Chapter 9: Waiting room

A/N: Hey readers I have made some additions and corrections, small ones but still.

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As the darkness slowly disappeared and his senses returning. He opened his eyes to see what happened after his death.

But what he saw in his view shocked him.

It wasn't a stall the market or an alley or even the capital for that matter.

No.

What was in front of him were shelves filled with figures and books, a T.V, a nightstand and some flowers and potted plants in a big dark room with the only light source was the moons light, which he currently was sitting inside on a chair behind a desk.

As he looks around more, unsure if it was really that place, but then when he looked at the desk he was sitting behind, he was now sure what this place was.

On the desk was a picture frame, along with a white flower in a vase and a sand hourglass, with a timer that said [4:57] that continued to count down.

Besides the hourglass, everything else was all too familiar to him.

'This is my room.'

After coming to that realization, he firmly shook his head.

'No this can't be my real room, this is probably just a copy.'

He looked behind, too see that there were no buildings, or anything at all, all that was there was darkness and a singular white orb that illuminated this room.

-Ding

Turning his attention back to the front, trying to find what the source of that *ding* was.

Looking around he found the source. The hourglass sounded off like an alarm or notification, he lifted it up to inspect it.

[3:47]

That was time on it. He didn't fully know what this timer was for, but he had some guesses, but something else got his attention when he lifted the hourglass.

A small folded up piece of paper laid there. Picking it up he unfolded to see what the contents were.

As he read the contents of it, he couldn't help but feel a bit solemn and nostalgic.

[The timer will tell you how long you will stay here for! When the timer hits zero a magical door opens up with a *poof*! And you will return to the real world! =)]

He couldn't help but smile a little bit, and be a bit annoyed. With a sigh he put the note down.

He looked towards the picture frame. The image shows him with a small girl shorter than him not even reaching his shoulders, with long white hair and blue eyes. Both of them were wearing matching shirts with designs saying.

[I love my lovable and geeky brother - > <- I love my spoiled energetic princess of a sister.]

Holding it up he looked at it with a happy albeit solemn face filled with regret as he smiles gently before putting it back.

-Ding

Another ding sounded as he looked at the hourglass again.

[2:53]

Kei took a deep breath and got comfy in his chair, he looked at the picture again and sighed with a smile.

"So this was your doing, huh? *Sigh* you were always bad at giving presents or gifts to me."

A small chuckle escape his mouth, he knew only one person in his life that would write something like this, as well as had a smiley face.

He reminisced about the multiple presents and gifts she gave him… which put made his expression wry.

He could only shiver at the memory of the multiple 'great' presents she gave him, some were horrifying.

'Oh those horrible doll.'

After reminiscing and stopping the chill in his body, his face became thoughtful as a question appeared on his head.

'If this was really her doing, how was she able to achieve such a thing.'

His first guess was that she met a R.O.B (Random omnipotent being.) and was given the power to do so, which was probably the correct guess.

Also why did she choose this world out if everything?! He groaned as he massaged his head. Which frankly he shouldn't be surprised.

It may not have been her. Which I somewhat believe, if not for the fact that she likes this stupid world of re: zero so much that she practically broke open his door with a crowbar when refused.

With a sigh he looked again at the timer.

-Ding

[1:57]

Seeing the timer he let a breath and focused on his main issue.

Now that he knows that he was going reset along with Subaru or so he thinks, he gave out a sigh before groaning again.

'Welp, no matter how I hate it. I will have to help out that moron. It was at the least nice thinking of a simple life without much blood. Why of all worlds'

With a sigh. And a last check of the hourglass.

[1:32]

He begins to think about his next action specifically.

'Should I let Subaru die again this time?'

He thought about, and decided not to.

'For now I will just complete the second loop and decide on what to do in the future.'

He was only going to do this once for now. He wasn't going help Subaru all the time, just some things.

Subaru needs to die and go through hardship on his own in some aspects, he needed it to develop and get albeit a little more used to it.

Kei knows Subaru has a strong will and would not stop until he saves those that are precious to him. But to do that, Kei needed him have a strong resolve and not quit.

Kei knows that Subaru is a normal person (with some issues). And unlike him, Subaru never really experience much violence and pain before, which might result in him breaking due to something very traumatic.

