Chapter 91
Regarding the question of whether a toad baby could be considered a baby, the forum overwhelmingly voted against it.
It wasn’t exactly discrimination, but it was absolutely not allowed!
However, the ones most affected by the earth-shattering debut of the cub system card “Chubby Bird A-Ran” were definitely the Feather Clan, a recognized great clan in the Demon World.
Recently, the entire clan had been working hard to complete the series of tasks issued by “Demon World,” and their average online time had increased several times.
Although many demons said that not only had they not become more beast-like after working in the Demon World for a long time, but their magic power circulation had become smoother.
This was truly incredible. Could it be that everyone had been brainwashed by “Demon World”?
They never expected that “Demon World” would give the entire clan a big reward – Chubby Bird A-Ran!
A single photo had made the Luna Clan smug for so long, and now “Demon World” had directly released a Feather Clan version of the cub card. Wouldn’t they change their avatars to this and run around everywhere?
Anvers started working on the tasks as soon as the card appeared, and after a lot of effort, he finally unlocked it.
[Congratulations on unlocking the achievement! You are the second player in the entire Demon World to unlock this card~]
How could he be second?
Annoyed by the number 2, Anvers watched as the card gradually lit up from gray.
The preview image instantly appeared before his eyes. The young human sprouted milky white wings that spread out, and the next second, he transformed into a small, milky white chick!
He landed on the back of the activating player’s hand, tilted his head, and softly chirped!
An indescribable sense of happiness struck his brain.
The dazed Anvers suddenly felt very glad that if “Demon World” suddenly popped up a window saying that he needed to pay 10,000 points to unlock the function, he would have done so without hesitation.
[Ding——Detected current player level, can spend 9999 points to unlock extended functions, do you wish to exchange?]
“…”
Anvers was silent.
But his hand speed was faster than his reason. The next second after clicking [Confirm], the chubby bird chick transformed into a chibi A-Ran standing on the card.
He seemed a little afraid of heights, holding onto the edge of the card and looking at Anvers.
[Your A-Ran is a little hungry, please feed him in time!]
[Click here to open the store]
“…”
Anvers suddenly realized a problem, that “Demon World” had indeed updated and upgraded this time. This crappy game was no longer satisfied with one-time purchases and had started to play the long game!
Giving all the demons who couldn’t get a face-to-face interaction a chibi A-Ran, and then binding and selling a series of interactive items, wouldn’t the revenue skyrocket?
But after honestly clicking to purchase, Anvers found that the chibi really did obediently eat the bread bite by bite.
After finishing the bread and filling his hunger bar, a thought bubble appeared above the chibi’s head:
[Card Series Quest Prompt] [A-Ran wants to raise a chubby bird, do you wish to help A-Ran find a cub?]
Okay, okay, he was already so cute, and he still wanted to raise a little bird, wasn’t this double the cuteness?
Help, of course he would help!
But what caught Anvers off guard was that the chibi only moved for about 5 minutes before the prompt [Your A-Ran is sleepy, see you next time~] appeared.
[Prompt: Complete customized tasks, collect more interactions, series cards, or increase character Affection Level to unlock more functions!]
He cursed “Demon World” for being so greedy in his heart, but when the time was really up, Anvers found that he actually wanted to beg “Demon World” to extend it a little…
What could 5 minutes be enough for, you profiteer!?
Of course, while Anvers was having a breakdown, more and more demons also discovered that this “Demon World” update was quite “fair.”
After all, the 15 spots to enter A-Ran’s exclusive map were clearly extremely difficult to obtain, either for hardcore players or lucky ones. Most ordinary demons found it super difficult to get, okay!
But this limited cub series card could actually activate extended functions.
In the Demon World, the chibi A-Ran would appear on the card and perform some simple interactions. In the human world, it was similar to a desktop pet on a phone screen.
The main goal was to charm all demon players from all angles.
