NPC wa Eiyuu no Yume wo Miru ka?

I had to think fast.

This monster wasn't just a giant spider.

It could absorb magic, move quickly, and attack with precision.

If we didn't find a way to defeat it soon, we could die here.

I looked at Zain, Garron, Lyra, and Rin. They had already started moving.

Zain dodged its claws with agility, while Garron tried to distract it with his sword.

Lyra was still attempting to break through its defenses with magic, but its black webs kept neutralizing all her attacks.

And Rin… had vanished into the shadows again.

I didn't know where she was, but I knew she was looking for an opening to strike.

I tightened my grip on my dagger.

I couldn't just stand here anymore.

I had to find something I could do.

I focused my vision, searching for the monster's weak spot.

Its thick black fur, as hard as steel, protected most of its body, and its webs could absorb magic.

But—

I looked at its underside.

When the monster jumped, I caught a glimpse of its lower body.

There… its skin wasn't covered by protective fur.

I swallowed hard.

So that was its weak point.

Now the question was… how could I attack it without dying?

I took a deep breath.

I had to wait for the right moment.

"This damn thing is fast too!" Garron shouted, swinging his sword hard.

The spider leaped backward, easily dodging Garron's attack.

Zain suddenly dashed forward, his sword gleaming under the dungeon's dim light.

With a single swift slash, he managed to wound one of its legs.

The monster let out a sharp hiss, writhing in pain.

But before we could press the attack—

Black webs shot out from its mouth!

I immediately jumped to the side, barely avoiding the web that nearly caught my leg.

But—

Garron wasn't so lucky.

"Damn—!"

The web wrapped around him in an instant.

He struggled, but the more he moved, the tighter it became.

My eyes widened.

This monster didn't just attack with its claws.

It could immobilize its prey with its web!

Zain gritted his teeth. "We can't let this continue."

I swallowed hard.

Alright. Time to try my plan.

I ran toward one of the cave walls.

The monster was still busy fighting Zain and Lyra, not paying attention to me.

I used my momentum to jump onto the wall, then pushed off to gain height.

And at that exact moment—

Rin emerged from the shadows above the monster!

She slashed her dagger swiftly at its eye.

The monster let out a furious growl and turned its head upward, distracted.

Now!

I dove beneath the monster, aiming my dagger at its unprotected underside.

And with all my strength—I stabbed it.

SLASH!

My dagger pierced its soft skin with ease.

The monster let out a deafening screech.

Its body thrashed wildly, and I quickly jumped back to avoid a counterattack.

Zain didn't waste the opportunity.

With one swift motion, he lunged forward and slashed his sword straight into the monster's head!

SLASH!

Black blood splattered onto the ground.

The monster let out a final, piercing scream—before collapsing motionless.

I stood still, my breath still heavy.

My hand was still gripping the dagger, now coated in its blood.

I had actually killed another monster.

I looked up and saw Zain staring at me with an unreadable expression.

Then, he grinned.

"You're getting more interesting, weird NPC."

I just let out a long sigh and dropped onto the ground.

"Damn… I need a break."

Garron, who had finally freed himself from the web, looked at me and burst into laughter.

"Hah! You're more useful than I thought, kid!"

I could only scoff.

Meanwhile, Lyra eyed me with a scrutinizing look.

"You're starting to seem… not like an ordinary NPC."

I met her gaze for a moment.

"I'm an NPC who works out," I replied casually.

Zain chuckled.

We all finally sat down for a moment, catching our breath after the battle.

I glanced back at my status.

Name: Rei Aetheros

Level: ???

Race: NPC

Job: Porter (Temporary)

Class: ???

Status: [Sealed Ability]

I stared at the [Sealed Ability] status, which hadn't changed.

But this time, I felt something.

Something stirring deep within me.

I didn't know what it was.

But I had a feeling that the longer I stayed in this dungeon…

The closer I would get to the answer.

I looked ahead, into the deeper darkness of the dungeon corridor.

This adventure…

Was just beginning.

We all sat on the cold cave floor, catching our breath after the intense battle.

