(A/N: LET ME SAY IT AGAIN! THROUGHOUT THE MANGA AND NOVELS I ALONE AM THE EDITOR!)
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(3rd POV)
"Huff... Huff..." Subaru's breathing was heavy and ragged as he returned by death—again.
His body trembled slightly, but not from exhaustion—from fear, from the sheer weight of what he had just gone through. He was back, but the memory of that last death clung to him like a disease.
'What should I do? What the hell am I supposed to do?!' he screamed internally, panic threatening to overtake him.
His mind replayed the moment Elsa's blade sliced into his throat. It wasn't fast. No, not at all. It was slow, precise, and absolutely agonizing. And even after that, she'd carved him open like meat on a butcher's table. He remembered every single second of it.
If his throat hadn't been cut, he knew it would have taken even longer for him to die. The pain would have lasted even more.
He was shaken. Deeply.
But what was even more disturbing to him was the realization that… he wasn't breaking down.
'Aren't I supposed to be traumatized by now? I've died three fucking times already!' he thought, trying to understand his own mind.
Sure, he was scared. Sure, he felt the sting of helplessness… But something inside him was hardening. Like every time he came back, some part of him adjusted just a little more.
He exhaled deeply, trying to center himself.
He didn't have the luxury of spiraling into despair right now. He had to come up with a plan. Fast.
The first idea that came to mind—again—was Reinhardt. The Sword Saint.
But Reinhardt wasn't here. He had checked. Asked around. Searched corners of the capital. Nothing.
Could he rely on another knight? A different royal guard?
He shook his head instantly.
"No way. They'll eat me alive before even listening to me," he muttered under his breath.
The kingdom was unstable. The nobility was corrupt. And most of the knights were no better than gangsters in armor. He would likely be ignored, mocked, or worse.
"Okay, first things first—let's test something," Subaru said as he began walking with determined steps. "Let's see if I've gotten stronger... again."
He made his way back to the same alley where he'd encountered the three thugs in the first loop. As he neared the familiar corner, he could hear them talking amongst themselves—just like before.
"Oh, look! A lamb walking right into—" the first thug started his line with a sleazy grin, but he never finished it.
Before he could say another word, Subaru threw a full-powered punch straight into his cheek.
CRACK.
The thug's head snapped sideways violently as he collapsed onto the ground, blood spurting from his mouth along with several broken teeth. He let out a muffled groan, barely conscious.
"What the hell?!" the second thug screamed and lunged for his knife.
But Subaru was ready.
He lunged forward and grabbed the thug's arms before he could draw his weapon. With a growl, Subaru pulled him in and delivered a devastating headbutt right to the bridge of his nose.
SPLURT.
Blood exploded from the thug's face as he staggered backward, screaming in pain and clutching his shattered nose. Subaru, meanwhile, winced and grit his teeth—the headbutt had hurt him too, but he didn't care. He was proving a point.
The third thug stood frozen, watching his two companions get dismantled with terrifying ease. Fear gripped him.
"W-Wait! Please! Spare me! I'll give you my money! I swear!" the last thief begged, already fumbling to reach for his pouch.
Subaru narrowed his eyes.
And then he smirked.
Just as the thug started to relax, thinking he was going to be let go, Subaru delivered a brutal kick straight to his groin.
CRACK.
The man's pants were instantly soaked in blood. His scream was horrifying—blood-curdling, high-pitched, and filled with sheer agony. He dropped to the ground like a sack of bricks, sobbing and writhing.
Subaru stood over them with cold, mean eyes. He didn't say a word as he scooped up the knives from the ground, along with the few coins the third thief had offered in his cowardice.
He wasn't here to play nice.
Pocketing the loot, he turned on his heel and marched off toward his next destination—Old Man Rom's hideout.
Once he reached the old, worn-down building, he knocked sharply on the door three times.
There was silence.
Then, a deep, gruff voice came from inside.
"Tell me the code."
Subaru didn't hesitate.
"The Bowel Hunter is coming for you. If you don't want to die, you'd better let me in."
Another stretch of silence followed. Subaru held his breath, wondering if Rom was about to smash his head open with that massive club of his.
But then—the door creaked open.
Standing in the doorway was Old Man Rom, holding a spiked club in both hands and glaring at Subaru with a piercing stare.
