Chapter 2

I decided to save the griping for later and first figure out just what sort of mess I was in. My transmigration host, Ailette Rodeline, was the daughter of a hired servant. I remembered it being noted during my evaluation that the aristocrat of the house was particularly nasty to the story’s protagonist.

It wouldn’t be easy to determine exactly whose roof I was living under with just that information alone. There were quite a few villains that pushed the protagonist around. I needed to at least find out what the surname of the noble family was…

“Huh?”

A map suddenly materialized before me, like those in a video game, displaying a blueprint of the mansion.

⟬«Area» [Gilette Castle]

A castle under the ownership of Count Gilette, located in the far eastern region of the Vinchester Kingdom.

Note: Take caution around the count’s troublemaker son!⟭

“Oh!”

Now I remember. The esteemed son of Count Gilette. The noble Gilette family was renowned for their master swordsmanship, but the son ended up having to buy his knighthood because he was so lousy with the sword. If I remember correctly, the son almost died after carelessly wandering into a dungeon during his knighthood training and had to be saved by the protagonist.

The protagonist did not seek to be rewarded, but the hooligan son insisted he be compensated and dragged him all the way back to his fiefdom. It wasn’t difficult to predict what would happen next between the two—the wretched son treated the protagonist like a mercenary throughout their travels together, then kicked the other man to the curb as soon as he was safely back inside his castle.

As soon as the protagonist left, however, a “dungeon burst” broke out near the castle, demonic monsters razing Gilette Castle and the surrounding fiefdom to the ground. The tedious plot of this episode dragged on so much compared to the brief moment of excitement at the end.

“Blech!” I gagged at the mere thought of trudging through that mundane narrative arc. Fleeing from the upcoming chaos at Gilette Castle wouldn’t be too difficult. The real issue came from the fact that this sort of disaster could keep happening anywhere, at any moment.

These dungeons were spreading like the plague across the continent. The possibility of coming across a dungeon burst was unavoidable. I would need to deal with one sooner or later.

Looks like I’m fated to die anyhow, once the original story begins. Maybe I’d have a better chance of surviving if I could remember the story front to back… The blueprint map faded away and was replaced by a screen depicting a stately library.

⟬«Menu» [Ultimate Library]

Books are nourishment for the soul! This library holds every book the transmigrator has purchased or read during his or her lifetime.

Note: Only applicable to legally acquired books.⟭

“Whoa, looks like I hit the jackpot.” I flipped through a few titles to see if it was really true. There were books like my Ethics 101 textbook from elementary school all the way up to the X-rated reverse-harem book I purchased the night before I died. I quickly arranged the collection from A to Z.

It’s here! It really is here! Much to my relief, the complete set of Infinite Returns to Save the World was included in the library. My chances of survival had suddenly skyrocketed. Even with the book, I was still somewhat uneasy. I wanted to raise my survivability odds even higher. If only this vessel had special dormant powers, just waiting for me to awaken them.

“Hey System, isn’t there anything else?” I was hopeful for a third perk, seeing as how it spoon-fed me the first two. As if responding to my expectations, a third message popped up.

⟬«System» Transmigration Insurance - Full Package Benefits. Receive [One-Time Cash Deal]?⟭

“Cash?” Just as I was deliberating over this strangely unexpected capitalistic concept, a subsequent message popped up.

⟬«System» Death benefit in accordance with the life insurance you subscribed to prior to death:

[120,000,000 Cash] Note: Cash can be exchanged as currency within the transmigrated universe.⟭

One hundred and twenty million, all in cash. It was a strange experience to receive a payout for my own life insurance. Wait a sec...If there’s a system of currency, then there must be..?!

The display changed and my suspicions were confirmed.

⟬«Menu» [Transmigrator Exclusive Item Shop]

Shop for all your transmigrator needs in one place! Pay to win! Set yourself up for success in even the most challenging S-class storylines!⟭

With nothing to lose, I sorted the results based on popularity.

⟬«Item» [Job Advancement Package (Combat)]

A must have item for all transmigrators in fantasy or martial arts genres. Select one combat skill applicable to your novel’s universe.
Available Options: Aura, Magic, Divine Power, Martial Arts…

Price: 10,000,000 Cash⟭

“No way.”

There’s no way. An item that lets you acquire a skill set? Every cell in my body was crying out, “You have to buy this!”

Awakening abilities is truly a must in an S-level universe, so I clicked “buy” without a second thought. After purchasing the item, I decided to wait before I used it. I had good reason to hold off. In Infinite Returns to Save the World, it is possible to awaken divine power, magic, or an aura, but while magic and divine power clash with each other, an aura can be used in conjunction with the other abilities.

Consequently, your main ability and sub-ability are decided based on the order in which you awaken them. I decided to skim through the original book before choosing which ability to awaken first. Another popular item on the shop menu caught my eye.

⟬«Item» [Blessing of Rapid Growth]

A blessing from the gods of the Transmigration Bureau, which allows you to gain twice as much skill exp.

