Isekai Time-Looper

The creaking of wooden wheels and the distant chatter of merchants filtered into my consciousness.

The morning sun bathed the village in warm light, its golden rays painting the rooftops in a soft glow.

Dazed, I followed my usual actions.

"Goodbye, Grandma!" Sia waved from the back of the carriage, her bright smile full of youthful energy.

When the village grew distant, she turned to me.

"Why are you looking so gloomy?" she asked, tilting her head with concern, her green eyes sparkling in the sunlight.

"I am?"

"Never mind. Maybe that's just me."

I nodded and stared out of the carriage. The dirt road stretched endlessly, flanked by rolling fields and distant forests that swayed gently in the breeze.

What I needed to do now was clear. Kill Uncle Ren and that woman.

'The last round made it clear. The woman is following us from the village. As for the slave merchants, they won't appear as long as I'm careful.'

Uncle Ren's death should stop him from sending the slave merchants after us.

But I needed power to kill the woman.

She was a Systema Holder.

I closed my eyes and focused inwards.

The Systema on my back had disappeared.

However, I could feel the Systema branded on my soul.

I also retained the knowledge about the skill.

As long as I somehow gathered mana, it was possible to use the Berserker Aura.

"Status."

Nothing happened. Figures.

"I will need to activate my Systema to gain access to mana, and I'll die if that happens."

The memories of rampaging mana gushing out of my soul were crystal clear to me.

I was sure of one thing after years of torment under the chaotic mana. I couldn't control it as I was now.

I would suffer the same fate if I were to awaken again.

"I should focus on things I can do right now."

I reaffirmed my resolve to put my plans into motion.

We got off at Elodria.

The bustling town greeted us with the scent of freshly baked bread and the sound of merchants hawking their wares.

When the merchant caravan was about to leave, I left Sia behind by saying that I needed to talk with Uncle Ren and approached his carriage.

"Uncle Ren, are you there?"

"Oh, it's you. Come inside."

I entered the carriage. It was filled with goods, and had hardly any space for the two of us to sit. The air inside was stifling, thick with the smell of spices and leather.

We were alone, away from prying eyes.

I gripped the knife hidden inside my clothes, my hand trembling with a mix of anger and despair.

Why? Why did he have to betray us?

I wanted to ask him countless questions.

But the woman would intervene if I did anything suspicious. She wouldn't let her employer die.

'Where is that woman? Is she outside? Or maybe she is inside the carriage with me and Uncle Ren?'

'No, this place is too tightly packed for her to be here.'

"Was there something you had to say?" Uncle Ren stared at me. "Do you need more travel expenses? Here, take this."

He placed the pouch filled with money in my hands.

The dimly lit room seemed to close in on us, the air heavy with unspoken tension.

"Why aren't you saying anything—"

I pulled the dagger and stabbed his heart in a swift motion. The blade gleamed momentarily in the candlelight before plunging into his chest.

His eyes were filled with terror, wide and disbelieving, as though he couldn't comprehend what had just occurred. The sharp intake of his breath echoed in the room.

I pushed the blade further. My arms began to quiver before I knew it, and tears fell from my eyes. Hot streaks blurred my vision, but I didn't wipe them away.

Uncle Ren was dead.

The silence in the room was deafening. Blood pooled on the floor, its metallic scent sharp in the air.

"Come inside. I know you are there," I spoke hoarsely after wiping my tears. My voice cracked, betraying the turmoil within.

My senses were on overdrive, my heartbeat roaring in my ears, and yet I had failed to sense the woman's entrance. She was already standing in front of me when I heard her.

"That took me by surprise. I didn't even have time to react."

Contrary to her words, her eyes were calm, like still water reflecting the moonlight. Her expression held no judgment, just cold observation.

She looked at Uncle Ren's corpse once and did not spare him any more glances.

"Why did you call me?"

"Your employer is dead. I need to know what you are going to do now," I asked while suppressing my rage. My voice trembled as I fought to keep my emotions in check.

I wanted to kill her as painfully as possible. My hands clenched at my sides, aching for action.

However, this wasn't the right time.

"I'll leave. The contract is void with him dead," she clicked her tongue and disappeared, as silent as the shadows she seemed to melt into.

I was relieved that I did not have to fight her. It felt disgusting to be alive only because she spared me.

