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{3rd Pov}
After the Great Sage left, Subaru remained standing there for several seconds, still processing everything that had just happened.
He did not know that he possessed the three gifts that had been granted to him, along with some additional "trolling" from the Sage—something he still did not fully understand and would likely only realize later.
Without wasting more time, he and Rem immediately began traveling toward Arlam Village.
The sky was still dark when they finally reached the outskirts of the village.
Dawn had not yet broken, and a faint chill lingered in the air.
The entire place was silent, the villagers unaware of the danger approaching them in the near future.
"Rem, inform everyone at the mansion. I will deal with the villagers," Subaru said in a flat and firm tone.
The way he spoke made it sound as if he was about to burn the village down rather than save it.
There was no hesitation or warmth in his voice, only determination mixed with something harder to identify.
However, Rem did not question him. She simply nodded without complaint.
"Understood, Subaru-kun."
She trusted him.
Even if his tone sounded cold or ruthless, she believed there was a reason behind his actions.
Still, what had happened moments ago continued to trouble her thoughts.
The sudden appearance of the Great Sage… the overwhelming presence… the way space itself seemed to bend around that being.
It was far beyond her understanding.
She could not comprehend how such an existence had appeared directly before them, nor how Subaru had spoken so casually with someone of that magnitude.
More than that, she did not understand how Subaru knew about the Witch Cult's impending attack.
He had spoken of it with certainty, not speculation.
He had mentioned "the future" as if it were something he had already seen or experienced.
Now she understood at least part of the truth.
Subaru was the apprentice of the Great Sage and possessed some kind of ability to glimpse into the future.
According to him, he was destined to eliminate all the Sin Archbishops.
That was not something an ordinary person would claim lightly.
She had not been able to hear the private conversation between Subaru and the Great Sage, nor did she understand the full context behind their exchange.
However, Subaru had briefly explained that the Great Sage had "left the world," whatever that was supposed to mean.
Whether it meant death, ascension, disappearance, or something far beyond mortal understanding, she had no idea.
Her mind struggled to process everything.
The more she thought about it, the less ordinary Subaru seemed.
She quickly turned her gaze toward him.
The person standing there was the same Subaru she knew, yet at the same time, he felt different.
He appeared to carry far more secrets than she had ever imagined.
There was a weight around him now—an invisible pressure that suggested responsibility, knowledge, and importance far beyond what she had previously assumed.
It was becoming clear to her that Subaru held a far greater role in this world than she had once believed.
Rem took a deep breath to steady herself.
This was not the time to stand around thinking.
Action was required.
Without saying another word, she quickly ran in the direction of the mansion, moving with speed and precision.
She had to inform everyone and prepare for what was coming.
Meanwhile, Subaru remained where he was for a moment longer.
He inhaled deeply, the cold air filling his lungs, before stepping fully into the village.
A few villagers were already awake despite the early hour, beginning their daily chores.
Some were carrying buckets of water, others tending to animals, and a few were preparing tools for the day's labor.
That was simply how life worked here.
Not knowing the danger looming in the background, people simply woke up and continued their routines.
The cold morning air caused faint mist to escape from Subaru's mouth with every breath.
He stood still, observing the peaceful scene before him.
The quiet normalcy contrasted sharply with the knowledge of what was about to happen.
He looked at the village with firm, determined eyes.
This time, things would be different.
He remembered how, years ago, he had abandoned this place.
That particular memory was not vague or distant.
It was still clear.
In the previous loops, he had stood in this same village and witnessed everyone dying in horrific ways.
He had seen blood staining the ground, heard screams that did not stop, and watched people beg for help that never came.
He had experienced it again and again, each loop ending in failure.
And in one of those loops, he had made the choice to run away.
He did not sugarcoat it in his own mind.
He had abandoned them.
Whether it had been out of fear, despair, or broken will did not matter.
The result was the same.
His jaw tightened slightly.
Subaru lowered his gaze and looked at his palms.
They were steady.
He was not the same person anymore.
He now had a Yang Spirit contracted with him.
His combat ability had increased significantly, and his damage potential was on an entirely different level compared to before.
But more importantly, he was stronger mentally.
After living through fifty years of accumulated experience, pain, and struggle, his mind was no longer that of the reckless, impulsive boy who panicked under pressure.
His eyes gradually became calmer as he began walking toward the center of the village.
His steps were steady, not rushed, not hesitant.
He had already made his decision long ago.
This time, he would not run.
"Listen everyone! Wake up! I bring an important announcement!" he shouted as he continued walking toward the center.
