NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka?

DARKNESS.

I can't see anything. No light, no sound, only absolute emptiness swallowing me whole.

I try to move my body—nothing.

I try to speak—no sound.

I don't even know if I still have a body or if I'm just a formless consciousness trapped in this void.

Am I dead?

I try to remember something.

A name, a place, someone's face… anything.

But all I get is nothing.

Damn.

I take a deep breath—or maybe I only think I do—and try to calm myself.

And that's when—

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

An alarm pierces the silence, loud and sudden.

As if signaling an emergency.

Suddenly, I can hear.

Rushed footsteps, followed by panicked voices.

"This is impossible! He should have disappeared!"

"The system detected an anomaly! Something that shouldn't exist is still lingering!"

"Disconnect him before it's too late!"

I try to look toward the voices.

And faintly, something begins to appear in my vision.

A bright white room.

Large screens flickering, filled with fast-moving codes and numbers.

People in white coats running around, their faces tense with urgency.

Someone shouts, "He's still alive?!"

I want to ask who they're talking about.

But before I can do anything—

BZZZT!

A blinding light engulfs everything.

And in an instant—

I wake up.

Fresh air hits my face.

I blink several times, adjusting to the bright light. The sky stretches wide above me, a brilliant blue, with the sun shining warmly.

I groan softly. "Ugh… what happened?"

I sit up slowly, feeling something soft beneath my hands. Grass.

I look around.

I'm in the middle of a vast grassland.

Far in the distance, I can see a massive walled city with towering spires.

I take a deep breath. Okay. This is definitely not a normal place.

I try to remember something. My name?

I wait, hoping for something to appear in my mind.

And… only one thing surfaces.

Name: Rei Aetheros

I frown. That's it? Nothing else?

I dig deeper into my thoughts. What was I doing before this?

…Nothing.

I press my temples. "Damn, this is bad."

I can't even remember who I am, aside from that name.

I need information. I need something to help me understand this situation.

I try what players do in games—raising my hand and calling for my status.

Nothing happens.

I try a voice command.

"Status."

Still no response.

I click my tongue. "Okay, that's embarrassing."

I think hard. If this is a game, there must be a way to see my status, right?

I try something different.

I will my status to appear in my mind.

And as if answering my call, a transparent window appears in my thoughts.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Level: ???

Race: NPC

Class: ???

Status: [UNKNOWN]

I freeze.

NPC?

I read the status over and over, making sure I'm not mistaken.

But no. It's real.

I'm not a player. I'm an NPC.

I take a long breath and run a hand down my face.

"Okay. So I'm an NPC. But why can I think like this?"

I stare at my own hands. I can feel this world so vividly.

The wind brushing against my face, the sound of grass rustling beneath my feet, even the faint dampness of the soil.

If this is a game, then it's not an ordinary one.

I lift my head, looking at the distant city.

If I want answers, I have to start there.

I take my first step toward the city, unaware…

That this is only the beginning of something far greater.

I walk across the grasslands, heading toward the large city visible in the distance.

The wind blows gently, carrying the scent of earth and leaves. The sun hangs high in the sky, indicating that it's still midday.

So far, I haven't seen any signs of life other than birds flying above.

I still can't accept the fact that I'm just an NPC in this world.

NPCs… aren't supposed to have consciousness like this, right?

I kick a small rock on the ground and let out a long sigh.

"Okay, I need to start accepting this… I'm an NPC. Not a player. But if I'm an NPC, then what kind of NPC am I?"

I check my status again.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Level: ???

Race: NPC

Class: ???

Status: [UNKNOWN]

I frown.

No class, no clear level, and my job isn't even listed.

"If this is an RPG, I should have a class, right? Maybe a warrior, rogue, or mage…"

I stare at my hands. No weapons, no equipment, nothing that suggests I'm special.

Just an ordinary NPC.

…But why do I feel like this isn't a coincidence?

I shake my head. "Too many questions, too few answers."

For now, I need to focus on reaching the city.

After walking for a few more minutes, I start to see a dirt road leading toward the city gates.

I quicken my pace.

As I get closer, I begin to see others.

Players.

They wear armor, long robes, and carry various weapons.

