Game of the World Tree

【 HARDCOREEVANGELISM 】

“Hm? Why does this line sound familiar?”

Jasmine felt a flicker of recognition.

Her memory wasn’t bad and with a little thought, she quickly recalled where she had heard it.

“It’s from the new opening cinematic!”

“The half-elf man in the opening… is that Ouros?”

A spark of interest lit up within Jasmine’s mind.

She wasn’t one to pay much attention to in-game stories and typically she’d just spam the skip button to bypass them.

If it weren’t for Elven Kingdom forcing players to go through the story early on to understand the game, she wouldn’t have done it at all.

However, everyone loves a good story, especially when their curiosity is piqued.

The cryptic hints from the opening cinematic, coupled with Caesar’s speculation about the trial quest, eventually stirred a flicker of curiosity within Jasmine about the story she’d ignored earlier.

And curiosity is always the first step toward obsession.

This applies to everything.

Under Caesar’s expectant and slightly nervous gaze, Jasmine delved deeper into the records.

The logs were richly detailed, with illustrations, video memories, and perfectly fitting background music.

The story unfolded through the words and recollections of various NPCs, slowly unraveling the secrets behind the demi-realm of Ouros…

It was the tale of a hero who sacrificed everything for his beliefs.

It was the story of a pitiable soul who was even willing to go far as to fall into darkness in a desperate bid to resurrect the Goddess.

For the sake of his unwavering beliefs, the demigod Ouros burned himself to ashes.

The narrative followed Ouros’s journey as a half-elf, weaving through the secret history of the thousand year war, the creation of his demi-realm, the goals of the Church of Creation, the realm’s decline, and Ouros’s steadfastness and eventual descent into darkness.

In the end, the hero fell amidst scorn and anger, while the Goddess returned amidst cheers and jubilation.

The story’s designer was clearly very talented.

Using multiple perspectives and voices, the narrative unfolded layer by layer, gradually revealing the mysteries of the demi-realm of Ouros.

The background music and emotional cues were perfectly executed, evoking a profound sense of history, the elven race’s sense of duty, and Ouros’s tragic tale of heroism.

As the story unfolded, a vivid, grand, and sorrowful historical tableau came to life within Jasmine’s mind.

Initially, she had approached it half-heartedly at best, merely skimming the words without much interest. However, as she continued reading, the story began to draw her in, and she gradually found herself becoming fully engrossed.

Jasmine had never taken game stories seriously beforehand.

In her eyes, MMORPGs like Elven Kingdom weren’t about the plot. Story-driven text-based games might have well-written narratives, but those games were explicitly designed to sell their stories, so there is no comparison. Ȓ�

To her, most MMORPG plots were just filler filled with poorly crafted stories and shaky logic, generic settings, forced drama, and often embarrassingly awkward storytelling.

Quite frankly, they were a waste of time.

Besides, most people only skimmed through quests for the rewards.

Few genuinely immersed themselves in the narratives.

Jasmine had been ready to tear apart the story once her initial curiosity faded.

Yet, as she fully immersed herself in the backstory of the Priest’s Trial, Jasmine fell silent.

It was a heartfelt tale—albeit, a tragic one.

For reasons she couldn’t fathom, Jasmine felt a weight, a sense of gravitas and authenticity she had never experienced in other game narratives.

There was an epic, sorrowful quality to it, as if the events had truly occurred.

As the story played out, an image of Ouros formed vividly in her mind.

He was a hero who bore everything, sacrificed everything, and never wavered in his beliefs, even in the face of corruption.

The contrast was especially striking when the sounds of laughter from Ouros’s city echoed through the story.

The joy and happiness of the people sharply contrasted with the weighty tragedy, leaving Jasmine feeling inexplicably stifled and melancholic.

Jasmine had always skipped game stories before.

Yet, the immersive nature of Elven Kingdom made it impossible to ignore the game’s lore entirely.

Players inevitably interacted with NPCs, and over time, those interactions left subtle impressions within them.

The key factor was the empathy and immersion players developed for the Elvenkind in Elven Kingdom.

This empathy and immersion made players more susceptible to the emotional pull of Ouros’s story, thus making it easier for them to be deeply moved.

