"How?"
There was no elaboration.
He flipped the next page.
Flip—
But the date…
[December 25, 2018.]
At the mont, it was 2022. aning, the content was written over four years ago.
A tiskip.
—I finally understood why Mother died.
—At first, I'd been told it was a terminal illness, but neither Father nor the doctors ever explained what exactly it was. I assud they were sparing the details.
—Now, I know. It took a lot of courage, but I've finally decided to write all this down.
—The illness is called Core Degeneration Syndro.
—It happens when a person's mana core can't adapt to large mana exposures. Their body and their core lacks the adaptation a human needs in this mana infested world.
—They weaken over ti, fatigue, weakness, random nosebleeds. It's rare, but apparently, it's hereditary.
—Her mana core couldn't store even the usual amount of mana most people carry. The exposure was too much for her.
—And the worst of it all? She didn't even know she had it until her dying breath, and neither did my Father.
—That was when I realized. Every spell I cast around her, every practice session, it all must have added strain to her core.
—My mother did always say she attended a regular school, and that she wasn't talented with magic.
—Maybe that's why Father and the doctors never told . Because they knew I'd bla myself. And they were right.
—But then, why hadn't Father told about it? Why hide it, knowing it's hereditary, and and my Sister might suffer the sa fate?
—Eventually, as Father's depression deepened and our family's finances worsened, I confronted him.
—I didn't expect it. He lashed out at . He pointed fingers at . He looked at as if I was disgusting. He told I should've died instead of Mother.
—The father who once looked at with pride called things a Father should never tell his child.
—Maybe it wasn't the case at first. Maybe he tried accepting it, but I don't know. I don't understand anything anymore.
—This family was falling apart.
—Father should die instead.
"..."
Flip—
The next page. The tiline kept jumping for so odd reason. Most probably, Vanitas had only been journaling his thoughts from ti to ti.
—I started showing symptoms. I knew this would happen, knowing how low my mana capacity was.
—It was my mistake in hiding it in the first place. I didn't want anyone to be disappointed in . I thought I could overco my limitations during my childhood.
—But no, that wasn't the case at all. My mana capacity was pitiful, and I was 17 years too late in finding out about this illness.
He froze, a sudden chill running down his spine.
He had co to realize now.
The nosebleeds, the stomach–ache, the migraines, and so on.
The body he was inhabiting…
"...I'm slowly dying."
He continued reading.
—But I won't let this illness get the best of . Magic, which is slowly killing , will save . I'll make sure of it.
—I still have no idea what the cure is. Up until now, no Doctor has figured it out. But I've learned sothing interesting.
—It was only a myth. But there's this place called the Archives of Haven, which stores all the secrets of this world. I'm sure the cure to Mana Core Degeneration Syndro is there.
"Archives of Haven..."
The na was familiar.
From what he rembered, the Archives of Haven was essentially a hidden library.
A ga easter egg.
"I've never actually found it..."
But there were players in the forum community, who claid they found the library.
However, they were greedy bastards who wouldn't share the information.
Due to that, players questioned whether it was an actual ga feature, or a hoax.
—The Astrea Family is rely a Viscount ranked noble. Our influence didn't extend much compared to other noble households.
—But I will find it.
—My research up until now led to nothing. But I plan on taking the Ascension Licensure Exam. Once I beco a Professor I'll have access to even more information.
"...So that's why he decided to beco a Professor."
Professors were highly regarded NPCs in the ga.
Especially ones working for University Towers.
They often had secret information, to which they would divulge to the players, depending on the action they took in the ga.
But then, a sudden thought arose.
「Boundless Reservoir」
◆ Understanding: 0%
◆ Capacity: 5000/5000
◆ Fosters continuous growth in mana reserves, allowing mana capacity to expand and evolve over ti.
————————————
"If I were to increase the capacity steadily, wouldn't I be able to save myself?"
From the diary, he could surmise the stigmata wasn't initially there.
"I don't know. 5,000 is a lot. But I still feel the symptoms."
He wasn't quite well versed on the lore regarding diseases.
While he had played the ga in innurable amounts of run—throughs, this was the first ti Chae Eun–woo had heard of Core Degeneration Syndro.
But in the first place, why would he pay attention to such part of the lore?
He had put more of his focus on the ga's main storyline, while at the sa ti, improving his chanical skill.
"There's no point, though."
The storyline didn't matter that much anymore.
Because he wasn't a player.
But a Nad Character instead.
In fact, had already t one of them today.
"Astrid Barielle Aetherion."
A popular nad character, due to her Princess–esque beauty.
Vanitas broke out of his thoughts and continued reading the diary.
—I might have accumulated disdain due to my actions. But I don't care. I'm dying, why would that matter?
—I'm grateful my little Sister didn't suffer the sa illness as and my Mother. She's average when it cos to magic, but her mana capacity wasn't anything to laugh at. She has potential.
—But it's funny. Genetics truly is a curse. While I'm supposed to be relieved, sowhere down the line, I just couldn't help but feel envious of my little Sister.
—Brother this, Brother that. Shut up for once, please.
—Why does Father want dead, yet doesn't seem to hate Charlotte? The fuck is this? I don't understand shit anymore.
Vanitas closed the diary then. The contents were getting a bit too heavy, and it was getting heavily repetitive.
As he turned his head to the side, glancing at the window, the sun was slowly rising.
"Ah."
There was still a bit more ti to sleep. So, Vanitas headed to bed and closed his eyes.
The mont he woke up, he did so light stretches, then stepped outside the room.
Then, Vanitas joined Charlotte at the table.
"Good morning, Charlotte."
Charlotte blinked her eyes, looking surprised, but managed to give him a smile.
"...Good morning, Vanitas."
The silence that followed was awkward.
Thankfully, the servants arrived with their breakfast, served piping hot.
"Please, enjoy."
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