[On a clear morning after the snow, you open your eyes to find the village gates still before you. The morning sun shines down, and another beautiful, fulfilling day begins in the Star Spirit World.] [After a night's rest, you feel full of energy. Your action points have returned to their peak. Current action points: 5/5. Begin a new day's journey now?]
When Mu You logged into the game, he was still at the village entrance where he had stopped yesterday. His action points had also fully recovered, but the maximum was only five.
According to the game's instructions, encountering an "option" or dying would cost one action point. But Mu You suspected that "options" here meant story choices that would lead to distinctly different routes through the game. The three-way fork and the dying hunter he had encountered yesterday were examples-each choice would lead to a completely different outcome.
Simple choices like "confirm/cancel," "yes/no," and "advance/stay" probably wouldn't consume action points.
The only exception was the Owl Shop. As long as he "confirmed" that he wanted to enter, it seemed to cost one action point regardless of whether he bought anything.
In short, five action points a day really wouldn't last long. He wondered whether there was any way to increase them in the game.
As he thought about this, Mu You quietly tapped "Continue journey."
[A new day begins. As a Fool, you ambitiously resume your journey to become a great wizard.] [You enter the gates of Peaceful Village.] [Peaceful Village, as its name suggests, is a quiet, tranquil little village on the empire's frontier. Its inhabitants have made their living primarily through logging and farming since ancient times, earning it a modest reputation among the surrounding villages. However, the faint scent of blood drifting through the air makes you realize that this village may not be as peaceful as it appears...] [Enter the village?]
Mu You naturally chose "Yes."
Although the description made the village sound somewhat unsafe, it still ought to be better than the wilderness.
[You enter the village and see a shabby Scarecrow standing in a flower field directly opposite the village gates. The scraps of cloth draped over him and the filthy hat on his head all show that no one has tended to him in a long time.] [This shabby Scarecrow is also a member of the village. Though he cannot move, his years of standing guard at the crossroads have taught him many of the village's secrets. If you are willing to pay some lifespan, you can ask him for one random or specific piece of information each day.]
Mu You rubbed his chin. Judging by the description, this Scarecrow was probably an NPC like an "information broker." He could buy information as long as he paid.
Mu You tried tapping the word "Scarecrow."
[You walk toward the Scarecrow. As you approach, his button eyes gleam as though he has spotted an easy mark. He greets you enthusiastically: "Oh, a new adventurer! You must need help, right? Don't be shy. Just pay me a tiny bit of lifespan, and you can ask me anything about this village. I promise to tell you everything I know!" (Limited to once per day)]
Three options appeared below.
[Pay one year of lifespan to obtain a random piece of information.] [Ask the Scarecrow a specific question. Depending on its difficulty, the Scarecrow will demand an additional 5-100 years of lifespan. He will only answer if you are willing to pay.] [I have no questions. Leave quietly.]
"I can ask questions?"
Mu You looked at the second option in surprise.
How was he supposed to ask questions in a text game where all he could do was tap?
Was he supposed to speak aloud?
Holding the Pocket Watch, Mu You tried tapping the second option.
To his surprise, a text input box appeared below. He could enter text and symbols normally, just like sending a text message!
Mu You was stunned!
He had thought this was a purely single-player game, yet here was a text input feature...
Did that mean he could also communicate with other players through text in the game if he encountered them later?
The thought briefly crossed his mind before Mu You hurriedly pressed the Pocket Watch, returning to the previous options.
He had only just arrived in the village and knew nothing about it yet. Naturally, he had no specific questions to ask.
Back at the previous step, Mu You tapped the first option instead.
[You pay the Scarecrow one year of lifespan and ask him for a random piece of information.] [Lifespan -1. Remaining lifespan: 55 years.] [The Scarecrow looks at you with satisfaction and says mysteriously: "At the eastern end of this village lives a solitary 'night watchman.' He is a loner by nature and has no friends. He sleeps during the day and comes out at night. Every evening, he carries a pumpkin lantern around the village to call out the hours. I used to see him every night and occasionally chat with him, so I learned a lot about him. But a week ago, the night watchman suddenly disappeared! He hasn't shown up since-which means he has most likely met with misfortune. Under the rules of the Star Spirit World, if no one inherits a dead person's belongings, they become ownerless. So if you can enter the night watchman's house now, you can claim his entire estate!"] [Greed gleams in the Scarecrow's eyes: "However, the night watchman's house is protected by a magical barrier. It can only be opened using a specific method, and I am the only one in this village who knows how to open the door. Now, all you need to do is pay fifty years of lifespan, and I can tell you how to unlock it!"] [The Scarecrow demands fifty years of lifespan as the price for obtaining the night watchman's estate. Pay now?]
Two options appeared below: [Yes], [No].
What a greedy Scarecrow, Mu You thought.
No wonder he had offered such an exciting-sounding piece of information for just one year of lifespan. The real catch was in the second step!
The night watchman's estate would certainly be valuable if he could actually claim it. But knowing about it alone was useless. Without the password to open the door, he still couldn't get the inheritance.
And learning how to open the door would cost another fifty years of lifespan, which drastically reduced the information's value.
It was hard to say whether the night watchman's entire estate was even worth fifty years. What if he opened the house and found it empty? Wouldn't those fifty years go straight down the drain?
For an ordinary person, this option really wouldn't be worthwhile.
-but he had the Pocket Watch!
Information-related options like these were Mu You's favorites.
"Pay."
Mu You chose to pay without hesitation.
[You choose to accept the Scarecrow's enticement and pay him fifty years of lifespan.] [Feeling the abundant vitality coursing through him, the Scarecrow is beside himself with excitement. At last, he tells you how to unlock the door...]
Before you continue