His voice was loud and firm, carrying across the quiet morning air.
The villagers who were already awake froze in surprise, startled by the sudden shout.
Some turned toward him in confusion, others exchanged worried glances.
Subaru did not stop.
"Wake everyone up! This concerns the entire village!" he added, raising his voice further.
The people who had already been awake quickly reacted.
Alarmed by his serious tone, they rushed inside their homes and began waking up the rest of the villagers.
Doors opened, hurried footsteps echoed, and confused voices filled the air as the once-quiet village began to stir all at once.
Within a few minutes, a large crowd of villagers had gathered in front of Subaru.
Men, women, and even some older children stood there, whispering among themselves as they tried to understand what was happening so early in the morning.
However, to Subaru, they were nothing more than unfamiliar faces.
After living through what amounted to half a century of accumulated experience, he had long since forgotten the individual faces of the people in this village.
The memories of specific expressions, names, and small details had faded over time.
They had been replaced by harsher memories—screams, blood, and repeated deaths across multiple loops.
He did not know who they were anymore.
But he knew exactly what was going to happen to them if he did nothing.
That was enough.
Without hesitation, Subaru calmly raised his hand and summoned his Quasi–Yang Spirit.
The spirit manifested from the spiritual space that the Great Sage had awakened within him.
A warm, radiant presence emerged beside him, its form composed of condensed spiritual energy.
It did not flicker weakly; it appeared stable and controlled, a clear sign of a proper contract.
The reaction was immediate.
Gasps spread through the crowd.
Several villagers instinctively stepped back, while others stared in disbelief.
Manifesting a spirit so openly meant only one thing—Subaru was a Spirit Arts user.
In this world, Spirit Arts users were rare.
They were considered even more respected than ordinary magicians due to the difficulty of forming contracts with spirits and the power such contracts granted.
The atmosphere shifted.
Subaru had not summoned the spirit for show or arrogance.
He did it to establish presence and authority.
He needed them to understand that his words were not empty claims.
He needed them to realize that he possessed both power and legitimacy.
He could not afford doubt right now.
He did not clearly remember how much trust these villagers once had in him.
Yes, he had saved the children from the Mabeasts in one of the earlier events, but that did not automatically make him a trusted leader in their eyes.
To most of them, he was still an outsider.
A servant connected to the mansion.
A stranger.
And strangers making urgent announcements before dawn were not easily believed.
So he needed to make one thing clear before speaking further.
He was not someone to ignore.
"I will be blunt," Subaru said firmly, his voice carrying across the gathered crowd.
"I have received reliable information that the Witch Cult will be attacking this village shortly. As I am speaking right now, they are already lurking somewhere within the forest surrounding this area."
The moment the words left his mouth, shock spread throughout the villagers.
Murmurs erupted immediately.
Faces paled.
Some people instinctively looked toward the tree line in the distance, as if expecting robed figures to emerge at any second.
Fear traveled through the crowd faster than logic.
However, despite the fear, they did not question Subaru's claim.
They believed him almost instantly.
First, he was a direct servant of Lord Roswaal, the lord who governed this territory.
That alone gave his words authority.
Second, he had previously helped save the village's children from the Mabeasts, risking his own life in the process.
Many of them had witnessed that event personally.
And now, in front of all of them, he had casually demonstrated that he was a Spirit Arts user—something rare and highly respected.
Those three facts combined carried significant weight.
Not to mention, the villagers had no knowledge of Subaru's humiliation in the Capital.
They had never seen him fail publicly or be looked down upon.
To them, he was simply an unusual but capable young man connected to powerful people.
So they trusted him.
"Witch Cultists? Why would they attack here?!" one villager shouted in disbelief.
"Yes! Why would they attack a common village like ours?" another demanded, panic creeping into his voice.
The murmuring intensified, turning chaotic.
Then someone raised their voice louder than the rest.
"I know! It must be because of that Half-Elf!"
A ripple went through the crowd.
"Of course! Who else could it be?!" someone else snapped.
"Damn it! I knew someone resembling her would bring bad luck to us!"
"FUCK! I knew it! Anyone resembling that Witch is trouble!"
The panic quickly shifted direction, turning into blame.
Subaru listened to every word clearly.
He did not flinch.
He did not react outwardly.
There was no visible anger on his face.
He did not feel anger.
What he felt was annoyance.
Even in a situation like this, instead of focusing on survival and preparation, they were looking for someone to blame.
Instead of thinking rationally about how to defend themselves or evacuate, they were pushing responsibility onto someone who was not even present.
