During the second week of July 2024, on a Monday afternoon, Rowan rested at a small wooden cabin, overwhelmed by shock and information overload. Meanwhile, Knight Commander Selene Evanthe Ravenshade temporarily commanded the fortification near the Altar. As an NPC character, she could effectively communicate with other NPCs, in addition to the player.
A few hours later, Rowan woke up wrapped in warm blankets, with a fireplace beside him. He opened his eyes and saw a woman in armor. After a moment of reflection, he recalled everything: he had fainted from an overload of information, and the details that followed were a blur. For the first time, he was able to interact with an NPC character that he hadn't expected. Typically, individuals who reached high levels in gacha summoning did not have NPCs that could talk and move freely without orders or commands.
Rowan: "So, you introduce yourself as Knight Commander Selene Evanthe Ravenshade, is that correct?"
Knight Commander Selene: "Yes, my lord. This feels surreal."
Rowan: "What do you mean?"
Knight Commander Selene: "I remember dying on the battlefield, but when I opened my eyes, a shining golden light appeared before me, and now I find myself here."
Rowan: [Confused] "A bright, shining golden light?"
Knight Commander Selene: "Yes, after arriving here, a strange sound in my head told me to serve you as my lord."
Rowan Thoughts: "It must be the system, but why do I feel like something is wrong with my gacha class job?"
Since this is his NPC character, he shared details about his world and how everything works. It took him some time to explain, but an incredibly annoying system sent a late message indicating he could use "Instant Knowledge." This feature allows NPC characters to understand what's happening and access the information they need about this world, but it only applies when they have gained consciousness or an ego.
"Huh? What do you mean by 'system'? Are you saying that NPC characters can gain self-awareness? Does that mean I need to level them up by completing specific conditions? I see... So if I level up my NPC characters to a certain point, there's a chance they could become more like actual humans. That could be amazing in so many ways, but I realize it could also have its downsides."
"The downsides arise from 'NPC Favorability.' If I treat the NPCs poorly or abuse them—especially those like Knight Commander Selene who have gained self-awareness—they might ultimately betray or harm me. However, I find this unlikely because I choose to treat them with care, treating them as if they were actual humans. After all, they look like humans and are almost indistinguishable from real ones."
Rowan: "Selene, what happened when I fainted a few hours ago?"
Knight Commander Selene: "During when you pass out, my lord..."
"Selene explained in detail what happened after I passed out. She took command of all 42 summoned characters and completed all the tasks I had assigned to them. Although I didn't specify what those tasks were, it seems she was able to communicate with the NPC characters, which surprised me once again. The most astonishing moment, however, was when I saw her status window; she is incredibly powerful. Unfortunately, most of her core stats, abilities, and skills are currently sealed due to my low-level status."
"I wear my winter clothing from the "Armament Ascendancy Reward Pulls." I have also equipped all my NPC characters, including Selene, with winter clothing. While winter clothing doesn't provide any stat increases, it does offer resistance to cold and freezing—though it does not grant complete immunity."
"Before nightfall, a magical drone appeared, delivering a small storage bag filled with food and clothing for the day. I wonder if Selene can eat like humans do, considering that most NPC characters don't require food since they draw their power from mana. Does this also apply to NPCs who possess self-awareness?"
"Hey System, do NPC characters like Knight Commander Selene need food to eat, or can they just use mana?"
Fate's Pull System: "The requirements for NPCs can vary, dear user. Although NPCs are powered by mana and technically do not need food, drink, or rest to operate, those with consciousness or a sense of ego may develop a simulated need for these things. This can occur due to habit, personal preference, or cultural memories from their original realms."
"Meaning that individuals of those npc characters may develop based on their habits, preferences, or cultural background."
Fate's Pull System: "Yes, after all, NPC characters like Knight Commander Selene Evanthe Ravenshade were originally human beings from her world. Even though she has become an NPC, she remains a human at her core. Characters who have gained self-awareness or were summoned possess their independent thoughts and initiatives, complex reactions and decision-making abilities, a sense of identity and backstory, as well as emotional depth and interaction. This means they are just like real humans, much like yourself, dear user."
"This makes it harder for me to understand, but I'll try my best to deal with it."
Rowan: "Selene, are you hungry?"
Selene: "No, my lord. Though I feel full for some reason, I still feel hungry..."
Rowan: "Maybe it's because of the mana I used to fill you up. The problem is that making food will be difficult."
Selene: "What is the problem, my lord?"
Rowan: "Umm... I don't know how to cook..."
Selene: "I see. You don't have to worry; during my experiences on the battlefield in my world, I learned how to cook."
Rowan: "I am sorry and thank you, Selene."
Selene: [Smiled] "You are very strange and funny at the same time, my lord."
Fate's Pull System: "Knight Commander Selene Evanthe Ravenshade's favorability has increased by +1!"
Rowan was surprised when he received a favorability notification from the system. Although he had only apologized and expressed gratitude, he managed to increase her favorability by +1. However, he couldn't shake a sense of unease and chills that seemed to stem not from the freezing temperature outside, but from something else entirely—Elira's instinct.
In the snowy outskirts, Elira and her group have completed the construction of a small wooden cabin made from chopped pine trees, which they have covered with snow to resemble an igloo. They added a small chimney and a fireplace to keep warm. Fortunately, their cabin is connected to a small cave and an altar, allowing them to earn some points. They plan to stay here for now while looking for more allies who want to earn points as well.
Because the goal is, to gain points not eliminate the opponents. As the sun goes down, they spot and receive clothing and food from the magical drone and also people coming here, but Elira manages to find them not humans but npc characters she knows, it is her fiancee, Rowan Ashbourne.
Rowan: [Eating the Delicious Dinner] "Hm?"
Selene: "Is there something wrong with the food I make, my lord?"
Rowan: "There is no problem, it's very good and delicious. It was one of my scouts from the mercenary groups, they spotted some people, but one of those people is someone I know."
Selene: "Who might it be?"
Rowan: "My fiancee, Elira Valenwood. And the rest of them, I don't know but they seem to be nobles like them."
Selene: "Is your fiancee a noble, my lord?"
Rowan: "Yes, I am also a noble myself, but our family is rather a casual type of nobles not those serious or exaggerating nobles."
"After that, we continued eating and talking to each other about ourselves and slept separately for this day... The real thing will start tomorrow..."
[End of Chapter 11]