Master of illusions - Natsuki Subaru

'Somebody... help me.'

Subaru Natsuki was your average shut-in. No friends. No life. Most of his time was spent locked away in his room, surrounded by shelves of manga and figurines, living out adventures he'd never have. He rarely went outside—only when absolutely necessary—and even then, it was limited to a five-minute walk to the convenience store and back.

If it weren't for his father's insistence on daily "wrestling matches" and a self-imposed workout routine to avoid becoming completely sedentary, he'd have withered into the futon.

Tonight was like any other. Subaru sat at his desk, posture slouched, eyes darting across the panels of the second-to-last volume of a manga series he'd recently picked up. The glow from the ceiling light cast sharp shadows across his cluttered room.

Lately, he'd been reading more manga than watching anime. Maybe it was the pacing—or maybe he was just tired of buffering ads. Either way, manga required light. No more hiding in the dark.

As he reached the final panel, he closed the volume with a crisp clap and let out a soft breath. Leaning back in his chair, he stared at the ceiling.

'That ending hit harder than I expected... Maybe I'll finish the last volume tonight.'

He glanced over at his digital clock. The glowing red digits read 10:15 PM.

With a small grunt, he stood and walked to the bookshelf beside his desk, returning the volume to its proper slot.

"Maybe I'll finish this series toda—"

Grrrrrnnn

His stomach growled with indignation, interrupting his plans.

"Guess not," he sighed, trudging over to his bed and grabbing the black-and-white tracksuit that lay wrinkled at the foot. It still smelled faintly of laundry detergent and… something else.

—I don't want to die.—

He paused.

That thought didn't come from hunger. It came from somewhere deeper—an odd, creeping dread that had been sitting with him for a while. Flashes. Snippets of something. Places he'd never seen. Faces he couldn't quite remember. But he shook it off.

"Damn it, where'd I leave my phone," he muttered, scanning the room. Clothes, wrappers, and action figures littered the floor.

Finally, his eyes landed on it—wedged between two silver-haired figurines. He snatched it and slid it into his pocket.

"I'm heading to the convenience store. I'll be back," he said toward the hallway, voice neutral and automatic.

To his surprise, a voice replied. "Be careful! I love you!" his mom called from the kitchen.

He winced.

—Why again? Why not just ignore me for once?—

Saying nothing in return, he opened the front door and stepped out.

The cold hit him immediately. The streets were eerily quiet, the only light coming from evenly spaced streetlamps that cast pale halos on the pavement. No stars. No moon. Just a void above.

As he walked, his breath fogged up the air, and his footsteps echoed softly behind him. The convenience store came into view after rounding the final corner—its bright sign glowing like a beacon in the empty night.

—Mom... Dad... anyone...—

"Welcome in," the cashier droned, not even looking up.

Subaru nodded and headed inside, the sudden warmth of the store wrapping around him like a thin blanket. He wandered toward the snack aisle but—like always—gravitated toward the manga shelf first.

"Jujutsu Kaisen, huh..." he murmured, picking up a volume and flipping through it.

From the window beside him, he noticed a couple walking by, their hands intertwined. They looked... happy. Like they belonged together.

Subaru looked away.

Grrrowl

His stomach struck again.

With a sigh, he returned the volume and walked toward the food. He grabbed a pack of instant ramen and a small bag of chips.

"That'll be 363 yen," the cashier said with robotic precision.

Subaru fished around in his pocket and pulled out a jagged, oddly minted 10-yen coin.

"Huh," he muttered, inspecting it. The coin looked like it came from a collector's set. Maybe it was rare.

He slid it back into his wallet and produced the correct amount instead.

"Thank you. Come again," the man said, giving a faint, plastic smile.

Subaru gave a half-hearted one back and exited into the night.

A sudden gust of wind slammed into him.

"God, it's cold…" he muttered, pulling his tracksuit tighter around him.

'If I knew it'd be this cold, I would've brought a coat.'

The wind picked up again. But this time… it didn't feel natural. The air twisted around him, the scenery rippling like it was being warped by invisible hands.

His vision blurred. He blinked rapidly, rubbed his eyes, and when he opened them again…

The convenience store was gone.

In its place was snow. Endless snow.

"W-what? W-Where am I?!" he shouted, spinning in place.

He was knee-deep in powder. Trees surrounded him in a perfect ring, like the clearing had been carved by design. No sounds. No animals. Just wind.

"I've been transported to a fantasy world?!"

It felt surreal. This was straight out of the manga he read.

