Popular NPC in a Gender-Reversed Game – Chapter 76

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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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As mentioned before, [Demon’s Saga] was a game of skill. Combat ability wasn’t solely determined by level.

It depended on how well one could control their body and make quick decisions.

Since the game relied heavily on physical prowess, natural talent played a significant role.

Therefore, it was relatively easy to guess which professions excelled at [Demon’s Saga].

Soldiers, martial artists, athletes…

While not always the case, those who used their bodies professionally often had an advantage.

Shin Han-byeol was no exception.

In fact, few had blossomed as much as she had in this game.

A former promising gymnast, she’d trained her body from a young age.

She was exceptionally talented. She’d even been considered for the national team.

She loved gymnastics. She thrived on the praise and encouragement.

Her family, believing in her talent, had gone into debt to support her.

That was likely when her characteristic arrogance and self-confidence developed.

While the pressure of expectations sometimes weighed on her, she persevered.

The freedom she felt while soaring through the air on the vault and parallel bars, the thrill of finally mastering a difficult move… it was all worth it.

…But the world was a cruel place.

Despite her tireless efforts, her dream of joining the national team slipped away. It wasn’t a lack of skill. She was a quick learner.

Her height and… chest were the problem.

Gymnastics favored smaller, lighter builds. It allowed for longer airtime and more stable landings.

She could compensate to a certain extent with hard work, but it wasn’t enough to compete with the world-class athletes.

Then came the ankle injury.

She was forced to retire, left with nothing but her inflated ego and a burning resentment.

‘How am I supposed to make a living now…’

Life after gymnastics was harsh. She’d dedicated her life to the sport, and the real world was a confusing, unfamiliar place.

She had no other skills, just a strong sense of pride and little experience with the harsh realities of life.

She was fired from part-time jobs, got into arguments with customers…

She was hurting, but with her family’s debt looming over her, she couldn’t afford to rest.

Exhausted and disillusioned, she stumbled upon [Demon’s Saga].

‘Should I give it a try…?’

She needed something to focus on, and the game offered an escape.

The capsule was expensive, but the 12-month interest-free installment plan made it manageable.

And so, her talent blossomed.

As if everything she’d learned had finally found its purpose, [Demon’s Saga] was a perfect fit.

Her height, once a disadvantage, translated into a longer reach. Her gymnast’s strength and agility remained.

Her sharp mind allowed her to adapt quickly to combat.

She started streaming around that time. Many remembered her from her gymnastics days.

Her flashy combat style and striking beauty quickly made her a popular streamer.

She almost paid off her family’s debt.

But that wasn’t all.

Her true strength lay in her familiarity with failure. She’d already experienced the bitter taste of defeat due to her physical limitations.

Losing was nothing new. Being killed in combat, making mistakes, losing to knights… she didn’t care.

She was used to pain, to pushing her limits. It even brought a strange sense of satisfaction. She could see the path to improvement.

She climbed the ranks relentlessly, eventually reaching the top spot in Korea.

Considering the time and money required to reach that level, it was a testament to her incredible talent.

Her encounter with Yor was no different.

She hadn’t expected to win. She’d prepared as best she could, but he was strong enough to overpower even demons.

She’d simply hoped to gain experience fighting a strong opponent.

‘I didn’t expect to be this outmatched…’

It couldn’t be helped. She’d gotten a bit cocky after mastering Sword Qi.

…But being tied up was a bit much.

She’d anticipated defeat, even death. But being slapped and bound… she hadn’t seen that coming.

Creak! Creak!

The ropes rubbed against each other as she struggled.

She hadn’t given up, even after all this time.

But the ropes held firm, and her frustration grew.

“Ha… ha… Damn it…!”

[She’s getting angry lol]
[Noona, don’t be mad ㅠㅠ Scary]
[How can a person’s name be Happy lol]
[Hanbyeol, I envy you, being Yor’s pet lol]
[Being a handsome oppa’s pet isn’t so bad, is it…?]

The viewers, of course, were enjoying her suffering. It was a rare sight, seeing the usually composed Han-byeol lose her cool.

And honestly, some found it… appealing. Some viewers disliked her strong personality.

Her popularity with male viewers was also a factor… though she herself didn’t seem to care.

“Struggling is pointless. These ropes are made for capturing magical beasts. They’re stronger than most chains.”

Yor approached her. He’d apparently taken a shower. His skin was clean and fresh.

The viewers reacted in various ways, but Han-byeol simply glared at him.

“…Untie me.”

“I told you. Give me all your holy water, tell me where you got it, and I’ll let you go.”

Han-byeol scoffed.

She didn’t understand his obsession with holy water. She wouldn’t give in, not even if it killed her. Her pride wouldn’t allow it.

“Don’t be ridiculous. Do you think I’ll tell you anything after being humiliated like this?”

“Is that so? Then I have no choice.”

Yor stood up and busied himself with something.

“…!”

