Chapter 550 No Difference

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"Afraid?" Natsuki Subaru was stunned.

He seemed completely caught off guard as if he hadn't even realized this about himself.

It was only at this moment that Natsuki Subaru finally became aware of his own feelings.

Once he became aware, Natsuki Subaru's gaze toward Fang Li changed.

It became filled with fear.

Yes.

Natsuki Subaru was afraid.

Afraid of Fang Li.

And it was understandable.

"Regardless of how I know about your *Returns by Death (Shinimodori)* ability, my identity as a fellow reincarnated being is enough to make you fearful, isn't it?"

Fang Li spoke as if he were talking to himself.

"How can I, a fellow reincarnated being, know so many things?"

"How can I, a fellow reincarnated being, possess such great power?"

"How can I, a fellow reincarnated being, be so comfortable wielding weapons?"

"How can I, a fellow reincarnated being, want to observe you?"

"These are the questions you've been carrying around as you fear me."

"Fear my mysterious background."

Fang Li's words pierced through Natsuki Subaru's heart.

Yes.

Natsuki Subaru had to be afraid of Fang Li.

As a person from the modern peaceful era of the 21st century, Fang Li possessed too many factors that did not align with being a typical reincarnated being.

Just as Fang Li revealed, Fang Li's behavior was too abnormal for a reincarnated being.

Abnormal to the point that it made Natsuki Subaru question Fang Li's identity.

"If he's really a fellow reincarnated being like me, then what kind of person was he in the modern world to be so comfortable wielding weapons and possess such monstrous strength?"

At this thought, Natsuki Subaru found it impossible to suppress his dread and fear of Fang Li.

Therefore, after the "Bowel Hunter" incident ended, Natsuki Subaru didn't follow Fang Li brazenly; instead, he chose to part ways with Fang Li.

Natsuki Subaru simply lacked the courage to continue acting alongside Fang Li.

"After all, he said he wanted to observe me..."

"Observe my death..."

Given that, would Fang Li go out of his way to make Natsuki Subaru die?

The mere thought of it was enough for Natsuki Subaru to find it impossible to continue acting with Fang Li.

Even though Fang Li had expressed that he wouldn't harm Natsuki Subaru and would only observe, Natsuki Subaru couldn't fully trust him.

So, Natsuki Subaru seemed to reject Reinhard outwardly, but in reality, he used it as an excuse to distance himself from Fang Li.

Fang Li chose to go with Emilia to the mansion instead of continuing to act with Natsuki Subaru, partly due to these concerns.

As for their reunion in the Royal Capital, Natsuki Subaru's behavior before and after was all an act.

No, it was more like pretending to be stronger than he was.

Natsuki Subaru's aggressive use of his "friendship punch" and overall poor attitude toward Fang Li were all just a mask to hide his inner fear.

Unfortunately for Subaru, Fang Li saw through it.

"Honestly, it doesn't matter to me."

Fang Li cast his gaze upon Natsuki Subaru, speaking indifferently.

"Although you are a subject of my observation, you are not my only target. Your ability just makes it easier for me to observe you and your encounters with death."

In other words, even without Natsuki Subaru, it would be fine.

If Fang Li truly wanted to observe someone frequently encountering death, he had other choices besides Subaru; Subaru was not the only exceptional case.

Like parting ways with Subaru and accompanying Emilia to the mansion, actively dealing with the Witch's Cult, was also due to another potential target worth observing. It didn't have to be Subaru.

"Now you can be at ease, right?" Fang Li said with a faint smile to Natsuki Subaru. "You really don't possess anything on you that would make me fixate on you."

Fang Li's blunt words made Natsuki Subaru grit his teeth.

The fear in his heart began to fade.

However, what replaced it was intense unwillingness.

A sense of unwillingness as strong as male pride.

He originally thought that he was being treated differently, but it turned out he was nothing special.

That feeling was akin to humiliation.

Especially considering that Fang Li possessed things that Subaru admired.

"You say you're like me, another person from the modern world, right?"

Driven by his agitated state of mind, Natsuki Subaru loudly questioned Fang Li.

"Then what makes you different from me? Why can you thrive in this world while I must constantly escape and rely on others for protection?"

Hearing this, Fang Li remained silent.

After a moment, Fang Li lightly spoke.

"There's no real difference between you and me."

"Not long ago, I was just like you, living a mundane daily life, a shut-in, just hiding at home all the time."

"So, there's no real difference between us."

If there was a distinction to be made, it would only be one thing.

Fang Li had a soul that recorded death.

Therefore, he became numb to death, which influenced his personality, making him unafraid of violence, able to stay calm, and even shaping his powerful abilities around this recorded dead soul.

Other than that, there wasn't much separating Fang Li from Natsuki Subaru.

"Maybe, one day you'll become like me."

Fang Li spoke to Natsuki Subaru.

"Once you've experienced death enough times to grow numb, you might end up just like me."

After saying this, Fang Li left the room without waiting for Natsuki Subaru's response.

…

"Hmm?"

As Fang Li made his way towards the mansion's main door, a figure slowly walked towards him from the opposite direction.

"Are you leaving now?" Reinhard greeted Fang Li with enthusiasm, a perfect smile on his face. "I was just about to entertain you."

"No need," Fang Li shook his head and replied to Reinhard, "It's getting late, and I need to find an inn."

"Inn?" Reinhard laughed. "Since you're here, you might as well stay here."

"Really, it's not necessary." Fang Li spread his hands out and said, "Tomorrow is the opening day of the Royal Selection meeting, and I don't want to stay here and disturb you all."

"Disturb?" Reinhard asked, puzzled. "Aren't you planning to accompany Lady Emilia?"

"I don't plan to," Fang Li replied without any hesitation. "After all, I wasn't invited."

And with that, Fang Li waved goodbye to Reinhard and left the mansion.

Watching Fang Li's departing figure, Reinhard spoke with a hint of helplessness.

"I believe there should be many people who would want to invite you..."

...