Chapter Text
Natsuki Subaru was a 17-year-old boy with black hair and black eyes. Subaru was also a shut-in who refused to go to school. As he walked out of the convenience store Subaru’s vision blurred for a moment, he rubbed his eyes and continued walking in the direction of his home before rubbing his eyes again and-
Subaru is floating.
Subaru: ”Hg!-”
Subaru is floating in the middle of what appears to be a magic circle inside a stone room. There are people watching him along with a man who looks like a king and a woman holding a crystal ball.
Subaru stops floating as his feet touch the stone floor.
Subaru: ‘I’m standing in the middle of a magic circle after coming out of the convenience store, this stuff obviously isn’t fake, so does this mean…’
Subaru: ”I HAVE BEEN SUMMONED TO A PARALLEL WORLD!?”
Woman: “Etheric Connect-Crystal Ball, Crest Invoke [Extrasensory Analysis]. Uncover what powers this otherworlder possesses."
Subaru: ’Now is the moment I find out what power I have been given, would it be an amazing magical ability? Or maybe an unrivaled skill with a certain weapon or maybe even- ’
Woman: ”I have it. The Pure Concept this one possesses is…”
The woman reading the crystal ball stops for a moment.
King: ”Well, what is it?”
woman: ”This one’s powers can’t be deciphered. It’s possible that maybe that’s part of his power.”
King: ”Is that so…”
Subaru: ”Wait, does that mean I won’t find out my power just yet? Or maybe I have no power…”
Subaru: ‘Getting summoned to another world without any special power definitely sounds like something that can happen to me…’
King: “Guards!”
As the king called for his guards, Subaru panicked.
Subaru: ”Wait just a moment! You are kicking me out right after summoning me? Aren’t you going to give me starting money or something first?”
Two Guards grabbed Subaru’s shoulders and started escorting him out of the room.
Subaru: ”I haven't done anything! So can we please talk about this before you kick me out?!”
King: ”...”
Subaru: ’It’s useless isn’t it? He already made up his mind about kicking me out, but it doesn’t make any sense…’
Subaru: ”Why would you summon me here if you are just going to kick me out?!”
By now, Subaru was out of the room and he was being escorted out of a castle.
Subaru turned his head to one of the guards and asked -
Subaru: ”Hey, maybe you can tell me what’s going on here? Is there a demon lord that needs defeating that I’m not strong enough for?"
Guard: ”Shut it, lost one.”
Subaru: "Everyone here has been pretty rude to me since I arrived here. Maybe they were expecting a strong hero who will save them from whatever danger they are in. Yeah, that’s probably it. After all, I’m just a weak, good-for-nothing shut-in that can’t even live up to his parents' expectations by going to school. Summoning me here was definitely a mistake. I just took the place of a real hero…"
- Subaru quietly mumbled as he reached the castle’s gate.
Guards: ”Open the gate!”
When the gate finished opening, Subaru was quite literally thrown by the guards onto the stone pavement outside the castle.
Subaru: ”Hk!”
Then the gate closed.
Subaru: ”Did they really have to literally throw me outside… Is this how drunkards getting kicked out of a party after starting a fight feel?”
Subaru: “Agh - that hurt. At least it doesn’t look like I’m bleeding anywhere. I hope they have a way to treat infections in this world… I’m in another world huh. I didn’t really have time to think about that since getting here. I guess that means I can start over and finally be good for something. Then again, The people who summoned me threw me out and I have no starting gear or money to speak of! Well, I do have some Yen in my tracksuit but I doubt that’s going to be any good he-”
Subaru: ”Wait, this isn’t my tracksuit.”
Subaru just now noticed he isn’t wearing his tracksuit, and instead he is wearing a green overcoat, along with an orange scarf and black pants.
Subaru: “I am also wearing brown boots.”
Subaru: ”I guess this is my starting gear? Ah, is that a whip? That’s a strange weapon. Then again, maybe my power allows me to use it like a master! I should probably find a target to test that on.”
Subaru is walking away from the castle that kicked him out, and he sees a town nearby, but right now he is more interested in the small tree that’s next to him. Subaru grabs the whip with his right hand and shouts -
Subaru: “Taste the wrath of [Natsuki Subaru’s] whip of pain!”
Subaru: ”That’s a stupid name, I have to come up with a better name for this whip, anyway-”
Subaru swings the whip hard, aiming for a small weak-looking branch on the tree. He misses completely and hits his own right arm instead-
Subaru: ”Argh! Damn that hurt! Yeah, there is no way I’m not bleeding after that. Well, it doesn’t look like I have a special power for whips. Then again, that would be a pretty lame power…”
Subaru pulls back his sleeve on his right arm to check his wound and-
Subaru:”ARAGH?!”