Jasmine was no exception.

When she realized her own emotional reaction, she paused in surprise.

Had she really been moved by a mere story?

The thought amused her.

She continued reading, wanting to see if there was any follow-up after Ouros’s disappearance—perhaps a hint that he had been guided back to the goddess’s divine kingdom.

However, the story just abruptly ended there.

“—Tha

She blinked, startled.

“Did he really die? A hero like that?”

She murmured, letting out a soft sigh—one she didn’t even notice herself making.

“It’s quite an amazing story, isn’t it? Ouros’s fate is truly tragic! And the Priest class… it feels so much more meaningful and full of responsibility than I imagined.”

Caesar’s voice broke through Jasmine’s thoughts again, tinged with genuine emotion.

Hearing the deep sentiment in his sigh, Jasmine closed the story interface and instinctively turned her head.

When she caught sight of Caesar’s expression—his eyes slightly red with emotion—she almost couldn’t hold back her laughter.

“Pfft… It’s just a story! Why are you so moved you’re almost crying? Aren’t you supposed to be a guy? It’s just a game’s lore, for goodness’ sake. You’re taking it way too seriously.”

“Uh… can’t guys be moved too? I’ve never been able to resist stories like this,” Caesar said with a shrug.

He glanced at Jasmine, and when he noticed the faintly melancholic look on her face, a small smile tugged at his lips.

As someone with a keen eye for details, Caesar instantly recognized that expression.

It was the unmistakable look of someone touched by a story—moved, yet yearning for more.

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“Be honest, though. Didn’t it move you even a little? Or… after all your time in Elven Kingdom, are you still just treating it like any other game?”

His question made Jasmine fall silent.

After a moment, she sighed softly.

“I don’t know,” she admitted. “But…I do admit it really is a pretty good story.”

When she looked back at Caesar with his “mission accomplished” smile—like that of a proud parent—made her ears flush red.

“Of course! Just slightly good, that’s all!” she stammered, attempting to explain herself.

“I get it, I get it. As long as you enjoyed it, that’s what really matters!”

Caesar said with a knowing smile.

Jasmine: “…”

“Who said I liked it…” she muttered under her breath.

Switching topics, she stood up and headed toward the Temple of Life.

“Anyway, the trial’s done. Let’s go turn in the quest.”

To complete the trial, they needed to pray at the temple again, just as they had done initially to accept the quest.

The Temple of Life, still undergoing reconstruction, stood as a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight. Its grand architecture exuded a sense of divine authority, a fitting centerpiece for the demi-realm.

Rumor had it that its design was primarily spearheaded by the Moe Moe Committee, drawing heavy inspiration from Earth’s St. Peter’s Basilica.

As the main temple in this demi-realm and the spiritual center for millions of local inhabitants, its grandeur was fitting.

When Jasmine and Caesar finally arrived, the temple was already crowded with players who had completed the trial quest.

Everyone was buzzing with excitement, eagerly discussing the trial’s storyline.

“So this demi-realm actually has such a deep backstory…”

“I can’t believe the boss we fought was technically an ally.”

“Wake up—it was clearly the goddess who defeated him.”

“No, you wake up. Ouros chose to stop fighting himself…”

“Whatever the case, he’s definitely a hero to the elves, and a devout follower of the goddess.”

“Maybe that’s the point of the trial—to make us understand his beliefs.”

“Exactly. The heart of Elven Kingdom is immersion. To become a truly great Priest, we probably need to fully connect with the NPCs.”

“I’m starting to find the Priest class more and more fascinating.”

After waiting in line for about five or six minutes, it was finally Jasmine’s turn.

She knelt before the sacred statue of the goddess and prayed, activating the quest completion interface.

Her vision shifted once again, and Jasmine thought she caught a fleeting glimpse of the goddess herself.

The goddess sat gracefully upon her divine throne, smiling warmly at Jasmine.

“Chosen one, you have completed the trial and earned the qualifications to become a Priest Aspirant.”

The goddess raised her hand in a gentle motion, and Jasmine felt a soft, comforting power flow into her body.

“Faithful chosen, spread my teachings across the land… May your heart always remain pure and steadfast as you become my messenger.”

