**********
Translator: TranslationChicken
**********
Editor: TranslationChicken
**********
ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO TAPPEI NAGATSUKI, THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF RE:ZERO, THIS IS A TRANSLATION OF THE FREE JAPANESE WEB NOVEL INTO ENGLISH
JAPANESE WEB NOVEL SOURCE: HTTP://NCODE.SYOSETU.COM/N2267BE/233/
Previous Chapter: https://translationchicken.com/2018/02/09/rezero-arc-4-chapter-67-warlock-part-3-3/
ARC 4
THE EVERLASTING COVENANT
Chapter 68 [The Taste Of Death]
――In a world where everything seemed twisted, Subaru was desperately running.
[Subaru: ――]
He was insane.
He was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane he was insane.
The words repeated and repeated in his mind.
Beneath his eyelids as he repeated those words were Roswaal’s final moments, felled by the Great Rabbit’s fangs.
No resistance, so easily accepting his death, without even once crying out in pain for his ruptured flesh, Roswaal allowed his own existence to end.
――Aberrant.
What would you call this, if not aberrant and insane?
As long as his goal would be accomplished in a Parallel World, he was not bothered by his death―― If this was a game, Subaru might have given the player character’s death the same significance.
But it was reality.
Just how could a person, in reality, entrust his life to an alternate self?
This Roswaal was eaten by rabbits in front of Subaru’s eyes. And his consciousness would not follow Subaru to the world beyond Death.
He may be staking his wishes on Return by Death, same as Subaru, but the weight of the toll was nowhere near the same.
Because, unlike Subaru, Roswaal could not reclaim the price he had paid.
[Subaru: ――uo, ogh]
Recalling the macabre image of Roswaal’s death as he ran, Subaru was hounded by the urge to vomit.
Bile surged up, burning his throat. But he couldn’t spare even the time to puke as he wandered through the Sanctuary in search of survivors.
――Hell unfolded before Subaru once again.
Snow had stopped falling on the Sanctuary, but the howling wind persisted.
Lifting his face, grimacing at the skin-shearing cold as he gazed about his surroundings, he could hear the animals’ calls all around, intermixed with the wind.
Grinding, grinding, the noise of serrated teeth grinding besieged the Sanctuary as if voicing their threat to their prey.
The Great Rabbit prowled through the Sanctuary in search of their feed.
Just how terrible was the hunger and famine that assaulted them?
When they fail to find prey, as if not to waste time letting their teeth stand idle, they would stave off their hunger by biting into their companions. A true, abominable monster.
Bit by bit, the grating noise of gnawing teeth and their cannibalistic shrieks of death and ecstasy chipped away at Subaru’s sanity.
[Subaru: ――Uwa!]
While trying to shake off that appalling cacophony, a rabbit with wide open jaws shot over Subaru’s head. Teeth clicked viciously upon teeth as it tumbled into the snow. Having missed its prey, the rabbit flipped around with a threatening hiss.
Immediately, a Lewes clone running alongside Subaru crushed her heel into the rabbit’s torso.
With the sound of meat squishing and bones cracking, the rabbit puked out its body’s innards from its mouth, dead.
Exhaling, paying no heed to the corpse, Subaru resumed his sprint as the Lewes clones moved out alongside him.
Not far behind them, other rabbits arrived at the crushed corpse. Hearing the sound of the corpse devoured in an instant, the bells of doom inside Subaru rang ever louder.
Six Lewes clones remained at Subaru’s side.
The eleven who had been present at Roswaal’s death had had their numbers cut by half.
Having been ordered to “Protect Subaru”, some had turned to face the charging rabbits, while some used their bodies to shield him before returning to mana.
As for why he ordered the clones to protect him with their lives, Subaru had already given up trying to explain it.
Right now, the only thing on his mind was the safety of Rem in the Cathedral and of Emilia inside the Tomb, while all else was abandoned somewhere beyond his considerations.
That was the only way to justify his present actions, and to safeguard his own sanity.
[Subaru: th…. cathedral……!]
Avoiding the rabbit-infested roads with the snow pulling at his steps, Subaru took a large detour around the Sanctuary to reach the village centre and the Cathedral.
In a village devoid of any source of light, Subaru immediately spotted the Cathedral.
But, of course.
