Chapter 63 I’m Gonna Make Things Right This Time!

[SYSTEM NOTICE]

Arcana Call: The Fool has been used.

<Cost Has Been Paid>

[You Have Now Returned To Your Designated Choice In The Past]

~Time Left Until Time Starts Counting Again: (4 Days)~

[Good Luck!]

"Arghhh!!!" I woke up from a terrible nightmare—or more like a foregone reality.

With sweat pouring out of my body in the middle of the night, I heaved and looked around me. I was all alone in the dark and very familiar room.

I was back at the settlement—before it was ever invaded, to be exact.

If my calculations were correct, I returned four days before the actual event... on the very day I would be leaving for the Adventurer's City.

"So... I'm really back...?" It took a moment for the reality to completely dawn on me,

However, the moment it did, I found myself in a mix of emotions.

'Shit... I didn't want to use it yet. Damn it!'

Other than the initial Free Trial of my Arcana Call: The Fool, I didn't want to use it until I reached a juncture. For me, the ability to return to the past was my insurance.

"I could have returned to the beginning of the Summoning... haa." I murmured.

The reason for that wasn't far-fetched.

To use The Fool Arcana, you had to pay a toll. The means of payment was Time.

With the Time I had already saved, it was possible for me to return to the beginning. After all, I never used Arcana Call despite how awry the situation got.

It was all for one purpose!

"Status Window..." I murmured, watching the System Panel pop up.

[SYSTEM WINDOW]

Name: Samuel Peterson

Level: 45

Age: 17 Years

Gender: Male

Current Condition: Exhausted, Relieved, Slightly Annoyed.

Status Infliction: Sleepy

Title: Hero [See Additional Titles]

~[QUEST DETAILS]~

[FEATURES]

~ Stats~

~Skills[Unlocked]~

~Inventory [Unlocked]~

~Character List~

~Shop [Unlocked]~

~Arcana Value [Unrestricted]~

<You have not met the requirements to unlock some Features>

[More Features will be added subsequently]

[END OF INFORMATION]

[Stats]

Level: 45

Exp: 17.85%

Class: None (Check Available Class)

Karmic Value: 12,354

[Basic Ability]

HP: 55/55

MP: 50/50

Strength: 31

Agility: 62

'',

Vitality: 35

Intelligence: 47

<Stat Points: 91>

[Complete Quests and slay enemies to obtain Stat Points and EXP. Doing so will increase your Level and also grant you Stat Points]

[END OF INFORMATION]

[Skills]

<1> Five Seconds Rule

<2> Rune crafting

<3> Freedom Of Expression

<4> With Great Responsibility There Must Also Come Great Power

<5> Insight

<6> Martial Arts

<7> Predator

<8> Draconic Physique

[Titles]

<1> Hero

<2> Fraud

<3> Conqueror

<4> Goblin Hunter

<5> Dragon Hunter

<6> Fool

[End Of Information]

"As expected..." I gave a grumbling sigh.

It was just like in the T.W.T.S.S. Light Novel. I still had my Stats from the future.

"Shit!" I really wanted to burst into tears, but I controlled myself.

If I was too loud, then Sarah would pop out and start her usual charade. It was good enough that she wasn't currently in the room.

That would have been awkward, considering I was still recoiling from the traumatic sight I experienced.

"What a waste, though..." I grumbled, looking through my Inventory and realizing I had all the Items I collected in the past.

It was a shame, truly.

Why?

Well, most people would be happy if they got transported to the past with their cheat Skills and high Level. With this, I could officially prove that I was a powerful Hero, and Lucy would probably lose badly if we fought.

It was because of this very reason that I was sad.

"If I had gone further into the future and used The Fool when I became truly Op, then I would be a god at this point!"

Clearing this world would also be in easy mode since I could grind and made all the mistakes in a foregone timeline. That was my plan.

If I kept pushing, despite every mistake I made, until I became strong and knowledgeable enough about this world—I could simply turn the hands of time and start off as an Overpowered Hero!