'I must find a way to activate my Systema without dying from mana overload,' I thought, determination burning in my chest.

I would definitely have my revenge. No matter how long it took.

The night air was cold and biting as I left Uncle Ren's carriage with the corpse inside. I told the merchants that Uncle Ren was feeling unwell and that he had asked them not to disturb him. This way, they wouldn't discover his corpse until much later.

Sia and I should be long gone by then.

"You're back," she ran up to me. Her face was lit with relief. "What were you talking about with Uncle Ren?"

"Nothing much. He was worried if you would be able to live alone at the academy."

"Alone? I told you we are getting in there together!" She raised her hand in encouragement, her enthusiasm bright and infectious.

I nodded with a bitter smile, though a heaviness weighed on my chest.

Sia did not know that only Systema Holders were accepted into the academy, and I had no intention of telling her that until the end.

We roamed the streets at night, the city coming alive with lanterns and the quiet hum of evening activity, then took a carriage to the academy early in the morning.

There were no slave traders, no assassins anymore.

The journey was long and uneventful. It took us a bit over three weeks to reach Glimmerhaven, the last stop before the academy.

"It's beautiful," Sia sucked in a sharp breath when we entered the city. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the sights.

Glimmerhaven was a utopia compared to other cities. The tiled roads gleamed under the sunlight, clean alleys gave off a welcoming charm, and the refreshing ambiance was almost surreal.

We looked for carriages going to the academy.

"Sorry, but you need to walk from here. No vehicles are allowed in the vicinity of the academy," said the coachman we had approached.

Upon further questioning, we found that the academy students often used to hide in the carriages and escape. The rule of no-vehicle was to stop them from sneaking away.

"E—escape? Why do they need to escape from the academy?" Sia gripped my arm in fear, her wide eyes darting to the coachman.

The coachman burst into laughter, his deep voice echoing.

"Don't worry. I was joking. The academy is only one hour away on foot. As for the rule, we common folks have no way of knowing why it exists."

"...I knew it was a joke," Sia's struggle to hide her anxiety only increased the coachman's amusement. Her cheeks turned a deep shade of red as she looked away.

She pulled me away before she embarrassed herself further.

"I want to dig a hole and hide in it for my whole life," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the city's bustle.

After having breakfast in the city, we left for the academy. The city guards confirmed that one of us had a Systema before they allowed us to leave.

Sia had an excited expression, her steps quick and filled with energy. Despite the misgivings about the academy's secretive nature, the world of Systema Holders was too alluring to ignore.

It did not take us long to reach the academy.

The academy premises were sealed off with massive walls, their towering height and smooth surface giving it an imposing feel.

"What's happening there?" Sia pointed at the commotion at the academy gate.

A beggar was trying to fight the guards. His tattered clothes and wild hair made him look more like a feral animal than a man.

"Let me out! Let me out!" the beggar shouted while throwing rocks with surprising accuracy.

The guards had a weary expression as they apprehended him and sent him back to Glimmerhaven.

"The old man is a headache. I don't know how he manages to slip past Glimmerhaven's city guards every day and come here," the guard who had remained at the gate spoke to us. "What is he, a cat?"

He tried to hide his frustration and smiled.

"Anyway, you two are new faces. Here for a tour? Sorry, but only Systema Holders can enter the academy."

"We are here for admission."

The guard's face changed from confusion to surprise, and from surprise to dread.

"What!? How much time has passed since the Systema appeared? Show it to me!" His voice grew sharp, urgency replacing his earlier casual demeanor.

His panic affected Sia, whose grip on my arm tightened.

I grabbed her hand and met her eyes.

"I'm here with you. Don't worry."

Sia nodded and managed to calm down. She raised her sleeve to show her Systema.

The floral pattern was almost complete, its delicate lines glowing faintly.

"T–this… It has almost matured! Where have you two been until now?!"

He told us to follow him inside the gate.

Just as I was about to enter after them, the guard stopped and turned to me.

"I almost forgot. Are you also a Systema Holder? I cannot let you enter the academy if you are not."

My answer was obvious.

Even if I wanted to enter the academy, I couldn't prove I had a Systema. There was nothing on my back. It should appear if I awaken it, but I would die from mana overload should I do that.

"I don't have a Systema."