――Since amidst this world of white, only the Cathedral was enveloped in pure-red flames.
[Subaru: ――Wh, y?]
Falling to his knees in the snow, Subaru muttered in a hoarse daze.
The crackling of the sprawling blaze mixed with the sound of snapping wood as Subaru watched rabbits leaping into the flame like moths, intending to eat the prey inside only to be instantly burned to a crisp.
The fact that they were so desperate to enter the Cathedral meant that there was still something to sate their hunger inside.
And the fact that there were those who remained inside the flames, meant that――
[Subaru: ――]
――Deciding survival was hopeless, rather than be eaten by rabbits, they had chosen to commit suicide. Subaru wasn’t incapable of understanding this feeling. He wasn’t incapable, but,
[Subaru: Even so… ould’ve resisted to the end……]
“I wish you would’ve fought on to the very end without giving up on life.” But perhaps, that was an all too heartless thought.
Both Roswaal and the people of the Sanctuary had treated their lives with excessive neglect.
Nearly forgetting that he himself was most guilty of that charge, Subaru covered his face as tears streamed from his eyes.
Neither Roswaal nor Subaru had inspired enough hope for the residents of the Sanctuary and the refugees of Arlam to resist until the very end.
If Subaru had managed to build that kind of trust, surely, they wouldn’t have given up until the last moment.
――Once again, everything was Subaru’s fault, and Subaru’s crime.
[Subaru: But even if… only Rem……]
…survived? This ordering of the value of life was just the height of hubris and pride.
Mentally, Subaru called out to the clone he had instructed to take Rem to the Cathedral――the current Lewes personality. But, he could find no visible reaction indicating that she had heard it.
――Rem was inside that burning Cathedral.
Or, even if they escaped, Subaru was not nearly naive enough to think that Lewes could have single-handedly protected Rem from the Great Rabbit as they ran.
He clenched down on his molars. There was the taste of blood.
Biting into the bloody taste, into the surging bitterness, Subaru clenched onto his decision. ――He should have already realized that this world was lost, and that he only wound up here because of his repeated refusal to accept it.
But now, it was truly about time to give up.
[Subaru: ――]
He could hear the hunger-plagued monster approaching.
That was because the rabbits, who had abandoned the prospect of devouring any prey in the burnt Cathedral, had noticed the presence of the kneeling Subaru and the Lewes clones surrounding him.
Standing up, brushing off the snow, Subaru spilled a deep exhale.
He did not notice the sensation of the tears streaming down his cheeks. And so, he did not wipe them away.
[Subaru: Emilia……]
This world was ending.
And even if it wasn’t ending, Subaru would make sure that it ends.
In a world in which everyone he wished to be with, to live with, and to save, was gone―― at least, at the very end, he wanted to be at the side of the girl he loved.
[Subaru: Use your lives… to protect me. ――Once I reach the Tomb… you’re free to do whatever you want]
Subaru emotionlessly relayed to the six remaining clones. He took one step, and then another, away from the horde of rabbits, until he was running.
Sensing their prey’s intention to escape, the rabbits raised an inaudible cry as they hounded Subaru’s trail, drooling from their mouths.
[Lewes: ――]
Two Lewes clones dived into the Great Rabbit’s mass just as it was poised to leap.
It was followed by the sound of death and crushing flesh, until the two of them were surrounded by the ever-swelling swarm.
In an instant, the two were completely coated in white fur and fell to their sides――fatally wounded, their small bodies transformed into streams of pale-blue light.
And, with their final attack, they caught the feeding rabbits in an explosion of mana, lighting up the Sanctuary’s night sky with its dancing radiance.
Sensing the clones’ final burst of brilliance on the skin of his back, Subaru shook his head to cast off the ones he had deserted, gritted his teeth, and ran for the Tomb.
――And just went on running.
===
Next Part 2/2: https://translationchicken.com/2018/02/13/rezero-arc-4-chapter-68-the-taste-of-death-part-2-2/
===
Mobile data can get very unstable so I might go missing for a couple of days. I’ll work offline and release when I can get a good connection.
I’ll get started on Part 2 tomorrow!
