Chapter 5

Cheers erupted from various directions. After all, it was a game.

However, Leon's sharp gaze silenced everyone.

"There will be a penalty, though."

The players' bright expressions instantly turned grim. Some, who seemed to know, exchanged uneasy glances.

"Every time you die, your base HP and MP will be reduced by 50. This is from your pure base stats, not including item adjustments. This applies to both deaths in the field and player-killing in the field. However, the arena is still under review due to many bugs."

For a while, a lukewarm reaction spread.

But upon closer thought, a reduction of 50 per death was a significant amount. For most classes other than tanks, the average HP was around 2,000 to 3,000. Even then, without item adjustments, the stats would be significantly lower.

Most importantly, if you died ten times, you would lose a total of 500. If all your HP and MP were eventually depleted to 0 or the minimum level...?

The conversation dragged on, and more people began to think deeply. Leon, looking at the increasingly pale players, said:

"Though it's just a guess, if your maximum stats are all depleted, you might truly 'die.' I expect that. Some have suggested that this death might allow you to return to the real world, but it lacks credibility and is too risky to test immediately."

Death.

At the word, all players were greatly shaken. After all, death was a common occurrence in the game.

Ridian thought deeply. For non-combat classes with relatively low HP, this was a terrifying piece of news. Since healing potions were no longer usable, and stat adjustment potions to change the maximum HP and MP were not common items, prioritizing survival would require essential settings to increase HP and defense using items.

Ridian groaned.

"Ugh... I can hear the sound of item prices rising."

"Item prices?"

"Yeah. Mid-level players' adjustment items weren't very efficient, so they were considered junk. It was better to wear attack adjustment items. Most high-level players, except tanks, preferred to set their stats for attack or other values... Since most players in this game are level 70 or below, it's unlikely they have such items stored."

"Huh? That's true. But I saw that they're also sold in shops within the city. They're expensive, but they're the lowest grade."

"And the monsters outside will drop items, including higher-grade items and gold, right?"

Ridian's prediction made Hern nod with a grim expression.

Even if it was limited, the value of items had increased, so a currency war was inevitable. To secure currency at this point, where legitimate means of earning money were not yet confirmed, hunting was essential. To obtain high-grade items, one had to risk death, which would naturally increase their value. If the drop rate was also low, it would be even worse.

"Considering the pain handicap, it's uncertain if anyone will go hunting. But if rarity is added... Wow, this is really hell mode. The existing gold whales will shine, won't they?"

Hern was troubled. If they decided to stockpile, the situation would become serious.

When perceptive players thought this far, Leon drew attention again with a louder voice.

"The item drops from monsters have been confirmed. Our combat guild alliance will assist in ensuring that all players can obtain appropriate HP adjustment items."

The atmosphere, which had been heavy, brightened again. Ridian and Hern looked at each other in relief.

Of course, various variables would arise, such as hunting grounds, but it was a matter to be grateful for that high-level players were willing to sacrifice themselves to help in such a situation.

"Everyone, we are isolated, but we are not alone. In times like these, we must unite and work together. I believe all of you, being wise, understand this without my emphasis. Our combat guild alliance will not hesitate to support all players by sharing information to adapt to this world's system. Of course, we will also consider those in difficult situations. We especially promise to protect those unsuitable for combat as much as possible."

It was a very gentlemanly statement.

Some people sighed in relief. Ridian agreed bitterly. After all, the game and reality were different. Even he wasn't sure if he could go out into the field and face monsters.

"For the time being, we will hold information sharing sessions once a week, on Mondays at 10 AM, based on system time. We will announce related content on the guild city's bulletin board by tomorrow. If anyone has objections, please raise your hand and speak up."

No one raised their hand. Ridian felt a sense of pride at this. Except for a few players, Norden World was known for its clean and polite players. This time, he felt this characteristic more strongly than ever.

Hern wiped his nose and chuckled.

"Well, I expected these things, but it's not bad to have someone step up and talk about them. It feels like my anxious heart is calming down."

"Right. In difficult situations, it's important to have someone to lead. In that sense, he seems like a natural leader. He was pushed into this position as the top-ranked player, but he spoke calmly in front of so many people without a script."

"Sure enough, the Korean server's representative guild isn't just for show. The guild master is really cool!"

Hern's bright eyes made Ridian laugh bitterly. Well, to new players like Hern, he must look that way.

"Hmm, it seems the talk is over. Shall we go back?"

As Ridian's voice fell, Leon announced the dismissal. The crowded square became bustling. Ridian and Hern, who had been watching the players disperse like a swarm of bees, turned around.

* * *

"No, all of a sudden? What kind of bolt from the blue is this...?"

Ridian stared blankly at the guild castle and the guild counter.

Behind the low partition, the assistants, classified as NPCs, were smiling brightly. Trapped in a strange place where it was hard to distinguish between virtual reality and reality, she had just recovered from a fragmented mental state when her living situation tore her apart again.

"I'm sorry, Lady Ridian. It's a regulation we can't avoid."

"But... to suddenly demand management fees without prior notice? It's not a small amount, and how can I suddenly come up with such a large sum..."

Ridian, feeling choked, closed her mouth.

Being poor as a guild master was a sin, and getting angry at an NPC, who wasn't a player, was meaningless.

NPCs (non-player characters) are artificial intelligence characters that assist in gameplay. They may seem human, but they only repeat the same words according to the system.

Players who were initially amazed by the existence of NPCs quickly lost interest in their mechanical and repetitive responses and answers. A few tried hard to elicit the desired responses and actions, but... NPCs were still NPCs.

Many players found their mechanical nature even more frightening.

"This part feels strangely game-like, even though other aspects are realistic... Anyway, I understand. I'll cancel the contract."

