Chapter Two: What Is the Method of Lighting the Lamp

Front row spoilers for the “Novice Pack”: a black loaf of bread that could pass for a rock, an axe, two servants who obey every command, and a crafting table. You’re welcome.

You’ve successfully ruined my expectations for the novice pack, so never mind. By the way, does anyone know how to light the lamp?

I’m dying of thirst—begging for a kind soul to share some water. After finishing the novice pack’s food, my throat feels scorched, and now I have two extra mouths to feed. I’m starving...

Please, anything edible will do—even mooncakes stuffed with five kinds of nuts.

What the above said is true! Be extremely careful with the gray mist. I sent one servant to reach outside; their hand entered the mist for less than a second before something tore it off!

For heaven’s sake, don’t stare at the gray mist. Damn it, I just gazed at it for a few minutes and now I keep feeling like there’s a face pressed against my window, watching me...

At this rate, only the lamp keeps us safe. Begging for instructions on lighting it—whoever tells me how becomes my father...

Colin watched the flood of distress signals scrolling past, hesitated, and ultimately decided not to become anyone’s father.

Posting in the world channel requires a horn, one per day, non-accumulative.

Colin didn’t want to use today’s potentially crucial speaking opportunity at this moment.

Besides, surely someone has discovered how to use the lantern for various reasons.

Since no one is stepping forward to share, there’s no need for Colin to stick his neck out either.

After all, there’s likely some hidden danger here...

Doing good is admirable, but only when it doesn’t harm oneself. Colin decided to wait and see.

Having confirmed there was no more useful information to glean, Colin closed the World Channel.

Then he opened the Regional Channel.

Immediately, he noticed the difference: in the upper left corner of the chat box was a number—1000.

This seemed to represent the current population of the region.

Secondly, speaking here was nearly unrestricted; you could send a message every three seconds.

“A thousand people in a region—not a small number. Are these all competitors? I wonder how fierce the competition will be...” Colin muttered, scanning the rapid flow of messages.

A hundred thousand reward for the way to light the oil lamp—payable when the game ends and we get out. I mean it!

You don’t even know if we can leave, so forget a hundred thousand—even a million is worthless. Damn it, the novice pack is just a loaf of bread, no water. If I knew who designed this game, I’d wring their neck!

To be fair, even if you knew, you couldn’t kill them. After all, this “game” could never have been made on Earth.

Can’t even vent a complaint? Is there any hope left for this world?

Question: What does the eighth warning about no resurrection actually mean? Is anyone who’s died able to explain?

No, the eighth warning likely means exactly what it says. If we die, we’re truly dead. Of course, it’s possible we wake up in the real world, never able to return, as if it were all a dream.

But I suggest you don’t try it. If resurrection were possible, this channel would have turned into a fourth calamity mode already, instead of everyone here whining. As for empty stomachs, don’t forget the two servants. If you’re truly starving...

Eat the servants...

Colin’s eyelid twitched. He knew the servants referred to the contents of the novice pack, but he was in no hurry to open it once he knew what was inside.

Moreover... no one in the regional channel was sharing how to light the lamp, even though it didn’t require a horn... Colin instinctively felt something was off.

After hesitating, and deciding there was nothing more to learn, Colin closed the regional channel.

“It seems survival depends on completing daily tasks.”

Colin opened the Task List and saw only one line of pale red text.

Daily Task: Face Your Fear

Task Requirement: Kill an “Aberration” wandering in the mist.

Task Time Limit: 23 hours 32 minutes.

Task Description: Though the gray mist teems with danger, opportunity always coexists. A fledgling that never leaves the nest will never grow. Don’t be overly afraid; the best way to conquer fear is to face it. Good luck! (Note the duration of the lamp’s flame.)

Task Reward: Hardened black bread *1, Dull Tainted Blood 100ml

After reading the task, Colin finally understood why so many complained about the daily quest.

No surprise, everyone’s daily task was probably identical.

Under this premise, to complete the task, you had to leave the cabin and enter the mist; to enter the mist, you had to light the lantern; and to light the lantern...

No one knows how to light the damn thing!

Otherwise, even if someone summoned the courage out of hunger, they’d have no chance to explore the mist!

If you want people to do the task, at least give a hint!

What’s that?

Turns out I do have a hint?

Oh.

Then never mind.

Still, this “Dull Tainted Blood” is the lantern’s fuel, apparently. I didn’t expect it to actually be blood...

Without further delay, Colin opened the last option: Personnel Recruitment.

But upon discovering it required something called “Mist Points,” he immediately closed it, not wasting any more time.

He didn’t have any.

Shaking his head, he closed the parchment and took another look—it had changed.

A parchment containing vital information. You’ve already seen its contents. You vaguely sense its options are not limited to these.

“As expected, there are more than just three functions. They’ll probably increase in the future.”

Colin murmured, now familiar with all the parchment’s features. Next, he moved on to the Backpack.

With a thought, a new option appeared before his eyes: Backpack.

“Amazing—just like a real game,” Colin smirked. He’d learned about this function from the chat channel; a simple thought would summon it.

This feature was directly integrated with himself; he could soon store the parchment inside to prevent loss.

Inside his Backpack, Colin saw a dilapidated wooden box, as shabby as his cabin.

Novice Pack. Without hesitation, Colin chose to use it.

Congratulations, you’ve received: Damaged Black Bread *1

Congratulations, you’ve received: Old Iron Axe *1

Congratulations, you’ve received: Crafting Table *1

Congratulations, you’ve received: Servants *2

On the desk, items materialized from nothing: a palm-sized black bread, an old iron axe, a stone table the size of a watermelon, and...

A faint breathing sound came from nearby.

Colin’s gaze sharpened; he turned his head as if swatting away a cockroach. At the doorway, two medium-built men had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere.

Both men wore knee-length, worn cloth tunics. Their skin was dark, their hair cropped short, heads bowed, faces hidden from view.

Above their heads, the word “Servant” was faintly visible.