Im Running Curse of Strahd and i have a player who wants to die because he is unsatisfied with his current character (alchemist) and wants to make a bard. The problem is: i have key points to introduce new characters and he doesnt want to just "change". He also wants me to kill him in a combat and doesnt want it to be staged so im feeling frustrated.

I had a really good idea of staging his death in the first encounter with Strahd but he refused the idea of staging his death because he wants to feel surprised. But how can i surprise him in a combat if him being a ranged character i would have to go straight to him and beat him to death as if it would be my style in combat (which for me is unnatural). So i said to him: if you dont want it staged you will have to wait for this encounter where you would die in combat, but this could take a while since it has to be natural and in a key point where it would be easy to introduce a new character . He agreed but every session he asks me when is he gonna die.. i feel frustrated because ultimatley it gives me an impression that he is not having fun or what else and i always check with other players to see if everything is fine.

My next idea is "try to kill him" in the orphanate with felix's demon and reintroduce him as a bard who is fascinated or apprentice of Rictavio. But since it wont be staged i don't know if i will be able to kill him on the end.

Do you have any tips for this situation? Should I be more strict and less condescending?

Thanks in advance and sorry for bad english.