As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 11

The door swung open, and a nobleman with fiery red hair stepped into view—

A player, likely in his early twenties. A platinum-white enchanted sword hung at his waist, radiating an unusual aura. Behind him trailed a lackluster attendant. His gaze lingered on me, sharp and intrusive, making my skin crawl.

Who is this guy?

We locked eyes for a moment before he casually tried to step inside. Given the situation, I couldn’t let just anyone waltz in—noble or not—unless he had a warrant or something. I blocked the narrow hallway, using my small frame as a barricade.

When he realized I wasn’t budging, his hand twitched toward me before he quickly withdrew it. Maybe he sensed the power coiled beneath my skin. Good. The less he knew, the better.

“Um, could you let us—”

“No.”

I cut him off before he could finish. I knew what he wanted, but I wasn’t about to oblige. If push came to shove, I’d silence them both.

Unfortunately, despite the clear gap in strength, his adult physique overpowered my child-sized body. Reluctantly, I stepped aside.

“Hello there, little one?”

He tried to engage me in conversation. I ignored him, briskly walking past. He stood frozen, disbelief plastered across his face.

Honestly, I understood. If I were in his shoes, being coldly dismissed by a kid would sting too. Of course, if he knew what I was really thinking, that sting would turn to fury. You don’t just barge into someone’s home—

Wait.

That sound earlier—wasn’t it a key?

Which meant… this man knew Alak. Alak had given him a key. So he was an invited guest.

Oh, for—

I’d just blocked Alak’s guest at the door. If only I’d realized sooner!

I clawed at my hair in frustration, halfway through turning back to apologize when a wave of awkwardness hit me. It wasn’t that I couldn’t apologize, but… was I even in the wrong? Stopping a stranger from entering was just common sense. Right? Nothing to fuss over.

“Miss Shiling? What’s going on?”

“Uh—haha! I didn’t do anything wrong! I mean, it’s nothing. Seems like a friend of Grandpa Alak’s dropped by. You should stay hidden, just in case.”

Elf nodded and retreated into the alchemy room. I glanced back down the hallway—the man was already gone, probably waiting in the parlor. I sighed in relief, only to nearly jump out of my skin when a face suddenly appeared in front of me.

It was the attendant. His plain attire made him practically invisible—was it some kind of Stealth effect? Hah. Just kidding.

“Greetings, young miss. I am Benjamin, retainer to His Highness Lyle In Harrut—OW!”

I pinched his side, shutting him up mid-sentence. Ignoring his pained yelp, I tried to walk past, but he blocked me again.

“Y-You—ugh, this kid! Hey! Don’t walk away! I wasn’t done—wait, why aren’t you listening?!”

I kept moving, refusing to acknowledge him. He trailed after me like an oversized fly. I had no idea what he wanted, but my patience was wearing thin.

Finally, I stopped outside Alak’s room. Enough was enough.

“Stop following me, you creepy lackey, or I’ll make you regret it.”

With that, I slipped inside and slammed the door.

…..

“…Ah, so she’s just a stubborn little thing. Very wary of strangers.”

“Your Highness! Please stop using my appearance for your reconnaissance! It’ll cause trouble for me later!”

“Right, right. I’ll refrain next time. Let’s head to the parlor and meet with Alak. It’s been too long since we last spoke.”

……

I couldn’t fathom why a noble’s attendant would be so insistent on chatting up a random little girl. Maybe he was gathering intel. Either way, I had no patience for busybodies.

I’d expected to find Alak in his room, but it was empty. I wandered around—white walls, magic lamps dimmed in the daylight, curtains drawn with faint light seeping through. The shelves were disheveled, as if someone had rummaged through them.

Where’s Alak? Did he leave for something urgent?

“Grandpa Alak? Where are—huh?”

My foot stuck to a piece of paper. Peeling it off, I squinted at the unfamiliar script. More sheets were scattered across the floor.

Letters, maybe? The format resembled correspondence, complete with signatures in the corners—not that I could read them. I stacked them neatly and set them back down. Snooping through private letters was a line I wouldn’t cross.

So Alak kept in touch with someone—family? Friends? But given the secrecy of the Elven Forest’s location, it couldn’t be common knowledge.

Alright, that’s it for Alak’s room. Nothing noteworthy. He must’ve cleaned up already.

I cracked the door open, peeked out to confirm the attendant was gone, then slipped into the hallway and made my way to the parlor. If those two were up to no good, I needed to know.

The parlor door was shut. The nobleman was probably inside with Alak by now. Since they were friends, I shouldn’t interrupt.

But the floor had other plans.

Just as I turned to leave, the wooden boards let out a loud creak—deafening in the silence.

“Who’s there?”

Damn it.

Resigned, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The red-haired man and Alak were deep in conversation, their expressions shifting from tension to forced smiles the moment they spotted me.

I knew it was just a facade to placate me. But what could I do? Play along.

“Oh? The girl from earlier? Eavesdropping on adult matters now?”

