Hidden quest

[Homeless Man Alistair]

He is an NPC in the Village, lying in a damp, secluded corner of an alley.

In fact, it's not just Rylan—several other players have discovered this NPC as well. Because he's different from the other NPCs, some people have approached him to chat. Yet all they've gained is a strong whiff of the foul odor around this "Homeless Man," and nothing more.

However, when Rylan saw him, his eyes lit up. While other players only noticed the hobo's unique attire and demeanor, they failed to realize that, lying beside him in a rusty tin box, there was a medal that had already begun to corrode with rust.

In Myth, every hidden quest and hidden NPC in each Starter Village is randomized, so looking up other villages' hidden quests and NPCs does no good. Even so, these hidden quests and NPCs do leave subtle traces.

As long as you know Myth well and have enough background knowledge, certain special NPCs can be identified at a glance.

That's how Rylan feels now about the "Alistair" before him. Although he appears to be just a filthy hobo, anyone who recognizes that medal next to him will guess that there's more to this man than meets the eye.

Having found a hidden NPC and an opportunity to trigger a hidden quest, Rylan isn't about to pass it up. He strides toward Alistair, and the scene is noticed by a few nearby players.

"Look, another player is heading over!"

"Haha, they all think that hobo is a hidden NPC, but nobody's received a single quest yet!"

"Give it a rest—he's definitely not a hidden NPC, just some poor homeless man! People just don't want to accept the truth and keep insisting they're the 'chosen one,' thinking they'll bump into hidden quests wherever they go!"

"Haha, you think he'll spit on this new guy?"

"Ew, stop it, that's so gross!"

Amid their jeers, Rylan has already reached the Homeless Man. Alistair notices Rylan's arrival but pays him no mind, continuing to lie there as if asleep.

"Heh, who would have thought that the famous Rose Knight would end up as a hobo on the streets?"

"That medal of yours could fetch a fair price. If you don't need it anymore, hand it over! I'll take it and see what I can get for it."

Rylan isn't bothered by the Alistair's indifference. After speaking, he extends his hand to grab the medal from the worn-out tin box.

In the next instant.

Bam!

"Get your filthy hands off!"

Before Rylan can even touch the box, an angry roar echoes in his ears. Suddenly, everything goes dark.

[You have been attacked by "Alistair."]

[HP -9,999,999]

[You have died.]

With a thud, Rylan collapses to the ground.

…

"No way. He got taken out just like that?"

"That NPC's that strong?"

"Hahaha, I'm dying here!"

This sudden turn of events catches the onlookers off guard for a moment, but then laughter erupts among them. Truth be told, they had their own run-ins with this Homeless man before; none succeeded in getting a quest.

Rather than leave, they stuck around to watch others make the same pointless attempts. Watching people fail—especially watching them fail harder—made these players feel oddly satisfied.

…

Back in the alleyway, Rylan pays no attention to the spectators. Time is vital in the early stages of Myth, because building an edge now can save a lot of effort later. To Rylan, anyone hanging around with nothing better to do is just wasting precious time.

Getting killed by Homeless Man Alistair doesn't frustrate Rylan. He chooses to resurrect on the spot. Then he fixes his gaze on Alistair.

"You know I'm a player—an otherworldly visitor, as you call us."

"That little display isn't going to scare me in the slightest."

"Let's talk. You already know what I'm after."

Rylan narrows his eyes, smiling. Myth is no ordinary game; its NPCs are smart—some almost seem self-aware. Treating them simply as ordinary NPCs will only lead to trouble.

Seeing Rylan resurrect and hearing his words, Homeless Man Alistair finally sits up and regards him carefully. The look of laziness and bewilderment fades, replaced by caution and hostility.

After sizing Rylan up, noticing he's got nothing but a newbie's ragged clothes, Alistair eventually shakes his head.

"You're still not worthy of learning about my past."

Rylan's heart sinks momentarily, but Alistair continues.

"However, since you recognized the Knight Corps medal, I'm willing to give you a chance. Leave the village and head north, straight to the road's end. You'll find a forest called the Corrupted Forest. Deep inside that forest, there is a purple rose. Bring one back to me, and I'll give you a reward, as well as tell you my story."

[Ding!]

The moment Alistair finishes speaking, the system's notification echoes in Rylan's mind.

[Congratulations! You have triggered the hidden quest "Corrupted Rose." Would you like to accept?]

Rylan accepts immediately, without a second thought. A flash of light shimmers around him as he receives the quest prompt:

[Hidden Quest – Corrupted Rose]

[Quest Rank: S]

[Objective: Head into the depths of the Corrupted Forest north of the Starter Village and collect a purple rose. Bring it back to "Homeless Man Alistair."]

[Time Limit: 24 hours.]

[Reward: A clue leading to a hidden class transfer.]

…

"An S-rank quest! And it even offers a clue for a hidden class transfer?"

Rylan's excitement surges. In one's Starter Village, S-rank quests are already top-tier, and a hidden quest of that rank usually promises huge rewards.

At the same time, it tends to be extremely challenging. That may be the case for most newbies, but for Rylan's experience, it's not too daunting.

Having accepted the quest, Rylan ignores "Homeless Man Alistair" and makes his way out of the village. After he leaves, the players who had been watching can't stay calm.

"Holy crap—did you see that glow around him just now?"

"Yeah, that looked like what happens when you get a quest!"

"A hidden quest! He really got one!"

"I've got it! It's because he let the NPC kill him. That must be key…!"

"That makes sense. I'm going to give it a shot!"

With that, one of them charges up to Alistair, unleashing a string of nasty insults in an attempt to provoke him. The other onlookers who witnessed what happened also start trying the same tactic.

Unfortunately, all they gain is a swift death—no hidden quests for them.