As a Reincarnated NPC, I Want to Live a Peaceful Life - Chapter 7

[Elven Forest]— After the legendary great war, no one knew its exact location anymore. The entire forest seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, disappearing from all maps.

Moreover, few elves appeared in public anymore, making the search for the Elven Forest even more difficult. Elves possessed an innate connection to their homeland—the drifting scent in the air, the ever-present reminder that kept them vigilant… Their goal was to break free from human society as soon as possible and return home.

The sharp decline in the elf population was largely due to humans capturing them. An elf’s value wasn’t just limited to their beauty or their usefulness as servants… As a result, the remaining elves deeply distrusted humans and other hostile races, refusing to reveal the location of the Elven Forest. Even if brainwashed or subjected to mental magic, they couldn’t speak of it—the mark was engraved in their very souls.

Clearly, the elf girl before me felt the same way. My sudden 180-degree shift in attitude must have set off her alarms, but—

Elven ears were sharp. In a quiet alley where outside noise barely reached, they could detect lies or unease in a person’s voice. This girl had managed to avoid being captured a second time, likely thanks to that ability. And if she still had doubts, elves had their own unique skills to discern the truth.

Well, I didn’t know what kind of skill she might use, but she was undoubtedly proficient in it.

After a moment of silence, the girl hesitantly spoke up.
“R-Really?”

I nodded, then pointed toward the street, signaling her to leave. This alley wasn’t a place for a girl to linger. Even grown women or warriors—any attractive female—could be snatched away in an instant.

Not that it mattered to me. If anyone tried, I’d kill them before they got the chance.

Seeing the elf girl still unmoving, I sighed and turned to leave. Since I had no money, it was best to head back early… I wondered how Nats was doing. She might have already boarded a carriage back to Krovfort. The royal capital suited a bright girl like her—someone like me had no place in her world.

And how was Lady Cleror? I’d been away from “home” (if you could even call it that) for nearly half a day. It was 2 PM in-game time now. I should hurry back.

But just as I took a step, someone grabbed my hand. Who else could it be? I turned—it was the elf girl, her face slightly flushed, legs fidgeting, as if she wanted to ask me for something…

Guess what my expression was?

(╯°□°)╯︵ ┻━┻

Yeah, that. And I really wanted to flip a table. Why did everyone keep doing this to me? Did I look like I had nothing better to do?

“What do you want?”

“…Um… I think… you’re someone trustworthy. You didn’t hand me over to those adventurers… Thank you… And, this gold coin… really, for me?”

Trembling, she pulled out a gold coin from a hidden pocket in her pouch. I took a closer look—yep, it was definitely mine. Clever girl, hiding it there.

I nodded and tried to pull my hand away, but she held on tighter.

“What’s wrong? Just say it outright.”

At my words, she grew even shyer, her cheeks flushing pink before she finally spoke, her voice soft but deliberate.

“I… want to go home… But, alone… I can’t do it… So, please… help me… Please!” Before she could burst into tears, I quickly covered her mouth and glanced around. Once I confirmed no one was nearby, I grimaced.

Was she really this quick to trust me? Well, maybe because we were around the same age, she felt more at ease with me…

But I’d heard the Elven Forest might not even be near [Malletus], or even within the borders of [Krovfort Kingdom]. Even if elves could sense their homeland… I—I—

In the end, I agreed. The girl immediately started bouncing with joy, and seeing her so happy, I couldn’t help but smile a little.

“Still, I can’t guarantee this journey will be smooth… It’ll be rough. Can you—no, you’re already used to that, aren’t you?”

She nodded. I led her to the alley’s exit, checked for guards, then took her hand and stepped onto the street—immediately drawing stares.

Good thing I’d made her hide her ears. Otherwise, people would’ve been shouting, “Catch the elf! Catch the elf!” And then I’d be in deep trouble too.

Ignoring the pointless compliments, I focused on moving forward. The girl seemed uneasy, so I patted her shoulder reassuringly. She calmed down a little and quietly followed behind me.

…..

Companion Joined: Elf Ranger—Elf Ester (Elf·Esters)

…..

[Central Avenue], one of [Malletus]’s main streets, was packed with merchants from all over. Its bustling scenery naturally attracted many “adventurers”—players, in other words.

