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#25 Chapter: Promising Candidate (2)

“Instead of giving scores directly, we get medals first and then convert them later?”

“Taking care of them, can we really lose them?”

Upon hearing Lunara’s words, the players began to murmur.

Most of them were just tilting their heads in confusion, while some players grimaced or noticeably paled.

On the flip side, there were those whose eyes sparkled with interest.

“Uh… why is everyone acting like this?”

Nadia, who passed off Lunara’s comment, seemed to realize something was off as she observed the reactions around her.

I spoke to Nadia.

“The fact that the score comes in the form of ‘items’ means players can exchange them with each other. If we think positively, trading among users will become more active.”

“Ah, I see. But does that positive side mean there are negatives?”

“Players might engage in PK to steal medals from each other.”

“PK.”

Nadia repeated the unfamiliar word as if trying to memorize it.

Of course, she wasn’t a newbie to online games and couldn’t truly not know what it meant. She probably just didn’t want to understand what that term implied in the current situation.

In a normal game, PK is merely one aspect of content.

However, in a death game where a character’s death means a player’s death, PK becomes murder.

Many spare no expense to maintain their health. Especially if it were a panacea, they’d pay anything for it.

What about the revitalizing elixir? It’s said to practically start a second life; if there’s no demand for that, it would be strange.

The value when sold is so high that it’s hard to quantify in money. Even using it yourself is nearly akin to cheating.

And while this is a death game, it is still a game. It sounds like a pun, but that pun is crucial.

Like how swiping a credit card feels less tangible than taking cash directly from your wallet, the very format of the game diminishes the aversion to murder. It makes it easy to dismiss reality with thoughts like, “Surely, nobody really dies.”

Moreover, there’s the unique anonymity of games to consider.

Thanks to the avatar system, the appearance can be changed freely aside from gender, and it’s unclear whether the records that would ordinarily remain on the server will really apply in a magically-implemented game.

A player who engaged in unlimited PK in-game could live perfectly normally outside without any consequences.

With these conditions in place, there are sure to be humans who think differently, disregarding ethics and morals.

Nadia opened and closed her mouth several times, struggling to find the right words.

“Are you joking?”

I stared blankly at her face.

Explaining all the reasons I thought of above wasn’t too difficult, but that wouldn’t greatly help her.

At best, it would raise her awareness a bit, which could be achieved in other ways too.

So, I simply replied.

“It’s just a guess. Something that might happen someday.”

“…I hope that guess is wrong.”

“Indeed.”

After a while of this chaotic atmosphere,

Instead of blabbering as usual, Lunara kept silent but then spoke up again.

“It feels like you’re purposely giving room to watch the players’ reactions, which is unsettling.”

That’s a good point.

“Now, have you all checked your rankings? Even though you’ve scored remarkable achievements on your servers, being overshadowed by players from other servers may be unpleasant! But please, don’t be disheartened!”

“There are currently 20 servers, but servers with a lower number of players will be merged with others. Additionally, while the maximum capacity for the current server is limited to 10,000, that restriction will gradually loosen.”

“In other words! Players currently unable to impact each other due to different servers will eventually meet and compete on the same server!”

“To start with, the first server to be closed will be one with player numbers reduced to half or less! Players from the beta server will be able to migrate as refugees to the server of their choice. However, be cautious, as if the destination server fills up, you won’t be able to select it for migration!”

“Uh-oh.”

“Why so?”

I originally intended to consider this to a certain extent, but it seems the reasons to keep players alive have increased.

“Reasons?”

They say players from servers that have greatly dwindled will be sent as refugees while their servers close. Don’t you understand what that means?

“Even as refugees, they can choose which server they want to go to, so there’s no concern about parties splitting up.”

Exactly. NPCs will be excluded from that.

For instance, let’s say the player base in my current Alpha server suffers a mass casualty, leading to server closure, and I’m moved to the Gamma server.

The Aurelia and soldiers in the Gamma server won’t have any memory of me. There are ways to rebuild relationships from scratch, but it requires a lot of effort and isn’t efficient.

Especially since I need to prioritize cooperation with NPCs as much as I do with players, migrating servers could be particularly fatal.

Pondering whether I should expand my efforts to help people, I suddenly noticed Nadia frowning. Correspondingly, her rabbit ears perked up.

“That’s strange. The beta server has a number one rank, but so many people have died there.”

“Is that so? It seems that with fewer survivors, the scores are pooled in one location, so they might be more concentrated in one place.”

“Oh, that does make sense.”

Despite saying that, Nadia didn’t look convinced.

To be precise, it seemed she understood logically but couldn’t accept it emotionally.

“Is there something bothering you?”

“Uh, no.”

“Even the small things are okay. It’s better to share than suffer in silence.”

“Hmm.”

Nadia scratched her cheek awkwardly before finally blurting something out.

“I just have a bad feeling about it.”

“A bad feeling?”

“Yes, so many people have died, and yet a specific player has shot up the scores… it’s a bit unsettling.”

The last part of her sentence came out almost as a whisper.

