Loop>Live: Death Loop System In Another World

Lucjan and Lune sat quietly inside the carriage. The wheels rolled across the stone road as the mountain path gradually inclined. Outside the windows, the cliffs grew steeper, and the clouds sat closer to the earth.

The Southern Dravoj Castle loomed in the distance—dark, massive, and unmoving. It was more fortress than palace. It was one of the Kingdom's primary defense points and the strongest hold in the entire southern region. Its walls were thick, reinforced with mana-conductive ore, and lined with patrolling knights clad in engraved blacksteel.

The public had given it a second name: the Rock Hard Fortress.

It was fitting.

Inside the carriage, Lune sat across from Lucjan with both hands on his lap. He kept glancing toward the window and then back at his brother.

"Big brother… are you sure this isn't a bait to kill us?"

Lucjan replied without hesitation. "Yes, I'm sure of it."

That was a lie.

He wasn't sure. In fact, if he had to guess, there was at least a thirty percent chance this was a trap—or maybe worse. But in the end, it didn't matter. He could die five more times before failure. If this meeting went wrong, he would simply die, return, and decline the invitation next time.

He just couldn't waste deaths needlessly.

Lucjan leaned back and exhaled. "Lune, no matter what happens today, don't talk unless I ask you to. Just stay close to me and observe everything."

Lune nodded. "Understood."

They were getting closer.

As the fortress came into full view, Lucjan narrowed his eyes. There were guards stationed on every outer wall. Mana detection towers hummed faintly, and large banners flew with the black-and-gold crest of King Isaac Von Meranne.

Lucjan spoke again.

"This is the center of the southern region's power. Every noble in attendance today will be looking to take what's ours. They'll smile in front of us, but their eyes will be counting how many pieces of Wurford land they can split."

Lune swallowed but didn't respond.

Lucjan continued, "We are not guests. We are prey."

Then, he folded his arms and closed his eyes.

I need to survive this meeting. I need to make sure no one gets our land. If I fail again, the consequences will be worse than death.

The carriage reached the front gate. The sound of armored boots approached as royal knights stepped forward.

They knocked.

Lucjan opened his eyes.

"It begins."

The royal knights moved in perfect formation as the gates slowly opened with a deep mechanical echo.

The path ahead was wide and stone-paved, flanked by battlements and towering walls.

The carriage rolled forward under watchful eyes.

Above them, mana projectors hummed faintly—devices designed to detect hidden weapons or scrolls.

Lucjan kept his gaze straight ahead. Lune, however, kept glancing around nervously.

The sheer size of the fortress overwhelmed the senses. Every corner was guarded. Every tower had archers stationed. Knights stood in sets of five, each wearing distinct armors with different crests—some bore the Dravoj royal insignia, others the emblems of their assigned noble houses.

"This is insane..." Lune whispered.

Lucjan didn't respond. His expression remained still. But he agreed.

As the carriage approached the main gate of the fortress, it slowed to a full stop. The driver stepped down first and bowed.

Then, the door was opened.

Lucjan stepped out first. His black coat swept behind him. His eyes scanned the entrance.

Several high-ranking knights stood in formation. They held halberds upright and remained completely silent. Behind them was a golden-trimmed double door—likely the entrance to the audience chamber.

Lune stepped out next, trying his best to stand tall.

One of the knights took a step forward. His voice was loud and direct.

"Announcing the arrival of Lucjan Wurford and Lune Wurford of House Wurford, Lords of the Eastern Fields and inheritors of the Wurford Domain."

The words echoed throughout the stone courtyard.

Lucjan held his posture and nodded once.

Another knight stepped forward and gestured toward the inner hall.

"This way. His Majesty awaits."

Lucjan walked forward without hesitation.

Lune followed close behind.

As soon as Lucjan and Lune stepped into the heart of the fortress, the change in atmosphere was immediate.

The cold military exterior gave way to sheer opulence.

