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3rd Pov

Back to starting point, Natsuki Subaru's face was pale. He barely held himself from throwing up.

'Why? Why? Why? Why? Why do I have to die again?!' he thought with unbridled anger, he wondered if he should have let Emilia die and escaped.

This death was more painful than previous one... Just because his consciousness lasted longer, his pain lasted longer.

Nothing is more painful than dying slowly.

A quick death is a mercy.

He took a deep breath to calm his raging heart 'If I were to follow everything that happened in previous loops then I will die again! The only way out of this situation is Reinhardt!'

He decided- Emilia or not! His most important goal was to find Od Lugana's Sugar child and get his help.

First, he decided to return to the same alley, his reason being that in the last loop of original timeline, Reinhardt appeared there.

"Oh boys! See what we have got! A new prey!"

He was again met with the thieves, he quickly yelled "Reinhardt! Help me!"

The three thieves froze on their tracks and became defensive.

Then they waited for two, three, four, five seconds... Nothing happened.

Zero's face became red with anger, wondering if Reinhardt has lost all of his Divine Protections.

"Trying to bluff your way out of this?! Not a chance!"

One thief took out two knives and rushed towards him.

Suddenly Zero dodged it, kicked in his legs making him falling.

"Let's get him!"

The other two tried to attack, but soon they found themselves wailing with pain on the ground, and their knives confiscated.

'Is it me? Or I am way stronger than before... Of course, I am stronger than before!' Subaru thought.

As he focused, he could see time slowing down for him, it was a very minute change however he could notice it.

His eyesight too was better... a lot better than before, his hearing was better as well and if he focuses, he can feel his smelling to be better as well.

His strength, his speed, everything about him was better.

'Is this another cheat? But I am supposed to only have Return by Death!' he thought with confusion.

Suddenly he met with a realization, 'Yes as Natsuki Subaru I have Return by Death, then this second ability must be because I am Ayan Ghosh!'

Whether Ayan Ghosh was a past life of Natsuki Subaru, or his souls have merged together to form his current self was questionable.

How it happened was again a big question mark, he didn't have much time to debate about it, but now that he thinks it isn't far fetched that whatever has transmigrated him might have given him another cheat.

'System! Golden finger! Aladdin's lamp!' he thought in his mind, attempting to see if it works.

"System" he muttered but he got no response.

'I don't have a system, so my cheat- According to everything that has happened till now is- Getting stronger with each death. All my abilities, and senses are increased after my death' he thought.

As for how strong he got, or whether this ability was permanent or had any limits.

He didn't know.

He sighed and muttered "It doesn't matter, I still can't defeat her. My focus should be finding out Reinhardt"

So, he got into the mission, he started looking around and even asked people about Reinhardt.

But he got replies like this-

"Don't know"

"Why do you think I will know this Reinhardt guy?"

"Never seen him before"

When he decided to be more specific and asked about 'Reinhardt who is Sword Saint' he received a look from people, as if he was stupid and a harsh reply "Fuck off!"

"Damn it! I don't get it! Where is Reinhardt?... Don't tell me he is out of the Capital!" he said and soon was taken with fear.

'Then what should I do? How will I defeat Elsa? If I don't stop her, she will kill Emilia- and her spirit daddy will kill everyone!'

Suddenly an answer came to him.

"Can I kill her?" he said to himself.

He has grown stronger from his two deaths, now that he recalls he could remember himself to much stronger in the first loop as compared to when he had been killed by the thugs.

His mouth became dry and he looked at the evening sun set.

"I don't have much time- Let's see if I can do something"

He ran towards Old Man Rom's place, alas this time due to him searching for Reinhardt he was too late, and by the time he arrived he saw three corpses lying on the ground and the Bowel Hunter.

"You have seen this- Thus I can only kill you" Elsa said before charging towards him.

He narrowly dodged her first attack, taking her by surprise and kicked her, however she swung her dragger and separated his leg from his body.

"Aghhhhh!!!!" Natsuki screamed in pain as he fell on the floor, blood leaked out of his amputated leg.

"Fufu... What a delightful scream! I wonder- How your gut's colour is!" she gave a sadistic reply before calmly moving towards him with seductive steps.

"Pleasseee- Someone- Ghukkk" Zero's throat was cut by her dragger and next moment his guts.

'It hurts! It hurst! Pleasee! Someone! Save me!' he cried in his mind, tears staining his cheek.

Elsa licked her lips seeing him slowly dying, a euphoric look appeared in her face.

Slowly, life faded from his eyes.

Natsuki Subaru has died for the third time. (*8)

...

"*Huff* *Huff*" Natsuki panted as he returned by death, again.

'What should I do? Just what should I do?!' he screamed internally.

This time he again died slowly... if not for the fact that his throat was cut open, he would have died even more slowly.

He was shaken by it- Indeed shaken?

'Am I not supposed to be traumatized? I just have died three times!' he thought.

He again took a deep breath, and wondered what should he do.

He tried to find Reinhardt... However, he isn't here!

Take help from some other knight? He shook his head.

They will eat him alive before helping him!

He knew that the current state of Lugunica wasn't good.

Last thing he wanted to deal with was sadistic corrupt knights!

'First things First! Let me test if I have gotten stronger... Again' he thought and headed back to the alley where he is supposed to meet the thugs.

Once he approached the alley, he again met the thugs.

"Oh boy! A lamb walking right into-" his words were cut short as Subaru delivered a full powered punch on his cheek.

He spectacularly fell on the ground and coughed blood and some broken teeth.

"What?!" the second was about to take his knife when Subaru grabbed both of his hands... and gave him a headbutt.

