A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 2 - Part 3

"What?!" Rem couldn't stop herself and started toward me, but Ram stopped her.

"I don't understand. What do I have to do with the cult?" Emilia asked.

"When you become a public figure, they'll know of your existence and want to use you as a vessel to summon Satella. In fact, they may already be aware of your existence." I revealed. The three women in the room flinched at the direct mention of the witch.

"How do you know? What relationship do you have with them?" Rem's tone was cold, but her eyes shone with an intense hatred that was currently focused on me. Her overly nosy attitude for a mere servant was certainly suspicious.

"I knew them because of the witch's miasma that flows from my body." I said, looking at her sadly. "It attracts mabeasts, and apparently cultists too. They believed I was special, a chosen one who would help them achieve their goals."

"Miasma?" Emilia looked at Rem and then at me, wondering why the maid was reacting so heatedly to my words.

"Most people can't see it." I explained vaguely. "The Cult took an interest in me for a while, making my life miserable. They tried to recruit me and resorted to the cruelest methods. They took everything I cared about. That's why I've spent the last few years of my life seeking revenge."

At that point, the three of them were listening to me in silence. I paused and continued my story.

"I've been following them for a while, but they're very elusive. So I came to the conclusion that instead of doing that, I should wait for them and ambush them. But how? Those wretches act meticulously despite how crazy they are. Then, one day, I heard rumors about a silver-haired half-elf who was the spitting image of the Witch of Envy. I began following the rumors, traveling to the places where she was supposedly last seen. That's how I ended up in Lugunica."

"And what exactly do you want from me?" Emilia asked anxiously.

"Nothing but cooperation. You can continue living your life normally. I'll keep a close eye on you, and when those bastards show up, I'll be ready to take care of them."

I spoke in a deep tone that betrayed suppressed anger, or so I thought. I had to be convincing; my life depended on them believing my performance.

The silence that followed my story stretched for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Emilia broke the status quo with her angelic voice.

"I'm so sorry about what happened to you. I really want to help you, but it's not up to me." She explained with a pained expression. "If you want to stay here, you must get Roswaal's approval."

"So, can you arrange an audience with the Margrave for me?" I clasped my hands in a pleading gesture.

"In fact, I'm sure he'll want to talk to you himself after hearing your story." She reassured me.

There was a strong sense of awkwardness as everyone remained silent and I had become the center of attention, receiving somewhat intense stares from the twin maids.

Emilia asked me if I wanted to join her in the garden, and I immediately agreed. I needed fresh air and, above all, to get a safe distance from Rem and Ram.

Getting outside helped me much more than I expected. My body relaxed and my mind began to clear after a very crazy day and night. For a while, I sat contemplating the landscape and came to terms with the fact that I was trapped in a hostile world with an uncertain and dark future ahead.

Once again, I was impressed by Subaru's fortitude in not going crazy under such a brutal experience. Well, he did go crazy (temporarily in canon and permanently in some AUs).