But the cold reminded him this wasn't a game.

"D-D-Didn't think I-I'd need a c-c-coat today..." he said through chattering teeth.

The cold bit at him. His tracksuit might as well have been a paper towel. His limbs were already starting to feel heavy.

"W-Where's the t-tutorial NPC... or the goddess, or... anyone?" he mumbled, scanning the trees.

No pop-ups. No blue screens. Just snow.

He needed to move. Staying put would kill him.

One step forward

crunch

One step forward

crunch

The wind howled. Louder this time. Like something whispering just beyond his hearing.

His fingers burned. Then they stopped burning.

That scared him more than the cold.

Every step robbed him of more warmth. Snow seeped into his shoes, numbing his toes.

'Just find shelter. Cave. Cabin. A hollow tree. Something.'

He reached into his bag.

'Ramen... chips. Not much. Can't use the ramen without fire.'

His stomach snarled again. A tight, sharp pain that doubled him for a moment.

He tore open the bag of chips and devoured them without thought. Every crunch echoed in the emptiness. The salt stung his dry lips. But it was something.

He stuffed the empty wrapper back in his bag.

'Can't litter in a fantasy world. Right?'

After what felt like hours, he saw it. A thin column of smoke, rising up into the sky like a thread of hope.

'Smoke!? That means fire. And fire means people. Shelter. Warmth.'

His heart kicked into gear. But his legs didn't follow.

He tried running. Instead, he stumbled. His steps had become slow. Sluggish. He couldn't feel his feet anymore.

"Almost... there... just gotta... keep... going..."

The village was just ahead. Maybe 400 meters. Close enough to see rooftops beneath the snow.

And then—his knees gave out.

The ground met him with a soft whump. The snow cushioned his fall, but the cold embraced him harder.

He screamed inside. But outside, there was nothing.

His fingers wouldn't curl. His breath was shallow. Limbs like lead. His lips were cracked and blue.

It was like his body was betraying him. Piece by piece.

"No... I-I won't let it end like this..." he whispered, clawing at the snow with trembling arms.

He dragged himself forward. Inches. Then feet.

Snowflakes crusted over his eyes. His vision grew foggy.

'If I can just... just make it closer... maybe someone will see...'

But his strength ran out.

He collapsed, face half-buried in the snow. Arms sprawled out. Legs unmoving.

Tears tried to come—but the cold had taken even that away.

'I'm sorry... Mom. Dad... I'm sorry for being such a failure. For wasting everything. For being... nothing.'

He wanted to say more. Wanted to cry. Wanted to scream.

But he could only think.

And even that was fading.

His heartbeat slowed. Not from calm—but from the last stages of cold.

Then—

"Hey kid! You alive?!"

The voice was distant. Muffled. Like underwater.

He groaned. Barely audible. But enough.

Arms. Strong ones. Lifted him from the snow and hoisted him over a shoulder.

"You're gonna owe me for this treatment," the man muttered.

The next thing he knew, he was in a cart. The cold still gnawed at him, but it wasn't as sharp. The wind was muffled by the wooden walls.

"Hey kid—stay awake! You go under now, and you're not waking up!"

Subaru drifted. Half-conscious. Images of his room. His mom's voice. The manga he never finished.

He was carried again. Into a cabin. The air was hot. Dry. Alive.

He was laid next to a fireplace. The warmth pulsed through him like a heartbeat.

'Guess I can finally take a nap...'

Subaru Natsuki passed out from the cold.

In the house of a stranger.

In a different world.

----------------------------------------------------------------

It was a dull, lifeless day for Ludwig. The clouds hung low, smothering the sky in an endless blanket of gray. He ran a modest shop near the edge of a small, forgettable village nestled on the eastern fringes of the Ellior Forest. Business had been slow—as usual. A handful of customers came and went, most of them out of habit rather than necessity. Of those, only a rare few were regulars. One of them was a strange girl who came by every week or two to sell him pyro crystals and buy food in return. She never said much, always cloaked, always hooded. Something about her unsettled him. Maybe it was how quiet she was, or how the air felt colder when she entered. Or maybe it was the rumors about the witch who lived deep in the woods—not too far from here. The girl gave off the same eerie feeling. Still, business was business, and Ludwig didn't ask questions he didn't want the answers to.

As the day dragged on, Ludwig sat behind the counter, counting his coins. The jingle of gold should've made him feel secure, but all it did was remind him of how little he really had. He glanced around the store, scanning the shelves out of habit—and frowned. Several items were running low. He could have them delivered, sure, but most merchants charged outrageous prices to bring goods out this far, and Ludwig wasn't made of holy coins.

