---Viktor's POV---

  I watched as Alyanne's pupils suddenly contracted.

  "Uh... leader, I know you took me in not because..." she stammered, trying to expin herself, but the more she spoke, the more chaotic it became.

  "It's fine," I shook my head. "Just think of it as a story. No need to take it seriously."

  The pyers were always bursting with energy.

  Although I had specifically put up a nguage barrier between them and Alyanne, who knew what strange communication methods they might come up with to gossip with her? To avoid more outrageous rumors in the future, it was better to crify things now and prepare her for anything unexpected.

  I could see the confusion on her face as she processed my words.

  "They really are... bold," she said.

  From her expression, I could tell she found their chaotic way of doing things even harder to understand than the monsters.

  "You're saying they don't follow rules, right?" I smiled knowingly. "I'll try to bance and restrain some of their reckless behavior, making their personalities... uh, closer to the humans you're familiar with?"

  I couldn't keep the uncertainty from my tone.

  The pyers' characteristics had their pros and cons, and I didn't pn to control them too much. But The Watchers couldn't rely on just the pyers forever. At the very least, new recruits shouldn't be scared away by them.

  I noticed Alyanne shudder at my words.

  What did he mean by "the humans you're familiar with"? I could practically see the questions forming in her mind. Were the pyers indeed... not normal? Were they the product of forbidden magic?

  But she didn't dare ask more, simply nodding in agreement.

  As for Edgar's housing task, I was pleased to see the three veteran pyers had gone above and beyond expectations. They built two side-by-side huts for him to use as a base for recovery and training. This conveniently turned his front yard into the new spot for distributing mission items, repcing the area near the church.

  I had personally set up a magic array for the house's dividing cabinet in the middle. All items were stored in the back half of the room, preventing pyers from sneaking everything at once.

  From my seat at a wooden table behind Alyanne, I observed as pyers swarmed in to choose their mission items.

  She had redirected her focus to her work, showing none of her earlier unease.

  A red-haired pyer cheerfully lined up, only to see the items allocated to him—a broken pickaxe and a damaged bamboo basket.

  His face fell immediately.

  "A discarded pickaxe, a torn-up basket... and we have to pay for broken tools? Are these mission items even serious?"

  I watched with interest as Alyanne's timidity and hesitation vanished. She knocked on the wooden table with authority, urging the pyer to take it or leave it without wasting everyone else's time.

  NeverShowOff and Garble, who had already taken their missions, crossed their arms and watched the new pyers' frustration with amusement.

  Their conversation drifted to my ears.

  ---Third POV---

  "I told them not to fall behind. Serves them right!" NeverShowOff couldn't resist gloating.

  Mission items didn't respawn once their durability was used up.

  During the days when new pyers hadn't arrived, the three veterans had already worn out most of the good tools. The first batch of newcomers had been lucky enough to grab barely usable items, but those who straggled through the rain, failing to stick with him, were lucky to get anything at all.

  "We did warn them." Garble shrugged. "If they don't listen, that's on them."

  He thought those two uncooperative pyers probably wouldn't make good long-term teammates anyway. It was better to complete the newbie guide missions with the three who followed instructions.

  He frowned as he watched the red-haired pyer hesitating at the front of the line. Alyanne had already knocked on the table a second time to warn him.

  "Why does it feel like the new NPC is deliberately making things difficult for him?" Garble wondered aloud.

  The red-haired pyer's mission was to collect stones, so he needed a pickaxe and something to carry the rocks.

  According to him, there was definitely a better pickaxe in storage, but Alyanne hadn't brought it out. And using a bamboo basket for stones?

  That was clearly a joke.

  "Really?" NeverShowOff turned to look, confused.

  Just as the red-haired pyer grudgingly chose his items under Alyanne's death gre, the next pyer also received a stone-collecting mission.

  In front of everyone, Alyanne brought out better tools for this second pyer, who happily selected them and left in a fsh.

  The red-haired pyer's eyes widened. "Wait, can I switch my items?"

  Alyanne, understanding this from her list of commonly used pyer phrases, agreed smoothly, "Of course."

  Then, she took back the better items she'd just brought out.

  "So, I can't pick those tools after all?"

  Alyanne stared back at him bnkly.

  "You're right. The new NPC doesn't like him," NeverShowOff finally spoke after a moment of silence. It was btant favoritism.

  The new NPC seemed to dispy her emotions far more openly than the two older ones—putting aside the mascot-like Luminaris.

  "Unfair!" The red-haired pyer angrily charged toward the dividing cabinet. "I want to report this NPC for bias!"

  "Calm down, man, it's not worth it!" A pyer in a blue gown grabbed his arm. "We can't beat them!"

  "I don't care. I demand justice!" The red-haired pyer cwed at the air. "I want new tools!"

  ---Viktor's POV---

  "This is the result of your training?" I asked Edgar.

