Sakura Fubuki curiously clicked on the notification and opened an apology letter from [Otherworldly Tao Yao].
The content of the letter was unexpected, filled with sincerity and regret:
"Dear outsider, hello."
"First of all, I want to express my sincerest apologies."
"I know this event may have brought you some unpleasant experiences, forcibly making you participate in a game created by someone who is not very good. As an incompetent game producer, I apologize for my immaturity."
"But please believe me, this is by no means my intention. I love games, and I have always dreamed of creating a beloved work."
"However, besides you, I truly cannot find anyone else to experience my game."
"Your participation is of great significance to me, and I really appreciate you."
"By observing your gameplay, I have gained a lot of valuable inspiration and new ideas."
"Every attempt you make, every failure, and even every complaint deepen my understanding of game design. You are like a friend across dimensions, providing me with enormous encouragement and help."
"I understand that a simple apology may not compensate for your efforts. As a small token of my appreciation, I have prepared some gifts for you. While they may not be precious, I hope they can express my gratitude, and I hope you will like them."
"Thank you again for your participation and tolerance. Your feedback is invaluable to me; it will become the motivation for me to continue improving and creating better games. I hope that someday in the future, I can create a game that truly brings you joy."
"Lastly, I wish you fun in the game and good luck in your real life."
"From Otherworldly Tao Yao - Sincerely"
After reading the letter, Sakura Fubuki felt a strange emotion rising in her heart.
She had initially thought this was just an ordinary game event.
But after seeing this letter, she suddenly felt a wonderful sensation.
This letter seemed to break the dimensional wall, an exchange between Tao Yao and her players.
Tao Yao perhaps was not simple.
If she were just an ordinary villain character,
there would be no need to make such a big stir, to specially hold an event, and within this event, refine parts of Tao Yao's character design, highlighting Tao Yao's preference for making games...
There was even less need for such an email.
Just as she was pondering the meaning of this letter, a prompt suddenly popped up on the game interface:
"You have received 10 demon flowers!"
With the appearance of this prompt,
the live stream chat immediately erupted:
"What? 10 consecutive draws?"
"That's so generous!"
"Even though it gave 10 consecutive draws, it can't change the fact that you're a bad woman! Hmph... Don't think this little compensation will let me forgive you for the trauma you caused me!"
"Wow, this is not a loss!"
"Streamer, draw quickly, let's see what good stuff can come out!"
Faced with the audience's enthusiasm, Sakura Fubuki unexpectedly calmed down.
She looked at the screen and said softly:
"Everyone, I think I need to digest today's experience properly. So, today's live stream ends here. I will make a detailed video as soon as possible to share my thoughts with you all. Thank you for your company, good night."
After speaking, Sakura Fubuki closed the live stream.
Looking at the announcement of the Tao Yao event on the screen,
that incredibly beautiful and exquisite girl murmured:
"Is she really going to redeem herself?"
Thinking of this, Sakura Fubuki became more convinced of her guess.
If nothing goes wrong, the officials must be intentionally redeeming her.
Just as she had predicted before.
Following that, Sakura Fubuki browsed around the respective platform community.
She discovered that most players were complaining about the content of this event.
Right now, the mainstream evaluation of Tao Yao
remained that she was a bad woman.
Although there were a small number of people who liked Tao Yao,
most still felt indifferent towards her and were very resentful, believing that it was because of Tao Yao that the beloved characters they admired were not only hurt but also subjected to various influences.
After browsing around, Sakura Fubuki had a clear idea for her upcoming video.
That was to go with the mainstream, painting Tao Yao as completely black!
After all, she couldn't go against the flow!!
...
Meanwhile,
on the other side, Tao Yao, who had just finished moving, finally had time to sit down and rest.
She suddenly remembered something and immediately asked the system:
"Xiao Xiao, the game version has been updated, right?"
The system Xiao Xiao cheerfully replied:
"Yes, Master! This time, you have accumulated a lot of popularity!"
Tao Yao said, "Alright, I know you've helped a lot, thank you for your hard work. Let me see how my character looks in the new game version."
The system sprite Xiao Xiao bounced out, and a virtual screen panel appeared in front of Tao Yao.
