Subaru walked slowly behind Emilia as they headed for the dining room. He was trying to think of the right words to use. How would he convince the lord of the manor that he was telling the truth? Of course, he wasn't the only one who required convincing.

Rem and Ram, the twin sisters who worked at the mansion as maids, also needed to be convinced. Especially Rem. She could smell the Scent of the Witch on Subaru, which had made her believe he was part of the Witch cult. They're an organization that worships the Witch of Envy. The cult had hurt the maid sisters in the past, although how and to what extent, Subaru was unaware. But he could tell it had left a deep impression on Rem. In his previous loop, Rem had tortured him for information. Failure to convince her, and her sister Ram, would mean death.

?: "Yawn…"

As they walked down the corridor, a floating grey cat materialized out of nowhere, yawning. That was Puck, Emilia's contracted spirit and self-proclaimed father.

Emilia: "Good Morning Puck. Did you sleep well?"

Puck: "Yawn… Good morning Lia. Are you ok? Things got really dicey last night. Oh… Good Morning to you to Subaru. You seem to have made it out alright."

The cat spirit addressed Emilia with concern. However, when it came to Subaru, he was indifferent.

Subaru: "Good morning Puck. And yes, I'm alright. Thank you for being so worried."

Puck: "Hey, look I get where you're coming from. But for beautiful young girls, a scratch can be devastating, whereas men will show off their injuries as a badge of honor. And since my daughter is oh so cute, I need to make sure she doesn't suffer even a scratch."

Subaru: "I want to be upset at that statement, but honestly, I totally agree with you. We can't let Emilia-tan's beauty get damaged."

Puck: "I'm glad you're in agreement."

While the two were having a ridiculous exchange, the subject of their comments had her face turning as red as a tomato.

Emilia: "Cut it out! Why are you two bonding over something so stupid?"

She put her head in her hands, trying to cover her face so as not to show off her embarrassment.

Subaru: "E.M.T."

As Subaru gazed upon the embarrassed girl in front of him, he shouted something that confused the Silver-haired girl and cat that accompanied him.

Puck: "E.M.T? What does that mean Subaru?

Subaru: "It means Emilia Major Angel."

Puck: "I see. I do agree that my daughter is definitely an angel, but I'll have you know I get to see her angelic way more than the average person."

Subaru: "Well then, I'll just have to spend more time with her."

Puck: "While I appreciate your resolve, I have father privileges. So no matter what, I'll always be ten steps ahead of you."

The weird conversation between the duo kept going on as they marched toward the manor's dining room.

Emilia: "We're finally here, so can you two stop discussing embarrassing topics now? We need to have a serious talk with Roswaal."

Emilia, who was currently doing her best impression of an appa, turned around and scolded the two idiots.

Subaru: "Sorry Puck, we'll have to continue our little competition later."

Puck: "Sure thing Subaru, but I won't hand over my daughter so easily. Also, what do you need to discuss with Roswaal so badly? I can sense from your and Lia's emotions it's serious."

The cat spirit was curious about what could have the dark-haired boy and his daughter so serious.

Subaru: "You'll learn soon enough. It's best to discuss it with everyone."

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As they entered the dining room, Subaru saw Roswaal, the lord of the manor, sitting at the head of the table. He was wearing clothes and makeup that wouldn't be out of place on a jester. While he bore an appearance and disposition that would make one doubt he was a nobleman, he was, however, the most powerful mage in the Kingdon of Lugunica. It meant that he was not someone to be underestimated by his appearance.

But what felt more important to Subaru were the two maids at his side. They were identical in every way except for their hair color and chest size.

Roswaal: "Ah, Emilia-sama, you've brought our dear guest with you."

Roswaal immediately addressed Emilia, standing up from his seat at the head of the table and bowed to her.

Roswaal: "Dear guest, thank you for your help in saaaaving Emilia-sama. I have no clue what I would do if something had happened to her."

The lord of the manor then addressed Subaru and bowed at him. He was way more formal with his address than he was in the previous loops. This probably had to do with the fact that Subaru hadn't immediately begun joking around with Roswaal in this version of events.

Roswaal: "Also, I heard there was a bit of a commotion between you and my seeervents. If they did anything to offend you, I'll make sure they correct it."

He also extended an apology towards Subaru.

Subaru: "Thanks Roswaal, but they did nothing wrong. I did."

