If her name and memories were eaten by Gluttony, he didn't know how he could restore her. After all, it was an Authority that could overpower Divine Protections and even made one be forgotten by Od Laguna. He felt frustration—he had just wasted points on healing someone it was ineffective on.
He didn't know who she was, but seeing someone helpless, he wanted to save them.
What was the true weight of a life? How can someone truly measure its value?
Not only had he wasted points, he had failed to help. Massaging his eyes with a hand, he sighed.
"In the memories and in reality, I'm useless."
His thoughts started to fill with annoyance toward himself. Was he really Toyota… or Subaru?
Ever since coming here, he had only altered the plot in a way that either didn't help or outright hurt himself.
Could Felt's assassination have been my fault?
Clenching his fist tight until it turned white, he tried to think. The only known change is Reinhard. That's it… I need to stop being dependent on my knowledge of the plot. That's what's holding me back. After all, become too dependent and it turns into reliance.
Realizing the lady's hand was still in his, he gently placed her limp arm at her side. He was about to leave the dim room when a firm pressure was placed on his shoulder.
Jumping at the sudden contact and quickly turning around, he saw Reinhard. She had a rare troubled look on her face as she released her hand, brushing aside a loose strand of hair.
"I was busy preparing your future education schedule, and it seems I've made an oversight. Could you please tell me what you were doing in here?"
Seeing the seriousness on her face, Toyota felt cold sweat run down his back.
"I… was exploring, and I found her in here."
With an unreadable look on her face, she coldly restated her question.
"What were you doing in here?"
Her intimidation was off the charts. But could he even explain it to her? Seeing his hesitation, she moved her face even closer.
Finally succumbing to the stress, he blurted out, "I was trying to heal her! She looked sick, so I tried to help her—that was all."
"Help her."
She echoed his statement slowly, then returned his personal space back to him. He breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
There was a long silence where she seemed to be quietly contemplating something. Hesitantly, he decided to ask:
"Who is she? Is she a guest of yours?"
There was another long silence before her pink lips finally parted in a whisper.
"She is my mother."
"…What?"
Looking at the woman on the bed, her appearance looked to be around twenty years old, he couldn't believe it. They did share a kind of resemblance, but he would have believed it more if she said they were sisters.
"What happened to her?"
"My mother, Luanna Astrea, suffers from the Sleeping Beauty Sickness. Her appearance remains unchanged as she remains asleep. It's already been seventeen years."
"Seventeen… then how old are you?"
"I will be nineteen this year… I only have memories of my mother up until I was two years old."
She shrugged with a wry smile as she talked about her mother.
It was very strange—so she just kept her mother in this room for that long?
In the original story, all Toyota knew about Reinhard's family was Heinkel and Wilhelm. He didn't even think about where Reinhard's mother was. He assumed she had either died early or was one of those rarely-seen parents.
Now knowing the sad reality—that she was forced to look after her comatose mother—made him feel more respect and pity for the character.
"Is there no type of treatment that can be done?" Toyota asked.
Reinhard, whose gaze rested on her mother, exhaled sharply with resignation.
"Sadly, the cause of this sickness is unknown. At the very least, should a treatment be discovered, we will act to ensure she recuperates at a separate residence in the capital."
All of Toyota's empathy welled up in his stomach. He wanted to give her a hug—a warm one like Beatrice's, the kind that was supposed to make you feel better, to release pent-up feelings through tears. It still felt awkward, but if it would make her feel better...
"You've had a hard time, haven't you?"
He opened his arms and hesitantly stepped forward, gently wrapping his arms around her. He tried not to force it, but she didn't resist. The size difference looked like a son comforting his mother. Her face shifted into one of bewilderment as she read his emotions, trying to find some ulterior motive—an excuse to push him away. But she couldn't find one. Only a yearning… to help and to heal.
The corners of her eyes felt warm. She blinked.
And in doing so, a drop of something she had long forgotten she could even produce slipped out—a tear.
She let her slender body relax into the loose embrace, slowly burying into it before whispering back in a barely audible voice,
"It was difficult… Why are you like this? So empathetic and kind…"
Hearing that, Toyota wondered, Was this kindness… or are others just uncaring and oblivious?
"Don't others try to talk and help you?"
Her voice was shaky.
"They are never as pure… always with other intentions. How did you do it?"
Slowly pulling away from the hug, Toyota felt the atmosphere shift into something less somber.
"Do what?"
"Heal her. If it were a Divine Protection, I would be able to identify it, but I wasn't able to."
"Umm…"
Reinhard, sensing his hesitation, no longer felt the need to press him for information.
"What are you able to tell me?"
Seeing she was no longer poised to threaten him, Toyota's wariness relaxed. He could probably tell her partial truths. At first, he wasn't going to explain anything—but seeing her now, her calm demeanor, he didn't see any harm in it.
"It's an ability I can use… I can heal myself or someone I'm touching. Partially. But every time I use it, it becomes harder and more costly to activate."