Price: 1,000,000 Cash⟭

My instincts cried out a second time, “I have to buy this too!”, but when I tried, I received an unexpected error notification.

⟬«System» Purchase denied. A more advanced version of the item is currently in effect.⟭

⟬«Item» [Blessing of Extreme Growth]

A blessing from the gods of the Transmigration Bureau, which allows you to gain five times as much skill exp.

Note: This item was identified as overbalance, but it was included as a limited-time option in the Transmigration Life Insurance Full Package.

Price: Not for sale⟭

I really struck gold with this one! Limited-time offer! I kissed the finger that pressed the “Yes” option which purchased the insurance right before I died. I spent a little more time browsing before closing the shop window.

I was extremely fired up thanks to the Skill Package, the [Blessing of Extreme Growth] item, and the discovery of the Ultimate Library. Now let’s get started on this stale, miserable novel!

I confidently opened up the first chapter of Infinite Returns to Save the World. I was determined to blast through the entire thing by speed reading. But only four hours had passed before I threw my hands up in frustration.

“What the hell! We’re at Loop Seventy-seven, but it’s still not over yet! And it’s so lame!”

Staying true to its title, Infinite Returns to Save the World, the protagonist regresses back to the point where it almost seems cruel and unusual. Just like how sailors on a sinking ship have that “every man for themselves” mentality, the people of an apocalyptic world were generally very deceptive and prone to betrayal.

I was sure no one would’ve bashed the protagonist for a bit of fibbing here and there, but his default character settings stubbornly remained as the “good, faithful crusader that knows no evil.” No wonder people called him “Tez the Try-hard.”

Of course, Mr. Try-hard—I mean, the protagonist—was only human, and slowly but surely he became corrupt later on in the story. His good, holy nature began to lean more toward a neutral disposition throughout the course of the book. Betrayal and loss of trusted companions, the people he saved, and family members began to change him.

After being betrayed three times in a row by his most beloved and trusted heroine saintess, that is when he finally begins his descent into evil. Right now though, I was at Loop Seventy-seven. The story couldn’t get much worse. If someone asked me at what point is the story most enjoyable, I’d recommend Loop Seventeen without any hesitation.

And there’s a very good reason for this. In Loop Seventeen, as soon as the protagonist regresses, he is murdered by the final villain who just happens to be passing by at the time. The protagonist is killed off right then and there before the reader even has a chance to complain. It was, without a doubt, the most pitiful loop.

I guess I can sort of see the potential he has to save the world in Loop Seventy-seven. Just as I was pulling myself together to read the rest of the book, another notice popped up.

⟬«System» The [sequence] of the novel’s loop has been set.⟭

That’s right! This story goes on forever, so it’s important to find out which loop I’m in at the moment. According to what the system said earlier, I’m currently in the tutorial stage before the actual story begins. The original story only begins upon completion of the tutorial, and the twenty-year-old protagonist begins his regressing.

In other words, right now the protagonist is still young and fresh in his first loop.

Maybe the protagonist is still a child like me! I wonder, among the endless number of loops, which one will I be assigned to? The protagonist needs to save the world in order for me to live as well. That’s why it’s important that I get dropped in a timeline where he’s gained a lot of experience.

Oh, gods of the Transmigration Bureau! Please put me in a high loop!

The message refreshed.

⟬«System» After the tutorial, the novel will be set to the Seventeenth loop.⟭

Is this punishment for running my big mouth? Or maybe it’s divine punishment for blasphemously calling out to god in spite of being an atheist.

Why, oh why! Why must I end up in the loop where the protagonist is instantly crushed like a bug by the final boss?! Of all things! Of all things! The final boss doesn’t even appear in that many loops. But even among those few loops, why must it be number Seventeen?

I clutched my head in despair and screamed. “Waaah!” I had originally intended on making more of an exasperated “Argh” sound, but apparently, my body was only capable of producing cute noises.

Mr. Try-hard would only become remotely useful after maybe Loop Seventy. He was still green behind the ears at Loop Seventeen. There was no way he’d be able to stand against the final boss who, in the book, is described to be a transcendental, godly being. It’s obvious what I must do.

I just have to rule out getting any help from the protagonist. I’m the only one that I’ve got left to believe in! I need to get stronger in order to survive!

The system request that popped up seemed to agree with me as well.

⟬«System» Initial guide complete. You have a new tutorial quest.⟭

⟬«Tutorial Quest» Mandatory Transmigration Tutorial Period (For S-class transmigrators)

The only way to raise your chances for survival is to power up. Train your mind, body, and soul to secure a rank within the top 100 strongest characters in the novel’s universe.

Time remaining until end of tutorial: 3,392 days 2 hours 15 minutes

Current Rank: Only ranks 1,000 and above are displayed.

Reward Upon Success: Unknown

Failure Penalty: Death⟭

Seeing the word death on the screen sent chills down my spine. I-it’s going to be okay. I have more than enough time! Just as I was hardening my resolve to survive, the doors to the room slammed open.

“My goodness!” A girl stomped through the open doorway and into the attic. Her eyes flashed when she found me. “Over here! She’s here!”