As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 4

As the carriage continued moving forward relentlessly, I didn’t have time to overthink things. I rushed to Nats’ side and shook her again, but as expected, she didn’t respond. So, I hoisted her and the corpse onto my shoulders, ready to break the door and escape—

But just as I reached the door and was about to push it open, shouts echoed from nearby.

[Attention, attention! Citizens, Malletus and its surrounding roads will be under lockdown soon! Unauthorized travel, private duels, or trading on the roads are strictly prohibited! Violators will be sentenced to the Penal Dungeons! By order of Mayor—Pis!]

I froze. Along with the shouts came the rhythmic clatter of iron-shod hooves—likely a knight patrol delivering the announcement. Walking on the roads was now forbidden? Whoever came up with this decree was a real genius. Fine, I’d grudgingly stay in the carriage… Not like I had a choice. With two unconscious burdens, there was no way I could take on an elite player knight squad.

(—Currently Available Intel: Player-organized groups are commonly referred to as “guilds,” usually formed with specific objectives. The guild leader is typically the strongest member.)

(—Guilds come in many types. For example, there are casual “retirement guilds” where members enjoy relaxed gameplay and hunting for Easter eggs; trade guilds that dominate regional markets, filled with wealthy players who spend heavily for exclusive items; territorial governments that hold administrative power, often lacking combat strength but commanding subordinate guilds; and war organizations that fight for profit or ideals, with members specialized for battle.)

(—These categories can be further refined. Some “casual” guilds are actually bandit groups in disguise; others are knight orders sanctioned by kingdoms; some even establish their own religions. The diversity in gameplay and role-playing is what makes Art World Online so appealing.)

I hated this game. Who knew its beloved diversity would one day screw me over? With no other options, I carried Nats back to the couch and stared out the window. Pedestrians bustled about, most dressed as proper city folk—nothing like the rustic attire of Crowford’s villagers. It made me question whether this game was even set in the Middle Ages.

(—Currently Available Intel: Any player can shape the game’s history and etch their name onto the “Milestones of History”… Though many have slain dragons and demon lords, none have managed to make their names stick. The game remains stuck in a weird hybrid of medieval fantasy and wuxia martial arts.)

(—Players can choose any online ID, but names recognized by the NPC system must be normal—or things get awkward.)

Lost in thought, I barely noticed the carriage moving forward. I had no idea where it would stop, but we had to get off at [Malletus]. Any further, and we’d be stranded in the wilderness. I wasn’t sure if I could survive out there, but Nats? No chance.

This girl—I’d known her for less than a day. We weren’t even friends. Yet, I wanted to protect her, to return her to her peaceful life. I didn’t want her to end up like me. How stupid. Wasn’t I just dragging myself further from my own peace?

Silently, I watched the scenery outside. The sun blazed overhead—noon in-game. Half a day had passed since I left Sherrol’s house. Would Lady Cleroll worry about me? Well, she had her own kids to care for. A three-month housemate like me probably wasn’t worth fretting over.

The uncle’s corpse lay nearby. I’d just wondered if it would start smelling like Nats’ sister’s body—when a pungent stench hit me. I felt nothing but disgust. Guess not all corpses stayed preserved.

Killing… I didn’t want to do it. But that uncle left me no choice. If I hadn’t acted—I glanced at the still-breathing girls nearby—their futures would’ve been stolen. They deserved love, not this hell.

This game simulated reality too well. Even the darkest parts of human nature—greed, exploitation—were flawlessly recreated. Were the devs philosophers or something? And with young kids playing… Wouldn’t this mess them up?

“A fatal mistake… I—I—Huh!?” A hand suddenly gripped my shoulder. I turned slowly—only to see Nats, now awake, rubbing her eyes.

“Mmm… Miss Hazuki? Are we there yet?” She yawned. I forced a smile, then remembered the uncle’s corpse beside us.

Crap. What do I do? I couldn’t let Nats suspect the truth about my power. In 0.02 seconds, I made my move—

[Time Stop]

Everything froze—Nats’ breath, the air, the rotting stench, even the game’s calculations and players’ thoughts. The entire world paused.

Relieved, I quickly chopped Nats’ neck, knocking her out again. Hiding the corpse and rescuing the girls would take longer than my time-stop allowed. My max freeze was nine seconds, but when stressed, it dropped to five—

[Time Resumes]

Nats collapsed. The stench spread. The game carried on as if nothing happened.

I didn’t catch her. Maybe the impact would keep her unconscious longer. Thud. She hit the floor. Wow, I’m heartless. Sighing, I checked outside—no onlookers—then tossed the uncle’s body into the bushes.

Innate Traits: [High Stamina] [Forced Rewind] [KRYY’s Blood] [Healing]
Weaknesses: [Cold Sensitivity LV. MAX] [Heat Sensitivity LV.3] [Mental Resistance LV.0]
Companion: Princess of Cloverot—Nats S. Laura | Status: Unconscious
Learned Skill: [Universal Concealment LV.1 ▶▶ LV.MAX]

Closing the status screen, I marveled at [Universal Concealment]. I’d found this skill scroll by accident while dumping the uncle. Though I couldn’t read the text, I memorized it instantly. Why it jumped straight to MAX level? No clue. Maybe my [Magic] stat played a role?

