Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game – Chapter 75

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Seventeen months had passed since the otherworlders arrived.

Naturally, their levels had steadily increased during that time.

Though the rate of growth had slowed, they were still progressing.

The number one rank, however, remained volatile. With slower growth, the top spot changed hands frequently.

There was no clear leader, only a pack of wolves vying for the throne… or so Ha-neul had told him.

But in their country, Korea, there was an undisputed number one. A prodigy with the potential to reach the top of the global rankings.

Shin Han-byeol.

She was so famous even Yor, secluded in his forest, knew her name.

‘Her?’

And the person standing before him now seemed to be none other than Shin Han-byeol.

The chat visible through Player’s Eye referred to her as Han-byeol.

Of course, it could be a coincidence, but Yor doubted it. Anyone confident enough to come here alone must have something to rely on.

That suspicion quickly solidified into certainty.

She charged.

They say a master’s footwork is different. LHer approach was swift and sharp.

Balanced, with a solid stance.

But those were just minor details. What truly surprised him was the blue aura surrounding her blades.

Sword Qi.

She was the first otherworlder he’d seen wield it.

‘Oh?’

Intrigued, Yor channeled his own Sword Qi and blocked her attack.

Clang!

A clear ringing sound echoed through the air. Yor assessed her strength.

‘Decent power.’

Even considering the level difference, it wasn’t particularly strong or weak. Just average.

But her attack didn’t end there.

She swiftly withdrew one of her curved swords and attacked his side with the other.

A fluid, seamless strike.

He dodged, of course, but her relentless assault showed no signs of stopping. It wasn’t mindless flailing either. She incorporated rotations and spins, but always maintained a ready stance.

She clearly had training. And that made her dangerous.

With her long violet hair swirling around her, she resembled a dancer wielding two curved swords. Her tight-fitting attire accentuated her curves.

‘Ahem…’

Yor coughed inwardly and thrust his spear towards her.

He’d seen enough. He couldn’t let her continue her attacks indefinitely.

And honestly, he felt he might get hit if he let it go on.

Swish!

His spear shot forward, and she retreated, sensing the danger.

Her evasion was impressive. A backflip, creating distance between them.

He’d never seen someone do a somersault in combat before.

Yor chuckled inwardly, revising his assessment.

‘Excellent technique.’

She was different from any otherworlder he’d encountered.

Whoever trained her did a good job. She maintained balance even in unstable positions.

Honestly, her swordsmanship was better than his own.

Well, he’d never had any formal training.

He glanced at her chat.

[Holy crap, how did she dodge that?]
[WTF, that backflip just now lol]
[Kyaaa! Noona! You’re so cool ㅠㅠ]
[Romantic Seeker donated 50,000 won!]
-No wonder she’s always in highlight reels lol
[Simp donated 30,000 won!]
-Hanbyeol, you’re amazing, the best. You got all the footage you need for YouTube today. So can you go home now…? Why are you trying to kill Yor, you rich bitch? ㅠㅠ

The chat was going wild. It seemed this wasn’t a common occurrence. Donations were pouring in.

Yor was puzzled.

She didn’t seem to need the money. 5 million gold was a lot, but also… not that much.

S-rank adventurers could easily earn that kind of money. Their services were highly sought after.

She wasn’t S-rank yet, but… she was earning a decent amount from streaming. She was a strong player among the otherworlders.

So, what was her motive? She couldn’t have come all this way for a mere 50 million won.

‘Is she really just here for YouTube content?’

He had many questions, but they were irrelevant.

He just needed to get the holy water from her.

Lost in his thoughts, she made her next move.

“Whew, you’re strong. I guess I can afford a slight handicap. Right?”

She rummaged through her inventory and pulled out two vials of holy water.

She applied one to her curved swords, and splashed the other on herself.

She was using it as a buff, since throwing it accurately would be difficult.

Yor grimaced.

‘Such a waste of precious holy water…’

Well, it was a valid strategy.

Her holy-infused blades would deal extra damage to him. And she’d be able to block his blood attacks, at least for a while.

It would be troublesome.

But as always, he just needed to avoid being hit.

The difference in their abilities was still significant.

Yor charged, his spear imbued with Sword Qi. The probing was over. It was time to get serious.

She managed to block his attack, her technique as impressive as ever.

“Ugh…!”

She strained under the force of his blow.

A few more exchanges followed.

It didn’t take long to subdue her.

Bam!