The floors were polished marble. Golden inlays ran along the edges of the high arched ceilings, and crimson carpets extended down every corridor.

Lucjan glanced once to the side. Even the Wurford Mansion doesn't compare to this.

They continued down the hall as the castle servants directed them silently with practiced gestures.

Just ahead, he caught sight of a few well-dressed individuals walking beside them.

Their posture was upright, their clothing stitched with family crests.

Some of the nobles turned as he passed. A few offered slight nods. Others whispered to each other while glancing at him.

Lucjan heard faint traces of it.

"That's the Wurford boy."

"I heard he defeated three tutors in mock combat."

"Didn't he lose to the princess?"

"I thought he was dead."

Lucjan didn't react. He had no reason to.

As they approached the grand chamber, the memory returned—The duel.

That girl. Daughter of the king. If she was attending, then she would be here.

But he pushed the thought aside. That wasn't important now.

He and Lune entered a massive room, its size more fitting for a national summit than a local inheritance dispute.

Rows of elevated seating stretched in a half-circle around a central stage. Each noble family had a reserved section, marked with their crest and assigned nameplates.

In front of the stage was the king's throne. Beside it were smaller thrones for members of the royal family.

Lucjan recognized them.

The Falamichi family, The Ruesser family, and the The Kamov family.

It was a gathering of power.

Just then, a loud voice echoed through the speaker stones placed in the corners of the room.

"Everyone, please go to your respective seats. Mister Lucjan Wurford has arrived. The talking will now commence!"

All movement stopped.

Dozens of heads turned to face him. For a brief moment, the room was silent.

Lucjan stood still.

Then, slowly, he stepped forward.

The room settled. Every noble family sat in their respective areas. The king remained standing beside the throne, his regal presence filling the chamber.

Lucjan took his place on the central podium. His heart pounded—not from fear, but pressure. This land was his. He would not let them take it without resistance.

He looked toward the thrones. The king sat firmly, draped in a black-and-gold uniform marked with the crest of the Dravoj Kingdom. Several other royal family members sat nearby.

But one throne remained empty.

Someone important isn't here.

He recognized the missing seat. It belonged to the king's daughter. The very one who humiliated him in public. The absence made his skin prickle.

Then, the king raised a hand.

"Let us begin," King Isaac said, his voice strong and measured. "Today, we speak of the Wurford Land. The massacre two days ago has left a great void, and many have expressed interest in managing it."

Lucjan didn't flinch. He was already expecting this.

The king continued. "Lord Lucjan Wurford stands as the last remaining legal heir to the estate, along with his younger brother, Lune. However, other noble houses have shown concern regarding the future of the region's agricultural, military, and trade significance."

He stepped aside slightly. "Lucjan, please speak your position."

Lucjan stepped forward.

"The Wurford Land is still under my name. I have reorganized the estate, gathered survivors, and supervised reconstruction under the king's initial support. I have no intentions of giving it away."

A few nobles scoffed quietly.

The Falamichi patriarch, Dimitri Falamichi, leaned back with arms crossed. Sorinq Rassuer scribbled notes with a smug smile. The Kamov heir, Alban Kamov simply stared.

Then, one of them spoke. A merchant lord from a minor house.

"Lord Lucjan, we do not question your loyalty to your family, but can a teenager truly manage a territory this vital?"

Another stood. A scholar from Ruesser's branch.

"Indeed. What's to stop another disaster from striking under such inexperienced leadership?"

Then came a louder voice.

"Perhaps he can lead a training ground, not a province."

The room chuckled softly.

Lucjan remained composed. "I may be young, but I'm the only one who understands the structure of the Wurford Land. I know the people. I've led reconstruction efforts. I've handled local raider threats. Can any of you say the same?"

Silence. He had made his point.

Then a single clap echoed through the chamber.

Jobberwocky Falamichi.

He stood slowly, his long coat glittering with silver thread, his smile thin and poisonous.

