Damned System

Chapter 11. The System (1)

I found it increasingly difficult to maintain consciousness due to the excessive blood loss.

The sounds around me gradually faded away, and my vision turned blurry. Amidst the chaos, a familiar and welcome face appeared before me.

If it hadn’t been for this damned situation, I might have greeted them properly. Unfortunately, I lost consciousness without uttering a word.

My faint senses abruptly disconnected, as if I was falling into an endless abyss.

How long did I wander there? I encountered people both dear and resentful, individuals who had become mere faded memories of childhood.

“Mom, dad.”

Confronting them awakened long-buried emotions within me, and I couldn’t help but question, “Why did you leave us?”

Despite my sharp tone, they remained silent in response. I knew they would never provide answers. Yet, I couldn’t stop.

“I’m struggling.”

Why was I experiencing such misfortune? What was going to happen? I wasn’t dead, was I? I couldn’t die. If I did, only the twins would be left behind, and they were just seventeen.

I felt the need to stay by their side, guiding them to college and supporting them until they had stable careers.

I wanted to pass on everything my parents had given me, but I had been inadequate as a hyung and oppa, offering far too little.

Patiently, they listened to my endless lamentations and held me, patting my back gently. I felt like a weak, powerless child again, unable to stop crying.

* * *

Upon waking up in a private hospital room, the first thing I felt was relief. I hadn’t died, thankfully.

But I couldn’t feel entirely relieved due to the menacing gazes of the people glaring at me.

“So, you won’t explain?”

“… For now.”

A scoff came from Seo Jaehyuk, someone I’d known since we were around five or six, thanks to our parents’ friendship.

While most of my friends distanced themselves after quitting school, Jaehyuk remained close, bonded by our parents’ acquaintance and a natural camaraderie.

Financial hardship didn’t weaken our relationship. I considered him an invaluable friend, someone who rushed immediately upon receiving my unexplained call.

“Then, shall I tell my end?”

The person standing beside Jaehyuk, fixing his penetrating gaze on me, spoke. It was Seo Jonghun, Jaehyuk’s father, a college classmate of my late father, and a former coworker at the same university hospital. Uncle Jonghun had helped me and the twins when our uncle sold our home and disappeared.

“I’ve contacted your siblings. Managed to stop them from coming.”

Jonghun’s words made me flinch. Stopped them?… meaning they knew I was injured. Explaining to the twins would be another worry. But I was grateful simply for being alive.

“… Thank you, Uncle.”

“I cleaned your room. The kids didn’t see it.”

“… Thank you.”

The room had been a mess, soaked in blood, until Jaehyuk arrived to take me to the hospital.

The jarring car ride, honking horns, and the lights I saw entering the surgery room were the fragmented memories I retained before losing consciousness.

Yet, I knew I owed my survival to these two people.

I awkwardly scratched my neck as I glanced at the father and son standing beside my bed, pondering how to explain the situation.

I had called Jaehyuk instead of 119 because I couldn’t begin to describe my injuries.

Knowing these people well since childhood didn’t necessarily make explanations easier.

‘Fighting monsters isn’t exactly something I can say…’

Our parents had been my only support after my own parents’ passing, and seeing them looking at me with worried eyes weighed heavily on my heart.

Despite their shared history, articulating my circumstances was daunting.

The inexplicable fantasy of my ordeal wasn’t the issue; they wouldn’t doubt my word when my life was at stake.

Embarrassingly, I simply lacked enough information myself, filling me with uncertainty.

‘The information is limited, not much is confirmed.’

Could I reveal anything about the game to these two in such a situation?

The scene of the monster I fought lingered in my memory, reminding me of the danger.

In my mind, I saw the bodies of people the monsters had killed.

‘No,’

I resolved to keep it hidden. These two, without mana, must not be entangled in this until I was certain it was safe to tell.

In front of their penetrating stares, I remained silent.

Despite the irritation in Jonghun’s voice, “It involves your life, yet you won’t speak?”

I met his eyes and responded, “Not right now.”

The blunt manner of my reply dissolved into sighs, aware their questioning stemmed from concern.

“I see.”

Luckily, Jonghun accepted my decision after a brief silence. “You’re not reckless. We’ll wait.”

I relaxed, grateful for their trust, as they didn’t press further. In another’s situation, choosing silence instead of explaining might have proved difficult.

“At least let me check the wounds.”

Jonghun’s resigned tone as he approached made me uneasy. He examined my chest and side, unfastening my gown. A moment later, he sighed deeply.

“Odd not needing a mask…”

I glanced at the oxygen mask hanging beside the bed, recalling I had torn it off upon waking due to suffocation, partially damaging it in the process, albeit slightly. Fortunately, Jonghun seemed uninterested in the mask.

His focus shifted to the obvious instead: the rapidly healing wound visibly improving within just one day.

“It’s definitely been only a day?”

“It’s been about 22 hours since you arrived.”

Yet, the wound was already healing, plainly visible.

‘Indeed…’

Returning home, breathing had been painful, but now I was remarkably intact.

‘Looks like it’s more than just enhanced strength.’

The influence of mana was more significant than I expected.

‘Was Ethan’s survival in such a state due to this recovery ability?’