Subaru then bowed ninety degrees towards Roswaal and the maids.

Subaru: "I apologize for being insensitive to you both. You two were just there waiting for me to wake up, and I started screaming. You have nothing to apologize for."

Subaru then apologized to the maids. While they were technically at fault for his rude awakening, these versions of them had not committed those sins.

He then looked up at Roswaal and everyone else in the room.

Subaru: "However, that does not mean we have nothing important to discuss."

Roswaal: "Indeed we do Subaru. You have saved Emilia-sama, which means we must talk about yooooooouuuuuuurrrrrr reward."

Subaru: "Not that."

Roswaal: "Heh?"

Roswaal was slightly confused. He was, of course, the most powerful magic user in the country and the lord of his domain. As the backer for Emilia, who was a royal candidate, it made sense that the boy would be expecting a reward. However, this turn of events seemed to surprise Roswaal.

Subaru: "Well, we should wait for Beako to join us. It is a pain to explain things twice after all."

Beatrice: "And who are you referring to when saying that ridiculous nickname I suppose?"

Just as Subaru was about to say they should all wait for the last resident of the manor to arrive, she appeared behind him. She was a girl looking around ten years old, wearing an extravagant red dress, with blonde hair that looked like two drills hanging off the side of her head.

Subaru: "Ah, there you are Beako. You should have said something sooner."

Beatrice: "Betty does not appreciate getting ridiculous nicknames unless it is from Bubby I suppose."

Beatrice started to pout, which was super adorable. For Beatrice, this was her second encounter with Subaru. However, for Subaru, he had barged into the forbidden library a bunch of times. They would banter and fight a lot, but she was someone Subaru felt he could trust.

Puck: "Hiya Betty, it seems Subaru is going to talk about something important. Do you have any idea what it is?"

Beatrice: "Betty has no clue what this insolent guest wants to talk about I suppose. However, it's probably something stupid in fact."

Subaru: "Now now Beako let's all sit down. This is going to be a lengthy discussion."

Beatrice reluctantly took a seat at the table.

Roswaal: "My my, I'm surprised. I was expecting to be the one having a lengthy discussion with you, but it seems the tables have been tuuuuuuuurnnnnnned."

Roswaal was surprised by Subaru's actions, but he couldn't help but smile. He was interested in what seemed so important that the dark-haired boy would feel the need to get the whole manor involved.

Subaru: "Well, now that everyone has gathered here, shall we begin?"

With everyone in the Roswaal manor gathered at the dining table, a lengthy and important discussion would commence. Its implications and consequences would not only impact those at the dining table, but the entire world.

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Subaru: "I have an ability I like to call Return by Death. It allows me to go back in time when I die."

Upon hearing those words, everyone at the table stared at Subaru with mixed emotions on their faces. Unlike Emilia, they weren't there to try and coddle him or make him feel better. They were evaluating him.

Roswaal's eyes widened slightly. He quickly hid his surprise. The maids, however, didn't react much at all, almost like they knew he would bring up this topic.

Roswaal: "Well, that is an innnnnteresting statement you have just made Subaru. You say you go back in time when you die, but there is no way to verify that statement."

Roswaal looked at Subaru with amusement. He was surprised by his statement. However, he was trying to figure out the validity of his claim and its worth.

Roswaal: "It's also strange that your power was the first thing you wanted to discuss, almost like you have a very iiiimmmportant reason to bring it up."

Roswaal got to the heart of the matter quickly. He was the head of his territory for a reason. Being able to get a read on and digest the information presented to him was important. He could then navigate the situation in front of him and learn how to best use those around him to achieve his goals.

Subaru: "Of course. After all, wouldn't the lord of the mansion want a heads up about a surprise attack that's about to take place?"

While Subaru did enjoy bantering with the mansion's inhabitants, at this very moment, he was straight to the point. He needed his point to come across that everyone living here is in imminent danger. It was a time-sensitive issue, and he needed to make a good impression as well as show the fact he was trustworthy.

Subaru: "I've died in this mansion three times, all of them taking place on my fourth day here. The first time it was quietly in my sleep. I was quite shocked to wake up on the first day, and I didn't see any indication of something that could kill me."

Subaru started talking about how he had died previous times in the mansion. It was not a topic he enjoyed discussing. Just remembering the various ways he had been killed caused him to shudder. However, he needed to endure that feeling right at this moment. Otherwise, a new death would most likely await him.