That was why he was going to help him in situations that might result in him breaking beyond repair. He needs to prevent such things as he is tagging along with his [return by death].

He would rather not go through an absolute bullshit amount of loops, not with the possible what if's. Specifically Ayamatsu.

Now that his decision on his actions decided. There was one more issue left.

Elsa.

He would probably just have Subaru scream like a damsel and get the attention of Reinhard. Then convince him to help with the search for Emilia's insignia.

If for some reason he was busy or preoccupied with something and comes in the slums late, then he will have to contend and stall Elsa.

He has the power to do so. His divine protection.

[Moon's Blessing]

A versatile power. It enhances all of his abilities and natural capabilities, it also let's him see aura's, and finally it gives him the ability to absorb blows and attacks and fire it back.

These enhancements and abilities become further strengthened depends on a factor though. The factor being time. During the day, boost he gains are pretty mild but at knight, the boost becomes superhuman. His power also grows slowly as the day goes by.

The abilities this blessing gives him are beyond useful, especially the version of moon slice, which like it's original version, requires a medium of sort to use. Fortunately the medium can any physical object, but the power of the counter strike depends on the type of medium used, for example if he were to use a simply short stick, then the power would be equal to that of a bat swung by an athletic body builder. Also if the medium wasn't durable enough to handle it, then it would be destroyed or break.

But it all depends on the amount of energy he absorb really.

There is also another factor in place. And that would be that he get's even stronger if a moon was present, and depending on the shape he's strength varies, with his most powerful at a full moon.

And also for some strange reason, his hair turns white. He doesn't know why exactly, but kind of a big indicator of his power.

Anyways.

In his first confrontation with Elsa, they were pretty much matched except in the strength department, he had the upper hand in that.

'God, I realize this is like a werewolf versus a vampire.'

He shook his head at that, he didn't want to be furry.

Thankfully the divine protection's effect still works no matter if he was under a roof or not. As long as it was night and the moon was present, he would get the full effect of it. And not to mention his counter attack, and his other most helpful ability, which is so helpful, that it could not be describe as anything else but a blessing.

With his thoughts done he looked at the timer again to see that it was almost about time.

[0:37]

Seems like he was too busy think to notice the *Ding*. He sat down and waited for the hourglass to hit zero.

[0:04]

[0:03

[0.02

[0.01

[00.00]

-Beep – beep – beep

As soon as the alarm went off, the door in front opened up revealing nothing more than a seemingly light filled hall.

Getting up he headed towards the open door and before he exited he looked behind him and took another look at the copy of his room before shaking his head.

'I'm going to be seeing this room a lot anyways.'

And with that he entered the door.

As the light blinded him and feeling of touch vanished, a warm feeling embraced him, and soon he lost consciousness.

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Opening his eyes he was greeted to see not an alley, but the lady who he sold one of his knives too.

"Hey, can you sell it to me?, I am willing to pay double if you want."

Hearing the suggestion, he can confirm that he was really back. He looked to his side and saw Subaru who seemed to be having some hearing problems.

"Hey."

Turning his attention back to the stall owner who was looking at him confusingly.

"So, do we have a deal?"

"Yes."

(A/N: Changed the price: 1 holy gold coin= 50 gold, 1 gold= 50 silver, and 1 silver= 50 copper.

With a smile on her face and a shake of hands, he received his money and a wave and went towards Subaru.

"Hey Subaru."

Calling out to him, Subaru turned towards with a confuse face.

"I need to talk to you about something in private."

"Huh? Why?"

Subaru was confused, but when he saw the seriousness in Kei's face, he nodded.

"Hey, are you this guys friend."

Kei turned his attention to the fruit stand owner.

"10 appas."

(A/N: Changed the price to 20 copper and the appas to 10)

Pulling out a 2 silver coins, the fruit stand owner smiled and then proceeded to put them in a paper bag and handed them to him.

Why was he buying them exactly? He wanted to try them.

Kei hid his sword as the duo went to a secluded area in the market.

"So what did you to talk about?"

Kei's face became serious, which seems to have made Subaru anxious.

"Subaru… Why did the world reset?"

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A/N: Cliffhanger