Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game – Chapter 13

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Attention is a drug.

Big or small, humans are creatures that feed on the attention of others.

We have lived in cooperative societies since the primitive era, so isolation meant death.

That’s why hikikomori, who don’t receive attention from others, wither away.

That’s why you shouldn’t worry about celebrities.

You could see it in the modern world I lived in, where so many people wanted to be on Instagram and YouTube.

Humans, by nature, craved attention from others.

And it seemed I wasn’t much different.

Perhaps because I had been isolated for 12 years, this attention felt even more stimulating.

[He looks so f*ckable lol]

[Removed by the manager.]

[Oppa, I’ll give you money, show us more]

[Removed by the manager.]

[Haa… sh*t, I was trying not to fap today]

[Removed by the manager.]

[Yeah~ try banning me, manager~ I’ll be back in 5 minutes~~]

[Removed by the manager.]

Look at that chat, going crazy just because I showed them a little skin.

A normal “man” would be disgusted by such reactions, but I was once a Korean man.

These reactions were simply amusing.

Besides, how long had it been since I last showed myself to others?

Even when I occasionally went to the back alleys of the city, I always wore a hood, so there were few opportunities to have my appearance acknowledged.

Of course, I sometimes looked at puddles and thought, ‘I’m kind of handsome,’ but… self-evaluation was usually worthless.

But seeing their reactions like this… made me feel a bit more confident.

“Um, everyone? Calm down, calm down! Okay, I’m going to restrict the chat for a bit.”

The chaos subsided only after Chae-rin restricted the chat.

I finally buttoned up my coat and sighed in relief.

‘Thank goodness.’

Even though my coat slipped down a bit, my collarbone was still hidden.

There was a demon’s mark there.

Something that couldn’t be revealed, no matter what.

Right now, I could pass as an ordinary hermit living in a strange forest, but who knew what would happen to me if they saw this crimson tattoo?

Thinking about it, a question came to mind.

‘How do they feel about Demon’s Blood?’

Did they know about it?

If they did, how much did they understand?

What was their perception?

Would they try to eliminate me on sight, like the people here, or would they be more understanding, as befitting modern people?

I didn’t know yet.

There was little information to be gleaned from the limited window of the chat and if I asked them directly, it would raise suspicion.

‘I need more information.’

That was one of the reasons I agreed to this stream.

Banning that malicious woman was important, but I was convinced that I couldn’t keep hiding forever.

The world was changing.

They would eventually find their way to the Forbidden Forest, even if I hid.

They were bound to come here someday, even without me.

Because, to them, this was a hunting ground.

They couldn’t come now because their “levels” were too low, but who knew what would happen in the future?

They were immortal warriors who could control their pain and resurrect.

As long as they were “Players” and this place was a level-up zone, their arrival was inevitable.

It was an unstoppable flow.

Then, at the very least, I had to ride that flow.

This wasn’t a crisis.

It was an opportunity.

So, I decided to end my 12 years of seclusion and reveal myself slightly.

I couldn’t hide forever.

And if, by any chance, they were even a little bit friendly towards Demon’s Blood…

I might be able to secure a new means of survival.

Even I thought it was a bold move, but I believed it was the right path.

‘Haa… I should have invested in stocks like this.’

Then, I wouldn’t have died crushed in my studio apartment.

I would have been living a luxurious life, sipping wine on the top floor of a Gangnam skyscraper.

[Hey, Chae-rin, do something]

[Chae-rin… I can’t breathe…]

[You were so entertaining when it was just us… why are you so awkward now?]

As I was lost in pointless thoughts, messages started popping up in the chat again.

It seemed that time had passed even during my brief moment of zoning out.

It seemed Chae-rin had been fidgeting and unable to speak during that time.

In other words, it was awkward.

I understood how she felt… I had blocked most attempts to investigate my background, and talking to a woman felt different.

I also used to get tongue-tied when I tried to talk to women in my past life.

After a long, heavy silence, she finally spoke.

“The, uh, weather is nice today… Don’t you think? Haha.”

[…Ha]

[Note to self… start with the weather when talking to a man…]

[Don’t write that down, you idiot, you might get slapped]

It was a ridiculously awkward question.

But I was awkward too, so I decided to talk to her.

“Uh, do you want to eat something?”

She came all the way to this dangerous place; I should at least offer her food.

Sizzle-!

“Sorry, all I have ready is some salted meat… or is meat enough?”

“Yes, yes! Of course!”

The savory aroma of cooked meat filled the cave.

