Of Course, an NPC Runs a Potion Shop
He dropped everything and stared blankly at the hologram floating before his eyes.
What the hell? What is this?
The sudden turn of events left him utterly dumbfounded. Kim Suho took a deep breath and carefully read through the message again from top to bottom.
This is insane. NPC... what the hell are you?
He immediately pulled up his status window.
It's real! My stats actually went up.
Seeing it confirmed in his status window hit him like a truck—his breath caught in his throat. What had felt like a dream just moments ago slammed into reality the instant he checked. To calm his pounding heart, he took long, deep breaths, struggling desperately to compose himself. It took a while, but he finally steadied his nerves.
The fact that he could raise his stats without even entering a dungeon was mind-blowing. Not only had his Strength and Stamina each jumped by 5, but his Intellect shot up by 20 and Mana by 50 in one go. He had zero experience as a hunter and precious little knowledge, but even he knew that kind of spike wasn't normal.
And the real kicker? This was just the beginning. Sure, it was only 1, but a special stat—Dexterity—had appeared. The hallmark stat for production classes had spawned for him.
Even more jaw-dropping was the new NPC-Exclusive Abilities section. Two of them, no less.
Curiosity burning through him, he checked Ingredients first.
Ingredients
Herb: Kercardia
It was just a list of the herbs he understood. He closed it and immediately opened the Potion Shop.
[Mana Cost: 10]
[Mana Cost: 15]
[Mana Cost: 25]
[Mana Cost: 25]
[Mana Cost: 50]
Gah!
This time, the shock was so intense he could barely breathe. If he'd screamed it out, it might've been better, but holding it in at the workshop choked him up even more.
Not only could he craft potions by expending mana—that alone was wild—but the variety was insane. Basic ones like Healing and Antidote Potions were a given, but there were buff potions for Strength and Speed too. And a Mana Recovery Speed potion? He'd never even heard of that one.
Best of all, if he gained understanding of other herbs, more potions might unlock. His heart hammered like it might burst.
So NPC really means the game NPC. Spot on.
At first, the hint about not entering dungeons had been a dead giveaway. This world was one big game, other hunters were players diving in to progress it. As an NPC, he couldn't join the game itself, but he could wield NPC powers instead.
It was nothing like regular hunters. His growth path, his abilities—they blew the standard ones out of the water.
Realizing the truth sent chills racing across his skin, his body trembling with uncontainable excitement.
A class this broken actually exists.
Forget that commander nonsense he'd mistaken it for earlier. Just thinking about NPC roles in games showed how much potential he had. He could hardly wait to see how far it would go.
First things first: max out potion understanding to 100%.
Handling Kercardia had bumped it up, after all. Processing the herbs in those potions should raise their understanding too, right?
The only way I can process other herbs is by clearing these out first. And the fastest path? Finish this mountain of Kercardia staring me in the face.
A new goal ignited in him. Before, he'd aimed to extend his contract or go full-time as a decent worker in three months. Now? That was chump change. All he wanted was to process other herbs ASAP, hit 100% understanding, and finally craft, buy, and test those potions.
To do that, he had to conquer the massive pile right in front of him.
Let's do this. From today, it's not 9 bags—I'll fill 19 if I have to.
He'd worked hard before, but now his focus was on another level entirely.
Snip. Snip. Snip.
His hands moved like they were dancing to a rhythm. Trimming leaves, snipping thorns, peeling stems—and then something incredible happened again.
Dexterity has increased by 1.
Gasp!
This time, a yelp escaped before he could stop it. The back-to-back miracles broke his restraint. He clamped his mouth shut in a panic.
What? Dexterity rises this easily?
Basic stats were Strength, Intellect, Stamina, and Mana. Special stats included things like Dexterity, Endurance, Willpower, and more.
Basic stats came standard on awakening for all hunters. Special stats depended on class or special circumstances.
Ways to raise them differed too. Basics only went up through dungeons—hunting monsters or using items from them.
Special stats? All over the map. Repetitive actions, specific situations—whatever.
Dexterity, in particular, rose occasionally for production hunters doing class-related work. It was their most crucial stat for handling high-grade materials and crafting better gear.
