Chapter 4: Ending for the Good-Hearted (4)
Kai looked around. Why was it called pure white? Because it was exactly that. Literally, the space was entirely white. The sky, the ground, even the distant horizon, all white.
"I've heard of a white house on a hill, but this..."
As Kai stood there, a message appeared before him once again.
[Helik, God of the Sun, does not grant just anyone the authority to act on his behalf on the earthly plane. Place your hand upon the Marble of Mana to prove your worth.]
"Marble of Mana?"
As Kai tilted his head, a pillar suddenly rose from the ground to waist height. On top of the pillar was a red-glowing Marble of Mana, the only object in this white world that possessed color.
I’m supposed to put my hand on this?
He placed his hand on the Marble of Mana without much thought, and the moment he did so, hundreds of videos appeared before his eyes, flowing like a panorama.
"These videos are..."
They were moments of kindness that Kai had performed in MID Online. Saving a beginner surrounded by Wolves after getting lost in the forest. Bringing a crying girl in the bustling market back to her mother. Caring for an elderly NPC who lived alone so they could pass away peacefully. Even collecting herbs from a swamp to save a merchant's dying wife! All these were acts of kindness Kai had voluntarily performed while playing MID Online.
All of this was recorded?
These were memories he had completely forgotten himself. As the last video passed, text appeared above the Marble of Mana.
[Scoring Player Kai's trial performance...]
[Player Kai's heart: Pure, Good, Logical.]
[Player Kai has gained the favor of a total of 458 NPCs.]
[Player Kai has gained the absolute trust of a total of 47 NPCs.]
[Helik’s trial: 250% complete.]
[Achievement rate exceeded 100%. You will receive additional rewards.]
[You have met all of the requirements for the class Solaris Cleric.]
[Would you like to change your class to Solaris Cleric?]
"...."
Kai clenched his mouth shut.
Some friends in real life called him a pushover for helping others, but their relationship wasn't bad. In fact, he was quite popular, but he had few friends with whom he shared a deep connection. As he grew older, Kai understood why.
Well, being around me must be exhausting.
It would be comfortable to be moderately friendly with someone who could be useful sometimes, but too deep a relationship would become tiring. People thought of him that way.
Kai even considered stopping his acts of kindness once, but he couldn't bring himself to do it.
...Flowers.
When Kai helped someone, it seemed like a flower bloomed brightly on their faces—a flower of smile. The moment he saw those smile flowers was the most joyful, and it made him feel alive. Unknowingly, Kai had become deeply enchanted by the fragrant aromas emitted by those flowers.
Suddenly, in the white space where he stood alone, a surge of self-esteem sprang from his eyes.
"So what?"
What was wrong with helping others? It was foolish? Frustrating? Then why didn’t people who thought such ways just help people in trouble themselves? However, those who belittled the Benevolences of others never took initiative to act first. Then, who would help those who are in need of assistance from others?
"In the end, it's the frustrated ones who take action."
Kai steadied his breathing and looked at the message window again.
"See. I wasn't wrong."
The message window showed the results of the kindness he had spread. Even the strict, data-driven world made of zeros and ones acknowledged him.
The path Kai took was called foolish by some and pointless by others. Yet, the system acknowledged his Benevolence, affirming that what he had done was correct and good.
"I haven’t… lived my life wrong."
Kai nodded heavily.
Feeling like he would cry if he didn't smile, he instead smiled widely and said, "I'll change my class to a Solaris Cleric."
At the same time he declared, a beam of sunlight from the sky surrounded him entirely. He felt the coziness of spring, the passion of summer, the loneliness of autumn, and the warmth of winter. It was as if he was basking in various kinds of sunlight all at once.
Ding!
[Your job class has changed from Cleric to Solaric Cleric.]
[With the class change to Solaris Cleric, class-specific stats and skills have been generated.]
[The Benevolence stat is now unlocked.]
[You have acquired the Sunlight’s Warmth skill.]
[You have acquired the Solaris Blessing skill.]
[You have acquired the Solaris Armor skill.]
[As an additional reward, you have acquired the Friendly Brother skill.]
[With the acquisition of the Mythic rank class, all stats have increased by 10.]
[You have acquired the title, Envoy of God.]
"Why are there so many?"
There were so many message windows that he could barely see all of them in one glance.
Kai, looking bewildered, opened his stats window.
[Kai]
Class: Solaris Cleric
Level: 46
Title: Apprentice Cleric
HP: 9,100
Holy Power: 17,600
Stats
Strength: 21 Stamina: 91
Intelligence: 21 Agility: 21
Holiness: 176 Benevolence: 0
“All my stats really increased by 10."
Just as the system message indicated, after his class changed to Solaris Cleric, all his stats had risen by 10 points each.
Indeed, a Mythic rank class.
In MID Online, changing to a standard class typically increased each stat by one point. Occasionally, hidden classes unveiled in the community or game news increased about three points.
