July 22 — Wednesday
Deaths: 38
Third day after awakening the Hunter’s Mark.
Noah checked his system over and over again, sitting cross-legged on his bed, with the determination of someone who had just received a goal far beyond his current capabilities.
‘Belle’s request to reach Floor 500 is extremely ambitious, and I won’t achieve it just by wishing for it or saying the right things. I have to take it seriously and build toward it through my own decisions.’
He opened the description of [Return], comparing it mentally with what he remembered.
[Return] — Passive.
[Upon death, the bearer returns to a checkpoint automatically determined by the system. Starting from Level 15, the return point may vary in time and location, without direct control from the bearer.]
“Wait,” he murmured, rereading the last line twice. “I don’t always return to my bed at the beginning of the day anymore?”
[Correct. Congratulations on the upgrade. Death is now a roulette spin.]
“Excuse me?”
[Before, you died and returned to a fixed checkpoint, almost always your bed. From now on, the system automatically chooses where and when you respawn. It could be the same day. It could be hours earlier. You won’t know until it happens.]
Noah stared at the ceiling for a long moment, processing the information with a mixture of uneasiness and resignation.
“Great,” he finally said, without any real conviction behind the word. “Just when I was starting to get used to having control over something.”
[That’s how life is. Adapt.]
He had no way to argue with that. He would simply have to learn how to handle this new uncertainty, just like he had learned everything else since awakening his Mark.
He opened his inventory and began organizing what he would take to Floor 3, following Belle’s recommendations exactly: several energy lamps, basic food rations, a couple of improvised bandages, and of course, his new weapon.
He took it out of his inventory to admire it once more: a dagger with a crimson blade, considerably sturdier and heavier than the previous one, the metal shining with a reddish tint under the room’s light.
‘It took sixty percent of all the money I earned yesterday,’ he thought, weighing it in his hand. ‘But it’s an investment. With this, I’ll gain much more than what I spent.’
The remaining thirty-five percent went directly toward saving for his outstanding debts —rent, medicine, bills— and the final five percent went toward basic food. They did not need luxuries. With two people at home and simple tastes, they could live comfortably for a while before considering anything more extravagant.
‘My plan is to reach Floor 5 before the week ends,’ he thought, putting the dagger back into his inventory. ‘Although…’
An absurd idea crossed his mind: repeating the same day over and over, dying as many times as necessary, accumulating experience without a single real calendar day passing, until he reached Rank S within twenty-four straight hours.
He laughed at himself almost immediately.
‘That would attract far too much attention. And it wouldn’t even make sense: if I never move forward a real day, I’ll never see Lily grow up, and I’ll never have a normal life outside the castle. There’s no point in becoming stronger if I never live the time I earn. Or at least that’s what I think right now. Maybe in the future, if I feel more pressure, I won’t hesitate to repeat a single day hundreds of times to rank up.’
He dismissed the idea as quickly as it had appeared.
‘I have four days left before they come to take everything from me because of my debts,’ he thought, remembering the gray-suited man’s ultimatum. ‘I have to make the most of every one of them. Starting today, no more distractions until this week is over.’
“Brother!” Lily’s voice came from her room. “Come here, look at this!”
Noah immediately approached, finding her sitting on the bed with her cellphone in her hands, the screen showing a series of posts with exaggerated titles: “Who is Belle Snow’s mysterious companion?”, “The lonely Hunter is no longer alone”, “Sources confirm: Belle Snow was seen carrying an unknown man inside the Fortress.”
“Rumors spread really fast,” Noah muttered with a grimace.
“You became famous,” Lily teased with a mischievous smile.
“I hope this doesn’t cause problems for her. Or for me, honestly,” Noah replied, rubbing the back of his neck. “I just hope they don’t bother me when I get to the Fortress.”
He prepared everything Lily would need for the day: her food already served, cold water in the small fridge beside her bed, and the TV remote within reach. He always left extra supplies, just in case, so she would never lack anything while he was away.
“Take good care of yourself today,” he told her before leaving.
