Chapter Text
This is really bad.
That was the only thought that crawled up his mind. The only possible though he could muster up, being stuck in this world, he realised something crucial.
He was penniless.
Lost, alone and totally broke.
Although, calling himself "penniless" would've been false, since he did have some money on him, along with his wallet. Unfortunately, that money wouldn't help him in his current situation.
"Looks like the currency system here is completely different after all... Haaagh..." Subaru sighed as he flicked the ridges 10 yen coin he was carrying around.
The man was average, with no real notable features that would truly make him standing out. At least, not at first glance.
His stature and his height was completely average, even his build was seemingly ordinary. Although he was decently muscular, it wasn't really that obvious to see. His cheap black and orange didn't help with that either.
He had short black hair and sharp, scary brown eyes. Those eyes, in fact, may as well be the only noteworthy feature of this boy.
From a distance, he'd completely blend in with the crowd, not standing ot at all. If he was dressed properly, that is. But the modern tracksuit he currently adorned wasn't something you'd see most people wear in the place he found himself in.
The people of this place were... diverse, to say the least. Their hair varied extensively— blonde, white, brown, green, blue and so on. Furthermore their outfits were armor, dancers’ clothes, monotone robes and more. Completely unlike the tracksuit wearing otherworlder.
"So basically, it's one those situations. I get it now."
Snapping his fingers, he pointed at those who were staring at him.
“Seems I’ve been summoned to another world.”
Before his eyes was a carriage drawn by a massive lizard-like being.
He spent some time around in the streets, but eventually, he made his way into a lone alley and leaned against a wall, calming his nerves and actually pondering his situation.
His current circumstances were unforseen, that's for sure.
“Assuming I really have been summoned to a fantasy world… the state of civilization appears to be the usual, medieval-like setting. So far, I haven’t seen anything mechanical, but the roads are pretty well paved… and of course, I can’t use any of my cash.”
As for whether he could communicate with the people here, or read their language, he wasn't sure. He was able to speak to that one guy who sold apples— which are called appas in this world— but he couldn't read anything that was written on the boards.
Hence, it was safe to assume that the spoken language is largely the same, unless there are multiple languages in this world. Unfortunately, it seems that the written language is not the same, given his inability to actually read only of the signs he crossed.
He quickly learned how their currency worked.
Still though... He wasn't really well equipped for the current situation. Certainly not.
The only belongings to his name are his cell phone, a wallet, a cup of instant ramen, a bag of crispy snacks, his favorite unwashed gray and orange tracksuit, and his well-worn sneakers.
That was it.
“I don’t even get a single Excalibur? I’m done. What am I supposed to do in this getup?”
Subaru sighed in disappointment.
This is not how he expected his first day in a parallel fantasy world to be.
Stuck, alone, broke.
No help. No allies. No contacts.
And now powers at all. He was expecting to get some kind of isekai cheat— a cheat skill that would help him survive and become an OP hero in this world. A power that could give his life meaning. Something to make him important, but alas... His adolescent dreams were crushed.
He's starting with absolutely nothing.
The person who summoned him ? She was also nowhere to be seen.
“The truth is, I have no idea what to do next, and I still have no idea how or why I was summoned. I don’t remember stepping into a mirror or falling in a pond, and if I’m to believe this is the otherworldly summoning format I’m used to, where is the beautiful girl who summoned me?”
The lack of a main heroine in this otherworldly summoning setup was a big hole in the plot. If Subaru was really summoned for no reason and then abandoned just like that, it put him on the same level as single-use disposable goods.
Except that, in this case, he hadn't even been used yet.
Sighing to himself, he stood up and got ready to walk out of the alley. But he perked up when he heard footsteps a few feet away from him.
Looking up, he saw them. Three guys, all of varying stature and physique, blocking his way out. They were all human, all appearing to be in their mind twenties. They're clothes were as filthy as their expressions, eyes filled with contempt and scorn for the black haired youth.
In his panic, he realised that his situation was not a good one. Those three guys, they were clearly bandits. Thugs. And they were probably going to rob him. Considering the time period and the state of this world, there's a high chance they won't be satisfied with just his money.
