Only I Am Human (1)
So, what the hell was I supposed to do? There wasn't even a status window. No status screen in a game world—King's Story was straight-up a trash game, no matter how much shit you threw at it.
Yeah, King's Story. That was the name of the game I'd possessed. A typical hero's tale: some ordinary village boy pulls the holy sword and becomes the true Hero, destined to slay the Demon King. Predictable as hell.
"Ailin?"
"……."
Could I return to my original world?
Honestly, no clue. There was a chance it was all a cliché brain transplant, but twenty-five years of memories were etched vividly into my mind.
My parents' names and birthdays. My own name and birthday. Even the name of that one close friend who wasn't exactly precious but was still around.
Of course, I didn't remember his birthday. And that fact alone proved I'd been caught up in some inexplicable phenomenon.
My memories hadn't been severed. My sense of self remained intact.
I existed as myself. I was—human. I was really human.
"Ailin……?"
"……Yeah."
This was a game world, after all.
Everyone except me was an NPC. Which meant everything but me was fake.
Even the protagonist talking to me right now.
"What're you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
The protagonist stared at me like I was weird. It felt like an unpleasant chasm to me.
A sensation like bugs crawling all over my skin—hard to endure.
"Ailin, don't go wandering around at night for a while."
"……Why?"
"You don't know? The village vibe is off."
"What's going on?"
"……You really don't know?"
The protagonist's voice dropped lower, as if afraid someone might overhear.
"Lately, villagers have been dying. Third one already."
"Oh."
"Oh? Ailin, this is serious. They were all found with their throats slit."
"Who did it?"
"If we knew, they'd be caught by now."
The protagonist's face darkened, like he had more to say.
"First victim was the old blacksmith. Working late and got hit."
"Yeah?"
"Second was the baker. Went out at dawn to prep dough and……."
"Poor guy……."
"Third was yesterday. The guard at the village entrance. And he was armed."
His voice trembled. An armed adult man killed without a chance to fight back—that must've hit hard.
"They all have something in common. Attacked at night when alone, killed with a single slash."
"Wow."
"……?"
"Means the killer's skilled. Scary good……."
"Oh, right. Yeah, terrifying."
Then he grabbed my hand.
"Especially since you live alone, Ailin. Be extra careful. Come straight to me if anything happens."
"Yeah, thanks……."
"It's nothing. That's what friends are for, right?"
"Yeah."
"I'm serious. Don't go out after sunset. Lock the door tight."
"Got it."
"Everyone's saying it's outsiders, but I dunno. No strangers have come to the village."
"So the killer's one of us?"
"……Is that it?"
"Beats me."
I was supposed to have lost my memories in some accident one day.
No need to act. I really didn't know jack shit.
Thanks to that, I'd become the tragic beauty who'd lost all her memories overnight.
"Anyway, be careful. Got it?"
"Yeah, I got it."
"Promise."
"Promise."
Our pinkies hooked.
Did the protagonist have any idea my head was filled with thoughts of killing him?
The reason was simple. He was fated to be the Hero.
If he crumbled before taking down the Demon King, wouldn't the world end?
It'd be the perfect fuck-you to whoever dragged me here.
Or maybe the opposite. Maybe they brought me here to destroy the world.
Lowest cost, highest chance of success—that'd be smart investing.
The fact they'd dropped me here without any safeguards was proof enough.
But whether saving or dooming the world, if someone wanted that, it'd be a god, right?
And a god was just another NPC.
I didn't know how they got me here, but killing NPCs seemed doable.
Thus, my conclusion: kill all the NPCs. That was why I was the culprit.
The sunset dyed the window red. I debated going out tonight but shook my head.
These NPCs looked so damn human, killing them took way more mental effort than expected.
Ailin, the protagonist's childhood friend heroine, had assassin talent. How'd I know? Don't dig into a beauty's secrets.
But one thing was clear: the second kill was easier than the first. The third? Over in a blink.
No one suspected me. Pretty talented, huh? The one thing I liked in this fake-infested world.
I fell asleep, and when I woke, it was morning.
Earlier than expected. Only one reason.
"Kyaaaaah—! Someone's dead……!"
The scream from outside jolted me awake.
What the hell? I didn't go out last night, but an NPC croaked anyway.
For a second, I doubted myself. Did the original owner of this body do it? I scanned the room cautiously. Nothing out of place.
Threw on some clothes and headed out.
Villagers buzzed in the square. At the center: a bloodied corpse.
The general store owner. I remembered his sleazy grin every time he saw me.
Planning to deal with him soon, but someone beat me to it.
Throat slit. Did I do it? But no, I shook my head. No metallic blood scent when I woke.
Meant there was a copycat mimicking me. Disgusting.
I didn't know their motive or care, but it felt like someone forging my signature.
"Ailin!"
Ethan ran up, panting hard.
His face was pale. First time seeing him this scared.
"You okay? Nothing happened last night?"
"Nah, all good."
"Thank god, really……."
"……Yeah."
"Victim's Raoul, the general store guy we go to."
"Oh."
"Oh? Ailin, your reaction's kinda weird."
"I'm scared……."
"……Oh, sorry."
I ignored his apology and looked around. Every villager's face dripped with fear.
Wondered if one was smirking. Scanned closely—no such NPC right now.
"They sent a messenger to the lord. Knights'll come soon. Not all of 'em, but……."
"Good."
"Yeah. If we hold out till then, they'll catch the killer. Knights are amazing."
"Knights……?"
"Curious about knights?"
"Yeah."
"Hmm…… How to put it. Super strong. Gotta handle mana to be one."
"What's mana?"
"Using mana boosts strength and speed. I swing a sword every day, but…… honestly, I can't get a feel for it."
"Keep at it."
"Least I can protect someone. So…… Ailin, stick with me today."
"……Why?"
"Too dangerous alone. Killer's still out there."
I smirked, and his face lit up.
Suddenly wondered what was rattling in that head of his. Any black magic in there?
"Yeah. Let's do that."
"For real? Great choice!"