“The one who should be taking care of himself is you,” Lily replied, with a more serious tone than she usually used.
“I’ll be fine,” Noah promised.
He placed his hand on her head and gently caressed her hair. Lily smiled and looked at him with a loving gaze, like someone looking at the person she admired most, before saying:
“I love you, brother.”
“And I love you too.”
◇◆◇
When he arrived near the Fortress, after making his way through the usual crowd, the sky was dyed red with the same randomness as always. The crimson moon rose, smiling with its irregular fangs.
[You have 30 minutes to enter the Castle.]
Noah looked at his watch to check the exact time. From now on, he no longer knew when he would die or which day he would repeat, so he would keep track of the exact moment when the crimson moon appeared.
‘Time is always random,’ he thought as he crossed the main entrance. ‘Being able to move at Belle’s speed would be useful. That way, I wouldn’t have to calculate so far ahead when to leave home.’
He had barely crossed the lobby and started thinking about his plan for the day when he felt a presence approaching from behind.
A group of six Hunters surrounded him with the deliberate slowness of people who already knew they had the advantage in numbers. The one at the front, a burly man with a smile that radiated arrogance from the very first second, stood in front of him with his arms crossed.
“You’re the guy who was with the legendary Belle Snow.”
‘Great. They’re already here to bother me,’ Noah thought with an internal sigh.
“What’s your relationship with her?” the man continued, not waiting for an answer. “How did you manage to hire her? You must have paid her a fortune.”
“I just happened to run into her by chance,” Noah replied calmly. “She helped me get out of the castle. I would have died if it weren’t for her.”
“I don’t believe you,” the man immediately replied. “We all saw you arrive together. She was carrying you like it was nothing.”
The other members of the group nodded, adding unnecessary details about what they had witnessed.
‘If they already saw everything from the beginning, there’s no point in lying,’ Noah thought, accepting the situation.
“I’m not going to answer anything that involves Belle’s privacy,” he said firmly. “If you’re that curious, read the announcements online.”
The man stepped closer, wrapping an arm around Noah’s neck with a fake sense of camaraderie that was almost grotesque.
“Look, my group is missing one member. We accept even Rank F Hunters, if that serves as an incentive.”
“I’m not interested in joining any group. I’m going to follow the same path as Belle. I’ll go alone.”
“Ah.” The man smiled, his tone filled with insinuation. “So you really do have a close relationship with her.”
Something tightened in Noah’s chest. With a firm movement, he removed the man’s arm from around him and faced him directly.
“And if I do? Are you jealous that Belle is with me?”
The entire group let out a series of indignant murmurs, some laughing mockingly, others muttering insults under their breath.
“Your jealousy isn’t my problem,” Noah added without flinching.
Deciding to take advantage of the growing tension, he changed the subject with an apparently innocent question.
“Out of curiosity, what rank are you?”
The leader, still annoyed, answered proudly.
“Rank D.”
He was the highest-ranked one, as his followers were Rank E.
‘They aren’t even useful for stealing a skill from. Everything I have came from Rank C Hunters, and I’m still struggling to advance through the floors. These guys won’t help me at all.’
“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested in your group,” Noah added, turning his back on them.
“Damn it,” the leader growled, approaching him. “Do you really think you’re so important that you’re above us?”
The moment Noah felt a hand being placed on his shoulder, he was quickly turned around to face him. The burly man grabbed him by the shirt and said:
“Listen, rookie. We’re giving you the chance to advance through the floors faster, and you’re a pathetic Rank F. Don’t reject this kind of opportunity just because you think you’re better than us for knowing Belle.”
Noah locked eyes with him. His silver pupils stared down the man’s brown eyes; however, after calming himself for a moment, he answered calmly:
“I don’t need to deal with scared dogs that only know how to bark.”
The man pulled out his curved sword and pressed the blade close to his neck. One of his companions grabbed him by the arm and said:
“Rick, that’s enough. You’re attracting too much attention.”
Around them, dozens of Hunters were watching them. A great variety of ranks, levels, and statuses. Rick, the group’s leader, put away his sword and pushed Noah away as he let go of him.