In front of me, the massive body of the giant spider slowly faded into particles of light.

The Abyssal Direwolf before had done the same. It seemed that all monsters in this dungeon disappeared upon defeat, leaving behind loot or drop items, just like in a typical game.

I let out a deep sigh and leaned my back against the cave wall.

"Damn… I really almost died," I muttered quietly.

Zain chuckled beside me. "You did almost die, but at least you didn't actually die."

I shot him a flat look. "Thanks for the encouragement."

Garron, finally free from the web, patted himself down and scoffed.

"Damn monster. Next time, I'll cut it down before it even has the chance to shoot its web again."

Lyra simply sighed, then stood up and dusted off her robe.

"We can't stay here forever. There's still a lot of ground to cover."

I looked at her lazily. "Can't we rest for a bit?"

"Are you tired, NPC?" Zain asked teasingly.

I sighed. "I don't even know if I can get tired or not. But one thing's for sure—fighting without knowing my own abilities is mentally exhausting."

Zain studied me for a moment before smirking. "You talk like you're a real player."

I paused for a second, then simply shrugged.

"Who knows?"

I decided to change the subject.

"Anyway, I want to ask something," I said, glancing at them one by one.

"What?" Garron asked.

I pointed at the fading particles of light from the monster's body.

"Why do monsters in this game disappear after they die? I know this is a game, but the system feels… different from other games I've heard of."

They exchanged glances for a moment before Lyra spoke first.

"That's because the monsters here don't have a permanent 'physical form.' They're part of the dungeon's system itself."

I frowned. "Explain further."

Lyra crossed her arms. "Every dungeon has a unique system that keeps it running. The monsters that appear inside aren't truly 'alive' like humans or animals outside the dungeon."

I started to understand. "So… every time someone enters the dungeon, the system 'spawns' monsters according to the dungeon's difficulty level?"

Lyra nodded. "Exactly. And once they're defeated, they return to the system, leaving behind their 'remaining energy' in the form of drop items."

I slowly nodded.

Alright, so basically, the dungeon monsters weren't real living creatures.

They were like programs that appeared when players entered, then vanished upon defeat.

I glanced at Zain.

"Then what about NPCs? Are we the same?" I asked.

Zain was silent for a moment, then chuckled.

"Are you seriously asking that?"

I stared at him blankly. "I just want to know more about this world."

Zain sighed and leaned his back against the cave wall.

"NPCs are different. We—I mean, they—have a more 'permanent' existence compared to dungeon monsters. They still exist even when players aren't around."

I thought for a moment. "So NPCs in this world are basically like typical game characters? They have fixed roles, live in towns, and carry out daily activities regardless of whether players interact with them?"

Lyra nodded. "Unless they're involved in a specific event or quest, yes, they simply perform their roles without change."

I swallowed hard.

So… if I were truly an NPC, I should be like that too, right?

But I wasn't.

I could think for myself, react to things outside of a set role, and even recognize that this world was a game.

I lowered my head slightly, hiding my expression.

I was different.

And the more I learned about this world, the more I realized…

There was something wrong with me.

After resting for a while, we continued deeper into the dungeon.

The cave passage grew narrower, and the air grew colder.

I could feel faint vibrations in the ground, as if something was moving deep within the dungeon.

I didn't know if it was just my imagination or if there was really something down there.

I walked behind Rin, who had remained silent the entire time.

Curious, I finally decided to ask.

"Hey, Rin," I called softly.

She turned slightly but didn't fully look at me.

"Are you always this quiet?" I asked casually.

Rin stayed silent for a moment before finally replying in a low voice.

"I don't like talking unless necessary."

I raised an eyebrow. "Huh, straightforward."

She simply nodded and focused back on walking.

I sighed internally. Well, at least she answered.

I turned to Zain.

"So, where are we headed next?" I asked.

Zain glanced ahead, then smirked.

"We're almost at the dungeon's main chamber. That's where the boss usually guards the best loot."

I frowned. "Dungeon boss?"

