The person introducing the players to the basics of the castle was the castle’s steward.
“During the filming, you will be staying in the castle. You may find yourselves entering scenes at any time. When it’s your turn, you must arrive at the set on time, or face the consequences.”
“While staying here, you are required to follow the rules set by Madam Herlan.”
“There are three rules: First, do not enter the fifth floor of the castle outside of filming hours. Second, you must attend Madam Herlan’s dinner every night. Third, do not damage Madam Herlan’s beloved collections.”
“Anyone who breaks the rules will face Madam Herlan’s punishment.”
…
The twenty players listened quietly to the steward and took note of everything he said.
Even Gu Jiu, who had just been promoted to the C-level, understood the significance of the steward’s words. This would be the players’ survival contract in Herlan Castle; violating it could bring consequences that no player could bear.
For example, death.
After going over the precautions, the steward assigned housing arrangements.
“You may choose any room on the second or third floor. The fourth floor is where Madam Herlan rests, so please refrain from going there to disturb her.”
The players looked at him but said nothing.
The steward’s gaze was harsh, as though he were looking at a group of unruly dangers—or perhaps a troupe of jesters performing for the amusement of the castle’s owner. His gaze held contempt and disdain, making the players feel as though they were no more than lowly entertainers, brought to the castle for the sole purpose of pleasing its mistress.
“All right, go choose your rooms now. You’re expected in the dining room in an hour for Madam Herlan’s dinner.”
With that, the steward left, no longer sparing them a second glance.
As he disappeared, one of the players started up the stairs to choose a room, and the others soon dispersed as well. They didn’t exchange words or introduce themselves.
Watching this, Gu Jiu finally noticed the difference between C-level and D-level players.
D-level players, having gone through fewer game sessions and lacking sufficient strength, would often choose to collaborate with other players in the game world. There was still some degree of friendliness between them.
C-level players, however, were far more guarded and wouldn’t easily trust or work with players they didn’t know.
After most of the players had dispersed, Gu Jiu and Lu Ji went up the stairs together.
As they walked, Gu Jiu observed the castle. The décor and furnishings were very old-fashioned, with a medieval style, clearly an ancient castle with a long history.
“Ah Ji, which floor should we choose for our rooms?” Gu Jiu tilted her head to ask her companion.
“You can choose. I have no preference.”
Gu Jiu chuckled, not surprised by her response. “Let’s pick the third floor. It’s higher up and offers a better view.”
Lu Ji had no objections. “Okay.”
The two of them walked up the stairs to the third floor.
A wide corridor greeted them, lined with numerous paintings along both sides of the walls. The art mostly consisted of portraits and landscapes, each so vividly lifelike that it spoke to the skill of the painter.
Glancing around casually, Gu Jiu chose a room.
The door was unlocked. Pushing it open, she was greeted by a similarly vintage-style interior, with a light and pleasant fragrance lingering in the air—an atmosphere that was quite refreshing.
“This environment is pretty nice this time,” Gu Jiu remarked happily. “At least we’re not stuck living in a garbage dump.”
Lu Ji knew she was referring to the “Seven Sheep” instance they’d encountered before. Seeing the smile in her eyes, he realized she was genuinely pleased with their accommodations this time, and his own mood lifted accordingly.
After inspecting the room, Gu Jiu was delighted to find that it even came with a private bathroom.
She walked over to the window, pushing it open to look outside. To her surprise, the castle was perched among mountains, with peaks stretching endlessly into the distance. The rugged landscape was veiled in mist, and the deep valleys between the mountains seemed dangerously far apart.
Herlan Castle stood at the top of the mountain, and from the window, she could see the steep slopes below, hidden partly by fog and appearing to have no visible bottom. A fall from the castle would surely mean death.
Gu Jiu’s expression grew slightly thoughtful.
“What’s on your mind?” Lu Ji asked, puzzled.
Gu Jiu leaned out of the window, surveying the scene outside, then smiled. “This is the perfect place for a murder and body dump—no way to escape.”
Lu Ji: “….”
Having finished inspecting the room, Gu Jiu sat down on a round chair with a golden cushion and began discussing the steward’s earlier instructions with Lu Ji.
“From what he said, the filming schedule is unpredictable; it could happen during the day or at night. When it’s your turn, you absolutely cannot miss it or be late, or else something unforeseen will happen.”
Lu Ji nodded, agreeing that the steward’s words implied as much.
“And those three rules he mentioned—quite interesting. It’s like he was blatantly telling players they could find ways to use those rules,” Gu Jiu said, propping her chin on her hand.
“These rules were set by Madam Herlan, which indicates that she holds considerable authority in this game.”
Madam Herlan’s power here reminded Gu Jiu of the landlord’s authority in the “Seven Sheep” instance.
In that instance, the landlord was the legitimate owner of the property, giving him control over the residents within it. Thus, he could keep a powerful ogre locked up and bind the ghosts of those the ogre had harmed, preventing them from leaving. This ensured that the landlord needn’t fear retaliation.
But as for Madam Herlan’s specific powers—those remained a mystery.
