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3rd Pov

Subaru took out his handkerchief and wiped away her tears.

"There you go- you look more beautiful with a smile than tears staining your cheek" Subaru said.

Reina blushed; she felt butterflies in her stomach. For some reason she wanted to stay longer with him.

'Is this love?' she asked herself; the very concept of Love had become something foreign to her, but now- She could remember it.

The joy she felt when her father praised her, the happiness she remembered when her grandfather looked at her with kind eyes, the way her mother tended to her.

The way her grandma loved her and cherished her, showering with affection.

But then she lost it all, her mother, her grandmother, her father, her grandfather. She lost them all, and by the people who previously loved her, she was labelled as a monster.

While she was going through character development, Emilia remained in the background silent, at first seeing Reina crying she was baffled, wondering why she was crying.

After all Reina was the strongest Sword Saint in history of Lugunica since the first Sword Saint, she was a literal walking God.

Even Puck had said even if he were to fully unleash himself, he will still die by her attacks, probably just a single slash from her blade.

What can make such a strong girl cry?

Then seeing how Subaru took the initiative to calm her down, she too felt relieved.

She also wanted to intervene but decided to remain silent lest she does some mistake.

She too had a problem, she wasn't a expert in talking with others, so she didn't want to make the situation worse and so she let Zero handle it.

"Damn, stop flirting with each other and help me!" suddenly a voice broke their trance, they looked to find Felt embedded in the wooden wall, her figure hanging on the wall, with only her lower half visible.

"Uh! Let me help you" Emilia came forward, grabbed her body and started pulling her.

"Stop! Stop! Do you want to kill me?! My skin is being grazed by the wooden splinters!" screamed Felt in pain and Emilia stopped and said "I am sorry!"

Reina who had recovered from her sudden traumatic outbreak, decided to help Felt.

She came and punched, breaking the wooden wall into splinters, Felt's figure finally became free and she stood forward while bleeding.

"You are injured! Let me help you with healing magic" Emilia said and Felt replied "Leave it! First let's check Old Man Rom!" her voice showed worry.

Hearing that Subaru came towards the collapsed table and wall, and saw Rom lying unconscious while bleeding from his forehead.

"It seems he is bleeding-Emilia it would seem he needs your healing magic," said Subaru.

However, before Emilia can intervene Reina came beside him "No worries, Sir Zero! I have Divine Protection of the Healing! I can heal him easily"

She quickly used her blessing and a golden light erupted from her hands covering Rom's body, healing him.

While Subaru was surprised, since as far as he knew, Reinhardt had no such Divine Protection.

He didn't know that despite being gender bended version of Reinhardt, she was actually stronger than him.

Seeing Rom being healed Felt was relieved, and then Reina said "Would you like to heal me your injuries as well Miss Felt?"

"Yes, I woul- wait a minute, how do you know my name?" she narrowed her eyes, as she realized if Reina had arrived when they were fighting, then she shouldn't have known her name.

Only if she had arrived earlier, she would have known her name, but if she had arrived early, then why she didn't fight?

In fact, she only intervened when Zero's life was in danger, it was as if others life didn't matter to her.

"It is a Divine Protection" she lied, she didn't want her image to be spoiled in front of Sir Zero.

Meanwhile Subaru's face became grim knowing she had a Divine Protection that can reveal other's name.

"Reina, can I ask for you something?" asked Subaru.

Reina turned towards him and replied "Yes! You can ask anything"

"Can you please not reveal my real name? It is a precaution against Witch Cult" he said

Sweat rolled down her back 'How do I tell, I have lied. Now that I think if he were to ask his real name, I would have been in trouble' she thought regretting lying.

However, in the end to save her image she said "I promise! I won't reveal your name to anyone!"

Subaru breathed in relief, while Puck said "*Yawn* I am tired Lia, you better ask your insignia back and meet up with Ram"

Emilia yelped "Yes! I almost forgot I came here to get my insignia! Thankyou Puck for making me remember!"

Puck nodded and returned to her crystal, while Emilia turned towards Felt who was being healed by Reina and asked "Miss Felt can you return back my insignia, I promise I won't hold you accountable for it"

Felt looked at Emilia guilty "You see- Forgive me for stealing your insignia! I have stolen it and you still helped and saved my life!" she bowed befor her.

