The crowd was bustling. People gathered around, and layers upon layers of NPCs formed, as if they had never seen anyone speak English before and had intentionally come over to learn.
After maneuvering three NPCs into position, Ren Suo suddenly remembered a concern: what if they interrupted the interaction between the Rebel and Her Royal Highness the Princess?
However, whether due to their status or politeness, all three NPCs stood within the inner circle of the crowd, very close to the Rebel, but did not initiate a conversation with him.
The stage was set; it was time for the Rebel to dance!
Time for some smooth lines! Ren Suo thought.
The Rebel began, "If you walk in the darkness, I am willing to rip out my ribs and burn my heart to be your only guiding flame!"
He continued, "Even if you were the evil of the world, I would stand by you, against the world itself!"
And then, "I couldn't partake in your past, but I promise to accompany you to the very end of your future!"
After these three lines, Her Royal Highness the Princess still hadn't reacted, but she also hadn't run away. It seemed the crowd strategy was successful.
Translating these sweet nothings into English is a bit challenging, Ren Suo mused. But if Her Royal Highness doesn't move, I still have dozens more lines ready.
However, after the Rebel spoke the three lines, Her Royal Highness finally responded, "Haha... Rebel, you really are an interesting person. Let's talk."
Ren Suo's eyes widened as he watched Her Royal Highness lead the Rebel towards the center of the banquet hall, where they met up with the Lady of Light, who was dining.
In the banquet hall, the Lady of Light was always surrounded by bodyguards. The Rebel would have been stopped if he had approached directly. Only when Her Royal Highness personally brought him over did the bodyguards cease to intercept him.
"Strategy Tip: Do not let Her Royal Highness the Princess leave the Lady of Light (Continue interacting with Her Royal Highness the Princess)."
"Strategy Tip: Staying by the Lady of Light's side ensures your life (Ensure the Rebel survives)."
These requirements aren't difficult, Ren Suo thought, breathing a sigh of relief. At that moment, Her Royal Highness seemed to be holding the Lady of Light. Don't ask how I can discern the action of 'holding' from 25 pixels, but I intuitively feel that's what's happening, he mused.
Her Royal Highness said, "Rebel, you are a very interesting person, and I also think what you said makes sense."
Makes sense? Ren Suo blinked. Did I actually help the Rebel score a date, and with a princess no less? Ugh, I suddenly feel uncomfortable. The thought of having painstakingly helped the Rebel find a girlfriend makes me feel a surge of sorrow—let go of that princess, let me do it!
Her Royal Highness continued, "'I have missed so many things I liked; I won't force myself to miss the people I like again.' That sentence gave me courage."
Hmm? Ren Suo wondered.
She went on, "'The joys, angers, sorrows, and happiness of the first half of my life, all the past you weren't part of, I want to share with you. Then, I hope to have you along for the second half of my life.' That sentence precisely matched my expectations."
"And, "'Even if you are the evil of the world, I am willing to stand by you, against the world.' That sentence depicts the love I seek. Though it might seem presumptuous, it sounds truly beautiful."
"Finally, "'I couldn't partake in your past, but I promise to accompany you to the very end of your future.' From this moment, I have that determination!"
"Thank you, Rebel," she said. "You've given me the courage to pursue love once again. Although it may be filled with difficulties, I won't be afraid!"
Ren Suo couldn't help but laugh out loud. So, Her Royal Highness was rejecting the Rebel! It's unclear whether that was her reason for rejection, or if the Rebel's smooth talk was genuinely full of Positive Energy, but Her Royal Highness seemed to have resolved to bravely pursue her own love because of his words! This subtle assist makes me feel a bit conflicted... But compared to letting the Rebel actually start a romantic relationship with Her Royal Highness, I'd much prefer him getting a Good Person Card—otherwise, I'd be even more upset.
