Reality Tasks

Silver Moon City was an immense metropolis. Yu Yu's brief visit last time hadn't even scratched its surface.

But…

Changyu trailed closely behind, her eyes fixed on what Yu Yu was holding. Yu Yu stood reluctantly at the scroll shop's entrance, muttering, "A city map costs 20 silver. He could've just robbed me, but no, he kindly gave me a map…"

Changyu sneaked a glance inside. The shopkeeper was calmly wiping a vase, as if he hadn't heard Yu Yu. A big yellow dog beside him panted energetically, tongue out.

The game's NPCs were stunning. Changyu had never seen such a beautiful person—she couldn't even tell the shopkeeper's gender, only that they didn't seem human.

After all, human ears aren't that long..

The map was expensive—no, outrageously expensive—but it was undeniably exquisite. Every building and street was meticulously labeled. Silver Moon City was vast, its dense web of streets and structures captivating Yu Yu's attention. Soon, she found her destinations.

The Academy, Duke's Manor, and Guardian Hall were all in the Inner City.

On the map, the Inner City was in the north, the Outer City in the south, with the Inner City occupying about a ninth of the total area.

Yu Yu thought for a moment. "Let's head to the Inner City."

Since she hadn't done her test quest yet, Yu Yu hadn't upgraded her gear or bought skills. She was still in her apprentice robe. Lately, things had been piling up one after another. Even Yu Yu felt a bit rattled, unable to focus fully on the game.

But now, knowing spells worked in reality, she was taking it much more seriously. She glanced at Changyu, thoughtful. What exactly was the Guardian class? Was it worth investing in her?

After walking one street, Yu Yu checked the map and gave up. Time to hail a ride.

Silver Moon was huge. Yu Yu estimated it'd take at least a dozen stops to reach the Inner City on foot. She didn't have that kind of stamina. Ugh, why didn't the game have electric scooters?

If players could run a cart business, could they smelt steel in-game?

After all, players had already built kilns and signed contracts with the Archon. Of course, Yu Yu figured bricks were secondary. The real asset was the endless supply of cheap player labor. Moon Bay Town was small, with maybe fewer than a thousand NPCs total, but players likely exceeded three thousand already.

Newer players had no quests left, and rewards had been squeezed dry. City guard and tavern quests used to pay in silver; now they were down to copper. The Archon clearly didn't know how to utilize players. Moon Bay was overcrowded, with endless petty crimes keeping the guards swamped.

Yunlun mentioned that in just half a month, Senior Ka'an was going bald and considering resigning to the Grand Archon. Spending another 5 silver, Yu Yu's heart ached. Players were cheap; NPCs were too pricey. Just wait—players would flood the city and outcompete them. At the Inner City gate, Yu Yu paid and got off, adjusting her robe and flipping back her hood.

Silver-armored guards stood at the gate, spears in hand, their gazes cold. So Yu Yu ditched the hood to avoid their stares.

The goodwill from her spellcaster robe was gone here. The guards didn't react, watching coldly as she approached. "Here's the document. We're going to the Academy."

While waiting for them to check it, Yu Yu idly toyed with her hood.

"Boss?"

Yu Yu casually turned. "What?"

Changyu had been quiet the whole way, trailing her like a fish out of water, not making a peep.

"It is you!"

Yu Yu: "?"

What do you mean, it's me?

Do I know you?

Before she could speak, the Inner City gate opened. "Go in."

Yu Yu shut up, grabbed Changyu, and hurried inside. Changyu was thrilled but stayed silent under the guards' icy stares.

Once inside, the gate closed behind them. Before them stretched pristine, marble-like streets lined with benches, flowerbeds, fountains, and blooms. Pigeons fluttered around lampposts. Under a bright canopy of light, the place was clean and orderly, a stark contrast to Moon Bay's ruggedness.

"Boss, Boss, it's you! We've met!!!"

"Last time, in that alley! Don't you remember?!"

Changyu excitedly tugged Yu Yu's sleeve, her kitten-like strength barely budging her.

Yu Yu blinked. "Oh, it's you."

Changyu beamed, still clutching her sleeve. "If I'd known it was you, I…"

She practically wanted to spin in circles. "Can I send you money? I have tons of allowance!"

"You saved me last time. My parents said they'd visit to thank you when they're back."

Yu Yu's brow twitched. "No need. I don't want it."

Unless necessary, avoid the Ascending living people. That was Yu Yu's current motto. She was terrified of getting tangled in messy situations. This pretty newbie was practically tap-dancing on her red lines.