Tao Yao began to browse the game updates, quickly going through them.
However, when she clicked on the event she planned, she became frustrated.
"Xiao Xiao, did you overdo the optimization for the event a bit? I remember it shouldn't be this hard..." Tao Yao frowned and asked.
In fact, Tao Yao did personally design the general framework for this event.
But the specific detailing work was all left to Xiao Xiao to complete.
Who would have thought that Xiao Xiao would come up with such specific content and a gameplay difficulty level like this?
It made it seem like she was intentionally bullying players.
Xiao Xiao stood tall and answered firmly.
"Hmph, who told these players they have no vision? Clearly, you are so gentle and cute, yet they say you are a bad woman, wishing you would enter the dungeon sooner. They deserve to suffer a bit in the event!"
After hearing that, Tao Yao felt somewhat speechless. She sighed and said, "Xiao Xiao, our goal is to make players happy, not to punish them."
Thinking this through, Tao Yao decided to write an apology letter and offer players some compensation.
Although 10 consecutive draws were not a lot,
it was already the biggest compensation she could offer after exhausting her previously accumulated popularity.
Moreover, considering that the earnings from this event were already quite substantial compared to other events, this compensation was also quite sincere.
After doing all this, Tao Yao started her intense online surfing time.
As of now, the advancement of the Fairy Journey main storyline had come to a halt.
Before preparing to respond to the main development trajectory of the next version,
she decided to take a few days to rest and relax her strained nerves.
Then.
She scrolled through a certain video platform on Blue Star,
and stumbled upon a video titled:
"Fairy Journey Character Popularity TOP 10, Jasmine ranks only tenth, and the first place is actually her!"
Tao Yao became interested in this video.
Thus, after a moment of contemplation, she clicked into it.
As the video began to play:
An elegant background music started, and beautiful game character illustrations appeared on the screen.
"Welcome to the 'Fairy Journey' Character Popularity TOP 10 list! Let's see who are the most popular characters in the hearts of players!"
10. Jasmine - Votes: 7856
Jasmine, a genius archer from Manju Academy, one of the three main characters.
As a ranged character with dual guns, Jasmine has won the love of many players with her precise marksmanship and agile fighting style.
She is not only a sharpshooter on the battlefield but also a gentle and reliable companion.
"There's nothing a bullet can't solve. If there is? Then just fire another!" — Jasmine
9. Lily - Votes: 8012
Lily is an intern doctor from the Medical Hall in Flowing Light City, a cute loli character.
As a powerful healer, Lily's healing abilities play a crucial role in the team.
She can not only heal her partners' wounds but also soothe their spirits.
"Life is the most precious gift, and my mission is to protect this gift." — Lily
8. Rose - Votes: 8673
Rose is the lord's guardian from Qingyang City, and her past is shrouded in mystery.
As an agile assassin, Rose is known for her swift movements and deadly attacks.
Her cold eyes seem to hide unknown secrets, attracting players to explore her story.
"The darkness is my friend, and death is my companion." — Rose
7. Violet - Votes: 9125
Violet, a sword master from Manju Academy, one of the three main characters.
As a swordmaster, her personality is even gentler than one might expect.
But whenever swords are mentioned, she often becomes more serious than anyone else.
On the battlefield, every strike from Violet is like a magnificent dance that captivates her enemies.
"Swordsmanship is life; only through perseverance can one reach the ultimate realm." — Violet
6. Laurel - Votes: 9567
Laurel, a senior to the three main characters, once appeared in the internal test version and was praised as the power ceiling of Manju Academy.
As a frontline warrior, her exceptional combat power brings players unparalleled peace of mind.
"Victory is not the goal, but the process of becoming a stronger self." — Laurel
5. Hiyakura - Votes: 10234
Hiyakura, the core protagonist among the three main characters.
Her fiery red hair and determined eyes symbolize her indomitable warrior spirit.
As a greatsword wielder, Hiyakura showcases astonishing strength and courage on the battlefield.
She has lost her memory and set out on a journey to reclaim herself.
In the subsequent game, she will also grow alongside the players.
"Roaming everywhere, without a fixed home. But I will eventually find the meaning of my journey." — Hiyakura
4. Little White Lotus - Votes: 11567
Little White Lotus, the head of Manju Academy, currently appears only in video dialogues.