But mine increased by ten.
At the start of the game, all stats began at 10. After that, each level-up granted five stat points to be distributed to one’s stats as desired. This was how MID Online's system worked.
Essentially, a 10 point increase in each stat is as if I've leveled up ten times at once.
Kai felt a thrill and reviewed his stats window again.
Now that I think about it, didn't all my stats increase by one when I first became a Cleric?
In simple words, he had undergone two class changes, resulting in 11 point stat increases in total! That explained why his stats that he hadn’t invested in like Strength, Intelligence, and Agility were now at 21. It was an unexpected bonus, but he wasn’t complaining.
Kai focused on the newly added stat. "What is this Benevolence stat? Why is this the only stat that didn't increase?"
He lightly touched the Benevolence stat with his finger.
[Benevolence]
[This stat can only be increased by performing acts of service.]
(You cannot spend points on this stat upon leveling up.)
"So, I can only perform acts of service to increase this stat?"
That part made sense, but its purpose was still unclear.
Kai shook off the lingering confusion and opened his skill window.
[Sunlight’s Warmth Lv.1]
Restore HP and remove any negative status effects.
Does damage to Undead/Demonic enemies.
Proficiency 0/100
[Solaris Blessing Lv.1]
[Increases physical and magical attack power. Also increased holy damage.]
[Proficiency 0/100]
[Solaris Armor Lv.1]
Increases physical and magical defense.
Proficiency 0/100
[Holy Explosion Lv.1]
Release the judgment of the Gods upon your enemies through a holy blast of light.
Proficiency 0/100
"Hmm."
At a glance, these skills didn't seem different from the basic Cleric skills like Heal, Blessing, Shield of Light, or Ray of Light.
Well, I guess I'll find out when I use them. At least the skills I learned as a Cleric didn't disappear.
Kai saw his frequently used skills still present below the newly added ones and smiled contently.
"I would've been disappointed if all the effort I put into increasing my skill proficiency was gone."
There was even a new title acquired during the class change.
"Title Book."
Poof!
A thick book was summoned out of thin air. Kai held the book with one hand and opened the book to a sparkling, glowing page. The sparkling page indicated that a new title was added.
[Envoy of God]
Rank: Mythic
Description: A title given to those who represent God.
Effect: All stats increase by the amount of the Benevolence stat.
"...Huh?"
Kai, with a dazed expression, was unable to continue speaking easily. After a moment, as his wandering mind returned, Kai took a big gulp of air.
What in the world is this?
Kai, with his eyes widened, examined the title's effect once again. His concentration was so intense, it was as if he could have passed the Korean University entrance exam if he had studied textbooks this way!
I want to experiment to see if this is true, but I don't have any Benevolence stats.
First, he would have to accumulate Benevolence stats.
"Then I should leave this place. Which way is the exit?"
In the Room of Confirmation, made entirely of pure white, there was naturally nothing that could be called a door. However, the moment Kai thought about leaving, a message window appeared.
[Would you like to exit the Room of Confirmation?]
"Yes."
[Please select a destination.]
"It can do this too?"
As usual, customer satisfaction really came from after-sales service! Slightly touched, Kai selected the area where he had originally been active.
[Moving to the Frica Village.]
"Alright."
With a burst of bright white light, Kai was enveloped. Swamped with his recent class change to Solaris Cleric, Kai failed to read a few lines of text that appeared beneath the numerous message windows that had popped up.
[You have acquired a class through an incorrect method.]
[Some skills of the Solaris Cleric (Mythic) will be sealed.]
[The sealed skills can be unsealed later by meeting with a class-related NPC.]
***
"Looking for party members! Seeking a Cleric or Druid above level 45!"
"Looking for a Tank! Need someone sturdy with at least 5 pieces of the Red Gnoll set!"
"Need one more dealer for the Red Gnoll Chief Raid! We're ready to go once you join!"
"Freshly baked bread for sale at Maron's Bakery for adventurers! Five soft bread with sweet red bean filling for three silver!"
Regaining his senses, Kai found himself in a bustling place.
He had arrived at Frica's central square, where he had been looking for party members just a few hours earlier. In the square, NPCs and players were mingling, forming parties, and trading items.
"Now then... Oh, come to think of it, I haven't checked the additional rewards yet."
Kai, wearing the title of Envoy of God, checked the additional rewards.
[Friendly Brother]
[NPCs who believe in the Solarian God will feel a sense of closeness with you.]
"Feeling closeness? Seems a bit vague for an additional reward..."
Kai tilted his head, then immediately activated the skill.
Is it working, or is it not?
He checked his body, but there were no noticeable changes. After a moment of thought, Kai thought of a good idea.
The Lora lady at the vegetable store was a follower of the Church of Solaris, so if I go to the vegetable store I should be able to confirm...?
As Kai continued his thought, he felt a change in the air around him and looked around.
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