The guard's eyes flickered with a hint of pity.

"You can't enter in that case. Stay here, I'll call someone to take your sister and get her a check-up."

A moment later, a woman clad in the academy's formal robes approached, her stride confident and her gaze clinical. She took Sia by the arm.

Sia was unwilling to go without me. Her small frame trembled slightly, and she clung to my sleeve, her eyes brimming with uncertainty.

The guard reassured her that she could meet me after the check-up and managed to get her consent. His voice was gruff but carried an underlying gentleness that Sia seemed to trust.

"Sigh, you are damn lucky," the guard spoke to me as the woman led Sia away. "Your sister's Systema is on the verge of maturation. Any later, and her life would've been in danger."

His words left a strange heaviness in the air.

The two of us did not speak anymore. The silence stretched thin, punctuated only by the distant hum of activity within the academy walls.

I was waiting for Sia when I recalled something.

Those who cannot awaken Systema properly die from having their bodies burned. From my experience, the cause of death was Mana Overload.

I couldn't enter the academy, but I should be able to extract some information from the guard. He seemed knowledgeable about Systema.

"Systema awakening is dangerous, isn't it? Why is that?"

The guard shifted slightly, his armor clinking faintly. His gaze turned distant, as though he were recalling something grim.

"Because it can go wrong. And the chances of that happening aren't small."

He must've been bored because he answered me without hesitation.

"Systema awakening is affected by many factors. The strength of the Systema, the Systema Holder's talent, and their emotions during the awakening."

"Emotions?" I asked, tilting my head, curiosity sharpening my voice.

"Yes, emotions. It's common knowledge that intense emotions increase the chances of awakening. However, the moment one awakens completely, they must calm their emotions and enter a Zen state."

His words sparked a memory within me.

That woman had chosen me as her experiment subject because she saw that I had intense emotions.

She had tried to stimulate my emotions further by giving me the false hope of having revenge.

'There was a reason for everything.'

"Why do we need to enter a Zen state?" I tried to probe further.

His answer affected my life and death.

"Who knows? It's something we know from the observation of past awakenings, but there is no information on why it's necessary."

I repeatedly thought about what the guard had said.

'Intense emotions during awakening, and as soon as the Systema reaches maturity, the Systema Holder needs to calm their emotions.'

Why was it done that way?

Maybe the guard was not telling me the entire truth. Or it was confidential information that only higher-ups knew.

The hours felt endless, dragging on as the shadows of the academy grew longer. Finally, Sia returned with a subdued expression. Her small, hesitant steps stirred a faint dust cloud on the cobbled path.

"I–I'm back."

"How are you feeling now?" I asked, my concern spilling through in my voice.

She raised her arm and showed her Systema. It was glowing with a faint golden pulse, soft and warm like a firefly in the dark.

"You've awakened? Congratulations."

"Thanks…."

Sia altered her gaze between the guard and me. Her eyes darted nervously, and her fingers fidgeted with the edges of her dress. Finally, taking a long breath, she opened her mouth.

"I've been told that I will be admitted into the academy. And you…" She gripped the edges of her dress nervously and added,"You can't enter. I tried to ask them to give you a chance at least, but they didn't consent."

"You didn't need to go that far for me."

I patted her head, ruffling her soft, silver hair.

Her expression softened. I could tell that she was hiding something. Her lips trembled slightly, and a flicker of unease crossed her face.

Something must've happened inside the academy.

I didn't pry. There was no need to. She wasn't afraid, just surprised.

It would've been weirder for her to remain calm after entering the academy where only Systema Holders studied.

"Send us letters regularly," I said at last, trying to keep my tone steady.

"I will."

Her voice cracked as she struggled to hold back her tears. Her hands balled into fists as if that would help her hold onto her composure.

I knew she wouldn't return to the academy and keep standing at the gate until I left.

As I turned to leave, my feet felt heavy.

I couldn't help but worry about her.

'Would she eat properly?'

'What if she couldn't make friends?'

'I hope she won't be bullied for being from a poor house.'

'What if she wakes up late in the morning and can't attend classes on time?'

Despite my worries, I didn't turn around and kept walking towards Glimmerhaven. The faint crunch of my footsteps on gravel felt deafening in the silence of my thoughts.

"I'll return after three years! I definitely will!" I heard her distant shouts.