She presents herself as a petite and adorable legitimate loli, instantly charming the loli enthusiasts upon her debut.
"Hey, where are you looking? Lower your head! Damn it... lower a little more!!" — Little White Lotus
3. Hyacinth - Votes: 12876
Hyacinth is an information dealer from the Land of Dawn.
She met Hiyakura during a mission, possessing excellent information-gathering abilities. She is a frugal yet careless girl, making players both love and hate her.
As a support-type role, Hyacinth significantly enriches the game's combat strategies.
"Want information? You'll have to trade it for your hardest-to-speak secret∽" — Hyacinth
2. Aoi - Votes: 13456
Aoi is a mysterious girl the players encounter in Flowing Light City.
Her cheerful personality quickly makes her one of the most beloved characters among players.
She loves sunflowers, and like sunflowers, she is passionate and sunny, demonstrating remarkable power in battles.
"As long as there's sunlight in the heart, there's no difficulty that can't be overcome." — Aoi
1. Forget-Me-Not - Votes: 15678
Finally, let's reveal the number one character on this list!
She is the mysterious girl who appeared briefly in version 1.0 — Forget-Me-Not.
As a riddle character of extraordinary origin, Forget-Me-Not possesses the most stunning illustration in the entire game, making people unable to resist wanting to unveil her veil. Based on the storyline and various details, she is suspected to be Hiyakura's sister.
Forget-Me-Not possesses an extraordinarily unique quality that makes her unforgettable to those who have seen her.
"Destiny is like the stars, seemingly unreachable, yet intimately connected to everyone." — Forget-Me-Not
"That's all for today's video."
"I have to say, there are so many wives in Fairy Journey."
"Then, with so many wives, which one do you like the most?"
"Please feel free to tell everyone in the comments!"
At the end of the video, the screen slowly faded out, and the background music gradually weakened.
......
Tao Yao finished watching this video and barely had time to say anything.
The system sprite Xiao Xiao couldn't help but jump out.
"Hmph! These humans really have no vision!"
"The master is clearly the strongest and cutest, yet she can't even make it into the top ten!"
The system sprite Xiao Xiao pouted, full of dissatisfaction and grievances.
"If you ask me, this ranking is utter nonsense! The master is the core of the entire game world, and should definitely be ranked first!!"
Xiao Xiao continued to complain, her tiny body slightly trembling with anger.
However,
Tao Yao remained completely calm, showing no extreme reaction.
"Master, aren't you angry? If you ask me, we should teach these unappreciative players a good lesson!"
Xiao Xiao looked at Tao Yao with anticipation, seemingly waiting for her to issue a punishment command.
However, faced with Xiao Xiao's excited emotions, Tao Yao appeared unusually calm.
She gently shook her head, a faint smile appearing on her face.
"No need to be angry, Xiao Xiao."
Tao Yao said gently, "The world of Fairy Journey is vast. Besides me, players have their own adventures and stories, and correspondingly, they can also choose characters they like more. If blame is to be placed, it can only be pointed at me for not being able to become the form most liked by players."
There was no trace of resentment or dissatisfaction in her tone, instead full of understanding and tolerance.
Tao Yao continued to explain: "You must understand, the main storyline perceived by players is different from what we experience. They go through the entire game's content, encountering far more plot and characters than we can imagine."
Tao Yao paused for a moment, seemingly pondering how to better express her thoughts.
"And so far, my proportion in the storyline is actually not high."
"After all, I am just a villain character, not the core of the main storyline. Players spend more time interacting with other characters, establishing emotional bonds."
"Therefore, they prefer those characters who often accompany them, which is the most reasonable thing."
"But Master, you obviously..."
Xiao Xiao wanted to say something more.
But suddenly noticed Tao Yao's expression changing.
Suddenly, Tao Yao's expression contorted in pain, tightly gripping her chest while her body trembled slightly.
An overwhelming and chaotic demonic force surged within her, causing her to feel waves of intense pain.
"Uh..." Tao Yao gritted her teeth, struggling to control her body.
Her demonic entanglement syndrome had flared up again.
