Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game – Chapter 49

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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“…What is this…”

Yoo Chae-rin was bewildered by the scene before her.

She’d come to the forest for a simple reason, to deliver information, as usual. She’d received some important news today.

Then, she’d heard a woman shouting near the forest. Curiosity piqued, she’d come to investigate. She wanted to see who was making such a racket in the forest.

But… she never expected to see this.

A topless woman.

She was thankful she hadn’t started her stream yet. She would have gotten a warning.

Was she trying to attack Yor, like that other woman?

No, they both seemed too calm for that.

‘Gasp, could it be…?’

Her thoughts briefly went down a certain path. She wouldn’t elaborate on what that path was.

But she quickly dismissed the idea.

Judging by their atmosphere, they weren’t that comfortable with each other.

Yor, noticing Chae-rin, asked,

“Chae-rin? What are you doing here?”

“I heard some shouting, so I came to check…”

“Yor? Chae-rin? Do you know each other?”

Niki interrupted their conversation, a sly smile on her face.

“Aha… so this is why you refused? You’re attached to your little lover?”

“L-Lover?!”

“What nonsense are you talking about…”

Yor frowned, exasperated.

It was a ridiculous assumption. There was no evidence, no basis, and no context.

Chae-rin had simply stumbled upon them by chance.

But Niki didn’t care.

Her trigger had been pulled.

‘Trusting someone who isn’t your own kind… How foolish…’

Niki had briefly lived among humans even after her tenth birthday.

Her family, valuing their reputation, had wanted to hide the fact that a demon-blooded individual had been born into their lineage.

So, she’d been expelled from her home, but in return, she’d survived.

She became an adventurer, utilizing her enhanced physical abilities.

She needed to make a living, and the adventurer’s guild, indifferent to one’s background, was a perfect fit.

It had been smooth sailing. She made friends, gained admirers, and even had a boyfriend.

She’d even considered telling them about her “demon blood.”

How foolish that thought had been was evident in her current situation, a member of Lemegeton.

-Bring me an axe!

-Damn it! That demon spawn was pretending to be human?!

-Honey, I’m sorry, please spare my life…

Trusting humans was a sin.

A cursed being born with demon blood could only dream of normalcy.

Seeing her own kind pretending to be human, a dark feeling welled up inside her.

“Hey, you don’t know who this guy really is, do you?”

“Huh? Me?”

That was why she casually revealed Yor’s secret.

“He’s a Carrier. A demon-blooded individual.”

“Hey!”

Yor’s eyes widened in shock.

Niki smirked.

This was her own decision.

Lemegeton’s policy was to keep their activities secret.

But she couldn’t understand it.

Why hide?

Eventually, when Carriers lost their place in society, they would have no choice but to join Lemegeton.

While they might initially be hostile, they would eventually come to appreciate the cult.

‘Yor, join us! This is the only place you belong! We will welcome you with open arms!’

She looked at Chae-rin.

Chae-rin, still processing the information, stared blankly at them.

A sense of anticipation filled Niki.

That blank expression would soon turn to shock, and then to fear. Just like she had experienced.

The thought thrilled her.

Chae-rin finally spoke.

“Oh… is that all?”

“…Huh?”

Niki tilted her head, confused.

That wasn’t the reaction she’d expected.

“You were hiding it because of that? You could have just told me.”

Chae-rin walked towards Yor, as if it was no big deal.

Yor, equally bewildered, stared at her.

“Well, it wasn’t how I expected to find out, but at least I learned a secret.”

Chae-rin’s expression suggested she’d already suspected it.

Yoo Chae-rin wasn’t stupid.

While she wasn’t a top student, she could tell that Yor was hiding something. He’d seemed secretive from their first encounter.

Living in this forest was strange enough, but he also vehemently avoided any questions about himself.

The logout request during their last fight, the blood-soaked incident… there were plenty of red flags.

She’d been patient because he didn’t seem willing to reveal anything.

‘Demon blood…’

She knew what that meant. It was a core concept of the game, ingrained in her memory since the first demon incident.

She knew how dangerous it was, and how sensitive the NPCs were about it.

But regardless… she felt pity for him. It wasn’t his fault he’d been born that way.

‘So that’s why he’s living in this forest…’

She looked at Yor with a sympathetic gaze.

“N-No way!”

Niki’s voice rose in frustration.

Things weren’t going as planned.

“I… I lost everything! Why are you so calm?!”

“…Why?”

It was Yor, not Chae-rin, who answered.

He was also surprised by Chae-rin’s nonchalant reaction, but he had a guess.

There were many possible reasons.

To Chae-rin, an otherworlder, this was just a game, so she might not care.

It could be a difference in perception between Gaians and otherworlders.

Or maybe she simply didn’t know much about “demon blood.”

But instead of listing all the possibilities, he chose a simpler, more provocative explanation.

“Because I have a dick, and you don’t.”

“…What?”

“Eek.”

Question marks appeared above both women’s heads. They looked at him as if he’d spoken nonsense.

But he stood his ground.

In this reversed world, being born with a penis was a big deal. Just having a stick between your legs increased your attractiveness!

Emotions were an important factor in human judgment, and attractiveness heavily influenced those emotions.

So, having a penis was a significant advantage.

“No, no way!”

“Are you upset? Then you should have been born with a dick.”

“That’s not fair!”

“No! Accept reality! Your genitals are worthless!”

It was her fault for being born with a vagina in this reversed world. Or she should have chosen a different world to live in.

Yor’s mockery enraged Niki.

As a Carrier, her mental state wasn’t very stable. Her reaction to such a light provocation proved it.

“…”

Chae-rin, suddenly caught in the crossfire, simply stared blankly at them.

The teasing didn’t last long.

Yor regained his composure and spoke,

“Now, let me tell you why I’m not joining.”

Niki hadn’t been entirely wrong.

“You’re right. I could live more comfortably if I joined.”

The forest wasn’t exactly a paradise. He understood why she’d joined Lemegeton. While the cult had many enemies, for Carriers, the entire world was an enemy.

Joining a group was a rational choice, whether for survival or for a better quality of life.

“But you worship demons.”

He continued, a surge of anger rising within him.

“I can’t accept that. The demons are the ones who ruined my life.”

He could understand the perspective of the people here, though it was frustrating. They were afraid of becoming demons, and their fear was valid.

But the demons themselves…

The thought of the monthly Berserk episodes made him shudder.

What were they? What kind of beings inflicted such suffering on others?

“And you want me to join a cult that worships them? Do you think I’m an idiot? I’m not some stray dog looking for an owner. Why would I do that? I’d rather bite my tongue off and die.”

His words were harsh. Chae-rin looked at him, surprised.

He was furious.

She’d seen him annoyed before, but this was the first time she’d seen him so angry. It showed how deeply he resented the demons.

“Get out. The only reason I’m not killing you is out of respect for your kind.”

“…Damn it.”

Niki left without another word. She knew further persuasion was futile.

Yor and Chae-rin were left in an awkward silence.

“…”

“…”

A moment of stillness passed.

Yor sighed and spoke to Chae-rin,

“Sorry, you saw something you shouldn’t have. About what you heard today…”

“You want me to keep it a secret? Don’t worry, of course I will.”

“…Thank you.”

Yor’s lips trembled.

Anxiety, worry, and various other emotions swirled within him.

He wanted to emphasize the importance of secrecy, but he stopped himself. He didn’t want to seem desperate.

One thing was certain, the number of people who knew his secret had increased.

But contrary to his expectations… he didn’t feel bad about it.

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