Chapter Three: True Villagers

“Greetings, my lord. We are your loyal servants.”
The two servants did not dare lift their heads as they spoke, their expressions a mixture of awe and dread.
At the same moment, Colin saw a “prompt” appear in his mind.
[Two servants belong solely to you. You can view their personal information above their heads. Beyond that, they will obey your every order unconditionally. Their loyalty is beyond question—if quantified, it is a perfect hundred percent.]
With a thought, Colin opened their profiles.
[Servant One]
Identity: Solely belongs to Colin.
Condition: Severely hungry.
Satiety: 19 (1-20: severely hungry, 21-40: hungry, 41-60: average, 61-80: full, 81-100: extremely satisfied)
Strength: 0.8 (average male: 1)
Stamina: 0.7 (average male: 1)
Endurance: 0.6 (average male: 1)
...
[Servant Two] was much the same as [Servant One], and after a quick glance, Colin closed the screens.
He was not fond of interacting with these numerical panels.
Because with just the numbers, it was hard to make anything of them in the short term; no clear understanding could be formed.
It would take time and experience to gradually grasp the meaning behind the data.
However, the “hungry” status in both servants’ profiles did serve as a warning to Colin.
Yes, the wooden cabin was safe and could keep the mist at bay.
But danger did not only lurk outside; hunger could just as surely kill these... survivors.
Moreover, Colin realized that the daily quest only provided *** a single black bread.
Never mind whether the “Abnormality” was easy to slay—just relying on this black bread for survival was a slow march toward death.
A single loaf a day, and within two days, he would be too weak to move; soon after, he might not even be able to swing his axe.
Colin eyed the black bread on the table: [A loaf as hard as stone, capable of killing if thrown. Is this thing even edible?]
After reading the prompt, Colin picked up the coarse-skinned black bread and squeezed it. Dry and hard, lighter than stone but otherwise just as the prompt described—it was practically a rock.
And before he even thought to eat it, there remained one last problem: water.
Colin had eaten similar bread before, but those were long loaves, which needed to be soaked in soup or boiling water to become edible.
Otherwise, you could only try to soften it in your mouth with saliva.
This would drain the body of water and energy, likely doing more harm than good.
After all, dehydration claimed lives far faster than hunger.
With this realization, Colin’s expression darkened—this was undoubtedly a trap!
He was already hungry. If he, like some in the chat channel, chose to eat this bread now, he would likely lose much of his combat strength due to thirst.
Thinking of the two servants’ states—severely hungry, yet right on the brink...
This seemed to indicate that the next step was to take up the axe, head out for the quest, and search for water simultaneously.
Understanding this, Colin couldn’t help but sigh inwardly: “So many tricks. Would a little honesty in this survival game really be so bad?”
He could, of course, leave the bread on the table to absorb moisture from the air and soften...
But by then it would be evening, and by the next day, things would be little improved.
In the end, one loaf was hardly enough to stave off hunger.
At least two would be needed.
He shifted his attention elsewhere.
[A miraculous crafting table—provide the correct materials and recipe, and it can create anything.]
[You realize that if you had water or some basic food, you might be able to combine it with the stone-like black bread to produce something better.]
Colin narrowed his eyes. So the bread’s true use was for crafting?
At that moment, a rumbling sound—someone’s stomach. Colin looked up to see the two servants sneaking glances at the bread in his hand, as if it were the greatest delicacy.
He waved the object in his hand. “Want to eat this?”
The two servants shook their heads at once. “No, sir, we dare not. This is the only food—we are but your humble servants. Even if we starve to death outside, we would not touch your food.”
Were you really raised in the countryside? Colin muttered inwardly, then said, “This bread is a trap. Whoever eats it now is doomed. Soon, I’ll be heading into the grey mist for a task. Are you afraid to die?”
“No. We cannot guarantee we’ll survive everything, but until we become corpses, we will dedicate our lives to your safety.”
Both servants pledged in unison.
It sounded impressive, but a bit too standard and formulaic. Looking at these lively individuals, Colin found it hard to see them as mere NPCs.
But he didn’t dwell on it. “I promise, as long as we finish the quest and return safely, none of you will be deprived of food.”
“Thank you for your kindness.” The two servants’ voices grew more excited, as if already imagining their stomachs full.
Starving on hope alone...
Colin shook his head to banish the thought and looked at the axe.

[An old axe, its head stained with dark red rust, the wooden handle blackened and loose, as if it wouldn’t last many swings.]
Nothing special.
But the number of weapons was clearly insufficient—three people, one axe...
“Wait...”
Colin’s gaze landed on the wooden table and chairs. He considered breaking off two sticks to use as weapons. Though the furniture appeared decrepit, Colin knew it was tougher than it looked.
Like old ship wood, seemingly rotten but actually hard; in dire circumstances, a good weapon.
Just as he was about to act, one servant protested,
“This... how can this be allowed? These are your noble furnishings, my lord. We are but lowly servants—even if we die...”
“What’s noble about this junk?”
Colin rolled his eyes and tapped the table, his voice gentle but with a hint of authority: “You’ll protect me better if you’re better armed. If we’re gone, what use is a table?
“Besides, what matters more to me is your survival, not this furniture. I don’t want to come back and find you’ve died for lack of a weapon. Not even one less—I won’t accept it.
“I said we’d eat together when we return, and I meant it.”
Hearing this, the servants’ faces showed emotion; their eyes reddened, and they knelt, trembling.
“Thank you for your care, my lord. We will guard your safety with our lives.”
Similar words, but with a firmer resolve.
Colin clearly sensed a rise in morale. When he checked the villagers’ profiles, he saw that, besides “severely hungry,” they now also had “inspired” in their status bar.
And thanks to this “inspiration,” all their attributes had increased by about twenty percent.
“So that’s possible too?” Colin stroked his chin. He didn’t think his words were all that stirring.
He wondered if he could inspire himself with a speech...
Of course, that was just a passing thought.
Disassembling the furniture didn’t take long.
Before long, they were ready. Colin let a drop of blood fall onto the lantern’s wick, and a dim flame flickered to life.
Then, he opened the door to the wooden cabin.