.
There was no fear, no anxiety left.
Only impatience.
He wanted to see Emilia—no more wasted time.
"Damn it… A forced event."
Before the words even finished leaving his mouth, he lunged forward, slamming a full-body right elbow into the skinny thug.
The man let out a strange wheeze before crumpling to the ground.
The shorter, muscular one charged at him.
Subaru ducked, flipped over the thug's back, and landed with a punch straight to his face.
The brute lost his balance and collapsed.
"No matter how big you are, a punch to the face always works,"
Subaru thought with mild amusement.He spun and delivered a swift kick to the last thug, sending him flying into the wall like a sack of grain.
He took a breath and tilted his head slightly.
There was a strange satisfaction—doing things he never could before, things that once felt impossible.
Looking at the unconscious thugs sprawled across the ground, he smirked.
"Hmm… I doubt they'll mind if I borrow a few things," he murmured.
He began rummaging through their pockets.
"Seventeen gold coins, five silver… Oh."
He also picked up a dagger lying behind the skinny one.
The glint of the polished blade caught his eye.
As he turned to leave, someone passed by him.
A blonde girl.
She walked quickly but threw a glance his way.
In Subaru's mind, a name echoed—
Felt.
Subaru braced himself for what was about to happen.
Before Emilia could arrive, he quickly dragged the three unconscious thugs to the wall, propped them up, and dusted off his clothes.
Then, he waited quietly.
Despite trying to keep his excitement at bay, his heart was pounding again.
Moments later... she arrived.
Her silver hair shimmered softly, like moonlight in the dark.
Her breath was uneven, her eyes filled with worry.
Emilia stood at the edge of the alley, her gaze scanning the surroundings.
"Where is she?" she asked Puck, her voice tense.
Puck floated by her side, lips pursed in a whisper.
"I can't feel him, Lia... I'm sorry."
Emilia shook her head.
"No, it's not your fault. Don't blame yourself, please."
Then, her eyes fell on Subaru.
A voice inside Subaru stirred:
"Why does she always look this cute, every single time?"
Emilia called out, "Hey, you!"
Subaru flinched.
It wasn't his name she said—but it felt like a summons, a ripple in the air.
His throat was dry.
He struggled to speak."Y-yeah?"
Emilia stepped forward, her eyes laced with urgency.
"We're looking for a blonde thief. She stole a very important gem."
Subaru averted his eyes.
The image of the figure that had leapt over the wall still echoed in his mind.
"If you mean a blonde girl… she jumped over that wall just a moment ago.
"Emilia let out a troubled breath.
Her hands instinctively clasped in front of her.
"Do you know who she is? Or where I could find her?
"Subaru shook his head slowly.
His voice was tired, but honest.
"I'm sorry... I only arrived in this country a few hours ago. You're the first person I've met."Emilia's eyes glimmered slightly.
And in that moment, something shifted inside Subaru.
A quiet desire—to protect.
Uncalled for, unplanned, but overwhelming.He stepped forward.
"If you'd like… I can help."
Puck hovered closer to Emilia's shoulder, whispering near her ear:
"He doesn't seem to mean harm, but... the scent of the Witch is strong.
Be careful, Lia."
Emilia didn't respond. She glanced at Subaru.
She had made up her mind.
A quiet voice echoed in her heart: "This time... I'll trust my instincts."
"Why would you want to help me?" she asked softly.
"I'm... a silver-haired half-elf."
In Subaru's eyes, something flickered.
It wasn't fear.
It wasn't judgment.
It was simply—acceptance.
"Why not?" he said gently.
"Your appearance can't hide the beauty within."
He smiled. "Let's go find her."
Emilia was momentarily speechless.
Her cheeks turned a soft shade of pink.
"W-well then... thank you for your help."
Subaru scratched the back of his head.
"Ah, how forgetful of me. We haven't even introduced ourselves."
His eyes lit up, voice warm:
"May I ask your name?"
Emilia hesitated.
Her gaze drifted into the void for a brief second, then her lips parted:
"I... I'm Satella."
Puck let out a silent, troubled sigh.