"Uhm... May I ask what you three fine gentleman would want from a guy like me ?" He asked the three clearly homeless men.
"Oh, look. This one thinks he's smart. Well, to answer your question, we just want you to cough up anything you got! Drop all your stuff, and no one gets hurt."
"Haagh... I figured as much." He rubbed his face in disappointment. He certainly didn't want to get mugged.
"Damn, this really is a compulsory event!" He exclaimed and stood up, albeit in a hurry.
"Alright, you lumps of XP! You're all here to serve as fodder for me to level up! I'll show you guys what I'm capable of! I'm brimming with adrenaline right now, I feel like I could do anything! Of course, I can do this! I'll mow you guys down and mark this as the first chapter of my glorious adventure in a medieval fantasy world!"
"What the hell is he talking about ?"
"No clue, but I'm pretty sure he was mocking your. You're gonna die for that."
"Move! Move it! You guys, Outta the way!" A sudden high pitched scream made all three of them look at the end of the alley.
A young girl was seen running at unusually high speeds, her blonde her fluttering as the wind blew past her.
"Is that the cute girl who summoned me?!" Subaru looked behind the group of thugs with a delighted smile.
That expression of his only fell into confusion as soon as the blonde paused and stares at him like he was a bizarre creature.
"Summoned? I dunno what you're talkin' about, but I'm busy! Sorry, live strong!" The blonde girl blurted out— clearly in a hurry— and shot Subaru an apologetic smile and a thumbs up before jumping over the wall to the alley's end, leaving Subaru behind.
Seeing her little form disappear into the wind, Subaru turned back at the thre thugs and decided to test his luck.
"Hey that didn't make you decide to be less hostile toward me, by any chance did it?" Subaru asked as he now found himself alone with the other three angry looking thugs.
"Actually, it rained on our parade and made things worse."
"Yeah of course hehe…" Subaru laughed nervously.
The three of them were closing in on him, cutting off all his escape routes. Knowing this, Subaru gritted his teeth. If he wanted to get out of this, he would have to fight them.
With that in mind, Subaru launched his preemptive attack before they could react. He flew into one of them with a full bodied right hook. He landed a direct hit on the leader’s face with such force that his front tooth cut Subaru’s hand.
The man he hit fell to the ground and stopped moving. Driven by emotion and adrenaline, Subaru immediately lunged at another man who was still in shock from his sudden attack.
Turning around with haste, he delivered a kick that knocked the short guy on the ground.
"That's the first time I ever hit someone, I didn't expect it to hurt me that much… but this world is set up so that I'll be strong!" He said with an excited smirk.
"Hell, yeah! I've got this in the bag!" Excited for his first win, he turned his gaze towards the final guy and began approaching him.
Unfazed by this, the last guy reached for something hidden behind him and brought it two weapons. Twin daggers, the glint of the sharp metal making him stagger in his footsteps.
Realising that his opponent had a weapon and he was unarmed, he knew this battle was lost. So, he did what he did best.
Postrated on the ground in front of him and bravely begged for mercy while apologising.
"I'm sorry! It was all my fault! Forgive me! Spare m—!" Said the future hero as he bravely pleaded for his life.
After all, he had no chance against a blade. If he were cut, he’d be finished. Skill didn’t matter when it came to a knife-wielding opponent. Especially with him being completely unarmed.
The only response he got was a kick to the face.
As he writhed around in pain, the two men he had knocked down started getting up and walking towards him. Staring down at him like he was scum, the two things growled in anger. Subaru, who was down and at their mercy, realised that they were not knocked out and whimpered in fright.
He was scared.
"Play games with us you die! Scum!" The three hooligans kicked and beat the boy down as he tried to protect himself from the onslaught with his arms, covering his face and upper body.
He curled up into a ball, trying to make himself appear smaller as below after blow piled onto him.
This is bad... I might actually die here, at this rate... It hurts like hell!
Trying to stand up, he could only scream in pain when one of them stopped on his leg with such force that he might have broken his fingers.
They were smiling at his misery. At his pain. His torment. They were laughing as they trampled all over him. He hated it. He hated every second of it. For a moment, he really considered it. He might really die, right here.
