Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Natsuki Subaru was somewhat stunned...

He had thought that the trials of the Tower of Sages were progressive, with each level being more difficult than the last.

Because the pressure that Red put on Subaru Natsuki was just too much.

Natsuki Subaru was even prepared to die several times during the third trial.

But you tell him that the second trial is actually the most difficult?

Once again, they evaded Polkenica's attack.

Subaru Natsuki quickly found a reasonable explanation for this anomaly.

This level is probably just a filler trial forced in to make up the "third time's the charm" rule.

It's like those filler chapters in online novels that inevitably have extra words to better plan the plot.

To satisfy the rule of "no more than three times," it is quite reasonable to force in a trial that is slightly less difficult.

This great sage, Freugel, truly lives up to his reputation from the Three Kingdoms period; his understanding of the game mechanics is nothing short of divine.

Natsuki Subaru stroked his non-existent beard, smiled, nodded, and turned his gaze back to the masterpiece.

At the top of the giant pillar stood a black cuboid, quite different from the one in the first trial, with six handprints engraved on it.

Four men and two women.

Natsuki Subaru compared them one by one.

They discovered that one of the coins, in terms of both size and the arc of the five fingers spread out, was extremely similar to his right hand.

So, Natsuki Subaru placed his palm on it.

boom!

The surroundings changed color instantly.

The Tower of Sages has welcomed its new master.

[Although it's the same person as the previous one.]

The endless yellow sand that had enveloped the Tower of Sages suddenly fell downwards, and the sandstorm that had lasted for countless years vanished in an instant.

For the first time, the sunlight fell unhindered upon the sea of ​​flowers, and the sandy time that had trapped countless visitors vanished along with it.

On the platform, Polkenica, who had just been launching a fierce attack on Subaru Natsuki, decisively folded his wings and lay back down in his original spot.

Those hollow dragon eyes seemed to briefly regain their clarity, slowly turning towards the figure atop the stone pillar, and asked:

"Flugel, where did you and Red go?"

"Is your journey over?"

"Did you rescue Satella?"

Who is Satella?

All we remember about Sha Sandao is...

Natsuki Subaru blinked, realizing that he seemed to have forgotten something again without even realizing it.

It's simple, just ask the dragon.

So Subaru cleared his throat and immediately offered his tried-and-true, universal answer.

Before answering your question, I also have a question for you...

However, before Natsuki Subaru could finish his question, the clarity in Polkenica's eyes vanished.

“I follow the ancient covenant to inform you of your will.”

The dragon froze again, even turning its head back to its original direction.

Subaru Natsuki's gaze turned slightly serious.

"A counter-question? What a dragon that doesn't take pressure!"

Having passed all three trials, he glanced around, but still couldn't see the Great Sage Frugel on the platform.

This won't do! How can he cure Mycroft's madness and bring him to Emilia's camp to claim credit and reward if he can't find Freugel!

Natsuki Subaru immediately jumped down from the top of the giant pillar, preparing to go back and ask Shaula for clarification.

“I follow the ancient covenant to inform you of your will.”

Just as he was about to step onto the stairs, Polkenica repeated it behind him, but this time his tone was different.

It's very human-centered, as if you genuinely want to get an answer.

Natsuki Subaru stopped, glanced back at the dragon, and casually left two words.

"Hate the heavens."

After saying that, Subaru Natsuki turned around and went down the white iron stairs back to the fourth floor without looking back.

[A normal Shenron isn't afraid of Subaru, but this Shenron is stupid. If Emilia hadn't gone to chat with Shenron during the fight, she could have easily passed the level without Ram's help.]

[This part was particularly difficult for me to write. If I had written it with the protagonist having an easy time, people would have thought the protagonist's fighting power was already at the level of a dragon.]

[If it's not easy, everyone will wonder why the protagonist can't beat the dragon even though Emilia could.]

[It's all Nagatsuki Tatsuhei's fault. Not only are his subordinates riddle-makers, but they all prefer to fight without using their true skills. This causes their combat strength to fluctuate wildly.]

The blue sky and grasslands remain.

The trial has ended, and most of the restrictions on the Tower of Sages, including the time spent outside the tower, have been lifted.

However, Red Astraea, who was the second examiner for the trial, still did not disappear. She was still sitting on the grass, bored, with her legs casually spread apart and chewing on a piece of grass root.

Hearing footsteps coming from the stairs, he looked up, grinned, and chuckled.

"Heh, it's a shame that it's so big, yet it can't even handle a newbie like you! I should have broken off a couple more of your legs earlier, so you wouldn't be running so fast up there and embarrassing that grain reserve!"

"Now that the trial is over, why haven't you disappeared yet?" Natsuki Subaru asked in confusion.

"Whether I disappear or not is none of your business, you nobody!"

"You think you're something just because you won two games? Get lost and stop getting in my way."

Having said that, Red ignored Subaru Natsuki. He looked up at the sky and sighed deeply.