“Yeah, sure. This isn’t the place,” he said with a smile.
‘Is that a threat?’
The atmosphere remained tense, and the murmurs around them discussed all kinds of things. Some recognized Noah because he had been with Belle. The rumors would spread quickly.
As the group walked away in another direction, passing close to Noah, Rick left him with one final comment:
“Be careful, rookie. We don’t want you getting hurt in there.”
Noah adjusted his black long-sleeved shirt and continued on his way. The gazes around him were focused on him, but he ignored them.
‘I knew that sooner or later my name would become known and I would have everyone’s attention, but I didn’t want it to happen this soon. Is Belle’s influence really that great?’
As he climbed the stairs to the second floor of the lobby, he glanced back toward the beginning of the staircase. Rick’s group was standing there, staring directly at him.
‘Great, now I have stalkers.’
◇◆◇
When night fell, Noah left the castle happily after a day of hard work. He walked while looking at his bag of collected items.
“Buying this dagger was the right choice! I can be more aggressive in my fights, and the blade doesn’t wear down. Belle was right! Although I still feel like I’m too weak for this floor, I guess I meet the minimum level requirement.”
He climbed the stairs of his worn-down building, its walls covered in graffiti.
“As a celebration for today, I’m going to order us an expensive meal! My life is definitely getting better. We’ll become rich in no time, ha, ha, ha!”
When he reached the fourth floor, he inserted the key into the lock, but when he tried to turn it, the key got stuck.
“Huh? Is it open?”
He tested his theory, and the door opened. His expression tightened as he opened it completely and saw the dark interior of the house.
‘Did I leave the door open? Impossible. I always lock it.’
He entered, closing the door behind him, and turned on the lights.
“Lily, I’m home!” he called out. “Lily?”
He left his things on the furniture and hurried upstairs to his room. His heart began beating faster as he crossed the straight hallway toward it.
“Lily!”
He opened the door.
What he saw horrified him. Things were scattered everywhere. His sister’s bed was covered in blood, and the sheets were thrown aside.
Near the bed, a trail of blood led toward the bathroom.
Noah ran forward, gasping for breath as tears filled his eyes.
He quickly opened the door, only to see his sister’s blood-covered body lying on the floor.
His entire world collapsed.
He screamed in desperation as he hugged his sister, becoming covered in her blood.
“Lily! No, no, please, no, no! No, Lily, please!”
Her lifeless eyes did not even focus on him. Noah screamed until his throat tore apart as tears covered his face.
Countless thoughts rushed through his mind in an instant. Who had done it? Why? When?
Desperate and unable to find any reason, Noah grabbed a piece of glass lying on the blood-covered floor. His expression twisted with rage, and he clenched his teeth violently.
“Who the hell did this?!” he shouted as he breathed heavily.
With determination, he stabbed himself in the throat, opening the wound.
“I’ll find you, you bastard!!”
He stabbed himself again. Blood filled his mouth and soaked his clothes as he cut through his vocal cords and choked on his own blood.
‘And when I do, I’m going to kill you!!’
His silver pupils burned with rage moments before he collapsed.
[You Died.]
◇◆◇
His consciousness returned all at once, like being violently pulled back. His breathing and anger were at their peak; however, he was no longer in his bed.
“…my group is missing one member. We accept even Rank F Hunters, if that serves as an incentive.”
Noah blinked, trying to focus his vision.
‘Where…?’
“Hey, did you hear me, rookie?”
“Huh? What…?” he muttered in agitation.
Beside him, Rick had his arm around his neck, looking at him with a confused expression.
“What’s wrong?” Rick asked. “You suddenly got agitated. I only invited you to my group. It’s not that big of a deal.”
Noah’s pupils widened. He pushed Rick away and ran toward the exit of the lobby.
“H-Hey!”
When he reached the doors, he looked at the entire crimson sky, the smiling moon with its fangs, and the dozens of corpses of those who had died outside.
‘N-no way… i-it brought me back to the castle…’
Death counter: 39.