"Lia really is terrible at picking fake names..."
Subaru didn't bat an eye. He bowed slightly:
"I'm Natsuki Subaru. But you can just call me Subaru."
Puck floated closer, eyes narrowing at Subaru:
"I'm Puck! Nice to meet you, Subaru."
But that look said it all: "Stay away from my daughter."
after a while
Subaru thought to himself:
"We could start with the street vendors in the slums. Someone always knows something, for the right price."
Subaru's footsteps slowed as they approached the edge of the slums.
The air was thick with the familiar stench of old smoke and desperation — a scent he had grown far too used to.
His eyes narrowed, scanning the rundown stalls, the crumbling buildings, and the worn faces.
It hadn't changed. Not really.
Not even across timelines."This is where it all started, isn't it?"
The thought crept into his mind like a whisper from a half-forgotten nightmare.
He remembered this part — the dirt, the tension, the weight of knowing something terrible was
about to happen, and the suffocating helplessness that always came with it.
"We went to the vendors before.
Someone talked... after a bit of coin.
I should've pushed harder. I should've known more."
His fingers curled slightly at his sides.
This time, he had no excuse.
He had already lived through this once.
He knew what was coming.
He wouldn't let it unfold the same way.
Subaru turned to Emilia, trying to mask the grim resolve building in his chest with a faint smile.
"We could start with the street vendors in the slums,"
he said aloud, just as he had before.
"Someone always knows something… for the right price.
"His voice was calm, but his mind was racing.
"She didn't question me last time. She trusted me. And this time... I can't fail her again."
He met her gaze, his expression softening.
"Satella… forgive me,"
he began, using the name she had first given him — the name that still echoed with mystery and guilt.
"But while Puck and I go check with the vendors, why don't you consult the spirits? Puck's a spirit, so maybe you can talk to others too."
Emilia blinked, surprised by the suggestion, just like before.
But this time, Subaru wasn't acting on instinct or desperation.
He was retracing the steps of a broken path, one he intended to walk differently.
"This time, I won't just follow fate,"
he thought.
"This time, I'll reshape it."
Emilia blinked in surprise.
"Y-yes. That actually makes sense. Thank you for the idea."
Puck nodded:
"Alright, Lia. I'm going with Subaru. We won't stray far."
Subaru repeated, almost without thinking:
"Lia, huh?"
The air froze.
Puck and Emilia both stiffened.
Puck responded first:
"Lia? Who's Lia? Don't know anyone by that name, right, Satella?"
Emilia gave a strained chuckle.
"R-right. Definitely not."
Subaru mused to himself:
"That nervousness… is kinda adorable."
But his mind was sharp:
"So that's a secret. And I just peeled back a tiny piece."
As Emilia went to commune with the spirits, Subaru and Puck made their way to a street vendor.
Subaru smiled.
"Hey there. How's your day going?"The vendor frowned.
"Say what you want, pay, and leave. Got it, kid?"
Unbothered, Subaru asked:
"We're looking for a blonde girl.
Was seen running through here earlier."
The vendor shrugged.
"Don't know her. Bad memory."
Subaru pulled out the pouch he took from the thugs, slid two gold coins forward.
"Maybe this will help jog it."The vendor's expression changed.
"Head straight down the back road. There's an old tavern.
The man in charge there—Rom."
Subaru thought:
"I already knew that… but building trust with real info is part of the game."
He nodded.
"Oh, and… can I buy two cloaks?"The vendor paused.
"Got two. Five silver."
Subaru thought to himsel"If I killed this crook, I'd save five silver.
But fine…"
He smirked slightly and handed over the coins, accepting the cloaks.
He returned to Emilia.
"Satella, we've found out where to go.But first... you need to hide your identity.
Wear this."
Emilia blinked in surprise.
She looked at Puck.
With a silent nod, she accepted.
She pulled the cloak over herself, disappearing under its dark fabric.
Subaru started walking ahead.
His shadow stretched long behind him—slow, patient.
Puck whispered to Emilia:
"Lia... there's something strange about this boy. I feel uneasy inside."
