NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka?

The rustling sound of branches outside the window made me open my eyes.

I was still inside the inn room, sitting on the bed with my back against the wall. I hadn't slept all night.

Not because I wasn't tired. I was too alert.

Ever since I saw the hooded figure watching me from the rooftop last night, I knew something big was happening.

I didn't know who they were, but the fact that they stood there, under the moonlight, staring straight at me, was enough to make my skin crawl.

And what was even more unsettling…

I wasn't sure if they were truly human.

I let out a deep breath and rubbed my face. The sun was already rising outside the window. The city was slowly getting livelier.

I needed to move.

I got up from the bed and stretched my body.

"First things first, I need to eat."

Since I arrived in this world, I hadn't eaten anything. I didn't feel too hungry, but… I should at least try.

I walked out of my room, descending the stairs to the inn's ground floor.

The atmosphere here was quite calm. A few players were already seated at wooden tables, enjoying their breakfast while chatting casually.

I walked over to the front desk, where a female NPC wearing an apron stood behind the counter.

She was the owner of this inn. I didn't remember her name, but she was the one who gave me a job last night.

"Good morning," I said.

The NPC smiled. "Good morning. Would you like to order some food?"

I nodded. "Yes. What's on the menu?"

"For breakfast, we have wheat bread, vegetable soup, and fried eggs. All for 2 Gold."

I glanced at my status.

Money: 3 Gold

I let out a relieved sigh. At least I could eat without having to work again this morning.

"Alright, I'll take one serving," I said, placing my gold coins on the counter.

The NPC took my coins and handed me a small wooden card.

"Please take a seat. Our server will bring your order shortly."

I took the card and walked toward an empty table in the corner of the room.

As I sat down, I started to notice something.

So far, not a single player had paid any attention to me.

They were all busy with their own matters.

That meant… I really did look like just another NPC to them.

I tapped my fingers on the table, thinking.

Was I really just a regular NPC?

No.

If I were just a regular NPC, I wouldn't be able to think like this.

I stared at my empty hands.

I knew I was different.

But I didn't know how different.

Not long after, a server NPC arrived, carrying a wooden tray, and placed my food on the table.

I nodded in thanks, and the NPC left without saying a word.

I picked up the bread and took a bite.

…It really tasted like bread.

I chewed slowly, trying to process what I had just experienced.

It wasn't like in typical games, where food was just an item to fill a hunger status.

I could actually taste the texture, the aroma, even the warmth of the bread.

I let out a sigh.

This game… felt too real.

I continued eating, now with even more questions in my mind.

After finishing my meal, I stood up, ready to leave the inn.

I couldn't just sit around. I needed to start figuring out this world.

I stepped out of the inn, and the morning sunlight immediately greeted me.

The city streets were getting busier.

Players walked with confidence, wearing various types of armor and carrying weapons on their backs.

A few NPCs were working, carrying goods and cleaning the streets.

I walked slowly, blending in among them.

I needed information.

And the best place to get information was…

The Adventurer's Guild.

I headed toward the guild, trying not to draw attention.

But just as I was about to reach its entrance—

I felt something.

For a moment, I sensed a chilling sensation on the back of my neck.

I stopped.

I glanced around.

There was no one suspicious.

No hooded figure standing on the rooftop.

But I knew this feeling.

I was being watched again.

I clenched my teeth.

"…Damn it."

I tried to stay calm and stepped into the guild.

As soon as I entered, a wave of noise greeted me.

Players were busy talking to each other, some standing in front of the quest board, selecting missions to take.

I walked to the corner of the room, pretending to read the bulletin board.

But in reality, I was scanning for whoever was watching me.

I looked around the entire room, observing every corner.

And then I saw him.

At one of the tables in the guild's corner, someone sat alone.

He wore black lightweight armor, with a longsword resting beside his chair.

His head was lowered, but I could feel his gaze piercing through me.

I activated my ability to check his status.

And the moment the transparent screen appeared in my mind—

I felt my blood turn cold.

[PLAYER] – Lv. ???

Name: ???

Class: ???

Status: Observing Target

I swallowed hard.

I didn't know who he was.

But I was sure this wasn't a coincidence.

I pretended to keep reading the bulletin board, even though my heartbeat was getting faster.

What should I do?

If I turned around and left, I'd look suspicious.

If I stayed here, I was just waiting for something to happen.

I swallowed again.

That man was still sitting there.