"But I really want to thank you," Changyu said, pouting.

Yu Yu brushed it off. "Then behave."

Changyu blinked.

Yu Yu: "From now on, don't talk."

Changyu: "Oh."

Seeing her instantly quiet down, Yu Yu glanced at her, surprised. Changyu's eyes sparkled, gazing at her. When Yu Yu looked, her eyes curved into crescents, barely holding back words. Yu Yu quickly turned away, denying her a chance to speak, and sped up. Changyu, as expected, swallowed her words.

"I'm looking for Senior Felix. Is she here?"

The Academy's grandeur needed no description. Yu Yu stood at the entrance, her robe flashing briefly, and she was let in. But Changyu was left outside.

Yu Yu stepped back out. "Wait here. I need to ask Senior something. I'll take you to the Guardian Hall after."

"Or take the document and go yourself?"

"No way, I'm sticking with Boss!" Changyu refused firmly.

Yu Yu: "…"

This feels like big trouble…

Hopefully, Guardian was worth her investment, or she'd make Changyu work 24/7 to earn it back. Yu Yu thought viciously.

"You're in Silver Moon? Perfect."

"I've got a job for you."

Before Yu Yu could speak, a quest hit her in the face.

[Commission: Felix's Decision]

The cold woman in a black robe spoke sternly, impatient. "I'm not interested in babysitting brats. Deliver this letter to Lord Honeysuckle and tell him to find someone else."

A quest? Yu Yu wouldn't miss it. She accepted instantly. "Senior…"

Felix: "What?"

Yu Yu detailed Changyu's situation, including her death and her body being possessed by an anomaly. "What's the Guardian class like? Why's it even more mysterious than Spellcasters?"

Felix studied her for a moment. "…Your world's been caught up too, huh?"

Yu Yu: "Caught up? What?"

Felix pondered briefly. "If what you say is true, only she can save herself."

"Guardians," Felix said, her expression softening, "are the only class that can resist corruption."

"Spellcasters aren't as vital," she continued. "We wield pure power, but Guardians are the key to civilization's survival."

"9 Will…" she muttered. "What kind of person has such Will?"

Yu Yu followed closely. Thankfully, Felix's Dexterity seemed low, so Yu Yu could keep up.

"There's a saying for Guardians you should remember," Felix said gravely.

Yu Yu looked at her.

"Only Will is eternal and unyielding."

Yu Yu repeated, "Only Will is eternal and unyielding?"

Felix's eyes held a subtle complexity. "Yes. Only Will can resist corruption."

"Even legendary power falls to corruption without it, so Will is the key measure of potential."

Her tone was wistful. "Other stats can be trained, but Will stays constant."

Yu Yu thought of her own Will: 7.

"Does Senior know my Will too?"

Felix didn't answer, just sped up.

Yu Yu: "Am I talented?"

Felix accelerated again.

Yu Yu: "Senior, slow down, I can't keep up!"

Felix finally eased up, and Yu Yu wisely didn't ask again. Senior was great, just a bit tease-averse.

"You're here?"

The Guardian Hall, despite its name, was just a cluster of stark white buildings, lacking any grand opulence. A muffled voice came from a silver-white metal canister. Yu Yu noticed Felix's lips twitch upward.

"I brought a prime candidate," Felix said. "You'll love her."

The canister rumbled, "The little caster behind you?"

"Guess." Felix seemed to enjoy the tease, leading them inside. "You should set up a branch in the four towns so people don't have to trek to Silver Moon."

"If my spellcaster hadn't spotted this gem, who knows how long it'd take her to get here—or if she'd even survive."

Canister: "I'll bring it up with the High Priest."

With Felix leading, they breezed through to a small hall.

"Come, let's test her," the canister called to Changyu.

Changyu instinctively looked at Yu Yu.

Yu Yu nodded.

Felix raised an eyebrow, explaining to Yu Yu, "Guardians are the most talent-dependent class."

"And the toughest."

Yu Yu's brow twitched. "Tougher than warriors?"

"Of course."

"Warriors just train Strength and Constitution. Guardians need to hone every stat, plus Will."

"Most Guardians switch classes midway," Felix said. "As long as Will's high enough, anyone can become one. Starting as a Guardian, like her, is rare."

"Your Will's enough too," she added cryptically.

Yu Yu didn't comment, instead asking, "What about Senior? Is your Will enough?"

The canister chimed in, "Hers is plenty."

"Then why didn't Senior switch?"

