episode_0001

NPCs are an important element in games.

Through interaction, they bring the game world to life, provide quests, and sometimes even participate in battles.

Some NPCs act as owners of large shops in the capital, guild leaders, or even kings of a nation, gaining popularity as named characters.

However, not all NPCs are like that.

Some NPCs do not participate in the game’s story, nor do they have special abilities or skills.

They simply exist like a kiosk for one-time events.

The potion shop NPC in the starting village is one such example.

Standing idly by, selling a few small healing potions at a cheap price to users about to embark on a journey, without any meaningful interaction, just repeating the same words.

Treated like a vending machine for obtaining tutorial starter packs.

Jack, the owner of the potion shop in the starting village.

That NPC, as common as can be, is me.

A chicken who has hidden his identity and returned to the countryside?

An important supporting character connected to the protagonist?

A key figure existing only as part of the story’s setting?

None of that.

No background, no abilities, no cheats.

Just a common polygonal lump within the game, without even a status window.

Having inhabited this NPC, I do possess knowledge from the original work.

But the problem is, my body itself is so weak that I can’t make use of it.

What can I possibly do with a mere 100 health points?

If I were to leave the starting village, I would surely be killed by a common goblin, let alone make use of the knowledge from the original work.

Furthermore, I have no idea about the geography around the village.

In the game, I easily found my way using a minimap and quest guidelines, but now I find myself in a situation where the game has become reality.

There are no such auxiliary tools in this world.

There is a huge difference between looking down from above and standing on the same plane.

So, it is a daunting task to venture out alone, crossing mountains and rivers to find artifacts and explore, with my feeble body.

Without background, abilities, cheats, and finding success with the knowledge from the original work is also difficult.

I am stuck in this inhabitation.

How should I survive in this game world?

There is only one answer.

Let’s do our best in the given position right now.

This is the best way I can do it now.

If you have no talent, you should compensate for the lack of talent with diligence.

And if possible, make sure that the knowledge I have is used in the best possible way.

By doing so, even a useless NPC like me can live a decent life as things gradually improve.

I thought as I looked at the customers coming into the shop.

“Welcome. This is Jack’s Potion Shop in Starting Village.”

“Oh, hello…!”

A little girl with smooth silver hair and slightly frightened large gray eyes.

I immediately recognized her as the protagonist Alaina from the original game.

Alaina, who will become a powerful warrior without an opponent to challenge her in the future.

But if she chooses the wrong route, she could become the worst kind of reaper, capable of both saving and destroying the world.

“Um… I want to buy some potions….”

The protagonist Alaina.

A child who will later become a powerful warrior.

However, if she chooses the wrong path, she could become the worst kind of reaper.

When I stared at her, Alaina mumbled in a completely embarrassed voice.

“Yeah. Just wait a moment.”

I took out a couple of healing potions from the shelf, then changed my mind.

I went inside and took out a pouch, into which I poured all the healing potions.

Alaina was shocked to see this.

“Wh-what? I-I don’t need that much!”

“You’ll need it. Healing potions are always useful for adventurers.”

“But I only have this much money…”

Alaina showed me two silver coins and a few copper coins.

The healing potion cost two silver coins.

But what Alaina had in her hand was only enough to buy two potions at most.

“I’ll give them to you for free.”

“W-what?!”

“And take these too. They’ll be helpful.”

I stuffed herbs, flint, whetstones for weapon repair, and a fishing rod into her bag from the shelves and display cases.

These are essential items known as beginner’s start-up packs, which are crucial for beginners.

You can get them in every village, but it’s better to have everything when you set off, so it’s good to leave fully prepared.

There’s nothing more helpful for adventurers just starting out than seemingly insignificant things.

Alaina, who had hoisted a heavy bag, staggered slightly.

“You don’t have to give me all this….”

“I need to. The outside world is much more dangerous than you think. These will protect your life in extreme situations.”

“Oh, thank you….”

Watching Alaina hesitate as she lifted the bag, he asked,

“Where are you planning to go?”

