Trapped in the Beastworld Breeder System (BL)-Chapter 45: Retrials

Chapter 45: Retrials
[But, Host, would you like to go back to the starting point, or will you accept a retrial...?]
Areis’s eyes lit up at the question. Was that even something to hesitate over? A retrial meant he could attempt the mission again, redo that critical moment without being forced to start all over from the very beginning, from the time he first stepped into the Tiger King’s territory.
"I’m all ears for this," Areis said immediately, his voice firm with decision. "Of course I’d want a retrial rather than going back."
But then, a familiar sense of caution crept in. He knew the system far too well. It was never generous without reason, and it never offered help without demanding something in return. His expression hardened slightly as he added, "And what’s the catch with this?"
The moment the question left his lips, a heavy weight settled in his chest, pressing down on his thoughts as the system responded.
[Host, the retrial will begin from the onset of the end of the punishment. Events will replay from Lucien’s actions onward, and you will be granted the opportunity to alter the outcome provided you do not die again.]
"That’s even better than I thought," Areis said, a faint smile forming at the corner of his lips. "It’s starting from here instead of from the very first day I stepped into the Wolf Territory. That’s good. Really good."
Still, he wasn’t fooled.
"So," he continued, his tone sharpening, "what’s the catch behind all these favorable conditions?"
The system answered without delay.
[If Host fails the retrial five times, his soul will be exterminated. There will be no chance to restart the world, and no return to his original one.]
Areis exhaled slowly.
"I knew there had to be a stake behind this," he muttered. "So if I waste all five retrials without getting it right, then I won’t be able to return to my world at all. Not even my soul will remain."
He paused, then gave a dry chuckle. "Cool, then."
Despite his casual tone, his thoughts were in complete disarray as he pondered the weight of the decision. This wasn’t something he could take lightly not with his existence on the line.
’If I’m accepting this,’ he thought carefully, ’then there has to be a plan. There has to be a reason I can accept this with confidence.’
His hand came up to his chin as he began to brood deeply.
’Let’s replay what happened,’ he told himself. ’Everything happened too fast. I didn’t even have time to think, let alone react. One moment, I was trying to reach Lucien after the contract was annulled, trying to tell him the truth, and the next moment, pain just slammed into me.’
His jaw tightened.
’Kenzie... that sky bastard,’ Areis thought bitterly. ’He attacked me from behind.’
That realization made everything painfully clear.
’Which means,’ he continued analyzing, ’he already knew I wouldn’t kill Lucien especially after the contract was annulled. He was watching me the entire time. Waiting. And the moment I lowered my guard, he struck.’
Areis shook his head slowly as the pieces fell into place, revealing Kenzie for the calculating and ruthless individual he truly was.
He let out a frustrated sigh. "So if I’m doing this again," he muttered aloud, "then I shouldn’t turn my back on Kenzie."
"Or maybe," he added thoughtfully, "I should move away from my position the moment Lucien starts to leave. Turn sideways instead of forward because now I know he’s going to attack."
Areis pondered deeply, his thoughts spiralling in restless circles, colliding and unraveling all at once.
[Host, you have ten seconds left to decide whether you would like to accept a retrial or restart. 10... 9...]
"Wait, this is a matter of life and death!" Areis cried out desperately at the System, his voice echoing into the emptiness. "How can you not give me enough time to think this through?"
The System, however, remained unmoved. Perhaps it knew Areis too well or perhaps it understood humans in general better than they understood themselves.
[That is because, Host, you would likely not arrive at a perfect decision even if you were given an entire day. It is more efficient this way.]
[5... 4...]
"Fine!" Areis shouted, his teeth clenched as the countdown blinked to 1. "I’ll do the retrial!"
[Recording answer. Retrial loading. Starting in 3... 2... 1...]
The sensation hit him all at once.
Areis suddenly found himself kneeling on a cold stone floor—the familiar chill seeping through his knees, grounding him instantly.
It was the courtroom. The very same courtroom where everything had gone wrong before. His breath hitched as he instinctively clutched his chest, his fingers pressing against his heart.
No pain.
