Sending Subaru Natsuki Home
A tavern near the Adventurers' Guild in the Royal Capital.
Higashino Makoto sat at a table in the corner, a cup of warm black tea in front of him, his eyes gazing out the window at the familiar street.
Alice Kuonji stood behind him, holding a cup of red tea. Her black maid outfit gleamed softly in the afternoon sunlight. She was expressionless, her dark eyes gazing out the window, seemingly looking at something.
Subaru Natsuki sat opposite him, his black hair sticking up in a messy updo, and he had heavy dark circles under his eyes.
He was wearing a black tracksuit, the one he'd bought from the convenience store, which was already faded from washing.
His fingers opened and then clenched, his dark eyes looked at Higashino Makoto, and his lips parted slightly and then closed.
"Higashino- san."
"Um."
"What... what did you just say?"
I said, "Maybe I can take you back."
"Go... go back where?"
"The world you came from is Japan."
Subaru Natsuki's fingers stopped.
His body froze, his dark eyes wide open, his mouth agape, completely the Unassailable.
Like a sculpture struck by lightning, or like a penniless man who has just found out he won the lottery but can't believe it.
"Are you... you're joking?"
"I never joke."
"But... but... how could you... how could you..."
"Using the residual Authority materials, we'll find your original world coordinates, open the door, and send you back. It's that simple."
Higashino Makoto had pondered this question long ago: could he find his original world through things from New World?
For example, the cyberpunk world before Ainz Ooal Gown's transmigration, the unknown world where the Demon Tree resides, and so on.
Currently, these tasks are being handled by the Guardians, and they have only just begun to make progress; true success is still a long way off.
However, this world is somewhat different.
In the Corridor of Memories, the Book of the Dead records everything that humanity has experienced before. Does it also record the part before Subaru Natsuki came to this world?
Higashino Makoto was very interested in this.
After searching in the Tome of Wisdom, it was indeed possible!
Subaru Natsuki fell silent, lowering his head to look at his hands.
"Higashino- san."
"Um."
"I... I want to go back."
"Um."
"But... but..."
"But what?"
Subaru Natsuki raised his head, a complex light flickering in his dark eyes.
"But... if I go back, can I ever come back?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him with a slightly interested expression.
He thought that because of his involvement, he wouldn't care so much about the world.
"You want to come back?"
"I want to... here... there's Emilia, there's Roswaal, there's Otto, there's Puck, there's everyone... I... I don't want to lose them."
"How greedy you are, Subaru Natsuki."
Higashino Makoto wasn't surprised by this; Subaru Natsuki's hesitation was within his expectations.
After all, in the original story, he was the guy who died countless times for Emilia. Asking him to just abandon his white moonlight and run away would definitely make him hesitate.
"I'm asking you, if my answer is no, would you choose to go back or stay?"
If not...
Subaru Natsuki clenched his fist tightly, looking very conflicted, but quickly made up his mind.
"I want to go back. My parents must be very worried about me being missing, and they must still be waiting for me to come back."
Higashino Makoto was satisfied with the answer, nodded, and gave his reply.
"Maybe, but it will take time."
"Really? How long will it take?"
"I don't know. It could take months, years, decades, who knows?"
Higashino Makoto was somewhat indifferent and even less willing to make any promises to him.
Whether it's possible or not depends mainly on whether Subaru Natsuki's world has enough value. If it's connected using the seventy-two gates from Novas Etier, it can be easily done.
However, if it's a world that doesn't have much value, Higashino Makoto prefers to slowly study it using the coordinates.
Subaru Natsuki's fingers gripped the edge of the table tightly, his knuckles turning white.
"Decades..."
"You don't want to wait anymore?"
It's not that I don't want to wait, it's that I'm afraid I won't be able to wait.
His voice was very soft, as if he were afraid of disturbing something.
"Higashino- san, I... can I say goodbye to them before I leave?"
"Sure, I'm not that heartless."
"Will they still be there when I come back?"
Higashino Makoto looked at him, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
"I don't know, but you can choose not to leave, stay here for the rest of your life, and be with your friends here."
Subaru Natsuki lowered his head, tears dripping onto the table.
He didn't wipe it; he just sat there.
Higashino Makoto didn't rush him. He picked up his teacup, took a sip, Alice Kuonji refilled it for him, his movements as quiet as a breeze.
After a long while, Subaru Natsuki raised his head and wiped away his tears with his sleeve.
"Higashino- san."
"Um."
"I want to go back."
"Are you sure?"
"It's settled. I... I want to go back and see my mom and dad. I want to tell them I'm doing well and that I'm sorry to have worried them..."
Higashino Makoto nodded.
"Good."
He stood up and placed the money for the tea on the table.