===
Chapter 68 Live Draft:
https://www.patreon.com/posts/re-zero-arc-4-68-16920789
===
Next Part 2/2: https://translationchicken.com/2018/02/13/rezero-arc-4-chapter-68-the-taste-of-death-part-2-2/
hello
LikeLike
Hi
LikeLike
2nd!! Thx for the great work! Finally i’m early
LikeLike
Subaru: Even so… ould’ve resisted to the end……]
Spelling error?
Thanks chicken!
LikeLike
Subaru is so distraut that he is unable to speak correctly
LikeLike
Will he see Echidona or will the tomb let him die with Emilia?
LikeLike
I think it’s chapter 68
LikeLiked by 1 person
Things just seem getting worse for everyone. So many deaths and Subaru is still clueless of clearing Emilia’s trials.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Man it’s crazy how this loop has felt useless since early in the Mansion and Subaru still persisted. I don’t think it was completely without merit, though. He did learn quite a bit about Roswaal and a bit about Garfiel, if nothing else.
LikeLike
Oh, and those FUCKING RABBITS!
LikeLike
Ahhhhhhhh these transition scenes always make me feel restless. I’m waiting for the next big thing to happen, but I don’t know what.
LikeLiked by 1 person
ends great the way elsa dies the way they beat garf and subjugate the rabbits. look forward to it. xd worth reading a proper translation of well atleat to me it is
LikeLike
Thanks for such good translation ♡
LikeLike
Thanks
LikeLike
Thanks Chicken-sama, damn this loop was so much filled with misery and death. If it adapted into the anime, i bet it would be more depressing than the loop where Subaru met Peteulgeuse for the first time.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And the misery isn’t over yet .
LikeLike
How about for next time, Subaru just tells Roswald not to manipulate the weather?
Pretty sure Roswald is smart enough to understand how Subaru knows his intentions, then he would put 2 and 2 together and realize that everything has been rewound already.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it should be clear that Roswaal is NEITHER friend nor ally to Subaru or Emilia at this point.
LikeLiked by 1 person
He’s merely opportunistically taking advantage of the situation. I’d love to be keen to what his gospel says. I’m sure it’s quite interesting if he’s faithful enough to die without a peep and entrust the future to another him that he has no connection to (that we know of). His fervor to complete his goal and/or fulfill his contract is extremely strong. Roswaal saying “if you dedicate yourself to the one thing you wish to protect and nothing else you can be like me” was insane.
LikeLike
The answer is no. Roswaal only follows what the gospel told him. Just enjoy the following chapters because more mind blowing actions in the story will make your curiousity explode like never before.
LikeLike
cant explain without spoiling things. lets just say its infatuated with her and i highly suspect he is just under a love spell or something. this obsession with the one you love is too much like the witch cultist to call normal. i have 2 sisters and i do not think i would sacrifice pl left n right pretty sure they would not want me to turn douch bag to ‘save’ them.
LikeLike
Nice
LikeLike
Wow Subaru will keep fighting till the end! I hope he succeeds on reaching the tomb.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Do you guys know what Emilia will do with Subaru in the next part?
LikeLike
No, I don’t. But I must admit that I’m genuinely curious…
LikeLike
Are you talking to yourself, Anonymous?
LikeLike
I too would like to know that answer.
LikeLike
Thou shalt not question the Anonymous.
LikeLike
For they are the salt of this World. However, you shall ask them because they posess great knowledge.
LikeLike
Yes, Anonymous-samas! ForGiVe this SLOTHFUL BeIng!
LikeLike
Hizamakura? I mean, what else can she do?
LikeLike
Would you believe me if I said she would heal Subaru’s wounds and defend them both?
LikeLike
Kha-hahahah… You were probably thinking of another girl.
LikeLike
you know that this is Emilia’s fault. On next chapter will explain you, kid
LikeLike
read this comment cuz the above comment is wrong . You know that this isnt Emilia’s fault. On next chapter i will explain you, kid
LikeLike
Spoiler: It will be R-18 scene. (Well most of subaru’s deaths are beyond gore anyway to be rated less than R-18 lol)
LikeLike
Mmm. Feels good to be early
LikeLike
Saucy
LikeLike
I can imagine that blast doing a number on Subo’s back.
Omai wa you shindeiru
LikeLike
It’s “Omae wa mou shindeiru”.
LikeLike
NANI!?
LikeLike
Omochiikaeri~!
LikeLike
Wow, this is intense as fuck.