This isn't like other role-playing games or dating simulators. In those games, even though the protagonists need the player's maneuvers to pursue love interests, it seems the protagonists' ability to find love is also credited to the player. However, in reality, players only handle 'choices.' The primary reason the protagonist can find love is due to their looks, physique, and the progression of various events. The player doesn't deserve much credit, so players feel quite happy seeing lovers end up together, feeling it's the protagonist's rightful outcome.
But this game is different. I'm not just responsible for making 'choices' in the gameplay; I'm the one flirting online with Her Royal Highness! I'm the one who learned English and how to deliver these lines! Why should the Rebel get all the benefits? Rebel, do you even speak English?! No, you don't! Rebel, can you even flirt?! No, you can't! Why should you get to date the Princess? This side quest was entirely my own doing. If I were willing to spend some time, I could definitely find non-flirtatious dialogue strategies.
Anyway, the goal has been achieved, and this stage has moved to the next phase. Normal conversation between the Rebel and Her Royal Highness is sufficient now. There's no need to prolong the conversation with more smooth talk. I don't particularly Rebel, who has always resisted my will, yelling, 'My Life is Not Your Game.' Therefore, I'm quite happy to see him get dumped. So, can't you clear the game while single? Rebel, you better stay single. Dating is too difficult for you.
The Rebel said, "You will surely be happy."
Her Royal Highness replied, "I believe so. The Lady of Light also likes to hear stories about the Fairy Palace. Can you tell her about it?"
The Lady of Light chimed in, "I want to hear! I want to hear!"
This request was naturally fulfilled, and it was also very appropriate for stalling for time. Thus, Ren Suo consulted both the Oxford dictionary and online translators, eventually managing to translate the information about the Fairy Palace into English, much to the astonishment of Her Royal Highness the Princess and the Lady of Light.
Just as Ren Suo, through the Rebel, began talking about the Ren Family in the Three Kingdoms Era, the screen suddenly shook. A transparent barrier appeared instantly around the Lady of Light, protecting both the Rebel and Her Royal Highness within it. Meanwhile, the pixels outside the barrier suddenly became distorted, as if something had been blocked.
The information bar in the bottom-left corner instantly flashed a series of messages:
"Her Royal Highness the Princess was targeted by a Precision Attack from a Supersonic Steel Bullet, which was blocked by the Lady of Light's Rejection Barrier."
"Her Royal Highness the Princess was targeted by a Precision Attack from a Supersonic Steel Bullet, which was blocked by the Lady of Light's Rejection Barrier."
"Her Royal Highness the Princess was targeted by a Precision Attack from a Supersonic Steel Bullet, which was blocked by the Lady of Light's Rejection Barrier."
Ren Suo was taken aback. Isn't it supposed to be about protecting the Lady of Light? Why is Her Royal Highness the Princess being attacked first?
At that moment, enemies who looked like villains burst into the banquet hall through the windows and the main entrance.
Demons clad in Crimson armor and Magicians draped in deep black cloaks instantly turned the joyful banquet scene into a battlefield!
The villains seemed to want to speak, but apparently, they didn't get the chance—their dialogue boxes were quickly pulverized by the attacks of the Knights guarding the hall!
The battle was exceptionally fierce. NPCs and villains engaged in combat so intense it seemed capable of shattering pixels—a Heavenly Thunder and Earthly Fire Level clash. The Rebel, however, remained unharmed inside the Lady of Light's barrier, safe from the aftershocks.
The enemies didn't immediately attack the Lady of Light, instead focusing on battling the others in the banquet hall. For a while, the Rebel was like a spectator in the best VIP seat, watching the fiery spectacle unfold.
Just then, Ren Suo noticed the Determination Value bar in the upper-left corner suddenly tremble, then slip from 100% to 99%.
"Strategy Tip: Suppress the battle in the banquet hall quickly, otherwise the Rebel's Determination Value will rapidly decrease. If there are significant casualties, the Rebel's maximum Determination Value will permanently decrease (you will be unable to completely control the Rebel, and the game will result in a direct failure)."