Maybe she felt that way herself since she waved her hands dismissively to deny her own words.

“But it’s just my paranoia! Like you said, it’s natural for scores to concentrate on one side when there are fewer remaining players. Sorry for bringing it up.”

“No, that’s a good perspective. I’ll keep it in mind.”

After all, it’s someone I will meet eventually when the gameplay progresses. Even if they are among the top ranks next time, it wouldn’t hurt to remember them.

“Next news to share, ta-da!! It’s the sponsorship system! Wow!”

Clap, clap! Lunara clapped for herself.

By this point, her over-the-top behavior is almost astonishing in its own way.

“Sponsorship?”

Nadia’s expression twisted grotesquely.

Whether she cared or not, Lunara continued in a cheerful tone.

“To all players participating in this game for outstanding rewards! There are lovely spectators who wish to cheer for you while watching you dash towards your goals. Sponsorship is a system through which they send you special bonuses!”

“Ah, but the bonuses I’m talking about aren’t game currency. They’re not cash items either. Well, let’s just say, all the cash items in this game are utterly worthless garbage.”

Great, maybe I’ll kill someone.

“Killing is too easy. Isn’t it better to lock them up in a concentration camp and make them suffer for a long time?”

Well, that’s a good point. For a brother, that’s quite a good idea.

“The coins received through the sponsorship system can be used to purchase items at a dedicated shop. There are many useful items for you, so please utilize them wisely. Here’s the list!”

As Lunara snapped her fingers, the screen changed, and an item list scrolled up.

──── ──── ────
『One More Coin』
Effect: When you die while holding this item, it consumes the item and resurrects you.
Only one can be purchased per trial, and you cannot hold more than one at the same time.
This item binds to the player upon acquisition and cannot be traded with others.
──── ──── ────

──── ──── ────
『Logout Permit』
Effect: If this item is used, you can logout instantly. Additionally, players who logout using this item can rejoin the game through a declaration of re-participation.
──── ──── ────

──── ──── ────
『External Communication Network』
Effect: Enables internet usage.
──── ──── ────

“……”

“Uh…”

I could hear Nadia next to me swallowing hard.

No, not just Nadia, nearly all players had their eyes wide open.

The performance of the products sold in the coin shop was simply unbelievable.

For those intent on continuing the game to earn items, the value of an extra life is immeasurable, and conversely, for those who ended up participating in the game against their will, where else could they find something as tempting as a logout right?

“Help, help! Someone sponsor me!!”

“Please help me! Please help me!”

“Save me! I want to get out of here!!”

The reactions were instantaneous.

Particularly, unlike other players who celebrated their victories, those players who merely trembled in the distance without fighting displayed an almost frenzied response.

With a smile growing wider, Lunara remarked as if she found it delightful.

“Unfortunately, not every player can receive sponsorship. Spectators have their own tastes, and while they might want to support certain players, they wouldn’t choose to sponsor players merely watching from the sidelines.”

When she made almost an outright declaration of ‘you scum can’t get sponsored,’ the players who had been clamoring turned to faces filled with despair and dejection.

Among them were some shouting curses loudly, but Lunara seemed to relish that response too.

The older brother guy, visible only to me through stealth, displayed a face full of grimacing emoticons on the screen, complaining.

“(╬⊙д⊙)”

“She’s having a field day.”

Right? I’m almost impressed by how she continues to announce things that seem likely to cause problems.

“Lastly, let me inform you about the next trial! The trial is called ‘The Blessed Royal Tomb!’”

“This trial will last for two weeks, during which all players will be afflicted with the status ailment ‘Curse of the Forgotten King.’”

“The Curse of the Forgotten King will become progressively more potent over time, and to counter it, you must conquer the ‘Blessed Royal Tomb.’”

“To enter the Blessed Royal Tomb, you need to collect six different types of ‘Tomb Map Fragments’ dropped from monster hunts and use them. At this point, players who formed parties can also enter together. However, the party limit is up to six members. Of course, it’s also fine to enter alone or with fewer than the max members.”

“Players who successfully conquer the dungeon will receive ‘Blessings’ proportional to their reached level, and these blessings will counteract the curse.”

“Please, everyone, survive the Curse of the Forgotten King!”

“This has been your lovely GM Lunara!”

With an air of someone who felt they had said everything, the screen in the sky suddenly vanished.

And then, a system message rose up in its place.

【You have been afflicted with the ‘Curse of the Forgotten King.’ Your current stage is Level 1.】

──── ──── ────
『Curse of the Forgotten King』.
Level 1: Lose 1% health every hour.
Level 2: Lose 2% health every 30 minutes.
Level 3: Lose 3% health every 10 minutes.
Level 4: Lose 4% health every minute.
Final Level: Lose 5% health every 10 seconds.
──── ──── ────

A silence fell among the players.

I briefly evaluated the event conditions.

A complicated structure requiring six differing types of ‘map fragments’ to enter the dungeon.

Only a maximum of six players can receive blessings in exchange for that effort.

In contrast, the entire player base is cursed.

…Wow. Not even a hollow laugh comes out at this point.