"Lucjan Wurford," he began, tone mocking. "How touching. A boy born into a silver cradle now acts like a hero after failing to protect his own family. I suppose watching your household get butchered builds character."

Lucjan's fingers clenched on the podium.

Jobberwocky continued. "And now, you wish to lecture us about responsibility? You, who watched your estate burn while hiding in the guesthouse like a scared child? Tell me—what does someone like you know of leadership?"

Lucjan's breathing grew erratic. His nails dug into the wood. His chest tightened.

"Say that again," he said through gritted teeth.

Jobberwocky tilted his head. "Did I stutter?"

"Say that again!" Lucjan shouted, his voice shaking the chamber. "Say it one more time, and I will tear your tongue out and make you swallow it!"

The nobles went silent.

Even the king narrowed his eyes.

Lucjan panted. His body was trembling, not from fear, but rage. Raw, boiling rage.

"I buried my father," he continued, voice cracking. "I buried my brothers. I walked through their blood. I cleaned the floors where their bodies fell. I didn't hide. I survived."

Lune stood in the background, eyes wide, watching his brother lose control.

"I dare anyone in this room to say what I endured was cowardice. Say it, and I will show you what it means to bleed for your land!"

His shout echoed again. The chamber remained frozen.

Even Jobberwocky stayed quiet now.

Lucjan stared forward, breath heavy, his heart pounding in his ears. Then, slowly, he stepped back from the podium.

As the nobles began standing and stretching, the king raised his hand.

"Remain seated," King Isaac said. "I have not dismissed you from judgment. I understand Lucjan's grief, and his emotions are justified. But emotion alone does not govern land."

Everyone returned to their seats.

The king continued. "The Wurford Land has lost over eighty percent of its trained staff. The agricultural structures are damaged. The economy of the region is unstable. We are speaking not just of mourning, but of management. Recovery."

Lucjan stood at the podium again. "I've already begun restoration. I've gathered the local farmers. I've secured the documents left behind by my father. I even recovered important heirlooms and sealed them away. Give me three months, and I'll have the estate operating at full capacity."

The Kamov heir stood. He was sharp-eyed and soft-spoken.

"And if raiders strike again in that time? Or worse? You are relying on villagers and salvaged materials. There is no army. The estate is exposed."

"I'm not asking for a private military," Lucjan replied. "I'm asking for time."

The woman from the Ruesser family smirked and leaned forward. "Time is not a currency we give to grieving boys, Lord Lucjan. The kingdom cannot delay harvests or lose trade revenue because of your sentimental attachment."

Lucjan clenched his jaw. "It's not sentiment. I'm capable."

"Then why were you absent during the massacre?" she asked. "Did you not say yourself you were in the guesthouse?"

"I didn't know—!"

"But you survived," she said. "And now, you want reward for that survival?"

Lucjan couldn't respond. I-I....

King Isaac stepped down from his throne, walking slowly toward the center.

"You are brave, Lucjan. You are one of the most gifted students in the kingdom. But politics is not won through bravery alone."

Lucjan narrowed his eyes. "Then why did you summon me? Was this your plan from the beginning?"

"I summoned you because I gave you a chance," the king replied. "But the land is bigger than your ambition."

The king turned toward the assembly. "As ruler of the Dravoj Kingdom, I decree that the Wurford Estate shall be absorbed into the Royal Council's direct oversight for a duration of ten years."

Lucjan's mouth dropped slightly.

The king went on. "Management will be rotated between selected noble families, starting with the Falamichi. Any Wurford heir will retain honorary title, but not administrative control."

"No," Lucjan said. "No, you can't do that."

"It has already been done," the king said.

Lucjan stepped forward. "You're giving it to him? To the Falamichi?! They weren't there. They didn't rebuild anything. They didn't even care—!"

"This is not a matter of care," the king interrupted. "It is a matter of competence."

Jobberwocky stood, arms behind his back. "Do not worry, Lord Lucjan. I will take very good care of your father's estate. Consider it... compensation for your loss."