This painful sensation was stronger than ever before.
"Master! Are you alright?"
Xiao Xiao anxiously circled around Tao Yao, flapping her wings helplessly.
Tao Yao endured the pain, forcing out a faint smile, trying to soothe Xiao Xiao's emotions.
"I'm fine... just... flared up again..."
Her voice became intermittent due to the pain.
After a few minutes, the chaos of demonic power finally subsided.
Tao Yao took a deep breath, her face still pale.
She knew if this continued, she would eventually lose control over herself.
"Xiao Xiao."
After calming down, Tao Yao asked, "Is there any way to solve the current problem with my body? This body seems to be more fragile than I imagined. I feel like I can barely hold on."
Upon hearing Tao Yao's question, Xiao Xiao pondered for a while.
Then, its eyes suddenly brightened as if it had thought of a good idea.
"Master, there is actually a way!"
"As long as we accumulate enough popularity points, we can use the 'five-star character card' function. That way, you can transform into a true fairy, and naturally, managing this pressure wouldn't be an issue..."
Tao Yao looked at Xiao Xiao in surprise.
"Five-star character card?"
"Yes, Master!"
"Once you become a true fairy, you'll be able to freely control the demonic power. At that time, all these problems troubling you will be easily solved!"
Tao Yao nodded thoughtfully.
This was indeed a feasible method.
But accumulating enough popularity points was not an easy task.
"Then how much popularity value is needed at least?"
Tao Yao asked concerning the detail she was currently interested in.
In response to Tao Yao's inquiry,
the sprite Xiao Xiao quickly provided an answer.
"Master, the five-star character card requires at least 1,000,000 popularity points..."
As she said this, Xiao Xiao's voice became somewhat embarrassed and grew fainter.
"This number is still a bit far for us."
Tao Yao revealed a wry smile upon hearing this number.
She gently shook her head, her tone carrying a hint of disappointment:
"That's fine, I'll just endure a bit longer. After all, accumulating 1,000,000 popularity points isn't something that can be done easily."
"Don't, Master!"
Xiao Xiao hurriedly said, flying in front of Tao Yao and anxiously explaining.
"Although the five-star character card is a bit difficult, we can start with the four-star character card first!"
"The four-star character card only requires 100,000 popularity points to exchange. Although the strength of a four-star character is not enough to make you a legendary fairy, it can help you manage the chaotic demonic power within, at least making you feel a little more comfortable."
Upon hearing this news, a gleam of hope flickered in Tao Yao's eyes.
She pondered and asked, "100,000? Then how many popularity points do I currently have left?"
Although 1,000,000 popularity points felt far away for Tao Yao right now, 100,000 seemed much more attainable.
This number granted Tao Yao some hope, at least giving her a goal to strive for.
"Uh..."
Xiao Xiao hesitated for a moment and then responded.
"In this update, Master has gained a lot of new usable popularity points."
"You currently have 28,756 popularity points left. Although it still falls short of 100,000, the data has been steadily increasing. If you maintain the current momentum, you should reach 100,000 in some time."
"Is that all...?"
Tao Yao murmured, her brows slightly furrowing.
She fell into contemplation, as if calculating something.
After a while, Tao Yao lifted her head, her gaze flashing with complexity:
"With this little popularity points, even if I gather enough to exchange for the four-star character card, as you said, with the strength of a four-star character, it can only alleviate my current symptoms and is fundamentally insufficient to change my doomed fate."
There was a hint of bitterness in her words.
She knew that even if she obtained the four-star character card, it would only be a temporary relief, not a fundamental solution to the problem.
However, even so, she was unwilling to give up any possible hope.
After a moment of silence, a flash of inspiration suddenly crossed Tao Yao's eyes.
She seemed to have thought of something, a thoughtful expression appearing on her face.
"Xiao Xiao, I know how to harvest popularity."
Tao Yao suddenly spoke up, her tone carrying a faint hint of confidence.
"What does Master plan to do?"
Xiao Xiao asked curiously, sensing an unusual change in Tao Yao's tone.
Tao Yao's lips curled into a meaningful smile.
She looked directly at Xiao Xiao and slowly spoke:
"I will die! Die at the hands of the players."