C359
* * *
Cale stared intently at the mirror.
‘The blonde hair and blue eyes aren’t bad either.’
He smiled like Crown Prince Alberu.
-“Human! Who are you planning to deceive this time?”
Cale’s smile faded.
“You’re imitating the Crown Prince!”
Hong exclaimed excitedly, while On offered a serious piece of advice:
“The important thing is always to be yourself. The Crown Prince’s smile isn’t easy to imitate.”
Cale pondered On’s words, and Raon chimed in with his characteristic enthusiasm:
“Correct, Human! That smile of yours that pretends to be kind isn’t like the Crown Prince’s radiant joy. You’re more… more like someone who seems bad at first but turns out to be good! How do you say that?”
Before Raon could continue, On calmly explained:
“A smile suits him more that says, ‘He seemed like a villain, but he’s actually a good guy’.”
“That’s it! Our Human seems distant and cold, but when he smiles kindly, he melts everyone’s defenses.”
With a heavy sigh, Cale put on the baby carrier.
Clang.
Eden Miru’s recovery rate had already reached 65%.
“Eden Miru, did you sleep well?”
Clang. Clang.
The egg vibrated.
“Yes. Did you sleep well? I slept well too!”
Raon smiled cheerfully.
Clang.
Cale stared intently at the egg’s vibration.
Last night, Eden Miru (status: egg) snuggled in Raon’s arms, and Raon slept soundly hugging him.
‘Did Eden Miru really sleep well?’
What Cale saw when he woke up was Raon’s saliva, which had run all over the surface of Eden Miru’s egg (status: egg), which was nestled in Raon’s arms, until it dried.
“…Cheer up.”
Cale looked at the egg and, without realizing it, said a few words of encouragement.
Clang-
The egg vibrated and stopped.
Cale, who somehow understood that feeling, gently tapped the egg wrapped in a floral cloth and left the room.
And he headed to the dining room on the ground floor of the inn.
-Oh, Human! There are so many people!
As Raon said, most of the seats in the ground floor dining room were occupied despite it being morning.
“They say the Temple of the Sun God was attacked last night!”
“Indeed, there was a commotion until dawn. Have they found the culprit?”
The stories the NPCs were telling.
“Do you know any priests of the Sun God?”
“No. It’s hard to approach the Temple of the Sun God now. I thought I could get a mission, but it seems it’ll be difficult.”
The conversations the players were sharing in groups. Of course, the players spoke in low voices, as they seemed to be watching the surrounding NPCs.
‘Cale. Players try not to reveal their identity as foreigners as much as possible.’
NPCs instinctively recognize foreigners and treat them as such.
However, players try not to use real-world terms or terms that reveal they’re playing in front of NPCs.
‘Because the NPCs’ attitude towards foreigners in this game is becoming increasingly hostile.’
Cale remembered the information Alberu had given him and went to an empty seat.
Yesterday’s girl, the Sixth Evil’s subordinate, approached Cale to take his order.
“Haven’t you had breakfast?”
“I’m going to eat again.”
Cale ordered breakfast to his room, which, of course, the children with an average age of 10 were eating.
Cale had gone downstairs to eat his share.
“…….”
The girl, the Sixth Evil’s subordinate and leader of the information group, stared intently at Cale and continued speaking naturally.
“They say something terrible happened at the Temple of the Sun God last night.”
“Oh, yes?”
Cale’s gaze turned to the girl’s feet. She had no shadow, but it was gradually appearing.
The girl asked naturally.
“Do you know anything?”
Cale smiled.
“Well, what would I know?”
¡Nyaaang!
Right at that moment, On climbed onto Cale’s lap with a smooth movement.
Cale stroked On’s hair and said naturally.
“Ah, yes. Chaos? I heard there’s an organization related to the God of Chaos.”
“…….”
The girl remained silent. She knew that Cale was a subordinate of the Seventh Evil, so she knew very well that he had nothing to do with the God of Chaos.
“!”
“……!”
But there were people who reacted to Cale’s words.
They were the players who were nearby.
They knew that Cale was an NPC.
In fact, the stories about chaos were appearing on the Briz-Ane bulletin board, and Cale was just revealing a little more information.
“Well, what did he say?”
People were talking, but they were paying attention to Cale’s words.
“Did he say there’s an organization that worships the God of Chaos?”
Incredible.
A murmur was heard.
Cale’s gaze turned towards it. Also, Cale instinctively knew it too.
That man was a player.
“!”
The one who made eye contact tried to look away from Cale, but Cale just smiled. And he let out a phrase.
“I’m a vagabond. So I listen to stories.”
“Kangseongguwangjumek (King of the Iron Fist)”, the player who made eye contact, gave up looking away and looked at the NPC who had two cats.
The stories the NPCs were telling…
‘This is interesting!’
Most of the time they were the starting point of a major event.
“Kangseongguwangjumek”, although not a veteran player, was a player who had a “flowing river” level, leaned slightly towards Cale.
No.
He stood up abruptly.
Now there were other players here.
I have to get the exclusive information!
‘No, the mission!’
That vagabond could give me a mission.
‘He’s an NPC who appeared for the first time!’