In front of her, well-preserved meat was sizzling on the pan.

Around it, the fruits she had brought were arranged colorfully.

‘I should have brought some vegetables too…’

She swallowed, her mouth watering.

To think he would offer her food, especially meat… She had noticed it during her previous visit, but he seemed to be pretty good at taking care of meals.

Koreans were known for their love of food, sometimes she even wondered if he was originally Korean.

[This is the epitome of a good husband lol]

[From this day forward, Yor is my husband, I’ve decided]

[Did you even get his consent?]

[He’s surprisingly good at cooking, considering his appearance lol]

[It’s just grilled meat?]

[Grilling meat isn’t as easy as it looks lol]

The chat’s reaction wasn’t bad either.

He had only shown them his grumpy, cursing, and threatening side so far… so this unexpected charm was a welcome change.

Chae-rin, who was being treated to a meal, also felt quite good.

What was slightly unexpected was that Yor, who lived in this cave, used an iron pan.

‘I thought he would be using a stone slab or something…’

This wasn’t because Chae-rin was prejudiced, it was because of Yor’s usual demeanor.

His clothes, his dwelling… everything about him screamed “isolated from society.”

So she didn’t expect him to have modern tools.

Now that she thought about it, the blades he had were also modern tools.

Thinking about it, she became curious again.

‘Why is he living in a remote forest like this?’

He seemed perfectly capable and even strong.

She wanted to ask him, but she remembered being shut down before, so she refrained.

Of course, the chat, unaware of her thoughts, was busy speculating.

“It’s ready.”

While she was lost in thought, the food was finally done.

A plate of perfectly grilled meat was placed in front of her.

At the same time, a window popped up.

Perfectly grilled wild boar meat.

It might be a bit salty due to the salt preservation.

So, it was wild boar meat.

She took a bite, her thoughts trailing off.

The rich, savory flavor of the meat filled her mouth.

It was supposed to be salty, but she found the flavor perfect.

“Mmm…”

This was the advantage of having a 90% Synchronization Rate.

It was dangerous during combat, as it could trigger PTSD, but it provided ultimate satisfaction when enjoying simple content like this.

Seeing her enjoying the meal, Yor smirked and asked,

“Is it good?”

“Yes!”

“Good, eat a lot.”

[Damn]

[Chae-rin, you’re enjoying the game too much, tone it down, I’m getting jealous]

[Oppa’s smile is handsome too…]

Yor enjoyed the sight.

He had been eating alone for so long, so having a meal with someone was a rare treat.

It was always rewarding to see someone enjoying the food you made.

After the meal, Yor got up to get a tissue to wipe the grease from his mouth.

He went deeper into the cave, leaving Chae-rin behind.

And as he entered his storage room…

“Ah.”

He couldn’t help but be disappointed.

His stockpile of daily necessities was running low.

He was almost out of tissues, soap, dishcloths…

Yor scratched his head in frustration.

Come to think of it, he hadn’t been to the city recently.

It was time to visit the back alleys to replenish his supplies.

‘Ugh, what a hassle.’

It was quite a chore for him.

Preparing items to trade, carrying the supplies… it was labor-intensive.

And frankly, he hated getting ripped off while buying things in the back alleys.

‘Oh?’

As he was lamenting, a brilliant idea struck him.

‘Wait… Since she’s here, why don’t I just ask her?’

Even though she was an otherworlder, unlike him, she could freely enter the city center.

That meant he didn’t have to buy things at inflated prices in the back alleys.

Of course, it was a bit much to ask someone he had only met twice to run errands for him… but he could always offer extra compensation.

Honestly, it would still be cheaper than the back alleys.

And maybe… he could get some items that were only available in the city center.

Like, for example, the pastries with strawberry jam that he hadn’t had in 12 years!

For Yor, who had a deep-seated childhood longing, those pastries were quite significant.

“Hey… um, is it Chae-rin? Sorry, but could you do me a favor?”

Having made up his mind, Yor approached Yoo Chae-rin.

Since he was asking for a favor, he lowered his stance slightly, just a little bit.

As Chae-rin turned to him with a puzzled expression, Yor continued,

“Could you buy some things for me in the city? If possible, maybe a pastry from a bakery…”

And that’s when it happened.

A window popped up in front of Chae-rin.

“…W-What?”

[OMG OMG OMG]

[It’s a quest!! It’s a quest!!!]

[Wow hahahaha]

[What the hell, oppa]

The chat’s reaction was strangely intense.

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[Lmao bro just wants her to do his grocery shopping]