Ch.132The NPC Who Cannot Rest (1)

“If you asked someone what their family does, you should at least have the basic courtesy to tell them what your family does too.

I’m not some 60s teacher steeped in Confucian ideology, you know.

By the time I had finished telling the story of my siblings and father and heard all of Miho’s story, the sun had already set, and it was time to sleep again.

And as someone once said, even rock bottom has its own bottom.

Before I recalled my past life memories, I thought our siblings’ lives weren’t exactly bottom-of-the-barrel level that would embarrass us anywhere.

But then one day I met our queen. After hearing about Ragni’s life up to that point, I learned there are people living similarly to me or even more terribly.

At least we had a relationship to support each other, family as brother and sister.

Still, what on earth happened to this girl’s life?

“And, around the time my sister’s eyes toward me began to change. She finally felt she couldn’t handle it anymore, so she sent me outside of Siltra. To the country where humans live. And, while working as an adventurer to earn money, I arrived in Aigram and met Miss Ragni and Jack, Mr. Jack…”

“Okay, that’s enough. The rest is what happened with us, so I don’t need to hear more.”

Is she crazy? My life seemed to at least have some happiness quota, but what the hell happened to Miho’s life?

Did someone give her the Player job and take away all her happiness?

The nice uncle next door tried to rape Miho when she didn’t even have sexual knowledge yet, then her biological father, and then her sister who had protected her until then?

From what I’ve heard, it seems other beast-people were also eyeing Miho.

Even worse, her biological mother cursed Miho as a “damned girl” and abandoned her, leaving Siltra because her sister killed their father who tried to rape Miho.

Apparently, this is all because she’s a white tiger beast-person born once every thousand years, making her appear as an extremely attractive “female” to all beast-people, but is this really true?

No, there wasn’t even such a setting in the game?

If there had been some effect in the game where NPCs’ affection rose faster when you walked around as a beast-person character, I might understand, but there was nothing like that?!

“…Um, actually…”

“Huh?”

“It, it applies to humans too.”

“What do you mean?”

“…The revelation the Elder wrote for me said that I as a ‘female’ would inevitably be seen that way by any race.”

“So, it’s not limited to beast-people…”

“Actually, the first human man and woman I met and formed a party with after registering as an adventurer also waited until I was asleep…”

“Wow. Insane, stop.”

This is truly maddening? What is this? At that point, isn’t it just a curse? No, more importantly, was there any point in leaving Siltra?!

Wait, then does that mean I too…?!!

“…Um, that. Jack, Mr. Jack, have you ever lusted after me?”

Looking at Miho as she anxiously shifted her golden eyes, I thought briefly before answering.

“No, I don’t think I have yet.”

“Then, I think there’s something different about Jack, Mr. Jack.”

“What?”

“Um, actually…”

This is what she said.

When she was young, before her body matured, people could somewhat control themselves with reason.

But after she fully matured, every male who had been with her for more than 3 days had lusted after her and tried to take her.

Even her biological father, who had frequently been called to the Elder since Miho was young.

According to Miho’s sister, the Elder seemed to be checking how much her father was restraining himself around her.

…Insane, if they knew about this, shouldn’t they have tried to protect Miho separately? That Elder needs a punch to the face.

But, wait.

If after 3 days one should normally fall under the white tiger’s spell and desire her, then what am I?

…Huh? Wait, I’m not impotent? I’ve been properly restraining myself with Rei and Ragni!

And if women aren’t exceptions either, what about Ragni and Rei… and even including Gore?

From what I can see, they’re all super perverts who want that kind of thing badly?

“Well, I’m not sure. I’m actually curious myself…”

“Hey. If you kept hiding this and something happened to us…”

“I was planning to leave immediately if I saw any signs of that happening. But even after several days, everyone seemed fine… so, um… I’m sorry.”

When the conversation ended like this, she truly seemed sorry as she drooped her tiger ears and tail, bowing her head in apology.

…Hah. So that’s why she’s been alone all this time.

Is that why she wanted to stay with us, who somehow weren’t affected by her unique condition?

If her white tiger lust effect had triggered on me, Rei, Ragni, or Gore, it would have been more than just a party crasher situation.

So you…

“I, I really do sincerely want to repay Miss Ira… ma’am for her kindness!!!”

“…Is that so.”

When I spoke somewhat doubtfully, Miho waved her hands frantically and even teared up, as if to insist that at least this wasn’t a lie.

Hmm, honestly, there’s too much she’s hidden, starting with settings I didn’t know about.

“Just asking, but is there anything else you’re hiding?”

“…No. As far as I know, that’s everything about me.”

I rack my not-so-great brain as quickly as possible.

Her life as a Player was as terrible as or even worse than the lives of my siblings, Ragni, and Rei. And it’s still ongoing.

The reason she wants to stay by Ira’s side, and by extension our side, is because somehow her cursed trait doesn’t work on us.

And originally.

[-Job Striker- : Level 149 Name: Miho. Age 19.]