  "Just practical experience," he replied, sipping his water nonchantly. With no tea left in our storage space, The Watchers were too poor to afford anything other than pin water.

  "Expressing a clear attitude makes work smoother," he continued. "After interacting with the pyers for a while, I concluded that showing some backbone was essential. Otherwise, I wouldn't even know how many times my sword had been stolen by the pyers."

  I nodded, understanding.

  All he did was reassure Alyanne not to be afraid of angering them. Who knew she'd learn so quickly and start asserting her attitude ahead of time?

  "From my observations, this ice dragon hasn't inherited the violent temper of her kind," Edgar noted. "Did that pyer upset her earlier?"

  "Uh... maybe?" I wasn't sure. Was it the streaking, which went against the teachings of the Frostmoon Goddess? Or had Alyanne overheard the red-haired pyer's conversation?

  It was fascinating how quickly her attitude had changed.

  Before meeting the pyers, she had been terrified of them. Yet, in such a short time, all her respect and fear had been worn away. It just went to show how good silly pyers were at leaving unforgettable impressions.

  A sudden idea struck me. Perhaps this little incident was a perfect opportunity to observe how the locals and pyers interacted. With that thought, I stayed still, continuing to watch the scene py out.

  The red-haired pyer, unable to break through my magic array, eventually gave up in frustration.

  Meanwhile, Alyanne put away the higher-quality tools again, as if ready to leave.

  The blue gown pyer cried out in arm, "Wait! I haven't taken a mission yet!"

  The conclusion proved entertaining as the pyer, faced with the choice between saving himself and helping his friend, chose without hesitation.

  With one swift motion, he shoved the red-haired pyer aside, smmed his hand on the table, and grabbed the remaining tools.

  "Ma'am! I have nothing to do with that guy, and I'm not picky!" he said. "I think that slightly shorter pickaxe suits me just fine!"

  "Traitor!" the red-haired pyer looked betrayed.

  Selling out your own teammate? Well, that was pyers for you.

  ---Third POV---

  The pyer in the blue gown took a step back to distance himself and deny involvement: "It's not me, I didn't do it, stay away from me!"

  Although Alyanne couldn't understand their words, actions never lied.

  She gnced at the two pyers.

  One of them had actually brought out the mission item they had just taken back earlier—precisely the shortened pickaxe the blue gown pyer had been eyeing!

  While its quality wasn't as good as the first pyer's, it was much better than the red-haired pyer's.

  The blue gown pyer received it with delight: "Thanks, sis! Don't worry, I'm on your side all the way!"

  Obviously, an NPC with key functions was more important than temporary teammates.

  "This NPC is way too lively, huh?" NeverShowOff gaped, wide-eyed. "Did they develop a favorability system?"

  Garble put down his arms, looking serious: "It's probably in the testing phase and hasn't been announced yet."

  Well then...

  The two veteran pyers exchanged a look. In the blink of an eye, they dashed to Alyanne's side.

  "Dear Alyanne, is there anything you need help with?"

  "We are people on a noble mission, returning to Aeltia with great purpose!"

  "Have you had breakfast yet?"

  Their overly eager attitude left Alyanne momentarily bnk-faced.

  So when the Knight of Dawn said things would go more smoothly, this was what he meant?

  "And me too! Gorgeous dy, I'm also carrying the honor of a sacred mission!"

  Before she could respond, the red-haired pyer had also squeezed in, smiling so brightly that it was as if nothing had just happened. He was spouting a flurry of words she didn't understand.

  Alyanne's expression froze.

  From the limited vocabury she had learned and their expressions, it was clear they all wanted to help her.

  But why?

  Especially the red-haired one—she had just given him the cold shoulder earlier!

  The Watchers were truly a strange organization.

  Behind them, Viktor and Edgar, who had been quietly observing, put down their teacups. Edgar handled his with extra care—it was one of the Watchers' st few assets.

  "Your pyers… don't seem to have great memories?"

  "It's not that; they're just used to not holding grudges against NPCs. It's just that this particur pyer is a bit too carefree."

  Viktor let out a long sigh.

  He couldn't help but feel that the random bits of lore he had written up were now being shamelessly quoted right in his face by the pyers.

  It was genuinely the kind of thing that made your toes curl with second-hand embarrassment.

  He looked at the eager, "thirsty" pyers before him and seemed lost in thought. "Maybe we really need to recruit nerds with more stable emotions next time."

  Who knows what kind of suffering these pyers had endured in other games to be so indifferent to NPCs treating them differently?

  The moment they guessed there might be a favorability system, they immediately forgot the earlier unpleasantness and eagerly worked to gain points.

  Even Viktor's conscience twinged at the sight.

  Wait, a favorability system.

  He spped the table and stood up, grinning.

  Of course! Why not just go along with their thinking and create a favorability system?