Emilia smiled and replied "No worries! In the end you are returning it right?"

Felt nodded and took out the Insignia, as she took it out, the gem glowed surprising Reina who grabbed her hand.

"Wait! Why are you grabbing my hand?" asked Felt.

Reina meanwhile stared at the glowing insignia and thought 'No doubt she is the fifth candidate- The one I was ordered to search for'

"If you look it carefully at the insignia, it is glowing. That indicates you are a Dragon Priestess" she replied.

Her words took Felt by surprise "Dragon Priestess and me?!"

Subaru took the Insignia from Felt's hand and it's glow vanished "Indeed it seems you are correct Reina"

He handed it to Emilia, who once took the insignia it started glowing again.

"Wait! It means you are one of the Dragon Priestess!" Felt pointed her finger at Emilia and looked at her with shock who nodded.

"A-And I... I am as well?" she pointed at herself in disbelief.

"So... What now? I can't believe I am a Dragon Priestess, me? A gutter rat being one of the candidates for being the next ruler of this country? The notion of itself is laughable" she said.

Reina replied "If you don't want to join the Royal Selection... Then you don't need to"

Her words took everyone, including Subaru by surprised.

'Isn't Reinhar- no Reina supposed to be a staunch supporter of Felt? I guess it must be because her personality is different from Reinhardt, after all she isn't Reinhardt and he never cried' he thought.

"What do you mean?" asked Felt wondering if it was because she was gutter rat that Reina said those words.

"I was ordered to find the fifth candidate... However, if Miss Felt doesn't want to join the Royal Selection, I won't force it" she replied.

Reina was just a tool for the Kingdom... and after the recent events, she just didn't care about the orders any more.

Someone thought of her more than a tool, more than Sword Saint, she would rather be by his side than follow the rules made by people, who treated her like trash.

Felt was conflicted, she didn't know what to do. Suddenly Rom stood up, surprising Felt and Emilia.

"Old Man!" Felt cried out and hugged him.

Rom patted her back and looked at Reina "Felt I think this is your chance, to do something big and get out of the slums"

"B-But I am a gutter rat! How can I hope to run the Kingdom and become the next big thing?" she asked.

"Yes, you are. However, this is an opportunity to not change your fate but also others, it on you what you want to do" he said.

She got in deep thought, and after a while said "Fine, I will become the Fifth Candidate for Royal Selection and turn this Kingdom upside down!" a grin appeared on her face.

She looked at Reina and said "My answer is clear! I am taking part in this Royal Selection thingy"

"Tsk" Reina clicked her tongue; her workload had increased.

'Should I just not follow the orders and let her be? But that will damage my image in front of Lord Zero!' she thought.

In the end she decided to take her for now, and leave her on her own devices once she officially becomes the fifth candidate.

"Now that I think! I am currently Homeless! And I need somewhere to stay over" he said.

Reina's eyes lit up and she quickly said "How about its Sir- No! Lord Zero, how about you stay over my mansion?"

"I promise to give you the best treatment and if you want! You can be my permanent guest!" she continued.

Subaru hesitated 'Damn! If I were to go with Reina! I will be hundred times safer than with Emilia! I am pretty sure that Blue Haired Oni will kill me, and that Stockholm affected Red Oni is no good news as well'

However, he knew, if he left them to their fate, it might affect the development of the world badly, Rem or Ram will most probably die to the curse.

Secondly who knows what Roswall will cook, he absolutely cannot let that guy cook!

Otherwise, he will be cooked!

He sighed and said "I apologize Miss Reina, but I think I will pass on your offer. Since I have helped Miss Emilia, it is her job to have me as guest, right?"

"Indeed! I am also sure Roswaal will reward you for helping me, you protected me after all!" Emilia said with a smile.

While Reina's face fell, she wanted to be close to him- ALL THE TIME.

'Should I secretly follow him?' she wondered, however Subaru's next words changed her mind.

