Chapter 1: A New World

Subaru Natsuki was a normal high school student who loved video games and anime. He had no special talents or ambitions, and he was content with his mundane life. He had just finished buying some snacks at a convenience store when he felt a strange sensation in his chest. He looked around and saw that everything was fading away. He tried to scream, but no sound came out. He felt like he was falling into a dark abyss.

When he opened his eyes again, he found himself in a different world. He was in a medieval city full of people dressed in colorful clothes. He saw horses, carts, shops, and buildings that looked like they came out of a fantasy novel. He felt a surge of excitement and curiosity. He wondered if he had been summoned to this world as a hero or a chosen one.

He decided to explore the city and look for clues about his situation. He walked around the streets, admiring the sights and sounds. He noticed that some people looked at him with curiosity or suspicion, while others ignored him completely. He realized that he stood out with his modern clothes and backpack. He wondered if he could find someone who could speak his language and explain what was going on.

He saw a large fountain in the middle of a plaza. He approached it and saw that it had a statue of a woman holding a sword and a shield. She had long hair and a beautiful face. She looked like a goddess or a queen. He read the inscription on the base of the statue. It said:

> In memory of Emilia, the half-elf who sacrificed her life to save the world from the Witch of Envy.

Subaru felt a pang of sadness and familiarity. He remembered that Emilia was the name of the silver-haired girl who had saved him from some thugs when he first arrived in this world. She had been kind and gentle to him, and he had felt an instant attraction to her. She had also introduced him to her companion, Puck, a cute cat-like spirit who could control ice magic.

He wondered what had happened to them after they parted ways. He had promised to meet them again at the loot house, where they were going to retrieve Emilia's stolen insignia, a royal candidate's proof of eligibility for the throne. But before he could reach there, he had been killed by someone in a hooded cloak who had stabbed him in the back.

He had then woken up at the same place where he had first met Emilia, as if nothing had happened. He had realized that he had somehow gained the ability to return by death, which allowed him to rewind time every time he died. He had used this ability to try to save Emilia and himself from various dangers, such as the thugs, the hooded assassin, and the Witch Cult, a fanatical group that worshipped the Witch of Envy, a legendary evil being who had destroyed half of the world 400 years ago.

He had also learned that Emilia was one of the five candidates for the royal selection, a process that would determine the next ruler of Lugnica, the kingdom where they were in. She was also the spitting image of the Witch of Envy, which made her hated and feared by many people. She had told him that she wanted to become king to change the world for the better and to prove herself worthy of her insignia, which was actually a dragon's scale that bound her to a contract with Volcanica, the dragon who protected Lugnica.

Subaru had vowed to help Emilia achieve her goal and to protect her from anyone who would harm her. He had fallen in love with her and confessed his feelings to her several times. She had always rejected him politely, saying that she was grateful for his support but she could not reciprocate his feelings. She had also asked him not to die for her sake, as it would make her sad.

Subaru had ignored her requests and continued to die and retry until he could find a way to save everyone and make her happy. He had faced many hardships and enemies along the way, such as Elsa Granhiert, a sadistic assassin who loved to cut open people's bellies; Betelgeuse Romanee-Conti, the mad leader of the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth; Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti (yes another one), Betelgeuse's lover who possessed Subaru's body using her Authority of Lust; Reinhard van Astrea, Lugnica's strongest knight who could use any divine protection or blessing; Roswaal L Mathers, Emilia's sponsor and Lugnica's most powerful mage who had ulterior motives for supporting her; Garfiel Tinsel, an aggressive half-beast boy who guarded the Sanctuary, a barrier that trapped half-bloods inside; Echidna, the Witch of Greed who offered Subaru a contract in exchange for his memories; Satella, the Witch of Envy herself who appeared before Subaru and told him that she loved him; and many more.

He had also made many friends and allies along the way, such as Rem, Ram's twin sister who initially hated him but later fell in love with him after he saved her from Betelgeuse; Ram, Rem's twin sister who initially hated him but later respected him after he saved her from Petelgeuse; Otto Suwen, a merchant who could talk to animals and plants; Garfiel Tinsel (yes again), who became Subaru's friend after Subaru helped him overcome his past trauma; Frederica Baumann, Garfiel's older sister who worked as Roswaal's maid; Beatrice, Roswaal's library keeper who was actually one of Echidna's artificial spirits; Patrasche, Subaru's loyal earth dragon who carried him around; Wilhelm van Astrea (yes another one), Reinhard's grandfather who was also known as the Sword Demon; Crusch Karsten (yes another one), one of Emilia's rivals for the throne who became Subaru's ally after he helped her defeat Betelgeuse; Felix Argyle (yes another one), Crusch's knight who was also known as Ferris or Ferri-chan; Anastasia Hoshin (yes another one), another one of Emilia's rivals for the throne who became Subaru's ally after he helped her escape from Petelgeuse; Julius Juukulius (yes another one), Anastasia's knight who was also known as Jules or Juli; Priscilla Barielle (yes another one), yet another one of Emilia's rivals for...