In the end, Ridian signed the contract termination form presented by the NPC.

She had some gold saved, but she couldn't afford to waste a million gold per week without knowing the future situation. Besides, her guild only had Hern, so there was no need to maintain a base at such a cost! Ridian handed over the termination form with a sullen expression.

Well, where do items not fly away? Ridian muttered bitterly as she read the system message.

If the furniture items she had painstakingly crafted had vanished without a trace, she might have grabbed the NPC by the collar in a fit of anger. Ridian glared resentfully at the smiling NPC and turned away with a sigh.

"A million gold per week for management fees? Not even a month, it's too much. There were no such fees in the game. Is this to raise the value of currency and force people to go into the field? To kill everyone? This theory of a mastermind behind it all is quite plausible, isn't it?"

The current world is mostly implemented like a game system, but unexpected variables are occurring in some situations. The guild base issue is one of them.

In the game, guild bases were provided free of charge to all guilds. Many players, like Ridian, were forced to cancel their contracts due to sudden management fee demands.

Most were small-scale social guilds with insufficient funds, primarily consisting of mid-to-low-level players. Of course, if the guild master was a gold whale from the game era, it wouldn't be a problem.

"Hey, Lady Ridian?"

I should have spent more on gold. No, it would be foolish to spend money recklessly when I don't know how long I can survive.

Ridian was muttering to herself, feeling defeated, as she walked down the corridor with slumped shoulders.

"Lady Ridian!"

Ridian turned her head reflexively at the call and let out a low exclamation.

Player Information

Name: Theseus / Guild: Legion

Level: 77 / Class: Mage / Sub-class: Alchemist

HP: 3050 / MP: 3750

The man, wearing a luxurious white cloak, looked very surprised. Ridian, recognizing the familiar ID, bowed her head instinctively.

"Ah, hello."

He was a high-ranking player in the top 100, but Ridian had partied with Theseus early in the game, so they would exchange formal greetings when they met in-game. Theseus was generally friendly to everyone, which made this encounter even more peculiar. It felt like meeting someone in real life.

Moreover, Theseus was quite handsome, and surprisingly, he was around her age.

"Wow, Lady Ridian is a woman?"

Theseus said, clearly shocked.

He had only checked the information window out of curiosity at the rare cash item, the Robe of the Noble Cleric, which Ridian was wearing. But seeing a familiar ID and then realizing that someone he thought was a man was actually a woman naturally left him speechless.

Ridian laughed awkwardly at his excessive reaction.

"Y-Yes... It's a bit, surprising, isn't it?"

"Wow, really. Everyone thought you were an uncle."

Theseus squealed like a child, similar to Hern's reaction.

Ridian raised an eyebrow. She was smiling, but it wasn't a genuine smile.

'An uncle...!'

Unaware of her thoughts, Theseus chattered excitedly.

"Through this incident, I learned that there are more female players than I thought. But I didn't expect Lady Ridian to be one of them..."

"Is it that shocking?"

"Well, it's a joke. You were always quiet and had a unique look..."

"...Is that a diss?"

"Of course not."

He laughed it off, but Theseus secretly observed Ridian's face.

She wasn't strikingly beautiful, but the image of an "uncle" was so ingrained that the young Ridian in front of him looked very pretty.

'Is this what they call a 'generation gap'?' Theseus chuckled.

"Hmm, hmm. Lady Ridian, have you been helping new players all this time?"

"Ah, yes... I did until I came here. But new players tend to quit quickly, so I was getting tired."

"That's normal. Anyway, it's impressive. I admire you. That's why your nickname was Father Teresa, for helping hopeless newbies. Oh, I should change it to Mother Teresa now."

Ridian's eyes narrowed at his playful tone. Startled, Theseus cleared his throat and laughed nervously.

"Anyway, even in this situation, it's nice to see someone I know. We seem to be around the same age. I'd like to get along well... Ah, let's add each other as friends again."

Theseus quickly touched the air with his fingers. Ridian was puzzled.

Friends? Add friends? Weren't we already friends?

His confused expression made Theseus frown. Then he widened his eyes and asked.

"Oh, you didn't know? When we were moved here, it seems to be a bug, but some players' friend lists were deleted. Lady Ridian, check yours quickly. That's why they're doing a 'reunion' in the square these days."

Ridian had never heard of this. After all, she didn't have many close friends, and she wasn't the type to initiate conversations.

Hern hadn't mentioned it, so his list was probably normal. Also, they communicated through the guild list system, so he might not have noticed the issue.

Ridian accepted the system window that popped up and checked her friend list out of curiosity.

It only showed Theseus, whom she had just accepted. Ridian felt tears welling up. Her friend list, which had been in the double digits, had vanished without a trace.

'Ah, Lord Pepe...'

The name of the person she most wanted to talk to in Norden World flashed before her eyes.

Finding someone who might be involved in this incident was a daunting task. Should she shout "Lord Pepe!" in the square? Ridian sighed deeply.

"Oh, Lady Ridian's list was also reset, it seems."

"Yes... Thanks to you, I found out. It's fortunate to know now."

"Of course. Anyway, meeting like this is a connection..."

Theseus paused mid-sentence and hesitated. He seemed to be tapping the air, probably receiving a personal notification. Ridian smiled and pretended not to notice. After checking the guild notification, Theseus sighed deeply.

"Ah, the guild keeps calling me, so I have to go first. I'll contact you later. It was nice meeting you!"

Ridian awkwardly waved at him as he ran off with a bright smile.

It wasn't hot, but a bead of sweat trickled down the back of Ridian's ear. He wasn't a bad person, but she had a feeling it would be troublesome.