For their own growth, they wouldn’t pass up any opportunity they came across. If I were still one of them, I’d probably do the same…

But now that I was part of this world, I had no choice but to stay hidden—getting arrested wasn’t an option.

…..

(—Currently Available Intel: Any detected criminal act will place the perpetrator, whether NPC or player, in a “Wanted” state. During this state, efficiency is halved, and interactions with NPCs become more difficult based on exposure level. This persists until the Wanted status is lifted or the perpetrator is arrested.)

(—Upon arrest, the “Criminal” status is applied. Punishment severity is determined by the crime’s impact—Death, Severe, Moderate, or Light penalties. Bail fees are required upon release.)

…..

I led the girl to the city gates, where player guards blocked our path.

“Scram, kids. Didn’t you hear the noon announcement? No one enters or leaves the city right now.” Maybe because we looked young, the guard captain’s tone was much gentler than when he’d barked at the coachman earlier.

I nodded and quickly pulled the girl away. With everything that had happened, I’d completely forgotten about the lockdown.

Now we couldn’t leave freely. And even if we pooled my gold coin and her spare change, it wasn’t enough for a day’s travel expenses. I glanced back—the guards showed no signs of leaving anytime soon. This lockdown could last days.

Ugh, I should’ve saved more money! Who knew a random elf would pop up and ask me to help her get home? Well, I dug my own grave.

Noticing my distress, the elf girl patted my shoulder.

“Did I… cause trouble for you? I’m sorry—”

“Stop! Don’t apologize. I promised to help you, and I will. Just don’t apologize for everything.”

Cutting her off, I bit my thumb in thought. What now? Find Nats? No, she might’ve already left [Malletus]. Forcing our way out wasn’t smart either—I might have to reveal my true self.

That left only one option: stay put for now and figure out how to leave later.

I had the girl empty her bag, and we took stock of our assets: a rusty tin box, a few incomprehensible books, an open ink bottle with a quill, a single leaf… I sighed in despair, gathering the meager coins and the gold piece in my palm before forcing a smile at the girl.

“Are you… crying?” Of course, an elf would notice my real emotions.

I lowered my head and patted her shoulder.

“Let’s… see if we can find some short-term work to earn travel funds.”

Currently, I’d contributed one gold coin, and with her loose change added, we had a total of 1 gold, 8 silver, and 5 copper coins… It might sound like a lot, but in this city, I’d already seen how inflated prices were.

Eight silver coins for a tiny cake and a plain coffee? Highway robbery! Or was the cost of living here just that high?

Frustrated, I stuffed the money back into her bag and dragged her along. In a city this big, there had to be shops hiring.

“Slow down, wait for me…” she called out, struggling to keep up.

I might’ve been too impatient. Slowing down, I realized the stamina gap was an issue—if we had to run, I’d leave her behind.

After a few minutes, we reached a [Weapon Shop] with a hiring notice: “Seeking skilled weapon demonstrators—1 gold per session.” Perfect! Regardless of my strength, handling standard shop weapons was no problem.

Rubbing my hands, I told the girl to wait outside and marched in. “Hello! I’m here to demo weapons!”

…Moments later, the owner kicked me out. “We don’t hire kids!” he barked before slamming the door.

Grumbling, I spotted the elf girl giggling in the corner. My mood soured further, and she quickly stifled her laughter.

Well, she was still a child. Let her laugh. Better than ending up like a certain other elf who’d lived through hell.

“Next time… next time we’ll succeed,” she encouraged me.

I nodded, regaining some confidence.

[Sorry, we’re full.] Don’t be so heartless!
[I’d love to help, but we’re about to go bankrupt.] Don’t say such hopeless things!
[We don’t hire kids. Scram.] What’s wrong with kids? If they’re capable, why can’t they work?!

My despair deepened. I even considered having the girl stay in a shop while I slept on a roof… Not a bad idea, actually. I’d just replenished my hunger meter, and no matter how uncomfortable, I wouldn’t feel fatigue. If all else failed, this was the plan.

“…By the way, I never asked your name. What is it?”