Subaru: "The second time, I tried retracing my footsteps, but somehow I ended up in the bath with Roswaal waving his manhood in my face. Seriously, do you really have no shame? That was probably just as traumatic as some of my deaths. Sorry, off-topic."

He didn't need to reveal that detail, but he did.

Subaru: "That time on the fourth night, I stayed up late. And found that I got dizzy, and I had trouble walking. It felt like everything was getting sucked right out of me. I didn't last very long after that."

He left out the detail about getting his arm blown off by Rem's Morningstar. He was worried about how the rest of the manor's residents would feel after learning they had been behind his death. Would they be more suspicious of him? Would they fight amongst themselves over who had been responsible for his suffering? Whatever the case, it was information that would only distract from the true danger facing them.

Subaru: "The third time, I tried doing everything differently, and the only new information I gained was by talking with Beako in the forbidden library. She told me that what I was describing was most likely a curse from a Shaman."

Subaru looked dejected. He didn't like that he died in vain. If he had died, he wished it could have been meaningful, that his death could have accomplished something. But all it did was just show him how little those around him trusted or cared for him.

Subaru: "And that brings us to now."

After having caught everyone up on what happened in the previous loops, he started to explain why he was finally telling them about the danger.

Subaru: "Every attempt before that, I tried doing things on my own. Without any help and hiding my powers, I mean, it's a ridiculous power. I doubted that anyone would believe me. I mean, all of you are skeptical, right?"

He needed to show that he knew his story was a hard one to believe. He didn't even think that he had actually died the first few times it happened.

Subaru: "All I can do is try and use the information gained to change things, but I can't do it alone. I'm too weak. That's why I want to ask, will you help me save everyone?"

He realized doing everything alone wasn't going to be possible. He wasn't strong enough. If he could borrow the strength of others, then maybe everything would be solved.

Subaru: "I might not be their only target. All of you could be in danger. I mean, I knew something was coming, and I still died. So please, help me save everyone. Help me make it so we can all keep living here together, spend time together, and laugh together."

Subaru wanted those days to continue. Even if Rem and Ram didn't truly trust him, he cared about everyone in the mansion. He would make it so that everyone survived and that they would smile and laugh together.

Subaru: "Please, let's not keep these peaceful, fun days contained to my memories."

He teared up slightly when he said that. All that time they spent together in the previous loops only remained in Subaru, and it pained him that no one else could remember them.

Roswaal: "Interesting, you seem to be telling the truth, to soooooooome extent. Of course, it could be that you're a veeeeerrrrry good actor."

Roswaal found all of what Subaru was saying fascinating. He believed that there was a lot that Subaru said was true, but even then, it still felt hard to believe.

Roswaal: "It is, as you said, your story is quuuuiiite the unbelievable tale."

Beatrice: "Betty hesitates to say this, but she agrees with Roswaal I suppose."

Both Beatrice and Roswaal voiced their skepticism. While they could acknowledge there was some truth to Subaru's words, they needed more information to be satisfied.

Roswaal: "If you don't mind, I need to ask fuuuuurrrther questions. I'd like to better understand this ability you claim to have."

Subaru: "I guess that makes sense. It's hard to trust someone who comes out of nowhere and says he knows the future and that everyone is in danger."

He was aware of how he sounded. If he was in his old world, he could probably be compared to one of those people standing on the side of the road with a sign, shouting about how the end of the world is coming.

Roswaal: "How did you discover your power, and how far can you go back?"

Subaru: "I only discovered it when I went to the loot house with Emilia-tan and died. I had never died before that night. As for how far back I can go, I don't know. I can't choose how far I go back, but it seems that I get set specific points to go back to. I don't know how they're chosen. My first checkpoint was when I was at an appa stand in the capital yesterday. Now it is currently when I woke up for the second time in the manor."

The checkpoints, at first glance, seemed arbitrary to Subaru. However, looking deeper into it, he could see a few reasons for their placement. Being sent back to the Appa stand allowed him to bump into Reinhard, who was indispensable against the Bowl Hunter. His checkpoint at his second awakening in the mansion allowed him to create new relationships with the mansion's inhabitants and get familiar with the area.

Subaru had never thought about why the checkpoints were based where they were until now, but even with only two examples, he could see a sort of logic to it.

Roswaal: "I see. It is quuuuiiiite unpredictable. Have you found a method of activation aside from your own demise?"

