How Do You Light the Lamp?

"Spoiler from the front: the Novice Gift Pack contains a Black Bread hard enough to use as a rock, an axe, two Servants who do whatever you say, and a Synthesis Table. You're welcome."

"The guy above successfully ruined my expectations for the Novice Gift Pack. Anyway, does anyone know how to light the lamp?"

"I'm dying of thirst. Please, kind people, give me some water. After eating the stuff from the Novice Gift Pack, I'm so thirsty my throat is smoking. And now there are two more mouths to feed. I'm starving."

"Please, as long as it's food, I could even eat a five-nut mooncake."

"What the guy above said is true! Be extremely careful of the Gray Fog. I sent a Servant to reach outside, and less than a second after his hand entered the fog, something tore it off!"

"Don't stare at the Gray Fog if you don't want to die. Fuck, I looked at it for a few minutes, and now I keep feeling like there's a face pressed against the window watching me."

"Looks like only that lamp can keep us safe now. Please tell me how to light it. Whoever tells me is my dad."

Colin watched the cries for help constantly scroll past. After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately chose not to become these people's dad.

Speaking in the World Channel required a Megaphone. You got one per day, and they did not accumulate.

Colin did not want to use up today's potentially useful chance to speak at a time like this.

Besides, someone had surely discovered how to use the Hurricane Lamp for one reason or another.

Since none of them had spoken up, there was no need for him to rashly stick his neck out.

After all, there might very well be some hidden danger involved.

Doing good deeds was commendable, but only if it did not harm oneself. So, he decided to wait and see.

Then, after confirming that he could not obtain any more useful information, Colin closed the [World Channel].

He then opened the [Regional Channel].

The moment he opened it, Colin noticed the difference between the [Regional Channel] and the [World Channel].

There was a number in the upper-left corner of the chat box: 1000.

It seemed to represent the number of people in the current region.

Second, speaking in the Regional Channel was almost unrestricted. A message could be sent every three seconds.

"There are quite a few people in one region. Are these all competitors? I wonder how intense the competition will be."

Colin muttered to himself as he looked at the constantly scrolling messages.

"100,000 yuan for the method to light the oil lamp. I'll pay you after the game ends and we get out. My word is my bond!"

"We don't even know whether we can get out, so what good is 100,000? Even a million would be useless. Sigh, the Novice Gift Pack only has a piece of bread, and there isn't even any water. If I ever find out who designed this game, I'll fucking kill him!"

"To be fair, even if you knew, you couldn't kill him. This 'game' clearly isn't something Earth could have created."

"Can't I even fucking complain once? Is this world ever going to get better?"

"Question: what exactly does Warning Eight mean by saying we can't revive? Has anyone died before and can explain?"

"No. Warning Eight most likely means exactly what it says. Once we die, we'll probably really be dead. Of course, it's also possible that we'll wake up in the real world and never be able to enter again, with everything having been just a dream."

"But I suggest you don't test that. If revival were really possible, the channel would have entered fourth natural disaster mode long ago instead of everyone whining about how miserable they are. And if you have nothing to eat, don't you still have two Servants? If you're really starving."

Eating Servants.

Colin's eyelids twitched. He knew the Servants they were talking about came from the "Novice Gift Pack," but after learning its contents, he had not rushed to open it.

"And no one in the Regional Channel is telling us how to light the lamp either, even though it clearly doesn't cost Megaphones." Colin instinctively felt that something was wrong and used his prompt.

[You realize that this type of attempt will lead to consequences beyond your imagination.]

Consequences beyond imagination.

Colin's heart trembled, and he stopped.

After hesitating for a while and deciding there was no more information to find, Colin closed the Regional Channel.

"Looks like the key to survival is completing the daily missions."

Colin opened the [Task List] and saw only a single line of pale-red mission text.

[Daily Mission: Face the Fear]

[Mission Requirement: Kill an "Aberration" wandering in the mist.]

[Mission Time: 23 hours 32 minutes.]

[Mission Description: Though the Gray Fog contains countless dangers, opportunities always coexist with them. A fledgling that never leaves its nest will never grow. Do not be overly afraid. The best way to overcome fear is to face it. Good luck! (Note the lamp's burn time)]

[Mission Reward: Hardened Black Bread*1, Dim Filthy Blood 100ml]

After reading the mission, Colin finally understood why so many people were complaining about the daily missions.

Unless something unexpected happened, everyone's daily mission should have been the same.

Under those circumstances, to complete the mission, they had to leave the Wooden Cabin and enter the Gray Fog. To enter the Gray Fog, they had to light the Hurricane Lamp. And to light the Hurricane Lamp—

Fucking no one knew how to light this thing!

Otherwise, even if someone managed to muster the courage under the pressure of hunger, they would not have the chance to explore the Gray Fog!

If you want people to do missions, at least give them a hint!

What?

Turns out I have a prompt?

Oh.

Then never mind.

Still, this "Dim Filthy Blood" was probably the fuel in the Hurricane Lamp. He had not expected it to really be blood.

Without dwelling on it, Colin opened the final option, [Personnel Recruitment].

However, after discovering that it required something called [Mist Points], he immediately closed it and stopped wasting time.

After all, he did not have any.

Shaking his head, Colin closed the Parchment and looked at it again. Sure enough, he noticed some changes.

[A Parchment containing important information. You have already seen its contents, and you vaguely feel that it has more than just these options.]

"Just as expected, it has more than three functions. More may be added in the future."

Colin muttered as he realized that he now knew all the Parchment's current functions. Next, it was time to open the [Inventory].

With a thought, another option immediately appeared before him: [Inventory].

"Pretty amazing. It's practically like a real game."

Colin tugged at the corner of his mouth. He had learned about the [Inventory] function from the Chat Channel; it could be summoned with a single thought.

This function existed directly on his body. He could put the Parchment inside later to keep it from getting lost.

Inside the [Inventory], Colin saw a shabby wooden chest that was every bit as dilapidated as his Wooden Cabin.

[Novice Gift Pack]. Without hesitation, Colin directly chose to use it.

[Congratulations, you have obtained Incomplete Black Bread*1.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained Old Iron Axe*1.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained Synthesis Table*1.]

[Congratulations, you have obtained Servant*2.]

On the table, a palm-sized Black Bread, an Old Iron Axe, a watermelon-sized square stone platform, and—

Faint breathing came from nearby.

Colin's gaze narrowed. He twisted his neck as though a cockroach had flown onto his face and saw that two men of average build had appeared by the door at some unknown time.

Both men wore worn cloth robes that reached their knees. Their skin was dark, their hair was cropped short, and their heads were lowered, making their expressions impossible to see.

Above their heads were the words [Servant].