Her voice, tinged with determination, echoed faintly against the towering academy gates.

…

After returning to Glimmerhaven, I booked a cheap inn for the night. The inn was a small, dimly lit place tucked into a quiet corner of the bustling city. The scent of damp wood and the faint aroma of stew wafted through the air. Outside, the city buzzed with activity as street lamps flickered in the evening breeze, casting long shadows across cobbled streets.

My head was filled with worries about the future. What was I going to do now? A storm of emotions churned inside me, each thought heavier than the last. Grow stronger to get my revenge against that woman. But how much stronger did I need to be? The weight of uncertainty pressed down on my chest like a stone.

The woman was strong. Given how rare it was to see a Systema Holder and that their very existence was glorified to the heavens, the woman's ability to craft artificial Systema proved she wasn't a normal Systema Holder. She had to be in the upper echelons among Systema Holders, maybe even beyond them. My fists clenched involuntarily as anger bubbled to the surface.

"I can't even awaken my Systema without dying." 

What if my Systema was defective? It was an Artificial Systema. There was no guarantee I could learn to control it and grow stronger with it. What if I could never get my revenge? My jaw tightened, and a knot of despair began to form in my stomach.

Just thinking that she was living peacefully was enough to make me go insane. 

"Huff! Huff! Huff!"

 Before I realized it, I was gasping for breath while my body was drenched in sweat. My chest rose and fell rapidly, my heart pounding like a war drum. I felt hot, as if my body was on fire. The small room around me seemed to close in, the walls narrowing under the pressure of my spiraling thoughts.

A familiar pain prickled on my back. 

As expected, the Systema on my soul had reacted to my emotions. Awakening. It burned, sending throes of agony throughout my body. A sharp, searing sensation spread from my back, causing me to clench my teeth and grip the edge of the creaky wooden bed. While the Systema appeared on my back, I felt my soul being breached. Mana rushed out of my soul like an avalanche, a tidal wave of raw power with no direction or control.

It flooded to the farthest corner of my body. I ignored the blue screen flickering before my eyes and focused on my mana. It was reshaping my body without rhyme or rhythm. Every nerve felt like it was being stretched to its limit. I tried to control it and stop it before it killed me, but nothing worked. The mana didn't listen to me. It moved without being affected by my will and created havoc. It was like trying to hold back a hurricane with bare hands.

I recalled the conversations I had with the woman and the guard and tried to figure a way out of my predicament. Each memory came back in vivid flashes. 

As I rapidly went through my memories, I felt like I was forgetting something important. 

'How am I supposed to calm myself and enter a Zen state?' I cursed under my breath. It seemed like a single lapse in concentration would kill me.

When I reached my limit and was on the verge of death, I quickly decided to see if I could choose a different class in this life. My mind raced as I clung to the hope of survival. 

Class: None

Skills: None

Available Classes for selection: Berserker Lvl.1, Knight Lvl.1, Hunter Lvl.1

The Berserker Aura skill was not there. But I had it in my head. I recalled the information about the skill and tried to think about what was happening. Just then, a new screen appeared.

[You have gained skill Berserker Aura Lvl.1]

Class: None

Skills: Berserker Aura Lvl.1

Available Classes for selection: Berserker Lvl.1, Knight Lvl.1, Hunter Lvl.1

I gained the skill without having to choose the class. There was a lot I still needed to experiment with. However, my time was almost up. My head and my body were about to explode from mana overload. The pressure built until every muscle in my body trembled. My vision blurred at the edges, and the world seemed to spin out of control.

I chose my next class.

[You have chosen Hunter Lvl.1 as your Class.]

The illusion of an infinite library appeared before my eyes. Shelves stretched endlessly in every direction, filled with tomes radiating a faint glow. A book with the mark of an arrow and deer flew into my head.

[For the Hunt!]

[You have gained skill Sixth Sense Lvl.1]

Sixth Sense Lvl.1

Allows you to passively sense a small area around you. You can also faintly detect dangers to your life.

Effect: Provides a passive 5% chance to automatically dodge an attack or trap within the sensing radius, even if the Ascender is not actively aware of the threat.

MP: 00 

Duration: Infinite

As I gained the information, the flow of mana swelled, My head hurt and—

"Tie the goods thoroughly. Make sure they don't fall from the cart."