Some look relaxed, chatting with each other, while others seem in a hurry as if heading toward a quest.

I pause for a moment, observing them.

If I really am an NPC, I need to act like a normal NPC.

I can't look suspicious.

I adjust my expression to be more neutral, then continue walking toward the gate.

Two guards stand at the entrance, wearing armor and holding long spears.

One of them glances at me. "Just arrived?"

I nod. "Yeah."

He studies me for a moment, then nods casually. "Alright. Go in."

I'm slightly surprised. That easy?

I don't know if I'm a 'valid' NPC in the system's eyes or if they just don't care.

But I'm not going to complain.

I nod once more and step inside.

The moment I pass through the gates, I'm greeted by the bustling city.

The streets are filled with people moving about.

There are stalls selling all kinds of goods, from weapons to healing potions.

In one corner, I spot the Adventurer's Guild—a large building where players gather to take on quests.

Across the street, there's a weapon shop with swords and shields displayed in the window.

I also see other NPCs.

They seem busy with their tasks—some standing behind counters as merchants, some sweeping the streets, and others carrying goods like porters.

I observe their expressions.

Blank.

No signs of emotion, no signs of self-awareness like mine.

I swallow hard.

I really am different from them.

I walk deeper into the city, trying to understand how this world works.

I need a place to stay. I need more information.

For now, I'm just a strange NPC in the eyes of other players.

But I know one thing for sure…

This world holds secrets far greater than it appears.

And sooner or later…

I'm going to uncover them.

I kept walking along the city's main street, letting my eyes scan every corner.

The longer I stayed here, the more I realized that I was different.

Players passed by without paying me any attention. They were too busy talking to each other, discussing quests, or selling their items.

Meanwhile, the other NPCs moved in the same patterns, repeating their tasks without deviation.

An old fruit vendor at his stall repeated the same sentence every few seconds.

"Fresh fruit! Cheap and high quality! Come check out my goods!"

I stopped for a moment to observe.

Every time a player walked by, he would say the same words in the exact same tone, without any variation.

Even his expression never changed.

I glanced at another player nearby—a man in a long robe with a staff strapped to his back.

I activated my ability to check his status.

[PLAYER] – Lv. 18

Name: Marius Elden

Class: Mage

Status: Busy

I turned to the old vendor.

[NPC] – Fruit Vendor

Name: Willem

Status: Selling Goods

So, NPCs had statuses too.

But they didn't have detailed information like level or class.

I sighed and continued walking.

If I were truly an NPC, shouldn't I be following the same patterns as them?

Shouldn't I just stand still, repeating the same task over and over again? But I wasn't like that.

I could think. I could decide what I wanted to do.

And so far, not a single player had noticed that I was different.

I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing.

One thing was certain—I had to be careful.

I kept walking, trying to find a place where I could gather more information.

In the distance, I spotted the Adventurer's Guild.

A large building with a wooden sign hanging above its entrance.

I paused for a moment.

If there was any place that could provide information about this world, the adventurer's guild was my best bet.

I took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The moment I opened the door, a wave of noise greeted me.

Inside, players gathered in groups, laughing, talking, and discussing quests.

Some sat at long wooden tables, while others stood in front of the quest board, reading the available missions.

I walked slowly, trying not to draw any attention.

I glanced at the quest board.

Delivery Mission: Deliver 10 crates of goods to the neighboring village.

Elimination Mission: Kill 20 Goblins in the Eastern Forest.

Support Mission: NPC porter needed for dungeon expedition.

I frowned.

NPCs could be hired by players to assist them in dungeons?

I turned to look at a group of NPCs standing near the guild's reception desk.

They stood motionless, their faces blank, waiting for someone to hire them.

A strange discomfort settled in my chest.

It was as if NPCs were nothing more than tools for the players.

I didn't know why, but I… didn't like that idea.

I turned away, looking for a quieter place to think.

But just as I was about to leave—

I heard something that caught my attention.

At one of the tables in the corner of the room, a group of players were speaking in hushed voices.

I pretended to check the quest board again while discreetly listening.

"Have you heard the latest news?"

"Hmm? About what?"

"Some people… have disappeared."

A chill ran down my spine.

"Disappeared players?" someone asked.