But I could feel his aura.

Cold.

Dangerous.

I clenched my fist.

I didn't know what was going on, but one thing was certain—

I was already part of this game, whether I wanted to be or not.

And whoever that man was…

He was interested in me.

I remained standing in front of the announcement board, pretending to read the list of quests, even though my mind couldn't focus at all.

The man was still there.

I could feel him.

I didn't know who he was, but the way he was looking at me wasn't just a casual glance.

It wasn't simple curiosity, like when a player sees an NPC behaving strangely.

No.

He was analyzing. Observing.

As if I were something that caught his interest, something worth examining further.

I swallowed hard and tried to stay calm.

Okay, I had to act like a normal NPC.

I took a deep breath and slowly started walking toward the guild reception desk, where a female NPC stood behind a large wooden counter.

So far, I hadn't really tried talking to other NPCs in this world, aside from the innkeeper this morning.

I wanted to see just how similar or different I was from them.

As I approached, the receptionist NPC looked at me with a professional smile.

"Welcome to the Adventurer's Guild," she said in a friendly tone, yet it still sounded… mechanical.

She was just following a script.

I nodded. "I'd like to know… how can I get a job in this guild?"

The NPC kept smiling and answered without hesitation, as if the response had already been programmed into her system.

"To obtain a job, please register as a porter or a support worker. Porters assist players in dungeons by carrying their belongings, while support workers help with quest preparations and logistics."

I paused for a moment.

So… NPCs could work for players.

But from the way she spoke, I could tell that NPCs who took these jobs were only capable of performing simple, predetermined tasks.

I glanced left and right, observing the other NPCs standing near the counter.

They were all silent, waiting for someone to hire them.

No expressions, no confusion.

They were just there to be used.

I felt a little uncomfortable.

I didn't know why, but seeing them like this… it felt unsettling to me.

I wasn't supposed to care. I was an NPC myself, right?

And yet… I couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.

I took a deep breath and refocused.

Okay. I still didn't know much about this world.

For now, it was best to blend in and gather more information.

I decided not to take the porter job just yet and turned toward the guild's exit.

But as I walked toward the door—

The man stood up from his seat.

I froze.

My heartbeat quickened.

I kept my gaze forward, pretending not to notice.

But I could hear his footsteps.

Slow.

Steady.

He… was walking toward me.

I clenched my fists.

Okay. I had to be ready.

I didn't know what he wanted, but I couldn't afford to look nervous.

I started walking again, trying to maintain a calm demeanor.

But before I could reach the exit—

A voice called out behind me.

"Hey, you."

I stopped.

Damn it.

I sighed inwardly, then slowly turned around.

And there he was.

The man.

Closer than before.

He wasn't particularly tall, maybe just slightly taller than me.

Black leather armor clung to his body, with a long sword sheathed at his waist.

His gaze was sharp.

Not just any gaze, but the look of someone deciding whether or not I was worth paying attention to.

I remained silent, waiting for him to speak.

Seconds passed before he finally opened his mouth.

"You're an NPC, right?"

I showed no reaction.

"Of course," I replied flatly.

He narrowed his eyes.

"But you're different."

I swallowed hard internally but kept my expression neutral.

"I don't know what you mean," I said calmly.

He stared at me for a moment longer, then smirked.

"You're an NPC who can think for yourself, aren't you?"

I immediately felt a chill down my spine.

Damn it.

I held my breath for a second but kept my face neutral.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, feigning confusion like a regular NPC would.

He chuckled softly and took a step closer.

I could smell the faint scent of metal from his armor.

"Come on, don't play dumb. I've been watching you."

Damn it, he knew something about me.

I had to think fast.

But before I could say anything, the man suddenly drew his sword.

In an instant, the blade was pointed at my throat.

I tensed.

Some players glanced in our direction, but no one seemed to care.

Dueling or minor skirmishes between players were probably common here.

But I knew this wasn't just a casual duel.

I could feel the intent behind it.

The intent to kill.

I looked at him calmly, even though my heart was pounding.

"Is this how you greet new people?" I asked nonchalantly.

The man smirked.

"I just want to see something."

His dark eyes studied me intently.

"See what?" I asked.

He lifted his chin slightly.

"Whether you're really just an NPC… or something more."

I remained silent.

This man… he wasn't an ordinary player.

But I still didn't know if he was an enemy or not.

I had to think fast.

