As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 10

Alec wanted to press further about whether I had learned any other spells or techniques, so I showed him [Omni-Concealment Magic] and nodded meaningfully, explaining that the spells I had mastered were “just these few.” Alec didn’t ask any more after that.

The night was deep. I wasn’t sure what time it was—this barrier even blocked the transmission of internal information. Probably, in this entire world, aside from players, only I would be troubled by this dark-night barrier.

I possessed a status display module unique among NPCs, likely a privilege of being a hidden boss. I could see my own and other NPCs’ HP, MP, and stamina bars. Strangely, though, my experience bar was missing… Maybe it was a design oversight by the developers, or perhaps experience simply held no meaning for me.

“Infinite growth potential, infinite growth potential”—what did that even mean? What exactly was “growth potential”? Did it mean a massive increase in experience gain? Or was it easier to learn new skills? I had no way of knowing. Being a hidden boss seemed tough, especially when that boss was also a human.

…..

(—Currently Available Intel: Growth Potential)
(A basic attribute all players possess, determining their rate of growth and maximum potential. This includes stat increases, level progression, skill mastery, and learning ability.)

(—Growth potential rarely exceeds A-rank, and an ∞ rating is virtually unheard of.)

…..

—Bedtime.

Alec led us to the next room, claiming it was prepared for us. But judging by the thick layer of dust, I found that hard to believe… Alec quickly added, “I didn’t expect you’d actually make it this far,” which was why he hadn’t cleaned it in advance.

That said, aside from the dust, the furniture was intact. Besides, we were just guests—it wasn’t right to complain too much.

As for Alec, he slept in the room next to mine and Elf’s. I wasn’t sure about its layout, but Alec explained it was a book storage room where he spent most of his time, sleeping no more than five hours a day… So after tidying up with Elf, I let her sleep while I stayed in the “library” with Alec.

Still better than staring at the moon alone.

When Alec asked why I wasn’t sleeping, I told him I had “too much energy to sleep.” He nodded and opened the door—which, surprisingly, wasn’t dusty at all.

Inside, books were piled everywhere—on shelves, tables, the floor—leaving almost no space to walk. Carefully stepping over stacks of books, I made my way to the relatively open center.

“Pick one for yourself, though there aren’t many books suitable for children here…”

With that, Alec immersed himself in his academic world.

I didn’t mind, wandering between shelves in search of a suitable spellbook. I wanted to learn small magics like [Omni-Concealment Magic]—they’d definitely come in handy later.

But there were hardly any other spellbooks here. Most were part of series like How to Refine Spells to Perfection.

Glancing at Alec, I noticed he was holding one of those books too. Even at his age, was he still striving to improve?

Seems like nothing here. I moved to another section—the shelves were taller here, and even on tiptoe, I couldn’t reach the books. I had to rely on the titles printed on the spines to choose… Still nothing. After pacing around, I gave up.

Sigh… Might as well read something light to pass the time.

Resigned, I randomly pulled a large book from the nearest shelf. The cover was covered in text I couldn’t understand. Seeing Alec taking a break, I brought it to him for translation—

“Grandpa Alec, could you translate this for me? I can’t read it.”

“Hm? Translate this? Sure, let me see which one it is—cough! How did this get here?!” Alec’s face twisted in shock, and I panicked, my hands trembling as I held the book, which seemed to radiate an aura of dread.

“What is it? Why are you so surprised?”

“This book… is said to be a cursed grimoire. While it grants powerful skills, the price is the soul of anyone who reads it… Once, a man who read it became a soulless monster.”

Horrified, I dropped the book instantly, refusing to look at it again. Grateful for Alec’s warning, I bowed quickly and hurried back to the shelves.

…..

Alec picked up the book, sighed deeply, and stroked its cover.

“This book is still too early for both Shirin and Elf.”

He stood slowly and, while Shirin wasn’t looking, shoved 10 Steps to Charm Any Man’s Heart back into the deepest corner of the shelf.

Some books are better left forgotten.

…..

With no books left to read, I turned my gaze back to the bright full moon. Alec had already dozed off at his desk, and I didn’t want to disturb him, so I quietly left the room.

The hallway was silent, my footsteps echoing conspicuously. Peeking into Elf’s room, I saw her sleeping soundly. I smiled—even if I wasn’t the one resting, it still made me happy.

—Seeing my companions happy is my greatest joy.

I sat blankly on the floor, idly playing with my hair to pass the time. Since my reincarnation, I hadn’t bothered much with grooming it, so its increasing length didn’t bother me… Well, maybe a little: in battle, flowing hair was a nuisance, and when fleeing, long hair was easy to grab.

Twirling strands around my fingers, lifting and smoothing it—there were plenty of ways to fiddle with it. Too bad I didn’t know how to tie it up, so fancy hairstyles were out of the question… Not like I needed to impress anyone anyway. My hair was silky smooth—it’d look great in a ponytail, I mused.

It was a deep blue, like the sky or sapphire. Strangely, the shade seemed to shift depending on the angle… Probably just a trait of this body. I didn’t dwell on it, instead listening to the steady sound of breathing nearby—

My own. In the quiet, I finally noticed how soft this body’s breathing was—undeniably feminine, despite my original identity as an 18+-year-old male… No, no, this was all the game system’s fault.

My memories of my past life were hazy. How did I die? Why was I brought into this game world? What was my original name? My parents…? All of it was a blank. I didn’t know my old self, but I understood that playing my current role was what mattered now.