"Move quickly."

"You two eat properly, don't stray away from the merchants, and send a letter when you reach the academy."

"Fourth time," I mumbled under my breath. My expression crumpled. The world around me seemed eerily vivid, the colors sharper and the sounds crisper. Something was different. I could feel everything in a small sphere around me. Sixth Sense. 

The air was crisp and tinged with the faint aroma of wildflowers from the surrounding fields. The morning light cast soft shadows on the cobbled path beneath my feet, giving life to the cracks and grooves in the stones.

Things that I couldn't see before were now visible. The fine wrinkles of my clothes. The miserable soles of my shoes, scuffed and uneven. Even the tiny, stubborn hairs standing on my body.

It felt like a new world had opened up for me. The vibrant hues of the world around me, the rustle of leaves in the wind, and even the faint hum of insects felt amplified.

That said, Sixth Sense was not like the skills I had seen in the games. It didn't work by clicking on a button or shouting its name. Instead, it was closer to a muscle.

When I tried to focus on Sixth Sense, I felt like a patient who had woken up from a life-long coma. My muscles — Sixth Sense — were weak, and they needed practice before I could use them properly.

"Why can I use Sixth Sense without awakening my Systema?"

The answer came from the knowledge embedded in my head.

Berserker Aura used mana.

On the other hand, Sixth Sense did not use mana. I—and everyone else—already had the Sixth Sense, but we couldn't use it. It was a muscle we did not know existed.

When I gained the skill, I obtained the knowledge of how to use this 'new' muscle.

While I was drowning in my thoughts, Sia snuck up behind me, her footsteps lighter than a cat's, but before she could catch me by surprise, I turned around. 

"Guess who is…." Her voice grew smaller and smaller when her prank failed. "tsk." 

Her face twisted in mock frustration and she made a disappointed face before leaving to prank someone else.

Even these things that used to irritate me made me smile.

The time to leave the village approached.

We said our farewells and boarded the last carraige. The air grew heavier with the scent of distant rain, and the horizon was painted with streaks of grey clouds merging with the rising mist.

I followed the exact actions as of my past life to avoid unnecessary surprises. The efficiency increased. The harsh cries of crows circling above felt muted against the methodical focus in my mind.

It was easier to kill Uncle Ren, his last startled expression barely registering before I pushed the memory aside, and I did not waste time finding a carriage in the Glimmerheaven. The bustling streets of the town were just as chaotic as I remembered, the cries of merchants blending into the chatter of travelers.

We reached the academy a day earlier.

"Let me out! Let me out!" A voice rasped from the direction of the gates, startling us.

True to the guard's words, the old man was at the academy gate today too. His ragged clothes hung loosely on his frail frame, and his sunken eyes gleamed with a mix of desperation and defiance.

Similar events to my past life played from there. One of the guards, clad in polished armor that glinted in the dim light, took the old man to Glimmerheaven while the other spoke to us.

Knowing Sia wasn't in danger, I could relax and notice details I hadn't before. The imposing academy gates loomed above us, intricate carvings of mythical beasts etched into the dark wood.

"We are here for admission," I stated firmly.

"What!? How much time has passed since the Systema appeared? Show it to me!" the guard exclaimed.

His constantly changing expression was a sight to behold. His brows furrowed one moment, his eyes wide with shock the next, before settling into a mix of suspicion and reluctant acceptance.

After Sia went inside the academy gates, I was left behind. It was precious time I could use.

"Systema awakening is dangerous, isn't it? Why is that?" I asked the guard once again.

"Because it can go wrong. And the chances of that happening aren't small," he replied offhandedly.

"Systema awakening is affected by many factors. The strength of the Systema, the Systema Holder's talent, and their emotions during the awakening."

I had been waiting for this.

Last time, I had asked about emotions.

"Systema Holder's talent?" 

"Mana Manipulation," he shrugged. "There are a whole lot of ways in which a Systema Holder's talent can be measured. But if we are talking about the most basic measurement, it's Mana Manipulation talent.

"The ones with high talent will have a fast awakening and an easy time controlling the mana that gushes out of their souls after..."

He suddenly stopped talking, his words cut short by a dawning realization. His face paled, and his lips pressed into a thin line as he glanced furtively around.

The guard understood he had spoken more than he was allowed to.

