Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu (LN) - Volume 19 - Chapter Pr1

Prologue 

 A City in the Chaos of Battle  

1 

 The situation was not good, to say the least. 

There was only one entrance to the square surrounded by canals on four sides - the stone bridge that Otto had just crossed. That was probably why the group of armed men surrounding the Archbishop found this place ideal for an ambush. 

The counselor of Emilia's camp was now walking slowly among the puddles left by the recent flood, staring at the boy standing in the middle of the space. He couldn't look away from him. That smile straight out of nightmares was catching his attention. 

- Gluttony... - the merchant cried out through clenched teeth. His mouth became dry with fear and a cold sweat ran down his back. 

The Archbishops of Sin were beings that spurred the worst emotions among everyone in the other world. So much so that at the mere sound of their title, people frowned. 

Unfortunately, Otto had the unpleasantness of interacting with them slightly more times than the average resident of Lugnica. They were the greatest enemies of the Emilia camp. 

- Mr. Natsuki and Miss Ram will be drying my head for this. 

They are the ones who care most about punishing Gluttony. And here I am, the one to fight him! Frankly, maybe it's for the best. Hate clouds judgment, anger clouds thinking. And Gluttony hasn’t given me reason to react irrationally. 

Through his approach, he was able to notice a detail. 

- If I remember correctly, the Archbishop of Gluttony whom I met previously introduced himself differently. 

- My, have you met another one of us? And you didn't get eaten? You must be awesome! Or maybe you're not? Maybe you're so nasty, stringy, and tasteless that not even Binge Eating wanted you? - Ley Batenkaitos laughed outrageously. 

- I don't know what I'd prefer... - muttered Otto under his breath. 

I was right! 

A few hours earlier he had come across a boy who introduced himself as Gluttony. Admittedly, he immediately threw himself into running away, but he managed to get a good enough look at him to know that they were different people. Theoretically, one of them could be kamikazeing, but Otto immediately ruled out that possibility. He had met both of them and was sure that neither was faking. 

That aura cannot be faked. From that one emanated exactly the same pure evil... 

- So there are two Archbishops of Gluttony," he said aloud. - At least... 

- Hmmm? Warmer and warmer. We don't know you, and we have to admit that you did an excellent job," replied Gluttony, giving him a curious look, then licking his lips, "I wonder how you taste. 

Otto felt his courage leave him. 

He had gotten himself into quite a mess. Admittedly, he had left the town hall fully aware of the dangers of walking through Priestella, but he hadn't expected to find an oversized Archbishop roaming the city streets. 

Worse, Subaru and the others don't know it either! And yet their whole strategy is to attack the four control towers at the same time, absorbing the attention of all the Archbishops at once. 

That was not the end of the surprises. 

- Hey! What's this about talking to the enemy?! We don't have time for this, merchant! - shouted the girl bravely, at the sight of which the boy with a pained expression put his hand to his forehead. 

Shining golden hair, red eyes. Only she combined distinction with sweetness with such naturalness. Otto looked at one of the most powerful people in this city, a candidate for the crown of Lugnica, Felt. 

- I agree completely. Where did you come from? On top of that, with the Archbishop of Sin! 

- Are you that surprised that I didn't stay at the evacuation point? I only stayed there for so long because that fool wouldn't leave my side! - she replied as insolently as ever, with a wry smile on her pretty face. 

- Calling Reinhard "stupid..." - muttered Otto, then mused. 

I am not at all surprised that the Sword Saint was so tired. I also understand why he didn't want to leave it. 

Otto thought back to his previous encounter with Felt. He had come across her and her entourage in the middle of an argument with Heinkel. The Deputy Commander of the Guard had used Felt as a hostage to force Reinhard to obey. 

The merchant was not at all happy to be caught up in this. However, he decided to try to help them. Eventually, the Heinkel was overpowered, and the Sword Saint was able to run to where everyone needed him most. Felt stayed at the evacuation point to guard the prisoner. Reinhard hoped the girl would be safe there. 

- Officially, Lady Felt promised to stay out of the fight. But as you can see... 

- Shut up! After all, I know I'm unlucky! However, since it worked out that way, you have to play the cards you hold in your hand! 

- A beautiful answer, I admit. - Otto was impressed by her courage. 

Was she willing to face the Archbishop of Sin without her knight by her side? She doesn't look scared at all. Except that these cards are really weak. In fact, she only has one. 

Next to Felt stood a powerful man with a sour face and clenched fists. He didn't have any weapons on him. He had positioned himself ready for a fight, but he probably wasn't ready for one at all. He didn't look like someone who would be able to take part in a serious battle, and certainly not a skirmish with a cult. 

