Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
“The lowest overall reputation score of all the players in Qingmu Town!”
At that moment, Ye Kong knew his gamble had paid off!
Ye Kong had destroyed a quest item to successfully incite the anger of the Horticultural Priest, who then proceeded to lower his reputation score. This allowed him to become the player with the lowest combined reputation score in the entirety of Qingmu Town!
This was the opposite side of the “SOS Quest”!
While the other players were doing all they could to try and raise their reputation scores and acquire the “SOS Quest,” Ye Kong embarked on a completely different path—focusing his efforts on lowering his reputation level!
“In the game world of ‘Demon Realm,’ every event has its inverse, and everything has two sides!
Ye Kong looked at the copper coin in his hand, a hint of a smile emerging on his lips.
This coin represented the tangible in-game result of his six long years’ worth of valuable experience from his gaming career, and the painstaking research undertaken by other players in his past life!
In his previous life, two years after the public release of “Demon Realm,” one player proposed a theory—
“Supposing the in-game mechanics of ‘Demon Realm’ depend on a multitude of factors (such as reputation, starting region, and favorability), is it possible that these factors affect the game from both sides of the spectrum?
“To elaborate, when we raise our reputation with a faction, we’re able to acquire more quests from that faction. In that case, when we lower our reputation with a faction… can we acquire more quests from enemies of that faction?!”
After this player proposed this theory, there was immediately a huge uproar!
The players of “Demon Realm” started to experiment with this theory one after another, using their own personal experiences to add evidence or hypotheses to the ongoing discussion!
In the end, a large quantity of experimental results was collected, which corroborated the player’s initial hypothesis—”Demon Realm” was not a simple game, but a real, complex world!
Any story event could be approached from both sides.
It was similar to how there’s a near and far side of the moon. It’s bright, pure side faces the earth, while its dark, murky side is hidden.
The other side of the “SOS Quest” was the Story Event, The Hidden Traitor!
Ye Kong took advantage of this key element of the game. He deliberately lowered his own reputation score to become the player with the lowest reputation score, so that he could successfully acquire a story event from the enemy faction!
In truth, the players’ assumptions about the old beggar were essentially correct—no matter what you gave him, it wouldn’t rigger any events. This included giving him the Quest Item, Blessed Spring Water!
What actually triggered the story event was not the Blessed Spring Water, but a player’s reputation level!
The old beggar was an assassin from the Stygian Night Kingdom, and players from Qingmu Town naturally started with a “Good” reputation (with the Horticultural Church). Under these kinds of circumstances, how could a player receive a quest from the old beggar?
Just as the “SOS Quest” (a regular event) had a reputation requirement, the old beggar’s hidden quest (an inverse event) also had a reputation requirement. It required players to not have a reputation level above “Neutral” (with the Horticultural Church)!
If the player’s reputation level met these requirements, a player could hand the old beggar a blade of grass, and he would still receive this special copper coin!
At present, out of all the players in Qingmu Town, only Ye Kong had a “Neutral” reputation level with the Horticultural Church, and only he met the requirements for receiving the old beggar’s story quest!
The Blessed Spring Water’s only purpose in this whole affair was to anger the priest, Pulitzer. The old beggar’s constant requests for water were merely a hint. His real objective was for players to provoke the members of the Horticultural Church!
Ye Kong had discovered this key element and successfully acquired the story event!
“My plan is a success! Now, I just need to quickly finish this story event before the ‘Stygian Night Invasion’ occurs!”
Ye Kong’s eyes were like deep pools as he recalled scenes from his past life. “In my previous life, I died once in the Eastern Plains and ended up in the ‘Vulnerable’ state. Also, because I wasn’t an alpha tester, I had no idea the ‘Mail Delivery’ option even existed, so my own reputation scores never changed from what they were at the start.
“Because of this, when the ‘Stygian Night Invasion’ story event began, I wasn’t assigned the ‘SOS Quest,’ but the common ‘Survival Quest’—I was left behind in Qingmu Town and had to fend off the assault from the Stygian Army!”