"How unique. So it isn't magic… could it be a bloodline ability?"
At her words, he paused. Bloodline ability? He had always thought he was a normal human. His birth mother—that horrible person—never seemed like anything special. If he had any bloodline ability, it had to be from his birth father, whom he never met and knew nothing about.
That was when his mind flashed to the titles… the one mentioning his father.
What did it say again?
Pulling up the title in his mind, he re-read it:
"Crimson Prince — Given to the 7th son of the Scarlet King."
Who is the Scarlet King? Was he even human?
He most likely wasn't—if the title specifically said "son," that implied something beyond a normal human lineage.
What does that make me, then? A hybrid?
"OOOOOH S***!"
His mind spiraled.
How will my whole plan for the Sanctuary work now? If I get trapped in the barrier and can't move freely—
That barrier was designed by Echidna herself, built to keep out a Half blooded being as powerful as Satella. If he wasn't fully human, would he be able to pass through it?
What could I even do? Is there a way to confirm if I'm a hybrid of some kind?
Did my father have something to do with the Re:Zero world? Is that why I was sent here in the first place?
His thoughts spun like a storm, making him oblivious to the way Reinhard was quietly observing him. Her gaze was transfixed.
Something about his presence had changed. It was subtle, but undeniable.
Why does he feel different than before…?
Ever since his bath, he seemed to emanate a regal aura—something refined, noble. She couldn't explain it. It wasn't just his appearance, but the way he stood, the weight behind his eyes. The air around him had shifted.
And in that moment, her conviction only deepened.
This man… he might truly be the next monarch of Lugunica.
If the timing and setting were different—if it weren't such a delicate situation—she might have knelt right then and there to swear her fealty. To serve him with everything she had.
If only… if only there were a way to peacefully convince him to participate.
Toyota could only wonder if the ninety-something-day notification meant he had to leave at that time. Because if he didn't have to leave… then maybe he would be willing to become a candidate.
After all, there's nothing more frustrating than starting something you know you aren't able to finish.
Fine. Who cares if I become a candidate—it's for my own benefit.
It did have perks. He could gather strong allies, and maybe even fix this broken world.
Glancing at Reinhard, who was staring at him intently, his thoughts paused.
With her strength and morals… she could be a better candidate than me.
Why was she so intent on serving others? Was it because she wanted to be acknowledged… or just to feel like a normal human being?
Enforcing his resolve, he took a few steps back, as if pondering his next move. Then, turning to face Reinhard, the soft flickering of the candlelight at his back cast a large silhouette over him, making his presence feel almost divine. His expression was hidden in shadow as he reached out his hand.
"If I agree to run for the position of king… would you help me take down the threats this world has to offer? Because I can't do it alone. Lend me your strength. Become my blade. I'll do everything in my power to make sure there's a bright future ahead for every single person. In the dark, I will create a light—one that will illuminate every atrocity… and destroy it."
Reinhard was taken aback.
His presence. His words. His tone—it was like honey, and the purity behind them struck her deeply.
This was a moment history would remember as the day a king was truly born.
She fell to one knee, bowed her head, and placed the sheathed dragon sword reverently on the velvet-carpeted floor.
"I, Reinhard van Astrea, from today onward, will serve you with all my might. I will be your sword, and you—my lord. I swear on my life to make you the King of Lugunica or die trying. Please… accept me as your knight."
Toyota looked down, his face still hidden in the shadows. His speech might've been overdramatic, but he hadn't expected her to respond like that. He just wanted her to let him leave the mansion, not… this.
At this point, he had no choice but to accept her offer. He'd never even had a friend before—let alone a knight.
But he didn't want to treat her like a subordinate. That felt wrong. He didn't want the same robotic responses like those from the intercom back in his old world.
"I accept," he said, "but let me clarify something. I don't want you to act like a subordinate. Please… act like a friend."
Her serious expression suddenly twitched—then her face cracked into a grin, and before he knew it, she was giggling.
"…What's so funny?"
She tried to contain it, but it only got worse.
"It's just… you have me, a living weapon at your command—and the first thing you say is that you want me to treat you as an equal."
He could feel the heat rising in his cheeks.
"And what's wrong with that?" he barked.
Wiping the corner of her eye, her smile grew broader. "So, friend... what should we do first?"
(DING! Bond Acquired.)
Due to the favorability of a character reaching 100%, a new trait has been added.
Wait… what? A new trait? Why isn't that in my status screen if I already have traits?
Host, after the latest update, you are now able to view traits. However, since traits don't belong to you uniquely, they are categorized differently.
"…Then let me see them."
Trait Received from Entity #682 (SCP Universe): Protection from Existence Erasure.
Trait Received from Satella (Re:Zero Universe): Soul Regeneration.
Trait Received from Reinhard (Re:Zero Universe): Swordsmanship.