"You'd better tell me your intentions, kid," Rom growled, his expression cold and threatening. "Or you're not making it out of here alive."
Subaru didn't flinch.
"How about you let me in first?" he replied calmly, masking the nerves bubbling inside him.
Rom stared for a long second before grunting and stepping aside.
Subaru walked inside, glancing around the room. The place was the same as before—dimly lit, messy, filled with scattered barrels and crates.
They both took seats across from each other, Rom still holding his club tightly.
Subaru broke the silence.
"Felt made a deal with the Bowel Hunter," he said flatly.
Rom's eyes widened.
"What?"
"Yeah," Subaru continued. "She was hired to steal an insignia. The kind that proves someone is a Dragon Priestess."
Rom's face went pale. His grip on the club tightened.
"Her client is the Bowel Hunter," Subaru confirmed.
Rom's expression shifted into pure rage.
"That damn brat! I told her it was shady! Who the hell offers ten Holy Coins for some piece of junk insignia?! And now you're saying it's tied to the Dragon Priestess?!"
He stood up abruptly, pacing angrily.
"Shit! We're in serious trouble..."
Subaru leaned back in his chair, folding his arms.
He couldn't blame Rom. If he hadn't already died multiple times trying to protect Felt, he might have been pissed too. But now? Now he just wanted to make sure no one else died so that he dies no longer!
No being frozen alive or pervert yandere clowns chasing him please!
He took a deep breath.
"I'm making an offer," Subaru said, catching Rom's attention again.
"I'll give you twenty Holy Coins. When Felt comes back, she gives me the insignia and takes the money. Then the both of you run. As far and as fast as you can. I'll be doing the same."
Rom's expression changed from rage to suspicion to consideration.
He didn't say anything right away.
But Subaru could tell—he was listening.
Rom frowned and crossed his arms, staring at Subaru with suspicion.
"I still don't completely believe you," he said with a serious look, "but if you're really offering money... I guess I can take a gamble and trust you."
Subaru gave a light chuckle, partly amused. 'Once again, money was solving problems. At least something in this world still made sense.'
Moments later, the door creaked open again. Felt walked in with her usual cocky energy but paused mid-step when she saw Subaru.
"Old man, who the hell is this guy?" she asked, her voice laced with curiosity and a hint of irritation.
Rom didn't waste time.
"Listen, Felt. This guy is offering us twenty Royal Coins for the insignia. We take the deal, hand him the insignia, and then we get the hell out of here. Fast."
Felt's expression changed instantly, her confident smirk disappearing. Her brow furrowed.
"Why?" she asked, sensing the tension in the room.
Rom's voice grew sharper. "Because your damn client is the Bowel Hunter. I don't have time to yell at you or explain how much shit we're in, but we're leaving with the money before she shows up."
Felt's eyes widened. The name clearly hit her hard. She looked at Rom, saw the seriousness in his face, and for once didn't argue. She pulled the insignia from her pocket and handed it to Subaru without another word.
Subaru gave her a small nod and passed her the promised coins. She quickly counted them, then looked at Rom, who gave her a confirming nod.
"Very well," Subaru said, slipping the insignia securely into his pocket. "I'm out of here. If I stay even a second longer, I'm afraid she'll show up."
He turned and exited the building without looking back. He didn't care what happened to Felt or Rom anymore. He had given them a warning, made them a deal, and now it was up to them. His focus was Emilia. He had to find her and get her out of the slums.
As he walked down the narrow alleyways, his eyes suddenly widened.
'No... no no no... Damn it! It's her!'
Just ahead, a familiar woman walked in his direction. Her hips swayed with unnatural grace, seductive and confident, but to Subaru, there was nothing attractive about it. Only dread.
'Elsa...'
His pulse quickened, and he fought to act natural. Keeping his face calm, he continued walking.
'Just keep walking... breathe... don't make eye contact...'
He passed by her.
He sighed in relief.
"Stop," came her soft, sultry voice from behind him.
His body froze.
Slowly, he turned around, trying to force a smile onto his face.
"Do you need something, Miss?" he asked, doing his best to keep his voice steady.
Elsa looked him over, her head tilted slightly in interest.