And helping chibi A-Ran capture and raise demon cubs, collecting limited cub information, could also increase special Affection Level and activate more interactive functions!
[Winter Limited-Time Event]
[Cub series cards are being collected, welcome to register and sign up, maybe the next card will be your race!]
He didn’t know what was so exciting about this promotional message, but countless demons were indeed moved after reading it. Who wouldn’t want A-Ran to transform into a cub of their race!?
[But… does anyone else think that A-Ran’s chibi image looks familiar??]
[Yeah, I noticed it too! How is it so similar to the image designed by Big Shot Stone? Did “Demon World” plagiarize!?]
But many demons also realized a blind spot, that is, the new function introduced by “Demon World” this time was really similar to the A-Ran plushie made by Stone!
[Stone: Official, contact me, authorized! [Excited]]
Just as everyone was questioning, Stone suddenly spoke up.
In fact, not long after his plushie orders exploded, Stone found that “Demon World” had also sent him a system notification.
It said that they hoped to license some of his character design drafts for the new version update.
So that more demons who couldn’t get the chibi plushie could interact with it in a new form.
After Stone carefully read the entire content, he indeed felt that this was very good and simply said that he could share it with the officials for free.
Even “Demon World” was rarely silent facing such a Stone, and finally promised that as long as Stone abided by the relevant confidentiality rules, he could participate in the internal test in advance and obtain all limited cards as a reward.
[Okay, okay, I knew you couldn’t be so honest, “Demon World,” so the trick was here…]
[You must be very regretful that you couldn’t hold an auction this time? So you turned it into a gacha!? [Breakdown smile]]
[It must be because you know that the chibi designed by Big Shot Stone is too cute, and everyone can’t resist!]
“Demon World” remained indifferent to the comments of all the demons, focusing on increasing revenue.
After all, besides Chubby Bird A-Ran, there were also Ball A-Ran, Snow Leopard A-Ran, Merman A-Ran, and other hidden limited cub series cards waiting to be released.
It wouldn’t be too late to release the subsequent cards for stimulation after the revenue of the first card started to decline.
Tao Shu and the other demons fell silent after seeing the schedule on the backend.
“Doesn’t everyone feel that the ‘Demon World’ main consciousness is becoming more and more active…”
Even they, the maintenance team, were almost out of work!
Only Lin Ran discovered a strange thing, that is, the Monster Notes in his hand were getting thicker and thicker.
Many gray, unactivated demon data cards were added to it every day.
Lin Ran found it fascinating to read. He didn’t expect so many creatures to live in the Demon World?
[The above cubs can be randomly refreshed and captured after the new map is opened, please be prepared~!]
But the prompt from “Demon World” really made Lin Ran’s heart race.
However, just as Lin Ran flipped through a few pages, his phone vibrated with a message.
[Yuanbao: Have you eaten? Are you coming to the company this afternoon? Tao Shu said there’s ten times the overtime pay today.]
[Ran: ?]
[Ran: Did Tao Shu say that, or did you? [Suspicious line dog]]
Lin Ran couldn’t help but laugh as soon as he received Yuanbao’s message.
After his identity was discovered, Yuanbao didn’t seem to intend to pretend anymore.
Urging him to go to work every day, it would seem quite scary if he didn’t know the truth.
[Yuanbao: [Photo]]
Silently told off by Lin Ran, Shao Mian simply changed his strategy and secretly sent a photo of a fluffy paw.
Little Feather was also pulled over, half of his small head showing at the edge of the photo, as if asking when A-Ran would come pick him up.
Lin Ran: !!!
It was the midterm exam week, and there were exams every day, which Lin Ran took very seriously, so Little Feather was temporarily taken care of by Secretary Ser.
After all, after working with Secretary Ser for a while longer, Little Feather would have to go to kindergarten next semester, and he really wanted to save up some money.
Lin Ran, looking at the photo Shao Mian deliberately sent, still felt that this guy was too much.
