The Hidden Ending Strategy of a Veteran in a Dead Game

Chapter 3: Constitution

When my eyes met the Count’s, a shiver ran down my spine.

What was this feeling? Could he possibly see the status window? It seemed unlikely, but then again, he was a 9th-ranked knight.

“At least there’s no hostility.”

If there had been, even breathing might have been difficult.

“The earlier display of his aura was an exception.”

After all, I was still his child.

The Count wasn’t someone who oppressed his children without reason.

Just as I was tensely mulling over the situation, the Count spoke.

“I heard you lost your sparring match with Gaiden?”

Was he asking me?

Caught off guard, I blinked, but the memories embedded in this body allowed me to respond.

“Ah, yes.”

Gaiden von Bayerle.

The third son of the Bayerle family and my half-brother.

He didn’t like me much.

“It wasn’t difficult, Father,” a voice answered from across the table.

Gaiden, a brown-haired boy whose cheeks were still round with youth, grinned smugly.

Unlike the Count, who was golden-haired and clad in the typical knight’s attire, Gaiden wore an elaborate robe—clearly the garb of a mage.

“A mage, huh?”

Gaiden was pursuing the path of magic, as both my memories and his appearance suggested.

Three days ago, under the guise of sparring, he had beaten me senseless with a magic hammer.

“He really beat me like a dog.”

Even though I hadn’t personally experienced it, the memories alone were enough to make me frown.

Even after I surrendered, he continued to hit me mercilessly.

By the end, he wasn’t even using magic—he kicked my prone body with his boots.

A younger sibling kicking his older brother?

I unconsciously clenched my fist.

“Remember, there’s no place for the weak in the house of conquerors.”

The Countess twisted her lips as she sneered at me.

The House of Bayerle.

The current Count, Duarc von Bayerle, took great pride in the family’s identity.

The Bayerle family had grown by toppling countless southern noble houses and border kingdoms.

Their achievements earned them the title of Margraves of the South, dominating the region for generations.

But…

“Your duty is to crush the cowardly House Jamal and reclaim our honor.”

Their excessive violence and aggression eventually became an issue.

The remnants of the houses they had destroyed filed complaints, and factions opposing the growing power of Bayerle allied with the remaining southern kingdoms.

In the end, the Bayerle family was stripped of their title as Margraves.

Now they were merely second to the rulers of the South—a humiliated house, often referred to as “chained dogs.”

Reclaiming the title of Margrave had become the family’s ultimate goal.

The Bayerle family viewed House Jamal, which had risen through political means rather than strength, as cowards.

The Count despised them.

“No wonder there were rumors of the Bayerle family allying with demons to bring them down.”

Of course, this wasn’t part of the official story—just speculation among players.

“Kellen.”

“Yes, Father?”

“What did you feel when you lost?”

The question was directed at me.

And I knew instantly: this was a lifeline.

The Count, despite his strictness, was offering me a chance.

A rope extended only because I was his child.

What should I say?

“Hesitation would be the worst choice.”

From the game, I knew the Count’s personality well enough.

Answering immediately was the best course of action.

“I felt that I was weak.”

A twitch.

The Count’s eyebrow quivered—an unmistakable sign of disappointment and anger.

Before he could respond, I quickly added:

“And…”

At that moment, the table was being reset.

I naturally reached for the water glass in front of me, buying myself time to think of the right answer.

Except…

“What the…?”

The glass slipped as if coated in oil.

Startled, I instinctively grabbed for it—

-Ting!

-Whoosh! Splash!

“What the hell?”

The glass launched like a slingshot, splashing water all over Gaiden’s face.

Soaking wet, Gaiden trembled with fury.

“You little—!”

He stopped short of swearing outright in front of the Count but glared daggers at me.

Seizing the moment, I raised a finger and declared:

“Next time, I’ll repay you double. To win in the end—that is the Bayerle spirit.”

All eyes turned to me.

The eldest son, Zarhil, remained expressionless, while my younger sister, Eltz, stared at me with wide, rabbit-like eyes.

Kellen von Bayerle—this body’s original owner—wasn’t like this.

He was weak and lacked the will to resist violence.

If not for his status as the Countess’ child, he would have been cast aside long ago.

“This wasn’t planned, but I might as well run with it.”

I tilted my chin up and looked down at Gaiden. At least I was taller than him.

“How will you prove it?”

Perhaps my answer had pleased him, for the Count now regarded me and Gaiden with interest.

Proof. I had to back up my words with action.

“In two months, I’ll challenge Gaiden to an official duel.”

I made my declaration.

“Are you serious?”

“Brother Kellen, you should reconsider.”

The Countess scoffed, while Eltz looked genuinely worried. Their reactions couldn’t have been more different.

Meanwhile…

“Even Zarhil seems interested.”

Zarhil, who had been expressionless until now, showed a flicker of curiosity.

No wonder—an official duel in the Bayerle family wasn’t just any fight.

“You understand what you’re saying, don’t you?”

“Of course. Glory for the victor, humiliation for the defeated. We’ll stake our inheritance rankings.”

Under the Count’s approval, an official duel would involve witnesses and follow strict rules.

It was a competition that decided who would inherit the Bayerle family.

Inheritance rankings weren’t just based on martial prowess but also on influence, resources, and contributions to the family.

“Hah. Easy to talk big when you’ve got nothing to lose.”

Gaiden sneered, his disdain clear.

To him, I was a weakling who hadn’t even participated in the succession battle.

“What’s wrong? Are you scared?”

I smirked.

Gaiden was right—if I lost, I had nothing to lose.

But if he lost? As the current second in line for succession, it would be a massive blow to his standing.

