The New Job

Natsuki Subaru POV

We moved down the hall and my heart pounded in my chest. It was time to get started. I wouldn’t let anyone die this time. My mind stirred back to my previous loops, and despite my resolve for the future I couldn’t shake them away.

My death at the hands of a curse I never could have possibly seen coming.

My death where I was killed by Rem in an instant while her mace shattered my skull.

My death where I bled out while James fought to protect me in vain.

My death where I took my own life at the hand of those horrid rocks.

I analyzed the information I had, and my heart strangled itself from the anxiety of the situation. I needed to gain the trust of the manor staff. Otherwise they’d assassinate me to keep me silent. In my third and fourth loop James fought to protect me but he was too late in the third and Rem died in the fourth.

He was a reliable best friend character, but he didn’t have the answer to everything. Which takes me to my second bit of information.

A shaman is going to attack the mansion. I wasn’t sure how, but I knew for sure that it was going to happen and had to be stopped. No matter what. I didn’t want to die. I didn’t want anyone else to die either.

We were led into a dining hall where we waited for a moment and I gave a light smile to my trusty companion.

“I wonder if the owner of the manor will give us a wish?” I said the words, but I already knew the answer I’d receive from Roswall. Honestly I had a lot to thank James for. He was a local, and he knew how to read and write. 

Yet the language was surprisingly easy to pick up despite how complicated it seemed. I guess I was just that awesome! I guess coming to another world really does help you regain your spark . . . I shook the thoughts away before they could spiral.

I was in a new world. I had no need to dwell on the past. 

Thinking back on my previous loops I couldn’t help but consider how Roswall always seemed to randomly change his schedule for no reason. I was driven out of my thoughts by my loyal companion.

“Well I’m not sure, but if I did get a wish I’m not completely certain what I’d pick.” 

Internally I chuckled. He’d pretty much just done whatever I’d done, I wasn’t sure if he was just sticking with me because he thought of me as a friend, or if he just wasn’t sure what to do.

At least he was hot in a butler uniform!

“Welcome, Welcome, it seems we have some special guests today!” The clown spoke in his typical flamboyant manner as was usual for him. Honestly it kind of creeped me out, but I probably wouldn’t say that to his face!

As was usual James gave his respectful nod and greeting to the lord of manor. He really would have been seen as a good butler husbando back in my previous life. However my heart was set on the silver haired half elf Emilia!

She truly was a beauty!

“Is there anything I can do for the two of you?” His voice reached my ears and I knew what I had to ask for!

“Hire me to work in this mansion!” I spoke with vigor and slammed my hands on the table. One nearly fell off but James was quick to cover for me and silently slid it back on the table without a word.

He really was a reliable guy. Perfect best friend character material!

“If it pays well I’d gladly take up the job too . . . I’ll need to send a few letters though.”

He gave a massive grin and clapped his hands together.

“That can be arranged quite easily. Rem, Ram, take care of your new coworkers.”

They spoke in unison as they always did in response to that statement.

“Yes Lord Roswall.” Spoke the blue one.

“Yes Lord Roswall.” Spoke the pink one.

Twin maids truly were the best . . . at least when they weren’t trying to kill me!

My gut wrenched at the thought but I shut down the feeling. 

I had a job to do and a day to save.

James Bell POV

I’d had to write some letters, and I’d gotten fitted in a butler’s uniform by Ram. The experience was quite awkward and it was still vivid in my mind.

She just kept hounding me about Subaru while I awkwardly told her I really didn’t know that much!

“ . . . so that’s all I really know.”

“She showed up one day and you just so happened to accompany her on her ‘quest’ to save Ms. Emilia? Also you’re friends with the Sword Saint?” Her tone was flat, as though questioning my sanity and I gave her a casual smile.

“Best friends with Adelheid but yes. Subaru looked like she needed help so I was happy to lend a hand . . . she really didn’t seem to be in a good place when I found her.”

Ram let out a ‘tch’ noise as she finished adjusting the uniform on my body.

“Thank you Ram.” My tone was gentle and my customer service smile was casual instead of full blast like normal. We were to be coworkers for the foreseeable future. It wouldn’t be wrong to have a good relationship with her.

I’ve always held the philosophy that coworkers make or break the job, you spend the most time with them after all. So I knew we had to be friends. Also I didn’t want to accidentally activate my people watching technique on her by accident and make an entire headcanon for her while she was walking about.

Getting to know someone is the easiest way to stop assuming things about them after all! 

Perhaps that was why I was a Fool? Eh, who knew. I still had no idea why I was here, but that wasn’t going to stop me from at least trying to make life better for others. I had powers, sure I’d benefit from them, but that wasn’t stopping me from helping other people with them either.

Especially if those people happened to be a girl trapped in a torturous time loop! Maybe I should pour one out for all the dead Subaru’s . . . Subari? I’ll bench that thought for later.

“-this is where we store the food, you’d do best to follow our directions in the kitchen.” Her words were curt and honestly she reminded me of how stern the woman who’d taken me in when I’d first arrived in this world had been in order to get my skills up to snuff.

I gave her a nod and smiled, I was confident in my skills but I was still certain I could learn more.