Alone. All alone. In an alleyway, attacked and killed by three random thugs. Killed and mugged, left to die and rot in an alley after being beaten without mercy.
—but, just then...
WHOOM!
Heavy gale bursts through the alley, almost lifting the thugs off their feet. Forced to shield themselves from the gust, they had to pause their attack on the poor boy.
A flash–!
Then a light.
Golden light searing down from the rooftops, lighting whatever darkness the alley had. Light so bright that they all had to shield their faces to not get blinded by it.
Golden feathers swirl in the air like glowing embers, some of which flutter downwards. As if a flock of bird had just flown over them, right as the sun appeared on top of them.
"Stop right there!"
A voice cut through the light.
The voice was authoritarian, commanding and also... very cute. Almost child-like. Like a small child trying to sound intimidating.
As the light slowly dimmed, they four of them look over at the rooftops.
And there, they saw it.
A figure stood at the edge of a one of the rooftops that aligned this alley.
It was a small figure, child small. Completely silhouetted, their face was unseen. Long silver hair glowing with the light, black-tipped strands fluttering with the wind, a golden halo shimmering above their head. Two shiny golden orbs situated at the centre of their shadowed face, looking down upon the four men beneath them.
They looked angelic.
"Foul cretins of the shadows who would dare strike the honest peasants of this town... You stand beneath the gaze of the blazing firmament!"
The thugs, look up at them, blinking.
Subaru's eyes widen.
Disappearing from their perch in a flash of gold, the angelic figure plummets through the air, leaving behind a trail of gold particles.
Tiny bare feet hitting the rough stone floors, golden magic surges beneath her feet, causing the air to swell and surge outward.
"Guh–!"
The muggers found themselves flung into the air, off the boy they wished to mug. The stone that they landed on was not pleasant in the least. Having certainly scraped their backs, the three of them staggered as they got back on their feet.
"Tremble before the judgement of the sun's chosen herald! For I am she who walks between dawn and dusk, whose light burns unrepentant — the Great Spirit of Yang, Aquila Natsuki!"
—Natsuki...?
The one who proudly proclaimed themselves in such a theatric way turned out to be... A tiny little girl.
A dazzling young child. At first glance, she appeared no older than ten.
Her golden-brown eyes held something that wouldn't be seen in normal kids her age... Something beyond her years.
Standing tall — as tall as she can — the so-called Great Spirit, dramatically whipped her hair over her shoulders, striking a proud pose.
"I, who gives hope in summer, have come to judge thou plebeians for thy actions. Face the sky's judgement, fiends!"
"Wait, waitwaitwaitwai—! Did she just say, Great Spirit?!"
"That midget is a great spirit?!"
BLAST!
A bright flash of golden light filled the alley and the man who called her a midget was completely bombarded with light.
His body, which was smoking from the heat, bounced across the stoned floors a few times, and laid there motionless.
"SILENCE, PIG!" She roared, before puffing her chest up and scoffing.
She glared at the other two, who were trembling with fear. Upon meeting her ferocious gaze, they frozen in fright. Aquila raised a hand at them, pointing one singular finger at the two of them.
The tip of her finger lit up, golden light pulsing at her finger tip, ready to be fired.
Screaming in fear, they both ran for their lives, dragging their crispy friend along with them.
"Now then, where was I—"
"Aquila!"
A young girl rounds the corner, calling out for the child with a voice filled with both concern and firmness.
Stepping into the alley, was what Subaru would only describe as, the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes upon. Silver hair fluttered in the air, leaving her beautiful fair frame for them to see. Dresses in white and violet, she made her way into the alley. Her amethyst eyes datting in worry and she jogged up to Aquila and got on her knees in front of her.
Placing a hand on her shoulders, she stared at her in worry.
"Don't run off like that again! Even if you can track the theif down, don't take it all on yourself!"
"Mother Lia, my dear mother. You worry too much, you'll wrinkle that beautiful face of yours. I saved an honest, innocent man from three villains who would dare harm him under my gaze... Like any good samaritan!" She retorted.
"Thank you for saving me..." Subaru groaned as he slowly stood up, his muscles and bones straining under the pain he had just endured.