Emilia replied in a low voice:
"But Subaru... he seems kind. Truly. A normal person wouldn't help us like this."
Puck thought to himself:"Subaru… are you a pawn of the Witch Cult?
Or just a fool who doesn't even know the Witch's name?"
He yawned, his fur lightly bristling."Lia, I'll rest inside the crystal for now.
If anything goes wrong... wake me."
Emilia nodded gently.
"Okay, Puck. Stay safe."
A glimmer pulsed within the crystal.
With a soft flicker, Puck vanished.
The air suddenly felt a little emptier.
Following Subaru's lead, the two arrived at Rom's tavern.
Stopping at the entrance, Subaru took a quiet breath.
His chest rose and fell steadily.
Then, he knocked three times.
A narrow eye peeked through the slit in the door.
Rom leaned his bulky frame against the wooden edge.
He was about to ask for a password when Subaru pulled out a coin pouch and held it up silently.
Rom glanced at the pouch, then grunted:
"People with coin don't need a password. Get in."
Subaru gave a slight smile."Where I come from, they say money opens every door."
Emilia tilted her head, but followed him inside without a word.
The dim lighting inside danced across the glasses on the bar.
The scent of old wood stirred a memory in Subaru's mind—but he couldn't quite place it.
He stepped closer to the bar and spoke in a clear voice:
"I'm looking for a blonde girl.
My employer said there'd be a jewel delivery here today."
His words fell onto the counter like solid stones—calm and deliberate.
Just then, the back door creaked open.
A short, blonde girl stepped inside.
Her eyes locked onto Subaru.
"Took you long enough to find me," she said in a soft but defiant tone.
Emilia flinched, her hands rising as she began preparing a spell—
But Subaru gently touched her wrist.
"Easy… she's not a threat. Not right now," he whispered.
Subaru looked at the blonde girl.
His voice was firm, his intent clear.
"I've been assigned to retrieve the jewel you stole today."
He pulled a coin pouch from his pocket.
The clink of gold inside sounded like a war drum—announcing the coming storm.
He placed it on the table:
"Fifteen gold coins. That's my offer."
Felt hesitated for a moment.
The allure of money flickered in her eyes like a reflection of greed.
"Fifteen, huh? Well… maybe.
But I've got another buyer. They'll be here soon. Whoever pays more gets it."
A chill ran through Subaru.
"This unease... why does it feel so familiar?"Just then—
The door shattered with a deafening crash.
Wooden shards danced through the air as a figure stepped through.
Tall, slender, and cloaked in shadow. Her eyes gleamed like a predator searching for prey.
Elsa the Bowel Hunter.
Felt jumped to her feet.
"Hey! Ever heard of using a door like a normal person!?"
Subaru turned around.
His eyes landed on Elsa's face.
That familiar, twisted beauty.
The elegance of death itself...
Her revealing dress did more than attract—it whispered of bloodlust.
Subaru couldn't see the hidden daggers beneath her outfit—
But his memory remembered them.
He had felt them… far too many times.
Elsa's steps were like a dance—each movement both graceful and lethal.
"Hm? Another buyer? So it's an auction, then."
She sat at the table with fluid ease.
Her smile was like a flower blooming on a river of ice.
Subaru fought to steady his breath.
Showing fear in front of death… was a fatal mistake."Yes," he replied flatly.
"My employer sent me to acquire the jewel from Felt."
Elsa tilted her head slightly.
"How curious… and who might you be?"
Subaru paused—then quickly responded:"I'm Natsuki Subaru. And this girl beside me is my dear little sister… E-tella. And you are?"
Elsa winked.
"Call me Elsa. Just… Elsa."
Felt, clearly bored of the drama, interjected:"Okay, now that everyone knows each other… can we get to the selling part already?"
Elsa and Subaru exchanged subtle glances.
Rom, in the background, rubbed his forehead with a groan.
"I've already made my offer," Elsa said, casually.
"Ten gold."
Felt turned her gaze to Subaru.
"And yours? Still fifteen?"Without bowing his head,
Subaru answered: "Fifteen gold."
Felt's eyes sparkled, conflicted.
