Quests: The Essence of Being an NPC

“Hyung, you're out early today.”

“Yeah, Jeonghun. This is my usual time.”

Kang Jeonghun was a former hunter working at the Origin Potion Workshop. He'd heard he'd suffered an irreparable injury in a major dungeon accident and had to quit hunting. Now he was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠employed here, handling warehouse security along with all sorts of miscellaneous tasks around the workshop.

It was just another ordinary day, no different from usual.

After exchanging greetings with Jeonghun, he opened the warehouse for me, and all I had to do was go inside and start processing the herbs.

But there I stood, staring blankly at Jeonghun with the open warehouse door right in front of me.

What the hell? And it's an auto-use skill?

The mysterious Status Check skill whose nature I'd never figured out. I had no idea how to use it or what it did. So I never expected it to activate out of nowhere like this.

What, ignore? I can see Jeonghun's info window clear as day. No way.

I wondered what Status Check would reveal.

But then Jeonghun's info window popped up, laying everything bare at a glance.

No skill like this existed in the world. One that let you peek into another hunter's info window?

Even more astonishing was the NPC Menu. It showed Jeonghun was currently poisoned. His mana at 0 was probably due to that poison, but that wasn't the point.

What caught my eye was Quest Eligible: Yes.

What quest is possible? Quests even exist?

I'd never heard of anything like this.

Is Jeonghun an Irregular too?

The thought flashed through my mind.

It was my ability. Not that Jeonghun was an Irregular—it was an NPC power.

Ooh, quest granting? Insane.

The potion shop was shocking enough, but quest granting?

When you thought about NPCs in games, it wasn't that surprising. NPCs and quests went hand in hand.

What game didn't have quests?

It also made Status Check click. It auto-activated on hunters eligible for quests.

Until now, no hunters met the criteria, so it never triggered.

This power is nuts.

Chicken skin rippled across my arms.

Now I was certain. I was the world's one and only hunter like this.

The potion shop was just a fraction of my abilities.

As I basked in self-importance, a notification yanked me back to reality.

What? Agh! You scared me.

Thank goodness. The first one nearly made me yelp as the chills vanished, but the follow-up let me exhale.

“Hyung, you okay? You look sick or something?”

Jeonghun asked, noticing my blank stare.

“Uh, no. N-nothing. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Just got goosebumps all of a sudden. Anyway, I'm heading in.”

“Hyung, wait—you might've gotten poisoned handling toxic herbs. Hold on, I'll grab a detox potion from Taehee noona.”

I hurriedly stopped Jeonghun as he turned serious and started to dash off.

“No, really, it's not poison. Don't worry. You think I wouldn't know?”

Only then did Jeonghun relax, letting out a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠deep sigh.

“Hyung, you gotta be careful for real. Dungeons have poisons that even detox potions or spells can't fix. Always watch out with toxic herbs.”

Was it because of his own condition? Jeonghun's eyes brimmed with genuine concern as he spoke.

“Got it. But it kinda feels like you're underestimating me. The rising star of the herb world, Kim Suho.”

“Haha, as if I'd underestimate you, hyung. Just worried, that's all. Go on in.”

The moment I stepped into the warehouse, I checked my info window. A new Quest Grant had appeared under NPC exclusive abilities.

I could check quest details via the grant menu.

But something felt off.

Turned me into a cripple? Me? What cripple? Wait, hold up. Not that, right?

This is insane. Is this really Jeonghun's quest? And he gets the reward?

I was so shocked I lost my words—my thoughts froze. I just stared dumbly at the window.

Right, I'm an NPC. What's an NPC's role?

Help players grow. Quests, potions, gear—NPCs spare no support for player growth.

That was an NPC.

Haha, yeah. I'm an NPC, an NPC.

Finally, my class made complete sense.

And I had a faint grasp of how I should act from now on.

“Taeju hyung, what kind of guy is Jeonghun?”

“Huh? What do you mean? Why Jeonghun all of a sudden?”

“Well... we've been around each other, but I feel like I don't know anything about him.”

“Uh... Taehee noona would know better than ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠me. They were in the same guild.”

“Same guild?”

“Yeah. But guild stuff's tricky for me to talk about. If you're curious about Jeonghun, just ask Taehee noona directly.”

I headed straight to Seo Taehee.

“Suho, what's up? You coming to find me yourself?”

“Well... I had some questions, noona. What kind of guy is Jeonghun?”

“Huh? Jeonghun? Why ask about him out of the blue?”

“He feels like a little bro I wanna look out for. Wanna get closer. But I need to know something about him first.”

