Chapter 9: A Deserted Island with Nothing (3)
TL: Hanguk
Is it because she is an NPC located in Korea?
Willia has the appearance of an Oriental person.
An honest appearance with an unexpectedly strong physique.
She is a beauty that every man would fall for.
When such a woman spouts a line that can be misunderstood, one can only imagine...
Late to realize that the ball she threw was a curveball, I felt my face heat up, but I tried to play it cool and followed along with Willia's words.
"Ah, a companion? That's a nice system."
"You seem a bit disappointed?"
"Me? No, what do you mean?"
Seeing her playful expression, it was clear she deliberately created a nuance that could only be misunderstood.
I should have noticed when she was being affectionate earlier; she's a very sly NPC.
By NPC, I don't mean an existence like the artificial intelligence in games that does only predetermined things, but something that has human-like intelligence and personality.
I quickly changed the subject.
"There may be people who harass or harm NPCs, how do you deal with such cases?"
I didn't ask with the intention of harassing her.
Even I felt a sense of repulsion when I first saw Willia.
There must be people who regard NPCs as weeds that caused disasters and attack them.
Especially those who lost their loved ones due to this event.
"We are fundamentally protected by the system. You can't touch a finger without permission."
"I see."
A confident attitude.
I was curious how the system's protection worked, so I poked her cheek with my finger.
Would there be a barrier-like thing preventing access?
- Poke.
But my finger buried into her soft flesh without any interference.
"······? I can touch you?"
Despite my sudden action, she answered without losing her kindness.
"I'm interested in you, Mr. Seo Baekho. That's why I didn't stop it."
Stunned by her seemingly seductive manner, I pulled my finger away, and an unexpected message appeared before my eyes.
[NPC Willia's favorability has increased by 20%.]
"This is?"
I poked her cheek and the favorability increased?
Confused by the inexplicable situation, I looked at Willia.
"It means let's get along well in the future."
Overly friendly.
Is it because I'm the only human on this island?
Or is it because I'm someone who is leveling up smoothly?
Anyway, I learned from her behavior that the favorability greatly depends on the NPC's discretion.
"For reference, to recruit as a companion, the favorability has to exceed 80."
"How do I increase the favorability?"
"Like ordinary people, you can gradually build a relationship, or you can fulfill my requests."
Requests probably mean quests.
For me, it seemed easier to tackle quests than the ambiguous standard of building a relationship.
So I asked directly.
"Do you have any requests for me now?"
"Not yet. You need to raise your level to 20 before I can make a request."
Since my current level is 13, I need to raise it by 7 more.
Embarrassed, I asked her various questions.
"Can't we get water at this shrine?"
"Unfortunately, no."
"Eh? Don't you drink water, Willia?"
"I can eat things like water or food, but I don't necessarily have to in order to function."
"What is your level, Willia?"
"I don't have a set level. But if I become your companion, my level will naturally match yours."
"Do you only have two skills: Heal and Bless?"
"Yes. But I can acquire additional skills that suit the conditions, like you do."
"Is there a resurrection skill among the skills that can bring back the dead?"
"There isn't."
A one-sided question and answer.
I threw out questions to gather information, and she gave answers without any signs of displeasure.
"The sizes of the safe zones vary a bit. Is this simply random? Or is there a reason?"
"I can't answer that."
"Is there a specific reason why this shrine and you, Willia, are located in such a remote place?"
"I can't answer that."
"Who is the god worshiped in this shrine?"
"I can't answer that."
Then, as the questions became more serious, I eventually couldn't get the answers I wanted due to a lack of favorability.
It was time to end the question time.
"Thank you for kindly answering, even though it must have been annoying."
"It's no trouble, it's just talking."
I once again thought that the favorability system was well made.
It doesn't let you treat NPCs lightly.
Finally, after looking around the interior of the shrine, I bid farewell to Willia without hesitation.
"I'll be going for today."
My task is done.
I didn't feel the need to spend more time here.
"Are you leaving?"
"Yes, because I have a lot to do."
If they had sold groceries at the store, it would have been easier, but it's a situation where I have to be self-sufficient in food or water.
Then, I should get to work while the sun is up, shouldn't I?
Willia, the NPC, is a beauty who is fun just to look at, but her beauty doesn't fill my stomach.
