SYMDF 5

Chapter 5

While confined to bed, Ion spent his time spinning endless delusions, and in the process discovered a way to call up his personal status screen.

Cough, cough… His throat burned raw from days of unrelenting coughing, each deep breath rattling down to his shoulders. Even bundled beneath the blankets, a biting chill still clung to his body. Pulling the covers tighter, he whispered faintly into the air:

“Display status window.”

It was something he had discovered quite by accident the day before.

[Loading player’s status list.]
[Ion Jemel Craiger
Age: 13
Occupation: Unemployed
Special note: First son of House Craiger, the player himself.]

[Stats
ATK (Attack Power): 0
MP (Mana): 0
STR (Strength): 1]

Just staring at such pitiful stats made him think: So this sort of garbage situation really exists. Every attribute at either zero or one? He didn’t even want to look any further.

The listed status ailments were no better.

[Status Effect: Amnesia. Previous memories erased. ※Penalty lifted upon fulfilling a specific condition.]
[Status Effect: Hostility. The player risks death by attack from others.]
[Status Effect: Favor. The player may receive aid from others.]
[Status Effect: Curse.□□ has cursed you. ※Lifted by the death of □□.]
[Status Effect: Ability Loss. Certain capabilities are sealed due to □□’s curse.]
[Status Effect: Frailty. Vitality drastically lowered due to □□’s curse. Probability of sudden death or health-related death raised by 200%.]
[Current probability of player’s death: 21%]

As his eyes swept over these damning words, Ion’s throat tickled again. Groping for the handkerchief on his bedside table, he muffled another fit of coughing.

Cough.

Pain clawed through his throat, his expression twisting as he swallowed thickly.

Twenty-one percent… A slight improvement compared to three days ago, when it had been over thirty percent. Even so, twenty-one was by no means a low figure, weighing heavily on his mind.

Who could this □□ be, the one who cursed me…?

He had not the faintest guess. And the longer he remained locked inside this chamber, the further any answers seemed to slip beyond reach. He had to find the culprit—but the phrasing was unmistakable:

“Lifted upon □□’s death.”

It was urging him to kill that person. A chilling thought. The game’s constant speak of survival and mortality already proved how dangerous this world was. But truly killing someone—that was another level entirely.

“Not to mention… what can a body like this even do…?”

His lips moved faintly, and at once the little creature he had momentarily forgotten—Yomnyong—lifted its head from Ion’s chest with a quizzical look.

“Kkuu?”

Waking from sleep, the tiny dragon blinked up at him. Ion stretched out a hand, and Yomnyong crawled into it. Turning on his side, Ion drew the creature close, marveling again at those jewel-bright diamond-glittering eyes.

“Not hungry?” Ion whispered.

The dragon answered only with a glance toward the room’s door.

“Kku.”

Clearly not an answer. But the vague way it seemed to “check for danger” made Ion startle as well. He, too, turned toward the door, just in time to hear sharp footfalls.

Hurriedly, he tucked Yomnyong inside the quilt and feigned sleep.

A moment later, the door creaked open.

“Young master, the Duke wishes to see you.”

It was the butler’s voice—the same one who had helped him on his first day collapsed here.

“…Khh.”

Ion’s pretense shattered—an involuntary cough escaping, making him flinch. The butler came to his side at once, raising him gently. Opening his eyes, Ion immediately saw the figure stationed at the doorway:

The Duke, Jemel D. Craiger.

Perfectly composed, clothes immaculate, frame rigid as stone. His sharp eyes bore into Ion, sending tension racing through him.

Why has he come now?

Ion dared not ask aloud. Rising carefully, he noticed a subtle shift beneath the quilt—Yomnyong moving. Instinct told him the dragon must remain hidden at all costs. He stumbled deliberately, gathering the quilt closer as if for support.

The Duke was first to speak.

“I hear you’ve lost even the ability to keep food down.”

“…I am recovering somewhat now…”

His voice was faint, not by pretense but truth. Simply standing drained him of strength. Even the butler beside him hesitated to loosen his hold.

