Re:zero - Commanding Power in a Familiar World

Part 7 Part Four

Without hesitation, he knocked on Roswaal's door.

"Come in, Subaru-kun."

With a little confusion how the mage knew it was him, he entered the room. "Roswaal, I wanna talk."

"Didn't we already talk last night~?" Roswaal was lying in bed, his lower body still covered in bandages. "About Y/N going back to find out Frederica's intentions~?"

"That's somewhat why I'm here." Subaru closed the door behind him.

"Oh~?"

"You let him go back without hesitation. Not only that, but it was you who suggested that Ram would go back with him." Subaru positioned himself at the foot of Roswaal's bed. The light from the window shone around him as he stared him down.

"...Your point being?" Roswaal's tone shifted with the atmosphere, losing a bit of its song-like pattern.

"Cut the crap Ros-chi. I know you ordered the attack on the mansion."

Roswaal dropped his smile. "Subaru, that's quite an auspicious accusation, tell me who told you that?" Subaru didn't answer. "Who was it?"

"Why would that matter?" Subaru went back to his tough act. Unfortunately, his question had given the answer away.

If Subaru had played dumb, Roswaal would have no reason to suspect Subaru knows about Y/N's knowledge. But, asking why who told him mattered was more than enough for Roswaal to connect the dots, Roswaal had completely lost his sing-song voice by this point.

"Tell me, Subaru. Do you trust Y/N?"

Subaru looked at Roswaal with skepticism. Why wouldn't he trust Y/N? He's only been a help the whole time they've known each other. "Don't deflect the question-"

"Do you not find it convenient how you two met on the same day? How he was ready to listen to you almost instantly?" A smile begin to creep on to Roswaal's face with every word.

"I'm not falling for your distractions-" Subaru took one step closer to the bedside before being cut off.

"Isn't it strange how he never stopped everything before it happened? He seems very knowledgeable after all... and he's far from powerless... correct?"

...

Does he..?

"Hm... I see." Roswaal relaxed back to how he was when they started. "It never crossed your mind that he has ulterior motives. You took him at his word so quickly without doubt." Subaru stayed silent. "A man who planned for the substitution of the White Whale, and defeated a Sin Archbishop within the same day..." Roswaal looked upon Subaru with what looked like pity " Yet you never seemed to consider one thing... what if Y/N was an Archbishop himself?"

That's... Hard to argue.

No, that can't be true, Y/N was clearly from earth. His knowledge, native language, dialect, clothes, he even showed Subaru his smart phone.

Subaru knew Y/N wasn't affiliated with any group in this world, that was obvious. His lack of action was due to not knowing fully what would happen, and making sure something worse didn't happen. What was giving Subaru doubt was why...

Why did he choose to help? Sure he's incredibly powerful, and knows what is going to happen before anyone could.

But he could've just... not.

If he knows a future where he didn't exist, then Subaru must have done everything on his own just fine.

So... why bother stepping in? Subaru's mind swirled with questions, he didn't want to doubt Y/N but he truly never realized just how little he knew and how much Y/N may know...

"Everyone is driven by desire, Subaru, no one does something for no reason.... So What do you think Y/N's desire is?"

Subaru stayed silent, unable to answer.

"It's not something you ever considered was it? I suggest you confront your 'friend', before you confront me, Subaru. If anything, that may help clear things up... right?" A sudden gust opened the room door. "Have a good day, Subaru-kun~." Roswaal's usual demeanor returned.

Wow it has been a while. I can't even tell you off the top of my head. Like half a year? 

27th of december for this book. 

Or Jun if you saw my anouncment.

Burn out sucks.

This part is short. like a bit under 1,000 words (Before editing).

If it takes me so long to write for this book, then I'll just release smaller parts, and combine them when all of them are out.

What's taking so long is I started to add things i didn't plan for, and then need to write for that.

So I ask.

How much do you care for all the inbetween?

I can't abandoned this book because it's technically a prequel to my other one.

But would you be satisfied if I 'half-assed' it?

I was half-assing it till arc 4, so I aparently write well enough to keep your attention for this long.

Becasue if I go with how I usally write. I could probably finish the book in 4-5 full parts.

But that be skipping other charater's praspective, and me asuming you'd gather that the events are the same as in cannon. Which is bad practice for a writer.

On the upside. I don't want this to be the end of me writing Re:Zero. I just want this book to end satisfyingly for you. The people who want to see the end of this shit show.

So I leave it to those of you still here.

want to end it soon and start the plan for the rewrite.

or

keep going with shorter parts that add up to a longer part