At that time, Ye Kong was saddled with the “Vulnerable” state. As a level zero Swordsman with no way of hunting mobs to level up (the Eastern Plains were fully occupied) and no good equipment, he was probably one of the most wretched newbie players around.
In these sad circumstances, Ye Kong was trapped inside Qingmu Town thanks to the “Survival Quest.” There, he encountered the attacks of the Stygian mobs (the Stygian Army), which were generally at level two or three. The outcome was as one would expect.
Ye Kong died yet again, and his “Vulnerable” state was extended to two hours.
P.S. When players die in a “Vulnerable” state, their “Vulnerable” state is extended as a punishment. The punishment time increases exponentially, such as two hours for the first death, four hours for the second, and so on.
After all this, not only did Ye Kong not receive the reward from the “Survival Quest,” but his “Vulnerable” state was extended. This resulted in Ye Kong having a disastrous start to the game, and nearly the entirety of his first day in the game was wasted.
In contrast, the Yokai Legion Guild, Hegemony Guild, and other players who participated in the early testing phases of the game, all leveraged their experience and fully prepared themselves for the start of the “Stygian Night Invasion.”
When the “Stygian Night Invasion” story event began, these players had either acquired the “SOS Quest” or used the head start they gave themselves to furiously hunt the Stygian mobs inside Qingmu Town. As a result, their character levels and equipment quality increased dramatically!
It was a zero-sum game, and Ye Kong and other regular players like him were the losers, unable to catch up to the people in the lead.
“In this life, I’m not going to let you win so easily!”
Ye Kong gripped the copper coin tightly as he turned and left the small street he was on. He then sprinted toward the location of the Violet Mercantile Association from memory.
Normally, a player would need to interact with nearby NPCs around town and use their communication skills to get the NPCs to tell them the location of the Violet Mercantile Association. This was how the quest was designed to be undertaken.
Qingmu Town was a major stronghold of the Horticultural Church. Many of the town’s NPCs were devotees of the Horticultural Church, while many players’ reputation level with the Horticultural Church was “Neutral”…
Therefore, interacting with the NPCs wasn’t an easy task, as “Neutral” isn’t the same as “Good,” and players wouldn’t be treated kindly by NPCs loyal to the Horticultural Church.
It was highly possible for a newbie player to go 15 minutes without finding out the location of the Violet Mercantile Association, ultimately resulting in him failing the quest.
Ye Kong didn’t have to worry about this, however, because he had stored in his mind the entire map of Qingmu Town!
In his past life, after Ye Bai passed away from her illness, Ye Kong went through a difficult period where he was absolutely heartbroken and depressed. It was only later, when he became the Nyx Swordsman and managed to piece himself back together, that “Demon Realm” became his everything.
When a person’s energy is fully invested in something, the resulting potential is truly formidable, and can be explosive.
Maps of all the major cities, the circumstances surrounding leaders in the wilderness, details of the various character classes…
Ye Kong could remember it all with perfect clarity!
Something like finding the location of the Violet Mercantile Association was nothing to him!
……
“I’m here!”
Ye Kong slowed to a halt. A luxurious building in the Gothic architectural style stood before his eyes.
The Violet Mercantile Association was located in Qingmu Town’s nobles district, which was very much like a wealthy suburb in the real world, and was situated in the north part of Qingmu Town. A substantial number of soldiers were patrolling the streets. The security here was much better than the security in the residential district to the west.
At that point in time, the main entrance to the Violet Mercantile Association was flanked by two soldiers standing guard. They were equipped with plate armor, and a steel sword hung at their waists. They definitely weren’t a target a newbie player could take on.
Even before the “Stygian Night Invasion,” the soldiers of Qingmu Town were already at level five. During the “Stygian Night Invasion” story event, they became even stronger, and leveled up to level 10!
Ye Kong touched the novice sword strapped to his back. It was a piece of grey equipment that didn’t add to his Attack, and it paled in comparison to the soldiers’ steel swords.
“It’s right in here.”
Ye Kong took a step forward without hesitation.
“Who goes there?!”
In response, the two soldiers also stepped forward. They drew their steel swords and crossed them in front of Ye Kong, blocking his way.
