<h4>Chapter 5: The Power of Good Deeds (1)</h4>
The air, or the atmosphere, changed in an instant. yers in the square tilted their heads to this subtle feeling.
"Doesn''t it feel like it suddenly got really quiet around here?"
"Yeah. What''s going on? It doesn''t seem like there''s been any ident."
"This happens at school sometimes, right?"
Except for a few yers who didn’t notice the change in the atmosphere, everyone looked around trying to find the cause.
As one yer mentioned, there were moments in school when everyone became quiet as if they had been cued to do so. The square was simr to such instances.
<i>Something is certainly odd....</i>
Kai, who was quick to notice things, also realized that something had changed. He was even quicker than anyone else to find the cause.
<i>Is it... because of me?</i>
To the left and right, NPCs were sending him longing nces. They slowly closed the distance.
"Kai, I previously said I wouldn''t ask for your help due to yourck of skills. I was short-sighted. I''m sure you can help me." A quest he had previously been rejected for due to being at a low level suddenly became avable.
"Kai, here''s some freshly baked bread from this morning. This is the best quality bread I''ve made today, having worked with flour for 30 years. Please try it!" He also received several pieces of bread, each costing three silver, for free.
"Hehe, Kai, you look a bit more handsome today. Would you like to go for a walk by theke with me?" A beautiful NPC, who normally showed no interest in him, smiled and asked him on a date.
<i>...What is this situation?</i>
Kai, furrowing his eyebrows, instinctively knew why they were acting this way.
<i>It''s because of the Friendly Brother skill.</i>
If his guess was right, the effect was truly exceptional. In MID Online, raising favorability wasn''t different from reality. To be closer to NPCs, one had to make a good impression and act in a way they liked, gradually increasing favorability.
<i>But I can skip that process and make them feel friendly towards me. I''m not sure to what extent though.</i>
At least, he was sure it was a useful skill. Moreover, the Church of Sris was a powerful force on the continent. The number of NPCs believing in them was countless, making the skill seem even more useful.
"What? Who is that user?"
"I don’t know. Maybe a famous yer? Or a ranker?"
"Nah, I know almost all the faces of rankers... This one''spletely new."
<i>Dang it.</i>
Kai quickly pulled the hood of his cleric robe deep over his head and deactivated the Friendly Brother skill. At the same time he did so, as if a tight knot had been loosened, the atmosphere in the square rxed.
"Um, ahem. It seems I was mistaken. Forget the request. Come back when you''ve improved your skills."
"I''ll go for a walk alone. What I said earlier was just out of courtesy. You know what I mean, right?"
"Give me back my bread."
"...."
The moment he deactivated the Friendly Brother skill, the NPCs changed their stance as quickly and easily as if they were flipping the palm of their hand! Kai deeply felt the pain of youths abandoned in the harsh jungle of society. Fortunately, at least the users'' interests also quickly faded.
"Of course."
"What, that was nothing."
"Oh, right. I need to find party members!"
"Selling a level 45 rare sword, starting offers, no traders!"
The square became noisy again as if it had never been quiet.
Kai then looked at his palm amidst the countless crowd roaming the square.
<i>The power of the title... It’s real.</i>
Then the possibility was high that the abilities rted to the Benevolence stat were also real. Realizing this, his heart raced and his palms became sweaty. At the same time, an irresistible thrill passed through him, making his fists clench automatically.
He had achieved nothing in his 22 years of life. His only strength was helping others. A worthless ability that didn''t help with actual specs.
"But from now on, things will change..."
"Hey, aren''t you giving back my bread?"
"...."
Swallowing his tears, Kai returned the soft bread.
***
<i>Beeeep!</i>
A loud rm sounded at the Korea branch of the Pegasus Corporation, the multinationalpany that developed MID Online.
"It''s so loud. Turn off that sound first."
"Yes, sir!"
Kang Min-Gu, the director of Pegasus Corporation''s Korea branch, nodded as he looked at the giant monitor in the office and sighed.
"The rm suggests something has been unlocked. Find out what it is."
"Yes, sir!"
The employees started busily searching for the cause. Soon, reports began toe in.
"A new hidden ss has been unlocked!"
"It''s identified as code M-015E34."
"Ugh..." Kang Min-Gu let out a groan. "Another hidden ss? How many times has this happened in our country?"
"It''s... the fourth time."
"The headquarters will have something to say again, but it’s not as if we’re not already known as a nation of gaming addicts..."
The headquarters had already lectured them a few weeks ago about bnce issues. The reason was that the number of Korean users who had transitioned to hidden sses almost equaled China''s.
"But what ss does that code signify anyway? It would be better if it''s some useless ss this time to avoid more lecturing."
While sighing and approaching his subordinate, Kang Min-Gu, with his brilliant mind, understood what the code meant.
<i>‘First thing, the first letter is M and thankfully not H. Never heard or seen... wait, M?''</i>
Not H for Hero, but M. Kang Min-Gu instantly turned pale and took over his subordinate''s seat and started typing.
<i>Tap tap tap, tap tap!</i>
The result disyed on the screen when he pressed enter was truly shocking.
<strong>Code – M-015E34</strong>
<strong>ss – Sric Cleric</strong>
<strong>Rank – Mythic</strong>
"Wh-what...? W-why now?" Kang Min-Gu screamed in horror, pulling at his hair. "Why does this only happen in our country?!"
He felt like he would receive a call from the headquarters any moment.