Although he really wanted to pet it, god knows how comfortable those heavy paws felt to knead.
And usually, while being petted, Yuanbao would involuntarily pounce over to play, and it was super satisfying when he hugged him completely.
[Ran: But I can’t, I have an exam this afternoon, I can only go after it’s over.]
Lin Ran sent the message with a heart of stone, feeling that his self-control was really strong.
[Yuanbao: [Emoji]]
[The other party withdrew a message]
[Yuanbao: Okay.]
Lin Ran paused slightly, wondering if he had seen it wrong.
The first emoji that was just sent, why did it look familiar?
It was a chibi with black hair and a depressed expression.
Lin Ran felt that the hairstyle and features looked subtly familiar…
It was withdrawn too quickly, he couldn’t confirm it carefully.
Could it be that this guy was up to something new again?
“Lin-zai, let’s go eat, let’s go eat! Why aren’t you leaving after the exam is over?”
Luo Xiao and his friends were definitely the first to notice Lin Ran’s occasional spacing out. After the papers were collected and they had packed their bags, they realized that Lin-zai hadn’t left yet.
“Hmm? Okay.”
Lin Ran closed his phone and realized that almost everyone in the exam room had left.
If he was late, the cafeteria would be crowded again.
“Let’s eat outside the school, just as a celebration… eh.”
As Luo Xiao was speaking, he hesitated and let out an “eh,” instantly making everyone look at him.
“What’s wrong?”
“I think I just saw… a very big black cat.”
“A very big black cat??”
And its eyes were golden, like a black panther.
Luo Xiao didn’t even dare to say the second half of the sentence.
S University’s campus was known for its ecology, and the campus was like a lush park, although the most direct consequence was the many “small creatures” in the dormitories.
But a panther was a bit too much.
This could make the news, right?
While everyone was surprised and uncertain, Lin Ran stopped and picked up a strange plushie keychain from the ground.
“Did someone lose this?”
It didn’t look like it was deliberately thrown away, because it was specially protected by a transparent soft packaging.
And it looked just like the emoji he had just seen, was it a character design?
“Take it to the lost and found? It looks quite cute.”
After everyone started staring at the keychain, they didn’t notice a pair of beast eyes staring at Lin Ran with surprise and uncertainty in the bushes not far away.
The black panther subconsciously wanted to follow and take a closer look, but clearly mindful of the many humans around, it finally crouched down in the bushes and didn’t dare to move.
A few minutes later, the staff at the lost and found looked at the black-clad young man who suddenly appeared: “Is this your lost plushie? Please register your information. If you’re an exchange student, you also need to leave your academy name.”
“Mm.”
Louis signed his name and successfully retrieved his plushie, which he had exchanged from “Demon World” for an extremely high number of points.
Any demon hiding in the human world could recognize at a glance that this was the extremely rare handmade custom A-Ran plushie!
And it was the latest version with changeable clothes.
Because of A-Ran, Louis had a mysterious fondness for Country C and had specially chosen this exchange program during the holiday to apply for an exchange at S University.
He didn’t expect that there would be a human who looked so much like A-Ran among the people of Country C?
Hesitating whether to post this news on the forum to ask, Louis felt that he needed more evidence.
Or pray that he could be selected for one of those fifteen spots!
The young man, lost in thought, didn’t realize how contrasting his cool, black-clad appearance was with the chibi keychain dangling from his backpack.
Mainly because this keychain was inexplicably cute.
It looked a bit… a bit like Lin-zai!
Actually, Luo Xiao and the others wanted to say this the first time they saw it, but there was clearly no evidence.
They could only say that the person who made this keychain was amazing, perfectly capturing the subtle differences in his expression and using a chibi form to create that feeling.
Could this thing be bought online?!
Lin Ran also breathed a sigh of relief after finishing his last exam, certain that he could finally experience the latest updated content of “Demon World.”
At the same time, the “Demon World” forum, amidst much anticipation, announced the 15 demon spots that would be randomly selected to enter A-Ran’s limited map!