"'Tis not a problem, mortal. You may breathe now that— hmm..?" She got a good look at his face, before treading towards him.
Stepping away from 'Lia', she grew closer to the injured man and looked at him.
She moved with practiced grace and scanned him top-to-bottom. Her eyes piercing through his defences and analyzing his very soul. She really looked at him, this time. That face. That hair. Those scary eyes.
As she approached him, she sniffed the air. What she had been unfamiliar with at first, she suddenly grew to love. A very pleasant feeling filled her chest and she felt butterflies in her stomach. A very excited smile engraved itself into her face as the cogs in her tiny child brain began turning faster than ever.
A gasp left her mouth.
Her small, unblemished hands quickly moved up and covered her smiling mouth, almost as if she couldn't believe what she found.
"Are you alright ? What happened ?" The silver haired half-elf tried approaching the guy, who was staring at her with slightly pink cheeks.
Snapping out of his stupor, Subaru fumbled with his words for a bit.
"Oh, uhm... Those guys tried robbing me. Thanks for... saving me. Both of you–"
"DADDY!!!!"
"EH—?!"
The little kid who was previously been all dignified, divine and regal, suddenly threw all of that our of the window.
"GUKHHUAAH?!!"
Subaru spat out gibberish as the air was totally knocked out of his lungs.
Over thirty kilograms of flesh and bones rammed into his chest, knocking him down on the ground with considerable force and almost knocking him out cold.
"AQUILA?!" He briefly heard the other girl shriek in surprise at her actions.
Gasping for air and struggling to stay awake from the pain, Subaru found himself trapped beneath the child that just saved his life.
She was completely unlike how she was just a second ago.
If earlier, she was regal, prideful, articulate, arrogant, angelic and respectful... Now, she was cuddly, cutesy, happy, joyful and just anything that you would normally see on a hyperactive child.
Her smile was so happy and cute that it made Subaru actually stop in whatever he was doing or about to do.
It left him staring.
The smile on her face was so pure it left him entranced. Her eyes widened with wonder, glistening in the light like glitter before she closed them and started to mellow out in his embrace.
Her cute face was squished against his chest, her squishy cheeks pressing against where his heart was. Her tiny arms were wrapped around his body — what little they could actually encircle. Holding onto as much of him as she could get her hands on, she pressed herself onto him as much as she could.
Subaru felt a sharp, searing pain as he felt her tiny arms digging into his sides. The huh felt nice, but in her excitement, it seems she forgot about her own strength.
Not knowing what to do about it and not wanting to disturb the precious child on top of him, he slowly wrapped his arms around her and tapped her back. He ran circles on her back and one hand carefully found itself on Aquila's head. Her white hair felt like feathers in his palm, but they were soft enough to pass off as clouds.
Feeling his arms embracing her, Aquila shuddered. Euphoria filled her body, happiness filling every cell in her tiny body. She nuzzled into him, like a cat to their owner when getting scratched. If Subaru didn't know any better, he'd have sworn she purred.
Sure enough, her embrace got lighter. It was no longer as crushing or strong as before, which was enough to let Subaru breathe normally again.
Letting out a breathe and feeling the pain leave his body, he looked back at the child he was holding.
Aquila didn't let go.
Her halo flickered and wobbled from all the jostling, almost slipping from its centered glow — but she didn’t notice.
That joy — that explosion of affection — it wasn’t just childish whimsy. It was relief. Genuine, heart-wrenching relief.
He couldn't explain the feeling, but seeing her like this made his chest contort painfully. He didn't know why. Maybe he just didn't want to see a cute kid like this cry.
He instinctively felt like he has to protect it. That smile. Protect her smile.
"I knew it! I knew it right away! Of course I did. How could I not?! I recognise you! I know your face! Your smell! I can feel it! I know it's you! You're my dad!" She chirped, proclaiming to the heavens themselves that she had done it!
She finally found her father!
Her voice was slightly muffled because of the way she was hugging him. Pressing herself against him so hard, it was like she was trying fuse her body with his.