Also, he’s a strange guy who’s carrying two cats and an egg!
A strange NPC carrying an egg wrapped in a floral cloth and a bib!
But look at his face!
‘That guy’s sure to have an important role in the story!’
Blonde hair and blue eyes.
Being a vagabond, he’s more handsome than the Duke, who’s the most handsome man in the Briz Empire!
Also-
‘He’s handsome in a bad way!’
The feeling of soft morning light that blonde hair gives is overshadowed by his facial features, giving him a feeling of bright gold in a dangerous place.
A calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Also, his smile was like that of an experienced adventurer.
‘But he seems like a good guy!’
In the New World, NPCs are diverse too.
They can be divided into three types: evil, neutral, and good, but regardless of their nature, there are bad guys who are good and good guys who are bad.
The nature of the group they belong to and the individual nature are different in some cases.
‘And-’
Usually, handsome vagabonds-
‘They’re cunning and mischievous, they seem bad, but it turns out they’re good and they sacrifice themselves for a greater cause.’
“Kangseongguwangjumek” trusted his instinct and approached Cale’s table.
“Ahem. Can I hear the story in more detail?”
“Oh, for free?”
“Kangseongguwangjumek” said to the young waitress.
“I’m going to pay for this gentleman’s meal.”
“Ha, ha. Thank you!”
Cale smiled broadly.
“I’m Kangmek.”
“You’re a foreigner. I’m a nameless vagabond.”
Cale chatted with the player and gave a furtive look at the girl.
“…”
Cale smiled at the girl who was staring at him silently.
And he opened his mouth to speak to Kangmek.
“Free information is useless. In that sense, Kangmek, you’re a guy who knows a lot.”
He was talking to the girl. Or rather, it was a warning directed at the shadow that was swaying more and more at the girl’s feet.
The shadow that trembled and swayed, as if it were holding back because there were a lot of people.
The Sixth Evil was annoyed with Cale right now.
That’s why Cale said.
‘There’s nothing for free.’
If you want something, bring a price. The girl’s mouth opened.
“…I’ll prepare your order as soon as possible.”
It was an inappropriate response for a normal food order, but Cale was satisfied. It was the answer he wanted.
”Ahem. Ahem.”
Kangmek coughed.
He seemed very nervous.
‘What? Is he a newbie?’
Cale thought that when he saw Kangmek, but then he ignored it.
He had a reason to look at Kangmek.
‘He was alone.’
Everyone was in groups, but Kangmek was alone. He didn’t know if he was playing solo or if he had any problems.
‘He seems a little silly.’
The players around seemed to know Kangmek, so he didn’t seem to be completely unknown.
‘He’s perfect in many ways.’
This player was the right one for Cale to do an experiment on.
-Human, are you finally going to experiment if you can give missions?
It was as Raon said.
Cale intended to experiment for the first time if he could give a “mission” to a “player”.
Cale had had a doubt for a while.
‘How are the Hunters guiding this RMPAG New World to their will?’
Is it possible because the Transparent Blood are the owners of the virtual reality game company?
That doesn’t make sense.
There are hundreds of millions of players playing this game.
How can a group of game company executives handle all those variables?
‘Impossible.’
That’s impossible.
‘Also, there’s something else.’
The system believed that there was a problem with the way ㈜Transparent was managing the game, and that, because of the variables that were violating the rules they had established, unpredictable situations were being created throughout the game.
That is, he couldn’t control how this world unfolded.
‘Of course, because of that gap, the system was able to create Won, who’s an AI.’
Mutant NPCs were being born throughout the game, and those reasons created an environment that could support Cale.
But.
‘In the first place, the Transparent Blood, of course.’
He had to find out how the Hunters, the divine world, and the demonic world were manipulating things to their will in this RMPAG.
The most important condition for that.
‘Missions.’
Missions, one of the greatest forces driving players.
‘If the Hunters or those from the divine world can assign missions to players.’
They could increase their influence in the game without revealing their identity.
Cale remembered what the terrible Dark Bear had said.
‘Well, missions?’
‘Should we call them missions in general? We have beliefs.’
The belief or mission that began from the beginning, when they existed as NPCs or monsters.
‘With that, we give missions.’
The reason why RMPAG, the world of the New World, was so popular was the “diversity of missions”.
NPCs could give players a wide range of missions, as long as they didn’t deviate too much from the general framework.
“Ahem.”
Cale opened his mouth slowly towards Kangmek, who was looking around and coughing.
“Do you know a lot about the underworld of this place?”
Ding.
An alarm sounded in Cale’s head.
[Are you going to create a mission?]
“The underworld?”
Kangmek was surprised by the unexpected topic.
“Yes. I heard it while wandering. Someone introduced themselves as a member of the secret organization “Arm” and said they were trying to control the underworld.”
“!”
Kangmek’s eyes widened. Everyone nearby tried to listen to their conversation. But Cale and Kangmek’s voices were low.
“T-those Arm-”
“Their attire was similar to those who attacked the Temple of the Sun God yesterday.”
“!”
Kangmek’s eyes widened.
‘This is a great story!’
