Chapter 1: Meet the NPCs

KK saw that the task was complete and soon he saw the screen change and rewards being issued. He saw that the level progress was half done. He surmised that if he completed the next task, he would soon be level two player. But based on his experience, KK realised that he would take more time to finish it than the first level. Because the game was essentially not following any logic he understood. He really wanted to ask the forum members if they encountered any similar situation. But as soon as he posted, the post was taken down. The game developers were very fast and didn't allow any information leak bit he didn't understand how they managed to seal each post on every forum. Are the company members not sleeping and how could they know that the discussion was about their game? He didn't know that the programmers were so strong these days, like an almighty god. But anyway, he wasn't concerned about this. But he only knew one thing, this game aroused his interest. He was never interested like this in the games he played before. He didn't find anything wrong in this game. He wasn't surprised that this game managed to get him addicted.

So he found himself logging in again the next day. He also found that the princess had become his friend. KK didn't want to listen to her whys but he couldn't unfriend her. He realised that this game wanted to torture him. So he opened the task bar again.

His previous reward was an armor. He collected it and opened the task. It was kind of easy.

COLLECT THE TREASURE CHEST

But he was happy so fast that the face slap had him very painful. Because the treasure chest was guarded by a large cat. The cat wasn't the cuddly and cute type but ferocious and scary type. He looked at he cat from distance thinking about what he could do to finish the task. He wasn't crazy to go near the cat. If he did, he would be wiped out in one move. Considering per cats can scratch him, this super huge cat could kill him by knocking him like a pet cat knocked a glass of water. He would love it if the cat became small. Atleast it wouldn't kill him. He never felt scared of a cat before. It was very real to him. He didn't notice how the game was affecting his emotions. He didn't find out the way the game was changing, like it was learning from his actions.

KK then found that there was someone with him standing behind him without making any noise. He turned around and saw the princess. She was still wearing a large dress with a flower crown on her head. Her features were more defined now than in the previous task. He found that the cat and princess were totally different in animation. He couldn't understand why it was designed this way.

"She wouldn't be able to help me, what should I do?" He asked himself without concealing his voice from her. Anyway, she wouldn't be able to answer or help him. Which was why to his surprise, he heard her answer him.

"I don't know, what can I do to help you?"

KK looked at her and asked, "Are you talking to me?"

She answered, "I don't seem to see anyone else here."

Well, he was finally ridiculed by an NPC. His whole life led up to this moment. But he was not a grudge keeping guy.

So he asked her," How do we get that chest?" He showed her the treasure chest being guarded by the cat.

"Maybe you can make the cat fall asleep and then take it away." The princess answered in a perfunctory tone. Well, it was a good idea and it wouldn't hurt to try. But the cat didn't sleep. KK logged in every hour during the day and found the cat awake. It was his day off and so he found that there was no sleeping cat guarding the chest. But it seemed that he cat took its job very seriously and didn't eat or sleep on its job. He thought if he cat became a human in some fantasy world it would win employee of the year award.

And so he was again discussing with the princess. He found the princess acted very cold. Unlike all the princesses he saw in movies, who were very gentle and kind, she was a no nonsense type of person. She gave him ideas and listened to his ideas and gave honest opinions. Like when he suggested that they go fight the cat, she told him that his armor would be appetizer and he was the main course of the cat's meal. He also realised that his way of joking didn't amuse her. Well, he thought she was a good side character anyway. Even if she roasted him.

"What do you we should do then?"

"Its your task not mine."

"Thank you for reminding me."

"You're welcome."

KK didn't know what to reply to that. He thought of imitating normal cat behaviours. He picked up a stock and waved at the cat. The cat gave him a glance and turned its head away in contempt. KK lowered his head in embarrassment. Well, the cat successfully showed its disdain towards him. Then he picked some leaves and made a ball to play with the cat. He threw the balls he made but the cat showed its disinterest in a very open way. He then thought that dogs play fetch not cats. He felt bad for the first time. It would have really helped if he had adopted a cat as a pet. Atleast he wouldn't be looking crazy here.

He finally decided to bore the cat to sleep. He told many stories but the cat wasn't bored. He recalled many movies and his life experiences but no use. He had very less interaction with people but his trick normally put the other kids in orphanage fo sleep. He sang a few songs and cat flicked its ears. Even the princess turned away from him.

"Even a cat's wailing sounds good than your singing. If this cat could talk, he would naturally agree with me. So please, stop!" The princess told him in a domineering way. He believed it. And thought of other ways but he didn't think of any good way. So he logged out and went to work.

