Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Vol. 21

Copyright Re:ZERO Vol. 21 TAPPEI NAGATSUKI Translation by Dale DeLucia Cover art by Shinichirou Otsuka This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Re:ZERO KARA HAJIMERU ISEKAI SEIKATSU Vol. 21 ©Tappei Nagatsuki 2019 First published in Japan in 2019 by KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo. English translation rights reserved by YEN PRESS, LLC under the license from KADOKAWA CORPORATION, Tokyo through Tuttle-Mori Agency, Inc., Tokyo. English translation © 2023 by Yen Press, LLC Yen Press, LLC supports the right to free expression and the value of copyright. The purpose of copyright is to encourage writers and artists to produce the creative works that enrich our culture. The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book without permission is a theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like permission to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), please contact the publisher. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights. Yen On 150 West 30th Street, 19th Floor New York, NY 10001 Visit us at yenpress.com facebook.com/yenpress twitter.com/yenpress yenpress.tumblr.com instagram.com/yenpress First Yen On Edition: March 2023 Edited by Yen On Editorial: Ivan Liang Designed by Yen Press Design: Andy Swist Yen On is an imprint of Yen Press, LLC. The Yen On name and logo are trademarks of Yen Press, LLC. The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Names: Nagatsuki, Tappei, 1987– author. | Otsuka, Shinichirou, illustrator. | ZephyrRz, translator. | DeLucia, Dale, translator. Title: Re:ZERO starting life in another world / Tappei Nagatsuki ; illustration by Shinichirou Otsuka ; translation by ZephyrRz ; translation by DeLucia, Dale Other titles: Re:ZERO kara hajimeru isekai seikatsu. English Description: First Yen On edition. | New York, NY : Yen On, 2016– | Audience: Ages 13 & up. Identifiers: LCCN 2016031562 | ISBN 9780316315302 (v. 1 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398374 (v. 2 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398404 (v. 3 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398428 (v. 4 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398459 (v. 5 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398473 (v. 6 : pbk.) | ISBN 9780316398497 (v. 7 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975301934 (v. 8 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975356293 (v. 9 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383169 (v. 10 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383183 (v. 11 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383206 (v. 12 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383220 (v. 13 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383244 (v. 14 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383268 (v. 15 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975383282 (v. 16 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975335250 (v. 17 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975335274 (v. 18 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975335298 (v. 19 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975335311 (v. 20 : pbk.) | ISBN 9781975335335 (v. 21 : pbk.) Subjects: CYAC: Science fiction. | Time travel—Fiction. Classification: LCC PZ7.1.N34 Re 2016 | DDC [Fic]—dc23 LC Contents Cover Insert Title Page Copyright Prologue: On the Road Chapter 1: A Reason to Bring You Chapter 2: Overcome Sand Time! Chapter 3: The Watchtower Baptism Chapter 4: Trust on the Sands Chapter 5: The Watchtower Guardian Interlude: Gorgeous Tiger Reloaded Afterword Yen Newsletter PROLOGUE ON THE ROAD “—I’m not actually the legitimate son of the Juukulius house.” Sitting formally on the ground in front of the campfire, Julius murmured those words with a gloomy tint to his eyes. Subaru listened as he combed Beatrice’s hair while she sat on his knee. As an artificial spirit, her body was always immaculate and in optimal condition. Even so, Subaru considered it an important part of their bonding to always brush out her hair before bed. It deepened his connection with his precious partner while they peacefully chatted about how their day went. “So why did you pick this exact moment to drop such a massive revelation on us?” “Apologies. I was just thinking that if I let this moment pass, I wasn’t sure when I would get another chance.” Subaru furrowed his brow as Julius responded, not looking nearly as apologetic as his words suggested. It was the sort of reaction that could easily be interpreted as haughtiness. That or the relaxed attitude that came with being among friends. “So by not the legitimate son, you mean…?” “In the sense that I am not the direct son of the current head of the Juukulius house. Alviero Juukulius, the current head, is my adoptive father. My father is his younger brother, Klein Juukulius. When my father passed away, my current family took me in.” “I see… Oh, then that means you have two fathers and two mothers,” Emilia commented. Julius’s eyes widened for a moment. He almost seemed amazed by the idea, but then his expression softened slightly. “That’s right.” He nodded, still smiling. “? What? Did I say something strange?” “No, not at all. If anything, it was just quintessential Emilia-tan. Very E M T.” “Sorry, I have no clue what you are talking about.” Subaru grimaced as Emilia pouted. She was practically sulking. He wasn’t trying to be sarcastic or anything of the sort, though. If he was being honest, her completely innocent and naturally kind way of thinking had been incredibly moving, and Julius probably felt the same way. That was why he was just playing with his bangs like always. “” The moon was hidden by a few sparse clouds, so the campfire was the only thing that illuminated their surroundings. Looking around at the gathered faces, Subaru was struck again by what an odd group they were. Leaving the Water Gate City behind, their party had set their sights on the eastern reaches of the world. Their goal was to contact the Sage rumored to reside in the distant Auguria Dunes. Meeting the all-knowing Sage and famed hero would give them a chance to receive some wisdom. Even the preliminary information