“For now… I’m thinking of heading north.”

“Alright. Then do this. When you leave the village and follow the forest path north, you’ll come to a fork in the road. If you go right there, you’ll come to a large garbage dump.”

“A garbage dump?”

“It’s called Mestophin’s garbage dump, and sometimes useful items come out of there. It’s good to stop by on your way. But don’t go too deep. There are many monsters, and you could get lost. Especially if you encounter the bandit Vint, you must avoid him at all costs, as he’ll take all your money and belongings.”

“Oh, I see….”

Alaina nodded slowly with a puzzled expression.

“The town that comes out as you continue north is Leansoya. Go in there and take requests from the villagers. It’ll probably be a request to kill a mad scientist who uses a mansion on the outskirts of the village as a laboratory.”

“A mad scientist? I have to kill him?!”

“Yes. But don’t be afraid. His weakness is cucumber juice. Funny, right? I find it funny too, but it’s true. He’s allergic to cucumbers. Do you understand?”

“Uh, um. Cucumber allergy…. Mad scientist….”

Alaina murmured my words in confusion.

No, I shouldn’t just blurt everything out like this.

“I’ll write down important things in a notebook for you.”

“I, I don’t know how to read….”

“It’s okay. In the first village, Leansoya, the male candidate for your future husband will teach you how to read.”

“W-what did you say?! Future husband?!”

“He’s kind-hearted, but a bit fickle, so it might be frustrating at times. Use your judgment.”

Suddenly inundated with a flood of information, a look of confusion crossed Alaina’s face.

“Sit there for a moment.”

When Alaina sat down, I wrote a strategy guide for the game in a notebook.

The main routes and key quests of the game, hidden sub-quests and rewards, various factions, the locations of connections and artifacts, weaknesses and patterns of various bosses, etc.

It didn’t take very long to write down what was in my head.

I handed the strategy guide to Alaina.

“You must not lose this. You have to read it before you go to bed. Got it? You are the hope of our world.”

“Oh, yes. Thank you. But…”

Alaina, carrying a full bag and holding the strategy guide, looked at me and asked, “Why are you doing this for me?”

“I’m just doing my best.”

“What?”

What I have is knowledge from the original work.

If only I know it, it’s just a useless delusion, but if the protagonist knows it, it becomes the power to change the world.

It’s better to give it to someone who can use it well.

“I’m just doing my best where I am, Alaina.”

“Do you know my name?”

Alaina asked with wide eyes.

“Now, hurry up and leave. You need to depart now to reach Mestophin’s garbage dump by dawn. What did I say?”

“Um… Don’t delve too deep. There are many monsters, you could get lost, and if you encounter bandits, they’ll take everything you have.”

“Exactly. Excellent. Now go.”

“Thank you so much, uh… Potion Man.”

At that title, I burst into laughter.

Alaina, carrying a bag as big as herself, set off on the northern road of the village.

As she moved away, Alaina turned back several times, waving her hand.

Always go with the current mindset.

If the world ends up mocking you and you turn dark, it will be really difficult.

The world will be destroyed.

In addition to giving items to the protagonist Alaina, I also told her the game’s strategy route.

That’s all I, who was just an NPC in the starting village shop, could give to that child.

It may be small, but if Alaina can succeed and save the world by following the official route using that as a stepping stone, then it’s worth it.

Well, I’ve seen the protagonist off safely.

Now what?

Nothing.

The starting village here is a remote and underdeveloped place, away from the kingdom’s attention.

It’s a rural corner where poor people with nowhere else to go gather.

It’s a place where adventurers who are just beginning their journey buy a few items and leave.

It’s too impoverished for the starting village to enjoy life, and it’s difficult for those with weak bodies to even leave the village.

There’s no talent, cheat, or ability.

All they have is advanced potion-making techniques and original knowledge.

“Buy potions! Potions that restore energy and heal wounds for just two copper coins!”

Is there any hope?

You can only do your best in the given situation.