But as far as he knew, it didn't rise this easily.
Sure, early on it might bump quickly, but this felt too effortless to ignore.
NPC class perk?
He pondered if it was the class. No clue why, but if it kept rising easily, he wasn't complaining.
Shaking off the distraction, he dove back into processing.
Snip. Snip.
No rise this time. He kept at it without a second thought.
But as time dragged on, still nothing.
What gives? Why no more? Was that just a starter bonus? Yeah, that tracks.
A twinge of regret, but he shrugged it off. This was normal. If Dexterity came that cheap, every production hunter would be a master artisan.
He let go of the obsession and settled into a steady rhythm, determined to clear the pile from his spot in one go. Slice, slice, peel—endless motion.
* * *
Hmm... A fifth done in a week? Not finishing this month at this rate.
Seo Taeju, in charge of herbs at Origin Potion Workshop, eyed the remaining pile.
They needed Kercardia done by month's end to move on and hit deadlines. But this volume? Tough.
He'd known solo was impossible, so he'd hired help: rookie hunter Kim Suho, who was pulling his weight.
The problem was him. Nights spent ripening Mandragora left no time for Kercardia.
Damn it, cheap junk is junk for a reason.
The original Mandragora deal fell through with bidding wars—price jumped from 500 million to 800 million won. Not unaffordable.
Then a dirt-cheap 100 million won one popped up. Underripe, needed an expert touch.
Normally he'd buy and ripen it, but not now. This contract was over 5 billion won, plus a steady client. Time was tight—no room for side projects.
But that money-grubbing witch screwed him. She bought the 100 million one, dumped it on him with a "raise it good," and bailed.
He'd stormed to demand a proper one.
What, no confidence? Korea's fifth-ranked herb handler, right? Liar? Take it back. I'll pay someone else.
That ego jab hooked him. He'd snapped and accepted.
"Who said no confidence? And fifth? I'm third!"
He'd raged into her trap.
Hire another? She'll bitch about the cost. Ugh, my own damn arm.
Headache brewing.
Kim Suho, right? Ask him to up his daily quota.
A week in, he should be settled. One bag to one and a half? Big help.
Decision made, he headed to the opposite side where Kim Suho worked.
• • •
Definitely a newbie a week ago. Day one: 10 hours for a day's worth. By yesterday: under 9.
But this? Mid-to-low tier herb handler skill.
No Dexterity stat, rookie hunter—how?
"Not bad."
Seo Taeju muttered idly, watching.
Kim Suho dropped his shears with a low gasp, snapping out of it like from a trance.
Seo Taeju knew that look. He swallowed a groan inwardly.
What? Mushin state? Shit.
* * *
His hands no longer felt like his own. Time blurred, and his senses dulled—yet at the same time, they felt strangely heightened.
Whenever he picked up a new stalk, the most efficient path seemed to reveal itself naturally, and his shears followed without hesitation.
He trimmed the leaf tips with precision, peeled the thorns upward instead of cutting them, then tossed it straight into the bag.
Hooking the shears with his pinky, he used the tongs to strip the outer layer of the stem in one smooth motion.
Every movement flowed seamlessly. With each repetition, the awkwardness faded, and his technique grew more refined, steadily approaching perfection.
Then—footsteps, followed by a voice. His concentration shattered. The shears cut through empty air and slipped from his grasp.
Clang.
"Ah...!"
A frustrated groan slipped out as they hit the floor. He couldn't explain it, but an overwhelming sense of loss washed over him.
Reality came rushing back. His surroundings snapped into focus, along with a flood of notifications.
He wanted to check them immediately, but the presence behind him made him close them and turn around. Seo Taeju was standing there.
It was the first time they'd exchanged words since the brief explanation on his first day. Aside from that, even simple greetings had been absent.
Neither of them were the chatty type. He’d later learned from the warehouse guard that Seo Taeju was in charge of herbs at Origin—and also the boss’s younger brother.
But why did he look so serious?
"What is it?"
Seo Taeju hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"Sorry about that. I didn’t expect a non-production type like you to enter the Mushin state. That was my mistake for interrupting you. I’ll grant you one request—within reason."