“Eh? Oh, I’m Elf. Full name, Elf Ester… I’m a pure-blooded elf, so I can’t eat meat, and also—”

“Stop. I’m not planning to raise you… Elf? That’s a lovely name. I’ve heard it symbolizes wisdom in some regions. You’ll grow into that, I’m sure.”

Elf blinked, then smiled and nodded. A second later, her long ears nearly slipped out. I quickly covered them, reminding her to be more careful.

“My name is Yuetsu Juri. No need for honorifics—just call me Juri.”

We didn’t venture to other streets—[Central Avenue] was [Malletus]’s busiest commercial district. If there was work anywhere, it’d be here.

“Okay… thank you, Miss Juri…”

The last shop had closed due to a customer brawl. Seriously, was the universe messing with me? Wiping my face, I felt mentally exhausted. If only mental energy could be strengthened like physical stats… but no such luck.

“I said no honorifics.”

Elf cheered me up after every rejection—genuinely, I could tell. If she weren’t an elf and we were just ordinary companions, she might’ve just mocked me half-heartedly.

It made me happy to have someone who truly cared… Or maybe she was just worried about her own future. Our bond wasn’t unbreakable. For all I knew, she might abandon me for a better opportunity.

But it was hopeless. For some reason, every shop refused to hire kids. I didn’t blame them—past incidents had likely made it impossible.

Unconsciously, my fist clenched—a sign of my anger, even if I wasn’t fully aware of it. A clenched fist meant power, and if I wasn’t careful, that power could destroy everything around me.

The last time I’d done this… was right after I arrived in this world.

…..

(—At the game’s launch, the developers sent all pre-order players a documentary. It explicitly mentioned hidden bosses—extremely dangerous but offering immense rewards.)

(—In the footage, multicolored electric energy surged into a compressed canister before being injected into █████. The figure glowed, then vanished in a blinding flash—the screen itself shattered.)

(—Nameless, with unknown abilities, this hidden boss fascinated players while also instilling dread.)

…..

Jobs were hard to come by, especially in an era so sensitive about child labor. Even if I found something, a day’s wages might barely cover a meal—if that.

Walking down the avenue, drawing stares, with no money for lodging and a companion who could be exposed at any moment… Things couldn’t get much worse.

“Miss Juri?” Elf whispered, but the girl in front of her didn’t react.

Ugh, this was terrible. I should’ve saved those eight silver coins. With two gold pieces, we could’ve had decent lodging and meals.

“Miss Juri… can you hear me?” Elf moved closer, shaking the girl’s hand—but she remained lost in thought.

I really wasn’t cut out for planning ahead. Maybe the roof plan was best. Time to find an inn—

“MISS JURI!”

“GYAH—?!”

I jolted back to reality, heart pounding. If anyone but Elf had shouted like that, an adventurer might’ve noticed me. That’d be the end.

“Wh-What? Are you mad because I ignored you?” I asked, flustered. Leaving someone hanging was rude, after all.

Instead of answering, Elf hid behind me and pointed down the street. Following her finger, I spotted a pair of eyes watching us from a dark alleyway.

What the—? Why hadn’t I sensed that gaze? Normally, I could detect any deliberate stare… Shaking my head, I focused harder on the alley.

This time, instead of just staring, the figure—realizing I’d noticed—reached out from the shadows and gestured for us to come closer.

“Miss Juri… should we… go?” Elf asked nervously.

I didn’t want to, but if they could evade my detection, I had no choice.

Holding Elf’s hand, I carefully crossed the busy street and approached the alley. The hand retreated into the darkness.

This wasn’t so much an alley as a cramped gap between buildings—barely three meters wide, just enough to fit a person. But…

That hand had been huge. Its owner must’ve been at least as large as a beastman. How had something that big hidden here without the guards noticing?

But it was too late now. If they could evade detection, they were skilled. Since we’d been spotted, we had no choice—

Gripping Elf’s hand tightly, I stepped into the shadows.

…..

Current Status: Minor Boss

Attack: ??
Speed: ??
Magic: ??
Strength: ??
Growth Potential: ∞
Precision: A
Mental Resistance: A

——————————

Total Funds: 1 Gold, 8 Silver, 5 Copper (Plus several unusable coppers)