- Felt! This is the Archbishop of Sin! Really?! 

- Courage, Gaston! You don't want to die before you have children, do you? 

- Why the sad face? - Batenkaitos decided to tease Gaston. - With every step we take, we get closer and closer to a delicious feast! They call us Gluttony, but don't think that we just mindlessly overeat. We know how important it is to prepare properly for a meal. 

Out of the corner of his eye, Otto was watching the boy who was making his strange pronouncements, while assessing the situation on the square. Beside the Archbishop, Felt and Gaston, there were five more men in white coats. Otto knew one of them, 

- Isn't that Mr. Dynas? Mr. Kiritaka's bodyguard, commander of the White Scales? 

- And you are Lady Emilia's advisor. Looks like we're both out of luck today! 

- Unfortunately... 

The White Scales were Kiritaka's private army by day, but faced with this unique situation, they moved into the city. to try and control the chaos. Dynas was the right hand of the chairman of the Muse Company. From Anastasia's story, he had protected the rear during the escape from the Trade Group's headquarters, which had been attacked by Wrath. 

Otto looked around. Kiritaka was not with them. 

Dynas noticed his questioning look. 

- They took him. We're trying to find him. 

- Did they take it away? 

- We have no basis for optimism. We know that, and I'm sure you do too... - replied the mercenary gloomily. 

The other members of the Council have died, so why would the Witch Cult hesitate to harm Kiritaka? Shells is probably right to assume the worst. Kiritaka may not be our ally, but he's not an enemy either. Besides, he did the right thing by risking his own life. I respect that. 

He looked around. Representatives of three interest groups were meeting in one square: Otto from Emilia's camp, the mercenaries from the Beaten Scales, and Felt with Gaston. And before them stood the Archbishop of Gluttony. On the surface, they had an advantage over him, but only the naive would believe it. 

Eh... Too bad we don't have someone with us who can really fight. 

- It appears that the Class A enemy will have to be faced by those who have been declared unfit to fight the Class A enemy. How ironic! - muttered Otto. 

- Speak for yourself! I can do something, and so can those men in white. You're the only questionable element, and you're roaming the city by yourself! - interjected Felt. 

It made him feel stupid. The girl was right. Otto was the weakest in this company. 

- Hey, hey! No arguing! I want you to help us find... the one we're looking for! Oh, where are you, where? We want to meet you, so much! - Batenkaitos groaned, wrapping his arms around himself. He turned red in the face, as if he had just caught a high fever. 

- Meet? What is he talking about? - Otto furrowed his brow. 

The Archbishop didn't see them as a threat. No wonder, after all, he could wipe them off the face of the earth in a split second. 

Take it easy, Otto, just take it easy. Negotiate. Speak wisely. 

- We're not going to explain to you, it's pointless! They always just want explanations. We hate it. We can't stand it, we can't stand it! - lamented the boy. 

Felt snorted under her breath. 

He probably thinks there is no point in debating with him. I think differently. Like everyone else I have an instinctive loathing for him, but I think it is necessary to take the opportunity to get along with the enemy. I have already negotiated with all sorts of beings in my life. If there is a way to get along, you should use it and try to get something. It probably won't be easy. But then again, others have it worse. Mr. Natsuki, for example. He has a hard life. 

- Please don't say that! It may turn out that we can help somehow. Tell me, does this have anything to do with the conditions we heard about in the announcement? 

- We only want to know one thing... Where is this hero whose voice we heard! 

I take back everything I thought about Mr. Natsuki. Now I regret having met him at all. 

Batenkaitos despaired theatrically, burying his reddened face in his hands and rocking his entire body. 

- This wonderful hero has definitely come to judge us! We desire it so much that the feeling is about to burst us from the inside! Our heart is weeping! 

- How is it that he always attracts misfortune? - muttered Otto under his breath. 

I know what he would answer. "After all, I don't do it on purpose!" And I said to him... Well, it's no use. I'm not arguing with someone who's not even here! 

- See?! I told you that you wouldn't get along with him! We're not sell out one of our own! - snorted an irritated Felt. 

- He's not even in your camp. Although if the opposite situation happened, he wouldn't sell you out either. - He smiled sourly. 

Cute girl. Maybe it's even a good thing I stayed to help her, even though it made me late for my meeting with Mr. Natsuki? It's beautiful that she can be so sincere. But that's why this twisted, distorted Gluttony will be a particularly difficult enemy for her. I should warn her. 

