8 Unveiling Gifts and Unforeseen Consequences    

Xin didn't know what to say. He was busy with his level shooting to five with just a single Crab. The EXP he got was in the hundreds, and his stat increased as his level increased as well.

Xin read that the points added to [STAT] every level-up depends on the race and class, but since he didn't have a class yet, his were completely random.

He wondered if this would affect his progress later on.

Xin shrugged the matter off. It was just a game. What could go wrong? The important thing was his stat was increasing.

He wasn't an avid gamer, nor was he obsessed with perfection. If he had to define himself, he would say he was more of a "go with the flow" kind of guy.

He also took some time to learn about experience points (EXP) and leveling up. He discovered that as he gained levels, the amount of EXP he received would gradually decrease. This meant that progressing to higher levels would become more challenging over time.

Curiosity piqued, Xin decided to check the leaderboard to see the achievements of other players. To his surprise, the highest level reached by any player so far was LV. 104.

Xin couldn't help but wonder if that was considered impressive or not. After all, the game had been available for four years already.

Realizing that there was no limit to how high players could level up or how powerful their stats could become, Xin understood that the game was designed to be endless. The developers were constantly introducing new content and updates to keep the players engaged and the experience fresh.

Triton laughed and pulled Xin out from his screen.

"No need to praise me. Here I'll give you this."

[ACQUIRED!

❶ Crustacean Carapace (Rare)

This sturdy armor is crafted from the thick and durable shell of the Giant Crab, offering excellent protection against physical attacks. It boasted a unique design, resembling the intricate patterns found on the crab's exoskeleton.

When worn, the [Crustacean Carapace] provided enhanced defense and resilience, making it highly sought after by warriors and defenders in the game.

CONS +10

NOTE!

Only a male (non-mage class) could wear this.

Need STR +5 to equip it or suffer AGI -5 ]

There were other items and gil as well, but this was the first ever equipment that he received, and Xin immediately equipped it before he forgot.

"I'm supposed to give you a weapon according to your class, but since you don't have one yet, I'll give you that armor instead."

"Thanks."

Triton slapped Xin's back. "Ahahaha! No need to be modest! We're buddies, after all! Just ask away, and I'll help you with the monsters on your path!"

[Triton wanted to FOLLOW you to make sure that you reach Seagull's Nest safely!]

<ACCEPT>

<REFUSE>

Was this part of a quest? Xin wondered and pressed <ACCEPT>

"Splendid! Now, let's get going!" Triton exclaimed, brimming with enthusiasm. He reassured Xin, "Don't fret about experience points, gil, or items. You can have them all. I have no need for such things. I'm already mighty and powerful, after all! Bwhahahahaha!"

"Is that so?" Xin replied dully.

"Yes, indeed! Let me regale you with one of my thrilling adventures," Triton began, his voice filled with excitement. "Once, I faced a fearsome sea serpent that emerged from the depths of the ocean. Its monstrous size and ferocious nature was unmatched. With my trusty Halberd in hand, I engaged it in an epic battle that lasted for hours. The waves crashed around us as we clashed, each strike reverberating through the air. In the end, I emerged victorious, triumphing over the mighty sea serpent and securing peace in the waters. It was a glorious victory!"

As Xin and Triton walked away, the unusual sight caught the attention of nearby players. Curiosity piqued, they started whispering among themselves, observing the NPC trailing behind Xin.

"Hey, did you see that? An NPC is following him," one player remarked, pointing towards Xin and Triton.

"That's Triton, the NPC who offers fighting tutorials and helps players reach level five," another player explained. "But I had no idea he had a quest to give."

"I wonder what that guy did to trigger it," a third player wondered aloud.

"Let's go ask him," one of them suggested, their curiosity driving them closer to Xin and Triton.

========================

The DEVELOPERs Distress

========================

Watching the NPCs as they gave Xin their most prized item as soon their [Relationship Level] increased to [FRIEND] and [INTIMATE] made the developers clutch their heads and howl in frustration.

"*sigh . . . from all the NPC . . . why does it have to be Triton."

"Is something special about him?"

"Triton is in charge of teaching newbies the basics of fighting, so we made his stat high. He is the most buffed NPC in the Abundant Shore. See that Giant Crab. Its DEF is almost a hundred."

"And you put it on a Newbie Village?!"

"It's not supposed to be defeated by a player, to begin with. Triton will kill it and then offer a piece of basic equipment to the newbie as our gift for playing the game.

"But . . . Triton actually went with him."

"What would happen now?"

<Don't worry. The system has temporarily replaced Triton with another NPC so as not to disrupt the flow of the game>

"THAT's NOT THE PROBLEM HERE, LUMINA!"

"He is a bug! He is definitely a BUG!"

"LUMINA, erase him!"

<ERROR! Player Lord Schrodinger didn't violate any rules>

"What do you mean didn't violate any rules?! Look at him! He didn't even make any effort in conversation, but all the NPCs he met already wanted to marry him! ON HIS VERY FIRST DAY IN THE GAME!"

<Player Lord Schrodinger had acquired his gift fair and square. He had acquired it through your inputted requirements>

"Geh. Why are you implying that it's our fault?"

"Rather, whose genius idea was it to have the NPCs give rare gifts as soon their [Relationship Level] with a player reach [INTIMATE]?!"

". . . It was yours . . ."

"Geh! Then if you can't erase his account, then give us his information!"

<ERROR! The player's real information is private, even to the developers>

"GgrrRr! DAMN System!"

<ERROR! Foul words aren't allowed in this domain. You have received one violation. Three violations in one day meant a one-week suspension from the game>

"GEH! Who put that stupid rule?"

"You!"

". . . Maybe it's time for a little restructuring of rules."

"W-what are we going to do now?"

"We can only wait and see. We'll wait until he becomes famous and reveals his true identity. Humans are often self-centered, and they can't resist the allure of fame. Given the chance, they would eagerly seize the opportunity to become a celebrity."

"Maybe we should try to find him based on the requirements he met before. If he fulfilled all the criteria, it means he was born today and could be the last one of his generation to play the game."

"Are you stupid? We don't even know what year that generation is! It's impossible to search based on that alone. Besides, we don't even know if he's really a boy!"

Looking at Lord Schrodinger effortlessly collecting EXP, gil, and items while he just stood there doing nothing, relying on an NPC to do all the work . . . the developers roared.

"He's definitely bugged!"