"Steal stuff?" Mouse_Is_Duck paused for a second before remembering he was inside a game.
The full-dive simulation was so realistic that his instincts as a law-abiding citizen kicked in, making him hesitate to break the law.
But then again, it was a game. Stealing from NPCs? That's barely a crime. If you play GTA, does that make you a carjacker?
"Yes, Your Grace!" Mouse_Is_Duck snapped a sloppy, exaggerated salute, looking like a comical henchman from a bad movie.
He then turned around and marched straight toward the market Viserys had pointed out.
Watching the player disappear into the crowd, Viserys smirked. Let's hope the local hustlers don't beat him up too badly.
"Walk three hundred paces to the left. You'll find the house of Rondo the Blacksmith. He is looking for an apprentice. Before the sun sets, I need you to become his apprentice and learn the art of forging."
Viserys shifted his gaze from the Assassin to Bun_Immortal, who had chosen the Blacksmith class.
"Upon completion, you too shall receive 10 Kingdom Coins and an Iron Chest."
[ While apprenticing, your Smithing experience will increase. ]
The System Sprite's notification flashed in Bun_Immortal's mind.
"Bro, is this game too real? I picked Blacksmith, and I actually have to go apply for a job? This is basically Kingdom Come: Deliverance on steroids!"
Despite his complaints, Bun_Immortal obediently shuffled off in the direction Viserys pointed.
"As for the three of you—one Scout, two Warriors—I shall teach you the basics of combat."
Viserys now faced the remaining three players. He rested his hand deliberately on the hilt of his ornate sword.
"Whether you aspire to be a Knight or a Lord, a Legion Commander or a member of the Kingsguard, the first step on that path is mastering the blade in your hand."
Here we go! The three players exchanged glances, eyes lighting up with excitement. In a medieval RPG, if the NPC didn't teach you how to use a sword, what was the point?
Seeing their eagerness for the tutorial, Viserys nodded in satisfaction. A leek with goals is a good leek.
"Follow me." Viserys beckoned, and the three players followed him like little chicks waddling after a mother hen, heading toward the shade of a large tree.
Leaning against the trunk, Viserys looked at the three players of varying heights and spoke slowly.
"I will demonstrate once. Watch closely."
Viserys—originally the Beggar King with the physical strength of a wet noodle—mentally accessed the Basic Swordsmanship Scroll he had just pulled from the Bronze Chest given by the System.
> [ You have used the Skill Scroll. You have learned Combat Skill: Basic Swordsmanship. Your mastery has reached "Novice." Your One-Handed Weapon Proficiency has increased to 15. Your Combat Rating has increased to 33. ]
There was no cracking of bones or tiny men practicing kung fu in his brain. In an instant, Viserys felt a breakthrough, like a cultivation master achieving enlightenment. His body simply knew what to do.
He drew his sword and began to perform a routine for the players.
Viserys's swordsmanship wasn't flashy. His movements were wide and a bit stiff, but the players didn't seem to mind.
After finishing the set, Viserys sheathed his blade and turned to them.
"Practice this routine three times, then perform one hundred sword swings. This is your novice task. Upon completion, come to me to claim your 10 Kingdom Coins and Iron Chest."
The players, as "Warriors from Another World" summoned by the System to aid Viserys, were essentially projected clones modified by the System.
So, even though Viserys only demonstrated the Basic Swordsmanship once, the three players easily memorized the simple moves.
After receiving the quest, they enthusiastically began swinging their starter swords.
"Viserys? Oh! What are you wearing?!"
Having washed the soot from her face, Daenerys walked out of the house carrying a bowl of boiled black bread mash, intending to call her brother for dinner. She froze when she saw him standing under the tree, decked out in gleaming armor.
Where did he get such magnificent armor?
Just moments ago, they were relying on charity to fill their bellies. Now, her brother looked like a prince out of a song.
Daenerys's brain short-circuited.
"New NPC?" FaFo wiped the sweat from his forehead and sized up the girl with silver hair, just like Viserys.
"Look at the hair. Same color. Gotta be his sister or something," Zhao Xiaotian said with certainty.
"Wow, Sherlock. Truly, listening to you is like listening to words," FaFo retorted while picking his nose.
"Am I the only one noticing she's a total babe?" Step_Sis_Im_Stuck was still down bad, apparently willing to simp for Daenerys herself.
Standing at the door, Daenerys stared at them, her eyes filling with instinctive wariness.
Viserys walked over and kicked Step_Sis right in the ass, sending him stumbling.
"This is my sister, the Princess of Dragonstone, Stormborn, the Blood of the Dragon, Daenerys Targaryen. Show some respect!"
The dragons are gone. Without their wings to protect us, why cling to titles and a hopeless restoration? Daenerys thought this, but she didn't dare say it in front of her brother.
[ WARNING ]
> Your actions may affect your Affinity with key NPCs.
> If your Affinity with the King drops too low, you will receive reduced rewards. If Affinity becomes Negative, you risk execution by the King.
> CRITICAL WARNING: Players executed by the King will suffer a PERMANENT BAN. You will not be able to create a new character.
Offending this NPC can get you banned?!
The System Sprite's timely warning in their heads instantly extinguished the fire in Step_Sis's loins.
To him, this open-world game was incredible, and he hadn't even started exploring yet. Getting permabanned just because he was horny would be the stupidest way to go out.
Seeing the three players instantly transform into well-behaved students practicing their swings, Viserys turned his attention back to his sister—the future Mother of Dragons.
"They are the descendants of loyalists who followed Rhaegar. Their fathers gave their lives for the Dynasty at the Battle of the Trident. They have crossed the Narrow Sea to serve the True Dragon. Look, they brought me this armor!"
Listening to her brother's explanation, Daenerys still had doubts, but she was too conditioned to argue. She nodded silently, then whispered timidly:
"But... we don't have enough food..."
"Ah, haha! We're not hungry, Princess!"
The three players, whose ears were apparently tuned to hear everything, turned with fake smiles toward the beautiful NPC whose Affinity score determined the fate of their accounts.
What a joke. We're here to play the game. Who wants to eat crappy medieval peasant food anyway?