A dull thud echoed as she flew back, crashing against the cave wall.

She’d dropped both her swords in the process.

Yor approached her, placing his dagger against her throat.

Interrogation time.

“Now, let’s talk. How much holy water do you have? And where did you get it?”

[That dagger is terrifying ㄷㄷ]
[She got wrecked www]
[Oh, Yor close-up ㅗㅜㅑ..]
[He’s really handsome…]
[Do we really need to kill him…?]

He could see the chat scrolling beside her.

She glared at him, her expression defiant.

“Ha, do you think I’ll tell you anything? Just kill me already.”

“Hmm.”

He’d expected as much.

Yor nodded.

Then, without warning, he slapped her hard across the face.

Crack!

A sharp sound echoed through the cave as her head snapped to the side. Blood trickled from her split lip.

Her eyes widened in surprise. She hadn’t expected to be hit.

Yor looked down at her.

“You otherworlders are so disobedient these days.”

Honestly, he’d been growing increasingly resentful of them. While many were friendly, some, like the woman he’d killed earlier, treated him like an NPC.

And this woman seemed to share that same disregard.

So, he decided to teach her a lesson. A public example, since she was a streamer.

He grabbed her chin and slapped her a few more times.

Crack! Crack!

“Ugh… Kgh…!”

Sharp sounds punctuated by her pained whimpers filled the cave.

She’d come to kill him. She deserved this much.

…But the chat’s reaction was… strange.

[Whoa, he’s giving her a reward ㄷㄷㄷ]
[Can I get hit too if I go there? Fuck, I wanna get hit, I wanna get hit]
[Heeung… Oppa… Heung… Oppa…]
[I’m not a masochist, but this is kinda hot ㅎㅎ;]
[Saving… Adding to my spanking folder…]
[These perverts are going crazy]
[No, noona!]

He’d expected them to be horrified by his brutality.

Instead, he sensed a… disturbingly enthusiastic response.

Confused, Yor quickly withdrew his hand.

Thankfully, she seemed to understand his intentions.

She glared at him, her voice a low growl.

“You bastard…”

A malicious grin spread across her face.

“Ha, hit me all you want. It doesn’t even hurt thanks to the synchronization rate. I’d rather die than tell you anything.”

Yor frowned.

He appreciated her understanding, but this wasn’t the reaction he wanted.

He’d thought she’d talk eventually, just to avoid being hit.

But her gaze remained defiant. Either she was incredibly proud, or she genuinely wouldn’t break.

He clicked his tongue.

“…Tsk.”

This wasn’t good.

What should he do?

He could kill other otherworlders without a second thought, but he needed this one alive.

He needed her holy water.

And he needed to know how she’d acquired it.

But she was so uncooperative…

‘Should I stab her?’

The thought crossed his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.

He didn’t want her to bleed to death. With a 15% synchronization rate, it would be more of a burning sensation than anything lethal.

So, how should he proceed…

‘Aha.’

An idea struck him.

If she wouldn’t talk, he’d just keep her captive.

He could tie her up. Even if she logged out and her body disappeared, the ropes wouldn’t come undone.

He usually let otherworlders log out, not wanting to keep anyone in his cave. But holy water changed everything.

He quickly fetched ropes and metal stakes from his storage.

He drove the stakes into the ground and tied her securely.

‘Her breasts are surprisingly large…’

There was some inevitable physical contact as he bound the struggling woman, but he managed to restrain her.

Her hands and feet were tightly bound. She wouldn’t be able to escape.

The sight of her tied up in her tight-fitting outfit was… slightly arousing, but that was a secondary concern.

Thump! Thump!

“Ugh! Untie me! Untie me…!”

She thrashed against her bonds, her struggles surprisingly strong. She’d anticipated death, perhaps, but not captivity.

Watching her struggle, tied to the metal stake, a thought occurred to him.

“Hmm…”

He’d always wanted a pet.

Even in his past life.

He wasn’t particularly fond of animals, but he’d craved companionship in his solitary life.

He couldn’t afford a pet in his past life, and the creatures in this forest were too wild to tame.

So, his desire had remained unfulfilled.

But now, he had someone in his cave. In a way, his dream had come true.

She was a bit… ferocious, but he could tame her.

Life was full of surprises.

He approached her cautiously, like one would approach a wild dog.

He gently stroked her hair, careful not to get bitten.

Her soft hair felt like fur.

He smiled warmly.

“From now on, your name is Happy.”

And so, he acquired a pet.

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