Subaru's eyes snapped open.
There was no dramatic flash of light, no booming voice, no "welcome to the new world" title card. Just silence. A quiet, dusty attic room where thin rays of sunlight slipped through cracked wooden shutters. The air smelled of old wood and dust. Subaru's body felt small—too small. Five years old. But his mind… his mind was the same. Every memory was still there, sharp and cruel.
Return by Death. The endless loop. The pain. The deaths. The screams. Emilia's face, Rem's tears, the white room where everything always reset. It all throbbed inside him like a wound that never healed.
But now… now he hadn't died again. At least not yet.
He sat up slowly. His body was weak, but unbroken. He didn't feel the usual cold terror that came after every death. This was… new. A completely new world. Not Re:Zero. Not the Witch's scent. Something else. Something… unfamiliar, yet strangely familiar.
"High School DxD…" he whispered to himself, because now he remembered. The anime. The series he had once watched. Devils, angels, fallen angels, dragons, harem… and a crimson-haired demon girl who changed everything.
But this wasn't anime. This was real. And he was stuck here.
Subaru was careful. Extremely careful.
For the first few months, he barely left the house—a small, remote Japanese village where he now lived. His grandfather (or rather, this new body's grandfather) was often away traveling, leaving Subaru alone most of the time. But he didn't waste the solitude. He thought. He planned. He learned.
He knew death in this world might be permanent. There was no guaranteed Return by Death safety net here—or at least, he didn't know if there was. He refused to take risks. He refused to die again. Never again.
He thought through everything. Every step. Every word. Every encounter. He watched the world cautiously, avoided dangerous places, made no noise, drew no attention. He lived like a normal child—but inside was a grown man who had already seen too much death.
And then, a few months after his fifth birthday…
**Deep in the forest**
Subaru walked alone through the woods—not out of adventure, but because he wanted to fetch water from the stream at the village edge. But something… called him. A strange, warm sensation in his chest. The tattoo—the one he had already felt on his skin the moment he arrived in this body—pulsed faintly.
Among the trees, an old man suddenly appeared. Long white hair, blue cloak, staff in hand. But his eyes… his eyes were young. Too young for such an ancient face.
"You're the one," the old man said softly, smiling. "The boy who doesn't belong here."
Subaru froze. Instinctively he took a step back, but he didn't run. He knew—if this was Merlin—running would be pointless.
"Who are you?" Subaru asked carefully, though his voice didn't shake.
The old man smiled wider.
"I am Merlin. And you… Subaru Natsuki… do not belong in this world. Yet here you are. And you haven't died even once. You're very cautious. Impressive."
Subaru's heart pounded.
"You know who I am?"
"I see your soul," Merlin said simply. "And I see the mark on your heart. That tattoo no one understands. Not even me… yet. But you… you are interesting. Very interesting."
Subaru was silent for a long moment. Then he took a deep breath.
"If you know who I am… then you know what I've been through. You know what Return by Death means. And you know I don't want to experience it again."
Merlin nodded.
"Yes. That's exactly why I'm here. Not to use you. But to help you survive this world. Because this world… is crueler than you think. And you… are too valuable to lose."
Subaru narrowed his eyes.
"Why me? Why do I interest you?"
Merlin's smile turned sad.
"Because you've already been broken once. And yet you kept standing. Because you never give up. And because… I've seen too much death myself. Perhaps… together we can be stronger."
Subaru stared at the ancient wizard for a long time. Then, slowly, he nodded.
"Fine. Teach me. But on one condition."
Merlin raised an eyebrow.
"What is it?"
"I will never rely on Return by Death. If I die here… I die. For good. I don't want that ability to be my safety net. I'd rather be careful… and strong."
Merlin was silent for a moment. Then he smiled—genuine and proud this time.
"Then let us begin."
And so Subaru's new life in this world started.
Carefully. Thoughtfully. Strongly.
And he never died again.
…yet.