Ch.157157 – Performance Character and Affection Character

<157 – Performance Characters and Affection Characters>

I used points to tear open a precious emotion scroll.

<Titosoga’s Friendship Ring (Bound)>

Rank – Unique Grade 7

Description – A gift from the Ghost Papa commemorating Titosoga’s unwavering friendship. If the current ring wearer doesn’t wish it, other individuals won’t receive any effects from wearing the ring.

Effect 1 – Life Gauge Check

Effect 2 – Life Transfer

Effect 3 – When within 20m of another ring owner, all stats increase

Appraisal Value – 222 gold coins, 22 silver coins, 22222 points

While Yin energy manipulates the wicked energy of the dark dimension, if used only for good purposes, its ability to detect and extract life force can be utilized in this way.

It was incredibly refreshing to see ghosts, who typically operate with malicious intent to harm people, use evil Yin energy in such a positive direction.

Usually, rewards aren’t items like this but rather items with savage names from the start.

<Maxwell’s Ghost Generator (Cursed)>

Rank – Unique Grade 5

Description – A massive chainsaw forged from the grudges of cursed ghosts. A mass slaughter tool designed to create more ghosts and suffering souls.

Effect 1 – Cannot be unequipped before killing a living being

Effect 2 – Berserk mode constantly activated

Effect 3 – Combat power increases with exposure to blood

<Haunted Harmonica (Cursed)>

Rank – Unique Grade 8

Description – A cursed instrument born from the grudges of guardians who discovered their music-loving child couldn’t endure Academy life and died.

Effect 1 – Absorbs energy from listeners

Effect 2 – Cannot stop playing until absorbing a certain amount of energy

Effect 3 – Teleports within 3m of owner every 10 minutes if owner is alive

Effect 4 – Teleports near the closest person every 10 minutes if there’s no owner

Effect 5 – Treasure Aura: Emits an aura of treasure to deceive those with appraisal abilities

Cursed items designed to harm as many people as possible, whether directly or indirectly.

By exploiting their functions, they can be extremely effective in solo play and PVE content where the owner or user avoids damage while forcing it upon enemies.

This event is considered a jackpot among players, as high-grade items with practical combat applications can sometimes be adopted as main items to carry the early game.

‘It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a non-cursed item from this event!’

Perhaps thanks to solving the quest in a way that resolved the ghosts’ grudges, Titosoga’s Friendship Ring had a much purer quality compared to the ominous unique items.

Of course, having a pure quality doesn’t mean its effects are equally mild.

Like people with kind personalities but aggressive physical builds.

Life force.

Health.

These stats greatly reduce the chance of sudden death from the Academy’s unfair treatment.

As long as you don’t die instantly, you’ll have room to respond.

‘The item concept is clear and useful!’

It significantly enhances the life force of characters with low companion value and increases each other’s stats when together, creating advantages for long-term companionship.

It’s an item useful for those determined to raise what’s commonly called an “affection character” rather than a “performance character,” twisting themselves to make it work somehow.

“Titosoga. Next time there’s a good event, I’ll definitely take you! Look forward to it!”

“Not going with the Princess? Taking me? Even though I won’t be much help…”

“That’s why I’m grateful!”

Titosoga nodded shyly with a smile.

“I’ll look forward to it…”

* *

The event was over.

While we were all heading back to the dormitory thinking it was finished, another incident occurred.

Students carrying torches gathered from a distance and shouted loudly while pointing at Titosoga.

“Titosoga. Get behind me.”

“P-Princess… those people are scary.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you too!”

As I took a firm combat stance waiting for the students to approach, a group of students rushed in front of us with angry faces and said:

“Where are the parents of that girl?”

“They passed away!”

“You think we’ll just say ‘Oh, is that so?’ and end it there? Our ghost detector is pointing to this area. Besides, that child Titosoga isn’t even a daughter of a great noble!”

“My Papa is the mayor of Canele City, part of the Southern Holy City-State Federation!”

“Who cares about some primitive state system where southern villagers gather? I couldn’t care less about positions created by such a small city alliance!”

Students suddenly appeared and hurled harsh words about Titosoga’s Papa.