"Guess that means I gotta close up shop for today," he muttered to himself. A trip to the nearest town was in order. It wasn't far, but it was far enough to be annoying.

There was always a risk when leaving. Kids looking to steal sweets, teens grabbing anything they could. But bandits rarely came here—there was nothing worth taking. This village was as poor as it was quiet.

He retrieved a few gold coins from a hidden safe under the counter, pocketed them, and made his way outside. Before stepping off the porch, he hung a wooden sign on the door: "Closed for the Day."

The cold bit into his face, but he barely noticed. He had long since grown used to it. Still, he slipped on a thick navy-blue coat lined with brown fur around the collar. Just because he could tolerate the cold didn't mean he enjoyed it.

Out front, his carriage waited, hitched to a sturdy Aries Dragon—a creature built for harsh winters. The black-scaled beast stood on four strong legs, its paws covered in coarse fur and equipped with thick claws perfect for gripping ice. Its body was bulky, layered with fat to insulate against the cold, and a crown of jagged spikes framed its flat head. Semi-long lashes protected its narrow eyes from snow and sleet.

Ludwig double-checked the supplies in the back of the carriage, then climbed aboard and took up the reins. With a firm flick, the dragon began pulling the cart forward. Slow and steady—for now. The beast could run fast if pushed, but it came at a cost. Speed meant exhaustion, and he couldn't afford to have it collapse halfway back.

Children ran through the streets, throwing snowballs and laughing. As he passed, several villagers waved to him from their doorsteps. Ludwig returned the gesture with a half-hearted wave of his own. Politeness mattered, even when your heart wasn't in it.

As a group of teens darted across the path of the carriage, he felt a tightness in his chest—memories threatening to surface. He shook his head, forcing them back down.

'She would've been their age by now.'

One thought gave him a moment of clarity: 'That weird girl asked for fresh riberries. Can't forget that. Regulars kept the shop alive, after all.'

Snow began to fall again as he neared the edge of the forest. Thick, lazy flakes spiraled down from the sky, sticking to his coat as he raised the hood. The trees creaked in the wind. Then something caught his eye up ahead.

A dark shape lay sprawled in the snow, barely moving.

He pulled on the reins, bringing the dragon to a halt several paces away. Slipping down from the carriage, he tread carefully through the snow, hand instinctively resting on the small dagger at his belt.

At first, he thought it was a dead ma-beast. But as he drew closer, he froze.

It was a child—a boy, no older than fifteen--no twelve, collapsed and barely breathing. His clothes were thin, strange-looking, and soaked from the snow. A small bag lay nearby, its contents half-spilled: some odd package with a language he couldn't read.

Ludwig scowled.

He didn't recognize the kid. Didn't trust the look of him either. Black hair, ragged breath, fingers already blue. Foreign. Suspicious.

'Just leave him,' a part of him whispered. 'You'll lose time, maybe money. He's not your problem.'

But then he thought of her—his daughter. 'She would've been his age by now.'

"…Screw it," he muttered under his breath, and stepped forward.

"Hey, kid! You alive?!" he shouted.

A low groan answered him. Barely audible. But enough.

Without hesitation, Ludwig slung the boy over his shoulder. He was frighteningly light—bones and ice. He moved quickly, laying the kid down in the back of the carriage.

"You're gonna owe me for this treatment," he grumbled, bitterness lining every word. He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small crystal, glowing faintly with golden light—a rare healing crystal. Worth a holy coin or more. And he was about to use it on a half-dead stranger.

The idea alone made his stomach turn.

Climbing to the driver's seat, he looked back once. The boy was already slipping in and out of consciousness.

"Hey! Stay awake!" Ludwig barked. "You go under now, and you're not waking up!"

Two sharp flicks of the reins. The Aries Dragon jolted forward, faster than before, its claws kicking up snow as it pushed into overdrive.

The wind howled as they raced back toward the village. Ludwig's heart pounded—not from panic, but from sheer tension. He hated being put in this kind of position.

As they burst through the village streets, he shouted ahead.

"Move! Emergency! Get outta the way!"

Villagers leapt aside just in time as the carriage barreled through, barely slowing. He didn't care. Every second mattered now.

Reaching the shop, he swerved around back where the entrance to his living quarters sat. The dragon collapsed to its haunches, panting heavily. Ludwig jumped down, grabbed the kid again, and rushed to the door. He didn't stop.

