"BOOM Rumble..."
On the streets, a gigantic lizard pulled a carriage, galloping amidst the monotonous sound of wheels, keeping the street bustling.
The signs of people coming and going seemed as if they would continue indefinitely, allowing humans, demi-humans, and beastmen dressed in eccentric attire to brush past each other one by one, forming an incredible and fantastical scene that seemed to repeat countless times.
Amidst this plaza-like street scene, in front of a fountain, Fang Li suddenly opened his eyes.
Within his dark-colored eyes, emotions of surprise, suspicion, and seriousness flickered one after another. Eventually, they all turned into contemplation, causing Fang Li to ponder deeply.
At this moment, beside him, a voice suddenly rang out.
"Aaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh————!"
A scream filled with fear abruptly echoed across the entire street, startling the pedestrians who were coming and going, causing them to cast bewildered and uncertain glances one after another.
Fang Li also raised a brow, turning his head to look at his side.
There, Natsuki Subaru clutched his heart, as if just awakened from a nightmare, sweating profusely while panting heavily.
It wasn't until after a while that Natsuki Subaru seemed to react from the situation, opening his eyes with dilated pupils, nervously turning his head with stiff movements, surveying all around with a pale complexion.
Soon after, Natsuki Subaru spoke in confusion.
"I... I'm not dead?"
Natsuki Subaru remembered clearly that just a moment ago, he was pierced through the heart by a sharp blade, dying instantly on the spot.
"Could it be a dream?"
Even Natsuki Subaru himself didn't believe this sentence.
Because the fear of the brink of death, the weakness as the blood drained away, and the chilling sensation as life reached its end, all remained vividly in Natsuki Subaru's body and heart, and it was all too real to imagine.
If this were a dream, would it be too realistic?
Thoughts racing, Natsuki Subaru wiped the sweat from his face, forcing a somewhat strained smile, jokingly saying to himself.
"I knew it, protagonists summoned to Another World always possess some powerful ability. Could it be that only now my super ability has awakened?"
At this point, Natsuki Subaru was more evading than self-aware.
If he were the only one here, then this matter would probably be treated as a delusion by him, right?
Unfortunately, Natsuki Subaru was not alone here.
The next moment, a voice from beside responded to Natsuki Subaru's words.
"You're right. That's the privilege only you possess, an ability that others absolutely cannot have, the initial and final card you can rely on in this Another World."
Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru's expression stiffened for a moment, then slowly turned his head to look to the side.
There, Fang Li did not meet Natsuki Subaru's gaze but instead looked straight ahead, speaking thus.
"Returns by Death (Shinimodori). It's a special ability that only activates after you die, allowing time to rewind to a certain point before your death."
It was because of this that Fang Li chose to come to this world and chose Natsuki Subaru as his subject of observation.
Because, for this person, his own death meant the reversal of time, and even the reset of the world, carrying an extraordinary weight.
Ryougi Shiki instructed Fang Li to observe those who were often accompanied by death.
But at that time, Fang Li had doubts about whether the death of an individual could provide the answers he sought.
Therefore, when Fang Li saw "Re-Zero Starting Life in Another World," he immediately thought of Natsuki Subaru's uniqueness.
Furthermore, with the ability of the Reiji Maigo (Midnight Lost Child) to interfere with time, Fang Li could avoid being manipulated by the special ability of Returns by Death (Shinimodori), causing his memories and consciousness to return to the moment when the time reversal stopped, followed by the resetting of time and the world.
Therefore, Fang Li chose this world and also chose Natsuki Subaru as his subject of observation.
"If we were to explain it using a game analogy, it's like you have the ability to make automatic saves beforehand. When you die, this ability automatically loads the save file, bringing you back to the time period when the save was made," Fang Li said, completely ignoring Natsuki Subaru's bewildered expression.
"So, after you were killed, we returned here."
"We returned to the time when we first crossed over to this Another World."
That's right.
The current time period was just when Fang Li and Natsuki Subaru had first crossed over to this world and discovered each other, staring wide-eyed at each other.
"So, how do you feel?" Fang Li turned his head to look at Natsuki Subaru, staring at Natsuki Subaru's somewhat dazed face, and said with a half-smile.
"The feeling of starting from zero."
Hearing Fang Li's words, Natsuki Subaru's expression became increasingly stiff, and finally, he couldn't help but laugh.
It was a laugh that was both dry and weak.
"Time reversal?" Natsuki Subaru laughed weakly. "It sounds impressive, but haven't people often said online that theoretically, this is even more difficult than recreating a whole new world?"
"But now, it's happening for real, right in your body," Fang Li said indifferently. "To be honest, it's because I've set my sights on your ability that I've been sticking with you all this time."
"You... set your sights on my ability?" Natsuki Subaru was suddenly stunned.
"Yes," Fang Li stared at Natsuki Subaru and said, "For some reason, I wanted to observe people who are often accompanied by death, and you have the ability of Returns by Death (Shinimodori). No matter how many times you die, you can start over. So, for me, you are a very good subject of observation."
Because of this, when Natsuki Subaru was about to be killed, Fang Li only watched from the sidelines, without intervening at all.
After all, Fang Li's goal was observation.
Therefore, interference with the subject should be avoided.
That was Fang Li's idea.
And in such a situation, Natsuki Subaru clearly saw it.
He saw the expression in Fang Li's eyes.
It was a chilling calm and rationality.
Seeing that calm and rationality, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but retreat.
"S-So, what happens now?" Natsuki Subaru looked at Fang Li with fearful eyes, his voice involuntarily rising.
"A-Are you... are you planning to kill me too?"
Seeing the unavoidable fear in Natsuki Subaru's eyes as he looked into his own, Fang Li just lightly smiled.
"I told you, my goal is observation."
"So, I won't kill you."
"But I won't help you either."
...
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