His jaw dropped as he quickly read the ability he had just received. He couldn't care less about the other two, but the one he had just unlocked—Reinhard's swordsmanship—was god-tier. Even without all her Divine Protections or the Dragon Sword, Reinhard would still be the strongest for two reasons. First, her Sword Saint lineage gave her superhuman bone density, muscle mass, and skin. Second, her swordsmanship was stated to be the best in the entire Re:Zero world.
With those two factors combined, Reid Astrea—the first Sword Saint—was able to cut a black hole farther than the eye could see… with a pair of chopsticks. And I know those of you reading my thoughts like a book are probably thinking, that's an exaggeration, but no—it isn't. I'm being completely literal.
Even though I don't have her superhuman physique or her muscle memory, with this ability, I should at least be able to hold my own in a fair one-on-one against the other knights. The only one even close in skill who's still alive would be Wilhelm, who beat Theresia's Sword Saint Divine Protection with pure skill.
Although, to be fair, he isn't exactly normal either. I've heard he can lift 6.5 tons with one arm. Seriously—what is in the water in this world?
Snapping out of his thoughts, Toyota noticed Reinhard's gaze still fixed on him, clearly waiting for a response.
"First, we need to find Regulus's mansion."
"Regulus?" she echoed, her tone expectant, waiting for an explanation.
Taking a moment to collect himself, he prepared to have a long talk.
"Regulus Corneas is the Sin Archbishop of the Witch's Cult representing Greed. Out of all the Archbishops, he's the most powerful. The reason is simple: his Authority allows him to stop time around his body—literally making him invincible unless you can deactivate it."
"And his mansion has something to do with it?" Reinhard asked. There were no longer any questions about how he knew this—after all, he was her lord, and she could tell he was being honest.
"Exactly. No power is truly unbeatable. There's always a way. So we have some options: either we cut through the space and time around him—which Reid could do—or you use your Dragon Sword."
"If he's truly as formidable as you say, then my sword may see him as a worthy opponent," she responded, thoughtful.
"It won't," Toyota said with a knowing look. "Which is why we can't try that. The second way to kill him would be to throw him off the world into the Great Cascade."
In the world of Re:Zero, the world was literally flat and shaped like a perfect rectangle—like a map. Everything beyond its borders was an actual waterfall. That's why people found it unbelievable that Subaru was from beyond the Cascade. What made it even stranger was how the moon appeared to be a perfect sphere, and how Reinhard once performed a Saitama-style return to the world by bouncing off the moon like a springboard.
"That would destroy too much in the process," Reinhard said, "and possibly harm innocents."
"Exactly. While it's a method, it's not the best solution. The third option is the best, but also the hardest to pull off."
Reinhard furrowed her brows and crossed her arms.
"The true name of Regulus's Authority is Lion Heart," Toyota continued. "By placing a parasitic heart in each of his wives, he's able to stop time around his body indefinitely."
Her face shifted to horror. "Does that mean we have to kill his wives to kill him?"
Pausing for a moment, he closed his eyes. "Regulus has kidnapped hundreds of women he deemed beautiful. He killed their families, then threatened to murder them if they ever smiled or spoke without being spoken to. He forces them to marry him and stay herded up like cattle."
Reinhard's face contorted in disgust and horror.
"He's been doing this for over a hundred years. Since he can stop time around his body, he doesn't age. The only way to kill him is to remove all the parasitic hearts from his wives. The hard part is doing it without killing them. I might have a method, but there could be backlash. We need to find his mansion as soon as possible. It shouldn't be too difficult—his mansion is filled exclusively with women. There has to be a major supply line connected to the place to support that many people."
Tapping on his ring, a bag of money and his dual knives appeared. Quickly putting the knives back in the ring, he reached out and handed her the bag of money—still filled to the brim with holy coins despite his earlier extravagant spending.
"Please use this to hire someone to locate the mansion as fast as possible."
Staring blankly at the bag, Reinhard then glowered at him. "I don't need your personal money. As your knight, I couldn't possibly let you waste your own funds—especially for such a noble cause. That man's life needs to end after all the pain he's caused."
She then stood straighter and declared, "I have a fortune left over from my family. Let me use that instead."
Toyota, trying to hide the embarrassment from her acting like a sugar momma, held the bag of money out again and took a step closer.
"Please just take it. I don't know the currency value in this place, and from the way Old Man Rom acted, I'm clearly not responsible with money."
Hearing this, she gave him a completely deadpan expression.
(AN: Please, my most honored and distinguished readers, if you've read up to this point, give this lowly self a review. Just for this week, I will make the requirement 50 PS because I haven't done a bonus chapter in a while. Honestly, I just want to skip to the fights, but it feels like it's taking too long.
I've set an official release schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, Although when I get bored, I add extra.
Bonus chapters will drop on Saturdays if my demands are met. 🔫
Trade deal:
You give me 50 power stones, and I give you a bonus chapter.
Sounds fair, right?)