The Hidden NPC and the Ash Swarm

The inner chamber was a chaotic web of silk, reminiscent of a giant spider’s den. In the very center, an elf with apricot-colored hair was bound as if she were a piece of "prey."

"Hmm... Excuse me? Are you alive?"

Finding a humanoid creature, especially an elf, in a tower like this felt unsettling. Wait, is that actually an elf? It isn’t some kind of mimic, is it? We have urban legends like the Jangsanbeom back home, after all. And why would an elf be in a place like this? Is this the Great Forest?! This is a cave in the middle of a desert.

I gripped my Daiso Rose Knife tightly and approached the elf. Even at a distance where I could reach out and touch her, she didn't stir. Was she really a captured elf? By now, she should have had plenty of opportunities to attack me, but there was no reaction.

"I guess she's the real deal."

Whoosh!

I suppose she really is an elf. Or rather, since she came from the Tower, she’s closer to an NPC. I quickly sliced through the silk bindings and pulled the elf out.

"Hey. Are you alive?"

Thump. The elf lay limp on the cave floor. She didn't seem dead yet. Her chest was rising and falling, albeit faintly, and while her cheeks were gaunt, there was no sign of decay. I checked her pulse—a steady heartbeat. So, NPCs aren't robots after all! Proof that she was very much alive. It looked like a simple case of malnutrition or dehydration.

"What should I do? Should I give her water first?"

I had to save her. Why? Because my intuition was screaming at me that this was the Hidden piece I had been looking for. And honestly, even if she weren't a hidden piece, it was better to save her. She’s an NPC, right? If I kidnap her into my Gate, that’s free labor! According to the internet and gallery forums, NPCs are just like robots that repeat the same lines anyway.

I carefully supported the elf's neck and pulled a water bottle from my bag.

"Alright, from now on, your name is Young-hee."

Gulp, gulp, gulp— I carefully pried her mouth open and let the water trickle in. As the parched lips met the water, some color returned to her face. She wasn't fully conscious, but she was swallowing well. She didn't open her eyes, though... Regardless, after giving her water, I pulled a chocolate bar from my bag. Why do I carry so much stuff? Because I’ve been burned too many times. And... ever since I ended up in this body, I’ve been craving sweets.

"Alright, patient, say 'ah'."

I propped the elf up and mashed the chocolate bar into small pieces before feeding it to her. Since I’d crushed it finely, it didn't seem to get stuck in her throat. Better to get some quick sugar into her system first.

"Sigh, it’s not like this is a nursing home. What am I doing?"

Still, just in case, I kept feeding her water. Propping her up and laying her back down was manual labor, but I decided to endure it since she’d be doing ten times the work once she came with me.

"Well, I guess this is enough."

I looked at the elf who had polished off a chocolate bar and two bottles of water. She still hadn't opened her eyes, but she probably would soon. I didn't have any fancy minerals or vitamins, but she’d had plenty of glucose. Wake up! You ate all my emergency rations.

But contrary to my wishes, the elf was still fast asleep.

"Ugh, whatever. I'll just appraise her and be done with it."

Yeah, just sleep. I figured that was better for now. It would be a headache to try and talk to her while using the appraisal skill. I stared at the sleeping elf and recited the appraisal in my mind.

"Her name is Ersia... and she's definitely an NPC. But what’s with that weird description? And the skills..."

I quickly skipped over the predictable parts, ignoring the name and that bizarre description. She’s an elf, she’s an NPC—I already knew all that. I scanned the appraisal window quickly until my eyes and hands stopped at a specific skill.

"Permission Denied...? I’ve never seen that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠before."

Skills that had always appeared perfectly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠fine were suddenly denying me access. What kind of permission could I possibly need? I was staring intently at the message window with a bewildered look when—

Pat, pat—

"Hmm?"

I heard a slapping sound behind the appraisal window. What was it? Did the elf wake up? I’d been so focused on the window that I hadn't noticed. I pushed the incomprehensible "Permission Denied" aside and turned my gaze to check on the elf who had supposedly woken up.

"...What are you doing?"

But what greeted me wasn't a lively elf, but the still-sleeping Ersia, being curiously poked by black and white blobs on either side of her cheeks.

Pat, pat, pat.

Squeak-?

"......"

When did they get off my shoulder? I must have been too focused on the appraisal window. Geomdung-i and Heindung-i were busy touching the elf’s cheeks. They looked like a mix of "When is she waking up?" and "This is fascinating."

"Hey, you two. There are plenty of elves outside. No, no. Don't touch her."

I reached out to pull the two away from the elf. That was when it happened.

"Gasp—!"

Squeak?!

'Oh, holy crap, you scared me.'