Subaru’s entire right arm is covered in black pulsating veins. There is also a slightly bleeding bruise created by the whip, but right now Subaru is more focused on the fact that his right arm has turned black.
Subaru: ”Wh-wh-what the hell is this?! Thi-this whip must be cursed!
Will this spread across my entire body and kill me?! Shit, I just got into this world! I don’t want to die yet!!!”
Despite Subaru’s fears, the dark veins on his arm didn’t advance up his body nor did they hurt at all.
Subaru: ”Wait a second. There seems to be a small wound on my arm but otherwise, it’s fine.
Since coming to this world, I have felt stronger than usual… Could it be that my arm looking like this is part of my ability?”
Subaru pulls down his sleeve and prepares to walk towards the town that he saw before.
Subaru: ”Going by the usual trope, these medieval fantasy worlds have an adventurer's guild where I can find work an-”
???: ”Hey, you there.”
Subaru turned his head towards the voice that came from his left side. There, he saw a girl wearing a blue dress along with a yellow cape. The girl looked to be around Subaru’s age, and had light brown hair that is tied in a long ponytail with a black ribbon. Finally, she had red eyes. If her hair was just a little lighter surely Subaru would have lost his composure while staring at her beauty.
Subaru: ”Can I help you?”
???: ”Shouldn’t I be the one asking that question? After all, You’re a Lost One, aren’t you?”
Subaru: ”Huh, that’s the second time today that I heard someone calling me that, what does it mean, anyway?”
???: ”Lost ones are people who came from another world. I happened to overhear you talking to yourself so it was simple to figure that out.”
Subaru: ”I do talk to myself don’t I…”
???: ”And It looks to me like you are in need of money.”
Subaru: ”Yeah-”
???: ”Then you’re in luck! My name is Menou. I’m a pure, just, and strong priestess.”
After Menou said that, Subaru smiled and pointed a finger to the sky before saying-
Subaru: ”My name is Natsuki Subaru! Not only am I clueless, but I'm also broke beyond compare! Nice to meet ya!”
Menou: ”Hehe~ you do sound hopeless when you say that. Nice to meet you, Subaru.”
Subaru: ”Is it common for people to come here from another world?”
Menou: ”Yeah, Lost Ones have been coming to this world for a long time now, and much of their knowledge has been passed on to us. For example, that is why we speak Japanese.”
Subaru: ”Wait, you make it sound like all the Lost Ones come from japan.”
Menou: ”Yeah”
Subaru: ”Huh”
Menou: ”~Anyway, as I mentioned earlier, I am a priestess. The Church takes in Lost Ones as one of its duties. If you’re looking for help, I’ve got you covered!”
Subaru: ”Help huh, well, if you could point me to the nearest adventurer's guild that would be great!”
Menou: ”I am afraid we don’t have those in this world”
Subaru: ”You don’t? Does that mean there really is no Demon Lord That needs defeating?”
Menou: ”Nope!~ but, If it’s work you are looking for, our churches are struggling to make ends meet, especially the smaller ones, and we could use extra hands. We can at least offer you a roof over your head and acceptable food in exchange. Anyway, come along with me!”
While Menou and Subaru Walked towards the town, Subaru asked-
Subaru: ”So, if Japanese people had a lot of impact on this world, does that mean that you have mayonnaise here?”
Menou: ”Yep!”
Subaru: ”Seriously? Well, I love mayonnaise but I would have hoped to be able to make money from my otherworldly knowledge…”
Subaru and Menou arrive in the town and-
Subaru: ”Woah! You weren’t joking! Everything here is in Japanese! And It looks so modern too. I guess this isn’t a medieval world after all.”
Menou and Subaru decided to sit down after a while of walking around town.
Menou: ”So, how about you tell me about what happened when you were summoned into this world?”
Subaru: ”Well, I pretty much appeared on top of a magic circle while walking out of the convenience store in my world. There was a man who looked like a king and a woman holding a crystal ball. The woman read the ball to find out what my power is, but she didn’t see anything, so they threw me out of the castle.”
After Subaru finished saying all that, he noticed a sign in Japanese advertising apples.
Subaru: ’Shouldn’t it be App■■? Wait, what did I think just now…’
Menou: ”Based on what you have told me, it sounds like the one who summoned you was the king of this nation of Grisarika. Summoning otherworlders is taboo, and yet those foolish Noblesse…”
Subaru: ”Noblesse?”
Menou: ”Hmm? Oh! Well, the people of this world are categorized into three classes. In the third class are the commons: The everyday people who make up 90% of the population.
In the second class are the Noblesse: The ones in charge of the government. That means the knights, nobility, and royalty… including King Grisarika.”