After taking a few furtive glances to make sure no one was watching, he whispered, "I didn't tell you anything. If someone asks, say that we were discussing the weather," he gulped, his Adam's apple bobbing. "Both of us will be goners if the news spreads."

I nodded.

Though, in truth, I was thinking that I might be able to survive awakening if I could improve my mana manipulations.

How to achieve that was an entirely different question.

The guard was not going to give me an answer anymore.

The barren plains stretched endlessly around me, the pale sky tinged with the soft hues of dawn. His silence left a gnawing frustration in my chest, but I knew there was no point in pressing further.

Sia returned, her expression melancholic, and we said our goodbyes. Her lips quivered slightly, as though holding back words she chose not to say.

I was on my way to Glimmerhaven, the path ahead lined with sparse trees swaying gently in the morning breeze, wondering if I should end this life quickly and move to the next round by attempting awakening, or if I should try to improve my Sixth Sense.

Sixth Sense was useful, but it was far from strong. The sphere of awareness—this is what I named the manifested phenomenon of Sixth Sense—was as big as my stretched arms. 

It wasn't uniform. I could count each grain of soil beneath my left leg, the rough texture vivid against the soles of my feet, but I couldn't do the same for the soil beneath my other leg.

The sphere had holes, gaps that felt like missing patches in an otherwise finely woven fabric. It took conscious efforts from me to maintain the sphere. Or else, its performance dropped drastically.

I needed to train.Since I could use Sixth Sense without Systema, I should be able to level it up. It was a muscle, after all.

"Maybe it's better to train until old age, then awaken my Systema. I'll return to the village—"

Suddenly, the nagging feeling of having forgotten something returned. It was the same feeling I felt last time while attempting to awaken my Systema. 

I recalled what I had forgotten.

"Grandma!"

The Debt Collectors couldn't go after Uncle Ren since he died and Sia and I were away from the village. But they could go after Grandma.

I ran towards Glimmerhaven until my chest burned and my legs felt as though they would give out. The road blurred around me, the shadows of towering trees flitting like ghosts across my vision.

As soon as I reached the city, I took a carriage for the village. My mind was buzzing with incessant worries. The steady clip-clop of the horse's hooves did little to soothe my anxiety.

The journey to the village took weeks. Each passing day stretched unbearably long, with my fears gnawing at the edges of my sanity. I could never reach Grandma on time.

"No, the debt collectors aren't stupid," I muttered to myself, staring out of the carriage window as the landscape crawled by. "They should be waiting for me, knowing that I wouldn't be able to get into the academy, instead of attacking Grandma, who has no money or anything of value."

I was angry at myself. A searing frustration burned in my chest. No matter how much I had gone through or how much I was focused on protecting Sia, it was no excuse for leaving Grandma Rui to fend for herself.

The journey was needlessly long. At one point, I had to stop at Elodria for three days.

The merchant caravan of Uncle Ren had been annihilated in a bandit attack. According to the city guards, it happened a day after the caravan left Elodria.

I had been taken into custody, accused of foul play, as I was the last person seen with the caravan. The cold walls of the holding cell pressed in on me, the low murmur of guards beyond the door feeding my helpless rage.

It was huge news, spreading like wildfire through the city. Did this happen in the past rounds too?

No, that was impossible. In the third round, the woman had brought me and Sia to Uncle Ren. He wouldn't have been alive if the caravan was destroyed.

Something was wrong. Anyone could tell that. However, my focus remained on Grandma Rui.

"If the merchants of the caravans were the debt collectors, then Grandma Rui should be safe now that they are dead."

What if I was wrong and the debt collectors weren't the merchants? My heart weighed heavily as I reached the village.

The familiar sight of the village greeted me, a blend of nostalgia and unease tightening my throat.

I stood before the door of my house. The wind rustled softly through the surrounding trees, but the air felt oppressively still.

Was Grandma inside?

I could've gained the answer by simply entering inside or calling her out.

But I didn't.

The 'confirmation' itself scared me. It was like Schrödinger's cat theory. The cat was both alive and dead until the box was opened. It could be said that opening the box was what killed the cat.

Grandma Rui wasn't dead until I confirmed her death.

I knew this was just stalling the time.

However, the fear of losing Grandma Rui left me unable to move.