"How fascinating. I sense fear in you," she said with a smile playing on her lips. "But this is our first meeting, isn't it? So tell me... why is that?"
Subaru forced a chuckle and tapped the side of his head lightly.
"You see, I've got a bad history with beautiful women. I can't help but get nervous around them," he replied smoothly.
His brain raced, working overtime to find the right words. 'Please let that land... come on...'
Elsa's smile widened. "Is that so? What an amusing man you are. Well, no matter. I have other things to do."
She turned away and began walking in the opposite direction.
Subaru exhaled, relief washing over him. He turned to go.
Then his blood ran cold.
He saw her.
"Um, excuse me, sir," said Emilia, approaching Elsa. "Have you seen a blonde girl around here? She stole something from me—my insignia."
Subaru's face turned pale instantly.
Emilia saw it and mistook his reaction. She thought he was afraid of her.
"I'm sorry... I didn't mean to bother you," she said softly, bowing slightly. Then she turned and began walking away, heading in the direction a few local kids had pointed her to earlier.
"Wait a minute," Elsa said, stopping mid-step. Her voice was dangerously calm. "Did you say... insignia?"
Elsa turned to Emilia, her eyes sharp with sudden interest. Emilia's eyes lit up.
"Yes! That's right! A strange girl stole it from me!"
Without another word, Elsa pulled out her daggers. Her face remained serene, but her intent was crystal clear—kill.
Puck burst from the crystal at Emilia's side in a flash of light, his tiny body glowing with power.
"Careful, Lia!" Puck shouted. "That woman's out for blood—ours!"
"Kill us?!" Emilia said, her voice shaking. "But why?!"
"I don't care why," Puck growled. "If she wants to hurt you, she's going to have to go through me!"
Subaru stood frozen behind a corner, watching everything unfold. He was conflicted.
'Puck's almost out of time. Night is ending. Soon, his magic will run out and he'll vanish until the next night…'
'I could run. I could get out of here while they're distracted. It's my chance.'
His hands trembled.
'No one would blame me. I've died enough... It hurts. I don't want to die again.'
He turned and ran.
But the sound of footsteps following him soon echoed through the alley.
He looked back, heart sinking—Elsa was chasing him.
"Why?!" he screamed, his voice raw with fear and frustration.
She didn't answer.
Subaru spun around and drew the two knives he had taken earlier. His hands trembled, but he held them firm.
;If I have no choice, then I'll fight!'
Elsa smirked, her tongue lightly licking her lips.
"My, my. So eager to face me with just those two little knives?" she cooed.
She lunged, her daggers slicing through the air.
Subaru dodged. Barely. Then again. And again.
She swung faster, but he managed to avoid each strike—at first.
Elsa's eyes narrowed.
"You're not bad at all," she said with genuine surprise. "I suppose I'll need to get serious."
Her form blurred.
Subaru couldn't keep up.
He raised his arms to defend, forming a desperate cross—but her blades tore through them like paper.
His arms dropped, severed.
The next moment, he felt a sickening warmth in his stomach.
Her dagger tore through his belly, slicing his guts open.
Blood poured out of him as he collapsed onto the ground, twitching.
"Emilia...?" Subaru whispered weakly, his gaze lifting to catch a fleeting glimpse of the girl being carried through the air by a large feline spirit—Puck, who held her in his arms as she protested against their flight.
A smile formed on Subaru's face, but it wasn't one of happiness. It was a pained, bitter expression.
A Sad Smile.
'Yeah... what was I expecting?' he asked himself as he watched her disappear into the sky. 'To her, I'm a stranger. We've never met in this loop. And on top of that, I ran away like a coward...'
His thoughts spiraled, weighed down by guilt and despair.
'But is it really wrong to not want to die?' he argued with himself in those last moments. 'It hurts. It hurts so damn much...'
The world around him faded to red, then to black.
Natsuki Subaru has died for the fourth time. (*16)
To be continued...
(A/N: Bonus chapter! If you're enjoying this, make sure to send all your powerstones to my other fic — 'Is it wrong to be an Elf in another world?' As long as that fic stays in the Top 30, I'll be uploading two chapters daily! Also, I'll drop a new chapter for "The Demon God in Marvel" soon!
Let's unite and crush all those lazy translators! 💪)