kscans

Chapter 672 - The Unavoidable Offer

In the end, the detailed mechanism for how the 'Ranks' are determined for all four factions—East, West, North, and South—remains a mystery. All that's known are the general selection criteria for each faction, plus the unique timing of the rank updates for the Western Faction.

The blessing of 'Peace' benefits all skills except those directly related to combat. The faction that upholds it, Vestol, is naturally a gathering place for players who aspire to production activities.

Many players choose other factions and then give up on 'Combat' to end up in production classes, but the reverse pattern, while not rare, is not common either.

Thus, the West, which has become a non-combat faction in both name and reality, is treated specially in many ways compared to the other three factions, and the system has also assigned it special specifications.

The prime example of this is the ranking system.

If the East, North, and South ask for 'value as a warrior,' the West asks for 'value as an artisan.' The criterion for being granted a crown… or rather, a 'mark,' is based solely on how magnificent a work one has created within the season.

The timeframe of this 'season' is simple: the great festival that was so lively the other day, the 'Four Pillar War,' serves as the milestone. The war is held at the end of April, August, and December, and the ranks are updated the following day—that is, at 9 PM on the first day of May, September, and January.

Because the rankings and members change regularly, to be frank, the rankers of Vestol are seen as less significant compared to the other three factions.

—But it's crucial not to mistake this for anything other than a relative comparison.

They are still an extremely small group of ten people chosen from among millions. From a common person's perspective, they are undoubtedly heavenly beings, and just because their titles carry slightly 'less' weight doesn't mean they are looked down upon or taken lightly.

That's precisely why…

"Just accept it already. Even I'm a full-fledged celebrity now."

"Nnghheeehhhhhh…"

"Long, long, long."

This term, she's been newly… or rather, once again, listed on the Western ranks. My exclusive artisan is throwing a tantrum, whining that she doesn't want to stand out.

I shouldn't retort with something like, 'It's too late for that in so many ways.' I of all people know that in times like these, logical arguments are not what's needed.

Nia, collapsed over her desk in the atelier, is still, with sheer professionalism, continuing to weave a formula with one hand. As someone who has dabbled in magic craft, I can't help but feel a surge of admiration for this feat that coexists with her lazy posture, but setting that aside for a moment.

Why is the already famous [Milmarinus] so reluctant to return to the ranks? Well, it's simply a matter of bad timing.

The 'Green Connect' assault is imminent. And for that, the cooperation of the Western Faction rankers is essential. Which means Nia has to participate.

In other words—this has sealed the deal for her, who until now was only known by 'name,' to finally have her 'appearance' revealed to the world in the clear footage, something she cannot avoid.

In Arcadia, there is a system support feature called 'Privacy Settings.' By default, this is set to 'ON,' and as long as it's not changed, a player's appearance will not be captured in any footage, be it screenshots or videos.

It's not that they're not captured, but rather, if a player with privacy ON is present, the video function simply doesn't work. It's the kind of ultimate privacy protection that, in this day and age, you'd wish was implemented in reality.

On the flip side, this also means that there is no such thing as unauthorized filming in Arcadia.

Those who have their privacy settings set to 'OFF' are considered to have consented to their appearance being recorded at any time. In other words, even if you were to secretly snap a picture of a famous person walking by, if the function worked, it wouldn't be considered 'voyeurism.'

This is a point that is carefully warned about when ordering [Arcadia]. Along with agreeing to the right of the developer, Yotsuya Development, to collect player activity records as data, it's a matter of controlling one's own presence correctly.

In other words, even if your 'appearance' is being discussed in places you're unaware of, it's all entirely your own fault.

It's not a difficult or unreasonable concept; it's quite natural, when you think about it.

By the way, for events like the Four Pillar War, your settings are forcibly switched to 'OFF' upon participation. This includes the 'Colored Monster' conquests, which are held with the premise of being publicly released. The message is clear: if you want to come to the front lines, be prepared to show your face.

And so, for that reason.

Nia-chan, who has never once turned her privacy settings off since her debut in the virtual world, is a sheltered maiden whose detailed appearance has yet to be revealed to the public.

At most, she's rumored to be 'cute,' 'super cute,' 'an angel to both men and women,' 'no, a fairy,' 'has a nice voice,' 'a multiple-type beautiful girl,' 'a natural man-killer,' 'has a nice voice,' 'moves around a lot,' 'but that's fine too,' and various other characteristics, but she has no experience showing her face.

Considering my own mental state just before the last Four Pillar War, I can understand her feelings of not being able to just swallow it and say, 'I'll just hide my face.'

That's not the issue. Whether she hides her face or not, she can't escape the awareness that 'my appearance is being broadcast to the whole world.'

However. However—

"……………Alright, I get it. I'm usually hesitant to do this kind of thing, but desperate times call for desperate measures. I'll offer a trade. Please accept it."

To be precise, I want her to change her mood and cooperate willingly. With that in mind, I dangled the proposal while sinking into the sofa that has become my designated seat…

"…………What?"

Still pouting, but unable to resist her curiosity and expectations, Nia turned her blue eyes toward me from her collapsed position. I returned her gaze with a sincere look.

"For the rest of this month, I'll lower my guard regarding skinship just a little—"

"—DEAL!"

Without waiting for me to finish my proposal, she threw the 'work' she had just completed with a flash of light from her formula, and at the same time, with splendid agility, she vaulted over the desk in a straight line.

With a motion that seemed to be the limit of her frail stats, and looking down at the blue blur buried in my stomach, I thought, 'Did I act too rashly?' and let out a sigh at my unteachable self, just a day after the last time.

"Just a little, okay? Don't forget that I have the final say… Hey, are you even listening?"

"Ahhh, can't be helped, if you're gonna ask me so desperately like that, I guess I have no choice, hehehe. Guess I'll have to make a cloak that hides my face perfectly. Can't be helped."

"What a refreshingly greedy person you are…"

Well, yeah. It can't be helped on my end either. To find a clue to conquering 'Green Connect'—I have high expectations for her 'eyes.'

Setting that aside, if there's a chance for us to stand on the same stage together…

My true feelings, well, I'll tell her when the opportunity arises.