Late at night, in the Roswaal manor, a silver-haired girl was studying. However, she couldn't help but feel uneasy. Today had been a whirlwind of surprises, Subaru's revelations had put the mansion on high alert. He'd come up with a plan to deal with the coming attack, but…

Emilia: "It's really risky."

Puck: "I get what you mean Lia, but we should have some faith in Subaru. He does have a much better understanding of the attack than we do after all."

The girl's self-proclaimed father, a cat spirit named Puck interjected.

Emila: "I just feel really guilty, he's gone through so much, and I wasn't able to do anything."

Subaru had revealed that he had the ability to go back in time when he died. When Emilia heard this she was horrified, apparently he had been dying over and over in the mansion. She had been unable to save him, despite her owing him her life when he saved her the previous day.

Puck: "Well I don't think he's feeling good about the situation either. I mean think about it, he knows about threats that are coming, yet he's totally powerless to stop them. That's got to be a massive blow to his self-confidence."

While it made sense that Emilia was disappointed in herself for not being able to help Subaru, Puck explained how Subaru is probably more frustrated with himself.

Emilia: "Even so, I can't help but think I could have done more to help him, he's even trying to keep me out of this plan of his."

Puck: "Well I can understand his thought process, you're a royal selection candidate. Of course he doesn't want to have you get involved, it is dangerous after all."

Emila: "But I just want to help. It's not fair to Subaru, he keeps getting hurt and dying just so he can save me. I want to be able to pay him back, with this it just feels like I'll never be able to now.

How do you pay back someone who died for you multiple times, and continued to put themselves in harm's way for you? She didn't know the answer to that.

Emilia: "I mean all he asked for when he saved me yesterday was my name. He deserves so much more."

She was concerned with his lack of ambition. He seemed to only be content with small rewards.

Puck: "While that might be true, I don't think that's the most worrying thing about him."

Emilia: "Hm?"

Puck could tell that there was more to Subaru's ability than probably even he knew.

Puck: "Depending on what happens to him, he could become quite the formidable opponent. I mean dying, then going back in time to beat your opponent, with knowledge from the future. That's terrifying. If his checkpoint is placed back far enough, he could set up preparations to take out anyone. If he ever got captured, he could just kill himself to escape and go back to make sure he avoids getting taken. Even I don't know what would happen if Subaru tried to take me out."

Return by Death was a fearsome ability, it could turn whoever uses it into an unstoppable force the likes of which the world hasn't seen.

Puck: "And this is assuming he doesn't go completely insane. Dying can really mess a person up in the head. If he dies enough times, who knows what he'll be like? If he goes crazy and decides to go on a rampage, I'm not sure how you'd stop him."

Emilia was shocked, she didn't expect Puck to look at Subaru that way.

Emila: "But we don't know if that will happen. I mean, so far he's only been using it to help people. I can't see him going so far to hurt people."

Puck: "I understand that's what he seems like right now, but who knows how long he'll be like that for."

She didn't want to hear this. There was no way the sweet boy who had saved her life, who had cried in her arms, could become like that.

Puck: "I'm not saying it's going to happen. It's only a possibility. I just think it's a good idea to keep an eye on him in case."

Emilia: "I was going to keep an eye on him anyway dummy."

She didn't want him to get hurt anymore for her sake. She'll make sure he takes better care of himself, and that he would not die again.

Emilia: "I just think that he deserves to be happy."

With that, she looked out the window, full of concern for the boy's safety and well-being.

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In a different room in the mansion, another conversation was taking place. A man with long indigo hair, heterochromia eyes, and covered in clown makeup, was meeting with a girl in a maid outfit with peach-colored hair.

They were sitting together looking at the night sky.

Roswaal: "So Ram, what do you think of Subaru-kun?"

Ram: "As far as work goes, Barusu is totally worthless. He makes lots of mistakes, and has a long way to go."

Roswaal: "I see."

Ram: "As for his claims of being able to go back in time, it seems to hold water. He's shown familiarity with the mansion, he even knew my and Rem's preferences for tea. But…"

Roswaal: "Hm?"

Ram: "He seems to be very uncomfortable when it comes to me, and especially Rem."

Subaru acted a lot more cautiously and politely to Rem and Ram. Sometimes he would stiffen up and look panicked. There was also that time he snapped at Rem.

Roswaal: "Dooooo you believe it has something to do with what happened in his previous loop? After all, he did wake up quite distressed."

Ram: "I believe so, while he didn't say anything about it, there are a few possibilities that come to mind."

She wasn't stupid, if his power relies on him dying to activate, then that means someone had to have killed him. He didn't mention what had caused his death in the third loop, it could have been the Shaman, but if that was the case why hadn't he mentioned it?

Ram: "Rem and I had probably done something horrible to Barusu. That's what I think."

Roswaal: "That is quite the statement, it seems like you truly believe Subaru-kun when it comes to his claims."

Ram: "I am not fully convinced, it's still very unbelievable, but every action of his fits with his story."

The more time she spent around him, the more she started to believe his story. His attitude, the knowledge he had. So far there was nothing that contradicted him.

Roswaal: "It's quite off-putting isn't it? He knows so much about us, and the dangers to come, yet we know virtually nothing about him. We have no knowledge of where he comes from, or how he gained his ability."

Ram: "Yes, it's quite off-putting."

Roswaal: "Do you think he can be trusted?"

Ram: "It feels too early to tell, we'll have to keep an eye on him."

Roswaal: "Yes, I beeeeelllliieve that is quite wise. Now, shall we proceed?"

Ram: "Yes please."

He then began to place his finger on the peach-haired maid's forehead.

Roswaal: "It must have been difffffiiicult. It has been a few days since we've done this after all."

Ram moaned weakly at his touch. Energy flowed from his finger into her.

Roswaal: "No need to be neeeeed to be embarrassed, it's completely natural, how many times have we done this after all?

With their suspicious conversation drawing to a close, the master and servant spent the rest of their time together in silence gazing at the night sky.

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Authors Note

Another shorter chapter, but we get to learn a bit more about what everyone thinks before everything kicks off.

Thank you to everyone who's been reading this series, it's nice to see how much people are enjoying it. I've been reading all the comments, it's nice hearing what everyone has to say, as well as your theories on what's going to happen next.

I'll aim to make the next chapter longer.

Also a big thank you to WolfEatHoney. He's been indispensable in helping me make this fic, and making sure that its quality is up to par.