Thinking of Ethan, who still clung to life barely before the mission ended, I sighed. Until now, recovery had been immediate post-mission completion, leaving me unaware of it.

“Is this also difficult to explain?”

Unlike I, who sighed heavily, Jonghun inquired calmly.

“… Yes.”

“Another doctor assisted with your surgery. And that?”

“I’d rather not escalate things.”

“Then I’ll handle it privately. Medical records will exist, but don’t worry about the bills; I’ll manage.”

I nodded silently.

“… Thank you.”

Recognizing my reluctance, Jonghun didn’t press further. The room fell into a heavy silence.

“Let’s delay your discharge. Rest for now.”

“Yes, Uncle.”

As the silence ended, Jonghun excused himself to attend to my work and left the room. With Jonghun gone, Jaehyuk rolled a chair close, speaking up.

“Can’t you tell me either?”

Growing up together, I and Jaehyuk knew each other better than we knew our own parents.

There were numerous instances where I had confided in Jaehyuk, things I hadn’t shared with Jonghun, especially right after my parents’ death.

Yet, this time was different.

“… Later, once I’ve sorted things out.”

I gestured dismissively.

“Ugh, if pressured, you would have talked already.”

Jaehyuk clicked his tongue, rubbing his face wearily.

“Let me ask something else then.”

“Like what?”

Responding in a tired tone, Jaehyuk’s expression grew serious.

“Could something like this happen again?”

I answered with a slight nod. Jaehyuk exhaled deeply.

“If you get injured again, at least wait until I become a doctor first. What is this?”

His tone was covered in irritation, yet it didn’t bother me. I understood Jaehyuk’s clumsy attempt to crack a joke, expressing concern.

‘He’s not showing it.’

Jaehyuk was trying to change the mood. In turn, I replied more lightly.

“How many years do I have to wait for that? You’re not even an intern yet.”

Jaehyuk was studying medicine, not yet having passed the medical licensing exam.

“It’ll be soon. Can’t you wait a few years? Then I’ll take care of you myself.”

“Nonsense.”

The light banter between us began to ease the residual tension, finally restoring a sense of normalcy. Yet somewhere within, I felt a heaviness, a chill.

“Main Server (Earth) stabilization: 2.039%”

The sentence stood boldly in one corner of my vision. Remembering the moment I first began the tutorial, my heart tightened with anxiety.

‘Stabilization is followed by activation…’

The Beta Server underwent two phases. It was likely the Main Server would follow a similar process.

At that time, incidents like today’s could repeat. Remembering the dream where I met my parents, I steeled myself.

Whatever happened, I vowed to endure it.

‘I won’t die.’

I wouldn’t follow my parents’ footsteps. I refused to leave the twins alone.

* * *

When Jaehyuk excused himself, leaving me alone in the room, I opened the inventory to find two bundles of fifty-thousand won bills inside.

‘Ten million won.’

I clenched my fist around the money.

‘Is this real money?’

They appeared perfectly legitimate to the naked eye. Even after searching my phone for anti-counterfeiting measures, it didn’t seem to be fake.

Swallowing dryly, I steadied my breath.

Should this be real currency, the grueling ordeal facing monsters had been worthwhile. It was money he’d have to work four months, with minimal sleep, to earn.

‘I should buy the twins laptops.’

I could also enroll them in the programs or online courses they wanted.

He’d have to spend it without passing through a bank, but for once, since this damned game began, I felt good.

Returning the money to the inventory, I pulled out a small box the size of my fist.

‘Random box.’

Looking like a common draw box from gacha games.

“Would you like to use the Random Box (×1)? (Y/N)”

After a short pause, I pressed yes, and the box glowed, leaving only a slip of paper in my hand.

“A free shop coupon (×1)”

My expression soured.

‘A coupon for an unopened shop?’

They weren’t offering freebies ungenerously; this prize was simply unusable at the moment.

“Ha…”

Sighing deeply, I shoved the voucher back into the inventory. He’d have to wait for the shop to open before checking it. Shaking my head, I opened my status window next.

Player Kang Hyunwoo (Beta tester)

Mana: 1439.53 (attribute mana: 33)

Chaos: 12.68%

Affiliation: Earth

Race: Human (player)

Rank: Alpha

Traits: ?????, adaptability, tenacity, Mana Manipulation (11.09%), sense Expansion (0.14%), Purification (lv.1 – 0.00%)

My mana had decreased by roughly 30 since I last checked, a portion likely forcibly taken by the system.

“Tch.”

I clicked my tongue, scrutinizing the remaining information.

Adaptability and Tenacity were still unclear.

‘The system message suggests it might relate to Mana Manipulation proficiency…’

Nevertheless, nothing was definitive. However, the newly obtained Sense Expansion seemed more understandable.

‘Time felt slower when it activated.’

My combat ability would greatly benefit from consistent practice.

Lastly, I reviewed the chaos level and the record of corrupted mana I absorbed until now.

From personal experience, corrupted mana incites killing urges or impulses.

It might also provoke anger; possessing just over 10% chaos made controlling my temper impossible.

Having observed the displayed level, I saved thoughts on my rank and traits for last.

‘Alpha and Purification.’

Only the Delta rank details were completely listed in the manual. Any other information on Alpha was absent, noting merely its position as the top tier. Up to today, however, several revelations unfolded.