Garron chuckled. "Yeah, every dungeon has one, right? They're usually stronger than normal monsters, but if we defeat them, the rewards are worth it."

I let out a deep sigh. "Of course, as if we haven't suffered enough fighting the regular monsters."

Zain chuckled. "Relax. If we work together, we'll take it down without a problem."

I eyed him suspiciously.

Why did it feel like he was enjoying all of this?

I kept walking, trying to mentally prepare myself for whatever was ahead.

I didn't know what kind of boss we would face.

But one thing was certain…

I had to be more prepared than ever.

I gazed into the darkness before us.

Something within this dungeon…

Was still hiding an even greater secret.

We continued walking down the narrow corridor, venturing deeper into the dungeon.

The cold air bit at my skin, and the sound of dripping water echoed from the cave ceiling around us.

I kept walking at the back, watching Zain and the others. They seemed relaxed, but I knew they were still on guard.

I still wasn't used to this world.

Everything felt too real.

Even the air I breathed, the ground beneath my feet, and the sound of our footsteps echoing—it was just like the real world.

If I didn't know this was a game, I might have already believed this was reality.

I took a slow breath.

But still, something was wrong with all of this.

I couldn't remember who I was before I got here.

I had no idea how I ended up in this game.

And the strangest part…

I still couldn't find my limits as an NPC.

A normal NPC wasn't supposed to have this much awareness.

They were meant to play their roles without questioning anything.

But me?

I could ask questions, think for myself, and even recognize that this world was just a game.

I clenched my teeth.

The longer I stayed here, the more questions I had.

And I hated the fact that I didn't have a single answer.

After walking for a few more minutes, we finally arrived in a larger chamber.

I looked around.

The cave walls here were smoother, as if they had been carefully carved.

In the center of the room stood a massive stone altar, surrounded by blue torches that burned without fuel.

I frowned at the torches.

"What is this?" I asked.

Zain stepped forward, examining the altar.

"It's some kind of door mechanism," he said.

I raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

Lyra approached and pointed to the far end of the room.

I followed her gaze and saw a massive stone door, tightly shut.

"There's no handle or gap to open it," Lyra said. "So, we probably need to activate something on this altar to unlock it."

I stepped closer to the altar, inspecting it carefully.

At the top, intricate ancient symbols were carved into the stone—not just for decoration.

I frowned.

For some reason, these symbols felt familiar…

But I didn't know why.

I reached out and touched the altar's surface.

And at that moment—

A voice echoed in my mind.

"You… are approaching the truth."

My eyes widened, and I immediately pulled my hand away from the altar.

My heart pounded in my chest.

"What the hell was that?"

I turned to Zain and the others, but they didn't show any sign of hearing anything.

So… I was the only one who heard it?

I swallowed hard and tried to calm myself.

Okay. This wasn't the first time I had experienced something strange.

I had to stay composed.

"Something wrong?" Zain asked, watching me with curiosity.

I quickly shook my head. "No, I just… feel like this altar is strange."

Zain narrowed his eyes as if he didn't fully believe me, but he didn't say anything else.

Garron stepped forward and placed his hand on the altar.

"So, we just have to touch this to open the door?" he asked casually.

But as soon as he touched it—

Nothing happened.

Garron frowned. "Huh? Why isn't it working?"

Lyra tried touching it too.

Still, nothing changed.

I stared at the altar with unease.

"Don't tell me…" I muttered under my breath.

I took a deep breath, then hesitantly placed my hand on the altar again.

And this time—

The symbols on the altar began to glow.

The air in the room shifted dramatically.

A cold wind swept through, and the blue torches flared brighter.

I heard the sound of mechanisms shifting within the walls.

And within seconds…

The massive stone door at the end of the room began to open.

I immediately stepped back, pulling my hand away from the altar.

"What the hell…?"

I turned to the others.

They were staring at me in shock.

Zain crossed his arms and gave a small smirk.

"Looks like you're the only one who can activate it, strange NPC."

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

But one thing was certain…

This wasn't a coincidence.

I clenched my teeth.

