So this is the end…
If I had known it would turn out like this, I would have at least traveled around the world.
I always dreamed of having a small house on the slope of a quiet hill in the countryside, isolated from the world, with a balcony overlooking a small garden filled with flowers of every kind.
In the evenings, I would watch the golden sunset sink into the horizon.
But no… I had to die at the hands of that b*stard and that madman.
Aaah…!
If it were up to me, I would have cleared that cursed dungeon alone—without that clown team—or simply refused to go.
I don't even know why they insisted I go with them… and with Ethan. Hah. Regret is useless now. At the very least, I left them a gift they will never forget.
I never imagined my end would be this dark. It's truly lonely… but at least I can finally rest in peace now.
Ding… Ding…
"Loading… Synchronization in progress."
What?! Synchronization? Loading?
What the hell is happening? Didn't I just say I was happy this suffering was over? What is this farce now?
I swear, if I get my hands on this damn System bastard, I'll send it straight to hell and smash it into a thousand pieces.
As Ashreon cursed in every way imaginable, the System window kept sending messages nonstop:
Loading 97%… 98%… 100%
Final synchronization completed successfully. Congratulations ✧\(>o<)ﾉ✧
What—what the hell is this nonsense?!
A blinding light appeared after that message.
I don't know how much time passed, but when I woke up, my eyes were swollen and aching, as if I had been crying for an entire week.
When I looked around, I found myself in a strange room, my head pounding loudly.
White dolls and curtains fluttered gently with the breeze. It was nighttime; darkness filled the room, making it hard to see clearly.
I tried to sit up and adjust my position to examine my surroundings—only to realize I couldn't move a single finger.
'Am I paralyzed?'
That terrifying thought crossed my mind, followed by darker ones. Was fate mocking me? After everything I endured, was this how it all ended?
Then a blue window appeared before me.
Hello!
Synchronization complete. User system update finished.
Would you like to check the new features? (✷‿✷)
Damn it… update? synchronization?
Does that mean I reincarnated into a paralyzed body?!
Status Window:
Name: Lucian Givner (Ashreon Seroth)
Age: 4 years
Specialization: Adaptive Magic, Puppet Threads
Physical Strength: D
Mental Strength: SS
Mana: L (Sealed 🔒🔒)
Abilities:
Control and restrain targets using thin, powerful, invisible threads.
Condition: Level 4
Wait—this child has incredible abilities. If his body weren't paralyzed, he would be a living miracle.
"Would you like to check the current condition?"
That message terrified me. Does the System now communicate through thoughts? I dismissed my surprise and checked the status—only to freeze in shock.
What?! Are you kidding me?!
Current Condition:
"Temporary full-body paralysis."
Cause: Ingestion of the herb Breath of Hell.
What?! How did he end up consuming that herb? Its effect is temporary, yes—but the aftereffects are far worse.
Even though the room was dark, it was still far better than the orphanage I lived in…
So there are two possibilities: either this child mistook it for a flower, picked it, and inhaled its poisonous scent—since it resembles a violet—or someone deliberately made him ingest it. Its effects are unpredictable, especially when mixed into tea.
This herb was often used to hunt monsters or as a narcotic. Information about it was restricted, as it's extremely rare and difficult to obtain.
"From one disaster to another… when will I finally rest?"
Before Ash could finish his thought, someone entered the room carrying a bowl. Due to the darkness, Ash quickly pretended to be asleep.
"Why does my lord insist on assigning me to take care of this wretched brat?"
Lucian: "…"
"Hah… while everyone else is downstairs chatting and enjoying themselves, I'm stuck caring for this child. If it weren't an order from the head maid, I would have—ugh. But what can I do?"
She sighed. "No choice. The master is obsessed with him—visits him three times a day and constantly asks about his condition. But even so, he's nothing more than a replacement for his son who died in an accident two months ago.
If only he had stopped him from leaving the castle that day… especially with that heavy rain. None of this would have happened.
Instead, he brought this child, ordered a mage to make him his son's substitute, and implant his memories."
"Sometimes I think the Count lost his mind after his wife died… then his only son. Poor man."
The maid approached Lucian, placed the bowl beside the bed, and made him drink the medicine. Before leaving, she leaned closer, studying his sleeping face.
"Hah… sometimes I think I understand why the Count is enchanted by him. At first glance, I thought he was a magical doll, not a human child. I mean, look at him—he's like a little angel.
Even though he resembles the Count's son, this child is on a whole different level."
She raised her hand to touch his eyelashes and cheeks, when a voice startled her:
"Eleanor! Why did you take so long? Can't you even finish a simple task? It's dinner time. Hurry before the head maid scolds you—you know how the Count feels about that boy."
