After settling into my luxurious tent—a purchase that had consumed all my hard-earned money—I couldn't help but admire my surroundings. It was worth every coin. With a bathroom, a master bed, and every amenity one could imagine, it was practically a house disguised as a tent. I beamed with pride at my investment.
Stepping outside, I spotted the knights gathered around the campfire, chatting and laughing as they sat on tree logs. A part of me wanted to join them, but hesitation held me back. Being the only woman in their midst often felt isolating, despite my casual attire—pants, something no noblewoman would ever dare to wear. Instead, I returned to my tent, sinking into the softness of my bed.
A few minutes later, Duke Ashford's voice rang out, breaking my solitude. "Miss Aria, do you wish to dine?"
I stepped out of my tent and nodded in agreement. Joining the Duke, I was served a bowl of mushroom soup. The aroma was delightful, and the first sip tasted heavenly—but something about it felt… off.
"Your Grace," I asked cautiously as I noticed he was already finishing his portion, "what type of mushrooms did you use?"
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Agaricus bisporus. Why?"
I froze, my spoon halting mid-air. My eyes scanned the camp, seeing the knights eagerly drinking their soup. Panic set in. "STOP EATING!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the cheerful chatter. "NOW!"
The knights froze, some dropping their bowls in shock. "That soup is poisonous!" I exclaimed. "That's the Death Cap mushroom!"
A wave of alarm rippled through the camp as the knights exchanged worried glances. Some spat out their remaining bites, while others stared at their bowls in horror.
The Duke, seeing the chaos, immediately stepped in. "Knights, calm yourselves!" he commanded, his voice steady yet authoritative. "We'll handle this."
As the tension settled slightly, a familiar notification appeared before me:
Quest: Save the Knights Reward: Earn the favor and loyalty of all knights Failure: Death
I read through the quest quickly, my mind racing. Death Cap poisoning was no joke; it would take about two hours to be fatal. Frantically searching my deck of cards, I prayed for a solution. Healing cards came to mind, but they were only effective on physical wounds, not poisons.
Then my fingers brushed against a card—Joker of Hearts.
I muttered its name under my breath, recalling its unique ability to rewind time. But the card came with a cost: it required immense mana. If I didn't have enough, it would drain my life force
With no other option, I approached the Duke, explaining my plan. His eyes widened in shock. "You can rewind time? Miss Aria, you never cease to impress me," he said, a mix of awe and concern in his voice.
I managed a faint smile. "Thank you, Your Grace."
Drawing the Joker of Hearts, I activated its power. The world around me blurred as time reversed, pulling us back by 30 minutes.
When the rewind ended, the knights who had been about to drink the soup stopped mid-motion, bewildered by the sudden shift. Realizing what had happened, they cheered, their gratitude pouring out as they thanked me for saving their lives.
For a brief moment, pride and relief washed over me—until darkness consumed everything.
When I awoke, I found myself in my tent, lying on my bed. Duke Ashford sat nearby, his concerned gaze fixed on me. The moment I stirred, he rose from his seat and hurried to my side.
"Miss Aria, are you alright?" he asked, his worry evident.
"I'm fine," I replied, though my body felt weak. "What happened?"
Aiden appeared beside the Duke, his expression equally concerned. "You fainted," he explained. "It's been two hours."
"I see," I murmured. It was likely due to the mana I had expended. "But I'm alright now."
"Are you sure?" the Duke pressed, his blue eyes searching mine for any sign of weakness.
"Yes, Your Grace," I said with a reassuring smile. "I'm really strong. I think we can continue our trip."
He looked relieved, a faint smile crossing his lips. "Alright then. Tomorrow, we'll continue our journey."
As Duke Ashford and Aiden both left my tent, I let out a small sigh of relief, sinking back onto the bed. Just as I began to relax, the familiar chime of the status window interrupted the silence.
Congratulations, Miss Aria. Quest Completed: Save the Knights. Reward: The favor and loyalty of all knights. Title Change: Joker → Time Lord. Your peaceful life has become interesting yet again.
I blinked at the screen, the new title catching my attention. "Time Lord is a bit too much, don't you think?" I muttered, even though I knew the status window couldn't hear me.
As if responding to my thoughts, another message appeared: You don't have to change your name from Joker. You may keep it if you wish.
I chuckled softly, nodding. "Alright," I said with a grin. Despite everything, this odd exchange was strangely reassuring.