re:zero kara ayamatsu isekai seikatsu

Published on April Fools of 2017, Tappei Nagatsuki wrote a chapter, commonly known as Ayamatsu or Pride IF. The point of divergence from the main story is Subaru's fourth return-by-death, where Reinhard saves Subaru from hoodlums and ultimately goes on to save him from Elsa. In this timeline, Reinhard doesn't show up to aid Subaru in the alley, as he never chooses to relegate his dignity and call for help. At the absolute rock bottom, Subaru finds that the only way he can go is up, and bound by his own pride, he resolves to "save" Emilia by any means necessary, bringing himself down a much darker path.

This tag implicates re:zero_kara_hajimeru_isekai_seikatsu (learn more).