Desolate World

For human players who thought it was a game, of course, they sought after more challenges, war, and the meeting with other races.

But for the people that they called NPCs, they would certainly disagree. They had experienced the era of chaos. Where their cities were burned, their families were killed, and then they were forced to leave their homeland to survive. 

The hatred between races was going bigger and bigger as the days passed. As the war was still burning at the corners of land that the eyes of the human players couldn't see.

In fact, their settlement was the manifestation of the defeat of the residents of the settlement. As they had to find a place far away from the eyes of other races to rebuild their society. 

However, only a few people could realize that. Maybe only some people like Ace and his family could learn the real meaning of the settlement for its residents, because they had participated in the rescue of the refugees. 

However, it was in the past. The streaming video of Emily that day had cleared the doubt of many people and told them the reality of the game world.

It started when she was just summoned to the place that the people knew later as the guardian temple of Laketown. The appearance of many players from different races startled some of her viewers.

As many viewers and even Emily didn't realize the implications of this revelation. Some observant viewers knew that the video would detonate the Internet. As the video couldn't be recorded or even saved, they posted the link of Emily's streamer room to many forums, news networks, social media, and even Human Union's public website where people reported or complained about something to the government.

In a short time, Emily's viewers were increasing at a rapid pace without her realizing it. As she was enjoying the party of the townsmen on the plaza at that time. What she saw was the massive comments that were changing at a fast pace, so it was impossible for her to read them. 

Well, she could read them by focusing her attention on one or two comments if she wanted to, but it was just not her habit. She only thought that her viewers were just excited or debating about something in the comment section. It used to happen on her live streaming. So she thought it was no different than those moments in the past.

At first, she also thought that meeting players from other races was unusual. But after getting the explanation of the town guard, and seeing the reactions of the players from the other races were quite ordinary, she then just followed the flow. Moreover, her fellow human player also didn't react abnormally.

She then focused on shooting the festive atmosphere of the party. 5 NPC bards from Nightglow Guild were performing on the stage. But because of the lack of a sound system, their playing's sound was drowned out by the talking voices of the townsmen.

She had also made friends with the elf girl, the shadow girl, and the gnome girl, as they were the only girls in the first batch of players that had been summoned in the town. She then enjoyed the party with them. For a note, the name of the elf girl was Cody, the shadow girl's name was Ruby, and the gnome girl was Anna.

"How if we hunt some monsters? It is a little boring here," Cody said while looking around.

"Oh, come on! It's fun, right? There is free food, music, and the most important thing is that we can earn a lot of reputations in this kind of activity. Don't you know it?" Ruby said while smiling mysteriously.

"How do you know?" Anna then asked. She was holding a big biscuit at the moment. With her height, it made her really similar to a toddler.

"Do you really want to know?" Ruby then smiled unnaturally.

"W-what do you want?" Anna seemed to feel uncomfortable.

Emily could only smile while focusing the camera on the gnome. Waiting for a good show.

"Hug! Let me hug you first. Then I will tell you," Ruby said while opening her arm.

"In your dream, undead!" Anna said while showing her tongue.

Ruby sighed after hearing that. She then said, "How many times I have to say, I'm not undead. Even the guard has explained that, right?" 

Anna then folded her little arms and turned her head away from the shadow without saying anything else.

Cody then intruded, "Come on, tell us. I'm also curious about what you have said. How can we harvest reputations in an event like this?"

Ruby then smiled and said, "It's actually so basic. When we are mixing with the townsmen, treating them with respect, and when something happens, we try to help them, they will have a good impression of us. As many townsmen know that we are good people, our reputation will increase automatically."

Emily was confused. She then asked, "So, you mean, we need to talk to them on this occasion?"

However, opposite to what Emily had expected, Ruby shook her head.

"No, we just have to sit here and keep ourselves noticeable. That is enough for this time," Ruby said.

"I don't understand," Emily said honestly. 

"I get it. If we act being familiar with strangers, instead of making a good impression on them. It will make them wary of us. Is that right?" Cody asked.

Ruby nodded. She then said, "Cody was right. It will backfire. You will only make them disgusted and resistant to you. So, just stay here mixing with everyone, we will get a good reputation.

You can check it by opening your character panel. Your reputation should be improved now."

Emily then opened her character panel and found out that her reputation in Laketown had become 22. 

"Wow! How did you know that?" Emily exclaimed.

Ruby only smiled and said, "Guess."

Emily then heard Anna snorted. She could only smile. She also saw Ruby and Cody also smiled.

"By the way, Emily. Do you want to get more reputation by doing a simple thing?" Suddenly Ruby asked while looking at Emily.

***