Subaru: "Sadly, I haven't. Trust me. I wish there were another way."

Roswaal: "That is quite unfortunate. After all, it must be very painful."

Subaru: "Like you wouldn't believe."

If he could spare himself the pain, he would. It was that simple. Death was scary, he got lucky once with a painless death, but it was unlikely he would be spared from pain next time.

Roswaal: "Great spirit.'

Puck: "Yes."

Roswaal called on Puck.

Roswaal: "I do believe you have the ability to sense when someone is lying."

Puck: "I do."

Roswaal: "Then, did it seem like Subaru was lying?"

Roswaal knew that Puck could tell if someone was trying to lie.

Puck: "I didn't detect any falsehoods, despite it being quite an unbelievable story."

Roswaal: "Have you ever been wrong before?"

Beatrice: "How dare you insult Bubby's abilities? He's as strong as he is cute in fact."

Roswaal: "I see. My apologies for doubting you."

In the face of such a questionable story, Roswaal couldn't help but wonder if Puck's detection was always accurate, but Beatrice quickly refuted that idea.

Puck: "It's quite alright. I understand why you'd be questioning my abilities in this scenario. However…"

Roswaal: "Hm?"

Puck: "My power works by reading the emotions of those in close proximity, and from his emotions, I can tell that Subaru believes he is telling the truth. But it could also be true that he is simply delusional."

There was always the possibility that Subaru was just an insane madman rambling on. That's what Puck was implying.

Emilia: "Now wait a second Puck. I believe Subaru. He told me how he'd met me yesterday and died multiple times to save me and stop the Bowel Hunter. Don't you remember when he called for you to shield me, even though he shouldn't have known you existed?"

Emilia, who had been silent until now, came to Subaru's defense, bringing in the evidence from the loot house as proof of his claim.

Puck: "I see, that is a good point, but still, it's just so hard to believe."

Beatrice: "Betty understands how Bubby feels I suppose. It's quite an odd ability and quite disturbing in fact. Betty doesn't recall ever hearing about a similar ability, even though she resides in the forbidden library I suppose."

Roswaal: "Well, Subaru, so far, everything seems to be in favor of you being truthful."

Roswaal seemed to be willing to believe Subaru somewhat, given the fact Emilia vouched for him and provided evidence that Puck couldn't easily dispute.

Roswaal: "It would be hoooooorrrrible if we were to suffer losses at the mansion, so I believe it is in our best interest to listen to you."

It would look bad if the lord of the manor had been told an attack was coming and ignored it.

Roswaal: "So, considering you have the residents mansion willing to help you, what do you think we should do?"

It felt like Roswaal was testing Subaru, trying to see what kind of decision and plan he would come up with.

Subaru: "First, before we take any next steps, is it possible to stop a curse after it's been activated?"

Beatrice: "Once a curse is activated, there's nothing you can do I suppose. However, to place a curse, there must be physical contact. It will lay dormant, then activate after enough time has passed I suppose."

Subaru: "I see, and would you be able to detect and remove a curse before it's been activated?"

Beatrice: "Yes I suppose."

With that, everything clicked for Subaru. He now had an idea of how to catch the Shaman.

Subaru: "I see. That really helps me. Thank you Beako."

With that, there was only one more thing for Subaru to do.

Subaru: "Hey Roswaal, to do this, we need to talk about my reward."

Roswaal: "Your reward?"

Subaru: "My reward for saving Emilia-tan. After all, what I did was very dangerous, and as her sponsor in the royal selection, she's quite valuable. In fact, you were going to offer me 'anything I desire.'"

Subaru knew what Roswaal would offer and flaunted that.

Roswaal: "I was indeed. So how about it? What do you desire for your reward?"

Roswaal smiled, seeing Subaru leverage his future knowledge. Although it wasn't much, he was surprised he would use it in this way.

Subaru: "I quite like this mansion. Hire me to work here!"

Once again, Natsuki Subaru gained employment at the Roswaal manor.

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Authors Note

I was planning to get this chapter out sooner, but I ended up being busy with work. I should hopefully have more free time to work on this fic. I really want to explore this scenario even more.

This chapter was an important one because it had to be a convincing way that Subaru would introduce RBD to the cast. I still not sure if I was able to pull it off correctly.

The response from everyone so far has been really positive so far, I'm glad to see that everyone is enjoying what I'm making. I'll do my best not to disappoint.