[Death Detected. Death Count: 4]
[Restarting Loop…]
The fire cracked quietly. The forest was still. Moonlight streamed through the trees like nothing had ever gone wrong.
Guinevere was resting again, her arms folded, leaning gently against the large stone. Her long lashes flickered slightly as if she'd drifted into a light sleep.
Lucian stood there for a long second. Then he dropped to his knees. His throat closed up. His breath hitched.
And tears began to fall.
"…Forgive me," he whispered. His hands trembled as he clenched them against the earth. "Please… forgive me…"
He crawled toward her, head bowed low, voice broken. "I didn't mean to use you… or her… or anyone. I just didn't know what to do…"
The weight of the last loop hit him like a landslide. The look of disgust in Guinevere's. And the silence that followed when he died—again.
"I thought I needed to survive," he choked. "I thought… I had to win. That I could treat you all like tools and it would just… fix everything."
He gently rested his head on her lap, tears soaking through her robe. She didn't move. But somehow, she felt warmer now, like she was listening.
His voice shook. "I've died four times now. Four… and I still haven't figured it out. I don't know how to protect you, Guinevere. I don't even know how to protect myself."
A strange calm settled in the clearing. Then, her voice—soft, almost dreamlike—echoed in his mind.
"I'm thankful you saved me, Lucian…"
His eyes widened.
"You don't even know me. And still, you stood up."
The system told me to save you...
"Don't cry, Lucian…"
"Don't cry…"
"Even if you're alone… you have to be strong."
Lucian's breath hitched again. I'm not strong. I'm a coward.
I was given this system, this power… and the first thing I did was abuse it.
He gritted his teeth and held her tighter. I don't deserve her trust or Airi's loyalty. But I can't waste another life.
Airi stood nearby, watching silently. Her arms were crossed over her chest. Her expression unreadable.
"…Master?" she said softly.
Lucian didn't look up.
"I don't understand everything," Airi continued, stepping closer. "But… I think you're doing your best. You're just scared."
Lucian laughed weakly. "Scared doesn't begin to cover it."
Airi knelt beside him. "Then let me be your strength. That's what I was made for, wasn't I?"
He finally looked up, eyes bloodshot, but clearer.
I'm not alone, he realized. Even if I screw up, I can change. I have to change.
He wiped his face slowly. Then sat upright beside Guinevere, watching the fire with tired but steady eyes.
"One more time," he whispered.
[Death Detected. Death Count: 5]
[Restarting Loop…]
Lucian stood still, the firelight flickering in his eyes. No panic this time. Just calm silence… and a dumb idea.
He turned to Guinevere and said with a straight face, "Take off your clothes."
Guinevere blinked. "...What did you just say?"
"All of it," he added. "Even the one underneath."
Her jaw dropped. "Y-You pervert! Have you finally lost your mind?!"
Lucian raised both hands quickly. "No! Listen—it's not what you think!"
Airi tilted her head. "Master, do you require assistance stripping her?"
"No! No one's stripping anyone!" Lucian sighed, rubbing his temples. "It's for the plan, I swear."
Guinevere folded her arms, still covering her chest out of reflex. "What kind of twisted plan involves me being naked?"
Lucian looked between the two girls and dropped to a whisper. "They're tracking you every time. No matter what we do, someone finds this campsite. But what if you weren't a princess anymore? What if you looked like just another traveler?"
Guinevere frowned. "…You want me to act like a peasant?"
"An adventurer," he corrected. "And nobody suspects an adventurer wandering the woods half-dressed in a panic."
"…That's somehow worse."
Lucian ignored the jab and turned to Airi. "Help her change and make it look rough, like you've been in the wild for days. Scrape some dirt on her cheeks, undo that braid and make her forgettable."
Airi nodded. "Understood. Will she need to carry a weapon?"
"I—wait, do I get a say in this?!" Guinevere shouted.
"No," Lucian replied.
She went silent. Her face paled slightly, then she sighed. "Fine. But I swear if you look—"
"I won't," Lucian cut in.
Guinevere turned around with a loud hmph, cheeks burning, while Airi began gently helping her.
Lucian stood by the fire, rubbing his neck. Then, without hesitation, he untied the white suit Airi had wrapped around his waist.
He held it out toward Guinevere. "Use this."
She turned slightly. "Wait… what are you going to wear then?"
"Nothing."
Her eyes widened. "Y-You're going to be naked?! Again?!"
Lucian shrugged. "No one tracks a naked man running through the forest. It's too stupid for assassins to expect."
"…That might actually work," Airi said thoughtfully.
Guinevere snatched the suit from his hands. "Whatever! But the second this is over, I'm sewing you a pair of pants."
Lucian chuckled. "That's the most princess-like thing you've said since I met you."
She turned away. "Shut up."
As the plan moved forward, Lucian sat beside the fire again—bare, cold, but finally… not afraid.