Huh? Ren Suo scratched his head. He noted that the White Emperor, the Female Demon, and the Female Knight in the banquet hall also seemed to be fighting the enemies. The Rebel is probably friends with these three NPCs. These three NPCs can increase the Rebel's Determination Value through their actions, so conversely, their dangerous situations and actions can also decrease it. It's only natural for the Rebel to want to protect them. But how do I suppress the battle in the banquet hall?
Ren Suo had the Rebel ask, "Can the Lady of Light fight?"
The Lady of Light can easily set up a Defense Barrier to block attacks, and her own strength is certainly not weak. If she fought, she would surely tip the scales of battle heavily toward victory, Ren Suo considered.
Her Royal Highness the Princess replied, "She can't. If the Lady of Light fights... she'll lose control and won't be able to ensure her own safety. She's still young and doesn't know how to fight. The enemies targeted me first precisely to provoke her anger and make her vulnerable..."
Ren Suo understood. So, I can no longer expect the Rebel's protection target to miraculously defeat the enemies. Should I have the Rebel leave the barrier and fight? He thought about it and immediately dismissed the idea. The Rebel was initially hiding in the bathroom and got killed by the battle's aftermath; clearly, his Combat Power isn't much. Moreover, if the Rebel were strong enough, the strategy tip wouldn't suggest keeping him next to the Lady of Light to survive—it would simply instruct the formidable Rebel to crush the enemies, wouldn't it?
At that moment, the strategy tip refreshed:
"Strategy Tip: Equip Rippling Spring Sounds and perform a summon (Please equip an item to turn the tide of battle)!"
Ren Suo was slightly taken aback.
This tip is quite subtle—it counts "Rippling Spring Sounds," a player enhancement tool not actually part of the game's content, as part of my own strength. "Rippling Spring Sounds" is equipment that can only be obtained by clearing at least a 4-Star game. If I didn't have this equipment, could I not clear the game? However, in-game strategy tips like these are unique features in many games I've played. The advice provided by the tip is inevitably something the player can do, often the most cost-effective suggestion. So, advising me to use "Rippling Spring Sounds" isn't really too outrageous. Yet, at this moment, I'm subtly feeling an almost intangible sense of inconsistency with this game.
In difficult situations encountered in the game, whether it's English dialogue or "Rippling Spring Sounds," these are all part of my own abilities. Yet the Rebel has had almost no impact on the game's progress, instead having to rely on the player's 'out-of-game abilities' to advance the plot. Now, as the battle rages outside, the Rebel can only cower within the barrier, protected by the 'protection target.' Rebel, you are the weakest protagonist I've ever seen.
Ren Suo tutted in assessment, then went to the Equipment Interface to equip the Rebel with Rippling Spring Sounds. Returning to the game and clicking on the Rebel, the option "Activate Rippling Spring Sounds" indeed appeared.
The summoning list displayed eight characters who could be summoned. Aside from the Collector, who still couldn't be summoned due to an insufficient Rippling Spring Sounds level, even Ilina was available.
However, next to each summonable character's name was a suggestion:
"1-Star Assassin (Can exert 100% strength; 100% task completion rate in this scene; Highly recommended for summoning)"
"2-Star Truth Seeker (Can exert 100% strength; 100% task completion rate in this scene; Recommended for summoning)"
"2-Star Ren Woxing (Can exert 100% strength; 100% task completion rate in this scene; Recommended for summoning)"
"2-Star Zhao Zili (Can exert 100% strength; 85% task completion rate in this scene; Not recommended for summoning)"
"3-Star Devouring the Spirit of the World (Can exert 100% strength; 100% task completion rate in this scene; Not recommended for summoning)"
Ren Suo glanced at the list; without a doubt, he would choose to summon the Assassin.
Since the system deems the Assassin sufficient for this task, I naturally won't use other High Star-level characters. These game characters gain a Star-level after just one or two uses. If the Rippling Spring Sounds level doesn't increase, then each use of these characters effectively means one less use available. Therefore, it's best to use Low Star-level characters first. Assassin, summon!
The very next second, game time completely froze, and every square on the banquet hall map lit up.