Lucjan's breath caught in his throat.

He turned to the king. "You can't be serious."

"I am always serious," King Isaac replied. "This session is concluded."

This is... Lucjan didn't move. His hands trembled. His lips parted, but no words came.

Lune stood at the side, stunned.

The throne room emptied slowly. Nobles walked past him without a glance. Some smirked. Others pitied him.

Lucjan stood on the podium, alone.

They took everything.

They buried his family, stole his home, and handed it to vultures.

He had no words left.

He only had rage.

Lucjan's fingers curled around the edge of the podium. His chest tightened. His breathing turned sharp.

Then—

BANG!

He slammed the podium with both fists.

"YOU—YOU ALL THINK THIS IS A DAMN GAME?!"

Everyone stopped moving. Heads turned. Even the king paused mid-step.

"YOU THINK I'M GOING TO JUST SIT HERE AND WATCH YOU BASTARDS STEAL MY HOME?!"

Jobberwocky raised an eyebrow and muttered something smug to his father. Lucjan pointed at him, his eyes wild.

"YOU! FALAMICHI TRASH! YOU DID NOTHING! NOTHING! YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN PEOPLE WERE SCREAMING FOR HELP! YOU WEREN'T THERE WHEN MY BROTHERS—WHEN MY FAMILY WAS SLAUGHTERED!"

The king's knights took a step forward.

"AND YOU!" Lucjan shouted toward the Ruesser matriarch, "YOU THINK I SURVIVED FOR REWARD?! I SURVIVED SO I COULD FIX THIS! I SURVIVED TO MAKE SURE IT NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN!"

His voice cracked as he faced the king.

"YOU CALLED ME HERE TO KILL MY HOPE IN FRONT OF EVERYONE. YOU TOOK MY FAMILY'S GRAVES AND HANDED THEM TO CARRION-EATERS!"

No one dared to speak.

He backed away from the podium, trembling, breath rapid.

"I'LL REMEMBER THIS. EVERY DAMN ONE OF YOU. WHEN I TAKE BACK WHAT'S MINE, YOU'LL BE THE FIRST TO BLEED."

The guards stepped forward again, but the king raised his hand.

"Let him leave."

Lucjan didn't wait. He turned around, stormed down the steps, and grabbed Lune by the wrist.

"We're leaving."

He didn't say a word until they were both inside the carriage.

Then, the doors closed.

The wheels began to roll.

Lune sat beside him, tense.

Lucjan sat with his head down, eyes blank.

His fists rested on his knees, still trembling.

"I'm going to take it back," he whispered. "Even if I have to burn this entire kingdom to the ground."

Lune didn't respond. He just looked at his brother.

Lucjan didn't cry. He was far past tears now.

Lucjan turned to Lune and smiled, trying to look calm.

"Can you wait here, Lune? I have something I need to do."

Lune looked at him with concern, but he nodded. Lucjan opened the carriage door and stepped out. He didn't look back.

People nearby began to whisper.

"Is he coming back?"

"He's going inside again?"

He heard the voices but paid them no attention. He kept walking. The insults came next. Some whispered under their breath, others louder. But he kept walking.

He didn't respond.

As long as I die, things would return to the way they were. Everything would reset. I have to fix it.

He entered the fortress and climbed the stairs. He passed floor after floor, until he reached the top. The wind hit him immediately. He kept walking until he reached the edge. The guards nearby stared but said nothing.

When no one was near enough to stop him, he looked down.

The height made his legs tremble. His chest tightened. His stomach felt like it dropped. It reminded him of the time on Earth when he tried to end everything. But this time was different.

This time, it was for them.

If he jumped now, the loop would start again. He could try one more time. He could fix everything. He had five chances left. It would be alright.

He took one step closer to the ledge.

Then, a voice behind him shouted.

"Don't jump!"

He froze.

"I know what you did earlier," the girl said. "And I know I defeated you. But don't do this. You have to stop and think about what you're about to do."