One wrong move, and this could end badly.

I took a deep breath.

Then, I gave him a small, confident smile.

"Well then," I said softly. "Why don't you find out for yourself?"

He was silent for a moment.

Then… his smirk widened.

"Heh. Good," he said, lowering his sword.

I remained cautious.

"My name is Zain," he said as he sheathed his weapon. "And you… you've caught my interest."

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

But one thing was certain…

I was deeper in this game than I had ever imagined.

I remained standing in place, staring at the man named Zain, who now had a faint smile on his face.

I didn't know if that smile was a good sign or a bad one. But one thing was certain…

He was interested in me.

And that was not something I wanted.

I let out a quiet sigh, trying to appear relaxed.

"Okay, Zain," I finally said. "You've confirmed that I'm an NPC. So what's next?"

Zain slipped his hands into the pockets of his coat and looked at me casually.

"I don't know. I'm just curious," he said lightly. "I've never seen an NPC act like you before."

I stayed silent, thinking fast.

I couldn't show that I was different.

I had to act like a normal NPC.

So, I put on an innocent expression and shrugged. "Maybe you just haven't paid enough attention to other NPCs."

Zain stared at me for a moment, then chuckled.

"Ah, maybe," he said. "But still… you intrigue me."

I resisted the urge to sigh in frustration. Damn it, this guy wasn't going to leave, was he?

Zain crossed his arms and leaned back against the long table behind him.

"Do you work at this guild?" he asked.

I needed to answer in a way that wouldn't raise suspicion.

"Not yet. I just arrived in this city," I replied honestly, but kept my tone flat, just like a typical NPC.

Zain narrowed his eyes slightly, as if trying to determine whether I was lying or not.

Then, he smiled again. "In that case, how about you come with me?"

I frowned.

"Come with you?" I asked.

Zain nodded. "Yeah. I need a porter for a dungeon expedition."

Porter.

I had already seen on the guild board that NPCs could be hired by players as porters—menial workers whose only job was to carry a player's belongings during dungeon raids.

So, from an outsider's perspective, this offer seemed reasonable.

But from the way Zain spoke…

I had a feeling this was about more than just hiring a porter.

I wasn't stupid.

This guy was testing me.

I needed to be careful.

I stared at him expressionlessly, thinking for a moment.

If I refused, he might become even more suspicious.

But if I accepted, I had to make sure I didn't make any mistakes that could reveal my identity.

I took a breath and nodded. "Alright. I can work as a porter."

Zain smirked.

"Good."

He turned and walked toward the guild reception desk. "I'll register you as an NPC porter for this expedition."

I followed behind him at a relaxed pace, though in my head, I was already running through hundreds of worst-case scenarios.

As Zain spoke with the receptionist NPC, I observed the woman's expression.

Just as I expected… her face remained blank.

She processed Zain's request without hesitation, as if this was just another routine task she carried out every day.

After a few seconds, my status was updated.

Current Job: Porter for dungeon expedition.

I glanced at the transparent screen and resisted the urge to click my tongue.

"Alright, we're leaving this afternoon," Zain said after completing the registration.

I turned to him. "Which dungeon are we exploring?"

Zain grinned. "Abyssal Forest."

I swallowed.

Abyssal Forest.

I had seen it briefly on the quest board earlier.

Recommended Level: 25+.

I stayed silent for a moment.

I didn't even know my own level.

And now I was about to join a dungeon expedition with someone who might have ulterior motives?

Damn it.

"Alright," I finally said, trying to stay calm.

Zain studied me for a second, then nodded in satisfaction. "Good. See you later, strange NPC."

Casually, he turned and left the guild.

I stood there, still processing what had just happened.

I had just arrived in this city, had only started to grasp how this world worked, and now I was already being dragged into a dangerous dungeon with a suspicious person?

I sighed and rubbed my face.

"Well, this is going to be a long day."

I turned toward the guild's dining area and sat in a corner of the room.

I needed a moment to think.

What exactly was going on?

Zain was clearly not an ordinary player. He was too cautious, too analytical.

And what was even more troubling…

Why was he interested in me?

I still didn't have an answer.

But one thing was certain—

If I wasn't careful on this expedition, I might not make it back alive.

I sat in the corner of the room, staring at the wooden table in front of me, my thoughts branching in all directions.

Damn it. This could be a trap.

Zain—whoever he really was—was clearly not an ordinary player. He was too sharp, too aware of my strangeness.