Excited, I prepared to cast my second non-[Natural Concealment] spell. Focusing on the “wall,” I spread my hands—and the hidden space reappeared, shielding the girls again.

Pure joy. It felt like unwrapping a birthday gift. But then—

The carriage lurched to a stop. Angry shouts erupted from the front—the driver arguing with player guards? Sounded like it. When I’d tossed the corpse earlier, the city gates weren’t far…

“Halt! We’re inspecting the carriage!”
“No! You brutes! This carriage belongs to the esteemed Lord Rolston! How dare you—”
“I don’t care if it’s Rolston or the king! Mayor’s orders—all vehicles must be searched! Suspects stay outside for punishment!”

Armor clanked toward the door. The driver’s pleas fell on deaf ears. My stomach dropped—Nats and her sister’s body were still exposed!

What now? Panic surged.

Three… two… one—

The door flung open. Silver-armored players stepped in, eyeing the lavish interior. They didn’t touch anything, just glared at the driver.

“Where’s this ‘Lord Rolston’?” Skepticism dripped from their tone. The driver stammered, earning a punch.

“I-I swear! Lord Rolston was here! And three girls! Please, sirs, I’m just a driver! I handle horses, not magic!”

The guards exchanged glances, then left.

“We’re not paying for your healing. Just doing our job. Move along.”
“Th-thank you!” The driver whipped the horses forward, and we entered [Malletus].

“Phew… Dodged that. But where is Lord Rolston…?”

His muttering reached me—because I was hidden inside the concealed wall. Once safe, I released the spell and carried Nats and the corpse out.

The girls’ scent was nauseating—too realistic. For younger players, the game probably censored smells and visuals. But not for me.

Malletus. A city I knew nothing about. Its wealth was obvious—those silver guards didn’t come cheap. The mayor must’ve had deep pockets… or shady deals.

“Wait… Is the mayor a player?” That’d be bad. This world was crawling with players. A weak, hidden NPC like me stood no chance against dragon-slaying heroes.

Peeking outside, I locked eyes with a silver guard. He nodded respectfully. I awkwardly nodded back—

“Just my luck.”

[SkyCatIsEnough: Yo, see that carriage earlier? There was an angelic blue-haired girl inside.]
[NameTooHard: Yeah… Checked. Just an NPC. Cute, but you’re not into that, right?]
[SkyCatIsEnough: Wrong. I am into that. You’ve got waifus too. These girls might not be real, but they’re close enough.]
[NameTooHard: I’m staying far away from you, creep.]
[RandomRandom: What? What’re we talking about? Girls? Waifus?]
[SkyCatIsEnough: That carriage had a super cute girl. Blue hair, golden eyes, soft cheeks. Flat now, but she’ll grow~]
[NameTooHard: @RandomRandom Ignore him. He’s a lost cause.]
[RandomRandom: Too bad. I’m a gentleman of culture myself.]
[NameTooHard has left the [Guard Squad]]
[NameTooHard: Screw you degenerates. I’m out!]

Malletus. Unfamiliar, yet dazzling. Grand palaces and marble streets screamed wealth—maybe even rivaling the royal treasury of Cloverot.

Most pedestrians were players, laughing and chatting. Some hawked items on the streets, but who’d buy from them in this luxury?

Ah, the rich. Their joy was beyond me. I was just an NPC, longing for a quiet life. Watching their carefree existence… hurt.

Growl— My stomach protested. Hunger level: 30%. Not deadly, but it’d cripple my movements soon.

Nats still slept. Her sister’s body remained intact—likely preserved by magic. Rotting would’ve attracted flies… and guards.

…Enough. I hauled Nats and the corpse to the door, kicked it open—BAM!—and leapt out, ignoring stares. A nearby alley would do.

[KobayashiNoWarrior: Hey, see that girl who jumped from the carriage?] A glasses-wearing warrior typed in chat.
[HelplessVoid: Duh. Adorable. Beats most female NPCs.] A black-haired archer replied eagerly.
[Guard77: She was carrying something into that alley. Maybe a thief?] A blond guard added, edging toward the alley.
[KobayashiNoWarrior: Really? Catch her for bounty?]
[HelplessVoid: Pfft. In this game, we can do anything. I’ll turn her into my doll… Hehehe~]
[KobayashiNoWarrior: Wait! Don’t go alone—]

…..

(—Currently Available Intel: The Companion System. Most companions come from eggs or summoning rituals. Rarely, they’re found in the wild. But the most popular method is the [Oath Contract]—allowing players to bind weakened NPCs as pets.)

(—Due to ethical concerns, the devs banned enslaving humanoid NPCs… unless they consent. But players found loopholes. Under investor pressure, the rule became unspoken—hated, yet tolerated.)