Slam!

The door shut behind them, sealing out the cold. He carried the boy straight to the fireplace and laid him down on a rug, the warmth already beginning to work on his frozen limbs.

Ludwig bolted to his room, returning moments later with blankets and the crystal. Kneeling beside the boy, he hovered the crystal above his chest.

"Let this be worth it," he muttered.

With a crack, the crystal shattered, releasing a soft, golden light that washed over the boy's body. His skin began to regain color, and his breathing steadied. The frostbite faded, limbs twitching slightly.

He was stable.

Ludwig exhaled and slumped onto the sofa facing the fire, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"What the hell did I just get myself into?"

The boy still hadn't woken up, but it wouldn't be long now. That crystal worked fast. And when he did, Ludwig would have a long list of questions ready—starting with why in the gods' name he was wandering a cursed forest in nothing more than rags.

His stomach growled, echoing with another—louder—rumble. It came from the boy.

"…Hungry, huh?" Ludwig sighed. "Figures."

He pushed himself up and trudged into the kitchen. He didn't have much left in the pantry, but he could whip up a simple soup. Something warm. Something to help the boy keep fighting.

The storm outside howled louder as the snow fell thicker. But inside, next to the fire, the boy breathed—and lived.

For now.

——————————-

Subaru's eyes fluttered open, greeted by the gentle crackle of fire beside him. The warmth pressed against his side, comforting but unfamiliar.

"Did I die?" he muttered hoarsely, barely audible over the fire's soft hiss.

"No, kid. But you damn near came close," came a gruff voice from the room.

Subaru turned his head with a wince. He was still lying on the wooden floor, muscles sore and stiff. Across from him, slouched on a worn brown leather couch just big enough for two, sat a broad-shouldered man. He looked to be in his thirties, sporting a thick boxed beard and a bushy mustache that nearly swallowed his mouth. His hair, cut short and rugged, was mostly brown but with a faint, almost surreal hint of purple that caught the firelight.

A faded gear-patterned scarf was looped around his neck, and his glare—piercing and unrelenting—looked like it could cut through stone. Subaru blinked at him, then let his head fall back to face the ceiling.

"So I did die," he whispered, a single tear welling in his eye. "And this is hell."

"Hey! You'd be dead if I hadn't dragged your sorry ass here!" the man snapped, shaking his fist like a caricature of an angry neighbor. "Ungrateful brat…"

He exhaled sharply and leaned back. "What's your name, kid?"

Without warning, Subaru leapt to his feet, striking a ridiculous pose—one finger pointed to the ceiling, the other planted on his hip.

"So glad you asked! The name's Subaru Natsuki, and thanks for saving me, you scary old man!"

He threw in a wink and a thumbs-up for good measure. Silence hung between them like a fog.

The man rubbed the back of his neck and muttered, "Yeah, yeah—wait a damn minute. Why am I the scary one? Your eyes look like you've stared death in the face and asked for seconds!"

He stood and shook his fist again, genuinely considering whether the kid was worth the trouble of a punch.

Subaru shrugged, nodding sagely. "Fair point. I have been told I've got 'main character eyes.' Anyway—who are you, and where the hell are we?"

The man scoffed. "Name's Ludwig. You're in a village deep in the Ellior Forest. And I should be the one asking why you're out here in that ridiculous outfit. Doesn't look like it can keep out the cold."

He gave Subaru a more thorough once-over. The boy's modern tracksuit and sneakers looked completely out of place.

Subaru scratched his head with a sheepish laugh. "Uhhhh, I don't know? One second I was walking home, the next—bam! I'm here. Never even heard of Ellior Forest. Is this… America?"

"A-muh-what?" Ludwig looked at him like he'd spoken in tongues. "You're in the northern reaches of Lugunica, not far from the Gusteko border."

Subaru pinched his chin, thinking hard. Man, I really got isekai'd... And here I thought that only happened to anime protagonists.

He clenched his fists and braced himself. "Alright! Time to awaken my hidden powers!" He struck a pose and grunted like he was about to go Super Saiyan.

Nothing happened.

Ludwig just stared, his expression shifting from concern to the quiet horror one reserves for lunatics.

Subaru slumped over with a defeated sigh. "Yeah, no powers. Figures." His stomach growled. Panic set in. "Wait—where's my bag?!"

"Still lying where I found you, most likely," Ludwig said, unfazed.