I was Tsukimi Shirin, the world’s one-of-a-kind NPC and hidden boss—living in what was, to me, a completely foreign game world.

……

I didn’t sleep a wink that night. Just one night alone left me feeling hollow.

Never running out of stamina had its downsides—I might never dream again. Getting knocked out might do the trick, but I wasn’t about to ask someone to punch me unconscious just for a nap.

No idea what time it was now. Guessing, maybe 5 or 6 AM. Elf was still asleep—I was glad she could rest so soundly in these circumstances.

Alec emerged from the library a few minutes earlier and, seeing me sitting alone on the floor, said a few words before leading me to the kitchen—only then did I realize there was another hallway around the corner, with even more rooms…

Just how big was this place? I started questioning the true size of this alchemy house.

Magic lamps were everywhere—hallways, rooms, the library—so the kitchen was no exception.

But Alec had me wait outside while he rummaged inside. Watching his slow movements, I almost stepped in to help when he finally emerged with bags of fresh fruit, handing me a few lychee-like fruits with a green apple’s hue.

What kind of fruit was this? Never seen it before—some exotic game-world specialty? I sniffed it. No particular scent, and it felt soft to the touch…

“Can’t you smell its fragrance?”

I shook my head, still squeezing the strange fruit. The texture was oddly satisfying, like a stress ball. But fruit was meant to be eaten.

Right, unlike Alec and Elf, I was human, not an elf. My sensitivity to plants couldn’t compare to theirs.

Chomp— The juice burst in my mouth, incredibly refreshing and sweet.

A few bites later, the fruit was gone, and surprisingly, I was full. Alec chuckled like a doting grandfather.

“Kids really fill up fast, huh? This fruit’s delicious, but its actual satiety value shouldn’t be this high… You’re really full?”

I nodded. My satiety was already around 80%—no need for more.

————————

Current Status: BOSS
Attack: ??
Speed: ??
Magic: ??
Strength: ??
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Spirit: A
Airheadedness: F / Wisdom: A

————————

Assets: 1 Gold, 8 Silver, 5 Iron ▶▶ 3 Gold, 7 Silver (Alec’s financial support)

————————

Companions:
Elf Ranger—Elf Ester—Eating—[Soul Etching: Contract]
Elf Alchemist—An Alec—Party Member—[Spirit Etching: Deficiency]

…..

Elf was eating. She’d been at it since waking up—must’ve been in a good mood. Alec busied himself dashing between rooms, packing essentials.

We might never return here, so he probably wanted to preserve some memories.

As for me? I had nothing to do. With no attachments, why would I need to rush around? Right now, I just wanted to protect their hope—to keep my promise of taking them back to the Elven Forest… Though deep down, I knew the truth: I just didn’t want to go back to being a lone wolf. I didn’t want to walk this world alone again. I wanted someone by my side… So many hopes, so many delusions—

I grimaced, disgusted by my own naivety… The beginning is hard, the process is hard, the end is hard. Thinking everything will go your way? Goodbye. This is a dog-eat-dog world. Weaklings don’t get happy endings.

[Dream on, Tsukimi Shirin… Wishful thinking… You’re not strong at all… Thinking strength will earn you sincerity? Ha… They just want to ride your coattails…]

“Miss Shirin, are you… okay?”

A voice snapped me out of it. I quickly forced a smile and shook my head at Elf.

My terrible acting, combined with Elf’s sharp perception, made the facade crumble instantly. But I doubled down, changing the subject to brush it off.

Then, like a saving grace, a series of bangs echoed from the front door. At first, I thought Alec was dismantling furniture for packing, but the sound of a turning doorknob clued me in—someone was knocking.

Who was it? What did they want? Knowing she’d only be a burden, Elf quietly slipped into the No Outsiders Allowed alchemy room.

Alec was still packing, but the knocking grew more frantic. Apparently, this house had another entrance—the one I’d used was just the back door. So… could people see this place from outside?

Hesitating, I followed the noise to the front door. No peephole, not even a gap for light. Just as I wondered who it was, the sound of a key sliding into the lock rang out—

Then, slowly, the door creaked open before me—

…..

“Didn’t expect that old man to send me to check on his ‘old friend.’ Could’ve just had NPC guards do it, but no—he had to say I needed ‘real-world experience.’”

A red-haired man in an elegant silver-white suit sighed dramatically before the [Alchemy House]’s door. His striking presence made him stand out instantly.

“Your Highness, no matter how strained your relationship with the mayor, you shouldn’t speak ill of him behind his back.”

The speaker was an utterly ordinary-looking man trailing behind him—the perfect lackey.

“I’m not speaking ill. Just admiring his magnanimity… And if you repeat that, I’ll make you eat dirt. Heh.”

The redhead flashed a sword at his subordinate, its blade glinting coldly—

He was one of the kingdom’s most celebrated talents, excelling in strategy, swordsmanship, and magic… Of course, he was a player. With his determination, mastering everything came naturally—

Lyle In Hart, a mysterious figure who blurred the line between his real name and gamer tag… A genius in reality, too, one who just wanted a quiet place to settle down.

Hearing someone approach the door but not open it, Lyle took the key from his subordinate and slid it into the lock—

When the door swung open, his eyes locked onto the petite, adorable girl before him, momentarily stunned—

Who’s this little cutie—ahem, this little girl?