When I blinked, the darkness of night had given way to the bright, midday sun. Just moments ago, I was in front of a convenience store, heading home with a bag of instant ramen in hand. Now... everything around me was completely different. A cobblestone road, buildings made of a mix of wood and stone, people in strange clothes, and... carts pulled by lizards?
"What...?" A meaningless sound escaped me. Panic slowly seeped in as my brain tried to process what I was seeing. This wasn't Japan. This wasn't even the world I knew.
The people around me were staring at me strangely; whispering, pointing. My gray tracksuit and sneakers stuck out absurdly among their clothes, which looked more like something out of a medieval fantasy movie. And then I noticed... some of them had animal ears. Dog ears, cat ears... I could have sworn I even saw a bipedal, furry dog walking nearby.
When I see the appa seller it was all clear. No way... Don't tell me... My mind frantically scanned possible explanations, but only one made sense, however unbelievable. Re: Zero? Seriously? Me? I had watched the anime. I knew about Natsuki Subaru's summoning to another world, the suffering he endured, his deaths and returns. But me? Why am I here? Where's Subaru?
No answer. Just the curious and slightly suspicious gazes of the crowd. My hands trembled as I checked my pockets. My wallet, my cell phone with its nearly dead battery, and the convenience store bag... they were all here. Instinctively, I pulled out my phone. No signal. As expected.
Okay, calm down, Subaru. I told myself. My name was Subaru too. Maybe it was some kind of fate? Or just a cruel joke. I know the anime. I know what happens on the first day. The alleyway. The thugs. Then Emilia... or should I call her not-Satella? And Felt. The Loot House. Elsa... That terrifying woman.
My heart began to pound faster. I can't get involved in that, I thought, panicking. I don't even know if I have Return by Death. The original Subaru discovered that power after his first death. What if I didn't have it? What if my first death was my last? I couldn't take that risk.
I have to stay away. I decided. I won't go into that alley. I'll avoid meeting Emilia. I won't even go near the Loot House. My priority was survival. I needed to find a quiet place, try to understand the situation, and maybe... maybe somehow learn the language?
With that thought, a new problem hit me: Language. Although I could hear the people around me talking, I couldn't understand a single word. The writing was the same; the symbols on the shop signs meant nothing to me. I can't communicate. This complicated even my plan to avoid danger. How could I ask for help, how could I ask for directions?
Still, I had to try. I approached the nearest stall, belonging to a man selling red fruits that resembled apples. I pointed at one of the fruits with my hand and took out a few Japanese Yen from my wallet. The man frowned, clearly not understanding. He shook his head and said something, but his voice was just meaningless noise to me. He refused my money.
Just as expected, I thought with disappointment. The currency is different. The language is different. I'm completely alone.
I decided to get away from the crowd. The main street was too conspicuous. I turned into a quieter side alley. Maybe I can sit somewhere secluded and think, I hoped. But the alleys were like a maze. Since I couldn't read the signs, I didn't know where I was going. I took several wrong turns, ending up in dead ends. My tracksuit and lost appearance started making me look even more suspicious.
As I rounded a corner, I realized two men were blocking my path. Their faces were hard, their clothes ragged. They said something to me, their tone sounding threatening. I stepped back, but another person appeared behind me. There were three of them. Are these... the thugs from the anime? No, they didn't look like them. They seemed more... random.
They wanted something, maybe money? I thought about showing my wallet, but I knew the money inside was useless here. Did they want my phone? Maybe. But if I gave it to them, I'd lose the only valuable item I had left.
Unsure what to do, I opened my hands in a gesture indicating I didn't understand. This seemed to anger them further. One grabbed my arm. I tried to pull free, but the man was strong. Another shouted at me, spit flying onto my face. Fear thoroughly gripped my body now.
I tried to push, tried to run.I didn't know the language, didn't understand what they wanted, couldn't express myself. Maybe I was just misunderstood. Maybe I was targeted just because I looked strange. Whatever the reason, the result was the same.
The first punch landed in my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. Then another to my face. I crumpled to the ground, shielding my head with my arms. Kicks started raining down. I felt bursts of pain in my ribs, my back, my legs. I was shouting, but my voice came out choked. I didn't know why they were doing this. I just wanted them to stop.
Is this... how I die? My mind grew hazy. This meaningless? To some mobs? Just because I don't know the language, I look strange? The world before my eyes started to darken. As a final kick hit my head, my consciousness plunged into blackness. The pain gave way to a cold emptiness.
...
... When I opened my eyes again, I saw that bright sun once more. But there was a difference. My body... felt different. Lighter, more... small? And there was a new voice whispering in my mind.
[Confirmed. Acquisition of Unique Skill: "Great Sage"... Successful.] [Language data uploading... Successful.] [Body modification complete.]
Subaru looked at his hands in astonishment. They looked smaller, more delicate. What had happened? And that voice... Did it say Great Sage?
[Answer: Affirmative. I am indeed Great Sage from Tensura]
He understood then. He had died. And he had returned. Return by Death was real. And it had brought something else with it.