And now I was going into a dungeon with him?

I didn't know if I was being stupid or if I simply had no other choice.

I rested my head on my hand and let out a long sigh.

"Okay, let's try to look at the bright side…" I muttered quietly.

At the very least, by going into the dungeon, I could understand how this world actually worked.

I had never fought before, never seen the battle system firsthand, and even worse… I didn't even know if I had any skills.

If this was truly a game world, then I should have something I could use to survive.

But so far, my status was still full of question marks.

I activated my status again in my mind.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Level: ???

Race: NPC

Job: Porter (Temporary)

Class: ???

Status: Unknown

I massaged my temples. "Of course, still no additional information."

I needed to figure this out before entering the dungeon.

I got up from my seat and walked out of the guild.

The afternoon sunlight was beginning to turn a golden orange. I still had time before the expedition started.

If I wanted to understand my power, I had to test it now.

I walked out of the city, passing through the main gate without drawing the guards' attention.

After a few minutes, I arrived at a vast, empty grassland, far from the main paths players usually took.

Okay. Now, how do I figure out my abilities?

I clenched my fist and tried to feel something.

Did I have a hidden skill? Or maybe I could naturally wield a sword or use magic?

I stretched out my hand and concentrated.

If this really was a game, there should be a way to activate a skill.

I closed my eyes and focused.

"Skill."

Nothing happened.

I tried something else.

"Activate ability."

Still nothing.

I gritted my teeth. "Do I have to shout the skill name like an anime character?"

I raised my hand dramatically.

"Fireball!"

…

Silence.

A gentle breeze rustled through my hair.

Birds chirped in the distance, as if mocking my stupidity.

I let out a long sigh and dropped my hand.

"Okay, that was embarrassing."

I tried another method.

What if I attempted to attack something?

I looked around and found a small rock on the ground.

I picked it up and tossed it into the air, then tried to punch it as it fell.

And…

I missed.

I stared at my fist.

"Seriously?"

I tried again. This time, I aimed at a nearby tree trunk.

I took a deep breath, swung my fist forward…

And—

BAM!

I felt a sharp impact on my knuckles. Damn, that hurt!

I took a step back, shaking my hand.

"I don't even have decent strength stats?!"

I was really just an NPC without combat abilities?!

I gazed up at the sky with a look of despair.

"...How am I supposed to survive the dungeon like this?"

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself.

I had to find something.

I had to have a hidden ability.

But if I couldn't discover it now, I needed to think of another way to avoid dying later.

I placed a hand on my chest, trying to feel something within myself.

And at that moment—

I sensed something strange.

Like… something dormant inside me.

I couldn't put it into words.

But I felt like… I had something, yet it hadn't awakened.

I clenched my fist.

"Do I have to wait for an extreme situation to activate it?"

If so, that was really inconvenient.

I let out a sigh and looked toward the city.

The sun was starting to set.

I didn't have any more time to experiment.

I had to go into the dungeon like this.

Without knowing my own power.

I stared up at the sky and murmured softly.

"Damn… this is going to be a long journey."

I returned to the city, heading straight to the guild, where Zain and a few other players were already gathered at the entrance.

Zain saw me and smirked.

"Right on time, strange NPC."

I ignored him and simply stood among them.

I observed the other players in the group.

They all looked experienced.

There was a large warrior clad in heavy armor, carrying a massive sword on his back.

Beside him, a female mage in a dark blue robe, holding a staff adorned with a crystal.

And lastly, a small-built rogue with two daggers strapped to his waist.

They all looked relaxed, as if this expedition was just another routine trip for them.

Zain cleared his throat, drawing the group's attention.

"Okay, are we all set?" he asked.

The large warrior nodded. "Abyssal Forest isn't a difficult dungeon for us. This'll be a quick run."

The female mage crossed her arms. "As long as we don't do anything stupid."

Zain chuckled, then turned to me.

"You ready too, NPC?" he asked mockingly.

I looked at him for a moment, then shrugged. "I'm a porter. I just carry stuff."

Zain grinned. "Good. Try not to die along the way, alright?"

I gave him a blank stare.

"Hilarious," I muttered.

Zain chuckled before turning toward the city gates.

"Let's move out."

We began walking out of the city, heading toward the forest beyond the border.

I still had no idea what would happen inside the dungeon.

But I knew one thing for sure—

I had to find a way to survive.