Had the underworld, the stories of the dark alleys, ever appeared in the main stream of the story?
‘No!’
Of course, if you go to the nation of mercenaries, there are missions that relate to the underworld from time to time. But most of those missions are to deal with the black market or with minor thugs, there’s no organization that appears like that or that’s related to the Sun God.
Beat. Beat~
“Kangseongguwangjumek” realized that he was at a crossroads in his game history.
“And those “Arm” seem to worship the God of Chaos.”
The handsome NPC in front of him uttered without hesitation a story that made Kangmek’s heart beat hard.
“The problem is that I’m not the only one who’s heard it.”
-Human, Human!
Raon interrupted Cale.
-But human, what you’re saying now, isn’t it made up?
It’s true.
Cale is creating a rumor.
Of course, it was the future that was going to happen soon.
He’s starting that future with a mission.
“Kangmek. Do you know anything about the Kingdom of Darkness?”
“Yes?”
There’s no such kingdom in the New World.
Of course, Cale’s going to create it now.
Just with words.
Like an illusion without substance.
But-
[Is the main theme of the mission “Kingdom of Darkness”?]
Could he give substance to an illusion with a mission?
“D-does such a kingdom exist?”
“That’s right.”
Cale’s voice became a little louder.
“They say that when a force appears that wants to destroy the New World’s underworld, a protector appears to protect the underworld, to protect those who can only live in the shadows, and to protect the shadow itself.”
“!”
The protector of the underworld.
“Kangseongguwangjumek” understood the context immediately.
Experience isn’t lost.
“Is the Kingdom of Darkness that protector-?”
Cale nodded slowly.
“‘Where there is light, there is shadow. They say that the Kingdom of Darkness exists, created by those who eliminate the evil that lurks in the shadows, protect those who can only live in the shadows, and protect the shadow itself.’ That legend exists.”
“Wow! A legend-”
“Kangseongguwangjumek” felt a chill.
‘I can’t believe there’s such a big mission! They say this update has a lot of hidden things!’
Incredible, incredible!
Just by posting that information on the community, his post would become one of the best.
His heart was beating hard.
The handsome NPC in front of him murmured.
“They say that Arm and the Kingdom of Darkness are waging an epic battle for control of the underworld of the entire New World.”
Both Arm and the Kingdom of Darkness are, in reality, Cale.
They’re his allies.
But only Cale knows it.
However, Cale created it now.
A variable that the Hunters and enemies don’t know about.
“…But, you know.”
Kangmek suddenly opened his mouth with a serious face.
“…What’s your name?”
“Kangseongguwangjumek”, who had some experience, thought that the vagabond in front of him was strange.
‘Yes. There’s no way such a handsome NPC is a normal vagabond!’
Also, he’s handsome in a bad way!
But he seems like a good guy!
If he’s an NPC who has that role!
“…Right now, it seems like Arm is causing chaos and war in the underworld, and the Kingdom of Darkness is trying to protect it and defend it.”
The tamer NPC in front of him.
“Kangseongguwangjumek” trusted his sharp instinct and said.
“Which side are you on?”
At that moment, the handsome NPC smiled.
“Well, we’ll see.”
With a mischievous smile, Cale looked at the screen window that only he could see.
[Creating mission.]
[Main theme: The war between Arm and the Kingdom of Darkness]
[*Determining the mission level.]
At the same time, Kangmek’s gaze turned to the translucent window that only he could see.
Cale opened his mouth beyond that window.
“I’m just a vagabond who leans on the darkness.”
Ding!
A mission window appeared in front of Kangmek.
Cale’s voice reached his ears.
“But I just know that darkness is sometimes more welcoming.”
[You have discovered the main mission for the first time.]
[Main mission: Chaos and Darkness]
“!”
“Kangseongguwangjumek” felt an emotion that shook his entire body.
[You have discovered a clue about the Kingdom of Darkness.]
[Will you approach the truth of darkness?]
Ah.
Kangmek clenched his fist under the table.
The Great First Step.
As a result of the update, players who couldn’t contribute to the creation of the kingdom had become a kind of observer.
But now, one of those observers had discovered another great main mission that he could participate in.
And Cale stared intently at the mission window he had created.
[Main mission: Chaos and Darkness]
[Forming details]
[Branches can be formed in four paths: “War, politics, religion, founding a kingdom”.]
Oh.
Cale’s smile intensified.
‘I understand how the Hunters created their own game in this RMPAG.’
The enemies would be hidden in this RMPAG as NPCs, quasi-NPCs, and players.
‘If an unexpected game is created, they will come out.’
Cale decided this time. He would be the one directing the game. He wouldn’t be a pawn anymore.
-Human, but don’t you think this will make the board too big?
That’s what he intended.
The wandering shadow, the quasi-NPC Cale, smiled.
===================
<Urgent! New main theme in Briz-Ane!>
-The first underworld main mission!
-And there’s a hidden kingdom! We didn’t know! Incredible, great!
-What are you saying?
-Now the players of Briz-Ane are going crazy looking for the Vagabond Tamer.
-Hey. Are you Kangseongguwangjumek?
-Friend, tell us more!
-Damn it, I’d better go to Briz right now.
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