SYMDF 19

Chapter 19

 

The curse seemed to be worsening by the day. Ion found himself collapsing more and more often—sometimes while walking to the dining hall, sometimes while simply rising from his bed. The last thing he would remember might be holding a book, only to later awaken on his mattress with the household gathered anxiously around him, telling him how he’d fainted again or bled unexpectedly from his nose.

When Ion stirred late that afternoon, roused by the chirping of birds outside, his first thought was stark and bitter: At this rate, I may truly die within days.

[Status Effect: Curse. □□ has cursed you. ※Will be lifted upon □□’s death.]

Staring at the words on his system window, Ion pushed back his blanket slightly. Curled atop his stomach was Yomnyong, weeping quietly.

“Kkuu… eeing…”

The little dragon had clearly been crying the whole time Ion slept. His big jewel-like eyes were red and swollen, tears dripping nonstop. Seeing the creature’s shuddering back rise and fall, Ion felt a sharp pang of guilt. Stretching out his hand, he whispered softly:

“It’s alright. I really was just asleep this time. I feel better now.”

Yomnyong scrambled up to his pillow, nudging Ion’s face insistently. His little mouth pressed against Ion’s cheek as if begging for a kiss. Ion laughed despite himself. Unable to resist, he scooped Yomnyong up and kissed his tiny snout again and again.

“Why are you so unbearably cute today, hm?”

“Kku… kku…”

Hardly the image of dragonsong legend—more like a pet, a comfort animal. Ion thought grimly that without Yomnyong, he would lose one of the few joys left to him.

Then the system answered with sudden text:

[You have been given “Condensed Mana” from the White Dragon.]
[Status Effect “Overflowing Mana” temporarily strengthened. Duration: 90 minutes.]
[Current probability of death: 24%]

Startled, Ion turned to the dragon. Yomnyong let out a plaintive whimper and clung even tighter to his chest. Stroking the plump, scale-clad body, Ion sighed.

“…Were you terrified I would die?”

“Kkuu.”

It did not nod, but its drooped wings and mournful eyes told enough.

24%—still perilously high. Yet with Yomnyong’s gift, Ion had energy enough to rise. He could not rot in bed while waiting for death. For Yomnyong’s sake if nothing else, he would keep searching for escape.

Though dizziness staggered him, Ion forced himself upright. Breathing deep, he steadied, then rang the little bell by his bed. The old butler rushed in at once—he must have been waiting just outside.

“Take me to the Great Library,” Ion ordered.

What Ion lacked above all was knowledge of this world. He devoured volumes relentlessly, dragging child-servants to read aloud on either side of him while he skimmed others himself, refusing to even stop for meals. Concerned whispers could not dissuade him. Time was too precious to waste.

He tore through book after book, at least a dozen. Then he brought out tomes on curses.

Curses fell into two great kinds: those born naturally, like peculiar afflictions of the body or mind, and those imposed by another’s intent. The natural ones might twist a limb, blacken skin, cloud the mind so one could not perceive certain things. Those of men often imitated them.

Every text stressed the same principle—that all curses had methods of release. Spells without release were forbidden arts, their grimoires cast into restricted archives.

And yet, no matter how many books Ion rifled through, none described his case. Not one mentioned “Mana Loss.” From the way the texts spoke, such a curse must indeed belong to the realm of forbidden magics. Every book began with the basic law: all humans possess mana. But Ion’s listed zero.

Frustrated to the core, he rubbed his temples. His body sagged when the head butler approached to drape a jacket over his shoulders, speaking gently.

“Young master, the Duke has returned. If you linger here, tongues may wag. Shall we return to your chambers?”

Seeing the man’s furrowed brow, Ion nodded reluctantly. “…Fine.”

Perhaps fate itself withheld every clue. His heart sank.

He fingered the necklace Camillus had gifted him—the mana stone, gleaming blue—clasping it like a lifeline. Its imagined warmth steadied him.

Maybe… perhaps I can draw from external mana?

In the manuals, even simple mana flow could mend the body’s frailties. If he could not wield his own, might he harness what lay outside?

There is no other option.

Clutching the necklace, Ion inhaled, following basic technique: envision pulling energy downward through his body.

[Warning! Warning!]
[Player suffers “Mana Loss.” Attempting mana operation triggers rebound effect.]

Rebound?

He had no time to consider. His chest seized, agony shredding his breath.

His lungs convulsed. He gasped, choking.

“Hhkk—! Hhh—!”

“Young master!”

The butler leapt forward, catching him as his body spasmed.

Dizziness crashed over him, then a sudden gout of scarlet spilled from his nose and mouth. Servants shrieked and rushed in.

“Master, breathe! Breathe deeply!”

[Critical anomaly detected within player’s body.]
[Immune system collapse imminent.]
[Recalculating probability of death…]

Ion curled desperately, clutching his chest. Pain clawed through his innards as if his organs twisted. Harsh breaths wheezed, turning to ragged groans.

Someone heaved him upon their back, sprinting through echoing halls.

“Summon the physicians! At once!”
“Yes, yes!”

And amidst the din another voice, stern but cracking—his father’s.

“Ion! Ion! Stay with me!”

Dim-eyed, Ion saw only merciless text scroll across his vision:

[Current probability of death: 72%]

Footnotes:

• Overflowing Mana: Temporary status effect that ameliorates curse damage by borrowing external mana. Yomnyong can transfer his dragon mana to keep Ion alive. 
• Mana Loss (마나 소실): Forbidden curse effect forcing a person’s mana stat to 0; unprecedented in recorded magical lore. 

Rebound Effect: Attempt to force mana through a system that cannot carry it—resulting in catastrophic physical breakdown.