  It's common knowledge that favorability systems in online games were often unbanced.

  Even if a pyer maxed out their favorability, the NPC might just send them a small handcrafted gift during the holidays.

  But compared to the effort pyers put into gifting items, the reward was pitifully small.

  And every NPC could have their own favorability.

  This kind of currency was far more profitable than tangible magical coins.

  It could also be used to bance other in-game attributes.

  Perfect!

  Edgar gave him a sidelong gnce in surprise. "Who's the unlucky soul you've set your sights on this time?"

  "No one. It seems your assistant has run into some trouble. Aren't you going to help her?"

  Up ahead, Alyanne had no idea how to respond. In the end, she decided to py dumb.

  Viktor had told her before: when faced with something incomprehensible, just pretend you can't hear or see it.

  Edgar didn't even furrow his brow.

  "If she can't handle something like this, then her competence is truly questionable. I suggest you reconsider her position."

  "Fine, the responsibility is yours anyway. You're better at teaching newcomers."

  Viktor only mentioned it casually, and his thoughts weren't far off from Edgar's.

  What he needed was an assistant, not a burden.

  If Alyanne couldn't handle the pyers, then her ice dragon bloodline wasn't all that valuable.

  The Watchers already had a pureblood dragon...

  Viktor turned and headed back.

  "The pyers seem stable enough right now. I have other things to do, so I won't stick around."

  The more Viktor thought about the favorability system, the more brilliant it seemed.

  Relying on SAN value to solve the pyers' streaking issues wasn't a sustainable solution.

  It could even blur the real purpose of the sanity mechanic.

  And the issue of Luminaris not understanding currency values could also be perfectly resolved.

  Each NPC's favorability could be its own type of "currency."

  Set favorability to have no upper limit, and let the pyers spend it however they want!

  It'd be enough to get that scker of a Watcher moving!

  ---

  Alyanne's stiff reaction left the pyers disappointed.

  Garble was the first to give up. "Looks like the favorability system isn't finished yet. There aren't any specific missions."

  NeverShowOff turned to leave immediately. "Alright, let's scatter!"

  With the two veteran pyers saying so, the newer pyers also lost interest and went off to do their own tasks.

  After some wandering, Garble chose the red-haired pyer as his newbie guide target.

  NeverShowOff picked the blue gown pyer.

  The two veterans parted ways at the gate, each leading their newbie pyers to complete tasks.

  Garble took his newbie to clear out the remaining abandoned houses in the town.

  The red-haired pyer's full username was [HornyHedgehog], so everyone just called him Hedgehog.

  Over the past few days, all the wood around the town, rge or small, had been chopped down by the three veteran pyers.

  To find stone, they'd have to travel further afield.

  Considering the travel time, this wasn't the most efficient task for new pyers. In contrast, demolishing the abandoned houses in town to harvest stone from them was a much better task.

  Garble, now Level 4 and with better stats than the newbies, still took on the same task as Hedgehog to guide him.

  Along the way, he expined game mechanics while teaching him how to demolish houses while preserving as much stone as possible. Hedgehog thought it sounded simple enough—until they actually reached the first abandoned house.

  "This game is so hardcore!" he stared at the weathered walls. "Are we seriously demolishing houses?"

  Garble positioned himself in front of a crumbling wall, pickaxe held at an angle. "Watch carefully. You want to hit right where the mortar meets the stone." He tapped the spot with his pickaxe. "See this darker line? That's your target."

  The pickaxe struck with precision. Small chunks of ancient mortar crumbled away, leaving the stone brick intact.

  Tap, tap, tap—each hit methodical and controlled.

  Hedgehog leaned in closer. "But won't the whole wall just—"

  "Shh." Garble worked his way around the brick's edges. "The trick is patience. Hit too hard, you'll crack the stone. Too soft, you'll be here all day." More mortar fell away as his pickaxe found its rhythm.

  Debris collected at their feet. Sweat beaded on Garble's forehead as he worked, but his movements never lost their careful precision. Finally, he wedged the pickaxe behind the loosened brick and gave a gentle push.

  The massive stone block, nearly as tall as Hedgehog's waist, slid free and hit the ground.

  "Holy shit." Hedgehog circled the pristine brick. "Not even a scratch on it. How do you even know how to do this?"

  "Found it online," Garble replied, still examining his handiwork. "The past couple days, we looked up proper demolition techniques. Once you get the hang of it, it's not too hard."

  "Your turn." Garble handed over the pickaxe. "Remember—follow the mortar lines. Like tracing a picture."

  Hedgehog gripped the pickaxe, grinning. "Time to wreck this pce!"

  "Wait—"

  But he had already swung, sending a spiderweb of cracks through the next brick.

  "Damn it!" He stared at the ruined stone. His enthusiasm barely dented, he rolled up his sleeves. "Let me try again!"