At the most perfect timing, the elf... no, Ersia, had come to her senses.

"Are you alright?"

I approached Ersia cautiously with a friendly face. Geomdung-i and Heindung-i had already scurried behind my legs in surprise. Those little guys, they’re the ones who woke her up and now they’re hiding.

"Hu...man?"

Ah, yes, I’m a human. Ersia scanned me up and down, wary. She looked dizzy, clutching her forehead, likely from the malnutrition and the long time she’d been held captive.

"...Why is a human here? And where is this place, anyway?"

How would I know? You were the one held captive here. She glared at me, backing away as if I were a threat. She looked like a stray cat raised in the wild.

"This is inside a canyon cave. I found you tied up here and saved you."

I smiled as broadly as I could, answering her as if I were selecting a dialogue option in a game. Since she was an NPC, I thought there might be a fixed answer.

"And you expect me to believe that? Besides, this place is..."

What about this place? At my answer, Ersia began to look around. She was so incredibly guarded. The modern elves I knew would scream, "Bow your heads!!!" the moment they made eye contact. But the elf in front of me, Ersia, just seemed like a very wary human.

"...W-w-wait a second. I was held captive here?! And you saved me?"

"Yes, that’s what I’m saying."

"By any chance... how was I being held?"

How? You were tied up quite thoroughly.

"Well... you were bound by something like spider silk."

"...!"

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

At my words, her expression stiffened. What is it? Why are you like that? Tell me, too. I’d definitely felt like something was there when I entered, but I hadn't shown my face until now.

"...Why are you like that? I took care of the guards earlier, so it’s fine."

"..."

Say something, at least. I smiled as if to say it was okay, but Ersia didn't answer. Did I pick the wrong dialogue option? Just as I was thinking that, Ersia opened her mouth.

"We have to run..."

"W-what did you say?"

"I said we have to run!!!"

Ah, my ears. Ersia grabbed my shoulders and shook me like crazy. I get it, but let go... I’m going to throw up. I pried her arms off me.

"What on earth are you talking about?!"

"...It."

Ersia’s voice dropped to a whisper.

"What?"

"It’s coming soon."

"It...?"

What the hell is "it"? I was going to go crazy from the frustration. She really was an elf, talking in a way that would suffocate a person with impatience.

"The Sub-colony...! If we’re unlucky, the real Colony will come...!"

"..."

Ersia said, trembling like an aspen leaf. Sub-colony...? That had a very ominous ring to it. The name alone reeked of a boss monster...

Kieeeeeeeeeeek—!!!

"Ugh—"

"...Damn it!"

Just as I was thinking about the Sub-colony, a piercing roar echoed from the entrance.

A message I didn't want to see again appeared before my eyes. Ersia was already on her feet, but she was swaying unsteadily, likely due to the malnutrition and the long time she’d been trapped.

"Kuh... Hey, you said you saved me, right? We’re going to escape now, so can you carry me on your back?"

"...No, the entrance I came through is blocked..."

"The Ash Swarm usually makes more than ten entrances, so I can guide you."

She ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tapped her leg twice, as if urging me to hurry. Right, no time to think. I quickly hoisted the elf onto my back. Geomdung-i and Heindung-i naturally climbed onto her shoulders.

"What are these things...?"

"Hey, don't worry about that, just guide me!"

I grabbed my bag from the floor with my left hand and urged Ersia on. You said it was dangerous, so hurry up and guide me!

"Alright, let's head for that exit over there."

When I looked in the direction she pointed, I saw an entrance different from the one I’d come through.

"Hold on tight!"

I put strength into my legs and leaped. At the same time, I created flames with my right hand.

"What... are you trying to do?"

"Hey, I have to burn all these things! It’s the golden rule to destroy insect eggs the moment you find them."

I scattered the flames toward the eggs, and the fire spread instantly along with the burning silk. Now, it was time for a hellish time attack. I had to get out of here before the toxic gas from the fire and a potential explosion caught up to us.

And then.

Kieeeeeek—!!!

Thud—!

"Crazy!"

"Damn it! That way!"

With an overwhelming sense of pressure, the roar sounded again. I looked back, and the Sub-colony—or whatever it was—was staring us down.

'Shit, that is seriously disgusting!'

It looked like a spider. It had an absurdly high number of eyes, and its legs were thick and sturdy, just like a tarantula’s. And the fangs visible between its face... ugh. I increased my speed. If I could just get out of this space, I could try to shake it off. But.

Rummmble—!

"Damn it!"

The Sub-colony’s speed far exceeded my expectations.

"Shit...!"

It was already right behind me. And then.

Kwooooooong—!

Those massive legs were crashing down toward me.