ReZero: The Mastermind and the Simp

Chapter 11: Ayanokouji's Gambit

Me: It's your presence, and maybe mine as well. 

Subaru: What do you mean?

Me: Rem and Ram are from the demon race. I looked into them during my times in the giant library. Compared to humans, they have an acute sense of the abnormal. My theory, is that whatever it is about your return-by-death is making us somewhat suspicious towards those two, Rem especially. Then, given the fact that she might have prior experience with the witch cult, it only makes sense for her to distrust us when we haven't earned enough trust in her. 

Subaru: Ah! I get what you're saying! 

Me: We've been doing it all wrong. Rem and Ram were never the real enemy of this loop. Rather, it was the curse that was put on you by this dog and also whoever is giving the orders to do so, presumably the girl Meli. 

Subaru: So all we have to do is get good with Rem and the others, and take down that dog that gives curses, and we win?

Me: Exactly. 

Subaru: But I've tried to make friends with Rem already, and it didn't work!

Me: It seemed to work in the first loop since Rem never attacked you. It seems she only attacked you when you were a guest in the household as well as when you were only enamored with Emilia. Rem must have seen your liking of Emilia as a goal of the witch cult, seeing as she knows more about her than the two of us combined.

Subaru: So just repeat what I did in the first loop?

Me: Exactly, but try not to be so cocky and treat the two sisters decently. As long as Rem doesn't decide to kill you right away, I can take care of the danger in this loop, proving our innocence and cementing our allegiance to Emilia. 

Subaru: Are you sure this will work?

Me: Well, there is still the case of Rem's suspicions of the two of us being from the witch cult and having some evidence due to something relating to our aura around us. However, this doesn't change our objective.  

Subaru: Yeah! So are you going to kill that dog right away?

Me: No. 

Subaru: What?

Me: Killing the dog right away wouldn't be the right move. I need to gain the trust of the village so I can take down this girl, Meli and her dog before she takes us out. That way, our reputation will be somewhat salvageable. 

Subaru: Ok. 

Me: Good. Now, let's head for breakfast. We have a very important few days ahead of us, Subaru.

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Roswaal: You don't neeeeed to visit the village, Ayanokouji-kun. 

Me: With all due respect, I'd like to. Taking us in as guests is simply a kind gesture on the part of yourself, Roswaal. So I'd like to be of use in one of the villages of your domain, while Subaru will be working here. 

Emilia: Are you sure, Ayanokouji? You can just stay here as a guest. We have no problem with it. 

Me: No, it's alright. I believe I can help the civilians there with moving objects and other things.

Roswaal relented. 

Roswaal: Well, if you want to go, then who am I to stoooooooooooooooop you.