Just as Dawei speculated a major plot shift was about to happen, the system confirmed it:
System Prompt:Player has discovered [Hermit Camp]. Reputation gained: Hermit Camp – Friendly (One Star)
So it was a reputation system after all—and not just any rep, but special faction prestige. Dawei's eyes lit up. As expected of a god-level mission.
He turned his attention to Great Sage Dioise, the legendary recluse who lived deep within the cursed forest. No one on the forums had ever mentioned him, likely because no one had ever made it this far.
And then Dawei saw it.
Above his character's head—a faint, rainbow halo.
Buff Gained: [Goddess's Caress]Blessing of the Goddess of Fortune, Fortuna.51% chance to trigger Absolute Fortune. Duration: 15 Days.
Dawei's jaw dropped.
A divine-state buff. In a god-tier mission. This wasn't RNG—this was a divine appointment. Only certain god NPCs gave buffs like this, and now he had the aura of Fortuna, the luck goddess herself.
Which meant...
Dioise must be her follower… or even her direct representative in the world!
Dawei stared at the status screen, muttering to himself. "Fifty-one percent chance of absolute luck… That's crazy. And that wording—absolute—means if it triggers, it guarantees success."
He looked around.
He had awakened in a humble wooden cabin, lying on a modest bed. A roaring fire warmed the hearth. The room was sparse—just a desk covered in open books, a bookshelf humming with faint magical energy, and a few essentials.
Simple, but powerful. Like its owner.
No average NPC lives in the cursed forest. No random sage stacks enchanted grimoires like that.
It was low-key luxury—modesty masking supreme power.
Dawei stood and bowed slightly, going full-roleplay: "Blessed be the name of Fortuna. Where… where am I, noble one?"
Dioise rose from his desk and walked over to Dawei's bedside. As he moved, the open books on his desk closed themselves, then floated silently back to the bookshelf—aligning perfectly without a sound.
That single detail hit Dawei like a crit.
He didn't even move his hand! Object separation magic with that level of precision? That's not just telekinesis… That's divine-tier control.
Real masters never look back at their own power.
Dawei took a deep breath and steadied himself. He reminded himself: This is a god-level mission. Act like it. You're not a noob. Stay cool.
Dioise's voice was calm and dignified. "This is the Cursed Forest—land shrouded in the shadows of an ancient, unending curse." Then, with a surprising gentleness, he added, "It was my fault that you were attacked. Please… accept my apology."
System Prompt:The Great Sage Dioise has apologized. Do you accept?
An NPC apology… triggering a system prompt?That wasn't a scripted cutscene—this was a dynamic world response. Dioise wasn't just quest-related. He was something more.
Dawei didn't hesitate.
Accept the damn apology.
"Of course I do," he said smoothly. Then added, with shameless polish, "Your wisdom and spirit shine like the stars upon Fortuna's altar. I am but a speck beneath her light. Please accept my most humble respect."
Even Dawei winced at himself.
Damn, I'm good at this when I need to be. I should join a PR firm.
Dioise chuckled, and with a casual gesture, sent a rainbow light cascading down on Dawei.
System Prompt:You have accepted the Great Sage Dioise's apology.Gained: [Sage's Blessing].
Dawei quickly checked his status window. The [Goddess's Caress] buff now had an extended duration:
Duration: 30 Days
He was stunned.
Thirty days of divine-tier fortune buff?! That's enough to carry me through an entire high-level progression arc!
"Brother's gonna fly now! Hahaha!"
It was clear: Dioise wasn't just an NPC.He was the doorway to the next phase of the game. A divine-tier support. A potential mentor. The high-end NPC ship Dawei had to cling to.
Everything hinged on the system's subtle cues now—each dialogue choice, each action, each emotional tone could impact hidden reputation stats.
And in a mission this obscure, with no walkthroughs or guides, those details mattered more than anything.
Dawei grinned. "So this is how the pros play it."
Still, he had one burning question.
"What does 51% really mean?" he asked.
Dioise's eyes glimmered faintly beneath his hood. "Fifty-one percent is not a guarantee, nor is it chance. It is a threshold—a point beyond which fate begins to tilt. In the eyes of mortals, it is uncertainty. In the eyes of gods, it is design."
Dawei blinked. "So… you're saying it depends on effort?"
Dioise nodded. "Yes. When you strive beyond what is expected… when you act with conviction, purpose, and courage… Fortuna sees. And in that moment—her favor may awaken."
Dawei didn't fully understand it… but it sounded awesome.
Effort unlocks miracles. That's a system I can believe in.