No blood.
Relief flooded through him so intensely that his shoulders sagged. This alone confirmed it, this truly was a retrial, not a restart.
Slowly, carefully, he lifted his head and surveyed the room. Then his eyes met Lucien’s piercing gaze, sharp and unreadable, before flicking briefly to the Wolf King’s impassive expression seated above.
Areis sighed quietly. This was definitely the same moment.
His gaze shifted again and this time to Kenzie.
Kenzie was staring right back at him.
A chill crawled up Areis’s spine.
"I need to be alert this time," he muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening. "Otherwise, I’ll be left with only three retrials."
With renewed resolve hardening his expression, Areis focused fully on the mission ahead.
The king’s voice rang out as he issued the punishment, his tone final and unquestionable. Lucien bowed deeply, his shoulders slumped, his back turned toward Areis.
"Thank you, Your Majesty, for your leniency," Lucien said, his voice heavy with resignation.
Watching this scene unfold again made something twist painfully in Areis’s chest. The absurdity of it struck him harder this time. The way people thanked the king for everything no matter how cruel or unjust it was.
What leniency was there in sending someone to the mines, where death was a likely outcome, instead of simply allowing him to stay with a tiger beast?
It reminded Areis bitterly of the soap operaa scenarios—like a wealthy father refusing to let his son marry a poor woman, disguising cruelty as benevolence.
Areis exhaled slowly as he watched Lucien complete his formal greetings. He refused to let history repeat itself.
This time, he rose from his position.
Instead of waiting, Areis walked toward Lucien.
He moved decisively, already pulling out the contract meant to be annulled. When Lucien turned and stood before him, his gaze pierced into Areis’s eyes, searching desperately for answers—answers Areis knew he could not give, not yet.
Lucien spoke the same words as before, his voice trembling with restrained emotion, but this time he was facing Areis directly.
"It would have been better if you had just played with me only," Lucien said quietly, bitterly, "but you went ahead to play with my heart."
As a temporary mate, Areis felt the weight of Lucien’s emotions crash into him. For a split second, the urge to reach out, to stop him, nearly overwhelmed him.
But he didn’t. This moment was crucial.
Lucien began to move away not turning his back completely, merely stepping aside to leave Areis’s front. Panic erupted in Areis’s mind.
Something was wrong.
Before he could react, a tremendous force slammed into him, knocking him aside. His vision blurred, and in that same instant, a sword appeared from nowhere—its blade driving straight through Lucien’s heart.
[Mission failed!]
"What?!" Areis shouted as the world dissolved around him. "How did that happen? He wasn’t supposed to be the one hurt! I thought—I thought I could prevent it!"
His voice echoed uselessly as he was dragged back into the white space.
No answers came except a ten minute countdown.
Areis forced himself to think—again, harder, sharper. He replayed everything in his mind, over and over, until a grim realization settled in.
The countdown ended and once more, he was back.
The punishment was issued again.
This time, Areis stood up immediately, but he did not move toward Lucien.
He turned toward Kenzie.
The suddenness of his movement caught everyone off guard. Before anyone could react or intervene, Areis closed the distance between them.
Kenzie barely had time to widen his eyes as Aries plunged a dagger deep into his chest.
Straight into his heart.
Areis’s expression was terrifyingly calm, his heart as cold as steel. He didn’t think about consequences. He didn’t think about laws, morality, or the weight of ending a life.
Only the mission for his survival.
The realization of what he had done hit him a second later. His head rang, his vision swam, and something rose violently in his throat, threatening to spill out.
But before he could react further, the System’s voice echoed again.
[Mission failed. Host failed to prevent the death of a Beastlord.]
"You’ve got to be kidding me," Areis muttered hoarsely.
He looked up into the void, frustration and disbelief clouding his senses. "Do you mean it’s not just Lucien I’m meant to save, but Kenzie too?"
[Yes, Host. This mission is a layered one. You are tasked with ensuring the safety of all Beastlords you encounter within the wolf territory.]
Areis stared blankly ahead for a long moment before letting out a defeated laugh.
"Oh... fuck me..."