Noir left the pub with a full stomach and a clearer goal. He didn't check his status right away. The rain had slowed to a drizzle, casting the hidden village in a foggy gray haze. The streets were quiet, as if the whole place was asleep.
He finally opened his status panel.
[LEVEL UP!]
You are now Level 3
+5 Stat Points Earned
He hesitated for a second. "Hmm… I'll put 3 on Agility… and 2 on Strength. That should balance me out a bit," he muttered. With a swipe, he confirmed the changes. The familiar surge of energy flowed through his body. His reactions would be sharper now. His hits would hurt more.
Noir walked deeper into the village, eyes scanning every corner until he spotted it — a house that looked like it had no right to still be standing. Wooden beams sagged, and the roof was patchy with moss and holes. The windows were so dirty he couldn't see inside.
"Whoa," he muttered. "This is it? It looks like a haunted shack…"
He stepped closer and knocked three times.
"…Oblo," he said under his breath.
Nothing.
Then—creak.
The door opened by itself, revealing pitch black inside. No torchlight. No furniture. Just darkness.
Noir gulped and stepped in.
"Hello? Anyone here?"
Suddenly, he felt cold steel touch the side of his neck.
"Why are you here, rat?"
A voice, gruff and aged but sharp, whispered behind him.
Noir didn't move. His hand twitched toward his dagger instinctively but stopped. That voice wasn't just confident — it was threatening.
The blade disappeared from his neck as quickly as it appeared. Noir spun around.
In front of him stood a frail old man in ragged clothes. White hair, slouched posture, cane in one hand. He looked like he needed help walking.
But Noir had played enough to recognize one thing: this guy wasn't ordinary.
The old man's name tag flickered into view.
Clark [Lv. 99]
Noir's brain short-circuited for a second. "…What the fuck is wrong with this NPC?" he thought.
Clark raised an eyebrow. "You mutter like a rat too. You're here about the Blueprint, aren't you?"
Noir nodded. "Yeah. Blacksmith Ray sent me."
Clark laughed. "Ray, that bastard. Still kicking? Figures. You want the recipe for the Fangs Monlit Twin, right?"
Noir nodded again.
"You're either stupid, desperate, or just lucky to be alive carrying that core."
"I've been called all three," Noir shrugged.
Clark stared at him for a moment longer, then finally turned and walked deeper into the house. "Come. You want power? You'll earn it."
As Noir followed, he noticed how unnaturally the old man moved. Slow one second, a blur the next. Even in a game this realistic, it threw him off. "NPCs like this feel more alive than actual players…"
[QUEST RECEIVED!]
Name: The Retired Fang
Description: Clark, a former master assassin, has agreed to teach you how to craft the Fangs Monlit Twin, a poison-drenched dual dagger. But first, you must retrieve something he lost long ago.
Objective: Track and hunt the elusive Night Howler, a rare predator that stalks the woods at dusk. Recover the Scroll of Venari, said to be tangled in the beast's mane.
Reward: Blueprint – Fangs Monlit Twin
Difficulty: ★★★★☆
Accept? [✔ Yes] [✘ No]
Noir accepted it without hesitation.
"Good," Clark said, as if he could hear the system. "You're not just hunting for fun. There's a scroll I need, wrapped around the neck of that cursed beast. It's ancient. Personal."
Noir raised a brow. "You lost a scroll… in the woods… around a monster's neck?"
Clark gave him a glare. "I didn't lose it. It was stolen. Long story. You want your blueprint or not?"
"Yeah, yeah, no judgment. Just weird how personal these NPCs feel…"
"You think I'm an NPC, kid?" Clark scoffed. "Watch your tone before I make you respawn."
"Right. My bad."
"You've got the tools. Now get out of here and come back only when that scroll's in your hand."
Noir gave a slight nod, then left the old man's house. His heart was still racing.
"This game's NPCs are way too real…"
Outside, the rain had stopped. A mist covered the paths. Noir made his way to the blacksmith's forge, following the clanging of steel on steel. The village smith wasn't as friendly as Ray, but the guy didn't ask questions. Noir paid 110 silver to repair his twin daggers and tighten his armor straps.
Next, he visited the potion shop nearby — a small hut filled with glowing bottles. He bought:
HP Potion x50
Stamina Potion x35
for a total of 425 silver.
Before heading out, he noticed a crooked wooden sign that read "SKILL SHOP" hanging above a side alley.
Inside, the shop was quiet. Dust floated through the air. A hooded NPC sat behind the counter, nodding at Noir.
"You're not from around here," the NPC said.
"I'm just browsing," Noir replied.
One scroll glowed on the counter. Noir examined it.
[Skill Scroll – Shadow Feint]
Type: Active
Description: Dash 3 meters forward and leave behind a shadow copy for 3 seconds. The shadow copy will mimic your last attack.
Cooldown: 20 seconds
Cost: 180 Silver
"This is…" Noir blinked. "This is perfect."
It was like the skill was made for assassins who rely on distraction and burst damage.
He bought it instantly. The scroll disintegrated into light and flowed into his body.
[New Skill Learned: Shadow Feint]
Noir exhaled.
He was ready.
Everything was in place.
He pulled up the quest again and whispered to himself:
"Night Howler… let's see what you've got."