Titosoga, whom I expected to burst into tears with a “hing-ing-ing,” instead faced them bravely with an angry expression.

“Who are you to badmouth my Papa! I’m going to tell the professors about this!”

“Ha, ridiculous. What do you think this parchment is? It’s a quest parchment issued by the professors you like so much. A quest to track down and eliminate ghosts appearing on campus!”

“My Papa is not a ghost!”

“Then he must be a terrifying con artist. Do you think it’s possible for a mere city-state mayor to secure additional visitation tickets that even great nobles find burdensome, and stay at the Academy until the third day with just ordinary effort?”

“Don’t speak badly about my Papa!”

“Then just admit it. Your Papa is a ghost. Don’t get upset just because someone said bad things about someone who isn’t even your real Papa, before we classify you as haunted.”

Haunted Human.

A status ailment that often affects people with weak mental strength or those temporarily weakened, and once haunted, it’s nearly impossible to escape this state voluntarily.

This is because the ghost controls them according to its will and struggles to prevent the status from being lifted.

Most activities are naturally harmful to humans.

The haunted person themselves is equally affected negatively.

“See this? This emblem of the second year. I’m an exorcist who has accumulated dozens of exorcism experiences following my master outside. It’s better to follow instructions obediently.”

Exorcist.

Ghost-type monster and related phenomenon response specialist.

Tracking, protection, exorcism.

These individuals, who eliminate ghosts by any means necessary, are just unpleasant people normally, but when ghosts or supernatural phenomena actually appear, they rampage like Lü Bu.

“Admit it now. Your Papa is a Ghost Papa and tell us where he is now.”

“Please stop your rude behavior. You are currently offending me, Arcadia Ceviche, the rightful heir to the Duchy of Florence Kingdom.”

Arcadia didn’t allow the exorcist to rampage as he pleased.

As Titosoga quickly hid behind Arcadia’s back, poking out only her head and glaring intensely, the irritated exorcist tried to approach roughly.

<Ghost Exorcism Follow-up Event>

An exorcist who arrived late to the scene.

While the purpose of exorcising ghosts to protect students is good, they’re only doing nasty things that hurt Titosoga, who is actually involved in the incident.

You wouldn’t just keep quiet and pretend not to know after receiving the friendship ring, would you?

Of course, exorcists are trained to perfectly respond to various situations caused by ghosts.

If you’re not strong enough and feel burdened by confronting an exorcist, I recommend compromising with reality appropriately.

Even if it seems cowardly, you still need to survive!

Even the event description warns.

Exorcists are not weak, minor classes.

Ghosts that levitate people with telekinesis, throw blades around, and cause major accidents with cursed items.

Exorcists, thoroughly trained to respond to all these situations, sometimes have combat abilities superior to ordinary warriors.

Judging by the bulging clothes, the exorcist who appeared before us seemed to be one of those.

Exorcists are so-called “performance characters.”

Their combat power is much higher than “affection characters” like Titosoga.

What if I gained the exorcist’s favor instead?

Abandoning the affection character for the performance character.

Abandoning pretense for practicality.

Realistic benefits would follow.

“Stop bullying Titosoga and Big Sister Arcadia.”

When I pushed forcefully with an “Eit,” the exorcist stepped back two steps.

Practicality, that’s good.

But an experienced player can gain more practical benefits even with affection characters than with performance characters.

“If you bully them, I, the joint top student of the year, will punish you.”

“Gasp, that child is Oknodie!”

“Be careful, Sir Ao. That little one is dangerous.”

The second-year seniors who seemed to be influencing the exorcist.

Their familiar faces suggested they were members of the Red Tooth Mushroom Cultivation Association.

It seems they were trying to get revenge for their failed business this way.

“Hooh. So you’re the infamous…”

“You know me?”

“Dark Princess?”

“…That’s not it! I’m going to be a Magic Swordsman!”

When I glared at the second-year seniors who seemed to be the source of the false rumors, they all hid behind Senior Io the exorcist, just like Titosoga had done, poking out only their heads.

Seeing them mouth things like “You’re dead!” and “You’re finished!” only made me feel more contemptuous.