SYMDF 1

Chapter 1

Thump, thump, thump, thump…
From his chest, it rang out as if someone were pounding a drum, the beat of his heart resonating wildly.

Ion felt as though the image of himself just a moment ago—hiding from people’s eyes and stifling his cough—was nothing but a dream. Instead, he now lay stretched across the bed in a small room on the outskirts of the banquet hall.

While faint music drifted smoothly in from afar, Ion, under the pitch-black night, found himself confronted by a man who gazed down quietly at him as he lay down.

The man’s eyes, as always, shimmered beautifully like glass beads in the darkness. Yet, unlike his younger years, Ion thought as he listened to the man’s deeply lowered, resonant voice:

“…Can I kiss you?”

Sweet, he thought. Just as ever.

But when he comprehended what had been said a moment later, Ion’s eyes widened in startled confusion.

“…What?”

It was only after blurting out such a foolish question that he truly mulled over the word the man had voiced.

Kiss?

Ion blinked vacantly. It was a word that had scarcely ever appeared in his life, so for a brief instant he had thought, What is that again?

As if to awaken him, Camillus grasped Ion’s arm firmly, and warmth surged through Ion’s body in an instant. It was a sensation he had not felt for a very long time, and Ion could not help but realize—yes, this man before him was indeed that Camillus Clodel.

〈You are my savior, Ion.〉
Back then, when as a child he had revered him as though he were a god.

〈My miracle.〉
Even if his face flushed red as he said it.

“Nngh!”

Though they had secretly—secretly from the adults, that is—pressed their lips together once before.

When Camillus’s tongue smoothly intruded into his mouth, Ion flinched in shock and struggled. Camillus chuckled softly, whispering to comfort him as one would soothe a frightened child.

“Shh, it’s all right.”

“Camillus…!”

“It heals faster through mucous membranes, you know?”

Is that really all?

Ion longed to ask, but it was impossible. Camillus leaned down, and the bed creaked weakly beneath them. Growing uneasy, Ion’s gaze flicked toward the door; yet instead of opening, a system window abruptly appeared before his eyes.

Ion’s eyes went wide at the sight.

[Status Effect: “Overflowing Mana” has been applied.]
[Status Effect: Overflowing Mana. The player’s body is filled with mana. Vitality improves and negative status ailments are suppressed.]
[Player’s probability of death: 50%…]

The probability was continuously recalculating.

[60%…]
[…]
[Decreases by 95%.]

“Ninety-five… percent?”

He had never seen such a number before. Though his surprise was fleeting, for immediately, the system updated the final result.

[The player’s current probability of death is 1.2%.]

His body, hypersensitive as it had been, now palpably calmed. The relief was so tangible it could be felt instantly. Yet even as he marveled inwardly, the thought that he has finally returned to me welled up, stirring both an ache in his chest and a prickling sting at the corners of his eyes.

To think that after leaving him like that, the man now returned with the same eyes from so long ago—Ion felt both a flare of resentment and deep, overwhelming relief.

“Ion.”

At his call, Ion squeezed his eyes shut and released a voice lined with complaint.

“Why did you only show up now?”

“…”

The question dimmed Camillus’s gaze faintly. It was an expression that always seemed filled with things left unsaid, an expression that even after so many years still looked as though it whispered something vital to him.

Yet Camillus had changed. One blink later, his face turned calm again.

“Make a deal with me, Ion.”

Ion was struck speechless by the sudden, cold expression of “deal.” After all, in their youth, they had not involved themselves with one another out of gain or calculation.

That innocent time—it felt to Ion as though it all disintegrated in a single instant with that one word.

…What kind of change has taken root in you?

As the question welled up inside him, Ion again felt his chest tighten. Faintly furrowing his brows, he asked:

“What… kind of deal?”

At this, Camillus fixed a steady gaze upon him and declared:

“I, Grand Duke Camillus Clodel, swear to lift the curse upon Ion Craiger, heir to House Craiger, whatever the cost.”

“…”

“And in return, Ion Craiger shall pledge his absolute support as Camillus Clodel’s political ally.”

Hearing this, Ion’s brow quivered faintly.

Could it be… did he know how to undo the curse?