That''s when it happened.
<i>Ring ring ring!</i>
"Yes, I''ve got the call... Yes, yes, sir." The employee who answered the phone was visibly tense, and then looked at Kang Min-Gu. "Mr. Kang, we''ve just received a call from headquarters."
Kang Min-Gu sighed, “...Tell them I''ll be there soon, just to wait a moment." Then he feebly got up from his seat and didn''t forget to give an order to his subordinate. "We can find out who it is, right?"
"Well... that is... even though we are the operators, there''s no way to track every user’s location or situation."
"Still, find them. At all costs."
"Wh-what should we do when we find them?"
Frustrated by his subordinate''s question, Kang Min-Gu scowled, "What do you mean what to do? As soon as you find them...!" He struggled to find his next words and said in a weak voice, "Just watch them... Observe how they y the game. Monitor them. What else can we do without any operational rights."
"Understood. But sir, I''ve never seen this kind of code before. What ss does it signify?"
Kang Min-Gu, walking toward the phone like a cow being led to ughter, quietly said, looking defeated, "M stands for... Mythic rank."
It was only four months since the game''sunch. At this point in time, it was a ss that should never have been unlocked.
***
"Let''s see..."
While Kang Min-Gu was getting an earful from the higher-ups at the headquarters, Kai was rummaging through the quest board in the vige square.
The quest board was a ce where NPCs posted their requests on paper, allowing yers to easily ept quests. It was a revolutionary system that saved yers from having to travel the map and search for NPCs like in old games.
"Is this the oldest one?"
Kai peeled off a quest paper that was tucked in a corner of the board, covered by other papers.
<strong>[<u>Daughter''s Winter Clothes</u>]</strong>
<strong>Difficulty: E-</strong>
<strong>Tom, the owner of the general store, is buying Gnoll tails in order to make a winter coat for his daughter’s birthday gift. Bring Tom 50 Gnoll tails.</strong>
<strong>Quest reward: +30 silver, +5 Fame, Affinity with Tom</strong>
"Not bad."
Gnoll tails were a necessary material for making Gnoll fur armor sets, favored by archers and rogue yers. Despite being a required item, its drop rate was terribly low, making it worth at least one silver each at the auction house.
Just based on the math, it was an unprofitable quest! That was the biggest reason why yers ignored it.
<i>But that''s exactly why it''s perfect for me.</i>
Kai, smiling, put the paper in his pocket and headed to the general store.
"Ah! Wee!"
A girl, looking about 15 years old, greeted Kai warmly.
"Is Mr. Tom not here?"
"Dad went to tidy up the storage at the back. Should I get him for you?"
"Please."
Soon, led by his daughter, Tom arrived in front of Kai. "Oh, it''s Kai. You were looking for me?"
"Yes. I came after seeing this."
As Kai took out the quest flyer from his pocket, Tom turned pale and covered his daughter''s eyes.
"Huh? Dad, what are you doing?"
"Y-you shouldn''t see this. Kai, follow me for a moment." Tom swiftly grabbed Kai''s wrist and pulled him into the storage. "Whew, whew. That was a close call."
"Now that I think of it, you were making winter clothes for your daughter, right?"
"Yes. I wanted to surprise her with a gift, but since no one came for the request even after two months, I thought I might have to give up..."
"Hehe, ta-da!"
Kai took out 50 Gnoll tails from his inventory. He had collected 200 to make winter clothing but he could afford to be generous for the quest since it was more important at the moment.
"You... you!" Tom embraced Kai with a grateful expression. "Thank you! I didn''t have high hopes when I made the request... but I am truly grateful!"
"Don''t mention it," Kai replied, scratching the back of his head with a shy expression.
"Ah, I shouldn''t have made you wait. Wait here, I''ll give you the money right now."
"Pardon? No, it''s fine!" Kai eximed in surprise.
It was stated that the Benevolence stat increased when one did good deeds for NPCs. However, he wondered ifpleting a quest and receiving a reward would also count as a good deed in the system. He was concerned that would just be fulfilling a request.
"Not at all. I''m so grateful that I can''t let you go empty-handed."
Tom eventually insisted and ced 37 silver in Kai''s hand.
"Um...you''ve given me 7 more silver."
"I''m so thankful that I added a bit more. Just ept it when an adult gives you something! Ha ha!" Tomughed heartily, looking at the Gnoll tails he was holding with a content expression.
<i>He''s really happy.</i>
Watching Tom, a pleased smile formed on Kai''s face.
At that moment, a notification window appeared.
<strong>[You did a good deed for Tom (NPC).]</strong>
<strong>[+1 Benevolence]</strong>
<strong>[You carried out the word of Sris. Contribution increased.]</strong>
<i>Oh, it increased!</i>
Kai stared at the message window with wide eyes.
<i>So even if it''s a quest, if the recipient is grateful, does it count as a good deed?</i>
If that was the case, thenpleting quests could yield both rewards and an increase in the Benevolence stat.
Kai''s mind raced.
<i>When I briefly looked earlier, there were quite a few quests that no one had taken.</i>
Those quests were all unattractive in terms of rewards and required a lot of effort. They were the quests that everyone avoided!
Kai''s eyes sparkled.
<i>I shouldn’t just stand around like this.</i>
After quickly saying goodbye to Tom, Kai slipped into a dim alleyway in the vige. Then he let out a few small, shallow breaths and swallowed nervously.
Kai slowly said, "Equip title, Envoy of God."