"Lower your voice! You'll wake him up and he'll start crying again. Did you forget what happened last time? The Count went mad trying to silence a crying child—he even killed a maid."
"I know, I know… but I really don't understand the Count's actions. He spared no effort turning this child's body into a vessel for the young master's memories.
He even summoned a black mage to ensure success. That alone could get him executed—along with everyone in this castle."
"Be quiet! What if the Count hears you? Do you want your head to roll? Let's go, before someone comes."
The two maids finally left the room, still arguing.
Lucian quickly sat up and spat out the medicine.
"Ugh… what a horrible drug. So that's how it is—the third option. Black magic… I should've known. This child must have suffered terribly.
Black magic is forbidden because it kills both parties involved in the contract. The pain must have been unimaginable."
"I swear… I'll take revenge on everyone who hurt him—from that mad Count to the black mage—by the most brutal means possible. No one escapes after harming me or those close to me."
As Ash wiped the medicine from his lips, he noticed a mirror beside the bed. Curious—and irritated by the maid's words—he climbed down to see his reflection.
He froze.
Silver hair like a full moon streaked with pink strands. Blue eyes like berries, glowing with a captivating crimson-pink light—more precious than all the jewels in the world combined.
Pale yet soft skin, white as snow, veins visible beneath it. Red lips like a flower blooming in a white wasteland, rosy cheeks…
What… is this?
If he hadn't pinched himself, he would have thought he was dreaming.
"How the hell does someone like this exist? He really does look like a doll.
Hey, System—what's my gender?"
"Gender: Human. Why do you ask?"
That's not what I meant—
Before he could explain, a sharp pain struck his head, nearly making him collapse. At first, Ash thought it was a side effect of the herb—but then memories flooded in.
Lucian Givner, the younger son of Duke Givner. His mother died shortly after giving birth. His father didn't care whether he lived or died. His brother and the rest of the family ignored him, treating him as if he didn't exist.
That's why he never appeared in society—he was called the Ghost of Givner.
Two months ago, while preparing for the Awakening Ceremony that all noble children undergo, he was spotted by the Count at the market.
Because Lucian resembled the Count's deceased son, the Count approached him under the guise of being a friend of the Duke, claiming he wanted to give him a gift.
With the Duke busy, Lucian was asked to accompany him. He never imagined he'd be drugged the moment he entered the Count's carriage.
He tried to escape—but the knights escorting him didn't even notice his disappearance. To them, he wasn't their lord.
He was kidnapped.
And no one searched for him.
"You poor child… your family abandoned you. Don't worry. I'll bring you justice. Family ties only bring pain anyway—I was an orphan too. I'll live your life for you… and I'll make you the greatest mage in history."
As Ash finished his vow, tears began to fall. A small translucent figure—a child's spirit—appeared beside him, smiling in gratitude before fading away.
That was the soul of Lucian Givner.
Ash wiped his tears and swore that from this day forward, he would become Lucian Givner.
As Lucian planned his escape and revenge against the Count, a System window appeared.
System: "What are you planning to do now, Ash? ^_^"
"What—what is this—ahh! That hurts!"
"Are you okay? (;ŏ﹏ŏ) Sorry for startling you. You seemed lost in thought, so I tried to contact you.
Does it hurt? Do you want me to use healing power? (˘･_･˘) Umm…"
Stop—lower your voice! Someone might hear you.
And by the way… who are you? And how are you communicating with me through the System window?
"Oh, is that what worries you? Like this, then—better? As for who I am…"
Before he could finish, Ashreon lunged at him.
The young man: "…"
"Ash, my dear, what's wrong? I must've surprised you… it's been so long."
"You idiot… do you know how long I waited? How worried I was…
Do you even know how I lived after you disappeared?
When I saw you in the tower, I was so happy you were alive… but then I thought I had killed you myself…"
Lucian burst into tears. How could he not? This was his only brother.
After their parents died in the explosion of the first dungeon, the two brothers were left alone in the world. Later, they were recruited into a government facility that took in Awakened children who had lost their families.
As their abilities grew, so did the danger of their missions—until one day, Ash's brother went on a mission and never returned. No one expected a dungeon break.
The entire clearing team was wiped out, including Ash's brother, Alexander—five years older than him.
Ash was shattered. Alexander was his family, his everything. After that, Ash stopped laughing… stopped crying. He built countless walls around his heart so it would never break again.
Who would have thought the one he lost would return?
"I'm sorry… I don't know how to make it up to you. I know I hurt you, but I had no choice. Now I'm here—and I'll stay by your side. I'm your companion spirit."
Ash froze.
"What… companion spirit? What do you mean—and how did this happen?!"