Subaru: ”Wait a minute, the king is second class?”
Menou: ”That’s right. And in the first class are the Faust: Those of the Church. Like me, they serve the Lord. We’re also in charge of regulating any Noblesse who violate a taboo.”
Subaru: ”A theocracy then. Will you be arresting the king then?”
Menou: ”I’ll report it to my superiors. I’m busy with the noble mission of aiding people like you: the penniless and homeless at the bottom of society.”
Subaru: ”Bottom of society huh... Man, it looks like I really am going to be starting from zero in another world… And I still have no idea what my power is…”
By now, Subaru and Menou got up to make way towards Menou’s church.
Menou: ”There’s no need to feel dejected. I’m sure you have some incredible ability.”
Subaru: ”I would hope so. I would prefer to not be a burden in another world too, ha! ha!”
Menou: ”Don’t worry, Lost Ones always have some sort of amazing power. They are called “Pure Concepts”, and even if they appear weak, they grow stronger over time, so whatever it is you have, I’m sure it’s good.”
Subaru: ”Is that right? Well, then I’m looking forward to helping out in any way I can!”
Menou: ”Okay, we’re here. That’s my church.”
-Menou said as they arrived at the church that looked like it has seen better days.
Subaru: ”Oh…”
Menou: ”Yeah…”
As they entered the church, Subaru talked-
Subaru: ”Is this seriously your church? It looks totally abandoned.”
Menou: “With no money, we don’t have enough hands to care for the place. But you know, if your power turns out to be useful, we might be able to make money out of it.”
Subaru: ”So that’s why you have been helping me all day?”
Menou: ”Of course not!”
Subaru: ”Well, It’s not like I mind anyway. A favor is a favor and since you have done me a favor, I am in your debt.”
Menou: ”Well, let’s figure out what your power is!”
Subaru: ”Yeah! Eh… what do I do, anyway?”
Menou: ”Do this: Link your consciousness with the power within you. Say this out loud: [Etheric Connect]”
Subaru: ”Yes Sensei! Alright, here I go!"
Subaru took a deep breath before saying-
Subaru: ”[Etheric Connect!]”
After saying those words, Subaru felt the awakening of a power deep within his very being.
He didn’t feel it in his heart, he felt it in his ■ .
It was a dark power. As it awakened, Subaru felt a primal instinct telling him not to use this power. Subaru was hesitating if to use the power or not, but then Menou spoke from behind him-
Menou: ”Good. Now let your power flow through you.”
Subaru, not wanting to disappoint - obliged, and as the dark power was released, it materialized into a shadowy hand. The hand turned into a fist and punched a hole through the church’s roof. Then the hand disappeared and Subaru was-
Subaru: ”HGKKK!!!”
Subaru was vomiting on the floor and was in a lot of pain. Using this ability put a lot of strain on Subaru’s body and his mind. After Subaru stopped vomiting, he turned around to look at Menou.
Subaru: ”Shit, that hurt. Is using my Pure Concept Supposed to hurt this much?”
Menou: ”No, that's unheard of.”
Subaru: ”Just my luck… Anyway, sorry about the roof. That hand felt like it had a mind of its own…”
Menou: ”Hand?”
Subaru: ”Yeah, didn’t you see it? It DID punch a hole through your roof.”
Menou: ”I see.”
Subaru: ”Huh?”
Menou: ”Your Pure Concept allows you to create a powerful invisible hand that only you can see.”
Subaru: ”Oh, that makes sense! Still, I felt like I was losing a part of myself while using that ability. And It’s not like I had much control of it, I seriously would rather not use it again. Is that alright, Menou-chan?”
Menou: ”It’s okay”
Subaru Noticed Menou was looking absent-minded and asked -
Subaru: ”Is something the matter?”
Menou: ”Can you take a look at the roof and tell me if you think you can fix it by yourself?”
Subaru looked up at the roof while thinking about what Menou just said. Subaru never before had experience fixing roofs, but maybe if he tried really hard he could fix it in a reasonable amount of time. The moon’s light was shining through the roof’s hole. Subaru stared at the beautiful moon for a moment before going back to examining the roof...
...Subaru was staring at a sign in Japanese advertising apples.
It was weird that he could see the sign, since the sun has already set and there should be no light-
Subaru: ’What is the sun doing in the sky?’
Subaru was now staring at the sun which shouldn’t be in the sky at this hour. After a few seconds, He realized he was staring at the sun.
Subaru: ”agh!- stupid sun…”
He turned his head to Menou who was sitting beside him with a thoughtful look on her face before she said-
Menou: ”Based on what you have told me, It sounds like the one who summoned you was the king of this nation of Grisarika. Summoning otherworlders is taboo, and yet those foolish Noblesse…”