Han-byeol squeezed her eyes shut, anticipating another slap.

He’d even threatened to stab her during the interrogation. More violence wouldn’t be surprising.

“….”

But the blow never came.

She cautiously opened her eyes.

A plate sat before her. Fried rice, with finely chopped meat and vegetables. It looked delicious.

Han-byeol tilted her head.

“…What’s this?”

“Eat. You must be hungry.”

“Is it poisoned?”

“If you think so, don’t eat it.”

“…”

She stared at the plate. She was hungry. She’d been tied up for a long time without food.

She was suspicious, but she welcomed the nourishment.

There was one major problem, however. Her hands were tied behind her back.

And there were no utensils.

“How am I supposed to eat this without a spoon or a fork…?”

Yor grinned mischievously, like a playful child.

“With your mouth, of course. Why would a pet need utensils? Happy.”

“Eek…!”

Han-byeol scowled. He was mocking her.

“My name isn’t Happy! It’s Shin Han-byeol! Shin Han-byeol!”

“My, taming a pet is harder than I thought.”

[Happy lol]
[Happy, what’s wrong? Don’t you like the food~?]
[He’s treating her like a dog, this crazy bastard lol]
[Whimper… Oppa, treat me like a dog too, whimper…]
[My Happy is a well-behaved Pomeranian, but this Happy is a bit… wild~]

The chat erupted in laughter, reveling in her misery.

Yor, watching her fume, spoke.

“You’re not leaving here until you tell me what I want to know. So, stop being stubborn and cooperate.”

He turned and disappeared into the depths of the cave.

She was left alone with a plate of steaming fried rice.

Han-byeol sighed deeply and addressed her viewers.

“…That’s all for today’s stream. See you next time.”

Complaints flooded the chat, but she ignored them. She was too embarrassed to continue. Her pride had taken a hit.

She was also mentally exhausted.

As silence descended, she began to think.

‘This is bad…’

She’d pretended to be unconcerned, but the situation was serious.

Maintaining her rank wasn’t easy. The other top players were constantly trying to surpass her.

And this wasn’t good for her stream either. Her viewers came to watch her fight, not to see her tied up and helpless.

This could lead to a loss of viewers.

She still hadn’t paid off all her family’s debt…

That would be a devastating blow.

Yor had made a clever move. Captivity was more effective than physical violence and humiliation.

The longer she remained tied up, the more she lost.

‘I need to find a way out of this.’

She racked her brain, trying to come up with a plan.

But nothing came to mind. Time ticked by.

“Eat, Happy.”

Night fell, and Yor returned with a fresh plate of food. The previous meal had gone cold.

But once again, there were no utensils. Han-byeol refused to eat.

Yor clicked his tongue and retreated, even thoughtfully placing a nightlight near the wall.

…He was treating her rather well for a captive. Like a pet, which was both infuriating and oddly… comforting.

“Sigh…”

Unable to come up with a solution, she logged out.

Thankfully, she’d brought a fatigue potion. A cheap one from the store, only 100 gold.

But her inventory space was limited, so she only had one.

‘I should have brought more…’

She opened her inventory with her mouth, since her hands were tied.

She struggled to open the potion bottle with her teeth.

It was a pathetic sight, but thankfully, no one was watching.

After logging out, she immediately checked the online community. Her stream had attracted a large audience. They’d be discussing the incident.

As expected, the forums were buzzing with activity.

+
[So, Shin Han-byeol is still in that cave?]
Alone with Yor?
Ooh… I’m kinda jealous…
+
[What’s the point? She can’t even move lol]
[So she can’t hunt or level up for a while?]
[Yep]
[This is my chance! While she’s stuck, I, Cheetah, will rise to the top!]
[In your dreams lol]

“Sigh…”

She sighed. The vultures were already circling.

The thought of what lay ahead gave her a headache.

“Hmm…?”

A new post caught her eye.

She clicked on it, a sense of apprehension tightening her chest.

+
[I clipped the part where Yor slapped her]
(mp4)
He hits hard lol
Anyone who posts shitty memes deserves to be slapped like that
+
[If I post a shitty meme, can I get slapped too? Okay]
[Please do]
[No, please don’t]
[The sound is so… visceral; The thought of being slapped by a hot oppa like that… I think I’d pee myself;]
[In our industry, we call that a reward]
[Please die, everyone. The air I breathe is wasted on you]
[These masochists are out in force today;]

She braced herself for a wave of anger and humiliation. No one enjoyed watching themselves being hit.

“…”

But… she didn’t feel that bad. She frowned, remembering the sting of his hand, but… a strange warmth spread through her.

‘…What is this?’

She was confused by the unfamiliar sensation.

Then, she came up with a plausible explanation.

‘It’s because I’m not in the video.’

The video was from Yor’s perspective, a first-person view. It only showed his hand, not her face.

That was probably why she felt less uncomfortable.

“…Hmm.”

She replayed the video, trying to convince herself.

She repeated the process several times.

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