This Is Not a Bug but a Game Feature-Chapter 73: The Hero’s Responsibility

The Hero has a captivating personality!

And this charisma is irresistible to everyone, be it dukes or counts, common folk or even Elf Beastmen.

"Freedom!"

Chen Ba emphasized the freedom of the game again, stating that in this new game, every NPC is equal.

The Hero can choose anyone as their partner for the quest to rescue the princess; you can even enlist the King, Queen, and Prince, and take the royal family to defeat the Demon King...

"Think outside the box!"

Chen Ba put down his chopsticks and explained slowly, "Add the Blacksmith, Pharmacist, and Tailor to your team, and you have a portable shop, eliminating the need to go to town maps to buy things."

"Huh? You can do that?"

Lu was greatly amazed.

Usually, NPCs like Blacksmiths, Tailors, and Pharmacists are stationed at fixed spots so players can easily find them.

Unexpectedly, you could recruit these NPCs into the Hero’s squad to achieve a "portable shop" effect.

"Of course, besides these shop NPCs, you can even have the Holy Hall Mage who revives Heroes join the team, reviving on the spot with full health..."

That’s too sneaky!

Wang Kun was a bit surprised; reviving on the spot with full health is a mighty ability. If the team has just one Holy Hall Mage, even a level-one Hero could grind the Demon King down?

"No way!"

Chen Ba knew what he was thinking and shook his head in denial, "Though recruiting shop NPCs or Holy Hall Mage is convenient, isn’t there a possibility where they might get attacked by monsters and die?"

He had considered this earlier.

Some NPCs offer significant convenience to the Hero once recruited into the Hero’s squad due to their special functions.

However, these NPCs are fragile and hard to train, prone to being killed by monsters and resurrecting back at their original spot, with their affinity reset to zero.

Exploiting loopholes isn’t possible.

NPC lives matter too; you cannot recruit them into the squad just to use them as cannon fodder.

Most NPCs possess "uniqueness," meaning that if they die, they won’t resurrect; they’ll never appear again.

At least within this save file, if an NPC dies, they won’t show up anywhere on the map again, and players won’t encounter them.

"This underscores the importance of training NPCs!"

Chen Ba laughed, "You must equip them well, prepare materials needed for career advancement, and accompany them in monster battles to level up."

Properly trained NPCs possess significant combat and self-defense capabilities.

Untrained NPCs, unless they are Royal Palace Guards with inherent "basic attributes," are generally weak, easily killed by monsters...

"I get it now. I guess you designed it this way to make players cherish their teammates more and not see them as mere tools."

Wang Kun pondered, "After all, Heroes can revive if they die, but NPCs can’t, and you won’t see them anymore if they die."

A teammate you invested immense effort and time into, and shared countless adventures with, dying before your eyes with no possibility of revival...

Just imagining it feels painful!

Chen Ba nodded; that was indeed his intention. The unrevivable characteristic of NPCs makes players prioritize nurturing and protecting NPCs, which is the "responsibility" a Hero should have.

Imagine this scenario: common NPCs die and are gone, but what if those players who build harem parties lose a wife from their team due to her uniqueness and inability to revive? Wouldn’t they instantly become Foyego in despair?

"Sounds a bit scary."

"Scary?"

Yang Dong couldn’t help but chuckle, "That’s scary? Imagine those who don’t care if NPCs die, they replace a dead comrade with another. If only shop NPCs and Holy Hall Mages remain on Divine Grace Continent, that’s truly scary!"

In that case, you can’t complete the game.

Because when it comes to defeating the Demon King, the Hero alone wouldn’t suffice, even if fully equipped with divine gear and maxed attributes.

Anyone bringing those shop NPCs and Holy Hall Mage?

No way!

These NPCs with special functions can infinitely revive only because they are too weak.

The potential limit of shop NPCs and Holy Hall Mage is very low, even trained to extremes. With a Hero, they’re no match for the Demon King.

In contrast, those unique NPCs, irrevivable upon death, though initially weak with basic attributes, have no special functions, but can be very useful once trained, becoming essential for game completion.

So...

If all unique NPCs die and Divine Grace Continent is left with only shop NPCs and Holy Hall Mages, then it signifies "save failure."

In this save file, the Hero’s mission fails, the Demon King becomes undefeatable, and no one can help.

"Achieving this failed save scenario is quite challenging, considering the numerous NPCs available..."

After a satisfying meal, Chen Ba patted his round belly, "If a Hero indeed does this, causing the death of all followers one after another, then they deserve the failed save outcome."

The Hero’s responsibility is grave!

This is a principle Chen Ba held while planning the "Divine Grace Continent" game.

Providing feedback to teammates involves investing resources, equipment, and gold coins into them, enhancing their abilities so even the weakest NPC can make a significant difference.

Without feedback for teammates, encountering difficulties while being self-centered and hoarding resources, seeing teammates as burdens, can such a Hero really save the world?

"Absolutely!"

Wang Kun also paused his chopsticks, deep in thought, "As the team leader, the Hero should shoulder the responsibility, taking care of everyone in the team."

Even if some teammates feel weak, like burdens...

But isn’t there a possibility that addressing these shortcomings could strengthen the team, making it more unstoppable?

"Alright, that’s it for today."

With appetites fulfilled, and Chen Ba checking the time—it’s already half-past ten at night—they should part ways.

Tomorrow, they need to continue working on the DLC!

"Okay, I’m heading home too."

Wang Kun lives far from the food court, plus his parents are quite strict, scolding him for coming back late.

Upon hearing Chen Ba announce the parting, he stood up, ready to leave but not without reminding Ba and the others about the favor he asked. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

"Don’t worry, we won’t forget."

After sending off Wang Kun, Chen Ba, who planned to return to the studio for a good sleep, was suddenly pulled by Lu.

"Ba, I forgot to ask earlier, if an NPC’s affinity is high enough, they marry the Hero—does that apply across genders?"

You... really play big!

Chen Ba gave Lu an odd look, surprised he cared about this issue.

Though the question seemed peculiar, he already had a plan, nodding, "Yes, I never said the Hero can only pursue female characters..."

Good buddies sharing a bedroll is possible too!