Ion blinked, still able to feel the overwhelming current of mana coursing into him through their joined arms. If it’s him… yes, perhaps he might know.

For he was—

[Camillus Valderas Clodel
Age: 24
Occupation: Grand Duke, Archmage
Note: Known as the illegitimate son of the late Emperor, rumored to be the son of a witch.]

So powerful that some even dubbed him a mutation—unquestionably the most skilled mage still alive in all of O’Brien Empire.

“I swear. Until I lift your curse, I will protect you with my very life.”

Even while they were tangled awkwardly together on a bed, his solemn oath came forth with gravity. He drew in a long, deep breath.

Then, raising his hand, he caressed Ion’s face—like one tracing over something long yearned for, a faintly ticklish touch.

At last, with his voice trembling ever so slightly, he spoke:

“So then… as proof of our contract, won’t you be inscribed with my seal, Ion?”

From Camillus’s hand, a faint blue light shimmered forth. Catching it in his gaze, Ion immediately realized what he sought.

A magic circle floated alight in Camillus’s palm.

At that very instant, a set of choices unfurled before Ion’s eyes:

[Camillus Valderas Clodel requests a magical contract with you. Do you wish to accept?

1. Yes

2. No

3. Do nothing]

[Note: This choice may influence the player’s survival.]

Uttering a silent answer of Yes, Ion shut his eyes tightly.

It was their long-awaited third reunion.

[Reunion with Camillus Valderas Clodel (3/3)]
[Quest conditions fulfilled. Quest complete.]
[The probability of breaking ■■’s curse has increased dramatically. Probabilities of natural death, sickness, and sudden death are significantly lowered.]

At last.

Eight years ago.

[We wish you an enjoyable life as you struggle to survive in the open-world game “Eternal Empire.”]

In front of Ion’s drooping gaze still floated such messages, drifting idly as though mocking his relentless circumstances.

Time had long lost meaning to him; Ion could not even tell how long he had been trapped in this absolute blackness. Naturally, he also had no grasp of what situation he was in. He only knew this much: within the void where nothing could be seen, his body ached unbearably.

And then—there was that word: “game.”

Ion did not know exactly what it meant, but he spent countless passing moments staring at it. He repeatedly mulled over the prior sentences, until suddenly—like the spark of a revelation that leaps out after deep contemplation—he was struck by realization.

Those words must mean… this world was something intricately structured by some external design.

And he had been cast within that design.

As this thought dawned, Ion’s body gave a small shiver. At once, a fit of coughs spilled out from within him.

Had he been wounded?

It felt as if every joint deep within him were being pierced by sharp, stabbing needles.

It hurts, it hurts, it hurts…

The words circled constantly inside his mouth. His nose tingled faintly, forcing upon him a fragile yearning for relief.

He wished desperately to cry out for someone to come free him from this darkness. But—

[Status Effect: Mute]

“…Ah, ah.”

Only groans escaped, nothing more.

Resigned, Ion’s mind strayed to his memories of a previous life. Only one image truly remained: the instant he had been chased. Pursued by something utterly terrifying.

And then… he had passed through a “door,” entering a space surrounded by brilliant, blinding white light.

There had been neither form nor sound beyond that door—only a world shrouded wholly in silence. And in that emptiness, resounding loud enough to engulf the world, rose the tick-tock of a clock.

Tick, tick, tick…

That had been his final memory. When Ion next opened his eyes, meaningless messages floated starkly before him.

[Welcome to the open-world game “Eternal Empire.”]
[As the system of the open-world game “Eternal Empire” is now in effect, first-arrival users will be penalized as follows.]
[Status Effect: Mute. Unable to speak language.]
[Status Effect: Amnesia. Previous memories erased.]
[*Note: These penalties shall be lifted upon fulfillment of specific conditions.]
[Please also note that open-world players receive the following—as common fundamentals, to which they must take heed.]
[Status Effect: Hostility. Survival may be hindered by unprovoked attacks of others.]
[Status Effect: Favor. May receive aid from others.]
[Status Effect: Taboo Speech. Certain words and phrases cannot be spoken.]
[We wish you an enjoyable life as you struggle to survive in the open-world game “Eternal Empire.”]