After a whole week in the village, Luciano hadn't received any quests, and he was starting to feel restless.
Then, one morning, as he woke up, a bright notification appeared before his eyes.
[Side Quest Available]
[Clean the House]
[Death Limit: 1]
He blinked, then shrugged. Well, that's easy enough.
He started cleaning right away—sweeping the floor, wiping windows, organizing shelves, and even fixing a creaky chair.
After a while, the house began to glow softly, and suddenly the system pinged again.
[Quest Complete: Clean The House]
[Final Death Count: 0 / 1]
[Target: Safe. Loop Cleared.]
[Congratulations, Lucian Wrenford.]
Lucian's heart jumped. Alright! Finally, some rewards!
The rewards list appeared in front of him, shining bright:
Lose Your Virginity To Ellowynne
Have A Harem
Legendary Weapon!
Random Class
Unique Relic
3,000 Gold Coins
Get An Army (10 Men)
He blinked and laughed to himself. Okay, I need to pick...
He raised his hand, and it began to glow blue and white like magic flowing through his veins.
Legendary Weapon. That's the one.
A sleek katana suddenly materialized in his palm, sharp and gleaming with an otherworldly light.
[Weapon Profile]
[Name: Kusanagi
Type: Katana
Rarity: Legendary
Attack Power: 150–200
Special Ability: Wind Slash — releases a cutting gust of wind with every swing
Durability: Infinite
Skill Bonus: +20% Agility, +15% Critical Rate]
Lucian grinned wide and tightened his grip on the handle.
Legendary class... Let's go! I'm starting good.
Lucian couldn't believe his luck. It's actually crazy that I got a legendary weapon! he thought, gripping the katana tightly as he stepped into the nearby woods.
The cold air brushed past him, but he hardly noticed because his mind was focused on testing this new blade.
He took a deep breath, steadied his stance, and swung the katana in a wide arc.
The blade sliced through the air with a sharp whistle, and before he could even blink, ten trees in front of him fell, crashing down all at once.
What? Lucian's eyes went wide in astonishment. This thing is no joke!
The power of the katana was beyond anything he had ever imagined.
The wind rush that followed each swing wasn't just a trick of the blade — it was a real force, like it was alive and cutting through everything like paper.
He sheathed the katana and looked around, feeling a new surge of confidence wash over him.
With a weapon like this, I'm already stronger than before, and I haven't even scratched the surface yet.
Then a plan began to form in his mind, sharp and clear, just like the katana he held. I can't just wander around waiting for quests or hope things will get better on their own. I have to take control.
First, he thought about Guinevere, about all the pain she had suffered, and how close he had come to losing her again and again.
But he knew it wouldn't be easy. The kingdom was full of enemies, and his previous attempts had ended in failure — brutal failure.
Lucian started pacing through the woods, the snow crunching beneath his boots. If I can't rely on brute force alone, then I have to combine this weapon with strategy.
He thought about the army, about how he could gather allies, train them, and build his own force that could protect Guinevere and fight off the threats lurking in Ebonrose. An army of ten men won't be enough, but it's a start.
Then, he remembered the other rewards from the system—money, relics, classes. I have to find a way to get those, too. The more resources I have, the better my chances.
Lucian paused and looked at the katana again, feeling the energy pulsing through the weapon.
He clenched his fists. I can't just rely on fighting. I have to learn about the kingdom — its people, its weaknesses, its secrets.
The plan was simple but dangerous: first, train himself harder every day with the katana to unlock its full potential. Then, find trustworthy allies in the village and nearby towns. After that, gather information about the nobles, the king, and especially Guinevere's family — because that was where the real danger hid.
Lucian swung the katana again, this time slicing a fallen branch with a clean, precise cut.
He took a deep breath, looking up at the gray sky through the bare branches.
This is just the beginning, and no matter what happens, I'll protect Guinevere and everyone I care about.
With a final glance at the katana, Lucian started walking back toward the village.
Lucian walked back into the village just as the sun was rising. He found Ellowynne waiting, and his sister, Clara, was already at the table, setting out bowls of porridge.
They sat down together, and as they ate, Lucian cleared his throat. "So, Ellowynne, can you tell me more about the kingdom of Ebonrose? Like, what's the king like? And... the dangers around here?"
Ellowynne raised an eyebrow and gave him a dry look. "Why the fuck are you asking me that? You live in this kingdom, don't you? You should know all that already, mate."
Lucian grinned sheepishly. "Yeah, I know, but it's like... everything feels different now, you know? I want to make sure I'm ready."
Ellowynne rolled her eyes but leaned back and started explaining. "Right, so King Alaric's the big boss here, he's got a reputation for being fair but also pretty tough. He rules with an iron fist, but folk say he's not all bad. Then you've got monsters roaming the wild lands outside the villages — beasts that'll rip you apart if you're not careful. Bandits, too, always looking to mug travelers or raid caravans."
She took a sip from her mug and continued, "And magic is a tricky one. It's rare, but it's real, and some folks have it. Sorcerers mostly keep to themselves, but they're powerful and dangerous if they don't like you. So, best to stay on their good side."
Lucian nodded, taking it all in.
After breakfast, he spent the rest of the morning playing with Clara — throwing a ball around, laughing when she tried to trip him.
---
Lucian was busy helping Ellowynne feed the goats and tend to the animals when suddenly his system pinged again.
[Side Quest Available]
[Protect The Village: Everyone Must Die In Order To Restart]
[Death Limit: 5]
"Protect? Protect who?" Lucian muttered, closing his eyes and glancing beyond the rolling hills.
That's when he saw it—a whole army of bandits charging straight toward the village.
Without hesitation, Lucian grabbed his katana and ran toward the bandits. His heart pounded like a drum in his chest, but he couldn't just stand there.
"Lucian! Run, you idiot! You're gonna get yourself killed!" Ellowynne shouted, cursing under her breath as she tried to pull him back.
But Lucian shook his head. No! I have to save this village. I can't just watch them die.
He sprinted forward, and started taking down bandits one after another. He dodged arrows, blocked swords, and shielded villagers who were caught in the chaos.
He saved children, pulled old men to safety, and screamed warnings to everyone he could find.
But no matter how fast or hard he fought, the bandits kept coming—and he couldn't save them all.
Suddenly, in the middle of the chaos, a sword thrust out from the shadows and pierced straight into his head.
Pain exploded through his skull, and everything went dark.
[Loop Restarting...]
[Death Count: 1]