"Guess that's all gone to waste now..."

Thanks to the stupid stunt I pulled, it was virtually impossible to return to the starting point of the story.

All thanks to the lame conditions of [The Fool].

******************

I wouldn't blame anyone if they said they don't understand how it works.

The truth is that I also struggled to grasp the concept until I took my time to study it. By study, I mean reading the source material at least a dozen times... going on the internet, and watching several explanatory videos.

Yeah, that's right!

I was obsessed with understanding it... until the concept finally clicked.

Now, how do I explain it to noobs who don't know what's up?

The concept wasn't very difficult, thinking about it now. It's almost embarrassing how I couldn't grasp something so simple.

Arcana Call: The Fool... it has three major conditions, yeah?

The first is the toll fee—Time.

The second would be the limitation of the ability based on the Time given.

Finally, the restoration of the user's knowledge, ability, and possession upon returning to the past.

Yep, that's about it!

Still don't get it? Lol, I know... it's crazy.

',

How about an analogy?

Let's say you have only spent one day in this world.

That means you can only travel one day into the past—at most.

That is the price of 'Time' that must be paid.

But, what happens when you desire to travel only twelve hours into the past, and not a full twenty-four hours? What happens then?

Well, that's simple... the entire 'Time' you save up will still be extinguished. Even if it's a simple one-hour trip, the results will be the same.

In essence, any slip-up or careless use of 'Time' will cost you everything.

Want to know the worst part?

You can't even stock up on Time until you return to the exact point where you chose to travel back in time. That means, until you extinguish your time travel trip of a day, you can't save up time.

It's that simple.

Still don't understand? Welp... that's not my problem.

******************

"I can never return to the beginning of my Summoning. Even if I want to save up as much time as possible, it will only start counting four days from now. I'll never have enough... shit."

All my plans were literally down the drain at this point.

But, I did not despair.

Neither did I regret it—at least, not too much.

I could have simply abandoned everyone and simply tried to live for as long as I could. After all, I would still be saving everyone when I decided to use the Arcana Call.

But...

"I just couldn't do it."

... They needed me.

It was stupid and illogical, but I didn't think there was any other alternative.

"It was my fault, anyway. I was too careless and let my guard down." Rising from my bed, I stepped onto the comfortable ground in my warm room.

I stepped out of the tent and got a feel of the cool, early morning breeze.

"Everything is still here." I smiled.

The tranquil atmosphere of the settlement was yet to be sullied. My racing heart finally found rest, and I took in every single moment of the peace and quiet.

At the moment, I had three options.

One was to go through the events as I did in the foregone future.

I would go to Dulum, register as an Adventurer, slay the Earth Dragon, gain fame and prestige, then return early enough to prevent the slaughter.

If I did that, I could end up achieving the best result.

But... could I really do that with a clear conscience? Would I really be at ease in the Adventurer's City when I knew my domain was in imminent danger?

"No. I can't risk it."

Unlike before, there was no option of using Arcana Call to reset anything.

This was my one and only chance to make things right—no other option!

What if my car breaks down as we're returning? What if a horde of wild beasts attack? What if something unprecedented rears its head? What if the Demons attack earlier than usual?

There were too many variables that I simply couldn't be careless with my choices.

"If I'm going to do this... I'll have to think things through..."

Down to the letter!

No room for the tiniest bit of errors!

"Fortunately, I have everything I need." A smile formed on my face as I stared at my Inventory.

Mercury. Mana Chalk. A Dragon Tooth and a few Dragon Scales. Several other items were there... including money.

Like, actual money in this world's currency.

"Perfect! This is going to be an epic second turn."

Failure was not an option... for my sake and for the people relying on me.

I was definitely going to save everyone this time.

******************

[A/N]

I apologize if there have been too many info dumps in the recent chapters.

The pace will be a lot faster starting next chapter.

Get ready for some interesting events.

Looks like our Hero means business now.