“I was trying to treat you like a brother, but fine—I’ll accept.”

Even as he nodded, Gaiden’s arrogance was palpable.

But I didn’t make this challenge lightly.

“Gaiden’s role in the game wasn’t significant. After the Bayerle family sided with the demons, his presence disappeared entirely. At best, he was a minor character.”

This was a fight I could win.

“Then it’s settled. The duel will take place in two months.”

The Count’s declaration sealed the deal.

“I’ll follow your command, Father.”

“I’ll make sure it’s entertaining for you.”

The official duel was now confirmed.

Crack.

Gaiden gritted his teeth at my provocative response, but what could he do?

Pick a fight at the dining table under the Count’s watchful eye?

Of course not. He could only glare at me fiercely, without taking any action. The Count, on the other hand, didn’t even seem interested.

Clink.

The atmosphere eased as Count Bayerle picked up his fork and knife.

It was his way of signaling the start of dinner—and of forbidding any further commotion.

“Just wait. I’ll make you beg in tears,” Gaiden mouthed threateningly.

I ignored him with a smirk. I was far too hungry to waste energy arguing with him.

Thanks to this body’s memories, I instinctively reached for the knife with what I thought was an elegant motion.

Clatter.

The knife slipped from my grasp and fell onto the table.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

Clink. Clatter. Rattle.

I tried again, only for the same thing to happen.

The repeated noise was starting to get on people’s nerves—especially the Countess, whose temple veins visibly throbbed.

This wasn’t deliberate. I genuinely couldn’t grip the utensils properly.

If I kept making a scene, I’d risk angering even the Count.

With no other choice, I picked up the steak with my bare hands and took a bite.

“What in the world is that?”

“Good grief. Truly disgraceful.”

Eyes filled with contempt, curiosity, and disbelief were now trained on me.

Don’t look at me like that—I didn’t want to do this either.

Still, I needed to say something to salvage the situation.

“…I’m shedding my weak past to become a wolf. A wolf that tears apart anything in its way.”

I had no idea what I was saying. I just blurted it out because the Bayerle family crest featured a wolf.

Gaiden, however, seemed to take it differently.

“Ha. If you’re going to spout nonsense, at least keep it within reason. Kellen—or rather, ‘dear brother’—you’d better put in some effort over the next two months.”

Gaiden sneered, veins bulging on his forehead as he raised his hands.

Vrrrrr.

Three glowing orbs of mana floated above his palms—a display of his power as a 3rd-ranked mage.

“Otherwise, I’ll make sure Father is disappointed enough to cripple you for life.”

Gaiden’s display drew admiration from Eltz, our younger sister, and a satisfied smile from the Countess.

“Wow, Brother! A 3rd-ranked mage? That’s amazing!”

“Your dedication has paid off, and it eases this mother’s heart.”

A 3rd-ranked mage.

No wonder the previous owner of this body had been beaten so badly.

But that wouldn’t happen again.

Handling a low-ranking mage like him was something I could prepare for—if not now, then certainly within two months.

At least his public display of power gave me a sense of what I’d be up against.

“Turn off the lights, kid. Your glow is blinding me.”

I waved dismissively at him and returned my focus to eating.

I had something important to check after the meal.

After a slightly draining dinner, I finally returned to my room.

The maids helped me change into more comfortable clothes before leaving, granting me some much-needed alone time.

“I’m exhausted, and I didn’t even do much.”

I flopped onto the bed, reflecting on the chaotic events of the evening.

The Count’s sudden questions, the official duel scheduled for two months from now, and my wild declaration about becoming a wolf…

“I should eat separately for a while.”

The constant slipping of utensils and glasses wasn’t just a coincidence—it was happening too often.

There had to be a reason for it, and I had a pretty good idea of what it might be.

“Status window.”

I called up the status window again.

Fwoosh.

A semi-transparent hologram appeared, as if projected from the cursed necklace.

The status window was the gift left behind by the Golden Ruler—the very being who had dragged me into this world.

For someone like me, who had only played games, this was the most essential tool I could have.

[Kellen von Bayerle]

Age: 15

Title: Second Son of House Bayerle

Alignment: Neutral (Good-Evil Ratio: 50:50)

Trait: The Two-Faced Noble

Constitution: Five constitutions are present. Would you like to check?

Skills: X

I studied the status window closely.

“The issue lies in my constitution.”

Traits and constitutions were unique qualities that shaped a character’s abilities.

I already knew my trait, The Two-Faced Noble, allowed me to flip between good and evil alignments.

The inability to use utensils had to stem from my constitution.

“Please, let there be something good in there.”

Constitutions were critical in shaping a character’s development.

In this system, each character had five constitutions:

1-Two positive constitutions.

2-Two negative constitutions.

3-One latent constitution that awakened based on growth.

At the moment, I could only focus on the four active ones.

“Please, give me something useful!”

Swallowing nervously, I prepared myself for the reveal.

Good constitutions like Heavenly Warrior Body or Mana’s Chosen could greatly enhance a character’s potential.

But bad ones like Mana Rejection or Crippled could make survival almost impossible.

Negative constitutions were often more impactful than positive ones.

Though it was possible to mitigate penalties or compensate with the latent constitution, it was never easy.

“Alright. Time to check. Constitution list—open.”

Taking a deep breath, I opened the constitution list.

[Kellen von Bayerle – Constitution]

1-Blessing of the Sword Wolf (Positive)

2-Mana Affinity (Positive)

3-Butterfingers (Negative)

4-Overloaded Nerves (Negative)

“Yes!”

I couldn’t help but cheer.