The goddess’s voice was soothing and serene, carrying an inexplicable calming power.

As her words faded, Jasmine’s vision shifted once more, returning to the in-game world.

The moment she regained focus, new system messages appeared before her:

【

】

【Congratulations, faithful chosen! You have acquired the Priest class.】

【Your current Priest rank: Priest Aspirant.】

【A Priest Aspirant is not a fully-fledged Priest yet. To advance, you must complete a number of Prolesetyzing Tasks.】

【

】

【You have triggered the Priest task: Evangelism.】

【Task Objective: Convert 3 people to become believers of the Goddess of Life.】

【Task Duration: 3 days.】

【Task Rewards: Promotion to Apprentice Priest, activation of the Divine Blessing System.】

【Task Failure Penalty: Priest class activation will fail; trial must be redone.】

【

】

【You have gained a skill: Eye of Faith.】

【Eye of Faith: Use this skill to discern a target’s level of faith in the Goddess of Life.】

【You have received a virtual item: Codex of Life.】

【Codex of Life can be accessed in the Priest interface and will serve as a key tool for evangelism.】

“Hmm? Not a full-fledged Priest yet?”

Jasmine frowned slightly.

“Looks like we need to convert three people to become an Apprentice Priest and officially unlock the Priest class, including its leveling scheme. Jasmine, let’s start preaching right away!”

Caesar suggested eagerly.

Hearing this, Jasmine nodded subtly, and the two of them quickly left the temple, stepping back onto the streets of Seigües City.

As they walked around, Jasmine opened her personal interface to check her status screen.

There was a small but notable change on her panel.

Beneath her mana bar, a new golden energy bar had appeared, labeled Divine Favor.

“Divine Favor?”

Jasmine’s curiosity was piqued.

Focusing on the bar, a brief explanation surfaced within her mind:

Divine Favor is a unique resource for Priests, consumed when casting divine spells.

It regenerates over time, depending on your Priest level.

Converting someone into a believer grants additional Divine Favor.

However, any Divine Favor exceeding your maximum limit won’t regenerate after being used.

At present, though, the bar was inactive.

“Its still not activated yet? So this must be the Divine Favor system.”

“In essence, it’s an energy gauge for Priests. And since it can be replenished through preaching, it clearly encourages players to constantly spread the Goddess’s faith,” Jasmine mused.

The key, then, was figuring out how to preach effectively.

Her gaze drifted to the Codex of Life in the Priest interface.

“Is this how we preach? Maybe it’s a skill? Hmm… Surely it’s not something the players themselves wrote, right?” she muttered, tilting her head in thought.

“Hey, Jasmine! Try using Eye of Faith! This skill actually shows an NPC’s level of faith!”

Caesar’s excited voice broke through her musings.

Jasmine shifted her attention to her newly acquired skill.

【Eye of Faith: A Priest skill with no cost and a cooldown of three minutes. Upon activation, it reveals the faith levels of all targets within your field of vision for 10 seconds.】

【Faith types and levels are indicated by colors as follows:】

• Red: Follower of another faith

• Green: Non-believer

• White: Casual believer

• Blue: Devout believer

• Purple: Fanatical believer

• Gold: Saint or Godwarden

“Interesting,” Jasmine murmured, feeling intrigued.

She lifted her head and scanned the bustling streets, her gaze settling on the city’s residents.

With a steady breath, she activated the Eye of Faith.

In an instant, her vision transformed.

The ordinary scene shifted into a radiant display of ethereal hues, as if the world itself had peeled back a layer of reality.

Every person within her line of sight was now surrounded by a shimmering halo of light.

The majority of the halos glowed green, signaling the faithless. A smaller number radiated white, marking those with fledgling belief. Only a rare few stood out, their halos glowing with a serene blue—devoted followers, quietly steadfast in their faith.

She also noticed that many of the green-aura NPCs were surrounded by players enthusiastically preaching to them.

“So they’re already going at it…” Jasmine observed, her competitive instincts as a gamer kicking in.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to Caesar.

“Let’s go. Time to preach. Today, your big sister is going to carry you.”

Using Eye of Faith, Jasmine quickly locked onto a potential target—a young NPC with a green aura—and led the way.