It was predictable.
And it was wasting time.
"Everyone!" Subaru shouted sharply, his voice cutting through the rising noise.
The crowd immediately fell silent.
"Listen to me," he continued, his tone firm but controlled.
"Whether they are here because of Lady Emilia or not does not matter right now. Ask yourselves something simple—do you honestly believe they will just leave on their own?"
He slowly scanned the faces in front of him.
The faint light emitted by the Quasi–Yang Spirit beside him cast a steady glow across the villagers, illuminating their fearful expressions.
"They are monsters," Subaru said calmly.
"Heartless monsters who enjoy slaughtering people. They do not negotiate. They do not reason. And they certainly do not spare lives out of mercy."
The weight of his words settled over the crowd.
"I want all of you to follow my instructions carefully," he continued without raising his voice further.
"Evacuate the village immediately. Take only essential belongings. Do not waste time packing unnecessary items. You will seek refuge inside Lord Roswaal's mansion. It is fortified, guarded, and far safer than remaining here."
There was hesitation among some of the villagers, but none interrupted him this time.
After a few seconds, an elderly woman stepped forward from the crowd. Her back was slightly bent with age, but her eyes were sharp and steady.
"Who will be dealing with the Witch Cultists?" she asked in a clear voice.
"I want to know that."
It was a fair question.
Subaru met her gaze directly.
"It will be me," he answered calmly.
"Along with the other workers and personnel of Lord Roswaal."
A few villagers exchanged uneasy glances, but he continued before doubt could grow.
"We attempted to request additional military support. However, the officials denied the request on the basis that Lord Roswaal is more than capable of handling such matters within his own territory."
His tone remained steady, without frustration or sarcasm.
"Unfortunately, Lord Roswaal is currently away from the domain. Because of that, we were unable to personally inform him of this situation in time."
He did not mention the urgency, the time constraints, or the deeper complications behind the scenes.
What mattered was keeping them focused.
"So until he returns," Subaru concluded, "we will handle it."
There was no bravado in his voice.
Just a simple statement of responsibility.
"Let me understand this clearly," the old woman said, her voice carrying a barely concealed anger.
"We are facing Witch Cultists who are infamous for destroying entire villages. We have no backup. No royal soldiers protecting us. Our Lord is absent from his own territory. And you are telling us to gather at the very location that would most likely become their prime target?"
Her words were sharp, and they struck exactly where doubt was already forming.
The villagers began murmuring again, louder this time.
Some nodded in agreement.
Others looked uncertain.
From their perspective, her argument made perfect sense.
If the Witch Cult was targeting the domain, then the mansion—where Lord Roswaal resided and where Lady Emilia stayed—would logically be the most obvious place for an attack.
Subaru stared at the old woman without anger, without irritation, and without even a trace of defensiveness.
He did not fumble for a counterargument.
He did not try to soften the situation.
He simply answered.
"Yes," he said calmly.
"That is exactly what I am saying."
The reaction was immediate.
Several people gasped, staring at him as if he had just declared something insane.
A few looked at him as though he had personally betrayed them.
The tension in the air thickened instantly.
However, Subaru did not hesitate.
"Despite being the prime target," he continued bluntly, "it will also be the most protected location available to us."
He let that statement settle before explaining further.
"Lady Emilia is contracted with one of the Four Great Spirits. Not a minor spirit. Not a mid-tier elemental. One of the Four Great Spirits."
The Quasi–Yang Spirit beside him flared slightly, its light reflecting off the stunned faces of the villagers.
"In Lord Roswaal's absence, that mansion will be under her protection. Yes, it will attract danger. That part is unavoidable. But because it will attract danger, it will also concentrate defensive power. Out in this open village, scattered across wooden houses and unguarded streets, you are far more vulnerable."
Silence followed his words.
Although many of the villagers did not understand the technical details of Spirit Arts or contracts, they were familiar with the legends and general reputation of the Four Great Spirits.
Even common people knew those names carried weight.
They understood that such beings were not ordinary spirits, but entities of immense power tied to the balance of the world itself.
"Lady Emilia is, for all practical purposes, as strong as Lord Roswaal," Subaru continued without hesitation.
"Being under her protection is far safer than remaining scattered throughout this village."
He did not pause, giving them no room to interrupt.
"As you can already see, I am a Spirit Arts user as well," he added, gesturing slightly toward the Quasi–Yang Spirit hovering beside him.
"And I possess sufficient combat capability. I have protected this village once before without the aid of any contracted spirits. This time, the situation is different. We are better prepared."