She turned back to Elsa.
Elsa shrugged.
"Sorry. My employer only gave me ten. That's all I have."
"Ah," Felt said, a hint of disappointment slipping into her voice.
Subaru briefly met Rom's eyes.
Both of them felt it—"She's too indifferent about this. There's more going on."
"Well, I guess it's yours," Felt finally said, handing the jewel to Subaru.
He carefully took it and slipped it into his pocket.
Yet… the feeling of victory was oddly hollow.
Elsa stood up.
A dark glint shimmered behind her calm expression.
"How unfortunate. But… according to my deal, if I can't buy it—I must take it by force."
She lifted her hands slowly, almost gracefully.
Twin daggers slid from her back like shadows—so sharp they seemed to slice the air itself.
The room's temperature dropped several degrees.
Subaru's heart skipped a beat.
"This is the end."
Elsa moved like lightning.
She darted toward the exit—where Subaru and Emilia were about to leave.
Subaru caught the motion out of the corner of his eye.
Without thinking, he shoved Emilia through the doorway.
Then, reaching into his coat, he pulled out two daggers—looted from thugs, now the threads of his fate.
He took position, bracing himself.
The daggers in his hands weren't elegant.
But they'd have to sing the first note of this fight.
Elsa's blades sliced through the air like vengeful spirits.
Subaru met her strike with a clumsy but determined block.
Steel clashed against steel—
and time held its breath.
Was it luck?
Even Subaru didn't know.
Maybe it was just... pure, primal instinct fueled by the terror of death.
Then—he noticed something strange.
Elsa only had one dagger in her hand.
It took Subaru's brain a second to register the anomaly.
And then a wave of cold panic climbed his throat.
He slowly turned around.His mind refused the image—
But reality offered no mercy.
Elsa had already thrown her second dagger…
And her target was—Emilia.Time collapsed.
Sounds muffled.
The air pressed down like heavy iron.Subaru's eyes locked onto Emilia's body, now slumped on her knees.
Her silver hair spilled over her shoulder,
and from her chest, Elsa's dagger stood—
like a final sentence carved into her heart.
In that moment, Subaru's mind shattered.
The past... repeated itself.
And again,
he was too late.
All those memories—
the streets they had walked,
the quiet moments she smiled,
those soft thank-yous—
flashed before his eyes,
each one a blade cutting deeper.
The girl he loved had died in front of him once more.
And Subaru... again... could do nothing.
"EMILIA!!!"
His scream cracked the air,
the final gasp of a drowning soul.
He lunged forward— just wanted to reach her.
But—A burning pain lit up his back.
Sharp. Cold.
Death itself.
He looked down.
Elsa's dagger was buried in his gut.
His trembling hands were soaked in his own blood.
From behind came that voice... as real as the fear it carried.
"I'm so excited to open you up and see your insides.
Please don't disappoint me, Natsuki Subaru."
Elsa's tone danced between delight and madness.
Subaru's body was failing, but one will alone kept him moving.
"I have to reach Emilia…"His knees buckled.
He collapsed.
And crawled—
dragging himself across the blood-slick floor,
toward the girl he couldn't save
His shaking fingers touched her cooling hand.
His bloodstained lips parted.
"No matter what... I'll save you, Emilia…"
"I swear it…"His voice cracked.
His eyelids grew heavy.
The world faded.
Death came again.
But this time...Something was different.
The air trembled.
Mana around them stirred—as if an invisible storm had taken hold.
A weight pressed into Subaru's chest.
Then warmth. And then—
something else.
From the deepest corner of his mind, a whisper echoed.
Velvety.
Dark.
A loving requiem.
"I love you."
And
[Return by Death - activated.]
But this time, he wasn't alone.
From within the shadows,
another voice rose.
Elegant. Cold.
Like the void itself was speaking.
"It's not over, Natsuki Subaru.This is only the first act…"
Subaru's eyes glimmered—
a faint purple glow,
like a command whispered from the depths of an unseen throne.From within the darkness…
a new power was calling.
A new self.
A new destiny.
But this time, he wasn't alone.