Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game-Chapter 117: Meeting

The bright sun, the many people walking through the streets, and the noise coming from the mix of otherworlders and Gaian people.

The bustling, chaotic scene of the city felt familiar—it was the second time I had seen such a sight.

Of course, if I counted how many times I had visited the city, it would be far more than just this occasion, but this was the first time I had walked through the streets so confidently.

Unlike the last time, when I had to cast an illusion spell, this time I didn’t use any magic to conceal myself. There was no need to hide anymore. The only thing I wore was a hood to avoid drawing too much attention.

It felt refreshing, walking through the city again after so long. I wasn’t even pretending to be someone else or hiding my presence, and I felt a sense of excitement, a feeling I hadn’t experienced in a while.

To be honest, I didn’t really like people all that much. It wasn’t because I hated humanity or because of some tragic past where I was abandoned. I simply wasn’t the type to enjoy socializing for too long. People could be fun to talk to, but eventually, they drained me.

But still, I had yearned for human connection for a long time. For someone like me, who lived among criminals in the forest, it had always seemed like a luxury I couldn’t afford. And now, walking through the streets with a proper identity badge, my confidence growing, it was a surreal experience.

Even more so because I had someone like Haneul beside me, someone with an impressive figure that would turn heads no matter where we went. It brought a smile to my face.

Sometimes, I couldn’t help but think about how tempting it would be to touch her, especially when I looked at her large chest. The thoughts that had been building up during our travels would surge when I saw her like this.

Still, I managed to hold back. It wouldn’t be right to act on those impulses after already crossing a line with someone else. I may have my flaws, but I also had some self-control, surprisingly enough.

Despite the underlying thoughts, I felt good as I walked through the city, no longer needing to hide, and enjoying the excitement that came with this rare outing.

On the other hand, Haneul was also feeling excited. It had been a while since she had spent time with me, an NPC, like this.

It was a bit odd, to be honest. Who would have thought she’d be excited to walk around with an NPC? But it wasn’t that unusual given the circumstances.

Despite being in a game, the boundaries between reality and the game were blurred, especially since relationships in the real world weren’t that different. It wasn’t as easy to connect with others, whether in the game or in reality.

Looking at NPCs like me, the otherworlders didn’t have the best reputation, and people like her, commoners, could never even dream of being with someone like me.

Haneul, like many others, had struggled with loneliness, and that made this outing feel all the more special.

She had prepared a few places to visit, including a bakery I liked and a clothing shop that many men would find appealing. She had put thought into making the day enjoyable for both of us.

However, her plans were cut short at the bakery.

Out of nowhere, a familiar figure appeared in the distance.

I saw people recognizing her as she walked by, and soon enough, Haneul recognized her too—Shin Hanbyeol, the top-ranking user from her country.

“...Huh?”

She suddenly appeared before us. For a brief moment, Haneul and Hanbyeol locked eyes, and then Hanbyeol’s gaze shifted to me.

“...Hmm?”

“....”

An awkward silence hung in the air for a while.

After a moment of tension, Hanbyeol casually joined us, almost as if it was the most natural thing in the world. She simply walked over, recognizing me as the one who had been with Haneul and was curious about why we were together and what I was doing in the city.

Interestingly, Hanbyeol also knew who Haneul was, though they had never spoken directly. They had seen each other on streams. Haneul had appeared frequently on broadcasts, especially as the editor for You Chae-rin, and had been seen with me on several occasions.

Since Hanbyeol had been following her videos, she was familiar with Haneul’s presence, even if she didn’t like it much.

Haneul, on the other hand, was clearly uncomfortable with the situation. This wasn’t exactly how she had planned her outing.

“By the way, how did you recognize me? I thought I was hiding pretty well.”

As we walked, I asked, now curious. I was wearing a sizable hood, trying to keep my face hidden. Given that, it was pretty impressive that she recognized me so quickly.

“Even if you hide your face, your body shape still shows. I could tell right away from that,” Hanbyeol replied.

I gave a nonchalant nod, but I couldn’t help but feel a bit creeped out that she had recognized me by my body shape alone.

“So, where are you headed?” I asked, changing the subject.

“Oh, that’s because my spear broke,” I explained briefly, recounting the events.

It had been a rough few days, and my beloved spear had finally reached the end of its life after too many battles. Hanbyeol listened intently, nodding along.

After I finished explaining, I asked, “So, I need to make a new spear, but I’m not sure where to find a blacksmith. Do you have any suggestions?”

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“No worries, I’ve got a place in mind,” Hanbyeol replied.

Coincidentally, both she and Haneul had different suggestions.

“The Adventurer’s Guild.”

“The Blacksmith District.”

Both were reasonable options. The guild had blacksmiths on hand for adventurers, and the district was known for having many blacksmiths. There wasn’t a significant difference in skill between the two.

However, their reasons were different. Haneul argued that the guild was a better option because the blacksmiths there were more reliable, while Hanbyeol preferred the district because there were fewer formalities.

After a few exchanges, they both turned to me, waiting for my decision.

After thinking for a while, I made my choice. I had already made up my mind after hearing both ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) sides.

“Let’s go to the Adventurer’s Guild,” I said.

At that, Haneul beamed with a smile, while Hanbyeol looked a bit disappointed.

It was a simple choice for me. Since I was already with Haneul and had some business at the guild, it seemed like the best option. I had also remembered something from my conversation with Odelia.