The torchlight moved past the trees, and heavy boots stomped against the forest floor.
Four armored knights stepped into the clearing, blades sheathed but hands resting cautiously on hilts.
"Who goes there?" the lead knight barked.
Lucian stepped forward, wearing nothing but dirt, leaves, and whatever pride he had left. "We're just a couple of lost travelers that got ambushed by bandits a while ago. We barely made it out."
The knight narrowed his eyes. "You seen a girl? Blonde hair, green eyes, and a royal crest. She was traveling with a man."
Lucian scratched his neck, feigning confusion. "We've been hiding for two days and saw nobody but squirrels and bad luck."
The knight gave him a long, suspicious glare. Then he looked over to Airi, who stood with a lowered gaze, protective arms around Guinevere—her hair now unbraided and wearing the white suit.
"...Tch. Waste of time. Let's go."
The knights turned and disappeared into the trees.
Silence.
Guinevere let out the breath she'd been holding. "...They're gone."
Lucian fell to his knees, laughing softly. "We did it. We actually—we did it."
[Quest Complete: Protect Guinevere Elowen]
[Final Death Count: 4 / 10]
[Target: Safe. Loop Cleared.]
[Congratulations, Lucian Wrenford.]
[You have survived the death loop and successfully cleared your second Main Quest.]
Now rewards!!!
[You may now choose 1 Primary Reward:]
A Grand Estate in Any Location
10,000 Gold Coins
Royal Marriage: Guinevere Elowen
Weapon: Random
Class Selection: Unique Starting Job
Upgrade System: Visual Scan, Language Auto-Translate, Combat Prediction
Learn Any One Ability Seen During Quest
Lucian stared at the glowing list. Each word shimmered like it was calling to him.
His eyes moved down the options. Gold… estate… upgrades...
But one line kept pulling his gaze back.
Class Selection: Unique Starting Job
He furrowed his brows. "Classes, huh?"
Lucian turned to Airi, who stood quietly nearby, her arms folded gently behind her back. "Hey, Airi. Can I ask you something?"
She looked at him. "Of course, Master. What do you need?"
"What exactly… are classes?" he asked. "Not like in school, but in this world."
Airi tilted her head thoughtfully, then nodded. "Ah, you mean combat classes—yes. In this world, everyone who trains or fights eventually leans into a class—a style of magic or combat that defines their path."
"Like a warrior or something?" he asked.
"Yes," she said, walking closer. "But much deeper than that. Your class is like your identity in battle. It determines how you fight, how you grow stronger, and which abilities will come easier to you. Some people are born into a class line, like royal battle-mages or bloodline knights. Others awaken one through a ritual or… in rare cases, a divine gift."
"So, what makes it unique then?" Lucian asked, pointing at the reward list.
Airi's voice softened. "A unique class… That's something only you can possess which means it's not found in textbooks and not taught by teachers. It means your path is yours alone—and no one else in this world will have it."
Lucian blinked. "…Seriously?"
She nodded. "You'll walk a path nobody understands. That's both power and burden."
He stared at the glowing prompt. All I've done is die, struggle, and get lucky. I don't need gold. I don't need land. I need something that helps me live.
"Alright then," he muttered. "Let's roll the dice."
[Reward Selected: Class Selection – Unique Starting Job]
[Analyzing Personality, Combat Behavior, and Decision History…]
[Class Granted: Blood Mage]
[Profile Updated.]
Lucian's eyes widened as a new screen flickered open:
---
Character Profile
Name: Lucian Wrenford
Age: 18
Race: Human
Class: Blood Mage (Unique)
Level: 3
Traits:
– Loopwalker (Passive): Loop every time you die
Weapon: None Equipped
Skill Slots: 3 (1 unlocked)
Spells Known:
– Blood Needle (Basic)
– Hemolock (Restrains target using blood)
---
Lucian stared at the profile for a long time. His heart was racing.
"Blood Mage…?" he whispered. "That sounds… intense."
He rubbed his wrist, remembering the sting of his last death.
"Master?" Airi stepped closer. "What happened? You froze for a moment."
He looked at her and smiled faintly. "I just leveled up, I guess."
Guinevere raised an eyebrow. "You're not glowing or anything. That's a weird way to level up."
Lucian laughed under his breath. Yeah… you'd never believe me if I told you.
He glanced at the girls. "Hey… how do you two level up?"
Airi tilted her head. "Hm? We just… train, fight, survive. Then one day, we feel a surge inside. Our bodies glow, and we just know we've grown stronger."
Guinevere nodded. "It's like a heartbeat pulsing louder. Why?"
Lucian looked away, smirking to himself.
So they don't have access to this system thingy…
He tapped the air, flicking through screens invisible to them.
Which means only I can see this. Only I can die and come back. Only I can change everything.
But from now on… I'm not just a guy running from death. I'm using every single one of them to come back stronger.