Lucian didn't turn around.

"You're wrong," he said. "No one will remember this. They'll all wake up fine. No one will carry the weight but me. That's how this works. I'm the one who remembers."

He heard the sound of footsteps approaching.

Then, a hand grabbed his wrist.

He turned his head and saw her. She had golden hair, green eyes, and a green dress that looked formal and heavy. She wasn't smiling. Her expression was serious.

Lucian flinched. He looked away. He couldn't hold eye contact. He felt small again.

"Lucjan Wurford," she said, "you have to live."

He didn't answer. His mouth was slightly open, but he couldn't say anything.

"Even if no one else understands what you're going through, you can't throw your life away like this. You're not allowed to give up."

Lucian stared at the floor, unable to lift his eyes.

"I'm not doing this to give up. I'm doing this to make it right."

"Then do it by surviving," she said. "Fix things while you're alive. Not by dying. You already know that failure isn't erased just because you died. People will still remember it."

Lucian's body trembled. He gripped her hand tightly.

"You don't understand..."

"I do."

"I said, YOU DON'T!" he shouted, his voice cracking with everything he had been holding back.

"Lucjan, I DO!"

In an instant, she moved. She swept his legs out from under him, and they both hit the ground. He landed hard on his back, the breath knocked out of him. She landed above him, pinning him down.

He froze.

She looked down at him with a gaze so sharp and unwavering that he couldn't keep eye contact. He looked away.

She leaned in closer. Her voice was no longer loud, but it was heavier now.

"You don't understand my responsibility," Lucjan said. "I'm the one who remembers. Every time they die, I see it, I feel it, and I carry it. And then I come back, and they smile like nothing happened. But I remember all of it."

She didn't move.

"I'm not allowed to rest," he said, his voice shaking. "I don't even get to cry. I have to fix everything, and if I can't, then it starts again."

She didn't interrupt. She listened.

Lucjan clenched his fists.

"I killed myself, I hanged myself, and it didn't work. It brought me back after the massacre. That means I can't even choose when to start over."

She finally spoke.

"I don't understand what you're saying. But, right now, you're still standing. You're still here. That means you haven't failed completely. That means you're not done."

He looked up at her again. Her expression had softened, but it was still intense. She wasn't angry now. She was trying to reach him.

"You think responsibility means doing it alone," she said. "But you're wrong. Carrying the weight doesn't mean shutting everyone out."

He didn't respond. He just stared.

She stood up and held out her hand.

"Come on, Lucjan. If you really want to save them, then stop trying to die."

He stared at her hand for a long time.

Then, slowly, he reached out and took it.

"I have to save everyone…"

His hand hovered near hers, just a breath away. But then, he pulled it back and pressed it to his chest. His head lowered.

"I have to save everyone… I have to die and save everyone…"

He gripped his shirt and forced himself to stand. His legs were weak, but he pushed forward and grabbed the edge of the rooftop. He was going to jump. He had to. It was the only way.

But before he could throw himself off, he felt something wrap around him—arms, warm and firm. She wasn't pulling him back. She was holding him.

"You don't have to do this…" she said. "Lucjan, if you want, I can help you. I'll stay with you. I'll be someone who listens. I'll talk with you whenever you need. I'll be there."

"So please, don't die."

"What are you do—"

He couldn't finish. Her arms tightened around him. It wasn't forceful. It was gentle, real, and something he hadn't felt in a long time.

Why was she hugging him?

His knees gave out. He collapsed to the ground, unable to hold the weight in his chest. His breathing was shaky. His throat was tight. Tears fell, but he didn't even realize it.

She stayed with him. Even when he hit the floor, she didn't let go. Her arms stayed around him, like he was someone that mattered.

"You deserve everything…" she said.

He couldn't understand it. She was the girl who humiliated him, defeated him in front of the academy. That was the only thing he remembered about her.

So why?

Why was she the one holding him now?

He then remembered her name.

He said it without thinking.

"…Guinevere?"