Lucian crouched low behind a fallen cart, his eyes darting across the open field that stretched before the massive wall of the border.
He was still trying to piece together the best route. Maybe if they went through the dry trench near the left slope… Or perhaps if they distracted the guards with something loud—
Then, something cold ran down his spine.
He turned around.
And there it was.
An entire battalion of knights. Armored in black and red, with dark banners waving gently behind them.
Their helmets bore the sigil of the royal family of Eldoria—he didn't need a second glance to know. They were riding fast, and they were coming straight toward the border wall.
No... No, no, no... They found us again?! But how?! We didn't even do anything yet!
He stood quickly and looked around in panic. "Guinevere! Airi! We have to run, now!"
"What's going on—" Guinevere started, but Lucian had already grabbed her wrist.
"No time! Just run!"
They sprinted toward the edge of the forest. The trees could shield them. Maybe they'd have a chance to hide, or even fight if needed.
Lucian's heart pounded as the hooves of horses crushed the ground behind them. The sound was getting closer, louder, like thunder chasing them down.
They weaved through branches and leapt over roots.
Lucian pushed Guinevere ahead and turned to make sure Airi was right behind.
Then, everything went quiet.
A sharp, slicing pain exploded in his chest.
Lucian stumbled.
He looked down.
A spearhead was sticking out of his heart, the metal slick and hot with his blood.
What...? Again...? Not now... I was so close…
He fell forward, the forest spinning around him, blurring with Guinevere's scream as everything dimmed.
[Death Detected. Death Count: 1]
[Quest Failed: Target Eliminated.]
[Restarting Loop…]
Lucian's breath caught in his throat as he blinked and suddenly found himself back near the wall.
It had all been reset.
Lucian's eyes shot open as he found himself crouched beside a child's corpse.
"Oh—shit!" Lucian jerked back and stumbled. He placed a hand over his heart, feeling it beat wildly inside his chest.
Damn it, that spear went right through my heart last time. That pain... I can still feel it.
He gritted his teeth as he stood up and brushed the dirt off his clothes. Airi glanced at him, but he gave her a quick nod to dismiss the worry in her eyes.
He turned to glance at Guinevere, who was quietly kneeling beside another body. She had no idea he had just died… again.
Lucian narrowed his eyes and scanned the field beyond the corpses.
So how the hell did they find her? How did that army know exactly where we were last time?
He had waited here for almost two hours now and died twice. He even chatted casually with two Eldorian guards who patrolled near the trench. They were lazy, leaning on their spears, and barely even looked at his face. When he asked about the "noble house" he made up, they just shrugged and nodded.
They didn't know a damn thing. So the problem isn't them. They're just watching bodies rot and making sure no one climbs that wall.
Lucian's brows furrowed as he stood still, his eyes narrowing.
I only died once, and I thought it was the patrol. I thought maybe they saw us from afar and called reinforcements. But they came in fast. There's no way those riders could've been dispatched from the capital that quickly. That only means…
He turned slowly and looked up.
Beyond the wall… the fortress of the border.
It stood proud and elegant behind the barricade, like a quiet promise of safety that it never delivered. But now Lucian wasn't looking at the safety.
He was looking at the towers.
Lucian stood still, the plan clear in his mind even though it twisted his stomach in knots.
This would cost a death. But he had no choice.
"Guinevere..." he turned to her, eyes serious, voice low. "Can you shout something?. Like... say, 'Hey brother, I'm here, let my friends go, just take me instead.'"
Her face scrunched in confusion. "What? Why would I do that?"
"Trust me," he said gently, though his eyes held the weight of everything he couldn't say. "Please. I have a plan. But I need them to see you… just for a second."
"You sure you're alright?" Her tone softened. She stepped closer, worry painted on her features. "You're acting... strange."
Lucian's heart sank. He wanted to say no. He wanted to scream that she'd die again. But he couldn't. She wouldn't remember it, and only he would. Every scream, every drop of blood—it lived inside him.
So he forced a smile.
"Yeah... just trust me."
She took a deep breath, hesitated, and then stepped forward to the clearing near the edge of the wall's shadow.
"HEY!" she shouted. "HEY BROTHER! I'M HERE! JUST LET MY FRIENDS GO! TAKE ME INSTEAD!"
For a moment, nothing happened. The silence sat heavy like the calm before a storm.
Then… a window opened.
It was near the top of the fortress wall, elegant and decorated with black-iron trim. A young man leaned out lazily, as if expecting them all along.
He had sharp eyes, dark auburn hair, and a smirk carved straight out of arrogance. His robes were gold-trimmed, clearly nobility, and his eyes—his eyes sparkled with cruel amusement.
"Well, well," he chuckled. "Little sister, still alive after all, huh?"
Guinevere froze. Her lips parted slightly.
"…Cedric," she whispered. "Cedric Elowen…"
The man—her brother—rested his chin on his palm as he leaned against the window.
"I gotta say," Cedric continued, his voice echoing through the field, "your body looked absolutely divine when you were standing naked in front of all those nobles back at the academy! Remember that? When you tried to fight back and we had to chain you up? Ah, the memories..."
Her face turned pale.
Lucian clenched his fists so hard his nails dug into his palms. His thoughts erupted in a furious storm.
This bastard—this piece of shit—I swear to God, I'm going to kill you. I'll gut you like a pig, you twisted freak!
But he couldn't move.
Because from the wall came a sudden whistle—then a spear.
It struck his chest before he could even blink.
Pain exploded through him as the world spiraled out.
[Death Detected. Death Count: 4]
[Restarting Loop…]
---
Lucian gasped as he awoke, kneeling beside the same child's corpse.
His heart raced, but his eyes burned with purpose now.
Now I know.