- Well... Please don't ask them, they don't know - said Otto to the Archbishop, pointing to the others. - They haven't seen him for a long time. 

- Hmmm From this it seems that you have seen him! - remarked the boy brightly. 

Felt furrowed her eyebrows threateningly. Dynas tensed all over, and Gaston's eyes brightened. Otto himself spread his arms wide. 

- Please understand that I greatly appreciate the fact that I'm still alive. Why don't we do this... If the OP says that nothing will happen to me... 

- Hmmm?! Do you know?! Do you know where he is?! Where is our hero?! Our beloved hero?! The weak, fragile, scared one who can't help us?! 

- Oh dear... Yes," confirmed Otto, taken aback by this description of Subaru. 

It's as if he knows him, What he says is suspiciously reminiscent of Mr. Natsuki's own words... Why am I surprised at all? Ah, that Mr. Natsuki. Nothing surprises me anymore, not even that he knows the Archbishops of Sin personally. Maybe he has something in common with all of them? Because with Greed, Gluttony, Lust, and Wrath, he certainly does. 

- What's that tortured face? Lead the way! 

- I'm fine, thank you, but hold on a second. Let's figure out what we're doing first. You can either kill us all and be left with no clue as to the whereabouts of the one you seek, or you can receive information in exchange for the safety of everyone here. Which do you prefer? 

- Phiii... 

Otto smoothly conducted the conversation, never for a moment stepping out of his role as negotiator. 

Perfect. A murderous aura surrounded him, but now he acted like a child as usual. Perhaps there is some youthful naivety left in him? This dissonance between childishness and the evil emanating from him creates a sense of discomfort. Or maybe someone made such a monster out of him? Poor... 

- Do you feel sorry for us now? 

- Hm? 

Suddenly, Batenkaitos' expression changed completely. The Archbishop looked at Otto with a gaze that seemed to reach to the very bottom of his soul. 

- We know that look. That look of superiority. The look of someone who despises us, who doesn't respect us. Who thinks we're a commodity... Oh, right. That's what we thought we smelled from you. 

Otto felt himself shiver, a tightening in his throat. 

Ley's gaze was filled with hatred. 

- You're a buyer, aren't you? One of those who price and sell to fill their own coffers. They evaluate everything in terms of material value! People and their dreams too, don't they? 

- Er... I think we have a slightly different perception of my profession... - Otto replied. He put a lot of effort into not making his voice tremble. He did not understand where this conversation was going. He was already treading on thin ice, and now he felt as if someone had additionally covered his eyes and told him to go on. What would happen to him now depended only on the mood of his interlocutor, who could at any moment stomp his foot and break the ice. And the boy did not seem to be overly happy... 

- You think we're going to be fooled! No! We're not going to listen to you! We won't believe you until we've devoured everything! Swallow it! We drink it up! We will bite, chew, suck, lick, drink! - he howled, trembling all over his body. 

- So what? It was all the same", Felt snorted. The terrible aura emanating from the Archbishop did not impress her at all. The girl pulled out a knife and leaned forward, ready to attack. 

- Can you fight? - Otto was surprised. 

- What, girls aren't allowed? I take care of my own life! I listen only to myself and decide for myself! I have no master or mistress! - she answered cheerfully. 

She's excited. Not as excited as that sidekick of hers, Gaston. He's gone pale as a wall. I don't think he's useful for anything. He seems to be one of those people who make a lot of fuss about themselves and then turn out to be useless. Just like Mr. Natsuki. 

- I guess I shouldn't think of people that way... - Otto muttered to himself. 

Batenkaitos looked around at the faces of those gathered. 

- Can we get started? - he asked, waving his long tongue, from which saliva dripped. - An exquisite meal cannot take place without the right introduction. High quality ingredients are also important. It's only when you put together top-quality products that you can talk about good food... 

- I don't quite understand... 

- You don't have to! We don't expect anyone to share our sense of beauty! All right, it's time... Enjoy! 

Oho. He's decided who he wants to eat for an appetizer.... Me! 

Ley opened wide his maw armed with sharp fangs and threw himself at Otto. 

- Negotiations must not be interrupted in the middle! - cried the unfortunate man, pointing his finger at the Archbishop. - A merchant can always hide an ace up his sleeve! 

- Whaaat! 

- A safety precaution, just in case! - replied Otto and tapped his heel twice on the cobblestones where he stood. Right on the bank of the canal. 

The surface of the water rocked. 

Batenkaitos did not reach Otto with his teeth. He couldn't, because a pack of water dragons emerged from behind the merchant's back. The lizards caught the boy in mid-flight, bit into his flesh and began to jerk.