[Black Scythe/ Fredrick's POV!]
.
.
"Hello everyone. It's the third day of beta release and this morning," I speak shifting the camera angle from myself to the people working outside the city gates.
"As you can see, the town is busier than usual."
"Hey! Get your ass up here! We need a few more people to finish this, fast," Raven, who was also giving a hand to the people, spoke.
"Everyone! Breakfast time!" Tinkerbella spoke as she brought more food today as usual.
Apparently her cooking skills got to [Uncommon!] grade, when she finished cooking ten dishes. And it went to [Rare!] grade when she cooked ten difficult and complex dishes.
Ever since then, she has been cooking more often since her food gives temporary minor buffs and is really looking forward to becoming somewhat of a [Combat Cook!] in the future. Something like that NPC, Anna.
"Well. This beta run is really fulfilling," one of the players, JoMama, said as he took one of the cookies Tinkerbella made. Which made me rethink about it.
For the past 2 and a half days, we had been running around, delivering messages door to door, and also helping the people in setting up camps all around the area. All the players have used up their [10 Limited Quests!] of the beta run and most of the people were here for that last quest.
[Quest: Protect the Town!]
[Grade: C
Difficulty: Mid-High!
Description: After day and night running around, you came across a critical piece of information. Border Town is going to experience monster waves soon. This matter is of grave importance, and the future of the town almost depends on it. Would you take up the sword to kill the monsters and be the shield that protects the town?
Time limit: 2 hours!
Rewards:
+1 All Stats!
+10% Discount in all the shops of Border Town!
+[Weapon: Silver Dagger!]
+[Ring: Silver Ring!]
+20 Recognition Points in Border Town
+Title: Protector!
Remarks: Put your life on the line!]
Everyone got this quest in this town. Whether it's through the Adventurer's guild or by Wesker of the Everyday Arrays, all the people present got this quest.
While we could have simply waited like some players, we wanted to become a part of this whole thing, and hence we decided to give it an extra hand and help out, even with the preparations.
"Where are those three?" I asked as I didn't find those NPCs around from yesterday. They are probably the strongest gun of the town. Odd that they weren't here when the wave was almost upon us.
"I heard Leena talking about another emergency with Wesker. My player's guts say that they will be here after that 2 hour duration ends. The waves should start soon as well," Raven, our analyst, spoke up, making us agree.
I guess, in the end, it is more of a game than real life. Not that I mind. If the NPCs kept taking everything on their own, the players wouldn't have any chance to play.
"It's about 2 hours since the wave ends, and another hour before the beta run ends. Can't believe 3 days have already passed." Tinkerbella felt kind of sad about this run coming to an end.
"It's 24 hours outside, right?" Iamcute asked as she ate one of the cookies, joining us.
The game to reality time was 3:1. Meaning 3 hours here were one hour in real life.
"Why does it matter, though? I mean, the official release will be on new year's eve, anyway. And it's probably 31st outside, so that's just tomorrow," Raven spoke, not understanding what Tinkerbella was sad about.
"No! it's just that I have heard that one month will pass between the official release and the beta release so…" Tinkerbella then pointed it out, which made me think about it a little. There was something like that on the forum, wasn't there?
"It's fine. Don't mix up games with reality, you idiot. These are just AIs. They won't even feel anything," Raven then tried cheering Tinkerbella up, which made Tinkerbella teary eyed saying,
"But still."
"No ifs and buts! Also, after this, meet me before you log off. I want to connect with you IRL," Raven hit it off with Tinkerbella pretty well. As for me, I was just there wondering if I should continue with them, or go solo as usual.
"And you too. You are also giving me your email," Raven looked at me with her eyes narrowed.
"Whatever," I answered her, neither rejecting her nor accepting her offer.
"Me too! Me too! I also want to connect!" Iamcute spoke out in excitement, before JoMama also nodded.
"HEY!" One of the other players, who was with us during the time when Wesker briefed us about the monster waves, crossed the city gates and moved towards us.
"What are you guys talking about?" One of them asked, before Raven told them about creating an IRL group, and a possible future guild for us to work together. It was a small idea that I didn't fancy, but she said that I can go solo while also being in a guild, so I had nothing to go against.
I mean, being in a guild certainly has its benefits, which even solo players can't say otherwise to.
Time passed pretty quickly as we chatted a little before moving back to work. There were a lot of things we did in the past three days, including picking up hundreds of arrays and placing them outside the forest.
There were also boxes of arrows and swords that were placed above the gates to fight against the monsters. Not just the players, but the NPCs were working hard to place these.
Kind of put a smile on my face, thinking about the calm atmosphere there is here.
"Makes me wanna stay here for as long as I can," I mumbled, as it was 100 times more interesting than my real life. Life is really a hard game.
"Life is really a hard game, isn't it?" Raven spoke, who just heard me mumbling as she stood beside me. We were both looking at the forest from the front of the main gate.
"This is just the beginning, though. Let's just go on an adventure later, shall we? Just the two of us, maybe?" Raven added as she looked at me.
"I don't know. I enjoy traveling alone, to be honest," I spoke as I answered her. I have never played with another player.
"Is that so?" Raven seemed a little sad before she slowly moved away from there," well. It's all right."
And I stood there for a moment before one of the NPC guards sighed as he looked at me.
"Idiot."
I narrowed my eyes at him with a hint of curiosity, but all he said was," get in. The monsters are almost upon us."
And then I nodded at him before moving into the city as the city gates closed behind me. I felt like there was something else about that comment, though I forgot about it as I found Tinkerbella and Raven engrossed in conversation.
Moving towards them, I was about to ask what they were talking about, but then…
-Tung! Tung! Tung!
The town bell rang, signaling the start of the wave