Still wheezing a bit, he looked at the silver haired girl, who had rushed over to their side with a somewhat startled expression, which also seemed to hold a certain amount of tiredness.
"Oh no... She's doing it again..."
The silver haired half-elf pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a breathy sigh, her eyes glazed over with fondness yet her voice carried tiredness.
'doing it again' ?
"It looks like she's taken a liking to you." A voice cut through the silence.
Snapping his head up, he looked at the girl. But she wasn't the one who has spoken. It was... a floating cat ?
"I'm Puck, by the way. Lia's contracted spirit. And her father... And I do not approve of you yet... Don't think that because this kid here chose to adopt you as her father, I'll hand my precious Lia over to you..." Puck's voice turned down a few octaves, but that threat of his was lingering and clear for all that heard it.
"Puck...! Don't threaten him. He's probably suuuper confused right now." The girl called 'Lia' gave him a disapproving face, making Puck float back to her face.
"Wait...! I'm sorry, I don't follow...!" He tried to get up, even with the child that was hugging him like a Koala to a tree, but his body pulses with pain.
The adrenaline faded away and the fatigue finally caught up to him. Subaru let out a tired groan and fell back on the floor, unconscious.
This seemed to be enough to snap Aquila out of her euphoria.
"Dad...?! Daddy!! Wake up, I suppose I maaay have gone a little overboard, but we finally just met! Come on! Daaaaad!!!" Aquila whined and shook the unconscious man, make 'Lia' sigh fondly.
She stood behind her and scooped her up by the armpits with zero effort, making her yelp in surprise.
"Woah–?!"
“Aww, poor guy, you shouldn’t have tried to move. What should we do ?” Puck questioned, moving closer to 'Lia'.
"Put me dooowwn! Mother! Mom! Unhand me this instant, mom! Just because I give you the honoured privilege to pat my head, and hug me, and hold me in you embrace, and cuddle me, and pinch my cheeks, and play with my hair, and ruffle my feathers, and scratch my ear, and cook for me, and feed me, and play with me, and hold my hand, and–!"
"Leave him alone ? It’s none of our business. He won’t die, will he ?” 'Lia' responded to her father sternly, completely ignoring both the words and the actions of the flailing child in her arms.
"Really ?" Puck asks with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes, really." 'Lia' then turned around, child still in hand, and begins to walk away.
“Will you really stick to it ? You always help people, even when you say you won’t.”
“What do you mean ? I won’t save him this time!”
"Yeeeah...! Suuure!"
"I absolutely will not save him!"
This seems to snap Aquila out of her own mind. "HOLD ON! I do not agree with your decision this time, mom! I absolutely refuse to leave behind my honourable father, no matter what happened to him. You will turn around and you will help him, or you will leave me here to help him myself as you chase after that thief. One way or the other, I refuse to leave his side until I am absolutely certain that he is completely, totally, absolutely, definitely, perfectly, utterly, thoroughly, wholly, fully, one hundred percent, safe!"
This makes her stop and look down at the child, who was now looking at her with puppy dog eyes, a pleading expression she always uses to get what she wants. An expression that 'Lia', no matter what she does, has never been able to resist.
"Well, looks like the boss has spoken, Lia~" Puck moved close to her ear, his face twisted in a teasing smirk.
"You are my darling mother. And I have finally reunited with the father I've always been waiting. We will certainly be a happy family, no matter what!" 'Lia' looked at the child, unsure of what to say and not knowing how to deny her.
Happy family ? Them ? Him with her ? A silver haired half-elf ? No, of course not...
She was always destined to be alone.
Puck and Aquila are both blessings from the world itself; two people she'd never give away or give up on, no matter what happens. Two people she loves with all her heart.
Her father... And her daughter.
"Alright... But only because you're the one that asked me to do this." She put Aquila down. She looked down and saw her give the brightest smile she'd ever seen her had and it instantly melted her heart.
Not wanting to get entranced by that, she turned around and robotically moved towards the collapsed boy to heal him.
Puck them closed the distance and spoke to his granddaughter.
"Honestly, she is so insincere. Who does she think she's fooling ?"
Aquila shrugged in response to his words.
"Who knows~ All I know is that today is the happiest day of my life...!"