First Task

Devin stepped forward and addressed the village chief with confidence. "Village Chief Kellan, please don't worry about our levels. We have faced numerous challenges in our adventures, and we believe we can handle whatever dangers may arise. We understand that our offer may not be as enticing as what the adventurer guild typically expects, but we genuinely want to help."

The village chief's frown softened slightly as he listened to Devin's words. Devin's determination seemed to have struck a chord within him.

After a moment of reflection, Village Chief Kellan made a decision. "Very well, Adventurers. Since you are willing to lend your aid, I will trust in your capabilities. Can you please help us investigate the source of the pollution in our crops and the illness among our villagers?"

[Task release: Village chief Kellan entrust players Devin and Alex, to find the mystery behind the plague affecting the crops in the village. Reward will be calculated based on the degree completion of the task. May I ask if the players would like to form a party to accept the task or operate alone?]

This announcement made Devin happy. This is what he has been waiting for. This task is a chain of tasks.

They knew that by accepting this quest, they were not just helping the villagers but also gaining experience points.

"We accept the task, Village Chief Kellan. We will do our best to find the source of the pollution and put an end to it," Devin affirmed, his voice filled with determination.

With the announcement confirming their assignment and the potential rewards, Devin felt a surge of excitement. This was the moment he had been waiting for—the opportunity to embark on a quest chain and uncover the mystery behind the plague affecting Sun Haven's crops.

This made their favorability with the village chief increase.

[You have gained 25 favorability points from village chief Kellan"]

Devin and Alex couldn't help but feel a warm sense of gratitude as they received the village chief's generous reward. The favorability points they had earned had now increased significantly.

As the village chief spoke, he presented them with a small, intricately-designed charm. "We don't have much to offer, but this Charm is blessed by our ancestors. I hope it aids you in your endeavor," he explained.

Devin and Alex accepted the charm with reverence, recognizing the significance of this gift. They thanked the village chief wholeheartedly, expressing their sincere appreciation for the generosity and trust he had shown them.

Carefully, they stored the Charm of Protection, fully aware of its potential value in their upcoming journey.

With the charm safely stored, Devin and Alex were filled with a renewed sense of purpose and determination. They were ready to delve into the quest chain, fully prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.

Devin turned to his brother Alex, a glimmer of determination in his eyes. "Let's seize this opportunity, Alex. We'll form a party and work together to complete this task.

Alex nodded in agreement, his own excitement evident. "Absolutely, Devin. Together, we can overcome any challenge that comes our way. Let's find the source of this plague and restore hope to Sun Haven."

Devin and Alex, now equipped with the village chief's support and the Charm of Protection, began their survey of the village. As they walked together, Devin turned to Alex and asked about his chosen class.

"What's your class?" Devin inquired curiously.

Alex smiled and replied, "I chose to be a Stealthy Rogue. I thought about how I could best assist you in your goal of accomplishing great things in this game while also enjoying my own journey. The stealthy rogue class offers skills in subterfuge, agility, precision strikes, reconnaissance, and providing valuable intelligence. I believe these abilities will be of utmost importance, and I feel it's a class that suits me well."

Devin nodded, appreciating his brother's thoughtfulness. "As long as you're happy with your choice, Alex. Your skills as a stealthy rogue, especially your lockpicking abilities, will be incredibly useful."

Alex smirked and jokingly added, "Yes, my lockpicking skill will definitely come in handy. Who knows? Maybe we'll come across some locked doors or chests along the way."

Devin chuckled, acknowledging the practicality of such a skill. "That's true. We should act separately to gather as much information as possible. It'll also give you a chance to practice your reconnaissance skills. We can reconvene later and share what we've discovered."

With a plan in place, Devin and Alex split up, each on their own path to gather vital information about the plague affecting the village. They understood that their individual efforts would contribute to a collective understanding, taking them one step closer.

Devin walked through the village as he scanned the faces of the villagers. It was a warm, sunny day, but the worry etched on their brows revealed the severity of the crisis. Devin approached an elderly woman tending to her herbs.

"Excuse me," Devin said politely, "I'm new here and I've heard about the plague affecting the crops. Do you know anything about its origin?"

The woman paused her work and looked up at Devin, concern evident in her eyes. "Ah, child," she began in a weary voice. "This plague has brought hardship upon us. It all started several moons ago when strange happenings occurred in the forest to the north."

Devin realized this is one of the clues needed to trigger the Dungeon of the task.

"Could you tell me more?" asked Devin.

The woman nodded, her voice trembling slightly. "Legend has it that an ancient and malevolent entity dwells deep within those woods, lurking in the shadows. Some say it feeds on the crops' vitality, causing them to wither and die."

Devin was curious about the revelation, although he saw the write up narrating haven guild grass to grace, some details were still omitted.

"Has anyone ever tried to confront this entity?"

As the middle-aged farmer joined the conversation, Devin turned his attention to him. "So, people have tried to confront this entity before, but without success? Have they found any clues or information that could aid us in our task?"

The farmer sighed, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "Unfortunately, they haven't returned or discovered any means to banish the entity. It's a treacherous place, that forest, and many who entered never came back."

Devin nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. He knew that their quest to uncover the source of the plague and find a resolution would not be without danger.

"Thank you for your honesty," Devin responded, grateful for the insights provided by the villagers. "We'll do our best to find a way to banish this entity and restore prosperity to Sun Haven. Your village is not alone in this struggle. Together, we will overcome."

[You have gained 40 favorability from Grandma Sun and Farmer Gai]

The villagers nodded appreciatively, their weariness tempered by a glimmer of hope. Devin continued his survey of the village as he looked forward to sharing the information with Alex and devising a plan to make their way towards the forest, ready to face the challenges that awaited them.

"Did you gain anything?" Asked Devin.

"Yes I did. I spoke with one of the village elders and he told me a story. He said he remembered years back the elders in the village banned everyone from entering that part of the island. He remembered some powerful people came to the village and went to that part of the forest but after that the village people were banned from going to that part and they were asked to wear charms when venturing to that area," narrated Alex.

Devin listened intently as Alex shared his findings from the conversation with the village elder. The story revealed a crucial piece of information about the forbidden part of the island and the powerful individuals who had ventured into the forest in the past. It seemed there was a significant reason behind the village people being banned from that area and asked to wear charms.

Devin pondered on the implications of this information. "So, we can infer that the charm given to us by the village chief is likely a form of protection or ward specifically designed for that part of the forest. It makes sense that they would provide us with such a powerful tool to aid us in our mission."

Alex nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it seems that this charm is meant to offer us some form of protection against the malevolent entity or any other dangers that may be lurking in the forest. We should consider it a valuable buff for our upcoming journey."

The brothers shared a moment of collective realization, understanding the significance of the charm and the trust placed in them by the village chief and the village itself.

Devin knows that they need to prepare before heading into the forest. Alex needs a weapon, so he familiarizes himself with a bow and arrow, while Devin needs to learn the basics of Origin Sutra. Fortunately, Devin already possesses combat skills from his previous life, so he can employ martial arts movements.

Once they have settled down, Devin takes the responsibility of registering them for combat training.