Ye Kong keenly felt the two soldiers’ cold stares. There was no doubt in his mind that if he tried to force his way through, they would immediately cut him down!
As he was now, a level zero player with only a set of grey equipment and the starting skills of “Cleave” and “Aura Suppression,” regardless of how skillful he was as a player, he was no match for two level five soldiers.
“I’ve heard rumors from elsewhere that the members of the Violet Mercantile Association are looking for this object,” Ye Kong said. He remained completely impassive as he retrieved the copper coin and flashed it before the two soldiers’ eyes. “Do you recognize this thing?”
The two soldiers glanced at each other. Then, one of them promptly turned around and entered the Violet Mercantile Association.
After a few moments, the soldier who had left ran back out and bowed down before Ye Kong. “Sir, please follow me,” he said.
“Mm.” Ye Kong simply nodded and followed the soldiers into the Violet Mercantile Association.
Near the Violet Mercantile Association, there was a group of players loitering around. Most of them were from rich families, and they refused to participate in the “traffic jam” at the merchant street (for fear of losing their status). They weren’t alpha testers but “casuals” enjoying the scenery. In any case, they were in no hurry to work hard for equipment or to level up. They could easily hire a team of “bodyguards” to boost them later.
Just then, one of the more observant players in the group happened to look back at Ye Kong, and screamed right away. “WTF, what’s the deal with that player? The soldier is bringing him into the Mercantile Association?!”
“What happened?” rainbowcaramel asked curiously. The one who had screamed was her BFF (best friends forever), strawberryjam. The two ladies were rich heiresses and didn’t care much for playing the game. They were only interested in exploring the game and looking at the scenery. They were a prime example of “casuals.”
After all, the virtual technology of the federal government was scarily impressive. It faithfully simulated all five sense with more than 95% accuracy. The difference between the game and reality was minuscule, and this attracted a dedicated group of casuals.
“That… that player actually entered the Violet Mercantile Association!” strawberryjam exclaimed while pointing ahead.
“What? Are you sure?” rainbowcaramel openly expressed her doubts. The Violet Mercantile Association building was the largest in the entire nobles district. Many players had tried to enter, but without exception, they were all stopped by the soldiers.
Then, rainbowcaramel noticed something amiss—there was one less soldier standing guard at the door!
“Hold up,” she said. “It looks like someone really did make it inside. How about we try going in too?”
“Okay. Let’s go and give it a shot.”
The two young beauties ran together to the entrance of the Violet Mercantile Association.
They glanced at the soldier, who stood stock-still like a block of wood, as they carefully walked toward the entrance…
Swish!
A steel sword fell down in front of the two.
“Who goes there?!”
The two young heiresses could only shiver in fright.
……
Ye Kong followed the soldier into the Mercantile Association building. It was his first time inside the Violet Mercantile Association. In his past life, during the “Stygian Night Invasion,” the Violet Mercantile Association building had been thoroughly demolished, and the members of the association had mysteriously vanished.
Analyzing the events thus far, it seemed that there was more to this than meets the eye.
Ye Kong observed his surroundings as he walked.
The interior of the Violet Mercantile Association building had very high ceilings, and there were a large number of columns holding up a domed roof painted with frescoes. The walls were studded with stained glass windows, and dim beams of sunlight filtered through them, shrouding the whole space in a slightly depressing shade.
There was nobody else in the entire hall, save for a slightly plump figure who stood in front of a mural at the far end of the hall.
“The Association Chairman awaits your presence,” the soldier who was leading Ye Kong explained tersely. He then proceeded to take his leave.
As the soldier passed by Ye Kong, Ye Kong inadvertently glanced at him, and his expression grew serious.
“Huh?”
Under the colored light from the stained glass windows, the skin exposed between the gaps in the soldier’s armor actually looked purplish-blue!
“A Stygian…”
Ye Kong’s eyes instinctively narrowed as he determined the soldier’s true identity.
Humans in the Stygian Night Kingdom were long exposed to dark energies from the region’s netherworld, causing their skin to turn purplish-blue under colored light. This was one of the unique traits of the Stygian people.
