Status Window Observa?tion (2)
Status Window Observa?tion (2)
The Status Window.
If you've ever poked around in RPGs, it's such a common concept it's practically everywhere—a convenient mechanic that quantifies a character's info and abilities into hard numbers.
In the original <savior>, there's a broader and more convenient setup than your typical Status Window.
The Player Correction System.
True to its name, the system people casually call the Status Window is a mechanic designed to correct and assist the player in every way.
You set up your character before starting a cycle, but this is the fundamental reason that, if a player puts their mind to it, they can reach terrifying growth rates and limits.
These Status Windows split into several branches depending on what they correct.
The main ones I used break down into three.
One, Measurement.
This covers what people usually think of as a Status Window.
It objectively measures an entity's condition and delivers it numerically.
Used on the player, it reveals your stats, unique ability and authority, and mental state.
The mental state encompasses physical, psychological, and spiritual states all at once.
For instance: race, how badly your body is injured, psychological ailments, applied buffs and debuffs, deterioration of the soul, and any title that collectively designates that entity.
So Measurement delivers your specs, lets you boost stats and unique ability performance instantly with points, or increase your growth correction values.
Two, Pioneering Progress.
This functions as the quest window.
When you wander around, the Status Window will hand out quests on its own. Clear them, and you get points.
Typical ones include monster subjugation, dungeon conquests, rescue operations, raising a specific character's Affection, and resolving major incidents.
You can use these points to develop the player.
And three, Affection.
Affection isn't the kind that directly benefits the player.
It's a function that lets you spend points to peek at how other characters see the player, along with numerical affection values.
How they perceive you appears as combinations of words or sentences.
From basic emotions like fondness, dislike, distrust, trust, gratitude, fear, guilt, intent to kill, hatred...
To keywords that occasionally pop up like crazy bastard, worthless, criminal, hero, benefactor... things like that.
The number ranges from 0 to 100.
0-9 is the hostile bracket. It showed up when they harbored emotions like disgust, contempt, or murderous intent.
10-19 signifies dislike. Not so much they want to tear you apart, but they'd rather not be near you.
20-29 is an indifferent relationship with neither fondness nor dislike.
30-39 is an ordinary relationship with few encounters.
40-49 is a moderate relationship where they don't particularly hate or like you.
50-59 is a relationship with a faint hint of fondness.
60-69 is a relationship with a fair bit of accumulated goodwill.
70-79 is a relationship that feels quite intimate.
80-89... From here, it gets tricky to pin down definitions.
A deeply intertwined bond, or a family bond with special affection—those kinds of relationships land around this range.
And 90-99 seemed to be relationships that went even deeper.
This was a value reached when the person was so important you could call them their entire reason for living.
I've never hit 100. I've roamed around, gotten married, and worked on raising Affection with plenty of characters. Most stopped in the high 80s, or the low 90s at best.
There are a few other Status Windows besides these.
Blueprints, which let you dump points to conveniently produce equipment or facilities.
The Trading Window, which lets you use points to procure supplies like warm chicken even in hostile environments like the Demon Realm or inside dungeons.
Plenty of variety, but I didn't exactly use them much.
Blueprints had some use in the early phases, but the output quality of the gear and facilities wasn't great. The Trading Window cost so much I never bothered with it even early on.
The ones I mainly used were Measurement, Pioneering Progress, and Affection.
Measurement was the foundation and the whole point of the Status Window—delivering my specs numerically, strengthening stats and unique abilities—so of course I used it constantly.
Pioneering Progress, same thing—I used it.
The primary source for points to develop the player is Pioneering Progress. You have no choice but to use it.
Also, if I skulked around a place I vaguely suspected, Pioneering Progress would spit out quests unprompted and give me clues.
I could sometimes predict future incidents through quests received in advance.
Affection was useful in its own way.
Since I could clearly see how the other party regarded me, if I spotted something like murderous intent, I'd discreetly deal with them when an opportunity arose. I could also keep genuinely trusting characters close.
'...No, can I even say that?'
A sudden thought hardened my expression.
If they had murderous intent or deep hostility, I dealt with them. If they trusted me, I kept them close.
Judging and acting solely on Affection like that, I got burned once.
8th Iteration.
In the 8th Iteration, Baek A-rin definitely 'trusted' the player. Her Affection was also high. I saw no emotions that would spur a betrayal.
While I was conquering an Unconquered Tower, the Bitter Cold's Tower Master, who'd been dormant, suddenly pushed into the inland. I had to halt the tower conquest and urgently return to the front lines.
I engaged the Bitter Cold's Tower Master, and then Baek A-rin stabbed me in the back. That killed me.
Even at that moment, Baek A-rin's Affection was perfectly fine.
'The 8th Iteration's Baek A-rin...'
I dredged through my memories and recalled the 8th Iteration Baek A-rin's Affection.
'Affection was 83... Emotional status: trust and goodwill. And...'