The release of the first batch of names was no less than an earthquake for the entire forum.
[Which lucky ones will be discovered by A-Ran——]
[I’m more curious about whether any demon will activate the interaction card first today? There are quite a few in this list who have obtained interaction cards (jealous to the point of deformation)]
[It’s okay, we can still use A-Ran emojis [A-Ran crying]]
[Don’t rub salt in the wound, I didn’t even draw A-Ran emojis… okay, stop talking!]
While countless demons frantically drew cards, there were also many unlucky ones who didn’t draw any of the new cards even after hitting the pity limit.
So “Demon World” specially launched a pity compensation: a set of chibi A-Ran emojis.
Only 999 points to take home, it was a guaranteed deal.
Although this was very unfriendly to demons who weren’t extremely unlucky, but also not extremely lucky.
Even many demons who were lucky enough to have drawn all the cards were tempted to jump back into the gacha pool and started to painfully but happily aim for the pity limit.
Lin Ran, of course, was unaware of the commotion in the forum, because he simply prepared all his equipment and was ready to set off to capture new fluffy creatures.
Oh no, it should be called “enrollment.”
Taking in homeless fluffy creatures from all over the world~!
And the new map was very large, and “Demon World” even gave Lin Ran a scooter that he could drive in the forest, which seemed very friendly.
“Hi~ long time no see everyone, today we’re going to bring new fluffy creatures home!”
While waving to the camera, which had also been upgraded, Lin Ran noticed that the number of online viewers in the live stream was increasing rapidly.
[Ahhh, I thought the chibi version was already very cute, but now I realize that the real person is even more handsome! How can I meet him?]
[New clothes! Calling Big Shot Stone, can we have this set of new clothes? It looks so good on him!]
Some people also noticed Lin-zai’s new exploration outfit. The neat and simple design also highlighted his strong waistline, making people want to cuddle him.
[Already starting to get jealous, I suddenly realized that this kind of open selection isn’t so good… it’s not so fun to witness other people’s happiness TWT]
Of course, many demons also said that seeing A-Ran’s live stream of picking up cubs for the first time wasn’t as enjoyable as they had imagined.
After all, thinking that some lucky ones would be taken away, they really wanted to replace them immediately.
Lin Ran steadily drove the scooter across the wilderness, the fluffy creatures at home obediently squatting in the back of the car, watching the surroundings.
Even Ossi found a small bucket and squeezed inside, wanting to go out together.
“Speaking of which, haven’t I properly introduced the cubs at home to everyone before?”
Lin Ran was worried that the live stream would be a bit boring without content, so he simply introduced the fluffy creatures at home while driving into the map.
“Sootball, Snowball, Little Feather!”
Sootball was already very familiar with the camera that A-Ran personally held up and greeted everyone generously with a “Cheep.”
Because Sootball knew that his mom, Oni, and dad, Yorke, were definitely watching A-Ran’s live stream!
“Mew?”
Snowball’s job was to face the camera, so naturally, it was even easier for him.
And Little Feather’s appearance undoubtedly attracted the most attention.
[Holy crap, isn’t this the new card!? Chubby Bird A-Ran!]
[Wait, wait, everyone, I think I’ve discovered a pattern… (Holding head)]
After all, the hidden card that had made everyone “love so hard” recently was definitely the most memorable. After suddenly discovering a strange pattern, all the demons became excited.
[Could it be that “Demon World” will soon release A-Ran in other cub forms!?]
“Of course, there’s also our Ossi, a little fish.”
And Lin Ran simply introduced Ossi last.
The little guy held onto the edge of the bucket, “Ah ya~” and greeted everyone, his round fishtail swaying, incredibly cute.
The demons, gradually becoming more and more in sync, quieted down and instantly realized a certain possibility.