*Splurt*

Blood shot out of his head as the thug started bleeding heavily while Subaru gritted his teeth in pain.

The third thief seeing his friends being dispatched easily quickly screamed "Spare me! I will give you, my money!"

Subaru stopped and grinned- Just as thief was about to relax, he received a kick on his groin.

*Crack*

His pant was covered with blood and he released a blood wrenching scream before falling down.

Subaru gave his signature mean eyes, before scooping the knives and money from them and then going on his way.

Soon he reached Old Man Rom's building and knocked on the door.

"Tell the code" He heard from inside.

"Bowel Hunter is after you- If you don't want to die then better let me in"

There was silence, Subaru wondered if he would let him in... and then the door opened with Rom on guard holding a spiked club.

"Better tell me what's your intention, otherwise you won't be making out alive" he threatened Subaru with a cold glare.

"How about you let me in first?" Subaru responded, wondering to himself if he believed the threat or not.

Rom grunted and let him in, once they were seated on the chairs he said "Felt made deal with the Bowel hunter to steal the insignia that indicates whether a person is a dragon priestess"

Rom's face became pale hearing it and he said "Her client is the infamous Bowel hunter? Damn brat! I told her it was suspicious when someone was offering 10 Holy coins for a mere insignia- which shows the dragon priestess?!"

He was enraged, and rightfully so. Felt had gotten them into very big trouble, Subaru couldn't help but share his feelings.

If not for the fact that Subaru died several times to save Felt, she would have died a dog's death.

"I am making an offer" Subaru said garnering his attention and then continued "I will give you twenty Holy coins... When Felt arrives here, she shall take the money and hand that insignia over to me- and then you two make a run for it and so do I"

Rom frowned and said "I still don't believe you completely, however if you are offering me money... I guess I can believe in you"

Subaru chuckled seeing how money was solving things again- Soon Felt arrived and was surprised by Subaru's presence.

"Old man, who is he?" she asked curious.

However, Rom was in hurry "Listen Felt- That man is offering us twenty Royal coins for the insignia, we take it and give him the insignia and quickly make a run for it"

Felt realized something was wrong and she quickly asked "Why?"

"The client is the bowel hunter- I want to yell at you and want to explain everything, however the time is running out. We take twenty Holy Coins and make a run for it" he said.

Felt was shocked, she wanted to question further however seeing Rom's look she obediently handed the insignia to Subaru who gave her the money.

She checked it with relief and he nodded "Very well, I shall leave- If I wait here any longer I fear She will be here"

He quickly put the insignia in his pocket and left, he didn't care anymore what happened to Felt or Rom.

His priority was to find Emilia and get out of the slums.

As he walking, he saw a familiar figure and his eyes widened 'Damn it! It's Elsa!'

She moved her hips seductively as she walked, however it wasn't attractive at all- rather he felt fear.

He tried to act normally and walk away, as he passed by her, he sighed in relief

"Stop" suddenly he heard her voice and froze.

She turned around and so did he, and he asked nervously "Do you want something Miss?"

"How interesting, I sense fear from you. But it's the first time I am meeting you, so care to enlighten me?" she asked with curiosity, a beautiful smile formed on her seductive lips.

"You see I have a bad history with beautiful women, so I can't help but fear you" Subaru replied, his brain worked faster, and he felt smarter and felt that the reply was best.

Even in this pressure he someone managed to utter a good reply "Is that so? What an interesting man you are, whatever I have something to do" she said deciding to ignore him

As relief took over Natsuki and he turned around- his face turned pale, he saw Emilia.

"Um Sir, have you seen a blonde girl? She had stolen my insignia" Emilia said looking at him, then seeing his face pale she misunderstood it as the fact he was fearful because of her.

"Sorry, I won't disturb you" she bowed and decided to walk towards the place where some kids have guided towards.

"Wait a minute, an insignia you say?" Elsa turned around and looked at Elsa, whose eyes lit up and she nodded "Yes! An insignia! That girl has stolen it from me!"

Elsa calmly took out her draggers intending to finish her, when puck came out of the crystal and said "Careful Lia! That woman wants to kill us!"

"Kill us?! Why?!" Emilia asked distraught, she wondered if it was due to her appearance.

"I don't know and neither I care, she wants to hurt you? She will have to go through me!" Puck said.

Subaru meanwhile was in dilemma; in the end he gave up.

'Leave it! Puck's time is soon going to be over! He probably won't return till daytime! I can escape!' He thought and started running away.

However he heard footsteps following him, he looked back to find it to be Elsa's.

"Why?!" he screamed in despair.

'Since I have no choice but to fight!' he turned around and took out his two knives.

"My, my wanting to fight with me? With two knives as well?" Elsa licked her lips.

She swung her dragger, Natsuki dodged- then again, and again!

Elsa became surprised seeing him dodging her attacks, even if it was casual ones.

"It seems you are not half bad- I need to get serious it seems" Elsa said and her movements became a blur.

Subaru could barely see her, and formed a cross with his hands only for them to be cut off-

Next moments his guts were split open and he was drowning in his own puddle of blood.

"Emilia?" he muttered and looked to find Puck grabbing Emilia and flying away despite her protests.

He smiled- It was a sad smile.

'Yes, what did I expect? To her, I have never met her and I also ran away like a coward' he thought.

But soon his thoughts took a turn 'But is it wrong to not want to die? It hurts! It hurts!' he thought as his life slowly faded away.

Natsuki Subaru has died for the fourth time. (*16)

To be continued...

(A/N: This is the second part of the same chapter)