A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 2 - Part 2

Reinhard sighed, his body relaxing noticeably and he smiled again, although his usual mood was marred by stress and mental fatigue.

"In that case, you can have this." He gave me Emilia's insignia.

For several seconds, I couldn't open my mouth. I was so happy that he still trusted me despite everything. I also felt another pang of guilt.

"Listen, Reinhard, I..."

"Is the invitation you extended to me today still valid?" He interrupted me, smiling.

"What?" I blinked several times. "Oh, of course, buddy!"

"Well, it's late today and I'll be a bit busy for the next few days, but I'll look for you when I have time, does that sound okay?"

I nodded vigorously. We greeted each other, and he took Felt into his arms. I felt a little sorry for old Rom, but I was reassured to know he would be okay.

"Oh shit! I completely forgot that!"

I ran out of the loot house and searched for the traces of destruction left by the battle between Reinhard and Elsa. It took me no more than a minute to find the site that had suffered collateral damage.

"Where is it? It's only been five minutes, at most."

I searched frantically through the rubble of the destroyed buildings. I despaired when I found no trace of her.

"Shit! I can't pass up this opportunity."

I persisted, delving into the adjacent streets until a smell of iron caught my attention. I walked into a dark alley and my feet made a sloshing sound as I stepped on some sticky liquid that had dripped along the floor. A few meters ahead lay the body of a familiar woman.

"Finally." I murmured when I saw her.

***

Emilia had arrived at Kadomon's fruit stand looking for Felt. To her surprise, the man turned out to be the father of the missing girl, whom she reunited with her mother.

Since he was very grateful to her, Kadomon told her that a young man had appeared at his stall a little while earlier and asked her not to help Emilia meet Felt, as it would put her life in danger if he did. Because of this, he flatly refused to give her any more information.

The half-elf asked for details about the appearance of the young man who apparently knew and cared for her. Kadomon also mentioned that the young man would bring her the insignia before midnight if she waited for him in that area of Shopper's Lane.

Of course, that was very suspicious, and Puck advised her not to do it, because if that young man showed up after five, he wouldn't be able to protect her.

But Emilia wasn't willing to give up on her goals. She wouldn't give up on being the ruler of Lugunica. If she dropped the candidacy, she would be abandoning the discriminated halfling races who needed support; she would be abandoning the Elior Forest, whose people remained trapped in the ice she herself had created. Emilia was nothing without her dream, because that dream had given her an identity.

"Please bring it back..."

As if hearing her silent plea, a shambling figure appeared before Emilia. It was a sad-looking young man dressed in strange clothes.

—This is yours...

His voice was low and deep, a stark contrast to his soft-featured face. He had very short black hair and an unbalanced physique, with a slightly swollen belly.

Emilia watched the trembling hand extended toward her, her blood-soaked insignia was on it, which surprised her. Only then did the half-elf notice the young man's labored breathing.