Let's go.
Subaru Natsuki paused for a moment.
Where to?
"Roswaal Mansion, weren't you saying goodbye?"
Subaru Natsuki followed Higashino Makoto out of the bar, the sunlight shining on his face, somewhat dazzling.
He squinted at the silver-haired, golden-eyed man in front of him, with Alice Kuonji following behind him, her steps light and quiet.
"Higashino- san."
"Um."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, it's a deal."
"Trade?"
"Ah, I actually need your world coordinates too. You need to go home, have a fair trade, and settle things on time."
Subaru Natsuki paused for a moment, then smiled.
"Higashino- san, you don't need to tell me anything, you're such a weirdo."
"I know."
Roswaal Mansion, Garden.
Sunlight shone on the blooming roses, turning the petals a golden hue.
Subaru Natsuki stood by the flowerbed, with Emilia standing in front of him.
Her long, silvery-white hair shimmered softly in the sunlight, and her purple eyes gazed at him.
Puck crouched on her shoulder, her blue eyes looking at him.
Subaru, are you leaving?
"Um."
Where to go?
"Going home, my old home."
Emilia remained silent for a moment.
"Will you give it back?"
He glanced at Higashino Makoto, who was flirting with the maid, and nodded.
"I'll come back, but I don't know when."
Emilia lowered her head, looking at her hands. Puck gently patted her cheek.
"Lia, let him go."
"But- Puck-- "
"This matter is very important to Subaru."
Emilia nodded. She still had a certain degree of goodwill towards this person who had helped her retrieve the Royal Selection Badge without asking for anything in return.
Moreover, Subaru Natsuki is one of the few people who doesn't discriminate against her because of her silver-haired half-elf identity.
She just stood there, looking at Subaru Natsuki, her eyes filled with reluctance.
However, the thought of him going back to find his parents reminded her of her adoptive mother, and she couldn't bring herself to say anything against the idea of going back.
"Pleiades."
"Um."
"I'm waiting for you."
Subaru Natsuki's tears fell.
"Good."
Roswaal stood at the end of the corridor, his purple eyes looking at Subaru Natsuki, a faint smile on his lips.
"Subaru, my mansion will be much quieter now that you're gone."
Will you miss me?
No~
"Why?"
"Because you're too noisy."
Subaru Natsuki smiled.
"Lord Roswaal, please take care."
"The same to you."
Higashino Makoto stood at the entrance of the mansion, with Alice Kuonji standing behind him. Subaru Natsuki walked up to him and took a deep breath.
"Higashino- san, are you ready?"
"Close your eyes."
Subaru Natsuki closed his eyes.
Higashino Makoto took out the crystal container from his backpack; the Witch Factor of Envy, with black mist slowly swirling within it.
He reached out and placed the container on Subaru Natsuki's forehead.
With his other hand, he took out the Tome of Wisdom, which recorded everything that had happened since Subaru Natsuki came to this world.
Before long, with the help of the Witch Factor of Envy and the Tome of Wisdom, Higashino Makoto quickly found the coordinates of another world.
In response, Higashino Makoto had to admit that Echidna's Authority were indeed very useful.
"Higashino- san."
"Um."
"Thanks."
"You're welcome, it's a deal."
"I know. But I don't dislike it. In fact... thank you, Higashino- san."
"If there's nothing else, I'll take you home."
His figure vanished.
Higashino Makoto retrieved the crystal container, his golden eyes gazing at the empty ground.
Alice Kuonji stood behind him, her dark pupils also fixed on the ground.
He turned around and walked into the mansion.
The goal of this experiment is to use the Witch Factor of Envy and the records in the Tome of Wisdom to trace the coordinates of her original world and open a door to that world.
The result was clearly a success; Subaru Natsuki has returned to his original world.
The coordinates have been recorded; the door can be created at any time.
Higashino Makoto stood in the corridor, his golden eyes gazing out the window at the sky dyed red by the setting sun.
"Subaru Natsuki."
He said in a low voice.
"You don't have the Authority to Return by Death anymore, so remember not to die again."
Parallel world, Japan, night.
Subaru Natsuki suddenly appeared at the entrance of the convenience store and immediately noticed the missing person posters plastered all over the place.
It included his photo, various information, and a reward for finding him.
As he looked at these things, tears streamed down his face.
Back home, looking at the familiar front door, he waited a long time before finally raising his hand to knock.
Not long after, hurried footsteps came from behind the door; the sound reached them even before the door was opened.
"Is there any news about Subaru...?"
The door opened, and seeing his parents, who looked haggard but overjoyed, Subaru Natsuki couldn't hold back any longer and rushed over to hug them.
"... Dad!... Mom!"
"I'm back..."