The target was a girl who looked about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in simple clothes that marked her as a commoner.

She was watching the players in the city with wide-eyed curiosity and admiration.

Jasmine, with Caesar in tow, approached the girl directly.

Startled by their sudden presence, the girl jumped slightly and quickly bowed. Her tone was both respectful and nervous as she stammered,

“G-Greetings, honored ones of the divine clan… How may I assist you?”

Jasmine felt a pang of nervousness herself.

She had been confident before approaching the girl, but now that they were face-to-face, she felt a little out of her depth.

It was a testament to how immersive Elven Kingdom truly was.

Even though she knew this was just a game, interacting with NPCs that behaved like real people still made Su Lili, a seasoned socially anxious person, feel awkward.

In fact, she had rarely taken on NPC tasks in Elven Kingdom before. It wasn’t just because she found the long-winded storylines tiresome, but also because she often found herself freezing up when faced with dialogue-heavy interactions, even in a virtual settings.

Still, compared to real-life interactions, it wasn’t as bad.

At least in the game, she didn’t feel the same overwhelming anxiety, self-doubt, and shame she experienced in public.

Here, she could manage to hold a conversation—albeit barely at that.

Besides, the system had already made it clear:

She could preach using the Codex of Life.

All she had to do was bring up the Codex, and presumably, the game would handle the rest with an automated progress bar.

…Right?

Jasmine: “…”

Wait.

She suddenly realized something.

She hadn’t actually looked into how prolesetyzing actually worked.

The Priest tutorial hadn’t provided detailed instructions, only vaguely stating that she needed to use the Codex of Life to spread the faith.

Whilst swallowing nervously, an absurd thought suddenly popped into her mind:

Does she really have to actually preach while uttering the contents of the Codex of Life?

Just like in reality?

T-That…

The devs wouldn’t made the whole process too complicated or overly hardcore…right?

Surely, it must be simple.

This was just a game, after all!

If it were too complex just like how it was done in reality, then no one would bother doing it.

And Caesar was standing nearby, watching her too…

She needed to set a good example!

Determined, Jasmine took a deep breath, plastered on what she thought was a friendly smile (though it was actually rather stiff), and steadied herself.

She greeted the NPC girl.

“Hello. Have you heard of the Goddess of Life?”

“The Goddess of Life?”

The girl blinked, then nodded.

“Yes, she is the great being who saved us.”

Good, she knew the basics already.

Jasmine mentally nodded in approval.

Next, she opened the Codex of Life to begin preaching—something she didn’t fully understand but assumed would involve nothing more than pressing a button and watching a progress bar.

However, the moment the Codex of Life opened, Jasmine immediately froze.

Because what appeared in her field of view was…

The actual Codex written by the players.

Specifically, a digital copy of it.

“…I’m supposed to preach… with this?” Jasmine stared at the screen, dumbfounded.

—Wait.

There had to be a “Preach” button somewhere that could simplify the whole process, right?

Frantically, her gaze darted across the interface as she scrolled through the Codex over and over.

But after turning every page and digging through every option, she found nothing except the Codex of Life.

At that moment, Jasmine felt genuine panic.

She swallowed nervously and stared at the supposedly “essential for preaching” Holy Book with incredulous expression.

Jasmine: “…”

T-This can’t be real.

They expect me to actually preach the Codex just like how a real missionary does?

This hardcore?!

Are they kidding?

The content of this thing is just a bunch of nonsense cobbled up together by the players themselves!

And… this is still just a game, right?!

Jasmine stood there, frozen in disbelief.

Meanwhile, the young NPC girl, who had been utterly awestruck by the sudden appearance of such a beautiful and powerful deity-like figure, watched in growing confusion.

She had expected to be greeted with grand words of wisdom or divine insight, but instead, she saw a figure before her whose composure was rapidly unraveling.

The ‘divine being’—whose serene and confident aura moments ago had turned into one of awkwardness—now had an expression that flickered between pale and flushed.

Her eyes darted around, scanning frantically, clearly searching for something, but nothing seemed to make sense.

Then, suddenly, the powerful figure fell completely silent, leaving the NPC girl standing there, utterly perplexed and unsure of how to react or what to do next.

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