The Duke’s eyes narrowed, then he stepped forward. Just as he had that first day, he looked down upon his son beneath him. Clicking his tongue, he tossed something onto the bed.

Ion flinched as it rolled perilously close to where Yomnyong was hidden, but no movement betrayed the secret. Relief washed over him for a heartbeat—until his father spoke.

“At least thanks to you, that bastard son has finally yielded. I doubt such a plan came from your worthless head, but regardless.”

Glancing at the bed, Ion saw it: a small, radiant blue stone, gleaming much like Yomnyong’s eyes.

What is this…?

The Duke’s tone sharpened.

“Do you still not recognize what sits before you?”

“A gem… isn’t it?”

“Not a mere gem. A mana stone.”

Surprise flickered not from Ion but from the butler, whose firm grip faltered for only a moment.

Even so, explanations remained sparse. Piecing together context, Ion surmised:

—He had somehow become entangled with the “bastard son.”
—Whatever happened was so disgraceful that the Duke struck him across the face.
—Yet due to it, the “bastard” had become obedient, rewarding the Duke with this valuable mana stone.

Ion carefully selected his words, knowing no information was certain.

“…Is he safe?”

Avoiding direct reference, Ion excluded a subject. His hand strayed toward the stone instinctively. Warmth bloomed from it the moment his fingers touched its surface, spilling comfort through his frail body.

The sensation startled him, but his father only sneered.

“Ion Craiger, my son. Surely you understand—he is a monster. A creature of inexhaustible strength.”

“….”

Ion raised his green eyes, staring up directly for the first time. What he saw in Jemel’s gaze was no anger now, but a gleam of satisfaction.

“Yes,” the Duke murmured slowly, almost poetically. “And to tame such a beast into a docile hound—that honor belongs to none other than the young heir of House Craiger. You understand, do you not, Ion?”

Then, lifting Ion’s chin with chilling gentleness, Jemel smiled a gleaming smile.

Ion felt goosebumps, sensing madness beneath those eyes. But he also knew—this was the perfect moment.

“…Father.”

Clutching the mana stone in both hands, he drew breath. His chest eased somewhat from the warmth it radiated.

“You have something to say?” the Duke asked.

Ion nodded. Swallowing despite his torn throat, he lowered his eyes. He needed to look frail—fragile as glass. His lashes trembled, veil-like.

“I… I must be gravely ill. I may… cough… not last the week.”

The words trailed—as at that moment, red warnings flared:

[Status Effect: Taboo Speech]
[This sentence cannot be spoken.]
[References to the “Eternal Empire” system are forbidden for players.]
[Only the player may access information gained through the system.]

“…?”

Only he could see the windows?

But Ion had no time to ponder—the Duke’s gaze demanded immediate reply.

So he quickly reframed:

“Within five days… at most.”

This time the words held. It wasn’t a lie—his death chance at 21% meant precisely that: within five days he might very well die.

His lungs rattled again, coughs shaking his frame. He peered at his father through tear-brimmed eyes.

〈And to tame such a beast…〉

If he truly had that “value,” then his cunning father would surely exploit it all. And Ion needed that.

“Father, you were right. My folly brought shame. I… truly regret it…” his voice cracked, slipping into rasps and coughs. Authentic weakness added power to his words.

The butler panicked at his side.

“Young master—!”

A handkerchief pressed quickly to Ion’s face, just as bright blood stained it.

I’m coughing blood? Really… this body is trash.

But Ion had to finish—

For his survival.

“…Then… let me meet him. Please.”

□□… I must find you. To undo this curse.

And for that, he first needed to uncover his lost past—beginning with meeting that “bastard son.”

Footnotes:

• Status Effects: Game-like mechanics in the text that impose penalties. “Taboo Speech” prevents Ion from revealing the existence of the Eternal Empire system to anyone but players.

• Mana Stone (마나석): In fantasy settings, often a highly valuable crystal saturated with magical energy. Its warmth here suggests health recovery or mana flow.

• “□□”: Placeholder names used by the system when hiding the identity of the curser or specific entities.