Hope and yearning.
Hope is the emotion of expecting and desiring something to happen or to be obtained.
Yearning is earnest wish and fervent desire.
The 8th Iteration's Baek A-rin had staked enormous expectations on the player.
And yet the one who finished the player off was Baek A-rin, ramming a spear through his back.
Even allowing for Baek A-rin's unique trait, the 'mask,' Affection was an indicator you couldn't trust unconditionally.
'...Pointless brooding.'
That's when I realized I was lost in useless brooding.
I let out a hollow chuckle and gently opened my eyes.
A hazy fog of mist. In a remote corner of that field of vision, the Status Window sat.
[.......]
[.......]
[...! ...! ... ... ...!]
[......]
[... ... ...! ... ... ... ... ......]
[......]
'...Can't read it...'
The Status Window's frame is visible. The characters written inside it are not. No matter how hard I glare at the Status Window, concentrating to the point my eyes strain, I absolutely cannot make them out.
Even when I bring the Observation Authority to bear, same thing.
It was baffling how even the 'Observation' Authority couldn't pierce through it.
Is the Status Window on the same tier of authority as the Observation Authority, or what?
'Open Status Window, open Measurement.'
No response.
'Open Pioneering Progress, open Affection, open Blueprints...'
No response.
Same even if I pretend to talk to Hong Yeon-hwa and mutter under my breath...
The corner of my eye twitched. I stretched my hand toward the empty air.
Shwoop— and my arm passed straight through the holographic Status Window form. Even when I waved my arm around wildly, it didn't show any sign of disturbance.
'What the hell...'
I've confirmed the Status Window's existence, but I can't actually use it. As the saying goes, a pie in the sky—the Status Window's right in front of me but won't work properly.
Fury boiled up inside.
Before, I wasn't even sure it existed, and I couldn't use it.
Now? Its existence is confirmed, and it's placed right in front of my eyes, but I can't use it.
If I could just utilize that thing, I could develop so much faster than I am now, so why exactly...
The stress was enough to make my hair fall out.
A sigh escaped on its own.
.
.
.
I'd officially announced the fact that I'd manifested Calamity Flame through this regular banquet.
With this, I can freely use Calamity Flame under the identity of Lee Ha-yul.
At the same time, from now on, I'm essentially treated as a member of the Calamity Flame Family.
Calamity Flame is a bloodline-inherited unique ability.
I had only imitated it, but in a sense, it was only natural that I, who had manifested the Calamity Flame, would be treated as a member of the Calamity Flame Family.
The Calamity Flame I manifested also had a fairly high output, so over the past few days, I had been treated quite well while staying with the Calamity Flame Family.
[I've been in your care for the past few days]
[Thanks to you, I was able to rest comfortably]
"Hearing you rested comfortably puts my mind a little at ease."
The main gate where the entrance to the protective barrier was installed.
Choi Ji-yeon, who had come to see us off as the lady of the house, smiled faintly.
"Though, it would have been nice if you could stay a few more days..."
[The offer is truly appreciated, but there's something I need to do during the break]
At Choi Ji-yeon's regretful words, I repeatedly bowed my head as if to express my apologies.
Choi Ji-yeon's expression turned peculiar.
She seemed to find my attitude odd.
She had good reason to.
Even I thought my attitude was somewhat awkward and hesitant, different from before.
There was a reason for that, too.
A few days ago, Choi Ji-yeon was simply a friend's parent.
Now, things were different.
Last night.
I had received such abundant affection from Hong Yeon-hwa that there was no room for doubt. The thought 'Could I be mistaken?' did not occur to me.
The soft, moist sensation that had been pressed to my lips was exceedingly vivid.
A memory just as vivid had to do with scent.
I had lived my life so accustomed to being scentless it was second nature. The moment my sense of smell returned, I had taken in such an intense, rich bodily scent.
Because it was such a warm and comforting fragrance, my mind had been softly melting all night long.
To make a comparison, it was rather like presenting a truckload of high-grade lean meat to a carnivore that had been starving to the brink of death, causing its eyes to roll back.
The memory of last night was vivid.
So vivid that whenever it came to mind, my face heated up.
'We k-kissed and all... so, we'll probably get married later, too.'
It was a simple story.
I like Hong Yeon-hwa. Hong Yeon-hwa likes me, too.
I'd even received a kiss. So, we were going to get married someday.
We were still woefully unprepared to become partners and parents, and there was no telling how the world might change, but... if I achieved my goal, that was how it would be.
If that happened, Choi Ji-yeon would become my mother-in-law.
That carried a completely different weight than a friend's parent.
No wonder my words and actions had stiffened without me realizing it...
"...Ahem, the air feels a bit chilly today. I think I shall take my leave."
Choi Ji-yeon glanced at Hong Yeon-hwa and me, let out a short cough, and inclined her head.
[Ah]
[Yes]
[Thank you very much for seeing us off]
"It's embarrassing to receive thanks just for seeing you off."