“What I’m more curious about is how this movie will be filmed,” Gu Jiu remarked. “There doesn’t seem to be any filming equipment around, nor even a director.”
One thing was clear, however—the players were the actors.
This time, the task was for players to successfully perform their roles in a death-themed film.
Gu Jiu noted that the term used was “perform,” not “film.” The choice of words was distinct, and so was the implication.
“Ah Ji, do you think it’s possible for players to take on different roles during filming?” Gu Jiu asked.
“It’s possible,” Lu Ji replied briefly.
The two of them went over the game task and the rules the steward had mentioned, analyzing them carefully until dinnertime arrived.
All the players arrived punctually in the dining room on the first floor.
A long table that could seat twenty was laid out in the dining room, covered with a spread of food. The rich aroma filled the air, tempting those with growling stomachs.
Though they’d only been in the game for about an hour, the players weren’t particularly hungry. When they saw the table of food, they didn’t rush to sit down.
They took in their surroundings, noticing that there were no servants present in the dining room, nor was Madam Herlan anywhere to be seen—only the steward stood by the table.
The steward’s face was marked by deep lines, suggesting a stern and rigid personality.
“Please, everyone, take your seats,” he said. “On the table, you will find tomorrow’s filming tasks. Please check the tasks assigned to you for tomorrow.”
Hearing this, the players finally understood why they were required to attend Madam Herlan’s dinner every night. It was during these dinners that the next day’s filming tasks would be distributed.
Realizing this, they stopped resisting and found seats around the table.
Gu Jiu pulled Lu Ji to a seat close to the front.
The twenty players filled the table perfectly, as if the table and chairs had been prepared specifically for their number. In front of each person was an elegant silver-covered plate. When they lifted the covers, they found folded notes on silver trays underneath.
Gu Jiu opened her cover and looked at the note in front of her, understanding that it contained her assigned filming task.
[You are an injured dancer, invited to the castle by the great Madam Herlan. Tomorrow at 3:00 PM, you will perform a beautiful dance in the castle ballroom for Madam Herlan’s guests.]
After reading the note, Gu Jiu glanced around at the other players, noticing the various expressions on their faces. Most people masked their reactions, tucking away their notes discreetly, though a few disgruntled players were muttering complaints to their companions.
“What kind of task is this? Is this really a movie shoot? It doesn’t feel like it at all.”
“Exactly! We still haven’t seen any filming equipment or a director. Are we supposed to direct ourselves?”
“Just look at the place—it’s like an ancient castle in the middle of a remote forest. There’s not a trace of modern technology.”
“I’m starting to think this movie might never actually get filmed.”
“And what about the audience? What are they supposed to be?”
…
Gu Jiu’s sharp hearing allowed her to catch snippets of the players’ hushed conversations from afar.
Their questions mirrored her own doubts. It seemed they’d have to wait until the next day to figure out how the filming would proceed and who, or what, constituted Madam Herlan’s audience.
The castle had prepared a lavish dinner, but the players were too preoccupied to enjoy it. They barely touched their food and wrapped up the first day’s dinner quickly.
By the time the meal ended, the sky outside had darkened.
Gu Jiu noticed that some players opted to return to their rooms to rest, while others wandered through the castle, intent on exploring and getting a better sense of their surroundings.
Since it was her first night here, Gu Jiu had no interest in wandering around. She decided to head back to her room to rest and prepare for tomorrow.
Perhaps because the castle was perched high in the mountains, the temperature dropped significantly at night.
Gu Jiu took a hot shower first. By the time she climbed into bed, the warmth and comfort almost put her to sleep instantly.
However, she was curious about Lu Ji’s task. She waited patiently until Lu Ji finished her shower and got into bed, then leaned over with a smile and asked, “Ah Ji, what’s your task for tomorrow?”
She leaned in close, her warm breath brushing lightly against Lu Ji’s pale neck.
Feeling a bit uncomfortable, Lu Ji silently took out his task note and handed it over.
[You are a painter, invited to the castle by the great Madam Herlan to create a death painting for her. Tomorrow at 8:00 AM, you will begin your performance in the art studio.]
Gu Jiu placed the two notes side by side, examining the text.
The words looked as if they had been printed, each formatted in a similar style.
“It seems that, in this game world, players really are actors, expected to embody the roles written on these notes… Though I wonder if the roles will change daily or remain the same throughout,” Gu Jiu mused.
Lu Ji pointed to both notes and said, “On your note, it specifically mentions that you’re an injured dancer. If you have to perform in the castle ballroom tomorrow, it could be grueling. And my task, this ‘death painting,’ is a trap in itself.”
Gu Jiu nodded. “As expected, the C-level game world is different from the D-level games. This world begins with death traps.”
Putting the notes away, Gu Jiu continued, “I wonder what roles the other players have been assigned. We’ll get a better sense tomorrow. Ah Ji, your performance starts at 8:00 AM in the studio?”
“According to the note, yes.”
“Then I’ll accompany you. When you’re finished, you can come with me to the ballroom in the afternoon.”
Lu Ji’s lips curved in a gentle smile. “Alright.”