"Also, Miss Reina... I thank you for everything you have done for me, if not for you I- no every one of us would have been dead. You are someone important Miss Reina so never belittle yourself" he said with a smile.

She blushed and when Subaru started patting her head, she melted in pure ecstasy.

Meanwhile Subaru sighed 'I knew original Reinhardt's backstory was sad, but now that has happened with a girl- I wonder how she had been treated to call herself a Monster'

What he didn't knew, that he had created a Yandere.

...

"*Yawn* Have we arrived?" asked Subaru as he looked outside of the window.

On the other side of the carriage were seated Ram and Emilia, Ram was staring at him with unkind eyes.

"What's with that look? You are staring me as if I have killed your pet" he scoffed.

"Taking advantage of Miss Emilia's plight and then shamelessly taking credit of saving her. I guess your name Zero does suit you" she replied.

"Says the girl who lost the person whom she is supposed to look after and then let her nearly be killed by Bowel hunter" he replied sarcastically.

Ram's eyes narrowed and she glared at him, not to be outdone he too glared at her.

Original Subaru might be simp for Emilia and with low self-esteem to bear Ram's insults.

He isn't!

Suddenly Emilia yawned and woke up from her sleep "Have we arrived?"

Ram opened the door and said "Yes Miss Emilia we have arrived"

"Sir Zero let's go- I will show you the mansion" Emilia said as Subaru got down the carriage under Ram's unkind eyes.

"I will inform the Lord Roswaal of your- and the guest's arrival" Ram said.

Subaru looked at the mansion a bit surprised 'Truly the world of rich is different. A Middle-class person like me can never hope to compare with them'

'But then again, I have been transmigrated and summoned into a fantasy world. I can take advantage of my Scientific knowledge and get rich in this world' he thought as Emilia showed her the way.

"Sir Zero, here is the guest room. You can rest here till the breakfast is ready" Emilia said.

"Okay, but first thing stop calling me Sir- It makes me feel older. Just call me Zero" he said and she nodded with an excited expression.

'Finally! I have made friend!' her last doubts vanished.

While Emilia left the place, Subaru finally got the time to the relax.

'Finally! It has been too intense!' he thought.

He didn't even have the time to come terms with his transmigration, undoubtedly Natsuki part of him helped in staying calm when he just got here.

'I will never be able to see my brother and father again' he let the thought sink in, and grief took over him.

"I was so scared- It was so painful, dying again, again, and again" he muttered as tears poured down from his eyes.

After a few minutes of emotional chaos, he finally came to terms of his new life.

'I can't do anything now that I am here, other than to move on. I even don't know how I got here as Natsuki Subaru nonetheless' he thought.

'Now, let's see, I have RBD as Natsuki Subaru and other ability that I got probably due to being Ayan Ghosh' he thought.

'I have gotten stronger with each death, my strength, endurance, agility, senses, thinking speed, everything has increased... but by what amount?' he questioned himself.

He knew that his current body's strength was 60kgs, and from his otaku knowledge OG's had reached 80kgs after a lot of training.

But his current strength? He doesn't know, however if he is to know it, then he can probably measure it by measuring his current strength and comparing it with the number of times he had died.

'Yes! My speed has increased the most! Or rather is most noticeable! I should first see how fast I am' he thought and decided to go to the Mansion's Garden.

He came out of the room and started finding the way to the stairs from where he had come from.

Suddenly he met someone, the psycho Blue-haired Oni Rem.

"It seems you are the guest that Sister Ram has talked about" Rem said as she narrowed her eyes.

She could smell the Witch's scent from him, and it was extremely strong unlike anything she had smelled from the Witch's cult before, her eyes narrowed as she stared at him.

"Lord Roswaal, has invited you to the breakfast. I will show you the way...respected guest" she said, her tone measured.

"I see- Then please show the way Miss" he paused obviously hinting her to introduce herself.

"My name is Rem, the maid of Lord Roswaal and caretaker of Mather's mansion" she introduced herself.

She then showed him the way to the dining room, once he entered it, he was greeted by the sight of Emilia, and Roswaal sitting on the chairs, while lavishing dishes were presented on the table.

"Gooodd Moooorning Dear Guesst, I hope you had a wonderfuuul time!" Roswaal said.