Worl was as usual very uneventful. He filed many registers in the computer and ordered the finished products. He also met a few colleagues in an evening meetup. They sang few songs and had dinner. The manager and assistant manager were good to him and he considered them as his elders.

He felt his current life was very good though it had no outstanding points. As usual he sorted out his apartment before logging in. Maybe because his mood was good so he finally completed the task. The way of finishing it was also very weird and uncommon.

Because of his previous singing, the princess was very unhappy.

"The cat considers us as enemies because of your singing. "

"It wasn't my fault," he argued back.

"You really are stupid then."

"If you say that, you can try singing then, " he challenged her back. Well maybe because the princess's voice was very good the cat finally fell asleep. He didn't waste time pondering and picked up the treasure chest.

After picking it up, the screen changed.

TASK COMPLETE

LEVEL TWO UPGRADE

ARMOR : LEVEL TWO

SKILL : LEVEL TWO

FRIENDS: ONE

NEW PLACE UNLOCKED

He saw the scene changing and a shop before him. It was filled with books and a man sat by the counter. He had black glasses and he looked like a professor.

So KK hesitated for some time before talking.

"Sir, are you the shopkeeper here?"

"No."

"Then who are you?"

"Its your job to find it out." The person replied in a unhurried way. KK scratched his head. It was another riddle again. This time it wasn't a task.

"Are you the owner?"

"No."

"Is your job related to books?"

"Yes."

KK asked excitedly," Are you a teacher?"

"No."

"Are you a professor?"

KK felt this time he nailed he question. But he was happy far too early.

"No."

"Are you a scientist?"

"No."

"Are you a writer?"

"No."

"Are you a book keeper?"

"No."

"Are you a book collector?"

"No."

"Are you a librarian?"

"Yes. You passed."

Well, a blind cat caught a dead mouse. And this way, one more friend was added.

KK felt that the characters in the game were pieces of work. Very crazy and difficult. But he still like playing so he didn't complain. Then be had to help the librarian sort out the books according to alphabetical order. It took him nearly five minutes and the librarian was very happy.

KK then met another NPC. It was a singer who talked in tunes. It sounded better to hear but difficult to understand. But still be tried rhyming with the singer.

"Love is in the air."

KK sang, "But it's very hard to bear."

The singer added, "love is not easy."

KK also added, "And it makes you very cheesy."

"Love is a healing potion."

"It is not a stupid notion."

"Love makes your life complete. "

"It makes you fall off your feet."

"Love is a very magical feeling."

"It is not so appealing. "

"Love makes you happy."

"No, it makes you sappy."

"Love makes you strong."

"Also makes you go wrong."

"Love makes your heart fly."

"Also makes you fall from the sky."

"Love adds to your life."

"It cuts your hurt like a knife."

"Love is the best."

"Makes you leave your nest."

"You finished your test!"

He finally finished singing.

HIDDEN TASK COMPLETE

MADE THREE FRIENDS

KK stared at the screen. There were also hidden tasks. Whoa. This way, wasn't he cheated. Who knew when he would complete making three friends. If he wasn't enjoying teasing the singer, he wouldn't make friends with him. Anyway, the game was a showstopper. It was completely unrelated in the tasks and also in between tasks. It really kept a player on his toes. But his three friends were crazy in their own way. One was cynical, other was irritating and the final one was crazy. They could really form a band and debut as a group. If they all had talents in singing or dancing, maybe hey would become famous. Because the princess was beautiful, the librarian was bookish cute guy, the singer was the talent and handsome guy, and he was the glue of the group. KK thought narcistically. He also worried of he would face all the NPCs in the same way. If this went on, wouldn't he become bald by clutching his hair dealing with them. If not bald there is also a chance that he would laugh to death or become a mad person and get himself in a mental institution. He really wanted to meet the story artist of this game. Because the characters were really life like. He didn't know if he would congratulate the writer or beat him up. Either way, the story writer was talented.

KK checked his rewards and found many miscellaneous items. There were fifty gold coins in the treasure chest, an armor, a map from the librarian and a voice changer from the singer. The last item really helped him. Because if he found himself in another cat encountering situation, he was confident, he would make the animal asleep with his singing. The last item was obviously life changing and life saving. He felt as if his stupid rhyming gave him a great reward. The other items were also useful. The Map was already there so he wouldn't have to waste coins to buy it. The Map was a digital screen which showed locations based on where he was located.