Good Influence

Typically, it takes about a month for an average player to start the game and successfully job change. That's how it was for me in my previous life too. And by the time you complete your job change, there's nothing left to scavenge in the beginner village.

So most players leave the beginner village as soon as they job change... but I'm a bit different.

I need to stick around for another month.

A month from now, a special event hits this beginner village. More precisely, a special merchant shows up, selling all sorts of rare goodies. Among them are legendary growing items like my Growth Dagger.

In my previous life, I didn't have the cash to buy anything, but this time, I'm getting my hands on them no matter what. Which means I need to stay in this village for at least another month to prepare for that merchant.

And since synchronization is complete, I don't even need to log out. I can just live in this world. So I rented a house.

It's a bit off the village center. Five rooms, way too big for one ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠person, and it even has a yard. A little pricey... but hey, might as well live well if you're gonna live somewhere. Money's just something you earn, right?

Sitting on the plush sofa in the living room, I opened my inventory. Inside, the special item I'd picked up earlier was putting on quite the show.

What a weird-ass item.

Very intriguing. The name sounds negative, but curses aren't always bad. They can even be helpful sometimes. Take the Prostitute's Underwear I have.

At first glance, it looks like a nasty curse, but between lovers? Total positive. Makes pleasure way more intense and fun.

Maybe I can get a useful curse out of this?

With that hope, I placed my hand on the Curse Orb.

The black energy filling the orb condensed into a single mass, soon forming an ominous pattern.

And what appeared was...

Hmm. Doesn't look good.

To test it, I pulled out a cheap sword I'd prepared.

The moment I touched the sword to the orb...

Its info changed.

Yup. Not useful at all. The weapon's performance even dropped. And the corrosion isn't even that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fast. Total trash.

Flick! I hit the iron sword with Purifying Light, and the name reverted... but the corrosion damage stuck around. Attack power's still down too. Whatever. It was just a test item anyway.

Wanna make more...

I'd love to see more curses, but this ain't free.

Need to refill the impurity to use it, but that last curse drained it dry.

How to fill it?

A few methods came to mind, but they all sounded like a hassle. Then, a great idea hit.

The gambling den's gotta be overflowing with negative vibes, right?

=====

I was planning to hit the gambling den anyway. Best place to rake in cash with luck. Gotta stockpile money before that special merchant NPC shows up.

"Whoa? Aren't you the big winner from yesterday? Come on in!"

The one greeting me at the entrance wasn't the bald guy from before. That guy's not just running this den—he manages the pubs and brothels around here too. Probably off solving problems incognito right now.

I gave a casual nod and stepped inside. The vibe shifted like I'd entered another world.

"Fuck!"

"No way! This is rigged!"

"Please, please, please!"

Thick cigarette smoke mixed with the stench of pure despair. I'd felt that back in the day...

It works. But the joy was short-lived.

That's it? Way less than expected. Sure, it's charging passively, which is nice, but compared to what ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠I got in the cave? Pathetic speed.

"Hey, isn't that guy?"

"The jackpot dude from yesterday!"

"L-Lucky guy?"

As I wallowed in disappointment, a bunch of people recognized me. Their stares burned with intense envy and jealousy.

I could see the black energy in the orb surge. Clicked for me. When the negativity's aimed at me, it charges way faster?

So every time I win cash, impurity skyrockets too? Nice.

As I moved, so did their stares. I stopped at the roulette table.

"Place your bet, sir?"

The dealer's question was perfunctory, but I caught the tremor in his voice. I nodded, eyeing the roulette wheel.

Simple game. Dealer spins the wheel, tosses the ball. Numbers 1-36. Bet on where it lands, win based on that.

Gets deeper—colors, odd/even, sections like 1-18. Easier bets pay less, harder pay more. Single number's toughest, highest payout.

But I'm not that reckless.

I'm chicken too.

Only 15% saved up. Wanted more, but after the rat thing—and not wanting another lewd mishap—I called it here. Still haven't fully figured this Luck Gauge. No clue what 15% even guarantees.

So, safer bet. Corner bet—covers four numbers: 23, 24, 26, 27. Ball lands on one, I win 8x. Betting 5 million.

"N-No way... big hit here too?"

"Ridiculous. Unless the goddess herself blessed him, no chance."

The crowd buzzed. I'd won all three gambles here. Looked like a lucky charm... but following me still felt iffy.

"Bets closed."

Only a few copied me by deadline, tiny stakes.

Whirr! Wheel spun, ball flew. Tension peaked.

Ball stopped at—

"...24."

Dealer's voice shook. Others gawked at the wheel, then me, in disbelief.

Silence shattered—

"Fuck! Makes no sense!"

"Argh! If I'd bet there!"

"Yes! Glad I followed!"

Reactions exploded. Impurity surged.

Clack, clack, clack. Massive chip stack slid my way. Total: 45 million.

Damn. Making money's a breeze.

"Wow! Congrats, sir!"

"Ooh, oppa! You won again! Jackpot!"

Like last time, bunny girls swarmed, sniffing cash. Thrusting cleavage, shaking asses.

"Thanks. Tip."

"Ahhn! Oppa best!"

Slipping chips into their cleavage and thongs cranked the jealous stares to eleven.

"Hey, bro! Tip a number!"

"One more! Please, please!"

Not just envy—begging too. Desperate to ride my luck. Ignored 'em all and bounced.

No point gambling with empty Luck Gauge.

Target hit. Stored chips under my name and left.

Does luck work on curse generation too?

It's basically a gacha. Maybe luck pulls higher-grade curses?

The entertainment district's a mess as always. Perfect for me—quests everywhere. I started picking up trash right away, but...

"There he is!"

What? What's going on? Someone yelled, so I turned... some guy pointing at me, face flushed.

Wait, that old dude from the den? Not just him. Gamblers pouring out, all staring.

They've lost it?

Following me? Gonna jump me out of envy, greed? Or beg for numbers?

Nope. Neither.

The crazed gamblers did something unexpected.

"Rumors true! Cleaning trash!"

"Good deeds bring blessings!"

"Damn! How'd I miss something this simple?!"

Slapping their heads like they'd cracked the code, they started picking trash too. Even cleaning vomit, righting bins.

Hey, crazies! What the hell? You're stealing my quests!

Sure enough, quests vanished one by one.

I frantically grabbed visible trash, which just egged them on.

"Look! He's rushing now! That's the secret!"

Can't deny it... but it only works for me! Stop, you lunatics!

Then, another twist—

All actions appear positive. Some good deeds from those influenced by you count toward your share.

"...Huh?"

Stunned by the surprise achievement, the gamblers doubled down on quests. And every time—

My Luck Gauge filled up... just by standing there.