Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- (Re:ゼロから始める異世界生活)

Subaru?

What's wrong?

Just a little nervous.

I mean, considering where we're headed, y'know?

Yes, you're right.

Ram and Rem are with us this time,

not to mention Meili and our guide, Lady Anastasia.

And I need to keep you safe, too.

Wait, what?! You're counting me with the ones who need protecting?!

Oh, dear.

I don't think they like the mabeast smell I have on me.

Hey, come on, Joseph!

Let her go!

Good boy.

Stroking the neck like this calms most land dragons.

Huh...

Is that true, Patrasche?

Not for that one, I guess.

Big Brother, don't leave me alone with that one, all right?

I might just get gobbled up.

Nothing that scary is gonna happen!

Patrasche is a vegetarian!

Subaru. Lady Emilia.

There's something you need to know about Ram's body.

Got it.

You can ask Ram herself or Beatrice for more details about the regulation.

Don't worry.

We'll do everything we can for Ram.

Master.

Both ladies are ready to go now.

Good work.

Ram, do take care during your travels.

Thank you for granting my selfish request.

I will not fail to return with results that meet your expectations.

Subaru... sir...

Be careful.

I will.

Petra and Frederica, hold down the fort while we're gone.

We will!

Of course.

Right!

We're off to the Auguria Dunes!

What'll it be?

Milk.

And make it cold.

Milk.

Make mine hot.

Doesn't look like business is exactly booming here.

Not a lot of customers during the sand time?

Yeah. And this town doesn't see a lot of outsiders as it is.

So what are you two doing in Mirula during the sand time?

I'll tell you. We're going to conquer the Auguria Dunes!

Let me give you some advice.

Go home before you die.

I can't do that.

There are times when you just can't back down, you know?

In 400 years,

no one has managed to reach that tower.

The dunes are full of mabeasts and the witch's miasma.

You can walk forever and never get any closer to that tower in the distance.

You'll be lucky if you make it back alive.

Most who've tried are still out there in the sand, asleep forever.

Take my advice and don't do anything dumb—

I'm sorry.

I can tell you're deeply concerned for us.

No. I'm just sick of seeing

young, careless folks like you end up the same way every time.

Thank you for the drinks.

And thank you for telling us all that, too.

You've been a big help. Later.

For the past year or so...

folks have been seeing birds flying over the dunes.

People who've seen 'em say they're always heading toward that tower.

So if you do get lost, look for a bird.

If you're lucky, it might show you the way.

Mister...

Then again, if you're already lost out there with nowhere to turn,

you've clearly got the worst luck imaginable.

The Pleiades Watchtower.

The tower of the sage with a history, huh?

How have your spirits been since that happened?

Nothing has changed.

They stay by my side, but they seem perplexed.

My Divine Protection of Guiding Spirits seems to be intact.

They seem unsure why they find it difficult to leave my side.

So I guess even though they forgot you, the contract isn't broken.

Which means, right now,

I can only fulfill my duty as a knight with my swordsmanship.

It's a fact that without my spirit arts,

my capacity has dropped significantly.

Why do you appear even more vexed than I am?

Who said I was?! Don't go saying whatever you want!

Why would I be vexed because you're weaker?!

Who told you that?!

You are less suited to keeping secrets than I realized.

Perhaps it's because I've been traveling with you for a while,

but I feel as though I've come to understand you.

Well, same here!

If this keeps up and nothing else happens,

I'm gonna be an authority on you by the time we reach the tower.

Not to worry.

Excluding myself, you are already undeniably the one

who knows me better than anyone in the world.

Damn it, I got myself stuck with a title I never wanted!

Subaru!

You can't keep playing around forever, I suppose.

The sand time is about to start.

Hang in there, Patrasche!

You, too, Joseph!

We've got wind and miasma,

and we need to watch out for mabeasts, too!

And to make sure we don't lose sight of the tower and get lost, I suppose.

I dunno, I feel like it'd be harder to lose sight of that thing.

Betty agrees with you,

but anything can happen here, I suppose.

The fact that no one has ever made it there proves it.

True.

Lady Anastasia?

What's goin' on?

You're sure we just need to keep going straight?

Aw, Natsuki, why're ya so suspicious of me?

We're in the same boat here.

You can trust me.

Trusting a fox is easier said than done, I suppose.

Oh? You told her, Natsuki?

Well, Lady Anastasia wouldn't particularly care, right?

Ya got that right, Natsuki!

You needn't worry.

I will keep my promise.

And what about you, Meili? You doing your job?

We haven't run into a single mabeast since we entered the dunes, have we?

What? That's because of you?

Oh, you have to ask?

Then I'll show you just how much you should appreciate me.

There! All done!

What was...

It was a sandworm.

I don't recall any records of one that large, though.

Well? Starting to see me in a different light now?

Man, I'm dying to get out of these dunes and into a bathtub!

I'm with ya there.

But you two must have realized it by now, right?

Yeah, I get it.

We've been heading straight for it all this time...

But we aren't getting any closer to the tower.

This must be why Reinhard never made it there.

The space around here is warped.

The space is warped?

Basically, it seems like the dunes and the tower are connected,

but they're not.

We might actually just be runnin' around in circles.

And that's why the Auguria Dunes are so dangerous?

It makes sense.

So are we also gonna be overpowered by the distortion in space

that's sunk so many adventurers?

That's why I volunteered to guide y'all to the Pleiades Watchtower.

When a merchant heads out to make a purchase,

they're headin' out to win.

Are you saying you can see a path to the tower?

The sand time, when the wind picks up,

is the recoil from space twistin' and returnin' to normal.

In other words, the periods between the sand times

are when the distortion's lettin' up.

And through those cracks

is the real sea of sand that's connected to the tower.