Re Zero DMMS 101 (Patreon)

[Ding! Avenger has been triggered, gained Free Attribute Point × 1]

[Host detected to have been killed by a key plot character, gained Bonus Reward × 1]

[Ding! Congratulations to the host for gaining System Gacha Attempt × 1]

Kenma opened his eyes. However, what came into view was not the divine dragon he had expected, but a resplendent palace.

This is... Priscilla's palace? Or the main hall?

In other words, the current time point is located after defeating Al, when heading to find Priscilla.

Realizing that the time he had reverted to seemed to be much earlier, a hint of bewilderment appeared in his eyes.

Strange, didn't Satella set my spawn point right before death this time?

Could it be that she didn't understand what I meant this time?

For a long time, the tacit understanding between Kenma and Satella had been beyond words.

As the controller of the save points, Satella was always able to accurately transport him to the time point he wanted to go to, never wasting his own time.

Logically speaking, this time Satella would probably transport him back to the time point of stopping Al based on the scene before him.

But why? Why was he transported here?

A trace of doubt arose in Kenma's heart, and it quickly took root and sprouted.

Something must be wrong.

His beast-like formidable intuition told Kenma that this was most likely not an ordinary save error. There must be some hidden story behind it.

Thinking up to this point, he immediately pulled out his flesh greatsword and delivered a powerful slash at his own neck.

He wanted to reload again to see what on earth was going on with all this.

...

[Ding! Suicide behavior detected from the host, unable to trigger Avenger, did not gain Free Attribute Point.]

Kenma looked at Al kowtowing on the floor in front of him, feeling completely numb all over.

"Brother... No, Big Bro, Dad, Grandpa! I know you're going to release an AoE attack next, let's not fight anymore, alright, I'm begging you!"

This was originally a touching scene of a man kneeling and begging for mercy for the person he loved. Now, in Kenma's eyes, it conveyed an extremely ominous message.

If I remember correctly... This time point is even earlier than just now?!

What on earth is going on here!

For the first time, a sense of unease arose in Kenma's heart.

No, there must be a problem with some link!

Right, I can still summon Satella!

His pupils shrank abruptly, and he grabbed Al, who was still kneeling and begging for mercy, speaking word by word, "Al, I can Return by Dea..."

Before he could finish his words, all-encompassing black fog covered the surrounding space, and the entire world plunged into dimness.

That familiar figure covered in black fog and a veil emerged from within the black fog.

"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love—"

"Stop, stop! Stop chanting for a second!"

The continuous identical phrase made Kenma feel his temples throbbing, and he helplessly reached out to interrupt Satella's repeater mode.

He looked upward, through the veil and black fog, locking eyes with those amethyst-like eyes.

"Satella, did you have a problem with the death save points? Has your power weakened again? Or could it be..."

Kenma stared at Satella's unconsciously clenched hands, his tone somewhat stiff. "You can't find me anymore?"

"..."

After a while, the black fog surged and Satella opened her mouth.

"Save me, or..."

"Kill me."

"What?!"

Kenma abruptly raised his head, reaching out to press down on Satella's shoulders, but only pressed into a mass of black fog.

"What happened to you! Satella!"

However, Satella did not continue to answer.

Although her face was hidden beneath the black fog, Kenma still keenly sensed that she seemed to be conveying painful emotions.

Just as he wanted to say something more, the surrounding black fog retreated wildly, and Satella disappeared without a trace.

"Satella!"

Gazing at the black fog dissipating across the sky, Kenma stood frozen in place, crimson light flashing in his eyes.

What the hell is all this?!

The Witch of Envy, Satella, was a powerful existence capable of destroying the entire world—yet someone was actually able to threaten her?!

Reinhard? But he had no motive to threaten Satella.

Damn it! Playing the riddle-maker again?!

Kenma felt very irritated.

His figure flashed, disappearing on the spot.

The fastest way to solve the problem before him was to summon Satella once more and see if he could extract some useful clues.

When he appeared again, he had already arrived at the location of the main hall.

Priscilla was seated on a chair. Seeing Kenma arrive, she unfolded her folding fan.

"Natsuki Subaru? You arrived even earlier than this concubine expected... Huh?!"

A suppression from deep within the soul came crashing down. Priscilla—or rather, Capella disguised as Priscilla—collapsed onto the ground, unable to move.

Kenma activated the mount contract deep within the soul, sneering, "From today on, you are my exclusive mount, Capella. If you refuse, I'll crush your soul right now."

In less than two seconds, Capella, the Sin Archbishop of Lust, accepted the fact that she had become someone else's mount. Though refusing wasn't an option anyway.

Looking at the docile Capella, Kenma pondered internally.

It seemed that the soul contracts produced from Echidna's side allowed him to decide whether the contract itself was immune to the time reversion of Return by Death.

In other words, as long as he used the various contracts created by Echidna to sign with others, then as long as he wished, even if Return by Death teleported him back to when he first arrived in the other world, he could still unconditionally enslave Capella and Echidna.

Since that was settled... Let's get down to business!

Kenma had already put the matter of making an Al-brand divine dragon aside. There were more important things to do right now.

He gazed at Capella, speaking calmly, "Capella, I have Return by Death."