COTE X Re: Zero: A Demon's Isekai

Main story? Nah, side quest time.

A few moments later,

"So, here is our plan." I said, drawing it out for him. "Firstly, you gain the trust of the demon maids, simply put. To do that, we would have to put ourselves in a situation where we end up saving them, since as of right now they hate you." 

"And how exactly do we do that?" Subaru asked. 

"Firstly, work your ass off. Don't give them a reason to doubt you." I informed him. "Next, I'm going to go to the village to see what happens. I am certain the curse that was put on you comes from there." 

"But it's a big village, there isn't much we can do." Subaru replied. 

"If I said you would have to die once more, would you do it?" I asked him. Subaru looked away from me for a few moments. 

"Fine. What's the plan?" He asked me. 

"We need to figure out what exactly cursed you, which means going back to the village on the fourth day." I told him. "Make note of everything that touches you, that you touch and then we will have Beatrice remove the curse on you."

"Wait, so am I going to the village or are you?" Subaru asked me. 

"I will be going right now, then going somewhere else." I told him. "But, I will be back on the 4th day to help you. If you die in that amount of time, it's fine. We'll use that death to plan forwards, okay?"

"Okay, so it's an option to die this time, not a compulsion." Subaru confirmed. I nodded. 

"I'll be heading out then." I said, and vanished away before Rem and Ram appeared in the room. Subaru can handle that himself, now it's time for me to investigate the scene of the crime, and plan for the future. I rushed downhill, almost flying at my current speed. It was fascinating still, to be able to outrun the speed of sound. This feeling of the wind rushing past, the endless expanse of an unknown world for only me to travel at this pace, was this what freedom was? 

I stopped on the outskirts of the village, looking around at the fence that held some green crystals. Interesting. I could sense the magic within them, almost as if they were power sources. A power source near the fence, certainly a barrier then. But to keep what out? There was only one way to know. I entered the forests, walking around calmly as I could, scanning the darkness that lay at the far edge of my vision. 

I had a random question. 

What is it? 

What do you think differentiates us? 

You mean, you believe that we're different people entirely, not even a split personality? 

I think so. I mean, if I were a split personality, I could take over your body at a certain point, correct? 

Indeed, and you're saying you are merely a spectator in this body? 

Exactly. 

Odd. 

I tuned it out for the moment, as I noticed something at the far edge of my senses. Once again, I used my enhanced speed, reaching there in a fraction of a second. I looked down, staring at the puppy in front of me. Something was most definitely off. I could sense the presence of magic within this creature, a lot of magic. Almost too much for a creature this small. I could feel it's malicious intent, but it wasn't towards me. 

Oddly enough, the creature simply ignored my presence, walking around me and then walking away. 

So, that dog is probably what cursed Subaru? If there is one, there may be more.