"Yeah. They didn't respawn after dying."

I frowned.

Weren't players supposed to respawn in this game?

"They say it's a bug," one of them continued. "But I'm not sure."

"There's no solid proof, so I don't really believe it," another player said. "As long as we don't get into trouble, we should be fine."

I swallowed hard.

I didn't know why, but… I had a feeling this wasn't just a bug.

I thought about looking into it further, but before I could act—

I felt something.

My heartbeat quickened.

Not because of the conversation.

But because…

I felt like someone was watching me.

I remained still, trying to appear normal.

I glanced around subtly, using my peripheral vision.

Then I saw him.

In the corner of the room, near the stairs leading to the upper floor, a man stood motionless.

He wore a dark cloak, his hood partially covering his face.

He didn't speak to anyone.

He didn't smile, didn't laugh.

He just stood there, staring at me.

I didn't know why, but I felt like something was… wrong.

I activated my ability to check his status.

And when the transparent screen appeared in my mind—

I felt my blood run cold.

[PLAYER] – Lv. ???

Name: ???

Class: ???

Status: Observing Target

I swallowed hard.

Lv. ????

I had never seen that before.

Every player I had encountered so far had a visible level. But this guy… his level wasn't even readable.

I tried to stay calm, pretending not to notice him.

But the more I tried to ignore him, the more I could feel his presence.

Something was off.

Something… dangerous.

I needed to get out of here.

I turned and walked toward the guild's exit.

But as I stepped outside onto the street…

I could still feel his gaze.

I didn't know who he was.

But something inside me told me…

He wasn't an ordinary player.

I walked at a faster pace than before, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling that had been following me since I left the guild.

But even though I was now outside, in the midst of the city's bustling streets…

I could still feel that gaze.

I took a deep breath, pretending to browse the market stalls along the road, but I knew better than that.

I was being watched.

And what made me even more cautious—I had no idea by whom.

I glanced around with the corner of my eye, trying to stay calm.

Nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

Just players chatting, NPCs going about their tasks, and merchants calling out to customers.

No one looked suspicious.

But the feeling wouldn't go away.

I clenched my teeth. Okay. This was starting to get annoying.

I couldn't just stand here in the middle of the street like an idiot.

I turned into a narrow alley between two buildings, hoping to find a quieter place to think.

Leaning against the stone wall, I tried to steady my breathing.

"There's no way I'm just being paranoid, right?" I muttered.

I activated my ability again, searching for any suspicious statuses nearby.

And the moment the transparent screen appeared in my mind…

I saw him.

On the rooftop of one of the buildings across the alley, a man stood motionless.

He wore a black cloak, his hood concealing most of his face.

I swallowed hard and immediately checked his status.

[PLAYER] – Lv. ???

Name: ???

Class: ???

Status: Observing Target

I frowned.

The same person from the guild.

I tried to remain calm, pretending not to notice him.

But I knew better than that.

I couldn't ignore this anymore.

I thought fast. I could run and look for a safer place…

But somehow, I felt that wasn't a good idea.

If he was truly watching me, that meant I was already on his radar.

If I ran now, he would know that I was aware of him.

So, I decided to stay put.

I waited.

I wanted to see what he would do.

A few seconds passed… then the man vanished.

I immediately looked left and right, scanning the alley for any sign of him.

Nothing.

I glanced up at the rooftop again, but he was gone.

I swallowed hard.

What the hell is going on?

Leaning back against the wall, I felt even more tense than before.

That person was definitely not an ordinary player.

And I didn't like the fact that he was interested in me.

I let out a long breath.

I still didn't know much about this world, but one thing was becoming clear…

This world was far more dangerous than it seemed.

I stepped out of the alley, returning to the main street.

I had to stay calm. I had to keep pretending to be just another NPC.

I walked toward the inn district, hoping to find a place to stay the night and come up with a plan.

But as I moved farther…

I could still feel something lurking in the shadows.

I didn't know who they were. I didn't know what they wanted.

But one thing was certain…

To them, I was no longer just an ordinary NPC.

I continued walking down the city's main road, trying to stay calm even though my mind was filled with countless questions.

Who was that person? Why was he watching me? And most importantly… why was I the only one who could sense his presence?