His voice remained steady and factual.
"We are not waiting to be slaughtered. We will be the ones taking the initiative. We will identify their location and strike first. Since we will be the ones attacking them instead of reacting blindly, we hold the tactical advantage."
There was no exaggeration in his tone. He was stating it as a matter of strategy.
"Damn it! It's still risky, isn't it?!" someone suddenly shouted from within the crowd.
"I don't trust that silver-haired half-elf!"
The tension spiked again.
Subaru did not react emotionally to the insult. He did not glare. He did not raise his voice.
"That's perfectly fine," he replied calmly.
"Whoever wishes to remain here may stay in the village."
The words fell heavily into the air.
"…"
For several seconds, no one spoke.
The villagers looked at one another, confusion spreading across their faces.
They were trying to process what Subaru had just said.
Moments ago, he had emphasized evacuation and insisted the mansion was the safest option.
Now, he was openly giving them the choice to remain behind.
It sounded like a contradiction.
A few people frowned, clearly unsure whether he had just undermined his own argument or if there was something else behind his statement.
The crowd fell into an uneasy silence as they waited for him to clarify—or perhaps reveal what he truly meant.
"W-What do you mean?!" someone else spoke up, his voice shaking.
"Didn't you just say it's not safe here?"
Subaru turned his gaze toward the man and answered without raising his voice.
"It is not safe here," he said calmly.
"That has not changed. However, we do not have the luxury of unlimited time either. The Witch Cult is already moving. Every moment we waste arguing increases the risk."
He paused briefly, making sure they were listening.
"I am strong enough to fight Witch Cultists," he continued.
"But I am not strong enough to fight them while simultaneously protecting dozens of uncoordinated civilians who refuse to follow instructions. That is the reality of the situation."
There was no hostility in his tone, only blunt honesty.
"If you choose not to cooperate, you are free to make whatever decision you believe is best for yourselves," he added.
"I am not forcing anyone."
"I-I don't get it!" another villager said in disbelief.
He stepped forward and pointed a trembling finger at Subaru, as if accusing him of something unforgivable.
"Aren't you supposed to protect us?!"
The accusation hung in the air.
Subaru did not react emotionally to the gesture.
He did not push the hand away or snap back in anger.
"Sorry," he replied evenly.
"But I am merely an employee of Lord Roswaal. My primary duty is to protect my lord's domain and his premises."
He spoke clearly so that everyone could hear.
"Arlam Village falls under that domain, naturally. However, protection requires cooperation. If the villagers openly refuse to follow the authority of Lord Roswaal in a crisis situation, then they are effectively rejecting the protection that authority provides."
The murmurs grew louder.
"I have already informed all of you about the imminent threat," Subaru continued.
"I have already given clear instructions on what to do. Evacuate and gather at the mansion. If you choose not to act on that information, then that is your decision."
He did not soften the words.
"I cannot divide my focus between battling trained killers and convincing adults to save themselves."
The crowd began murmuring more intensely now, glancing at one another with worry and uncertainty.
Some looked angry.
Some looked afraid.
Others appeared conflicted, clearly struggling between pride, prejudice, and survival instinct.
Subaru simply stood there, waiting for them to decide.
"I believe in Subaru! He would never lie to us!"
The sudden voice cut through the tension like a blade.
A girl stepped forward from the crowd.
She had orange-reddish brown hair and bright cyan-blue eyes that stood out clearly even in the pale morning light.
Subaru's breath caught in his throat for a brief moment.
That figure…
He had not seen her like this in over half a century—at least, not from his perspective.
The loops, the years of accumulated memories, the countless failures—they had buried moments like this under layers of pain and regret.
She was one of the children he had once saved.
And in another loop, she had been one of the people he had failed to save.
It was Petra Lyte.
She stepped forward without hesitation, standing in front of the adults despite her young age.
"He saved our village before!" Petra said loudly, her voice trembling slightly but filled with conviction.
"He saved me and every other child when the Mabeasts attacked! He risked his life for us without asking for anything in return!"
Some villagers turned toward her in surprise.
"And now Sir Subaru is a Spirit Arts user!" she continued, gesturing toward the Quasi–Yang Spirit beside him.
"He's even stronger than before. If he says the Witch Cult is coming, then they're coming. And if he says he can deal with them, then he can!"
Her cyan-blue eyes were fixed entirely on Subaru.
There was no doubt in them.
No suspicion.
No hesitation.
Only complete trust.
Subaru felt something tighten in his chest.