Great. Just great. Subaru patted his pockets, relieved to find his phone still with him. I could've sold the instant noodles for a high price. Assuming nobles here haven't tasted MSG before...

"You look like you're about to pass out from hunger. Follow me," Ludwig said, rising from the couch and walking toward a modest kitchen. "Sit."

The small round table seated four and was lit by the warm glow of three stubby candles. Subaru obeyed, settling into the chair opposite the stove.

"So," he said casually, "do you live alone? Seems like a big table for just one guy."

Ludwig froze mid-stir at the pot on the stove. The tension was thick enough to carve.

"I'm the only one asking questions for now," he said, his back still turned.

Subaru opened his mouth to reply but caught himself. The tone in Ludwig's voice wasn't one to challenge. Instead, he quietly studied the room. Rough wooden walls, faded curtains, and cabinets lined the counter, mostly bare. The cottage was small, weathered, but warm—enough to hold back the cold howling just outside.

A few minutes passed in silence before Ludwig finally placed a steaming bowl of stew in front of him. It looked plain—root vegetables and a few chunks of meat swimming in a pale broth. But to Subaru, it might as well have been a feast.

Just as he reached for the spoon, Ludwig grabbed his wrist.

"Not yet. I've still got questions." His grip was firm. His eyes were deadly serious.

Subaru nodded.

Satisfied, Ludwig let go and took the seat across from him. "You a noble? A runaway? You don't look like a slave, and you're sure as hell not a normal citizen of Lugunica."

Subaru raised both hands in peace. "Nope! Just a regular guy—hopelessly lost and very hungry!"

Ludwig didn't laugh. "So why are you in Ellior dressed like that?"

"Didn't you already ask me that?"

"You didn't give me a good answer." He said flatly

Subaru hesitated, then gave a resigned sigh. "Honestly? I was in Japan. Heading home. Blinked—and then, poof—I was in your world. I think I got... isekai'd."

He chuckled awkwardly. Ludwig only frowned harder.

"Isekai...?" he repeated, rolling the word like it was a curse. "Look, kid, I don't know half the nonsense you're spouting, but what you're telling me... You just appeared here?"

"Yeah," Subaru nodded.

Ludwig rubbed his temples, sighing. "Teleportation that powerful isn't something anyone can pull off lightly. Which means someone either really wanted you here—or you're cursed."

Subaru paled. "Cursed?!"

"And broke," Ludwig added.

"HEY! How'd you know I'm broke?!" Subaru slammed his palms on the table.

"I checked your stuff," Ludwig admitted. "Found some weird shiny rectangle, and coins I've never seen."

Subaru's eye twitched. "Good to know my savior's also a thief."

Ludwig pointed at the stew. "Eat. You'll pay me back."

Subaru needed no further permission. He devoured the bowl like a man starved, pausing only to chug down the cup of water placed beside it.

"Kid, you owe me for the healing crystal I used. Five holy coins," Ludwig said darkly.

Subaru choked on a piece of carrot. "W-What, are you gonna sell me or something? Hate to disappoint, but I don't think I'd go for much."

Ludwig scowled. "You're gonna work in my shop. Until I get my investment back."

"How long are we talking?"

"Couple months."

Subaru sighed and raised his hands in mock prayer. "Praise be. I'd rather work than sell my body."

Ludwig smirked faintly. "Five holy coins is a lot. You're my errand boy now."

Subaru dramatically clutched his chest. "A fate worse than death!"

Ludwig tossed a spoon at him. Subaru caught it midair, smugly pleased.

"I'm gonna work you to the bone, brat. Now get some rest. It's four water time. Day's done."

Subaru blinked. "Water time...?"

"Means it's late." Ludwig stood and gestured toward the couch. "You're sleeping there. Use the blanket I covered you with earlier."

Subaru glanced at the hallway, recalling the rooms he passed on the way in—but thought better than to mention it. Instead, he smirked and hugged himself exaggeratedly.

"Good to know my purity's safe for tonight."

Ludwig grunted and shut the door behind him with a thud.

Subaru flopped onto the couch, curling under the blanket. It smelled faintly of smoke and pine.

What a horrible first day. But at least I'm alive...

He closed his eyes, hoping to sleep. But then, the voices came.

"Puck, save him!"

"Lia, he's not going to make it!"

"You're lucky my daughter is such a kind girl."

He tried to block them out. One sheep… two sheep… three...

"He's that boy from the store."

Ten… eleven… twelve...

Sleep finally took him.

Whether this was a dream—or the start of a new life—he'd find out in the morning