"It's a shame. I was happy to have someone to talk to..."
Don't say that.
Then I might get the wrong idea again.
"I'll visit often. Whether you like it or not, you're my only conversation partner."
"I guess there's no helping it. Alright. I'll look forward to your return, Seo Baek-ho."
Having left the shrine, I let out a small sigh.
The hostility I felt when I first met Willia had disappeared, and my steps felt strangely heavy, as if I was regretting our parting.
It feels like I'm being enchanted.
"Are all NPCs like this?"
If all NPCs were like Willia, I think people's reactions would be divided into two types.
One would reveal aggression out of hostility or be captivated by appearance...
No matter how you look at it, that's a bewitching creature.
*
As soon as I left the safe zone, I could see the orcs had respawned.
I recreated the 'Fierce Battle' I had used before, with the safe zone behind me.
[No rewards will be given due to abnormal combat methods.]
[No rewards will be given due to abnormal combat methods.]
[No rewards will be given due to abnormal combat methods.]
I was able to safely collect the safety tent and return to base camp.
In the setting sun, I hurriedly dug for oysters and clams, and made a makeshift stove with firebricks I bought from the store.
When I finally gathered some firewood, it was completely night.
"What would I have done without the safety tent."
The night on the deserted island is pitch black.
Luckily, the safety tent has a lighting feature, so when the tent door is open, I can see clearly.
I wrapped oysters and clams in tin foil I bought from the store's kitchen corner, threw them into the burning firewood, and started boiling seawater in a pot.
The water droplets that condense on the pot's lid from boiling seawater are fresh water that you can drink, so I collected it carefully.
As a result, I was able to get a cup of clean water and well-cooked grilled clams in less than 30 minutes.
"Whew, whew. Hot."
Although it wasn't enough to be full, it was enough for a meal.
After gobbling down the grilled clams and gulping down a glass of water, I lay in front of the tent and looked up at the night sky.
The stars that I couldn't see in the city were clearly visible.
The night sky was too beautiful for the situation, so I blurted out my admiration.
"It's like emotional camping. Damn it."
And while eating a handful of wild strawberries I picked for dessert, I called my parents.
I had already spoken to my mother once, but I couldn't talk leisurely because I was busy working.
So, I called her again.
[Oh, my son!]
My mother happily picked up my call.
However, that didn't last long.
She soon began to nag intensely, and before long, she was choking up with worry.
Then, I heard my father saying from the side, 'Don't make it harder for the kid who's already having a tough time.'
Perhaps my mother realized her mistake, and in the end, she tried to cheer me up with a forced laugh.
[Be careful, don't go near the monsters.]
"Yes, don't worry, Mom. Please take good care of yourself."
I couldn't bring myself to tell my mother that I had become stronger.
If she heard that I was fighting monsters and leveling up, it would cause a commotion.
After talking to my mother, I talked to my father.
"Is everything really okay there? I saw on the Internet that things were chaotic."
[It's Gyeryongdae, where the Army, Air Force, and Navy headquarters are located. I feel sorry for the people who are suffering, but the security here is as good as the Blue House¹, so it's very safe.]
The assurance of my parents' safety was nothing short of a blessing in the current situation.
At least I only had to worry about myself.
"But do the soldiers obey the orders well? In a situation where their families are in danger, everyone would want to go home."
[Well, yes. There are many deserters, but there are more soldiers who quietly follow orders. In a situation that is almost like wartime, deserting wouldn't end well.]
"Everyone's pitiful."
[Yes, they are.]
The military, which every South Korean man goes to.
But those serving now have been caught in a bind.
Perhaps, except for the fact that I was on a deserted island, my situation might be much better.
[A shrine? There's a shrine there?]
After that, we exchanged information we had gathered over the phone.
The topic of the shrine came up, and my father's demeanor was odd.
It wasn't just that he was pretending to know; he seemed surprised.
[Darn it. Why that of all things...]
"Why? What's wrong?"
I asked for the reason.
After a brief pause, my father spoke seriously.
[So far, about 10 shrines have been spotted. But the problem is...]
"What's the problem?"
[There's always a dangerous dungeon nearby that captures people.]
"······. What?"
[You've played games before, so you know what a dungeon is, right?]
Caught off guard by the unexpected information, I lost my words.
*****
TL Notes:
1) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_House
*****
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