I’m still a bit weirded out by the fact that even when Subaru already knows he has to rewind, he still feels the urge to make sure Rem is ok, even though that makes no sense at all.
Also, in “He did not notice the sensation of the tears streaming down his cheeks. And so, he did wipe them away.” the second sentence is missing a “not”
LikeLike
Because Subaru isn’t a machine and regardless if he can revive the people around him are still his friends and basically his 2nd family at this point. The moment he conpletely gives in starts treating everything as expendable and replacable because of RBD is the time he starts losing connection to his human heart and become like Roswaal.
LikeLike
It’s actually a pretty simple answer at why he feels the urge to make sure that she is save.
It’s because REM is the best Girl.
🙂
LikeLike
Kana? Kana?
LikeLike
That scene where the refugees commit suicide brought tears to my eyes
LikeLike
Maybe I miss read it but suicide by fire is an assumption on Subaru’s part isn’t it. The Fire could just as easily been Roswaal killing them to be merciful rather than let them by the rabbits and/or remove one more thing from this world that’s keeping Subaru here.
LikeLike
i’m not sure about that
LikeLike
but that’s a quite compelling argument
LikeLike
wait i thought it was the rabbits that were left in the burning building that could not get out and were committing suicide?
LikeLike
you twist my brain xD
LikeLike
This is me, Great Rabbit-sama.
Isn’t being alone just the worst?
That’s why Subaru-kyun should let me eat him.
Even just a bit and I’ll keep you company, Subaru-kyun!
LikeLike
FRAG OUT!
LikeLike
Been thinking Subaru needs to team up with Roswal and not just fighting but strategy n philosophy cause he needs that conviction.
LikeLike
Chicken sama
“The Great Rabbit prawled through the Sanctuary in search of their feed.”
Should be prowled there.
Thanks for the delicious translation as always!
LikeLike
Sometimes I really hate Subaru personality, don’t get me wrong; I like this story but the characteristic of mc is bad.
LikeLike
What you talking about? Sufferu is great.
LikeLike
I think what I like most about Subaru is that he is a terrible mc but as the story goes on he develops and gets better. If we look at start Subaru and thus Subaru we can see that he really came a long way
LikeLike
Was there a live draft for this chapter? I wonder if the great rabbit can get into the tomb.
LikeLike
no mabeast cant
LikeLike
“from his mouth” – should be “its”
“Subaru’s had” – should be “Subaru had”
“thing on his mind was” – should be “things” and “were”
“Since amidst” – missing a comma in between
“the resident of” – “resident” should be plural
“he did wipe” – should be “he wiped”
“sure that it ends” – maybe “sure it did”?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Table of contents
LikeLike
Gucci
LikeLike
BGB = Best Girl Barbecue. Who can resist?
LikeLike
Merci pour ce chapitre❤❤
A quand la suite. Stp
EMT the best girl.
LikeLike
of course she is the best girl because she is Tappei’s waifu 😉
LikeLike
Standing up, brushing off the snow, Subaru spilled a deep exhale.
He did not notice the sensation of the tears streaming down his cheeks. And so, he did wipe them away. typo in did it should be didn’t.
thank you and please take your time ❤
LikeLike
Hey chicken there is a bunch of Arc 4 Fanpic for different chapter under the hastag #リゼロ四章アニメ脳内スクショ大会. Below is the one for the next part (spoiler alert)
LikeLiked by 2 people
One thing that is missing from that bottom-left picture is some rabbits that accompanying them. But yeah nice fanpic.
LikeLike
Chicken-sama another great translation indeed! Can you give some advice to a new blogger on how to expand? I am writing my own novel and publishing it any advice would be astonishing, thanks!
LikeLike
The link has chapter 67 as does the email notice because of it.
Not a big deal but it should probably be fixed
LikeLike
I wish Subaru had a sounding board, like Al from Quantum Leap.
LikeLike
Will you notice me senpai?
LikeLike
Why you so slow, Wifi-kun?
LikeLike
Couldn’t Subaru tell everyone about return by death via writing? Or is that breaking taboo, too?
LikeLike
Gosh, Great Rabbits are truly the devil themselves!
Thanks for the translations!
LikeLike
The story is so interesting that i overslept till 2am. And i was gonna have school at 6
LikeLike