For a brief second, he flinched—not out of fear, but because he was seeing her after so many years.
Slowly, a small smile formed on his face.
"Yes," Subaru said firmly. "I promise you this—if you allow me to protect you, then I will protect you with my life."
His voice did not waver.
He did not shout.
But something shifted in the atmosphere.
The spark had finally been lit.
For a few seconds after his promise, there was silence.
The villagers looked at one another, uncertainty still lingering in their expressions.
However, the hesitation no longer felt as solid as before.
"I have decided," a man said firmly as he stepped forward from the crowd.
"I believe in Sir Subaru. I will evacuate with my family to Lord Roswaal's mansion."
Subaru recognized him after a few seconds.
He was Petra's father.
The fact that he was the first adult to openly support him carried weight.
He was not speaking as a frightened villager.
He was speaking as a father who had once seen Subaru risk his life for his daughter.
That mattered.
Then, as if a chain reaction had been triggered, another villager stepped forward.
"I trust Sir Subaru as well," the man declared loudly.
"He has no reason to lie about something like this. I will follow his instructions."
The tension in the crowd shifted again.
One by one, more people began voicing their agreement.
Some spoke confidently.
Others did so more cautiously, but the overall direction was clear.
What had begun as doubt and argument was now turning into collective movement.
Soon, more than half of the village had openly declared that they would evacuate according to Subaru's instructions.
And as often happened in situations like this, the crowd effect took hold.
The remaining villagers, who had been hesitant or skeptical moments earlier, began reconsidering their stance.
Seeing neighbors, friends, and families commit to evacuation made staying behind feel far riskier.
Pride and prejudice slowly gave way to practicality.
Within minutes, the decision became unanimous.
The entire village agreed to seek refuge at the Mathers Mansion.
Subaru did not show relief outwardly, but internally, he acknowledged that the most difficult part had just been overcome.
Convincing them had been the real battle.
As preparations began—families rushing to gather essentials, parents calling for their children, and neighbors coordinating with one another—the first rays of sunlight rose above the horizon.
The sun finally emerged, casting light across the village.
A new day had begun.
Petra tilted her head slightly and spoke up again.
"I still don't understand what that second sun was about," she said, clearly confused.
"Yeah," another child added quickly.
"That sound was really scary. It felt like the sky was breaking."
A few of the other children nodded in agreement, their earlier fear momentarily resurfacing as they remembered the strange phenomenon.
The parents, however, remained silent.
Their expressions tightened subtly.
Unlike the children, they did not treat it as a strange spectacle.
They understood that something massive and unnatural had occurred.
The ground had trembled faintly, and the flash of light on the horizon had not been normal.
It had not been lightning.
It had been something else.
Subaru's face froze for the briefest moment.
Because he knew exactly what that "second sun" had been.
Miles away, a massive crater now lay silently carved into the earth.
The White Whale—an infamous monster that had haunted roads and slaughtered travelers for four centuries—had been completely obliterated.
Even the massive Flugel's Tree, which had stood as a landmark for generations, had been caught in the blast.
It had all disappeared in a single overwhelming strike.
And that strike had been his.
He could not exactly stand here and casually explain that he was a Great Sage Candidate and that the phenomenon they witnessed was the result of him erasing a four-hundred-year-old calamity from existence.
How would that sound?
To them, it would sound insane.
Even if it was true.
Subaru understood something important: truth alone did not guarantee trust.
In fact, sometimes the truth could destroy trust if it was presented at the wrong time or in the wrong way.
Words spoken about you by others always carried more weight than words you used to praise yourself.
If rumors spread later—if merchants or travelers spoke of the White Whale's disappearance—that would be different.
Let the world discover it on its own.
For now, he could not risk destabilizing the fragile confidence the villagers had just placed in him.
So he remained silent regarding that matter.
Instead of answering the children directly, he shifted the focus immediately.
"We don't have time to worry about that right now," Subaru said calmly.
"Focus on staying with your families. Do not wander off. Stay close together when you move."
Without giving them space to question further, he began issuing practical instructions—organizing groups, assigning able-bodied villagers to assist the elderly, ensuring that children would remain in the center of the formation during evacuation.
His tone returned to that of a coordinator rather than a mysterious figure.
Meanwhile, far from the village, Rem had already reached the Mathers Mansion.
And there, she was currently engaged in another heated discussion—this time with her sister and Lady Emilia.
To be continued...
(A/N: With this Volume 1 and Side-fanfic of Re Zero: The Great Sage, begins!)