[Hehe, I, I want A-Ran in this form OWO (pointing)]
[Lol, only you want it? I feel like if this really comes out, it will also be very difficult to draw…]
[No, we can’t show that we want it too much, everyone! Otherwise, we’ll be exploited by “Demon World” – what if they hold an auction again!]
Only Atylanthos, Ossi’s brother, who was also paying attention to Ossi, didn’t initially make any associations until he saw the comments from these demons and suddenly sat up straight.
Merman A-Ran?
Atylanthos admitted that he was also extremely tempted.
Lin Ran, who couldn’t see the demon players’ interface, didn’t know that he had already been scheduled for a merman form card, but as he entered the vast map, he carefully observed the environment.
“Cheep?”
Sootball was clearly the first to notice the strange movement.
Because a fluffy, soft, chestnut-colored little fox was squatting in the grass, the sunlight casting a golden outline on its fur.
[Heh, I can tell at a glance that this cub is doing this on purpose, standing in this position so that the sunlight can shine on him, making his fur look even fluffier, how should I tell A-Ran about this!]
[No way, how did you see that? I think all the selected ones are very good-looking, haven’t you noticed? “Demon World” is suspected of having a bias for good looks, really]
But as the little guy tilted his head and looked over, the notebook in Lin Ran’s hand quickly flipped open.
It just happened to stop on the “Sand Fox Clan” page.
So it was a demon?
Actually, without Yuanbao saying it, Lin Ran had also gradually discovered some patterns. The difference between demons and ordinary animals was quite big.
“Baby?”
Lin Ran tried calling out curiously and found that the little guy was stunned for a moment, then actually trotted over, wagging his fluffy tail and looking at him, even sniffing his fingers.
“So good, are you hungry?”
Lin Ran really couldn’t resist the fluffy creature that came to him to be petted and tried to give him some food.
But the little sand fox just sniffed Lin Ran and even licked his fingertip with his tongue.
“Ee!”
The next second, Little Feather directly stuffed the milk bottle A-Ran had prepared over.
“Little Feather, what are you doing?”
Lin Ran was amused and exasperated.
Strangely, the next second, Lin Ran suddenly received a system notification.
[The cub wants to give you a gift!]
The little guy, who ran out from under the milk bottle while wagging his tail, took a strange branch full of flowers from somewhere and handed it to Lin Ran.
Lin Ran took the flowering branch, still a little dazed.
He had been receiving all kinds of gifts recently, so frequently that it made him involuntarily recall a strange thought he had before.
He really seemed like an NPC, having his Affection Level increased…
But thinking like this seemed a bit narcissistic.
Even if he was an NPC, would a cub he met by chance also prepare a gift for him in advance?
However, the viewers in the live stream had already exploded seeing this scene.
[What? So competitive! He’s still so young, and he already knows how to increase Affection Level——!]
[Okay, okay, starting to increase Affection Level from a young age, so that he can capture A-Ran when he grows up, right?]
[Help, I still can’t accept it, a demon younger than me is working harder than me, what can I use to compete! (Tears streaming down face)]
While countless demons felt the pressure of age, this little sand fox cub happily found that A-Ran’s Affection Level had increased by 1, reaching the standard for interaction.
[Ding——You have received a D-rank interaction card from the cub: Tail Rub!]
Lin Ran finally fell into deep thought, seeing this notification.
As for the demons, they froze.
No way, was this little guy really a lucky one? Not only was he the first one encountered, but he actually got an interaction card at such a young age!?
[Strong protest, the gap between rich and poor is too big——developers come out and be beaten!]
They couldn’t accept it at all TwT
Tao Shu and the other demons, as assistant developers in a sense, were also paying close attention to the updated content of “Demon World” this time.
At this moment, after being bombarded with messages cursing the developers, Tao Shu had a subtle expression.
Because this value was indeed artificially increased by the backend to raise the cubs’ acquisition rate.
But if the little cubs couldn’t get it, would you be more accepting if adult demons got it? [Suspicious]
