9 Chapter 9 Black-hearted Scarecrow_1

[On a clear morning after the snow, you open your eyes, and the village gate still lies before you. As the morning sun spills over, a beautiful and fulfilling day begins in the Star Spirit World.]

[After a night's rest, you feel energetic, your Action Points have returned to their peak state. The current Action Points are 5/5, are you ready to start your new day's journey immediately?]

Upon logging in to the game, Mu You found himself in the same spot at the mouth of the village as yesterday. His Action Points had been restored to the maximum. However, the upper limit was only five points.

About Action Points, the game rules state that they are consumed each time one encounters an 'option' and each time one dies. However, according to Mu You's speculation, the 'options' here should refer to those that lead to noticeable differences in the game's storyline after being chosen. For example, the crossroads he encountered yesterday and the dying hunter. Choosing any path would lead to entirely different outcomes.

Standard 'yes or no' or 'proceed or stay' options should not consume any Action Points.

The only exception is the Owl Shop. As long as one 'confirms' to enter the shop, it seems to cost one Action Point regardless of buying anything or not.

Overall, five Action Points per day seem to be a bit insufficient, Mu You wonders if there are any ways to increase this in the game.

While contemplating, Mu You clicks on 'Continue Journey.'

[A new day has begun, and you, as the Fool, ambitiously embark on your journey to becoming a Great Wizard.]

[You have entered the gate of the Peaceful Village.]

[Peaceful Village, as the name suggests, is a serene and tranquil small village on the frontier of the empire. It has been known for logging and farming industries since ancient times and is somewhat famous among the surrounding villages. However, the faint scent of blood in the air makes you realize that this village might not be as peaceful as it seems...]

[Would you like to enter the village?]

Mu You naturally chose 'yes.'

Although the village seems unsafe based on the description, it should be safer than the wilderness.

[You enter the village and see a dilapidated scarecrow standing in the flower field facing the village gate. The few ragged pieces of cloth draped over the scarecrow's body and the grubby hat on its head signify that it has been neglected for a long time.]

[This dilapidated scarecrow is also part of the village. Although it can't move, its experience of standing guard at the crossroads year after year has exposed it to many of the village's secrets. If you're willing to pay some lifespan, you can ask it for either a random or specified piece of information each day.]

Mu You stroked his chin, from the text description, it seemed like the scarecrow should be an 'information merchant' type of NPC, just need to pay a fee to buy intelligence.

Mu You clicked on the text for the 'Scarecrow.'

[You walk towards the scarecrow. Seeing your arrival, glimmers of greed radiate from its button-like eyes as if it sees a plump sheep in front of it. It greets you enthusiastically, "Oh, a new adventurer, you must need some help, right? Don't be shy, just pay me a little bit of your lifespan, and you can inquire about anything related to this village. I promise to keep nothing from you!" (Limited to once per day)]

Three options popped up below.

[Pay a year of lifespan, receive a random piece of intelligence.]

[Ask the scarecrow a specific question, the scarecrow will ask for an additional 5-100 years of lifespan according to the difficulty of the question. Only if you agree to pay, it will answer you.]

[I have no questions to ask, leave quietly.]

"I can ask questions?"

Mu You was somewhat surprised looking at the second option.

How was he supposed to ask questions in a text game that only required clicking?

Was he supposed to use voice commands?

Mu You picked up his pocket watch and tried to click on the second option.

Turns out, a text input box popped up below, allowing him to type in words and symbols just like a text message!

Mu You was amazed!

He thought this was a purely single-player game, but a text input feature had appeared...

Did this mean that he could communicate with other players in the game via text input in the future?

The fleeting idea crossed Mu You's mind, he swiftly clicked his pocket watch and returned to the previous options.

He had just arrived in the village and wasn't familiar with anything, of course, he didn't have a specific question to ask.

Returned to the previous step, Mu You again clicked on the first option.

[You pay the scarecrow a year of your lifespan and ask it for a random piece of information.]

[Lifespan -1, remaining lifespan 55 years.]

[The scarecrow, satisfied, looked at you and spoke mysteriously, "In the east end of this village, there lives a solitary 'watchman'. He's reclusive and friendless, and he keeps the night vigil. Every night, he carries his pumpkin lantern around the village checking for any unease.

I used to see him every night, occasionally having a chat with him, so I know quite a bit about him. But from a week ago, the watchman suddenly disappeared! He hasn't been seen since — which means, he might have met with some mishap.

And according to the rules of the Star Spirit World, if the relics of the deceased have no heir, they will become unclaimed. So, if you can enter the Watchman's house now, you'll be able to obtain his entire legacy!!"]

[The scarecrow, with greedy sparkles in his eyes, "However, the Watchman's house is secured by a magic barrier and can only be opened with a certain method. And in this village, only I know how to open the door. Now, all you need to do is to pay me 50 years of lifespan, and I'll tell you how to unlock it!]

[The scarecrow demands 50 years of lifespan from you as the price for the Watchman's legacy. Will you pay it now?]

Two options popped up below: [Yes], [No].

Mu You said to himself, "what a profit-seeking scarecrow."

No wonder it only costs a year of lifespan for this apparently explosive news. Turns out, the key lies in the second step!

The Watchman's legacy is undoubtedly valuable if it could be obtained, but merely knowing this piece of information doesn't really help, since without the unlocking method, the legacy will remain inaccessible.

To obtain the unlocking method, he would need to pay an extra 50 years of lifespan, which significantly decreases the value of this information.

Whether the total value of the Watchman's legacy is worth 50 years is uncertain. What if nothing was inside the house once it was unlocked, would it be like wasting 50 years down the drain?

For an ordinary individual, this offer might not be worthwhile.

—Yet, who could have interfered when he had that pocket watch?

Mu You expressed that he favored these options with information the most.

"Pay."

Mu You decisively chose to pay.

[You choose to succumb to the temptation of the scarecrow and pay it 50 years of your lifespan.]

[Feeling the influx of life force within itself, the scarecrow couldn't contain its excitement and finally revealed to you the method to unlock the door...]