“As expected, the Violet Mercantile Association has some deep ties to the Stygian Night Kingdom…”
Ye Kong watched the soldier until he was out of sight. Then, he walked to the plump figure at the end of the hall.
“You have finally arrived, brave explorer.”
The slightly plump figure heard his approaching footsteps and turned around, revealing the face of a middle-aged man. A string of words, which represented the man’s name, floated above his head. He was the Violet Mercantile Association Chairman, Modr.
What was surprising was that Modr’s skin was an even deeper shade of purple than the soldier’s. His whole body was covered in purple jam-colored skin. It was like a piece of fabric that had just come out of a dyeing tank, and it gave onlookers an oppressive feeling of strangeness and mystery.
On top of that…
Modr’s skin was striped all over with black markings, like a leopard’s fur, and gave off a flamboyant impression.
“A member of the Blind Sect?!”
Ye Kong was shocked by the sight of Modr’s appearance. It was obvious that he wasn’t a run-of-the-mill Stygian. From what Ye Kong remembered, only members of the Blind Sect manifested leopard-like markings on their body.
These markings were known as the “Mark of the Blind”!
In an instant, all the pieces fit together in Ye Kong’s mind. “That’s right. The Horticultural Church worships the ‘God of Horticulture, Wally,’ while the Blind Sect worships the ‘God of the Blind, Hodr.’ The two gods have been sworn enemies ever since the beginning of the ‘New Age of Divinity.’ Following in the footsteps of their gods, the two religions have always been deeply hostile towards one another!”
“As expected, the Blind Sect also had a part to play in the Qingmu Town story event!
The Blind Sect was the Stygian Night Kingdom Server’s (Seventh Region) religious faction!
“Demon Realm” was designed as a vast game world with a unique lore and extensive history. Players could only come to a full understanding of the world’s history by completing a massive amount of quests.
In his past life, as the Legendary Swordsman of Yggdmillennia Server, Ye Kong had completed an innumerable amount of quests, a number only exceeded by the amount of historical texts he had personally read. Thanks to this, he knew the Stygian Night Kingdom’s religious faction like the back of his hand.
In the following moments, Ye Kong would need to gain his counterpart’s trust through conversation, and get information that would lead to the next step of the quest.
However, Ye Kong knew of a simpler method to gain his trust—
A motion.
Ye Kong chose to place one hand on his forehead and adopt a very bizarre pose. “Salutations, respected Blind Priest.”
The gesture was a secret shared among members of the Blind Sect, and it symbolized “friendliness.” As Ye Kong had studied the “Canon of the Blind” in his past life, performing the gesture was a simple task for him.
Incidentally, the “Canon of the Blind,” which Ye Kong had read back then, was actually a “relic” dropped by a Blind Bishop…
When Modr saw Ye Kong perform this gesture, he brightened up right away and showed a hint of a smile. “Very good, brave explorer. It seems that you’ve already obtained the trust of ‘Lilith.’ Even so, I still require proof of your loyalty.”
Ye Kong had no idea what “Lilith” was, but it seemed to be related to the old beggar. The misunderstanding was currently working in his favor, so he saw no need to correct Modr.
“Very well. I am willing to accept your test.” Ye Kong decided to go along with the flow and continue the conversation with Modr.
System Notification: You have come into contact with Hidden Priest of the Blind Sect – Modr, and have successfully gained his trust. Your reputation score with the Blind Sect has increased by five points. Your reputation level with the Blind Sect is now “Neutral.”
Ye Kong’s Reputation screen now showed—
Starry Duchy: Good. Horticultural Church: Neutral. Blind Sect: Neutral
Though he did end up losing some reputation with the Horticultural Church, his reputation increased with the Blind Sect, so it was a pretty even exchange overall.
“Excellent!” Modr nodded. “I hereby request you to bring me the heads of our enemies and prove your loyalty to me!”
System Notification:
Story Event – “The Hidden Traitor.” The quest objectives have been updated—
The Hidden Traitor: Players must slay three city guards and offer their heads to Modr in 30 minutes. If the time limit is exceeded, the quest will be failed.
“Three city guards?!”
Ye Kong’s eyes narrowed, because…
The city guards were all at least level five!