"I'm so thirsty~"

"You drunkard!"

Natsuki Subaru snorted coldly and didn't say anything more to him.

[Starry Night] flashed by, and the last jar of wine that had been placed in the room fell into Natsuki Subaru's hands, and was then casually tossed to Red.

Red helped him find the direction the Heaven-Hating Sword should go.

Giving him this wine isn't shameful!

Reid was somewhat surprised as he caught the wine jar and looked in Natsuki Subaru's direction.

Natsuki Subaru had already turned and walked into the stairs, without even looking back.

Red sat cross-legged on the grass, looked at the wine in his arms, then at the gradually disappearing figure, and his toothy smile widened.

"That's more like it. A lackey should act like a lackey. Serving me tea and wine, and I'll handle the fighting. What's the use of learning such good swordsmanship?"

He uncorked the bottle and tilted his head back to take a big gulp.

Regarding whether Red possessed all the memories from his time with the Saviors, I still lean towards the conclusion that he did, even though the anime omitted many details.

However, the novel subtly hints that although Reid verbally calls Subaru a "minion," he actually takes special care of Subaru.

The scene where Red uses chopsticks to pick up Subaru's internal organs looks like a provocation in the anime.

[The novel mentions that Red noticed Subaru's internal organs were misaligned and was helping him adjust them.]

[Then there's the loop where Subaru is imprisoned in the ice prison. The anime didn't show Subaru's dislocated arm, and Red arrives to heal it.]

[Later, Red, who knew from his memories of Gluttony that Subaru could die and return to life, didn't let Subaru be slowly devoured by Satella. Instead, he rescued Subaru and gave him the most decisive and emotionless death.]

These special treatments... it can't be said that Red fell in love with Subaru at first sight...

People say Reid only has three months of memories because he claimed he'd only been practicing swordsmanship for three months when he fought Julius. It's hard to say whether he did this intentionally to provoke Julius.

Therefore, to avoid being caught up by the long history books, Red's spiritual body in this book is set as a complete soul of the Book of the Dead, possessing all memories.

Why not say? Because he's like other Re:Zero characters.

[~Feet are whiter than hands~]

......

As Subaru Natsuki went downstairs, the Sage's Tower raiding team, trapped in the sand time, was also nearing their limit.

They originally thought they would find a breakthrough in a few hours at most, but the probing ended up lasting for several days.

The group braved the wind and sand, advancing tirelessly without sleep.

Apart from Reinhard, who was still able to maintain his initial pace, and Julius, who was also barely holding on, everyone else was injured to varying degrees. The members of the Six Tongues could only support each other to barely continue standing on the sand.

Felix was also swaying precariously, barely able to hold onto the cane he used to help him move forward.

Russell Ferro's legs felt like they were filled with lead with every step he took.

Despair gripped everyone, and the thought of giving up filled the hearts of everyone except Reinhard.

Reinhard glanced at them, feeling quite hesitant.

Is it to continue moving forward aimlessly, relying on luck to try and break through this seal?

Should we take our teammates out to rest?

But if it's during this rest period, Subaru...

Should I just carry them around? But wouldn't that ruin the image of a perfect knight...?

Just as Reinhard was struggling with his decision.

The scene that unfolded the next second left him completely stunned.

The wind that had howled through the desert for countless years suddenly stopped.

Reinhard looked up at the sky.

The yellow sand swirling in the air began to fall, and the sense of disorientation that had enveloped everyone dissipated.

After the sandstorm cleared, the tower that had been elusive finally appeared on the horizon.

How is this going?

Reinhard gazed at the tower and gripped the Dragon Sword tightly.

Time suddenly stopped, and the location of the Sage's Tower reappeared.

Something must have happened inside the Tower of Sages.

This change is very likely related to Subaru.

The moment the thought crossed his mind, Reinhard gripped the Dragon Sword and led the group toward the tower.

To his surprise, just as the group crossed the desert and entered the flower sea surrounding the Sage's Tower, a large number of magical beasts lurking beneath the flowers suddenly emerged.

Reinhard could sweep away a large number of magical beasts with a single slap, but his exhausted companions behind him were already showing signs of fatigue.

In addition, the flash of light that suddenly appeared at the top of the tower was aimed directly at everyone present.

He was forced to abandon everyone and rush into the tower alone, and could only turn back again and again to rescue them, being dragged along in the middle of the sea of ​​flowers by the seemingly endless stream of monsters.

Subaru... what exactly happened to you?

Wait for me, I'm coming right away!

The tower was so close yet he couldn't make an inch of progress.

Reinhard's smile grew increasingly stiff...

......

As Natsuki Subaru returned to the lower level, he was greeted by a series of hurried footsteps.

Shaula had already rushed over from the other end of the corridor in a panic, her cloak askew to one side. Before she could even stop, she grabbed Natsuki Subaru's arm.

Because the trial of the Sage's Tower ended normally, she, like Red, did not disappear or go out of control.