Felix glared at the canister. "Because I'm lazy, obviously."

The canister chuckled. Moments later, it said, "9, huh? No wonder you're so confident."

Felix coolly replied, "Don't get too excited. Her body's taken by an anomaly. She'll be dead soon."

Changyu, catching the key point, lit up. "So I'm not dead yet?!"

Felix glanced at her. "Soon. Don't rush."

Changyu choked on her words. The canister removed its silver-white helmet, revealing a striking face with short silver hair. She was stunning. Yu Yu was surprised, eyeing the thick, heavy armor that made her look like a walking tank.

Felix finished summarizing the situation. The silver-haired beauty pondered. "Not a huge issue, but them…?"

She frowned. "It'd be a waste to lose such a rare talent so easily."

"I'll talk to the High Priest. Wait here."

The tank clomped off, leaving the three of them.

Felix sat calmly. "A team can lack casters, warriors, or rangers, but never Guardians."

Her gaze fell on Changyu "'Do you understand how precious you are?"

Changyu smiled shyly.

Yu Yu mused.

One thought: This investment's paying off.

"Felix, the High Priest wants you."

Felix adjusted her robe and leisurely left the hall.

Moments later, she returned. "She's staying here to train. You, come with me."

Yu Yu glanced at Changyu, who looked teary-eyed. Yu Yu was about to say something, but seeing her expression, she turned away coldly. No way she'd get dragged in. It's just a game—did she need to babysit?

"Guardian skills are mostly for fighting corruption," Felix said. "But her case is special."

Yu Yu's brow twitched, sensing trouble.

"We can't go to your world, so her rescue depends on your world."

Felix studied her expression. "You get what I mean?"

Yu Yu gasped. "Me?!"

What did she do to deserve this?!

Felix: "The quest's assigned. Good luck."

She added, "The rewards will satisfy you. I'll throw in extra Academy bonuses."

Yu Yu forced a smile uglier than a sob. "Thanks, Senior."

Felix ignored her expression. "It's a Guardian's job, but since she asked me to help…"

Yu Yu pinched her face, swapping expressions. "Senior's righteous! Senior's mighty!"

The words barely left her mouth when the quest arrived.

[Rescue]

No description, no rewards, just a title.

Yu Yu: "How do I know if it's complete? What if I fail?"

Felix gave her a meaningful look. "You'll know."

Yu Yu: "?"

The newbie was left in Silver Moon, and Yu Yu had her own bricks to move. Game aside, Yu Yu ate her instant noodles, frowning at the table. Since she started using spells in reality, she'd occasionally glimpse a panel during meditation. But it was like a bad connection, flickering and gone.

Now…

Instead of her beat-up laptop, a translucent panel hovered before her, identical to the game's!

[Yu Yu]

Status: Garbled

Class: Beginner Spellcaster

Level: 5 (0/10,000)

Money: Garbled

Reputation: 0

Intelligence: 13

Will: 7

Perception: 6

Strength: 4

Dexterity: 6

Constitution: 5

Health: 20

Mana: 195

Armor: 0

Resistance: 0

Corruption: 5

Condition: Good

Skill Points: 4

Base Attribute Points: 1

Below were her passives, spells, and inventory—all visible.

Yu Yu's first instinct was to try accessing her inventory.

No luck.

She zoned out.

[Rescue]

[#Location#, Party Size (1/4), Time Remaining: 39:21]

Clicking the location, it shifted into an arrow pointing a direction.

Yes, her quest… had followed her to reality…

If she could still make excuses before, she was out of them now. No game dev could pull this off. Yu Yu sat in silence, staring at her inventory.

If someone told her she'd soon pull game items into reality, she wouldn't even blink. If reality got too dangerous, she'd pack a bag and settle in the game. Shaking her head, Yu Yu pushed the thoughts aside. Checking the panel, she noticed her gear's stat bonuses didn't carry over.

Like her Beginner's Ring.

Her Health was back to 20, looking fragile. And that Corruption: 5. It stuck in her throat.

How did she get corrupted?

When did it happen?

Was it Wang Rui?

After a while, Yu Yu forced herself to move on. What was "Party Size" about?

Did the system assign her teammates?

Just then, her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Xiao Yu, I just logged off and got a quest," Shu Tu's calm voice said. "It gave me a meeting point. I checked, and it's near your place."

Yu Yu: "…?"

What the hell?

Bad enough her identity got exposed, but now the game was doxxing her address?!!

Is this even human behavior?