I didn’t answer, instead positioning myself behind Alak, feigning shyness. He caught on immediately and deflected.

“Alak, this young lady barred my attendant and me from entering earlier. Only relented when she had no choice. Might I ask what your relation to her is?”

“Ah… my apologies. This child is under my care. She’s… wary of strangers. I hope you’ll forgive her behavior, Your Highness.”

Your Highness? So this guy was royalty. For an elven elder like Alak to address him so formally—was he some incognito prince?

I forced a smile and nervously gripped Alak’s sleeve.

Also, since when was I his adopted granddaughter? Not a bad cover, but did he have to spring it on me? Then again… what other explanation was there? No one would buy me being his blood relative, and we were trying to avoid scrutiny.

If this “Highness” dug too deep, not only would escorting Elf and Alak to the Elven Forest become impossible—I’d be finished.

Sweat dripped down my back. The red-haired man—Lyle—seemed to notice and mercifully dropped the subject, resuming his chat with Alak.

“Alak, you’re 659 this year, correct? It’s been too long since I last visited. I brought no gifts, no celebratory offerings… shameful.”

“Your Highness needn’t trouble yourself. I haven’t celebrated my birthday in over two centuries. One more year makes no difference.”

I blinked, processing Alak’s words. Two hundred years without a birthday? Harsh.

Lyle, huh? I’d remember that name. Anyone close to Alak was probably not a villain, but that didn’t mean he was trustworthy either. I’d stay cautious.

Right now, the biggest hurdle was smuggling Elf and Alak out of Malletus. The lockdown order made it near-impossible—no one was allowed in or out without special clearance. How was the mayor sustaining the city under these conditions? Did he have infinite resources?

“Need any help, little one?”

“Huh?” The sudden question threw me off. After a pause, I mumbled, “N-No, it’s nothing important. Don’t worry about it.”

Lyle studied me, unmoving. Maybe he was puzzled. I offered another strained smile.

Just when I thought he’d let it go—

“You’re lying.” His voice was firm. “I can tell. Your expression, the hesitation in your breath, the flicker in your eyelids—all signs of deception. And it’s because of me.”

I stared. He wasn’t joking. His confidence deflated mine. Reluctantly, I nodded. How’d he know?

Of course. Players had skills I couldn’t even fathom.

“…I have a spell that reads emotions. Not thoughts, but general mental states. My constitution restricts me from learning true mind magic… so this is the next best thing.”

“Oh. Well… sorry for hiding things, but I can’t say more.”

“Shiling,” Alak interjected, “His Highness is a good man. Perhaps we can confide in him…”

His narrowed eyes bore into me. Who’s in a hurry here? Then again, we were in this together. After a hesitant sigh, I relented and laid out our situation.

…..

Lyle listened without visible shock. I’d expected more of a reaction. He fell silent, weighing his thoughts, occasionally nodding or shaking his head.

Part of me hoped he’d agree to help—another part dreaded it. From what Alak had hinted, the Harrut family held immense influence across Gale continent, rivaling even the royal family. This Lyle In Harrut was no small figure.

His aid would expedite our plans. But if things went south, the fallout could ruin him—both in-game and possibly in real life.

So there was no way he’d just—

“No problem. I’ll help you leave the city.”

—agree.

Wait, what? Just like that? Was this some impulsive quest he wanted to toy with?

“Uh… Your Highness, we’re just travelers. Why help us?” I eyed him with deliberate suspicion. I’d met too many “helpers” with ulterior motives.

“Let me be clear—to the public, my family isn’t known for altruism. Yet here you are, crossing lines to assist strangers. What’s your angle?”

“My, you’re quite worldly for a child. Very well—I’m helping because I want to. That’s all.”

“You’re young, Your Highness. Don’t throw away your future for a thrill. Your swordsmanship, political acumen, magical prowess—they’ve made you a figure of renown. This isn’t a game.”

“And I’m not treating it as one.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but Alak stopped me with a gesture. Lyle’s fingers drummed impatiently against the sofa.

I shut my mouth.

“…Tch. Fine. Can’t talk you out of this, huh?”

I rubbed my temples. What was wrong with this guy? If it were me, I’d prioritize self-preservation. Then again… from the moment I decided to help Elf, my own safety had gone out the window.

What now? Refusing his help wasn’t an option. Wait—how did he turn the tables? Shouldn’t he be the one hesitating?

……

[STATUS]

Attack: ??
Speed: ??
Magic: ??
Strength: ??
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Mental Fortitude: A
Airheadedness: F / Wisdom: A

—Assets—
3 Gold, 7 Silver ▶▶ ??? (Potential funding from Lyle In Harrut)

—Companions—
Elf Ranger—Elf Ester ▶ [Soul Brand · Contract]
Elven Alchemist—An Alak ▶ [Mental Brand · Deficiency]
Royal Archknight—Lyle In Harrut ▶ Join Possible ▶ [Family Heir]