In the blink of an eye, the oppressive darkness lifted, and I found myself drawing a breath, confirming my return to the realm of the living.
My breaths came in heavy, labored waves as I instinctively touched my own throat, reassuring myself of the tangible pulse beneath my fingertips.
I'm alive...
[You have returned from Death]
...Ignoring the notification, I turned to face the mirror. The 30 days in this world had sculpted my physique, evident in the well-defined muscles that adorned my frame.
If I step out now, they won't be able to dismiss their disbelief with a simple 'yesterday, our son didn't have one hint of muscle, but it's fine, right?'
Seems like I'll have to use the single Skill Ticket I have for this transformation.
---
After careful consideration, I devised a skill that should strike a balance, ensuring it won't demand an exorbitant price.
[Skill Shop]
[Mirage Veil] (New!)
[Mirage Veil]
[Description: Step into the shadows with Mirage Veil, a skill crafted for the master of deception. Mold your appearance and aura as you see fit, a chameleon amidst the mundane. Yet, bear in mind, the cost of this ability lies in an exponential increase in nutrients intake while the skill is active]
[Effect: Tailor your appearance to your liking and conceal your presence when necessary]
[Limitations: Mirage Veil bows to those with a higher Combat Prowess; its secrets laid bare before anyone stronger than you. Beware, for the discerning eye of magic users can pierce through its illusion easily]
[Skill Point Cost: 7]
[Note: The Mirage Veil can be reshaped with another Skill Ticket in the future, but tread carefully. Committing changes demands a toll to pay in Skill Points]
Since I'm not about to squander my hard-earned skill points, this idea struck me during its creation.
Who says a skill can't be fine-tuned with Skill Points? They wield immense power—capable of crafting or acquiring skills the System currently possesses. With this, I can lift certain limitations without having to grind this skill to a higher level. Even just eliminating the Combat Prowess restriction would be a game-changer.
But now isn't the time to lose myself in the possibilities of the distant future. I need to check what transpired before my untimely death.
There's a lot to investigate—starting with my status.
[Status: Healthy
Level: 35
Combat Prowess: Weakest
Martial Arts: Karate(Lv.1)
Active Skills: Cooking(Lv. 8), Slash(Lv.3), Adaptive Evasion(Lv.3), Turtle Shell(Lv.1), Mirage Veil(Lv.1)
Passive Skills: Run(Lv.1), Jump(Lv.1)
Talent: Sword(Lv.4), Movement(Lv.1)
You have 7 unused Skill Points]
[Turtle Shell]
[Description: Activating it will fortify your body, mirroring the toughness of a Turtle's shell. But, as with any defense, it comes at a cost.
Effect: Body Toughness +100%
Limitation: Your speed will be severely reduced. You will need more nutrients the longer you keep the skill active.
Cooldown: 3 Hours]
Cool skill to have.
Anyway, my level raised to 35 thanks to the quest I completed, and the System, in its apparent generosity, expanded my display to accommodate the newfound skills, separating them into active and passive.
Even categorized Karate as a Martial Art—an encouraging detail.
Yet, the bitter taste lingers. That 30-day world might be a bygone memory, but as a human, it's not easy to dismiss. Leaving Anna and the others behind in that world nags at me.
I don't want to go through those experiences again, but options are slim.
I toyed with the idea of acquiring a skill to numb my emotions, but a mocking internal laugh cut through. Would the System truly permit such an escape? The cost in skill points will likely soar into the unattainable.
Lost in contemplation, I overlooked an essential detail.
"Libert-sama, are you awake? The Lord is waiting for breakfast." Anna's voice pulled me back.
Right.
Focus on the present.
"I'll be down soon, Anna, thank you."
My appearance may change, but my core remains unchanged. Even if the System sows seeds of distrust, coaxing me to avoid people to shield myself from the inevitable pain that will follow, I won't yield. I won't betray my principles or turn away from the connections I made just because the System plays its mind games.
I may bear the title of the Weakest, but breaking me won't be so simple.
---
Upon invoking Mirage Veil to revert my appearance to the first loop, I descended the villa towards the breakfast area. A wistful smile played on my lips, reliving the first day I set foot in here.
However, I masked the sentiment behind a neutral facade as I swung open the doors, encountering a spectrum of reactions. Fear lingered in the maids, wariness marked Lily, and my parents' expressions betrayed a mixture of expectations.
"Morning, Dad, Mom, Lily." I greeted, my voice devoid of any traces of the turmoil within me.
Even the once-cheerful girl, who had been a source of solace, now trembled in fear. Armed with the knowledge from the countless books I read, I could pinpoint the places she bore the scars of the past 'me' as she was visibly too weak to keep on working like that, but she kept going, afraid to put 'me' in trouble.
Anger welled up, but I knew I had to quell it. There was little I could do about events beyond my control.
I inhaled deeply, the undeniable proof of returning to my first day here both painful and surreal. Despite the desire to confront the injustices she suffered, I refrained, unwilling to escalate her fear.
The silence after I sat down garnered visible shock from everyone. My mother, once again, was the first to break it.
"Libert... my son. Is something the matter?" she inquired with concern.
To that, I responded with a smile.
"Yes. I've come to the realization that Libert Mulling has been nothing more than absolute trash. I will change that." A determination tinged my words.
Reflecting on it, perhaps it's better for Libert Mulling to meet his end at Yor Forger's hands.
His death would serve a purpose greater than my presence here could ever achieve.
At least, in these cycles of death, they won't be subjected to further harm by someone like him.