“Of course Ram, and thank you for teaching me.” She paused at my words and then let out a sigh. Her eyes darted around the corner again and again as though trying to keep an eye on Subaru and her sister.

https://i.postimg.cc/FKnRbxqf/Ram-Season-Three-Infobox.webp

“If you’d like to check up on Rem I won’t stop you. I can wait outside if you need me too.” 

She paused and then turned towards me with a light frown.

“How could you tell?”

What? Could she not tell how obvious she was?

“I have a sister as well. I get the stress of leaving them alone with someone you don’t trust.” She blinked her revealed eye gently before letting out a sigh and grimacing.

“. . . sorry about your ‘companion’, and thank you.” I wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, unless she was implying that Subaru was going to be executed for her connection to the Witch Cult.

“Actually I’d like to thank you instead. Honestly I sort of expected you’d be quite inhospitable to someone suddenly inserting themselves into the work you pride yourself on . . . I know I would feel the same. I feel as though I am just trying to keep an eye on Subaru, make sure she doesn’t lose her mind or do anything stupid. Also this job pays very well which is a nice touch.”

I ended my statement in a light joke but I did mean my words. Ram deserves at least a hint of honesty for taking care of me up to this point. I’d expected her to be a true hater like she’d been to Subaru, but she’d been helpful instead.

She let out a small sigh and gave me an odd look.

“You seem reliable, unlike that Basaru. You seem like at least slightly more than a slug, so I recommend not getting too attached to her.” I gave a shrug at her comment. It was too late for that! She had already grown on me like a mold.

“We’ll just have to see what happens next then.” She gave me a disgruntled look, then a nod. At least I planted the seed . . . right?

I am thou, thou art I. Thou hast acquired a new vow. 

It shall become the Wings of Hope that break the chains of thy Fate. 

With the Birth of the Lovers Arcana, You have obtained the winds of blessings that shall lead to freedom and new power. . .

Rank 1: Conflicted Maid of the Manor - Increases the speed of learning non-combat related skills.

The Lovers huh? The Lovers Arcana usually revolved around an individual who wasn’t really sure what they were doing in their life. Was Ram truly a person with such inner conflict? She seemed to manage it well . . . but the Arcana don’t lie. Or at least I don’t think they do. That would be a weird surprise.

Also with the name of  her first rank literally referring to inner conflict I couldn’t help but grimace.

Those who bear the mark of the Lovers tend to help someone realize how they truly feel. So perhaps she was suppressing herself? I suppose I can only try and help her the best I can.

Damn it! I was a bleeding heart for someone struggling with inner conflict!

I can’t just be trying to help everyone. I feel a connection too . . . or can I? The system I’ve been given will help me in the future, and getting an additional benefit for helping others does sound nice.

Fuck it, guess this is my life now. Though I suppose doing nice things for other people isn’t a bad way to live.

I’d always wanted to do humanitarian work anyways, so this was a good first step. Perhaps one day I’d be able to settle down and make a soup kitchen. I let out a peaceful sigh at the thought. I wonder if that dream is still possible?

Now that I thought about it, didn’t everyone from the Manor have their first Rank be their ‘title’ upon their Arcana?

Either way I made my way outside while Ram went to go check on her sister, however as I cracked open a door I realized I had walked in on Puck and Beatrice ‘playing’ together. Though it looked more like a little girl playing with a doll rather than two sentient beings playing together.

“Bubby you're so- Ah, it's you!” The little girl sat up and held ‘Bubby’ close to her chest while giving me a soft glare with her cute butterfly eyes. She even had a little crown on her head, she sincerely gave me rich girl vibes despite her overwhelmingly cute behavior.

“Indeed, I have fulfilled my end of our deal yet I seem to have somehow returned here. Sincerely, I am pleased to see you again, Miss Beatrice and Sir Puck.”

The cat spirit put a hand on his chest and puffed it out before speaking. His voice was slightly deepened giving the vibe of a wealthy old man.

“Hoh, hoh, Young James you seem to have come at a good time, Miss Beatrice and I are in need of your services.” 

Beatrice blushed at the words, and I gave a smile before kneeling down to her. Puck softly sitting upon my shoulder as I rested upon a knee.

“How can I be of service then?” 

“Hmph! We require a notable book from the highest shelf, fulfill your role as the loyal butler and deliver it to us!” 

I played along as he pointed it out and Beatrice seemed to be extremely embarrassed as I pulled a grey book off the top shelf and handed it to her with defference to her expertise.

“Is this to your liking, my lady?” 

Rank 3: Endless Words Alone - Increases Magic Capacity

However as I handed her the book she paused her nod to look over my shoulder with a glare that turned into confusion. The door I’d left open seemed to have a new guest walk through it, one I was all too familiar with.

A pink haired woman who spoke casually, but left no room for argument.

“James. Come with me, it’s time to begin your training.”

I gave a sad look to ‘My Lady’ and waved her goodbye as I left.

I had a job to do!

AN: Back with another one, this time we get a little bit of a look into Subaru’s head and starting from the next arc i’ll most likely be doing a lot of Subaru POV for the previous loops in order to give a hint at to what's going on behind the scenes.

Ram makes an acquaintance and James is respectful as always to Miss Beatrice!

I read all the comments and questions you fellows leave, so feel free to drop em down below.

Anyways I’ll see you all in the next one, so thanks for reading!