Why was I the only one who could open the door?

What was my connection to this altar?

I had no answers.

But now… the door was open.

And I knew…

Whatever was waiting beyond it would bring me closer to the truth.

I stood still, my gaze fixed on the massive stone door that now stood open before us.

I was the one who activated it.

Not Zain. Not Garron. Not Lyra or Rin.

Only me.

And from the way they were all looking at me now, I knew this wasn't normal.

Zain smirked.

"So, NPCs can do things like this too, huh?" he said casually.

I glanced at him. "Maybe it was just a coincidence."

Garron let out a loud laugh. "A coincidence? Lyra and I both touched it, and nothing happened! That was definitely not a coincidence, kid."

I fell silent.

I couldn't argue with that.

I knew this wasn't a coincidence.

But I didn't want them to know that I had no idea what was happening either.

I sighed and took a step back.

"Well, at least we can move forward now, right?" I said, trying to change the subject.

Lyra was still analyzing me, but in the end, she only let out a quiet sigh.

"Right. We can think about it later," she said.

Rin remained silent as usual, but from the corner of my eye, I could tell she was still watching me.

I had to be more careful.

I still didn't understand who I really was, and I didn't want to draw too much attention.

Zain finally turned around and started walking toward the open door.

"Let's go. Let's see what's waiting inside."

I followed behind them, though my mind was still trying to process everything that had just happened.

As soon as we passed through the stone door, the atmosphere changed drastically.

The corridor was wider, colder, and eerily quiet.

I could feel something creeping along my skin, as if something unseen was watching us.

I tried to ignore the feeling and kept walking at the back.

But when I glanced at Zain, I noticed his expression had shifted.

He was no longer as relaxed as before.

He was on guard.

Garron seemed to notice too. "Oi, why'd you suddenly get all serious?"

Zain didn't answer right away.

He only slowed his pace slightly before speaking in a low voice.

"There's something up ahead."

I immediately sharpened my hearing.

I couldn't hear anything.

But I could feel it.

Something was in the darkness… waiting.

I swallowed hard. "Do you think it's the dungeon boss?"

Lyra gave a small nod. "Most likely. We're almost at the main chamber."

I let out a long sigh. "Of course."

This dungeon wasn't going to let us leave so easily.

We kept moving forward, and finally…

We arrived in a massive chamber.

I could tell immediately that this room was different from the others.

The ceiling was much higher, and the stone walls were covered in intricate ancient carvings.

In the center of the room, a large magic circle glowed faintly.

And standing right above that circle…

A figure.

I tensed up immediately.

This wasn't an ordinary monster.

The figure was tall, clad in a black robe that nearly blended into the shadows.

I couldn't see its face—only its glowing red eyes piercing through the darkness.

I activated my ability to check its status.

And at that moment—

I felt my blood turn cold.

[???] – Lv. ???

Name: ???

Type: ???

Status: Observing Target

I clenched my teeth.

Damn it.

This was exactly like Zain when I first saw him.

No name, no clear level.

Just ???, as if to tell me I wasn't supposed to be able to see its status.

My breathing grew heavier.

"Something's wrong," I said quietly.

Zain stared at the figure, then gave a small grin.

"Yeah… this is going to be interesting."

I turned to him in disbelief.

Was he seriously planning to fight something whose status we couldn't even read?!

But before I could say anything else…

The figure moved.

It raised its right hand, and instantly—

The magic circle on the floor glowed brighter.

The air in the room shifted dramatically.

An overwhelming pressure crashed down on me.

I staggered back, feeling as if my body was refusing to move.

I could hear my own breath growing heavy.

Damn it.

Was this… a mental suppression skill?

I glanced at the others, but they seemed to be struggling as well.

Even Garron, who was always confident, had to tense his muscles just to stay standing.

I looked back at the figure before us.

I didn't know who—or what—it was.

But one thing was certain…

This wasn't just an ordinary dungeon boss.

I clenched my fists.

I didn't know if we could win against this.

But I knew one thing…

I had to find a way to survive.