Choi Ji-yeon gave a wry smile.
"If you ever run into any trouble, please come by anytime. Ah, of course, you're just as welcome to visit if you're simply bored."
[Yes]
[I'll keep that in mind]
With those words, Choi Ji-yeon turned around. The sound of her footsteps grew distant along with her form.
Hong Yeon-hwa's gaze followed Choi Ji-yeon.
Choi Ji-yeon entered the mansion, and the doors that had been open to either side closed.
"...Ahem."
Hong Yeon-hwa only turned her head after Choi Ji-yeon had entered the mansion.
She let out a few awkward coughs and glanced around as well. Her eyes swept the surroundings, and only after confirming there were no eyes on us did she sidle up to me.
- Squeeze...
Then, she reached out both hands and pulled me into her embrace.
Even now that I was used to it, the sensation was bliss beyond compare. My body and mind grew languid of their own accord.
"S'good..."
A yearning sound escaped my lips on its own. The corners of Hong Yeon-hwa's mouth twitched as she gently stroked my head and back.
"...Just don't get hurt."
I had already told Hong Yeon-hwa that I had things to do and would be moving around for the rest of the break.
Of course, I hadn't told her the exact destination, only that I had a place to stop by briefly.
I had been coerced into confessing the truth through tickle torture, but in the end, I succeeded in guarding the secret.
Because of that, Hong Yeon-hwa, who hadn't heard the destination, looked down at me with somewhat anxious eyes.
[Don't worry]
[It's not a dangerous place]
I shook my head, telling her not to worry.
The place I was heading to wasn't really dangerous.
This world is broadly divided into three types of zones.
The Black Zone, where the land has been eroded by the chain rampage of countless dungeons and has now become the world of monsters.
The White Zone, where, under the Association's influence, a civilization of better quality than before the Great Cataclysm is sometimes even guaranteed.
And the midpoint between black and white.
The Gray Zone, land that has not yet been taken by monsters, but where the influence of powers like the Association does not reach to any great extent.
I was just going to stop by such a Gray Zone for a while.
I would improve my specs through dungeons and secure artifacts.
And at the same time, deal with the fanatics who had set up a base nearby.
If that went smoothly...
'If it ends earlier than expected, I should spend some time with Seo-yul.'
I was still receiving news of Seo-yul.
Ellia was taking pictures of Seo-yul and sending them to me every day, and there were so many adorable and lovable pictures.
Before I knew it, I had found myself backing up every last one of them.
Incidentally, Hong Yeon-hwa had decided to see Seo-yul in the second semester.
Hong Yeon-hwa wasn't in a position to simply play around either, so there wasn't enough time to meet at the end of the break.
So, we decided it would be better for me, Seo-yul, and Hong Yeon-hwa to meet in the second semester when we'd all gather at Siyoram.
'I'm glad that Yeon-hwa doesn't think poorly of Seo-yul.'
Very fortunately, Hong Yeon-hwa did not find Seo-yul disagreeable.
When I'd asked her what she thought of Seo-yul, truly with my heart in my throat, the answer she gave was positive—I can't say how relieved I'd been.
If the answer had been negative... just imagining it makes my head spin, but I would have had to brace myself for her dislike and beg on my hands and knees.
'...So, as soon as it's over, I should go pick her up right away.'
The Gray Zone wasn't an inherently dangerous place.
Because the Association's influence and the Observatory's surveillance don't frequently reach there, all sorts of criminals tend to flock to the Gray Zones, but as long as you steer clear of trouble, it isn't dangerous.
Of course, it could become dangerous if I was careless...
'If that happens, I can just escape using my insurance and save my life, so it's fine.'
I had a backup plan.
If it truly seemed like my life was about to end, I could just flee with an emergency exit.
So it was safe.
[I'll come back in one piece]
I might get injured, but I could just heal and return.
I hadn't lied.
Saying that, I beamed a bright smile so that Hong Yeon-hwa, who was looking at me as if I were a newborn baby set down by the water's edge, could feel at ease.
"...Should I just come along..."
It didn't seem to have much effect.
I nodded as if there was no helping it, and with my eyes slightly open, I examined a corner of my field of vision.
[...! ...! .......!!]
[......]
'...What's been up with that since earlier.'
A corner of my field of vision, slightly ajar.
The content written on the Status Window (presumed) seemed to have changed somehow.
Of course, I had no idea what had changed.
* * *
[The Tower Master of Harmonization raises both hands high]
[Uses points]
[Goodn&! Da*#! m$! Ey#$ ope@#!]
[Uses points]
[@der& un@%#stand, #ut I $an'% a@sw%r you ri#t n#w...]
[Uses points]
[We^ foun% Kno& $ %ss. T@at to@%r has f@wer res&@ions, so we sh&ld be ab@% to get an an%w$er!]
[Uses a large amount of points]
...
...
...
[...Salva&%?]
[Uses points]