A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 2 - Part 1

The sensation I felt just before dying was one of indescribable agony throughout my body. The cold was so intense that it caused cramps before freezing my nervous system, hence the pain. Fortunately, it didn't last long, as my body shut down and turned into a meat lollipop.

For a brief moment I was afraid I would disappear forever, but that fear turned to relief when I felt my body again and the sunlight shining on the city filled me with warmth.

"That was... death. I... died."

I let out a long sigh as I checked my bag of junk food was back in my hands. I thought I'd react worse after experiencing my own death, but surprisingly, it affected me less than I expected. Perhaps my relief at being back in life was greater.

However, that relief didn't last long. Having this power meant that somehow Satella had chosen me over Subaru, meaning I was replacing him, right?

"I'm back... I'm back from the dead. I don't know how good that is, if I'm really in this world."

The pain of being frozen was so intense that my body continued to tremble with a residual sensation of cold that somehow persisted beyond death.

"Puck, that shitty cat... He doesn't look anything like mine."

In my world, I had a kitten less than a year old, whom I named Giovanni. He was very cute, but also very mischievous. Still, the worst thing Giovanni could do was bite me, and this bastard froze me to death without having anything personal against me.

At least it wasn't as gruesome a death as it could have been. Elsa would have made it much more traumatic, even the three thieves.

Yes, there were many ways to die in this world, and I didn't want to experience them all. I prefer to avoid suffering whenever possible, and I don't care if it makes me look bad, because I think heroism is bullshit.

So, after some thought, I decided to take an alternative route. It might not have been the best option if I wanted to use my knowledge of the story's future, since I'd be changing things, but I definitely didn't want to repeat Subaru's path, because it was filled with pain and death.

Also, most of the what ifs didn't end very well, or Subaru didn't get very far in them, and if he did, like in Rem IF, he'd end up returning to the past when he died. This is because Satella apparently had her own plans for the protagonist (which involved meeting Emilia).

I wasn't going to stray too far from canon, but I also wasn't going to do things to the letter imitating Mr. Lolimancer: I preferred to avoid some things like Elsa's knives and Wolgarm's teeth.

So I took a few minutes to think about a good plan of action to complete the first arc. I'd do some things differently and some things that were canon.

"Well, let's get to work."

I headed toward the main street, this time going in the opposite direction from the first. I found Mr. Save Point Guy store and approached him, smiling. The man looked at me with a raised eyebrow, since he didn't know me.

"Good afternoon, sir. I don't have any money right now, but when I do, I'll buy you something."

"What?" Mr. Save Point Guy was confused by my sudden dialogue.

"Do me a favor. If a silver-haired half-elf comes asking for that thief named Felt, don't tell her how to find her; tell her I'll retrieve her insignia and bring it here before midnight."

"What?!" Mr. Save Point Guy was extremely confused.

"It's very important that she doesn't go to the loot house or meet Felt! Her life depends on it! I'm counting on your help, sir!" I waved at him, leaving him stunned.