I glanced left and right, making sure nothing seemed suspicious around me.

The city was still as lively as ever.

In the distance, I could see the Adventurer's Guild, gradually filling up with players returning from their quests.

On the other side of the street, the marketplace was bustling with merchants shouting to advertise their goods.

As if… nothing was out of the ordinary.

I let out a long sigh. Maybe I really was being too paranoid.

I thought for a moment. I still needed a place to stay.

For now, an inn was my best option.

Following the road to the inn district, I passed several buildings lined up, each with a sign hanging above its entrance.

I picked the simplest-looking one. "The Resting Hearth."

Without hesitation, I stepped inside.

The moment I entered, a warm atmosphere greeted me.

The room wasn't too big, but it felt cozy.

A few players sat at wooden tables, enjoying their meals while chatting.

In the corner of the room, a female NPC wearing an apron stood behind the reception desk.

I approached her.

"Welcome to The Resting Hearth," she greeted me gently. "Would you like to rent a room?"

I hesitated for a moment.

I had no idea how the economy of this world worked. I didn't even know if I had any money.

I checked my status again, hoping for a clue.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Money: 0 Gold

I let out a sigh. Of course.

I turned to the NPC in front of me.

"How much is the rent?" I asked.

She smiled kindly. "5 Gold per night."

I rubbed my face. "Okay… I clearly don't have any money."

The NPC maintained her expressionless smile. "You can work at the inn for a discount or take on a simple task to earn money."

I thought for a moment.

This shouldn't be difficult. If I was truly an NPC, then working like one wouldn't be unusual, right?

I nodded. "Alright, I'll take the task."

The NPC handed me a small piece of paper.

NPC Task: Help clean tables and serve food to customers.

I stared at the paper for a moment before sighing.

So… I was really just a menial worker NPC now?

Well, no other choice.

I accepted the task and started working.

Grabbing a rag, I began wiping the empty tables.

As I worked, I listened to the conversations of the players around me.

"Hey, did you hear? Someone was found unconscious in the western district last night."

I paused my cleaning to listen more closely.

"Seriously? Did he die?"

"He should've respawned if he died, right?"

"No. Apparently, he wasn't actually dead… but he wasn't waking up either. And the weirdest part is, no one knows what happened to him."

I pretended to stay busy, but my mind was already racing with speculation.

Could this have something to do with the suspicious person who was watching me earlier?

I finished my task, earning 3 Gold as payment, then immediately rented a room.

As soon as I entered, I sat on the bed and let out a long breath.

I hadn't been in this world for long, yet I was already caught up in something… strange.

I had no idea what was truly going on.

But one thing was certain—

I needed to dig deeper.

Lying down on the bed, I stared at the ceiling.

For now, I needed rest.

But tomorrow… I would start searching for answers.

I closed my eyes, trying to let my mind calm down for the first time since I arrived in this world.

But… I couldn't sleep.

Not because the bed was hard or because of the noise outside.

But because something was still bothering me.

The person who was watching me earlier…

Who was he?

And why could I sense his presence when other players didn't seem to notice anything?

I placed a hand on my chest. My heart was still beating fast, as if my body knew there was something threatening out there.

I stared at the ceiling.

I didn't have answers to anything yet.

But one thing was certain—

I was not an ordinary NPC.

I closed my eyes again, forcing myself to rest.

And just as I began to sink into the darkness of sleep…

I heard a voice.

Soft, almost like a whisper.

"I found them…"

My eyes snapped open.

I turned my head, scanning the room.

No one was there.

But I could feel it.

A cold sensation crawled down my spine.

I got out of bed and stepped toward the window, peeking outside.

And there…

Under the moonlight, stood a figure on the rooftop of the building across the street.

A dark cloak, face hidden in shadows, but I knew—he was looking right at me.

I took a step back.

Damn.

I thought I was safe for the night.

But I was wrong.

I clenched my teeth.

I didn't know who he was, what he wanted, or why he was interested in me.

But I realized one thing…

I had just stepped into a game far more dangerous than I had imagined.

And even worse—

I didn't know the rules.

I clenched my fists.

But I would find out.

Because whether I wanted to or not…

I was now part of this game.