It was Saturday again.
Just like previous sales, the ninth volume of "Re:zero - Starting Life In Another World" continued to be popular.
Firstly, because Izumi Masamune continued his high-quality performance, his increasingly refined writing style left a deep impression.
Secondly, the update pace was astonishing. In an industry where it generally takes four months to update a single volume, this 'involutionary' behavior received rave reviews from readers.
High quality and fast updates are the secrets to a high read-through rate, but unfortunately, very few people in the industry possess this skill.
This made many authors furious.
Because everyone could have leisurely slacked off, but with this, didn't readers start clamoring for faster updates?
Izumi Chihiro was also quite helpless; if he didn't push himself, it would be genuinely difficult for him to achieve his desired goal.
When he saw his steadily increasing average volume sales, the guilt he felt for disrupting market order quickly vanished again.
Just like last time, everyone went to Takasago Bookstore. After some pleasantries, they took the ninth volume of "Re:zero - Starting Life In Another World" and returned to the Izumi living room, where they gathered to read it.
They tore off the obi that read, 'Tired of the overpowered protagonist stories? Experience a brand new life in another world! Izumi Masamune-sensei's latest bestselling masterpiece!' and opened the first page of the story.
...
The story of the ninth volume began.
Natsuki Subaru passed the first trial. His special performance and attitude made the Witch of Greed, Echidna, realize that he was an interesting man.
Her quest for knowledge made her intrigued by Natsuki Subaru before her.
However, being targeted by a Witch did not necessarily mean good things.
The saying 'curiosity is the beginning of downfall' is a trope only found in ordinary Isekai harem novels, like Yamada Elf's works, where the protagonist falls for every girl he meets, a universally loved overpowered protagonist progression.
But as Old Thief's readers, everyone could already see what kind of suffering the Witch of Greed's favor would bring next...
Inside the cafe.
"Tsk, tsk, being noticed by the Witch of Greed, Natsuki Subaru is going to suffer again."
"It's not that exaggerated, right? Maybe the Witch of Greed is a good person, and this trial is meant to help Natsuki Subaru?"
"To think that, you're still too naive!"
"Maybe Izumi-sensei just wants to do the opposite."
"Hmm, when you put it that way, there is indeed a possibility."
Usami Suzune shook her head discreetly, listening to the club members' discussions. Then she thought of her childhood friend, who was probably reading simultaneously at someone else's house, and felt a little lonely.
Seriously, once she has a man, she abandons her best friend!
Hmph, women!
...
Returning to reality, Natsuki Subaru encountered Emilia, who had already fallen into a 'brain trembling' state.
Undoubtedly, Emilia failed the challenge.
Even her second attempt also failed.
Emilia was on the verge of tears, clearly deeply affected by the challenge.
However, under Natsuki Subaru's smiling face, Emilia had to force herself to continue facing the challenge.
Judging by the current progress, liberating the Sanctuary would not be resolved anytime soon.
So Natsuki Subaru decided to send the villagers back first. However, upon returning to his 'hometown,' the scene he witnessed was a silent castle, a bloody purgatory just like in a certain loop.
And, Natsuki Subaru once again met the woman he was so familiar with—Elsa the Bowel Hunter.
She even gave him the same death.
Natsuki Subaru, whose combat power had not fundamentally improved, was still a lamb to the slaughter before Elsa; his intestines spilled out again.
A special illustration here emphasized the cruelty.
The scene was simply too gruesome to behold.
"Holy crap, it's this woman again!"
When she read this, Kousaka Kirino even blurted out a curse.
Not to mention the protagonist, Natsuki Subaru, even the readers were getting PTSD from being cut up, and Old Thief described this feeling so realistically that they even felt phantom pain in their abdomen.
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💯 PS = 2 bonus chapter