Maybe thanks to the image I'd built, she didn't seem suspicious.

She just hesitated a bit, like talking about Jeonghun was delicate.

“Hmm... Jeonghun. Good kid. Kind, diligent, overflowing with hunter talent. Problem is, he's starved for affection. That's what caused that incident. Affection, my ass.”

Seo Taehee spoke with a wistful, pained expression.

I wanted more details, but it felt like I shouldn't push.

And that night, I looked up Poison Drakes—and was shocked at how formidable they were.

Drakes were massive lizard-like monsters. Average length from head to tail exceeded 4 meters, and their name changed based on their attribute.

Poison Drakes were especially vicious, with venom so potent that common market detox potions couldn't touch it.

You needed at least a mid-to-high-tier healer's Cure Poison for full detox.

The terror of Poison Drake venom was that if not detoxed in time and it seeped into the heart, it reduced stamina and strength like Jeonghun's case, mana locked solid, ending hunter life.

From then on, only holy water-grade potions could treat it.

So raids targeting Poison Drakes always required a mid-to-high-tier healer.

And my detox potion can cure that?

Why had the skill never triggered in dozens, hundreds of encounters with Jeonghun until now?

After pondering, I concluded it was because I'd finally perfected the detox potion.

Problem is explaining it. Time for a direct approach.

* * *

“W-what? Hyung, what're you saying?”

Jeonghun jumped, stammering in shock.

“What? I'm asking what you'd give me if I cured your poisoning.”

His face hardened at my repeated words, turning icy as he spat coldly.

“Even from you, hyung, no more jokes.”

Hadn't Jeonghun tried everything to cure himself? Begged healers from top guilds, downed every detox potion known.

It burned through all his hunter earnings.

But the world crushed his hopes mercilessly.

Time passed, poisoning 70% of his heart with Poison Drake venom.

At least it hadn't progressed further.

Seeing someone he thought was solid poke his sore spot so casually soured even good memories. He turned to leave.

That moment.

“I guarantee it. I won't say no one in the world can cure your poisoning—but I'm the closest. Miss this chance, and who knows when you'll get another? Last time: what'll you give me if I cure you?”

What was this? Jeonghun couldn't make sense of it.

So unlike the usual Kim Suho. The kind, diligent one versus this—felt like two different people.

His inexplicable confidence was intimidating.

“If you really cured it...”

Jeonghun swallowed dryly, then spoke after a pause.

“Five years. I'll be your slave for five years.”

His bold offer shocked me instead.

“Hey, what era is this? Slave? Creepy. Nah, just be my little bro. No need.”

As Jeonghun fumbled at the unexpected reply, I pulled a detox potion from my bag.

“Drink this first.”

“Hyung, what's this?”

I mimed opening and drinking instead of words.

Jeonghun downed it without hesitation.

Surprise bloomed on his face post-sip.

I confirmed via his info window.

Jeonghun's stats recovered 30%.

Strength and stamina were impressive, but mana flow returning—even partially—brought tears to his eyes.

“H-hyung.”

“Cry later. Finish these first.”

I pulled out three more detox potions.

Jeonghun's eyes widened—he hadn't expected more.

“Wh-what the...”

Seeing him on the verge of tears, I teased.

“Hurry, or the effect might wear off.”

He chugged all three in one go.

The poison vanished from his status, stats fully restored.

Checking himself, tears already streamed down his cheeks.

“S-Suho hyung. Waaah.”

Perfect. Watching him bawl, I knew the plan worked.

Handle people differently. Taehee noona was right.

No lies, though. A bro like Jeonghun didn't sound bad.

Just trust your hyung and follow. Keep that resolve, and I'll raise you right.

Last night, understanding NPC clicked—I resolved to properly raise hunters with my powers.

Why I got them? No clue.

But if given powers to use, use them right.

And since using, use fully. Even dreamed of building my kingdom for contingencies.

Curious how strong hunters raised with full NPC powers could get.

Jeonghun was first. His personality from Taehee, plus the quest, swayed me.

Detox was just the start.

Benefits ahead? Only I could provide.

Jeonghun's sobs slowed, then stopped.

Whatever he thought while crying, he said firmly.

“Hyung, let me say it again. If you want, I'll give my life.”

“What, filming a drama? Give what life. It's just starting—gonna give one each time? Enough. Take this.”

“Huh?”

Jeonghun tilted his head, confused.

Then I granted him the quest.

“Cough—h-hyung. Th-this... Is this really Suho hyung? H-how...”

Seeing the shared quest, his face paled white, words failing.

To be continued in the next chapter...