Re:Zero Light Novel Volume 10/Synopsis

Prologue: Graveyard
Natsuki Subaru walks through a dark tomb as he hears a voice compliment him on his desires that drive him. Suddenly, he finds himself on a grassy plain, and the voice from before beckoning him to come to her location. He turned to face the voice and saw a woman with long white hair and wearing a pitch-black dress sitting at a table. The woman asks if she surprised Subaru before remembering she hasn't introduced herself to him yet. The woman calls herself Echidna: the Witch of Greed.

Chapter 1: At the Place they Returned to
Subaru, Emilia, and the villagers of Irlam Village prepare to leave the Karsten Masion in order to return home, with Crush, having lost her memories after being attacked by Lye Batenkaitos of the Witch Cult, says to Subaru that the mansion will feel empty without him, and while he apologizes, he says there are things he needs to take care of, nor does he want to abuse her hospitality anymore than he feels he has. He also knows that she has problems of her own, as due to Anastasia Hoshin having come out of the conflict with the Hakugei without any clear losses compared to the Crush Camp and Emilia Camp, so they will have to be careful regarding her.

Nevertheless, Subaru tells Crush that he will return to the Captial after returning everyone home, which Crush says she will be waiting so she can repay Subaru for everything. Subaru tells her to never mind, as he already feels he has been rewarded by her with his Ground Dragon Patrasche. Despite Crush saying it isn't enough, Subaru insists that Patrasche saved him even though they haven't been together for so long. Wilhelm speaks to Subaru saying Patrasche's breed of Ground Dragon is very tempermental, so it is rare for him to see one so loyal to her rider, meaning the two of them are extremely compatible. Hearing that, Subaru tells Patrasche he wouldn't ride any other Ground Dragon than her, causing her to affecionately nuzzle his cheek, while also humorously scratching his cheek as well.

Subaru says goodbye to Wilhelm and wishes him good luck with his reopened wound, which he thanks him for. He then hears Ferris say to Subaru that he has secured Rem, which he sees for himself. He asks if she will fall out while riding and he says he made sure she won't, though he is a little sad he can't help her. Subaru apologizes for leaving, saying he needs to find another way to help Rem, though Ferris adds that Subaru needs to rest himself considering how strained his Magic Gate has become. He says to Subaru that even though the gate is cleaned, he can't abuse it for about two months, causing Subaru to worry he has set off a flag when he said nothing else may happen. Subaru, however, thanks Ferris for his healing, for fighting the Hakugei and Petelguese, and of course, Rem. He teases Subaru about how he said that and how he will do anything to protect Crush, so he better keep his promise or else.

Emilia comes out from the carriage asking if they are ready, and Ferris asks Crush if she has anything else to say to Emilia. Crush approaches Emilia and thanks her for everything, saying that even though she has lost her memories, she feels they are connected on a much deeper level. Emilia, in turn, nervously asks if she is afraid of her because she is a half-elf, and Crush answers that the worth of a soul is determined by the worth of a person's actions, so they should live in whatever fashion that represents them. She asks if Emilia feels she live shamefully and Emilia denies, so Crush says she is greatful she met her, which makes Emilia very happy. Crush wishes Subaru luck in the future as they finally take their leave.

As they rode back to the village, Subaru comments on how lonely it is without riding with the kids from the village before Otto reminds everyone he is present by asking about a lack of a topic to discuss. Subaru teases him before stating he knows Otto wants to talk to Roswaal and have him buy his cargo, though he still mercilessly teases him about his odds of success. Emilia says the two of them get along, though Subaru says otherwise as he closes the window to keep Otto from listening in on them anymore. Emilia and Subaru share a small laugh before Subaru sits next to Emilia and she comments how now that feels natural to her, which delights Subaru.

Emilia turns attention to Rem, saying she can feel he is still thinking of her, which he doesn't deny. He confirms Rem is just as precious to him as Emilia is and that he will find someway to bring her back. Emilia says to Subaru that while that is a selfish motive, she says she feels she is participating in the Royal Selection for selfish reasons as well. He questions her about it but she says she can't explain it properly to him, so he agrees to wait until they see Roswaal again. Emilia decides to turn the topic to Rem, and he agrees to tell her everything he remembers about her until the finally reached the Mathers Domain.

Upon reaching the Mathers Domain, the notice that Irlam Village looks strangely empty. Subaru wondered if Ram and the villagers from the Sanctuary haven't come back, which Otto says isn't possible considering the distance and how long their group was in the Captial, and how powerful Roswaal is, causing them to wonder if something happened at the Sanctuary. Due to not knowing much about the Sanctuary, Subaru and Emilia decide to head back to the mansion for now, even inviting Otto to stay as well.

The group returns to the mansion as Subaru tells Otto to put Patrasche and the dragon carriage behind the mansion while he gets everything ready inside. Emilia and Subaru (who is carrying Rem on his back), walk up to the door as Emilia knocks on it. The both of them hear a reply though, from a new voice. The doors open and standing before the two of them is a woman with long blonde hair and emerald eyes. Emilia recognizes the woman as Frederica Baumann, who greats the two of them warmly with a smile. Subaru, without thinking however, blurts out that Frederica has a scary face, because her teeth were filled with fangs.

Emilia scolds Subaru and demands he apologize despite Frederica dismissing his comment, though Subaru does apologize anyway. Frederica again dismisses the apology and she says there is a reason why she was recalled to the mansion, which she feels is mostly due to Rem, who she sees as a spitting image of Ram. Subaru remembers hearing that a maid had quit before he came to the mansion before Frederica corrects him saying she was taking a leave of abscence, and when she came back and saw the mansion empty, she found a letter from Ram. Subaru asks Frederica why Ram called her back and she says it was because the manor was in dissary when she came back, which annoys Subaru that Ram called her back because she couldn't handle the maid work by herself. Emilia wonders why Ram struggled all this time Frederica was away before remembering she was never alone from the beggining, something Subaru understood and accepted.

Subaru takes Rem to her room as Subaru confirms from Frederica that she does not remember her at all, he decides to tell her about her like what he did with Emilia prior. After laying her in her bed, Frederica offers to help her but Subaru insists he can do it, though he does ask for her to look over her as much as she can, though Frederica wonders how Roswaal and Ram will react when they see her, something Subaru doesn't want to think about. Subaru asks Frederica if she knew about the Royal Selection before she left, which she confirms, though she says she suspected it would bring trouble and how he sent away several maids including herself. Subaru asks if she knows how much he actually told her, and while she says she doesn't completely understand how he thinks, he should consult the only people he trusts: Ram and Beatrice.