Subaru took a seat and said "You must Sir Roswaal right? I have heard a lot about you"

"Good thingsss I presume?" he asked with a glint in his eyes.

Subaru smirked and replied "Definitely"

"Zero, how about we start eating? I am quite hungry" Emilia asked and Zero nodded.

Soon they had finished the food, and Subaru burped satisfied.

"Now, you helped Emiliaaa find her insiginaaa and saved herrr from the bowel hunterrr"

"Sooo, I have decided to rewaaard you. Ask for anything!" he said.

Looking at the clown, not knowing what he is cooking in his mind, Subaru smirked and asked "Anything?"

Roswaal nodded and said "Anything"

"Very well, first thing I would like to make myself clear, I found her insignia and saved her from the bowel hunter, so I would like two favours- One big and one small" he said under the glare of Ram who muttered "Shameless"

However, due to his enhanced hearing he easily heard her and his eyebrows twitched as he glanced her.

"Very weeeell, state them" Roswaal replied, not least bothered by it.

"First, I would like to get money, a lots of it actually" he stated bluntly and Roswaal nodded.

"Noooo problem!" he said.

"Secondly, I would like to someone teach me how to read, write the language of Lugunica, and about the history of the world" he said.

Roswaal glanced at Ram and nodded and replied "Very weeeell, it shall be doneee"

"I hope you don't mind me staying guest for a few months until I can get on my foot?" he asked Roswaal who replied "I don't mind- However you said you have onlyyy two requestsss"

"Roswaal! I don't think having Zero for a few months as a guest would be any problem!" Emilia said.

"If that's what you want, then let it be sooo" he said.

"Now last thing- and no it's not a request but rather something about me" Subaru said garnering their attention.

"I may reek of Witch's miasma and it's because I am cursed by the witch" he said shocking Rem, Ram and Emilia.

While Roswaal's eyes got a glint, "Cursed you sayyy?"

Puck came out and said "Cursed by the witch you say? How interesting, he is speaking the truth Lia"

Subaru breathed in relief realizing Puck identified his words as truth 'Yeah, if it's not a curse then what is it?'

If he had said this when he had just transmigrated, then his words would have been a lie, as he considers Return by Death an enviable ability.

However, after dying multiple times, he considers the ability a curse.

Rather he considers his second ability a true blessing.

"I cannot speak of what is the curse, if I was to speak about it, either I or the listener will die" he revealed and silence permeated the room.

"You are cursed by the witch?" asked Rem with doubt however Puck confirmed it with narrowed eyes.

"He is not lying Lia; I can assure you that as a Great Spirit," said Puck.

"Well, I can just tell that the curse is equivalent to experiencing death- dying again and again and again" he revealed with a slight pale face as he recalled his deaths and shivered.

Emilia grabbed his palm with her hands and rubbed them to comfort him.

"Experiencing dying again and again?! What a vicious curse!" Emilia said with a worried look on her face as she stared at Zero.

"Don't worry Zero! If you need help with anything I am here!" Emilia further stated holding his hand.

"So Puuucck" Roswaal looked at the Spirit.

"Yup, it's true as well. In fact, everything he had said is true" Puck replied.

"How can we be sure that he isn't a filthy witch cultist?!" Rem suddenly yelled while glaring at Subaru.

"Rem!" reprimanded Ram as she kicked at her foot.

"I- I apologize for my outburst" Rem quickly rectified herself and bowed towards her Lord and Subaru hiding her glare.

"Are you then calling me a Liar maid?" asked Puck with a glare and Rem shrunk.

"I can guarantee that everything he had spoken is nothing but true" Puck spat and Emilia nodded.

"Indeed Rem! Ram! Don't you two dare treat Zero like a witch cultist! He is cursed by the filthy witch, and we should support him, instead of suspecting him" Emilia said.

Roswaal nodded, "Indeeed, I trust puck and his wooordss. So Rem, Ram treat Lord Zero as you would treat meeee"

Hearing her words Ram became surprised and so did Rem, they bowed in unison and replied together, "Yes! Master!"

As for whether they will uphold their promise? Only time will tell.

To be continued...