[Strength: 188]

[Agility: 311]

[Intelligence: 29]

[Luck: 200 MAX]

[HP: 4,021]

[MP: 266]

[Skills: Preemptive Strike. Back Attack. Sharp Claws. Flawless Combo. As Master Wishes. Complete Presence Concealment.]

Her stats have increased a bit after disposing of Err Jim’s corpse, but her unique condition still doesn’t show up on the status window.

…A cursed condition that doesn’t even appear on the status window, a shackle that she herself can’t control.

Players never had such things, nor should they have.

There’s no reason for an online game player to have such an insane setting. What is she, some being that fell from the sky?

The only thing I can guess is that because she’s truly a Player, it might be heaven’s will to make it easier for her to gain favor with everyone.

‘…Still, this crosses the line. A unique condition that doesn’t just gain favor but makes even parents want to rape her? This is just a curse.’

…Because of this condition, she clearly hasn’t formed deep bonds with anyone other than her sister since she matured.

More precisely, she couldn’t form them because whenever she tried, she ended up in that situation again.

Then she met us, who somehow remained unaffected even after being with her for more than 3 days.

‘…I’d want to follow us too if I were her.’

Indeed, is it right for me to abandon her and leave like this?

Is it right for me to entrust everything to the protagonist of the story, whom we may never meet, assuming they’ll overcome her cursed condition and properly be with her?

“…Jack, Mr. Jack?”

“……”

Miho knows that I’m slow-witted and think slowly, so she finally calls out to me after several minutes of my silence, seeming anxious.

‘…I’m not yet cornered to the point where I need to make a leap of faith and abandon the world’s hope here.’

“Miho.”

“Yes, yes!! Ja, Jack s…!”

“Don’t call me Mr. Jack.”

“…Pardon?”

…Haah. If meddling is a disease, then I’m a patient.

She keeps switching between calling me Jack and Mr. Jack. I start by adjusting her speech pattern, which is awkward with honorifics and difficult for her to maintain.

-Rustle.

“Just for a while. Until we confirm whether your condition really doesn’t work on us, or if there are specific conditions for it not working. Until then, stay with us. And during that time, don’t use honorifics, just call me Jack.”

“!!”

When I reach out to pat her head and smile as I speak, her ears that had been drooping pitifully perk up, and the tears in her eyes disappear as they fill with light.

…In this insane dark fantasy world, abandoning her to the world alone just because she has a Player job would be like asking an early 2000s AI to clear a modern Soulslike game with no continues.

In other words, there’s no chance of success. So, let me extend a hand, just a little. Just a tiny bit.

By my guess, the protagonist may already be active.

Just for a moment, a very brief moment. While we’re away from Ira, at this timing, as we cross Siltra and Aigram, we’ll look for the protagonist who should be with her.

Her fate of always being alone can surely be changed by the protagonist.

If even I can do it, there’s no reason the world-appointed protagonist can’t.

Surely, the protagonist is also wandering around this area. Although there are no rumors yet, we can definitely find them if we look.

Whether it’s a male or female protagonist, I know their face and personality.

Now that they know demons have appeared in Aigram and undead are emerging, they must be wandering around this area.

After ensuring that she, as a Player, can be with someone other than us—with the protagonist—we can part ways.

“Jack!! I, I!! I’ll do my very best!!!”

“Good. It might be temporary, but do your best.”

“Yes!! I’ll really, really do well!! I’ll work hard to stay by Jack’s side forever!!!”

“I clearly said it would be temporary, right? Forever isn’t necessary.”

“No!! That’s what I want!!!”

When I try to stop Miho from hugging me again by grabbing her head with the hand that was patting it, she predictably sticks out her tongue and tries to lick me.

Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me. I was really surprised earlier!

Besides, you’re neither a cat nor a dog, but a tiger. Please come to your sen—

“My mother is a cat beast-person, and my father is a dog beast-person!!”

“…What? What did you say?”

“So let me lick you!! Mark!! Mark!!! Territory marking!!!”

“W-wait!! Are you crazy?!! Hey, wait?!!”

Wait?! Didn’t you just say something incredible?!! How does a tiger get born from a dog and a cat?!!

Miho pushed back against my restraining hand with all her might, hugged me again, and started licking my face and neck again.

“Arghhhh!! Stop!! You crazy girl, stop!!! This really feels…!!!”

-BANG!

“Ugh?! Now what?!!”

“Lick!!”

As I was trying to push Miho away with both hands, the door behind us was flung open with a sound like it might break.

Startled by the noise, my arms weakened slightly, and Miho immediately licked my neck twice before turning around.

Ugh, damn it. It’s sticky…!!

“Hey!! If you’re awake, you should come right away!!! Because of the mess you made, we’re short-handed and have been working for 2 days straight without sleep!!! Shit!! You’re a dog… no, cat girl? No, what? Shit? Tiger?! Anyway!! Are you having sex with this beast-person girl?!!”

“What? What?! Are you crazy!! What are you saying now?!!”

“Sex? What’s sex? And who is that woman?”

The voluptuous woman—no, demon—who kicked open the hospital room door.

Market Avaritia didn’t even try to hide her face with its heavy dark circles as she breathed heavily and cursed at us.